# WCC Game 7: @ Gonzaga **URL:** \ **Category:** League Play\ **Created:** [January 13, 2025, 8:07pm UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/wcc-game-7-gonzaga/902 "2025-01-13T20:07:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PattyMac](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.wakeupswig.com/pattymac/32/15_2.png) [@PattyMac](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/PattyMac)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 8:07pm UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/wcc-game-7-gonzaga/902/1 "2025-01-13T20:07:15Z")
_ **Tip-off:** _ Saturday, 6 pm at McCarthy Center (The Kennel) _ **TV:** _ ESPN+ _ **Line:** _ Torvik: GU -13.4, 13%win probability; ESPN: 7.8% win probability, GU -15.5. **Gonzaga:** You know Gonzaga. That unicorn of mid-major college basketball teams that reached the mountaintop and sustained it? The program with one of the longest NCAA Tournament streaks in the country (behind only Kansas and Michigan State) with 9 straight trips to the Sweet 16? The program that has crafted the WCC in its image over the last decade only to leave it for the…ummm…“Pac-12?” That Gonzaga. Well that Gonzaga is still that Gonzaga, mostly. It’s not the 2017 or 2021 vintages. There are chinks in the armor described below. Those chinks were just exposed in an overtime loss in Corvallis against the Beavers. But even a more mortal Mark Few squad is still good enough to beat a good Broncos team like a drum if they don’t show up. Perhaps the Broncos can take advantage of a little exhaustion in the PNW. But don’t count on it. As put by Omar Little channeling Emerson, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and Machiavelli, “When you come at the king, you best not miss.” _Starters:_ - 6-2 guard Nolan Hickman (10.0pts, 2.9rebs, 2.0asts, 44% from 3) - 6-0 guard Ryan Nembhard (11.4pts, 3.2rebs, **9.4asts** , 37.7% from 3) - 6-5 wing Khalif Battle (13.4pts, 3.8 rebs, 37.1% from 3) - 6-9 center Graham Ike (16.6pts, 7.4rebs, 43.8% from 3) - 6-10 forward Ben Gregg (10.2pts, 5.6 rebs) _Key Bench:_ - 6-6 guard Dusty Stromer (6.1 pts, 3.4rebs, 35.8% from 3) - 6-7 wing Michael Ajayi (6.2pts, 5rebs, only 17.9% from 3) - 6-10 forward Braden Huff (11.4pts, 3.8rebs) The Zags are solid, per usual. They are ranked roughly between 10 and 15 in the country in Torvik, KenPom, and the NET. That’s about where last year’s Bulldogs ended the season, including a Broncos victory. That was a lesser Santa Clara team. So the Broncos _can_ win this game. But they’ll have to be just about perfect. San Diego and Pepperdine both played the Zags closer than expected, then OSU actually brought them low. The chink in Gonzaga’s armor is defense. Over their last ten, they have less than a top-100 defense. Here’s a real shocker: Torvik says that SCU’s defense has been a hair better than Gonzaga’s over those ten games. USD and the Waves both scored 80 against them. The Zags just scored more. Santa Clara is built somewhat similarly, so expect a track meet. The thing that we have seen time and again with SCU teams under Sendek, though, is that the Zags rarely get beat by their own game. They are the kings of offense-first, ball screen-heavy, get-out-in-transition high-tempo offense that can put up points like SCU’s second half against USF last weekend. Try to play the game that the Zags want, and you might get hot and lose by 15 or have a cold night and lose by 40. You have to throw something different at them and defend with your life. Last year in the win at SCU, Coach Garson called a lot more offensive sets than we were used to seeing. And the Broncos focused a lot on stopping GU’s ball movement, leaving them with a measly 8 assists, and forced Anton Watson to beat SCU with iso-possessions (which he almost did). Draw fouls on Ike and front Ben Gregg in the post to keep him from getting the ball close to the rim. The Broncos absolutely have to fight over the screens because though none of the guards are quite as shifty as Malik Thomas, they’ll hoist a three if you give them the space. String two halves together like the second half against USF–or even two halves that are 80% that good–and Santa Clara can compete with the Zags. This is not 2021’s why-even-show-up Zags team. They have vulnerabilities, and Santa Clara is a better team than last year (_see, e.g._ SCU’s 18 TOs in the win at Leavey). The X-factor is that neither team expected to be fighting for a 1-1 week here. Who wants it more? But see the above about shooting at kings… **Prediction:** Broncos fight but fall, **82-77 Gonzaga.** Mahi shows his toughness with 21 points. ---
**Author:** ![92bronc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/9/898d66/32.png) [@92bronc](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/92bronc)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2025, 8:39pm UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/wcc-game-7-gonzaga/902/2 "2025-01-18T20:39:48Z")
Beat ‘em last year, can beat ‘em again. Hoping the Zags are hanging their head and/or maybe some tired legs after the OSU OT loss. But likely they come out pissed, playing with plenty of energy. Another game that calls for a zone. Their offense has stalled when other teams zone them. And their strengths are Ike (and often Huff) in the post, Nembhard in pic/rolls and Battle slashing/attacking the basket….all things that can be better defended or eliminated playing zone D. Aside from Hickman, their 3pt shooting has been inconsistent……so don’t help or collapse in the zone off of him, only others. Will Sendek and staff do it??? Unlikely, but one can hope. ---
**Author:** ![TD\_24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/91b2a8/32.png) [@TD\_24](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/TD_24)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2025, 2:25am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/wcc-game-7-gonzaga/902/3 "2025-01-19T02:25:52Z")
man where was this purpose and intent thursday lol a solid first 12 minutes in Spokane, 30-29 ---
**Author:** ![PattyMac](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.wakeupswig.com/pattymac/32/15_2.png) [@PattyMac](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/PattyMac)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2025, 2:35am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/wcc-game-7-gonzaga/902/4 "2025-01-19T02:35:21Z")
This interview is obnoxious (there’s literally a 15 min halftime, y’all), but keep it going as long as it sustains this run. ---
**Author:** ![TD\_24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/91b2a8/32.png) [@TD\_24](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/TD_24)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2025, 2:37am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/wcc-game-7-gonzaga/902/5 "2025-01-19T02:37:53Z")
[kscusports | 1/18 MBB at Gonzaga](https://kscusports.mixlr.com/events/3981568) KSCU guys (this is like sending the kids off to college and no Heister Gonzaga feed) are there with a synced feed ---
**Author:** ![PattyMac](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.wakeupswig.com/pattymac/32/15_2.png) [@PattyMac](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/PattyMac)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2025, 2:51am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/wcc-game-7-gonzaga/902/6 "2025-01-19T02:51:31Z")
Defense-lovers in tears after that half … I don’t love this pace over the long haul for SCU. I don’t want to bet on being hotter than GU in their own building. But great half against a good team, so I’ll take what I can get here. ---
**Author:** ![LucasLandon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9d8465/32.png) [@LucasLandon](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/LucasLandon)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2025, 2:54am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/wcc-game-7-gonzaga/902/7 "2025-01-19T02:54:40Z")
The game is there for the Broncos to win. Then again I’m expecting a pretty favorable Zags whistle in the 2nd half. Need Stewart, Bal and Mahi to come alive ---
**Author:** ![BballFemme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9a140/32.png) [@BballFemme](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/BballFemme)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2025, 2:58am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/wcc-game-7-gonzaga/902/8 "2025-01-19T02:58:03Z")
Anyone have that block from Cam? He took that ball from their big like taking candy from a baby. 4 mins he had 7 pts 3 rebounds 1 block Pretty high productivity for such a short stint ---
**Author:** ![PattyMac](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.wakeupswig.com/pattymac/32/15_2.png) [@PattyMac](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/PattyMac)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2025, 3:13am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/wcc-game-7-gonzaga/902/9 "2025-01-19T03:13:14Z")
Spokane whistles incoming. Just keep grinding. ---
**Author:** ![buckets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@buckets](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/buckets)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2025, 3:16am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/wcc-game-7-gonzaga/902/10 "2025-01-19T03:16:16Z")
Our boys are being way too loose with the ball. Gonzaga is a team that can make us pay for sloppy ball handling. ---
**Author:** ![PattyMac](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.wakeupswig.com/pattymac/32/15_2.png) [@PattyMac](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/PattyMac)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2025, 3:25am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/wcc-game-7-gonzaga/902/11 "2025-01-19T03:25:09Z")
See, I just don’t understand why Sendek didn’t employ the shoot-100%-from-three-in-the-half last game. Does he not see what we are seeing?! Work inside, use clock. This is the way. ---
**Author:** ![PattyMac](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.wakeupswig.com/pattymac/32/15_2.png) [@PattyMac](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/PattyMac)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2025, 3:34am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/wcc-game-7-gonzaga/902/12 "2025-01-19T03:34:17Z")
THAT WAS A FOUL ON CAM?!?! Spokane whistle, my goodness. ---
**Author:** ![PattyMac](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.wakeupswig.com/pattymac/32/15_2.png) [@PattyMac](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/PattyMac)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2025, 3:38am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/wcc-game-7-gonzaga/902/13 "2025-01-19T03:38:46Z")
Carlos may be the worst Bronco at clock management ever for all his skill. It’s clearly not coaching because the other guys know not to shoot early up 12 with time winding away. ---
**Author:** ![BballFemme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9a140/32.png) [@BballFemme](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/BballFemme)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2025, 3:45am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/wcc-game-7-gonzaga/902/14 "2025-01-19T03:45:35Z")
Those two fouls on Cam with Ike were absolute BS!!! ---
**Author:** ![JM1996](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3be4f8/32.png) [@JM1996](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/JM1996)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2025, 3:55am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/wcc-game-7-gonzaga/902/15 "2025-01-19T03:55:43Z")
Put another ball handler in coach!!! Knapper for example… ---
**Author:** ![kevind716](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/65b543/32.png) [@kevind716](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/kevind716)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2025, 3:57am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/wcc-game-7-gonzaga/902/16 "2025-01-19T03:57:48Z")
This game is going to kill me ---
**Author:** ![PattyMac](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.wakeupswig.com/pattymac/32/15_2.png) [@PattyMac](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/PattyMac)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2025, 4:06am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/wcc-game-7-gonzaga/902/17 "2025-01-19T04:06:14Z")
OMG They did it. In Spokane. Even set the opponent scoring record. My goodness. ---
**Author:** ![G-man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/76d3ee/32.png) [@G-man](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/G-man)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2025, 4:07am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/wcc-game-7-gonzaga/902/18 "2025-01-19T04:07:13Z")
Everyone wanted a split this week…didn’t expect it in this order, did we? 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![LucasLandon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9d8465/32.png) [@LucasLandon](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/LucasLandon)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2025, 4:08am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/wcc-game-7-gonzaga/902/19 "2025-01-19T04:08:44Z")
For the life of me I don’t understand the Broncos taking one dribble & stopping, allowing themselves to get trapped when trying to break the press. But they won in the Kennel!!! ---
**Author:** ![kevind716](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/65b543/32.png) [@kevind716](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/kevind716)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2025, 4:09am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/wcc-game-7-gonzaga/902/20 "2025-01-19T04:09:43Z")
In summary: [quote=“PattyMac, post:1, topic:902”] The chink in Gonzaga’s armor is defense. Over their last ten, they have less than a top-100 defense. [/quote] Wish we could move the ball like that every game. [Next page](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/wcc-game-7-gonzaga/902.md?page=2)