The Gonzaga Bulldogs’ collegiate basketball season2024/2025 readyness:  Mark Few’ the Zags have success this year……

The Gonzaga Bulldogs’ collegiate basketball season2024/2025 readyness:  Mark Few’ the Zags have success this year……

In most programs around the country, achieving a 27-8 record would be considered remarkable. A successful season would be defined by making it to the Sweet 16. However, it was a bit of a “down” year for the Spokane, Washington, squad past season. It goes without saying that for more than 20 years, the Gonzaga Bulldogs have established themselves as the West Coast Conference’s model program. The team from the previous year was surrounded by conversation despite their domination. Worse, the Gaels of St. Mary’s, their conference foe, won the conference tournament as well as the regular season.

They have retaliated fiercely to all of the outside chatter around this team. An outstanding offseason put together by Mark Few rivals any program in the nation. Nearly every significant donor from the previous year is back. They used the transfer portal to bring in elite players. It’s obvious that their decline from the WCC’s top spot has hurt feelings. One thing is certain, from the returning players to a strong transfer class. The Zags have some guys.

The list of key players to leave Gonzaga starts and stops with Spokane native Anton Watson. Arguably one of the most underrated players in the nation last year, Watson’s five-year career with Gonzaga placed him among the best to ever step foot inside the Kennel. Watson was the glue that held together a lineup that oftentimes featured two transfers and a true freshman. He ranked second on the team in points per game (14.5), rebounds per game (7.1) and led them in steals per game (1.5). His growth as an offensive player was highlighted by a respectable 60.8% effective field goal percentage.

Watson’s defense was his strongest suit, even though he developed into a potent Gonzaga scoring option. With his ability to play all five positions and excel at off-ball defense, Watson was able to hide his shortcomings on the less glamorous end of the floor. Pundits have long questioned Gonzaga’s defense’s ability to match their explosive attack. Those questions will still be there without Watson.

It’s never easy to lose a hometown hero like Watson. Thankfully, the issues of depth and experience from the previous season have been resolved admirably by Coach Few and the team. Graham Ike, who leads the team in scoring with 16.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, is back. Ryan Nembhard, who gives out seven assists to only two mistakes per game, has become one of the top point guards in the country. Dusty Stromer, Ben Gregg, Braden Huff, and Nolan Hickman complete a potent core in 2024–2025 (season). Numerous athletes will be joining the Gonzaga Bulldogs through the transfer portal.

Michael A.
Michael Ajayi played for the Pepperdine Waves last season, where he faced Gonzaga. Ajayi made a big impression in his first year of NCAA Division I basketball, averaging 17.1 points per game and 9.9 rebounds. He scored 20 points or more on 11 occasions during the season, earning him a spot on the WCC First Team All-Conference roster. With a wingspan of seven feet and a height of six feet seven, he offers the much-needed boost of NBA-caliber athleticism on the wing.

Khalif Warfare
The necessity for perimeter isolation scoring was one of Gonzaga’s top priorities heading into the offseason. Stated differently, they required a man who could just “get” a bucket”. The possible answer could be Arkansas transfer Khalif Battle. Battle comes to the Bulldogs with an interesting college resume. Now joining his fourth college program, Battle is a scorer through and through.

With a career average of 13.3 points a game, the six-foot-five wing is one of the top players in the nation at getting to the free throw line. Battle averaged just under seven free throw attempts a game last year while putting up 14.8 points a night in the loaded SEC. Questions about his fit with Gonzaga remain. Regardless, if the version of Battle that averaged 29.5 PPG over the last seven games of the year arrives in eastern Washington, it could take Few’s offense to new heights.

Emmanuel Innocenti
It was mentioned earlier that alternatives to Watson’s defense is going to be one of the biggest uncertainties for this team. Replacing his institutional knowledge and familiarity with the staff’s schemes is impossible to replicate. Enter Emmanuel Innocenti.
After a strong freshman campaign at Tarleton State, Innocenti comes to the Gonzaga Bulldogs with the resume and physical tools needed when trying to replace a defensive anchor. At six-foot-five with a seven-foot-one wingspan, the Italian wing was a force when guarding the ball last year. He posted 10 games of three or more steals and started 33 contests as a true freshman. The offense will likely take some time to develop, but there is no better staff in the world at getting players to elevate their game One of the biggest unknowns for this team will be Watson’s defense possibilities, as was previously indicated. It is impossible to replace his institutional expertise and acquaintance with the staff’s schemes. Let’s welcome Emmanuel Innocenti.
Following a stellar first year at Tarleton State, Innocenti joins the Gonzaga Bulldogs with the credentials and physical attributes required to attempt to take the position of a defensive anchor. The Italian wing, at six feet five with a wingspan of seven feet one, was formidable when it came to ball security last season. As a true freshman, he recorded 10 games with three or more thefts and made 33 starts. There is no better staff in the world at motivating players to step up their game, but it will probably take some time for the offense to emerge.