Game Preview: Zags Gear Up for Second Leg of Southern California Trip

Coach Mark Few hasn’t been afraid to switch things up because of just how deep the No. 7 Gonzaga Bulldogs (13-1, 1-0 WCC) are. He’s now thrown out six different starting lineups this season as redshirt junior guard Braeden Smith returned to the No. 1 lead guard on the depth chart with his strong play in the last two games.

Against the likes of the Oregon Ducks and Pepperdine Waves, Smith has collected 15 assists with just a mere turnover, 36 points on 13-for-18 field goals/3-for-4 three-pointers. He looks much more in control of the floor and confident with the ball in his hands in both the half-court offense and in transition than he did at the start of the 2025-26 season. Smith has grown exponentially over the course of the non-conference to now.

Keep in mind that this opportunity came about with freshman guard Mario Saint-Supery (also known as Marshall Mathers with his new dyed buzz-cut) dealing with an illness over the holidays. He hasn’t been his normal self as of late, struggling to hit wide-open looks and not turn the ball over. His recent sickness and lack of play have opened the door again for Smith.

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Down at the frontcourt, graduate forward Graham Ike continues to look like one of the best big men in the country. He made history on Sunday night in Malibu, becoming the 133rd college basketball player ever in the 2,000-point and 1,000-rebound club. He’s actually the first Zag ever to have reached those two marks.

Ike has continued to put out a full-on effort as an orchestrator and ball-snatcher around the rim, even when he was dealing with that nagging ankle injury he suffered at the Players Era Festival. He now has eight double-doubles on the year, 39th in his career. Through conference play, not many opposing players seem like they’re going to be able to keep up with the likes of Ike’s brute strength and swift footwork (outside of the Saint Mary’s Gaels’ trifecta of seven-footers).

As for the opposing San Diego Toreros (6-7, 1-0 WCC), the…

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Publish date : 2025-12-30 04:34:00

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