Former Gonzaga Bulldog Sam Dower Jr.’s professional basketball career appears to be over. Dower said in an Instagram post Sunday that it “may be time for the basketball chapter of my life to come to an end.” The 6-foot-9 forward, who signed in August with MKS Dabrowa Gornicza in Poland, explained that he needs another surgery on his left knee, the third in the last 2½ years.

Four Zags – Rui Hachimura, Killian Tillie, Zach Norvell Jr. and Brandon Clarke – have tested the NBA waters after the program’s second trip to the Final Four in three seasons. Hachimura leads the way as a projected lottery pick and Tillie is considered a late first-round selection.

Gonzaga’s latest international recruit, Martynas Arlauskas, adds to the program’s already impressive 2019 class. Arlauskas, a 6-foot-7, 195-pound small forward from Lithuania, is the Zags’ third 2019 commitment, joining Gonzaga Prep forward Anton Watson and Kittitas guard Brock Ravet.

Rui Hachimura led the way Monday, scoring 25 points as Japan picked up another huge win, 75-60 over Iran, in the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers. Hachimura, Gonzaga’s 6-foot-8 junior forward, filled out the stat sheet with seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals at sold-out Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo.

Don Newman set the tone in his two seasons as Idaho climbed the Big Sky Conference ladder by winning 11 and 17 games, respectively, setting the table for coach Don Monson’s squads that won 72 games the ensuing three years.

Former Gonzaga teammates Kelly Olynyk and Kevin Pangos played key roles as Canada defeated Brazil 85-77 on Thursday in a FIBA World Cup Americas qualifier at Place Bell in Quebec.

Jim Hayford, who coached the Redhawks to a 20-14 record in his first season, received a contract extension through the 2022-23 season.

A couple of Gonzaga basketball players, current junior forward Rui Hachimura and former Zag wing Ira Brown, helped Japan cruise to victory Thursday in the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers.

Geno Crandall said on a podcast that he expects to enroll at Gonzaga in October, presumably with the intention of being in a Zags uniform for the upcoming season.

Nine of Gonzaga’s 16 WCC games, including both of its showdowns with Saint Mary’s and BYU, will be televised on ESPN’s family of networks, according to a conference release.

Gonzaga has essentially adhered to a tournament rotation schedule for more than a decade, often visiting the top holiday basketball events once every four years. That rotation will continue in the 2019-20 season, with the Zags venturing to the 2019 Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas.

School says he’s working on transfer requirements.

Gonzaga filled out its men’s basketball schedule with an exhibition game against Central Washington and a home contest against Texas Southern.

The Cougars will play eight true home games at Beasley Coliseum – including an exhibition –but 11 total in the state of Washington, with a road game against Seattle U at Key Arena on Nov. 14 and neutral-site games against Montana State at the Toyota Center in Kennewick on Dec. 9 and against Santa Clara at Spokane Arena on Dec. 29.

The NCAA has made another significant adjustment to the ranking system used for seeding and selecting NCAA Tournament teams. Once again, Gonzaga coach Mark Few was one of the leading proponents for change, the latest sending the antiquated Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) to the sideline while inserting the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET).

Former Gonzaga center Ryan Edwards is heading to Spain for his first season of professional basketball.

Jordan Mathews’ professional basketball career is taking him overseas.

Sister Jean is celebrating her 99th birthday months after gaining national attention as chaplain of the Loyola-Chicago basketball team that reached the NCAA Final Four. The university was holding a campus party with students and school staffers on Tuesday for Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt. The Catholic nun says her health is better some days as others as she’s been recovering since last year from a broken hip.

Shadle Park senior sharpshooter Jacob Groves announced his verbal commitment to EWU on Sunday, where he'll join his 6-foot-9 redshirt freshman brother, Tanner Groves.