GU’s Edi impatiently playing waiting game

The only game Guy Landry Edi can play right now is the waiting game, and he’s not very good at it. Gonzaga’s junior forward is halfway through his eight-game suspension, handed down by the NCAA prior to the season. Edi was ruled ineligible because he played on a professional team in Paris, France – where he spent most of his childhood – when he was 15 and 16 years old. Gonzaga appealed the decision, but hasn’t heard back from the NCAA. Edi said he played in two games each season. The Bulldogs, No. 19 in the Associated Press rankings, are unbeaten through four games. If the suspension remains in place, Edi would become eligible for GU’s ninth game, against Arizona, in the Battle in Seattle on Dec. 17. “I’m waiting,” Edi said prior to Monday’s practice. “It’s hard, but at the end of the day I’m happy my team is finding ways to win. That’s the most important thing.” Edi played two years at Midland (Texas) College. He was up front with Gonzaga’s staff during the recruiting process and knew a suspension was possible. He just didn’t think it would be for eight games. Edi practices, works on his game, watches video and helps imitate opponents’ offenses and defenses for the scout team. Come game time, he takes a seat on the bench. “It’s hard, especially with these next three big games,” said Edi, referring to Gonzaga’s early December stretch of Notre Dame (Wednesday), Illinois (Saturday) and Michigan State (Dec. 10). “Coach (Mark Few) just told me to stay focused, dialed in and be patient and that’s what I’m doing. What I can control is getting better and being ready when it’s my time to play.” Edi constantly bugs Gonzaga administrators to see if they’ve heard from the NCAA. “They tell me what I’m telling you,” he said with a shrug. “All I can do is wait.”

Future tournaments

Gonzaga has plans for the next four Thanksgivings. It was previously announced that Gonzaga will play in the Old Spice Classic next year in Orlando and the 2013 Maui Invitational in Hawaii. Gonzaga won both events in its most recent attempts. The Bulldogs are tentatively scheduled to play in the 2014 NIT Preseason Tip-off, which holds its semifinals and finals at Madison Square Garden in New York, and the 2015 Fight 4 Atlantis tourney in the Bahamas. Gonzaga will likely get two home games in the NIT preliminary rounds, but must win to advance to New York. The Zags lost to Butler in the 2006 NIT title game. Gonzaga had hoped to stage a home tournament this season, but was unsuccessful. The Old Spice, Maui Invitational, NIT and Bahamas events are held during Thanksgiving week.

Irish recruited Pangos

Before settling on Gonzaga, freshman guard Kevin Pangos drew recruiting interest from numerous schools, including Notre Dame, which visits the McCarthey Athletic Center on Wednesday. “It wasn’t as serious as some other schools,” Pangos said. “It was kind of late when they approached me, but a couple of (Notre Dame) coaches came up and watched me play. I was narrowing it down at the time, but I was still open to other schools.” A campus visit was planned, but Pangos said he didn’t end up going.