NCAA basketball

Coming off a career-high 26-point outing against San Diego, Gonzaga’s Braden Huff was named West Coast Conference Freshman of the Week Wednesday morning.

Gonzaga should face a steady diet of upper tier WCC foes virtually every week the rest of way – one exception being Feb. 10th when the Zags step out of conference to visit No. 6 Kentucky – beginning with Thursday’s date with San Francisco at the McCarthey Athletic Center. “Like I told them in there,” Zags coach Mark Few said after a 105-63 blowout over San Diego last Saturday, “we’re trending upward but now we’re going to play one of the better teams in the league, one you’re going to have to beat if you have designs on winning the league championship.”

It figures to be one of the best individual matchups in the West Coast Conference this season. Jonathan Mogbo does a little, correct that, a lot of everything at both ends of the court for San Francisco. Anton Watson handles a similar role for Gonzaga.

PULLMAN – Isaiah Watts couldn’t miss the opportunity. He had just joined his Washington State teammates for warmups, getting ready for the second half against USC earlier this month in Los Angeles, when he spotted one of the greatest of all time.

Former Gonzaga star and current Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren is one of the 41 players Team USA will examine as it begins to assemble its 12-player roster ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

By normal college basketball standards, there’s been nothing visibly wrong with Gonzaga’s offense this season.

Retired Gonzaga athletic director Mike Roth’s phone rang frequently when Kelly Graves resigned in early April 2014 to take the Oregon women’s basketball coaching position. Roth didn’t have to look far to find Graves’ replacement. He ultimately interviewed just one person.

There were times earlier this men’s basketball season when Eastern Washington guard Cedric Coward was trying to force his shot, trying to will his team to a victory.

From staff reports

Gonzaga is on the outside looking in for the second straight week in the Associated Press college basketball poll. The Zags are also on the outside looking in with most bracket projections for the NCAA Tournament. However, GU's numbers improved in a few other metrics that hold more weight with the NCAA Tournament selection committee – with more opportunities are on the horizon.

Both regular-season games between West Coast Conference heavyweights Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s will air on national television.

From staff and wire reports

From staff reports

SAN DIEGO – Mark Few celebrated his 700th coaching win on Thursday in a convincing 86-61 victory at Pepperdine. The second leg of Gonzaga’s two-game trip in Southern California, a 105-63 victory against San Diego, gave the 25th-year coach and his family another reason to celebrate.

STANFORD, Calif. — The Huskies’ eight-day California road trip began with a six-hour flight delay preceding an upset loss at UCLA, included a buzzer-beating win at California and ended with comeback attempt that came up short against Stanford.

SAN DIEGO – Mark Few’s halftime message Thursday night at Pepperdine fueled Gonzaga to one of its best stretches of the season in an eventual 25-point victory.

BERKELEY, Calif. – It’s hard to squander a seven-point lead inside of 2 minutes. Washington State pulled it off in an 81-75 overtime loss to Cal on Saturday afternoon.

From staff reports

From staff reports