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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Climbing the wall

SAN FRANCISCO – One could never tell by glancing at his statistics, but Gonzaga’s Austin Daye ran into the so-called wall that college freshmen supposedly encounter as they adjust from the shorter high school basketball season.

“It’s a different atmosphere when you’re playing for this long and with the grueling practice schedule. High school practices are a little softer, so it’s a new thing for me and I just have to get used to it,” Daye said. “The last couple games or so, I was hitting that point, that wall. But I got over that wall and I’m just looking forward now.”

There’s a lot ahead. The Bulldogs (19-6, 8-1 WCC) begin the stretch run of the regular season with a critical road trip, which begins against San Francisco (6-18, 2-7) at 5 tonight at War Memorial Gym and continues with a showdown against San Diego (14-11, 7-1) on Monday.

Daye’s numbers have been impressive in the WCC. He’s averaging 13.7 points, shooting 66.2 percent from the field and 68.2 percent on 3-pointers. In the last five games, Daye has averaged 15.4 points and 7.4 rebounds, despite a four-point effort in Monday’s victory over Loyola Marymount.

Daye said he’s feeling better after a lengthy bout with a cold and illness. Climbing temperatures have helped and his father, Darren, came through with a big assist.

“It’s a fun time, coming to school and doing well,” Daye said. “Now it’s starting to get warmer and I just got my car. I was freezing up here and I needed something to keep warm. My dad came through in the clutch.”

Gonzaga’s rotation often runs nine deep and includes three true freshmen, which coach Mark Few can’t recall happening in his nine years. Guard Steven Gray averages 26.5 minutes, third highest on the team, and he contributed 16 points in Gonzaga’s 72-64 win over the Dons last month. Robert Sacre endured a tough stretch where he didn’t play in four of five games and he’s started the last two games.

“Those guys are getting better every week,” Few said. “They have a better understanding of where they’re supposed to be and executing, and even some of the other guys are doing a nice job of that. We’ve played some pretty good basketball the last three weeks. Even at Saint Mary’s we played well, we just didn’t quite get it done.”

Sacre, a 7-footer from North Vancouver, B.C., replaced Josh Heytvelt as starting center for last week’s homestand. Sacre averaged 11 minutes in those two games.

“It has been a grind, I’m not going to lie,” Sacre said. “It’s sort of a new experience and so many people would love to be in my shoes, so I have to take advantage of it and keep working hard. The thing you have to do is tell yourself to keep working hard because the (opposing) teams are physical and athletic.”

Sacre has started because Heytvelt was struggling and Abdullahi Kuso is more comfortable coming off the bench.

“Rob had a bout with losing confidence in his game and himself there for a while and now he’s over that and he’s got it back,” Few said. “Those other two guys (Daye and Gray), that’s why they’re good. They believe in themselves.”

San Francisco, which has lost three straight, is 2-10 under interim coach Eddie Sutton, but the Bulldogs are bracing for a battle.

“San Francisco has played us tough since I’ve been here,” point guard Jeremy Pargo said. “And the year before I got here Adam Morrison hit a game-winning shot to beat those guys (in Spokane). I don’t think anybody is going to be looking past these guys to San Diego.”