Gonzaga’s work in progress resumes

The calendar says Gonzaga is closing in on the midpoint of the season and its West Coast Conference opener is just a week away. The reality is the Bulldogs’ roster in its current form is roughly three weeks old and the team is a work in progress.

Head coach Mark Few continues to experiment with rotations and defining players’ roles. He got a later start than most of his counterparts because Gonzaga was without Josh Heytvelt and Steven Gray for most of November and December.

That’s why Few’s goals are simple when Gonzaga faces Georgia tonight at 5 in the Ronald McDonald House Charities Classic at the Arena.

“We have to continue to try to get better and try to get a little more dialed in to what our roles are and how we need to play, especially on the offensive end,” Few said.

Heytvelt’s production and minutes have increased in his three games since returning from a stress fracture. That’s meant reduced playing time for freshman Robert Sacre, who started the last two games but averaged only 6 minutes, and senior Abdullahi Kuso, whose playing time has dropped from 15.8 minutes pre-Oklahoma to 9.3 over the last three games.

“Josh is somebody who can catch and score and do some things around the basket,” Few said. “I think it helps our fast break a lot, we’ve always played that way, for our guards to throw ahead and trust a little bit more. And I think (opponents) will have to play us straight-up a little more. That said, Josh has to help us on the defensive end like Kuso and some of the others have.”

Kuso said individual playing time is secondary to team goals.

“I see all these banners up here and I want to be part of something special,” said Kuso, gesturing toward the rafters prior to Thursday’s practice at the McCarthey Athletic Center. “If Josh coming back is going to give us a better chance of getting there, so be it.”

Gonzaga (10-4) is coming off a 61-59 win over Utah. The Zags made 50 percent of their shots for the first time in eight games.

“We haven’t quite got into the rhythm that we need, like we have in the past,” senior forward David Pendergraft said. “I don’t think (scoring) should be a problem with this team because we have a lot of talent. We just need to take smarter shots, slow down and cut down on the turnovers.”

Few said Gonzaga needs more time to mesh.

“We haven’t had all of our guys together for more than probably seven days or so,” Few said. “To think we’re going to be clicking on all cylinders is silly. We need to get our roles defined and play to our strengths. When we do that, we’re pretty successful.”

Georgia (8-3) has fashioned its record despite the departures of Takais Brown and Mike Mercer, the two leading scorers on last year’s club. Brown was booted off the team in late October and Mercer on Nov. 19. Georgia has limited opponents to 63.8 points per game and 39.9 percent shooting. The Bulldogs knocked off Gonzaga 96-83 last year in Duluth, Ga., by forcing 21 turnovers and grabbing 16 offensive rebounds.

Senior point guard Sundiata Gaines, who has started 100 career games, is just the second player in Georgia history with 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 300 assists. Shandon Anderson, who had a 10-year NBA career, was the first. Gaines recently became the school’s all-time steals leader.

Guard Billy Humphrey leads Georgia at 12.3 points per game, followed by Gaines’ 11.8.

“People saw what Tennessee was like and how physical Oklahoma was,” Few said. “I think that’s what this game is going to come down to. We can’t let them out-tough us.”

Notes

Gonzaga players and staff visited the Ronald McDonald House in Spokane on Thursday night. The Ronald McDonald House provides temporary lodging and other services for families with ill children. Last year, the house provided more than 7,000 nights of lodging. … Gonzaga and Georgia are meeting for the fourth time since 2002. Georgia has won two of the three games. … Gonzaga is 11-4 at the Arena, including an 82-76 win over Georgia in 2003.