Rui Hachimura, the Washington Wizards forward and former Gonzaga standout, was off to a promising rookie season before taking a kick to the groin on Dec. 16.

Gonzaga point guard Ryan Woolridge has been named the West Coast Conference Player of the Week.

A GRIP ON SPORTS • The week between Christmas and the first of the year is quiet everywhere except in the world of sports. But even that venue has lowered the decibel level a bit. At least around here.

For the Gonzaga women’s basketball program this past decade, the ride never stopped.

Men of a certain age who as boys collected baseball cards – along with marbles and skinned knees – may recall the morbid fascination that came with opening another five-cent pack to discover what pedestrian catcher from the New York Mets would be included therein.

Killian Tillie’s absence opened the door for freshman Drew Timme to become the eighth Zag to start, but it was lineup mainstays Ryan Woolridge and Filip Petrusev that worked over the Titans in a 93-72 victory viewed by 6,000 at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

Offensive MVP, defensive MVP and key moment from Gonzaga’s win over Detroit Mercy at McCarthey Athletic Center

Filip Petrusev scored 22 points, Ryan Woolridge poured in 21 and the No. 1 Gonzaga Bulldogs breezed past the Detroit Mercy Titans 93-72 on Monday night at McCarthey Athletic Center.

Gonzaga didn’t play but still managed to strengthen its hold on No. 1 in the AP college basketball poll.

A GRIP ON SPORTS • The Seattle Seahawks will make a 2,400-mile flight this weekend to play a playoff football game. All because they couldn’t move the football two or three more inches last night.

Filip Petrusev scored 22 points, Ryan Woolridge poured in 21 and the No. 1 Gonzaga Bulldogs breezed past the Detroit Mercy Titans 93-72 on Monday night at McCarthey Athletic Center.

Gonzaga beat Detroit Mercy 93-72 to complete non-conference play 14-1. The Zags will start the WCC slate on Thursday at Portland. In this win over the Titans, head coach Mark Few gave freshman Drew Timme the nod at starting. Timme replaced Killian Tillie as the senior was out to get a little more rest before conference.

Jill Townsend led the 17th-ranked Gonzaga women out of a 20-point hole to a 62-57 win over Portland in their WCC opener.

The top-ranked Zags (13-1) shoot for a perfect 10 on Monday against visiting Detroit Mercy, nine days after dusting Eastern Washington by 35 points. The Titans (2-11) come in as major underdogs with one oddsmaker listing the Zags as 31

Gonzaga is heavily favored against Detroit Mercy, but the game offers at least one intriguing subplot: Sophomore guard Antoine Davis is one of the nation’s most prolific scorers.

A GRIP ON SPORTS • There are times when football and fantasy intersect. And, no, we’re not talking about some stupid fantasy football playoffs. We’re talking about hour 10 of watching college football on a Saturday, some 27 glasses of water and three doses of DayQuil in, when your mind starts to wander. And you imagine hearing a conversation that never occurred.

Gonzaga basketball grew from a national brand into a national power in the last decade.

The Gonzaga Womens Basketball team overcame a 20-point deficit to win the West Coast Conference Opener against Portland

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Yes, the 2019 Washington State Cougar football season ended in a bowl game – though Phoenix this week didn’t really qualify as a “warm-weather bowl site.” Then again, the 2019 Washington State Cougar football season didn’t really qualify as a successful one either.