What a start to the college basketball season for Mark Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs.
While programs across the country are still finding their identities, the Zags seemed to be in midseason form throughout their season season-opening win over No. 8 Baylor earlier this week at the Spokane Arena. From start to finish, the Bulldogs thoroughly outplayed a talented Bears squad that, despite star-studded freshmen and experienced transfers, lacked continuity compared to their opponent.
“It’s fair to say that Gonzaga, returning eight or nine players, looked like this,” Baylor head coach Scott Drew said after the game. “And we, with one returning starter, looked like this.”
Continuity was Drew’s first conclusion of the 101-63 final on Monday. In the history of the Associated Press Top 25 poll, the 38-point margin marked the largest margin of victory for any team over a top 10 opponent to start a season.
“I think we understand this is just the first game,” Huff said. “So there is still a long way to go. We are not yet where we need to be. But it was a good first match. “I think everyone who played had a big impact and we’re really happy with how we played tonight, but we also understand that it’s November now and we’re playing for March.”
Although it was just one game, according to Huff, Gonzaga’s emphatic victory on opening night puts the team firmly in the No. 1 spot in our first West Coast Conference power rankings.
Gonzaga Bulldogs senior guard Nolan Hickman. / Photo by Erik Smith, Myk Crawford
Last result: 101-63 W vs. Baylor (11/4)
Gonzaga’s depth legitimizes its national title ambitions. Five players finished in double figures against Baylor, with senior guard Nolan Hickman leading the way with 17 points and three 3-pointers. Senior forward Graham Ike scored 11 points in the second half and finished the night with 15, while redshirt sophomore Braden Huff (14 points) and sophomore wing Dusty Stromer (11 points) led the bench with 25 points combined between the two. Khalif Battle caught fire deep in the second half, finishing his first game as a Zag with 12 points. Next: Sunday vs. Arizona State (2 p.m., ESPN)
Saint Mary’s Gaels head coach Randy Bennett. / James Snook-Imagn images
Last result: 76-69 W vs. Towson (11/4)
The Gaels are still looking for their top scorer this season, but that concern didn’t matter in their season-opening win over the Tigers. Six players finished in double figures ahead of Randy Bennett, while Arizona transfer Paulius Murauskas (14 points, 13 rebounds) and 6-foot-6 redshirt senior Luke Barrett (14 points, 11 rebounds) recorded double-doubles to lead the team. Sophomore guard Jordan Ross had 14 points and five rebounds in his first career start. Next: Thursday vs. Chattanooga (7 p.m., ESPN+)
Santa Clara Broncos head coach Herb Sendek. / James Snook-Imagn images
Last result: 85-78 W vs. Saint Louis (11/4)
The Broncos held on for an impressive victory over the Billikens at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on opening day. Led by Adama Bal’s 24 points, Santa Clara shot 12-of-35 (34.3%) from 3-point range and 17-of-20 from the charity stripe. Camaron Tongue, a 6-foot-1 senior, scored a career-high 18 points. Nine players played at least fifteen minutes for Herb Sendek. Next: Friday vs. Arizona State (Las Vegas, 5 p.m. FloSports)
San Francisco Dons head coach Chris Gerlufsen. / James Snook-Imagn images
Last result: 86-78 W vs. Cal Poly (11/5)
The path to 1-0 for Chris Gerlufsen’s side wasn’t always smooth, although the Dons eventually got the job done against a playful Cal Poly side. It looked like San Francisco was ready to pull away early in the second half after a 6-0 score, but the Mustangs responded emphatically with a 20-5 run of their own to take a 62-56 lead at 8th . :51 point. Freshman wing Tyrone Riley IV helped the Dons climb out of the hole with six straight field goals, sparking a 21-4 run. The former four-star recruit finished with 26 points, 24 of which came after halftime. Next: Saturday vs. Boise State (7:30 p.m., ESPN+)
Oregon State Beavers forward Michael Rataj. / D. Ross Cameron-Imagn images
Last result: 80-57 W vs. Utah Tech (11/4)
Damarco Minor shined in his Beavers debut with 23 points, five rebounds and four steals. The transfer from SIU to Edwardville also knocked down three of his team’s six 3-pointers, while junior forward Michael Rataj recorded 15 points and seven rebounds. Oregon State dominated the paint, where it defeated Utah Tech 46-20. Next: Friday vs. Weber State (7 p.m., ESPN+)
Washington State Cougars guard Isaiah Watts. / Steven Branscombe-Imagn images
Last result: 100-92 W vs. Portland State (11/4)
The Cougars stumbled out of the gate against the Vikings as they trailed 21-5 against a team picked by the league’s coaches to finish sixth in the Big Sky Conference. David Riley’s team quickly found its rhythm after Isaiah Watts scored a transition 3-pointer that sparked a 29-7 run for WSU. Cedric Coward recorded his 10th career double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds, while Watts finished with 20 points. Next: Friday vs. Bradley (8 p.m., ESPN+)
Loyola Marymount Lions head coach Stan Johnson. / James Snook-Imagn images
Final result: 99-55 W vs. Life Pacific (non DI; 11/4)
The Lions were one of three WCC teams to open the season against a non-Division I school. Alex Merkviladze scored 22 points and nine rebounds. MJ Amey Jr., a 6-foot-4 transfer from San Jose State, had 20 points in his LMU debut. Next: Friday vs. UC Irvine (7 p.m., ESPN+)
Pacific Tigers transfer Moe Odum. / James Snook-Imagn images
Last result: 77-64 W vs. Western Illinois (11/6)
The Ed Schilling era in Pepperdine starts 1-0 after the transfer from San Francisco. Stefan Todorovic lit up the Leathernecks for 25 points, highlighted by a personal 11-0 run during the first half. Moe Odum helped extend the lead in the second half, as the Pacific transfer finished with 18 points and knocked down three 3-pointers. Next: Saturday at UC Irvine (7 p.m., ESPN+)
Texas Tech transfer Lamar Washington. / Annie Rice/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
Last result: 92-65 W vs. Jessup (Non DI; 11/4)
Dave Smart’s decision to put 6-foot-4 junior Lamar Washington at the point of attack worked well in the season opener, as the Texas Tech transfer broke the school record for assists in a game with 15 against Jessup. Canadian transfer Elias Ralph had quite a debut himself with a career-best 30 points as the Tigers shot 58.5% from the field and made 10 three-pointers in an offensive explosion in Stockton, California. Time will soon tell if Pacific can hold up against Division I competition. Next: Friday vs. San Jose State (Manoa, Hawaii, 6:30 p.m.)
Portland Pilots head coach Shantay Legans. / James Snook-Imagn images
Latest result: 83-70 W vs. Lewis & Clark (not DI; 11/6)
The Pilots had to overcome a 9-point deficit in the first half after scoring 13 times against the Pioneers, who also led 44-40 early in the second half. A 12-0 scoring run by Portland turned the game on its head. The Pilots shot 10 of 20 from three-point range and were led by Max Mackinnon’s 20 points. Next: Saturday vs. UC Santa Barbara (3 p.m., ESPN+)
San Diego Toreros head coach Steve Lavin. / James Snook-Imagn images
Last result: 68-67 L vs. Rider (11/6)
The start of year three of the Steve Lavin era was not in favor of the Toreros, who led the Broncs at halftime but were unable to seal the victory down the stretch. Kjay Bradley Jr.’s last second layup attempt. in traffic didn’t fail, as the transfer from San Diego City College finished with 24 points in the loss. Next: Friday vs. Boston University (7 p.m., ESPN+)
MORE GONZAGA NEWS & ANALYSIS
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Continue to follow our Gonzaga coverage on social media by liking us Facebook and follow us further Instagram And Tweet.