GONZAGA MEN
In an age when continuity feels like a foreign concept in college basketball, as almost 2,000 players put their name into the transfer portal this offseason, the 2024-25 Gonzaga men's basketball team is an extreme outlier. After making the Sweet 16 in March with a core seven-man rotation, the Bulldogs return a whopping six of those key guys.First team All-West Coast Conference leaders Ryan Nembhard and Graham Ike are back, as are two fellow senior starters (Nolan Hickman and Ben Gregg) and two high-upside sophomore bench contributors (Braden Huff and Dusty Stromer). While they might've taken until February to really start really gelling last season, once this group found its stride, the wins came in droves. The lone rotational loss for GU was Anton Watson, but there appears to be an excess of incoming talent to help fill that void.
Coach Mark Few tapped into the transfer portal in a big way this offseason, starting things off by scooping up perhaps the most dynamic player in the WCC last year: former Pepperdine star senior and NBA-caliber talent Michael Ajayi, who led the conference in scoring last year (17.2 ppg) while finishing second in rebounding (9.9 ppg). The Zags' backcourt depth also received a huge shot in the arm with the addition of grad transfer Khalif Battle from Arkansas. The aggressive attacking guard averaged 29.6 points per game during the Razorbacks' final seven games last year while ranking in the top 10 in free throw shooting in the entire country.
Thanks to the continuity and potential impact arrivals, Gonzaga enters the season ranked No. 6 in the AP Poll and once again has its sights on finally bringing a national championship to Spokane. Also as per usual, the Zags have lined up an incredibly tough nonconference schedule, which includes UConn, Baylor, Kentucky, UCLA, San Diego State, and a trip to the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament (and that's before getting to the added challenge of Washington State and Oregon State temporarily entering the WCC to boost the conference slate).
In an era of constant flux, could consistency be the factor that finally gets Gonzaga over the top? (SS)
Game to watch: Nov. 4 vs. Baylor
GONZAGA WOMEN
While the Gonzaga men bring back most of their squad from last season, the situation is much different for GU women. After having the most loaded senior class in program history in 2023-24, there are a lot of holes to fill for the Bulldogs. Thankfully, their best player decided to spend another year in Spokane.After spending the summer playing for the Canadian National Team at the Olympics, reigning Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year winner Yvonne Ejim returns to anchor the Zags as one of the most dangerous inside scoring options in the country. And while having an All-American caliber player helps raise the floor, the roster certainly isn't devoid of talent. After winning WCC Sixth Woman of the Year last season, Dutch forward Maud Huijbens' efficient scoring acumen landed her on the All-WCC Preseason Team for 2024-25.
There will be a lot of guard minutes to fill with the departure of the Truong twins and Brynna Maxwell. Junior guard Bree Salenbein is the only backcourt Bulldog to see any significant playing time last season, so head coach Lisa Fortier brought in reinforcements via international talents in the transfer portal. Portuguese standout Ines Bettencourt has the potential to make an immediate impact after coming over from the powerhouse UConn, while Fortier was able to make a WCC coup by landing Aussie grad transfer Tayla Dalton.
Proving this is a program that doesn't rebuild but reloads, the Zags are still projected as the favorites to win the WCC even with the roster turnover and the quality Washington State and Oregon State programs entering the conference. But considering Fortier has decided to coach this season while actively battling breast cancer, she's not going to be shaken by any on-court challenges. (SS)
Game to watch: Nov. 10 at Stanford ♦
