Gonzaga rolls over Jackson State: 'I was really happy with our guys' effort'
Coming off an emotional loss to No. 5 UConn in Seattle, the No. 15 Gonzaga Bulldogs returned to the McCarthey Athletic Center for a nonconference game against Jackson State, the last game before the team's longest break since practices began in early September.
With the holiday break looming and the lack of crazed students to bring the energy, the Zags (9-3) put their heads down and handled business to down the visiting Tigers (4-8), 100-76, on Wednesday night. It wasn't a contest from the opening tip, as Gonzaga led by as many as 37 points in the second half and trailed for just 13 seconds total.
"I was really happy with our guys' effort," Mark Few said. "I think Jackson State can win their league. They had our full attention and our guys did great."
Here are three takeaways from Gonzaga's victory:
GRAHAM IKE LEADS THE CHARGE
Photo by Erik Smith, Myk Crawford
Few had been harping on his starting center to be more aggressive down low. After all, Graham Ike had just 11 combined field goal attempts over his previous two games heading into Wednesday night. The 6-foot-9 post who led the team in scoring was a non-factor in the loss to UConn, with just five points in 18 minutes against Donovan Clingan.
But as the rest of the team rebounded, Ike responded to Few's wishes with arguably his best game of the season. In just 17 minutes against the Tigers, he finished with 22 points. 11 rebounds and went 10-for-14 at the free throw line, his most attempts at the charity stripe since January 2022. He demanded the ball on the low block to take advantage of his size mismatch and ran the floor from end to end, and all Jackson State could do to stop him was to wrap him up until a whistle blew.
"That's what we need for him," Anton Watson said of Ike. "He's gonna be a problem for teams. We need him to be aggressive."
Ike led another spirited attack from Gonzaga's frontcourt. Braden Huff found success inside with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Watson did a little bit of everything: 10 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals. Ben Gregg brought the energy with six points, five rebounds and three steals.
"They did a good job," Few said of the frontcourt. "I think Graham got the message a little bit obviously and he got himself to the line tonight. Braden surely got the message. He came in there and gave us a big lift. So hopefully that's going to kind of filter through and we'll get more consistent with that."
Gonzaga's bread-and-butter for a long time now has been through scoring on the low block. The guards of course have to do their part, but interior play has been the program's identity on offense and will continue to be that way under Few. If Ike can be a consistent presence and aggressive, the Bulldogs have found their go-to scorer moving forward.
ANTON WATSON DOES IT ALL AGAIN
Photo by Erik Smith, Myk Crawford
In typical Anton Watson fashion, the Spokane native has quietly been Gonzaga's most consistent piece on both ends of the floor. From being the No. 1 option on offense one night to controlling the glass and locking down the opponent's best player the next, Watson has been relied upon in ways that don't jump out on the box score — until he stuffed the sheet Wednesday.
"Anton has been great through this whole run," Few said. "We just lean on him for everything. He breaks presses. Basically he man's the middle of our zone offense [and] makes plays there. Then obviously defends any great player one through five."
The near triple-double against the Tigers showcased everything in Watson's wheelhouse, which has kept the Bulldogs grounded and poised for the most part when things go awry in stretches. He can't be expected to carry the load offensively night after night, but he can change the course of a game in so many different ways that it doesn't really matter if he leads the team in scoring. Watson's at his best when he can take what the opposition gives him, and thus Gonzaga is at its best when its fifth-year senior is in a rhythm.
TIME FOR A BREAK
Photo by Erik Smith, Myk Crawford
Safe to say the grind through a rigorous nonconference slate has worn the tread on Gonzaga's tires. Trips to Hawaii, Las Vegas and Seattle against high-level competition have taken their toll, and Few admitted that it's time his guys get a rest before one more pivotal matchup against San Diego State on Dec. 29. After months of practice, games and roadtrips, the Bulldogs get to enjoy their longest break since classes started in late August.
"We need a break," Few said. "We've been going hard here and logged a lot of miles. These three back and forth weekends kind of add up and they need a break."
Without much depth in specific areas, Gonzaga's most important players have been leaned on since the season opener. Nolan Hickman and Ryan Nembhard had logged a combined seven complete games (40 minutes played) at various points this season. Watson has two such complete games himself. Even freshman Dusty Stromer has been thrusted into the limelight, averaging 29.5 minutes as a starter.
The rotation will only get thinner without Luka Krajnovic coming off the bench after the freshman broke his hand prior to the UConn game. Few essentially played a seven-man rotation for most of Wednesday's game before putting Jun Seok Yeo on the floor late in the second half for seven minutes. Surely, the next week off will be pivotal for a rejuvenated return to face San Diego State.
Not just physically, but mentally too.
"The mental aspect of this has become so important and we've been spending more and more time and more and more resources with that with our guys," Few said. "But there's nothing better than just going home."
