The Slipper Still Fits
A Gonzaga Basketball Blog - The #1 Source for Bulldogs Discussion and Opinion
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Gonzaga Falls to Arkansas 76-72 in Preseason Matchup
Gonzaga drops a gritty 76-72 preseason loss to Arkansas at Bud Walton Arena on Oct. 24, 2026. Without star forward Davis Fogle (leg injury) and ineligible Chauncey Wiggins, the Bulldogs struggled to find a rhythm, shooting just 2-for-14 from three and committing 18 fouls. Arkansas capitalized with a 5-of-10 three‑point night and 16 fast‑break points, erasing a 10‑point halftime lead. Braden Huff led Gonzaga with 19 points (15 in the second half) and 11 rebounds, while bench standout Izan Almansa added eight. The game featured multiple technical fouls and a chaotic second half, leaving questions about Gonzaga’s backcourt stability ahead of their opening matchup with Purdue.
Bennett, Lee, Bettencourt earn key wins in court cases, allowing skilled veteran guards to lead Gonzaga basketball
A Santa Clara judge’s preliminary injunction lets Gonzaga point guards Xaivian Lee and Ines Bettencourt retain a fifth year of eligibility, letting them suit up for the 2026‑27 season while the NCAA appeals. Alongside them, transfer guard Javon Bennett also clears eligibility, giving men’s coach Mark Few a veteran backcourt trio and women’s coach Lisa Fortier a seasoned floor general. Bennett, a 5‑10, 165‑lb guard who averaged 16 points, 3 assists and 2.9 steals per game at Dayton, adds clutch scoring and near‑90% free‑throw shooting. With these seasoned guards, Gonzaga aims to dominate the Pac‑12 in its new era, despite ongoing legal battles affecting over 70 players.
What to Watch For During the Gonzaga at Arkansas Exhibition
The Gonzaga Bulldogs face John Calipari’s No. 12 Arkansas Razorbacks in an Oct. 23 exhibition at Bud Walton Arena, offering a first look at both squads’ 2026‑27 rosters. Gonzaga adds Spanish forward Izan Almansa, joining redshirt senior Braden Huff and transfer center Massamba Diop to deepen a frontcourt that missed a top‑200 three‑point ranking last season. New backcourt options include transfer point guard Javon Bennett, combo guard Xaivian Lee, and French guard Nathan De Sousa, while sharpshooter Isiah Harwell impressed with 17 points on 4‑for‑5 from deep. Arkansas counters with its elite recruiting class, highlighted by Finnish wing Miikka Muurinen and seasoned guards Jordan Smith Jr. and Davion Thompson, plus veteran wing Billy Richmond III. The preview raises three questions: Will Gonzaga’s three‑point shooting improve, can the new backcourt support the interior, and how will both teams defend elite, star‑powered lineups?
Gonzaga at Arkansas Open Thread (Exhibition)
A friendly reminder that the best way to watch the majority of the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the start of the Pac-12 Conference era in the 2026-27 season is through YouTube TV’s Ultimate Sports Plan or Hulu Live. Time to ditch cable if you haven’t already. Saturday, Oct. 24, at 1:00 p.m. PT on SEC Network+
Gonzaga’s Nathan De Sousa Projected Among Top Incoming Recruits in College Basketball
Nathan De Sousa, a 23‑year‑old French point guard from Cholet Basket, ranks No. 16 in Evan Miyakawa’s new preseason impact model, earning a Bayesian Performance Rating of +4.3 – the highest‑rated Gonzaga newcomer. The model, which adjusts stats for age, competition level and assists reliability, projects De Sousa to add about four points per 100 possessions and highlights his 9.1 assists per 36 minutes with a low turnover rate. His free‑throw volume also tops recent Zags guards, suggesting a strong offensive presence for the 2026‑27 season. Gonzaga fans should watch this seasoned international guard as he could be a key playmaker.
Gonzaga’s De Sousa Projected Among Top Incoming Recruits in College Basketball
Nathan De Sousa, the 23‑year‑old French point guard who helped Cholet reach the FIBA Europe Cup semi‑finals, lands at No. 16 on Evan Miyakawa’s new projection model for incoming college players. With a Bayesian Performance Rating of +4.3, De Sousa is expected to add about four points per 100 possessions for Gonzaga, outpacing many five‑star recruits. His last season featured 142 assists, 52 turnovers in 560 minutes (9.1 assists per 36 minutes) and a surprisingly high free‑throw volume – 156 attempts in 29 games. The model highlights his elite distribution and low mistake rate, suggesting he could be a key playmaker for the Zags despite not being an All‑Conference guarantee.
Bulldog Business: Preseason AP Poll, Javon Bennett’s Eligibility, NBA Predictions
Kyle Sweeney and Josh Gilchrist break down the new preseason AP poll, evaluate Dayton transfer Javon Bennett’s fit in Gonzaga’s backcourt, and project how the Zags will fare in the NBA draft. They weigh the poll’s implications for Gonzaga’s ranking, discuss Bennett’s eligibility and potential impact, and offer their top NBA predictions for the program’s prospects heading into the 2026‑27 season.
How to Watch Gonzaga Basketball in the 2026-27 Season
Gonzaga's debut Pac-12 season brings a sprawling TV lineup. The Zags open against Purdue on Nov. 2 in Las Vegas on TNT/truTV, then head to ESPN for a Kansas State game on Nov. 24 at the Players Era Festival. CBS airs Michigan State (Dec. 19), Oregon (Jan. 30) and SDSU (Feb. 27). The CW streams six games, USA Network nine, and Amazon Prime Video will showcase the Duke matchup on Feb. 20. Local fans catch two games on Spokane’s KHQ. To catch most contests, YouTube TV or Hulu Live offer the most comprehensive coverage.
Lisa Fortier, Jordan Green Hand Gonzaga Offer to Recruit AnnaClaire Bugbee
Gonzaga women's basketball coach Lisa Fortier and assistant Jordan Green have offered a scholarship to 6‑foot‑2 power forward/center AnnaClaire Bugbee from Mandan, North Dakota. Bugbee, a Class of 2028 junior, logged 17.5 points, 13.1 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals per game in her sophomore year and earned All‑State Second Team honors. After an unofficial visit to Spokane on Oct. 8, she announced the offer on X, thanking the staff. Bugbee also plays AAU for North Tartan in the Nike EYBL, volleyball, and javelin, and holds offers from Creighton, San Jose State, New Mexico and other mid‑major programs. Gonzaga currently has no other 2028 commits.
Gonzaga Opens at No. 15 in Preseason AP Poll
Gonzaga opens the 2026‑27 season ranked No. 15 in the AP preseason poll, the sole non‑Power Five team among the top 25. The Bulldogs have appeared in 17 consecutive preseason polls, joining Duke, Kansas and Kentucky in that streak, and have been featured in 187 of the last 214 polls overall. KenPom rates Gonzaga No. 14, with a No. 7 offense (121.2), No. 21 defense (95.5) and a No. 62 tempo (72.9). Their first game is against unranked Purdue at Las Vegas’ T‑Mobile Arena on Nov. 2, followed by matchups versus No. 22 UCLA, No. 6 Michigan State and No. 2 Duke. Utah State is the only other Pac‑12 team receiving poll votes.
Drew Timme Waived, Immediately Picked up by Phoenix Suns
After four preseason outings with the Minnesota Timberwolves, forward/center Drew Timme is waived and instantly claimed by the Phoenix Suns, filling their final two‑way contract slot and replacing guard Koby Brea. The 6‑10, 235‑lb former Gonzaga star will split time between Phoenix and its G League affiliate, the Valley Suns, joining ex‑Zag David Stockton. Timmy, who has bounced among six NBA organizations since going undrafted in 2023, posted 6.0 points on 60% shooting in Minnesota’s preseason and has career totals of 5.6 points and 2.7 rebounds over 36 NBA games. His addition brings the Suns’ roster to 12 active former Gonzaga players, tying the program for fifth‑most current NBA alumni.
Julian Strawther’s Season Debut to Be Delayed Until December
The start of wing Julian Strawther’s fourth NBA season with the Denver Nuggets is off to an unfortunate, unpredictable beginning. During the Wednesday, Oct. 14, preseason matchup at the Los Angeles Clippers, Strawther suffered a left knee sprain that was revealed by an MRI the following day. The Gonzaga Bulldog sharpshooter will be re-evaluated in […]
Noah Meffert Braces for First Season in Gonzaga’s Dugout as Assistant Coach
Just five months ago, Noah Meffert and his Gonzaga Bulldogs were celebrating their final West Coast Conference regular-season title in the Bay Area. Jump to today, the former outfielder is still around the game in a different capacity. Meffert was hired by his alma mater to join the coaching staff back in the middle of […]
How does Gonzaga’s star duo of Braden Huff, Massamba Diop rank against the nation’s best frontcourts?
Gonzaga men’s basketball has prided itself on its frontcourt over the past decade. From towering giants like Przemek Karnowski to fluid, athletic bigs like Jonathan Williams, Zach Collins, Killian Tillie, and Brandon Clarke to game-breaking scorers and playmakers like Domantas Sabonis, Drew Timme, Chet Holmgren, and Graham Ike, Zags fans have been blessed to see […]
Gonzaga Opens at No. 14 in KenPom
In the preseason KenPom rankings, the Gonzaga Bulldogs start the 2026-27 campaign at No. 14. At the end of the 2025-26 season, Gonzaga ended up at No. 15 after finishing with a 31-4 overall record and falling to the No. 11-seeded Texas Longhorns in the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament. The Zags currently […]
Gonzaga’s Eligibility Check-In: Three Weeks From the Season Opener
The 2026-27 season starts in three weeks, and Gonzaga still can’t tell you with any real degree of certainty who it’ll have playing in it. The Zags open against Purdue on November 2 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and four players on the roster remain ineligible or on the verge of ineligibility. Back in […]
Gonzaga Women Dialed in From Deep at FanFest
Al Roker doesn’t typically report the weather forecast on the “Today Show,” but if he did earlier this morning, he would have said there was a good chance of rain later in the afternoon in Spokane, Washington. Forget the three-point competition inside the McCarthey Athletic Center won by Blue Team’s junior guard Allie Turner for […]
2026 FanFest Open Thread
FanFest will be the public’s first look at coach Lisa Fortier’s 2026-27 women’s basketball group, returning 10 players from the 2025-26 unit. The Gonzaga Bulldogs closed last season with a final West Coast Conference Tournament title and the program’s 16th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Loaded with experience, the Zags are the favorite to win […]
Bulldog Business: Kraziness (Over)Reaction and FanFest Preview
In the second episode of Bulldog Business, Kyle Sweeney and Josh Gilchrist react to the 2026 Kraziness in the Kennel. They talk sophomore wing Davis Fogle’s 30-point performance, redshirt senior forward Braden Huff’s return to the Kennel, whether or not they are concerned after sophomore center Massamba Diop’s showing, and how the group will structure […]
What to Expect From Nathan De Sousa, Xaivian Lee as the Zags’ Possible Starting Backcourt
To put it lightly, it’s been a whirlwind of an offseason for coach Mark Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs backcourt. Although those winds are still blowing (RE: Javon Bennett, Izan Almansa, and Chauncey Wiggins), the Zags have found a glimpse of what should be their starting backcourt, with French guard Nathan De Sousa cleared by […]
Six Key Takeaways From Gonzaga’s 2026 Kraziness in the Kennel
More than 6,000 people filled the McCarthey Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon to watch a 20-minute intrasquad scrimmage featuring a roster that has barely existed for four months. For a Gonzaga team that spent most of the summer waiting on eligibility rulings, the afternoon went about as well as it could have gone. The two […]
Kraziness in the Kennel Felt Like the ‘Davis Fogle Show’
When I saw “Superman” last summer in theaters, the biggest thing I took away from the experience was that “The Odyssey” trailer looked unreal. A year later, Christopher Nolan’s passion project turned out to be the best movie I’ve seen all decade. After walking out of the McCarthy Athletic Center from Kraziness in the Kennel […]
Gonzaga Women’s 2026-27 Schedule Is Complete
The first season in the Pac-12 Conference is closing in for the Gonzaga Bulldogs, and their matchups have now been released. Coach Lisa Fortier’s group starts off league play with a rivalry game against a familiar Pacific Northwest program. Gonzaga hosts the Oregon State Beavers inside the McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Washington, on Jan. […]
Kevin Pangos Retires From Basketball
Congratulations are in order for two-time All-EuroLeague point guard Kevin Pangos, who announced his retirement from basketball at the age of 33 on Instagram. Pangos is highly regarded as one of the greatest lead guards to ever come through Europe. He was named to the All-EuroCup Second Team in 2016 with Gran Canaria, the All-EuroLeague […]
2026 Kraziness in the Kennel Open Thread
Many questions surround the Gonzaga Bulldogs’ 2026-27 squad heading into a sold-out Kraziness in the Kennel inside the McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Washington… Will the three ineligible players (fifth-year point guard Javon Bennett in the state of Ohio lawsuit, fifth-year forward Chauncey Wiggins in the state of Georgia lawsuit, and international forward/center Izan Almansa) […]
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