Coach Mark Few hasn’t been afraid to switch things up because of just how deep the No. 7 Gonzaga Bulldogs (13-1, 1-0 WCC) are. He’s now thrown out six different starting lineups this season as redshirt junior guard Braeden Smith returned to the No. 1 lead guard on the depth chart with his strong play in the last two games.
Against the likes of the Oregon Ducks and Pepperdine Waves, Smith has collected 15 assists with just a mere turnover, 36 points on 13-for-18 field goals/3-for-4 three-pointers, eight rebounds, and two steals. He looks much more in control of the floor and confident with the ball in his hands in both the half-court offense and in transition than he did at the start of the 2025-26 season.
Smith has grown exponentially over the course of the non-conference to now.
Keep in mind that this opportunity came about with freshman guard Mario Saint-Supery (or Marshall Mathers with his new dyed buzz-cut) dealing with an illness over the holidays. He hasn’t been his normal self as of late, struggling to hit wide-open looks and not turn the ball over. His recent sickness and lack of play have opened the door again for Smith.
Down at the frontcourt, graduate forward Graham Ike continues to look like one of the best big men in the country. He made history on Sunday night in Malibu, becoming the 133rd college basketball player ever in the 2,000-point and 1,000-rebound club. He’s actually the first Zag ever to have reached those two marks.
Ike has continued to put out a full-on effort as an orchestrator and ball-snatcher around the rim, even when he was dealing with that nagging ankle injury he suffered at the Players Era Festival. He now has eight double-doubles on the year, 39th in his career. Through conference play, not many opposing players seem like they’re going to be able to keep up with the likes of Ike’s brute strength and swift footwork (outside of the Saint Mary’s Gaels’ trifecta of seven-footers).
As for the opposing San Diego Toreros (6-7, 1-0 WCC), the Steve Lavin coaching era at the Jenny Craig Pavilion has been underwhelming. Since making his return to the college basketball coaching ranks in 2022, he holds a 41-69 overall record.
As he enters his fourth season with the Toreros, finishing with a .500 winning percentage for just the second time looks to be well within reach. The West Coast Conference has been known for beating up on each other in the past winter months.
The best win during Lavin’s tenure came earlier this month against a crosstown opponent and future West Coast Conference member, the UC San Diego Tritons, who are now 11-2 in the record book and a contender for the Big West Conference title. San Diego junior guard Ty-Laur Johnson hoisted up the late-game heroic shot on the “road” at nearby LionTree Arena.
San Diego Player to Watch For:
Junior guard Ty-Laur Johnson
2025-26 season averages: team-leading 13.7 points on 39.8 field goal percentage/35.6 three-point percentage/84.0 free throw percentage, 3.5 assists, 2.4 rebounds, 2.3 steals per game (tied for No. 32 in the country)
The Louisville Cardinals and Wake Forest Demon Deacons transfer is not just a clutch performer from deep, but a ball-hawk in the passing lanes. He can take it the other direction and go the length of the floor for a quick bucket in lightning-like fashion.
In the recent 66-54 conference opening win against the Pacific Tigers, the 6-0 Johnson dropped a game-high 22 points on 5-for-8 from beyond the arc, plus six steals. This looks to be an interesting matchup for Smith and Saint-Supery.
Make smart choices on the defensive side of the floor
Based on what was witnessed versus Pepperdine, there is always room to tighten things up. Starting with mental mistakes on the defensive end, costly fouls at the end of the shot clock, calling out switches, the basic fundamentals. Despite the 40-point outcome being out of reach for the Waves, any time you make more than 20 personal fouls is a cause for concern.
Gonzaga has finished with 20+ assists in a single game a total of seven times this season. Also, they have had fewer than 10 turnovers in a single game seven times. This group shares and takes care of the rock at an extremely high level.
Keep the three-point barrage rolling
The Zags hit 10+ three-pointers for the fourth time this season at Pepperdine. Over the last six games, Few’s group has made 50-for-108 (46.3 percent) of their looks from deep.
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Gonzaga is the favorite over San Diego by a massive 28.5 points. The over/under is set at 162.5. The Zags are riding a six-game winning streak.
Both universities first met in 1979-80 when they joined the West Coast Conference together. Gonzaga leads the all-time series over the Toreros, 82-21. The Zags have won the last 19 contests.
The final matchup between the two schools in Southern California begins on Tuesday, Dec. 30, at 6:30 p.m. PT on ESPN+/KHQ. This will be the second of four games in eight days for Gonzaga.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
