The Santa Clara Broncos (22-6, 13-2 WCC) entered tonight’s vital West Coast Conference matchup against the No. 12 Gonzaga Bulldogs (25-2, 13-1 WCC) with their program’s best start since the 1969-1970 season. Santa Clara was 13-1 in their previous 14 games, riding a nine-game winning streak, and were, even more importantly, undefeated at the Leavey Center at a 13-0 record.
As expected, this was a high-scoring affair and clash down low with the top two scoring schools in the West Coast Conference. The stat that stood out the most from the Zags was finishing with 66 of their 94 total points inside the paint against the Broncos in a hostile road situation.
That comes at the hands of the All-American candidate, graduate forward Graham Ike, as well as through the overall efforts of graduate guard Adam Miller. The two veterans pushed their teammates to this Quad 1 victory, improving to a 6-1 record in those opportunities and a No. 6 ranking in the NET.
On ESPN’s primetime, there were quite a few missed looks at point-blank range for Gonzaga early on. Especially from Ike. After the first media timeout, the big man started to come into his own and just got better as the game progressed. He was in the right place at the right time near the rim and did a solid job sizing up an active 7-1 senior center, Bukky Oboye (seven points, eight rebounds, one steal, one block). Ike had to back him down throughout, and came out positively more times than not.
If that wasn’t enough pressure, Ike was dealing with boos and profanities thrown his way from the Ruff Riders’ student section. He was much more in control of his emotions on his way to grabbing his 13th double of the season with 21 points on 10-for-15 shooting and four rebounds. Ike also dished out four assists, doing whatever it took to achieve the victory.
“He’s clearly one of the best players in all of college basketball. It’s surprising to me when you look at some of these lists that are generated, he’s a glaring omission some times. If you base something on productivity, who does it any better night in and night out than he does.” – Santa Clara coach Herb Sendek
Where would this team under coach Mark Few have been without Ike’s effort? Not just tonight. All season long, for that matter. It’s been an impressive stretch of games, scoring at least 20 in the last seven for the Zags.
As Spokesman Review’s Theo Lawson dug out of Few’s postgame availability, Ike deserves more national recognition as a potential First or Second Team All-American. That’s something this site has been vocal about as well.
“I think it’s time he starts seeing his name pop up on first team All-American or second team All-American. I know we’re all obsessed and infatuated with these freshmen, but he’s literally been delivering night in and night out at the highest level.” – Gonzaga coach Mark Few
As for Miller, this was his best outing in over three weeks. He caught on fire down the late stretch, scoring 16 of his season-high 21 points in the final seven minutes (total shooting split of 6-for-9 from the field, 2-of-4 on three-pointers, near perfect 7-for-8 at the charity stripe). Miller has had his struggles when trying to stretch out the floor for the Pacific Northwest’s team, a trait that has served him well throughout his long tenure. The Peoria, Illinois, native couldn’t have picked a better time to come alive and simply find ways to make a winning impact for his teammates in the closing minutes.
Graduate wing Tyon Grant-Foster was an angry one at the rim in the second half, playing through contact and not letting up on the offensive end. When he hit that “too-small” celebration late in the second half, it proved to me that he was the purest scoring threat out there. Not to mention him soaring high up for volleyball spike-like blocks and crucial rebounds to secure multiple Gonzaga defensive stops. In general, what Grant-Foster put together defensively was special.
He also continued to get to the line on the other end. Of course, not executing the free looks consistently as one would hope after going 6-for-11 (19-for-29 as a team). Attacking downhill is where Grant-Foster shone the brightest, finishing with 20 points for just the second time in a Zags uniform (first was against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Nov. 24. He chipped in seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals as well.
No, never would forget about the Italian junior wing Emmanuel Innocenti. He put in 16 points, six rebounds, and two assists in 39 minutes, basically not leaving the floor under Few’s rotation. This team is loaded with talent, which means some players can get lost in the shuffle and also fall on the unfavorable side of the fans. That hasn’t seemed to be the case for the highly poised and reliable Innocenti. Just completely focused on his defensive assignment and switches.
The struggles of redshirt junior guard Braeden Smith (two points, four assists/three turnovers in 19 minutes) continue on, as he looked lost at times when he was on the floor. Few pulled him after a defensive collapse to Santa Clara redshirt sophomore guard Christian Hammond (16 points on 7-of-14 shooting, three assists/two turnovers, three rebounds) before the first television timeout.
Freshman guard Mario Saint-Supery (eight points, game-high five assists/two turnovers) replaced him and settled the offense. That included another buzzer-beater from the Spaniard to close the first half, who has been a much more significant scoring threat than Smith at the one spot. Despite all the drama surrounding the lead guard position, Gonzaga turned the ball over only nine times after 40 minutes of play versus the Broncos.
Santa Clara is still searching for their first NCAA Tournament bid since 1996, back when legendary Steve Nash was leading the way. Coach Herb Sendek has the personnel to get it done with his roster’s overall size, length, and athleticism. His group causes a lot of chaos on the defensive end and makes a ton of deflections, finishing with seven steals against the Zags.
For Gonzaga, all focus was centered around standout redshirt freshman forward Allen Graves. He ended up with 13 points on 2-of-7 shooting and 9-for-10 free throws before fouling out. Graves has the potential to be an NBA defending wing as he ends so many opponent possessions through his active hands in the passing lanes, when protecting the rim, and coming down with boards. One can see quite the similarity between him and Swiss Army Knife Anton Watson when he was back in college.
The Zags ended up being the spoiler and have taken control of first place in the West Coast Conference standings after reaching their 19th-straight 25-win season, an NCAA Division-1 record.
Few has now moved to a 53-6 all-time record against the Broncos in his illustrious career. Sendek dropped to a 2-19 record against Gonzaga. These two coaching minds are some of the best not only in the West Coast Conference, but in all of college basketball.
With the Saint Mary’s Gaels beating the underrated Pacific Tigers 72-61 earlier in Stockton, California, the West Coast Conference still has the feel of a three-bid league in the NCAA Tournament after this high-level basketball competition. Sendek has his best group of players in Year 10 since taking the job back in 2010, deserving of a spot in March Madness.
Santa Clara obviously needs to win out in the regular season, which would include a sweep of Saint Mary’s. The rematch between the two Bay Area institutions will occur on Feb. 25 in Moraga, California.
Next for the Zags is under the bright Chase Center lights against the underperforming San Francisco Dons (14-13, 6-8 WCC) on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 8 p.m. PT on ESPN2. If Gonzaga can win out, it seems like a No. 2 seed in the West is still very much a possibility.
On the injury front, graduate wing Steele Venters didn’t log any minutes at Santa Clara. No exact word on what the situation is there yet.
Senior wing Jalen Warley has been playing through a thigh bruise that he suffered in an embarrassing loss at the Portland Pilots on Feb. 4. He’s a trooper, fighting the pain in the last three games, but Few has noticed the discomfort from him.
“He’s really hurting, he’s not even practicing. It’s just one of those things that’s going to take awhile. He’s in a lot of pain. He hasn’t been able to practice, I think it’s starting to affect his wind a little bit. He was so tired tonight, but he’s a warrior.” – Gonzaga coach Mark Few
With redshirt junior forward Braden Huff still on crutches with a left knee injury, Warley is going to be especially needed in the postseason with his ability to guard one through five. The Gonzaga frontcourt has been hit hard and can’t do it without him.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
