One can appreciate when two of the most winningest college basketball programs over the last decade put on a home-and-home series like this. The sport needs more non-conference action with two similar offensive playing styles through their quick-paced approach.
This season, for the No. 19 Gonzaga Bulldogs (3-0), their defense looks to be better than their offense. That’s completely insane to think about, given the past history of how well this school can score the ball. It was a defensive clinic from the Zags against the No. 23 Creighton Bluejays (1-1), forcing the Big East Conference opponent out of rhythm and into tough shots while continuously not allowing any second-chance opportunities.
It was honestly a masterclass on that side of the floor from top-to-bottom at the McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane. Creighton turned over the ball 18 total times while Gonzaga scored 27 points off those turnovers. The Zags even won the rebounding battle, 41-33, and scored 48-20 points in the paint on a 65 shooting percentage inside the arc.
At one point in the second half, the Zags went on a 21-0 run over a five-minute period due to their ability to force turnovers, cause chaos in passing lanes, and secure the possession off the glass.
That was one of the most dominant performances in a single half from anyone in quite a while. A statement to the rest of the country.
Gonzaga had to fight through screens and constantly be moving around with how quickly the ball was being swung by the Bluejays in that first half. Creighton coach Greg McDermott always looks for the best possible shot while playing with a fast approach and a purpose to score the rock.
The Bluejays actually played solid interior defense at least to start this matchup. But with Iowa Hawkeyes junior transfer Owen Freeman (two points, three rebounds in 15 minutes) not being 100 percent healthy since suffering a knee injury back in May, the game became well out of reach when he was off the floor. The Zags actually recruited the 6-10 center over the offseason.
It was Gonzaga’s super senior forward Graham Ike (20 points on 8-for-10 shooting/4-for-4 three pointers, 10 rebounds) who answered the offensive call against Creighton by hitting his first three three-pointers of the season. The Steph Curry impressionist has never hit three three-pointers in a single game in 117 career games, let alone three in the first 3+ minutes of a game. They were daring the big man to shoot at times, and he would just trail in to the top of the key and drill the wide-open look in the Bluejays’ faces.
“Graham (Ike) killed us with threes that we dared him to shoot and the second half was a nightmare. We were soft offensively and that carried over to the defensive end of the floor. When you come into an environment like this (the Kennel), you’re going to get exposed.” – Creighton coach Greg McDermott on Graham Ike
Ike grabbed his third straight double-double to open up the season, sporting an average of 17.3 points and 10.6 rebounds per game so far, while reaching a major career milestone and joining the 2,000-point club. As a team, Gonzaga looks like one of the best overall rebounding teams in the nation at this formative stage.
“It’s amazing how time and time again he can deliver, and a lot of them aren’t easy shots. Graham (Ike) doesn’t get a lot of easy ones. He also has the knack to hit big shots in big times in games, which not many can do. Heck of an accomplishment.” – Gonzaga coach Mark Few on Graham Ike
This was also easily redshirt junior Braeden Smith’s best game in a Gonzaga uniform through the first three contests, finishing with a well-rounded six points, five assists/zero turnovers, two rebounds, and two steals. Many have speculated that freshman Mario Saint-Supery (13 points on 5-for-6 field goals/2-for-2 from beyond the arc, four rebounds, three assists/two turnovers, three steals, one block) should replace him at the lead guard position.
It’s a fantastic discussion to be having when both your primary ball-handlers are playing at a high level. Ultimately, the Spaniard fits the sixth man role perfectly with the way he directs and maintains the balance of the second unit. The way he competes aggressively on the defensive end is just an extra trait to love about Saint-Supery.
He stays in front of his assignment, not using his hands to reach in, but only when he makes a clean close-out on an opposing shot. Saint-Supery is way more advanced defensively than the majority of players at his age, even some veterans. He brings energy off the bench that Gonzaga coach Mark Few can call upon to change the direction of how a game is headed. The way that Saint-Supery has been able to adjust to the American game so swiftly is mind-boggling.
Gonzaga showed why they are worthy of having a top-10 defense and offense (now No. 5-ranked defense and No. 9 offense, according to KenPom) against Creighton. They showed off their defensive prowess through their 11 key rotation players by suffocating the Bluejays into shooting 7-for-25 in the second half. They executed on all cylinders while hitting a season-high nine three-pointers, something that is thought to be the lone issue with this unit in the 2025-26 season.
The two fellow Jesuit institutions are now tied at 6-6 in their all-time history against each other. Gonzaga is riding a four-game winning streak against the Midwest program and extended its home winning streak over ranked opponents to six. This is the first of what should be many Quad 1 victories on the Pacific Northwest program’s NCAA Tournament resume.
The Zags are deep across the board, and Few is utilizing that to his advantage through the first three games. It’s much too early still, but the hype is for real around this group of men who are already clicking chemistry-wise, and they’re now beginning to gain national attention.
How far away is Gonzaga from reaching their true ceiling? Still seems like it’s got a while to get to that point. Next on Gonzaga’s loaded non-conference slate is the first true road test of the year in Tempe against coach Bobby Hurley and the Arizona State Sun Devils on Friday, Nov. 14, at 8 p.m. PT on ESPN2.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
