Portland vs. Gonzaga Preview: Community Cancer Fund Classic

The Zags need a beatdown win to get this train on the right track. It’s necessary to hold on to big wires and not let off the gas throughout this West Coast Conference schedule against bottom-half teams like the Portland Pilots, Loyola Marymount Lions, San Diego Toreros to prepare them for the Washington State Cougars, Oregon State Beavers and Santa Clara Broncos on the road.

Gonzaga’s defense (tied for 114th in the nation with 70.0 points allowed) has yet to show fire for a full 40 minutes this season, as was evident in a close-for-comfort 89-82 win in Malibu against the Pepperdine Waves. No way in the world should that group have come back in that game. The 20-point lead for the Zags that was trimmed to just two points midway through the second half is inexcusable. Most of that cut into Pepperdine’s deficit was thanks to the lack of effort from Gonzaga’s backcourt defensively.

“We got cooked, we absolutely got cooked. Especially out there on the perimeter. Their guards really put it on us.” – Gonzaga coach Mark Few via Advocate review

Offensively, Khalif Battle showed he has to be the guy with the ball in his hands when these games are this close. The grad transfer, who bounced back from a flagrant 2 call that threw him out of the game in the first half against UCLA and then put up 21 points on 7-11 FG/7-8 FT in his next opportunity versus the Waves, proved that. Coach Mark Few seems to have the most confidence in his scoring ability down the stretch.

“The coach gave me the confidence, told me he wanted to rock with me. I was aggressive early, I felt really comfortable.” – Gonzaga guard Khalif Battle via Advocate review

Questions surrounding Few’s rotation continue to be tossed around, one top of mind being the lack of Braden Huff’s minutes. Against the Bruins and the Waves, just a combined 26 minutes. The sophomore is averaging just 18.0 minutes per game. game through 14 games played off the bench, but still contributes 12.4 points per game. game on a 59.4 field goal percentage to go along with 4.0 rebounds per game. game for the Zags.

As for Gonzaga’s inability to stretch the floor (ranks 204th in the country with a 33.33 three-point shooting percentage), Nolan Hickman has been the only effective three-point shooter this season at 44.1 percent. The senior has been in and out of the starting lineup, but when he’s out there, Hickman appears to be the only reliable threat from deep range. The problem with keeping him out there for a long time is how opposing offenses can exploit him when they are on the defensive end of the floor.

Michael Ajayi needs a big performance against Portland in front of a Spokane crowd to get his confidence back up. Expectations heading into the season after his All-WCC First Team campaign with Pepperdine were sky high and have not been met. He needs to see the ball go through the hoop more than anyone else on this Gonzaga roster, averaging just 6.9 points per game this season after compiling a WCC-best 17.2 points per game last season with the Waves . The scoring ability is there, just needs to be put into play. Taking care of the ball is also important for Ajayi, as he has turned it over a total of seven times over the past two games.

Players to watch for:

Austin Rapp (Freshman, Forward) – 14.4 PPG on 44.7 FG%/41.1 3PT%/91.8 FT%, 5.0 RPG, 2.2 APG

After a 17 point/six rebound/four assist/three block/one steal performance against Washington State and a 22 point/six rebound/one block/one steal at Oregon State, Rapp won his second WCC Freshman of the Week Award.

The Australian is having an underrated first season in college basketball because of his team’s overall success. At 6’10, 230 pounds, Rapp leads the conference in three-point field goal percentage with 41.1 and 2.8 three-point field goals made per game. match.

The Zags will play the Pilots at Spokane Arena in the Community Cancer Fund Classic on Thursday, January 2 at 6pm PT on ESPN+/KHQ. Proceeds from the event will support efforts in the fight against cancer in the Inland Northwest region. Portland coach Shantay Legans is trying to turn this program around in his fourth season, but has arguably the worst roster in the West Coast Conference. It is an extremely young group with 11 freshmen and only two seniors.

Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on Twitter @a_cravalho