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It probably wasn’t everything Mark Few had on his wish list, but Gonzaga’s home nonconference finale against Bucknell served the only purpose it needed to before Bulldogs players began a brief holiday break.

Here are three observations from No. 13 Gonzaga’s 86-65 win over Bucknell on Saturday at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

Gonzaga and Bucknell don’t share too much in common with each other and, in a more general sense, college basketball these days. The transfer portal, as well as name, image and likeness (NIL), have changed college sports, particularly basketball and football. However, both the Zags and Bison boast loads of familiar faces and rank among NCAA Division I’s oldest teams.

Saturday marks the first meeting between Gonzaga and Bucknell, but this won’t be the first time GU standout Ryan Nembhard and Bison point guard Josh Bascoe have faced each other. Both are from Ontario, Canada, and their hometowns are separated by an hour’s drive. Bascoe is a year older, but Nembhard’s Vaughan Panthers and Bascoe’s Milton Stags, coached by Josh’s dad, Shane, tangled several times before embarking on their college careers.

When drawing parallels between Gonzaga’s current team and the 2023-24 group that extended the program’s streak of consecutive Sweet 16 appearances, the easiest place to start is the win-loss column.

Gonzaga coach Mark Few is on the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame ballot for the first time.

Gonzaga fans who watched Wednesday’s game against Nicholls State from the opening tip probably grew frustrated seeing the Bulldogs struggle with many of the same issues that surfaced in recent losses to Kentucky and Connecticut.

Gonzaga fans who watched Wednesday’s game against Nicholls State from the opening tipoff probably grew frustrated watching the Bulldogs struggle with many of the same issues that surfaced in recent losses to Kentucky and Connecticut.

Gonzaga’s Nolan Hickman went from zero points against UConn to 11 points and one of his better all-around efforts of the season against Nicholls State on Wednesday. Graham Ike, limited to three points by the Huskies, matching his lowest output in a Gonzaga uniform, responded with better than a point-per-minute pace.

Here are three observations from No. 13 Gonzaga’s 102-72 win over Nicholls State on Wednesday at the McCarthey Athletic Center.