NCAA

This group of Zags has seen everything, done everything, and played against just about everybody. The eight-deep features a nice mix of four guards and four bigs, and looks as talented as any of the Zag predecessors. Play big, play small, play fast. Whatever.

Mark Few’s program, targeting a 10th consecutive trip to the Sweet 16 and lots more in 2024-25, will be an anomaly in another sense this season when it takes the court with four of the five players who started for the Zags one year ago, along with two key reserves – Dusty Stromer and Braden Huff – who accounted for 35 of the team’s 46 bench points, and 76% of the total bench minutes during the NCAA Tournament.

Lisa Fortier didn’t know it at the time but there were signs something was wrong. Normally healthy, the Gonzaga women’s basketball coach was bouncing from colds to coughs to flu in the first couple months of the 2023-24 season. Then, during a self-exam of her body in late January, Fortier noticed a lump she hadn’t felt before.

Some numbers to put new Gonzaga guard Khalif Battle’s scoring prowess, mindset, dedication and motivation – all closely related – into perspective.

The timing and planning of Gonzaga’s new basketball facility more than two decades ago was spot-on, mirroring so many of the key aspects that launched the program’s ascension to national prominence.

The Zags would probably feel comfortable filtering through a nine-man rotation most nights this season and they could actually go even deeper than that.

Can the Watts propel WSU to wins in those contests and beyond? It helps that their games seem to complement each other. 

David Riley reconstructed this Washington State team by bringing along a few of his best EWU players, including wings Cedric Coward and LeJuan Watts and centers Ethan Price and Dane Erikstrup. He maintained a commitment from guard Marcus Wilson and secured a new one from Lapwai guard Kase Wynott. He added Cal transfer ND Okafor and Washington transfer Nate Calmese, then added a few players from overseas: Iceland guard Tomas Thrastarson, Latvian wing Rihard Vavers and Serbian center Dimitrije Vukicevic.

Last year, it was the departure of BYU. This year, it’s the addition of Washington State and Oregon State.

One has to wonder if picking the Gonzaga women’s basketball team to win the West Coast Conference regular-season championship is something automatic for opposing coaches.

McCarthey Athletic Center has been home to 262 victories for the Gonzaga women’s basketball team since its opening in 2004-05. A look back at the top 20 memories/moments since the first dribbles and baskets in the 6,000-seat arena.

The Washington State women’s basketball team has yet to play in the West Coast Conference. Judging by what the WCC coaches anticipate, though, the Cougars will challenge for the conference championship.

The landscape has changed much in the West Coast Conference.

In the Eastern Washington men’s basketball program, it’s a fresh start for everyone. How well all those pieces come together is the question as the Eagles prepare to defend their league title.

After a couple of years coaching a veteran roster, Joddie Gleason has been enjoying the opportunity to lead a younger team heading into this women’s basketball season.

In his first season as Idaho’s coach, Alex Pribble led the Vandals to an 11-21 record, 5-13 in the Big Sky Conference that included notable league wins over Montana State, Sacramento State and Idaho State. Heading into season two, Pribble believes Idaho laid the groundwork then for a big jump forward.

In a new season, Idaho is looking forward to a fresh start. Arthur Moreira, an assistant coach last year, takes over for Carrie Eighmey, who led the Vandals to a 15-16 record in her lone campaign as UI coach.

Entering his 14th season with Whitworth, men’s basketball coach Damion Jablonski has become accustomed to the cycle of having to replace impact players every year.

Some coaches may shudder at the thought of having to rebuild nearly an entire roster. For Whitworth women’s basketball coach Kenny Love, he is eager for the opportunity.