To be totally frank, for this slapdash ass website’s standard, I have barely paid attention to the Gonzaga “preseason.” That is largely because for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century, I was forced by childhood contractual obligations to follow the Seattle Mariners in October baseball.
That focus consumed me to the point that I completely missed the first exhibition game. Not even on the radar whatsoever. However, now that the Mariners were unceremoniously dispatched in a way only the Seattle Mariners are able, it is effectively time to turn my full attention to the Gonzaga Bulldogs for the 2025-26 season. The blog is resurrected from the dead.
Of course, thoughts on an exhibition need to be taken with plenty tablespoons of salt. Sure, Gonzaga looked great. If Gonzaga looked anything less than great considering the talent disparity with their opponent, then we truly will see what rock bottom on the internet looks like.
Either way, here goes.
- Steele Venters hit a three-pointer and I nearly cried. I have very little connection to Venters. This is the first game I have actually seen him play in. However, there are few more tragic stories in college hoops from the past couple of years than his. His final season was supposed to be a glorious swan song, until injury stole it away right before the season started.
And then, after a year of injury rehabilitation, Venters final season was supposed to be a key addition to a talented and loaded Gonzaga squad, until the injury monster reared its ugly head once again.
There is no denying that the Zags missed the three-point shooting abilities of someone like Venters in the past couple of seasons. Hopefully, we won’t have to wonder “what if” this season. - I nearly cried when Tyon Grant-Foster hit the court. Again, a surprising reaction considering he has never played a game in a Gonzaga uniform. Similar to Venters, Grant-Foster’s years have been stolen from him, only this time around because of a heart condition. Then, the NCAA, in its awe-inspiring and fruitful wisdom, denied Grant-Foster’s fifth-year waiver and effectively ended his collegiate career.
Luckily, Judge Marla Polin thought differently and ruled in favor and granted his preliminary injunction to allow him to play one more year of NCAA hoops. Grant-Foster was a scoring machine at Grand Canyon the past couple of seasons and will be yet another dangerous back court weapon for what is looking like an incredibly loaded Gonzaga team. - Davis Fogle had himself a couple of exhibition games. Against Western Oregon, he was relentlessly aggressive, attacking the rim whenever seemingly possible. Combine that with an 18 point effort in the first exhibition game, and surely there are minutes for Fogle as the season progresses.
On the flip side, that production is also against exhibition-caliber teams. Considering that Venters is back in the mix and senior Jalen Warley is also lurking around the wing, Fogle is going to have to grind his minutes out this season. Going 11-for-11 from the free throw is a good way for Fogle to get the coaching staff’s attention. - Mario Saint-Supery, the other freshman, will most likely get plenty of run this season. Zag fans became rather accustomed to the Nembhard shows of the past four of five years. It was great Andrew and Ryan Nembhard have tree trunks for legs and can run up and down a court for 38 minutes twice a week. That doesn’t look like it’ll be necessary this season.
- Through two exhibition games, Braden Huff has finished with more points than Graham Ike. Last season, Ike averaged 6.2 PPG more than Huff, but the gap closed to four points when extrapolated to a per 40 minute average.
Ike is still much more of a bully in the post but Huff counters that with the finesse. There is a good argument to be made for either of them leading the team in points. Either way, I wouldn’t be surprised if they are the top-two scorers on the team.
Saint-Supery is your classic European freshman–someone already more seasoned than every other collegiate freshman out there. I would expect him to get plenty of time and having other legitimate PG options when Braeden Smith needs a break is going to be bliss. - Speaking of three-point shooting…over the past couple of years that has been a somewhat legitimate sore spot for the fanbase. Venters, a career 40% three-point shooter, should be fine in the long run. Through two exhibition games, however, the Zags as a squad shot just 30% from long range. Take that as you will.
The plus sides in that stat? Both Graham Ike and Braden Huff went 1-for-1 over the two games from three. Both players can definitely shoot the shot. Neither player needs to shoot the shot that often. One attempt per game is all we need to see here folks.