Gonzaga’s first season in the rebuilt Pac-12 comes with a familiar sight at the top of the league: the Zags were the runaway favorite in the conference’s inaugural preseason media poll.
Mark Few’s team collected all 17 first-place votes, a clean sweep that instantly sets the tone for the new-look league. Utah State, San Diego State, Colorado State and Oregon State followed in the top five, with Boise State, Texas State, Washington State and Fresno State filling out the rest of the nine-team poll.
Preseason Pac-12 media poll: 1.
Gonzaga (17) 2.
Utah State 3.
San Diego State 4.
Colorado State 5.
Oregon State 6.
Boise State 7.
Texas State 8.
Washington State 9.
Fresno State
The conference’s makeover is a major one. Gonzaga is joining the reborn Pac-12 after nearly 50 years in the West Coast Conference, and it’s now grouped with Oregon State and Washington State, Texas State, and five former Mountain West programs: San Diego State, Utah State, Colorado State, Boise State and Fresno State.
Even with that deeper competition, Gonzaga didn’t budge from its usual preseason perch. The program has been picked first in every conference preseason poll since 2001, with only two exceptions: 2017-18 and 2023-24. In those seasons, Gonzaga still produced strong league results, going 17-1 in 2017-18 and 14-2 in 2023-24.
The broader national buzz also points to a gap at the top of the Pac-12 race. Gonzaga checked in at No. 15 in the preseason AP Poll, while Utah State received two votes total.
On the floor, Gonzaga’s case starts with depth and versatility. Braden Huff and Davis Fogle are back to supply efficient offense, while Arizona State transfer Massamba Diop gives the Zags a strong presence at the rim. Florida transfer Xaivian Lee brings playmaking and transition scoring, and Houston transfer Isiah Harwell is being positioned for a big sophomore leap.
There’s more intrigue behind them, too. Spanish big man Izan Almansa has already given the roster a surprise boost, and young players Luca Foster and Juwan Ekanga add upside to a group that looks built to handle a conference race and more.
The league’s coaches also released a Player Impact List, with two players from each team earning preseason recognition. Gonzaga’s selections were Huff and Fogle, which fits given that both have already landed on national preseason award watch lists. Fogle is in the mix for the Julius Erving Award as the nation’s best small forward, while Huff is up for the Karl Malone Award at power forward.
Huff’s numbers from last season explain the respect. He averaged 17.8 points and 5.6 rebounds before a knee injury ended his year early. Fogle, meanwhile, carved out an important role right away as a true freshman, putting up 8.6 points in 16.7 minutes per game.
Gonzaga opens the season on Monday, Nov. 2, against Purdue. Tipoff is set for 4:30 PM PT at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with the game airing on TNT and HBO MAX.
In Other News...
Gonzaga Is Still Waiting On A Key Addition Before Purdue
Gonzaga is still waiting on a late roster addition to clear the final hurdle before its matchup with Purdue, and the latest legal setback has only made the path murkier. A Texas judge denied the temporary restraining order that forward Chauncey Wiggins and other players were seeking in their push to gain eligibility through lawsuits filed in Texas, leaving his status unchanged for the Bulldogs as the game approaches.
Wiggins remains ineligible for Gonzaga at the moment and is expected to miss Mondays game against Purdue. The door is not necessarily closed on his season, though, as he could still look to continue the fight in another jurisdiction if he wants another shot at getting cleared. [Read more 🡒]
Gonzaga's Frontcourt Picture Just Got More Interesting Before Purdue
Gonzagas exhibition win over Lewis-Clark State offered a useful early look at how the frontcourt might shake out as Purdue approaches, and two names stood out in particular. Massamba Diop and Parker Jefferson both found ways to make an impact in the 91-59 rout, giving Mark Few a little more to sort through as the rotation takes shape.
Diop, who had to navigate early foul trouble, looked more comfortable as the game went on and gave the Bulldogs a glimpse of his upside. Jefferson also made his case with a strong all-around showing, finishing as one of the more productive bigs on the floor and reinforcing why his role in the frontcourt picture could matter once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Gonzaga Women Suddenly Have Expectations This Program Has To Answer
Gonzaga womens basketball is carrying a little more offseason buzz than usual, and a big part of it starts with the coach. Lisa Fortier has landed on the preseason watchlist for the Kathy Delaney-Smith Award, a nod that puts her among the coaches being tracked as the best in the mid-major game and adds another layer of expectation around a program that already knows how to win.
The roster is drawing attention, too, with Lauren Whittaker earning preseason watchlist mention on the national awards circuit and junior guard Allie Turner coming off an All-West Coast Conference first-team season plus tournament honors. Turner and Whittaker are set to share the floor again, giving Gonzaga a foundation that looks capable of meeting the spotlight, even as the exact ceiling for this group still has to play out once the season starts. [Read more 🡒]