Gonzaga will have Davis Fogle back on the floor for Wednesday’s exhibition against Lewis-Clark State, giving Mark Few a key piece back as the Bulldogs wrap up their preseason work.
Fogle sat out Saturday’s exhibition loss at Arkansas, but he is expected to play at the McCarthey Athletic Center. The game gives him one more chance to get real minutes before Gonzaga opens the season against Purdue at T-Mobile Arena on Monday, Nov. 2.
His absence in Fayetteville was a surprise, especially after reports said he pushed to suit up while Gonzaga’s staff kept him out for precautionary reasons. That makes his return for the final tuneup even more notable.
The timing also lines up with a big individual moment for the sophomore wing. On Wednesday, Fogle was named to the Julius Erving Award Watch List, another sign of how high the expectations are for him heading into the 2026-27 season. The 6-foot-7 wing made a strong case last year as a freshman, averaging 8.3 points in 16.7 minutes while earning more time as the season progressed.
This offseason opened the door for a larger role. Adam Miller, Jalen Warley and Tyon Grant-Foster are out of eligibility, while Steele Venters transferred to Washington and Emmanuel Innocenti moved to Arizona State.
Fogle already gave Gonzaga a loud preview of what he can do. At Kraziness in the Kennel on Oct. 3, he scored an event-record 30 points on 11-for-15 shooting, knocked down 6 of 7 from three and kept the building buzzing with several in-game dunks.
Wednesday’s lineup is expected to feature Fogle with fellow sophomore Isiah Harwell, Houston transfer Xaivian Lee, returning big man Braden Huff and Arizona State transfer center Massamba Diop.
Even if Fogle’s minutes are limited, the value is clear. Gonzaga wants him getting comfortable on the court with his new teammates, and that applies to the rest of the projected rotation too with the opener only five days away.
Few is also likely to keep Huff and the starting group on a short leash, which should create a bigger window for the younger pieces. Freshmen Luca Foster, Juwan Ekanga and Sam Funches could all see extended time, and the game could even bring college debuts for walk-on guard Alonzo Metz and wing Carter Nilson.
Gonzaga and Lewis-Clark State are set for a 6:00 PM PT tip, with the game airing locally on KHQ.
In Other News...
Lauren Whittaker Is Giving Gonzaga One More Reason To Feel Dangerous
Lisa Fortier enters the 2026-27 season with plenty of familiar pieces back in place, and Lauren Whittaker is a big reason Gonzaga looks like more than just the league favorite. The Bulldogs return 10 players from last years group, including Whittaker, the reigning WCC Player of the Year, along with Allie Turner, Jaiden Haile and Ines Bettencourt, giving a veteran roster a chance to keep building on what it already established.
Whittakers recognition this preseason only adds to the sense that Gonzaga has a team opponents will have to plan around from the start. She landed on the Becky Hammon Player of the Year Award Watch List, which tracks the top player outside the Power Five, a reminder that her profile now stretches well beyond Spokane. For a program already expected to win the Pac-12, having a player like Whittaker back in the fold makes the Bulldogs look even more dangerous. [Read more 🡒]
Davis Fogle Is Giving Gonzaga Fans A Bigger Debate Entering The Season
Davis Fogles rise is already giving Gonzaga fans something to chew on before the season even gets rolling. The Bulldogs forward landed on the 20-player watch list for the 2027 Julius Erving Award, the annual honor from the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame that recognizes the top small forwards in Division I mens basketball, and it puts his name in the mix at a national level after being selected by a committee of college basketball personnel.
For Gonzaga, it is another reminder that the conversation around Fogle is only going to grow as the calendar turns. Fan voting opens on Oct. 30, and the award picture will keep tightening in the months ahead before the winner is chosen in late March 2027, so his name should stay in the spotlight for a while as the Bulldogs move into the new season. [Read more 🡒]