Gonzaga gets one more chance to clean things up before the games start counting, and Wednesday night’s matchup with Lewis-Clark State should tell the Bulldogs a little more about where they stand. Mark Few’s team is coming off a 76-72 exhibition loss at Arkansas, a game that exposed some rough edges, and now they’ll host the local NAIA program with Purdue looming on Monday, Nov. 2.
One of the biggest questions is Davis Fogle. The star wing sat out against Arkansas because of a leg issue, and the hope inside and around the program is that he’ll be back on the floor Wednesday.
Even a short run would be meaningful. A 15-ish minute outing would be enough to show he’s in shape for the opener against Purdue and give him a live-game tuneup before the season begins in earnest.
The shooting remains another major item on the list. Gonzaga put in a lot of work over the offseason trying to fix a three-point attack that struggled badly last year, but Saturday’s numbers weren’t encouraging.
The Zags went 6 for 28 from deep against Arkansas, which works out to 21.4%. Nathan de Sousa missed the mark at 1 of 8, while Javon Bennett and Luca Foster both went 0 for 4.
The missing pieces mattered, too, with Fogle out and Chauncey Wiggins still unavailable while his eligibility is being fought over in court.
Against Lewis-Clark State, Gonzaga should have a better shooting environment and a much easier defensive assignment, at least on paper. That would give them a better chance to build some momentum before the real season kicks off next week.
Then there’s Massamba Diop, the offseason pickup from Arizona State who arrived with a reputation as an elite rim protector. That part of his game is expected to hold up.
Offensively, though, the early returns have been messy. Diop managed just four points on 2-of-5 shooting against Arkansas, and he added five rebounds and three turnovers.
He looked uncomfortable making decisions with the ball and still seems to be adjusting to what he’s supposed to do on that end.
Lewis-Clark State probably won’t be able to give Gonzaga much resistance against Diop’s size and physicality, which makes this a useful chance for him to settle in. More than anything, the Bulldogs need to see continued growth from him and a better feel for how he fits alongside Braden Huff.
Gonzaga and Lewis-Clark State tip off at 6:00 PM PT on Wednesday, Oct. 28, with local coverage 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 🡒]