ZAGS 360: Week 15 – Emotional Senior Day win as streak continues
A win on the road and the last game in the Kennel for the season. Is it the last game for Chet Holmgren? Drew Timme? As a few Gonzaga Bulldogs alumni from the NBA returned for Senior Day, the Zags squeaked out a win against Santa Clara!
It’s Senior Day this week. NBA rookie Jalen Suggs with Kelly Olynyk and Killian Tillie, return to celebrate with former Gonzaga Bulldogs teammates and be introduced to the new ones. I know they will have many helpful tips for those who declare for the 2022 Draft. Who will they be? But before the festivities, let’s see how the season ends for our Gonzaga Bulldogs. Go Zags!!!
Gonzaga Bulldogs 86 vs. Pepperdine Waves 66
Do you know how it feels when a gnat is flying around in your face, and you can’t stop it? That was Houston Mallette of the Pepperdine Waves Wednesday night. Mallette kept the Waves in this game with 25 points and one assist. One assist? He likes iso ball, which could explain the Zags 20 point victory!
The Gonzaga Bulldogs were exceptional again. I admit I was concerned because the Waves never quit trying to get back into this game, but no deal. Although Gonzaga didn’t have their best shooting game, they stepped up when they needed to. I couldn’t tell you when they went up by 20 points.
I can tell you that Andrew Nembhard had one of his best games as a Gonzaga Bulldog. In the first half, he had eight assists. Nembhard had four points, five rebounds, and 14 assists. The game ran through his hands, and when the Zags needed their floor general, he was there.
Drew Timme led the team in scoring with 19 points, including flying to the basket for a beautiful putback. With that were five rebounds. Chet Holmgren was next with 18 points and 17 rebounds (4 offensive), 4 blocks, and a steal. Off the bench, Anton Watson contributed 16 points. The quiet enforcer was on that night.
“Senior Night” Gonzaga Bulldogs 81 vs. Santa Clara Broncos 69
It was an emotional night. Nembhard, Bolton, Matthew Lang, and Will Graves were the seniors being honored. Family and friends were on hand. Including former Gonzaga Bulldogs Suggs, Tillie, and Olynyk. Lang and Graves started for the first time this season. I imagine emotions were running very high. This game is the last time they could be playing in the Kennel.
Will Drew Timme return for his senior and will Chet Holmgren declare for the 2022 NBA Draft? These questions will be answered soon enough. But, instead, tonight is about securing Gonzaga’s number one standing in the country, and to do that, they had to win this game.
The Broncos smothered the Zags with their defense in the paint and perimeter. After Rasir Bolton‘s first three-pointer, the Zags’ perimeter shooting was not in-sync. With less than nine minutes in the half, the Bulldogs were six of 17 from the field and four of 13 from beyond the arc. Maybe they were emotional.
Holmgren fought off the Broncos under the basket, getting 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks. However, he already had two fouls with three minutes left in the first half. Anton Watson came in and, in 8 minutes, picked up 6 rebounds.
The second half saw the same smothering defense from Santa Clara. Bolton went into the paint and gave the crowd a Kyrie Irving moment with one of the best moves I’ve seen from him. Bolton had 18 points and 4 rebounds on his last night at the Kennel.
Last but surely not least, Nembhard and Timme. The floor general and the captain. Nembhard is undoubtedly going to be missed. On what could be his last game at the Kennel, Nembhard had 21 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds.
Timme showed the home crowd that he would and could go through anyone to get to the basket. With 23 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal, and a block. If this was his last game in front of the home crowd, all Zags fans can say is thank you.
PJ Pipes and Jalen Williams kept the Broncos in the game. Pipes scored 27 points, and Williams helped him out with 15 points and 6 rebounds.
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After the game, the Zags took turns getting a piece of the net in ceremonial champion style for their 10th straight West Coast Conference regular season championship.
What’s next?
The Bulldogs finish their regular season on the road. On Thursday, 2/24, they take on the San Francisco Dons once again. The Dons have an overall 21-7 record, including 8-5 in the WCC and 13-3 at home.
Then, on Saturday, 2/26, the Zags take on St. Mary’s Gaels for their last game of the regular season. The Gael’s overall record is 12-11 (7-4 at home), with a conference record of 9-5.
Until Wednesday, when the spotlight will be on Hunter Sallis, please stay safe and healthy out there.