'They're always incredible defensive teams': Gonzaga meets reigning national runner-up San Diego State in West Coast hoops showdown

Roughly one-third of the way through the season, with a few bumps along the way in wins, losses and injuries, Mark Few admitted his team looked forward to a much-needed break away from basketball. 

From losing 6-foot-7 wing Steele Venters to start the season, battling some of the top programs in the country in Hawaii, Las Vegas and Seattle, the No. 13 Gonzaga Bulldogs appeared ready for the holiday break just as much as any team in the country. They've played short-handed while trying to acclimate to one another as a team that didn't have a lot of experience playing with one another until September. And the road hasn't been easy, from the No. 1 team in the country to the reigning national champions, the Zags have barely had time to stop and catch their breath amid another difficult nonconference slate.

The travel schedule, especially in December, had coach Few ready to spend the week of Christmas home with his family, without the thought or sight of a basketball in mind. Fifth-year forward Anton Watson was in a similar boat as his coach, as the Spokane native described his plans to enjoy the holiday with friends and family. Watson, like Gonzaga's other top performers this season, has been leaned on heavily to power a thin rotation heading into West Coast Conference play.

And while there was plenty of time to rest and relax for the first time since August, the Zags knew what they were up against once they returned to campus.

"We still gotta stay locked in," Graham Ike said after Gonzaga's 100-76 win over Jackson State on Dec. 20. "We got a big on on the 29th. Can't forget about that."

Indeed, a matchup against reigning national runner-up San Diego State will have some NCAA Tournament implications for both programs. Both West Coast powerhouses have yet to notch a real resume-boosting win (combined 0-5 in Quad 1 games) entering their last nonconference name of the calendar year. Gonzaga will have another Quad 1 opportunity at Kentucky in February, while the Aztecs (10-2) will tip off Mountain West play next week.

Postseason resume aside, Few is well aware of the impact a national championship game appearance can have on a program like San Diego State, which lost 76-59 to UConn in last season's national title game.

"You get to that national championship game, there's an edge and confidence that you bring," Few said. "So I'm sure they're playing with that. I talked to [Aztecs head coach Brian Dutcher] about that this offseason."

For Dutcher, it also helps to bring back four impact players from last season's Final Four team. Of course, the headliner of the returners is 6-foot-9 forward Jaedon LeDee, who's emerged as one of the best scorers in the country averaging 21.6 points to go with 9.4 rebounds. The fifth-year senior has cooled off somewhat over the last few weeks since scoring 20 or more points in the first five games of the season, though he's been the engine to one of the Aztecs' most efficient offenses under Dutcher.

San Diego State ranks 44th in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency per KenPom, the program's best ranking since 2020 (finished 11th that season). LeDee leads the charge with USC transfer Reese Waters, the reigning Pac-12 freshman of the year, who puts up 13.7 points per game and shoots 43.5% on 3-point attempts (3.8 per game). Waters and versatile 6-foot-6 wing Micah Parrish bring a different element offensively as multi-level scorers.

But of course, the conversation starts on the defensive end for San Diego State. The Aztecs have had a top-30 defense, per KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency metric, in 13 of the last 17 seasons spanning Dutcher and former head coach Steve Fisher. The program ranked in the top 10 in seven of those seasons, including three of the last four and six of the last 10, per The Almanac.

This season hasn't been different — San Diego State is 21st in defensive efficiency through 12 games. Only four times has an opponent scored more than 70 points against Dutcher's team, with one of those coming in a 100-97 win over Washington in overtime. The Aztecs have forced at least 10 turnovers in all but one game and outrebound their opponents by 3.7 rebounds per game.

"They're always incredible defensive teams and just absolutely incredible rebounding teams," Few said. "They just will pound you on the glass if you're not ready and so those two things need to be addressed."

As both teams are still finding their rhythm from deep, it'll likely be a war in the trenches on Friday. Gonzaga's deep frontcourt has controlled the glass for much of the season, as the team outrebounds its opponent by 11.4 rebounds per game. Ike, who leads the effort with 7.9 rebounds per game, has an understanding of what to expect from his days competing against San Diego State while at Wyoming.

"Definitely going to be a physical game from what I've seen from them and played against them," Ike said. "They still got some of the guys that were there even when I came in my freshman year that are still there."

Lamont Butler, who hit a buzzer-beater in last season's Final Four over Florida Atlantic, was with the Aztecs when Ike was at Wyoming. Now a senior, Butler is coming off a Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year campaign while Ike, a senior as well, seeks his first win over his former league rival (0-4 against the Aztecs at Wyoming).

An aggressive and active Ike will go a long way for the Zags. The 6-foot-9 post has had his share of battles against some of the best bigs in the country, from Zach Edey to Donovan Clingan, and will likely have his hands full with LeDee. Even if Anton Watson gets the defensive assignment against LeDee, Ike will have to put the pressure on him on the other end of the floor down in the post.