It’s been a long offseason for Gonzaga, dealing with unexpected player departures among other storylines. They currently have a few players dealing with eligibility issues but for now, only Florida State transfer Chauncey Wiggins is unable to play. He wasn’t available for the Bulldogs’ top-15 exhibition battle at Arkansas, a game that went down to the wire.
Gonzaga had a halftime lead but couldn’t hold on, falling 76-72 to the Razorbacks. While the game didn’t count, there still was plenty to take away from the game from the Bulldogs’ perspective. Here’s a look at the key storylines.
1. Izan Almansa’s exciting debut
Earlier in the week, international forward Almansa was granted three years of eligibility by Gonzaga. Fully cleared, the 6’10 big man was arguably the best player for the Bulldogs, producing 14 points and six rebounds in 29 minutes off the bench. While Massamba Diop was in foul trouble, it was Almansa who gave them great minutes inside alongside Braden Huff. When fully equipped, Gonzaga will be able to boast having one of the best frontcourts in all of college basketball, thanks to a guy like Almansa.
2. Perimeter scoring troubles
As good as the frontcourt was, the backcourt struggled mightily against Arkansas. Florida transfer Xaivian Lee was limited to just 16 minutes played due to foul trouble, while Javon Bennett and Nathan De Sousa combined for just nine points on 3/25 FG shooting. Considering how poorly they shot it and were without sophomore breakout candidate Davis Fogle, it’s a surprise they were still within range towards the end. But it’s clear Gonzaga needs Fogle in there to be the lead guard for the team this year.
3. Harwell’s tale of both halves
Another key newcomer to the team was Isiah Harwell, a former five-star prospect who struggled at Houston in his freshman year. He transferred to Gonzaga and looks to be a starter, playing 32 minutes in the exhibition game. He scored all nine of his points in the first half, before going scoreless in 19 minutes played in the second half. Still, Harwell looked like he belonged on the court and has improved this offseason, making him an asset for the Bulldogs as a starting guard for when the games start to count.
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