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2024-25 Gonzaga Bulldogs Basketball Predictions and Odds to Win the National Championship

by Ryan Cobbett - 10/30/2024

Gonzaga Bulldogs basketball predictions Graham Ike

Last season was seemingly like any other for the Gonzaga Bulldogs. They breezed through conference play and grabbed a spot in the Big Dance. However, if you look a bit deeper, it was an off year for the Bulldogs in many ways. Their best nonconference win was against Syracuse, but they lost all their other games against highly competitive teams like #2 Purdue, #5 UConn while even losing to the likes of Washington and San Diego State. However, they still had a 10-4 record before starting their incredibly easy conference schedule, but the road bumps continued. They would lose to Santa Clara and Saint Mary’s in West Coast Conference play and would eventually lose to the Gaels in the conference title game. Despite their shaky season of picking up a silly conference loss and failing to win any meaningful nonconference games, the Bulldogs were given a 5-Seed in the Midwest Region. They quickly put to rest any potential first round upset talk as they dominated 12-Seed McNeese, winning by 21. Gonzaga followed that dominant win with another as they took down an injured 4-Seed Kansas Jayhawks squad, winning again by 21. However, the Bulldogs season would come to an end as they lost to 1-Seed Purdue in the Sweet 16.

To no surprise the Bulldogs led the West Coast Conference with 84.5 PPG, which also ranked eighth in the nation. They were one of just four teams in the country to shoot over 50% as a team. Gonzaga allowed 69.1 PPG and held opponents to just 40.7% shooting. Their +11.1% FG% was the best mark in the nation, while their +15.3 PPG differential was the best in the conference. Graham Ike was one of four Gonzaga Bulldog’s to average double-digit PPG, leading the team with 16.5 PPG. Ike also shot 60.9% from the floor and averaged a team leading 7.4 RPG. Behind him was Anton Watson, who was second on the team in both PPG (14.5) and RPG (7.1). Nolan Hickman averaged 14 PPG and was the team’s best three-point threat shooting 41.3% from deep. Watson also averaged over 41% from deep. Ryan Nembhard rounds out the top four scorers from last years Gonzaga team as he averaged 12.6 PPG and led the team with 6.9 APG.

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Gonzaga Bulldogs Basketball Key Additions/Losses

After finishing second on the team in scoring, Watson went to the NBA. Outside of Watson’s departure, every other Bulldogs player that averaged more than 13 MPG is back on the squad. Gonzaga managed to retain their key players and depth pieces as not one player entered the transfer portal.

Now the Bulldogs were active in the transfer portal and brought in three players. Michael Ajayi is coming to town after averaging a near double-double with Pepperdine last season. He averaged over 17 PPG and 9.9 RPG while shooting 46.7% from the floor and 47% from deep. Joining Ajayi are guards Khalif Battle, who averaged 14.8 PPG for Arkansas last season, and Braeden Smith who averaged 12.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 5.6 APG for Colgate. Due to the high level of retention and the additions in the transfer portal, Gonzaga does not have any incoming freshmen from this past class.

Gonzaga Bulldogs Basketball X-Factors

Transfer Class- Ike is back, along with Hickman and Nembhard, and now the Bulldogs brought in three double-digit scorers via the transfer portal. Ajayi will likely join the starting five, meaning Battle and Smith will come off the bench. Smith’s ability to move the ball, facilitate the offense, and find the open man is going to be huge for Mark Few, as he will replicate Nembhard’s game, coming off the bench. Battle also gives the Bulldogs a sharpshooter off the bench, as Battle has a 39.7% 3P% over the last three seasons. The transfer trio will need to mesh quickly, as the Bulldogs will open the season against #8 Baylor and will play the likes of #23 Kentucky and #3 UConn as a part of their nonconference schedule.

Gonzaga Bulldogs Basketball Notable Games

Home- #8 Baylor, Saint Mary’s, San Francisco

Away/Neutral- #23 Kentucky, #3 UConn, #22 UCLA, Saint Mary’s, San Francisco

Gonzaga Bulldogs Basketball Key Odds:

NCAA Champion: +2000

Final Four: +420

Conference Winner: +220

Wooden Award: Graham Ike- +4000

Wooden Award: Ryan Nembhard- +10000

Wooden Aard: Khalif Battle- +17000

AP Top 25- 6th

Andy Katz’s Power 37- 3rd

KenPom- 9th

Gonzaga Bulldogs Basketball Predictions:

This year’s Gonzaga team will return to the level Few has had his Bulldogs in year’s past. Their second team could be competitive with other teams starting five. With that depth and experience, the Bulldogs should once again breeze through conference play and find themselves in a guaranteed spot in March Madness, but they can earn themselves a favorable seed if they can perform well in their three nonconference games against ranked opponents. Even if they limp out of the gates and don’t have an “impressive resume” come March, outside of winning their conference, this Gonzaga group is going to be dangerous for any team as they have one of the deepest rosters with playmakers like Ike, Hickman, and now Ajayi. Gonzaga should be one of the better three-point shooting teams in the country, and they have all kinds of experienced talent up and down the roster. The Bulldogs currently sit at +220 to win the conference, and that seems like free money with a roster this loaded and a conference schedule that is so weak. They have Final Four potential and could be one of the few teams capable of winning it all.

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