No. 3 Gonzaga at SDSU
When: 7 p.m. Monday
Where: Viejas Arena
On the air: CBS Sports Network; 760-AM
Series history: SDSU leads 3-2, winning 72-70 in 2017 in the only previous meeting at Viejas Arena. The Aztecs won 84-74 last year in Spokane.
Bulldogs update: They absolutely destroyed then-No. 8 Baylor 101-63 in the opener, beat Arizona State 88-80 and blasted UMass-Lowell 113-54 on Friday. This, however, is their first game outside Spokane. They also have nonconference dates against West Virginia, Kentucky, UConn and UCLA. With four returning starters, the Zags rank 14th nationally in minutes continuity from last season and 15th in Division I experience 2.89. (SDSU is 317th and 199th, respectively.) The leading scorer, though, is Arkansas transfer Khalif Battle (17.3). Four others average double figures: Braden Huff (16.0), Nolan Hickman (13.3), Graham Ike (11.7) and Ryan Nembhard (10.7 points). Nembhard, who also faced SDSU while at Creighton, is second nationally with 10.0 assists per game (and has just two turnovers in three games, and none since midway through the second half of the opener). Ike had 20 points and 10 rebounds in last year’s game, Nembhard 15 points and nine assists. The big upgrade this year is roster depth, with the bench averaging 42 points so far compared to 19.1 last season. The Kenpom metric predicts a seven-point Zags win; the Vegas betting line is 11 1/2 points.
Aztecs update: They are 14-10 overall and 6-0 at Viejas Arena against ranked opponents in coach Brian Dutcher’s eight seasons. It’s been a different story against the top 5 in the Associated Press poll: 1-18 in the Division I era with the lone win coming against No. 1 Alabama in the 2023 Sweet 16. Dutcher is one of the only coaches undefeated against Few; he’s 2-0. The big question is whether 6-7 Miles Byrd can play after injuring his right ankle in practice a week ago and sitting out last Tuesday’s 100-49 win against Division III Occidental. He was out of the protective boot and in a sneaker by Thursday but still noticeably gimpy. He remains a game-time decision based on how the ankle responds in morning shootaround and pre-game warmups. Byrd had a dominant performance – 20 points, eight rebounds, three assists, five steals and four blocks – in the 63-58 win against UCSD in the opener. Also out is Reese Waters, sidelined for at least another three weeks with a stress fracture in his foot. Through two games, the Aztecs are averaging 81.5 points while shooting 41.9% behind the arc. They’re holding opponents to 31.1% shooting with 16 blocks.
Next up: Nov. 26 vs. No. 14 Creighton in Las Vegas (11 a.m., TBS)
