Sophomore wing Davis Fogle launches his Pac-12 Player of the Year campaign with back‑to‑back 22‑point games, scoring 78‑72 over Purdue in Las Vegas and 109‑68 against New Mexico State in Spokane. Despite modest shooting in the first contest (6‑18 FG, 1‑5 3‑pt), he banks 9‑of‑10 free throws, adds five rebounds, two assists and two steals. A week later he shoots 8‑of‑13 from the field and 3‑of‑6 from deep while tallying six assists. His performances earn him Pac‑12 Offensive Player of the Week as Gonzaga climbs to No. 14 in the AP poll and prepares for a showdown with LSU on Nov. 14.
In Bulldog Business Episode 6, hosts Kyle Sweeney and Josh Gilchrist break down Gonzaga men’s basketball’s dominant 109‑68 victory over New Mexico State and look ahead to the Nov. 14 showdown with LSU in Spokane. They also highlight the women’s team rebound, snapping a Friday loss to Idaho with an 85‑58 win over UC Riverside at the Kennel. The episode offers game analysis and previews for both squads, with links to the full podcast on YouTube and Spotify.
Purdue men’s basketball opens the 2026‑27 season 0‑2, matching a low not seen since 1976‑77, after losses to Valparaiso and Gonzaga. Coach Matt Painter faces lineup and minute‑distribution questions, especially after Omer Mayer’s reduced role and Antione West Jr. fouled out in double overtime. Illinois State, now 1‑1, boasts a top‑10 KenPom three‑point percentage (45.9% of its scoring) and solid perimeter defense, though its stats are inflated by a 100‑55 win over Division II Central State. The Redbirds’ key shooters Johnny Kinzinger and Malik Messina‑Moore contrast sharply with Purdue’s poor three‑point shooting (19.7%). This third‑game showdown is a must‑win for the Boilermakers to prove they can rebound against weaker opposition.
Inside NU’s Ten for Ten kicks off with a whirlwind week in Big Ten basketball. No. 22 UCLA stunned No. 5 Arizona 84-75 in Las Vegas, earning the column’s team of the week honor, while Illinois posted a historic 120-45 rout of Fairleigh Dickinson, its biggest margin since 2020. Player of the week honors go to USC freshman Adonis Ratliff, who poured in 25 points and seven rebounds in his debut, and Penn State’s Roko Prkačin, the lone Nittany Lion highlighted. The column also notes early losses for Ohio State and Purdue to BYU and Gonzaga, and previews the season’s unfolding drama.
In their season opener, Purdue fell 78-72 to Gonzaga at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Series in Las Vegas, with Gonzaga’s Davis Fogle and Braden Huff leading the charge. Hosts Ryan and the author break down the Boilermakers’ performance, highlighting standout players and areas of concern. They then turn to Purdue’s upcoming matchup against Maryland, noting that while Maryland’s defense edges Purdue’s statistically, both teams are currently struggling. The duo shares predictions and cautions against underestimating the opponent, setting the stage for a pivotal conference clash.
Saturday, Nov. 7, at 2:00 p.m. PT on KHQ
Four-star guard Jalen Davis, a top‑10 recruit in the 2027 class, will visit Gonzaga on Nov. 7 for the Zags’ home opener against New Mexico State. Davis, a 6‑foot‑3 senior from Bremerton, Washington, ranks alongside schools like UNC, UCLA and Washington after official visits to each. He boasted a 31.5‑point season with 5.8 steals per game and earned Washington’s Gatorade Player of the Year, leading Bremerton High to back‑to‑back state titles. Gonzaga hopes the campus hype will sway him, adding to freshman Dooney Johnson as the program looks to build a new era in Spokane.
Breaking a five-game losing streak against the Boilers, Gonzaga took Purdue down for the first time in its regular-season opener. What contributions did each Zag give in a win that was a long time coming?
In episode 5 of Bulldog Business, hosts Kyle Sweeney and Josh Gilchrist break down Gonzaga’s 81‑73 season‑opening win over Purdue in Las Vegas. They highlight Davis Fogle’s and Xaivian Lee’s hot shooting, praise Izan Almansa’s dominance inside, and weigh the key takeaways and lingering concerns for the Bulldogs heading into the season.
A look at the biggest takeaways from the Pac-12 Basketball's first games in over two years.
After a 0-1 start in the season‑opening loss to Gonzaga at the Hall of Fame Series in Las Vegas, Purdue fans react to center Daniel Jacobsen’s breakout performance—his best game yet despite a few costly fouls. The Hammer and Rails SB Nation Reacts survey now asks readers whether the Boilermakers can still earn an NCAA Tournament bid despite losing four starters from last year. Results will be released Friday, and fans are invited to join weekly surveys.
For the first time in six games, Gonzaga was on the winning side of a matchup with Purdue, and they largely dictated the game's terms during a season-opening win. How did the Zags finally beat the Boilers?
Gonzaga defeated Purdue 78–72 behind 22 points from Davis Fogle. Here's what the Bulldogs' opening-night victory revealed about their national potential.
Boilers Drop Opener to #15 Gonzaga
Awful Announcing’s November 2 guide lists every college basketball game you can stream or watch on TV today. Highlights include the Field of 68 tip‑off at the Sanford Pentagon (Tennessee State vs Murray State at 11:30 a.m.) and the high‑profile Gonzaga vs Purdue showdown on TNT/truTV/HBO Max at 7:30 p.m. Other marquee matchups feature UCLA vs Arizona on TNT at 10 p.m., Miami FL vs Florida on ESPN2 at 6 p.m., and the Hall of Fame Series opener at T‑Mobile Arena. The guide also details dozens of Division II and III games streaming on ESPN+, FloSports, and conference networks throughout the day, giving fans a complete roadmap to all college basketball action.
Purdue opens the season against No. 15 Gonzaga in Las Vegas, giving the Boilermakers an early chance to respond after falling out of the AP Top 25.
A look at the biggest games on opening night of the 2026-27 college basketball season.
Schön Wraps up Fall Schedule at Gonzaga Invitational
The Pac-12 returns for 2026-27 with a revamped nine‑team lineup, featuring former Mountain West schools, a WCC powerhouse and a Sun Belt import. Gonzaga tops the preview, boasting a deep roster led by potential stars Xaivian Lee, Javon Bennett, Chauncey Wiggins and top scorer Braden Huff, while Utah State, under new coach Ben Jacobson, leans on point‑guard Mason Falslev and a solid transfer pool. San Diego State aims to rebound offensively with Boston University guard Chance Gladden, and Oregon State adds two 7‑footers and a high‑scoring backcourt after hiring Justin Joyner. Colorado State rounds out the early rankings.
Schön Splits Singles Matches on Day Two of Gonzaga Invitational
The Game Haus outlines its 2026 college basketball conference champion forecasts as the season looms, highlighting key picks such as Duke winning the ACC, Arizona taking the Big 12, UConn the Big East, Illinois the Big Ten, and Gonzaga the Pac‑12. The list spans every Division I league, from Vermont in America East to Santa Clara in the West Coast, offering a quick reference for fans tracking which teams must win their tournaments to secure NCAA bids.
Boilers Open Season Monday in Las Vegas vs. #15 Gonzaga
Ahead of the 2026‑27 season, Mountain West Connection releases its final preseason power rankings for the newly‑minted Pac‑12. Gonzaga tops the list, fueled by Braden Huff and transfer Massamba Diop, and opens the season at No. 15 in the AP Top‑25. San Diego State lands at No. 2, followed by Utah State, Colorado State, Boise State, Oregon State, Texas State, Washington State, and Fresno State at the bottom. The poll notes that only Gonzaga received AP top‑25 votes, while the rest earned none. Fans are invited to discuss the rankings in the comments.
In the Pac-12’s first season after its redesign, both Gonzaga basketball programs are projected to clinch the conference’s automatic NCAA Tournament bids for 2027. The men’s team, coached by Mark Few, tops the media poll with all 17 first‑place votes, ahead of Utah State, and will face them in a sold‑out game on Jan. 21, 2027. Sophomore wing Davis Fogle and redshirt senior forward Braden Huff make the preseason impact list. The women’s team, led by Lisa Fortier, receives 16 of 19 first‑place votes, with junior guard Allie Turner and redshirt sophomore forward Lauren Whittaker named impact players. FanDuel odds list Gonzaga men at +3000 for the national title, while the women sit at +25,000.
Redshirt senior power forward Braden Huff has been named to the Karl Malone Award preseason watchlist, joining Gonzaga’s growing list of award candidates. Huff returns fully healthy after a left‑knee injury, having averaged 17.8 points on 66.2% shooting (sixth‑best in the nation) and 5.6 rebounds in 2025‑26. The 6‑10 senior will lead Gonzaga’s 2026‑27 offense and aims to stay injury‑free. Gonzaga also boasts sophomore wing Davis Fogle on the Julius Erving Award watchlist, with center Massamba Diop expected on the Kareem Abdul‑Jabbar list, highlighting the program’s national prominence.