# 2023–24 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team

The 2023–24 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Gonzaga University, located in Spokane, Washington, in the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team, also unofficially nicknamed the "Zags", was led by head coach Mark Few, in his 25th season as head coach, and played home games at the on-campus McCarthey Athletic Center as members of the West Coast Conference (WCC). They finished the season 27–8, 14–2 in WCC play to finish in second place, failing to win at least a share of the regular season title for the first time since 2012. As the No. 2 seed in the WCC Tournament, they defeated San Francisco in the semifinals, before losing to Saint Mary's in the championship. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament where as the No. 5 seed in the Midwest region, they defeated McNeese in the First Round and Kansas in the Second Round to reach their ninth consecutive Sweet Sixteen, where they lost to Purdue.

## Previous season

The Bulldogs finished the 2021–22 season 31–6, 14–2 in WCC Play to win the regular season championship with Saint Mary's. They defeated San Francisco and Saint Mary's in the WCC tournament to win the tournament championship. As a result, they received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 3 seed in the West region, where they defeated Grand Canyon in the first round, TCU in the second round, UCLA in the sweet sixteen before losing to national champion UConn in the elite eight.
On January 19, 2023, the Zags lost to Loyola Marymount at the McCarthey Athletic Center, ending their 76-game home winning streak, which was the longest in the nation at the time.

## Offseason
### Departures

Gonzaga Bulldogs Departures :
| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Reason for Departure |
| Rasir Bolton | 45 | G | 6'3" | 185 | Senior | Petersburg, VA | Completed college eligibility |
| Drew Timme | 2 | F | 6'10" | 235 | Senior | Richardson, TX | Declared for 2023 NBA draft; undrafted |
| Malachi Smith | 13 | G | 6'4' | 210 | RS Junior | Belleville, IL | Declared for 2023 NBA draft; undrafted |
| Julian Strawther | 0 | G | 6'7" | 205 | Junior | Las Vegas, NV | Declared for 2023 NBA draft; selected 29th overall by Indiana Pacers |
| Dominick Harris | 55 | G | 6'3" | 185 | RS Sophomore | Murrieta, CA | Transferred to Loyola Marymount |
| Abe Eagle | 30 | F | 6'9" | 225 | RS Sophomore | Los Angeles, CA | Walk-on; left team |
| Kaden Perry | 20 | F | 6'9" | 230 | Sophomore | Battle Ground, WA | Retired from basketball due to injury |
| Hunter Sallis | 5 | G | 6'5" | 180 | Sophomore | Omaha, NE | Transferred to Wake Forest |
| Efton Reid | 15 | C | 7'0" | 240 | Sophomore | Richmond, VA | Transferred to Wake Forest |
| Kellen Mitchell | 4 | G | 6'6" | 205 | Freshman | Spring Lake, MI | Walk-on; left team |

### Incoming transfers

Gonzaga Incoming Transfers :
| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Previous School |
| Steele Venters | 2 | G | 6'7" | 195 | RS Junior | Ellensburg, WA | Eastern Washington |
| Graham Ike | 13 | F | 6'9" | 240 | RS Junior | Aurora, CO | Wyoming |
| Ryan Nembhard | 0 | G | 6'0" | 175 | Junior | Aurora, ON | Creighton |
| Jun Seok Yeo | 21 | F | 6'8" | 215 | Sophomore | Seoul, South Korea | Korea University |

### Recruiting classes
#### 2023 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Dusty Stromer #12 SG | Sherman Oaks, CA | Notre Dame HS | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 192 lb (87 kg) | May 1, 2022 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 88 ||||||
| Luka Krajnović SG | Zagreb, Croatia | N/A | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Aug 12, 2023 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A ESPN grade: 0 ||||||
| Pavle Stošić PF | Niš, Serbia | N/A | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) | 196 lb (89 kg) | Sep 25, 2023 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A ESPN grade: 0 ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: ||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Gonzaga 2023 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 12, 2023. "2023 Gonzaga Bulldogs Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 12, 2023. "2023 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 12, 2023. ||||||

## Roster

Note: Players' year is based on remaining eligibility. The NCAA did not count the 2020–21 season towards eligibility.
* Roster is subject to change as/if players transfer or leave the program for other reasons.

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Exhibition |||||||||
| November 3, 2023* 6:00 p.m., KHQ | No. 11 | Lewis–Clark State | W 96–58 | – | 24 – Ike | 9 – Huff | 10 – Nembhard | McCarthey Athletic Center (6,000) Spokane, WA |
| Regular season |||||||||
| November 10, 2023* 6:00 p.m., KHQ/RTNW | No. 11 | Yale | W 86–71 | 1–0 | 19 – Huff | 12 – Watson | 7 – Nembhard | McCarthey Athletic Center (6,000) Spokane, WA |
| November 14, 2023* 6:00 p.m., KHQ/RTNW+ | No. 11 | Eastern Oregon | W 123–57 | 2–0 | 25 – Ike | 11 – Ike | 5 – Hickman | McCarthey Athletic Center (6,000) Spokane, WA |
| November 20, 2023* 2:00 p.m., ESPN2 | No. 11 | vs. No. 2 Purdue Maui Invitational Quarterfinals | L 63–73 | 2–1 | 14 – Ike | 7 – Ike | 6 – Nembhard | Stan Sheriff Center (4,838) Honolulu, HI |
| November 21, 2023* 11:30 a.m., ESPN2 | No. 11 | vs. Syracuse Maui Invitational Consolation | W 76–57 | 3–1 | 19 – Hickman | 14 – Ike | 7 – Nembhard | Stan Sheriff Center (−) Honolulu, HI |
| November 22, 2023* 5:00 p.m., ESPN2 | No. 11 | vs. UCLA Maui Invitational 5th Place Game | W 69–65 | 4–1 | 32 – Watson | 8 – Tied | 4 – Nembhard | Stan Sheriff Center (3,757) Honolulu, HI |
| November 28, 2023* 6:00 p.m., KHQ/RTNW+ | No. 11 | Cal State Bakersfield | W 81–65 | 5–1 | 22 – Nembhard | 13 – Watson | 5 – Nembhard | McCarthey Athletic Center (6,000) Spokane, WA |
| December 2, 2023* 7:00 p.m., ESPN | No. 11 | vs. USC Legends of Basketball Invitational | W 89–76 | 6–1 | 15 – Tied | 10 – Ike | 7 – Nembhard | MGM Grand Garden Arena (8,116) Paradise, NV |
| December 5, 2023* 6:00 p.m., KHQ/RTNW+ | No. 7 | Arkansas–Pine Bluff | W 111–71 | 7–1 | 19 – Huff | 9 – Ike | 6 – Nembhard | McCarthey Athletic Center (6,000) Spokane, WA |
| December 9, 2023* 8:00 p.m., ESPN2 | No. 7 | at Washington Rivalry | L 73–78 | 7–2 | 18 – Ike | 13 – Watson | 7 – Nembhard | Alaska Airlines Arena (9,294) Seattle, WA |
| December 11, 2023* 6:00 p.m., KHQ/RTNW+ | No. 10 | Mississippi Valley State | W 78–40 | 8–2 | 17 – Huff | 8 – Ike | 5 – Tied | McCarthey Athletic Center (6,000) Spokane, WA |
| December 15, 2023* 7:00 p.m., ESPN2 | No. 10 | vs. No. 5 UConn Continental Tire Seattle Tip-Off | L 63–76 | 8–3 | 20 – Watson | 6 – Stromer | 3 – Hickman | Climate Pledge Arena (16,405) Seattle, WA |
| December 20, 2023* 6:00 p.m., KHQ/RTNW | No. 15 | Jackson State | W 100–76 | 9–3 | 22 – Ike | 11 – Ike | 6 – Tied | McCarthey Athletic Center (6,000) Spokane, WA |
| December 29, 2023* 6:00 p.m., ESPN2 | No. 13 | San Diego State | L 74–84 | 9–4 | 20 – Ike | 10 – Ike | 9 – Nembhard | McCarthey Athletic Center (6,000) Spokane, WA |
| January 4, 2024 6:00 p.m., KHQ/RTNW+ | No. 24 | Pepperdine CCF Classic | W 86–60 | 10–4 (1–0) | 20 – Ike | 7 – Tied | 7 – Nembhard | Spokane Arena (12,015) Spokane, WA |
| January 6, 2024 6:00 p.m., KHQ/RTNW | No. 24 | San Diego | W 101–74 | 11–4 (2–0) | 22 – Gregg | 8 – Ike | 9 – Nembhard | McCarthey Athletic Center (6,000) Spokane, WA |
| January 11, 2024 6:30 p.m., ESPN | No. 23 | at Santa Clara | L 76–77 | 11–5 (2–1) | 32 – Watson | 9 – Watson | 5 – Nembhard | Leavey Center (4,200) Santa Clara, CA |
| January 18, 2024 7:00 p.m., KHQ/RTNW+ | | at Pepperdine | W 86–61 | 12–5 (3–1) | 24 – Ike | 10 – Gregg | 8 – Nembhard | Firestone Fieldhouse (3,128) Malibu, CA |
| January 20, 2024 7:00 p.m., KHQ/RTNW | | at San Diego | W 105–63 | 13–5 (4–1) | 26 – Huff | 11 – Gregg | 12 – Nembhard | Jenny Craig Pavilion (3,007) San Diego, CA |
| January 25, 2024 6:00 p.m., ESPN2 | | San Francisco | W 77–72 | 14–5 (5–1) | 22 – Ike | 7 – Ike | 6 – Nembhard | McCarthey Athletic Center (6,000) Spokane, WA |
| January 27, 2024 7:00 p.m., KAYU/RTNW | | at Pacific | W 82–73 | 15–5 (6–1) | 20 – Watson | 11 – Watson | 4 – Hickman | Alex G. Spanos Center (3,165) Stockton, CA |
| January 30, 2024 8:00 p.m., ESPN | | Loyola Maymount | W 92–58 | 16–5 (7–1) | 24 – Hickman | 5 – Tied | 5 – Hickman | McCarthey Athletic Center (6,000) Spokane, WA |
| February 3, 2024 7:30 p.m., ESPN | | Saint Mary's Rivalry | L 62–64 | 16–6 (7–2) | 18 – Nembhard | 12 – Ike | 2 – Tied | McCarthey Athletic Center (6,000) Spokane, WA |
| February 7, 2024 5:00 p.m., CBSSN | | Portland | W 96–64 | 17–6 (8–2) | 20 – Watson | 7 – Tied | 6 – Nembhard | McCarthey Athletic Center (6,000) Spokane, WA |
| February 10, 2024* 1:00 p.m., CBS | | at No. 17 Kentucky | W 89–85 | 18–6 | 23 – Ike | 7 – Watson | 9 – Nembhard | Rupp Arena (20,186) Lexington, KY |
| February 15, 2024 6:00 p.m., CBSSN | | at Loyola Marymount | W 91–74 | 19–6 (9–2) | 23 – Ike | 11 – Watson | 11 – Nembhard | Gersten Pavilion (2,827) Los Angeles, CA |
| February 17, 2024 6:00 p.m., KHQ/RTNW | | Pacific | W 102–76 | 20–6 (10–2) | 21 – Ike | 6 – Tied | 10 – Nembhard | McCarthey Athletic Center (6,000) Spokane, WA |
| February 22, 2024 6:00 p.m., KHQ/RTNW+ | | at Portland | W 86–65 | 21–6 (11–2) | 20 – Ike | 14 – Ike | 7 – Nembhard | Chiles Center (3,803) Portland, OR |
| February 24, 2024 7:00 p.m., ESPN2 | | Santa Clara | W 94–81 | 22–6 (12–2) | 26 – Ike | 7 – Ike | 6 – Nembhard | McCarthey Athletic Center (6,000) Spokane, WA |
| February 29, 2024 8:00 p.m., ESPN2 | No. 23 | at San Francisco | W 86–68 | 23–6 (13–2) | 26 – Ike | 9 – Nembhard | 6 – Nembhard | Chase Center (6,480) San Francisco, CA |
| March 2, 2024 7:00 p.m., ESPN | No. 23 | at No. 17 Saint Mary's Rivalry | W 70–57 | 24–6 (14–2) | 24 – Ike | 10 – Ike | 10 – Nembhard | University Credit Union Pavilion (3,500) Moraga, CA |
| WCC Tournament |||||||||
| March 11, 2024 8:30 p.m., ESPN2 | (2) No. 17 | vs. (3) San Francisco Semifinals | W 89–77 | 25–6 | 20 – Hickman | 11 – Gregg | 12 – Nembhard | Orleans Arena (5,685) Paradise, NV |
| March 12, 2024 6:00 p.m., ESPN | (2) No. 17 | vs. (1) No. 21 Saint Mary's Championship | L 60–69 | 25–7 | 18 – Watson | 7 – Watson | 11 – Nembhard | Orleans Arena (5,794) Paradise, NV |
| NCAA Tournament |||||||||
| March 21, 2024* 4:25 p.m., TBS | (5 MW) No. 18 | vs. (12 MW) McNeese First Round | W 86–65 | 26–7 | 16 – Ike | 13 – Watson | 9 – Tied | Delta Center Salt Lake City, UT |
| March 23, 2024* 12:15 p.m., CBS | (5 MW) No. 18 | vs. (4 MW) No. 17 Kansas Second Round | W 89–68 | 27–7 | 21 – Watson | 9 – Tied | 12 – Nembhard | Delta Center (17,414) Salt Lake City, UT |
| March 29, 2024* 4:39 p.m., TBS/TruTV | (5 MW) No. 18 | vs. (1 MW) No. 3 Purdue Sweet Sixteen | L 68–80 | 27–8 | 18 – Ike | 10 – Ike | 7 – Nembhard | Little Caesars Arena Detroit, MI |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. MW=Midwest region. All times are in Pacific Time. |||||||||
Source

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | Final |
| AP | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 15 | 13 | 24 | 23 | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | 23 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 15 |
| Coaches | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 25 | 21 | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | 22 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 16 |