No. 8 Michigan State Spartans vs. No. 16 Maryland Terrapins | FOX College Hoops
After losing at home to Saint Mary’s, Gonzaga’s resume became one of intrigue, and not for good reasons. The amazing metrics can only go so far before a lack of Quad 1/2 wins holds you back. And heading into Tuesday night, the Bulldogs best win was against Baylor, a team heading toward the bubble itself.
They had another opportunity against Santa Clara, who already had a win in the Kennel earlier this season. They got off to a great start versus Gonzaga, making their first eight three-pointers and getting up double figures. Foul trouble became a big issue, with centers Graham Ike and Braden Huff each getting multiple fouls in the first half. With six minutes to go, Coach Mark Few subbed in Ismaila Diagne, a 7’0 freshman center from Senegal who played 34 total minutes in six games.
In what should’ve been an advantage for Santa Clara, it became Gonzaga’s secret weapon. Diagne made several game-changing plays, including getting defensive stops and some baskets to help Gonzaga close the deficit. The Bulldogs took the lead early in the second half, but a 4th foul to both Ike and leading scorer Khalif Battle put the team in danger. Instead of Huff, Few put Diagne back out there, where he continued to dominate the game.
Soon enough, Gonzaga’s lead went from three to 20 in the second half, with the Broncos’ offense going cold, thanks to the new interior defense the Bulldogs had. It propelled the road team to reach a 95-76 victory for a big Quad 1 road win. Ike (24 points) and Battle (21) scored great when on the floor, while Ryan Nembhard scored 12 points and 15 assists.
Ismaila Diagne just got a standing ovation from the Gonzaga fans here in Santa Clara. What a welcoming performance he put on, only took until the end of February.
— The Slipper Still Fits (@slipperstillfit) February 26, 2025
But the MVP was Diagne, who finished with nine points on 4/4 FG, four rebounds, and a block in 18 minutes. Most importantly, he finished with a game-high +24 on the court. Had he not played, there’s a chance Gonzaga wouldn’t have won the game.
I hope Diagne starts the 2nd half. Would take foul pressure off Ike/Huff and show coach has confidence in Ismaila.
— Josh (@TheZagaholic) February 26, 2025
Although Gonzaga’s overall defense ranks high in most metrics, they’ve sometimes struggled against good teams. The lack of true rim protection has hurt them, so if Diagne becomes the answer to that, it can turn this team into a genuine contender for the NCAA Tournament.
The Bulldogs have one more regular season test before the postseason, playing at San Francisco, a team that has a good amount of frontcourt depth. We’ll see if Diagne becomes part of the rotation going forward, or if he’s a one-hit wonder due to foul trouble.
