1. Game Setup & Context
Gonzaga opens its preseason schedule with an exhibition game scheduled for Sunday, October 19, 2025 at 2 p.m. PT, at the McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane.
Their opponent: Northwest University (Kirkland, Washington) — a NAIA program that went 5-23 last season and is viewed as a local tune-up rather than a stiff test.
This is part of a broader preseason strategy: Gonzaga has added this exhibition (and another vs. D-II Western Oregon) as a way to sharpen before the regular season begins on November 3 vs. Texas Southern Tigers.
According to the Gonzaga athletics department press release: the Zags are ranked No. 21 in the preseason Associated Press poll, marking their 25th straight season ranked in the AP poll and the 16th consecutive year being in the preseason poll.
Why the exhibition matters: While the outcome is expected to go Gonzaga’s way, what matters more are the glimpses of new lineups, rotations, chemistry and play style that the coaching staff will begin to evaluate in earnest.
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2. Roster & Program Notes
Key returning pieces
Graduate-student forward Graham Ike enters his senior (or supervised-graduate) season. He is 41 points away from 2,000 career points, and last year averaged ~17.3 pts and ~7.3 reb per game, with a .598 field-goal percentage.
Redshirt-junior forward Braden Huff started the last three games last season for the Zags, averaged ~11 points on 57.7% shooting, and brings front-court depth.
New faces / transfers / key narratives
The Zags brought in guard Braeden Smith from Colgate to run the point. He appears poised to be a floor-general for this season.
Transfer guard Adam Miller (from Arizona State) adds veteran leadership and shooting. He shot 42.9% from three last season at ASU.
Another wing to monitor is Steele Venters — returning from injury, he’s a career ~40.3% three-point shooter and the Zags hope he boosts their perimeter marksmanship.
Guard Jalen Warley (formerly Virginia/FSU) also joins the rotation and is expected to bring versatility.
Mid-season pending eligibility: Transfer Tyon Grant‑Foster (from Grand Canyon) is still awaiting NCAA ruling on his waiver. He practiced but his full eligibility is uncertain.
Statistical/analytical snapshot
KenPom preseason metrics place Gonzaga at No. 8 overall, No. 9 in offensive efficiency, and No. 20 in adjusted defensive efficiency.
The program returns only ~36% of last season’s scoring and 34% of rebounding. However, their roster still includes three 1,000-point career scorers and others with significant experience (65+ career games).
A critical stat to watch: last season their three-point shooting lagged expectations. One of the key goals is increasing accuracy from behind the arc — hence the emphasis on Venters, Miller, etc.
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3. Exhibition Opponent – What to Know
About Northwest University
Located in Kirkland, Washington; a private Christian institution; competes in the NAIA Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC).
Record in 2024-25: 5-23 overall, 4-18 in CCC play.
Returning senior guard Trent Williams is the top returning scorer (8.7 ppg last year). Junior guard Ethan Martin returns after making 39 threes at 41.1% last season.
They were picked 8th out of 11 teams in their conference’s preseason poll.
Why this matchup
From Gonzaga’s perspective, this is a low-risk, high-reward tune-up game: a chance to sharpen rotations, integrate new players, test schemes in front of home fans, and build confidence without the stakes of regular season.
For Northwest, playing Gonzaga is a valuable experience — the exposure, the challenge, and the chance to measure themselves against one of the country’s established programs.
The autumn exhibition also meets the new NCAA rule permitting FBS/DI programs to play up to two exhibitions vs. four-year schools (including non-DI) under certain conditions. Gonzaga added this as the first exhibition and then a second vs. Western Oregon (D2) on Oct. 27.
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4. What to Watch in This Game
Even though the result is expected to lean heavily Gonzaga’s way, for fans, analysts and the coaching staff alike the following will be key indicators:
4.1 Integration of new rotation pieces
How quickly Braeden Smith, Adam Miller, Steele Venters and Jalen Warley settle into their roles (especially Smith at point guard and Miller/Venters on the wing).
Which lineups coach Mark Few uses to start and what benches look like. The starting five for the game are expected to be Smith, Miller, Venters, Graham Ike, and Braden Huff.
How much playing time the younger players (freshmen or new transfers) get — e.g., freshman guard Davis Fogle already showed promise in the exhibition vs. Northwest.
4.2 Offensive identity and pace
Gonzaga has traditionally played a fast-paced, efficient offense. Smith’s arrival and the wing depth should help push tempo and improve spacing.
Three-point shooting will be in focus: are they making more threes, moving off the ball better, and improving their “perimeter” threat?
Early in the live updates from the exhibition: at halftime Gonzaga led 50-28, had outscored Northwest 29-12 in the final 11 minutes of the first half, and forced turnovers while tightening up defensively.
But note: they struggled at the free-throw line in that first exhibition, hitting only 13-of-23 from the charity stripe. Free-throws in upcoming higher-stakes games will matter.
4.3 Defensive scheme & front-court depth
With front-court pieces like Ike and Huff returning, the Zags hope to reinforce rim protection, rebounding, and interior finishing.
The depth behind them is less proven, so this exhibition will help clarify minutes, options and match-ups.
Another stat: Gonzaga in the exhibition shot 54% from the floor, had 23 assists to 13 turnovers, logged 10 steals and 3 blocks, and out-rebounded their opponent.
4.4 Bench and “next man up” readiness
Given changes in roster, guard departures, and the transfer landscape, seeing how non-star players step in is vital.
Freshman guards, reserve wings, and bench bigs will get minutes here; how they perform may shape mid-season rotation decisions.
4.5 Injury and eligibility watch
Emmanuel Innocenti, an important front-court piece, is out with a hip injury and dressed in street clothes during warm-ups in the exhibition.
Tyon Grant-Foster’s eligibility remains uncertain at this point — his status will impact depth, especially at the wing/forward spot.
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5. Bigger Picture – What This Means for the 2025-26 Season
Raising the competitive ceiling
Gonzaga’s schedule is loaded with high-profile, non-conference games: for example, matchups vs. Kentucky Wildcats (Dec. 5 in Nashville), UCLA Bruins (Dec. 13 in Seattle), Oregon Ducks (Dec. 21 in Portland) and many tournament-style games.
In that context, this exhibition is important to get the team comfortable early, test internal chemistry, and avoid early season growing pains before the pressure-packed games start.
Re-establishing identity
After years of sustained success, Gonzaga remains among the national conversation, but with the changing college basketball landscape (transfers, NIL, conference realignment) each season’s margin for error shrinks. The Zags’ preseason ranking (No. 21) suggests respect but also indicates a need to climb rather than remain static.
If the Zags want to contend for national prominence again — not just in the West Coast Conference but in March Madness — they’ll need strong execution, depth, and fewer blemishes.
Depth and sustainability
With only 36 % of last season’s scoring returning and 34 % of the rebounding returning, this team is in a transitional phase in some ways. The experience is there, but the new pieces must step up. The exhibition games help build that bridge.
Mark Few’s track record is strong, but his ability to integrate transfers, freshmen and older hands will again be tested.
Free-throw and margin problems
Even in the exhibition, the free-throw struggles surfaced (13-of-23 in first half). In high-pressure regular-season and post-season games, free throws often decide close outcomes. If Gonzaga improves that, it could be a tangible late-season difference.
Roster management and rotations
With multiple wings, guards and front-court options, coaching decisions around minutes, match-ups and who handles the ball will be under scrutiny. Exhibitions like this allow Mark Few to experiment without risk to the record.
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6. What to Expect from the Exhibition: A Snapshot
The final score is expected to be lopsided in favor of Gonzaga — however, that isn’t the purpose of the game. It’s about execution, minutes, readiness, and identifying both strengths and wrinkles.
Expect the starting five of Smith (PG), Miller (G), Venters (G/Wing), Ike (F), Huff (F) to log solid minutes. Younger wings and guards will get 10-15 minute spurts.
Look for early 3-point tries from Miller and Venters to signal shooting capability and spacing.
Defensive intensity may be somewhat dialed compared to regular-season pace, but watch for quick-hit defensive sets, turnovers forced, rebounds.
Mark Few and his staff will likely monitor substitution patterns, end-of-game sequences, in-game adjustments, and perhaps limit minutes of key players to avoid early injury.
Fan engagement and home-court reaction matter: the Kennel (McCarthey) is known for its energy; early glimpses of chemistry, crowd reaction and home-court intimidation help morale.
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7. Potential Risks & What Could Go Wrong
While this game is low stakes, there are still things to monitor:
If the offense struggles early (esp. from new guards or wings), it may raise questions about how quickly chemistry is forming.
Free-throw woes may persist and carry into the regular season if not addressed.
Injuries to key players (Innocenti remains out; eligibility for Grant-Foster unresolved) could limit depth.
Over-emphasis on the exhibition could mask underlying issues: playing a weaker opponent can hide vulnerabilities that stronger ones will expose.
Media/fan expectations: If the team looks flat or sluggish, there may be criticism even though results expectedly favorable — early narratives matter.
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8. Early Takeaways & What We Learned (Post-Game Highlights)
From the reporting of the exhibition (Gonzaga vs Northwest):
Gonzaga led 50-28 at halftime, highlighted by a strong bench spurt in the final 11 minutes of the first half (outscoring Northwest 29-12) and forcing turnovers while tightening defense.
Freshman Davis Fogle exploded for 18 points, showcasing dunking ability and efficiency — an encouraging sign for depth.
Gonzaga’s offense shot ~54% from the field; they had 23 assists and 13 turnovers; logged 10 steals and 3 blocks.
Yet, free throws still bugged them: hitting only 13-of-23 in the first half. That’s about 56.5% — far too low.
The starting lineup of Smith, Miller, Venters, Ike, Huff looked solid and set the tone; the bench contributed meaningfully.
Northwest, while no match overall, had moments of scoring spurts (e.g., early 3-point shooting by Andrew Iyamah) and made Gonzaga guard lapses visible.
These results echo the earlier messaging: Gonzaga is moving forward, the roster is deeper and more versatile, but still optimizing fundamentals.
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9. Final Thoughts
This exhibition against Northwest is far more than a glorified scrimmage — for Gonzaga, it serves as the opening chapter of the 2025-26 journey. In a season where the stakes are high, opponents are tougher, and margins are slimmer, getting early wins is nice — but building identity, rotation, chemistry and discipline will define how far they go.
It won’t matter how many games they win in the preseason; what will matter is how ready they are when December, January and March roll around. If they can shore up free-throw shooting, ensure the new guards/wings fit seamlessly, deepen front-court rotation, and maintain defensive identity, the Bulldogs will be in a strong position to climb the national rankings and make a meaningful run.
For fans and analysts, this exhibition is worth watching not so much for the scoreboard, but for the subtleties: how the team moves without the ball, how the coaches rotate minutes, how new players respond when called — and how the home crowd engages early to help build a special season.
If Gonzaga executes here and in upcoming tune-ups, they’ll hit November feeling confident. If flaws linger, the early schedule provides enough warning to adjust before the real games. Either way, the Bulldogs are in motion — the exhibition is just the beginning.
