gonzaga vs san francisco: Zags back on the road, chasing 35th straight series win in late-night rematch
Gonzaga (25-2, 13-1 WCC) returns to Northern California for a Wednesday meeting with San Francisco (15-13, 7-8 WCC). Tip is scheduled for 11 p. m. ET at the Chase Center, where the Zags will attempt to extend a dominant run in the series and shore up positioning for the West Coast Conference regular-season crown.
Short turnaround and travel grind set the tone
The Bulldogs’ schedule has been a study in rapid transitions. After a road win in Northern California on Saturday, the team caught a charter flight back to Spokane, had roughly 48 hours at home to regroup and repack, then returned Tuesday for another charter down the coast. Coach Mark Few framed San Francisco as a consistently difficult matchup late in February and urged the group to rest, recover and refocus.
Playing in a large NBA arena at the Chase Center will be a contrast to the intimate environment Gonzaga typically enjoys on campus. The venue change — from a 6, 000-seat home building to an 18, 000-seat NBA theater — alters crowd dynamics, sightlines and the feel of the game. That kind of change matters in tight conference races where margin and momentum are precious.
Injuries, matchups and what to watch
Gonzaga has been managing lineups without senior forward Graham Ike, who missed the first meeting in Spokane and was sidelined again recently. Even so, he’s been one of the hottest players in college basketball when available, averaging 26. 7 points over a recent seven-game stretch. The Bulldogs will be monitored closely for any update on his availability and minutes, though the team has shown it can survive tough tests without him.
San Francisco heads into the rematch with a lingering question around sophomore wing Tyrone Riley IV, who missed the last two games with a knee issue and is day-to-day. Dons coach Chris Gerlufsen emphasized caution on Riley’s return: he won’t be pushed into action if he isn’t ready, but his presence would be a clear boost for the Dons’ perimeter game and defensive versatility.
Personnel matchups will be decisive. The Bulldogs must limit San Francisco’s perimeter heatmakers — guards who have produced big scoring nights and can flip a game with threes and free-throw trips. The Dons have also shown an ability to operate in transition and attack the rim, while Gonzaga’s interior and second-chance scoring could tilt the possession battle. Expect the Dons to try to speed the game up and get to the line, while Gonzaga seeks clean looks inside and in transition.
Standings, streaks and stakes
The series history adds an extra edge: Gonzaga seeks its 35th straight victory over San Francisco. That streak, combined with the Zags’ push for an outright WCC regular-season title, gives this matchup outsized importance. While Gonzaga may need to win out to clinch the regular-season crown outright, a victory over the Dons would put the Bulldogs in strong position to secure the top seed at the conference tournament if they follow with home wins against key league opponents.
Odds and matchup narratives favor Gonzaga by a sizable margin. Yet the Dons have produced sporadic, momentum-swelling performances this season and nearly stole the first meeting, falling 68-66 in Spokane. The combination of a short week, travel, injuries and the Chase Center environment creates the sort of variables that can make a rematch unexpectedly competitive.
Expect a late-night, physical battle with an emphasis on limiting turnovers, controlling rebounds and handling fatigue. If Gonzaga executes inside and defends the perimeter without allowing a flurry of open threes, the Zags should be able to protect their lead in the series and keep their conference goals on track. If San Francisco gets hot from deep or forces free throws, this could become another tight finish in what has been a recurring theme between these programs.
