Dan Dickau was impressed with Gonzaga's 86-71 victory over Yale to tip off the 2023-24 season.
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00:01 Dan Dick out here for Gonzaga Nation.
00:04 Well, season opening win as expected for Gonzaga, 86 to 71.
00:10 Five zags and double figures, led by Brayden Huff with a terrific debut.
00:16 19 points, 9 rebounds.
00:18 Anton Watson, 11 points, 12 rebounds.
00:22 And then you've also got Ryan Nemhart, 16 points, 7 assists.
00:25 Nolan Hickman spectacular tonight, I thought, with 15 points, and Graham Eke
00:30 with 11.
00:31 But all in all, I thought, really good job by Gonzaga to take the first
00:37 initial punch from Yale, a tremendous ball club out of the Ivy League.
00:42 Traveled all the way out here.
00:44 Gonzaga was down 10 about five, six minutes into the game.
00:48 And then they even trailed by one with about seven minutes left in that first
00:52 half before Gonzaga was finally able to consistently get some stops and
00:56 get out and push the ball and transition a little bit.
00:59 Because that's key against Yale.
01:01 Last year, Yale only allowed about 63 points a game.
01:05 Tonight, Gonzaga finishes with 86 points.
01:08 And a lot of that is due to the fact that Gonzaga was able to get stops,
01:12 get the ball in the hands of Ryan Nemhart as well as Nolan Hickman and
01:16 push the tempo, push the pace.
01:17 Well, next game up for the Zags, Eastern Oregon on Tuesday.
01:22 Would expect to see it being a little bit easier of a go.
01:25 But after watching Yale and the experience, the size that they played with,
01:31 the poise that they play with, I thought it was a tremendous first game
01:35 of the season matchup for Gonzaga as they get off to a one and O start.
01:39 Again, Eastern Oregon on Tuesday, and then things get really difficult and
01:44 interesting as they head to Hawaii for the Maui Invitational where they open up
01:49 there against Purdue.