What Gonzaga's Mark Few said after Warner Pacific's exhibition game

The Gonzaga men's basketball team earned a 109-52 victory over NAIA foe Warner Pacific in an exhibition game Wednesday night in Spokane.

Losses of the ball and a lack of rhythm left the Bulldogs out of form in the opening minutes of the friendly. Gonzaga missed 14 of its first 21 field goal attempts and led by just two points just before halftime of the first half. The Knights, meanwhile, came out on top from distance, scoring four three-pointers in the first seven minutes to keep pace with the country's sixth team.

Mark Few and the coaching staff needed a spark and increased the intensity in defense with a press across the entire pitch. The attempt to keep Warner Pacific off balance did just that, as what was once a hard-fought battle soon turned into a blowout as the Zags began sticking their hands in passing lanes and intercepting errant passes. Live ball losses turned into scoring opportunities in transition, helping Gonzaga outscore its opponents by 35 points in the final 10 minutes of the first half and take a 64-27 lead at halftime.

“It was much, much better [than the USC game]” Gonzaga head coach Mark Few said Wednesday about his team's defensive performance. “I thought obviously a different level of competition, but it was much, much better. More active, doing more of what we want to do.”

Here's more from Coach Few after Gonzaga's big win over Warner Pacific.

On Nolan Hickman's 19-point first-half performance:

“He shot the ball well throughout camp, so I don’t think anyone was surprised. [The Knights] really went down [ball screens]try to pack the color. He really made him pay for it, and that's definitely what he can do. I thought he was a lot more active in his defense.”

Which rotations and lineups have stood out so far:

“We're just shuffling around, like I said [last week]. The guys are kind of huddled together and depending on the night, everyone's at a different level than just trying to reward them for all their hard work and whatnot. But you know, for the most part, they're all going to be playing in some form. I just have to somehow figure out who’s having a good night and who might not.”

What challenges Baylor faces in the season opener:

“Just great athleticism, really top-notch talent. [Head coach Scott Drew’s] I have another projected one-on-one [VJ Edgecombe] and went out and got two great transfers. Jeremy Roach started at Duke for three years. Another Miami kid who made it to the Final Four. I mean, these guys have been there, done that and had a lot of experiences. He also has some key returnees coming back. So: athleticism at the highest level, talent at a high level. But Scott is doing a great job.”

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