Gonzaga Bulldogs vs Portland Pilots Picks and Predictions January 2nd 2025

No. 19 Gonzaga Looks to Feast on WCC Foe Portland

The Gonzaga Bulldogs aim to build momentum in West Coast Conference (WCC) play when they host the Portland Pilots on Thursday night in Spokane, Washington. Following their road victory over Pepperdine, the No. 19 Bulldogs are looking to dominate a familiar opponent as they settle into the heart of the season.

Gonzaga’s Dominance in the WCC

For decades, Gonzaga has reigned supreme in the WCC, a trend that shows no signs of slowing. The Bulldogs (10-4, 1-0 WCC) opened conference play on Monday with an 89-82 victory over Pepperdine, their 48th consecutive win against the Waves.

Key Contributors

• Braden Huff: The forward shone against Pepperdine, contributing 19 points on near-perfect 9-of-10 shooting.
• Graham Ike: Added 16 points and nine rebounds, further solidifying Gonzaga’s dominance in the paint.
• Khalif Battle: Scored a team-high 21 points, showcasing his scoring ability with an efficient 7-of-11 shooting performance.

Gonzaga leaned heavily on its interior game, outscoring Pepperdine 63-34 in the paint. However, the Bulldogs struggled from beyond the arc, going just 2-of-15. Coach Mark Few emphasized the need to minimize turnovers and maintain consistency.

“We had some silly, silly, silly turnovers at the start of the second half. Just really bad turnovers,” Few said.

The Bulldogs hold an 18-game winning streak over Portland and have lost to the Pilots only twice in Few’s 26-year tenure, with their last defeat coming in 2014.

Portland’s Challenges in WCC Play

The Pilots (5-10, 0-2 WCC) have had a tough start to conference play, dropping games to Washington State and Oregon State in back-to-back matchups.

Key Players for Portland

• Austin Rapp: The freshman leads the team with 14.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 17 blocks this season. He scored 22 points in the loss to Oregon State, marking his third 20-point outing of the season.
• Max Mackinnon: Averaged 18 points across his last two games and contributes 10.1 points per game.
• Chris Austin: A pivotal player who scored 20 points in a recent victory over Lafayette but has struggled for consistency in subsequent games.

Portland is still searching for a signature win this season. The Pilots nearly stunned Oregon in November, leading by 13 points late in regulation before falling 80-70 in overtime.

Matchup Breakdown

Interior Battle

Gonzaga’s ability to dominate inside with Huff and Ike will be tested against Portland’s Rapp and Mackinnon. The Bulldogs’ depth and efficiency in the paint give them a significant edge.

Offensive Efficiency

Gonzaga’s shooting woes from 3-point range against Pepperdine highlight an area for improvement, while Portland needs to capitalize on scoring opportunities and avoid lapses like their late-game struggles against Oregon.

Turnovers and Transition

Both teams will need to manage turnovers to maintain control. Gonzaga’s ability to force mistakes and convert in transition could tilt the game in their favor.

Join now for exclusive insights—register here!

What’s at Stake

For Gonzaga, this game offers a chance to continue their WCC dominance and fine-tune their game as they eye another deep postseason run. Meanwhile, Portland looks to pull off a massive upset that could shift the narrative of their season.