With the countdown standing at less than two months until Kraziness in the Kennel on Oct. 5, the Zags are gearing up for another season of competing on the conference and national stages.

With highly anticipated matchups against college basketball powerhouses in UConn, UCLA and Kentucky on the slate for the 2024-25 campaign, GU will once again be in the spotlight.

The Zags returned all but four members of the roster that clinched a ninth-straight Sweet 16 appearance last March. According to advanced analytics from EvanMiya.com, 81% of GU’s rotation minutes will be played by returning players.

Senior guard Ryan Nembhard holds the keys to the GU offense and looks set to resume his role as the offensive initiator. In his first year at GU after transferring from Creighton, Nembhard averaged 12.7 points on 44.5% field goal shooting. He also led the West Coast Conference with 7.1 assists per game.

“One of the best decisions of my life was coming [to GU],” Nembhard said on the Gonzaga Nation Podcast. “It took me a while to get comfortable [in the GU system] … There were a bunch of new guys that I had to get comfortable playing with. Once I figured that out, I think it went pretty good. [Head Coach Mark Few] and I built a good relationship over our first year and I feel like it’s only going to continue to get better.”

Nembhard scored his season-high of 22 points against Cal State Bakersfield, and recorded a double-double in six other outings.

Nolan Hickman compliments Nembhard in GU’s starting backcourt well. The senior guard made significant improvements in each of his first three seasons as a Zag.

In the 2023-24 season, Hickman averaged 14.0 points while shooting 47.1% from the field and 41.3% from beyond the arc. Hickman scored a season-high 24 points in a home win over Loyola Marymount. Thriving off both catch-and-shoot 3-pointers and midrange jumpers, Hickman can effectively create shots, despite not operating as the primary ball handler. Hickman is poised for another standout season for the Zags.

Another four-year Zag that will likely find himself in the starting lineup is senior forward Ben Gregg. The Oregon native and lifelong Zag fan found himself thrust into the starting lineup last season, replacing then-freshman wing Dusty Stromer. GU found its footing in what had been a mixed season up until mid-January. Gregg scored a career-best 22 points in a win over San Diego, and showcased an ability to produce on the big stage, hitting four 3-point shots in a WCC Tournament semifinal win over San Francisco.

Though Gregg averaged 9. 2 points per game on 54.1% shooting last season, his impact on the game was not always reflected in the box score. Gregg was a pure-hustle player, always ready to sacrifice his body to make a play for the team.

Joining Gregg in the front court will be senior forward Graham Ike, who transferred from Wyoming ahead of the 2023-24 season. Ike was the third-highest scorer in the WCC last season, averaging 16.5 points on 60.9% field goal shooting, earning himself First Team All-WCC honors. The bruising lefty found himself in numerous midseason award watchlists. It is likely that Ike will once again be listed among the best players in college basketball.

Ike will need to be more careful with staying out of foul trouble, as the Zags will likely run with him as the main scoring option. An assured scoring threat, Ike is a player who will have a massive impact on GU’s aspirations in the upcoming season.