#5/5 Gonzaga (7-2, 0-0 WCC) vs. Merrimack (4-6, 0-0 NEC)
THURSDAY, DEC. 9 | 6 P.M. | McCARTHEY ATHLETIC CENTER | SPOKANE
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THE TIP OFF
- No. 5/5 Gonzaga returns home to welcome Merrimack College, out of North Andover, Mass., in the first-ever meeting between the programs Thursday inside the McCarthey Athletic Center.
- The Zags appear in the Associated Press poll for the 100th consecutive ranking, the longest current streak in the nation, with Villanova second at 44. Gonzaga is the only program in the country to appear in every AP poll since 2017, with a No. 5 average ranking. Since 2017, the Bulldogs have been in the Top 5 for a national-best 64 polls (64 percent of the 100 rankings). Kansas is second appearing in 62 polls.
- The Bulldogs are coming off a 91-82 loss to No. 16/16 Alabama in the 2021 Battle in Seattle. Drew Timme (23 points, 10 rebounds) and Chet Holmgren (10 points, 11 rebounds) both finished with double-doubles.
- GU is second in the nation in field goal percentage (53.3), sixth in total assists (165), eighth in scoring offense (86.2), 10th in rebound margin (11.4), 13th in scoring margin (20.6) and 11th in total blocks (55).
- Chet Holmgren is second in the country shooting 83.3 percent from inside-the-arc, fourth with 35 blocks and averaging 3.89 per game. Drew Timme's 60 free-throw attempts are the seventh-most in the nation.
- The Zags are second in KenPom's rankings in offensive efficiency and 19th-most efficient defense.
- The Bulldogs own a 12-point win over then-No. 5 Texas and a 20-point victory over then-ranked No. 2 UCLA. GU is just the fifth team in the AP Poll era with multiple wins over Top-5 opponents in November.
- From ESPN Stats and Info, Gonzaga was the first AP No. 1 team to play two Top-5, non-conference opponents in the same week of the regular season since Kentucky did it in the 1954 UKIT (Kentucky Invitational).
- GU has played four teams currently ranked inside the Top-10 in the AP and Coaches' polls.
 
SCOUTING THE WARRIORS
- During the 2019–20 season Merrimack began their four-year transition to Division I and will be full Division I members by 2023–24.
- In the preseason Northeast Conference poll, head coach Joe Gallo and crew were picked to finish in the five spot.
- The Warriors are one of only five teams in the country that return 99% of their point production from a season ago.
- They are also one of only five teams that bring back 99% of their minutes played from the 2020-21 season.
- Merrimack is coming off a 76-56 home loss to Brown Tuesday. Jordan Minor and Malik Edmead led the Warriors with 16 points each. The Warriors were held to 34 percent shooting from the field and were outrebounded 41-21.
- Merrimack is 1-4 away from North Andover, Mass., so far this season.
- Merrimack returns all five of their starters, including floor general Mikey Watkins. The Roselle, N.J. native averaged 12 points per game and almost four assists for the Warriors.
- Watkins tops the Northeast Conference averaging 2.6 steals per game, while Jordan Minor is second blocking 2.4 shots per outing.
- Minor averages a team-high 14.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Watkins adds 9.7 points per contest.
 
ON THIS DAY IN ZAG HISTORY
- Gonzaga is 10-10 on Dec. 9 since joining Div. 1 in 1958-59.
- The last game on this date was a 76-73 loss to No. 6 Tennessee in Phoenix in the 2018 Jerry Colangelo Classic. The Zags were the top-ranked team in the country.
- In 2006 on this date, Gonzaga beat Washington, 97-77.
 
MILESTONE WATCH
- Drew Timme is seven points from 1,100 in his career.
- Andrew Nembhard is one rebound from 300 in his career.
- Rasir Bolton is three rebounds from 300 in his career.
- Bolton is eight games shy of 100 in his career.
- Julian Strawther is nine rebounds from 100 in his career.
 
A ZAG WIN WOULD ...
- Extend the nation's longest home win streak to 57 games, also continuing the program record.
- Be the 62nd in-a-row over an unranked foe.
- Be the 43rd straight home win over a non-conference opponent and 52nd straight at home over an unranked foe.
- Improve Drew Timme's record in games he's appeared in at Gonzaga to 70-5 (.933).
 
WHAT'S UP NEXT
- Gonzaga hosts Washington Sunday in the 49th all-time meeting between the programs.
- The Huskies have a 29-19 advantage in the series all-time, but GU has won 13 of the last 14 matchups.
- Gonzaga has won the last six meetings, dating back to a 99-95 Washington win in Dec. 4, 2005.
- In the last meeting, No. 9 GU used late three-pointers to beat No. 22 Washington 83-76, in Seattle, on Dec. 8, 2019.
- Washington won the first meeting in the series, 23-14, on Feb. 24, 1910.
 
100 STRAIGHT
- The Zags' 100 straight AP Poll appearances top the nation, with Villanova second at 45.
- Gonzaga is the only program in the country to appear in every AP poll since 2017, with a No. 5 average ranking.
- Since 2017, the Bulldogs have been in the Top 5 for a national-best 64 polls (64 percent of the 100 rankings). Kansas is second appearing in 61 polls.
- Since 2017, GU has been in the Top 10 in 83 of the 100 polls (83 percent), which leads the country. Kansas is second at 79 polls in the Top-10 since 2017.
- Since 2017, Gonzaga has been No. 1 in 33 of the 99 AP polls (33.7 percent). That stat leads the country, with Duke second at 18 weeks.
 
FOUR FOR FOUR
- Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren was named the West Coast Conference Freshman of the Week for the fourth straight week the league office announced Monday.
- He led the Zags to a win against Tarleton State with 15 points on 6 of 7 shooting while adding 9 rebounds and 4 blocks.
- In Gonzaga's loss to No. 16 Alabama, Holmgren posted a double-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks.
- For the week, he averaged 12.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.0 blocks.
 
BOOKS AND BALL
- For the fifth straight season, Gonzaga men's basketball achieved a perfect 100-percent GSR score.
- The latest Graduation Success Rate (GSR) numbers were released by the NCAA on Thursday.
- The NCAA Div. 1 GSR for men's basketball is 84 percent.
- The Zags are the lone program in the West Coast Conference with a 100 percent GSR, with the next three teams behind at 91 percent.
- Gonzaga student-athletes are graduating at a rate of 98 percent, which is tied for second in the country.