The Gonzaga basketball team experienced a surprising setback on Wednesday when they faced West Virginia in the Battle 4 Atlantis. However, Mark Few’s squad bounced back impressively on Thanksgiving Day, achieving an 89-73 victory in a commanding performance.
Gonzaga displayed their offensive prowess by scoring 57 points in the first half, with six players reaching double figures, including all five starters.
A key player missing from the lineup in the Bahamas is freshman center Ismaila Diagne. After the game, Gonzaga assistant coach Brian Michaelson provided a critical update regarding Diagne’s injury, as reported by Theo Lawson.
‘Assistant Brian Michaelson confirmed to me Ismaila Diagne injured his MCL during practice following the last game in Spokane and prior to #Gonzaga’s opener in the Bahamas. He mentioned that the center is currently “week to week,” but the coaching staff feels optimistic about his mobility.’
Diagne has only participated in three games this season, with his last appearance on November 20 against Long Beach State. This latest update sheds light on the reason for his absence in the Bahamas.
The 7-foot tall center hails from Nguekhokhe, Senegal, and prior to joining Gonzaga, he played for Real Madrid. Given the team’s depth, it remains uncertain how many minutes Diagne will receive upon his return.
In his three outings, he has accumulated a total of 19 minutes, scoring 14 points while also contributing three rebounds, three steals, and three blocks.
Currently, Diagne is classified as “week to week” due to his sprained MCL, and Few along with his coaching staff might opt to hold him out for a longer period to ensure his full recovery. Fortunately for Gonzaga, they possess a wealth of depth.
On Thursday against Indiana, the Bulldogs utilized nine players, indicating that roster depth has not been an issue thus far.
Gonzaga’s next matchup is against Davidson on Friday in the fifth-place game at the Battle 4 Atlantis. Following that, they face significant challenges with games against Kentucky and UConn in consecutive weeks, making Diagne’s status crucial to monitor ahead of those matchups.
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