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# Washington State Seeking Season-Changing Upset at Gonzaga
- URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/washington-state-cougars-seek-season-changing-upset-gonzaga-bulldogs/
- Published: 2026-02-10T20:11:57.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-08T06:16:00.000Z
- Author: Jacob Stevenson
- Tags: Analysis, Gonzaga, Graham Ike, Braden Huff, Cougars Men's Basketball

After coming up short against Santa Clara on Saturday, the Washington State Cougars will travel to the McCarthy Center on Tuesday night to face the Gonzaga Bulldogs for an 8 PM PT showdown in Spokane.

Known as the “New Kennel,” the Cougars will walk into one of the toughest environments in college basketball against a Gonzaga team that has been anything but predictable lately.

Since losing Braden Huff to a knee injury in January, Gonzaga’s season has taken an interesting turn. The Bulldogs followed a quality win over Saint Mary’s with a shocking road loss to Portland, then bounced back by beating Oregon State in Corvallis. While Gonzaga is still searching for lineup consistency without Huff, one thing has remained constant: Graham Ike has been absolutely dominant.

Ike has elevated his play to another level since Huff went down and is playing like one of the best players in the country. In the three games he has played in without Huff, Ike has averaged 29.6 points and seven rebounds per game. He has punished single coverage, beaten double teams, and consistently gotten to his spots in the paint. Portland and Oregon State both threw a variety of defensive looks at him, ranging from physical post defense to zone defenses, but nothing really slowed him down.

For Washington State, stopping Graham Ike is the obvious starting point—but it cannot be the only focus. Ike is likely the favorite for WCC Player of the Year, and completely shutting him down may not be realistic. Instead, the Cougars must aim to make his touches difficult, force him into tougher shots, and limit his efficiency while staying disciplined defensively. Most importantly, Washington State cannot allow Ike to dominate while also letting Gonzaga’s role players gain confidence.

That is where this Gonzaga roster becomes interesting. Without Huff, the Bulldogs’ preferred inside-out balance has been disrupted. Gonzaga ideally wants to play through Ike and Huff together while surrounding them with shooting and defense. With Huff out, players have been forced into unfamiliar roles, and lineup chemistry is still a work in progress. While some players have stepped up in moments, Gonzaga has struggled at times, notably the ability to guard a ball screen and hit consistent threes were big issues against Portland.

Equally important for the Cougars is playing a complete 40-minute game. That has been a challenge for Washington State for much of the season. In games like the loss to Santa Clara, the Cougars showed flashes of excellent offensive execution but struggled defensively. In other games, the defense has been strong while the offense stalled. Against a team like Gonzaga, those inconsistencies are magnified, especially on the road.

To pull off a win in Spokane, Washington State will need one of its best performances of the season on both ends of the floor. The Cougars must stay connected defensively, rebound with physicality, take care of the basketball, and capitalize when Gonzaga shows vulnerability. Even then, they may need some help in the form of an off night from the Bulldogs.

Beating Gonzaga at the McCarthy Center is never easy—but if Washington State can slow down Ike just enough, and play a full 40 minutes, the Cougars may have a chance to leave Spokane with a statement win.