Ike led all scorers with 28 points and 11 rebounds, marking his second straight double-double of his senior season. The 1.90 meter tall forward outperforms Gonzaga with 15.3 points and 7.0 goals per game. In addition to hitting 53.4% ​​of his attempts from the field, Ike leads the team in free throws made (42 of 57, 73.7%) and is No. 1 nationally in fouls drawn per 40 minutes (8th). ,9). according to KenPom. As a team, Gonzaga is averaging 22.2 shots while wearing a charity jersey this season.

Senior guard Ryan Nembhard runs the third-best offense in the country from the point guard position. Nembhard leads the nation with 96 total assists, while his assist-to-turnover ratio of 6.4 is No. 2 nationally. The Canadian manages a double-double every time he takes the court, as Nembhard has averaged 10.9 points and 10.7 assists through the team’s first nine games.

On the other hand, UConn will return to its second home on Saturday after back-to-back wins over Big 12 schools. The Huskies rebounded from a disastrous 0-3 performance at the Maui Invitational with an impressive 76-72 win over Alex Karaban-less Baylor. The 6-foot-8 redshirt junior returned to action last Sunday for the Huskies’ 76-65 victory over the Longhorns in Austin, Texas, scoring 21 points in 40 minutes played.

Karaban is leading the Huskies with 16.5 points per game on 48.1% (25 of 52) from 3-point range through the first 10 games of the 2024-25 season. He also recorded 16 blocks and pulled down 5.0 boards per game.

Sophomore guard Solo Ball scores 12.9 points per game for UConn, which ranks No. 4 nationally in offensive efficiency, according to KenPom. The 6-foot-2 Virginia native has scored in double figures in every game so far this season. Ball has played well in the backcourt alongside fifth-year guard Hassan Diarra (7.9 points, 5.6 assists per game), who moved into the starting lineup for Saint Mary’s transfer Aidan Mahaney.

Saturday’s game, part of the Basketball Hall of Fame Series, will be the third meeting between these two college basketball powers in the last 21 months. UConn has won five of the last seven head-to-head meetings, including the 2023 Elite Eight (82-54) and last season’s regular-season game at Climate Pledge Arena (76-63).

HOW TO WATCH GONZAGA VS. UCONN

WHO: Gonzaga and UConn have a top-20 showdown

When: 5 pm PT/8pm EST | Saturday December 14th

Where: Madison Square Garden | New York City

TV: fox

KenPom’s projection: Gonzaga 80, UConn 76

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