By JACOB POLACHECK
After a 19-day layoff due to COVID-19 cancellations and protocols, No. 1 ranked Gonzaga picked up right where they left off in a 99-88 win over No. 3 Iowa on Saturday.
Leading the way for the Zags was freshman guard Jalen Suggs, finishing with 27 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while making 7-of-10 3-pointers.
“Coming into this weekend, I really felt like my jump shot improved and I felt really comfortable with it,” Suggs said. “This game, for me particularly, was a really good learning experience. I had a couple talks with Coach, just on some things, just about slowing down, keeping it simple, letting the game come to me.”
This season, Suggs is averaging 13.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game, emerging as a potential top-three pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and inspiring the tank slogan ‘Pull all the plugs to land Suggs.” (h/t Jeff Goodman.)
“It’s great to hear, but I’m not focused on that. I’m focused on the here and the now,” Suggs said. “I think [my teammates] along with the coaching staff have done a great job of keeping me grounded and helping me just keep the outside noise out, and continue to work every day. That’s what I continue to do, and whatever happens in the future happens. But for now, I’m locked in with my guys here.”
Before committing to Gonzaga in January, there were some talks that Suggs might go to the G-League or play professionally elsewhere.
Instead, Suggs, who is projected by ESPN as the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, will be only the second one-and-done for Mark Few at Gonzaga after Zach Collins was drafted No. 10 overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Iowa big man Luka Garza, the Wooden Award favorite, finished the game with 30 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 13-for-18 from the field.
Gonzaga (4-0) hosts Northwestern State on Monday, while Iowa (6-1) will begin Big Ten play with a home game against Purdue on Tuesday.
Photo: AP/Darron Cummings
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