As the Washington air turns bitter and cold, sports fans will trade in the cold beer, perhaps for a warm cider, as they sit down for the start of the college basketball season. After a second-round exit in the NCAA men's basketball tournament last March, the Gonzaga Bulldogs are poised to bounce back this season.  

So far, they have started the season 3-0, which includes statement wins over Oklahoma and 23rd-ranked Creighton. They aren’t shortchanged on a tough slate of opponents this season.  

They are set to face several high-quality non-conference opponents like Alabama, Kentucky, UCLA and Oregon. Three of those four will be home games, which will benefit the Zags immensely as they build momentum toward a championship run throughout the season.  

As they embark on this run, who will be key players to their success this season?  

Graham Ike has continued where he left off statistically. So far, he has averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds. He is one of five players starting the season averaging double-digit points per game, which shows signs of a highly efficient offense by the Bulldogs.  

Creating a defensive threat are Jalen Warley and Mario Saint-Supery, each averaging two steals per game. Warley has logged seven rebounds per game as a guard for the Zags. They have shown a balanced effort on both sides of the ball that has allowed them to win handily so far this season.  

With big wins to start the season, it will be important for the Bulldogs to ride this momentum going forward and do what they can to build consistency. If they can continue to be consistent, they will be ready for the stiff competition that comes to town.  

In the last 10 years, the Zags have grown into a consistent championship contender. Aside from last season, they have made it far in the tournament, going to at least the sweet 16 or further. Twice, they have been the runner-up in the championship game, with losses to North Carolina in 2017 and Baylor in 2021 – sorry to remind fans.  

I would not be surprised that the Zags are overlooked to start the season, given they are ranked in the lower quadrant of the AP poll. However, if they can earn a few statement wins in non-conference play, they can put the rest of the nation on notice.  

Braden Huff forms a strong tandem with Ike on the court. Having two forwards run the offense creates a lot of opportunity for their perimeter players. With Huff and Ike likely commanding attention in the paint, it would not be shocking that guards like Tyon Grant-Foster, Adam Miller and Warley capitalize on the lack of attention and knock down a few threes.  

The Bulldogs are set to make some noise once again this season. They will finish atop the West Coast Conference and likely have a favorable seed in the NCAA tournament in March. Don’t be surprised if they are knocking on the door of the National Championship when head coach Mark Few leads them to the final four.