Eric Musselman’s exhibition win over Gonzaga fed this USC team’s confidence. Going hard in an exo was easy to second-guess, but it was the right move for USC.
Exhibition games shouldn’t be seen as season-defining events. They are, after all, exhibitions. They certainly don’t mean a whole lot in professional sports, other than potentially unearthing some lower-end roster decisions which could carry long-term benefits. Generally, though, we don’t focus on how Patrick Mahomes or LeBron James perform in exhibitions. In college basketball, it is usually the same. These are simply games in which coaches get to coach their players and give them a test drive before the real season begins. However, there can be exceptions to all of this, and Eric Musselman might have created one such exception at USC basketball. Kevin Sweeney of Sports Illustrated told us this about USC’s exhibition win over No. 6 Gonzaga in late October:
“USC didn’t treat this like an exhibition, really pushed its starters to the brink and did everything it could to win the game. Probably a decent move by Muss – try to build some buy-in and confidence inside the locker room while getting a big-name win to build excitement with the fans. Was impressed with how Claude looked as essentially a full-time point guard (a new role for him) and the positional size and shooting they have from 1-4 is impressive,” Sweeney said.
That decision by Musselman to go all-in for an exhibition game certainly seemed to feed USC’s confidence as a team. The Trojans looked very, very good in their 77-51 win over Chattanooga in the regular season opener on Monday. They looked like a cohesive team despite having only one player on the roster who returned from last season’s Andy Enfield team. On defense and offense, USC looked like well-connected team which knew exactly what it was supposed to do and where it was supposed to be on the floor. USC looked like a well-coached team.
Musselman could have soft-pedaled the Gonzaga game. Interestingly enough, it’s obvious Gonzaga did not go hard in that exo versus USC. The Zags just beat No. 9 Baylor by 38 points on Monday night. They took it easy on USC. Yet, USC beating Gonzaga still carried real value for the Trojans, who looked very confident in their win over Chattanooga. Eric Musselman made the right chess move, and it could have a huge effect on USC’s season. Let’s hope it does.
Sabonis talks about how terrifying it was to film a show for Netflix.
Sacramento Kings big man Domantas Sabonis stars in the new Netflix series Starting5, offering a behind-the-scenes look at his life.
The show is the NBA’s version of Drive to Survive (Formula 1 racing) or Break Point (tennis) and it provides a fascinating look at players around the league.
Sabonis stars alongside LeBron James, Jimmy Butler, Jayson Tatum, and Anthony Edwards. He recently attended the Netflix premiere of the show in Los Angeles and spoke to us about the screening.
“It was a great experience,” Sabonis told USA TODAY’s For The Win. “I’m honored to be a part of it. I’m excited for the fans to really get a deep look. I feel like the fans know what we do on our personal Instagram stories but this is stuff like you wake up and there is a camera in your face. You’re not doing that on social media.”
These included private moments like dressing up for Halloween as Big Bird from Sesame Street as his son, Tiger Sabonis, was Cookie Monster.
Fans will also see him in his beautiful home picking tomatoes with his wife and spending quality time with his family as he reckons with what it was like to have his father Arvydas Sabonis play in the NBA.
On the court, the show captures him while he is mic’d up and actively calling out plays on both ends of the floor, setting hard screens and establishing real leadership traits.
Here is more from his conversation with USA TODAY’s For The Win. The show will premiere via Netflix on October 9.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
What were your impressions of the screening and watching yourself?
(Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
Sabonis: It’s scary, you know? I’ve never done that. So I was trying to melt into my seat while we were watching. But it’s really cool. People are going to see another side of me that they do not know. They probably know me as the guy they hate on the Kings when I play against their team. They think I’m just a bruiser who plays hard every game. Now they’re going to see this husband and family side of me and it’s going to give it a different light. I think it went well. The feedback from the theater: Everyone was cheering and laughing, you know? It felt really good and it was my first experience on a red carpet and seeing a screening. It felt real and the hype was there.
What inspired you to participate in Starting 5?
Sabonis: When they asked me to participate, it was kind of a no-brainer and it was an honor to be a part of that list. I feel like a lot of people in the NBA do not know about me as much as they should. I’ve been in the league for a while now. I wanted to shine a light on Sacramento as an organization and see what’s really going on there, we’ve got a good thing going with the culture. We’ve changed the franchise the last couple of years. It’s for people to see and dive into my life and the Kings and all of that. It’s a behind the scenes look. It shows every player’s personality on and off the court and the way they play. They really talk about your body and how you take care of it. I use my body a lot so I have to take care of it more. They really show all those little details behind the scenes.
Sabonis: It was definitely the most cameras I had on me. Every day, you wake up, it’s in your face. You go to the bathroom, they’re there. You go on a family vacation during NBA All-Star Weekend, they are on the plane with you. It’s more than any person might ever think. You do not really get a break. But it was definitely a lot of fun. It took some time getting used to and then it happened smoothly. We have kids at home and we are just trying to be the best parents for our kids. Everything was just very natural. I think it was just the first couple of days we filmed, it was definitely strange. They’re there: How do you act? Do you look at the camera? On the court, we are used to having cameras all the time. Off the court, our kid made it so easy because you are basically catering them. They are your one focus and then you basically act normal.
What was something unexpected that made it in the show?
(Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)
Sabonis: Inside my home and what we do daily. I’m kind of a private guy and to be able to show everybody the amount of things I do, they will wonder: How is he doing this before a game? You will see. I’m doing stuff with my kids. It works for me. I put my family first. Every day in my life, I focus on my family. So when they came, my kids were there. My son Tiger loved being in front of the camera. He was trying to be the star of the show. At first, he was a bit worried about the cameras. But then he got comfortable with them. Netflix had the same crew with them for like 90 percent of the time. So we got friendly and he knew everyone by then. Then on the court, you put a lot of time into the game. Before and after a workout, I might have two hours of treatment time. You think you’re going to go shoot for an hour. It is a block of five or six hours just for one workout. You have get your body right, mobility, all that stuff. Everyone gets to see all of the full routines and how much they do to get ready. Everyone knows LeBron comes in five hours early. But that is what he needs to get ready. It’s cool to see people get ready.
How is your story different from the other four stories portrayed in Starting 5?
(Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)
Sabonis: You get to see every player’s perspective and it’s really cool how you see the difference between all five players. When you think about it, you go through all the steps with each story. Like, what Anthony Edwards is doing and having fun: That was me before I met my wife. Spending time with my friends and playing video games, then as you get older in the NBA, you see LeBron’s story. He is focusing on different things and what is important to him. I feel like we are all going through such different stages. There are a lot of funny guys out there. There are a lot of personalities. We obviously know the personalities, but this is behind-the-scenes with the loved ones. Everyone opens up when they are in their own space. If you have your boys behind you or your family by you, you are going to act your true self. The cameras get that.
How was it to have DeMar DeRozan at the premiere and how will he help your team?
(Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)
Sabonis: It was awesome. He hit me up before and he was like: Let’s get some workouts in. Can I come to the premiere and support you? I was like for sure. That’s sick to have him locked in like that already. It already shows how much he cares. He is coming here to take us to the next level. He has a veteran presence. He knows what it takes to win and go far. Our issue was basically us being mentally locked in for a game. We beat all the best teams and lost to the lower seeded teams, which put us in a tough position. He has been around. He is so smart and has a high IQ in basketball. I’ve learned a lot through him just by working out with him a couple weeks in L.A., so he’s going to have that same effect on everyone. We’re all going to grow just by having him around us.
What impact will DeRozan have on the floor spacing in Sacramento?
Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
Sabonis: I think it’s going to be great. Teams have their best defender. Who are they going to choose: Fox or DeMar? The other one is going to go off then and he is going to help everyone else get open. Me and Fox work great. We have it great. We are not selfish. You rock. I rock. Whatever you want. We just want to win at the end of the day. Speaking to DeMar, he is just like that. He just wants to win. He is manipulating the game to get the easiest buckets, whatever he can do to help the team. I’m very excited. We worked out a couple weeks and it’s a lot of fun.
Should the NBA consider Team USA vs. Team World in the All-Star Game?
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sabonis: That would be awesome. That would be very cool. I don’t know if we’re still going to play hard or if it will just be the same thing if it were USA versus the World. I can’t control that. I don’t know how to play in an All-Star Game. To me, those games are tough because I just play hard. I don’t know how to be just chilling out there. The fans want to see that. If that happens and it is a real game, that would be cool.
What is future of basketball in Lithuania?
(Photo by RICARDO ARDUENGO/AFP via Getty Images)
Sabonis: I think it is big. We have a lot of good, young prospects. Matas Buzelis is a good rookie for the Bulls. We have a lot of good, young guys in college. Guys are on the top teams in Lithuania and that are most likely going to com9e over to college and do that experience. I feel like everyone is doing that because of NIL. I’m happy they’re going to come out. I personally took the route of going to college basketball. It’s definitely the best decision and now you can get paid to do it. So I think it’s a no-brainer.
Why did you play college basketball?
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Sabonis: I loved the idea of playing college basketball in a full arena and the live environment. But what really sold me is that in Europe, it is really hard to get gym access 24/7. I’m a worker. I like to go in and shoot any time of the night and any time of the day. Being on a college campus, you have access to the main courts around campus with rebounders available. I feel like that is what made me take the next step and get drafted and put me to where I am today. I would tell a European prospect you can always come back to your home team. Whatever you do in college, if you don’t get drafted in the NBA, the same team that wanted you will still want you in Europe. You aren’t losing anything. If anything, you’re getting a degree and learning a new language and you’re getting exposure. There are so many options for you to head over instead of just staying home.
What are your thoughts on Gonzaga in the Pac-12?
Sabonis: I’ve been hearing all of this. I think it’s insane! I grew up when it was Pac-12, WCC. Now, it’s like Big 12 and Big Ten and they’re all mixed together. It’s crazy to me. It’s definitely going to be tougher for Gonzaga. Everyone gets used to what’s comfortable with what they have. It’s definitely going to be more challenging, especially the first years. It’s going to be definitely fun to watch. I was happy, though. The thing with the WCC: You had amazing cities to go visit. So that was a plus side. Now, it’s a bit different.
Is there much of a Gonzaga brotherhood in the NBA?
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Sabonis: Yeah. I’m closer to the guys closer to my age like Kelly Olynyk and Rui Hachimura and Zach Collins. But as the years go on, it’s cool seeing how many more Zags are in the NBA. When I came in the league, it was just me and Kelly. You see all these other conferences, they are all dapping each other up because there are three guys on every team. Gonzaga has finally made its way toward that. I think that just how far the program has gone.
Once the Pac-12 is set with eight or more football programs, adding Gonzaga to the conference is a no-brainer.
The Pac-12 conference added four programs from the Mountain West earlier this month in San Diego State, Boise State, Colorado State, and Fresno State – just the tip of the iceberg of what projects to be a flurry of conference realignment moves over the next few months.
Eight teams is the Pac-12’s minimum to qualify for FBS eligibility in 2026, so that remains commissioner Teresa Gould’s priority. For now.
But once the conference has that box checked, could adding marquee non-football brands – namely the college basketball powerhouse Gonzaga Bulldogs – be next up on the priority list?
We look at the pros and cons of adding Mark Few and the Zags to the Pac-12:
The Pros
Gonzaga is the most recognizable college brand that does not have a football team. UConn and Villanova have (admittedly bad) football programs, while Gonzaga is more notable than other Big East powers like Marquette, Creighton, and St. John’s.
The data backs this up, as Gonzaga hired prominent consulting firm Navigate to help make a case for power conference inclusion last year. Navigate found Gonzaga has among the highest TV power metrics in the entire sport, and estimated the program is worth $15 million – a staggering number for a non-football school.
Speaking of Navigate, the Pac-12 also hired the consulting firm to help them make expansion decisions…and one would be remiss to not point out the connection there and what it could mean for a future partnership.
Geographically, the Pac-12 and Gonzaga are a perfect fit. Located in Spokane, WA, Gonzaga is about 75 miles from Pullman where Washington State resides, and less than 450 miles from both Boise and Corvallis.
Gonzaga’s status as an elite basketball program is backed up by results on the hardwood. Few has led this team to the NCAA Tournament every single season since 1999(!) and the Zags have been to the Sweet 16 eight straight seasons – an incredible feat for a small Jesuit Catholic school in the WCC.
Lastly, the lack of football does have a benefit for the Pac-12, as it likely makes Gonzaga more cost effective for the conference. If the Pac-12 can land Gonzaga for less money than it would cost to add UTSA, it would be silly not to.
The Cons
Roughly 85% of all media revenue from college athletics comes from football. Adding a program (or programs) that don’t add value in that area always comes with risk, even if the cost is less prohibitive.
If the Pac-12 feels there are football brands out there that add value to the conference and appeal to the potential media partners then it makes far more sense to make them a priority over a non-football entity.
Gonzaga is also a very small school with a small student and alumni population, compared to other targets, and is located in Spokane – roughly the 70th biggest media market in the country.
Additionally, as reported by John Canzano on Locked On Zags, there are some Pac-12 officials who are concerned about Gonzaga’s long term stability if and when Mark Few retires. Gonzaga has poured a ton of money into on campus facilities, and it has resulted in improved performances in baseball, soccer, volleyball, and other Olympic sports, but Few’s retirement remains a source of concern for some decision makers in conference expansion.
Lastly, there’s a question of whether Gonzaga would even accept an invite to the Pac-12. The Bulldogs have been in rumors with the Big 12 for quite a while, and even the Big East has been in the mix at times.
Neither the Big 12 or Big East look particularly likely for the Zags at this point, or perhaps ever, but Gonzaga could also opt to stay in the WCC where basketball is king and they are getting a sweet deal with regards to revenue share and a double bye in the conference tournament.
Verdict
Gonzaga to the Pac-12 was always a conversation, even during the previous iteration of the conference, but now that the league is a bit more desperate to fill out a competitive group of teams and get back to power status, it feels like an obvious solution.
Getting squared away in football, possibly by adding Memphis, Tulane and a third team – maybe UTSA, UNLV, or South Florida – is no doubt the priority for Gould and the Pac-12.
After that? Gonzaga, possibly paired with another non-football program like Grand Canyon, St. Mary’s, or Wichita State, should be high on the list.
Steele Venters will miss his second straight college basketball season with the Gonzaga Bulldogs after suffering an Achilles injury.
For the second year in a row, the Gonzaga Bulldogs will be without sharp shooting wing Steele Venters. Venters suffered a left Achilles tendon injury and will miss the 2024-25 college basketball season, according to a release by the school on Tuesday.
“We are heartbroken for Steele,” coach Mark Few said. “He was working so hard to come back from his knee injury. We will continue to support Steele through his healing process and know he will come back better and stronger.”
Venters came to Gonzaga as a transfer early in the 2023 offseason. He had just wrapped up his junior season at Eastern Washington, 30 minutes down the road in Cheney, averaging 15.3 points on 37.1% shooting from beyond the arc.
That was enough for him to win Big Sky Player of the Year over Northern Colorado wing Dalton Knecht, who transferred to Tennessee and ultimately became an All-American and a first round pick to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2024.
However, Venters suffered a torn ACL in his right knee just a few days before the team’s season began at home against Yale, forcing true freshman Dusty Stromer into the starting lineup.
Venters was on the road to recovery and was expected to play a role as a floor spacer off the bench for the Zags this upcoming season, who added transfers Michael Ajayi and Khalif Battle to give the team much needed depth.
Now the team will once again rely more on Stromer to pick up the slack, while Tarleton State transfer Emmanuel Innocenti could see an uptick in playing time as well.
The Blue Devils have played in the new Vegas stadium twice. They played UNLV in the arena’s first collegiate basketball game back in 2016, and they played No. 1 Gonzaga there back in 2021.
Duke won both games.
Coach K and his team throttled the Rebels for a 94-45 victory the first time around, 25 years after his iconic upset of UNLV in the 1991 Final Four. Grayson Allen, in one of the first games of his junior season, scored 34 points after he shot 12/16 from the floor. Luke Kennard added 16 points, and a freshman named Jayson Tatum came off the bench for 13 of his own.
In the fall of 2021, during Krzyzewski’s final season at the helm, the Blue Devils handed Gonzaga its first loss of the season. Four Bulldogs scored at least 15 points, including Drew Timme and Chet Holmgren, but 20-point games from Paolo Banchero and Wendell Moore Jr. proved to be enough.
Gonzaga lands third transfer portal commitment from Tarleton State guard Emmanuel Innocenti.
The Gonzaga Bulldogs active transfer portal offseason continued on Wednesday with a commitment from Tarleton State guard Emmanuel Innocenti.
Innocenti confirmed his commitment on Instagram, becoming Gonzaga’s third portal addition after Michael Ajayi (Pepperdine) and Khalif Battle (Arkansas).
Innocenti is a 6’5 guard from Italy who started 32 games as a freshman for the Texans, helping lead Tarleton State to a second place finish in the WAC.
Innocenti averaged 6.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.7 steals while shooting 46.8% on twos and 30.8% from three.
With three years of eligibility remaining, Innocenti is a developmental addition for Mark Few’s team. The Zags return four starters from last year’s Sweet 16 team in Ryan Nembhard, Nolan Hickman, Ben Gregg, and Graham Ike, with Ajayi expected to round out the starting lineup.
Battle, sophomore Dusty Stromer, junior Steele Venters, and redshirt sophomore Braden Huff will likely round out the rotation, with Innocenti limited to garbage time while he learns Gonzaga’s system and preps for a bigger role in 2025-26 when Nembhard, Hickman, Battle, and Ajayi are all out of eligibility.
The weekend passes include access to all four of Thursday and Friday’s Sweet 16 games and then both Saturday’s and Sunday’s Elite Eight showdowns between the winners of Thursday and Friday’s Sweet 16 contests.
The weekend passes include access to all four of Thursday and Friday’s Sweet 16 games and then both Saturday’s and Sunday’s Elite Eight showdowns between the winners of Thursday and Friday’s Sweet 16 contests.
The weekend passes include access to all four of Thursday and Friday’s Sweet 16 games and then both Saturday’s and Sunday’s Elite Eight showdowns between the winners of Thursday and Friday’s Sweet 16 contests.
The weekend passes include access to all four of Thursday and Friday’s Sweet 16 games and then both Saturday’s and Sunday’s Elite Eight showdowns between the winners of Thursday and Friday’s Sweet 16 contests.
