INDIANAPOLIS — The story goes that when the NCAA approved Andrew Nembhard’s eligibility waiver, Mark Few first talked to Jalen Suggs about it, worried the freshman star point guard might feel threatened if someone else suddenly was available at his position. Instead, Suggs grinned and essentially told his coach, “Bring it.” So the story became about Suggs, proof that the highest-ranked player ever to choose Gonzaga was still very right for Gonzaga. But the untold part, the what happened next, maybe is even more emblematic of exactly what’s going on with this Gonzaga team, 29-0 and rolling on to the Elite Eight after trouncing Creighton, 83-65, on Sunday.
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Few got the consents from Suggs, as well as Corey Kispert and Joel Ayayi — and for what it’s worth, his weren’t rhetorical questions. If any of the Zags said they thought adding Nembhard would upset the applecart, Few and his staff were fully prepared to double back on letting the guard use his waiver.
But armed with the approval of his starters, Few went to Nembhard to tell him the good news. Rather than rejoice at the chance to join a team picked No. 1 in the country and with eyes toward a national title, the guard hesitated. “I think he might have had more reservations than anybody,’’ associate head coach Tommy Lloyd told The Athletic. “He kept saying, ‘I don’t want to mess things up. I only want to do this if I don’t mess up the chemistry.’’’
Suffice it to say, especially after his 17-point, seven-assist, four-rebound stat-stuffing afternoon against Creighton, Nembhard has not. The guard’s assimilation into Gonzaga’s system has been so seamless it ought to serve as a how-to manual for immediately eligible transfers. Nembhard has not only become a player who suits the Zags, but he also almost epitomizes them. Gonzaga is good because Gonzaga is loaded with talented players, but Gonzaga is great because those talented players care little about feeding their own talent.
And no one more than Nembhard. Anywhere else he’d be a first-option stud — at Florida, he started every game for coach Mike White and averaged more points than he does now. Here, he’s probably the fourth or fifth biggest concern on an opponent’s scouting report, the veritable fifth Beatle. “You know, Jalen obviously gets so much attention, and Drew has this big personality and Corey is Corey, so Andrew is easy to overlook,’’ Lloyd said. “But to us, a lot of the time he’s our most valuable player. He’s always in control, confident to be there when we need, and mature enough to let everyone else do their thing.’’
It is not an easy thing to do, to play near flawless and frequently beautiful basketball that is simultaneously egoless. This is a get yours world, and maybe never more than under the bright lights of the NCAA Tournament. Who doesn’t want to be a March hero? But the Zags, loose and downright goofy, skip, dance and Irish jig (watch their pregame huddles) themselves to perfection by ignoring the temptation of hero ball. They dished 23 assists against Creighton and rank third in the nation in assists per game (18.4). Neither number does this team justice. You almost need hockey assists to understand how often a Gonzaga player passes up an open shot to find an even better, more open shot. “We found right out of the gate, especially playing Kansas (in November), you know, that they not only liked to pass — all of them, including Drew (Timme), but they’re really, really good at it,’’ Few said. “That sounds simple and corny or whatever. It’s not just delivering the ball, but the context with — they’re making the decision with.’’
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That’s why Nembhard fit. He does not make bad decisions, or at least not very often. He ranks sixth in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio, coughing up just 33 mistakes all season. The Gonzaga staff knew that. Lloyd recruited him hard out of high school, after the Ontario native transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida. He loved Nembhard’s basketball sense and smarts, and like everyone else who evaluated the five-star, thought he might be the best pure passer in his class. But Nembhard chose Florida so Lloyd moved on, two years later landing Suggs. Then in May, Nembhard threw his name into the transfer portal and Lloyd made the reconnection, Gonzaga beating out Duke, Oregon and Memphis.
Everyone planned on a redshirt year. After an October practice, while college basketball argued the fairness of a sit-out year for transfers, Nembhard said he welcomed the extra season. In its history, Gonzaga has not just shopped the transfer market well, but also elevated the players it has brought in. Kyle Wiltjer became a 20-point scorer after leaving Kentucky, and Brandon Clarke went for unknown at San Jose State to NBA first-rounder. “I’m definitely comfortable with it,’’ Nembhard said at the time. “To be honest, that’s why I came here.’’
But with COVID-19 looming, Few figured it wouldn’t hurt to try for a waiver, reading the tea leaves accurately that the threat of the virus might make for a more lenient NCAA. Lloyd admits he had reservations. He and Gonzaga have built their reputation by delivering on their recruiting promises, preferring honesty over a bag of goods. He had set up a plan for Suggs, and also brought Nembhard to campus with a concrete plan of his own. Now here came a changeup, one that no doubt would make his job easier and the team better, but could also upset a very well settled rotation.
Gonzaga got the OK for Nembhard to play on Nov. 24. After getting the all-clear from his players, Few sat down with his staff and laid out a very simple argument for playing Nembhard immediately. “This takes us from top 15, top 20 to top five and national champion contender,’’ he said.
Two nights later, Nembhard dropped 11 against the Jayhawks.
Five months and two days later, the Zags are 29-0, and three games away from a national title and history. The chemistry, it would seem, is just fine.
(Top photo: Jamie Schwaberow / NCAA Photos via Getty)
