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More than just appetizers
Gonzaga's win over Alabama was just one part of the start of Feast Week, which also delivered awesome games in Iowa State over St. John's and Houston over Syracuse. And that doesn't even include Maui, which had a massive upset and a game worth staying up late for.
Tristan Freeman
November 25, 2025
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1. Gonzaga outlasts Bama in Players Era thriller
The Players Era Festival brought in big-name programs. And two of the biggest delivered quite the start to the event.
No. 12 Gonzaga survived a second-half scoring drought and a hobbled Graham Ike to beat No. 8 Alabama on Monday night.
Ike and Braden Huff combined for 39 points and 19 rebounds, while wing Tyon Grant-Foster added 21 points and five of the team’s 20 offensive rebounds. Those were essential according to Mark Few. They had make up for some “moronic” shot selection.
The other challenge was stopping Alabama sophomore guard Labaron Philon. He led all scorers with 29 points and excelled to start the game. But he went scoreless in the final nine minutes. The Tide (3-2) seemed to miss guard Latrell Wrightsell, who would’ve provided some defense on Grant-Foster and some steady play down the stretch.
Coach Nate Oats is more worried about his frontcourt and rebounding. “We’re gonna have a hard time consistently beating the best teams in the country.” To Bama’s credit, it’s gone 2-2 against top-15 teams, with wins over St. John’s and Illinois.
Maybe it’s just a credit to Gonzaga (6-0), which once again seems to have a group capable of a Final Four run. It’s currently No. 3 on KenPom, and could find its way to the Players Era title game.
By the end of the week, an argument could be made that they’re the No. 1 team in the country.
2. Big 12 earns two big wins at Players Era
The Big 12 had four teams in the 2025 Players Era. It seems to be focused on the tournament going forward, too. It announced a $50 million equity partnership with the event and will have eight teams in the 2026 edition, which will have 32 teams overall.
It might be a smart move considering how its programs played on Monday.
