Closer look at Gonzaga guard Ryan Nembhard's passing clinic this season

Mar. 15—Ryan Nembhard's 22 assists and just two turnovers in wins over then No. 8 Baylor and Arizona State in the season's first two games was a strong indication Gonzaga's point guard was primed for a memorable senior season.

After the fourth game (San Diego State, 10 assists), sixth (West Virginia, 12), seventh (Indiana, 13), eighth (Davidson, 14) and ninth (Kentucky, 10) there wasn't any doubt.

"I think I've been in a pretty good rhythm all year," said Nembhard, who transferred from Creighton after his sophomore season. "The game is really slowing down for me at this point. I've been (in college) for four years, I've got a great system that I'm in and guys around me that put the ball in the hoop."

Nembhard has gone where no Gonzaga point guard has gone before with his assist numbers — by a wide margin. His 243 assists as a junior broke Josh Perkins' school record of 234. Nembhard has blown that away this season with 325 and still counting as the Zags prepare for their 26th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

He leads the nation in total assists by 44 over Purdue's Braden Smith. He's tops in assists per game at 9.8 to Smith's 8.8. Nembhard is second in assist-to-turnover ratio at 4.28, behind College of Charleston's CJ Fulton's 4.86.

Gonzaga coach Mark Few has stated several times this season that Nembhard hasn't received enough national recognition. Senior guard Nolan Hickman was disappointed when Nembhard wasn't among five finalists for the Cousy Award, presented annually to the nation's top point guard.

"It's outlandish," Hickman said, "but you know that's how it is sometimes, that's how basketball goes. His mindset about everything is really impressive, just not caring about certain things, not caring about his individual stuff. Just goes to show what he is as a player and is as a dude, so all props to my guy."

Nembhard's take: "I don't vote on that, so it is what it is, honestly. I'm trying to win games with my guys, that's my ultimate goal. I didn't come here to win no individual awards. I came here to win games and go far in the tournament, so that's what I'm looking forward to doing."

He's more talkative when asked about his favorite assist. He had one against San Francisco in the regular-season finale that navigated through a spider web of arms and legs before reaching its intended target for a basket, but he had another in mind.

"I think the one versus LMU to open the game at home to Benny (Gregg), like the first play of the game," said Nembhard, who averages 10.8 points. "I just threw it. I didn't even think it was going to get through, but it got there."

Nembhard, moving left after catching a pass near at the top of the circle, threw to a back-cutting Gregg with a no-look, one-hopper for a layup late in the shot clock.

Graham Ike went with a Nembhard dish against rival Saint Mary's last season in Moraga.

"The behind the back, that was pretty crazy," Ike said. "He's had some crazy ones this year."

Nembhard's angled drive on Augustas Marciulionis drew a double-team from Mitchell Saxen, leaving Ike alone for a perfectly placed feed and easy 3-foot bank shot.

Hickman chose a medley of Nembhard lob passes to Khalif Battle for acrobatic dunks, including one against Pacific in February for his 244th assist, breaking his school record.

"I'd say all the ones that have been alley-oops to KB," said Hickman, who connected with Battle for a dunk to punctuate GU's 58-51 win over Saint Mary's in Tuesday's West Coast Conference Tournament championship. "Throwing it up so high.

"Anyways, he's a got a lot," added Hickman, drawing a chuckle from Nembhard.

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Closer look at Gonzaga guard Ryan Nembhard's passing clinic this season

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