Expectations were high for Ryan Nembhard the moment he announced he was transferring to Gonzaga last spring.
The younger brother of former Bulldogs guard Andrew Nembhard was touted as one of the best transfers on the market after he guided Creighton to the Elite Eight in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
The speedster with a high basketball IQ seemed like a match made in heaven for Mark Few, especially given the talent surrounding him in Graham Ike, Anton Watson and others.
As such, Nembhard was an early contender for numerous national awards, including the Naismith Trophy and Bob Cousy Award.
But what people saw on paper didn’t translate to the court immediately. Shots from the outside weren’t falling consistently and the pace of play seemed out of control at times in the first few months of the season. As a playmaker, it took time to develop chemistry with Ike and his new teammates.
