Kennesaw State Relying on Prayer to Stop Gonzaga's Graham Ike in March Madness

Owls head coach Antoine Pettway says they must give Ike "a bunch of different looks" to have a chance against the Bulldogs.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 12:42am

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Kennesaw State is turning to divine intervention as they prepare to take on Gonzaga and star forward Graham Ike in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Head coach Antoine Pettway acknowledged the challenge of defending the 19.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game Ike averaged this season, saying the team is "praying a lot" to find a way to slow him down.

Why it matters

Kennesaw State is a relative newcomer to the NCAA Tournament, making just their second appearance after winning the Conference USA championship. Upsetting a perennial powerhouse like Gonzaga would be a massive upset and put the Owls on the national map, but they face an uphill battle against Ike and the Bulldogs' talented roster.

The details

Gonzaga enters the tournament as the No. 3 seed in the West Region, while Kennesaw State is the No. 14 seed. The Bulldogs will also be without starting guard Braden Huff due to a knee injury suffered in practice. Kennesaw State finished the regular season 21-13 and is making its second NCAA Tournament appearance, having lost in the first round in 2023.

  • The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament begins on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
  • Kennesaw State and Gonzaga will face off in the first round in Portland, Oregon.

The players

Graham Ike

Gonzaga senior forward who averaged 19.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game this season, leading the team in both categories.

Antoine Pettway

Head coach of the Kennesaw State Owls, who is relying on prayer and finding creative defensive schemes to try and slow down Ike and the Bulldogs.

Braden Huff

Gonzaga starting guard who will miss the tournament due to a knee injury suffered in practice.

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What they’re saying

“Praying a lot. He's so dynamic. They do a great job of getting the ball in great spots, as well. We got to give 'em a bunch of different looks. But he's a guy that he works his way into 20 points a game.”

— Antoine Pettway, Head Coach, Kennesaw State Owls

What’s next

The winner of the Kennesaw State-Gonzaga matchup will advance to face the winner of the No. 6 seed vs. No. 11 seed game in the next round of the West Region.

The takeaway

Kennesaw State's Cinderella run in the NCAA Tournament could be cut short by the offensive firepower of Gonzaga and Graham Ike, but the Owls are hoping that divine intervention and creative defensive schemes can help them pull off the massive upset.