College basketball is funny because it allows a future NBA All-Star to go up against a future desk jockey on any given possession of a game. This contrast played out in the final minutes of Gonzaga’s blowout victory over Baylor, and it produced the most spectacular highlight of college basketball’s opening night.
Gonzaga obliterated Baylor, 101-63, in a matchup of two top-10 teams in the preseason polls. The Zags have most of their rotation back from last year’s Sweet 16 team, and looked like a group that already knows how to play together. Baylor replaced six of its top-7 players in the rotation over the offseason, and very much looked like a team still figuring things out.
There will be better days ahead for the Bears, because there’s some serious talent on this roster. V.J. Edgecombe is the best example of it. Edgecombe is a possible top-5 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft as an explosive freshman shooting guard in the mold of Anthony Edwards. His college debut was a bust, but he did show off his breathtaking athleticism on one garbage time play.
With the victory wrapped up, Gonzaga coach Mark Few put in his son — walk-on Joe Few — to get some playing time. Edgecombe immediately hammered home one of the greatest poster dunks you will see all season:
Here’s another look:
Gonzaga Coach Mark Few puts his son, Joe, in the game for the final two minutes of the blowout win.
Then VJ Edgecombe did this to him…pic.twitter.com/xY4nXcFQj5
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) November 5, 2024
Edgecombe only shot 2-of-11 from the floor in his debut, but his physical tools are off the charts. Joe Few — listed at 6-foot, 170 pounds — has scored six points total in his first two years with the Zags. This is not a fair fight, and Edgecombe made the coach’s son pay.
What a great dunk. Baylor has a long, long way to go, but don’t write off the Bears after one bad game.
