Gonzaga's Steele Venters will miss his second consecutive season due to injury after tearing his left Achilles tendon. Venters, who previously sat out the 2023-24 season with a torn ACL, was expected to be a key player for Gonzaga this year. The 6-foot-7 wing transferred from Eastern Washington, where he was the 2022-23 Big Sky Player of the Year, averaging 15.3 points per game. Despite his absence, Gonzaga, which made the Sweet 16 last season, will look to other players like Pepperdine transfer Michael Ajayi and Arkansas transfer Khalif Battle to fill the gap. Coach Mark Few expressed heartbreak over Venters' injury but emphasized the team's support for his recovery. This setback is a significant blow to Gonzaga's national title aspirations, but the team remains hopeful for the future.