Early top 25 for 2017-18 college basketball: Post-early entry deadline

By Chris Stone | May 30, 2017

March 16, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Allonzo Trier (35) dunks to score a basket against the North Dakota Fighting Hawks during the first half of the first round of the NCAA tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 25, 2017; San Jose, CA, USA; Xavier Musketeers guard Trevon Bluiett (5) defends against Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Johnathan Williams (3) during the second period in the finals of the West Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at SAP Center. The Gonzaga Bulldogs defeated the Xavier Musketeers 83-59. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports /

20. Gonzaga Bulldogs

Notable departures: Zach Collins, Przemek Karnowski, Jordan Matthews, Nigel Williams-Goss
Notable returnees: Silas Nelson, Josh Perkins, Killian Tillie, Johnathan Williams
Notable newcomers: Joel Ayayi, Corey Kispert, Zach Norvell, Jesse Wade

The Gonzaga Bulldogs entered the early entry period with a real chance to be national title contenders again in 2017-18. Junior point guard Nigel Williams-Goss is projected to go undrafted, but he opted to forgo his remaining eligibility anyways while freshman center Zach Collins entered the NBA Draft with the potential to go in the lottery. Had both players returned, the Bulldogs likely would have been a preseason top five team.

Also gone are seniors Przemek Karnowski and Jordan Matthews, meaning that Gonzaga will have to replace three of the five starters that pushed the program to its first ever Final Four. Killian Tillie will almost certainly slot into the frontcourt, giving the Bulldogs a solid 3-point shooter at the center spot, which should help create some nice offensive flow. Tillie will be joined by last year’s starting power forward Johnathan Williams.

Much of what made Gonzaga such an imposing force last season was its unmatched depth in the frontcourt. With Collins and Karnowski no longer on the roster, that strength is no longer there. The Zags are built to compete for another West Coast Conference championship, but without some unexpected improvements, another deep March run is unlikely.