Fansided

College basketball rankings: 2018-2019 FanSided preseason Top 25

By Cody Williams

DURHAM, NC - OCTOBER 19: Zion Williamson #1 and RJ Barrett #5 of the Duke Blue Devils look on during Countdown to Craziness at Cameron Indoor Stadium on October 19, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC - OCTOBER 19: Zion Williamson #1 and RJ Barrett #5 of the Duke Blue Devils look on during Countdown to Craziness at Cameron Indoor Stadium on October 19, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 22: Josh Perkins #13 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs reacts against the Florida State Seminoles during the first half in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament West Regional at Staples Center on March 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 22: Josh Perkins #13 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs reacts against the Florida State Seminoles during the first half in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament West Regional at Staples Center on March 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
  • Last Season: 32-5, Lost in Sweet 16
  • Notable Losses: Johnathan Williams III, Silas Melson
  • Notable Additions: Brandon Clarke (transfer), Joel Ayayi (redshirt), Filip Petrusev

Despite the fact that Mark Few never seemingly brings in a plethora of top-tier recruits, the Gonzaga Bulldogs are once again in the mix as one of the best teams in college basketball. Despite the losses of Johnathan Williams III and Silas Melson from last year’s team, a combined 22.7 points per game lost, this team is primed to again make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament and to dominate the WCC on the way to that.

The backcourt for Gonzaga has two experienced players leading the way with redshirt senior Josh Perkins and redshirt sophomore Zach Norvell Jr. taking charge in that regard. Perkins was a floor general last year and performed with aplomb on his way to averaging 12.3 points and 5.3 assists per contest. Norvell, meanwhile, put up 12.7 points per game a season ago and could see an uptick in scoring this year.

Where the Zags are really going to be dangerous this season is in their frontcourt. Two of their top-four returning scorers from last season, Killian Tillie and Rui Hachimura, occupy the forward positions and should be candidates to, like Norvell, make strides and be even more productive in the 2018-19 season. Joining them will be an underrated addition in Brandon Clarke, who was a high-scoring forward for San Jose State before transferring.

With this amount of talent and the proven coaching of Few, this team is again going to be tough for anyone to beat, in or out of conference.