Gonzaga basketball: Starting lineup options for next season

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 21: Killian Tillie #33 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs tries to maintain possession of the ball against Brandon Powell #10 of the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights during the first half in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 21, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Gonzaga Bulldogs won 87-49. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

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LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 22: Admon Gilder #3 of the Texas A&M Aggies goes up for the shot over Moritz Wagner #13 of the Michigan Wolverines during the third round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at Staples Center on March 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) /

Plan B

Point Guard: Brock Ravet
Shooting Guard: Admon Gilder
Small Forward: Corey Kispert
Power Forward: Killian Tillie
Center: Drew Timme

The next best scenario for the Bulldogs is one that they won’t want to face as it involves the loss of Zach Norvell Jr. He led the West Coast Conference with 97 three pointers last season, has already signed with an agent and is seriously considering staying in the draft.

This scenario sees Norvell follow through with that intention and leaving his name in the draft, which would be a serious blow to the Bulldogs. Norvell averaged 14.9 points per game for Gonzaga last season, and his departure would mean the Bulldogs would lose their top four scorers.

Gilder would slide over to fill Norvell’s shoes at the two in this case, which would make sense since he can assume a fair share of the scoring load. That creates a new opening at the point, which we are projecting to go to another talented member of Few’s recruiting class, Brock Ravet.

Ravet, a four star guard from Mabton, Washington, is only 6-foot-1 but he wouldn’t be asked to shoulder much of the scoring load for Gonzaga. The Bulldogs would simply be counting on Ravet to be a facilitator and setting up guys like Gilder, Tillie, and Kispert for success.

If Ravet isn’t ready to handle the starting point guard spot, the Bulldogs could turn to rising sophomore Joel Ayayi. He saw limited minutes as a freshman, but he could be in line for a larger role with all the backcourt departures Gonzaga could be facing.