The Gonzaga Bulldogs are destined for success this season. Their perimeter play will be key to meeting their lofty expectations.
After a season in which they reached the Elite Eight, Gonzaga heads into the 2019-20 season with big expectations. If they’re going to reach their goals, the Bulldogs will do so with a roster that’s been completely turned over.
The notable losses include Rui Hachimura and Brandon Clarke. Both players were first-round selections in the NBA Draft back in June. They also were the driving force for a squad that won 33 games and put forth one of the best seasons in program history.
While replacing Hachimura and Clarke will be difficult, one key player is returning to the Bulldogs this upcoming season.
Killian Tillie started 15 games last season for Gonzaga and many expected him to go pro this past season. Unfortunately, he suffered an ankle injury leading up to the draft. Tillie decided to return for his senior season and the Bulldogs should benefit from having an experienced big man down low.
Tillie is also the ultimate stretch forward for Few’s offense. The perimeter prowess Gonzaga possessed last season provided much success. The senior has shown to be a strong shooter from beyond the arc at nearly 50-percent for his career.
Getting the ball to Tillie will be a must from the guards. The transition in the backcourt should be smooth thanks in part to a pair of graduate transfers who are incoming this season.
Admon Gilder is coming over from Texas A&M. The combo guard didn’t play last season as he battled a blood clot issue in his arm but when healthy, he has proven to have a great scoring touch at the college and the Bulldogs should be able to count on him for double-digit point totals every game.
Joining Gilder in the backcourt is Ryan Woolridge, who transfers over from North Texas. Woolridge, like Gilder, is another scoring threat who should have no issue pushing the pace for the Bulldogs.
One of the other holdovers from last season for Gonzaga is wing Corey Kispert. He’s going to see more time this season with the departures of Hachimura and Clark. He also is another strong perimeter player with an ability to shoot from three.
Maintaining a strong perimeter presence is the key to success here. Losing Hachimura and Clarke means the Bulldogs have to find a way to replace a tad over 35 points a game which the two combined for last season.
Filling in the pieces with two returning players like Tillie and Kispert will make for an easier transition. Supplementing them with the two grad transfers allows Mark Few to round out his rotation.
In addition to those four, the Bulldogs have some younger players who should find their way into a pivotal role as well. One of those players to keep an eye out for is freshman Brock Ravet.
Ravet is Washington’s all-time leading prep scorer. He enters his collegiate career with plenty of hype and fanfare surrounding him. As he continues to develop his game, he can become a lethal scorer for Few’s offense and he’s surrounded by plenty of experienced players who should put him in the right spots as well.
Replacing four starters from a team that went to the Elite Eight is a tall task for any program, even the heavyweights. Few’s program enters the season ranked as the No. 8 team in the nation. Considering what they’ve lost from the lineup and what Few’s replaced them with, it’s a fair ranking for the Bulldogs to begin the campaign.
Gonzaga has some key non-conference battles this year as well that should give them a solid test before they set their course for March.
The Bulldogs visit Texas A&M on Nov. 15 and visit Washington on December 8th. How’s this for a back-to-back? The Bulldogs will visit No. 21 Arizona in Tucson before returning home to host No. 9 North Carolina.
Mark Few’s going to learn what he has right away with his team before they begin West Coast Conference action. They’ll have a fair amount of games before they hit some of those key non-conference battles, which should give them time to begin to find an identity.
Their perimeter play will once again be important to coming away with a victory in those contests. Getting North Carolina on their home floor will be one of the biggest games ever held in Spokane. Don’t sleep on the trip to Arizona either.
Sean Miller has reloaded his Wildcats with a pair of dynamic five-star recruits. Gonzaga is going to test themselves early this season and it should be a barometer for what they can do the rest of the way.
If they’re able to find success in some of those key battles, the Bulldogs should see a rise in the rankings and a step to topping their win total from last season. To top 33 wins would mean the Bulldogs would have to win most of their games and make a deep run in the tournament.
Great expectations can carry the weight of the world with it. The Bulldogs have consistently met those expectations and have turned out successful season after successful season. They sniffed their first National Championship in 2017 and got close again last season. Is this the year the Bulldogs breakthrough and cut the nets down?
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