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Gonzaga Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Bulldogs

By Brayley Crowe

BOISE, ID - MARCH 17: Josh Perkins
BOISE, ID - MARCH 17: Josh Perkins /
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BOISE, ID – MARCH 17: Killian Tillie #33 talks with Rui Hachimura #21 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the second half against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 17, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
BOISE, ID – MARCH 17: Killian Tillie #33 talks with Rui Hachimura #21 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the second half against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 17, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Gonzaga Basketball has possibly assembled their strongest squad ever. Can they finally break through to NCAA championship glory come April?

Gonzaga University‘s basketball team looks to start the 2018-19 season doing something it’s used to; shocking people. However, the squad is also looking to do something its not used to; becoming a top-five team in the preseason polls. Coming off their fourth consecutive Sweet 16 appearance, the longest current streak in college basketball, the Zags are poised to make noise again in March and the regular season alike.

While Gonzaga lost Johnathan Williams, the team’s leading scorer (13.4 ppg) and rebounder (8.5 rpg) in 2017-18 and Silas Melson, who contributed 9.3 ppg, GU is still one of the preseason favorites to cut the nets in Minneapolis come April. With NBA draft prospects Rui Hachimura and Killian Tillie, both juniors, returning to dominate the paint, and San Jose St. transfer Brandon Clarke, a redshirt junior joining the squad, Gonzaga has one of the strongest frontcourts this season. Running the backcourt will be seasoned redshirt senior Josh Perkins and redshirt sophomore Zach Norvell Jr., who blew onto the scene in last season’s NCAA Tournament, where he averaged 19 points in the Bulldogs’ three games.

The Zags are coming off another successful season under head coach Mark Few, who has led GU to the NCAA Tournament every season in his 19 since taking over in 1999. Few also earned his 15th West Coast Conference regular season title and his 15th WCC Tournament title as the Zags finished the season 32-5 overall and 17-1 in conference. The Bulldogs earned a No. 4 seed in the 2018 Tournament, where they eventually fell to Florida St. 75-60 in the Sweet 16.

Not only does Gonzaga’s strong starting five and their incredibly deep bench draw the lure of another interesting season, but also their non-conference matchups. Frequently criticized for their weaker conference, the Zags have clearly looked to appease the selection committee by scheduling some of the nation’s top teams.