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Gonzaga Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for the Bulldogs

By Lukas Harkins

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 23: Head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs looks on during their game against the Baylor Bears in the Second Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 23, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 23: Head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs looks on during their game against the Baylor Bears in the Second Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 23, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – MARCH 21: Tillie of the Bulldogs celebrates. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – MARCH 21: Tillie of the Bulldogs celebrates. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Projected Frontcourt Starters

Filip Petrusev | 6-foot-11 | 235 lbs | Sophomore

Perhaps the biggest “breakout” candidate on this roster, Filip Petrusev will launch into a significant role this season after seeing just 11.4 minutes per game last season. He is a uniquely talented player at 6-foot-11 with a bright future in Spokane. Despite not seeing a ton of minutes last season, he showed flashes of potential greatness by averaging an impressive 6.5 points per game. With him expected to join the starting lineup this season, it is reasonable to assume that he will emerge as a household name very soon.

Petrusev also showcased his all-around skill this summer while playing in the FIBA U19 World Cup. He took the court for Serbia at the event and averaged 19.3 points (66.2% FG), 10.1 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game. He is an absolute monster inside and should be one of Gonzaga’s top players this season. Petrusev is a proven talent that should only get better with more opportunities.

Killian Tillie | 6-foot-10 | 220 lbs | Senior

If completely healthy, Killian Tillie will be Gonzaga’s best player during this season. The elite 6-foot-10 forward averaged a hyper-efficient 12.9 points (.580/.479/.773), 5.9 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game as a sophomore before missing the majority of last year due to injury. There should be absolutely no questions regarding his overall skill level as potentially the best power forward in all of college basketball. His versatility and scoring efficiency are second-to-none at the position and he is extremely mobile as well. To put it simply, Tillie is a matchup nightmare and will be the Bulldogs’ top player.

With that said, though, there are still some concerns regarding his injury history. Tillie underwent knee surgery on Oct. 3 and is expected to be evaluated weekly. Coach Few did mention, though, that it was a “proactive exercise…that will really help him long run.” If Tillie returns to his prior form this season, Gonzaga will be a top-10 team in the nation. He raises their ceiling tremendously with his senior leadership and All-American caliber level of play.

Drew Timme | 6-foot-10 | 235 lbs | Freshman

If Tillie is forced to miss significant time this season, it is reasonable to expect that his replacement in the starting lineup will be Drew Timme (hence why I have included six starters for this article). As the No. 43 overall player in the 2019 recruiting class, Timme is a big-time addition for the present and the future of Gonzaga basketball. He stands at 6-foot-10 and will be one of the most polished freshmen bigs in the country this season. Timme plays with a tremendous motor and is very competitive.

With regard to his major skills, Timme is a beast in the paint. He boasts a variety of post moves to consistently dominate at the rim and he does an exceptional job finding the open man when double-teamed. Timme might be known as an interior scoring but his playmaking is already at an elite level for a big man. He also does a nice job on the glass and should be an impactful performer for the Bulldogs regardless of whether he is starting or coming off the bench. There will be plenty of competition for minutes in Gonzaga’s absolutely loaded frontcourt, though.