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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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CHARLOTTE, NC – MARCH 18: Gilder of Gonzaga while at TAMU reacts. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC – MARCH 18: Gilder of Gonzaga while at TAMU reacts. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Storylines to follow

1. Will Killian Tillie return to 100% healthy?

This is arguably the biggest question facing the Bulldogs this season. Tillie easily one of the team’s best players but he only saw the court for 15 games last year due to injury and played in a reduced role compared to his sensational sophomore campaign. When 100% healthy, he is easily one of the best power forwards in the nation and is an elite scorer from anywhere on the court. Tillie’s versatility opens up the court for all of his other teammates and greatly changes the dynamic of Gonzaga’s offense.

2. Will there be enough backcourt depth?

Gonzaga lost a ton of talent in the backcourt this offseason with Josh Perkins and Zach Norvell both departing. While Coach Few and Co. did a nice job securing grad transfer replacements with Woolridge and Gilder, there are questions regarding their overall backcourt stability. Gilder is a proven high-major threat but Woolridge will be making a big leap in competition level and there are also questions regarding the depth behind them.

Joel Ayayi will need to answer the call as a premier back-up or potential starter this season and build off his performances at the FIBA championships. Additionally, Brock Ravet will likely be forced into significant playing time as the lone other guard on the roster. Gonzaga’s frontcourt will arguably be the best in the country this season but if they suffer any injuries in the backcourt, their lack of guard depth could be their Achilles’ heel.

3. Which freshmen will emerge as the most impactful?

Gonzaga’s incoming freshman class is incredibly exciting. Coach Few and Co. were absolutely amazing on the recruiting trail while landing six highly-capable prospects. With so much talent departing the program this offseason, it is reasonable to expect that the majority of Gonzaga’s bench will be made up of freshmen. With that said, though, all of these newcomers will be competing for playing time and it is hard to gauge exactly what the rotation will look like this season.

The Bulldogs feature plenty of depth as a result of these additions but there is also a ton of inexperience. It will be intriguing to see how Gonzaga’s freshmen grow throughout this season and which ones emerge as the most important for success. Ravet, Watson, and Timme currently look like those that will see the most playing time based on positional need and talent but that actual answer remains to be seen.

4. How will the offense function without proven stars?

Gonzaga’s balance will be on display during this coming season without the star power that they have had in recent years. While there is definitely an abundance of offensive weapons on this roster, there is only one proven offensive star on the roster (Tillie). As a result, Gonzaga’s offense will need to run as a unit this season in order to maintain their usual levels of excellence. The Bulldogs have ranked in the top-40 nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency in all but one season of the KenPom and they will be looking to continue that streak into this season. They also have finished in the top-10 on seven occasions.

Without Perkins, Clarke, Hachimura, and Norvell, Gonzaga’s offense will need to rely a bit more on ball movement and balance. Every member of the Bulldogs’ rotation will be a viable scoring option and fans could witness an incredibly well-rounded scoring distribution. Their frontcourt remains one of the best in the nation and they also feature two proven playmakers in the backcourt. Even though Gonzaga lost a bunch this offseason, the program is just reloading in a big way. Their offense might look a tad different this season but it is still reasonable to expect a juggernaut on that end of the floor.