1. Potential adversity for the newcomers
With Tillie out, Gonzaga has been running a seven-man rotation. Only one of them (Corey Kispert) is returning from last year’s rotation. So far, Mark Few and the coaching staff has been able to mesh the new faces well, including grad transfer guards Admon Gilder (former Texas A&M player) and Ryan Wooldridge.
Between those two, Kispert and reserve guard Joel Ayayi, the Bulldogs backcourt has collectively been great. Whether it’s the perimeter shooting, defense or passing, the one area of preseason concern seems to not be a problem so far. But the guards will get a real test on the road against Texas A&M, who has much more athletic and talented guards than any of the first set of opponents Gonzaga has faced.
Guards Jay Jay Chandler, Savion Flagg, Quenton Jackson and Andre Gordon are averaging double figures so far, while Wendell Mitchell, who averaged 13 ppg last season, still hasn’t gotten it going yet. The advantage in depth goes to the Aggies and it could cause some foul trouble on GU’s side. How they’ll react will be a determining factor in how close the game will be.
It also goes the same for the freshmen bigs Anton Watson and Drew Timme. They won’t be playing in a comfortable environment like the Kennel in Spokane but instead a potentially raucous Reed Arena. Will they crumble under the pressure of a possible close contest?