Busting Brackets
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NCAA Basketball: Updated 2020-21 power rankings after NBA Draft deadline

By Tristan Freeman

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 05: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats walks the sidelines in the game against the Butler Bulldogs at Hinkle Fieldhouse on February 05, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 05: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats walks the sidelines in the game against the Butler Bulldogs at Hinkle Fieldhouse on February 05, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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SPOKANE, WASHINGTON – DECEMBER 21: Head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs huddles (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON – DECEMBER 21: Head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs huddles (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /

541. . . . Bulldogs . 2. team

The Bulldogs had a trio of starters weighing NBA Draft decisions late in the process. Sharpshooting wing Corey Kispert (13.9 ppg) is coming back for his senior season, while double-digit scoring guard and elite rebounder Joel Ayayi is also set to return. However, WCC Player of the Year and leading scorer/rebounder Filip Petrusev has elected to go home to Serbia and play pro ball there before entering the 2021 draft.

Losing the best player in the conference would’ve hurt the Bulldogs a decade ago. But now, the team simply reloads, promoting forward Drew Timme to the starting lineup. The 6’10 forward excelled whenever either Petrusev or Killian Tillie was hurt and has a chance to be a 15 and 10 kind of player as a sophomore. The team also will have Oumar Ballo after a redshirt campaign and Anton Watson after being hurt most of last year.

Alongside Kispert and Ayayi in the backcourt is Jalen Suggs, the highest-ever ranked recruit to come to Gonzaga out of high school. The five-star point guard is a tremendous athlete (played QB at high school) and can score at all three levels on the court. He, as well as Southern Illinois grad transfer Aaron Cook will be the primary ball-handlers to replace Ryan Woolridge at PG.

After leading the country in scoring for the past couple of seasons, Gonzaga could very well do the same in 2021. They have the shooting, depth, and experience to dominate the WCC once again and make another future trip to the Final Four. If Suggs is as good as advertised, the Bulldogs will be a 30+ win team once again.

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