Gonzaga Basketball: 2020-21 season preview for the Bulldogs

By Andy Patton | Oct 10, 2020

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 21: Head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs huddles with his players during a timeout in the second half against the Eastern Washington Eagles at McCarthey Athletic Center on December 21, 2019 in Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga defeats Eastern Washington 112-77. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /

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TUCSON, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 14: Corey Kispert #24 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

Could this be the year Mark Few and Gonzaga Basketball finally break through and win themselves a national championship?

The 2019-20 season was shaping up to be another one for the ages in Spokane, with a loaded Gonzaga Basketball roster primed for a deep run in the NCAA tournament – and potentially their second-ever appearance in the national championship game.

Unfortunately, their season was cut short along with the rest of the NCAA after COVID-19 started spreading rapidly around the United States in mid-March.

Fortunately for the Zags, they are heading into 2020-21 with an arguably even better roster, although the lack of experience in both the backcourt and the frontcourt will be a big factor for them come March.

Related Story. Deep dive into Gonzaga depth chart. light

The team is losing a pair of elite big men in Killian Tillie (graduation) and Filip Petrusev (overseas). The pair helped anchor Gonzaga’s frontcourt the last two seasons, and while there’s little doubt that losing both of them will hinder Gonzaga around the rim, the emergence of Drew Timme and Anton Watson will be one of the most fun things to watch in all of college basketball this year.

With Timme and Watson both expected to break out in a big way, the return of playmakers Corey Kispert and Joel Ayayi, and the introduction of freshmen Jalen Suggs, Dominick Harris, and Julian Strawther, the infamous Tricky Trio, the Zags easily have themselves a championship-caliber roster.

Add in what should be an extremely challenging non-conference schedule and you have the makings of a team that will be battle-tested, deep, well-rounded, well-coached, and overall ready to bring some hardware back to Spokane at the conclusion of the 2020-21 season.