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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SAN JOSE, CA – MARCH 25: Head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Season Outlook

It’s become the norm for the Zags over the past half-decade or so, but this team should realistically contend for a national championship this season – and anything besides making the final four would have to be considered a disappointment.

A ridiculously loaded non-conference slate should ensure the Bulldogs are battle-tested before they head into league play, where they should run into very little issues.

A strong BYU squad and a surprisingly deep Pepperdine team could present some challenges, but the Zags are a near-lock to win the WCC regular-season crown and, barring a breakdown in the WCC tournament, should be the winners there as well.

Drew Timme and Jalen Suggs form an outstanding 1-2 punch, and the experience, athleticism, and leadership from future NBA players Joel Ayayi and Corey Kispert give the Zags an extremely rich starting lineup.

Factoring in the expected contributions from guys like Oumar Ballo, Julian Strawther, Dominick Harris, and Aaron Cook and you have a team that can go toe-to-toe with every team in the country with ease.

Next. WCC preseason power rankings for 2020-21. dark

Anything worse than 24-3 would be a disappointment this year in the regular season – although getting Michigan State, Tennessee, Baylor, and Iowa early in the year will be an immense challenge.

If the Zags come out of that with a 4-0 record, you can safely wager on them as your national champions in 2020-2021.