Gonzaga Basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for Bulldogs

Gonzaga Bulldogs Projected Starting Lineup

For simplicity’s sake, I used traditional positions for this projection although Mark Few has multiple players who can play different positions. Disregard the specific positions as you see fit, but here is one of the most likely scenarios I see for Gonzaga’s starting lineup.

Andrew Nembhard – Point Guard

Nembhard only started half of Gonzaga’s 32 games last season, but don’t let that fool you. He would have been a starter on almost every other Division I team. After averaging 9.4 points and 4.4 assists last season, Nembhard was named to the All-WCC Second Team while taking home the conference’s Sixth Man of the Year award. It takes high-level point guard play to stay in the mix for a national title, and the senior guard will provide the playmaking to keep that possibility alive.

Rasir Bolton – Shooting Guard

Rasir Bolton joins the Bulldogs as a graduate transfer from Iowa State. The Cyclones were absolutely abysmal last season, but the 6’3″ Bolton was one of the few bright spots, finishing as an All-Big 12 Third Team selection. He filled up the stat sheet, posting 15.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per game – all career-highs. He also shot a career-best 51.4% from the field last season.

His three-point shooting has been a little streaky over the years, but Mark Few’s high-powered offensive system is well-suited for a player with Bolton’s athleticism and scoring ability. I think it’s likely that Bolton slots into the starting lineup early in the season with a real possibility to move to a sixth man role if Hunter Sallis balls out early.

Julian Strawther – Small Forward

Strawther was a highly-regarded four-star prospect who was recruited by the likes of Kansas, UCLA, and Florida State among others. He ultimately committed to Gonzaga but ran into the unfortunate circumstance of being a freshman on a roster with multiple All-Americans and Corey Kispert playing 31 minutes per game at the 3-spot. Now, Julian Strawther has a massive opportunity to take over the starting role after collecting nothing but garbage time last season.

Although his 32.1% three-point percentage might be alarming to some, it should be noted that Strawther only took 28 total shots from beyond the arc last year and he is really a much better shooter than his percentage indicated. If he rounds out into the player many project, Strawther will be a perimeter threat with the length and rebounding ability to be a defensive asset as well.

Drew Timme – Power Forward

Drew Timme should need no introduction. The consensus All-American forward returns for his junior season and another title run. Last year, he averaged an astounding 19.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game en route to an All-WCC First Team and 2021 NCAA All-Tournament Team selections. His elite post moves and ‘Drew Manchu’ mustache made him one of the most recognized players in college basketball last season. Timme doesn’t stretch the floor even a little bit, but that’s not a concern when he shoots 67.7% from inside the arc.

With both Suggs and Kispert gone, a lot of pressure falls on Timme to deliver. Based on what we’ve seen from him the last two years, this will be another elite season for the forward.

Chet Holmgren – Center

Snagging Holmgren – the No. 1 overall player in the 2021 class – was the biggest recruiting win of Mark Few’s career. The 19-year-old seven-footer is an absolute unicorn. There isn’t a lot he can’t do on a basketball court. Holmgren is a phenomenal rim protector who anticipates plays before they happen and blocks a ton of shots.

He is surprisingly agile for his size, which will really make him an asset in transition and on defense. Another reason why it’s okay for Timme to not stretch the floor is that Holmgren has a plus three-point shot. Oh, and he also has the ball-handling skills of a guard. At seven feet tall. Yeah.

Long story short, Chet Holmgren is going to be a problem for opponents. His combination of skills has not been seen in many other prospects if any. Assuming he lives up to his billing, Gonzaga will have replaced one Minnehaha Academy star in Jalen Suggs with one who might be even better.