NCAA Basketball: Updated WTE 2022-23 power rankings after transfer deadline
6. Gonzaga Bulldogs
2021-22 record: 28-4 (13-1 in WCC)
It was another year of Gonzaga making it to at least the Sweet 16, now seven in a row. But depending on what happens with the NBA Draft process, the team could lose all five starters from this past roster. Chet Holmgren is set to be a top-3 pick, while starting point guard Andrew Nembhard has declared that his NCAA Basketball career is over.
That leaves three players who aren’t guaranteed top-45 picks and could easily come back. Two of them are Rasir Bolton and Julian Strawther, double-digit scorers and elite three-point threats. But the key guy to watch is All-American and WCC Player of the Year Drew Timme, who averaged nearly 20 ppg each of the last two years and is one of the best low-post threats in NCAA Basketball.
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The good news for the Bulldogs is that even if Timme leaves, the program was able to get a commitment from former five-star prospect Efton Reid, who played well for LSU at times but was largely inconsistent. But he should do very well in the WCC, paired with returning forward Anton Watson.
In the backcourt are a pair of other five-star prospects in Hunter Sallis and Nolan Hickman, who’ll be going from the bench to key starters without the seniors around. If these guys take the sophomore leap, Gonzaga will be a top-10 team once again. But if they struggle and the team doesn’t add anyone else from the portal, they could have a rare “off” year that could threaten the Sweet 16 streak.