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Gonzaga Basketball: What happens if Malachi Smith joins the Bulldogs?

By Joey Loose

Mar 17, 2022; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Chattanooga Mocs guard Malachi Smith speaks with the media at a press conference prior to practice for the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2022; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Chattanooga Mocs guard Malachi Smith speaks with the media at a press conference prior to practice for the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Gonzaga Basketball (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Gonzaga Basketball (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /

Gonzaga’s ceiling for next year

The biggest factor at Gonzaga isn’t whether or not Smith joins this Bulldogs roster, but what happens next with Timme. With Smith and Timme, this lineup will again be one of the best offenses in the entire nation and could spend the entire season in the Top 5 once again. However, we’re operating under the assumption that Timme is moving on, even if he’s not off to the NBA next season.

Smith’s addition to the Bulldogs shores up some of the offense they’re losing and certainly puts this Gonzaga program in good shape for next season. On paper, this doesn’t look like one of the Bulldog’s most talented teams in recent years, but maybe that’s not a bad thing. There’s no Jalen Suggs-type recruit coming to Spokane; this team would belong to players taking on new roles, with Smith on top of that list.

With his breakout the last few seasons, Smith helped Chattanooga become the best team in a Southern Conference that has produced some fantastic teams in recent years. He’d certainly be asked to do more at Gonzaga, but the SoCon’s best player could go a long way to winning yet another WCC title and competing for that elusive national championship.

Gonzaga has been a phenomenal regular-season team, plowing through most of their conference foes before flaming out of the NCAA Tournament on a regular basis. While Chattanooga didn’t upend the Fighting Illini this past March, Smith showed that he’s ready for the biggest stage. He’s not the kind of player who immediately makes the Bulldogs a national championship threat, but his addition to an already talented roster cannot be understated.

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Malachi Smith still has not made his official decision, but joining the Bulldogs would be quite a fantastic move for both him and Gonzaga. We’re used to seeing Gonzaga atop the national rankings and conference standings, and Smith is the type of player to make sure that trend continues. If Smith lands at Gonzaga, expect this team atop the offensive ratings, ready to make a splash in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.