Gonzaga Basketball: 5 takeaways from Bulldogs tough 3-game road trip

PROVO, UT- JANUARY 12: Drew Timme #2 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs leads the team in celebration at mid court after beating the Brigham Young Cougars in the final seconds of their game January 12, 2023 at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) /

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Julian Strawther #0 of the Gonzaga Basketball (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) /

3. Julian Strawther has quietly been good this season

Without Chet Holmgren around, the expected hierarchy of Gonzaga’s offense would be Timme as the No. 1 option, with Strawther as the clear No. 2. Timme is averaging over 21.5 ppg but Strawther was supposed to be not too far behind as an NBA Draft prospect to watch.

Instead, the junior forward is second on the team but at just 13.8 ppg. He’s been in double figures in eight straight games currently and 17 of 19 overall. Strawther only has had 20+ points three times and none in the three-game road stretch. But it doesn’t mean that he wasn’t an important piece in each of the three wins.

Against San Francisco, he had 16 points and six rebounds while making a number of shots to keep them in the game in the first half. Versus Santa Clara, Strawther had 18 points on an efficient 6/10 shooting. And while he only had 11 points and eight rebounds on 4/12 shooting, Strawther made the shot that mattered most to break the hearts of BYU fans in Provo.

Strawther isn’t the 20 ppg breakout star some have expected and he doesn’t take over games as a volume shooter. But he’s making 41% from three-point range and has a career-high 7.3 rpg on the season. And considering the inconsistencies of the backcourt that includes a slumping Rasir Bolton, Strawther’s play has been just fine for Gonzaga, even if it looks different than expected.