There really isn’t much that needs to be said about Gonzaga basketball that hasn’t been said already. Mark Few has done a masterful job building a national contender on a yearly basis, and a program that has never missed the NCAA Tournament since he took over in 1999. The Bulldogs have achieved postseason success, brought great players to Spokane, and continue to be a reliable winning machine.
Last year was more of the same with a 31-4 mark, another WCC title, and a trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. However, things are finally changing for the Bulldogs as new members of the revitalized Pac-12. Gonzaga has been nationally relevant in every way despite playing in a mid-major league and now join a new conference with a slight step up in competition.
That new league is not the only significant change, as the Gonzaga roster will look very different heading into next season. You won’t see Tyon Grant-Foster or Graham Ike playing college ball while Mario Saint-Supery shockingly headed back overseas. They also lost a number of pieces into the transfer portal, though this staff has done more than enough to fill in those gaps.
However, there’s significant uncertainty on Gonzaga’s roster with several players fighting for eligibility. If everything goes their way, the Bulldogs will have a very competitive and experienced lineup. Even without some of these players, Gonzaga has the pieces to be the best team in the new Pac-12 as this crew looks to make a name for themselves right out the gate.
Projected Starters
Guard – Xaivian Lee (Senior)
Many might not have expected to see Lee back in college hoops but the Bulldogs really needed a point guard after Saint-Supery fled Spokane. Currently eligible and entering his fifth college campaign, Lee did fantastic work for three years at Princeton before starring for Florida, putting up 11.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists for the Gators last year. An experienced floor general, Lee’s shooting figures dipped last season in the SEC but Gonzaga provides him a perfect shot to prove himself again.
Guard – Isiah Harwell (Sophomore)
A 5-star shooting guard from Idaho, Harwell was the underachieving piece of Houston’s elite freshmen class last season and is now looking to take a big step forward with the Bulldogs. He played off the bench with the Cougars, averaging 3.6 points and 2.0 rebounds while struggling with consistency. Now that he’s fully healthy and a vital piece in this new system, we’ll see how Harwell develops as a shooter, though his speed and length are also key attributes.
Guard – Davis Fogle (Sophomore)
An important piece from Gonzaga’s recent recruiting class, Fogle put up solid figures off the bench as a true freshman last season. The Washington native played decent minutes and contributed 8.6 points and 3.1 rebounds, though his role will be much larger in year two. He’s an impressive athlete who can catch fire from outside the arc and in the mid-range and should be a massive part of the Bulldogs’ attack this season.
Forward – Braden Huff (Senior)
Clearly the most notable returner in Spokane, Huff headed Gonzaga’s way three years ago and has been a very solid frontcourt weapon. He was putting up double-figures off the bench as an underclassman, though a knee injury caused him to miss more than half of last year, averaging 17.8 points and 5.6 rebounds across 18 games. Gonzaga is hopeful that Huff can replicate that production now healthy again and be the next frontcourt star in a long line of them in Bulldogs lore.
Center – Massamba Diop (Sophomore)
A 7-1 center originally from Senegal, Diop was a massive presence last season at Arizona State and becomes a significant offseason addition for this program. A full-time starter in the Big 12, he averaged 13.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks a night while making nearly 60% of his shots inside the arc. He’s now plugged into a massive role on both ends of the court for a Bulldogs team that always plays through their big men.
Key Reserves
Forward – Luca Foster (Freshman)
A 4-star wing out of Pennsylvania, Foster is the big freshman recruit joining the Bulldogs this season, ranking as high as Top 50 in the nation by some recruiting sites. He’s a versatile scorer and defender who should be leaps and bounds ahead of typical incoming freshmen, with a chance to be a significant playmaker right off the jump.
Guard – Javon Bennett (Senior)
He’s facing an uphill battle for eligibility, but Bennett would be a very significant addition to Gonzaga’s backcourt. A 5-11 guard from Orlando, he had one year at Merrimack and then three with Dayton, putting up 15.8 points and 2.9 assists per game last season with the Flyers. If he’s on the court this season, the Bulldogs gain a really valuable backup point guard who can shoot and is a crafty defender with plenty of experience.
Guard – Nathan De Sousa (Senior)
Another player with questionable eligibility, De Sousa should be good to go for one season in college basketball. A 6-3 point guard from France, he’s another late offseason addition to help bolster the backcourt depth, though he’s clearly gotten plenty of experience overseas. He’s a tough and physical guard not exactly known for his outside shooting but instead for his ball skills and basketball IQ.
Forward – Chauncey Wiggins (Senior)
If he’s ruled eligible, Wiggins would be a significant addition for Gonzaga and would play starters minutes in this frontcourt. A 6-10 forward, he’s spent his career in the ACC, starting plenty of games for Clemson and Florida State. In his lone year with the Seminoles he put up 13.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game in his best season while knocking down 39% of his 3-point attempts. That experience and talent would be very welcomed in this lineup.
Forward – Izan Almansa (Junior)
Yet another player whose eligibility is uncertain, Almansa is a 6-10 big man from Spain who’s gotten plenty of run across his career. While the outside shot isn’t his game, he a fantastic transitional weapon, has a nice feel around the rim, and uses his size well on both ends of the court. After his previous work in the G-League and Summer League, we may not see him but the Bulldogs sure would love his talent around the basket.
Forward – Parker Jefferson (Sophomore)
Jefferson is a 6-9 forward from Texas who redshirted last season at Gonzaga but absolutely has opportunities to factor into this rotation in a big way. The Bulldogs have developed some great forwards over the years and Jefferson could be next with his physicality and presence on both ends. His road to significant minutes becomes much easier if some of these other bigs are ruled ineligible.
Center – Sam Funches (Freshman)
There are no eligibility questions surrounding Funches, a 7-footer from Mississippi who’ll get his first taste of college ball this year. The size already stands out in a major way, but Funches also has great mobility and physical skills, using his length on defense and producing results in the paint. He’s a 4-star recruit though still a raw product and is behind a few other names on the depth chart, pending those rulings.
Schedule Outlook
Gonzaga has spent many years playing rigorous nonconference slates to make up for the lull of WCC play and it’s not too different even this season. Their opening matchup is against Purdue as part of the Hall of Fame Series in Las Vegas on November 2nd. They’ll then get three straight games in Spokane, though the Bad Boy Mower Series showdown with LSU comes during that stretch and will have plenty of national attention.
The Bulldogs spend the Thanksgiving holiday back in Las Vegas for the Players Era 16, starting with Kansas State on November 24th. They’ll get two more games in that event, including either Alabama or Baylor in the second matchup, and have a real chance to assert themselves early. They come back home to start off December but there are more nonconference challenges looming.
On December 5th, they’ll head to Anaheim and play UCLA in the West Coast Hoops Showdown. One week later, there’s a tough road environment looming as the Bulldogs head to Creighton. The next Saturday is the last real test and it’s a doozy, with Gonzaga facing Michigan State in the Acrisure Series down in California. Pac-12 play begins in January, though that’s not the end of their nonconference slate.
The Bulldogs get two looks at each of their new league rivals, and many eyes will be on their matchups with teams like Boise State, San Diego State, and Utah State. February features the road trips to Boise and San Diego but that’s sandwiched between two more major tests. On January 30th, the Battle in Seattle sees a big matchup with Oregon, while the College Hoops Showcase some three weeks later brings an enormous late February showdown against Duke.
Season Outlook
Gonzaga undoubtedly lost a lot of talent from last year’s team, but that’s just how life goes in this era of college basketball. Some late moves made the Bulldogs change their offseason strategy and now they’ve built a very talented roster with a mix of returning players, veteran transfers, and inexperienced pieces ready to make their mark. We don’t know how many of these players will be eligible, but let’s try to get a feeling for this roster nonetheless.
Nabbing Lee really turns this backcourt more into a sure thing, especially if he step up after a few struggles last year with the Gators. The Bulldogs are very excited about what sophomores Fogle and Harwell bring to the equation, with both highly regarded recruits on the rise. If he’s around, Bennett becomes a massive piece of the puzzle as well, while De Sousa’s experience overseas certainly helps round out this backcourt.
The magic always comes from the frontcourt and there’s plenty to be excited about in Spokane. Huff being back and healthy is already a massive victory, especially if he can be a physical game wrecker in the post. Then you throw in Diop, one of the top names in the entire transfer portal, and you’ve got a 1-2 punch that very few teams can match. We’ll see if Almansa or Wiggins are eligible, but that could just open the door for Funches or Jefferson to be in the next era of playmakers.
We’re not going to try to understand the floor or ceiling for Gonzaga this season because all of this roster uncertainty changes where the Bulldogs honestly lie. Their ideal starting five is talented, experienced, and might be one of the best in the nation 1 to 5 and it’s hard to argue about some of these depth pieces. Few and company always get the best out of their players and there’s no doubt that this team is the favorite in the first year of the Pac-12.
Add us as a preferred source on Google