Gonzaga Bulldogs: 2021-2022 West Coast Conference thumbnail preview
Ed Stein
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The West Coast Conference looked good in pre-conference games. Here is a quick look at the Gonzaga Bulldogs’ competition as WCC play begins this week.
We are long past the days when West Coast Conference teams surprise the upper crust of college basketball. Last season the Gonzaga Bulldogs came up one game short of winning a National Championship. The rest of the conference might not be at the same level, but there are few easy outs.
So far, the WCC is off to a good start; only two teams have losing records. At one point, Brigham Young was ranked as high as 12th. Last week San Francisco and St. Mary’s received votes in both Top-25 polls. In 2021-22 the West Coast Conference could put three teams could make the big dance.
The Gold Standard
Gonzaga Bulldogs – Pre-Conference record 11-2
Gonzaga is by far the class of the WCC. It would be a shock if the Bulldogs didn’t go undefeated in conference play.
Drew Timme might be the best player in college basketball, and his frontcourt partner freshman Chet Holmgren is one of a handful of candidates to be the number one overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
While opponents deal with the forward duo, Gonzaga’s guards, Andrew Nembhard and Rasir Bolton, can bury a dagger in the hearts of teams in the other colored jersey from outside. The bigger names on this team get plenty of attention, but 6-7 wing Julian Strawther averages 13.0 points and 6.2 boards per game.
2021-22 Team Leaders
Scoring: Timme – 17.1 PPG
Rebounds – Holmgren – 8.5 RPG
Assists – Nembhard – 4.3 APG