Drew Timme, Gonzaga Bulldogs.
2022-23 will be Mark Few’s 24th season as the Gonzaga Bulldogs head coach. He has the necessary talent on the roster, including a dynamic starting five to go all the way.
The Zags will look slightly different this year than they did in the past two seasons. What’s the difference? There are no one-and-done draft picks this time around. No distractions. So who will make Few’s starting five?
Let’s delve into the Bulldogs’ players and figure out who might be a Gonzaga Bulldogs starter this year. The players who will lead the Bulldogs to the championship, Drew Timme‘s championship.
Heeeeesss back! At Center, the WCC Player of the Year, All-American Drew Timme. The “Spokane Stache” returned to Gonzaga at the last minute on the last day players could withdraw from the NBA Draft.
What a sigh of relief for the Zags fans. If they were looking for a sign that this season it, they got it with the 6’10 Texas native’s return. This is Timme’s last year with the Zags, and he truly deserves to go out by hoisting the National Championship Trophy.
Last season, Timme averaged 18.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists with a 58.6 field goal percentage. 2022-23 is Timme’s chance to show NBA general managers that he is indeed a formidable power forward. A Championship is a definite way to show it.
Anton Watson. The Gonzaga Bulldogs’ “quiet enforcer” will be the power forward and Zags’ rim protector. With “The Slim Reaper” Chet Holmgren off to the NBA, Gonzaga needs someone who can block shots and pull down rebounds in his place.
Off the bench last season, Watson came in when the Zags needed to give Timme or Holmgren a break. He averaged 18.1 minutes, 7.3 points, and 5.4 rebounds per game and shot 49.8% from the field. It won’t be easy, but as a starter this year, Watson could come close to averaging a double-double.
Julian Strawther. Kennel fans should be pleased that this young man decided to withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to the Gonzaga Bulldogs for another year. An outstanding athlete, Strawther is the wingman of the WCC.
He has a three-point dagger that kills when it hits and hits often. Strawther averaged 36.5% from beyond the arc.
Although Strawther is returning to the Gonzaga Bulldogs for his junior year, winning a national championship could see him go pro next summer. He has a golden opportunity to showcase his skills this season with a strong group of players around him.
Rasir Bolton. Speedy Bolton is what I like to call him. Last season Bolton averaged 11.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists with a 50.2 field goal percentage. In addition, Bolton averaged a fantastic 46% from three-point range.
For some reason, he wasn’t invited to the NBA combine. But I bet it won’t be the same this year. Bolton is one of the best three-point shooters in the NCAA and is definitely a key in getting the Bulldogs to the championship game.
Nolan Hickman. The Gonzaga Bulldogs’ future NBA All-Star player will be running the floor at the point. Fans may wonder, why not senior transfer Malachi Smith? Smith is a great point guard, but Mark Few has hand-picked and hand-groomed Hickman for this role.
He’s had a great apprenticeship and learned the Zags’ offense from two great point guards. During his first season in Spokane, Hickman watched the outstanding Jalen Suggs lead the team to the NCAA Finals.
As the backup for ball distributor extraordinaire Andrew Nembhard, Hickman averaged 17.2 minutes off the bench last year. His 44.4% field goal percentage shows that this is a good pick for Few.
How do you feel about the Gonzaga Bulldogs’ starting lineup? Let us know in the comments section below.
Next up: Who will be the 3rd guard if Mark Few uses a three-guard rotation?