ZAGS 360: Week 17 – Several Bulldogs bring home 2021-22 All-WCC Honors
Teresa Powe
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The Gonzaga Bulldogs are once again All-WCC regular season champs. They’re bringing home the gold to Spokane before they play in the WCC Tournament. So let’s all say “bravo” to the Zags for once again being winners.
Can you believe it’s almost the end of the season? It seems it only started yesterday. However, one of the good things about the season’s end is the awards. Once again, several Gonzaga Bulldogs are bringing home the gold!
Gonzaga Bulldogs Individual Honors
Drew Timme – 2021-22 All-WCC Men’s Basketball Player of the Year
You go, “Stache!” Drew Timme once again excelled this year. If you thought he was great last season, you know he is an outstanding player after this one.
I remember hoping he would return to the Gonzaga Bulldogs for his junior year. Unfortunately, there was just a little something that needed to be tweaked before heading to the NBA. Not only did he tweak it, but he also hit it out of the park. Timme grew into a rim-protecting, rim-scoring, high-scoring player. Twice he won+ WCC Player of the Week this season, the first week, 11/15/21 and 01/17/22. In the 2021-22 regular season, Timme averaged 17.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists.
Chet Holmgren – 2021-22 All-WCC Men’s Basketball Newcomer of the Year; Defensive Player of the Year
Unicorn is the perfect adjective to describe Chet Holmgren. The 2021 number one ranked recruit didn’t disappoint Gonzaga Bulldogs fans this season. Every game, every play, Holmgren was a wonder to watch. The “Slim Reaper” has a tremendous outside shot and can rain three-pointers down on opponents as quickly as he can block their shots. Don’t let that thin frame fool you. Holmgren will go into the paint and fight for that offensive and defensive rebound every play in every game.
Chet was WCC Freshman of the Week nine times! Starting the first week, 11/15/21, 11/22, 11/29, 12/6/21, 1/17/22, 1/24, 2/21/22, and 2/7/22, he was Player and Freshman of the Week. He’s an incredible player, person, and representative of Gonzaga Bulldogs basketball. During the season, Holmgren averaged 14.4 points and 9.7 rebounds.
Vote now for our three @Hoophall Naismith Starting Five Finalists!
?️Vote Here: https://t.co/XwuKbx35jS pic.twitter.com/eZYyPT3TLO— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) March 4, 2022
2021-22 All-WCC Men’s Basketball First Team
Chet Holmgren
Drew Timme
Andrew Nembhard – We didn’t get to see all of what Andrew Nembhard had to offer last season because he came off of the bench for Jalen Suggs. This season we all have had to stand and salute the floor general. With his high basketball IQ, Nembhard distributed the ball in such a way that kept this team on the winning side 24 times. December 20, 2021, just in time for Christmas, Nembhard was named Player of the Week. He averaged 11.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5.5 assists.
2021-22 All-WCC Men’s Basketball Freshman Team
Chet Holmgren
Nolan Hickman – I believe Nolan Hickman is a future NBA All-Star because he plays like an NBA All-Star. Hickman was one of the highest-ranked point guards in the country, and we have seen why. Coming off the bench for either Nembhard, Julian Strawther, or Rasir Bolton, Nolan provided just what his team needed at just the right time. Hickman’s averages were 5.8 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists.
2021-22 All-WCC Men’s Basketball Honorable Mention Selections
Rasir Bolton – Rasir Bolton‘s speed up and down the court left many opponents scratching their heads. Bolton has been a “bolt of lightning.”. His spot-up three-pointers, rebounds, and assists were the perfect complement to Nembhard. Bolton averaged 11.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists.
Julian Strawther – To me, Julian Strawther is the most athletic member of the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Strawther has literally fallen over himself to get the ball and throw up not only a field goal but a three-pointer. He is the Bulldogs beyond the arc man, and his teammates can always count on him to get that three ball when needed. Strawther’s averages were 12.5 points and 5.7 rebounds.
Bolton’s and Strawther’s numbers were far more than “honorable mentions.” Without these young men, I don’t think the Gonzaga Bulldogs would be 24-3, and it certainly would have been near impossible for them to be the number one team in the country!
Let’s say it again, Zags Nation, the Gonzaga Bulldogs are the number one team in the country!!! The Bulldogs will be back on March 7 for the WCC semifinals.
Please stay safe and healthy out there!