Gonzaga
University
(11)
by Jeff Feyerer
Projected Starters
G
6-3
PT%
6.64
G
PTE
0.50
6-4
PT%
19.54
G
6-5
6-10
PT%
69.01
C
7-1
PT%
61.32
HS100 AC/AA
60
Silas Melson
PTE
2.25
PT%
43.03
F
Josh Perkins
HS100 AC/AA
Kyle Dranginis
SO
NBA
SO
NBA
SR
PTE
10.16
HS100 AC/AA
PTE
36.31
HS100 AC/AA
19
2-AA
NBA
74
PTE
18.32
HS100 AC/AA
1-AC
NBA
Kyle Wiltjer
Przemek Kamowski
NBA
SR
SR
Bench Rotation
F
6-10
PT%
54.08
G
PTE
21.42
6-3
PT%
9.54
C
G
HS100 AC/AA
2-AC
Eric McClellan
PTE
1.52
7-1
PT%
65.86
Domantas Sabonis
HS100 AC/AA
Ryand Edwards
PTE
0.38
HS100 AC/AA
6-5 Bryan Alberts
PT%
0.00
PTE
0.00
HS100 AC/AA
SO
NBA
26
SR
NBA
SO
NBA
FR
NBA
In 2014-2015, the Bulldogs
set a school record for wins (353) and reached their first NCAA
Tournament regional final since
1998-99, before succumbing to the
eventual champion Duke. It was
a charmed season for Mark Few’s
bunch, but for all their success as a
program over the course of the last
15 years, the perpetual mid-major
powerhouse still has not achieved
the same tournament success as
VCU and Butler have in their wake.
This year, Gonzaga will be
trying to achieve their goal unlike
other iterations before them.
Through the years, the Bulldogs
have been built around their guard
and perimeter play with a few star
big men like Adam Morrison, Kelly
Olynyk, and Ronny Turiaf sprinkled
in. Players like Matt Santangelo, Dan
Dickau, Blake Stepp, Jeremy Pargo,
and Kevin Pangos have continued
a tradition of reliable, experienced,
steady guard play that directed their
talented squads through the West
Coast Conference and postseason.
With the departure of fouryear starters Pangos and Gary Bell,
the Bulldogs will turn to the best
frontcourt they’ve ever had, and one
of the top in all of college basketball
to change the ending of their story.
Kyle Wiltjer, the uber-talented
stretch 4 and once-heralded
recruit, arrived in Spokane as a
transfer from Kentucky (he was
a rotation player on their 2012
National Championship team) who
couldn’t crack the starting lineup
in Lexington. In his first-year with
the Zags, all Wiltjer did was average
16.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per
game on his way to being named
a Second-Team All-American.
According to KenPom.com, Wiltjer
was ningth in the nation in offensive
rating and 14th in 3-point shooting
percentage.
His ability to score from
anywhere on the floor make him
a National Player of the Year
candidate, but he must extend his
time on the floor. Wiltjer averaged
only 27.8 minutes per game. Being
able to improve his stamina or
even show he can play the 3 in
spots would open up the lineup
possibilities with Gonzaga’s two
other talented big men.
Next to Wiltjer will be 7-foot-1
junior center Przemek Karnowski, a
mountain of a man built like Andre
the Giant, protecting the lane from
any opposing penetrators. Although
he doesn’t block a lot of shots due
BBALLBREAKDOWN | 24