2021–22 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team

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2021–22 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball
Gonzaga Bulldogs wordmark.svg
Empire Classic champions
ConferenceWest Coast Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 4 (tie)
APNo. 4
2021–22 record10–2 (0–0 WCC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaMcCarthey Athletic Center
Seasons
← 2020–21
 →
2021–22 West Coast Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
San Francisco 0 – 0   – 12 – 1   .923
No. 4 Gonzaga 0 – 0   – 10 – 2   .833
BYU 0 – 0   – 11 – 3   .786
Saint Mary's 0 – 0   – 11 – 3   .786
Santa Clara 0 – 0   – 10 – 5   .667
Portland 0 – 0   – 9 – 6   .600
Loyola Marymount 0 – 0   – 7 – 5   .583
San Diego 0 – 0   – 7 – 6   .538
Pepperdine 0 – 0   – 6 – 9   .400
Pacific 0 – 0   – 5 – 9   .357
† 2022 WCC Tournament winner
As of December 25, 2021; Rankings from AP Poll

The 2021–22 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team represents Gonzaga University, located in Spokane, Washington, in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team, also unofficially nicknamed the "Zags", is led by head coach Mark Few, in his 23rd season as head coach. This is the Bulldogs' 18th season at the on-campus McCarthey Athletic Center and 42nd season as a member of the West Coast Conference (WCC).

Previous season[]

In a season limited due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Bulldogs finished the 2020–21 season 31–1 and 15–0 in WCC play to win the regular season championship.[1] They defeated Saint Mary's[2] and BYU[3] in the WCC Tournament to win the tournament championship and receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.[4] It was their 22nd straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Zags became the first Division I men's team since Kentucky in 2015 to enter the NCAA Tournament without a loss. They received the No. 1 seed in the West region where they beat Norfolk State,[5] Oklahoma State,[6] Creighton,[7] and USC to advance to the Final Four.[8] There they defeated UCLA to become the first undefeated team to advance to the national championship game since Indiana State in 1979.[9] The Bulldogs lost their first game of the season to Baylor in the championship game, denying the Bulldogs a perfect season.[10]

Offseason[]

Coaching changes[]

Departures[]

Name Position Year at
Gonzaga 		Alma Mater (year) Reason for departure
Tommy Lloyd Associate Head Coach 20th Whitman (1998) Head Coach at Arizona[11]
Ken Nakagawa Video Coordinator 5th Long Beach State (2014) Director of Advanced Scouting at Arizona[12]

Additions to staff[]

Name Position Year at
Gonzaga 		Alma Mater (year) Previous Job
Stephen Gentry Assistant Coach 1st Gonzaga (2006) Assistant Coach at Illinois[13]
Kurt Bambauer Video Coordinator 1st Gonzaga (2017) Video Coordinator at Vanderbilt[14]

Player departures[]

Due to COVID-19, the NCAA ruled in October 2020 that the 2020–21 season would not count against the eligibility of any basketball player, thus giving all players the option to return in 2021–22.[15] This in turn meant that seniors in the 2020–21 season had to declare themselves eligible for the 2021 NBA draft.

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure
Aaron Cook Jr. 4 G 6'1" 180 Senior (Redshirt) St. Louis, MO Transferred to Georgia[16]
Corey Kispert 24 F 6'7" 220 Senior Edmonds, WA Graduated; declared for 2021 NBA draft; selected 15th overall by the Washington Wizards[17]
Joël Ayayi 11 G 6'5" 180 Junior (Redshirt) Bordeaux, France Declared for 2021 NBA draft; undrafted[18]
Pavel Zakharov 10 F 7'0" 235 Sophomore St. Petersburg, Russia Transferred to California Baptist[19]
Oumar Ballo 21 C 7'0" 260 Freshman (Redshirt) Koulikoro, Mali Transferred to Arizona[20]
Jalen Suggs 1 G 6'4" 205 Freshman West St. Paul, MN Declared for 2021 NBA draft; selected 5th overall by the Orlando Magic[21]
Evan Inglesby 32 G 6'4" 200 Freshman Gresham, OR Left team

Incoming transfers[]

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous
School 		Years
Remaining 		Date
Eligible
Rasir Bolton 45 G 6'3" 185 Senior Petersburg, VA Iowa State 2 October 1, 2021[22]

Recruiting classes[]

2021 recruiting class[]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Kaden Perry
PF / C 		Battle Ground, WA Battle Ground 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Jun 27, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 84
Hunter Sallis
PG / SG 		Omaha, NE Millard North 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Mar 26, 2021 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 93
Chet Holmgren
C 		Minneapolis, MN Minnehaha 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Apr 19, 2021 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 97
Nolan Hickman
PG 		Seattle, WA Wasatch Academy (UT) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) May 15, 2021 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 90
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 4  247Sports: 5  ESPN: 5
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Gonzaga 2021 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  • "2021 Gonzaga Bulldogs Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  • "2021 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 15, 2021.

2022 recruiting class[]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Braden Huff
PF 		Carol Stream, IL Glenbard West 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Sep 27, 2021 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 81
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 3  247Sports: 4  ESPN: 4
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

Preseason[]

Mark Few arrest and suspension[]

On September 6, 2021, head coach Mark Few was pulled over by police and arrested for driving under the influence in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.[23] Few refused sobriety tests on the scene, but was shown to have a blood alcohol level of .119 and .120 from breath tests, well over the legal limit of .08.[23] Few later apologized for the incident and pled guilty to misdemeanor DUI.[24] The school suspended Few for three games for his actions.[25] However, the suspension notably included two exhibition games and the first game of the regular season, meaning he was able to coach the November 13 game against No. 5 Texas.[26]

Preseason rankings[]

Gonzaga was a near-unanimous selection as the No. 1 team in the country in the preseason AP[27] and Coaches poll.[28]

Roster[]

2021–22 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
G 23 Matthew Lang (W) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Sr Jesuit HS Portland, OR
G 35 Will Graves (W) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Sr Lane CC Eugene, OR
G 3 Andrew Nembhard 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 193 lb (88 kg) Sr Florida Aurora, ON, Canada
G 45 Rasir Bolton 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Sr Iowa State Petersburg, VA
F 22 Anton Watson 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Jr Gonzaga Prep Spokane, WA
G 5 Martynas Arlauskas 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jr President Valdas Adamkus Gymnasium Kaunas, Lithuania
F 2 Drew Timme 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Jr Pearce HS Richardson, TX
G 55 Dominick Harris 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) So Rancho Christian Murrieta, CA
G 0 Julian Strawther 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) So Liberty HS Las Vegas, NV
F 30 Abe Eagle (W) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) So Chaminade Prep Los Angeles, CA
F 25 Colby Brooks (W) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) So Loyola HS Los Angeles, CA
F 33 Ben Gregg 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Fr Clackamas HS Clackamas, OR
F 20 Kaden Perry 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Fr Battle Ground HS Battle Ground, WA
G 10 Hunter Sallis 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Fr Millard North HS Omaha, NE
C 34 Chet Holmgren 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Fr Minnehaha Academy Minneapolis, MN
G 11 Nolan Hickman 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Fr Wasatch Academy Seattle, WA
G 15 Joe Few (W) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Fr Gonzaga Prep Spokane, WA
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: September 13, 2021

  • Roster is subject to change as/if players transfer or leave the program for other reasons.


Coaching staff[]

Name Position Year at
Gonzaga 		Alma Mater (year)
Mark Few Head Coach 23rd Oregon (1987)
Brian Michaelson Assistant Coach 9th Gonzaga (2005)
Roger Powell Jr. Assistant Coach 3rd Illinois (2005)
Stephen Gentry Assistant Coach 1st Gonzaga (2006)
Jorge Sanz Director of Basketball Operations 4th Florida Atlantic (2011)
Evan Manning Graduate Assistant 2nd Kansas (2016)
Kurt Bambauer Video Coordinator 1st Gonzaga (2017)
Gary Bell Jr. Coordinator of Basketball Administration 3rd Gonzaga (2015)
Josh Therrien Athletic Trainer 6th Washington State (2007)
Travis Knight Strength & Conditioning Coach 16th Gonzaga (2000)

Schedule and results[]

Gonzaga was scheduled to play in the Empire Classic, but searched for other games after a venue change. However, the Bulldogs would eventually agree to take part in the Empire Classic and play UCLA in the event's spotlight game.[29] Gonzaga played Alabama in Seattle on December 4, 2021, restarting the "Battle in Seattle" Series; this also marked the first college basketball game played in the newly-renovated Climate Pledge Arena. [30]

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
October 31, 2021*
1:00 p.m., SWX 		No. 1 Eastern Oregon W 115–62 
 18 – Strawther   9 – Strawther   4 – Hickman  McCarthey Athletic Center (6,000)
Spokane, WA
November 5, 2021*
6:00 p.m., KHQ 		No. 1 Lewis–Clark State W 112–62 
 25 –  Timme   8 –  Timme   3 –  Tied  McCarthey Athletic Center (6,000)
Spokane, WA
Non-conference regular season (0-0)
November 9, 2021*
6:00 p.m., KHQ/RTNW 		No. 1 Dixie State W 97–63  1–0
  17 – Strawther   13 – Holmgren   7 – Watson  McCarthey Athletic Center (6,000)
Spokane, WA
November 13, 2021*
7:30 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 1 No. 5 Texas W 86–74  2–0
  37 – Timme   7 – Timme   8 – Nembhard  McCarthey Athletic Center (6,000)
Spokane, WA
November 15, 2021*
6:00 p.m., KHQ/RTNW 		No. 1 Alcorn State W 84–57  3–0
  18 – Strawther   6 – Holmgren   6 – Timme  McCarthey Athletic Center (6,000)
Spokane, WA
November 19, 2021*
6:00 p.m., KHQ/RTNW 		No. 1 Bellarmine W 92–50  4–0
  25 – Timme   6 – Tied   7 – Nembhard  McCarthey Athletic Center (6,000)
Spokane, WA
November 22, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPNU 		No. 1 vs. 
Empire Classic 		W 107–54  5–0
  19 – Holmgren   7 – Sallis   5 – Bolton  T-Mobile Arena (7,029)
Paradise, NV
November 23, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 1 vs. No. 2 UCLA
Empire Classic 		W 83–63  6–0
  24 – Nembhard   9 – Strawther   6 – Nembhard  T-Mobile Arena (12,795)
Paradise, NV
November 26, 2021*
7:30 p.m., ESPN 		No. 1 vs. No. 5 Duke
Continental Tire Challenge 		L 81–84  6–1
  20 – Strawther   10 – Strawther   11 – Nembhard  T-Mobile Arena (20,389)
Paradise, NV
November 29, 2021*
7:00 p.m., KHQ/RTNW 		No. 3 Tarleton State W 64–55  7–1
  17 – Bolton   12 – Strawther   2 – Tied  McCarthey Athletic Center (6,000)
Spokane, WA
December 4, 2021*
5:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 3 vs. No. 16 Alabama
Battle in Seattle 		L 82–91  7–2
  23 – Timme   11 – Holmgren   4 – Tied  Climate Pledge Arena (18,048)
Seattle, WA
December 9, 2021*
6:00 p.m., KHQ/RTNW+ 		No. 5 Merrimack W 80–55  8–2
  22 – Timme   15 – Holmgren   5 – Watson  McCarthey Athletic Center (6,000)
Spokane, WA
December 12, 2021*
2:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 5 Washington
Rivalry 		Canceled due to COVID-19 protocols from Washington McCarthey Athletic Center 
Spokane, WA
December 18, 2021*
10:00 a.m., CBS 		No. 5 vs. No. 25 Texas Tech
Jerry Colangelo Classic 		W 69–55  9–2
  16 – Nembhard   11 – Holmgren   6 – Nembhard  Footprint Center (7,821)
Phoenix, AZ
December 20, 2021*
6:00 p.m., KHQ/RTNW 		No. 4 Northern Arizona W 95–49  10–2
  20 – Holmgren   9 – Holmgren   3 – Tied  McCarthey Athletic Center (6,000)
Spokane, WA
December 28, 2021*
2:00 p.m., KHQ/RTNW 		No. 4 North Alabama       McCarthey Athletic Center 
Spokane, WA
WCC Regular Season (0-0)
December 30, 2021
7:00 p.m., KHQ/RTNW+ 		No. 4 at San Diego       Jenny Craig Pavilion 
San Diego, CA
January 1, 2022
4:00 p.m., KHQ/RTNW+ 		No. 4 at Loyola Marymount       Gersten Pavilion 
Los Angeles, CA
January 6, 2022
6:00 p.m., KHQ/RTNW+ 		San Francisco       McCarthey Athletic Center 
Spokane, WA
January 8, 2022
6:00 p.m., KHQ/RTNW+ 		Pepperdine       McCarthey Athletic Center 
Spokane, WA
January 13, 2022
8:00 p.m., ESPN2/ESPNU 		BYU
Rivalry 		      McCarthey Athletic Center 
Spokane, WA
January 15, 2022
TBA, KHQ/RTNW+ 		at Santa Clara       Leavey Center 
Santa Clara, CA
January 20, 2022
6:00 p.m., KHQ/RTNW+ 		at Pacific       Alex G. Spanos Center 
Stockton, CA
January 27, 2022
8:00 p.m., CBSSN 		Loyola Marymount       McCarthey Athletic Center 
Spokane, WA
January 29, 2022
6:00 p.m., KHQ/RTNW 		Portland       McCarthey Athletic Center 
Spokane, WA
February 3, 2022
6:00 p.m., ESPN2 		at Pepperdine       Firestone Fieldhouse 
Malibu, CA
February 5, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2 		at BYU
Rivalry 		      Marriott Center 
Provo, UT
February 10, 2022
6:00 p.m., CBSSN 		Pacific       McCarthey Athletic Center 
Spokane, WA
February 12, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2 		Saint Mary's
Rivalry 		      McCarthey Athletic Center 
Spokane, WA
February 19, 2022
6:00 p.m., KHQ/RTNW 		Santa Clara       McCarthey Athletic Center 
Spokane, WA
February 24, 2022
6:00 p.m., ESPN2 		at San Francisco       War Memorial Gymnasium 
San Francisco, CA
February 26, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2 		at Saint Mary's
Rivalry 		      University Credit Union Pavilion 
Moraga, CA
WCC Tournament (0-0)
March 3–8, 2022
TBA 		vs.        Orleans Arena 
Paradise, NV
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Pacific Time.

Source[31]

Rankings[]

See also: 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Final 
AP 1 (55) 1 (55) 1 (55) 3 (1) 5 5 4 4 Not released 
Coaches 1 (29) ^ 1 (30) 3 5 4т 4т

*AP does not release post-NCAA Tournament rankings.
^Coaches did not release a Week 1 poll.

References[]

  1. ^ "2020-21 Gonzaga Bulldogs Schedule and Results". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  2. ^ "Saint Mary's vs. Gonzaga - Game Recap - March 8, 2021 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  3. ^ "Brigham Young vs. Gonzaga Box Score, March 9, 2021". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  4. ^ "Recap and highlights: No. 1 Gonzaga roars back, beats BYU for WCC Tournament title | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  5. ^ "Norfolk State vs. Gonzaga - Game Recap - March 20, 2021 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  6. ^ "Oklahoma vs. Gonzaga - Game Recap - March 22, 2021 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  7. ^ "Creighton vs. Gonzaga - Game Summary - March 28, 2021 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  8. ^ "USC vs. Gonzaga - Game Recap - March 30, 2021 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  9. ^ "UCLA vs. Gonzaga - Game Recap - April 3, 2021 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  10. ^ Forde, Pat. "Baylor's Beatdown Spoils Gonzaga's Chance at Perfection". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  11. ^ "Arizona Names Tommy Lloyd as Men's Basketball Head Coach" (Press release). Arizona Wildcats. April 14, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  12. ^ "Arizona hires three staffers with Gonzaga ties to work under Tommy Lloyd". SB Nation. April 28, 2021.
  13. ^ "Former Gonzaga Bulldogs player Stephen Gentry hired as assistant basketball coach". ESPN. May 24, 2021.
  14. ^ "Kurt Bambauer". gozags.com. September 2021.
  15. ^ "DI Council extends eligibility for winter sport student-athletes" (Press release). NCAA. October 14, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  16. ^ "Crean adds Gonzaga point guard Aaron Cook". Rivals.com. May 24, 2021.
  17. ^ "2021 NBA Draft: Corey Kispert Taken at No. 15 by Washington". July 29, 2021.
  18. ^ "Gonzaga guard Joel Ayayi declares for NBA draft". ESPN. April 9, 2021.
  19. ^ "Pavel Zakharov Transferring From Gonzaga". SB Nation. April 9, 2021.
  20. ^ "Arizona Basketball adds Zaga transfer, Oumar Ballo". FanSided. April 20, 2021.
  21. ^ "Jalen Suggs Declares for NBA Draft". Sports Illustrated. April 19, 2021.
  22. ^ "Gonzaga adds Iowa State transfer Rasir Bolton to men's hoops team". ESPN. April 30, 2021.
  23. ^ a b Salvador, Joseph. "Gonzaga's Mark Few Cited With DUI". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  24. ^ "Gonzaga's Few fined after pleading guilty to DUI". ESPN.com. 2021-10-20. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  25. ^ Gastelum, Andrew. "Gonzaga Suspends Mark Few for Season Opener, Preseason". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  26. ^ Bumbaca, Chris. "Gonzaga men's basketball coach Mark Few suspended to start season after DWI". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  27. ^ "Zags runaway No. 1 in AP preseason Top 25 poll". ESPN.com. 2021-10-18. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  28. ^ "Gonzaga ranked #1 on USA Today's preseason coaches poll". KXLY. 2021-10-27. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  29. ^ "Title contenders Gonzaga, UCLA finally agree to play each other in November in Las Vegas". May 22, 2021.
  30. ^ Goodman, Jeff (May 23, 2021). "Gonzaga will play Alabama in Seattle at the new Climate Pledge Arena on Dec. 4". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  31. ^ "gozags.com :: Gonzaga Official Athletic Site :: Men's Basketball". gozags.com.
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