Gonzaga men’s basketball: ‘We’re taking it all this year’
SPOKANE, Wash. -– It’s been six months since the Gonzaga men’s basketball program, and its loyal fan base, went on one of the most memorable college basketball rollercoaster rides in program history. Gonzaga reached the Final Four for just second time in school history.
The celebration in reaching the championship game was like no other. It was an “One Shining Moment” for the ages. Star guard Jalen Suggs hit a 37-foot buzzer-beater to defeat UCLA in overtime to send the Zags to the national title game. The unforgettable shot was seen all over social media as basketball fans rejoiced in such a moment.
They also held a perfect record in college basketball. Such perfection had not been done in 45 years.
However, the tenacious Baylor Bears had other plans, as Gonzaga became the third team in the history of the NCAA tournament to fall in the national championship game and lose its perfect record.
But what a ride it was for the Gonzaga program that has long since shed its Cinderella label. And now with the 2021-22 season on the horizon, Gonzaga’s confidence is back. The Bulldogs are posed to make it back to the Final Four.
With their strong returning core, led by Drew Timme, Andrew Nembhard and Anton Watson, along with the No. 1 recruit of the 2021 class, 7-foot Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga is aiming to get back to the biggest stage in college basketball.
But the path back to the top isn’t going to come easy for the Zags. The team is already facing early challenges.
Gonzaga’s head coach Mark Few has been suspended for the team’s two exhibition games, as well as the season opener against Dixie State. The suspension comes following his arrest for driving under the influence over Labor Day weekend.
“I have had a month to reflect on the regretful decisions I made on Sept. 6,” Coach Few said in a statement. “I again offer my sincere apology and I remain committed to learning from this mistake. As a consequence of my error in judgment, I will not be present at Kraziness in the Kennel and the first three games of our season. I know this impacts our student-athletes and the coaching staff as we begin the season. I understand the severity of my actions and am sorry for the impact this consequence has on our team. Thank you again to those who have supported me, my family, and our program throughout this process.”
As Few’s team participated in the annual Kraziness in the Kennel event without him, fans caught their first glimpse of this year’s team while enjoying a three-point shooting contest, dunk contest and the annual intra-squad scrimmage.
The scrimmage ended in a tie, which seems pretty fitting considering Gonzaga’s depth this season.
Timme, who was named the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year last season as a sophomore, returns as the wily veteran ready to lead his team back to the Final Four.
Following Saturday’ s festivities at The Kennel, Timme spoke highly of Coach Few.
“Coach is a great leader,” Timme said. “He leads us every day, in and out. No one’s perfect and everyone messes up. He’s taken his punishment like a man and he’s owned up to it. We have nothing but respect for him and we’ll stand by him no matter what. Everyone has to own up to their mistakes and he’s doing a great job of that.”
As the team navigates the next couple of weeks without its head coach, Gonzaga will also be without sophomore guard Dominick Harris. Harris announced on his Instagram that he will undergo surgery on Wednesday. According to a school release, Harris will be out indefinitely with a right foot injury. The versatile guard played limited minutes last season but was expected to make a big leap on both ends of the floor this year.
As the rest of the Zags look to stay healthy, their belief in one another is at an all-time high.
Timme addressed the packed McCarthy Athletic Center ahead of this year’s Kraziness in the Kennel. He thanked the fans for their support, while adding, “We’re taking it all this year.”
The 6-foot-10 junior who started all 32 games for the Zags last season was expected by many to enter the 2021 NBA Draft following his sophomore year. But Timme has some unfinished business that he’s ready to take care of this season.
“Why wouldn’t I be confident?” he said. “I feel like we’re the best team in the country and I’m going stand by that for as long as live. So, I have no wavering confidence in that regard.”
Gonzaga will once again have a tough non-conference schedule this year, which includes contests against six schools from the Power 5 conferences, including UCLA and Duke.
The Zags tip-off against Texas on Nov. 13 in Coach Few’s first game back.
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