Fall is here, and school is back in session, which means the good times are almost here – the start of college basketball season! To get you ready for this upcoming season, The Hoops Manifesto presents to you its preseason top 25 team rankings, based on the input from our esteemed voting panel. Next up #12: Gonzaga Bulldogs.
Big thanks to our voting panel: Jeff Fox (@HoopsManifesto) from The Hoops Manifesto, Perry Missner (@PerryMissner) from RotoWire, Ray Bala (@CanBallReport) who writes The Can Ball Report on Raptors HQ, Adam Francis (@RaptorsHQ) from Raptors HQ, Ian (@SoxAndDawgs) from SOX & Dawgs, and Alex Gallant (@SeaTownSports) from SeaTown Sports.
#12 – Gonzaga Bulldogs
2011/12: 26-7, lost NCAA Tournament Third Round
Key Returning Players:
Kevin Pangos – Point Guard – Sophomore
13.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1.2 spg, 79-197 3Pts
Elias Harris – Small Forward/Power Forward – Senior
13.1 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.2 apg
Gary Bell Jr. – Shooting Guard – Sophomore
10.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.0 apg, 51-107 3Pts
Top Newcomers:
Kelly Olynyk – Power Forward/Center – Junior (redshirted last season)
Przemek Karnowski – Center – Poland
Top NBA Prospect:
Przemek Karnowski – projected lottery pick in 2014
Outlook:
Last season marked the fourteenth straight year that the ‘Zags made the NCAA Tournament, an incredible feat – especially for a “mid major” team. This season should make it fifteen appearances in a row, as the Bulldogs have another solid roster. All-WCC performers Kevin Pangos and Elias Harris are back, providing the team with a good inside-outside combo, and the Mark Few’s squad also adds two 7-footers to the roster this year: Kelly Olynyk, who redshirted last year, and Polish import Przemek Karnowski, a talented lefty who is considered a future NBA lottery pick. The boys from Spokane are going to be a tough out in the Tournament again this year.
Preseason Top 25
#13 – Syracuse Orange
#14 – UNLV Runnin’ Rebels
#15 – Arizona Wildcats
#16 – Wisconsin Badgers
#17 – Baylor Bears
#18 – Creighton Bluejays
#19 – Florida Gators
#20 – Kansas State Wildcats
#21 – San Diego State Aztecs
#22 – Saint Louis Billikens
#23 – Memphis Tigers
#24 – Notre Dame Fighting Irish
#25 – Texas Wildcats
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