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2014-15 College Hoops Spotlight: Gonzaga Bulldogs

By Jonathan Wagner

Mar 21, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs center Przemek Karnowski (24) reacts with teammates Kyle Dranginis (3) and Kevin Pangos (4) after scoring a basket against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the first half of a men
Mar 21, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs center Przemek Karnowski (24) reacts with teammates Kyle Dranginis (3) and Kevin Pangos (4) after scoring a basket against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the first half of a men /
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Gonzaga’s Best Roster Yet?

Jan 29, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; The Gonzaga Bulldogs bench reacts after guard Gary Bell, Jr. (not pictured) made a three point shot during the second half of the game against the Santa Clara Broncos at Leavey Center. The Gonzaga Bulldogs defeated the Santa Clara Broncos 54-52. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 29, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; The Gonzaga Bulldogs bench reacts after guard Gary Bell, Jr. (not pictured) made a three point shot during the second half of the game against the Santa Clara Broncos at Leavey Center. The Gonzaga Bulldogs defeated the Santa Clara Broncos 54-52. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

Losing forward Sam Dower – who shared the Bulldogs scoring (14.6 points per game) and rebounding (seven per game) highs last season — and last year’s assist leader, David Stockton, to graduation, figure to be major setbacks.

But Gonzaga still has plenty left and some great additions to overcome those losses.

Kevin Pangos (14.6 points per game and 41.4 percent from 3-point range last year) and Gary Bell, Jr. (10.9 points per game and 41.7 from behind the arc last season) give the Bulldogs one of the best backcourts in the nation and great senior leadership at each guard spot.

Polish center Przemek Karnowski (10.3 points and seven rebounds per game last year), an NBA prospect at 7’1″, 296 pounds, will continue provide some great size and production up front as a junior.

Alongside Karnowski, highly regarded 6’10”, 230-pound forward Kyle Wiltjer will be eligible after transferring from Kentucky and redshirting as a freshman last year.

While that’s already a formidable group, there’s much more.

Transfer Byron Wesley, a 6’5″, 210-pound wing guard, led USC as a junior last season with 17.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game last year. He won’t have to sit out a season (as he is expected to earn a Psychology degree at USC this summer) and should immediately fit well with Pangos and Bell to key what should be a dangerously potent offense that should also be able to defend well at the other end of the floor.

As if that trio isn’t enough, talented freshman point guard Josh Perkins will be counted on to back Pangos up, and 6’5″, 204-pound junior guard Kyle Dranginis (six points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game last season) will play valuable minutes behind Bell and Wesley at the wing position.

And while Stockton, the son of the NBA’s all-time assist leader, John Stockton, will no longer be with the team, the Bulldogs will add freshman forward Domantas Sabonis, the son of former Portland Trailblazers star Arvydas Sabonis. It’s expected that the younger Sabonis will make a meaningful contribution for Gonzaga right away.

Size, scoring, balance, depth, defense, veteran leadership on the floor and good coaching from the bench.

As long as the Bulldogs can stay healthy, they may have all the ingredients they’ll need to not only make their 17th straight NCAA tournament, but maybe even make a strong push for a national title.