Pre-Season Countdown | #18 Gonzaga

2009-10 Result: 27-7 (12-2 in the West Coast Conference) lost to Syracuse 87-65 in the West Region quarter-final.

Coach: Mark Few 291-73 in 11 seasons at Gonzaga.

Seven Bulldogs have moved on to the National Basketball Association including current players Austin Daye, Adam Morrison and Ronny Turiaf.

The Zags have punched 13 dance tickets, 11 of those under the guidance of Few. Gonzaga reached the Elite Eight in ’99 and the Sweet Sixteen in ’00, ’01, ’06 and ’09.

Notable Non-Conference Tilts: 11/16 vs. San Diego State, 11/22 at Kansas State, 12/4 vs. Illinois, 12/8 at Washington State, 12/11 at Notre Dame, 12/18 at Baylor, 12/22 vs. Xavier, 12/31 vs. Oklahoma State, 1/2 at Wake Forest, 2/5 vs. Memphis.

Stat of Identity: 49.1 field goal percentage (6th in the nation).

Key Returners:

Elias Harris 29.4 mpg, 14.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg

Steven Gray 31.9 mpg, 13.6 ppg, 4 rpg

Robert Sacre 25.3 mpg, 10.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg

Demetri Goodson 25.6 mpg, 6.4 rpg

Kelly Olnyk 12.3 mpg, 3.8 rpg

Mangisto Arop 11.9 mpg, 3.5 rpg

By Paul Casey Gotham

Once known as everybody’s favorite to wear the glass slipper come March, the Gonzaga Bulldogs have recently felt the weight of expectations. No longer is it acceptable for the Zags simply to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. They must reach the final weekend of play to satisfy upset-hungry America.

This season will be no different.

Like years past Mark Few has loaded up a challenging non-conference ledger. Counting St. Mary’s from the WCC, the Zags will do battle with eight different teams from last year’s tourney. Enduring that schedule might be Few’s most balanced squad yet.

Once was a time when Gonzaga was known for its aerial attack. In ’08-’09 six different Zags hit 23 or more from behind the arc.

This year’s Gonzaga club might get more mileage from their work in the paint.

Robert Sacre (7′), Elias Harris (6’7″), Kelly Olnyk (7′), Mangisto Arop (6’7″) and Sam Dower (6’9″) give the Bulldogs plenty of size around the basket. The Zags rebound margin of 4.5 was good for 39th in the land last year. With another year of experience the front line has the potential to dominate.

That is not to say the Zags don’t have options on the perimeter.

At times, Demetri Goodson was content with letting Matt Bouldin handle the ball. Bouldin graduated, and Goodson is more than capable of running the offense. The 6′ Spring, Texas native needs to establish Gonzaga in the full court, but show an understanding as to when to pull it back.

Steven Gray is one of three returners (with Sacre and Harris) who averaged double-digit points last year. He hit 46 percent from the field and was second with 51 three pointers. He will be relied upon to carry more of the load.

Keegan Hyland, Mathis Keita and Mathis Monninghoff join an incoming freshman class along with a familiar name: David Stockton – son NBA hall-of-famer and Gonzaga alum, John Stockton.