9 GONZAGA BULLDOGS

RUNNING DEEP

Last year the Zags longed for depth. This season they're so loaded with scoring threats, finding enough shots for everyone will be tough.

Coach Mark Few welcomes one of the best freshman classes in his 17-year tenure, plus a trio of talented transfers who will contribute immediately. Point guard Nigel Williams-Goss (second-team All-Pac-12 at Washington in 2014--15), off-guard Jordan Mathews (Cal's third-leading scorer in '15--16) and power forward Johnathan Williams (Missouri's leading scorer in '14--15) will all contend for starting positions. In keeping with Gonzaga's tradition of importing talented big men, the freshman crop includes 6'10" forward Killian Tillie (France) and 6'8" forward Rui Hachimura (Japan).

But it's 7-foot, 230-pound freshman Zach Collins, out of Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas, who will draw comparisons with a beloved former Zag. "He's going to be a really good player, along the lines of [Domantas] Sabonis," Few says. "He's that forward-center who moves well, loves physicality and whose skill package is improving by the day."

Minutes will be hard-earned in Spokane. "There were times in practice last year that we got down to six or seven healthy bodies," Few says. "Now, it's a luxury to practice really hard. The competition has been so good each day. We don't just have depth, but balance."

—Lindsay Schnell

PROJECTED TEAM STATS

OFFENSIVE EFFICIENCY 14th (116.3)

DEFENSIVE EFFICIENCY 16th (94.5)

WCC RECORD 1st (16--2)

X-FACTOR

The Zags got an unexpected gift with the return of Przemek Karnowski, a 300-pound behemoth who can score, pass and protect the rim. He missed most of last season with a back injury, then flirted with the NBA draft.

STAT SHEET

With 2016--17 projections for the top six scorers

Coach Mark Few (18th season)

[This article contains a table. Please see hardcopy of magazine or PDF.]

*Starter