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 Tuesday, November 2
Gonzaga
 
Blue Ribbon Yearbook

 
LOCATION: Spokane, WA
CONFERENCE: West Coast (WCC)
LAST SEASON: 28-7 (.800)
CONFERENCE RECORD: 12-2 (1st)
STARTERS LOST/RETURNING: 2/3
NICKNAME: Bulldogs
COLORS: Blue, White & Red
HOMECOURT: Martin Centre (4,000)
COACH: Mark Few (Oregon '87)
record at school First Year
career record First Year
ASSISTANTS: Bill Grier (Oregon '90)
Leon Rice (Washington State '86)
Scott Snider (Gonzaga '96)
TEAM WINS: (last 5 years) 21-21-15-24-28
RPI (last 5 years) 90-82-184-65-30
1998-99 FINISH: Lost in NCAA Elite Eight.

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COACH AND PROGRAM
For the last eight years, Gonzaga has quietly established itself as something of a basketball powerhouse in the Pacific Northwest. In that time, the small Jesuit school with the funny name has wowed Spokane with 170 wins, four West Coast Conference championships and five postseason appearances.

The most recent season delivered the greatest memories in the program's history. The Bulldogs won a whopping 28 games and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament before eventual national champion Connecticut scratched out a five point win, turning Cinderella's carriage back into a pumpkin. When the dust had settled, Gonzaga had been ranked 12th in the final ESPN/USA Today poll and stamped its name on the foreheads of countless hoops fans who will never again wonder where it plays and why its name sounds so familiar.

The 'Zags' success came with something of a price, however. After just two seasons at the helm, Dan Monson was tapped to clean up the mess left behind at the University of Minnesota. That Monson was lured elsewhere was hardly a surprise his Bulldogs had won 54 games in two years, after all but the timing was a little tough for school officials, who had rewarded him with a 10-year contract in April. Faced with finding a new head man in late July and seeking a smooth transition, Gonzaga named longtime assistant Mark Few, who had been elevated to associate head coach when Monson signed his long-term deal, to succeed him.

"This was something I wasn't expecting so soon, but I believe I'm ready for it," Few said. "We were in no hurry. We were all enjoying where we were in the profession and feeling challenged. I knew with the way we'd been playing, the way we'd been winning and with the media attention Dan was getting, it was going to be inevitable [Monson would leave]. Dan and I have been together 10 years. That's been the weirdest part of it. Working side by side with a guy for 10 years, and all of a sudden it's over. It's like, wow."

Wow, indeed. But with seven lettermen and three starters returning from last year's squad, combined with the 10 seasons he himself has spent coaching in the program, Few is in pretty decent shape.

"We knew whenever Dan left this year, next year or whenever we had a capable replacement within our ranks," said athletic director Mike Roth. "I think that speaks well for the program when you can say your last two head coaches were promoted from within. It displays the loyalty they have had as assistants.

Blue Ribbon Analysis
BACKCOURT A BENCH/DEPTH C+
FRONTCOURT B INTANGIBLES C

One of the main advantages of the balanced game that brought Gonzaga such joy last year is that it reduced the team's dependence on individual performances. That means this year's Bulldogs have a greater chance than many teams to overcome the considerable losses of Quentin Hall and Jeremy Eaton.

Matt Santangelo, Richie Frahm and Casey Calvary are all talented veterans who should provide plenty of production and considerable leadership in Hall's and Eaton's absences. But Axel Dench, in particular, has to play big he has to play up to his 6-11 size.

The tough nonconference schedule should have the Bulldogs primed for WCC play. Ultimately, this is a seasoned, deep team that knows what it takes to win.

Because things have gone along so swimmingly, new coach Mark Few isn't going to pull any fast ones. A lot of what applied to the 'Zags last season will apply this season, which is why we think they'll do just fine, thank you very much.

"We wish Dan nothing but the best of luck at Minnesota, but we believe the program is still on a solid course with Mark at the helm. We're not giving Mark the job he's earned it."

Few is looking to keep things as uncomplicated as possible, and should get a big boost in that area from eight-year assistant Bill Grier, who turned down an offer to join Monson at Minnesota in order to remain at Gonzaga. The Bulldogs will continue to play an up-tempo game, will continue to take their share of three-pointers and will continue to spread the ball around in an effort to get a lot of guys into the action. Last year's squad thrived on balanced scoring and athleticism, a mix that Few doesn't plan to tinker with.

"We're out of the same cog," he said. "We've been together this long, we know our system works and we're comfortable with it. Nothing is going to change in regard to that whatsoever. I don't think you'll see any changes anywhere.

"Our same approach to recruiting will hold because we've been so intricately involved in all aspects. You won't see many changes other than the title 'head coach' in front of 'Mark Few.'"

Gonzaga played a grueling nonconference schedule last year and was rewarded with an extra layer of grit and toughness during the Tournament. Few has loaded this year's schedule with bruising opponents, including a very good Temple team, national title contender Cincinnati, and Pac-10 titans UCLA and in-state rival Washington, whom the 'Zags vanquished last year when the Huskies were enjoying a No. 17 ranking.

"As an assistant, I put together the toughest schedule in Gonzaga history, and I had every intention of playing it as an assistant," Few laughed. "It's the type of schedule our players want to play. There [was] no sense backing down from that. Again, that's crossed my mind, but I have to remember it's the schedule the players want. That's another challenge. We've never played anything like this. It's different, but the system and the beat go on."

Eat your heart out, Cher.

PROJECTED STARTERS
MATT SANTANGELO
(6-1, 173 lbs., SR, PG, #13, 12.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 5.3 apg, 32.0 minutes, .375 FG, .381 3PT, .775 FT, Central Catholic HS/Portland, Ore.)

Hall's play over the last two seasons left Santangelo playing a kind of hybrid guard position. He tallied a team-high 184 assists and was the team's second-leading scorer, so clearly Monson's little experiment worked out well. In fact, Santangelo, too, was selected to the All-WCC first team (for the second straight season).

With Hall gone, Santangelo will settle into the point guard spot full-time, but he is not your father's point guard. He's a sweet shooter who likes to fill it up from the outside and, with just 298 more points, he'll be in third place on the school's career scoring list. Then again, with 112 assists, Santangelo will unseat John Stockton at the top of that category.

Perhaps most encouraging, despite watching his offensive numbers fall last season, Santangelo came up big in important games, dispatching Santa Clara in the WCC title tilt with 37 points and then following up in the NCAA Tournament with 14 points and eight assists against Minnesota, 22 points, six boards and six assists against Stanford, and 11 points and seven assists against Florida. UConn finally figured out a way to stop him, holding him to a pair of points and two dishes before moving on to the Final Four.

RICHIE FRAHM
(6-5, 203 lbs., SR, SG, #24, 14.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.0 apg, .437 FG, .429 3PT, .810 FT, Battle Ground HS/Battle Ground, Wash.)

The fourth 'Zag to earn All-Conference first-team honors, Frahm was the team's leading scorer last season and will be called on to ease Santangelo's load this year. Frahm enjoyed a breakout season, using his large frame to create openings and sting nets with what Monson believed was as pure a shot as owned by anyone in the country.

His game has improved each season, giving Few reason to hope that his backcourt will be as strong this year as it was last. Frahm is a flat-out scorer; during one seven-game stretch, he hit 45 of 80 field-goal attempts, including an impressive 22 of 36 from beyond the art. Against Memphis, he tied a school record with eight treys.

With Santangelo running the halfcourt offense, he should get plenty of good looks this year.

CASEY CALVARY
(6-8, 214 lbs., JR, PF, #31, 9.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 24.0 minutes, .658 FG, .457 3PT, .542 FT, Bellarmine Prep/Tacoma, Wash.)

An All-Conference honorable mention, Calvary thrilled Gonzaga crowds with highlight-film dunks, but more significantly led the squad in field-goal shooting, rebounding and blocked shots. He really picked up his game over his freshman season, developing a nice long-range touch to complement his fierce play in the paint.

Indeed, Monson had been concerned about his inside players heading into the season, but needn't have worried. Calvary's tip basket of Hall's miss sent Gonzaga into the Elite Eight, and he was named to the NCAA Tournament All-West Region team. He should prove to be a rock in the frontcourt for Few this year.

AXEL DENCH
(6-11, 243 lbs., #30, SR, C, 6.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 16.0 minutes, .489 FG, .353 3PT, .692 FT, Carey Grammar/Melbourne, Australia)

A year after starting, Dench spent last season coming off the bench and contributing nicely. He improved his offensive game and was an all-around solid presence.

However, Dench will need to pick it up now. He's 6-11 and the starting center, so it would be nice to increase his scoring and imperative to increase his rebounding. Calvary hits the boards and defends with abandon; Dench needs to take a page from that playbook.

MIKE NILSON
(6-5, 216 lbs., #25, SR, SF, 2.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 16.0 minutes, .485 FG, .421 3PT, .714 FT, Shorecrest HS/Seattle, Wash.)

Nilson's is the least secure spot in the starting lineup once again. He started two of the Bulldogs' first four games a year ago, then came off the bench to eat minutes in the final 31 games. Nilson has a nice outside shot and defends well, tallying 42 steals as a reserve.

KEY RESERVES
RYAN FLOYD
(6-1, 185 lbs., SR, G, #15, 4.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.1 apg, 13.0 minutes, .404 FG, .407 3PT, .750 FT, Sprague-Harrington HS/Harrington, Wash.)

He didn't see a ton of time, but Floyd was a solid reserve whose outside shot made opponents play him honestly. He helped to stretch the defense, and should do the same again this season.

MARK SPINK
(6-8, 192 lbs., JR, F, #23, 2.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 8.0 minutes, .596 FG, .700 FT, Sehome HS/Bellingham, Wash.)

Gonzaga had a lot of unsung heroes a season ago, and Spink was one of the most important of them. He really stepped up last year and did a lot of crucial grunt work in addition to shooting the ball very well from the floor. Spink also plays very sticky interior defense, which helped neutralize opponents' athleticism.

ZACH GOURDE
(6-8, 236 lbs., FR redshirt, F, #32, 19.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 4.0 bpg in 1997-88, Prairie HS/Vancouver, Wash.)

Gourde, a talented post-up scorer, brings size to the frontcourt to go along with a year of practicing in the Bulldogs' system. Gourde's ability to get the ball with his back to the hoop, turn and score will be a major asset.

OTHER RETURNEES
None.

OTHER NEWCOMERS
JAY SHERRELL
(6-8, 220 lbs., FR, F, #34, 14.0 ppg, 12.0 rpg, Bethel HS/Spanaway, Wash.)

The MVP of the South Puget Sound League, Sherrell may nonetheless wind up redshirting this season. He helped lead his team to a 19-1 record and the Washington State AAAA Tournament, but there may be too many bodies in front of him to make a dent with the 'Zags.

GERMAYNE FORBES
(6-1, 182 lbs., FR, #11, 23.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 7.0 apg, 4.0 spg, Henny Compton HS/London, England)

Santangelo's understudy will be the English native Forbes, who will get to learn from a master. He put up nice numbers in England, but unless he progresses much more quickly than anticipated, Forbes will spend a lot of time watching and learning.

MATT KINCAID
(6-0, 180 lbs., FR redshirt, G, #10, 12.0 ppg in 1997-98, Hanford HS/Richland, Wash.)

After making the team as a walk-on, Kincaid sat out last season as a redshirt and doesn't appear to figure very highly into Gonzaga's plans this year.

JIMMY TRICCO
(6-5, 180 lbs., FR, G, #22, 12.5 ppg, 5.5 apg, Brophy HS/Phoenix, Ariz.)

Like Sherrell, Tricco could wind up redshirting this season. His team won 30 games and advanced to the state quarterfinals.

STARTERS NOT RETURNING
QUENTIN HALL
(5-8, PG, 11.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.3 apg, 31.0 minutes, .460 FG, .362 3PT, .779 FT)

The Bulldogs played a two-man point last year, and Hall was the floor general responsible for cranking up the running game. He gave Gonzaga a perimeter presence who was also unafraid of plunging into traffic before kicking it back out. For his efforts he was selected to the All-WCC first team. Hall brought leadership and skill to the 'Zags, and he won't be replaced easily.

JEREMY EATON
(6-11, C, 11.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.2 apg, 24.0 minutes, .531 FG, .702 FT)

One of four double-figure scorers, Eaton was an unflashy, reliable big man who could shoot, score and even pass a little bit. Like Hall, he was an All-WCC first-team pick whose loss leaves Gonzaga with a hole to fill a six-foot, 11-inch hole.

OTHERS NOT RETURNING
MIKE LEASURE
(6-7, F, 2.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 9.0 minutes, .507 FG, .424 3PT, 1.000 FT)

Appearing in all 35 games, and starting one of them, Leasure proved to be a valuable role player, especially when opponents were successful in slowing down Gonzaga's running game and forcing it into the halfcourt. He didn't score a whole lot, but made the most of his minutes, particularly on defense and in the trenches, where his 231-pound bulk was a factor.

QUESTIONS
Depth? The Bulldogs of last year were such a balanced lot, they went 10 deep every single night literally. With two All-Conference starters and a key reserve gone, Gonzaga may have to adjust to a shorter bench.

The new guy? Mark Few has never been a head coach before, and he certainly didn't expect to land the job this year, mere months after his boss signed a 10-year contract. It will bear watching to see whether this career assistant is sufficiently prepared for the job and has what it takes.

Letdown? Last year was magic. Make no mistake, the 'Zags earned all the accolades that came their way, but in their heart of hearts, even their most ardent fans would have to confess that last season was the most pleasant of surprises. A return to earth would not be unheard of.

ANSWERS
The system! This team has been through quite a few coaches given its success in the 1990s, and all it does is keep winning. By hiring Few, Gonzaga gets a guy who knows the program, knows the school and knows the kind of kid who wants to spend four years there.

An All-WCC backcourt! Starting guards Matt Santangelo and Richie Frahm are the real deal. Their talents complement each other and set the table for the whole Bulldog offense.

Check your ego at the door! This is a team filled with guys who chip in wherever and however necessary. Gonzaga had no superstar last season. Instead, it spread the scoring around and put the team before the individual. It reaped the benefits with a superior season against very, very talented foes.

The 19th edition of Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook is on sale now. To order, call 800-828-HOOP (4667), or visit their web site at http://www.collegebaskets.com


 
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