Jim Meehan

Gonzaga’s exit from the NCAA Tournament in the Sweet 16 dropped the Zags from first to fifth in the final USA Today college basketball poll.

The ability to earn significant NIL money adds an intriguing consideration for college athletes, particularly well-known ones like Timme that are facing a decision: Stay in school, test the professional waters or turn pro.

Gonzaga’s Drew Timme is one of five finalists for the Wooden Award and he’s joined by teammate Chet Holmgren on the Wooden All-American team.

Gonzaga didn’t make the Final Four in New Orleans, but the Zags’ successes and shortcomings in March Madness continues to be a hot-button topic in national circles. The Zags were sent home by fourth-seeded Arkansas 74-68 last Thursday in the Sweet 16 in San Francisco. They've been the top overall seed each of the last two seasons and a No. 1 seed four of the last five tournaments, but they’re still chasing an elusive national championship.

Time and college basketball marches on and the Zags’ earlier-than-expected exit as the top overall seed put the program in offseason mode earlier than expected. It promises to be an interesting few weeks and months ahead as Gonzaga’s 2022-23 roster takes shape. Will Gonzaga need to replace four starters?

For the sixth time in the last seven games, Gonzaga’s Andrew Nembhard never left the court. The senior point guard was outstanding in nearly every one of those games, but he exited the floor Thursday with his head and eyes down after a 74-68 upset loss to Arkansas in the Sweet 16. Nembhard, who has choreographed one of the nation’s top offenses, was held in check for one of the rare times this season.

The Zags are well versed on Jaylin Williams’ stats, which includes 10.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, and the importance of the inside battle in the Gonzaga-Arkansas Sweet 16 matchup Thursday.

The West nearly ended the title dry spell at 20 years when Gonzaga defeated South Carolina in one national semifinal, but Oregon fell to North Carolina 77-76, preventing a West vs. West title game. Gonzaga led with less than 2 minutes remaining but the Tar Heels won the championship by scoring the last eight points. Few figures the questions will be resurface with the Zags, the tournament’s top overall seed, set to face fourth-seeded Arkansas in the Sweet 16 Thursday at Chase Center.

We called on Bob Holt, who has covered Razorbacks basketball since the 1981-82 season for the Arkansas Democrat and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, for a closer look at this year’s team.

After the first week of the three-week NCAA Tournament, Gonzaga continues to be regarded as the favorite to win the national championship. It’s been that way since the start of the season when Gonzaga was the favorite at 9/2 on opening night in November, according to BetOnline. The top-ranked Zags, who take on fourth-seeded Arkansas on Thursday at Chase Center, are currently 9/4 favorites.

“We’re the only ones left (from the 2019 class),” Timme said. “We all came in together and we’re stuck together. I couldn’t ask for better friends.”

We’ve seen some of this before. Drew Timme lighting up the scoreboard in the second half for the second straight NCAA Tournament game. Andrew Nembhard and Rasir Bolton, both unassuming by nature but unable to avoid the spotlight after delivering in the clutch again. More on Timme’s latest second-half masterpiece from the Tigers’ viewpoint, GU’s senior backcourt taking over in another big game and the team's free throw woes in our latest Gonzaga takeaways.

PORTLAND – Turns out Drew Timme’s stellar second half against Georgia State on Thursday was just his warm-up act.

It should be a March Madness feast for NBA scouts and college basketball fans. It should also have a lot to do with the outcome when Gonzaga faces Memphis on Saturday. At the highest levels of prep and summer basketball, the best players see quite a bit of each other at various all-star games, camps, showcase prep events and top AAU tournaments. Therefore, GU’s Chet Holmgren and Memphis teammates Jalen Duren and Emoni Bates won’t require pre-game introductions.

Mark Few frequently points out that one of the hardest feats in sports is getting back on track when a player or team hits a rough patch. Few cited an example of each after the top-ranked Zags pulled away from Georgia State on Thursday. GU center Drew Timme rebounded from a sluggish first half with 22 second-half points. And Gonzaga’s next opponent – young, but highly talented Memphis – as a prime example of a team that has weathered low points to emerge as a formidable obstacle in the Zags’ attempt to reach the Sweet 16 in the seventh straight NCAA Tournament when the teams square off at 6:40 p.m. Saturday at the Moda Center.

After Gonzaga’s Andrew Nembhard, Chet Holmgren, Drew Timme and coach Mark Few exited the post-game interview room, they ran into Georgia State’s Justin Roberts, Kane Williams and coach Rob Lanier in the hallway. They exchanged fist-bumps, congratulations and well wishes before going their separate ways. Minutes earlier, Few was effusive in his praise for the Panthers, who were within 62-58 nearly midway through the second half before top-ranked Gonzaga pulled away 93-72.

Drew Timme and Chet Holmgren had decent stats in the first half, but they didn’t have their typical high-level efficiency. Timme struggled at the free-throw line – and scolded himself for it later in post-game interviews – and airballed an open 3-pointer. Holmgren was just 2 of 5 from the field and 1 of 3 at the foul line. Everything changed in the second half for Gonzaga’s two All-Americans. And so did Georgia State’s frontcourt options as the game progressed in terms of defending the duo.

Drew Timme

Gonzaga and Arizona, the top two programs in the West, were well represented on the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) All-District IX teams. Gonzaga junior Drew Timme, senior Andrew Nembhard and freshman Chet Holmgren earned first-team honors and Timme was voted players of the year.

Leon Rice has been the head coach at Boise State for 11 seasons. Before that, he was an assistant coach under Mark Few at Gonzaga for 11 seasons. During Rice’s press conference Wednesday, his connections to both programs overlapped several times. Rice mentioned GU walk-on Joe Few, Mark’s son, a couple of times, once in recapping the recruitment of Mt. Spokane High’s Tyson Degenhart, and he also dropped Jeremy Pargo’s name discussing what makes Boise State standout Abu Kigab’s game so special.

Former Gonzaga great Dan Dickau, longtime announcer on Gonzaga’s local and regional telecasts, is calling first- and second-round games in Portland for Westwood One Radio.Dickau took the last few weeks off from his broadcasting schedule to stay close to home with wife Heather, who was pregnant with their seventh child. Margaret Rose was born last Friday.

Sophomore wing Julian Strawther chose a memorable dunk. Senior guard Rasir Bolton picked one that happened in practice, seen by just Gonzaga's players and coaching staff. Head coach Mark Few recalled something that only he and maybe a handful of others witnessed. The question to each: What’s your favorite highlight produced by freshman forward Chet Holmgren?

We connected with 247sports’ Ben Moore for a Q&A to learn more about the Panthers. He’s covered Georgia State basketball for 15 years and, in his words, attempted to walk-on in 1999-2000 when Lefty Driesell was the head coach.

Gonzaga’s frontcourt tandem of Drew Timme and Chet Holmgren received a pair of honors Tuesday. Both were named second-team Associated Press All-Americans. The pair also earned National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) first-team All-District 9 honors.