3 things that are different:
No Tommy Lloyd for the first time in 20 years.
DUI
NIL
Not saying they fall off the map, but there’s not another Chet Holmgren or Suggs coming to them for quite a while if ever. Their only 2022 recruit is rated like 150 and most top 100 2022s are committed and many signed.
That 2022 class was always gonna be small. They will probably get one more recruit and depending who leaves, they will get a transfer(s). Teenagers don’t care about dui. Gonzaga is being on top right now and you’re delusional if you think they will not grab another 5 star ever again. And that no. 150 recruit is underated, at the end of his senior season he will be much higher.
Julia is spot on. Hunter Sallis and Nolan Hickman are both 5 start 2021 recruits for GU…they were barely on the radar publicly 18months ago or not on the radar at all yet here they are on the roster. Same will happen going forward. More and more 4/5 star guys are waiting until the Spring to sign so they can see how things are shaping up with coaching changes, transfers, who is landing where, etc. GU will likely sign at least 1 4 Star or higher this Spring.
And they don’t need huge recruiting classes each year. They have talent waiting in the wings who can step up and they will surely land top transfers next offseason (more Bolton’s, Nembhard’s, etc.). 5 years or so ago they had a great recruiting class that I think included Tille, Rui, Norvell plus a transfer or two followed the next year by a modest class…didn’t slow them down or derail their success.
Teenagers might not care (I don’t know if I agree with that though), but their parents do. And that still matters. It’s one of the strengths of Herb’s recruiting. The DUI has already affected recruiting. Whether it will continue to, we will see.
But NIL absolutely will continue to affect recruiting. Whatever they were paying to get guys like Suggs and Holmgren is dwarfed by what bigger schools can offer as a financial incentive now.
You’re making my point for me. Sallis, Hickman, etc…those were highly rated guys.
They don’t have those guys lining up for 2022 and it’s not shaping up great for them for 2023 as things stand. There aren’t many 2022 4-stars left uncommitted, tbh. Transfers are of course an avenue for everyone.
This is what I am talking about when I talk about the blind Gonzaga fangirling on this board.
There is no question that NIL has changed the game and Gonzaga is on the wrong side of that change. You can’t argue against that and be taken seriously.
11 of the top 20 rated 2022s are committed to or strongly expected to commit to either Duke, Kentucky, Oregon or UCLA. In 2021, those programs got less than half that of the top 20. You had guys going to Gonzaga, Milwaukee, Stanford, and several going pro. That won’t happen much anymore.
Pretty much every 2023 top 10 has Kentucky in their top 5 except the 2 committed to or strongly expected to commit to Duke. None of them are listing Gonzaga.
We are still very early on NIL and seeing how it might create gravity for various programs, but Gonzaga basketball is the heartbeat and lungs of Spokane. I could see the entire team down to the freshman manager get an NIL deal of some sort there.
Not saying the local fly and tackle shop is going to pay a million dollars for Suggs mug, but they will be in the NIL game.
I have a feeling there is so incredibly much you don’t understand here. Stewart has an NIL deal. Everyone in the big conferences will have an NIL. That’s table stakes. You’re not gaining any advantage from that.
Just a quick test. Without googling, who do you think will make the most money as a result of NCAA NIL this year?
(Most likely correct answers are Sunisa Lee and Paige Bueckers).
Colorado State worked St. Mary’s. Good for SMC what they did in feast week, but still not convinced they’re as good as that might suggest. It wasn’t a typical Maui field.
BYU rode the struggle bus but won. Loyola is losing to Long Beach by 7 at half as an 8.5 point favorite.
Maybe the WCC coming back to earth a bit is the theme of the weekend.
Some quality, interesting games this evening…Utah State @ BYU at 6pm and Fresno St @ undefeated USF at 7pm. USF is looking to move to 10-0.
SMC lost tonight SDSU tonight at Jerry Colangelo Classic in PHX.
Games of interest this weekend:
Saturday:
GU vs. Texas Tech and USF vs. a pretty good, 9-2, GCU team, both in the Jerry Colangelo.
LMU @ Nevada
Sunday:
USF @ Arizona St.
I don’t see USF staying unbeaten through the weekend.
I happened to be in Phoenix this week. The SDSU team was practicing off of ASU’s campus, at a venue where we happened to have an event. I watched their practice. Was very impressed with the Aztec’s size, athleticism, and skills. Not surprised that they beat SMC.
I agree on USF. I’d like to see them enter conference play undefeated because it’s good for the league, but I’m not convinced yet. This weekend will be big. If they are able to win these two, that will say a lot about the earlier wins.
Agree Pickman, would be good for the league if there’s buzz around another team besides the typicals, GU, BYU or SMC.
And my comment on them not staying undefeated through the weekend isn’t a knock on them just a realistic view…they’re playing two decent, both away from home, they are bound to lose a game sometime soon. If they get to league undefeated then good for them. Regardless, they’ve already put themselves in very good position getting out to a 10-0 start vs. generally decent competition. It’s way too early but USF is ‘In’ in several NCAA tourney, ‘Bracketology’ predictions. Barring a collapse similar to what they had late last season you’d have to think they’re nearly a lock for at least an NIT bid. But I don’t see them completely collapsing like last year as they’ve addressed their primary problem of terrible post/frontcourt/rebounding play with the transfer bigs: Massalski, Tape, Meeks from Nevada plus the 7-3 kid from Washington St…quite a haul of big men. And Bouyeau was already great the last few years yet he has continued to improve and elevate his play…now getting a little NBA buzz.
And there we go…USF lost last night 49-48. I did not watch the game but by score and stats appears to have been an ugly offensive game. Both teams shot 35% from the field, 50% or less from the FT line and 15 turnovers each. Bouyea had is worst game of the season, 7 pts on 3/14 shooting. They need to beat ASU today, two straight losses would take some of the air of the hype and tourney hopes. ASU wasn’t great early in the season but they seem to have turned things around with 3 straight wins over decent teams…Oregon, GCU and Creighton…won’t be an easy game for USF.
LMU lost by 5 on the road to Nevada.
USF beat ASU 696-65…played some heart attack games this weekend. They have a couple of easy games coming up, looks like they’ll enter WCC play 13-1.
Not many interesting WCC games over the next 10 days prior to WCC play, most teams playing 1 or 2 easy leading up to the Holiday break, then league play.
The only games against higher profile teams:
Tuesday, Pepperdine @ Oregon
Wednesday, Pacific @ Cal and USD @ UNLV