# 2020–21 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team

The 2020–21 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Gonzaga University, located in Spokane, Washington, in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was led by head coach Mark Few, in his 22nd season as head coach. This was the Bulldogs' 17th season at the on-campus McCarthey Athletic Center and 41st season as a member of the West Coast Conference.
The Bulldogs became the first undefeated team to advance to the national championship game since Indiana State in 1979. Gonzaga lost to fellow 1-seed Baylor in the championship game 86–70, denying the Bulldogs a perfect season.

## Previous season

The Bulldogs finished the season 31–1, 15–1 in WCC play to be WCC regular-season champions. They then defeated San Francisco and Saint Mary's to be champions of the WCC tournament. They earned the WCC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. However, all postseason play, including the NCAA Tournament, was cancelled amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bulldogs finished #2 in the final AP and Coaches poll.

## Offseason
### Coaching changes
#### Departures

| Name | Position | Year at Gonzaga | Alma Mater (year) | Reason for Departure |
| Gary Bell Jr. | Graduate Assistant | 1st | Gonzaga (2015) | Left team |

#### Additions to staff

| Name | Position | Year at Gonzaga | Alma Mater (year) | Previous Job |
| Evan Manning | Graduate Assistant | 1st | Kansas (2016) | Director of Player Development at Wake Forest |

### Player departures

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Reason for Departure |
| Admon Gilder | 1 | G | 6'4" | 200 | Senior (Redshirt) | Dallas, TX | Completed college eligibility |
| Ryan Woolridge | 4 | G | 6'3" | 175 | Senior (Redshirt) | Mansfield, TX | Completed college eligibility |
| Killian Tillie | 33 | F | 6'10" | 220 | Senior | Cagnes-sur-Mer, France | Graduated |
| Filip Petrušev | 3 | F | 6'11" | 235 | Sophomore | Belgrade, Serbia | Signed with Mega Soccerbet |
| Brock Ravet | 32 | G | 6'1" | 175 | Freshman | Kittitas, WA | Left team |
* 1 2 Gilder and Woolridge were both graduate transfers in the 2019–20 season, with Gilder having graduated from Texas A&M and Woolridge from North Texas.

### Incoming transfers

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Previous School | Years Remaining | Date Eligible |
| Aaron Cook Jr. | 4 | G | 6'1" | 180 | Senior (Redshirt) | St. Louis, MO | Southern Illinois | 2 | October 1, 2020 |
| Andrew Nembhard | 3 | G | 6'5" | 193 | Junior | Aurora, ON | Florida | 3 | November 24, 2020 |
* 1 2 Initially, Cook and Nembhard were to be eligible for one and two years respectively. However, on October 14, 2020, the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility for all athletes who participate in a winter sport in 2020–21, including basketball.

### 2020 recruiting class

College recruiting information :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Dominick Harris #10 PG | Murrieta, CA | Rancho Christian | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | Jan 28, 2018 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ||||||
| Julian Strawther #18 SG | Las Vegas, NV | Liberty HS | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Apr 18, 2019 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ||||||
| Jalen Suggs #2 CG | West St. Paul, MN | Minnehaha | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | Jan 3, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ||||||
| Ben Gregg #21 SF | Clackamas, OR | Clackamas | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | Sep 9, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 88 ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: 247Sports: 14 ESPN: 7 ||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Gonzaga 2020 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 13, 2020. "2020 Gonzaga Bulldogs Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 13, 2020. "2020 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 13, 2020. ||||||

## Roster

* Roster is subject to change as/if players transfer or leave the program for other reasons.
* Andrew Nembhard was initially ruled as a redshirt prior to the start of the 2020–21 season. However, on November 24, 2020, the NCAA granted him immediate eligibility. Additionally, the NCAA has granted an additional year of eligibility to all individuals who participate in winter sports during the 2020–21 school year. Nembhard will thus have 3 years of eligibility remaining at the start of the 2020–21 season.
* Ben Gregg joined the team on December 17, 2020, after graduating high school early.

### Coaching staff

| Name | Position | Year at Gonzaga | Alma Mater (year) |
| Mark Few | Head coach | 22nd | Oregon (1987) |
| Tommy Lloyd | Associate Head Coach | 20th | Whitman (1998) |
| Brian Michaelson | Assistant coach | 8th | Gonzaga (2005) |
| Roger Powell Jr. | Assistant coach | 2nd | Illinois (2005) |
| Jorge Sanz | Director of Basketball Operations | 3rd | Florida Atlantic (2011) |
| Evan Manning | Graduate Assistant | 1st | Kansas (2016) |
| Ken Nakagawa | Video Coordinator | 5th | Long Beach State (2014) |
| Josh Therrien | Athletic Trainer | 5th | Washington State (2007) |
| Travis Knight | Strength & Conditioning Coach | 15th | Gonzaga (2000) |

## Schedule and results

Until the championship game, Gonzaga was the only NCAA basketball team, either men's or women's, to remain undefeated in every game (within and outside its conference) during the 2020–21 season. During the championship game, Baylor University became the season champions after defeating Gonzaga 86–70.
| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Non-conference regular season |||||||||
| November 26, 2020* 10:30 am, FOX | No. 1 | vs. No. 6 Kansas Fort Myers Tip-Off | W 102–90 | 1–0 | 25 – Timme | 9 – Ayayi | 8 – Suggs | Suncoast Credit Union Arena (175) Fort Myers, FL |
| November 27, 2020* 8:00 am, FOX | No. 1 | vs. Auburn Fort Myers Tip-Off | W 90–67 | 2–0 | 28 – Timme | 10 – Timme | 6 – Suggs | Suncoast Credit Union Arena (288) Fort Myers, FL |
| December 2, 2020* 4:00 pm, ESPN | No. 1 | vs. No. 11 West Virginia Jimmy V Classic | W 87–82 | 3–0 | 21 – Ayayi | 7 – Ayayi | 6 – Nembhard | Bankers Life Fieldhouse Indianapolis, IN |
| December 5, 2020* 10:00 am, CBS | No. 1 | vs. No. 2 Baylor | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Bankers Life Fieldhouse Indianapolis, IN |
| December 8, 2020* 6:00 pm, KHQ/RTNW | No. 1 | Tarleton State | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | McCarthey Athletic Center Spokane, WA |
| December 10, 2020* 6:00 pm, KHQ/RTNW | No. 1 | Southern | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | McCarthey Athletic Center Spokane, WA |
| December 12, 2020* 7:30 pm, KHQ/RTNW | No. 1 | Northern Arizona | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | McCarthey Athletic Center Spokane, WA |
| December 14, 2020* 6:00 pm, KHQ/RTNW | No. 1 | Idaho | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | McCarthey Athletic Center Spokane, WA |
| December 19, 2020* 9:00 am, CBS | No. 1 | vs. No. 3 Iowa | W 99–88 | 4–0 | 27 – Suggs | 18 – Ayayi | 6 – Ayayi, Kispert | Sanford Pentagon (243) Sioux Falls, SD |
| December 21, 2020* 6:00 pm, KHQ/RTNW | No. 1 | Northwestern State | W 95–57 | 5–0 | 27 – Kispert | 8 – Timme | 7 – Suggs | McCarthey Athletic Center Spokane, WA |
| December 22, 2020* 6:00 pm, KHQ/RTNW | No. 1 | Northwestern State | W 95–78 | 6–0 | 25 – Timme | 9 – Timme | 5 – Ayayi, Suggs | McCarthey Athletic Center Spokane, WA |
| December 26, 2020* 1:00 pm, CBS | No. 1 | vs. No. 16 Virginia | W 98–75 | 7–0 | 32 – Kispert | 8 – Timme | 8 – Nembhard | Dickies Arena (2,795) Fort Worth, TX |
| December 28, 2020* 6:00 pm, KHQ/RTNW | No. 1 | Northern Arizona | W 88–58 | 8–0 | 17 – Ayayi | 10 – Ayayi | 7 – Nembhard | McCarthey Athletic Center Spokane, WA |
| December 29, 2020* 6:00 pm, KHQ/RTNW | No. 1 | Dixie State | W 112–67 | 9–0 | 25 – Kispert | 11 – Ayayi | 6 – Ayayi | McCarthey Athletic Center Spokane, WA |
| WCC Regular Season |||||||||
| January 2, 2021 7:00 pm, ESPN2 | No. 1 | San Francisco | W 85–62 | 10–0 (1–0) | 26 – Kispert | 11 – Timme | 4 – Nembhard | McCarthey Athletic Center Spokane, WA |
| January 7, 2021 7:00 pm | No. 1 | Santa Clara | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | McCarthey Athletic Center Spokane, WA |
| January 7, 2021 5:30 pm, ESPN | No. 1 | BYU Rivalry/Moved from February 6 | W 86–69 | 11–0 (2–0) | 23 – Kispert | 8 – Watson | 6 – Ayayi | McCarthey Athletic Center Spokane, WA |
| January 9, 2021 5:00 pm, KAYU/RTNW | No. 1 | at Portland | W 116–88 | 12–0 (3–0) | 26 – Timme | 13 – Ayayi | 14 – Ayayi | Chiles Center Portland, OR |
| January 14, 2021 6:00 pm, ESPN | No. 1 | Pepperdine | W 95–70 | 13–0 (4–0) | 23 – Kispert | 10 – Watson | 4 – Nembhard, Timme | McCarthey Athletic Center Spokane, WA |
| January 16, 2021 7:00 pm, ESPN | No. 1 | at Saint Mary's Rivalry | W 73–59 | 14–0 (5–0) | 17 – Kispert | 8 – Timme | 2 – Suggs | University Credit Union Pavilion Moraga, CA |
| January 23, 2021 7:00 pm, KHQ/RTNW | No. 1 | Pacific | W 95–49 | 15–0 (6–0) | 22 – Timme | 11 – Suggs | 8 – Suggs | McCarthey Athletic Center Spokane, WA |
| January 28, 2021 6:00 pm, KHQ/RTNW | No. 1 | at San Diego | W 90–62 | 16–0 (7–0) | 21 – Timme | 8 – Kispert | 10 – Nembhard | Jenny Craig Pavilion San Diego, CA |
| January 30, 2021 5:00 pm, ESPN | No. 1 | at Pepperdine | W 97–75 | 17–0 (8–0) | 19 – Timme | 7 – Ayayi | 8 – Nembhard | Firestone Fieldhouse Malibu, CA |
| February 4, 2021 6:00 pm, CBSSN | No. 1 | at Pacific Moved from February 25 | W 76–58 | 18–0 (9–0) | 21 – Timme | 9 – Suggs | 3 – Nembhard, Suggs | Alex G. Spanos Center Stockton, CA |
| February 4, 2021 6:00 pm | No. 1 | Loyola Marymount | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | McCarthey Athletic Center Spokane, WA |
| February 6, 2021 7:00 pm | No. 1 | Santa Clara rescheduled from January 7 | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | McCarthey Athletic Center Spokane, WA |
| February 8, 2021 8:00 pm, ESPN | No. 1 | at BYU Rivalry/moved from February 27 | W 82–71 | 19–0 (10–0) | 24 – Suggs | 13 – Timme | 4 – Ayayi | Marriott Center Provo, UT |
| February 11, 2021 7:00 pm, KHQ/RTNW | No. 1 | at Santa Clara | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Leavey Center Santa Clara, CA |
| February 13, 2021 3:00 pm, ESPN2 | No. 1 | at San Francisco | W 100–61 | 20–0 (11–0) | 28 – Timme | 10 – Timme | 5 – Nembhard, Suggs | War Memorial Gymnasium San Francisco, CA |
| February 18, 2021 6:00 pm, ESPN | No. 1 | Saint Mary's Rivalry | W 87–65 | 21–0 (12–0) | 20 – Kispert | 6 – Ayayi | 5 – Nembhard, Suggs | McCarthey Athletic Center Spokane, WA |
| February 20, 2021 5:00 pm, ESPN2 | No. 1 | San Diego | W 106–69 | 22–0 (13–0) | 21 – Timme | 8 – Kispert, Timme | 3 – Kispert | McCarthey Athletic Center (200) Spokane, WA |
| February 25, 2021 4:00 pm, CBSSN | No. 1 | Santa Clara rescheduled from February 6 | W 89–75 | 23–0 (14–0) | 25 – Kispert | 11 – Suggs | 8 – Suggs | McCarthey Athletic Center (200) Spokane, WA |
| February 27, 2021 7:00 pm, ESPN | No. 1 | Loyola Marymount rescheduled from February 4 | W 86–69 | 24–0 (15–0) | 24 – Kispert | 7 – Timme | 7 – Suggs | McCarthey Athletic Center (200) Spokane, WA |
| WCC Tournament |||||||||
| March 8, 2021 6:00 pm, ESPN | (1) No. 1 | vs. (4) Saint Mary's Semifinals | W 78–55 | 25–0 | 18 – Timme | 8 – Timme | 4 – Timme | Orleans Arena Paradise, NV |
| March 9, 2021 6:00 pm, ESPN | (1) No. 1 | vs. (2) BYU Championship/Rivalry | W 88–78 | 26–0 | 23 – Suggs | 9 – Ayayi | 5 – Suggs | Orleans Arena Paradise, NV |
| NCAA tournament |||||||||
| March 20, 2021* 6:20 pm, TBS | (1 W) No. 1 | vs. (16 W) Norfolk State First Round | W 98–55 | 27–0 | 23 – Kispert | 9 – Ayayi | 7 – Cook | Bankers Life Fieldhouse Indianapolis, IN |
| March 22, 2021* 11:40 am, CBS | (1 W) No. 1 | vs. (8 W) Oklahoma Second Round | W 87–71 | 28–0 | 30 – Timme | 13 – Timme | 4 – Timme | Hinkle Fieldhouse Indianapolis, IN |
| March 28, 2021* 11:10 am, CBS | (1 W) No. 1 | vs. (5 W) No. 19 Creighton Sweet Sixteen | W 83–65 | 29–0 | 22 – Timme | 8 – Ayayi | 8 – Nembhard | Hinkle Fieldhouse Indianapolis, IN |
| March 30, 2021* 4:15 pm, TBS | (1 W) No. 1 | vs. (6 W) No. 23 USC Elite Eight | W 85–66 | 30–0 | 23 – Timme | 10 – Suggs | 8 – Suggs | Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, IN |
| April 3, 2021* 5:34 pm, CBS | (1 W) No. 1 | vs. (11 E) UCLA Final Four | W 93–90 $^{OT}$ | 31–0 | 25 – Timme | 6 – Ayayi | 8 – Nembhard | Lucas Oil Stadium (8,131) Indianapolis, IN |
| April 5, 2021* 6:20 pm, CBS | (1 W) No. 1 | vs. (1 S) No. 3 Baylor National Championship | L 70–86 | 31–1 | 22 – Suggs | 5 – Timme | 4 – Nembhard | Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, IN |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. W=West. All times are in Pacific Time. |||||||||
Source

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking ( ) = First-place votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Final |
| AP | 1 (28) | 1 (57) | 1 (54) | 1 (54) | 1 (61) | 1 (62) | 1 (63) | 1 (63) | 1 (62) | 1 (62) | 1 (61) | 1 (55) | 1 (59) | 1 (60) | 1 (59) | 1 (61) | 1 (60) | Not released |
| Coaches | 2 (10) | 2^ (10) | 1 (23) | 1 (24) | 1 (25) | 1 (29) | 1 (29) | 1 (29) | 1 (28) | 1 (29) | 1 (28) | 1 (28) | 1 (28) | 1 (28) | 1 (31) | 1 (31) | 1 (32) | 2 |
^Coaches did not release a Week 1 poll.