College basketball is right around the corner. Games will be starting before you know it, and practices are just right around the corner.
Here at Roundballchat I will release my top 100 teams for the 2012-13 college basketball season. I will start at 100 and count my way down. I will rank all the 75 programs in the six major conferences, as well as 25 mid majors in my top 100 countdown.
Along with my top 100 countdown I will also feature a ton of previews. Like the top players at each position, All Conference teams, top players by class, top games, previewing the early season tournaments and much more.
Who will put at number 1? Louisville or Indiana or maybe a surprise stay tuned to Roundballchat for the next month to find out.
#21 Gonzaga
Coach: Mark Few (13 seasons at Gonzaga 342-90)
2011-12: Record 26-7 overall, 13-3 in WCCC (2nd)
Starters Returning (4) Kevin Pangos, Gary Bell Jr., Guy Landry Edi, Elias Harris
Preseason Tournament: Old Spice Classic
Top Non-Conference Games: vs. Illinois, vs. Kansas State, vs. Baylor, at Oklahoma State, at Butler
Transfer In: Gerard Coleman (Providence)
Gonzaga should not be considered a mid-major they are in the preseason top 25 almost every year. They have made 14 straight NCAA appearances, not a lot of programs can say that. Last year was the first time in 15 seasons the Zags did win the conference regular season or conference championship. Gonzaga losses center Robert Sacre but they bring back 4 starters.
The strength of this team will be the backcourt were two double digit scorers return. Leading the way will be point guard Kevin Pangos (13.6ppg). Pangos scored 33 points in his first start and never looked back. He led Gonzaga in points, assists and steals. He also knocked down 79 three pointers Joining him in the backcourt is Gary Bell Jr. (10.4 ppg). Bell is a very versatile and efficient scorer. He made 52% of his three pointers in WCC play. Both players were freshman last season so they should only get better. The top two options off the bench will be David Stockton (3.7 ppg) and Michael Hart (1.8 ppg). Stockton is a great backup point guard and Hart is a good defender. Also providing depth is Kyle Dranginis and Drew Barham.
Leading the Zags in the frontcourt is Elias Harris (13.1 ppg), who turned down the NBA. Harris is very athletic and is a versatile scorer than can score in the paint and shot the three. His biggest strength is his rebounding ability; he is the returning leading rebounder in the conference. At center will be Sam Dower (8.3 ppg). With starters minutes he should score in double figures this season, that his strength scoring the ball. Starting at the small forward position will be Guy Landry Edi (5.5 ppg). He is not a shooter but he is a very tough athletic player on the wing. The top man off the bench will be Kelly Olynyk . He redshirted last year but he averaged 5.8 points pg in 2010. Also providing depth will be the intriguing Przemek Karnowski. He is from Poland and is still learning the game.
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