Gonzaga Bulldogs 2014-15 team preview
The real Kevin Pangos was last seen on Nov. 27, 2013, in Gonzaga’s final game of the Maui Invitational. The point guard torched Arkansas for 34 points and committed just one turnover in 39 minutes against the Razorbacks’ press. But soon after, he suffered a turf-toe injury in his right foot, and a series of left-ankle sprains followed. “Everything got thrown off,” Pangos says, including his balance, speed-changing ability and cutting. “He -couldn’t even walk after games,” says coach Mark Few.
Pangos then endured a gym rat’s worst nightmare: having to stay off the court for three months, not to mention regularly submerging his feet in icy water. A fully recovered Pangos and fellow senior Gary Bell Jr. could be the nation’s most efficient scoring backcourt, and the Zags, who were led by frontcourt stars in each of the past three seasons, should have a diverse, balanced offense. “This year’s team has as much depth as we’ve ever had,” says Few, who added key transfers in power forward Kyle Wiltjer (from Kentucky) and swingman Byron Wesley (USC), and has an emerging low-post force in junior Przemek Karnowski. Few’s new crew is healthier, more talented and harder to -defend -- a promising formula for a breakthrough into the second weekend of the NCAAs.
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Projected top seven scorers
name | pos | class | ppg | rpg | apg | o-rating |
Kevin Pangos | G | Sr | 14.2 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 127.3 |
Kyle Wiltjer | F | Jr | 12.3 | 5.2 | 1.0 | 121.9 |
Przemek Karnowski | F | Jr | 11.3 | 7.0 | 0.8 | 111.4 |
Byron Wesley | F | Sr | 11.0 | 4.2 | 1.7 | 112.9 |
Gary Bell, Jr. | G | Sr | 10.4 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 127.6 |
G | Fr | 8.6 | 8.1 | 0.7 | 108.3 | |
Kyle Dranginis | G | Jr | 5.4 | 3.0 | 2.1 | 121.3 |
