Gonzaga's Dusty Stromer, others set for increased roles following Steele Venters' injury
The Gonzaga men's basketball team has already suffered a major setback, losing one of its projected starters for the entire 2023-24 season.
Junior wing Steele Venters, who transferred from Eastern Washington this offseason, is out for the season after tearing the ACL in his right knee in practice.
Venters started in Gonzaga's 96-58 exhibition win over Lewis-Clark State last week and was expected to start in the regular season opener against Yale on Friday.
With Venters out for the season, head coach Mark Few has to find a replacement in the starting lineup. Gonzaga's rotation provides some flexibility, allowing Few to choose between starting three guards or utilizing a taller lineup.
Dusty Stromer, a former 4-star recruit, is a contender to step in and take Venters' spot in the starting five. The 6-foot-6 freshman guard registered eight points, six rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal in 21 minutes against Lewis-Clark State.
Another option for a three-guard lineup is freshman Luka Krajnovic, who came to Spokane from Croatia this offseason. Krajnovic had two points, seven assists and two rebounds in 19 minutes during Gonzaga's exhibition.
If the Zags don't start one of the two guards, Stromer and Krajnovic are still primed to receive more playing time off the bench.
In the case Few decides to utilize a taller lineup, junior forward Ben Gregg is a viable choice after serving as a top reserve for the Zags last season. Gregg can stretch the floor more effectively than Gonzaga's other big men, shooting 37.7% from 3-point range on 1.7 attempts per game in 2022-23.
There's also a chance Gregg starts alongside Graham Ike in the frontcourt, with Anton Watson shifting into the wing position as a multi-positional defender.
If Gregg is promoted to the opening lineup, Braden Huff will become Gonzaga's top big man in the second unit. Huff, who redshirted last season, collected 21 points, nine rebounds, two assists and three blocks in 19 minutes against Lewis-Clark State.
Other reserves who could have an expanded role include Jun Seok Yeo and Colby Brooks, but neither seems likely to become starters in place of Venters.
Yeo enrolled at Gonzaga last spring as a transfer from Korea University in Seoul, South Korea. Despite not playing in games as a freshman, he has a remarkable track record internationally. At the 2021 FIBA U-19 World Cup in Latvia, Yeo averaged a tournament-high 25.6 points to go along with 10.6 rebounds, 2.1 steals, 1.7 assists and 1.4 blocks.
Brooks did not see the floor much in 2022-23 aside from blowouts last season, but he was remarkably efficient in his limited opportunities. He shot 8-for-11 from the field and had a team-high 42.6 PER in 22 minutes across eight appearances.
The first opportunity to see how Few manages his rotation will come on Friday at 6 p.m. PST when Gonzaga hosts Yale to open the regular season.
