Gonzaga Bulldogs Power Index: 31.2*
Mark Few has another team that will make the NCAA Tournament, and advancing to the Final Four is not a stretch. However, this Gonzaga team is different in that it has far more size than ever before, and each of the big guys on the roster can really play. Gonzaga's frontcourt is big enough to compete in the Big Ten, and features future pro Corey Violette, a broad shouldered power forward who can rebound, score on the low block with a variety of post moves and step out and hit trail jumpers. Zach Gourde is as
skilled as any low-post player in the country, and Richard Fox, a transfer from Colorado, has great hands and a soft touch, and reminds me of former
Washington star Todd MacCulloch. Ronny Turiaf's game is catching up with his potential, and he provides something few teams have: a 6-10 player who can run, jump, rebound and block shots with great energy. Blake Stepp will be the next outstanding Gonzaga guard in the mold of Matt Santangelo, Richie
Frahm and Dan Dickau, and Stepp can really shoot it. If Winston Blake can handle the point, Stepp will be able to work off of the ball and get more shots. Gonzaga, again, is the real thing. -- Jay Bilas
Toughness: 8.1
The Bulldogs aren't a soft bunch. Just check out the injury report from practice. Gourde and Turiaf have been bruised and battered throughout practice but have gotten through and should be ready to go by the start of the season. The rugged inside play includes a veteran in Violette and Colorado transfer Fox. This crew will win games inside the paint where they can board with the best teams in the country. They don't have a lot of flash, but the Zag power game isn't for the weak at heart.
Talent: 5.7
Gonzaga only lacks a proven point guard. The Zags have the rest of the ingredients for a deep run. They've got shooters in Stepp, Kyle Bankhead and bangers in Gourde, Violette, Turiaf and Fox with an athletic tweener in Brian Skinner. The question remains as to whether Stepp can be a playmaker or if their best team is to have Winston Brooks bring the ball up and get the offense going. Gonzaga's perimeter defense was suspect at times last season, too. If Gonzaga can improve its on-the-ball defense then it has a chance of getting past the first round and beyond.
Tourney Tested: 6.7
Gonzaga is as tournament tested a program as any mid-major or high major. After going to three straight Sweet 16s, last season ended earlier than expected when the Bulldogs were bounced in the first round by Wyoming. But Gourde, Stepp and Violette have all played significant minutes on a Sweet 16 team. Few is no stranger to lengthy March runs.
Schedule: 5.0
The Zags are playing their toughest schedule in their history. They are in the Maui Invitational with games against Utah and possibly Indiana, Arizona State, Virginia or Kentucky. They also play Stanford in Oakland, N.C. State in New Jersey, Georgia in Atlanta and Saint Joseph's at home. Two games against Pepperdine will help their RPI, too. The rest of the WCC doesn't do much for us, but Gonzaga shouldn't have any issues after it gets through November and December -- providing the Zags win a few of them.
Xs & Os: 5.7
Few helped Gonzaga become Guard U the past decade. But the Bulldogs and Few are adjusting to a different look by going more inside. Expect Gonzaga to become a tougher, more interior team, just as WCC rival Pepperdine looks to be more perimeter-oriented. Few has done a good job adjusting to his personnel as he leans heavily in an area that was underrated in Spokane the past five years.
-- Andy Katz
ESPN.com's Power Index is based on a 10-point scale in each of these five categories: Toughness, Talent, Schedule Strength, Tournament Tested, Xs & Os. Teams are scored based on returning players, coaching staffs, a program's past performances in the regular season and postseason, as well as expectations heading into the 2002-03 season.
