Dick Weiss on College Basketball
Is the race for national Player of the Year over before it begins?
Gonzaga’s 6-9 junior forward Drew Timme is certainly trying to close the polls after a defining moment during the top-ranked Bulldogs’ 86-74 victory over fifth-ranked Texas at the Kennel in Spokane.
Timme scored a career high 37 points on 15 for 19 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds in nearly 38 minutes as the Zags decimated a good but still developing transfer loaded Longhorns’ team, blowing out to a 47-27 lead at halftime, then cruising the rest of the way toa 53rd consecutive home victory.
“I always have fun with I play,” he said. “It’s a joy to play this game.”
Timme is single handedly bringing back the image of the traditional big man to college basketball. He has the best low post game and the best footwork of anyone in the game and Texas had no chance to guard him one on one.
“He played like the best player in college basketball,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. “He’s an off the chart competitor and he brings a competitive swagger.”
Timme could have followed in the footsteps of lottery pick guards Jalen Suggs and Corey Kispert and declared for the NBA draft last spring after the Zags’ near perfect 31-1 season that ended with a loss to Baylor in the NCAA tournament championship game. But he had some unfinished business
Timme was in no hurry to rush off to the league. He wants to put a national championship on his resume first and settle some old scores. Timme grew up in the Dallas, Texas area, but the Longhorns were slow to recruit him, even though he was a Top 50 prospect. So he became another citizen of Few’s ever growing empire
“Timme owns Texas,” Zags’ fans chanted as Timme took over the game in old school fashion, looking like a young Kevin McHale.
“He’s a load,” said Texas 6-10 forward Timmy Allen, an All Pac-12 transfer from Utah. “He’s not the most athletic guy but I’ve never played against someone like that. He’s hard to guard especially when you surround him with good players.”
This was the exclamation mark on a big week for college basketball that started with the Champions Classic featuring Kansas, Michigan State, Duke and Kentucky in the Garden and Villanova vs. UCLA in Pauley.
Gonzaga may not be as good a team yet as last year’s group and the Zags will miss assistant Tommy Lloyd, their lead recruiter, who left to take the head coaching job at Arizona. But the Zags still have a huge ceiling with 7-1 freshman Chet Holmgren, the No. 1 ranked player in the class of 2021 who has multiple skills and could be the first pick in the 2022 NBA draft; and guard Nolan Hickman from nearby Seattle, a five star recruit who decommitted from Kentucky because he wanted to play closer to home.
The Zags are deep at every position and have a dependable point guard to replace Suggs in one time Florida transfer Andrew Nembhard.
Gonzaga won easily despite the fact Holmgren only scored two points on three shots and had five rebounds and two shots. But Holmgren made it difficult for the Longhorns to score inside and the Zags also got a healthy 16 point contribution from Rasir Bolton, an Iowa State transfer who had played against Texas before in the Big 12 and punctuated his performance splashing home a half court bomb just before halftime.
“They’re as good as advertised,” Texas coach Chris Beard said.
The Bulldogs scored 1.32 points per possession in this showcase which will lead up to non-league matchups against UCLA and Duke thanksgiving week in Vegas. They made the most of non-league opportunities last year when they defeated Kansas, Iowa and Virginia by double figures., .
This will be more of an adventure since Duke has a 6-10 freshman Paolo Banchero from Seattle who could challenge Holmgren as the best prospect in the NBA draft and forward Johnny Juzang and Jaime Jaquez Jr each have All American credentials at UCLA. ilcwhocne . But as long as Timme continues to be the best player on the best team Gonzaga has a chance to win every game they play against the best competition.
“Being able to be in pressure situations is a privilege,” Timme said. “You don’t get to just walz into a top 5 game. You have to earn it and you have to prove yourself that you can be in that situation. We don’t take these games for granted.”
