Drew Timme to return to Gonzaga

Gonzaga men’s basketball should be right back at the top of the polls to start the 2021-22 season, as today the Bulldogs announced junior Drew Timme will return for his junior season in Spokane.

“After reviewing options with my family, I’ve decided to return to Gonzaga,” Timme said. “I am excited to come back to Spokane and continue my collegiate career. I appreciate everything I’ve learned so far from the Gonzaga coaching staff, and look forward to growing my game more. I love playing at GU, being a part of the program, and can’t wait to play in front of the best fans in the country again.”

Timme helped the Zags advance to the national championship game following a 31-0 start to the season. Gonzaga won the league regular season title for a national-best ninth straight season. The Bulldogs became the first team in NCAA Div. 1 history to reach 30 wins in five straight seasons. GU welcomes back a talented team in 2021-22, along with arguably their best-ever recruiting class, and multiple media outlets have ranked the Zags No. 1 in their early preseason projections.

The Zags finished 2021 31-1, picking up 31 straight victories and were on the verge of being the first undefeated team since the Indiana Hoosiers of 1976 before falling 86-70 to the Baylor Bears in the national championship game.

Timme started every game last season, averaging 19.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per contest while shooting 65.5% from the field. The Karl Malone Award winner as the nation’s top power forward was a consensus second-team All-American, as well as the Most Outstanding Player of the West Region of the NCAA Tournament.

Gonzaga are currently the favorites to win the 2022 national championship at DraftKings Sportsbook, listed as +700 to cut down the nets. While guard Jalen Suggs is off to the NBA, his former high school teammate Chet Holmgren joins the Zags as another five-star freshman that seems destined for a lottery pick.