You remember the hype. It was everywhere. Coming off that heartbreaking loss to Baylor in the 2021 title game, the Zags didn't just rebuild—they reloaded with a lineup that felt like a video game experiment. Honestly, looking back at the 2022 Gonzaga basketball roster, it’s kind of wild to see how much talent was squeezed into one locker room in Spokane. You had the established superstar in Drew Timme, the floor general Andrew Nembhard, and then, of course, the unicorn: Chet Holmgren.
It wasn't just about the names, though. It was the fit. Mark Few has had a lot of great teams, but this specific group had a blend of "old school" post play and "new school" perimeter versatility that felt like it should have been illegal.
The Starters: A Masterclass in Roles
Basically, the starting five was a nightmare to scout. If you doubled Timme in the post, Nembhard would find a wide-open Rasir Bolton. If you played off Chet to help on drives, he’d just bury a transition three. It was efficient. Deadly.
Drew Timme remained the heartbeat. By his junior year, he’d mastered every head fake and up-and-under move known to man. He averaged 18.4 points and 6.8 rebounds, shooting a ridiculous 58.6% from the floor. He wasn't the most athletic guy on the court, but he was almost always the smartest.
Then there was Chet Holmgren. 7-foot-0. 195 pounds. He looked like he’d blow over in a strong wind, but man, he was a force. Chet changed the entire defensive geometry of the floor. He averaged 3.7 blocks per game, which is just absurd. Opposing guards would drive into the lane, see Chet’s 7-foot-6 wingspan, and just... turn around. He finished the season averaging 14.1 points and nearly 10 rebounds while shooting 39% from deep.
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The backcourt was just as steady. Andrew Nembhard was the ultimate professional. He played over 32 minutes a night, dishing out 5.8 assists and keeping the turnover rate low. Alongside him was Rasir Bolton, the Iowa State transfer who became the team’s best marksman, hitting 46% of his threes. Julian Strawther rounded out the five, providing that 6-foot-7 wing size and scoring 11.8 points a game.
Key Bench Pieces and the Depth Chart
A team is only as good as its rotation. While the starters got the headlines, the 2021-22 Zags had some serious punch off the pine.
- Anton Watson: The local kid. Honestly, Watson was the glue. He didn't need to score to be effective. He averaged 7.3 points and 4.7 boards but was often the guy making the "winning play" that doesn't show up in a box score.
- Hunter Sallis: A five-star freshman with elite athleticism. He didn't play massive minutes (about 13 per game), but you could see the flashes of the NBA player he’d eventually become.
- Nolan Hickman: Another high-level recruit who gave Nembhard a breather. He was shifty and could get his own shot when the offense stalled.
- Ben Gregg: A high-energy forward who was just starting to find his footing in the rotation.
What Made the 2022 Gonzaga Basketball Roster Unique?
Most people focus on the offense. And why wouldn't they? Gonzaga led the country in scoring at 87.2 points per game. They were first in the nation in field goal percentage (52.1%). But the real story was the defense.
Before this season, critics always said Gonzaga was "soft" or couldn't defend the rim against elite athletes. Chet Holmgren changed that narrative overnight. With Chet at the five and Timme at the four, the Zags finally had a verticality that matched the blue bloods. They weren't just outscoring teams; they were demoralizing them at the rim.
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The 2021-22 season was also Mark Few's 23rd year at the helm. He had to navigate a lot of pressure, including a brief suspension at the start of the season. Despite that, the team finished 28-4 and swept through the West Coast Conference. They were the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament for a reason.
The Sweet Sixteen Stumble
If we’re being real, the season ended sooner than anyone expected. That loss to Arkansas in the Sweet Sixteen still stings for fans in Spokane. The Razorbacks played a physical, gritty style of defense that disrupted Nembhard and forced the Zags into 15 turnovers. Chet got into foul trouble—one of the few times his lack of bulk really showed—and the offense just couldn't find its rhythm.
It’s easy to look at that one game and say the season was a failure, but that's a mistake. This roster was a bridge. It bridged the gap between the "Cinderella" era of Gonzaga and the "Perennial Powerhouse" era where they land the #1 recruit in the country.
Breaking Down the Numbers
To understand the sheer dominance of the 2022 Gonzaga basketball roster, you have to look at the efficiency. This wasn't just a fast team; it was a precise one.
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| Player | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drew Timme | 18.4 | 6.8 | 2.8 | 58.6% |
| Chet Holmgren | 14.1 | 9.9 | 1.9 | 60.7% |
| Andrew Nembhard | 11.8 | 3.4 | 5.8 | 45.2% |
| Julian Strawther | 11.8 | 5.4 | 1.0 | 49.8% |
| Rasir Bolton | 11.2 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 50.2% |
Those numbers are staggering. Having five starters average double figures is rare. Having two of them shoot over 58% from the field is almost unheard of at this level. It meant that on any given night, a different player could kill you. If you shut down Timme, Strawther would drop 20. If you chased Bolton off the line, Nembhard would carve you up in the pick-and-roll.
Lessons from the 2021-22 Season
What can we actually learn from this specific Gonzaga team? First off, the "one-and-done" model can work at a mid-major (or whatever we're calling the WCC these days). Chet Holmgren didn't just use Gonzaga as a pit stop; he bought into the system.
Second, the value of a veteran point guard is immeasurable. Andrew Nembhard’s ability to settle the team during chaotic road games at Saint Mary’s or BYU was the reason they stayed at No. 1 for so long.
Lastly, it showed that roster balance is more important than raw star power. Even with two future NBA lottery picks, the team relied on "boring" things like spacing and post entry passes.
If you are looking back at this roster to understand the current state of college hoops, notice how the Zags utilized the transfer portal. Rasir Bolton and Andrew Nembhard were both transfers. Without them, the freshman talent of Chet, Hickman, and Sallis might have been wasted. Mark Few mastered the art of mixing elite high school recruits with proven college veterans, a blueprint that almost every top program tries to follow today.
Actionable Insight for Fans and Analysts:
When evaluating future Gonzaga rosters, look for the "Glue Guy" (the Anton Watson role) and the "Floor General" (the Nembhard role). While everyone watches the projected top picks, these are the players who actually determine if the team makes a deep March run. You can have all the talent in the world, but without a facilitator who averages a 3:1 assist-to-turnover ratio, the ceiling will always be lower than it looks on paper.