Why the 2021 Gonzaga basketball roster Still Matters: The Greatest Team That Didn’t Win It All

Honestly, it feels like a lifetime ago.

But if you close your eyes, you can probably still see Jalen Suggs sprinting toward the logo in Indianapolis, launching a prayer that somehow, impossibly, banked off the glass to beat UCLA at the buzzer. It was the moment that defined the 2020-21 season. It made the 2021 Gonzaga basketball roster feel invincible. They were 31-0. They were scoring over 90 points a game. They were, by almost every statistical metric, the most efficient offensive juggernaut we had seen in the KenPom era.

And then, Baylor happened.

Most people remember the ending—the 86-70 blowout in the national championship that felt like a bucket of cold water. But to dismiss that roster because of one bad night is a mistake. That team didn't just win; they dismantled people. They beat four of the top-ranked teams in the country before January even hit. If you’re looking back at the players who made that run possible, you aren't just looking at a college team. You’re looking at a collection of NBA talent that changed how we view "mid-major" basketball forever.

The Starting Five: A Perfect Storm of Talent

Mark Few has had some incredible teams in Spokane, but this one was different. It wasn't just about having one star; it was about the synergy between five guys who felt like they were sharing a single brain.

The 2021 Gonzaga basketball roster was anchored by Drew Timme. He was a sophomore then, rocking the headband and the "mustache" celebration that everyone either loved or hated. He averaged 19.0 points and 7.0 rebounds, using a series of footwork moves in the post that looked like they belonged in the 1980s. He was the soul of the team.

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Then you had Corey Kispert. He was the ultimate "3-and-D" senior. Kispert shot a ridiculous 44% from beyond the arc. If you left him open for a millisecond, the ball was already in the net. He provided the veteran maturity that balanced out the freshman energy of Jalen Suggs.

Speaking of Suggs, he was the highest-rated recruit in Gonzaga history at the time. A dual-sport athlete who could have played quarterback at a high D1 level, he brought a physical violence to the point guard position. He wasn't just fast; he was strong. He averaged 14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, but his real impact was the "fear factor" he put into opposing backcourts.

Rounding out the starters were Joel Ayayi and Andrew Nembhard. Ayayi was the quietest star in the country. He actually recorded the first triple-double in Gonzaga history that season against Portland. Nembhard, a transfer from Florida, eventually moved into the starting lineup later in the year to give the Zags two elite ball-handlers.

Depth and the Unsung Heroes

People often forget how deep the 2021 Gonzaga basketball roster actually went before Mark Few shortened the rotation for the tournament.

Anton Watson was the Swiss Army knife. A local kid from Spokane, Watson didn't need to score to be effective. He was a 6'8" defensive specialist who could guard almost any position. He actually started 17 games that year before Nembhard took the fifth starting spot.

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Then there was the bench. You had Aaron Cook, a grad transfer who provided lightning-quick speed and perimeter defense. You had a very young Julian Strawther, who we now know as an NBA-caliber shooter, but back then, he was just a freshman trying to find minutes on a stacked squad.

The "big man" depth was interesting too. Oumar Ballo, who eventually became a star at Arizona, was a redshirt freshman on this team. He only played about 6 minutes a game because he was stuck behind Timme. It’s wild to think about that much size and potential sitting on the pine.

Why the Baylor Loss Doesn't Define Them

Look, Baylor was the better team that night. They were more physical, they dominated the offensive glass, and they didn't let Gonzaga breathe.

But does that erase the 31 straight wins? Does it erase the fact that they beat Kansas, West Virginia, Iowa, and Virginia in the first month of the season?

The 2021 Gonzaga basketball roster was an outlier. They played at a pace that forced teams into a track meet they couldn't win. They averaged 18.8 assists per game. That’s "Beautiful Game" basketball. They were the first team since Indiana in 1976 to enter the title game undefeated. Even if they didn't get the ring, they belong in the conversation with the 1991 UNLV or 2015 Kentucky teams—squads that were the best in the country, even if the final score of the final game didn't show it.

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The Legacy of the 2020-21 Bulldogs

Since that season, Gonzaga has continued to recruit at a top-five level. They landed Chet Holmgren the very next year. They’ve become a destination for the "one-and-done" and the "elite transfer" alike.

But the 2021 group was the bridge. They proved that Gonzaga could play a style of basketball that wasn't just "good for a small school," but was objectively the best in the nation.

Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Analysts:

• Re-watch the UCLA Game: If you want to see the 2021 roster at its peak intensity, that Final Four game is the blueprint. It shows the resilience of Suggs and the tactical brilliance of Mark Few.
• Track the NBA Careers: Follow Kispert (Wizards), Suggs (Magic), and Nembhard (Pacers). Seeing how their games translated to the pros gives you a better appreciation for how talented that college roster really was.
• Study the "Two-Guard" System: Analysts often point to the 2021 Zags as the reason more teams are moving toward starting two primary playmakers (Suggs and Nembhard) together.

The 2021 Gonzaga basketball roster wasn't just a flash in the pan. It was a masterpiece of roster construction that came exactly one win short of immortality.

To really understand where the program is headed next, you have to look back at that season. It wasn't about the "mid-major" label anymore. It was about a team that, for five months, played basketball better than anyone else on the planet.