Tag: Gonzaga Bulldogs

Draymond Green (rightfully) does not love the idea of basketball players playing on an aircraft carrier

Basketball outdoors presents challenges.

In case you missed it, the Gonzaga and Michigan State men’s basketball teams are preparing to play a neutral-site game against one another on an aircraft carrier this upcoming season. The matchup would occur in San Diego

The game, slated for Veterans Day (November 11th), will come on the 11-year anniversary of the 2011 Carrier Classic between MSU and North Carolina, a game that the Tar Heels won 67-55. The matchup also featured plenty of eventual NBA talent, including Harrison Barnes, Reggie Bullock and Draymond Green.

As Green caught wind of the likely 2022 game, he took to Twitter to voice his thoughts.

Despite not having the experience of playing a basketball game on a carrier, I can understand Green’s stance.

High-level basketball is supposed to be played in a gym — it’s where all games and practices are held throughout the year and mostly throughout players’ lives. Breaking away from that comfort zone could be tough.

Not only that but there are the physical conditions that play an even bigger factor. I mean, they are playing on a carrier! In the 2011 game, there were contingency plans to move the game to the main hangar below deck should rain be an issue. But even the wind and air quality could lead to some extra moisture on the court, which would lead to some potential unnecessary consequences on a player’s body.

Coming from a former collegiate and professional basketball player, the risk of injury is not worth the memories, albeit some very cool ones I’m sure.

So, I’m siding with Draymond.

Nevertheless, his opinions probably don’t change anything and mine certainly do not. Looks like we’ll see some more Carrier basketball come November.

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Gonzaga and Michigan State reportedly trying to revive basketball games on aircraft carriers

Yes, condensation and wind have been a problem in past, but this could be fun.

The return of Tom Cruise to the big screen as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in Top Gun: Maverick could be influencing a return to one of the more iconic college basketball locales in recent history. According to tweets from both Jon Rothstein and Matt Norlander of CBS Sports, Gonzaga and Michigan State could be looking at reviving the now defunct carrier games from over a decade ago.

The first game played on an aircraft carrier took place November 11, 2011 on the USS Vinson in San Diego as part of ESPN’s Carrier Classic. North Carolina defeated Michigan State in that game as President Barack Obama looked on. Four more games were scheduled the following year in the same fashion, but only two were played to completion thanks to condensation on the court caused by drops in the outside temperature.

Now, Gonzaga’s Mark Few and MSU’s Tom Izzo want to bring them back.

Condensation won’t be the only environmental concern to consider, either. The 2012 game between Syracuse and San Diego State featured a pesky wind that impacted shooting.

Either way, as someone that was a naval aviator and has seen Maverick more times than you can count on one hand, I say DO IT.

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Drew Timme will return to college basketball for senior year

Gonzaga will return their top scorer to the roster next season with Timme back.

Gonzaga forward Drew Timme on Wednesday announced that he will withdraw from the 2022 NBA draft and return to school for his senior year.

The news was first reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Timme, who was a consensus All-American, averaged 18.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists on 58.6% shooting from the field in 32 games. He led the WCC in scoring and ranked 20th in the country in shooting among all Division I players.

He was among the prospects that participated in the draft combine, averaging 17 points, 4.5 rebounds and two assists in two scrimmage games. He measured in at 6 feet, 9.25 inches in shoes with a 7-foot-2 wingspan at the combine.

Timme was considered by some to be a second-round pick, but ultimately opted to return to school after receiving feedback from teams during the pre-draft process. He will now have the opportunity to improve his skillset next season.

With Timme back, the program will also return Rasir Bolton and Julian Strawther next season as they each opted against the draft. The Zags now figure to have a strong chance to advance to the Sweet 16 for an eighth consecutive season with their top scorer back.

Timme had until 11:59 p.m. EDT on Wednesday to withdraw.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Julian Strawther to withdraw from NBA draft, return to Gonzaga

Strawther announced that he will withdraw from the NBA draft and return for his junior year with the Bulldogs.

Gonzaga sophomore Julian Strawther on Wednesday announced he will withdraw from the 2022 NBA draft and return to school.

Strawther, who was a West Coast Conference honorable mention selection, averaged 11.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and one assist on 49.8% shooting from the field in 32 games last season. He scored in double figures 21 times and twice had a career-high 20 points.

The 6-foot-7 standout was among the prospects that participated in the draft combine last month in Chicago, Illinois. He recorded the fastest lane agility time (10.3 seconds) but did not take part in the 5-on-5 scrimmages, which was a rather surprising decision.

Strawther was not projected to be selected by most mock drafts after testing the waters. He will have an opportunity to return to school and work on his skills after receiving feedback from teams and executives during the pre-draft process.

Gonzaga made its 23rd straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament last season after earning the top seed. With Strawther back in the fold, the Zags have a strong chance to advance to the Sweet 16 for an eighth consecutive season.

Underclassmen have until 11:59 p.m. EDT on Wednesday to withdraw from the draft and return to school.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Pacers to host Andrew Nembhard, others for pre-draft workout

Nembhard was among the standouts at the draft combine this week, recording 26 points and 11 assists on Friday.

Gonzaga senior Andrew Nembhard will be among the draft-eligible prospects to work out with the Indiana Pacers on Monday, the team announced. It is their second workout ahead of the draft.

Nembhard, who was named to the All-WCC first team, averaged 11.8 points, 5.8 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 32 games. He finished the season ranked 15th in the country in assists per game and seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.97).

The 6-foot-5 standout is projected to be a second-round pick but was perhaps the best guard at the draft combine this week in Chicago, Illinois. He recorded 26 points and 11 assists on Friday during his lone scrimmage appearance.

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In addition to Nembhard, the Pacers also plan to work out Baylor guard James Akinjo, Alabama guard Keon Ellis, UCLA guard Johnny Juzang, Marquette forward Justin Lewis and Colorado State center David Roddy on Monday.

The Pacers were awarded the sixth overall pick in the draft, one position lower than their pre-lottery odds. They also have the 31st pick from the Houston Rockets and the 60th pick from the Phoenix Suns.

The NBA draft will take place on June 23.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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All-American Drew Timme to attend pre-draft workout with Hawks

Timme, who was a consensus All-American, averaged 18.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 32 games.

Gonzaga junior Drew Timme will be among the draft prospects to work out with the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday, according to Kevin Chouinard of Hawks.com.

Timme, who was a consensus All-American, averaged 18.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists on 58.6% shooting from the field in 32 games. He led the WCC in scoring and ranked 20th in the country in shooting among all Division I players.

The 6-foot-10 forward is projected this year to be a mid-to-late second-round pick by most mock drafts. In addition to working out with the Hawks, Timme is also expected to participate in the draft combine May 18-20 in Chicago, Illinois.

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In addition to Timme, Atlanta will also work out Wisconsin guard Brad Davison, Wichita State guard Tyson Etienne, Kansas forward David McCormack, Boston guard Javante McCoy and Minnesota guard Payton Willis on Thursday.

Atlanta enters the pre-draft process with the 16th and 44th picks, respectively. They have recently hosted several prospects for workouts ahead of the draft combine, including LSU forward Tari Eason and Villanova guard Collin Gillespie among others.

The NBA draft will take place on June 23.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Chet Holmgren, the potential No. 1 pick, declares for NBA draft

Holmgren, a consensus second-team All-American, averaged 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.7 blocks and 1.9 assists in 32 games.

Potential No. 1 overall pick Chet Holmgren will declare for the 2022 NBA draft and forgo his remaining collegiate eligibility after a stellar freshman season with the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

The news was first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Holmgren, a consensus second-team All-American, averaged 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.7 blocks and 1.9 assists on 60.7% shooting from the field in 32 games. He finished ranked 12th in the country in field-goal percentage, 18th in rebounding and fourth in blocked shots.

The 7-footer emerged as a strong prospect on both ends of the court.

Holmgren shot 39% from 3-point range on 3.3 attempts per game and was highly effective in the paint, converting on 73.7% of his attempts inside the arc. He was 11th in the nation in PER (31.3) and 17th in offensive rating (127).

On the other side, Holmgren proved elite on defense. He was a finalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award and tied the Gonzaga program record with 117 blocked shots. He had more blocks than missed shots (110) from the field.

Holmgren is among three prospects in the running to become the top pick this year. He has long been on the NBA radar given his unique blend of size and ability on both ends of the floor. He still has plenty of room to grow and could emerge as the best player from the draft down the road.

The NBA draft will take place on June 23.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Gonzaga senior Andrew Nembhard to enter 2022 NBA draft

Nembhard announced that he will declare for the NBA draft and forgo his final season of collegiate eligibility. 

Gonzaga senior Andrew Nembhard on Thursday announced that he will declare for the 2022 NBA draft and forgo his final season of collegiate eligibility.

Nembhard, who was named to the All-WCC first team, averaged 11.8 points, 5.8 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 32 games. He finished the season ranked 15th in the country in assists per game and seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.97).

The 6-foot-5 guard is widely projected to be a second-round pick given his ability as a scorer and facilitator. He proved to be a strong shooter, converting 38.3% from 3-point range on seven attempts per game, and projects to be a viable backup point guard option for teams in the draft.

Nembhard will have the opportunity to improve his draft positioning by participating in private workouts with teams. He also figures to be a strong candidate to earn an invitation to compete in the draft combine or NBA G League Elite Camp next month.

The NBA draft will take place on June 23.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Gonzaga sophomore Julian Strawther to test NBA pre-draft process

Strawther will declare for the 2022 NBA draft while leaving the door open to return to school.

Gonzaga sophomore Julian Strawther on Monday announced that he will declare for the 2022 NBA draft while leaving the door open to return to school.

Strawther, who was a WCC Honorable Mention selection, averaged 11.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and one assist on 49.8% shooting from the field in 32 games. He scored in double figures 21 times and twice had a career-high 20 points.

The 6-foot-7 guard is not currently projected to be selected by most mock drafts. However, he will have the opportunity to improve his draft stock by participating in private workouts with teams. He could also earn an invitation to compete in the draft combine next month.

He has until June 1 to withdraw from the draft and maintain his eligibility.

Strawther becomes the second Bulldogs player to declare for the NBA draft, joining All-American teammate Drew Timme. Chet Holmgren, a potential No. 1 overall pick, is also expected to announce his draft intentions in the coming days.

Gonzaga made its 23rd straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament this season. They earned the top seed after posting a 28-4 record and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the seventh consecutive year.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Gonzaga junior and All-American Drew Timme to enter NBA draft

Timme was a consensus All-American after averaging 18.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 32 games.

Drew Timme announced that will enter his name in the 2022 NBA draft after becoming the West Coast Conference Player of the Year as a junior with the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

Timme, who was also a consensus All-American, averaged 18.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists on 58.6% shooting from the field in 32 games. He led the WCC in scoring and ranked 20th in the country in shooting among all Division I players.

The 6-foot-10 forward is projected to be a mid-to-late second-round pick by most mock drafts. He did not state in his announcement if he would hire an agent but could still elect to return to college for one more season.

Timme will have the opportunity to participate in private workouts with teams to improve his draft stock over the next two months. He also figures to be a strong candidate to earn an invitation to take part in the draft combine or NBA G League Elite Camp next month.

The NBA draft will take place on June 23.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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