Who to replace Hopkins?

[Seattle or Bust]

Top on my list continues to be Mark Few.

Gonzaga may be getting to the point where it's difficult to compete for recruits due to NIL. Gonzaga currently has 0 signees for the 2024 recruiting class. In my opinion, that says a lot.

Last year they recruited 2x freshman - one being a no star, the other being 4-star Dusty Stromer. They had multiple 4-star transfers from other schools come in but I wonder if that works against Gonzaga's style of developing players over 4 years. In '22 they had a 5 star transfer in, but he's already transferred out. They had a grad transfer come in who is now in the NBA. And they recruited just 1x 4-star recruit in Braden Huff who is a role player as a redshirt freshman.

I just think Gonzaga can't compete in the recruiting ranks like they once could due to NIL and their transfers are all coming from smaller schools where the player hopes playing for GU will get them noticed to potentially play professionally. To me, it's not really sustainable if Few hopes to find himself back in the national championship picture. This is his worst Gonzaga team in a while.

Few currently only makes $1.8 million a year at Gonzaga. Few's former assistant, Tommy Lloyd, makes $5.25 million a year to coach at Arizona... UW can easily match something like that. UW has a much larger NIL cash flow, allowing Few to recruit at a higher level than he's been able to do the last couple years. He's used to the local recruiting scene and would also likely be able to keep players around at UW that are currently signed... UW has a 5-star coming in '25 and a 4-star that is currently redshirting.

[Michael K.]

I’d take that!

[Captain 97]

I think if Few was interested in leaving Gonzaga he could get a much better job than UW. Other than the fact that they will be in the big 10 what is attractive about being the coach at Washington? Weve never even been close to being a blue-blood program and likely never will be.

[D-train]

I think if Few was interested in leaving Gonzaga he could get a much better job than UW. Other than the fact that they will be in the big 10 what is attractive about being the coach at Washington? Weve never even been close to being a blue-blood program and likely never will be.

Few might look at it as a challenge. The miracle of making Gonzaga a nationally prominent BB school contenting for a FF every season was far bigger an accomplishment.

[Captain 97]

I think if Few was interested in leaving Gonzaga he could get a much better job than UW. Other than the fact that they will be in the big 10 what is attractive about being the coach at Washington? Weve never even been close to being a blue-blood program and likely never will be.

Few might look at it as a challenge. The miracle of making Gonzaga a nationally prominent BB school contenting for a FF every season was far bigger an accomplishment.

So your theory is he would come to Washington because he is a masochist.
If what he wants is a challenge he isn't going to be lured away from Gonzaga because of a lack of NIL money.

[Donn Beach]

Don't believe Few has an issue with nil. He in fact was one of its most ardent promoters. From poking around, Gonzaga seems to have a competitive nil program. He's also seen to be using the transfer portal. He's not a victim of the changes, he's taking advantage of them. The talk seems to be switching conferences, not Few being dissatisfied

Look no further than the transfer portal. Few has seized the opportunity to bring in experienced talent via the portal that was granted to him by recent changes to how the NCAA handles transfers, as well as NIL.

People forget it was Few who testified in favor of student-athletes receiving compensation for their name, image and likeness before Congress back in 2021, an issue he felt should have been addressed a long time ago. He's had his basketball program at the forefront of another potential shift in conference affiliation, which up to this point has been driven by the value of college football

Gonzaga All-American Drew Timme is a prime example. Instead of entering the 2022 NBA Draft, Timme returned to Gonzaga for a fourth season in part because of the opportunity to make in excess of $600,000. Timme signed deals with Northern Quest Resort & Casino, Walker's Furniture, Dollar Shave Club, Beats by Dre, Continental Tire and Barstool Gonzaga

[Seattle or Bust]

Don't believe Few has an issue with nil. He in fact was one of its most ardent promoters. From poking around, Gonzaga seems to have a competitive nil program. He's also seen to be using the transfer portal. He's not a victim of the changes, he's taking advantage of them. The talk seems to be switching conferences, not Few being dissatisfied

Look no further than the transfer portal. Few has seized the opportunity to bring in experienced talent via the portal that was granted to him by recent changes to how the NCAA handles transfers, as well as NIL.

People forget it was Few who testified in favor of student-athletes receiving compensation for their name, image and likeness before Congress back in 2021, an issue he felt should have been addressed a long time ago. He's had his basketball program at the forefront of another potential shift in conference affiliation, which up to this point has been driven by the value of college football

Gonzaga All-American Drew Timme is a prime example. Instead of entering the 2022 NBA Draft, Timme returned to Gonzaga for a fourth season in part because of the opportunity to make in excess of $600,000. Timme signed deals with Northern Quest Resort & Casino, Walker's Furniture, Dollar Shave Club, Beats by Dre, Continental Tire and Barstool Gonzaga

Timme could have made a lot more money in NIL elsewhere.

Few is getting portal transfers from Wyoming... he's not getting the elite players to transfer in. And there's no way the NIL at Gonzaga is better than UW.

[Donn Beach]

Sure, just not seeing it presented as an issue there

[D-train]

Sure, just not seeing it presented as an issue there

They are unranked for the first time in a decade.

[Donn Beach]

Sure, I just don't see anybody claiming they no longer can compete. That their victims of nil

Has Gonzaga’s window to compete for a national title closed?
Hardly. If Gonzaga has proven anything in the last two decades, it’s that the Bulldogs have staying power. Though GU only signed one player during the fall signing period (Dusty Stromer, ranked No. 48 in the 2023 class by ESPN), the Zags will continue to be in the mix for top recruits. The development of sophomore forward Ben Gregg (10 or more points off the bench in four games) has been a bright spot this season, and he’ll step into more of a starring role next year.

And don’t forget that few programs work the transfer portal better than the Zags, who have benefited in recent years from players like current guard Rasir Bolton (from Iowa State) and former standouts like Andrew Nembhard (Florida), Brandon Clarke (San Jose State) and Nigel Williams-Goss (Washington).

Working the portal will be especially important this offseason, as Gonzaga is set to lose close to 70% of its scoring with Timme, Strawther and seniors Bolton (10.5 ppg) and Anton Watson (10.5 ppg) expected to depart.

It might be a “down” year for Gonzaga by recent standards — but rest assured, GU isn’t going anywhere.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2 ... 156981002/