The 2020–21 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Gonzaga University, located in Spokane, Washington, in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was led by head coach Mark Few, in his 22nd season as head coach. This was the Bulldogs' 17th season at the on-campus McCarthey Athletic Center and 41st season as a member of the West Coast Conference.
The Bulldogs became the first undefeated team to advance to the national championship game since Indiana State in 1979. Gonzaga lost to fellow 1-seed Baylor in the championship game 86–70, denying the Bulldogs a perfect season.
Previous season
The Bulldogs finished the season 31–2, 15–1 in WCC play to be WCC regular-season champions. They then defeated San Francisco and Saint Mary's to be champions of the WCC tournament. They earned the WCC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. However, all postseason play, including the NCAA Tournament, was cancelled amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bulldogs finished #2 in the final AP and Coaches poll.
Offseason
Coaching changes
Departures Name Position Year atGonzaga Alma mater (year) Reason for departure Graduate assistant 1st Gonzaga (2015) Left team
Additions to staff Name Position Year atGonzaga Alma mater (year) Previous job Graduate assistant 1st Kansas (2016) Director of Player Development at Wake Forest
Player departures Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure G 200 (redshirt) Dallas, TX Completed college eligibility G 175 (redshirt) Mansfield, TX Completed college eligibility F 220 Cagnes-sur-Mer, France Graduated F 235 Belgrade, Serbia Signed with Mega Soccerbet G 175 Kittitas, WA Left team
Incoming transfers Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previousschool Yearsremaining Dateeligible G 180 (redshirt) St. Louis, MO Southern Illinois 2 October 1, 2020 G 193 Aurora, ON Florida 3 November 24, 2020
2020 recruiting class
Roster Roster is subject to change as/if players transfer or leave the program for other reasons. Andrew Nembhard was initially ruled as a redshirt prior to the start of the 2020–21 season. However, on November 24, 2020, the NCAA granted him immediate eligibility. Additionally, the NCAA has granted an additional year of eligibility to all individuals who participate in winter sports during the 2020–21 school year. Nembhard will thus have three years of eligibility remaining at the start of the 2020–21 season. Ben Gregg joined the team on December 17, 2020, after graduating high school early.
Coaching staff Name Position Year atGonzaga Alma mater (year) Mark Few Head coach 22nd Oregon (1987) Tommy Lloyd Associate head coach 20th Whitman (1998) Brian Michaelson Assistant coach 8th Gonzaga (2005) Roger Powell Jr. Assistant coach 2nd Illinois (2005) Jorge Sanz Director of basketball operations 3rd Florida Atlantic (2011) Evan Manning Graduate assistant 1st Kansas (2016) Ken Nakagawa Video coordinator 5th Long Beach State (2014) Josh Therrien Athletic trainer 5th Washington State (2007) Travis Knight Strength & conditioning coach 15th Gonzaga (2000)
Schedule and results Until the championship game, Gonzaga was the only NCAA basketball team, either men's or women's, to remain undefeated in every game (within and outside its conference) during the 2020–21 season. During the championship game, Baylor University became the season champions after defeating Gonzaga 86–70.
!colspan=12 style=| Non-conference regular season
!colspan=12 style=| WCC regular season
!colspan=12 style=| WCC Tournament
!colspan=12 style=| NCAA tournament
Source
Rankings
^Coaches did not release a Week 1 poll.
References