When you're watching the Gonzaga men's basketball team this season, make sure you have a roster handy because with eight new players you're going to need it.
This is the biggest makeover of any roster in the last ten years for the dominant program in the West Coast Conference and perennial NCAA Tournament team.
The eight new players include:
Mangisto Arop (6'6" freshman forward from Edmonton, Alberta)
G.J. Vilarino (6'0" freshman guard from McKinney, TX)
David Stockton (5'10" freshman walk-on guard from Spokane's Gonzaga Prep)
Kelly Olynyk (6'11" freshman forward from Kelowna, BC)
Elias Harris (6'7" freshman forward from Speyer, Germany)
Michael Hart (6'5" freshman guard from Portland, OR)
Bol Kong (6'6" sophomore transfer forward from Vancouver, BC)
Sam Dower (6'11" freshman forward from Brooklyn Park, MN)
Head coach Mark Few was asked before practice if he liked looking at so many new and young faces on the court and he jokingly responded that he'd "rather be looking at seven veterans."
Few said that returning center Robert Sacre had a great summer and was in incredible shape after suffering a foot injury last year. He also said that Harris had an amazing summer in international competition, guarding NBA players like former Zag Rony Turiaf.
Few cautioned that Portland could be one of the teams to beat this year in the WCC as the Pilots return many veteran players.
Sacre noted that many preseason experts have the Zags unranked and then compared this year's team to the unknowns of the famous 1999 Gonzaga team that took the country by surprise.
Gonzaga fans can get a look at the team for the first time in an event called Kraziness in the Kennel on Oct. 24 at McCarthey Athletic Center. It's a chance to meet the new players, win prizes and watch a scrimmage. Doors open at 4 p.m. and the festivities start at 5 p.m.
Gonzaga opens the regular season at home on Nov. 14 against Mississippi Valley State.
