Gonzaga to celebrate seniors, close out regular season against Chicago State

The program will honor its seniors prior to the game

After four seasons in a Zags uniform, Drew Timme will play his final game at the McCarthey Athletic Center on Wednesday when No. 10 Gonzaga (25-5, 14-2 WCC) hosts Chicago State (11-18) at 6 p.m. PST.

Timme, who will be honored prior to the game, confirmed he doesn't plan to exercise his fifth year of eligibility at Gonzaga in an interview with The Athletic's Seth Davis on Saturday.

“I’ve done my four years,” Timme said after leading the Zags past Saint Mary's. “I’m a senior, and I’m moving on.”

The senior forward needs 39 points to become Gonzaga’s all-time leading scorer, a record owned by Frank Burgess, who scored 2,196 points in three seasons (1958-61). 

Forward Anton Watson and guards Rasir Bolton and Malachi Smith are also expected to be recognized on Wednesday. Bolton used his extra year of eligibility this season and is unable to return in 2024, while Watson and Smith have the option to come back.

“There are some real names we’re going to be celebrating on Wednesday and we just kind of talked about (that) in the locker room for a second,” junior wing Julian Strawther said. “Yeah, we’re going to come out here and we’re going to try to come out swinging and make sure it’s a good last hurrah for those guys and that we send them off right. So, I think we’re all looking forward to it and it should be a special night.”

The matchup is also an opportunity for the Zags to notch a convincing win before playing in the West Coast Conference Tournament semifinal on Monday. 

Chicago State has the lowest NET ranking of any team on Gonzaga’s schedule this season. The Cougars have defeated just seven Division I opponents.

They're led in scoring by guard Wesley Cardet Jr., who averages 16.8 points per game on 45.5% shooting from the field. 

After playing Gonzaga, Chicago State will wrap up its season against Fresno State on Saturday.