This article doesn't necessarily back my anti-Crandell campaign, but I feel it is worthy of reading, even if I end up being wrong.
If Crandall can complete everything he needs to, and dot and cross every letter required, he would be enrolling in the second session of Gonzaga’s grad program, which begins on Oct. 23. As a graduate transfer, he would become immediately eligible.
For the Gonzaga Bulldogs, this is beyond huge news. Although Crandall has not practiced at all with the team, he will still have roughly a month before the Maui Invitational to dip his feet into Mark Few’s coaching system. The first three games on the schedule (not including the exhibition against Central Washington University) are against Idaho State, Texas Southern, and Texas A&M.
Crandall will have plenty of room in those three games to make errors, learn from his mistakes, and go forward. Most importantly, we will get to see how Josh Perkins is able to play with another veteran ball handler in the back court. Perkins excelled his sophomore season alongside Nigel Williams-Goss (hell, who wouldn’t, I’d probably excel at pickup next to NWG), but last season, he was taxed as the only true ball handler on GU’s squad.
An interesting question that will come from all of this is what to make of the starting five. Obviously, Perkins, Killian Tillie, and Rui Hachimura are all starting. Theoretically, Brandon Clarke will be in that starting rotation as well. Crandall didn’t arrive at Gonzaga to come off the bench, but Zach Norvell, in his play last season and the fact he is practicing with the team right now, might’ve earned that starting spot at the two guard.
These of course, are the good problems to have. Crandall was the top grad-transfer on the market, and Gonzaga knew that first hand. After all, Crandall dropped 28 points in an overtime loss to Gonzaga last season like it was no big deal.
With him (theoretically) back on the squad, the Zags are most definitely a top-5 team and a Final Four threat. Spelling some minutes for Perkins at point guard was the one hole this team had, and the puzzle pieces look like they are finally coming together.
