THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: My three-step process for the Zags to keep themselves in national title conversation

Is it the end of an era?

Nah.

National media, and (surprisingly) a lot of local fans and supposed experts have been in a real hurry to write off Gonzaga as a national power.

Yes, Drew Timme is gone after an incredible stretch that included breaking the school career scoring record.

Rasir Bolton ran out of eligibility; Julian Strawther is headed for the NBA; three players (including Hunter Sallis) have hit the transfer portal; and we’re still waiting to see if Anton Watson and/or Malachi Smith might be off, as well.

Meanwhile, Mark Few has been rebuilding and reloading this program for almost a quarter-century, and it’s not like he’s been bumbling and stumbling along the way.

The Zags still have the longest current streak of reaching the Sweet Sixteen (eight times), they’ve been to the Elite Eight five times in the past eight tournaments, and to the Final Four (and national title game) twice since 2017.

So, what’s the worry?

Well, start with the fact that we have no clue who would play ANY position for “once-mighty” Gonzaga if the 2023-24 season started tomorrow.

Wait a minute, you say …

What about point guard Nolan Hickman?

I’M SO glad you brought that up.

It’s pretty clear that we’re going to see a new and different Zags team next year.

There are fresh faces entering the program from Australia, Korea and an even wilder part of the planet …

Los Angeles.

Before we look at who can play active and successful roles for a distinctly new-look Gonzaga, however, we should consider what’s needed immediately to keep the Zags competitive with the nation’s best programs.

Here’s my personal list of three things the coaching staff must hope to do, just to start the process …

ONE — Help convince Malachi Smith to stick around another year, and maybe lead the Zags in scoring.

TWO — Light candles and beg for any extra-celestial help in keeping Kaden Perry healthy.

THREE — Find a savvy, bona fide point guard, and be willing to look anywhere — transfer portal, intramural leagues, the wilds of Borneo or lost in an Amazon warehouse. Check Australia, especially.

LET ME explain those needs, and how they’ll shape the Zags this season.

Few most recently used a lineup featuring a true center, a power forward, a wing and two guards.

That distribution of assets basically came down to the presence of Timme, who was often unstoppable in the post — but really didn’t fit anywhere else.

Drew needed rebounding and defensive help, which more or less made Watson the automatic choice at power forward.

Rim protection was an issue with Timme, although Chet Holmgren solved that problem for a season.

Strawther, meanwhile, was a natural wing scorer/rebounder, a successor to Corey Kispert.

The guard situation has been far more muddled.

For several years, the Zags almost had more than they needed.

Jalen Suggs stopped by on his way to the NBA, and played the point on a 31-1 team, while Andrew Nembhard (now ALSO in the league with Suggs) succeeded him after playing alongside for a year.

Bolton was an ideal off guard, and until a strange slump late this past season, replaced Joel Ayayi as the guy who could drain 3-balls AND turn up in all sorts of helpful places when needed.

THE ZAGS suffered this past season because Hickman wasn’t (and isn’t) a true point guard.

He’s a great kid, a real talent, but playing the point is something that has to be in your DNA, and Hickman doesn’t have it.

The sad part of playing Hickman at point out of necessity is that it killed his true gift as a shooter, culminating in an 0-for-10 nightmare at the NCAA regionals.

I honestly thought that Few would let Smith play the point after mid-season, sacrificing a little speed for court awareness and the ability to drive downhill as a scorer/creator.

As we know, he didn’t.

Fast forward …

Gonzaga will have new shooters and point-producers this coming season.

Eastern Washington transfer Steele Venters, and freshman Dusty Stromer from Notre Dame High in the greater L.A. madhouse, both can score from range.

Venters is 6-7 and he’s done it at the collegiate level, while the athletic 6-6 Stromer played in a host of glamor prep games — and looked terrific in the process.

If Smith (and his 50 percent shooting from deep) stick around in Spokane, these new Zags may have problems at various other places, but they’ll be able to fill it up from behind the arc.

I mentioned Kaden Perry, the incredibly athletic 6-9 leaper who can provide that needed help around the rim.

Unfortunately, Perry hurt his back in high school, tried to rest it, but ultimately had to have surgery a year ago.

There might be good news on Kaden.

He went online a month ago to say: "I've never been more motivated to prove people wrong. I'm gonna make sure y'all are able to see me on the court next year."

Frankly, that would change the Zags dramatically, freeing up Ben Gregg (and possibly Watson) for other chores.

FINALLY, we come to three young, presently all-purpose newcomers – each measuring a fairly slim 6-8 to 6-10, with the chance to beef up.

Braden Huff, a signing from last year who was the state of Illinois “Mr. Basketball” (no small feat), redshirted a year and toughened up against Timme, Gregg, Watson, etc.

How much he can add at forward or in the paint?

Only the coaches know that, and they’re partly just hoping.

The other two new arrivals both have played on their nations’ senior team already — Jun Seok Yeo for Korea and Alex Toohey for Australia.

Yeo enrolled in December and has been training with the Zags — so if Few would allow the media into workouts, we’d be able to tell you more (about Huff, too).

Memo to Mark Few …

We CAN tell you that Yeo was a star in the FIBA U-19 world tournament a year ago, averaging 26 points (including 21 against the USA and Chet Holmgren).

Toohey just competed in an international tournament in Portland, where he struggled against the very best 5-star recruits from the States — but every scouting report on him suggests he’s a kid who will grow into something special, despite a lack of elite athleticism.

A better shooting, Aussie version of Anton Watson, maybe?

Actually, Toohey could help the Zags immediately.

Like, this week.

Today.

His teammate in Australia, Cal Baptist point guard Taran Armstrong (ranked the top point guard in the portal), has named Gonzaga as one of his four possible destinations.

Armstrong is 6-6 and was simply born to be a point wizard who sees the court, makes every needed pass, and will dazzle at any level.

He likely could solve the Zags’ point issues with just an announcement.

Keep recruiting, Alex.

You, too, Coach Few.

The portal is alive, and Gonzaga needs it.

Email: scameron@cdapress.com

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press four times each week, normally Tuesday through Friday unless, you know, stuff happens.

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”