I started following Gonzaga basketball about 20 years ago when I drew the Zags out of a hat in our NCAA office pool two straight seasons, right about the time their program started taking off.
With the combination of their late-night games on the ESPN networks and my late-night hours as a sportswriter, I've gotten to see them plenty through the years.
Seen them enough to where I can offer a scouting report on the eight players likely to make up the Bulldogs' rotation for Thursday's Sweet Sixteen game against West Virginia:
n Przemek Karnowski (7-foot-1 senior center): The 300-pound Polish man-mountain who scored 19 points against WVU three years ago. Wasn't even supposed to be around this season, but back surgery shut down his first senior year and he's returned to average 12.4 points and 5.9 rebounds. Flummoxes some teams under the basket with his size and surprising footwork, but others try to strip the ball every time he puts it on the floor. Przemek (pronounced SHEM-et) is also an excellent passer for a big man, especially against double teams, with 67 assists, third-highest on team. Abysmal foul shooter (59.5 percent, but that's loads better than his previous season, 50.4 percent).
n Jordan Mathews (6-4 senior guard): First-year player, transfer from Cal. Came in with a reputation of being a big-time shooter and scorer, and has had some nice games but has tallied more than 17 points just one time for a balanced Zags squad that has five double-figure scorers. Averages 10.7 points and tops team with 74 3-pointers.
n Josh Perkins (6-3 sophomore guard): Former Huntington Prep standout who also nearly missed an entire season (2014-15) with a fractured jaw suffered during a game, but has been a regular starter since then, averaging 8.3 points this season. Can be both a streaky shooter and passer as a point guard. Second on team with 57 3-pointers, but his assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.66 isn't exactly stellar.
n Johnathan Williams (6-9 junior forward): First-year player, transfer from Missouri. Possesses the kind of sheer athleticism and jumping ability you normally see from players at Kentucky or Kansas, but not Gonzaga. Averages 10 points and team-best 6.6 rebounds. Can shoot deadly jump hook with either hand. Another erratic foul shooter (57.9 percent).
n Nigel Williams-Goss (6-3 junior guard): First-year player, transfer from Washington. West Coast Conference player of the year. Smoothest player I've ever seen at Gonzaga. Maybe not a pure scorer like past Zags Adam Morrison or Kelly Olynyk, but always seems to make the right decision with the ball and seldom gets himself in a bad spot. Leads team in scoring (16.7), assists (4.7), steals (59) and free-throw shooting (90.3).
n Zach Collins (7-0 freshman forward): Instant impact off the bench, and probably the program's next big star. Gets only 17 minutes per game, but averages 10.3 points and 5.7 rebounds and tops team with 58 blocked shots. Does things normal 7-footers can't do when it comes to running the floor and shooting from the perimeter. Tends to get in foul trouble.
n Silas Melson (6-4 junior guard): Along with Karnowski and Perkins, the only returning regular. Regarded as perhaps the team's best defender, and jumps well for a guard. One of those players you didn't trust at all two years ago, trusted somewhat last year and trust almost completely now.
n Killian Tillie (6-10 freshman forward): Native of France. Has a skill set somewhat similar to Collins with regard to body control, running the floor and shooting from the outside. At 200 pounds, kind of skinny for the dirty work under the basket.
If either team gets a 15-point lead late, expect to see 6-8 freshman forward Rui Hachimura, an intriguing Beninese-Japanese player with off-the-charts athleticism whose talents are, let's just say, still being refined and reined in.
Contact Rick Ryan at 304-348-5175 or rickryan@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @RickRyanWV.