The West Coast Conference had two entries in the Big Dance last season with the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the BYU Cougars. The Bulldogs made a deep run in the National Tournament, exiting in the Elite Eight after a 66-52 loss to eventual champions the Duke Blue Devils. Can Gonzaga and BYU again distinguish themselves as the best of the WCC? Or will the other teams step up?
Check out how some of the big name conferences will shape out with our complete previews for the Big 12 and the ACC.
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2015-16 NCAA Season West Coast Conference Preview
1. Gonzaga Bulldogs
2014 Record: 17-1
Predicted Record: 18-0
[sc:NCAAB240banner ]Gonzaga returns a frontcourt brimming with talent in the trio of Kyle Wiltjer, Domantas Sabonis and Przemek Karnowski. Wiltjer led his team in scoring last season with 16.8 points per game, shooting over 54 percent from the field and 45 percent from three. Sabonis was solid in the second unit averaging 9.7 yards and 7.1 rebounds per game in his freshman season. He also led the WCC in field goal percentage (66.8 percent) as a freshman.
Having a dominant frontcourt should help the Zags get through the absence of last season’s key backcourt players Kevin Pangos, Gary Bell Jr. and Byron Wesley who are all ineligible to return this year.
2. BYU Cougars
2014 Record: 13-5
Predicted Record: 15-3
Tyler Haws was a headache to defend last season, averaging 21.9 points per game (fourth in the nation). He’s gone now due to graduation. But the BYU Cougars still have a very solid player in Kyle Collinsworth. An early contender for the WCC Player of the Year award, Collinsworth holds the record for most career triple-doubles (six) in NCAA Basketball.
3. Pepperdine Waves
2014 Record: 10-8
Predicted Record: 12-6
The Pepperdine Waves are perhaps this year’s sleepers to surprise in the WCC. They won 18 games last season with all their players returning this time around. The Waves have a potential Player of the Year candidate in incoming senior Stacy Davis, who averaged 15.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game last season.
4. Saint Mary’s Gaels
2014 Record: 13-5
Predicted Record: 11-7
The Saint Mary’s Gaels have placed in the top half of the WCC every year since 2003. But they’re coming in with a patchy roster missing a lot of talent. Senior point guard Aaron Bright will need to step up big time after shooting just 36 percent from the field last season, while dishing out 3.8 assists per game.
5. Portland Pilots
2014 Record: 7-11
Predicted Record: 9-9
The Portland Pilots picked up some much-needed postseason experience after taking part in the College Invitational Tournament. The return of Alec Wintering (12.3 points and 5.7 assists per game) and Bryce Pressley (8.2 points per game) should give the team solid veterans for the upcoming campaign.
6. Pacific Tigers
2014 Record: 4-14
Predicted Record: 8-10
The Pacific Tigers are set to be more competitive this year returning three of last season’s top four scorers. T.J. Wallace (13 points per game), Eric Thompson (8.2 points per game) and David Tayolor (7.9 points per game) should get even better with more experience under their belts. Of the three, Thompson should provide plenty of energy on the boards at the four spot after averaging 5.6 rebounds per game last season.
7. San Diego Toreros
2014 Record: 8-10
Predicted Record: 6-12
The Toreros have a handful of players to make themselves competitive against the powerhouse teams of the WCC. Christopher Anderson will be asked to spread out the offense with the graduation of one of the nation’s top guards in Johnny Dee (graduation). Anderson should be able to do the trick with his solid passing after averaging 6.6 assists per game last season. He was also a menace on the other side of the floor with 1.9 steals per game.
8. San Francisco Dons
2014 Record: 7-11
Predicted Record: 5-13
The San Francisco Dons lost three productive starters from last season, but will have the dynamic duo of Tim Derksen and Devin Watson back. Derksen and Watson combined to average 21 points per game last season. The inexperience outside of Derksen and Watson should have the Dons falling off a bit though.
9. Santa Clara Broncos
2014 Record: 7-11
Predicted Record: 5-13
The Santa Clara Broncos lost two of their top three scorers Brandon Clark and Denzel Johnson. But the return of Jared Brownridge should help spur the Broncos’ backcourt. Brownridge averaged 15.9 points per game as a sophomore last year, with 93 three-pointers made (the second-most mark in the conference).
10. Loyola Marymount Bobcats
2014 Record: 4-14
Predicted Record: 4-14
The Loyola Marymount Bobcats may be starved of talent after talented guard Evan Payne transferred to Long Beach. But head coach Mike Dunlap has a reputation for putting up a very solid defense. Dunlap’s solid 1-1-3 man-zone hybrid should help steal a few league wins over the season, while covering up for a lack of offensive pop.
