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5 questions entering the WCC

College basketball season is almost here!

Between now and Nov. 6th, we’ll take an in-depth look at different conferences around the country.

Today’s focus is on the WCC:

1. Will the WCC expand following BYU’s departure to the Big 12?
TBD. Many WCC programs are comfortable with the conference’s current nine-team structure, but it also leaves the conference in a vulnerable position, as evidenced by the Big 12’s reported interest of Gonzaga earlier this week. Regardless of whether or not the WCC expands, the league’s 16-game conference schedule has proven to be critical in terms of scheduling flexibility. It also allows the conference to now play a double round-robin league format, which it was unable to do when BYU was a member. If the WCC does choose to expand, Grand Canyon is a name to keep an eye on. 

2. Will a WCC team other than Gonzaga or Saint Mary’s be able to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament?
It’s a fascinating question and one that’s very difficult to answer. San Francisco was able to earn a 10 seed in the 2022 NCAA Tournament thanks to a strategic non-conference schedule loaded with Quad 1 and 2 opportunities. The same would likely have to happen for another WCC team to hear its name called on Selection Sunday. When San Francisco qualified for the 2022 NCAA Tournament, it finished the season with a total of 10 Quad 1 games. It’s very hard to see a team from this league other than Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s earning those types of consistent opportunities. 

3. Who is Gonzaga’s X-Factor?
Graham Ike. A transfer from Wyoming, the 6-9 big man was the Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year prior to last season, but didn’t play a single minute of game action due to a leg injury. He averaged 19.5 points and 9.6 rebounds during the 2021-22 campaign. Ike now comes to Spokane with hopes of anchoring the Bulldogs’ frontcourt as Gonzaga aims to transition post-Drew Timme. Mark Few needs this guy to provide a consistent scoring presence in the paint to complement Creighton transfer Ryan Nembhard on the perimeter. 

4. How good is Saint Mary’s?
Good enough to return to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010. The Gaels return four of their top five scorers — Aidan Mahaney, Alex Ducas, Mitchell Saxen, and Augustas Marciulionis — from last year’s team that won 27 games and lost to UConn in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. This team should be better. Keep an eye on the 6-3 Mahaney, who averaged 13.9 points and shot 40 percent from three-point range while making 74 shots from long distance a year ago as a freshman. Randy Bennett has only won an outright WCC regular season title once during his two-decade run in Moraga. It could happen again during the upcoming season. 

5. Who is the sleeper?
Loyola Marymount. The Lions lost a first-team all-league talent in Cam Shelton (21.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists), but have quietly reloaded on the perimeter via the transfer portal. There’s nobody on Loyola Marymount’s roster as dynamic as Shelton, but the quartet of Justice Hill (LSU), Justin Wright (NC Central), Dominick Harris (Gonzaga), and Will Johnston (UTRGV) should offer a more balanced scoring approach. Add a pair of veteran returning forwards in Keli Leaupepe (13.3 points, 6.8 rebounds) and Alex Merkviladze (7.1 points, four rebounds) along with 15 fouls at center thanks to the troika of Rick Issanza, Michael Graham, and Cal transfer Lars Thiemann and you’ve got a quality nucleus. Don’t be shocked if this team challenges for a place in the top third of the WCC. 

Leftovers