It’s conference preview time!
Over the next few months, we’ll break down one league every week, featuring key questions, preseason power rankings, preseason awards, and more.
This week’s focus is on the WCC.
Check below for a comprehensive breakdown of the conference:
Five Questions entering the WCC
1. How many WCC teams will reach the 2021 NCAA Tournament?
It all depends on how the league performs in the non-conference portion of the schedule, which is guaranteed to feature less opportunities than past years due to the constraints caused by COVID-19. In addition to Gonzaga’s annual quest for a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament, the WCC played exceptionally well early last season. This was highlighted by BYU’s wins at Houston and against UCLA in Maui as well as Saint Mary’s neutral court triumphs over Wisconsin and Arizona State. Those victories put the WCC in position to not just have three teams — Gonzaga, BYU, and Saint Mary’s — in the 2020 NCAA Tournament, but three teams that would have likely been single digit seeds in the bracket had the field of 68 not been cancelled. Replicating that type of representation in 2021 will solely depend on how this league does during non-conference play.
2. Which Gonzaga player is about to become a national star?
Drew Timme. Gonzaga lost a first-team All-American when Filip Petrusev opted to play professionally rather than return to school for his junior season, but his departure opens the door for Timme to break out. The 6-10 big man averaged 9.8 points and 5.4 rebounds in just 20.5 minutes last season as a freshman while shooting an astronomical 62.1 percent from the field. Expect Timme’s numbers to spike as a sophomore as he becomes a featured interior presence on each and every possession.
3. Which WCC guard is the best perimeter player that you’ve maybe never heard about?
Colbey Ross. Pepperdine’s lead guard was third in the WCC in scoring (20.5 points) last season and also third in assists (7.2). The 6-1 junior had 43 points in a double-overtime loss to Saint Mary’s in the WCC Tournament last March and also scored 38 in an early season defeat at USC. If Pepperdine becomes a factor at the top of the WCC next season, Ross will be a major reason why. This kid could have an impact in any league in college basketball.
4. What can BYU do for an encore?
Reiterate that it’s going to be a perennial NCAA Tournament team under Mark Pope. The Cougars won 24 games last year in their first campaign under Pope and have the requisites to again be a factor at the top of the WCC. BYU adds a pair of impactful graduate transfers in Brandon Averette (Utah Valley) and Matt Haarms (Purdue) as well as a key freshman in former Utah commit Caleb Lohner. Alex Barcello, Connor Harding, Gavin Baxter, and Kolby Lee also return as capable veterans. This team may not have the ceiling it did last season when it would have been a trendy pick to go deep in the NCAA Tournament, but there’s still enough left over in Provo for the Cougars to hear their name called on Selection Sunday.
5. Who is the sleeper?
Loyola Marymount. Stan Johnson has yet to coach a game with the Lions, but he’s taking over a roster that possesses several capable pieces. Versatile veteran Eli Scott is a first-team All-WCC player while three other starting caliber players — Mattias Markusson, Dameane Douglas, and Joe Quintana — redshirted last season. Loyola Marymount has also added quality depth in Kodye Pugh (Stanford) and Quentin Jackson (Temple), who both arrived in Southern California as graduate transfers. Johnson has never coached a game as a head coach, but he’s already made at impact at Loyola Marymount with his recruiting prowess. Will that plus the experience he inherited translate to wins during the upcoming season? To be determined.
WCC Preseason Power Rankings
1. Gonzaga
2. BYU
3. San Francisco
4. Pepperdine
5. Saint Mary’s
6. Santa Clara
7. Pacific
8. Loyola Marymount
9. San Diego
10. Portland
WCC Preseason First-Team
Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga
Colbey Ross, Pepperdine
Corey Kispert, Gonzaga
Eli Scott, Loyola Marymount
Drew Timme, Gonzaga
WCC Preseason Player of the Year
Corey Kispert, Gonzaga
5 Impact Freshmen
*In no particular order
Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga
Julian Strawther, Gonzaga
Dominick Harris, Gonzaga
Caleb Lohner, BYU
Jabe Mullins, Saint Mary’s
10 Impact Transfers
*In no particular order
Aaron Cook, Gonzaga (Southern Illinois)
Matt Haarms, BYU (Purdue)
Brandon Averette, BYU (Utah Valley)
Damari Milstead, San Francisco (Grand Canyon)
Samba Kane, San Francisco (JUCO)
Julian Rishwain, San Francisco (Boston College)
Jervay Green, Pacific (Nebraska)
Marial Mading, Pacific (JUCO)
Jordan Bell, Pacific (Loyola Marymount)
Frankie Hughes, San Diego (Duquesne)
5 Breakout Players
*In no particular order
Drew Timme, Gonzaga
Anton Watson, Gonzaga
Alex Barcello, BYU
Josh Kunen, San Francisco
Sedrick Altman, Pepperdine
