West Coast Conference Preview 2021

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Oct 28

Our West Coast Conference preview 2021 - 2022 notes that the WCC is developing into a nationally recognized and powerful league. The Gonzaga Bulldogs were one step away from the NCAA title last season. Once again, they will be in the hunt. Plus, last season, the BYU Cougars won entrance into the Big Dance. They’ll be very competitive this year. We expect the Cougars will earn another invite to March Madness. Additionally, the Loyola Marymount Lions and Saint Mary’s Gaels are potential dark horses. The WCC has become a very exciting conference.

West Coast Conference Preview and Projections 2021 - 2022

1. Gonzaga Bulldogs (31-1, 15-0)

In 2020-21, the Gonzaga Bulldogs were the team to beat. Finally, they lost one, and it was a big one, as the Baylor Bears beat them 86-70 in the Championship Final. In the past four tournaments, they been to the Sweet 16, Elite Eight, and were twice runner-ups. Although only two starters return, the Zags welcome the second-ranked recruiting class in the nation and the top recruit, seven-foot center Chet Holmgren. Holmgren will likely start, joining junior Drew Timme (19.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 2.3 APG). Last season, Timme shot 65.5 from the floor. He’s likely to win NCAA Player of the Year honors. Anton Watson will likely step up to play the other forward spot. He shot 63.1 percent last season.

In the backcourt, senior Andrew Nembhard gets the nod. Last season, he averaged 9.2 PPG and 4.4 APG. Who will join him? Five other players, all with fine shooting chops, return and will get a shot. Plus, two five-star recruits, point guard Nolan Hickman and combo guard Hunter Sallis, will likely be in the rotation.Also on hand is transfer Rasir Bolton (Iowa State). Bolton brings much needed experience to the floor. Head coach Mark Few (630-125 Gonzaga/Overall/22 years) knows how to get the job done. Look for this team to go all the way in 2021 - 2022.

AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: 1
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 1
Postseason Tournament: NCAA Tournament Championship

2. BYU Cougars (20-7, 10-3)

Our West Coast Conference preview 2021 - 2022 finds that the Cougars got a huge boost when All-WCC guard Alex Barcello (16.1 PPG, 4.3 APG) decided to return for a fifth season. He’s not only the WCC’s best shooter, with 47.7 three-point and 55.2 field-goal success rates, but Barcello is an excellent leader. Also on hand to create one of the best guard tandems in the nation is transfer Te’Jon Lucas (Milwaukee). Last season, he was good for 14.9 PPG, 4.6 APG, and 5.8 APG. In the frontcourt, sophomore Caleb Lohner returns after averaging 7.0 PPG and 7.1 RPG. Expect him to have a breakout season. Big bodied Richard Harward ably controls the paint. Forward Gideon George is a fine inside player who can pop out and hit threes. Plus, there’s plenty of depth for head coach Mark Pope (44-15 BYU/2 years, 121-71 Overall/6 years) to utilize. This is a dangerous team.

AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 16
Postseason Tournament: NCAA Round of 32

3. Loyola Marymount Lions (13-9, 7-5)

Senior forward Eli Scott, who averaged 18.0 PPG and 8.2 RPG, returns. There are plenty of combinations on hand for head coach Stan Johnson (13-9 LMU/Overall/1 year) to mix and match upfront. Returning forwards Dameane Douglas (13.5 PPG, 7.3 RPG) and Kell Leaupepe (10.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG) will certainly see court time, as will numerous experienced transfers. In the backcourt, guard Cam Shelton, All-Big Sky First-Team and Northern Arizona transfer, comes to the Lions having averaged 19.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG, and 4.2 APG. Guard Kwane Marble, a Wyoming transfer, has big-game chops.

AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 95
Postseason Tournament: NIT

4. Saint Mary’s Gaels (14-10, 4-6)

The good news for the Gaels is they return all 13 players from last season. Thus, there’s a lot of depth. Coach Randy Bennett (454-192 St. Mary’s/Overall/20 years) has a lot of choices when it comes to the starting rotation. Our West Coast Conference preview 2021 - 2022 finds that guards Logan Johnson (13.3 PPG, 3.6 RPG) and Tommy Kuhse (12.8 PPG, 5.0 APG) can both bring it. Kuhse is a fine setup man and shooter and Johnson a solid outside shooter who can drive to the basket. Although the backcourt is healthy, the front side is a bit thin. The anchor in the paint, center Matthias Tass (10.9 PPG, 5.3 RPG), needs to be more dominant. Overall, Saint Mary’s is looking to be more consistent than they were last season.

AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 60
Postseason Tournament: NIT

5. San Francisco Dons (11-14, 4-9)

Last season, head coach Todd Golden (33-26 SF/Overall/2 years) saw his team drop their final six games at the end of the season after a two-and-a-half-week COVID-19 sabbatical. There’s good news, as point guard Jamaree Bouyea (17.3 PPG, 3.8 APG) and shooting guard Khalil Shabazz (15.0 PPG, 3.6 RPG) return. There are promising backups too. In front, Josh Kunen and Dzmitry Ryuny return while transfers Yauhen Massaiski (San Diego) and Zane Meeks (Nevada) bring fine scoring and rebounding skills. This team rebounds this season.

AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 104
Postseason Tournament: None

6. Santa Clara Broncos (12-8, 4-5)

Santa Clara sees some fine players return, including All-WCC First-Team forward Josip Vrankic, a fifth-year player, and double-digit scorers guard Jalen Williams and forward Keshawn Justice. Vrankic, who could hit 2,000 career points this season, averaged 15.2 PPG and 8.2 RPG. Williams is a solid shooter who needs to be more disciplined with the ball. Justice, who’s tough to guard, averaged 10.9 PPG and 5.1 RPG. If center Jaden Bediako can raise his game and three transfers can offer quality minutes, head coach Herb Sendek (76-72 Santa Clara/5 years, 489-367/27 years) could see his Broncos enjoy marked improvement.

AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 131
Postseason Tournament: None

7. Pepperdine Waves (15-12, 7-6)

Our West Coast Conference preview 2021 - 2022 notes that the Waves are entering a new ear as celebrated guard Colbey Ross and forward Kessler Edwards move on. New starters, guard Jade Smith (8.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG) and forward Jan Zidek (9.4 PPG, 3.4 RPG), will start. Both possess double-digit scoring potential. Also back is starting center Victor Ohia Obioha, a senior who averaged 5.6 PPG and 4.2 RPG. Various transfers come in to start. However, both the Pepperdine front and back are thin.

AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 94
Postseason Tournament: None

8. Pacific Tigers (9-9, 6-7)

New head coach Leonard Perry, who replaces Damon Stoudamire, a new assistant coach with the Boston Celtics, has enough elements to ensure this team wins its share of games. Three starters return, including talented forward Jeremiah Bailey (11.4 PPG, 6.2 RPG) and reliable point guard Pierre Crockrell II (10.1 PPG, 4.1 APG). Dependable and durable forward Jordan Bell (8.9 PPG, 6.9 RPG) is the third man. A slew of transfers fill out the ranks.

AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 123
Postseason Tournament: None

9. Portland Pirates (6-15, 0-11)

Our West Coast Conference preview 2021 - 2022 notes that over the past three seasons the Pirates are 1-42 in conference play. Each year, they ended the season in last place. Enter Eastern Washington head coach Shantay Legans (0-0 Portland/0 years, 75-49 Overall/4 years). His job is to turn Portland around. Although there’s talent, not one starter returns. Transfers include Legans’ EWU players, guard Mike Meadows (10.5 PPG, 2.5 APG), guard Jack Perry (5.5 PPG, 41.3 3PT%), and wing Tyler Robinson (11.1 PPG). Also ready to go is transfer guard Chris Austin (Fordham). He’s a reliable scorer who averaged 11.4 PPG. There’s a whole lot of freshman talent. And so the rebuild begins.

AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 321
Postseason Tournament: None

10. San Diego Toreros (3-11, 2-7)

San Diego head coach Sam Scholl (33-49 San Diego/Overall/3 years) has not been able to put a productive offense on the court. If he doesn’t move this team forward soon, it’s likely he’ll be gone sooner than later. Various transfers come in, and the hope is they will score points. The top returning players are guard Joey Calcaterra (13.3 PPG) and center Vladimir Pinchuk (7.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG). This team is thin.

AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Ranking: None
NCAA Men's Basketball NET Ranking: 234
Postseason Tournament: None