Post by fanblade on Oct 14, 2009 1:26:22 GMT -5
Now that the season approaches who would like to make a guess at how the WCC will shape-up by our trip to Las Vegas?
This is incredibly early and many teams are huge question marks this year . But I think it is clear who will be on top and who will languish on the bottom (ok maybe).
---the easy part---
1. Gonzaga: Lose a great deal of "talent" but have a strong international freshman class and Matt Bouldin will have a very big year. Wouldn't be surprised to see them get knocked out of the WCC tournament though by any dark horse in Vegas.
2. Portland: My how times change. The pilots were surprisingly good last year quietly gathering a 20+ win season and return everyone. Yes, everyone.
---this is where the fun begins---
3. Saint Mary's: Patty Mills and Simpson are gone. A huge loss for the Gaels. Omar Samhan returns, and having a veteran C is a good thing but will his support of fresh Aussie characters be enough to make noise?
4. Loyola Marymount: Hands down the biggest wildcard of the conference. One of the worst performing teams in the country last season is now loaded with healthy players and a very strong recruiting class. But with so many fresh faces it isn't a given we can win games we are "supposed" to win. Although commentators will note our "inexperience" we all know that many of the key players have been battle tested and continued to improve.
5. Santa Clara: Big Bertha is gone. He carried the Broncos to the decent success they enjoyed recently. Keating has done a great job recruiting but his players like LMU's are young. Newcomer of the year Kevin Foster returns.
6. San Diego: Brandon Johnson is enough to keep San Diego from the basement (if he can stay healthy). If not, even with good recruiting, USD will experience a Tentionesque collapse.
---Basement---
7. San Francisco: The Dons have one of the best players in the WCC, Dior Lowhorn, but will that be enough to make up for the drama that resides up North. I'd bet no.
8. Pepperdine: A young team with nice recruits but not enough to break into the top of the WCC. It will be another long bball season in Malibu.
WEST COAST CONFERENCE BLUE RIBBON FORECAST
1. Gonzaga
2. Portland
3. Santa Clara
4. Saint Mary's
5. San Francisco
6. San Diego
7. Loyola Marymount
8. Pepperdine
RIVAL'S WCC PRESEASON RANKING
1. GU
2. UP
3. SMC
4. SCU
5. USD
6. USF
7. PU
8. LMU
This is incredibly early and many teams are huge question marks this year . But I think it is clear who will be on top and who will languish on the bottom (ok maybe).
---the easy part---
1. Gonzaga: Lose a great deal of "talent" but have a strong international freshman class and Matt Bouldin will have a very big year. Wouldn't be surprised to see them get knocked out of the WCC tournament though by any dark horse in Vegas.
2. Portland: My how times change. The pilots were surprisingly good last year quietly gathering a 20+ win season and return everyone. Yes, everyone.
---this is where the fun begins---
3. Saint Mary's: Patty Mills and Simpson are gone. A huge loss for the Gaels. Omar Samhan returns, and having a veteran C is a good thing but will his support of fresh Aussie characters be enough to make noise?
4. Loyola Marymount: Hands down the biggest wildcard of the conference. One of the worst performing teams in the country last season is now loaded with healthy players and a very strong recruiting class. But with so many fresh faces it isn't a given we can win games we are "supposed" to win. Although commentators will note our "inexperience" we all know that many of the key players have been battle tested and continued to improve.
5. Santa Clara: Big Bertha is gone. He carried the Broncos to the decent success they enjoyed recently. Keating has done a great job recruiting but his players like LMU's are young. Newcomer of the year Kevin Foster returns.
6. San Diego: Brandon Johnson is enough to keep San Diego from the basement (if he can stay healthy). If not, even with good recruiting, USD will experience a Tentionesque collapse.
---Basement---
7. San Francisco: The Dons have one of the best players in the WCC, Dior Lowhorn, but will that be enough to make up for the drama that resides up North. I'd bet no.
8. Pepperdine: A young team with nice recruits but not enough to break into the top of the WCC. It will be another long bball season in Malibu.
WEST COAST CONFERENCE BLUE RIBBON FORECAST
1. Gonzaga
2. Portland
3. Santa Clara
4. Saint Mary's
5. San Francisco
6. San Diego
7. Loyola Marymount
8. Pepperdine
RIVAL'S WCC PRESEASON RANKING
1. GU
2. UP
3. SMC
4. SCU
5. USD
6. USF
7. PU
8. LMU