West Coast Conference 2008-09 Preview
The 2007-08 season was a historic one for the West Coast Conference, as three teams advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in its 56-year history. On nine other occasions, two teams from the conference received bids, four of them coming since 2000.
When a conference like the WCC has such a season, one naturally wonders if it can at least repeat that the following season. The answer is a resounding yes. Gonzaga, while the team to beat, won’t be the only reason, as they’ll have plenty of competition. But the big reason to think this season should be better is that eight of the ten all-conference selections from a year ago return, which is a WCC record.
One can also expect the conference to have strength at the top, and a familiar look there as well. The top three teams last season return 12 of their 15 starters and all three return at least 77.2 percent of their scoring and 72 percent of their rebounding, meaning the conference will still be strong at the top. It will be tough for any team to break through those three this season, and adding to it is that a few of the bottom teams are in a rebuilding year.
Besides the great achievements the conference had last season, another hot topic was the coaching ranks. All of a sudden, the conference is full of relative newcomers, as only Mark Few (Gonzaga) and Randy Bennett (Saint Mary’s) have been in their current job for more than two seasons. Three programs have new head coaches this season, and the stories surrounding the departures of the prior coaches all had question marks.
After Eddie Sutton served as an interim head coach for the last two months of the season to get his 800th win, San Francisco hired former Florida Atlantic head coach Rex Walters to lead the program. The school essentially fired Jessie Evans during the season, but didn’t say that was what happened. Before the season was over, Vance Walberg resigned from Pepperdine amidst reports about poor treatment of his players, and the school brought back Tom Asbury as their new head man. Asbury once spent 15 years at the school, nine as an assistant and six as the head coach. Loyola Marymount forced out Rodney Tention after just three seasons at the helm, replacing him with former UNLV head coach Bill Bayno.
It’s clear that programs in the WCC feel more of a sense of urgency to compete for the top consistently. While no coach appears to be on the hot seat because only the most secure ones have been in their jobs for very long, it seems no coach is safe now. And if the young talent on some of the teams projected to finish near the bottom of the conference is any indication, winning is only going to get tougher.
Preseason Awards
Player of the Year: Jeremy Pargo, Gonzaga
Top Newcomer: Decensae White, Santa Clara
Top Freshman: LaRon Armstead, Loyola Marymount
Defensive Player of the Year: Diamon Simpson, Saint Mary’s
Best NBA Prospect: Austin Daye, Gonzaga
All-West Coast Team
John Bryant, Sr. C, Santa Clara
Brandon Johnson, Sr. G, San Diego
Patrick Mills, So. G, Saint Mary’s
Jeremy Pargo, Sr. G, Gonzaga
Diamon Simpson, Sr. F, Saint Mary’s
Gonzaga Bulldogs (25-8, 13-1 West Coast)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Jeremy Pargo (12.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 6.0 apg, 1.4 spg)
Jr. G Matt Bouldin (12.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.4 spg)
So. G Steven Gray (8.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.5 apg)
Sr. G-F Micah Downs (7.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.4 apg)
Sr. C Josh Heytvelt (10.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: This year’s non-conference schedule is exactly what we’ve come to expect from the Bulldogs: no shortage of challenges. Six games are at home in addition to playing Connecticut at Key Arena in Seattle, and they include Memphis (Spokane Arena) and Big Sky favorite Portland. They’ll head to Orlando for the Old Spice Classic, where they open with Oklahoma State and follow with either Maryland or Michigan State, then later play Indiana in the Basketball Hall of Fame Challenge, at Washington State, Arizona, Utah and Tennessee. In WCC play, they open with three straight at home, and at the end of January have a key home weekend with Saint Mary’s and San Diego.
Outlook: The Bulldogs are again favorites, but they’ll get stiff competition from Saint Mary’s and San Diego just like last season. There’s still an abundance of talent, especially on the perimeter as Pargo makes the team go, Gray could become one of the best shooters in the nation and Bouldin has a multitude of talents. Freshman Grant Gibbs gives them another solid body there, and classmate Demetri Goodson is likely to see time spelling Pargo. The frontcourt has plenty of talent, but also some questions. Downs has never lived up to his billing coming out of high school, Heytvelt has been slowed by injuries and an arrest over the last couple of seasons and Austin Daye suffered a knee injury in July that might limit him early on. Sophomore Robert Sacre, who will likely miss some early games with an injury, will need to give them more off the bench, and they could look to get more from senior Ira Brown. In light of that, whether they can repeat their conference-best rebounding margin is a question, and as good as the guards are, the Bulldogs only had six more assists than turnovers last season.
Saint Mary’s Gaels (25-7, 12-2 West Coast)
Projected Starters:
So. G Patrick Mills (14.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.8 spg)
Jr. G Wayne Hunter (redshirt)
Sr. F Ian O’Leary (7.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
Sr. F Diamon Simpson (13.4 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 1.8 bpg, 1.2 spg)
Jr. C Omar Samhan (10.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.3 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Gaels will hit the road often in non-conference play, as their tough schedule has just five home games. They will host Fresno State, a BracketBusters game and two games in the Shamrock Office Solutions Classic. Notable games away from home begin with the 76 Classic in Anaheim, where they open with Wake Forest and then get either UTEP or Cal State Fullerton, then likely a high-major opponent in their last game. They also head to Kent State, play San Diego State in the John Wooden Classic, travel to Oregon, and play Southern Illinois in the John Wooden Tradition in Indianapolis. Three of the first four WCC games are at home, and they could easily be 4-0 before heading to San Diego and Gonzaga to begin a three-game road stretch.
Outlook: Hopes are high for the senior-laden Gaels after a banner year last season, and Mills’ performance in the Olympics for his native Australia only adds to that. Mills is one of four starters who return, and Hunter started 24 games in 2006-07 before having to redshirt last season. The frontcourt is anchored by Simpson, an excellent player who might now be a bit overshadowed by Mills but hasn’t become any less effective, especially on defense. Samhan is a fine complement to Simpson and one of the conference’s most underrated players, while O’Leary is the other returning starter. There is better depth up front with Indiana transfer Ben Allen and senior Yusef Smith, as senior Carlin Hughes is the best backup guard. All in all, the Gaels have enough to challenge for the top spot in the conference once again, and they’ll have enough chances in non-conference play to get a couple of quality wins to be in play for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament as well.
San Diego Toreros (22-14, 11-3 West Coast)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Brandon Johnson (16.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.5 apg, 2.2 spg)
So. G Trumaine Johnson (5.7 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 2.7 apg)
Jr. G De’Jon Jackson (7.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.3 apg)
So. F Rob Jones (9.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.3 apg)
Sr. F Gyno Pomare (14.1 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.3 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Toreros’ non-conference schedule is challenging and features eight home games. They open up at UNLV, then host Nevada, and a trip to the Virgin Islands for the Paradise Jam follows. Once they return, notable home games include New Mexico, Boise State, Marshall and a BracketBusters game. Road games of note are at Oregon (at the Rose Garden in Portland) and Mississippi State. In WCC play, they have a three-game homestand in mid-January balanced out by three straight on the road in mid-February.
Outlook: With all five starters back from last season’s team, expectations are naturally high for the Toreros. There’s plenty of experience up and down the roster and no freshmen on the team, but don’t expect much change in the starting lineup. The perimeter of Johnson and Johnson as well as Jackson, who hit the game-winner against Connecticut in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, will be deep and supported well by senior Danny Brown, sophomore Devin Ginty and junior swingman Chris Lewis. Pomare is a solid post player, and the hope is that the one newcomer, junior college transfer Roberto Mafra, will help inside. Jones had a nice freshman season complementing Pomare, and classmates Clinton Houston and Nathan Lozeau should be in the mix as well. One area for improvement is taking care of the ball, as the Toreros had more turnovers than assists on the season but improved in conference play to have more assists. It would help if they continued that trend into this season.
Santa Clara Broncos (15-16, 6-8 West Coast)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Perry Petty (junior college transfer)
Sr. G Calvin Johnson (4.6 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 1.0 apg)
Jr. F Decensae White (transfer from Texas Tech)
So. F Ben Dowdell (8.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.9 apg)
Sr. C John Bryant (18.0 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2.5 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Broncos will play seven home games in non-conference play, including two in the longest-running in-season tournament, the Cable Car Classic, against Belmont and either UTEP or James Madison. Right before that, they host Stanford. The Broncos will also play in the NIT Season Tip-Off against UAB and either Arizona (regional host) or Florida Atlantic, and also hits the road for a game at UNLV and makes a northeast swing to start 2009. The conference schedule starts with a bang: the first three games are at Saint Mary’s, home against San Diego and at Gonzaga.
Outlook: With big personnel losses on the perimeter, the Broncos may take a step back this season, especially with the top three teams all returning most of their starters. The frontcourt doesn’t figure to have issues, although Bryant was stabbed in September but should be ready to go by the beginning of the season. Dowdell and White should complement him well, and redshirt freshman Scott Thompson and sophomore Andrew Zimmerman make this a fine unit. Thompson could one day be a star in this conference. Johnson figures to be one starter, while Petty is the most likely to replace departed Brody Angley. Little-used sophomore Michael Santos is the only other experienced guard on the team, which doesn’t bode well for a team that last season had the worst turnover margin in the conference.
Portland Pilots (9-22, 3-11 West Coast)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Nik Raivio (12.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.1 apg)
Jr. G Taishi Ito (5.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 3.2 apg)
So. F Luke Sikma (6.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.1 apg)
Jr. F Robin Smeulders (9.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg)
So. F-C Kramer Knutson (4.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Pilots will play seven home games in non-conference play, including three straight early on. They open with Washington visiting the Chiles Center, then later host Nevada and Idaho of the WAC. Road dates include Big Sky favorite Portland State, Brigham Young and Oregon, and they will play in the Golden Bear Classic against Air Force and either Dartmouth or California (host). In conference play, the highlight is a three-game homestand starting late in January against the three powers: San Diego, Saint Mary’s and Gonzaga all visit the Chiles Center in that stretch.
Outlook: The Pilots look like a sleeper team with four returning starters, but they also have no seniors, which will make moving up a challenge in this conference. Size will be on their side, as the addition of freshman John Hegarty gives them five players who stand 6’8″ or taller and all three frontcourt starters will be at least 6’8″. Sikma, the son of a former NBA player, had a nice freshman season and should anchor the frontcourt, while Smeulders and Knutson complement him. The big question is in the backcourt, where Raivio can’t shoot like his brother but is their best scorer, and Ito could be pushed by junior college transfer T.J. Campbell. The Pilots had over 100 more turnovers than assists last season, a stat made more problematic by the fact that they forced the fewest turnovers in the conference. The Pilots look to be a year away from making a serious bid at the first division.
San Francisco Dons (10-21, 5-9 West Coast)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Dontae Bryant (junior college transfer)
Sr. G Manny Quezada (13.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.6 apg, 1.5 spg)
Jr. F Blake Wallace (junior college transfer)
Jr. F Dior Lowhorn (20.5 ppg, 7.4 rpg)
Jr. C Hyman Taylor (3.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: Five home games are on tap in non-conference play, including a three-game homestand to close out November. The Dons will head to Hawaii for the Verizon Wireless Tip-Off Classic against the host Rainbows and Texas State, then head to California, USC, Big West contender Pacific, Boise State, and cross the country to close out December with games at Holy Cross and Boston College. The Dons begin WCC play at home, but with tough ones as San Diego and Saint Mary’s visit.
Outlook: The Dons aren’t lacking talent, especially on the offensive end as their inside-outside attack of Lowhorn and Quezada should only be better this season. Not only are both better, but Quezada should be able to move off the ball with the addition of Bryant to run the show. Junior Christian Hernandez is the only other experienced guard on the team. Up front, Lowhorn will be complemented by Taylor and Wallace, the latter of whom played his freshman season at Pepperdine. James Morgan, who is one of two seniors on the team (Quezada is the other) should also be in the mix after starting six games last season. The Dons must improve defensively if they are to move up in the standings, as opponents shot over 47 percent from the field against them last season, and they were out-rebounded as well. The former was more pronounced in conference play, as WCC opponents shot over 48 percent against them.
Loyola Marymount Lions (5-26, 2-12 West Coast)
Projected Starters:
So. G Vernon Teel (junior college transfer)
Sr. G Corey Counts (6.1 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 2.8 apg)
Fr. F Ashley Hamilton
Fr. F Kevin Young
So. F Tim Diederichs (8.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.2 apg)
Schedule Highlights: The Lions managed to get six home games in non-conference play, including a couple of good ones. First, they head on the road for three games in the World Vision Classic at Iowa State. Then they get Notre Dame at home, and later host Wyoming and Tulsa. Notable road games include Arizona, UCLA and New Mexico State. Conference play starts out with the challenge of three straight games on the road, including Saint Mary’s and San Diego.
Outlook: New head coach Bill Bayno has quickly moved to raise the talent level of this team, and while they’ll be young this season, some pieces will be in place to contend before long. Diedrichs and Counts are likely to be the only holdovers to start this season, and LaRon Armstead could push Counts out of the starting lineup at some point this season. Hamilton and Young are promising freshmen in the frontcourt, and Marko Deric is a role player who will be in the mix there as well. Two good transfers are sitting out this season, and the Lions already have two solid commitments for next year, so this year will give fans an idea of what to expect going forward.
Pepperdine Waves (11-21, 4-10 West Coast)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Rico Tucker (10.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 3.2 apg, 2.2 spg)
Sr. G Ryan Holmes (6.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.1 apg)
So. F Mychel Thompson (8.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.6 spg)
Fr. F Taylor Darby
Fr. C Andy Shannon
Schedule Highlights: Eight home games are on tap in non-conference play, a very good number for a school in this conference. They open with three straight at home, ending with Brigham Young, then later host Big West contender Pacific and Georgia Tech. Notable road games are at New Mexico State, Arizona State and USC, and they will also play in the Rainbow Classic. Conference play starts with a bang: after hosting Loyola Marymount, they play at San Diego and Saint Mary’s, then host Gonzaga. A three-game road swing is also in the mix.
Outlook: The Waves are in full rebuilding mode after a coaching change and the roster being gutted by transfers, notably of their top two scorers last season. New head coach Tom Asbury has a tough job in front of him, but will at least have some experience in the backcourt with two seniors starting and a promising sophomore in Thompson to build around. The Waves will be young up front, which isn’t necessarily bad since last season’s team was next-to-last in rebounding margin. There are many areas for improvement, with defense being one of them as opponents shot over 48 percent against the Waves last season. They could also take better care of the ball after giving it away 17 times a game last season.
Conference Outlook
The 2008-09 season figures to be a case of the haves and have-nots in this conference. The top three teams will battle for supremacy right down to the wire, while the other five teams are either rebuilding or a year away from possibly contending. In particular, Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount are basically starting from scratch. The top three could go any which way, and teams four through six could as well. This doesn’t figure to hold for long, as the bottom teams are already taking steps to get better, and the conference as a whole looks like it’s only going up.
