2022 Preseason Conference Preview: West Coast Conference

[Ezaco]

WEST COAST CONFERENCE

 

Home of the defending champions there may be some possible dark horse contenders here, but I would not expect a repeat.

 

BYU COUGARS

BYU has some decent talent on their roster. Andrew Brettin could make some noise at the next level, and Jamie Witt is an elite-level defender. Todd Bailey has developed into a nice shooter in his time in Provo. Defensively, as a team, the Cougars leave some to be desired and their rebounding effort is average at best. Below the basket, though, the Cougars are a really good shooting team. Stepping outside the paint the Cougars fall to below average. The future isn't very bright for BYU either, unfortunately, as their incoming class is disappointing, and the majority of their talent set to graduate within the next two seasons.

 

Season prediction: Bubble Team

 

GONZAGA BULLDOGS

Gonzaga has a gulf of talent between itself. Jeffrey Mccullough is one of the best defenders in the nation who has developed himself a very sweet shot as well and will look to compete for the NBA next sason. Russell Garcia came overseas from Poland four years ago and has become a stand-out wing with a nice shot as well. Past that the Bulldogs become disappointing. Below average defense is buoyed by a decent paint scoring game and average shooting from the mid-range and beyond the arc. It's a shaky foundation that's going to collapse quickly if Gonzaga cannot recruit talent for the future, because the current follow-on roster is not great.

 

Season prediction: NCAA Tournament - Round of 64

 

LOYOLA MARYMOUNT LIONS

The Lions have the ability to be dangerous, and when I talk about dark horses this is one of the teams I mean. Bobby Holt is a contender for best player in the nation as he enters his senior year, and Joseph Chambliss is an exceptional talent on the boards and under the rim. Defensively the Lions are fairly average, and their rebounding effort is just slightly above. Below the basket and at the midrange the Lions are a very good team, they just need to stay inside the arc.

 

Season prediction: NCAA Tournament - Round of 32

 

PACIFIC TIGERS

Pacific has had some recruiting success over the past few seasons, which are highlighted by the two four star seniors Jerry Lawson and Justin Austin. While these guys haven't developed as much as other four stars in the country, they are still exceptional talents in their own right. But as a team the Tigers aren't much to praise. A below average defense isn't helped by poor 3-point shooting and streaky midrange. Below the basket they're simply average, if even that good.

 

Season prediction: Misses NCAA Tournament

 

PEPPERDINE WAVES

Pepperdine is not a great team. Travis Sullivan is a great talent who's unfortunately wasted here - with some super-sweet ball skills and a tenacious rebounding ability. The Waves are a bad defensive team who can score decently underneath, but beyond the paint they are very streaky and unreliable. And once Sullivan leaves there's not a lot on this roster to look forward to.

 

Season prediction: Misses NCAA Tournament

 

PORTLAND PILOTS

The Pilots are in even worse shape, and are a contender for the worst team in the country. Defensively the Pilots are average, rebounding effort for this team is bad, and their ball movement is not very good. Below the basket they are a streaky scoring team, and from the midrange and 3-point they are not very good. There's simply not a lot of talent on this team, and the little that there is will be leaving soon without anyone to follow on. It's just a lot of bad followed up with not good.

 

Season prediction: Misses NCAA Tournament

 

SAINT MARY'S GAELS

The defending national champions - the Saint Mary's Gaels. Do not look for a repeat here. The Gaels will probably make the tournament because of exceptional coaching, but it's a simply average team. Decent defenders and average rebounding, the Gaels can fill it up from underneath the basket and the mid-range, but they need to keep it inside the arc. For standout stars there's not much for the champs either, though Booker Lewandowski has shown everyone stars don't matter (Lewandoski was recruited as a two star prospect).

 

Season prediction: NCAA Tournament - Round of 32

 

SAN DIEGO TOREROS

The Toreros are rough. It's a bad defensive team with a bad rebounding effort. Scoring-wise they are very streaky from all over, but there are some saving graces: Mario Spencer and Merrill Lowery are sweet shooting talents who can score at will. Walter Cooper and Ralph Barnes are nice options as well who are learning from these two. But in the end it won't save a woeful San Diego team.

 

Season prediction: Misses NCAA Tournament

 

SAN FRANCISCO DONS

The Dons are another dark horse. Andrew Neal is an absolute stud offensive talent - though a huge defensive liability. Christopher Engerman is a great defender and rebounder who can score at will as well. Jeffrey Nocito is a great wing who can score from midrange and slash to the basket at will, and is an amazing rebounder with good defense. In fast as a whole the Dons, defensively, are a pretty good team with some good rebounding ability. Close to the basket they're a great scoring team and they're almost as good from the midrange, and one of the better 3-point shooting teams as well. The Dons are quietly dangerous, and I wouldn't overlook them at all.

 

Season prediction: NCAA Tournament - Sweet 16

 

SANTA CLARA BRONCOS

The Broncos are an extremely average team. Defense? Average. Rebounding? Average. Post scoring? Actually pretty good. Midrange and 3-point? Average. There's not a lot to expect from Santa Clara except for how average they will be.

 

Season prediction: Bubble Team

 

SEATTLE REDHAWKS

Seattle is fairly similar. Defensively they are average, though their rebounding effort is a mixed bag. Paint scoring the Redhawks are one of the few teams that actually aren't very good - but they're not bad either. I'm actually very impressed with their midrange and 3-point shooting abilities, which could spell danger for anyone who takes this team lightly. Sean Sanchez is developing into a real talent on the wing, though his long-range shot is still atrocious, he's a classic slashing scorer who can stop on a dime and drain a jumper and will give you fits on defense.

 

Season prediction: NCAA Tournament - Round of 64

 

UC IRVINE ANTEATERS

Don't expect the Anteaters to be eating many people's ants. Henry Gonzales is an elite defender with a great post scoring ability. Jeffrey Reber follows that exact template to a T. But aside from that... it's an unimpressive defense with a hodge-podge rebounding effort. The Anteaters certainly have some skills beyond the arc, but those falter to simply average within the arc and in the paint. A hot night will make them ferocious. An off night will make them a joke.

 

Season prediction: NCAA Tournament - Round of 64

[Ezaco]

Pick to win conference: San Francisco