Summer time means a look ahead to next season!
Each week moving forward, we will preview one conference in college basketball from soup to nuts.
Check below for this week’s breakdown on the WCC.
WCC Offseason Breakdown
WCC Preseason Power Rankings
1. Gonzaga
Projected Starting 5:
G Andrew Nembhard
G Nolan Hickman
G Hunter Sallis
F Chet Holmgren
C Drew Timme
Projected Bench: Kaden Perry, Dominick Harris, Ben Gregg, Martynas Arlauskas, Anton Watson, Rasir Bolton (pending NCAA waiver), Julian Strawther
Newcomers: Kaden Perry, Hunter Sallis, Chet Holmgren, Rasir Bolton (Iowa State), Nolan Hickman
Losses: Aaron Cook, Corey Kispert, Jalen Suggs, Joel Ayayi, Pavel Zakharov, Oumar Ballo
2. BYU
Projected Starting 5:
G Te’Jon Lucas (pending NCAA waiver)
G Alex Barcello
G Gideon George
F Caleb Lohner
C Richard Harward
Projected Bench: Seneca Knight, Gavin Baxter, Trevin Knell, Nate Hansen, Trey Stewart, Fousseyni Traore, Atiki Ally Atiki, Spencer Johnson, Hunter Erickson
Newcomers: Te’Jon Lucas (Milwaukee), Seneca Knight (LSU), Nate Hansen, Trey Stewart, Fousseyni Traore, Atiki Ally Atiki
Losses: Brandon Averette, Matt Haarms, Kolby Lee, Connor Harding
3. Saint Mary’s
Projected Starting 5:
G Tommy Kuhse
G Logan Johnson
G Alex Ducas
F Dan Fotu
C Matthias Tass
Projected Bench: Jabe Mullins, Kyle Bowen, Matthew Van Komen, Leemet Bockler, Judah Brown, Mitchell Saxen, Chris Howell, Augustas Marciulionis,
Newcomers: Chris Howell, Augustas Marciulionis
Losses: None
4. Loyola Marymount
Projected Starting 5:
G Cameron Shelton
G Joe Quintana
F Dameane Douglas
F Eli Scott
F Keli Leaupepe
Projected Bench: Jalin Anderson, Mayoum Mayoum, Ivan Alipiev, Kwane Marble, Gary Harris, Alex Merkviladze, Lamaj Lewis, James Nobles, David Elliott IV,
Newcomers: Cameron Shelton (Northern Arizona), Kwane Marble (Wyoming), Gary Harris (Siena), Alex Merkviladze (Cal State Northridge), Lamaj Lewis, James Nobles, David Elliott IV
Losses: Mattias Markusson, Parker Dortch
5. San Francisco
Projected Starting 5:
G Jamaree Bouyea
G Gabe Stefanini
F Dzmitry Ryuny
F Patrick Tape
C Yauhen Massalski
Projected Bench: Ndewedo Newbury, Khalil Shabazz, Zane Meeks, Julian Rishwain, Josh Kunen, Jonas Visser, Maj Dusanic, Volodymyr Markovetskyy
Newcomers: Ndewedo Newbury, Patrick Tape (Duke), Gabe Stefanini (Columbia), Zane Meeks (Nevada), Yauhen Massalski (San Diego), Volodymyr Markovetskyy (Washington State)
Losses: Damari Milstead, Samba Kane
6. Pepperdine
Projected Starting 5:
G Jade Smith
G Braun Hartfield
F Keith Fisher
F Jan Zidek
C Victor Ohia Obioha
Projected Bench: Darryl Polk Jr., Mike Mitchell Jr., Houston Mallette, Sekou Gassama, Carson Basham, Kendall Munson, Maxwell Lewis, Majok Deng
Newcomers: Mike Mitchell Jr., Houston Mallette, Sekou Gassama, Carson Basham, Braun Hartfield (San Diego), Maxwell Lewis
Losses: Colbey Ross, Kessler Edwards, Sedrick Altman, Kene Chukwuka
7. Santa Clara
Projected Starting 5:
G PJ Pipes
G Jalen Williams
G Keshawn Justice
F Josip Vrankic
C Parker Braun
Projected Bench: Giordan Williams, Danilo Djuricic, Miguel Tomley, Jacob Holt, Camaron Tongue, Max Besselink, Carlos Stewart, Brenton Knapper, Jaden Bediako, Parker Braun
Newcomers: Danilo Djuricic (Harvard), PJ Pipes (Green Bay), Parker Braun (Missouri), Jacob Holt, Camaron Tongue, Max Besselink, Carlos Stewart, Brenton Knapper
Losses: Gugliemo Caruso, DJ Mitchell, Christian Carlyle, Vittorio Reynoso
8. Pacific
Projected Starting 5:
G Pierre Crockrell
G Nick Blake
G Alphonso Anderson
F Jeremiah Bailey
F Jordan Bell
Projected Bench: Jaden Byers, Khaleb Rouse, Greg Outlaw, Sam Freeman, Luke Aldalovic, Nigel Shadd, Justin Moore, Gabe de Oliveira
Newcomers: Jaden Byers, Nick Blake (UNLV), Khaleb Rouse (JUCO), Greg Outlaw (Central Connecticut), Sam Freeman (Minnesota), Luke Aldalovic (Northern Arizona), Alphonso Anderson (Utah State), Gabe de Oliveira (JUCO)
Losses: Daniss Jenkins, Broc Finstuen
9. San Diego
Projected Starting 5:
G Jase Townsend
G Joey Calcaterra
G Josh Parrish
F Marcellus Earlington
C Terrell Brown
Projected Bench: Vladimir Pinchuk, TJ Berger, Bryce Monroe, Wayne McKinney, Muon Reath, Yavuz Gultekin
Newcomers: Jase Townsend (Denver), Marcellus Earlington (St. John’s), Terrell Brown (Pitt), TJ Berger (Georgetown), Bryce Monroe (Sam Houston State), Wayne McKinney, Muon Reath
Losses: Yauhen Massalski, Finn Sullivan, Frankie Hughes, Jared Rodriguez
10. Portland
Projected Starting 5:
G Mike Meadows
G Chris Austin
F Moses Wood
F Tyler Robertson
C Matheus Silveira
Projected Bench: Jack Perry, Tyler Robertson, Kristian Sjolund, Yaru Harvey, Nikola Milosevic, Skylar Wilson, Matija Svetozarevic, Chris Fan, Vasilije Vucinic
Newcomers: Jack Perry (Eastern Washington), Moses Wood (UNLV), Kristian Sjolund (UTEP), Mike Meadows (Eastern Washington), Chris Austin (Fordham), Tyler Robertson (Eastern Washington), Matheus Silveira (JUCO), Yaru Harvey, Nikola Milosevic, Skylar Wilson, Matija Svetozarevic, Chris Fan, Vasilije Vucinic
Losses: Ahmed Ali, Eddie Davis, Latrell Jones, Mikey Henn, Isiah Dasher, Chase Adams
WCC Preseason First Team
Andrew Nembhard, Gonzaga
Alex Barcello, BYU
Eli Scott, Loyola Marymount
Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
Drew Timme, Gonzaga
WCC Preseason Player of the Year
Drew Timme, Gonzaga
WCC Preseason Sleeper
San Francisco
10 WCC Impact Freshmen
*In no particular order
Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
Hunter Sallis, Gonzaga
Nolan Hickman, Gonzaga
Kaden Perry, Gonzaga
Augustas Marciulionis, Saint Mary’s
James Nobles, Loyola Marymount
David Elliott, Loyola Marymount
Mike Mitchell Jr., Pepperdine
Houston Mallette, Pepperdine
Jake Wahlin, BYU
10 Impact WCC Transfers
*In no particular order
Rasir Bolton, Gonzaga (Iowa State)
Te’Jon Lucas, BYU (Milwaukee)
Cameron Shelton, Loyola Marymount (Northern Arizona)
Marcellus Earlington, San Diego (St. John’s)
Jase Townsend, San Diego (Denver)
Patrick Tape, San Francisco (Duke)
Gabe Stefanini, San Francisco (Columbia)
Zane Meeks, San Francisco (Nevada)
Nick Blake, UNLV (Pacific)
Danilo Djuricic, Santa Clara (Harvard)
5 Breakout WCC Players
*In no particular order
Julian Strawther, Gonzaga
Caleb Lohner, BYU
Jan Zidek, Pepperdine
Jabe Mullins, Saint Mary’s
Dzmitry Ryuny, San Francisco
Leftovers
- Episode 397 — Georgetown’s Ed Cooley
- Weekend Brunch: Why Zach Edey’s return means that Purdue’s expectations are again “Final Four or bust”
- Creighton/UNLV, New Mexico/Santa Clara to headline Jack Jones Classic
- USC to play Kansas State, Oregon to face Georgia on opening night in Las Vegas
- Saint Mary’s no longer slated for Diamond Head Classic, will instead play in Continental Tire Main event with Xavier, SDSU, and Washington
