WEST COAST CONFERENCE MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL:
- Gonzaga
- Saint Mary’s
- San Francisco
- Santa Clara
- Oregon State
- Washington State
- LMU
- Seattle U
- San Diego
- Pacific
- Pepperdine
- Portland
MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-WCC TEAM:
-Ryan Beasley – JR, G – San Francisco
-Thierry Darlan – JR, G – Santa Clara
-Braden Huff – JR, F – Gonzaga
-Graham Ike – SR, F – Gonzaga
-Mikey Lewis – SO, G – Saint Mary’s
-Elijah Mahi – SR, F – Santal Clara
-Paulius Murauskas – JR, F – Saint Mary’s
-Elias Ralph – SR, F – Pacific
-Tyrone Riley IV – SO, G – San Francisco
-Harry Wessels – SR, C – Saint Mary’s
COMMENTS FROM DAVID:
-It is no surprise that Gonzaga is picked to win the league despite only having one starter back from a year ago. If there was ever a year where Gonzaga was not picked to win it, then that would be a shock. They are coming off a 26-win/Round of 32 season, which is actually below their standards. They are having to replace some key pieces, but as you would expect they are loaded with talent. Adam Miller transfers in from Arizona State and will join Braeden Smith in the backcourt. Tyon Grant-Foster is a grad transfer from Kansas (update: www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/oct/24/federal-court-rejects-ncaas-removal-request-in-tyo/), Graham Ike is another grad transfer who had a big career at Wyoming, and Braden Huff saw significant minutes last year off the bench. It is Gonzaga. The expectations are that they will once again be a top-25-caliber team, once again be at or near the top of the WCC standings, and once again be safely inside the bubble come March.
-As dominant as Gonzaga has been, they were not the first place team last year. Saint Mary’s finished three games ahead of them in the conference standings and also made the Round of 32. Just one starter from that team is back, so they are having to reload, and they will be relying on some freshmen that they have signed to keep them at the top. Paulius Murauskas is the lone returning starter, and the lack of experience will likely result in a bit of a setback, but I still expect this to be a solid NCAA Tournament-caliber team.
-San Francisco won 25 total games last. year, which was a solid season, but failed to make the NCAA Tournament. Two starters are back in Tyrone Riley IV and Ryan Beasley, and they should have some guys that came off the bench last year who can step into bigger roles.
-Santa Clara is having to replace all five starters from a 21-win season last year. They have won 20+ games in each of the last four seasons, but have been unable to play their way into the NCAA Tournament. Elijah Mahi returns to the roster after averaging double-figures a season ago and they have a couple of impressive-looking freshmen coming in, but they are not exactly stacked with proven D-1 talent, and while they will likely be a formidable team in the conference, I do not think they will end up near the NCAA Tournament bubble.
-Oregon State won 20 games last season, which is better than what we are used to seeing. All five starters from that team are gone so Coach Wayne Tinkle is tasked with rebuilding the roster. Dez White is transferring in from Missouri State, and a couple of guys who saw significant minutes off the bench are back, so the cupboard is not completely bare.
-Washington State is also having to replace all five starters and they do not have much on the roster in the way of solid D-1 experience. Jerone Morton (Morehead State) is the only player who averaged double-figures at the D-1 level a year ago, so it could be a long season for Wazzu.
-LMU looked pretty strong through January last year, but then kind of fell apart in the second half of conference play. Just one starter returns, but they did pick up two pretty solid players in the portal in Tanner Thomas (Sacred Heart) and Nakyel Shelton (Eastern Illinois), so they do have some pieces to work with.
-Seattle U makes their WCC debut this season after coming over from the WAC! They struggled last year in the WAC, and will likely struggle even more this year in the WCC. Brayden Maldonado is a good outside shooter, and they do have three starters returning so that experience should help them out some, but this is a tougher league than the WAC and they will likely have a tougher time in it.
-San Diego had a pitiful season last year winning just 6 total games and 2 in conference play. All five starters are gone, and perhaps the roster overhaul is something they needed. Dominique Ford comes in from Southern Utah and Toneari Lane comes in from Georgia State, both of whom were double-digit scorers a year ago. They have also added Tim Moore (who is a grad transfer from NJIT) and some other standout players from lower divisions so their roster appears to be upgraded. Hopefully for them that will translate into more wins.
-It has been a while since Pacific had a winning season, and they have failed to even win 10 games in four of the last five years. This year, with just one starter back, it is looking like they will struggle once again. They have gone into the portal to try and build up the roster and landed Alexis Marmolejos (Lamar) and TJ Wainwright (Long Beach State), both of whom are good outside shooters and who averaged double-figures a season ago. If the rest of the roster can step up and give them some help, then we are likely to see at least a few more wins this year.
-It was a tough year for Ed Schilling in his season debut at Pepperdine last year, and the expectations this year are that it will be tough for him again. Just one starter is back and they are lacking in players who have proven D-1 experience.
-After three straight losing seasons Portland is once again expected to struggle this year. All their starters from a year ago are gone, and while Riley Parker is a quality transfer from Saint Francis, no one else on the roster seems to have proven themselves yet at the D-1 level.
