NCAAB West Coast Conf
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2007-08 West Coast Conference Hoops Preview
Gonzaga
How about these win totals the last 10 seasons: 24, 28, 26, 26, 29, 23, 27, 25, 27 and 23. Gonzaga (23-11 SU, 17-15 ATS) and coach Mark Few have made three trips to the Sweet Sixteen. Few has made some changes to his staff. In the wake of former assistant Bill Grier leaving to take the head coaching position at San Diego, Few promoted assistant coach Leon Rice to associate head coach and elevated assistant coach Tommy Lloyd. Few also adds former Utah and Eastern Washington head coach Ray Giacoletti to his staff.
Gonzaga likes running-and-gunning, as usual, averaging 79 points per game. Gonzaga shot 48.7% from the field, 75% from the charity stripe and 39% from three-point land. Gonzaga went 20-13 over the total! The frontcourt is strong, with by 6'-9" junior Abdullahi Kuso. Senior 6-7 David Pendergraft (4.4 rpg) and 6-11 junior Josh Heytvelt (15.5 ppg, 7.7 rpg) anchor this deep front line. You won't be able to miss 7-foot-4 sophomore Will Foster, if he plays more than the 3 minutes per game he did as a freshman.
The backcourt is loaded, led by Gonzaga sophomore Matt Bouldin. Bouldin blossomed into one of the top freshmen in the West Coast Conference, earning All-WCC Freshman Team honors. He averaged 8.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg and 3.1 assists/game. His 1.51 assist-to-turnover ratio led the team. He had 13 double-digit scoring nights with a season-high 21 points twice. He started 20 games, including the last 15 of the season.
Junior guard Jeremy Pargo is athletic and averaged 12 points, while leading the Zags in assists with 4.6 per game. 6-8 junior guard Micah Downs (8 ppg) provides mismatches, though at 180-pounds he can't pound the glass. 6-4 junior Ira Brown is a newcomer even though he's 25-years old (he played professional baseball). At Phoenix college he averaged 17 points and 9 boards. 6-10 freshman forward Austin Daye has impressed, as well.
They played tough competition, too, with a win at then No. 2 North Carolina, 82-74, an 87-77 win over Texas on a neutral court, and a 78-77 OT loss to Memphis. One concern is that this team was 6-5 SU, 5-6 ATS on the road. With their talent and depth, they will be a lot of fun to watch, unless you happen to be their opponent. It's a bit of a transition season, but Mark Few will have these guys running (and winning) a lot again.
St. Marys
The St. Mary's Gaels (17-15 SU, 13-16 ATS) went on a 4-1 SU/ATS run to end last season with a winning record. They also lose only one senior starter. They win with defense, allowing teams to shoot 43% from the field, allowing 66 ppg (16-13 under the total).
The St. Mary's Gaels have a good frontcourt with 6-7 junior Diamon Simpson (14 ppg, 7.7 rpg), who led the team in scoring and rebounding, plus 6-11 sophomore center Omar Samhan (9 ppg, 5.6 rpg). So their top two rebounders return. Samhan won the Most Improved Player award. He came to SMC in 2005 and redshirted the 2005-06 season. During that time, he dropped 30 pounds, and appeared in all 32 games with seven starts, averaged 19.2 minutes per game, finished third on the team in scoring (9.2 ppg), second in rebounds (5.6 rpg) and blocks (47), and shot 53.2 percent from the field.
Throw in 6-7 junior Ian O'Leary (7.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and there is a lot of returning frontcourt experience and rebounding muscle. The backcourt is deep, too, with 6-4 senior Tron Smith and senior Todd Golden, while junior Wayne Hunter (8.8 ppg) adds depth. Mickey McConnell, a 6-0 point guard from Dobson High School, will join Saint Mary's for the 2007-08.
In his last two seasons at Dobson High School, McConnell helped the Mustangs post a 42-19 overall record, while leading his team to the state playoffs in 2006 and 2007. During his senior campaign, he guided his team to a 23-7 overall record while averaging 20.6 points, 7.4 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 3.0 steals, and 1.9 3-pointers per game. St. Mary's went 12-5 SU, 8-6 ATS at home, but 4-9 SU, 4-9 ATS on the road. They were also 2-8 SU/ATS as a dog! St. Mary's should be tough again, especially defensively, and will try and give Gonzaga a challenge.
San Diego
San Diego is an up and coming program that busted out with a 18-14 SU, 16-10 ATS campaign in 2007. In fact, the last three seasons San Diego has gone a stellar 17-9 against the spread, 16-11 ATS and 16-10 ATS!
This is a team predicated on run-and-gun offense, averaging 75 points per game and a strong 16-11 and 19-6 "over" the total the last two years. They are 53-25 over the total the last three seasons.
However, the Toreros have a new basketball coach, as Brad Holland was let go and Bill Grier takes over. Grier, 43, comes to USD from Gonzaga University where he has been on staff the past sixteen years. Grier has played an integral role in Gonzaga's arrival on the national scene. He began his career at Gonzaga in 1992. They still will run and uptempo attack, like the Zags.
3 starters return, plus two key players off the bench. They have 6'-7" junior Gyno Pomare (14.9 ppg, 8 rpg), who was been playing since his freshman season. 6'-7" sophomore Chris Lewis was a big plus as a freshman off the bench. The backcourt loses its top scorer in Ross DeRogatis, but 5'-11" junior playmaker Brandon Johnson returns after chipping in 12.8 points and leading the team with 4.8 assist per contest. Johnson was named to the CollegeInsider.com Freshman All-America Team two years ago.
6'-4" junior shooting guard Danny Brown and 6'-4" junior wing Ray Murdock (a good long range threat) saw plenty of time last season. De'Jon Jackson and junior 6-8 power forward Daniel Fleming were role players off the bench, while 6-8 freshman center Joshua Miller will see some action. San Diego went 9-5 SU/3-7 ATS at home, and 6-8 on the road. In fact, they are 16-40 SU/31-18 ATS on the road the last four seasons. They have enough talent to be shooting for a winning season again.
Santa Clara
The Santa Clara Broncos (21-10) are off a terrific campaign, but have a new coach as Dick Davey retired. Kerry Keating is the new men's basketball coach. Keating comes to Santa Clara after serving for four seasons as an assistant coach at UCLA, helping the Bruins to Final Four appearances in 2006 and 2007. At 35, Keating becomes the youngest head coach in the West Coast Conference.
The new coach has to replace 3 starters, but there are three seniors stepping in and a huge junior at center manning the middle. 6-11, 305-pound junior center John Bryant (10 ppg, 6.7 rpg) was the second leading scorer and top rebounder. He clogs the lane as well as anyone with his massive frame. As big as he is, there is plenty more frontcourt power with 6-7 senior Mitch Henke (6.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg) and 7-foot, 275-lb senior Josh Higgins (4.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg).
The backcourt is deep behind senior Brody Angley and 6-4 junior Calvin Johnson. Angley earned the Defensive Player of the Year award after an outstanding junior year that saw him named All-WCC Honorable Mention. He led the Broncos in steals. They went 12-4 SU/8-7 ATS at home last year, and 7-5 SU/7-5 ATS on the road. They should still be a good defensive team, but losing 3 starters and bringing in a new coach might make 20 wins tough to duplicate.
San Francisco
The San Francisco Dons (13-18 SU, 11-16 ATS) lacked height last season and paid for it in a losing season. They still lack height, especially with star frontcourt player Allan Wiggins gone, along with 3 senior starters. Which means more shots for Junior 6-2 guard Manny Quezada (13 ppg). He's good, but has little help outside of 6-6 senior guard Danny Cavic (6 ppg), who was tops in the WCC in three-point shooting percentage (46%).
The frontcourt is thin, though. Sophomore 6-8 F Jay Watkins and 6-8 senior Vince Polakovic will have to step up after being role players off the bench. San Fran has long been known as a strong team at home, but weak on the road and that was the case last season: 8-5 at home, 5-10 away from home.
There is hope for the future as head coach coach Jessie Evans signed former Bay Area Prep Player of the Year 6-7 Dior Lowhorn. The 6-7 forward previously starred at Berkeley High School and played as a freshman two seasons ago at Texas Tech before transferring. Lowhorn played in all 32 games as a freshman at Texas Tech averaging 7.2 points and 3.9 rebounds, and started 10 contests, including the Red Raiders two Big-12 tournament contests.
He shot a team best 51.4% from the floor and also led the team with 27 blocked shots. As a transfer, Lowhorn redshirted the 2006-07 season, but is eligible to play for the Dons in 2007-08. Overall, this is a rebuilding season, and a winning mark will be difficult.
Pepperdine
Pepperdine (8-23 last season, 15-14 ATS) is off another disappointing campaign under first-year head coach Vance Walberg. Walberg came to Pepperdine after a remarkable four-year run at Fresno City College where he compiled a 133-11 (.924) record, including a perfect 34-0 mark and a California State Championship in 2005. His teams won four straight Central Valley Conference (CVC) titles and appeared in the state title game in 2003 and 2005.
He is rebuilding at Pepperdine, especially this season as they lose 4 senior starters to an 8-23 team. The coach likes an uptempo style: "Shoot, shoot and shoot some more. It's really very simple. What I do is I spread you out and we attack," Walberg said. Pepperdine did, averaging 77 ppg, but they allowed 83 ppg (17-13 over the total). Senior guard 5-7 Kingsley Costain (11.5 ppg) is back along with 6-4 senior Jason Wahlberg (14 ppg).
They need some defense and some rebuilding help, though. Daniel Johnson, a 6-foot-10 center/forward at the Australian Institute of Sport in Australia, joins the Waves for the 2007-08 season. Johnson earned a scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sport in 2006 and helped his team capture the King Club International Cup en route to being voted the tournament's Most Valuable Player after averaging 22 points, six rebounds, one assist, two blocks and a steal over five games.
The frontcourt also sports 6-10 senior Jarrad Henry, a decent shot blocker. Newcomers for this season include 6-7 combo guard Tyrone Shelley, 6-8 forward Malcolm Thomas, 5-9 point guard Tyler Tucker, 6-6 shooting guard Jon Reed and 6-7 wing forward Mychel Thompson. Thompson is the son of former NBA star Mychal Thompson. Pepperdine was 3-9 SU, 3-8 ATS at home, and a poor 3-12 SU, 10-4 ATS on the road. The Waves have a long way to go and aren't ready yet to challenge for the WCC title or a winning record.
Portland
The Portland Pilots (11-18) didn't fare well under first year coach Eric Reveno, 41. He came to Portland after an impressive nine-year stint at Stanford. Reveno has developed a reputation as one of the top post player coaches in the country. He has coached numerous outstanding frontline players including Mark Madsen, Jarron Collins, Jason Collins, Curtis Borchardt, Tim Young, Rob Little, Justin Davis and Matt Haryasz.
Portland loses 3 senior starters but returns two of its key frontcourt players. 6-6 senior Sherrard Watson (9 ppg) is a fine frontcourt player, though there is little depth or experience alongside him. The backcourt lost its leading scorer in Darren Cooper, so there is a transition with sophomore point guard Taishi Ito, a former top prospect from Washington D.C, and 6-4 junior Walter Thompson.
The most intriguing faces are 6-9 sophomore Robin Smeulders from the Netherlands, and 6-8 Luke Sikma, the son of NBA star Jack Sikma. Newcomer 6-4 Nik Raivio is a Northwest product who can play either the point guard or off guard positions, while 6-9 freshman Kramer Knutson can help up front. Portland was just 2-12 on the road where they tallied just 59 ppg. All in all, this is a rebuilding year, so a winning season is unlikely.
Loyola Marymount
The Loyola Marymount Lions (13-18 SU, 8-15 ATS) are off a disappointing season under third-year head coach Rodney Tention. It was a season that started with promise but was filled with frustration and ended the same way as the Lions lost to Portland, 55-41, in the first round of the West Coast Conference Championships.
Picked by some to challenge for the WCC title, the Lions season was filled with near misses (losing to Long Beach State on a half court shot at the buzzer and three other WCC games on shots at the buzzer), critical injuries (Brandon Worthy out since game 13 with ACL), uphill battles (starting 1-6 in the WCC) and bad luck (drawing host team in first round) that proved too much for the sixth seeded Lions as they finish 13-18 on the year.
Even worse news is that 4 senior starters are gone, along with their top 6th man. The one-two punch of 6'-8" Matthew Knight guard Brandon Worthy depart. The duo led Loyola in scoring and rebounding the last three seasons. Senior shooting guard Jon Ziri (5.3 ppg) is the top returning scorer and lone starter, along with 6-9 junior Marko Deric (5 ppg) from Australia.
Loyola signed Quentin Turner, a transfer from Motlow State (Tenn.) Community College, a 6-1 point guard. Turner was named All-Eastern Division by the Tennessee Junior and Community College Athletic Association this past season. He was third in the league in free throw shooting at 80.6 percent and was also ranked in the top 10 in assists and steals. He averaged 11.1 points per game and was fifth in the league in steals with 71 (2.7 spg) and eighth in assists with 106 (4.1 apg).
Turner joins Tim Diederichs, Isaiah Jenkins, Orlando Johnson and Brandon Walker. Loyola was 8-6 SU/3-7 ATS at home, but 4-11 SU, 4-8 ATS on the road. This looks like a long transition season with a lot of youth and newcomers.
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