West Coast Preview

West Coast Conference 2005-06 Season Preview

by Brad Best

In life and in basketball, some things change and some things stay the same. In the West Coast Conference (WCC), Gonzaga will once again take the conference crown, but how the rest of the teams finish is up for grabs.

The WCC assembled a feisty group of teams last year that competed hard and won against bigger, stronger foes. St. Mary’s defeated Cal; Pepperdine beat Wisconsin; Santa Clara took down eventual NCAA champion North Carolina. All were impressive wins for a bunch of the little guys. But much of the talent in the WCC, except for Gonzaga, has moved on and the road to non-conference victories of this caliber will be harder for many of these teams to realize in the upcoming season.

Gonzaga continues to take on all comers and will have its hands full with some stiff competition in the Maui Invitational. Their first round match-up against Maryland is no sure thing. A win there would likely pit them against Michigan State, which is a Final Four team on many lists, and a trip to the finals may mean having to face Connecticut or Arizona. These tough early tests will give Gonzaga an indication of how good they’re going to be this year. They should be very good.

Look for San Francisco to be a team on the rise. They got their first NIT bid in 29 years last season and should be a tough out, especially with the addition of Armondo Surratt from Miami. Portland stumbled down the stretch last year but with four returning starters, including Pooh Jeter, they should finish in the top half of the conference. Pepperdine is headed in the other direction, due in part to Alex Acker’s surprising leap to the NBA. Coach Paul Westphal has too much youth and inexperience to make a run this season.

On the coaching front, Loyola Marymount will introduce new head coach Rodney Tention, who gets his first head coaching job following an eight-year run as an assistant coach under Lute Olson at Arizona. At Saint Mary’s, Randy Bennett was rewarded with a new six-year contract after his team put up 25 wins a year ago. The Gaels will have an uphill battle to match that record this year, but kudos to Bennett for his first four years at the helm.

All-WCC First Team
Derek Raivio, G, Gonzaga
Pooh Jeter, G, Portland
Daniel Kickert, F, St. Mary’s
Adam Morrison, F, Gonzaga
J.P. Batista, C, Gonzaga

Honorable Mentions: Darren Cooper, Portland; Erroll Knight, Gonzaga; Matthew Knight, Loyola Marymount; Nick Lewis, San Diego; Travis Niesen, Santa Clara

Conference MVP
Adam Morrison, Gonzaga

Freshman of the Year
Gyno Pomare, San Diego

Newcomer of the Year
Armondo Surratt, San Francisco

Defensive Player of the Year
Corey Belser, San Diego

1. Gonzaga Bulldogs
2004-05 record: 26-5, 12-2 WCC (1st place)
Projected starting five:
Derek Raivio, Jr. G (13 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 4.8 apg)
Erroll Knight, Sr. G 6.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg)
Adam Morrison, Jr. F (19.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg)
Sean Mallon, Jr. F (7.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg)
J.P. Batista, Sr. C (12.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg)

Gonzaga should once again dominate the West Coast Conference on its way to its eighth straight NCAA Tournament appearance and sixth straight conference title. With four returning starters and an infusion of talented freshmen, the Bulldogs are a formidable opponent for any team in any conference. Led by one of the best players in the country, Adam Morrison, the Bulldogs should put on an impressive show every time they take the hardwood. Morrison is almost unstoppable on the offensive end, and this is clearly his team and his season to shine en route to the NBA.

The Bulldogs will no longer have the services of Ronny Turiaf, who contributed nearly 16 points and 10 rebounds per game last season. But Turiaf was often in foul trouble, so his former teammates are used to playing big minutes without him. Sean Mallon and J.P. Batista will have to step up this season and fill the rebounding void. Erroll Knight has been slowed by a knee injury and subsequent arthroscopic surgery but shouldn’t miss more than a couple of games. Derek Raivio led the league in assists and will deliver the ball to the big men. He’s also a great free throw shooter and put up 13 points per game last season, so he cannot be ignored.

Larry Gurganious, a freshman from Berkeley, Calif., was one of the highlights from Gonzaga’s rout of Lewis-Clark State College in their exhibition game. Gurganious made 7 of 13 shots from the field while playing 22 minutes. Redshirt freshman Josh Heytvelt, who is nursing a sore foot, warmed up but did not play. Both players will get some playing time this year and could make solid contributions.

Schedule
Key non-conference games:
Nov. 21-23 Maui Invitational
Dec. 4 at Washington
Dec. 10 vs. Oklahoma State
Dec. 31 vs. Saint Joseph’s

Gonzaga will definitely be battle-tested by the start of conference play. It will be interesting to see who, if anyone, can keep them from running the table. Barring any unforeseen injuries, Gonzaga looks to make the NCAA Tournament with ease and figures to be an Elite Eight team this season.

2. Saint Mary’s Gaels
2004-05 record: 25-9, 11-3 WCC (2nd place)
Projected starting five:
Jason Walberg, Sr. G (4.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg)
John Winston, Jr. G (Transfer from UNLV)
Brett Collins, Jr. F (6.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
Daniel Kickert, Sr. F (16.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg)
Blake Sholberg, Jr. C (3.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg)

With senior Daniel Kickert as the lone returning starter, the fate of this year’s season will revolve around him. Newcomers and bench players will need to find a way to replace the 44 points and nearly 20 rebounds per game the other starters produced last season. Thankfully for the Gaels, Kickert is one of the best players in the conference and shows up to play every night. He was second in field-goal percentage and first in three-point accuracy in the WCC.

Brett Collins scored in double figures in 10 games last season and will need to step up as a starter this year. He scored 13 points in the opening round of the 2005 NCAA Tournament against Southern Illinois and will need to contribute in similar fashion if the Gaels are going to continue their winning ways.

Freshmen Diamon Simpson and Ian O’Leary will get a chance to contribute right away. UNLV transfer John Winston should replace Paul Marigney at the point when he becomes eligible after the fall semester.

Schedule
Key non-conference games:
Dec. 10 at Arizona
Dec. 13 at Air Force
Dec. 28 vs. Saint Joseph’s
Dec. 31 vs. Nevada

If the Gaels can jell as a team and pull out an upset or two in non-conference play, they may have the confidence to bring Gonzaga down to size one time this season. Bennett-coached teams are stamped with a commitment to defense, which will help give them a chance to win close games and keep their post-season hopes afloat. Look for them to settle for a NIT bid this season.

3. Portland Pilots
2004-05 record: 15-15, 4-10 WCC (7th place)
Projected starting five:
Pooh Jeter, Sr. G (15.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg)
Darren Cooper, Sr. G (11.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg)
Donald Wilson, Sr. F (8.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg)
Marcus Lewis, So. F (9.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg)
Ben Sullivan, Jr. C (8.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg)

With one of the best backcourts in the WCC, Portland should be in position for a breakout season. In last year’s campaign, they ran out of gas down the stretch and dropped eight of their final ten conference games. Four returning starters will remember that well and help keep history from repeating itself.

Pooh Jeter is an All-WCC player who forms a nice tandem with fellow guard Darren Cooper. They combined for 26 points per game last season and shot the ball extremely well from the foul line. They’ll help senior swingman Donald Wilson have his best year.

WCC All-Freshman team selection Marcus Lewis and Oregon State transfer Kevin Field will battle for the fifth starting position. Either one should be a more potent scoring threat than starter Andreas Gahlmann was a year ago.

Schedule
Key non-conference games:
Nov. 8-18 Coaches vs. Cancer
Dec. 10 vs. Oregon State
Dec. 17 at Washington State
Dec. 22 vs. Oregon

The Pilots non-conference schedule sends them up against three Pac-10 foes within a two-week stretch and should prepare them well for conference play. With an extra year of maturity under their belt, the Pilots look to be on the verge of a promising season and an invitation to the NIT.

4. Santa Clara Broncos
2004-05 record: 15-16, 7 WCC (3rd place tie)
Projected starting five:
Brody Angley, So. G (5.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg)
Brandon Rohe, Jr. G (5.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg)
Travis Niesen, Sr. F (15.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg)
Tristan Parham, Sr. F (4.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg)
Sean Denison, Jr. C (3.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg)

Guards Kyle Bailey and Doron Perkins combined for 30 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists last season. The departure of their starting backcourt means the Broncos will shift to a more half-court dependent offense. Picking up the slack in the backcourt will be sophomore Brody Angley, a WCC All-Freshman Team selection. Joining him will be Brandon Rohe, who was one of the top three-point shooters in the league two years ago. He sat out last year with a back injury.

The frontcourt will be led by senior forward Travis Niesen. He is one of the league’s best big men and should be their primary scoring option down low. Alongside Niesen will be Sean Denison and Tristan Parham, who will both need to make bigger contributions this year.

Speaking of big, incoming freshman John Bryant (6-11, 330 pounds) figures to see significant playing time and make the frontcourt even more fearsome for opponents. Fellow freshman Domineek Daniel and Calvin Johnson will also compete for minutes.

Schedule
Key non-conference games:
Nov. 22 at UC Irvine
Dec. 3 at Mississippi State
Dec. 13 at Oregon
Dec. 17 at North Carolina

With some difficult tests in their non-conference schedule, Santa Clara should be toughened up by conference play and finish with around sixteen wins. This would match coach Dick Davey’s average in his thirteen years with the program.

5. San Francisco Dons
2004-05 record: 17-14, 6-8 WCC (5th place tie)
Projected starting five:
Jerome Gumbs, Sr. G (9.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg)
Armondo Surrattt, Jr. G (Transfer from Miami)
Alan Wiggins, Jr. F (5.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg)
Johnny Dukes, Jr. F (5.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
Jason Carter, Sr. C (2.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg)

The job Jessie Evans did as first-year coach has to be commended. He not only led the Dons to post-season play, but they also netted a first round NIT victory. Evans and the Dons will miss John Cox, who quietly led the WCC with 20 points per game a year ago. Tyrone Riley is also gone, along with his 15 points per game and team-leading 9 rebounds.

They hope that projected Newcomer of the Year Armondo Surratt helps them ease the pain. Surratt, who started for Miami in his two seasons there, should make an immediate impact. If the first exhibition game is any indication, the Dons will get what they were hoping for: Surrant led the team with 26 points on their way to a 112-85 rout of Stanislaus State.

Returning starters Jerome Gumbs and Alan Wiggins will need to increase their production this year. Both fared well against Stanislaus State, putting up 23 and 21 points, respectively. Key reserve Johnny Dukes will likely move into a starting role for his senior season. Freshman Omar Samhan and Drew Shiller should see the most action from a good recruiting class.

Schedule
Key non-conference games:
Nov. 23 at Stanford
Dec. 3 vs. Texas Tech
Dec. 17 at Marquette
Dec. 29 at Fresno State

The Dons haven’t shied away from top-rated competition prior to conference play and may just upset one or two of them. Jessie Evans has this team moving in the right direction, so don’t be surprised if they finish in the top half of the conference.

6. San Diego Toreros
2004-05 record: 16-13, 7-7 WCC (3rd place tie)
Projected starting five:
Ross DeRogatis, Jr. G (7.9 ppg, 3.4 apg)
Michael Hubbard, Jr. G (3.2 ppg, 1.6 rpg)
Corey Belser, Sr. F (6.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg)
Gyno Pomare, Fr. F (redshirted)
Nick Lewis, Sr. C (12.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg)

Brad Holland worked his magic last season and turned a last place 4-26 team in 2003-04 into a 16-13 team that tied for third in the WCC in 2004-05. Unfortunately, some of his best players are gone, and Holland will once again have to work wonders to stay out of the bottom half of the conference.

The Toreros will be without their two top scorers and rebounders in the upcoming campaign. Brandon Gay led the way with 17 points and 6 rebounds per game, and Brice Vounang played with heart and passion in the middle for the Toreros, giving them 15 points and 7 rebounds a night. Both will be sorely missed.

Had Floyd North III returned to school and the team lineup, the Toreros would have been projected higher. His absence will make it much tougher for them to consistently put wins on the board. North was one of the most athletic players on the roster and is the third player to leave the program since last season’s finale, not including the three seniors who completed their eligibility.

The burden to carry the team now falls on fifth-year seniors Nick Lewis and Corey Belser. Lewis showed great potential from his freshman season on, and he will need to take over as the number one scoring threat this year. Belser is one of the best defenders in the league and will need to step up more on the offensive end. Last season, Ross DeRogartis was third in the WCC in assist to turnover ratio and shot 46 percent from three-point range. His contribution from outside could help keep opponents honest this year.

Schedule
Key non-conference games:
Nov. 21 vs. UC Santa Barbara
Nov. 30 vs. San Diego State
Dec. 10 vs. Fresno State
Dec. 22 vs. New Mexico

With too many key losses to a team that outshined expectations last year, the Toreros don’t have the firepower to compete for the crown this season. Look for them to play hard but fall short of a winning season.

7. Loyola Marymount Lions
2004-05 record: 11-17, 3-11 WCC (8th place)
Projected starting five:
Brandon Worthy, Jr. G (11.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
Wes Wardrop, Sr. G (7.2 ppg)
Matthew Knight, Jr. F (15.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg)
Daryl Pegram, Jr. F (6.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
Chris Ayer, Sr. C (3.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg)

With three returning starters, the Lions are cautiously optimistic. They always seem to be a sleeper pick, but they seldom turn in a Cinderella season. After dropping their final six games last season to finish last in conference, and firing head coach Steve Aggers, the Lions have nowhere to go but up.

Junior forward Matthew Knight is back to lead the Lions. Teamed with guard Brandon Worthy, they form a solid inside-outside attack. Center Chris Ayer has looked strong in intra-squad scrimmages and needs to be more of a factor in his senior year.

Damian Martin and Wes Wardrop will work alongside Worthy in the backcourt. John Montgomery suffered an ACL injury in the final week of the 2004-05 season but appears to be healthy again. Daminan Martin ruptured his Achilles tendon while playing with Australia national team over the summer and will redshirt this season.

Schedule
Key non-conference games:
Nov. 18 at BYU
Nov. 25 at Washington
Dec. 10 vs. USC
Dec. 29 at UNLV

This is one of the most experienced teams in the conference, and they played a lot of tough games last season. We’ll have to wait and see what that experience adds up to as the season goes on. The Lions should improve a little over last year but in the end will be tamed by most of their opponents.

8. Pepperdine Waves
2004-05 record: 17-14, 6-8 WCC (5th place tie)
Projected starting five:
Marvin Lea, Jr. G (4.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg)
Kingsley Costain, So. G (7.4 ppg, 1.8 apg)
Chase Griffin, Jr. G (2.8 ppg, 1.0 rpg)
Keith Jarbo, Sr. F (1.9 ppg, 1.9 rpg)
Russell Hicks, So. C (4.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg)

The good news is that Paul Westphal’s team is returning two WCC All-Freshman players from last season. The bad news is that departing starters took with them 50 points and nearly 20 rebounds per game.

The tall (7-foot center Russell Hicks) and the short (5-7 point guard Kingsley Costain) of the Waves young team will be looked upon for production and leadership. Costain will direct the action from the point and need to set up his teammates for easy scoring opportunities. Hicks will have to emerge as more of a scoring threat and continue to intimidate on the defensive end.

Freshman Chris Oakes, Mike Gerrity and Willie Galick will get a chance to show what they can do early in the season.

Schedule
Key non-conference games:
Nov. 18 vs. Connecticut
Dec. 3 at Wisconsin
Dec. 19 at Kansas
Jan. 3 vs. Oklahoma State

Compensating for the production of last year’s starters will be tough to do with an unimpressive bench and a crop of young recruits. Don’t look for this to be Pepperdine’s year to make a run.

WCC Summary

Gonzaga will continue to be the front-runner of the league and capture its share of the national spotlight. The rest of the pack will largely fly under the radar and garner almost no recognition unless they can pull off some big upsets.

This season, non-conference opponents will be wary of WCC teams, making the challenge of having a breakout season even more daunting. But don’t count out the talent and spirit of this league, which should still send Gonzaga deep into the NCAA Tournament and two other teams to the NIT.