Coaches' select WCC pre-season poll & all-conference team

[higherroad]

Keep in mind, its just a pre-season poll. No team has ever hung up a pre-season Championship banner before. Also, WCC ranked 7th best conference this season, MWC ranked 11th by CBS' Jeff Goodman: Conference Countdown: No. 7 -- West Coast.

ARTICLE link for Coaches picks: http://www.ksl.com/?sid=17849686&nid...all-conference

2011-12 WEST COAST CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL

Team (First Place Votes) Points

1. Gonzaga University (7) 63

2. Saint Mary's College (1) 56

3. Brigham Young University (1) 52

4. University of San Francisco 42

5. Santa Clara University 35

6. Loyola Marymount University 27

7. University of Portland 25

8. Pepperdine University 13

9. University of San Diego 11

2011-12 PRESEASON ALL-WEST COAST CONFERENCE TEAM

Player School Yr. Pos.

Brandon Davies BYU Jr. F

Matthew Dellavedova Saint Mary's Jr. G

Kevin Foster Santa Clara Jr. G

Rashad Green San Francisco Sr. G

Elias Harris Gonzaga Jr. F

Rob Jones Saint Maryʼs Sr. F

Nemanja Mitrovic Portland Sr. G

Robert Sacre Gonzaga RS-Sr. C

Drew Viney Loyola Marymount RS-Sr. F

Michael Williams San Francisco Jr. G

[San Juan Sun]

Considering we lost the best backcourt in our history, I guess I can blame WCC coaches for putting us behind teams we went 2-0 against las year.

Whatever coach voted us first, that man knows his basketball!

[higherroad]

Considering we lost the best backcourt in our history, I guess I can blame WCC coaches for putting us behind teams we went 2-0 against las year.

Whatever coach voted us first, that man knows his basketball!

Every team ahead of BYU lost their best player too...they weren't Jimmer, but still impacts the team.

The Top-5 teams in the WCC will be tough. I would bet my life savings the WCC will have a better RPI than MWC this season as well.

Its a 5 or 6 team race for the Title, imho.

Also, teams like Santa Clara won the CIT post-season tournament and still picked to finish 5th while returning their core. USF returns all-5 starters after winning 20 games, and Gonzaga, BYU, St Mary's are always one of the better teams/programs in the West. Not to mention LMU has transfers from Oregon, USC, Arizona all eligible to play this season. Its gonna be a dog-fight.

Gonzaga has won 11 consecutive WCC Conference Championships, 14 straight 20+ win seasons, and 13 trips in a row to the NCAA Tournament.

These streaks could be in jeopardy this year with the overall strength of the Conference...its anyone's guess how this will all shake out.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Sacre picked as preseason all conference doesn't speak very highly of the talent in the WCC.

I think BYU wins the conference.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Every team ahead of BYU lost their best player too...they weren't Jimmer, but still impacts the team.

The Top-5 teams in the WCC will be tough. I would bet my life savings the WCC will have a better RPI than MWC this season as well.

Its a 5 or 6 team race for the Title, imho.

Also, teams like Santa Clara won the CIT post-season tournament and still picked to finish 5th while returning their core. USF returns all-5 starters after winning 20 games, and Gonzaga, BYU, St Mary's are always one of the better teams/programs in the West. Not to mention LMU has transfers from Oregon, USC, Arizona all eligible to play this season. Its gonna be a dog-fight.

Gonzaga has won 11 consecutive WCC Conference Championships, 14 straight 20+ win seasons, and 13 trips in a row to the NCAA Tournament.

These streaks could be in jeopardy this year with the overall strength of the Conference...its anyone's guess how this will all shake out.

You are seriously overrating the WCC. I really hope for your sake that you don't squander your life savings that way. The WCC should go for a manageable goal this year like having a higher conference RPI than the WAC, something it couldn't accomplish last year. MWC is a much better basketball conference.

[CardiacCoug]

BYU is going to win the conference. No way in hell does any WCC team beat BYU in the MC this year and BYU only loses one conference game at most (either at St. Mary's or at Gonzaga probably).

[MartyFunkhouser]

BYU is going to win the conference. No way in hell does any WCC team beat BYU in the MC this year and BYU only loses one conference game at most (either at St. Mary's or at Gonzaga probably).

I think you are absolutely right. BYU is taking a step down in conference affiliation and is going to show with the way perform in the conference.

[Donuthole]

I think you are absolutely right. BYU is taking a step down in conference affiliation and is going to show with the way perform in the conference.

Agreed. Much like Utah's football team took a step up in conference affiliation and is showing it with they way they perform in the conference. (Sorry, hanging curve.)

[higherroad]

Sacre picked as preseason all conference doesn't speak very highly of the talent in the WCC.

What are you talking about? Have you ever seen him play?

Sacre averaged 13 ppg, 6 rpg, 2 blocks per game while shooting 82% from the FT line as a post.

He's currently projected as a late 1st-Round, early 2nd-Round pick next season at 7'-foot, 265lbs. He has had a terrific off-season as well.

Also, he had 17 pts, 7 rebs, 4 blks vs BYU last season in just 27 mins of playing time.

Think or give a little credit where credit is due before you post. Sheesh.

[old_gregg]

What are you talking about? Have you ever seen him play?

yes, actually.

[higherroad]

yes, actually.

So, pointing out the fact Sacre was the most effective front court player in a game BYU won is supposed to discredit his ability as a player? Ok then...well played? What is your intent?

Gonzaga University requires 12 credits of logic & reasoning courses as part of their curriculum to graduate.

Maybe Utah and/or BYU should consider adding such a class?

Guess we'll find out how much 'Sacre sucks' soon enough...

PS-- one game doesn't mean a thing. The Zags have lost a conference game by 20pts one night, then come back and literally beat the same team by 25pts the very next week...this is precisely why Conference teams play 2 or even 3 times throughout the season.

[old_gregg]

So, pointing out the fact Sacre was the most effective front court player in a game BYU won is supposed to discredit his ability as a player? Ok then...well played? What is your intent?

Gonzaga University requires 12 credits of logic & reasoning courses as part of their curriculum to graduate.

Maybe Utah and/or BYU should consider adding such a class?

Guess we'll find out how much 'Sacre sucks' soon enough...

PS-- one game doesn't mean a thing. The Zags have lost a conference game by 20pts one night, then come back and literally beat the same team by 25pts the very next week...this is precisely why Conference teams play 2 or even 3 times throughout the season.

academic smack doesn't play when you're gonzaga.

[San Juan Sun]

So, pointing out the fact Sacre was the most effective front court player in a game BYU won is supposed to discredit his ability as a player? Ok then...well played? What is your intent?

Gonzaga University requires 12 credits of logic & reasoning courses as part of their curriculum to graduate.

Maybe Utah and/or BYU should consider adding such a class?

Guess we'll find out how much 'Sacre sucks' soon enough...

PS-- one game doesn't mean a thing. The Zags have lost a conference game by 20pts one night, then come back and literally beat the same team by 25pts the very next week...this is precisely why Conference teams play 2 or even 3 times throughout the season.

A couple of quick thought:

1. Sacre is a physically impressive specimen, but his basketball polish seemed lacking. Forgive us for not treating him like Lew Alcindor reincarnate. Although I admit, he is a good player.

2. One game does mean something. For example, it meant the end of Gonzaga's season, at the hands of the new WCC daddy.

3. To combine the two points above: after your extensive Logic and Reasoning training at Gonzaga, did it never occur to you that claiming one game means nothing and that BYU fans should respect Sacre based upon his performance in that game, are somewhat contradictory statements?

4. Are all Gonzaga fans as uptight and thin skinned as you? If so, we're going to love this conference. I can already smell the fear!

[Surfah]

Yeah, Sacre has an NBA body, but I am not sold that he has NBA talent or skill, at least to be an impact player of any kind.

I am also not buying anyone other than SMC, GU, and BYU as any threat to win the conference. SMC and BYU both lost their ridiculous guards. GU still looking for one if playing Stockton last year is any indication.

I agree that BYU will be undefeated at home. I don't think anyone in the WCC understands the home court advantage that the Marriott Center provides. If you doubt this, just check out some of these stats:

• 53 game home winning streak (2005-08)
• 166-16 (Last 12 years)
• .813 (78-18) Dave Rose' conference record
• Dave Rose hasn't finished worse than 2nd in the MWC

BYU is 17th in total wins and 32nd in winning percentage. BYU's struggles have been in the postseason. Not conference play.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Quoth today's SF Chronicle:

Brigham Young is the new conference guy. The Cougars have become an independent in football and have joined the WCC for other sports. Of course, with the landscape of college conferences changing seemingly nightly - and with football the engine creating all those changes - who knows how long BYU will remain in the WCC?

"There's no one (who's) a bigger college football fan than me," BYU's Dave Rose said, "... but now I watch college football and it kind of irritates me because it's determining everything that has to do with us."



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...#ixzz1c5K5cB93