Week one is officially in the books for all the programs in the West Coast Conference. Every program has logged at least two games and the conference currently holds a 17-6 record across all 11 teams through Sunday’s games. With multiple contests on the resume, now it’s time for the first West Coast Conference power rankings of the season!
West Coast Conference Power Rankings: Week 1
#1: Gonzaga Bulldogs (2-0)
11-4-24 vs #8 Baylor-W, 101-63 (Neutral Site)
11-10-24 vs Arizona State-W, 88-80
Without a doubt, Gonzaga took on the toughest opening day challenge in the nation as they welcomed the eighth-ranked Baylor Bears to Spokane. What followed was the most impressive performance in the country through the first week of college basketball. The Zags won by 38. Five players reached double figures in scoring. The Bulldogs posted more assists than field goals made by Baylor. Not much more needs to be said about this one.
The second game of the week was a much closer affair with Arizona State coming to the McCarthey Athletic Center. The betting odds favored the Bulldogs by 19 points but it resulted in a back-and-forth affair for roughly 46 minutes. Gonzaga’s defense struggled to contain State’s athleticism, particularly in the paint where the Sun Devils scored 42 points in the paint. On the brightside, Gonzaga’s depth was on full display. So far, they have the best second unit in the country. Braden Huff scored 21 while shooting 69% from the floor. Michael Ajayi pulled down 12 boards and swiped three steals. As it stands, Gonzaga may be the deepest team in the nation. Ryan Nembhard might just be the best point guard in the nation and Khalif Battle seems to finally have found a home in Spokane.
Graham Ike and Ben Gregg combined for 24 minutes of playing time, and they still won. The WCC should be worried about the boys from inside the Kennel.
#2: San Francisco Dons (2-0)
11-5-24 vs Cal Poly San Luis Obispo- W, 86-78
11-9-24 vs Boise State-W, 84-73
The Dons’ season got off to a slow start despite securing a win against the Broncos from Cal Poly. Cal Poly is undergoing a transition with newly minted head coach Mike DeGeorge. The Broncos roster is full of NCAA Division II players who followed DeGeorge to Cal Poly, but they gave San Francisco all they could handle. Still, a win is a win and the guards were as dynamic as advertised. Freshman Tyrone Riley IV burst onto the scene with 26 points and Malik Thomas added 23 points as well.
Beating Boise State is a massive win for the Dons’ and the conference as a whole. Boise is projected to win the Mountain West, and Tyson Degenhart was the preseason pick for Mountain West Player of the Year. Still, Marcus Williams was an offense unto himself with 20 points, six assists, and hit four of five shots from deep. Ndewedo Newbury had a big game as well with his first double-double of the season while also only committing two fouls.
Size remains a legitimate concern for this team as transfer center Carlton Linguard Jr. remains the only real threat down low for the Dons.
#3: Saint Mary’s Gaels (2-0)
11-4-24 vs Towson-W, 76-69
11-7-24 vs Chattanooga-W, 86-74
The Gaels and Dons are neck and neck in these rankings, but the quality of the Boise State win gives USF the slight edge. Saint Mary’s did exactly what they were supposed to do against decent yet overmatched opponents. The game against Towson was highlighted by the Gaels ability to limit quality looks and overwhelming their opponents with size and rebounding prowess.
Game two of the week against Chattanooga was a bit more concerning for Saint Mary’s in this writer’s opinion. Chattanooga converted 51% of their field goals, his 40% of their three point shots, and only turned the ball over nine times. Still, newcomer Paulius Murauskas showcased why he would be in contention for Newcomer of the Year. He scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Through two games, he is averaging 18.5 points and 12 rebounds per game while converting 57% from the floor. Augustas Marciulionis put on a dominant showing as well finishing one point off his career high with 27 points.
Depth is a real concern here. Mitchell Saxen has fouled out of two straight games against middling teams, and Murauskas reached four fouls in both contests as well. Freshman Mikey Lewis has been decent off the bench scoring the ball but has struggled defensively. As it stands the Gaels’ do not have a reserve player who has seen any kind of substantial game action. Rory Hawke’s return form injury should give the bench a boost soon.
#4: Santa Clara Broncos (1-1)
11-4-24 vs Saint Louis-W, 85-78 (Neutral Site)
11-8-24 vs Arizona State-L, 74-81 (Neutral Site)
Santa Clara finishes week one with a 1-1 record having played two very solid opponents on neutral courts. Game one against the new look Billikens resulted in a Broncos win. Adama Alpha-Bal reminded everyone that he has all the tools to be a professional thanks to 24 points on 7-13 shooting. Center Christoph Tilly was arguably the best player on the court with 17 points, eight boards, and numerous extra efforts that helped slow down St. Louis star big man Robbie Avila.
Against Arizona State, the Broncos could not overcome a slow start to the game. Through the first 20 minutes they shot under 38% from the floor while Johnny O’Neil and Tyeree Bryan combined for two points. Still they rallied, thanks to a bounce-back game from Carlos Stewart Jr. and the emergence of Elijah Mahi. Mahi has been outstanding in his first NCAA Division I games. He is posting 14.5 points a night while shooting 55% from the floor.
#5: Washington State Cougars (2-0)
11-4-24 vs Portland State-W, 100-92
11-8-24 vs Bradley-W, 91-74
Another team that didn’t face the stiffest of competition, the Cougars from Washington State took care of business to kick start their season. Portland State put up more of a fight than anticipated, but six different players scored in double figures, and the offense was humming to the tune of 53% shooting from the floor and a blistering 47% clip from deep.
Their second game came against Bradley who sits at 100 on KenPom. This time, the Cougars more than handled business to the tune of a 17-point win. Once again, six different players reached 10 or more points on the night. As it stands, Cedric Coward has been the most dominant force in the conference after the first week. In his two games (prior to Monday), he is averaging 20.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, and two steals. He sits fourth in the conference through Sunday in scoring and fifth in rebounding and is well on his way to contending for awards in the WCC.
(Washington State defeated Idaho 90-67 on Monday.)
Ranking the Rest
#6-Oregon State (2-0)
#7-Loyola Marymount (1-1)
#8-Pacific (3-0) (lost to Hawai’i 76-66 on Monday)
#9-Pepperdine (1-1)
#10-San Diego (1-1)
#11-Portland (1-1)
The Last Word
College basketball season is in full swing and the West Coast Conference is off to a great start! This could very well be the year the conference earns three bids for the tournament come March. Overall, it looks like Gonzaga has elevated themselves into a tier above the rest. Yet, multiple teams all can lay claim to the number two spot out west!
