NCAAB 2020 West Coast Conference Expert Analysis

NCAAB 2020 West Coast Conference Expert Analysis

Written by on November 10, 2020

Okay MyBookie college basketball betting faithful, with the start of the 2020-21 college basketball season set to get underway in approximately one month, it’s time to take a look at what lies ahead in the West Coast Conference. Perennially-powerful Gonzaga is the national preseason No. 1, so let’s get started with the cream of the crop so you can get your bets ready and place them against our College Basketball odds.

College Basketball Betting Analysis | 2020 West Coast Conference

The West Coast Conference is set to begin play on Thursday, December 31, 2020. A recent report says the West Coast Conference is exploring playing out conference basketball games for both men’s and women’s in a bubble-like scenario in Las Vegas.

Gonzaga

  • Key Returners: Joel Ayayi, Corey Kispert, Drew Timme, Anton Watson
  • Key Losses: Filip Petrusev (pro), Killian Tillie, Ryan Woolridge, Admon Gilder
  • Key Newcomers: Jalen Suggs, Julian Strawther, Dominick Harris, Oumar Ballo (redshirt), Aaron Cook (Southern Illinois)

Gonzaga went 29-2 last season and has finished inside the top two teams in the nation in three of the last four seasons. The Bulldogs finished the 2019-20 campaign ranked second nationally and spent five weeks at No. 1 and 14 weeks in the top three. Gonzaga lost a pair of big-time players in  Filip Petrusev and Killian Tillie, but the Zags added a five-star recruit in Jalen Suggs and have two other talented freshmen in Joel Ayayi and Dominick Harris.

BYU

  • Key Returners: Alex Barcello, Connor Harding, Gavin Baxter, Kolby Lee
  • Key Losses: Yoeli Childs, Jake Toolson, TJ Haws, Dalton Nixon, Zac Seljaas
  • Key Newcomers: Brandon Averette (Utah Valley), Matt Haarms (Purdue), Wyatt Lowell (Utah Valley), Richard Harward (Utah Valley), Caleb Lohner, Gideon George (JUCO), Hunter Erickson

BYU went a fantastic 24-7 overall and returned to the top-25 on Feb. 17 while reaching No. 14 before the 2019-20 season came to a crashing halt. Now, as the Cougars get set for their second season under head coach Mark Pope, things are looking up in a big way. BYU has five transfer players coming in to join their quartet of key returnees.

San Francisco

  • Key Returners: Jamaree Bouyea, Khalil Shabazz, Dzimitry Ryuny, Josh Kunen
  • Key Losses: Jimbo Lull, Charles Minlend (transfer), Jordan Ratinho
  • Key Newcomers: Damari Milstead (Grand Canyon), Isaiah Hawthorne (redshirt), Julian Rishwain (Boston College), Samba Kane (JUCO), Anthony Roy, Maj Dusanic

The Dons went 20-11 to record its fourth straight 20-win season and first under, now, second-year head coach Todd Golden. The bad news is that Frisco needs to replace three starters and four of their top six scorers from a year ago.

St. Mary’s

  • Key Returners: Matthias Tass (injury), Tommy Kuhse, Dan Fotu, Alex Ducas
  • Key Losses: Jordan Ford, Malik Fitts, Tanner Krebs, Kristers Zoriks (pro)
  • Key Newcomers: Jabe Mullins, Judah Brown, Leemet Bockler, Mitchell Saxen, Matthew van Komen (Utah)

St. Mary’s went 24-7 a year ago and would have reached the NCAA Tournament – if they had one – last season. The Gaels will be led by upper classmen, Dan Fotu and Matthias Tass, but their backcourt will be young and inexperienced  in 2020-21.

Pepperdine

  • Key Returners: Colbey Ross, Kessler Edwards, Skylar Chavez, Jade’ Smith (injury), Sedrick Altman, Andre Ball (injury)
  • Key Losses: Kameron Edwards
  • Key Newcomers: Kendall Munson, Majok Deng (redshirted), Robbie Heath (Division II)

Pepperdine went 15-15 a year ago, but welcomes back senior guard Colbey Ross, who ranks fourth among active Division I career leaders in assists (6.6 apg). The Waves only lose one player from last year’s squad and have four starters back, but the loss was a massive one with Kameron Edwards and his 16.2 points and 7.4 boards per game now gone.

Pacific

  • Key Returners: Pierre Crockrell II, Justin Moore, James Hampshire, Jahbril Price-Noel, Daniss Jenkins, Broc Finstuen, Jeremiah Bailey Key Losses: Jahlil Tripp, Amari McCray (transfer), Gary Chivichyan, Austin Vereen Key Newcomers: Jervay Green (Nebraska), Jordan Bell (LMU), Marial Mading (redshirt), Jalen Brown (JUCO), Nigel Shadd (Kansas St.)

Last season, Pacific went an impressive 23-9 under WCC Coach of the Year Damon Stoudamire to finish with its first 20-win season since 2010-11. Pcific adds former Loyola Marymount performer Jordan Bell and four transfer players incluiding former Nebraska recruit Jervay Green and K-State recruit Nigel Shadd.

Loyola Marymount

  • Key Returners: Eli Scott, Keli Leaupepe, Mattias Markusson (personal), Joe Quintana (injury), Dameane Douglas (injury), Ivan Alipiev, Parker Dortch
  • Key Losses: Erik Johansson, Jordan Bell (transfer), Seikou Sisoho Jawara (transfer)
  • Key Newcomers: Kodye Pugh (Stanford), Quentin Jackson (Temple), Mayoum Mayoum, Jalin Anderson

Loyola Marymount went 10-20 last season, but will have a new head coach this coming season in former Marquette assistant Stan Johnson and four new players with one being former Temple reserve Quentin Jackson.

Santa Clara

  • Key Returners: Josip Vrankic, Guglielmo Caruso, Keshawn Justice, DJ Mitchell, Jaden Bediako, Jalen Williams
  • Key Losses: Trey Wertz (transfer), Tahj Eaddy (grad transfer)
  • Key Newcomers: Christian Carlyle (FGCU), Trent Hudgens Jr., Miguel Tomley (redshirt)

Santa Clara got off to a blistering 14-2 start last season while finishing at 19-12  before the season got shut down. The good news is that the Broncos have seven returning players with four of those players putting up at least 7.7 points per game and two of those averaging double figures in scoring. Santa Clara has size and experience and they could surprise in 2020-21.

San Diego

  • Key Returners: Joey Calcaterra, Marion Humphrey, Yauhen Massalski, Finn Sullivan, Jared Rodriguez
  • Key Losses: Braun Hartfield (grad transfer), Alex Floresca, James Jean-Marie (transfer)
  • Key Newcomers: Frankie Hughes (Duquesne), Vladimir Pinchuk (New Mexico), Josh Parrish (Rice), Ben Pyle (Western Illinois), Yavuz Gultekin (Texas A&M), Chris Herren Jr. (Boston College)

San Diego recorded consecutive 20-win seasons – prior to going a pitiful 9-22 last season. However, with six incoming transfer players joining the team, including former Duquesne guard Frankie Hughes, the offensively-challenged Torerors could be a lot better than they were a year ago.

Portland

  • Key Returners: Tahirou Diabete, Takiula Fahrensohn, Chase Adams, Quincy Ferebee
  • Key Losses: Isaiah White, JoJo Walker (left team), Malcolm Porter (grad transfer), Jacob Tryon (transfer)
  • Key Newcomers: Ahmed Ali (Hawaii/Wazzu), Latrell Jones (JUCO), Hunter Seymour (JUCO), Clythus Griffith (JUCO), Isiah Dasher (JUCO), Eddie Davis (JUCO), Mikey Henn (Cal Baptist), Zac Triplett, Hayden Curtiss.

Portland opened the 2019-20 season by going 8-3 over their first 11 games, but things came crashing down quickly shortly thereafter as the Pilots finished a dismal 9-22. The good news is that Portland has seven new transfer players coming in for the 2020-21 season, so this team could surprise this coming campaign.


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