coreyschucky
11-08-2004, 01:01 PM
From CBSSPORTSLINE.COM
West Coast Conference preview
By Gregg Doyel
SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Stock Chart
Team Stock
1. Gonzaga
2. Pepperdine
3. St. Mary's
4. Santa Clara
5. San Francisco
6. Portland
7. San Diego
8. Loyola Marymount
Pepperdine's turn again.
Every preseason, someone in the West Coast Conference is alleged to be this close to making a run at Gonzaga. Usually it has been Pepperdine, but last fall it was St. Mary's that was supposed to be making its move.
Ronny Turiaf is the man for Gonzaga this season.(AP)
These have been fine teams -- St. Mary's wasn't exactly a slouch last season at 19-12 overall and 9-5 in the league -- but they haven't been in Gonzaga's class.
This season, Pepperdine is back as the challenger du jour. Only, really, Pepperdine looks good. Really good.
No, we're not just saying that. The Waves return three first-class starters, unleash a 7-foot redshirt freshman and even signed the son of former San Francisco 49ers running back Roger Craig.
Gonzaga didn't sign the son of anyone famous. Plus, the Zags must replace lost All-American point guard Blake Stepp as well as double-double machine Cory Violette and solid contributor Tony Skinner.
We're not saying this is the season someone finally unseats Gonzaga. But Pepperdine does look to be this close.
Gonzaga
Top three: C Ronny Turiaf, F Adam Morrison, F J.P. Bautista.
On the decline: From here to eternity, we'll pick Gonzaga first in the league based on two qualifications: Did they win the West Coast last season, and is Mark Few still the head coach?
The answers this season are yes and yes. Plus, Gonzaga's frontcourt could be as good as any this side of UConn. Turiaf, Morrison and Bautista go 6-feet-10, 243 pounds; 6-8, 205 pounds; and 6-8, 265 pounds. Morrison is the slender one. He's going to score 2,000 points as long as he stays healthy and in school for four years.
The only question is at point guard, where sophomore Derek Raivio replaces Stepp. Raivio doesn't have to be an all-league performer for Gonzaga to repeat as champion, but he does have to be solid. Based one what we saw of him last season, he'll be at least that.
Pepperdine
Top three: F Yakhouba Diawara, G Alex Acker, C Glen McGowan.
On the rise: Pepperdine's top three was easy to pick, because it's a trio that rivals any in the league -- on par with any threesome Gonzaga can offer. Diawara in particular is an awesome talent.
The Waves are pretty big already, but they're going to get bigger with the addition of 7-0 Jarrad Henry, a highly recruited center who redshirted last season with a knee injury. If his knee holds up, the Waves will be tough for anyone to defeat -- Gonzaga, this means you.
St. Mary's
Top three: G Paul Marigney, F Daniel Kickert, G E.J. Rowland.
On the rise: After tying for second place last season, the Gaels haven't done anything to deserve being dropped to third in SportsLine.com's preseason projections. Someone had to be third, though, and so St. Mary's it is. The Gaels have an explosive backcourt in Marigney and Rowland, and Kickert and Frederic Adjiwanou are no slouches on the interior. Lots of talent here, just not quite enough to get past Pepperdine and Gonzaga.
Santa Clara
Top three: G Kyle Bailey, G Doron Perkins, F Travis Niesen.
On the rise: Sheesh, even the No. 4 team in the league looks awfully good. The Broncos return four starters and three solid reserves, with Perkins and Bailey back after combining for 25 points per game last season.
San Francisco
Top three: G John Cox, F Tyrone Riley, G Andre Hazel.
On the rise: The Dons had more turnover than the four teams ahead of them -- losing three starters and coach Phil Mathews, who was replaced by Louisiana-Lafayette's Jessie Evans -- but San Francisco gets back former all-league guard Cox, who sat out last season with a knee injury. The NCAA granted Cox a sixth year of eligibility because he had redshirted the 2000-01 season with bone spurs in his foot.
Portland
Top three: G Pooh Jeter, G Donald Wilson, F Dreshawn Vance.
On the rise: The Pilots don't have much in the way of post players, but Jeter's a great guard and combines with Wilson for a backcourt that can compete with any (but Pepperdine's) in the league. The best part is both are juniors, so Portland has something to look forward to next season.
San Diego
Top three: F Brice Vounang, F Brandon Gay, C Nick Lewis.
On the rise: The Toreros were shockingly bad last season, dropping from the NCAA Tournament in 2003 to a 4-26 record in 2004, but things are looking up. Not all the way up to the NCAA Tournament, but up is up. Vounang is a poor man's Ronny Turiaf -- a compliment -- and Gay, Lewis and Brett Melton are a solid nucleus of complementary players. Throw in a couple of transfers from big-time schools -- guards Floyd North of Oregon State and Ross DeRogatis of Oklahoma State -- and San Diego could triple last season's victory total.
Loyola Marymount
Top three: G Charles Brown, G Brandon Worthy, G Wes Wardrop.
On the decline: Sorry, Charles Brown, but someone has to finish last in what looks like a remarkably strong season for the WCC. That would be Loyola Marymount, unless 6-9 Indiana transfer Daryl Pegram is a star. If Pegram's a star, the Lions suddenly are a balanced bunch because Brown, Wardrop and Worthy -- back from a redshirt season -- are a fine trio of guards. Throw in a nightly double-double from Pegram, and the Lions could finish ahead of San Diego and Portland.
Accolades
First team
F -- Adam Morrison, Gonzaga
F -- Yakhouba Diawara, Pepperdine
C -- Ronny Turiaf, Gonzaga
G -- Pooh Jeter, Portland
G -- Paul Marigney, St. Mary's
Second team
F -- Brice Vounang, San Diego
F -- Daniel Kickert, St. Mary's
C -- Glen McGowan, Pepperdine
G -- Kyle Bailey, Santa Clara
G -- Alex Acker, Pepperdine
Player of the year
Ronny Turiaf, Gonzaga
Newcomer of the year
J.P. Batista, Gonzaga
Breakthrough player
Tyrone Riley, San Francisco
West Coast Conference preview
By Gregg Doyel
SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Stock Chart
Team Stock
1. Gonzaga
2. Pepperdine
3. St. Mary's
4. Santa Clara
5. San Francisco
6. Portland
7. San Diego
8. Loyola Marymount
Pepperdine's turn again.
Every preseason, someone in the West Coast Conference is alleged to be this close to making a run at Gonzaga. Usually it has been Pepperdine, but last fall it was St. Mary's that was supposed to be making its move.
Ronny Turiaf is the man for Gonzaga this season.(AP)
These have been fine teams -- St. Mary's wasn't exactly a slouch last season at 19-12 overall and 9-5 in the league -- but they haven't been in Gonzaga's class.
This season, Pepperdine is back as the challenger du jour. Only, really, Pepperdine looks good. Really good.
No, we're not just saying that. The Waves return three first-class starters, unleash a 7-foot redshirt freshman and even signed the son of former San Francisco 49ers running back Roger Craig.
Gonzaga didn't sign the son of anyone famous. Plus, the Zags must replace lost All-American point guard Blake Stepp as well as double-double machine Cory Violette and solid contributor Tony Skinner.
We're not saying this is the season someone finally unseats Gonzaga. But Pepperdine does look to be this close.
Gonzaga
Top three: C Ronny Turiaf, F Adam Morrison, F J.P. Bautista.
On the decline: From here to eternity, we'll pick Gonzaga first in the league based on two qualifications: Did they win the West Coast last season, and is Mark Few still the head coach?
The answers this season are yes and yes. Plus, Gonzaga's frontcourt could be as good as any this side of UConn. Turiaf, Morrison and Bautista go 6-feet-10, 243 pounds; 6-8, 205 pounds; and 6-8, 265 pounds. Morrison is the slender one. He's going to score 2,000 points as long as he stays healthy and in school for four years.
The only question is at point guard, where sophomore Derek Raivio replaces Stepp. Raivio doesn't have to be an all-league performer for Gonzaga to repeat as champion, but he does have to be solid. Based one what we saw of him last season, he'll be at least that.
Pepperdine
Top three: F Yakhouba Diawara, G Alex Acker, C Glen McGowan.
On the rise: Pepperdine's top three was easy to pick, because it's a trio that rivals any in the league -- on par with any threesome Gonzaga can offer. Diawara in particular is an awesome talent.
The Waves are pretty big already, but they're going to get bigger with the addition of 7-0 Jarrad Henry, a highly recruited center who redshirted last season with a knee injury. If his knee holds up, the Waves will be tough for anyone to defeat -- Gonzaga, this means you.
St. Mary's
Top three: G Paul Marigney, F Daniel Kickert, G E.J. Rowland.
On the rise: After tying for second place last season, the Gaels haven't done anything to deserve being dropped to third in SportsLine.com's preseason projections. Someone had to be third, though, and so St. Mary's it is. The Gaels have an explosive backcourt in Marigney and Rowland, and Kickert and Frederic Adjiwanou are no slouches on the interior. Lots of talent here, just not quite enough to get past Pepperdine and Gonzaga.
Santa Clara
Top three: G Kyle Bailey, G Doron Perkins, F Travis Niesen.
On the rise: Sheesh, even the No. 4 team in the league looks awfully good. The Broncos return four starters and three solid reserves, with Perkins and Bailey back after combining for 25 points per game last season.
San Francisco
Top three: G John Cox, F Tyrone Riley, G Andre Hazel.
On the rise: The Dons had more turnover than the four teams ahead of them -- losing three starters and coach Phil Mathews, who was replaced by Louisiana-Lafayette's Jessie Evans -- but San Francisco gets back former all-league guard Cox, who sat out last season with a knee injury. The NCAA granted Cox a sixth year of eligibility because he had redshirted the 2000-01 season with bone spurs in his foot.
Portland
Top three: G Pooh Jeter, G Donald Wilson, F Dreshawn Vance.
On the rise: The Pilots don't have much in the way of post players, but Jeter's a great guard and combines with Wilson for a backcourt that can compete with any (but Pepperdine's) in the league. The best part is both are juniors, so Portland has something to look forward to next season.
San Diego
Top three: F Brice Vounang, F Brandon Gay, C Nick Lewis.
On the rise: The Toreros were shockingly bad last season, dropping from the NCAA Tournament in 2003 to a 4-26 record in 2004, but things are looking up. Not all the way up to the NCAA Tournament, but up is up. Vounang is a poor man's Ronny Turiaf -- a compliment -- and Gay, Lewis and Brett Melton are a solid nucleus of complementary players. Throw in a couple of transfers from big-time schools -- guards Floyd North of Oregon State and Ross DeRogatis of Oklahoma State -- and San Diego could triple last season's victory total.
Loyola Marymount
Top three: G Charles Brown, G Brandon Worthy, G Wes Wardrop.
On the decline: Sorry, Charles Brown, but someone has to finish last in what looks like a remarkably strong season for the WCC. That would be Loyola Marymount, unless 6-9 Indiana transfer Daryl Pegram is a star. If Pegram's a star, the Lions suddenly are a balanced bunch because Brown, Wardrop and Worthy -- back from a redshirt season -- are a fine trio of guards. Throw in a nightly double-double from Pegram, and the Lions could finish ahead of San Diego and Portland.
Accolades
First team
F -- Adam Morrison, Gonzaga
F -- Yakhouba Diawara, Pepperdine
C -- Ronny Turiaf, Gonzaga
G -- Pooh Jeter, Portland
G -- Paul Marigney, St. Mary's
Second team
F -- Brice Vounang, San Diego
F -- Daniel Kickert, St. Mary's
C -- Glen McGowan, Pepperdine
G -- Kyle Bailey, Santa Clara
G -- Alex Acker, Pepperdine
Player of the year
Ronny Turiaf, Gonzaga
Newcomer of the year
J.P. Batista, Gonzaga
Breakthrough player
Tyrone Riley, San Francisco