Gonzaga has won eight consecutive West Coast Conference women's basketball titles. The drive toward No. 9 begins Thursday night at McCarthey Athletic Center against San Diego. Read story

Graves said the WCC's Sagarin rating is seventh, one behind the Pac-12's.

"I think it speaks well for the depth of our conference," Graves said. "The teams on top are still playing well, but I think what's changed this year is that the teams at the bottom are starting to win."

Graves especially pointed to San Francisco, which went 5-25 last season and is 7-6 this year.

"The conference is going to be tough," Graves said. "It's going to be a dogfight every night and that's not just a cliche. It's going to be reality this year.

"I'm glad that everybody (in the WCC) is getting better. It helps us in the end because it makes us better."

Graves listed BYU, Saint Mary's and San Diego as the Bulldogs' biggest challenges.

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