West Coast Conference
Following is staff writer Dave Boling’s predicted order of finish and a brief summary of the men’s basketball prospects of each West Coast school:
1. Santa Clara
1995-96 record: 9-3
1994-95 record: 21-7, 12-2 (1st).
Coach: Dick Davey, 62-36, fourth year.
Top returnees: G Steve Nash, 6-3, Sr.), Marlon Garnett (6-2, Sr.), Brendan Graves (6-10, Sr.), Kevin Dunne (6-6, Sr.).
Coach’s comments: “We’re a fairly deep team and that will help us during the league season since there are times when you’re playing without people or with people who aren’t at full strength.”
Outlook: Nash is one of the best players on the West Coast and enjoys the support of a veteran team. Garnett was also an all-league performer last year and is second in the conference in 3-point percentage. The Broncos have had a 12-day layoff heading into league play. They deserve it, having negotiated one of the toughest pre-conference schedules ever.
2. Loyola Marymout
1995-96 record: 9-3
1994-95 record: 13-15, 4-10 (T6th)
Coach: John Olive, 35-56, fourth year
Top returnees: C Ime Oduok (6-9, Sr.), F Mike O’Quinn (6-5, Jr.), G Jim Williamson (5-10, Jr.).
Coach’s comments: “We haven’t shot the ball as well as we’d like to, and we’ve turned it over more than we wanted to, but we’re doing a good job of rebounding and executing.”
Outlook: Most are picking a middle-of-the-pack finish for this team, but it’s the strongest rebounding club in the conference with an enforcer under the basket in Oduok. Two of the Lions’ three losses have been by one point, so look for this club to contend.
3. Gonzaga
1995-96 record: 9-3
1994-95 record: 21-9, 7-7 (4th)
Coach: Dan Fitzgerald, 227-151, 14th year
Top returnees: F Paul Rogers (7-0, Jr.), G Kyle Dixon (6-1, Sr.), F Jon Kinloch (6-6, Sr.), C Scott Snider (6-9, Sr.)
Coach’s comments: “The thing that concerns us now, unlike past Gonzaga teams, is that our perimeter shooting has taken a sabbatical, but we’re probably playing as good a defense as we have in a long time, which is a pretty big statement.”
Outlook: Fitzgerald has lamented the offensive production from his off-guard spot, but he’s loaded with talent everywhere else as Rogers may be the best front-liner in the league and Dixon may be a better finisher off the dribble than even Nash. Slow starts are a curse, but maybe that also allows this team to peak at tournament time.
4. Saint Mary’s
1995-96 record: 6-5
1994-95 record: 18-10, 10-4 (T2nd)
Coach: Ernie Kent, 60-62, fifth year
Top returnees: C Jumoke Horton (6-9, Sr.), G Josh Unruh (6-5, Jr.), G Mahershalal Gilmore (6-3, Sr.), G Kamran Sufi (5-10, Jr.)
Coach’s comments: “Jumoke is almost unstoppable on the inside; we’ve jumped on his shoulders and he’s really started to carry us.”
Outlook: At 295 pounds, Horton is the most intimidating post in the league and he’s pulling down almost 10 boards a game. Newcomer David Sivulich - a dangerous gunner from the outside - leads the league in scoring with 18.3 a game. His play helps open the middle for Horton. This team was expected to challenge for the title, but injuries to A.J. Rollins and Ali Peek leave it a little thin.
5. Portland
1995-96 record: 9-3
1994-95 record: 21-8, 10-4 (T2nd)
Coach: Rob Chavez, 30-11, second year
Top returnees: F Lemont Daniels (6-4, Sr.), G Kasey Flicker (6-3, Sr.), G Dionn Holton (5-10, So.).
Coach’s comments: “Going into the season, we weren’t sure of our team in a lot of areas, but as it’s gone along, we find we have pretty good depth, reasonable quickness and we’ve been able to get good leadership.”
Outlook: The Pilots lost a pair of all-conference players in Canaan Chatman and Curt Ranta, but are still the leading scoring team in the conference, averaging 81 points a game. Newcomer Kweemada King, a 6-4 junior-college transfer guard, leads the team in scoring at 14.4.
6. San Diego
1995-96 record: 6-5
1994-95 record: 11-16, 5-9 (5th)
Coach: Brad Holland, 17-21, second year.
Top returnees: F Ryan Williams (6-6, So.), G David Fizdale (6-2, Sr.), F Brian Bruso (6-7, Jr.).
Coach’s comments: “We’ve been without two of our best players so far, but we’re pretty pleased with how our team has played.”
Outlook: This looked like a team on the rise, but injuries to Sean Flannery (out for the year with a knee injury) and Brian Bruso (out with a broken foot for at least several more weeks) have crippled the Toreros’ title hopes. Although those were the top two returning scorers, San Diego was able to get a leg up on the league with a conference-opening win over San Francisco last weekend.
7. San Francisco
1995-96 record: 7-6
1994-95 record: 10-19, 4-10 (T6th)
Coach: Phil Mathews
Years coaching: 1st year
Top returnees: G Gerald Walker (6-1, Sr.), F John Duggan (6-8, Jr.), F Zerrick Campbell (6-5, So.).
Coach’s comments: “It’s been interesting for us, we get a big win over Stanford and then lose to Bucknell at home. But we’re right about where we thought we’d be.”
Outlook: Mathews enjoyed great success at Ventura (Calif.) College, leading his team to conference titles in each of his 10 seasons there. Walker is the league’s alltime steals leader and remains one of the most physically gifted players in the WCC.
8. Pepperdine
1995-96 record: 7-5
1994-95 record: 8-19, 4-10 (T6th)
Coach: Tony Fuller, 15-24, second year
Top returnees: G Gerald Brown (6-3, Jr.) C Gavin Vander Putten (7-0, Sr.).
Coach’s comments: “We’re very excited about the way this team has come together. They’re playing as a team and playing extremely hard.”
Outlook: Newcomers Marques Johnson (6-foot guard, 15.6 ppg) and Wil Weir (6-7 forward) are supporting returner Gerald Brown, who is second in the league in scoring at 17 ppg.
, DataTimes MEMO: See related story under the headline: WCC sees nothing but balance