West Coast Conf. Preview

In projected order of finish

Santa Clara (9-3, 1-0)

Last year: 13-14 overall, 6-8 in WCC (T5th).

Coach: Dick Davey, third year, 41-29.

Returning starters: G Steve Nash, C Phil Von Buchwaldt.

Strengths: Nash, a junior, is the most obvious plus. He leads the league in scoring and pumped in 34 points in the Broncos’ win over Saint Mary’s. In that one, he set a WCC record by sinking all 21 of his free throws. He also hands out more than six assists a game to lead the league. The last guy to lead the WCC in those categories at the end of the season was Gonzaga’s John Stockton. Junior forward Kevin Dunne, with seven boards a game, has helped the Broncos develop into the league’s top rebounding team.

Question marks: The Broncos shoot only 43 percent from the field and somehow tend to lose close games - three in overtime and six by just two points last year.

Comment: The Broncos stand as one of the biggest surprises during preconference play, defeating Oregon and losing by only five points on the home court of No. 7-ranked Kansas.

Gonzaga (11-1)

Last year: 22-8 overall, 12-2 in WCC (1st).

Coach: Dan Fitzgerald, 13th season. Record: 208-134.

Returning starter: G John Rillie.

Strengths: Depth, balance and exceptional shooting. The Bulldogs lead the WCC in shooting, shooting defense, scoring defense and 3-point percentage. The other obvious element going for the Bulldogs is their invulnerability at home the past two years.

Question marks: Relative inexperience hasn’t hurt GU yet, but could be the biggest concern heading into conference play.

Comment: The Bulldogs haven’t developed that one go-to guy (a la Jeff Brown the past three years) who can be counted on to score every night. Instead, they’re scoring by committee, with a different man seeming to answer the call when needed.

Portland (9-3)

Last year: 13-17 overall, 6-8 in WCC (T5th).

Coach: Rob Chavez, first year.

Starters returning: C Curt Ranta, G Ray Ross, G Canaan Chatman.

Strengths: At 6-foot-10, 245 pounds, Ranta is probably the best big man in the league, while the 6-8 Chatman is a threat from anywhere. Chatman had 24 points and 10 rebounds in overtime loss to Michigan during the preconference season. JC transfer Lemont Daniels, a 61-percent shooter, adds to the Pilots’ weapons. Pilots defense is forcing 23 turnovers a game and made Michigan cough it up 29 times.

Question marks: How the team meshes with the coaching of rookie Rob Chavez.

Comment: Portland had some of the best talent in the league last year, but losing record got coach Larry Steele canned. Talent level, alone, makes this team a title contender.

Loyola Marymount (7-4)

Last year: 6-21 overall, 4-10 in WCC (8th).

Coach: John Olive, third year. Record: 20-45.

Returning starters: F Wyking Jones, F Robin Kirksey, C Ime Oduok, G Jim Williamson.

Strengths: Oduok has turned into one of the strongest interior players in the conference and is the league’s only player to average a double-double (15.1 ppg, 10.7 rpg). The 6-7 Jones is the top returning scorer in the league, and Williamson was the 1994 Freshman of the Year in the conference. LMU leads the league in blocks, averaging 4.5 a game.

Question marks: The Lions have averaged nearly 20 turnovers a game.

Comment: This team has already won more games than last year’s group and is clearly on an upswing.

San Francisco (6-8, 0-1)

Last year: 17-11 overall, 8-6 in WCC (3rd).

Coach: Jim Brovelli, 10th at USF. Record: 287-274.

Returning starters: G Gerald Walker, C Art Wallace.

Strengths: Walker, returned from a broken leg sustained in the conference tournament, may be the most explosive player in the league. On any night, he’s capable of 30 points and a half dozen steals. Sophomore forward John Duggan has gone from not starting a game last year to being the No. 3 scorer (18.1 ppg) in the conference.

Question marks: Clearly, the Dons will miss graduated guard Orlando Smart, the WCC’s all-time steals leader. Also, Walker occasionally falls asleep during portions of certain games.

Comment: USF had the toughest preconference schedule and has hardly sparkled. Still, it’s the highest-scoring team in the conference and has a player in Walker who can take over games.

San Diego (5-6, 1-0)

Last year: 18-11 overall, 7-7 in WCC (4th).

Coach: Brad Holland, first year.

Returning starters: G Doug Harris, F Sean Flannery, G David Fizdale.

Strengths: Under former UCLA player Holland, the Toreros pulled off the first road breakthrough of the season, winning 90-85 at San Francisco last weekend. Harris is among the league’s top four scorers, and averages three 3-pointers a game. Harris and Fizdale give USD the most experienced backcourt in the conference.

Question marks: San Diego has nobody in the top 10 in the conference in rebounding and could be vulnerable to strong inside play. The Toreros are very young, as well, with three freshmen and two sophomores seeing action off the bench.

Comment: Under departed coach Hank Egan (now assistant with San Antonio Spurs), San Diego made it all the way to the conference title game. But giving up 76 points a game this time around, the defense could be suspect.

Saint Mary’s (5-6, 0-1)

Last year: 13-14 overall, 5-9 in WCC (7th).

Coach: Ernie Kent, fourth year. Record: 42-53.

Returning starters: G Chris Johnson, F A.J. Rollins, Jumoke Horton.

Strengths: Rollins is the league’s most accurate shooter at better than 61 percent. The Gaels improved their offense by nearly 17 points a game last year with 11 lettermen returning. Johnson sank 40 percent of his 3-point shots last year. The 295-pound Horton can cause problems for the league’s centers.

Question marks: Aside from Rollins, the Gaels aren’t shooting well, particularly from 3-point range (26.9 percent).

Comment: Although the Gaels have struggled thus far, they probably showed they can surprise anyone by playing Santa Clara so close in a 75-71 loss Saturday.

Pepperdine (3-8)

Last year: 19-11 overall, 8-6 in WCC (2nd).

Coach: Tony Fuller, first year.

Returning starters: C Gavin Vanderputten.

Strengths: Freshman forward Monte Marcaccini, who once signed with Indiana but played in amateur leagues in Italy for a year after high school instead. He’s the only freshman in the league to lead his team in scoring (13.0). Fuller, 20-37 in his two years as head coach at San Diego State, will run an attack similar to that of departed coach Tom Asbury. Pep scared Michigan in overtime before losing in the NCAA first round.

Question marks: The loss of versatile forward Dana Jones must signal a slip in the team’s talent level. Pep is the only team in the conference that does not return a double-figure scorer.

Comment: The Waves can’t shoot, hitting only 42.4 from the field and averaging only 65.5 points a game. Defense will win some games in this league, but not enough to make a title run.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = - Compiled by Dave Boling/Staff writer