Wcc Men’S Basketball Capsules
Here, in the predicted order of finish, is a brief look at each West Coast Conference team, along with a summary of how each should do this season:
1. Pepperdine (9-6)
1997-98 record: 17-10 overall, 9-5 WCC, 2nd. No postseason play.
Coach: Lorenzo Romar (3rd year, all at Pepperdine). Record: 32-37.
Top returnees: G Jelani Gardner, 6-6, 205, Sr.; G Tommie Prince, 6-5, 210, Sr.; F Kevin Gibbs, 6-6, 245, So.
Top newcomers: F David Lalazarian, 6-7, 205, So.; C Nick Sheppard, 6-11, 235, Jr.
Outlook: Romar, a former UCLA assistant under Jim Harrick, continues one of the most remarkable turnarounds in the country. The Waves improved from 6-21 to 17-10 last year and came within a game of tying Gonzaga for the WCC’s regular-season title. This year, a pair of highly touted transfers - Lalazarian, from Notre Dame, and Sheppard, from Louisiana State - join Gardner, an all-conference pick in ‘98, on what could be Pepperdine’s first successful title drive since 1993.
2. Gonzaga (10-4)
1997-98 record: 24-10 overall, 10-4 WCC, 1st. Lost to Hawaii in second round of NIT.
Coach: Dan Monson (2nd year, both at Gonzaga). Record: 34-14.
Top returnees: G Matt Santangelo, 6-1, 173, Jr.; G Richie Frahm, 6-5, 203, Jr.; F Casey Calvary, 6-8, 214, So.
Top newcomers: None.
Outlook: The Bulldogs have shown few ill effects of having lost last year’s WCC player of the year, Bakari Hendrix. The return of senior center Jeremy Eaton, who redshirted last season, has helped immensely, and Calvary is emerging as one of the most versatile and athletic front-line players in the league. Throw in a veteran perimeter corps, headed by Santangelo, Frahm and senior Quentin Hall, and the defending regular-season champions look to be the equal of anyone in the league.
3. San Francisco (8-7)
1997-98 record: 19-11 overall, 7-7 WCC, tie for 4th. Lost to Utah in first round of NCAA Tournament.
Coach: Philip Mathews (4th year, all at USF). Record: 59-42.
Top returnees: G Ali Thomas, 6-2, 185 So.; G LyRyan Russell, 6-0, 160, So.; G Gerald Zimmerman, 6-6, 215, Sr.
Top newcomers: F Terrence Moore, 6-7, 250, Jr.; F Eugene Brown, 6-9, 210, Fr.
Outlook: The Dons, despite losing two starters and five other letterwinners from last year’s WCC tournament title team, have surprised many with their solid early season play. Russell has been slowed by injury, but several young players have stepped up their production to help Thomas, last year’s WCC freshman of the year, and Zimmerman. Mathews has eight freshmen and three junior college transfers on his roster.
4. San Diego (9-3)
1997-98 record: 14-14 overall, 5-9 WCC, 7th.
Coach: Brad Holland (7th year, 5th at USD). Record: 65-58 at USD, 88-89 overall.
Top returnees: F Ryan Williams, 6-6, 225, Sr.; G Brock Jacobsen, 6-5, 212.
Top newcomers: F Cameron Rigby, 6-7, 235, So.
Outlook: The Toreros are the surprise team of the league. Not much was expected after Holland lost three starters to graduation, but Williams, Jacobsen and sophomore guard Dana White have emerged as solid leaders on this team of overachievers. Still, USD hasn’t finished higher than third in the regular-season WCC standings since 1984 and don’t appear ready to join the league’s elite.
5. Santa Clara (4-8)
1997-98 record: 18-10 overall, 8-6 WCC, 3rd.
Coach: Dick Davey (7th year, all at Santa Clara). Record: 111-71.
Top returnees: F Todd Wuschnig, 6-7, 209, Jr.; C Alex Lopez, 6-9, 250, Sr.
Top newcomers: G Brian Vaka, 6-2, 200, Fr.; G Darrel Teat, 6-3, 190, Jr.
Outlook: The loss of junior point guard Brian Jones following off-season knee surgery has devastated the Broncos. Junior Nathan Fast has moved to the point, but Davey hasn’t been able to recapture the chemistry he had with Jones running the offense. Lopez and Wuschnig are forces inside, but neither is particularly adept at creating shots, which makes Jones’ absence even more crippling.
6. Portland (6-6)
1997-98 record: 14-13 overall, 7-7 WCC, tie for 4th.
Coach: Rob Chavez (7th year, 5th at Portland). Record: 69-56 at Portland, 97-83 overall.
Top returnees: F Jimmie Rainwater, 6-6, 195, Sr.; G Jason Franklin, 6-4, 180, Jr.; F Troy Collins, 6-6, 210, Jr.
Top newcomers: C Chukwuma Neboh, 6-11, 225, Jr.; F Jason Robbins, 6-6, 225, Fr.
Outlook: Chavez will again rely on his trademark pressure defense, but the Pilots don’t expect to be as athletic as last year’s team, which featured the departed Dionn Holton and Chivo Anderson. Rainwater and Franklin can both score, but neither is capable of providing the inside presence that has been lacking in the early season.
7. Saint Mary’s (7-8)
1997-98 record: 12-15 overall, 7-7 WCC, tie for 4th.
Coach: Dave Bollwinkel (7th year, 2nd at Saint Mary’s). Record: 19-23 at Saint Mary’s, 76-93 overall.
Top returnees: C Brad Millard, 7-3, 345, Jr.; F Eric Schraeder, 6-9, 225, Sr.; G Frank Alloco, 5-9, 165, Jr.
Top newcomers: F Seth Dahle, 6-6, 220, Jr.; C Blake Jensen, 6-11, 230, Fr.
Outlook: Heading into conference play, Millard remains inactive due to a broken foot that limited him to just two games last season. Bollwinkel expects to hear more on the future status of his giant junior center, the largest Division-I player in the nation, this month and hopes he will have him available by mid-season. That won’t be soon enough to make a regular-season run at the title, but with a healthy Millard, the Gaels could be a force in the WCC tournament.
8. Loyola Marymount (5-7)
1997-98 record: 7-20, 3-11 WCC, 8th. Coach: Charles Bradley (5th year, 2nd at LMU). Record: 12-27 at LMU, 49-70 overall.
Top returnees: G Haywood Eaddy, 5-4, 140, Sr.; G Willie Allen, 5-11, 160, Sr.; F Tim Kennedy, 6-5, 200, Sr.
Top newcomers: F Ed Wolfe, 6-7, 225, Jr.; C Pablo Machado, 6-10, 235, Jr.
Outlook: Everything points to another long season for the Lions, who lost three front-line starters to graduation. Eaddy, the smallest player ever to compete in the WCC, is an outstanding point guard, but has been hampered in the early season by an ankle sprain. If LMU hopes to escape the WCC cellar, several newcomers are going to have to emerge - and they haven’t thus far.