This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Provo • With the exception of Saint Mary's, which still hasn't left the Bay Area this season, men's basketball teams in the West Coast Conference were not all that impressive in the nonconference portions of their schedules.
The Gaels (2-0, 11-1) won all their games except a 63-59 setback at Cal, while the other two members of the league's so-called "Big Three" — Gonzaga and BYU — played more difficult schedules and failed to knock off the more powerful opponents they faced.
Gonzaga (2-0, 10-3) posted good wins over Washington, Connecticut, Tennessee and Washington State, but came up short against Texas A&M, Arizona and UCLA. The Zags can be forgiven for the home losses to Arizona and UCLA, however, seeing as how they had to play their past eight games without big man Przemek Karnowski, who's been sidelined with a back injury.
BYU (9-4) went 0-2 against the Power 5 schools on its nonconference schedule, Utah and Colorado, and was upset by Long Beach State and Harvard. Again, the Cougars enter West Coast Conference play on Thursday at Saint Mary's on the wrong side of the NCAA Tournament bubble. Their best win was last Friday's 84-76 conquest of Northern Iowa in the fifth-place game at the Diamond Head Classic.
Meanwhile, WCC teams not named BYU, Saint Mary's or Gonzaga struggled in nonconference play. The aforementioned three are 30-8 overall. The rest of the league is 40-49, though that includes some league wins and losses.
Eight of the WCC's 10 teams started league play last week, the earliest starting date in league history. BYU and San Diego, traveling partners, didn't start league play because the Cougars were playing in Hawaii in a Christmas-week appearance that was scheduled several years ago, according to coach Dave Rose.
Saint Mary's, Gonzaga and Portland all went 2-0 the first week, with Portland's 87-79 win over Pepperdine perhaps the most surprising. The Waves (0-2, 7-6) also lost 99-73 at Gonzaga.
Picked third in the WCC preseason poll, Pepperdine got off to a disappointing start, losing four of its first six games before reeling off five straight wins prior to conference play.
Saint Mary's is the biggest surprise. Picked to finish fourth after graduating five fifth-year seniors, the Gaels served notice they would be better than expected with a 78-61 rout of Stanford on Nov. 22 in Moraga.
The Gaels lead the WCC in 14 statistical categories and lead the nation in field goal percentage at 53 percent. They are No. 3 in the nation in 3-point percentage, 45.2 percent.
"When you look at it, Saint Mary's has performed really well with a brand new team," Rose said. "That game at Cal, they had it won. Cal hit a big shot and got them. They beat Stanford at their place, so they are good. They are a legit team."
As for Gonzaga, Rose said the Zags will be fine.
"Everyone asks me, what is wrong with the Zags?" Rose said. "Well, they lost to a ranked Texas A&M team in the Bahamas by a point, and got beat by Arizona and UCLA without Karnowski. I think the Zags are still really good, and I think this league will be every bit as tough as it has been the last four years."
Twitter: @drewjay —
WCC at a glance
The West Coast Conference at-a-glance, in order of predicted finish:
1. Gonzaga (2-0, 10-3)
RPI: 59
Best win: vs. Connecticut, 73-70
Worst loss: vs. UCLA, 71-66
Leading scorers: F Kyle Wiltjer (20.2), F Domantas Sabonis (17.5)
The big question: Are the Zags good enough to win the league without big man Przemek Karnowski, who has missed last eight games with back injury?
2. Saint Mary's (2-0, 11-1)
RPI: 47
Best win: vs. Stanford, 78-61
Worst loss: at California, 63-59
Leading scorers: G Emmett Naar (14.2), G Joe Rahon (10.7)
The big question: Will the surprising Gaels play as well outside the Bay Area as they have in it?
3. BYU (0-0, 9-4)
RPI: 79
Best win: vs. Northern Iowa, 84-76
Worst loss: at Long Beach State, 66-65
Leading scorers: G Chase Fischer (17.4), G Nick Emery (15.3)
The big question: Will Fischer play consistently enough to keep the Cougars in the league's top three?
4. Pepperdine (0-2, 7-6)
RPI: 160
Best win: vs. Long Beach State, 77-75
Worst loss: vs. Drake, 69-53
Leading scorers: F Stacy Davis (14.0), G Lamond Murray Jr. (13.7)
The big question: Will the Waves' 0-2 start on the road in WCC play derail their title hopes?
5. Portland (2-0, 8-7)
RPI: 258
Best win: vs. Pepperdine, 87-79
Worst loss: vs. Idaho State, 66-65
Leading scorers: G Alec Wintering (16.2), G Bryce Pressley (13.4)
The big question: Will the administration's confidence in coach Eric Reveno pay dividends this season?
6. Santa Clara (0-2, 4-10)
RPI: 301
Best win: vs. Boston College, 62-45
Worst loss: at Pacific, 73-73 (OT)
Leading scorers: G Jared Brownridge (19.9), F Nate Kratch (11.6)
The big question: Will coach Kerry Keating's team finally beat BYU this season for the first time as a WCC member?
7. San Francisco (1-1, 7-5)
RPI: 307
Best win: vs. Rice, 80-54
Worst loss: vs. UC Santa Barbara, 68-61
Leading scorers: G Devin Watson (19.1), G Tim Derksen (14.4)
The big question: Can the guard-oriented Dons continue to shoot well from 3-point range?
8. Loyola Marymount (0-2, 7-6)
RPI: 138
Best win: at Cal State Fullerton, 82-70
Worst loss: at UC Irvine, 77-53
Leading scorers: G Brandon Brown (14.0), F Adom Jacko (13.9)
The big question: Have the talented but inconsistent Lions turned the corner under second-year coach Mike Dunlap?
9. San Diego (0-0, 5-6)
RPI: 298
Best win: vs. San Diego State, 53-48
Worst loss: vs. San Jose State, 76-67
Leading scorers: G Duda Sanadze (13.1), F Brett Bailey (8.4)
The big question: Did the Toreros make a mistake in firing well-respected coach Bill Grier?
10. Pacific (1-1, 2-9)
RPI: 323
Best win: vs. Santa Clara, 73-73 (OT)
Worst loss: vs. UC Irvine, 70-67
Leading scorers: G Alec Kobre (15.2), G Ray Bowles (12.9)
The big question: Can the Tigers overcome NCAA sanctions and stay competitive in the improved WCC?