Why Saint Mary’s was picked over perennial favorite Gonzaga to win 2023-24 West Coast Conference championship

For the primary time for the reason that 2017-18 season, a staff rather then Gonzaga has been picked to end atop the West Coast Conference within the league’s preseason poll. Saint Mary’s edged the Zags 61-60 in overall issues within the coaches ballot, introduced Thursday. The Gaels gained 5 first-place votes whilst the Bulldogs gained 4.

The effects come after the rival techniques completed tied atop the league standings ultimate season prior to Gonzaga edged Saint Mary’s within the WCC Tournament Championship Game. Gonzaga proceeded to make the Elite Eight — marking its 6th consecutive run to the Sweet 16 or past — however is dropping program legend Drew Timme and two different starters.

Saint Mary’s returns first-team All-WCC performers Aidan Mahaney and Mitchell Saxen from a staff that earned a No. 5 seed within the NCAA Tournament prior to being eradicated in the second one spherical. The Gaels had been a constant challenger to the Zags underneath longtime trainer Randy Bennett, and the the coaches ballot underscores the sturdy status of Saint Mary’s coming into the 2023-24 season. Bennett has posted a 53-16 (26-5 WCC) file over the previous two seasons whilst incomes consecutive No. 5 seeds for the Big Dance.

While the coaches ballot is a ringing endorsement for Saint Mary’s from the friends of Bennett and Gonzaga trainer Mark Few, it is also an indication of the uncertainty the Zags face coming into Few’s twenty fifth season. 

Gonzaga’s new faces

Gonzaga landed the No. 10 switch elegance, in accordance to 247Sports. The staff is headlined by way of former Creighton level guard Ryan Nembhard, who was the No. 6 participant within the 2023 CBS Sports switch ratings. It additionally contains No. 34 switch Graham Ike, who was probably the most absolute best bigs within the Mountain West at Wyoming all over the 2021-22 season prior to lacking ultimate 12 months due to damage. Former Big Sky Player of the Year Steele Venters, who shot 40.3% from 3-point vary ultimate 12 months at Eastern Washington, rounds out the category.

While the veteran trio makes for a forged inflow of skill, the Zags are coming into a brand new generation with out Timme, who was an very important a part of the lineup for 4 seasons. The three-time All-American left as Gonzaga’s all-time main scorer after averaging profession highs in issues (21.2), rebounds (7.5), assists (3.2) and blocks (1.0) ultimate season.

With No. 2 scorer Julian Strawther and No. 4 scorer Rasir Bolton additionally departed, Few should combine a mix of returners, led by way of fifth-year ahead Anton Watson and junior guard Nolan Hickman, with the incoming transfers and a gaggle of newbies that comes with avid gamers from Croatia, Serbia and South Korea.

The Saint Mary’s precedent

Though it is uncommon for any individual rather then Gonzaga to be picked to end atop the WCC, ultimate season’s shared regular-season name between the Zags and Gaels was now not extraordinary. The groups additionally break up the regular-season name in 2016, and the Gaels gained the league outright in 2012. Saint Mary’s additionally gained the WCC Tournament in 2010, 2012 and 2019, offering transient interruptions to Gonzaga’s stable move of WCC dominance.

The groups are scheduled to play regular-season video games on Feb. 4 and Feb. 25, 2024. 

2023-24 WCC preseason ballot

1. Saint Mary’s (5)
2. Gonzaga (4)
3. San Francisco
4. Loyola-Marymount
5. Santa Clara
6. Portland
7. Pepperdine
8. Pacific
9. San Diego