Busting Brackets
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WCC Basketball: Breakout candidates from each team for 2019-20

By Andy Patton

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 21: Filip Petrusev #3 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs dunks against the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights during the second half in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 21, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 21: Filip Petrusev #3 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs dunks against the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights during the second half in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 21, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 12: A screen displays the 60-47 final score of the Saint Mary’s Gaels’ win over the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the championship game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on March 12, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 12: A screen displays the 60-47 final score of the Saint Mary’s Gaels’ win over the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the championship game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on March 12, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

WCC Basketball lost a lot of talent to the draft and graduation last year, but here are 10 breakout candidates for the conference in the 2019-2020 season.

For nearly 20 years, WCC Basketball has been ruled by one team; the Gonzaga Bulldogs. That doesn’t look like it will change during the 2019-2020 season, even though the Zags lost a lot of talent to the NBA Draft.

BYU and St. Mary’s will both be strong again next year, with BYU returning nearly 80% of their offense and SMC returning Jordan Ford, who at times seemed like 80% of their offense.

The rest of the league is still a crapshoot, with seemingly a new team emerging as a challenger every year. San Diego had their moment in the sun, but graduating their top four scorers seems to push them out.

San Francisco lost their coach and their leading scorer, whereas Santa Clara is returning their top five scorers – making it anyone’s guess how spots 4-10 will shake out in the league next year.

However, for any of these teams to take that next step, they’ll need someone to break out. Whether that’s a rising sophomore who put away the freshman 15 and is ready to ball, or a bench player who is replacing a graduated senior, each team needs someone to take that step forward.

Here are 10 candidates, one from each WCC Basketball team, who could be taking that leap next season.