WCC Basketball: 2018 conference tournament preview
By Shaun Gordon
Key players to watch
SR Jock Landale – St. Mary’s
2017-18 Stats: 21.5 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 2.1 apg
Landale will likely run away with WCC Player of the Year and he’s been the most dominant player in the league. He torched Gonzaga when St. Mary’s won in Spokane but the Zags held him in check in the second matchup and beat the Gaels soundly. He will need to be the key to winning the tournament title.
JR Josh Perkins – Gonzaga
2017-18 Stats: 13.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 5.2 apg
Perkins’ guard play is what keeps Gonzaga. He provides the perfect balance for the big men on the roster with his scoring and passing. The do-it-all guard leads the team in assists and his 42% three-point shooting keeps defenses from packing the paint.
SO TJ Haws – BYU
2017-18 Stats: 12.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.5 apg
Haws is neither the most efficient or most effective player for the Cougars. The former First-Team All-WCC guard has struggled in his sophomore campaign. When he plays well, BYU is a dangerous team. As Haws goes in Las Vegas, so will go the Cougars.
JR KJ Feagin – Santa Clara
2017-18 Stats: 17.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 4.1 apg
Feagin is second in the WCC in scoring and theBroncos can become a tough out when he’s on. He doesn’t have much talent around him, though, and if they make it past Pepperdine on Friday, they’ll try to upset St. Mary’s on Saturday.
JR Isaiah Pineiro – San Diego
2018-17 Stats: 15.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.1 apg
For San Diego, their defense has turned them into a formidable WCC foe. Pineiro has been the glue on both sides of the court. With the controversy surrounding coach Lamont Smith, it will take Pineiro’s steadying influence to make a tournament run.