WCC Basketball: 2018 conference tournament preview
By Shaun Gordon
Teams to Watch
Team to Beat: Gonzaga
It’s the same old story. The Bulldogs are the class of the WCC. They’re the No.1 seed. They’re the top-10 team.Gonzaga is on an eleven-game winning streak and they’re playing their best basketball of the season at just the right time.
After losing to St. Mary’s in The Kennel, the Zags got their revenge in Moraga, dismantling the Gaels and taking back control of the conference.They’re the most talented deepest, and best-coached team in the conference, and there’s no reason to expect an upset in Las Vegas.
Biggest Threat: St. Mary’s
The Gaels are a top-25 team and they’ve already proven they can beat Gonzaga. They have the likely WCC Player of the Year in Jock Landale, and if he’s on, St. Mary’s can beat just about anybody.
They’re also one of the most experienced teams in the country, and that can play a huge role when the pressure of March hits. If the Gaels knock off Gonzaga to win the tournament title, it won’t be all that surprising.
Dark Horse Team: San Francisco
The Dons have won five out of their last seven games, including a 70-63 upset over St. Mary’s. Their only two losses down the stretch came by a combined total of five points.
San Francisco is playing very good basketball right now and they’ve proven they’re capable of beating anybody in the conference. They’re a team nobody wants to face in the tournament.