WCC Basketball: Preseason rankings for 2018-19

Moving into the top half of the conference, the San Diego Toreros have the talent to finish as high as third. The Toreros had their promising season derailed after domestic violence incident forced Head Coach Lamont Smith to resign from his position.

First-year Head Coach Sam Scholl, a former Toreros player and long-time assistant, will lead a team that made it to the CIT Quarterfinals last season.

San Diego returns four starters, losing senior Cameron Neubauer who was fifth on the team in both scoring and rebounding, despite being the tallest player in the starting five. This could be a blessing in disguise, however, as Scholl will be able to slot in Yauhen Massalski, Andrew Ferguson or Akim-Jamal Jonah into the starting rotation, all of whom provide more size.

The strength for San Diego is the experience of its four returning starters, who are all entering their senior season. Isaiah Pineiro and Isaiah Wright are probably the third best duo in the WCC behind BYU’s Yoeli Childs and TJ Haws and any combination of Gonzaga players. They ranked 1st and 2nd in scoring, rebounding and assists for the Toreros last season and could both land on the All-WCC First Team.

Along with Pineiro and Wright, Olin Carter Jr. and Tyler Williams are both returning to San Diego. Olin Carter Jr. was San Diego’s top scorer in 2016-17 and was able to succeed last season despite losing shots. Williams was the lowest scorer of the four, despite being perhaps the most efficient jump shooter.

If Scholl can effectively manage his starters to reduce the effect of San Diego’s lack of proven depth, the Toreros could be a team to watch in the WCC. As it stands, they look like a team that will finish inside the top half of the conference.