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

By Andy Patton | Jul 18, 2019

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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MORAGA, CA – MARCH 02: Matthias Tass #11 of the Saint Mary’s Gaels goes in for a layup against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the second half of their NCAA college basketball game at McKeon Pavilion on March 2, 2019 in Moraga, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

F Matthias Tass – Saint Mary’s Gaels

The Gaels of St. Mary’s, much like BYU, are returning nearly all of their production from last season. The biggest loss is at the center position. Jordan Hunter, who averaged 7.9 points, 6.7 boards, and 1.4 blocks per game last year, is graduated, leaving a big hole in the middle for the Gaels.

There are three players who I could see realistically filling in at that spot for St. Mary’s: the 7’3 redshirt senior Aaron Menzies, who sat out last year after coming over from Seattle University, Jock Perry, an incoming junior who stands 7’1 but averaged 2.1 points last year, and Matthias Tass.

Tass is smaller than the other two at just 6’10, but he was decently productive in his freshman season in Moraga.

The Estonian averaged 3.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game in 14.8 minutes, while shooting 51.6% from the field at 66.7% from the line.

Tass never really had a breakout game last year, although his season-high was a nine point, four rebound performance against Villanova in the NCAA tournament.

Still, the Gaels have succeeded at turning big men into very productive players over time, and Tass is a logical replacement for Hunter down in the paint.

Menzies might end up with the job right away after averaging 11.6 points per game over his final two seasons at SU, but Tass is the future of the position at St. Mary’s and if he plays well out of the gate, he could break out next season.