WCC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2019-20 season

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 12: Jordan Ford #3 of the Saint Mary’s Gaels is mobbed by teammates and media on the court after the Gaels defeated the Gonzaga Bulldogs 60-47 to win 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) /

No. 2 – St. Mary’s Gaels

I suspect Saint Mary’s and BYU will be duking it out for this No. 2 spot all season, and realistically they could challenge for No. 1 if Gonzaga’s freshman class is slow to develop.

The Gaels’ hopes this reason rest on guard Jordan Ford, who averaged 21.1 points per game last year. He’ll once again be the team’s go-to option and should contend for WCC player of the year honors.

Saint Mary’s also returns forward Malik Fitts and guards Tanner Krebs and Tommy Kuhse. They have some production to replace at center, but SeattleU grad transfer Aaron Menzies or sophomore Matthias Tass will both be solid options to replace Jordan Hunter, who averaged 7.9 and 6.7 last year.

The Gaels are – finally – challenging themselves in the non-conference slate as well, with games against Wisconsin, Dayton, Arizona State and Nevada – nothing compared to Gonzaga’s non-conference but at least enough for them to be ready for the NCAA tournament if they make it there.

Randy Bennett has frequently gotten the most out of his recruits, and a team with Ford, Krebs and Fitts should be enough to make the NCAA tournament, whether they beat Gonzaga again in Las Vegas or not.

They’ll want to snag a few nice victories in the non-conference slate to ensure their spot in March, however.