Busting Brackets Podcast: 2019-20 preview of WCC and Mountain West

Busting Brackets Podcast: 2019-20 season preview of WCC and Mountain West

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 19: Dwayne Brown Jr. #2 of the Utah State Aggies lays up the ball against the Saint Mary's Gaels during the first half of a semifinal game of the MGM Resorts Main Event basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on November 19, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /

Our latest Busting Brackets podcast takes a look at both the WCC and Mountain West. What should be expected from the top-tier mid-major leagues?

For our latest Busting Brackets podcast, we go out west to the home of host Connor Hope and guest Arden Cravalho (along with fellow regular host Brian Rauf) to discuss both the Mountain West and WCC Basketball leagues. As a Gonzaga grad, it was important to hear Hope’s thoughts on the Gonzaga Bulldogs, a consensus top-15 team this preseason.

Well… with the exception of him. Find out why he’s not as high on the Bulldogs, while Cravalho and Rauf also give their thoughts on the team. But Gonzaga isn’t the only ranked program in the WCC, as Saint Mary’s also returns a number of talented players for this season. Could they possibly overthrow the Bulldogs like they did last March in Vegas?

If they’re the top two teams, who’s No. 3? It looks like it’ll be a battle between BYU and Pepperdine. The fellas discuss those programs and whether or not there are at-large hopes for them.

The guys then jump over to the Mountain West, starting off with the defending regular-season champs Utah State. Like Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s, the Aggies also are a projected top-25 preseason team thanks to a couple of star returning players. What are the expectations for Utah State this season?

What happens after Utah State will be interesting within the conference. Who do the guys like as the No. 2 team in the Mountain West? And how many bids will the league ultimately get? There are lots of transfers who will have a say on teams such as New Mexico and Nevada. Can either of those teams make a legit run at the Mountain West crown this season?

WCC preseason 2019-20 power rankings. dark. Next

To bring everything together, the guys talk more in-depth of the top teams, projecting the ceilings for Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s and Utah State. Is there a Final Four team among the group? And stick around for some bold predictions, including the possibility that the Bulldogs getting shut out in a category they usually dominate in.

Thanks for listening and stay tuned for more Busting Brackets Podcast previews as the 2019-20 season nears.