WCC Basketball power rankings: Can anyone challenge the big 3 teams?

By Andy Patton | Dec 13, 2019

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 28: Head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs reacts during the first half of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament West Regional game against the Florida State Seminoles at Honda Center on March 28, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 11: San Diego Toreros (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

8. San Diego Toreros (5-7) KenPom: 178

There’s no question that the Toreros are playing one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the WCC, which is a tough draw for a team that lost nearly 75 percent of their total offense to graduation last season.

The Toreros have played San Diego State, Washington, Colorado and UC-Irvine (all losses) so far this year, while also pulling out wins over Fresno State, Weber State, Hofstra, Cal-State Fullerton, and Holy Cross.

The Toreros gained valuable experience in the non-conference and should carry that with them into conference play, giving them a chance to finish near the middle of the pack by season’s end.

Still, the rough start to the year has them near the bottom of the barrel, at least for now.

7. Pacific Tigers (9-3) KenPom: 176

The Tigers are sitting pretty with a 9-3 record, but like Portland, their schedule has been a big part of their early-season success. Their best win is probably UC-Riverside (KenPom: 224) and most of the teams they have defeated are outside the top-300.

They did play Hawaii and Boise State fairly close, however, and the emergence of Jahlil Tripp (12.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals) has made Pacific a bit more of an exciting team than they have been in years past.

Upcoming games against Northridge, UNLV and UC-Irvine should give fans a better idea of how good this team is this season, although I suspect they’ll have a hard time finishing in the top-five in the conference unless some players step up and help Tripp out.