WCC Basketball still has three teams at the top of the league. But is Saint Mary’s a contender after the injury to Matthias Tass?
League play began on Jan. 2 in WCC Basketball. The biggest question for the WCC is how will Saint Mary’s respond to forward Matthias Tass’s torn ACL.
The WCC is looking to be a two or three-bid league this year and is currently 9th out of 32 leagues in the current KenPom rankings. Gonzaga is a shoo-in for one bid, but who might get a second or third bid?
Let’s take a look at the current WCC power rankings and see how the season will play out.
10. Portland Pilots (8-7) KenPom: 278
The Portland Pilots were in the cellar of the WCC Preseason Coaches Poll. After finishing in last place in 2018-19 going 0-16 in the WCC and 7-25 overall, fourth-year Coach Terry Porter is hoping a more balanced team will result in some wins.
Portland has experienced one of the weakest schedules in Division I with the Pilots best win being at cross-town rival #205 Portland State. UP came away with an 82-75 come-from-behind victory on Nov. 20 after the Vikings lost a couple players to injury. On the other hand, Portland lost to #326 by the score of 73-63 at home on Dec. 19.
Portland boasts only two players averaging in double figures. Graduate transfer from Maine, Isaiah White, is averaging 13.3 ppg while junior JoJo Walker is adding 10.2 ppg.
The Pilots open conference play on Jan. 2 by hosting Gonzaga on the bluff, in a game that I will be attending. I don’t expect a Portland upset then and project them to go 2-14 in the WCC.