WCC Basketball power rankings: Pacific, Santa Clara gain surprising wins

5. Santa Clara Broncos (15-3, 2-1) NET: 75

Santa Clara is a solid team that defeated Saint Mary’s last Saturday 67-66 in Moraga.  The Broncos also defeated San Diego and lost at San Francisco 80-61.

The Broncos had been struggling on the road and struggling with injuries.  Saint Mary’s was their first victory away from Leavey Event Center this season.  Sophomore Guglielmo Caruso has missed all three games on the WCC schedule, thus far.  Caruso is averaging 11.6 ppg and 5.5 rpg.  He is out indefinitely with a lower-leg injury.

Santa Clara is led by Trey Wertz 12.2 ppg, D.J. Mitchell 11.1 ppg, and Josip Vrankic 10.3 ppg.  It was Vrankic that put back a second effort bucket in the end to defeat Saint Mary’s.

The Broncos will be tested at Gonzaga Thursday, before hosting Pacific in a good matchup Saturday.

4. San Francisco Dons (13-6, 2-2) NET: 97

The Dons dropped their first two games of WCC play, 69-58 at home to Saint Mary’s and a very disappointing 76-65 loss at Portland.  First-year coach Todd Golden regrouped his team and they bounced back with wins at home 80-61 over Santa Clara and at 79-75 Pacific.

Freshman Josh Kunen was reinserted to the starting lineup against Santa Clara after coming off the bench for five games.  The Australian is starting to gain some confidence and should be a factor the rest of the way.

Junior guard Charles Minlend has picked up his play and leads the Dons scoring 15.2 ppg.  Junior Jamaree Bouyea and 7’0 senior Jimbo Lull add 13.3 ppg and 12.2 ppg, respectively.

San Francisco will host LMU on Saturday.