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

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 12: The Saint Mary's Gaels and the Gonzaga Bulldogs play in the championship game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on March 12, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Gaels defeated the Bulldogs 60-47. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

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HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT – MARCH 21: Jordan Ford #3 and Tommy Kuhse #12 of the Saint Mary’s Gaels (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

3. Saint Mary’s Gaels (15-4, 2-2) NET: 41

Saint Mary’s opened WCC play with a win at San Francisco. The Gaels then lost the four-overtime game at Pacific and seemed to be still recovering the next week.

The Gaels were able to pull out an 87-84 OT win at home over a BYU team without Yoeli Childs. They then lost on their home floor 67-66 to Santa Clara last Saturday.

After 6’10 sophomore starting forward Matthias Tass left the Nevada game with a season-ending ACL injury on Dec. 21, the Gaels have been rotating a few players into the position and have not had a consistent inside play.

6’7 sophomore Dan Fotu took over the starting spot but has been inconsistent with his best game being a 16-point, three rebound performance against BYU. 7’1 redshirt junior Jock Perry missed the first 14 games with an injury. The Gaels are hoping he can contribute. 7’3 Aaron Menzies has not been a factor.

Senior Jordan Ford is now averaging 22.2 ppg (sixth in the nation) and 6’8 Malik Fitts adds 15.9 ppg and 8.2 rpg.

Saint Mary’s needs a win at Pepperdine on Saturday. The Gaels need to recover to stay within the bubble.

2. BYU Cougars (13-5, 2-1) NET: 33

BYU and Saint Mary’s have been battling for position in public opinion as to who will be the runner-up to Gonzaga in the WCC. With the Gael’s recent struggles, the Cougars have taken a step ahead.

This is despite the fact that BYU lost 87-84 in overtime at Saint Mary’s on Jan. 9. In that game, the Cougars were without their best player Yoeli Childs. The 6’8 senior suffered an open dislocation to his index finger on his shooting finger in practice on Jan. 7. Childs could be out anywhere from one to four weeks and had been averaging 20.9 ppg and 10.1 rpg.

Graduate transfer Jake Toolson with 14.9 ppg and senior T.J. Haws with 13.2 ppg will be called upon on the scoring end. 6’9 sophomore Kolby Lee stepped into the starting lineup. He is averaging 7.5 ppg and 3.5 rpg in 18.5 minutes this season.

BYU will have San Diego Thursday before the big game at Gonzaga on Saturday.