Busting Brackets
Fansided

WCC Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2020-21 season

By Connor Gilbert

LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 26: Head coach Mark Pope of the BYU Cougars applauds his players as he calls in a play during the first half against the Kansas Jayhawks at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 26, 2019 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 26: Head coach Mark Pope of the BYU Cougars applauds his players as he calls in a play during the first half against the Kansas Jayhawks at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 26, 2019 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /
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ANAHEIM, CA – DECEMBER 01: Emmitt Holt #15 of the Providence Friars defends Kessler Edwards (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – DECEMBER 01: Emmitt Holt #15 of the Providence Friars defends Kessler Edwards (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

5. Pepperdine

Last season: 16-16 (8-8), 6th place

Out of any team outside the league’s top three, Pepperdine looks most poised to crack the top four next season. The Waves return Colbey Ross, who will be arguably the most dynamic scorer in the league next season coming off a year when he averaged over 20 points a game, and Kessler Edwards, who averaged 13.6 ppg and 7.4 rpg. Their only significant loss is Kessler’s brother Kameron, who was the team’s second-leading scorer behind Ross. But for Lorenzo Romar’s team to begin contending with the teams above them, role players and the bench need to contribute at a higher rate.

In his first two years as head coach, Romar has yet to lead the Waves to above .500 in conference play — they went 8-10 two years ago and 8-8 last season. Exceeding that mark should be the expectation coming into the fall, considering that the middle of the pack in the league has weakened somewhat.

4. San Francisco

Last season: 22-12 (9-7), fifth place

Charles Minlend’s decision to bolt for Louisville complicates the future of a Dons team that was looking to make a run for the top of the league. Jimbo Lull and Jordan Ratinho’s departures leave other absences for which it doesn’t appear the Dons have an immediate solution in place.
But USF still retains guards Jamaree Bouyea and Khalil Shabazz, along with adding Grand Canyon transfer guard Damari Milstead and rising sophomore Julian Rishwain if he gets a waiver to play next season.

If sophomore forward Josh Kunen can have a big year and Todd Golden can piece together another season in which he is a viable COTY candidate, the Dons can likely finish near where they did last spring — even without Minlend’s efforts.