WCC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2020-21 season

By Nick Raponi | Sep 17, 2020

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 06: A logo for the West Coast Conference basketball tournament is shown on the court before the championship game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Orleans Arena on March 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bulldogs won 74-54. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

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LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 27: Head coach Mark Pope of the BYU Cougars (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /

2. Brigham Young Cougars

Last season: 24-8 (13-3) 2nd Place

The Cougars faced a similar situation as the Gaels did this past offseason, losing their best three players to graduation. However, what separates them from the Gaels is the fact that they picked up an impact player in the transfer window – former Purdue standout Matt Haarms.

While it will be very difficult to replicate the offensive efficiency the Cougars bolstered last season, they still have pieces in place to have a good enough offense while playing great defense. Jesse Wade is now available after sitting out a year, and he should help the team by shooting the basketball well and generating offense at a great rate.

The duo will work perfectly alongside one another; Wade will control the offensive flow, while Haarms does all the little things to make a team better – he blocks/contests shots, is a great screen setter and simply put, makes things extremely difficult for the opposing team on offense with his rim protection abilities. In addition to his defense, Haarms can still spread the floor a bit on offense, shooting 31% from three last season.

The Cougars also will benefit from a trio of transfers who played for Coach Pope at Utah Valley. That includes double-digit scoring guard Brandon Averette, as well as big men Wyatt Lowell and Richard Harward. A healthy Gavin Baxter should give them much more depth in the frontcourt for next season.

This team will be relying heavily on a balanced effort but I have no doubts that they will be great players this season. Between Haarms being a force down low and Alex Barcello and Wade generating offense on the perimeter, watch for the role players to step their game up as well with those two around them and challenge Gonzaga for first place in the WCC.