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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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 03: Zafir Williams #1 of the Loyola Marymount Lions (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

6. Loyola Marymount Lions

Last season: 11-21 (4-12) 8th Place

I’m going to come right out and say it – I love the future of this program. The Lions only lost two players from last season – one to graduation and one to the transfer portal. Beyond those two, the rest of the Lions’ roster is returning and should only develop as the season goes on.

One player from this team who I expect to be a contender for WCC Player of the Year is guard Eli Scott. In his junior year, Scott saw increases in every statistical category, showing the rest of the WCC his potential and what he is capable of. Entering his senior year I expect more progression and a huge statistical season, as he will have more control of the offense with the youth surrounding him.

With the team being so young (outside of Scott) and only bringing in one transfer (forward Kodye Pugh from Stanford), I don’t expect them to crack a top-five finish in the WCC this season. With that being said, watch out for them as a program that is on the rise and could easily see themselves as the fourth-best team in the conference at some point in the near future.