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) /

7 of 11

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 09: Khalil Shabazz #0 of the San Francisco Dons (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

5. San Francisco Dons

Last season: 22-12 (9-7) 5th Place

There are two teams in this conference that are clearly not in the bottom-middle tier, but not in the top tier either – the San Francisco Dons and the Pepperdine Waves. While the two teams are pretty even in terms of potential for a better record, I’m taking the Waves to finish fourth and the Dons fifth.

San Francisco has a great team – there are no arguments on that here. However, when Charles Minlend made his decision to transfer to Louisville for the remainder of his collegiate career, it significantly decreased their chances of doing some serious damage in the WCC in 2020-2021. The team also lost Jimbo Lull and Jordan Ratinho, both important role players who were detrimental to the team’s success last season.

While guards Khalil Shabazz and Jamaree Bouyea are still on the roster and will surely produce night in and night out, the rest of the squad simply isn’t strong enough for the team to be a consistent force against the top tier of the conference. If San Francisco does finish above fifth it will be because of the previously mentioned guards and massive progression from forward Josh Kunen.