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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ANAHEIM, CA – DECEMBER 01: Emmitt Holt #15 of the Providence Friars defends Kessler Edwards #15 of the Pepperdine Waves (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

4. Pepperdine Waves

Last season: 16-16 (8-8) 6th Place

Of all the teams in the WCC, coach Lorenzo Romar and his Pepperdine squad have the most pressure to perform in 2020-2021. After back-to-back seasons without a finish above .500, the team seems poised to take the next step and become the fourth-best team in a conference with three power teams.

With the return of both Colbey Ross and Kessler Edwards, the Waves have their stars in place to do some damage – the rest falls on the team around them. The only significant loss the Waves will have to deal with is that of Kameron Edwards, Kessler’s brother. While it is a big loss to the team, it is still one they can get over and still achieve success without him.

Can the role players step up for the Waves? When you have two great players on the court at the same time, the other three just need to play their roles admirably. I believe the Waves’ depth is capable of taking the next step in their progression, giving the duo of Ross and Edwards solid pieces around them and ultimately a top-four finish in the WCC.