Busting Brackets
Fansided

WCC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2020-21 season

By Nick Raponi

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)
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, NEVADA – MARCH 12: Head coach Randy Bennett of the Saint Mary’s Gaels (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 12: Head coach Randy Bennett of the Saint Mary’s Gaels (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

3. Saint Mary’s Gaels

Last season: 26-8 (11-5) 3rd Place

Gaels fans may not like to hear this, but I believe it to be true – this team will not battle with Brigham and Young or Gonzaga this season. While they are still a lock to finish third in the WCC and will *most likely* be one of the teams in the big dance come March, the team lost way too much for them to be a serious WCC threat in 2020-2021.

When a team loses their two best players (Jordan Ford and Malik Fitts), one would hope there is a plan for both incoming freshmen and transfers to come in and take their place. While the Gaels have surely hit a home run on their incoming freshmen, they were not able to do a ton in the transfer market, which is why I worry about their success this season. The only transfer of note that the team has coming in is 7’4” center Matt Van Komen from Utah, who should help, but only to a certain degree.

In order for the team to challenge the Cougars and the Bulldogs, they will need an immediate impact from their previously mentioned class of freshmen. Jabe Mullins, Judah Brown, and Mitchell Saxen are all extremely impressive looking players who will surely help the squad over the next few seasons, but for any freshman to make a significant impact on a good team in year one is tough to do.

I see this season as a bit of an off one for the Gaels, as they probably won’t challenge Gonzaga or Brigham Young in the way we are used to seeing. With that being said, watch out for this team in 2021-22/2022-23, as those three freshmen should develop into great players for the Gaels.