Busting Brackets
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WCC Basketball power rankings: Unbeaten San Fran makes case for top-2 spot

By Tuck Clarry

Nov 29, 2020; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; San Francisco Dons guard Khalil Shabazz (0) drives to the basket against the Rhode Island Rams in the second half at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2020; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; San Francisco Dons guard Khalil Shabazz (0) drives to the basket against the Rhode Island Rams in the second half at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /
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WCC Basketball Portland Pilots head coach Shantay Legans Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
WCC Basketball Portland Pilots head coach Shantay Legans Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

WCC Basketball has lived up to the preseason hype so far this season. The conference has looked like one of the best, if not the best, mid-major conferences in college basketball with two teams ranked in the top 25 and a third receiving votes.

The conference continues to have four-to-five legitimate candidates for March, but every team in the top half will need to keep their records clean moving forward to earn an at-large bid. The WCC has not been nearly this deep in the last 20 years and we are looking at a truly exciting season of basketball ahead. Here is how the league is sitting.

10. Pepperdine (2-8)

Last week: Lost to Nevada 66-79, Lost to UCSB 74-86
This week: San Jose State, Alabama State

9. Portland (7-3)

Last week: Defeated Incarnate Word 77-68, Lost to Virginia Military Institute 82-90
This week: None

Both Portland and Pepperdine have earned their bruises in this nonconference schedule, with the Waves losing six straight against middling opponents. The Pilots are largely who we thought they would be considering their roster and the fact that no scholarship athlete from last season returned to Shantay Legans’ team when he took over.

The Pilots have shown fight when playing competition at their level, going 7-0 against KenPom 250-or-worse teams (0-2 against teams ranked any higher). Both teams are looking at this season as development years, with the chance of making things difficult for others in conference play.

8. Pacific (4-5)

Last week: Lost to UC Davis 57-63, Lost to Cal State Fullerton 57-66
This week: at San Jose State

7. San Diego (5-5)

Last week: Lost to CSUN 52-56, Lost to Fresno State 43-63, Defeated Cal Poly 52-51
This week: California Lutheran

The Toreros and Tigers look about as good as we thought they were going to look going into the season. San Diego surprised some people with their win over Nevada early in the season but has had some truly head-scratching finishes against teams like Cal State Northridge and Cal State Fullerton. The Tigers have lost to any team above a 300 ranking in Division I and will look to even their record and get their first win against the 295 ranked San Jose State Trojans.