WCC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2022-23 season

By Tuck Clarry | Oct 28, 2022

March 7, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Julian Strawther (0) and forward Drew Timme (2) celebrate against the San Francisco Dons after the game in the semifinals of the WCC Basketball Championships at Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

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WCC Basketball Pacific Tigers guard Jaden Byers James Snook-USA TODAY Sports /

Last season’s leadup for WCC Basketball was all about the conference’s depth and talent from 1-8, with Pacific and Portland being two clear basement dwellers. Well, the talking heads were half right as the WCC accomplished three teams reaching the tournament but the Portland Pilots shocked the league by finishing sixth. Now, the top of the conference looks to repeat their success and get their tickets punched once again as Portland and others continue their climb.

It also is the final season of the BYU Cougars in the WCC as they look to join the Big 12 in the next academic year. Will the Cougars leave on a high note or be licking their wounds as they face even greater challenges in a Power 5 conference? This season’s middle of the pack looks to be just as topsy-turvy as last season, albeit with maybe less of a ceiling. With a lot of questions and new faces, here is a preseason power ranking of the WCC.

10. Pacific Tigers

The Pacific Tigers are in a tough spot this season as Leonard Perry continues to try to maintain the grit and effort that Damon Stoudamire installed during his time in Stockton. The Tigers won’t shoot their opponents out of the gym and they don’t have the athletes to compete at a frenetic pace. But Perry’s team practices a discipline and effort on the defensive end and off of the glass that can will them to stick around in games you wouldn’t expect. This happened against BYU, where they stole a game at home.

The Tigers bring back some scoring with sophomore guard Jordan Ivy-Curry and junior wing Nick Blake this season. Ivy-Curry did a lot of heavy lifting last season, scoring 13.9 points on 34.7% shooting. Blake had a rough transition from UNLV to start last season but eventually turned it around and averaged 10.7 points per game in conference play. If the offense comes easier for these two, things could open up for perimeter specialist and senior Luke Avdalovic and the Tigers could play themselves into even more contests this season.