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WCC Basketball: Early grades for each teams 2023 offseason moves

By Tristan Freeman

Dec 28, 2022; Spokane, Washington, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Nolan Hickman (11) celebrates after a Bulldogs three-point basket against the Eastern Oregon Mountaineers in the first half at McCarthey Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2022; Spokane, Washington, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Nolan Hickman (11) celebrates after a Bulldogs three-point basket against the Eastern Oregon Mountaineers in the first half at McCarthey Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports /
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WCC Basketball
WCC Basketball Pepperdine Waves forward Maxwell Lewis James Snook-USA TODAY Sports /

It’s the start of a new era for WCC Basketball, with the BYU Cougars having played its last game in the conference. They’re off to the Big 12, leaving the league with nine programs. The good news for them is that the two teams that made the NCAA Tournament (Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s) are still around, giving the WCC credibility going forward.

With BYU gone, there is now more potential for the other seven programs to step up and make a move to the top tier of the conference. So far, all of the teams are making moves to improve their respective rosters, with some having done better than others.

Here’s a look at the early report card grades for all nine teams for how they’ve done to this point in the offseason, using last season’s WCC standings as a placement.

9. Pepperdine Waves – Grade: C-

For a team that won just two games in WCC play, it’s hard to say that the roster got better. But I can’t blame the Waves for losing projected 1st round NBA Draft pick and leading scorer Maxwell Lewis, along with point guard Mike Mitchell to Minnesota via the portal.

The good news is that they return two of their best players, Jevon Porter and Houston Mallette. So there’s a good chance that Pepperdine will have two of the top-10 players in all of WCC Basketball next season. If Wyoming transfer Ethan Anderson can have an impact in the backcourt, they’ll be in decent shape in the league.