WCC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2023-24 season
By Tuck Clarry
9. San Diego Toreros
The Toreros were picked by many to break through last season with the addition of venerated basketball coach Steve Lavin deciding to step back onto the sidelines. With Lavin came a list of high major transfers longer than CVS receipt, all looking to have a direct impact to make San Diego a tournament team for the first time since 2008. Instead: chaos reigned.
Lavin finished 11-20 on the year and 4-12 in conference play, and not a single player on the roster played in all 32 games. Upperclassmen who thought they’d be the guy didn’t like their role. The team lost their last 6 games to close out the season. Now, Lavin brings in 9 freshmen to try an alternative approach to roster building.
The lone remaining starter on last year’s team, junior Wayne McKinney, will be relied on heavily as the most developed athlete on the roster. The six-foot combo guard was the sixth leading scorer on the team last season, averaging 7.4 points on 43% shooting from the field. If he is able to develop offensively as more than a rim attacker, Lavin could lean on his experience. Otherwise, it looks to be a crapshoot as to where scoring and minutes are going to land.
Freshmen forwards Kevin Patton and Jimmy Oladokun offer interesting attributes with their size and athleticism. Romanian Dragos Lungu is an interesting freshman guard who last played at the NBA Global Academy and could be a fun pairing alongside McKinney. San Diego has the upside to finish up to the middle of the pack this season, but it’s hard to bet on youth, especially developmental youth.