WCC Preview, Predictions

League Play
1

League play starts for most teams tomorrow.
As of now, below are Torvik’s predicted league record, current Torvik and NET rankings and current record heading in to WCC play.

Team - Torvik predicted WCC record - Torvik rank - NET rank - current non-con record
Gonzaga - 13-3 - 14 - 12 - 11-3
St. Mary’s - 12-4 - 8 - 16 - 10-4
USF - 9-7 - 76 - 88 - 11-4
LMU - 8-7 - 89 - 99 - 10-4
SCU - 8-8 - 97 - 96 - 12-3
BYU - 7-9 - 111 - 129 - 10-5
Portland - 7-9 - 123 - 143 - 8-7
Pepperdine - 7-9 - 130 - 134 - 7-7
USD - 5-10 - 170 - 191 - 7-7
Pacific - 4-12 - 216 - 234 - 7-8

***yes, Torvik’s league prediction shows only 15 games for LMU and USD…chalk it up to a rounding error.

2

I think there will be slightly more spread than Torvik’s predictions. My guess below…with emphasis on ‘guess’ as there’s more parity from #3 through #9 as I can remember. 3rd/4th place is up for grabs and any of the 7 ‘middle’ teams could end up there.

  1. GU - 14-2
  2. SMC - 11-5
  3. BYU - 9-7
  4. SCU - 9-7
  5. USF - 8-8
  6. LMU - 7-9
  7. Portland - 7-9
  8. Pepp - 7-9
  9. USD - 5-11
  10. Pacific - 3-13
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3

I think we will all agree that you are correct. It will be a great race.,

4

Going into break Coach Sendek informed the boys we were pick 6. He emphasized for them to play with a chip on their shoulder and show them what “pick-6” looks like when you are wrong. I really want to see these boys come out and show the WCC that Santa Clara is a bigger contender than they give us credit.

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5

We should find out soon as USF has had our number the last couple of years. While we split with St Mary’s we haven’t had much success with the Dons. Hope that changes tonight.

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6

I’m hopeful for at least a 9-7 finish and would be thrilled with anything better. In a league with so much parity, consistency will be key. The good thing about the pre-conference schedule is that Santa Clara has played WCC-caliber teams for the last two months (roughly KenPom/Torvik 30-170 squads). The big concern is that they’ve played one true road game (and lost by 22). Still, if this team can keep pace with the non-con results, I’d expect pretty good outcomes in conference.

2-2 in the first two weeks (including tilts against Dons, Zags, and Gaels) is the baseline hope. 3-1 would be stellar. 4-0 and I’ll buy a plane ticket to Spokane.

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