Media Mentions

Ken McDonald, Western Kentucky and Eric Reveno, Portland – OK, so I couldn’t cut it down to 12 after all. Both of these guys have exceeded expectations in a large way. McDonald is a rookie who took over a team decimated by graduation and has the Hilltoppers one game away from 20 wins and in first place in the Sun Belt. Reveno and the Pilots have come out of nowhere in his third season and are 18-9 overall and 9-3 and in second place in the WCC.

Former Stanford player and assistant Eric Reveno, in his third season at Portland, is the front-runner for West Coast Conference coach of the year.

The Pilots, who haven't had a winning season this decade and were picked sixth in the WCC preseason poll, are alone in second place entering their visits to San Diego and Santa Clara.

Reveno, a finalist for the Cardinal job last spring, rebuilt the Portland roster upon his arrival and, after two seventh-place finishes, is reaping the benefits.

The Pilots have beaten Washington, Nevada and St. Mary's. They have won 18 games — the most since 1996 — and they don't have a senior on their roster.