Blue Ribbon Projections

WEST COAST CONFERENCE

BLUE RIBBON FORECAST
1. Gonzaga
2. Portland
3. Santa Clara
4. Saint Mary's
5. San Francisco
6. San Diego
7. Loyola Marymount
8. Pepperdine

ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
G-T. J. Campbell, SR, Portland
G-Matt Bouldin, SR, Gonzaga
G-Kevin Foster, SO, Santa Clara
F-Dior Lowhorn, SR, San Francisco
C-Omar Samhan, SR, Saint Mary's

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Matt Bouldin, SR, Gonzaga

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Robert Smith, FR, Santa Clara

I cant really argue with any of this. Do we have a chance to knock the Zags out of 1st place? Sure! But until we prove that we can win the big games on the road and actually beat them (home or away), the nod still deserves to go to them.

I have to admit, though, that picking #3 thru #8 is tough... I would stick Pepp in at #8... but the rest? LMU will be a very different team from last year (and on paper is better), USD has Brandon Johnson back (will he be the same?), USF showed significant improvement during the season last year... How will SMC react with losing Patty and Diamon Simpson (they are still Top 4 in my book)? SCU should be solid, but will miss Bryant.

I would break down the WCC into these groupings:
1st & 2nd place: GU & UP
3rd & 4th Place: SCU & SMC
5th, 6th & 7th: USD, USF & LMU (part of me wants to lump 3rd thru 7th into one group...)
8th: Pepp

Nik Raivio will be in the All-Conference Team discussion with TJ... and could take the place of Foster depending on how he & SCU do.

Coach of the Year? If we win the title, it will be Reveno. If we come in 2nd to GU, it will be Few (barring an amazing run by LMU or USF to finish in the top 3, then it's Coach Good or Walters).

My only question about that first team list is how will Samhan do without Simpson and defenses able to double up on him... I might say the same thing for Bouldin as well, but he's big enough to get his shot off against most WCC defenders...

Nut, I am appreciative of your efforts from Blue Ribbon.

While questions still surround the Gaels in the backcourt, the front court of Omar Samhan and Ben Allen (both 6-11) are solid with strong back up from Tim Williams as saw the rotation develop in Australia in August. My question to you and other Pilots is why do you see SCU in the 3-4 position? Tresolini is the only guy with size and Ben Dowdell's minutes kept dwindling as the season progressed. Rahon's departure eliminates a good second outside threat and Foster can't do it by himself. I see SCU at 7-7 at best and at the top of the third tier in the WCC hierarchy. In fact, you could switch SCU and LMU according to Blue Ribbon and have it just as right.

Collegehoopsnet.com had SCU as third and ranked in their top 144 (at 121?) Your thoughts.

I had forgotten about Ben Allen...

Anyway, yeah I agree its really difficult to prognosticate SCU for next year. Bryant was literally and figuratively such a HUGE part of their offense and rebounding that its difficult to conceptualize how they will play/operate without his presence.

I could see them being as high as 3, but as low as 5 as well if one of the USF/LMU/USD triad decides to make some noise next year....

Agreed on SCU. Really no way to know how they'll do without Bryant. Trasolini looked pretty good as a frosh, but he's only, what, 6'8"? They don't really have a big guy. And Rahon was a stud. I know they've got some highly touted newcomers coming in, but Foster can't replace Bryant. I mean, it's not like they were great last year and that was with Foster scoring a ton and Bryant dominating on both ends.

I honestly don't see them as the #3 team. I think SMC still has enough weapons to be in the mix, and call me crazy but I think LMU is a big time sleeper. Heck, even USF could be better than SCU just because of improved talent around Lowhorn, the best player in the conference.

And I think San Diego is the worst team. Pepperdine, it's easy to forget, actually played pretty well during the WCC season last year, and I don't think they lost anyone. They'll be better. Not great, but better.

ok, yeah, I might have ranked SCU too high... I hadnt pencilled out how much they lost in addition to Big John (Rahon, White), and how young they will be. I should have gone with the original gut instinct I had and lumped SMC, SCU, LMU, USD & USF into one pool for 3rd-7th. I think SMC will be towards the top and USD towards the bottom of that pool.

Pepp lost Rico Tucker, Mike Hornbuckle and starter Ryan Holmes (only 6.3 ppg)... key returning starters are Keion Bell and Mychel Thompson. I would like to see Pepp move up a couple notches, but i'm just not sure who they can beat in the 3-7 pool aside from USD...?

Question: If USD struggles and is 7th or 8th, will Grier be on the hotseat?!

USD towards the bottom?

Johnson could play with four furry-footed Hobbits and still contend.

Keion wore tights at the WCC tournament...for this reason they will finish last. nuff said.

Rochin54 wrote:Keion wore tights at the WCC tournament...for this reason they will finish last. nuff said.

I believe he wore them in Portland too... It is unique to say the least.

I wonder if anyone on USD will wear NBA socks?

DaTruRochin wrote:I wonder if anyone on USD will wear NBA socks?

Why, did they hire Tony Bland as an assistant coach?

Nah, he's too busy doing this:


OH the things you can find on the internet...