2021–22 West Coast Conference men's basketball season

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2021–22 West Coast Conference men's basketball season
West Coast Conference logo 2019 with name.svg
LeagueNCAA Division I
SportMen's basketball
Number of teams10
Regular season
Season championsGonzaga
Runners-upSaint Mary's
Season MVPDrew Timme, Gonzaga
Tournament
Basketball seasons
2022–23 →
2021–22 West Coast Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 1 Gonzaga † 13 – 1   .929 26 – 3   .897
No. 18 Saint Mary's 12 – 3   .800 25 – 7   .781
Santa Clara 10 – 5   .667 21 – 12   .636
San Francisco 10 – 6   .625 24 – 9   .727
BYU 9 – 6   .600 22 – 10   .688
Portland 7 – 7   .500 18 – 14   .563
San Diego 7 – 9   .438 15 – 16   .484
Pacific 3 – 11   .214 8 – 22   .267
Loyola Marymount 3 – 12   .200 11 – 18   .379
Pepperdine 1 – 15   .063 7 – 25   .219
† 2022 WCC Tournament winner
As of March 15, 2022; Rankings from AP Poll

The 2021–22 West Coast Conference men's basketball season will begin with practices in September 2021 and will end with the 2022 West Coast Conference Men's Basketball Tournament in March 2022.[1] This will be the 71st season for WCC men's basketball, and the 33nd under its current name of "West Coast Conference". The conference was founded in 1952 as the California Basketball Association, became the West Coast Athletic Conference in 1956, and dropped the word "Athletic" in 1989.

Head coaches[]

Coaching changes[]

Two new head coaches will lead their team in the WCC during the 2021-22 season. On March 22, 2021, Shantay Legans, the then coach at Eastern Washington University, revealed via Twitter that he had accepted the position as the head coach at the University of Portland.[2] Then, on July 7, 2021, the University of the Pacific announced that associate head coach Leonard Perry would become the new head coach of the Tigers.[3] The former head coach, Damon Stoudamire, accepted a position as an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics under Ime Udoka.[4] Perry was previously the head basketball coach at the University of Idaho from 2001–2006.[5]

Coaches[]

Team Head Coach Previous job Years

at school

Overall

record

WCC

record

WCC

Tournament record

NCAA

Tournaments

Sweet

Sixteens

BYU Mark Pope Utah Valley 3 44–15 (.746) 23–6 (.793) 1–2 (.333) 1 0
Gonzaga Mark Few Gonzaga

(asst.)

23 630–124 (.836) 305–31 (.908) 45–5 (.900) 21 10
Loyola Marymount Stan Johnson Marquette (asst.) 2 13–9 (.591) 7–5 (.583) 1–1 (.500) 0 0
Pacific Leonard Perry Pacific (asst.) 1 0–0 (–) 0–0 (–) 0–0 (–) 0 0
Pepperdine Lorenzo Romar Arizona (asst.) 4 89–90 (.497) 21–25 (.457) 5–3 (.625) 7 3
Portland Shantay Legans Eastern Washington 1 0–0 (–) 0–0 (–) 0–0 (–) 1 0
Saint Mary's Randy Bennett Saint Louis(asst.) 21 454–192 (.703) 223–98 (.695) 25–17 (.595) 7 1
San Diego Sam Scholl San Diego

(asst.)

4 35–50 (.412) 11–30 (0.268) 3–3 (0.500) 0 0
San Francisco Todd Golden San Francisco (asst.) 3 33–26 (.559) 13–16 (.448) 3–2 (.600) 0 0
Santa Clara Herb Sendek Arizona State 6 76–72 (.514) 36–40 (.474) 4–5 (.444) 8 1

Notes:

  • Year at school includes 2021–22 season.
  • Overall and WCC records are from time at current school and are through the beginning of the 2021–22 season.

Preseason[]

Conference realignment[]

On September 10, 2021, BYU was one of four schools (the others being Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF) that accepted invitations to join the Big 12 Conference beginning with the 2023-24 athletic season.[6] Therefore, BYU will remain a member of the WCC for the current season and the 2022–23 season, with the WCC potentially dropping to 9 teams for the 2023-24 season.[7] West Coast Conference commissioner Gloria Nevarez indicated that the conference is open to adding additional schools to the conference to ensure "continued success" for the league.[8]

Preseason poll[]

2021-22 WCC Preseason Men's Basketball Coaches Poll
Rank Team (First Place Votes) Points
1. Gonzaga (9) 81
2. BYU (1) 72
3. Saint Mary's 63
4. Loyola Marymount 56
5. San Francisco 49
6. Santa Clara 45
7. Pepperdine 31
8. Pacific 24
8. San Diego 20
10. Portland 9

All-WCC Preseason Men's Basketball team[]

Honor Recipient
Preseason All-WCC Team Alex Barcello, BYU
Jamaree Bouyea, San Francisco
Logan Johnson, Saint Mary's
Caleb Lohner, BYU
Andrew Nembhard, Gonzaga
Eli Scott, LMU
Khalil Shabazz, San Francisco
Drew Timme, Gonzaga
Josip Vrankic, Santa Clara
Jalen Williams, Santa Clara

Rankings[]

Legend
Improvement in ranking
Drop in ranking
Not ranked previous week
RV Received votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll
(Italics) Number of first place votes
Pre/

Wk 1

Wk

2

Wk

3

Wk

4

Wk

5

Wk

6

Wk

7

Wk

8

Wk

9

Wk

10

Wk

11

Wk

12

Wk

13

Wk

14

Wk

15

Wk

16

Wk

17

Wk

18

Post
BYU AP RV RV 18 12 24 RV RV RV RV RV
C 18 13 23 RV RV RV RV RV RV
Gonzaga AP 1 (55) 1 (55) 1 (55) 3 (1) 5 5 4 4 4 2 1 (25) 2 (15) 2 (12) 2 (13) 1 (56) 1 (61) 1 (46) 1 (52)
C 1 (29) 1 (29) 1 (30) 3 5 5 4 4 4 2 1 (23) 1 (18) 1 (16) 1 (18) 1 (30) 1 (32) 1 (20) 1 (27)
Loyola

Marymount

AP
C
Pacific AP
C
Pepperdine AP
C
Portland AP
C
Saint

Mary's

AP RV RV 22 RV 23 19 17
C RV RV RV RV RV RV 22 RV 23 20 17
San

Diego

AP
C
San

Francisco

AP RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV
C RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV
Santa

Clara

AP
C

Regular season[]

Conference matrix[]

BYU Gonzaga Loyola Marymount Pacific Pepperdine Portland Saint Mary's San Diego San Francisco Santa Clara
vs. BYU – 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–1 1–1 0–1 1–1 1–0
vs. Gonzaga 0–2 – 0–1 0–1 0–2 0–1 1–1 0–1 0–2 0–2
vs. Loyola Marymount 2–0 1–0 – 1–1 0–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–0 2–0
vs. Pacific 1–1 1–0 1–1 – 1–1 2–0 0–0 2–0 1–0 2–0
vs. Pepperdine 2–0 2–0 1–0 1–1 – 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–0
vs. Portland 1–0 1–0 1–1 0–2 0–2 – 1–0 1–1 1–1 1–0
vs. Saint Mary's 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–0 0–2 0–1 – 0–2 0–2 1–1
vs. San Diego 1–0 1–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–0 – 2–0 2–0
vs. San Francisco 1–1 2–0 0–1 0–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 – 0–2
vs. Santa Clara 0–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–1 0–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 –
Total 9–6 13–1 3–12 3–11 1–15 7–7 12–3 7–9 10–6 10–5

Early season tournaments[]

The following table summarizes the multiple-team events (MTE) or early season tournaments in which teams from the West Coast Conference will participate.

Team Tournament Dates Arena Arena Location Record Bracketed Finish TV Partner
BYU Diamond Head Classic[9] December 22–25 Stan Sheriff Center Honolulu, Hawaii 2–1 Yes 3rd ESPN
Gonzaga Empire Classic[10] November 18–19 Madison Square Garden New York, New York 2–0 No N/A ESPN
Loyola Marymount Jacksonville Classic[11] November 17–22 UNF Arena Jacksonville, Florida 2–1 Yes 3rd CBS
Pacific Rainbow Classic[12] November 10–13 Stan Sheriff Center Honolulu, Hawaii 1–2 No N/A N/A
Pepperdine SoCal Challenge[13] November 22–24 Pavilion at JSerra San Juan Capistrano, California 0–3 No N/A CBS/FloHoops
Portland Incarnate Word Tournament November 26–28 McDermott Center San Antonio, Texas 2–1 No N/A N/A
Saint Mary's Maui Invitational[14] November 22–24 Lahaina Civic Center Maui, Hawaii 2–1 Yes 2nd ESPN
San Diego Las Vegas Classic[15] November 25–26 Orleans Arena Paradise, Nevada 2–1 Yes 3rd N/A
San Francisco Las Vegas Invitational[16] November 25–26 Orleans Arena Las Vegas, Nevada 2–0 Yes 1st Fox Sports
Santa Clara SoCal Challenge[13] November 22–24 Pavilion at JSerra San Juan Capistrano, California 2–1 No N/A CBS/FloHoops

WCC Player/Freshman of the Week[]

Throughout the year, the West Coast Conference names a player of the week and a freshman of the week as follows:

Week Date Player of the Week Freshman of the Week
1 November 15, 2021 Drew Timme, Gonzaga Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
2 November 22, 2021 Alex Barcello, BYU Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
3 November 29, 2021 Dan Fotu, Saint Mary's Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
4 December 6, 2021 Jamaree Bouyea, San Francisco Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
5 December 13, 2021 Jamaree Bouyea, San Francisco Houston Mallette, Pepperdine
6 December 20, 2021 Andrew Nembhard, Gonzaga Mike Mitchell Jr., Pepperdine
7 December 27, 2021 Fousseyni Traore, BYU Fousseyni Traore, BYU
8 January 3, 2022 Logan Johnson, Saint Mary's Nolan Hickman, Gonzaga
9 January 11, 2022 Yauhen Massalski, San Francisco Fousseyni Traore, BYU
10 January 17, 2022 Drew Timme, Gonzaga Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
11 January 24, 2022 Alex Ducas, Saint Mary's Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga & Fousseyni Traore, BYU
12 January 31, 2022 Matthias Tass, Saint Mary's Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
13 February 7, 2022 Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
14 February 14, 2022 Tyler Robertson, Portland Houston Mallette, Pepperdine
15 February 21, 2022 Tommy Kuhse, Saint Mary's Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
16 February 28, 2022 Logan Johnson, Saint Mary's Fousseyni Traore, BYU

National Awards and Teams[]

All-Americans[]

The following WCC players were named as national All-Americans as follows:

Player School Associated Press United States Basketball

Writers Association

National Association of

Basketball Coaches

Sporting News Consensus Points

AP Honorable Mention:

Other National Awards[]

The following WCC players were named to national award watch lists and received awards as follows:

Wooden Award - Player of the Year[]

Main article: John R. Wooden Award
Preseason Top 50 Midseason Top 25 Late Season Top 20 Top 15 Ballot Wooden 10 All Americans 5 Finalists
Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
Andrew Nembhard, Gonzaga Drew Timme, Gonzaga Drew Timme, Gonzaga
Drew Timme, Gonzaga

Naismith Award - Player of the Year[]

Main article: Naismith College Player of the Year
Preseason Top 50 Midseason Top 30 10 Semifinalists 4 Finalists
Alex Barcello, BYU Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
Andrew Nembhard, Gonzaga Drew Timme, Gonzaga
Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
Drew Timme, Gonzaga

Lute Olson - Player of the Year[]

Main article: Lute Olson Award
Preseason Top 40 Midseason Top 30 10 Semifinalists 4 Finalists
Alex Barcello, BYU Alex Barcello, BYU
Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
Drew Timme, Gonzaga Drew Timme, Gonzaga

Bob Cousy Award - Point Guard[]

Main article: Bob Cousy Award
Preseason Top 20 Midseason Top 10 5 Finalists
Andrew Nembhard, Gonzaga Andrew Nembhard, Gonzaga

Jerry West Award - Shooting Guard[]

Main article: Jerry West Award
Preseason Top 20 Midseason Top 10 5 Finalists
Hunter Sallis, Gonzaga (none)

Julius Erving Award - Small Forward[]

Main article: Julius Erving Award
Preseason Top 20 Midseason Top 10 5 Finalists Winner
(none) (none)

Karl Malone Award - Power Forward[]

Main article: Karl Malone Award
Preseason Top 20 Midseason Top 10 5 Finalists Winner
Drew Timme, Gonzaga Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award - Center[]

Main article: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award
Preseason Top 20 Midseason Top 10
Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga Drew Timme, Gonzaga

All-WCC Awards and Teams[]

On March 2, 2022, the West Coast Conference announced the following awards:[17]

Honor Recipient School
Player of the Year Drew Timme Gonzaga
Coach of the Year Randy Bennett Saint Mary’s
Defensive Player of the Year Chet Holmgren Gonzaga
Newcomer of the Year Chet Holmgren Gonzaga
Sixth Man of the Year Tommy Kuhse Saint Mary’s
All-WCC First Team Alex Barcello BYU
Jamaree Bouyea San Francisco
Chet Holmgren Gonzaga
Tommy Kuhse Saint Mary’s
Yauhen Massalski San Francisco
Andrew Nembhard Gonzaga
Matthias Tass Saint Mary’s
Drew Timme Gonzaga
Josip Vrankic Santa Clara
Jalen Williams Santa Clara
All-WCC Second Team Alex Ducas Saint Mary’s
Logan Johnson Saint Mary’s
Keshawn Justice Santa Clara
Tyler Robertson Portland
Eli Scott LMU
Khalil Shabazz San Francisco
All-WCC Freshman Team Nolan Hickman Gonzaga
Chet Holmgren Gonzaga
Maxwell Lewis Pepperdine
Houston Mallette Pepperdine
Wayne McKinney III San Diego
Mike Mitchell Jr. Pepperdine
Fousseyni Traore BYU
WCC Honorable Mention Jeremiah Bailey Pacific
Rasir Bolton Gonzaga
Marcellus Earlington San Diego
Julian Strawther Gonzaga
Moses Wood Portland

Postseason[]

West Coast Conference Tournament[]

Main article: 2022 West Coast Conference Men's Basketball Tournament

NCAA Tournament[]

Main article: 2022 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament

National Invitation Tournament (NIT)[]

Main article: 2022 National Invitation Tournament

College Basketball Invitational (CBI) Tournament[]

Main article: 2022 College Basketball Invitational

References[]

  1. ^ "WCC Announces 2021-22 Men's Basketball Conference Matchups". wccsports.com. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  2. ^ "'I love this place': Shantay Legans will miss EWU as he takes on head coaching job at Portland". krem.com. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  3. ^ Frommer, Justin. "New Pacific men's basketball head coach Leonard Perry ready for second chance at leading a team". The Record. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  4. ^ Kelapire, Ryan (2021-07-07). "Damon Stoudamire leaving Pacific to join Celtics' coaching staff". Arizona Desert Swarm. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  5. ^ "Pacific basketball promotes Leonard Perry as Damon Stoudamire accepts assistant coach job with Celtics". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  6. ^ Lundquist, Casey. "BYU Athletics to Join the Big 12 in 2023". BYU Cougars on Sports Illustrated: News, Analysis, and More. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  7. ^ "What BYU leaving the WCC means for both the conference and Gonzaga". krem.com. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  8. ^ "West Coast Complication: Exploring the future for Gonzaga and the West Coast Conference without BYU | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  9. ^ News, U. H. "Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic bracket revealed | University of Hawaiʻi System News". Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  10. ^ "Gonzaga to play in 2021 Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  11. ^ "Sources: Florida State, Missouri, SMU, Loyola Marymount to headline 2021 Jacksonville Classic". College Hoops Today. 2021-05-12. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  12. ^ "University of Hawai'i announces 2021-22 men's basketball schedule beginning with Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic". KHON2. 2021-09-10. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  13. ^ a b "So Cal Challenge". So Cal Challenge. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  14. ^ "2021 Maui Invitational Bracket Set, Notre Dame Will Face St. Mary's". Irish Sports Daily. 2021-07-27. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  15. ^ Dudley, Kevin (2018-12-22). "Cougs meet San Diego in Las Vegas Classic". CougCenter. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  16. ^ "MBB | Dons Announce Non-Conference Schedule". University of San Francisco Athletics. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  17. ^ "Timme Tabbed WCC Player Of The Year". WCC Sports.
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