Resurgent WCC set to challenge Gonzaga, Washington State

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Dec. 25—Our list of the best players on the best West Coast Conference teams isn’t packed with future All-Americans, projected lottery picks and two-time national champions like the one we compiled months ago highlighting the top players on Gonzaga’s non-conference schedule.

Do not take that to mean the WCC is down or lacks individual star power.

The ever-changing WCC has enjoyed one of its finest non-conference campaigns and currently stands seventh in KenPom’s conference rankings — its best since the website debuted in 1997.

The conference’s top six, bolstered by the addition of affiliate members Washington State and Oregon State, are in the NET rankings top 76, another high-water mark since the NET’s inception in 2018-19. Preseason favorite GU leads the way at No. 5.

The Mountain West, which sent a record six teams to the 2024 NCAA Tournament, has five in the top 75. The WCC is 9-8 vs. the Mountain West.

WCC play begins with four matchups Saturday — yes, we know No. 14 Gonzaga closes its non-conference slate against No. 22 UCLA that day — so here’s a look at players to keep an eye on.

Ryan Nembhard, Gonzaga

The 6-foot senior is putting up eye-catching numbers at a program known for outstanding point guards. Nembhard has eight games with at least 10 assists and a low of seven, which is still slightly above his best single-season average of 6.9 last year.

Nembhard’s 10.2 assists per game is first nationally, just ahead of Louisiana Tech’s Sean Newman Jr. (9.8). Nembhard’s 4.69 assist-to-turnover ratio is third. Mississippi State’s Josh Hubbard’s 5.0 leads the way with Iowa’s Drew Thelwell’s 4.75 second. Newman’s 3.46 ranks 21st.

Nembhard pilots the nation’s top scoring offense (89.2 points per game).

Augustas Marciulionis, Saint Mary’s

The reigning WCC player of the year and conference tournament most outstanding player is the easy choice here, even though Arizona transfer forward Paulius Marauskas has been a huge addition to the frontcourt at 13.7 points and 8.6 rebounds…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/resurgent-wcc-set-challenge-gonzaga-030200598.html

Author : The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.

Publish date : 2024-12-26 03:02:00

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