Dons Feature One of the Youngest Teams in Division
I
(San Bruno, CA) – USF men's basketball was picked to
finish sixth in the 2010-11 West Coast Conference Preseason Poll
released today by the league office. The Dons are coming off a
fourth place, 7-7 WCC finish in 2009-10, the highest for the Green
and Gold since the 2006-07 season.
USF welcomes a young and dynamic group to the Hilltop, long on
talent, but short on Division I experience – the 2010-11
roster features no fewer than 10 freshmen and 12 newcomers. Truly
one of the youngest teams in the nation, San Francisco returns just
seven years of Division I experience.
"Obviously we don't have a lot of returning scoring
coming back, or guys with big numbers so I can understand not
having anyone on the preseason all-conference team," USF head
coach Rex Walters said. "Hopefully by the end of the season
some of our guys step forward and that changes. Being picked sixth
is what it is. Hopefully our guys use it as a motivator. The
biggest thing right now is we have to come together as a team and
play good, smart basketball."
Gonzaga University was selected as the favorite to win the 2010-11
West Coast Conference Championship after receiving six first place
votes and 48 of a possible 49 points from conference head coaches.
The Bulldogs enter the season ranked No. 12 in the ESPN/USA Today
Preseason Poll and have won 10 consecutive WCC regular season
championships. The Bulldogs went 12-2 in conference play and 27-7
overall en route to a second round appearance at the NCAA
Tournament.
Loyola Marymount, which reached the College Insider.com Tournament
last year for its first postseason appearance in 20 years, was
picked to finish second after returning 13 players from last
year's 18-win team. Saint Mary's was picked third after
making its first NCAA Sweet 16 appearance in school history and
capturing the 2010 Zappos.com WCC Men's Basketball Tournament
Championship.
Santa Clara was picked to finish fourth in the WCC, while Portland
was picked to finish fifth in the Coaches Poll, followed by San
Francisco, Pepperdine and San Diego. Only three votes separated
second and third and the fourth and fifth spots in the poll.
All eight West Coast Conference teams start non-conference action
on Friday, November 12 with seven of the eight teams playing on
their home floor. Conference plays starts on Thursday, January 6,
highlighted by Loyola Marymount playing host to Saint Mary's
on ESPNU. A total of 14 conference games will be broadcast by ESPN2
and ESPNU, and overall, 43 of 56 WCC men's basketball games
will be aired on national or regional television.
The conference campaign will conclude at the Orleans Arena in Las
Vegas for the third consecutive season with the Zappos.com WCC
Basketball Championships on March
4-7.
2010-11 WCC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches
Poll
Team (First Place Votes)
Points
1. Gonzaga (6)
48
2. Loyola Marymount (1)
42
3. Saint Mary's (1)
39
4. Santa Clara
28
5. Portland
25
6. San Francisco
18
7. Pepperdine
14
8. San Diego
10
(* - Coaches could not vote for their own team)
2010-11 WCC Men's Basketball Preseason
All-Conference Team
(Alphabetical order)
Keion Bell, G, 6-3, Jr., Pepperdine University
Matthew Dellavedova, G, 6-4, So., Saint Mary's College
Kevin Foster, G, 6-2, So., Santa Clara University
Steven Gray, G, 6-5, Sr., Gonzaga University
Elias Harris, F, 6-7, So., Gonzaga University
Mickey McConnell, G, 6-0, Sr., Saint Mary's College
Jared Stohl, G, 6-2, Sr., University of Portland
Vernon Teel, G, 6-4, Sr., Loyola Marymount University
Marc Trasolini, F, 6-9, Jr., Santa Clara University
Drew Viney, F, 6-8, Jr., Loyola Marymount University
