SAN BRUNO, Calif. – The West Coast Conference released its annual Preseason Coaches' Poll on Monday morning. The University of San Francisco men's basketball team was picked to finish fifth. Senior guard Jamaree Bouyea was named to the All-WCC Preseason Team.
 
Gonzaga took home the top spot in the poll, receiving nine first place votes for 81 points.  BYU was picked to finish second, with the remaining first place vote and 69 points.  Behind them was Saint Mary's with 63 points, followed by Pepperdine (57) and the Dons (52).
 
Rounding out the bottom half the conference was Santa Clara (38), LMU (33), Pacific (31), San Diego (16), and Portland (10).
 
Bouyea, who earned All-WCC Honorable Mention honors after a breakout junior campaign, is the Dons' returning leading scorer.  He will help form one of USF's best backcourts ever, with the return of junior Khalil Shabazz and Trevante Anderson. The Dons also add newcomers Damari Milstead, who sat out last season due to transfer rules, Julien Rishwain, who is immediately eligible after transferring from Boston College, redshirt juninor Emmanuel Nwabueze, and freshman Anthony Roy.
 
The Dons also boast the return of sophomore starter Josh Kunen, senior Taavi Jurkatamm, forward Dzmitry Ryuny, and center Jonas Visser.  Adding to the Dons incredible depth this year will be junior center Samba Kane, redshirt freshmen Isaiah Hawthorne and Justin Bieker, and freshman forward Maj Dusanic.
 
The season is scheduled to begin Wednesday, November 25.  The Dons are finalizing their non-conference schedule. They begin WCC play on Thursday, December 31 when they host San Diego.