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BYU Men’s Basketball – Previewing the WCC slate

By Shaun Gordon

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 06: A logo for the West Coast Conference basketball tournament is shown on the court before the championship game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Orleans Arena on March 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bulldogs won 74-54. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 06: A logo for the West Coast Conference basketball tournament is shown on the court before the championship game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Orleans Arena on March 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bulldogs won 74-54. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 05: Jordan Ford #30 of the Saint Mary’s Gaels guards TJ Haws #30 of the Brigham Young Cougars during a semifinal game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on March 5, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Cougars won 85-72. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 05: Jordan Ford #30 of the Saint Mary’s Gaels guards TJ Haws #30 of the Brigham Young Cougars during a semifinal game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on March 5, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Cougars won 85-72. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Players to Watch

James Batemon (Loyola Marymount)

Batemon is the steadiest scoring hand for the surging Lions. He’s sixth in the WCC with 19.2 points per game, and the senior guard also adds 3.9 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and leads the conference with 2.9 steals per game.

Brandon Clarke (Gonzaga)

The junior forward is Gonzaga’s third highest scorer (17.1 ppg) and the most efficient scorer in the conference.

He does more than score, though. He’s tied for third in the conference with 8.3 rebounds per outing and also tied for third with 1.6 steals.

Jordan Ford (St. Mary’s)

The only player in the conference averaging more points than Yoeli Childs, Ford averages 22.7 points on 52% shooting and 44% from three-point range.

The junior guard is the unquestioned focal point of the Gael offense, and he’s adept at finding his teammates as well, sitting at No. 13 in the WCC with 3.1 assists per game.

Rui Hachimura (Gonzaga)

A National Player of the Year candidate, the junior big man leads the Zags with 21.2 points per game on 59.1% shooting. Perhaps most impressive, though, is his 45% clip from distance.

He also contributes 6.5 rebounds, along with nearly two assists and a block per game.

Matt McCarthy (San Francisco)

The senior forward isn’t a volume scorer, only averaging 10.9 points per game, but he’s extremely efficient. He averages 68% from the field and 60% from the three-point line, also leading the Dons with 7.4 rebounds per game.

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Isaiah Pineiro (San Diego)

Pineiro has exploded offensively in his senior season. He’s one of only four players in the conference to average more than 20 points per game (20.3), and he does it on 53% shooting.

He’s also tied for third with Gonzaga’s Clarke with 8.3 rebounds per game and adds a little more than a steal per game.

Colby Ross (Pepperdine)

The Waves rely on Ross for his scoring, and he’s averaging 19.4 points per game. While he’s not particularly efficient, the sophomore guard leads the WCC with 7.2 assists per game and chips in 3.2 rebounds as well.

Marcus Shaver Jr. (Portland)

The sophomore does a little bit of everything. He leads the Pilots with 14.7 points per game. He’s also 15th in the conference with 2.8 assists per game and 10th in steals with 1.5.

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