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After a weird start, the WCC is back to normal

By Adam Gibby

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 25: Referee Eric Curry blows his whistle during a game between the Fresno State Bulldogs and the UNLV Rebels at the Thomas & Mack Center on January 25, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. UNLV won 75-73 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 25: Referee Eric Curry blows his whistle during a game between the Fresno State Bulldogs and the UNLV Rebels at the Thomas & Mack Center on January 25, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. UNLV won 75-73 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 05: (L-R) Yoeli Childs #23 and Dalton Nixon #33 of the Brigham Young Cougars both try to grab a rebound as Evan Fitzner #21 of the Saint Mary’s Gaels looks on during a semifinal game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on March 5, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 05: (L-R) Yoeli Childs #23 and Dalton Nixon #33 of the Brigham Young Cougars both try to grab a rebound as Evan Fitzner #21 of the Saint Mary’s Gaels looks on during a semifinal game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on March 5, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Ever since the WCC expanded in the 2011-12 season, the overall standings have stayed pretty much the same. This season looked like it would be different but then things changed.

Since the 2011-12 season, these have been the average finishes of every team in the WCC compared to the current standings:

AVERAGE/CURRENT

1.Gonzaga/Gonzaga

2. Saint Marys/BYU

3. BYU/Saint Mary’s

4. San Fransisco/San Fransisco 

5. San Diego/San Diego

6. Pepperdine/Loyola Marymount

7. Santa Clara/ Santa Clara

8. Loyola Marymount/Pepperdine

9. Portland/Pacific

10. Pacific/Portland

For the most part, these have been the same yearly standings, and the averages and current standings show that. As a note, on some websites it will show Saint Mary’s and San Fransisco flipped but the tie breaker goes to Saint Mary’s for margin of victory. Overall, the theme of WCC play has been: Don’t expect anything new.

Just one month ago, it looked like this may be the year to change everything. As a reminder, going into WCC play, these were the overall standings:

Gonzaga 13-2

San Fransisco 12-2

Loyola Marymount 12-2

San Diego 11-4

Pacific 10-6

Saint Mary’s 9-6

Santa Clara 8-6

BYU 8-7

Pepperdine 7-7

Portland 7-8

It appeared that for the first time in eight years the WCC would not have the same general order of teams. It looked like it was going to be really competitive. Most believed that Saint Mary’s and BYU would improve and would be in a five team battle for the two seed in the WCC Tournament. At the time, these two teams were much further behind everyone else in the WCC and Loyola Marymount and Pacific were doing much better than normal.

And yet here we are back to normal, just like every other year.

So if there is one lesson you can learn from the WCC, it is this: Don’t expect anything new, regardless of what happens before WCC play.

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