A tremendous collection of basketball squads, the 2024-25 West Coast Conference crown is on the line this year in men’s hoops as Gonzaga looks to continue their reign at the top. In a new look this season, the Zags and co. are joined by two new squads this season in former Pac-12 members, Oregon State and Washington State. That said, those teams are joining a deep conference that features not only a top-five team in the country in Gonzaga but also some potential conference dark horses like Saint Mary’s, San Francisco, and Santa Clara. Last year, the Gaels won the WCC in upset fashion over Gonzaga and have been their main rival as of late. However, with these two new additions thrown into the mix, Gonzaga will have to hold off some new contenders this year in what should be a fun race.
In this report, SBS will be going over what to look for from each of these top contending teams, along with a predicted winner and even more notes about NCAA basketball wagering.
| Favorites to Win the 2024-25 West Coast Conference Basketball Title |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gonzaga | -700 | -700 | -700 |
| Saint Mary's | +450 | +450 | +450 |
| San Francisco | +2200 | +2200 | +2200 |
| Santa Clara | +2200 | +2200 | +2200 |
Registering a conference record of 14-2 last season, the Zags are the top dogs of the WCC year in and year out. In fact, since 2011, they have won 12 regular-season championship crowns. This includes an 11-straight regular-season title streak that was snapped last year by Saint Mary’s. With conference play yet to start, the Bulldogs are recognized as the No. 3 ranked team in the country with a mark of 7-1. This includes strong wins over the likes of then-top-ten-ranked Baylor (eight) Arizona State, Indiana (then ranked 14th), and also at San Diego State. Like most years, Gonzaga has a plethora of strong players like Graham Ike (a former Mountain West stalwart), Ryan Nembhard (Creighton), and also Braden Huff. After reaching their ninth consecutive Sweet Sixteen, Mark Few would of course like to keep it rolling with his squad.
Gonzaga’s main foil the past couple of seasons, the Gaels won the 2024 WCC Conference Tournament last season and actually finished with the best record in the conference last year at 15-1. In last season’s NCAA tournament, they received the No. 5 seed in the West region but were upset by Grand Canyon in the first round. Head coach Randy Bennett enters his 24th season at the helm and has had a fantastic run with the Gaels building it into a top-notch program. As of this article’s writing, Saint Mary’s boasts a record of 7-1 and has scored some solid victories as well, like drubbing USC by 35 points. The Gaels also knocked off Nebraska earlier this season.
San Francisco is another dark horse contender that usually is a stronger squad in the WCC. This season, they have a mark of 5-2. While the Dons are 1-2 in their last three games, they still have had a great start to the season. This includes a solid victory over one of the better squads in the Mountain West, Boise State, 84-73. Last year, they received a bid to the NIT but lost to Cincinnati in the first round. Currently rated as the 63rd-best team in the country by KenPom, the Dons have their work cut out for them as they try to surpass Saint Mary’s (33rd) and Gonzaga (third overall).
Santa Clara enters this article as the only team on this list with a losing record at 3-5 but is still recognized as a top-100 team per KenPom (90th). While they have had some tough losses so far this season, including an 85-59 beatdown loss at the hands of Nevada, Santa Clara still could score some upsets. They have scored some solid wins over the likes of TCU and UC Riverside, the latter of which scored an upset win at NCAA Tournament-hopeful Colorado State earlier this season.
While the conference certainly could see a new champion like last season, the Zags are just too strong top to bottom to not win another regular season WCC title. However, like we saw last season, Saint Mary’s is lurking.
After you are all squared away in relation to the latest gaming news and notes coming from the world of college basketball, make sure to check out the excellent array of info at SBS. Of course, for even more analysis on the topic covered here, check out the NCAAB betting sites guide which goes over all of the latest betting markets on the sport along with some other tips. Additionally, for those interested in maximizing their wagers, look no further than the best bonus betting sites rundown which covers a lot of great info. This includes things like a catalog of the latest and greatest welcome bonus offers currently available to you. Finally, if you are on the go and qualify, make sure to peruse the best betting apps rundown which goes over all the nuances of mobile betting and more.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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