Loyola Marymount is no surprise anymore

The West Coast Conference has been all Gonzaga in recent years, with the Bulldogs winning six consecutive regular-season titles and seven of the last eight conference tournament titles.

Last season, however, they met -- and barely survived -- a surprising challenger.

Loyola Marymount made a late-season surge, advancing to the conference tournament final where it lost by a point to the Bulldogs on a miss at the buzzer.

The Lions, under second-year Coach Rodney Tention, are no longer a secret in the conference and have been picked by the league’s coaches to finish second again this season, with Gonzaga the favorite.

Loyola Marymount had an 8-6 conference record last season after a 3-11 start. Its second-place finish during the regular season was its highest since 1990-91 and its appearance in the tournament final was its first since ‘89-’90.

The Lions return their top two scorers from last season, center Matthew Knight (16.2) and guard Brandon Worthy (15.0), so there are high hopes in Westchester.

Here are five questions about the WCC that will shape LMU’s chances:

* 1. Can the Lions figure out how to finish close games?

Their 12-18 overall record last season included six games lost on a shot at the buzzer -- opponents making or LMU missing.

They got better in the second half, winning twice in overtime during conference play, but a missed layup against Gonzaga cost the Lions their first NCAA tournament appearance since 1990.

* 2. Can Gonzaga reload?

The Bulldogs have three returning starters from a team that advanced to the Sweet 16, but the two who didn’t return generated nearly 60% of the points. Forward Adam Morrison and center J.P. Batista averaged a combined 47.4 points.

Guard Derek Raivio, who averaged 11.1 points, is the top returning player.

* 3. How quickly will Pepperdine adapt to a new system?

The Waves, even though they finished last at 3-11, are the talk of the conference because of new coach Vance Walberg, who replaces Paul Westphal.

Walberg brings to Malibu an up-tempo style that helped him to a 133-11 record in four seasons at Fresno City College, including a 34-0 state title campaign last season. His system has drawn interest from coaches across the nation, but he inherits a team that wasn’t recruited to play that style, so it might be a year or two before the Waves get into the conference title mix.

* 4. Can San Francisco find some depth?

The Dons have two of the conference’s top players in guard Armondo Surratt and forward Alan Wiggins, who averaged a combined 28.3 points. But the remaining six returning players combined to average only 10.7 points. If the Dons find another scoring option, they could be in the thick of the conference title race.

* 5. Can San Diego stop the streakiness?

The Toreros were 18-12, second in overall record among WCC teams. But after a 10-3 nonconference start, they lost three of their first four conference games, then won five of six before ending the regular season with losses in five of their final six.

peter.yoon@latimes.com

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Conference breakdown

*--* GONZAGA

*--*

* Last season: 29-4, 14-0.

* Returning starters: F Sean Mallon, 6-9, Sr. (6.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg); G Derek Raivio, 6-3, Sr. (11.1 ppg); G Pierre Marie Altidor-Cespedes, 6-0, Jr. (4.2 ppg).

* Opener/home opener: Today, 5 p.m., vs. Eastern Washington.

*--* LOYOLA MARYMOUNT

*--*

* Last season: 12-18, 8-6.

* Returning starters: C Matthew Knight, 6-8, Sr. (16.2 ppg, 10.0 rpg); G Brandon Worthy, 6-2, Sr. (15.0 ppg); G Jon Ziri, 6-2, Jr. (5.8 ppg).

* Opener/home opener: Tonight, 7:30, vs. Oral Roberts.

*--* PEPPERDINE

*--*

* Last season: 7-20, 3-11.

* Returning starters: G Michael Gerrity, 6-0, So. (14.1 ppg); F Willie Galick, 6-8, So. (7.1 ppg).

* Opener/home opener: Sunday, 7:30 p.m., at Washington; Nov. 21, 7 p.m., vs. Santa Barbara.

*--* PORTLAND

*--*

* Last season: 11-18, 5-9.

* Returning starters: G Darren Cooper, 6-3, Sr. (14.9 ppg); C Ben Sullivan, 6-10, Sr. (7.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg).

* Opener/home opener: Tonight, 7, at Oregon State; Nov. 17, 7 p.m., vs. Montana State.

*--* ST. MARY’S

*--*

* Last season: 17-12, 8-6.

* Returning starters: F Brett Collins, 6-5, Jr. (11.6 ppg); F Ian O’Leary, 6-7, So. (6.9 ppg); F Diamon Simpson, 6-7, So. (8.2 ppg, 6.9 rpg); G John Winston, 6-4, Sr. (8.3 ppg).

* Opener/home opener: Tonight, 7:30, vs. Seattle Pacific.

*--* SAN DIEGO

*--*

* Last season: 18-12, 6-8.

* Returning starters: G Ross DeRogatis, 6-1, Sr. (12.0 ppg); G/F Ray Murdock, 6-3, So. (5.1 ppg); F Gyno Pomarc, 6-7, So. (10.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg).

* Opener/home opener: Saturday, 1 p.m., at Stephen F. Austin; Monday, 7 p.m., vs. UC San Diego.

*--* SAN FRANCISCO

*--*

* Last season: 11-17, 7-7.

* Returning starters: F Alan Wiggins, 6-9, Sr. (14.1 ppg, 8.3 rpg); G Armando Surratt, 6-0, Sr. (14.2 ppg, 5.1 apg); F Danny Cavic, 6-6, Jr. (5.4 ppg).

* Opener/home opener: Saturday, 7 p.m., vs. Sonoma State.

*--* SANTA CLARA

*--*

* Last season: 13-16, 5-9.

* Returning starters: G Brody Angley, 5-11, Jr. (10.1 ppg, 4.9 apg); F Mitch Henke, 6-7, Jr. (9.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg); C Sean Denison, 6-11, Sr. (8.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg); G Calvin Johnson, 6-2, So. (6.4 ppg).

* Opener/home opener: Tuesday, 7 p.m., vs. Holy Names.