Race Without Favorite Should Go to the Wire

The two-time conference player of the year has taken his game to the NBA. The leading scorer last season will sit out this season. Only two of 10 all-conference players return.

So why get excited about West Coast Conference basketball?

Because even without former Santa Clara guard Steve Nash, now with the Phoenix Suns; sidelined Pepperdine guard Gerald Brown and many of last season’s standouts, the WCC race promises to be a wide-open shootout, with no clear-cut favorite.

“It’s a good conference,” said Lorenzo Romar, Pepperdine’s first-year coach. “There are several teams that could win [the championship]--Portland, Gonzaga, San Diego, San Francisco, St. Mary’s. And you can’t count [Santa Clara Coach] Dick Davey out, even though Nash graduated. John Olive was coach of the year at Loyola. There’s a lot in this league.”

Last season, three WCC teams--Santa Clara, Portland and Gonzaga--earned postseason tournament berths and the league finished with a 66-36 record in nonconference games, including five victories against Pacific 10 Conference teams.

With many saying the WCC is actually deeper and more talented, this season could be even better. Five teams have their leading scorers back.

A look at WCC teams, other than Pepperdine and Loyola:

GONZAGA

* 1995-96 records: 21-9 overall, 10-4 conference.

* Conference finish: Tied for first.

Coach Dan Fitzgerald (239-156) returns for his 14th and final season with the Bulldogs, who tied Santa Clara last season for their second conference title in three years. Assistant Dan Monson will take over the program at season’s end.

Seven-foot senior Paul Rogers, one of two returning all-WCC players, averaged 15.2 points, eight rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 1995-96. The Australian also made 61.5% of his shots, leading Gonzaga to the National Invitation Tournament, its third consecutive postseason berth. Senior guard Lorenzo Rollins averaged 10.3 points.

PORTLAND

* 1995-96 records: 19-11, 7-7.

* Conference finish: Fifth.

The Pilots won the conference tournament and an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament last season, and have been tabbed WCC favorites by several publications. Four starters return, led by senior swingman Kweemada King, who averaged 13.5 points, and junior guard Chivo Anderson.

ST. MARY’S

* 1995-96 records: 12-15, 5-9.

* Conference finish: Seventh.

The Gaels have the conference’s top returning scorer in guard David Sivulich, a 5-10 junior who averaged 15.7 points and led WCC players with 96 three-point baskets. Other key returners include senior point guard Kamran Sufi and 6-5 senior forward Josh Unruh. The wild card is sophomore center Brad “Bigger Country” Millard, a 7-3, 345-pounder who has yet to show he can do more than block shots and clog the middle.

SAN DIEGO

* 1995-96 records: 14-14, 6-8.

* Conference finish: Sixth.

The Toreros have eight of their top nine scorers back, among them the top two--junior forwards Brian Miles, who averaged 11.4 points last season, and Ryan Williams, who averaged 9.8. Also back is sophomore guard Brock Jacobsen, last season’s WCC freshman of the year. Senior forward Sean Flannery, who sat out last season recovering from knee surgery, leads all conference returners with 125 three-point baskets.

The biggest hole to fill is at point guard, where David Fizdale was the conference leader in assists. Junior Alex Davis, a junior college transfer, and sophomore Lamont Smith are competing for the job.

Marty Wilson, who coached Pepperdine after Tony Fuller resigned midway through last season, has joined Brad Holland’s staff as top assistant.

SAN FRANCISCO

* 1995-96 records: 15-12, 8-6.

* Conference finish: Tied for third.

After leading the WCC in scoring three seasons in a row, the Dons converted to a defensive team last season, yielding a conference-low 64 points a game. Look for San Francisco to pick up the pace in Phil Mathews’ second year as coach. The Dons started different lineups in two exhibition games, and are running more than last season.

Mathews deepened his bench by signing five players from two-time state champion Ventura College, where he previously coached. Junior forward Hakeem Ward leads the Ventura contingent and played well in both exhibitions. Returning senior forward John Duggan averaged 13.9 points last season, and junior guard M.J. Nodilo is a three-point threat.

SANTA CLARA

* 1995-96 records: 20-9, 10-4.

* Conference finish: Tied for first.

The Broncos graduated three starters from their 1995-96 co-championship team, including Nash, one of the best point guards to ever play in the WCC. Brian Jones, a freshman from Wilmington Banning High, is Nash’s replacement. Three seniors lead the returners--guard Marlon Garnett, who averaged 12.8 points, power forward Jason Sedlock and 6-9 center Drew Zurek.