The 2021–22 West Coast Conference men's basketball season began with practices in September 2021 and ended with the 2022 West Coast Conference men's basketball tournament in March 2022. This will be the 71st season for WCC men's basketball, and the 33rd under its current name of "West Coast Conference". The conference was founded in 1952 as the California Basketball Association, became the West Coast Athletic Conference in 1956, and dropped the word "Athletic" in 1989.
Head coaches
Coaching changes Two new head coaches will lead their team in the WCC during the 2021–22 season. On March 22, 2021, Shantay Legans, the then coach at Eastern Washington University, revealed via Twitter that he had accepted the position as the head coach at the University of Portland. Then, on July 7, 2021, the University of the Pacific announced that associate head coach Leonard Perry would become the new head coach of the Tigers. The former head coach, Damon Stoudamire, accepted a position as an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics under Ime Udoka. Perry was previously the head basketball coach at the University of Idaho from 2001 to 2006.
Coaches TeamHead coachPrevious jobYears at schoolOverall recordWCC recordWCC Tournament recordNCAA tournamentsSweet SixteensBYUMark PopeUtah Valley344–15 (.746)23–6 (.793)1–2 (.333)10GonzagaMark FewGonzaga (asst.)23630–124 (.836)305–31 (.908)45–5 (.900)2110Loyola MarymountStan JohnsonMarquette (asst.)213–9 (.591)7–5 (.583)1–1 (.500)00PacificLeonard PerryPacific (asst.)10–0 (–)0–0 (–)0–0 (–)00PepperdineLorenzo RomarArizona (asst.)489–90 (.497)21–25 (.457)5–3 (.625)73PortlandShantay LegansEastern Washington10–0 (–)0–0 (–)0–0 (–)10Saint Mary'sRandy BennettSaint Louis(asst.)21454–192 (.703)223–98 (.695)25–17 (.595)71San DiegoSam SchollSan Diego (asst.)435–50 (.412)11–30 (0.268)3–3 (0.500)00San FranciscoTodd GoldenSan Francisco (asst.)333–26 (.559)13–16 (.448)3–2 (.600)00Santa ClaraHerb SendekArizona State676–72 (.514)36–40 (.474)4–5 (.444)81 Notes:
Year at school includes 2021–22 season. Overall and WCC records are from time at current school and are through the beginning of the 2021–22 season.
Preseason
Conference realignment On September 10, 2021, BYU was one of four schools (the others being Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF) that accepted invitations to join the Big 12 Conference beginning with the 2023–24 athletic season. Therefore, BYU remained a member of the WCC for this season and the 2022–23 season, with the WCC potentially dropping to nine teams for the 2023–24 season. West Coast Conference commissioner Gloria Nevarez indicated that the conference is open to adding additional schools to the conference to ensure "continued success" for the league.
Preseason poll 2021-22 WCC Preseason Men's Basketball Coaches PollRankTeam (First Place Votes)Points1.Gonzaga (9)812.BYU (1)723.Saint Mary's634.Loyola Marymount565.San Francisco496.Santa Clara457.Pepperdine318.Pacific248.San Diego2010.Portland9
All-WCC Preseason Men's Basketball team HonorRecipientPreseason All-WCC TeamAlex Barcello, BYUJamaree Bouyea, San FranciscoLogan Johnson, Saint Mary'sCaleb Lohner, BYUAndrew Nembhard, GonzagaEli Scott, LMUKhalil Shabazz, San FranciscoDrew Timme, GonzagaJosip Vrankic, Santa ClaraJalen Williams, Santa Clara
Rankings
+LegendImprovement in rankingDrop in rankingNot ranked previous weekRVReceived votes but were not ranked in top 25 of poll(Italics)Number of first-place votes Pre/ Wk 1Wk 2Wk 3Wk 4Wk 5Wk 6Wk 7Wk 8Wk 9Wk 10Wk 11Wk 12Wk 13Wk 14Wk 15Wk 16Wk 17Wk 18FinalBYUAPRVRV181224RVRVRVRVRVC181323RVRVRVRVRVRVGonzagaAP1 (55)1 (55)1 (55)3 (1)5544421 (25)2 (15)2 (12)2 (13)1 (56)1 (61)1 (46)1 (52)1 (54)C1 (29)1 (29)1 (30)35544421 (23)1 (18)1 (16)1 (18)1 (30)1 (32)1 (20)1 (27)1 (31)Loyola MarymountAPCPacificAPCPepperdineAPCPortlandAPCSaint Mary'sAPRVRV22RV23191718CRVRVRVRVRVRV22RV23201716San DiegoAPCSan FranciscoAPRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVCRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVSanta ClaraAPC
Regular season
Conference matrix BYUGonzagaLoyola MarymountPacificPepperdinePortlandSaint Mary'sSan DiegoSan FranciscoSanta Claravs. BYU–2–00–21–10–20–11–10–11–11–0vs. Gonzaga0–2–0–10–10–20–11–10–10–20–2vs. Loyola Marymount2–01–0–1–10–11–12–02–01–02–0vs. Pacific1–11–01–1–1–12–00–02–01–02–0vs. Pepperdine2–02–01–01–1–2–02–02–02–01–0vs. Portland1–01–01–10–20–2–1–01–11–11–0vs. Saint Mary's1–11–10–20–00–20–1–0–20–21–1vs. San Diego1–01–00–20–20–21–12–0–2–02–0vs. San Francisco1–12–00–10–10–21–12–00–2–0–2vs. Santa Clara0–12–00–20–20–10–11–10–22–0–Total9–613–13–123–111–157–712–37–910–610–5
Early season tournaments The following table summarizes the multiple-team events (MTE) or early season tournaments in which teams from the West Coast Conference will participate. +TeamTournamentDatesArenaArena locationRecordBracketedFinishTV partnerBYUDiamond Head ClassicDecember 22–25Stan Sheriff CenterHonolulu, Hawaii2–1Yes3rdESPNGonzagaEmpire ClassicNovember 18–19Madison Square GardenNew York, New York2–0NoN/AESPNLoyola MarymountJacksonville ClassicNovember 17–22UNF ArenaJacksonville, Florida2–1Yes3rdCBSPacificRainbow ClassicNovember 10–13Stan Sheriff CenterHonolulu, Hawaii1–2NoN/AN/APepperdineSoCal ChallengeNovember 22–24Pavilion at JSerraSan Juan Capistrano, California0–3NoN/ACBS/FloHoopsPortlandIncarnate Word TournamentNovember 26–28McDermott CenterSan Antonio, Texas2–1NoN/AN/ASaint Mary'sMaui InvitationalNovember 22–24Lahaina Civic CenterMaui, Hawaii2–1Yes2ndESPNSan DiegoLas Vegas ClassicNovember 25–26Orleans ArenaParadise, Nevada2–1Yes3rdN/ASan FranciscoLas Vegas InvitationalNovember 25–26Orleans ArenaLas Vegas, Nevada2–0Yes1stFox SportsSanta ClaraSoCal ChallengeNovember 22–24Pavilion at JSerraSan Juan Capistrano, California2–1NoN/ACBS/FloHoops
WCC Player/Freshman of the Week Throughout the year, the West Coast Conference names a player of the week and a freshman of the week as follows: +WeekDatePlayer of the WeekFreshman of the Week1November 15, 2021Drew Timme, GonzagaChet Holmgren, Gonzaga2November 22, 2021Alex Barcello, BYUChet Holmgren, Gonzaga3November 29, 2021Dan Fotu, Saint Mary'sChet Holmgren, Gonzaga4December 6, 2021Jamaree Bouyea, San FranciscoChet Holmgren, Gonzaga5December 13, 2021Jamaree Bouyea, San FranciscoHouston Mallette, Pepperdine6December 20, 2021Andrew Nembhard, GonzagaMike Mitchell Jr., Pepperdine7December 27, 2021Fousseyni Traore, BYUFousseyni Traore, BYU8January 3, 2022Logan Johnson, Saint Mary'sNolan Hickman, Gonzaga9January 11, 2022Yauhen Massalski, San FranciscoFousseyni Traore, BYU10January 17, 2022Drew Timme, GonzagaChet Holmgren, Gonzaga11January 24, 2022Alex Ducas, Saint Mary'sChet Holmgren, Gonzaga & Fousseyni Traore, BYU12January 31, 2022Matthias Tass, Saint Mary'sChet Holmgren, Gonzaga13February 7, 2022Chet Holmgren, GonzagaChet Holmgren, Gonzaga14February 14, 2022Tyler Robertson, PortlandHouston Mallette, Pepperdine15February 21, 2022Tommy Kuhse, Saint Mary'sChet Holmgren, Gonzaga16February 28, 2022Logan Johnson, Saint Mary'sFousseyni Traore, BYU
National awards and teams
All-Americans
The following WCC players were named as national All-Americans as follows: PlayerSchoolAssociated PressUnited States Basketball Writers AssociationNational Association of Basketball CoachesSporting NewsConsensus PointsDrew TimmeGonzaga22228Chet HolmgrenGonzaga23326
Other National Awards The following WCC players were named to national award watch lists and received awards as follows:
Wooden Award – Player of the Year
Preseason Top 50Midseason Top 25Late Season Top 20Top 15 BallotWooden 10 All Americans5 FinalistsChet Holmgren, GonzagaChet Holmgren, GonzagaChet Holmgren, GonzagaChet Holmgren, GonzagaChet Holmgren, GonzagaDrew Timme, GonzagaAndrew Nembhard, GonzagaDrew Timme, GonzagaDrew Timme, GonzagaDrew Timme, GonzagaDrew Timme, GonzagaDrew Timme, Gonzaga
Naismith Award – Player of the Year
Preseason Top 50Midseason Top 3010 Semifinalists4 FinalistsAlex Barcello, BYUChet Holmgren, GonzagaChet Holmgren, Gonzaga(none)Andrew Nembhard, GonzagaDrew Timme, GonzagaDrew Timme, GonzagaChet Holmgren, GonzagaDrew Timme, Gonzaga
Lute Olson – Player of the Year
Preseason Top 40Midseason Top 3010 Semifinalists4 FinalistsAlex Barcello, BYUAlex Barcello, BYUChet Holmgren, Gonzaga(none)Chet Holmgren, GonzagaChet Holmgren, GonzagaDrew Timme, GonzagaDrew Timme, GonzagaDrew Timme, Gonzaga
Bob Cousy Award – Point Guard
Preseason Top 20Midseason Top 105 FinalistsAndrew Nembhard, GonzagaAndrew Nembhard, GonzagaAndrew Nembhard, Gonzaga
Jerry West Award – Shooting Guard
Preseason Top 20Midseason Top 105 FinalistsHunter Sallis, Gonzaga(none)(none)
Julius Erving Award – Small Forward
Preseason Top 20Midseason Top 105 Finalists(none)(none)(none)
Karl Malone Award – Power Forward
Preseason Top 20Midseason Top 105 FinalistsDrew Timme, GonzagaChet Holmgren, GonzagaChet Holmgren, Gonzaga
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award – Center
Preseason Top 20Midseason Top 105 FinalistsChet Holmgren, GonzagaDrew Timme, GonzagaDrew Timme, Gonzaga
All-WCC awards and teams On March 2, 2022, the West Coast Conference announced the following awards: +HonorRecipientSchoolPlayer of the YearDrew TimmeGonzagaCoach of the YearRandy BennettSaint Mary'sDefensive Player of the YearChet HolmgrenGonzagaNewcomer of the YearChet HolmgrenGonzagaSixth Man of the YearTommy KuhseSaint Mary'sAll-WCC First TeamAlex BarcelloBYUJamaree BouyeaSan FranciscoChet HolmgrenGonzagaTommy Kuhse Saint Mary'sYauhen MassalskiSan FranciscoAndrew NembhardGonzagaMatthias TassSaint Mary'sDrew TimmeGonzagaJosip VrankicSanta ClaraJalen WilliamsSanta ClaraAll-WCC Second TeamAlex Ducas Saint Mary'sLogan JohnsonSaint Mary'sKeshawn JusticeSanta ClaraTyler RobertsonPortlandEli ScottLMUKhalil ShabazzSan FranciscoAll-WCC Freshman TeamNolan HickmanGonzagaChet HolmgrenGonzagaMaxwell LewisPepperdineHouston Mallette PepperdineWayne McKinney IIISan DiegoMike Mitchell Jr.PepperdineFousseyni TraoreBYUWCC Honorable MentionJeremiah BaileyPacificRasir BoltonGonzagaMarcellus EarlingtonSan DiegoJulian StrawtherGonzagaMoses WoodPortland
Postseason
West Coast Conference tournament Gonzaga defeated Saint Mary's 82–69 in the championship game to win the tournament on March 8. Mark Few was the winning coach and Andrew Nembhard was named the MVP of the tournament.
NCAA tournament Three teams from the WCC participated in the 2022 NCAA tournament. Gonzaga received the automatic bid from the WCC and the #1 overall seed. Gonzaga advanced to the Sweet 16, where they were defeated by Arkansas 74–68. Saint Mary's received a 5 seed as an at-large selection and advanced to the second round where they were defeated by UCLA 72–56. San Francisco received a 10 seed as an at-large selection but was defeated in overtime in the first round, 92–87, by Murray State.
National Invitation Tournament (NIT) BYU and Santa Clara participated in the 2022 NIT. BYU received a 2 seed and advanced to the quarterfinals where they lost to Washington State 77–58 while Santa Clara lost in the first round to Washington State 63–50.
College Basketball Invitational (CBI) tournament No teams from the WCC participated in the 2022 CBI Tournament.
The Basketball Classic (TBC) Portland received an invitation to and participated in the 2022 TBC. Portland defeated New Orleans in the first round but lost to Southern Utah in the quarterfinals 77–66.
References