Feb. 10, 2012

San Diego nips Gonzaga in WCC preseason poll

San Diego edged Gonzaga as the favorite in the West Coast Conference Preseason Poll in voting by the league’s head coaches and released by the conference office.

The Torreros received five first-place votes and 59 points. The Zags garnered three first-place votes and 57 points. Defending WCC champion San Francisco took the other first-place vote and finished third with 51 points. Loyola Marymount was fourth, with Pepperdine and Saint Mary’s in a tie for fifth. First-year member BYU sat seventh, followed by Portland and Santa Clara.

The 2012 season starts on Friday, Feb. 17, with all nine teams in action. Conference play begins Feb. 23 with BYU visiting Saint Mary’s. The top team in the regular-season standings earns the WCC Championship and the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

2012 West Coast Conference Preseason Coaches Poll

Team, Points (First Place) (2011 WCC, Overall Records)

1. San Diego, 59 (5) (11-10, 22-31)

2. Gonzaga, 57 (3) (15-6, 32-19-1)

3. San Francisco, 51 (1) (16-5, 32-25)

4. Loyola Marymount, 37 (11-10, 30-25)

t5. Pepperdine, 30 (7-14, 22-34)

t5. Saint Maryʼs, 30 (9-12, 27-28)

7. BYU, 28 (11-12 in MWC, 31-27)

8. Portland, 23 (11-10, 23-31)

9. Santa Clara, 9 (4-17, 17-34)