Feb. 8, 2013

Coaches' Preseason All-WCC team

San Diego sits atop WCC Preseason Coaches Poll

San Diego stands in first place in the West Coast Conference Preseason Poll, in voting by the league’s head coaches and released by the conference office.

The Toreros, under head coach Rich Hill (left), took six first-place votes and 62 points to finish ahead of defending WCC champion Pepperdine, with two first-place votes and 53 points. Gonzaga came in third with one first-place vote and 49 points, followed by Loyola Marymount, San Francisco, BYU, Portland, Santa Clara and Saint Mary’s.

The Toreros return 23 lettermen from last season’s 40-17 team, which earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. USD had six position starters and three starting pitchers back for 2013. The Toreros will play in new the new 3,000-seat lighted Fowler Park.

The 2013 campaign begins on Friday, Feb. 15, with all nine teams in action. Conference play kicks off the third weekend of March., highlighted by BYU at San Diego. The regular season champion claims the WCC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

2013 West Coast Conference Preseason Poll

Team, Points (First Place) (2012 WCC, Overall Records)

1. San Diego 62 (6) (15-9, 40-17)

2. Pepperdine 53 (2) (16-8, 36-23)

3. Gonzaga 49 (1) (14-10, 34-22)

4. Loyola Marymount 47 (14-10, 27-27)

5. San Francisco 39 (14-10, 29-30)

6. BYU 24 (10-14, 22-27)

7. Portland 19 (12-12, 27-25)

8. Santa Clara 16 (5-19, 26-28)

9. Saint Mary’s 15 (8-16, 24-29)

(photo courtesy of USD Media Relations)