Gonzaga at WCC Media Day in Las Vegas

It wasn’t just a media day dedicated to the West Coast Conference at Resorts World in Las Vegas but the Mountain West Conference as well. You can even say for the Pac-12 Conference with several programs from both the WCC and MWC ARE moving to the Conference of Champions in 2026-2027.

A couple of quotes from the MWC portion in the morning stood out. Boise State head coach Leon Rice was asked about Gonzaga’s head Mark Few joining a league where his voice may not carry as much power in the Pac-12. That is simply just not the case as Few receives respect from all of his college basketball colleagues and everyone listens to what he has to say.

“I won’t say this to his face, but when he says something about basketball and things like that, he’s usually right.” – Leon Rice

San Diego State head coach Brian Dutcher was asked about the addition of Gonzaga to the Pac-12. The Zags and the Aztecs will be right at the top of the conference as both programs have been in the national championship once in the last four seasons.

“I just think when you start any conversation with a basketball conference that includes San Diego State and Gonzaga, it’s a good thing.” – Brian Dutcher

Onto the WCC portion in the afternoon, Randy Bennett and his Gaels joined the Field of 68 where Rob Dauster asked him if they were going to keep the Gonzaga-Saint Mary’s rivalry going past 2025-2026. Bennett and Few were even spotted by Theo Lawson of the Spokesman-Review chatting for a bit.

“Not a huge surprise to see Gonzaga leave… We have. We need to get that done.” – Randy Bennett

As for the Zags, in attendance along with Mark Few was Graham Ike, Ben Gregg and Nolan Hickman. Few was thrilled to have the trio of seniors along with everyone else from last season come back to Spokane for one more run together. The transfer portal haul of Michael Ajayi, Khalif Battle, Emmanuel Innocenti and Braeden Smith (redshirting this season) was wonderful to acquire but the return of Gonzaga’s veteran experience from 2023-2024 is that much more important to have.

“Retention is so much more important than addition.” – Mark Few

To no one’s surprise, Gonzaga was picked to win the West Coast Conference with 9 of the 11 first-place votes from the head coaches going to the Zags. Saint Mary’s received a first place vote and surprisingly, USF got the other.

With that being said, this is definitely looking like a three-bid league for the NCAA Tournament. Gonzaga always looks forward to the Bay Area road trips because of the beautiful scenery and the competitiveness those programs bring. This season is no exception with Saint Mary’s, USF and Santa Clara all making a case for an at-large bid to the Big Dance.

This is the strongest the middle half of the league has looked in a long time with the additions of Washington State and Oregon State. Although, the bottom half from Portland and on is a dumpster fire.

It hasn’t happened since 2018 but the Zags had 4 players named to the WCC preseason team in Graham Ike, Ryan Nembhard, Nolan Hickman and Michael Ajayi. The only other programs with multiple players named was Saint Mary’s in Augustas Marciulionis and Mitchell Saxen as well as Santa Clara in Adama Bal and Carlos Stewart.

I’m fine with Saxen winning the WCC Defensive Player of the Year again and he definitely could but Marciulionis better not come away with the WCC Player of the Year again. It’s either Ike’s or Nembhard’s for the taking.

Less that three weeks until #6 Gonzaga tips-off the 2024-2025 season at the Spokane Arena against #8 Baylor on November 4th at 8:30 PM PT on ESPN2.

Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on Twitter @a_cravalho