Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s have roosted at the top of the West Coast Conference for a quarter-century and the consensus, even among the league’s coaches, is that isn’t likely to change this season.
 
No one other than the Zags or Gaels has won the league’s regular-season title since Pepperdine way back in 2000. San Francisco received one first-place vote in the preseason coaches’ poll but Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s checked in firmly at No. 1 and 2, with the Zags on top for the seventh time in the past eight seasons.
 
Ranked No. 21 in the preseason AP Top-25, the Zags are determined to flip the script from the past two seasons when Saint Mary’s won both regular-season crowns, losing just once each year in league play.
 
“Extremely motivated,” was how Gonzaga star forward Graham Ike described his team’s approach to the season.
 
But the Gaels, despite losing four starters, three of them seniors, appear positioned to once again challenge the Zags and bid for a program-record fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament bid.
 
“Say whatever you want to about us, but the one thing I’m proud of is we’ve been consistent for a lot of years,” Gaels head coach Randy Bennett said. 
 
Asked if the Gaels are capable of winning it again, Bennett gave an affirmative answer. “I say that because we’ve done it before so we know what it looks like. There’s enough talent here.”
 
Here’s a preview of the West Coast Conference season, with teams ranked in order of the preseason coaches poll: 
 
1. GONZAGA
2024-25: 14-4/2nd in West Coast Conference; 26-9 overall; won West Coast Conference Basketball Championships Tournament
Head Coach: Mark Few (742-152 in 27th season)
Most recent NCAA Tournament appearance: 2024 (lost 81-76 to Houston in the second round)
Top returning players: The Zags boast one of the most accomplished frontcourt duos in the country in 6-9, 250-pound graduate student Graham Ike (17.3 points, 7.3 rebounds) and 6-10 junior Braden Huff (11.0 points). Ike is a two-time All-West Coast Conference selection and both were named to the league’s 10-man preseason team. Ike needs just 41 points to reach 2,000 for his career. Back after missing two seasons with injuries to his knee and Achilles, 6-7 wing Steele Venters hopes to show the form he did at Eastern Washington, where he was the 2023 MVP in the Big Sky Conference and made 164 shots from beyond the arc in his final two seasons 
Top newcomers: The Zags reloaded with three elite-level players projected as starters. Small forward Tyon Grant-Foster was a star the past two seasons at Grand Canyon, averaging 17.8 points on a pair of NCAA Tournament teams after missing two seasons following a cardiac emergency while at DePaul in 2021-22 that required two heart surgeries. Grant-Foster initially had his eligibility bid denied by the NCAA, but he received a preliminary injunction from court on Monday that allows him to play this season. Point guard Mario Saint-Supery, a 6-3 freshman from Spain, played in the EuroBasket event last summer against elite players and brings “an unbelievable flair and confidence,” according to assistant coach Brian Michaelson. The Zags also added graduate transfer shooting guard Adam Miller, who started 94 games at Illinois, LSU and Arizona State and has made 221 career 3-pointers. 
Key non-conference games: Gonzaga, ranked No. 21 in the preseason AP Top 25, plays its usual killer schedule. The Zags step out of the Kennel to play Oklahoma on Nov. 8 at the Spokane Arena and three days later take on No. 23 Creighton at the same venue. At the Players Era Championship in Las Vegas, they face No. 15 Alabama on Nov. 24 and Maryland the next day before an opponent to be determined on Nov. 26. Gonzaga and No. 9 Kentucky tangle at Nashville on Dec. 5 and the Zags face No. 12 UCLA in Seattle on Dec. 13. They close their non-conference gauntlet with a matchup vs. Oregon in Portland on Dec. 21.
What matters: The Zags are determined to become a consistently strong defensive team a year after they fell short in that area. “We got off to a good start then obviously it started to leak oil and got to a low point in the middle of conference play,” said Michaelson, alluding to back-to-back games where the Zags surrendered 200 points. They flipped that late in the season and believe their experience and size on the perimeter will be a good formula going forward.  Said Michaelson, “We know we have to be a top-20 defense this year.”
Quote: ““This has been . . . the most excited I’ve been just because of the experience and the approach. The maturity we have every day is like no other team I’ve been on.” — Forward Graham Ike
 
2. SAINT MARY’S
2024-25: 17-1/1st in West Coast Conference; 29-6 overall
Head Coach: Randy Bennett (562-222 in 25th season)
Most recent NCAA Tournament appearance: 2025 (lost 80-66 to Alabama in the second round)
Top returning players: Junior forward Paulius Murausakas (12.1 points, 7.7 rebounds) was the West Coast Conference Newcomer of the Year and the only returning first-team all-conference selection other than Gonzaga’s Ike after arriving as a transfer from Arizona. The 6-foot-8 Lithuanian led the conference with 13 double-doubles. He is joined on the preseason All-West Coast Conference team by sophomore guard Mikey Lewis (8.2 points, 37-percent 3-point) and 7-1 senior center Harry Wessels (5.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 33 blocked shots). Redshirt junior Kevin Gad started at small forward in the Gaels’ exhibition game at Ole Miss and played well, but competition remains among as many as four players at that spot. Sophomore Joshua Dent of Australia will handle point guard and 7-2 sophomore center Andrew McKeever seems poised to make a leap as a tag-team partner up front with Wessels. Rory Hawke, a 6-6 guard from Australia with a high ceiling, is coming back after suffering an ACL tear early in his true freshman season of 2023-24.
Top newcomers: Sophomore guard Tony Duckett averaged 10.4 points last season at San Diego, including a 31-point outburst against LMU, and joined Lewis on the league’s All-Freshman squad. Mantas Juzemas. a 6-6 freshman wing, comes to Saint Mary’s from Lithuania, where last season he played for Zalgiris Kaunas II of the NKL, averaging 16.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists. Freshman wing Dillan Shaw is also battling to find a spot in the rotation.
Key non-conference games: The Gaels open with six home games before trekking to Paradise Island in the Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantic, where they open against Wichita State on Nov. 26 before a Thanksgiving day game vs. Virginia Tech or Colorado State. They play at Davidson on Dec. 7 and duel Boise State at Idaho Falls on Dec. 14.
What matters: The Gaels have to replace three graduated seniors — two-time West Coast Conference Player of the Year Augustas Marciulionis, two-time Defensive Player of the Year Mitchell Saxen and honorable mention pick Luke Barrett. Those three were the clear leaders, provided toughness and anchored the Gaels’ defense. “I like our team, but we lost leaders,” head coach Randy Bennett said. “You don’t really develop that until you start practicing. Then you go, `Yeah, they took care of this.’ That’s going to be the challenge.”
Quote: “He’s just got to be tough. Our guys have been tough. He’s got to be tough — he’s getting there. If he keeps improving, he’ll be a player.” — Bennett on the next step for all-conference forward Paulius Murauskas
 
3. SAN FRANCISCO
2024-25: 13-5/3rd in West Coast Conference; 25-10 overall
Head Coach: Chris Gerlufsen (68-35 in 4th season; 76-40 overall in 5th season, including as acting coach at Hawaii in 2019-20)
Most recent NCAA Tournament appearance: 2022 (lost 92-87 in overtime to Murray State in the first round)
Top returning players: The Dons lost their All-West Coast Conference backcourt tandem of Malik Thomas — the league’s scoring champion — and Marcus Williams. But talent remains, led by 6-6 sophomore guard Tyrone Riley IV (9.6 points, 6.0 rebounds), who earned all-freshman honors after starting 34 games a year ago and scoring double digits 16 times. He entered the transfer portal after last season before deciding to return to San Francisco. Riley and junior point guard Ryan Beasley (9.0 points, 2.4 assists off the bench) both earned spots on the preseason all-conference team. Junjie “Barry” Wang (6.2 points, 3.3 rebounds), a 6-9, 240-pound sophomore forward from China, also returns as a front-court starter. The Dons are looking for a productive return to action from Ndewedo Newbury (8.4 points, 4.3 rebounds), who played just 11 gams last season before a serious leg injury. 
Top newcomers: The Dons welcome six new players, four of them transfers. Forward Mookie Cook, a 6-8 junior, never flourished in two seasons at Oregon but was a McDonald’s All-America prep player and a four-star prospect. Serbian guard Vukasin Masic averaged 11.6 points the past two seasons at Portland, where he made 98 3-point baskets. Guillermo Diaz Graham, a native of the Canary Islands, is a 7-foot forward who averaged 5.5 points and 4.1 rebounds in three seasons at Pitt. Italian freshman guard Weilun Zhao played last season for Overtime Elite.
Key non-conference games: The Dons play at Memphis on Nov. 8 and take on Minnesota at Sioux Falls, SD on Nov. 22. They wlll venture to Palm Desert, Calif., for games against Colorado and either Nevada or Washington on Nov. 27-28. USF will square off vs. Mississippi at Tupelo on Dec. 7 and play at Saint Louis on Dec. 13. 
What matters: USF needs to replace its lead scorers from a year ago but there are plenty of options. Head coach Chris Gerlufsen has asked Beasley to become more of a leader and the Dons expect to continue being a well-connected, smart and high-effort team. Gerlufsen is excited about having a lot of what he calls interchangeable parts, especially at the offensive end.
Quote: “We can be an NCAA-caliber team and I feel like if we approach that mindset every day we will be an NCAA Tournament team.” — Sophomore Tyrone Riley IV on the team’s ambitions
 
4. SANTA CLARA
2024-25: 12-6, 4th in West Coast Conference; 21-13 overall
Head Coach: Herb Sendek (161-120 in 11th season at Santa Clara; 574-4415 in 33rd season overall)
Most recent NCAA Tournament appearance: 1996 (lost 76-51 to Kansas in the second round)
Top returning players: The Broncos lost five of their top six scorers, including all-conference guard Adama-Alpha Bal, but the cupboard is not bare. Back is 6-7 senior forward Elijah Mahi (11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds), who had nine games of 15 points or more for a balanced and high-scoring team and landed on the preseason All-West Coast Conference team. Junior forward Jake Ensminger (5.5 points, 3.0 rebounds) had 13 points against Saint Mary’s and 13 rebounds vs LMU. Senior guard Brenton Knapper (5.9 points, 2.0 assists) boosted his production to 9.1 points over the final 10 games. 
Top newcomers: Santa Clara brought in four freshmen but the biggest arrival is Thierry Darlan, a 6-8 junior guard from the Central African Republic. Darlan received NCAA clearance to play after two seasons in the NBA’s G League, where last season he averaged 11 points and 6 rebounds for the Delaware Blue Coats. Those credentials earned him a spot on the preseason All-West Coast Conference team.
Key non-conference games: The Broncos play a road game vs. Xavier on Nov. 10 then participate in the Acrisure Invitational at Palm Desert, Calif., with games against Saint Louis on Nov. 27 and ether Stanford or Minnesota the next day. The Broncos venture to The Pit at New Mexico on Dec. 6 and face Arizona State in Henderson, Nev., on Dec. 13. “This year’s schedule has a chance to be the most challenging we’ve put together yet,” head coach Herb Sendek said.
What matters: Sendek, who has guided the Broncos to four straight 20-win seasons for the first time in program history, said he’s pleased with his roster. “We return a good core and we’ve added to it with recruiting,” he said. Sendek said the Broncos won’t change their primary philosophy, which includes taking a lot of 3-point shots. They made 372 shots from beyond the arc last season, fifth-most in the country.
Quote: “The last two years, even the last three years, we’ve been so close. It’s been a matter of two or three games. We win a few more games and I think we’re in.” — Forward Jake Ensminger on Santa Clara’s quest to end a 30-year drought in the NCAA Tournament
 
5. OREGON STATE
2024-25: 10-8/5th in West Coast Conference; 20-13 overall
Head Coach: Wayne Tinkle (160-190 in 13th season at OSU; 318-281 in 21st season overall)
Most recent NCAA Tournament appearance: 2021 (lost 67-61 to Houston in the Elite 8)
Top returning players: The Beavers lost their top five scorers, including star forward Michael Rataj. The top scorer back is junior guard Josiah Lake II (6.9 points, 3.3 rebounds), who scored a career-best 16 points in the first of his six starts. Also back is 6-7 junior forward Isaiah Sy (5.7 points), a double-figure scorer in six games.
Top newcomers: The Beavers added nine newcomers, led by junior guard Dez White, who averaged 14.0 points at Missouri State last season and showed the potential to be explosive. He had 30 points against Indiana State and 26 vs. UC Santa Barbara. White shot 7-for-11 on 3’s vs. Illinois State and collected ASUN All-Freshman honors in 2023-24. Sophomore Keziah Ekissi (12.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists at Howard) scored a season-high 33 points in a game and will factor as a point guard. Senior guard Malcolm Christie (8.3 points at Oakland U) and 6-11 Australian junior center Yaak Yaak (10.6 points, 50 blocked shots at Colorado Mesa) also hope to carve out roles. 
Key non-conference games: The Beavers play their first three at home before taking on rival Oregon in Eugene on Nov. 17. They tip off a three-game event at the Paradise Jam at the Virgin Islands on Nov. 21 against Evansville. ODU closes out non-conference play at Arizona State on Dec. 21.
What matters: Head coach Wayne Tinkle acknowledges there are lots of unanswered questions about his team, but says the Beavers have added depth and height in the frontcourt and have more perimeter shooters. He believes the team’s inside-out balance has improved but mostly there is greater selflessness.
Quote: “Last year we really kind of only had one guy that was a little bit of a playmaker and kind of wanted to terminate every play, whether it was his shot or the assist that led to a basket. This year these guys, Ken and others, they don’t care who score or who get the assist. They want the best shot for the Beavers.” — OSU head coach Wayne Tinkle on the team’s improved playmaking abilities.
 
6. WASHINGTON STATE
2024-25: 8-10/tied 6th in West Coast Conference; 19-15 overall 
Head Coach: David Riley (19-15 in 2nd season at WSU; 81-53 in 5th season overall) 
Most recent NCAA Tournament appearance: 2024 (lost 67-56 to Iowa State in second round)
Top returning players: Like so many others, the Cougars sustained significant personnel departures, losing the top six scorers who combined to produce 57 points per game last year. But they return five players year after everyone on the roster was new. Junior post player ND Okafor (5.6 points, 2.7 rebounds) and junior forward Rihards Vavers (5.6 points) will be asked to shoulder bigger loads. Vavers made 48 percent of his 3-point tries last season but missed playing time with a hand and wrist injury. Tomas Thrastarson (4.5 points, 3.1 rebounds), a 6-7 guard from Iceland, was named to the league’s All-Freshman team. He started 11 games and scored 17 points vs. LMU.
Top newcomers: Among five transfers, junior guard Jerone Morton (10.7 points, 3.6 assists at Morehead State) figures to get a good look at point guard. Senior forward (5.5 points, 3.0 rebounds) helped High Point to its first-ever NCAA Tournament bid last season. The Cougars also brought in four freshmen.
Key non-conference games: The Cougars venture to Davidson on Nov. 7 and play rival Washington at home on Nov. 14. Their trek to the Maui Invitational includes  Nov. 25 duel vs. Arizona State or Texas. WSU plays at Bradley on Dec. 2 and at USC on Dec. 14.
What matters: The Cougars expect to be a more consistent team after Year 1 in the David Riley coaching era. “That’s something we’ve been preaching, to make sure we’re playing a steadier brand of basketball,” Riley said. He expects the Cougars to be better defensively and as a rebounding team and wants to see turnovers reduced after WSU averaged nearly 15 per game.
Quote: “We definitely lost some production. Every single player on our team should be in a different role than they were last year. Just to have five (returning) guys who know what the program needs, know what to expect, what the league’s going to be like is helping our stability.” — WSU second-year head coach David Riley
 
7. LMU
2024-25: 8-10/tied 6th in West Coast Conference; 17-15 overall
Head Coach: Stan Johnson (72-73 in 6th season)
Most recent NCAA Tournament appearance: 1990 (lost 131-101 to UNLV in the regional final)
Top returning players: Junior guard Myron “MJ” Amey Jr. (8.6 points, 40 steals) had 12 double-digit scoring games last season but figure to ratchet that up after the Lions lost their top four scorers. Jan Vide (6.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists off the bench) is a 6-6 junior guard from Slovenia. Redshirt freshman forward Jael Martin, at 6-9, is an unknown after sitting out last season with mononucleosis. He led his high school team to a 30-3 record and a No. 8 ranking in California as a senior.
Top newcomers: The Lions will lean on first-year players, including 6-6 junior guard Rodney Brown, who spent one season each at Cal and Virginia Tech, and Jalen Shelley, a 6-8 sophomore wing from USC who was a top-100 prospect in high school. Tanner Thomas, a 6-6 senior guard, averaged 14.5 points and was a second-team All-MAAC selection at Sacred Heart.
Key non-conference games: The Lions open with three home games before visiting UTEP on Nov. 11. They travel to Daytona, Fla. two games at the Sunshine Slam, starting Nov. 24 vs. FAU. LMU hosts Saint Louis on Dec. 2.
What matters: The Lions had a minus-4.2 rebounding margin last year and weren’t good enough on the offensive glass, head coach Stan Johnson said. He hopes that the addition of Jalen Shelley and a healthy Jael Martin can help remedy that problem. “That was really a priority — how can we give ourselves second chances?” Johnson said. Longer and quicker to the ball, the Lions also hope to generate more easy baskets off defensive takeaways. 
Quote: “I actually felt good — we only had seven guys to bring in. Back in the day if you brought in seven you’d be out of your mind.” — LMU head coach Stan Johnson, joking about the state of college hoops with players streaming to the transfer portal
 
 
8. SEATTLE U
2024-25: 8-8/4th in WAC; 14-18 overall
Head Coach: Chris Victor (80-53 in 5th season)
Most recent NCAA Tournament appearance: 1969 (lost 75-73 to Weber State in the first round)
Top returning players: Three senior guards anchor the Redhawks. John Christofilis has averaged 11.1 points the past two seasons while starting 50 games. Maleek Arrington (7.4 points, 4.5 assists, 2.2 steals) was an All-WAC Defensive pick last season. He had a season-high 11 assists vs. Grand Canyon and had three or more steals 12 times. Brayden Maldonado (9.0 points, 39 percent 3-point) is the top returning scorer on a team that lost its four leading point producers. Maldonado shot 7-for-10 from 3-point range in a 26-point effort vs. UT Arlington.
Top newcomers: The Redhawks plucked former Gonzaga player Junseok Yeo, a 6-8 senior forward, out of the transfer portal. He has played in the South Korean national team program. Point guard Miles Amos, the sixth City College of San Francisco player to wind up at Seattle U, averaged 9.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists, leading the Rams to a 32-1 record and the California state JC crown. Senior guard JoJo Murphy scored nearly 1,200 points at Division II Chico State in California while 6-7 freshman guard Stratos Papastavrou has played on Greek national age-group teams the past three years. Forward Brock Felder (5.8 points, 6.1 rebounds at Southern Utah) adds some size inside at 6-8, 256 pounds.
Key non-conference games: The Redhawks play four home games before traveling to Stanford for a Nov. 21 matchup vs. the Cardinal. They will play twice at the Resorts World Classic in Las Vegas, starting with Texas State on Nov. 28. Seattle takes on UTEP at Seattle on Dec. 7 and crosstown rival Washington at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Dec. 19.
What matters: Head coach Chris Victor, who won 66 games in his first three seasons at Seattle U, said he likes the mix of returnees and newcomers on this team. He said his players are coachable and they like each other. “And we’re getting a lot better,” he said. 
Quote: “A lot of excitement within the team, but even the whole university and the alumni base. We fit so well in this conference. This is my ninth year at Seattle (including four as an assistant) and my first day on campus they made it clear this is where we wanted to be eventually.” — Seattle head coach Chris Victor on the Redhawks return to the West Coast Conference after a 30-year hiatus.
 
9. SAN DIEGO
2024-25: 2-16/last in West Coast Conference; 6-27 overall
Head Coach: Steve Lavin (35-62 in 4th season at USD; 272-212 in 16th season overall)
Most recent NCAA Tournament appearance: 2008 (lost 72-63 to Western Kentucky in the second round)
Top returning players: Senior guard Kjay Bradley (14.5 points, 3.5 assists in 20 games) is the only one of USD’s top 10 scorers back this season. He scored 52 points in his first two games after arriving from junior college but did not play after Jan. 18 due to personal reasons.
Top newcomers: A crowd of 14 newcomers is led by 6-foot junior point guard Ty-Laur Johnson, who totaled 184 assists an 81 steals in two seasons at Louisville and Wake Forest. Senior guard Juanse Gorosito played last season at Ball State after two years at Portland. He has made 205 career 3-point baskets. Other newcomers: guard Toneari Lane (13.8 points, 237 career 3-pointers at Georgia State), guard Dominique Ford (14.5 points at Southern 4th), forward Tim Moore (12.9 points, 6.7 rebounds at NJIT) and guard Adrian McIntyre (27.9 point at Division II Westmont).
Key non-conference games: The Toreros host USC on Dec. 9 then go across town to play future West Coast Conference rival UC San Diego on Dec. 19. USD closes non-conference action on Dec. 22 at Washington.
What matters: Coach Steve Lavin has been impressed with how smoothly his nine transfers and five freshmen have come together to create chemistry. The trick now is to find a starting lineup and rotation that is productive, given that Bradley is the Toreros’ only player who Lavin previously has coached,
Quote: “I made the choice to come back because I like the conference. It’s kind of my style. There’s a lo of international players in the conference it’s more like a European style. It’s a good challenge for us to show international players can be just as good as Americans.” — Senior guard and Argentina native Juanse Gorosito on why he transferred back into the West Coast Conference
 
10. PACIFIC
2024-25: 4-14/tied 9th in West Coast Conference; 9-24 overall
Head Coach: Dave Smart (9-24 in 2nd season)
Most recent NCAA Tournament appearance: 2013 (lost 78-49 to Miami in the first round)
Top returning players: The Tigers have 15 newcomers but one returnee is key — senior forward Elias Ralph (14.8 points, 7.3 rebounds). The 6-foot-7 Canadian scored 30 points in his U.S. collegiate debut and had 10 double-doubles, including a 20-point, 17-rebound performance vs. LMU. Ralph was named to the preseason All-West Coast Conference team. 
Top newcomers: Senior guards T.J. Wainwright (13.4 points at Long Beach State), Alexis Marmolejos (14.5 points at Lamar) and Justin Rochelin (Big West Sixth Player of the Year at UC San Diego) provide some veteran reinforcements.
Key non-conference games: The Tigers make their first big trip to the Sunshine Slam at Boca Raton, Fla., where a three-game event tips off on Nov. 20 against FAU. The Tigers visit Cal on Dec. 6 and play Dec. 16 at preseason No. 8 BYU, which features projected No. 1 NBA draft pick AJ Dybantsa. 
What matters: Compared with a year ago, when coach Dave Smart had little time to sign players after being hired, the Tigers are a full year into recruiting. He kept the one player he couldn’t afford to lose — Elias Ralph — and has tried to surround him with players who buy into the level of dedication he demands. “Last year we had to find guys . . . we had no money, we had no high school recruits,” Smart said. He had time to scrutinize prospects this time around and feels like he found players who fit his mold.
Quote: “Our talent level, we’re much better than we were last year. Our depth is unbelievable. We shoot it. The biggest thing is 90 percent of our guys love being in the gym as many hours as people will let them be in the gym. That’s a huge asset to us getting better.” — Second year coach Dave Smart
 
11. PEPPERDINE
2024-25: 5-11/tied 6th in West Coast Conference; 13-22 overall
Head Coach: Ed Schilling (13-22 in 2nd season at Pepperdine; 88-115 overall in 8th season)
Most recent NCAA Tournament appearance: 2002 (lost 83-74 to Wake Forest in the first round)
Top returning players: Pepperdine’s top six scorers, who combined to average 63 points, all are gone. The top point producer back from a year ago is 6-10 sophomore center Danilo Dozic (5.8 points), who matched his senior high with 12 points against Gonzaga. Graduate guard Javon Cooley, who played two seasons ago at Marist, is back after undergoing hip surgery last season. Sophomore guard Aaron Clark, a transfer from Wake Forest and former top-100 high school prospect, redshirted last season while recovering from a shoulder injury.
Top newcomers: The Waves’ roster features 13 new players, nine of them transfers. Pavle Stosic, a 6-9 redshirt sophomore from Serbia, has had short stints at Utah State and Gonzaga. Freshman small forward Vladimir Sudar has played in the Montenegrin national team program the past six years. Graduate forward Preston Phillips averaged 11.5 points at NAIA-Bethel last season and has two years’ experience at Evansville. 
Key non-conference games: The Waves get an early test on Nov. 7 at No. 12 UCLA. Pepperdine plays eight home games during its non-conference slate and does not leave the state of California. 
What matters: The Waves have six international players and many of them  weren’t here for the summer for the time allowed to work with the coaching staff.  “It’s been challenging,” second-year coach Ed Schilling said. “It was tough to get them here. They couldn’t get into their embassy to get their visas. So we’re having to do a lot of learning on the fly.”
Quote: “Leadership. I’m the oldest guy on the team and I’m trying to be that guy that glues everybody together.” — Graduate guard Javon Cooley on his role with the Waves 
 
12. PORTLAND
2024-25: 7-11/8th in West Coast Conference; 12-20 overall
Head Coach: Shantay Legans (57-75 in 5th season at Portland; 132–144 in 9th season overall)
Most recent NCAA Tournament appearance: 1996 (lost 92-58 to Villanova in the first round
Top returning players: Nine players from last season, including the team’s top six scorers, are gone. Sophomore guard Mike Ballew (4.9 points), who never started a game last season, is the leading scorer still with the Pilots. Danish 7-foot sophomore center Jermaine Ballisager Webb averaged 4.3 points for the Pilots in his first season after transferring from American University.
Top newcomers: Senior point guard Riley Parker (13.4 points, 3.3 assists at St. Francis-PA) helped the Red Flash qualify for the NCAA Tournament last season. Slovakian junior forward Matus Hronsky played three seasons at Duquesne, averaging 5.2 points last year after playing in the NCAAs in 2024.
Key non-conference games: Portland plays three home games before venturing to Wyoming on Nov. 15. The Pilots host the three-game Portland Invitational on Dec. 21-22-23, opening play against Cal State Fullerton. They play at Stanford on Dec. 1 and at Oregon on Dec. 17. 
What matters: Coach Shantay Legans was determined to infuse his roster with players accustomed to success, so he brought in two transfers who have played in the NCAA Tournament and two more with experience on national JC title teams. “That was really important to us,” Legans said. “I think we’re pushing in the right direction. Our freshmen have all won at high levels. We wanted to get a bunch of guys who have won before and don’t mind sacrificing to win.”
Quote: “When I talked to coach, we run basically a Euro-style offense where everybody touches the ball, everybody shares the ball. It doesn’t matter who scores how many points. I want to win, they want to win. That was the biggest thing.” — Duquesne transfer Matus Hronsky on why he came to Portland