Elias Ralph of Pacific is the featured guest on this week's edition of the Field of 68's West Coast Conference Insider podcast. Ralph is seventh in scoring (16.6) and sixth in rebounding (6.8) in the West Coast Conference after earning a season-best 22 points in the victory against Sacramento State to go along with eight boards. The Tigers are 6-2 to begin the year and currently sit at No. 85 in the NET rankings. 

Following the Dec. 2 games, the West Coast Conference boasts four programs within the top 100 in the NET rankings - with Gonzaga No. 4, Saint Mary's No. 28 and Santa Clara No. 33. Just outside the top 100 are Seattle U (No. 103) and San Francisco (No. 118). Seattle U's Will Heimbrodt is also fourth in the nation with 3.17 blocked shots per game. 

Among conference rankings, the West Coast Conference ranks No. 3 in the nation in field goal percentage (.475) and No. 3 in free throw percentage (.743).

The Field of 68 Network hosts the West Coast Conference Insider podcast, featuring interviews with head coaches and student-athletes from men's basketball programs around the conference each week. Hosted by Jeff Goodman and Rob Dauster, the Field of 68 is a men's college basketball-centric network of podcasts and content. As of October 2025, The Field of 68 has built a combined audience of over 225,000 followers across its primary social media platforms. It currently boasts over 135K followers on X, over 66K on YouTube and over 39K on Instagram.

Timestamps are listed below for efficient viewing:

0:50 - Santa Clara on the rise
"(Santa Clara) is a team that kind of has turned some people's heads. Right there in around the top 50... In the KenPom rankings. No. 32 in the NET.... I think the Broncos are for real. (Coach) Herb Sendek has himself a squad." - Rob Dauster

5:14 - Pacific's strong start and the opportunity to build on it coming up

5:45 - West Coast Conference's strong investment to basketball as a whole
"This is not a top heavy league. This is a basketball league that is clearly investing in the sport of basketball and that is something that should be celebrated in an era where everyone is too football focused."  - Rob Dauster 

7:30 - Gonzaga and Saint Mary's will continue to shine this season and only get better

9:03 - Elias Ralph joins the show

9:44 - Ralph's progression this season and the trust Coach Smart has in him
"I think it just comes down to the trust Coach Smart has put into me. Knowing I had times where I struggled last year and still putting the ball in my hands. Knowing the work I put in in the offseason and entrusting that I'm going to progress and continue to make plays and help my teammates." - Elias Ralph

11:20 - How Pacific is succeeding as a team

12:00 - Coach Smart
"He's obsessive. He wants to see everyone do well. I feel like some coaches might be all about winning and the team, which is what you want, but he has a very individualistic approach. Your progression as a player is really important to him as well."
- Elias Ralph 

13:18 - Growing up in Canada with thoughts of playing Division I basketball 

14:10 - TJ Wainwright's game and the coining of the phrase "You got Ralphed"

17:14 - How Pacific can keep the momentum going and how the locker room is feeling
"Our confidence level is high... We've kind of done what we're supposed to do so we can't get complacent. We still have to get better everyday but it's definitely trending in the right direction." - Elias Ralph 

19:30 - How Ralph deals with trash talk

23:23 - Ralph played hockey growing up and future aspirations after basketball

To watch the complete episode on YouTube, click here. To listen on Apple Podcasts, click here. 

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