WCC Power Rankings and Team of the Week

Team of the Week

Kyle Collinsworth: Against Mississippi Valley State Collinsworth recorded 11 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Then, against Belmont, Collinsworth's 26 point, 10 rebound and 10 assist performance set the NCAA career triple-double record. Not bad.

Nick Emery: The freshman guard got his first career start against Mississippi Valley State. In that game he recorded team highs in points (18) and assists (7). The follow up was even more impressive as he scored a game (and young career) high with 27 points.

Jared Brownridge: His average of 22.8 points over four games is impressive. So is the fact that he almost single-handedly beat then no. 11 Arizona with a 44 point outburst that saw his then winless Broncos take the Wildcats to overtime.

Stacy Davis: Averaging nearly a double-double with 16.8 points and 9.5 rebounds, the Waves' go to guy continues to live up to his all-WCC label.

Kyle Wiltjer: A game high 24 points and 11 rebounds against Washington. Then in the following games against Texas A&M and Connecticut the senior stretch-four finally got hot from deep. Wiltjer went 1-10 from three in the first three games of the season but over the last two he hit seven of 17.

Power Rankings

1. Gonzaga Bulldogs (4-1)
Last week: W 80-64 vs. Washington, L 62-61 vs. #25 Texas A&M, W 73-70 vs. #18 Connecticut
Previous: First

The guard rotation questions haven't been settled, but Kyle Dranginis has earned his starting spot. A win over an in state rival and a top-20 team help ease the pain from a one point loss to the ranked Aggies.

2. Saint Mary's Gaels (4-0)
Last week: W 94-59 vs. Cal State Bakersfield
Previous: Second

The body of work isn't expansive and the opposition isn't especially impressive, but the Gales continue to look great. Randy Bennett's team ranks first in the nation in effective field goal percentage (67.9%), third at two three point percentage (48.4%) and first from inside the arc (65%).

3. BYU Cougars (4-1)
Last week: W 75-68 vs. Mississippi Valley State, W 95-81 vs. Belmont
Previous: Third

It looks like the Cougars are past their uncharacteristically poor shooting form from the start of the season. Chase Fischer came out of his slump in the second half against Belmont and Nick Emery has stepped up now that he's in the starting line-up.

4. San Francisco Dons (4-2)
Last week: L 68-61 vs. UC Santa Barbara, W 67-47 vs. Delaware State
Previous: Fourth

Devin Watson (19 ppg) and Tim Derksen (14.2 ppg) have become a solid backcourt duo for Rex Walters. They fell to a tough and battle tested USCB squad but bounced back against lowly Delaware State. Next up are two games against some of the better Big Sky squads in Eastern Washington and Montana.

5. Pepperdine Waves (3-4)
Last week: W 84-70 vs. Duquesne, L 59-55 vs. Murray State, L 69-53 vs. Drake, W 69-63 vs. Montana
Previous: Fifth

The Waves disappointed in the Gulf Coast Showcase. Against a less than impressive field the Waves once again failed to pick up wins. It's one thing to fail to make strides against teams like UCLA. There's no place for losing to Murray State and Drake in an NCAA Tournament (or NIT) season.

6. Loyola Marymount Lions (4-2)
Last week: W (OT) 82-80 vs. Cal State Northridge, W 73-60 at Southeast Missouri State
Previous: Seventh

The three Division-I teams LMU has defeated have a combined 6-11 record. They haven't really beaten anybody, but at least they're winning. Valuing possession and knocking down free throws help cover up a poor shooting team.

7. Portland Pilots (3-4)
Last week: W 97-65 vs. Alcorn State, L 90-74 vs. Colorado State, L 80-79 vs. Southern Illinois
Previous: Sixth

Portland's has two wins against Division-I teams this season. Both of those teams, Alcorn State and Abilene Christian rank in the bottom ten of Ken Pomeroy's rankings.

8. Santa Clara Broncos (1-7)
Last week: L 79-61 at UC Irvine, L (OT) 75-73 vs. #11 Arizona, L 69-57 vs. Evansville, W 62-45 vs. Boston College
Previous: 10th

Worst record in the conference, third worst position in the power rankings. Why? They dang near got the upset of the year with a two point overtime loss to Arizona. Nate Kratch's (7.4 ppg) slow emergence needs to speed up.

9. San Diego Toreros (1-5)
Last week: L 67-57 vs. Loyola Chicago, L 76-67 vs. San Jose State, W 62-59 vs. Drexel
Previous: Ninth

No player has an offensive rating over 100. Drexel and San Diego both entered their game with winless records. At least they beat a Division-I team.

10. Pacific Tigers (1-5)
Last week: W 79-44 vs. Notre Dame de Namur, L 70-63 vs. Eastern Washington, L 79-71 at Sacramento State
Previous: Eighth

The Tigers are going to enter December without a win over a Division-I team. The schedule isn't that tough, either. They're scoring and they've been close for the most part, but for now they're 0-5 in games that matter and that's the worst mark in the conference.