Conference Preview IV (West Coast and Big Sky)

West Coast

Team to beat: Gonzaga — Even without Josh Heytvelt, the Zags are still the favorite to win the conference tourney after claiming their seventh straight regular-season title. Mark Few's team has plenty on the line since they haven't secured an NCAA tournament bid entering the WCC tournament – as has been the case in the past. The good news is the Zags get a bye until the semifinals.
Sleeper: Saint Mary's — Randy Bennett is one of the more underrated coaches in the country and he's got some talent in Diamon Simpson, Brett Collins and my freshman of the year, Omar Samhan.
Prediction: Santa Clara. Dick Davey is retiring at the end of the year and the surfer boys might just have enough talent and savvy to pull it off for him.
Schedule
Friday, March 2
Game 1: No. 5 San Diego vs. No. 8 Pepperdine, 5:30 p.m. PT Game 2: No. 6 Loyola Marymount vs. No. 7 Portland, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 3
Game 3: San Diego/Pepperdine winner vs. No. 4 San Francisco, 6:00 p.m. Game 4: Loyola Marymount/Portland winner vs. No. 3 Saint Mary's, 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 4
Game 5: San Diego/Pepperdine/San Francisco vs. No. 1 Gonzaga, 6:30 p.m. Game 6: Loyola Marymount/Portland/Saint Mary's vs. No. 2 Santa Clara, 8:30 p.m.
Monday, March 5
Game 5: Championship game, 6 p.m.
Geek's all-conference picks
Player of the Year: Jeremy Pargo, 6-2, 220, G, Soph., Gonzaga Rookie of the Year: Omar Samhan, 6-11, 265, C, Fr., St. Mary's Coach of the Year: Dick Davey, Santa Clara
All-West Coast team
Jeremy Pargo, 6-2, 220, G, Soph., Gonzaga — 12.5 ppg, 4.7 apg, 4.5 rpg Sean Denison, 6-11, 245, C, Sr., Santa Clara — 10.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg Derek Raivio, 6-3, 180, G, Sr., Gonzaga — 18 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.5 apg Diamon Simpson, 6-7, 200, F, Soph., St. Mary's — 14.1 ppg, 7.4 rpg Alan Wiggins, 6-9, 225, F, Sr., San Francisco — 14.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg

Big Sky
Team to beat: Weber State — It is hard to go against Randy Rahe and the Weber State Wildcats. Patten has NBA talent. Their guards are solid and don’t make mistakes. Juan Pablo Silveira could be the new darling of the media for the NCAA tourney. They will have the home court advantage.
Sleeper: Montana — One of the perennial powers is having an off year, for them. They however, do have the prestige and history. And sometimes, that does help.
Prediction: Weber State. Randy’s ball club has just too much talent and is rested from the season schedule.

Schedule (all games at the higher seeds venue)
Saturday, March 3
Game 3: #5 Montana State vs. No. 4 Portland State, 6:00 p.m. Game 4: #6 Idaho State vs. No. 3 Montana, 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 6
Game 5: Idaho State (if they win) or the winner of 4/5 Matchup vs. No. 1 Weber State, 6:30 p.m.
Game 6: Montana Or Montana State/Portland State winner if Idaho State wins vs. No. 2 Northern Arizona, 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 7
Game 5: Championship game, 9 p.m.

Geek's all-conference picks (the geek wimped out and chose 6 because he couldn’t decide).

David Patten 6’8” 212 F, Sr - Weber State 14.1 PPG. 8.2 RPG, 3.1 BPG, 2.2 APG 2.3 SPG
Ruben Boykin, 6’7” 200 PF, Northern Arizona 16.3 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 1.8 BPG. 2.2 APG
Rodney Stuckey 6’4” 205 WF Soph – Eastern Washington 25.4 PPG, 5.6 APG 2.5 SPG
David Schroeder, 6’2” 180 SG Sr. Idaho State, 16.8 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.5 APG
Jordan Hasquet, 6’8” 218 F Sr. Montana, 13.3 PPG, 7.2 RPG
Tyrone Bazy, 6’1” 165 G Sr. Northern Arizona 16.1 PPG, 2.3 SPG, 2.4 APG