SAN MATEO, Calif. – University of Portland men's basketball was picked to finish fifth in the West Coast Conference Preseason Poll, as selected by the league's 10 head coaches. Additionally, forward Tyler Robertson was named to the 10-player Preseason All-WCC Team.
Gonzaga was named the preseason favorite and earned all nine available first place votes. Saint Mary's was picked second and BYU and San Francisco tied for third place.
Last season, the Pilots collected the most wins in a season in more than a decade, and UP returns all its key players from that squad. Robertson was the only player to finish Top 10 in scoring, rebounds and assists last year in the WCC. He earned second team All-WCC honors, while forward Moses Wood garnered honorable mention status.
Other key returners include Mike Meadows, Chris Austin, Chika Nduka and Kristian Sjolund.
The Pilots are coming off their strongest year since 2010, finishing with a 19-15 record. Their seven wins in WCC play were also the most since 2015. Their win total was the fourth highest since joining Division I in 1958 and he Pilots won their first ever postseason game by defeating New Orleans in The Basketball Classic.
Head coach Shantay Legans brought in a talented recruiting class including four transfers and five freshmen. The additions of 6-foot-10 grad transfer Joey St. Pierre (Milwaukee), 6-foot-9 former WAC Freshman of the Year Wyatt Lowell (Utah Valley/BYU/Snow JC) and 6-11 Australian National Teamer Bol Dengdit (NBA Academy) give the Pilots more size this season.
The team will play a challenging
non-league schedule highlighted by co-hosting the
Phil Knight Invitational and opening the tournament on Thanksgiving Day against North Carolina. Other notable non-league opponents include home games against Portland State and Seattle U and road contests at Oregon and Kent State.
Season tickets are now available for both teams with
men's prices starting at $145 and
women's season tickets for just $80.
2022-23 WCC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
| Place |
Team |
First Place |
Points |
| 1. |
Gonzaga |
9 |
81 |
| 2. |
Saint Mary's |
1 |
73 |
| T-3. |
BYU |
|
57 |
| T-3. |
San Francisco |
|
57 |
| 5. |
Portland |
|
48 |
| 6. |
Santa Clara |
|
43 |
| 7. |
Pepperdine |
|
33 |
| 8. |
San Diego |
|
31 |
| 9. |
LMU |
|
17 |
| 10. |
Pacific |
|
10 |
| 2022-23 Men's Basketball Preseason All-WCC Team |
| Name |
Yr. |
Pos. |
School |
| Rasir Bolton |
Sr. |
G |
Gonzaga |
| Alex Ducas |
Sr. |
F |
Saint Mary's |
| Logan Johnson |
Sr. |
G |
Saint Mary's |
| Keshawn Justice |
Sr. |
F |
Santa Clara |
| Houston Mallette |
So. |
G |
Pepperdine |
| Tyler Robertson |
Jr. |
F |
Portland |
| Khalil Shabazz |
Sr. |
G |
San Francisco |
| Julian Strawther |
Jr. |
G |
Gonzaga |
| Drew Timme |
Sr. |
F |
Gonzaga |
| Fousseyni Traore |
So. |
F |
BYU |
