SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – University of Portland men's basketball was picked eighth in the 2024-25 WCC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll, the league office announced on Thursday. The Pilots are tied with San Diego, just ahead of Pacific and Pepperdine.
Gonzaga garnered nine of the 11 total first place votes and is the preseason league favorite. Saint Mary's was second, Santa Clara third and San Francisco fourth. The Gaels and Dons also received a first place vote each.
WCC newcomer Washington State was fifth, followed by LMU and then the other conference newcomer, Oregon State, was seventh.
Portland head coach Shantay Legans has brought in a talented crop of freshmen and transfers to join returning lettermen Vukasin Masic, Bol Dengdit, Chris Austin and Coleman Lemke. Max Mackinnon was a two-year starter for Elon, including the 2023 Big South Freshman of the Year. The Pilots also added experienced interior players in American University transfer Jermaine Ballisager Webb and UC Santa Barbara transfer Mezziah Oakman. Redshirt freshmen Vincent Delano and Kelson Gebbers join the rotation this season along with a talented, eight-member class of true freshmen.
Fans will get a chance to hear from coach Legans, Masic and Mackinnon at today's
WCC Men's Basketball Media Day from Las Vegas. The Pilots will be featured live onESPNU and
ESPN+ at 1:20 p.m.
The Pilots open the season by hosting Lewis & Clark on Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. and UC Santa Barbara on Nov. 9 at 3 p.m. Tickets are available now by visiting
PortlandPilots.com/Tickets.
2024-25 WCC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
| Place |
Team |
First Place |
Points |
| 1. |
Gonzaga |
9 |
99 |
| 2. |
Saint Mary's |
1 |
86 |
| 3. |
Santa Clara |
|
81 |
| 4. |
San Francisco |
1 |
77 |
| 5. |
Washington State |
|
62 |
| 6. |
LMU |
|
60 |
| 7. |
Oregon State |
|
44 |
| 8. |
Portland |
|
28 |
|
San Diego |
|
28 |
| 10. |
Pacific |
|
23 |
| 11. |
Pepperdine |
|
17 |
2024-25 WCC Men's Basketball Preseason Team
| Name |
Yr. |
Pos. |
School |
| Michael Ajayi |
Sr. |
G |
Gonzaga |
| Adama-Alpha Bal |
Sr. |
G |
Santa Clara |
| Cedric Coward |
Sr. |
G |
Washington State |
| Nolan Hickman |
Sr. |
G |
Gonzaga |
| Graham Ike |
Sr. |
F |
Gonzaga |
| Augustas Marciulionis |
Sr. |
G |
Saint Mary's |
| Ryan Nembhard |
Sr. |
G |
Gonzaga |
| Jevon Porter |
Jr. |
F |
LMU |
| Mitchell Saxen |
Sr. |
C |
Saint Mary's |
| Carlos Stewart |
Sr. |
G |
Santa Clara |
| Marcus Williams |
Sr. |
G |
San Francisco |
