Part two of the WCC power rankings focuses on the crowded middle of the conference—teams that could realistically climb into the top five with a strong second half of league play—as well as the bottom tier, where programs are simply hoping to steal an upset or two before the season comes to a close. Check out part one of the rankings here.
THE MIDDLE (CONTINUED)
#7 Oregon State Beavers
Record: 10–11 | Conference: 3–5
The Beavers entered the season hoping to build on last year’s 20-win campaign in their first season in the WCC. After opening the year with three one-score victories, things quickly unraveled. Oregon State dropped five straight games, with the low point coming in a home loss to California Baptist. A 38-point home blowout against Santa Clara and a 31-point loss at Pacific have made wins over Arizona State and San Francisco feel hollow.
Since their Elite Eight run, Wayne Tinkle’s teams are just 57–92. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to imagine him remaining in Corvallis much longer.
#8 Portland Pilots
Record: 10–11 | Conference: 3–5
Portland has notched conference wins over Oregon State, Pacific, and Loyola Marymount, but a brutal upcoming stretch—vs Saint Mary’s, at Pacific, at WSU, and vs Gonzaga—could send them tumbling down the rankings. The Pilots’ fourth-ranked offense in the WCC has kept them competitive, but their conference-worst defense, which is surrendering nearly 80 points per game, has consistently undermined their efforts.
#9 Seattle Redhawks
Record: 13–7 | Conference: 2–5
Seattle’s first season in the WCC has been nothing short of strange. Wins over Stanford, a second straight victory over Washington, a decisive win against WSU, and an overtime loss at Gonzaga in the Kennel all suggest this team belongs near the top of the conference. Yet league play tells a different story, with the Redhawks sitting at just 2–5.
The good news? Seattle has already played Gonzaga twice and Saint Mary’s and San Francisco once each. As the schedule eases, there’s a strong chance the Redhawks climb steadily up these rankings.
THE CELLAR
#10 San Diego Toreros
Record: 8–12 | Conference: 2–5
Early signs point toward another season spent near the bottom of the WCC for San Diego. (Side note: Toreros—Spanish for “bullfighters”—remains an elite, wildly underrated mascot.) The Toreros have been respectable at home (7–5) but dreadful on the road (1–7). Turnovers have plagued this team, and unless they clean that up, it’s difficult to envision a meaningful turnaround in the second half of conference play.
#11 Loyola Marymount Lions
Record: 11–10 | Conference: 2–6
After starting the season 7–1, hopes were high that Loyola Marymount could establish itself as a solid middle-tier WCC team. Instead, four losses by six points or fewer—including a two-point loss at Beasley—have defined a frustrating start to league play. If the Lions can figure out how to close tight games, they have the potential to climb a few spots in the standings.
#12 Pepperdine Waves
Record: 6–14 | Conference: 1–6
Pepperdine finally picked up its first conference win last week against Portland, snapping a six-game losing streak in which the Waves were outscored by an average of 22 points per game. Unfortunately, that victory has been the lone bright spot in an otherwise forgettable season. As the only team in the conference averaging fewer than 70 points per game—and ranking last in both field goal and three-point percentage—the Waves’ struggles are well reflected in the numbers.