Oct. 10, 2007
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The West Coast Conference announced its 2007-08 men and women's basketball preseason coaches poll this week with the Bronco men chosen to finish fourth and the Bronco women selected to finish seventh in the league, it was announced Wednesday.
In the men's poll, Gonzaga was chosen to capture their eighth consecutive regular season crown, as selected by the league coaches, with 61 points and five first place votes. The Gaels of Saint Mary's were just two points behind the Bulldogs, with 59 points and three first place votes. The University of San Diego ranks third in the poll with 43 points and is followed by SCU with 38 total points.
Santa Clara, coming off a 21-10 campaign, welcomes in new head coach Kerry Keating. The Broncos return eight letterwinners from last year's squad that finished in second place in the regular season standings with a 10-4 conference record.
In the women's poll, the Toreros of San Diego were chosen as the favorites in this year's poll with four first place votes and 58 overall points. Defending conference champion Gonzaga, who received three first place votes and 55 total points, were selected to finish second overall and is followed by Pepperdine in third place with 45 points and Loyola Marymount in fourth with 44 total points and one first place vote.
SCU women's basketball, voted seventh with 19 points, returns senior guard Chandice Cronk, who paced the WCC with 16.0 points per game last season and broke the conference's single-season record with 94 three-pointers as a junior.
 Chandice Cronk and the Bronco women begin the season on Nov. 9 at Nevada.  |
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2007-08 WCC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Gonzaga (5) 61
2. Saint Mary's (3) 59
3. San Diego 43
4. Santa Clara 38
5. San Francisco 34
6. Pepperdine 22
7. Portland 16
8. Loyola Marymount 15
2007-08 WCC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. San Diego - 58 (4)
2. Gonzaga - 55 (3)
3. Pepperdine - 45
4. Loyola Marymount - 44 (1)
5. Saint Mary's - 29
6. San Francisco - 22
7. Santa Clara - 19
8. Portland - 16