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West Coast Conference overview

Can van Breda Kolff continue to make Waves?

Special to CNNSI.com

Craig Lewis and Pepperdine knocked off Indiana in the NCAAs last year. Rick Stewart/Allsport

Order of Finish 1. Pepperdine 2. San Francisco 3. Gonzaga 4. San Diego 5. Santa Clara 6. Portland 7. St. Mary's 8. Loyola Marymount

Top storylines

It's funny how things work. After the 1998-99 season, Pepperdine coach Jan van Breda Kolff was practically run out of Nashville on a rail after Vanderbilt fans thought he hadn¹t kept pace in the SEC. So what does he do? Resurfaces at Pepperdine, takes the Waves to the NCAA Tournament and earns the distinction of being the last coach to beat Bobby Knight at Indiana (who knew?). This season, Pepperdine is again the team to beat in the West Coast, but as always, Gonzaga will be a factor.

San Diego's Brad Holland, who has a reputation for getting more out of his players than anyone in the WCC, is a two-time league coach of the year. This season his Toreros move out of their tiny gym, the USD Sports Center, into a new $17.5 million home -- the Jenny Craig Pavilion -- which seats 5,000. That could make Holland an even better coach, because it's a great recruiting tool.

Loyola Marymount, under first-year coach Steve Aggers, begin this season trying to snap a 15-game losing streak that proved a fitting ending to a horrible 1999-2000 season. The Lions, under then coach Charles Bradley, finished 2-26 overall (0-26 against Division I competition) and 0-14 in the WCC. That was the first time since 1971-72 a team was winless in conference play.

Players to Watch

Top Three Players

Brian Jones, G, Santa Clara • The 6-3 senior was an All-WCC pick last winter after averaging 13.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.1 steals. Brandon Armstrong, G, Pepperdine • Armstrong, a 6-4 junior, led Pepperdine in scoring a year ago (14.4 ppg). He shot .429 from the field, .400 from three-point range, .818 from the free-throw line and averaged 3.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals. Casey Calvary, F, Gonzaga • Calvary (13.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.7 bpg, .586 FG, .423 3PT), a tough low-post battler, can get in the air and has a soft perimeter touch.

Top Newcomer

Dan Dickau, G, Gonzaga • Dickau, a 6-0 junior transfer from Washington, was a two-year starter there, but missed the last half of his sophomore year because of a leg injury. He will start at the point in place of the departed Matt Santangelo.

Coaches

Hot Coach

Brad Holland, San Diego • San Diego continues to make strides under the two-time WCC coach of the year. A breakout year could make Holland a target for higher-profile schools.

Coach on the Hot Seat

Steve Aggers, Loyola Marymount • Aggers inherits a team that was No. 316 in the final RPI rankings a year ago (out of 318 Division I teams). The good news is that there's only one direction the Lions can go. Aggers is in for a tough year.

Mark Your Calendar

Nov. 14, Pepperdine at Indiana • Here's an interesting matchup. The Hoosiers, minus Bob Knight, will try to avenge a thumping they received at the hands of the Waves in the first round of the 2000 NCAA Tournament. Nov. 29, Gonzaga at Arizona • No upper-major team likes to play the Zags, even at home. Feb. 17, Gonzaga at Pepperdine • Will this be for the regular-season championship? It seems certain.

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