Washington State and Oregon State made after the Pac-12 collapsed and they were left behind in the realignment game. The list of shrewd moves included placing their basketball teams in the West Coast Conference as affiliate members for the next two seasons. But from a competitive standpoint, the timing of their WCC partnership couldn’t have been much worse for the Cougars and Beavers.
The WCC looks loaded in 2024-25, with a powerhouse at the very top and a strong collection of contenders. Meanwhile, the Cougars lost their head coach, Kyle Smith, to Stanford; the Beavers are fresh off another desultory season; and both programs were battered by attrition, with their best players entering the transfer portal. Put another way: The ‘Pac-2’ schools face steep climbs to the top tier of their new conference precisely when success is central to long-haul viability.
Football is the priority, of course. And in that regard, the Cougars and Beavers will compete as a two-team conference supported by a scheduling agreement with the Mountain West. But men’s basketball matters, too.
It offers Washington State and Oregon State an opportunity to generate respect, relevance and revenue. We foresee mediocrity for both. Our WCC projections account for transfers and NBA Draft decisions.
There is zero debate about the best team in the WCC. In fact, the Zags might be the best team in the country with a fabulous mix of returnees and transfers. The former features guards Ryan Nembhard and Nola.