Gonzaga men, women picked

to win West Coast hoops titles

LAS VEGAS — Gonzaga was picked to win the West Coast Conference in men’s basketball at the conference’s annual media event.

The Zags received first-place votes from the other nine league coaches in the West. Coaches couldn’t vote for their own team, and BYU received the other first-place vote.

Gonzaga was followed by Saint Mary’s, BYU, San Francisco, San Diego, Pacific, Loyola Marymount, Pepperdine, Santa Clara and Portland.

Four Zags were named to the preseason all-WCC team — junior forward Rui Hachimura, sophomore guard Zach Norvell Jr., senior guard Josh Perkins and junior forward Killian Tillie.

They were joined on the team by Loyola Marymount senior guard James Batemon, BYU junior forward Yoeli Childs, Santa Clara senior guard KJ Feagin, San Francisco senior guard Frankie Ferrari, Saint Mary’s junior guard Jordan Ford and San Diego senior forward Isaiah Pineiro.

Gonzaga’s women were also picked to repeat as WCC champs. The Zags received seven first-place votes from the league’s coaches. Saint Mary’s received two first-place votes, BYU one.

Gonzaga was followed in the poll by Saint Mary’s, BYU, Loyola Marymount, San Diego, Santa Clara, Pacific, San Francisco, Pepperdine and Portland.

Three Zags — senior forward Zykera Rice and senior guards Chandler Smith and Laura Stockton — were named to the preseason all-WCC team.

They were joined by junior guard Brenna Chase and sophomore center Sara Hamson of BYU, senior forwards Megan McKay and Sydney Raggio of Saint Mary’s, senior guard Gabby Green of Loyola Marymont and senior forward Yasmine Robinson-Bacote of Pepperdine.

Idaho women picked

to win Big Sky hoops title

Coming off an appearance in the Big Sky Conference tournament championship game, and a berth in the WNIT, Idaho was picked to win the Big Sky this season by the coaches and the media. Eastern Washington was picked to finish seventh by the coaches, fifth by the media.

In the coaches poll, Idaho was followed by Portland State, Idaho State and Northern Colorado. Montana and Montana State tied for fifth, followed by EWU, Weber State, Sacramento State, Northern Arizona and Southern Utah.

In the media poll, Idaho was followed by Portland State, Northern Colorado, Idaho State, EWU, Montana State, Montana, Weber State, Sacramento State, Northern Arizona and Southern Utah.

Idaho senior guard Mikayla Ferenz was also tabbed MVP on the Big Sky’s preseason all-conference team. Idaho senior guard Taylor Pierce was also named to the preseason team, along with Northern Colorado senior guard Savannah Smith, Portland State senior guards Ashley Bolston and Sidney Rielly, and Idaho State senior forward Grace Kenyon.

EWU men picked to finish fourth

in Big Sky; Idaho picked lower

Eastern Washington’s men’s basketball team was picked to finish fourth in the 11-team Big Sky Conference by the media and the coaches in their preseason polls. Idaho’s men were picked to finish sixth by the media, ninth by the coaches.

Montana was picked to win the conference by both.

In the media poll, Montana was followed by Weber State, Northern Colorado, EWU, Montana State, Idaho, Portland State, Idaho State, Southern Utah, Sacramento State and Northern Arizona.

In the coaches poll, Montana was followed by Weber State, Northern Colorado, EWU and Portland State. Montana State and Southern Utah tied for sixth in the poll, followed by Idaho State, Idaho, Sacramento State and Northern Arizona.

Montana senior guard Ahmaad Rorie was named MVP on the preseason all-conference team. He is joined on the team by Weber State junior guard Jerrick Harding, Montana State senior guard Tyler Hall, Northern Colorado senior guard Jordan Davis, Montana senior guard Michael Oguine and Portland State sophomore guard Holland Woods.