CBB Review hands out awards for each conference tournament in 2024. Up next: The WCC Tournament.
The WCC Tournament has finished, and the tournament lived up to the hype of being in Las Vegas. In the WCC Tournament preview article, I predicted that Gonzaga would get the better of Saint Mary’s in the championship. Instead, it was the Gaels who claimed the conference’s automatic bid.
This tournament, while exciting for all college basketball fans, did not have a single upset. All of the higher seeds won each of their matchups. For those who root for the underdog, you’ll have plenty to watch for in the NCAA Tournament.
Saint Mary’s was in control of the championship game throughout all 40 minutes. Gonzaga tried to do everything possible to keep it close, but the Gaels were determined to cut down the nets and held on to win 69-60.
CBB Review WCC Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Aidan Mahaney, Saint Mary’s
It wasn’t the best game for Mahaney in the semifinals against Santa Clara as he scored just 10 points. Big game players make big-time plays, and that’s exactly what Mahaney did as he posted 23 in the WCC Championship to lead his team to victory. He came up clutch on multiple occasions as he shot 9-15 from the field and 5-7 from behind the arc. Congrats, Aidan Mahaney.
CBB Review All-WCC Tournament First Team
- G: Aidan Mahaney, Saint Mary’s – 2 GP (16.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.5 APG, 54.2 FG%)
- G: Michael Ajayi, Pepperdine – 2 GP (17.5 PPG, 16.0 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.5 SPG, 59.1% FG%)
- G: Augustas Marciulionis, Saint Mary’s – 2 GP (13.0 PPG, 7.0 APG, 4.0 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 55.0 FG%)
- F: Anton Watson, Gonzaga – 2 GP (17.5 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 2.0 APG)
- C: Mitchell Saxen, Saint Mary’s – 2 GP (14.0 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, 2.0 SPG)
Saint Mary’s NCAA Tournament Prediction
Sweet Sixteen
Saint Mary’s showed through much of the season that it was the best of the best in the WCC. The non-conference schedule didn’t start out as planned with some early losses in winnable games, but the Gaels trusted the process under Randy Bennett to win 15 conference games in a row. If it wasn’t for Gonzaga in the regular season finale, Saint Mary’s could have gone into the conference tournament undefeated against WCC opponents.
This is a team that knows how to get the lead early and find ways to keep it throughout the entire game. Gonzaga kept it close at times tonight and had the lead momentarily, but there’s a reason why Gonzaga only had the lead once. It’s because Saint Mary’s is that good, and they take time off the clock on every possession. The Gaels have a well-balanced offense and can get stops when necessary.
At the minimum, this is a team that can reach the Sweet Sixteen. Depending upon which region Saint Mary’s gets placed in and the other teams that join them, it could possibly go to the Elite 8 and beyond. I fully anticipate this Saint Mary’s group receiving a 5-7 seed. If the Gaels fall in the 6-7 seed range and have to face a 2-3 seed in the second round of the dance, expect some brackets to be busted as a result of Randy Bennett basketball.
Other NCAA Tournament teams from the WCC
- Lock – Gonzaga