San Francisco basketball looks to have a strong season and finally control the WCC.
The tradition continues! It’s another year of our countdown of the top 100 preseason teams in college basketball until the start of the season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: San Francisco basketball.
Since Todd Golden left and joined Florida, Chris Gerlufsen has done a great job keeping the program on track. Last year was his best season yet, winning 25 games and making it to the second round of the NIT. Malik Thomas was terrific, averaging just under 20 points a game, and Marcus Williams played Robin, averaging 15.
Now, both are gone, as well as Carlton Linguard, who started all 35 games, but they return both Tyrone Riley IV and Ryan Beasley, the third and fourth leading scorers from last year’s team. In total, they bring back about half of their minutes from last year, but have several guys who are primed for a breakout type of season with increased roles.
San Francisco basketball did a great job in the portal, building their team. Masic is a high-volume three-point shooter who can easily find a role in this offense. Mookie Cook is a former five-star who is hoping that a change of scenery can unlock his potential. Guillermo Diaz Graham is a 7-footer from Pitt who brings experience and spacing.
If there’s any year that San Francisco can steal the WCC title, it’s this year. Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s both look mortal (for their standards), and San Francisco has a well-constructed roster. Don’t sleep on the Dons!
Head coach:Â Chris Gerlufsen (4th season at San Francisco, 5th season overall)
2024-25 record:Â 25-10 (13-5)
2025 postseason finish:Â Lost in second round of NIT Tournament
Notable departures:Â
- Malik Thomas (19.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.1 APG)
- Marcus Williams (15.1 PPG, 4.3 APG, 3.6 RPG)
- Carlton Linguard Jr. (8.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 1.2 APG)
Notable non-conference games:Â
- vs. Colorado (Nov. 27)
- at Saint Louis (Dec. 13)
- vs. Loyola Chicago (Dec. 17)
Projected Rotation
PG: Ryan Beasley (5-11, 180, Jr.)
2024-2025 stats: 9.0 PPG, 2.4 APG, 2.4 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 44.3 FG%, 84.1 FT%
SG: Vukasin Masic (6-5, 220, Gr.-Sr.)
2024-2025 stats: 10.5 PPG, 3.3 APG, 3.2 RPG, 0.6 SPG, 36.2 3P%, 78.7 FT% (Portland)
SF: Tyrone Riley IV (6-6, 200, So.)
2024-2025 stats: 9.6 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.2 SPG, 50.2 FG%, 73.5 FT%
PF: Junjie Wang (6-9, 250, Jr.)
2024-2025 stats: 6.2 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 0.6 APG
C: Guillermo Diaz Graham (7-0, 220, Sr.)
2024-2025 stats: 6.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.7 BPG, 0.5 SPG, 42.3 FG%, 67.6 FT% (Pitt)
6: Ndewedo Newbury (6-7, 235, Gr.-Sr.)
2024-2025 stats: 8.4 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.1 BPG, 0.7 SPG, 46.2 FG%, 73.3 FT%
7: Mookie Cook (6-6, 215, Jr.)
2024-2025 stats: 1.1 PPG, 0.5 RPG, 0.1 APG, 58.8 FG%, 4.3 MPG (Oregon)
8: David Fuchs (6-9, 245, Jr.)
2024-2025 stats: 7.4 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 0.9 APG, 0.6 SPG, 58.7 FG% (Rhode Island)
9: Veniamin Abosi (6-6, 225, So.)
2024-2025 stats: 2.4 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 0.8 APG
10: Isa Silva (6-4, 190, Sr.)
2023-2024 stats: 2.4 PPG, 1.2 APG, 1.1 RPG, 0.5 SPG (Long Beach State)
San Francisco Basketball team MVP: Tyrone Riley IV
As a freshman, Riley showed promise from Day 1, scoring 26 points in 27 minutes in his first game against Cal Poly. He wouldn’t do that every game, going through some growing pains as a freshman, but still finished with just under 10 points a game on 50% shooting. Now, with an increased role in the offense, he can be a true breakout candidate for this team.
Riley is also a great rebounder, averaging 6 a game to lead the team. Analytically, Riley was also the best defender on the team. The fact that he was able to do all these things as a freshman on a 25 win team shows great promise for this year. Don’t be surprised if you see Riley’s name on the first-team all-WCC list.
San Francisco Basketball make-or-break player: Mookie Cook
San Francisco will be fine if Cook doesn’t pan out, but if he can get close to his potential, watch out. Cook was a top 5 player in his class at one point, but has failed to live up to that. He played just five games his freshman year, then up to 24 last year, but on just 4.3 minutes a game.
The former McDonald’s All-American can turn this team from a tournament contender to a Sweet 16 hopeful if he can reach that potential we saw in high school. He can get to the basket at a high level and command an offense. Defensively, he’s very athletic and can guard multiple positions. Unfortunately, there’s a bigger chance he just can’t break through, and that’s fine, but it lowers the team’s ceiling comfortably.
Key analytic: Away fouls per game
San Francisco fouls A LOT on the road. They averaged 20.1 a game, bottom 30 in the country last year. Teams are already at a disadvantage when they’re in a hostile environment, and adding to that fuel by fouling. The record reflected that as well, going 5-5 on the road and 3-2 on a neutral court.
If they can tone that down a bit this year, that could make life much easier for the Dons. The three leading foulers from last year’s team are gone, so hopefully, for San Francisco basketball, they can start fresh and win the foul battle more often.
San Francisco basketball 2025-26 projections
Projected conference finish:Â 3rd in the WCC
Projected postseason ceiling:Â NCAA Tournament Round of 64 Exit
[…] as much as Saint Mary’s is coming for Gonzaga, though, San Fransisco, our No. 66 team in CBB Rank, leads a pack of second-tier teams trying to change the conference […]