Gonzaga Picked No.1 as WCC Exit Looms

At West Coast Conference media day coaches and media split on expectations: the men's preseason poll picked Gonzaga to finish first (9 of 12 first-place votes) while the women's poll placed Oregon State first and Gonzaga second. Coaches warned that heavy roster turnover and transfers across the WCC have made preseason polls less predictive. The 2025–26 season will be the final WCC campaign for Gonzaga, Washington State and Oregon State before they move to the rebuilt Pac-12. Analytics complicate the picture — EvanMiya.com ranks Gonzaga No. 10 while the AP poll places them at No. 21 — highlighting the debate between the “eye test” and metrics. Individually, Graham Ike enters the season with All‑American buzz and has switched to No. 15 as a tribute to his late grandfather, while guard Allie Turner was named to the Becky Hammon mid‑major preseason watch list and is expected to be a focal point after several veteran departures. Overall, Gonzaga arrives with high expectations but faces uncertainty from roster churn, contrasting evaluations and impending conference realignment.