Photo. Gonzaga University

Last year (Dime #28) we debuted the “Player’s Ball” college hoops preview, where we went to some of the NCAA’s best players and had them preview their own conferences. This year we did it again (Dime #37), but since we didn’t have room in the mag for some of the mid-majors, we’re dropping them on DimeMag.com along with the big boys. Today, Gonzaga guard Jeremy Pargo breaks down the West Coast Conference:

THE EXPERT: Jeremy Pargo, Gonzaga, Jr., PG/SG
With the loss of ’06-07 leading scorer Derek Raivio, Pargo will inherit the burden as go-to-guy for the perennial WCC big dogs. The 6-2 Chicago native – whose big brother Jannero plays for the NBA’s Hornets – was third on the Zags with 12.1 points per last season, dropping 21 against Duke and 23 against Stanford. In GU’s season opener this past weekend, he dropped 17 points, 5 boards and 5 assists on Montana along with a couple of highlight-reel dunks.

EXPERT OPINION: “It’s tough when you lose a scorer like Derek, but we’re going to be real good this season – we have other guys taking on bigger roles. So much of our scoring won’t be lost. I think Derek will be missed, but not as much as Adam Morrison was. When Adam played it was like, ‘Get the ball to Morrison.’ Now we got a lot of guys to do a lot of things.

“Matt Bouldin (SG, 8.9 ppg) gained a lot of experience at the U-19 World Championships. He’s gained a lot more confidence. When we’re playing pickup, I’ve noticed that he’s being more aggressive. But that’s just Matt being Matt. Also, Micah Downs (SF, 8.1 ppg); man, he shoots. Well. Very well, and from wherever. But I think the player to watch is our freshman Austin Daye. He’s about 6-10, can shoot the ball and also handle it. He’s a big-time newcomer.

“The West Coast Conference is about Gonzaga. Every time we step into another gym, we know that we’re going to get the other team’s best shot. The gym is going to be sold out, fans are going to be screaming, maybe even throwing things. There are some other impressive players out there in the conference. Diamon Simpson (F, 14.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.5 bpg, 1.3 spg) at Saint Mary’s is a great rebounder, especially on the offensive boards. He’s the gel of that team. And San Francisco should be pretty solid, too. Even though they lost Antonio Kellogg, they return Manny Quezada (G, 13.2 ppg) and also got a transfer from Texas Tech named Dior Lowhorn (SF/PF, So.). Quezada played really aggressive against us last year when we played here. And he hit some deep threes, too.”

Player’s Ball archive
11/13 – Conference USA (Chris Douglas-Roberts, Memphis)
11/12 – Pac-10 (Kyle Weaver, Washington State)
11/12 – Atlantic 10 (Ahmad Nivins, St. Joe’s)
11/9 – Big Ten (Drew Neitzel, Michigan State)
11/9 – WAC (Jaycee Carroll, Utah State)
11/8 – SEC (Ronald Steele, Alabama)
11/7 – Missouri Valley (Daniel Ruffin & Jeremy Crouch, Bradley)
11/6 – ACC (DeMarcus Nelson, Duke)
11/5 – Mountain West (Brandon Ewing, Wyoming)
11/2 – Big 12 (A.J. Abrams, Texas)