The West Coast Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year is an award given to the most outstanding men's basketball player in the West Coast Conference (WCC). The award was first given following the conference's inaugural 1952–53 season, when it was known as the California Basketball Association. The only season in which the award was not presented was the conference's second season of 1953–54. There have been six ties in the award's history, most recently in 2022–23 between Brandin Podziemski of Santa Clara and Drew Timme of Gonzaga. There have also been 13 repeat winners, but only one, Bill Cartwright of San Francisco, has been player of the year three times.
Awarded for | the most outstanding basketball player in the West Coast Conference |
---|---|
Country | United States |
History | |
First award | 1953 |
Most recent | Augustas Marčiulionis, Saint Mary's |
Four schools in the WCC have dominated the total awards distribution. Before 2000, Pepperdine, San Francisco and Santa Clara had earned the bulk of the awards. Since then, Gonzaga has had the overwhelming majority of selections. In the 23 seasons from 2000–01 to the present, coinciding with the Bulldogs' rise to national prominence, Gonzaga players have won or shared the award 17 times. Gonzaga now claims the most awards with 20 and most individual winners with 18. Santa Clara is second in awards with 12, and its nine individual winners give it a share of second place in that category with Pepperdine. The next closest school, Saint Mary's, has nine awards. One current member has yet to have a winner (Portland); two other schools, Oregon State and Washington State, will play their first WCC season in 2024–25.
Key
edit† | Co-Players of the Year |
* | Awarded a national player of the year award: Helms Foundation College Basketball Player of the Year (1904–05 to 1978–79) UPI College Basketball Player of the Year (1954–55 to 1995–96) Naismith College Player of the Year (1968–69 to present) John R. Wooden Award (1976–77 to present) |
Player (X) | Denotes the number of times the player has been awarded the WCC Player of the Year award at that point |
Winners
editWinners by school
editSchool (year joined) | Winners | Years |
---|---|---|
Gonzaga (1979) | 20 | 1984, 1994, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007†, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023† |
Santa Clara (1952) | 12 | 1953, 1955, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1980, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2007†, 2009, 2023† |
Pepperdine (1955) | 11 | 1962†, 1973, 1976, 1983 (×2)†, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993 |
San Francisco (1952) | 11 | 1956, 1957, 1958†, 1964, 1965, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 2000 |
Saint Mary's (1952) | 9 | 1959†, 1961, 1962†, 1963, 1999, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2024 |
Pacific (1952/2013)[a] | 5 | 1958†, 1959†, 1966, 1967, 1971 |
Loyola Marymount (1955) | 4 | 1960, 1968, 1989, 1990 |
BYU (2011)[b] | 2 | 2014, 2016 |
San Diego (1979) | 1 | 1987 |
Seattle (1971)[c] | 1 | 1974 |
UNLV (1969)[d] | 1 | 1975 |
Fresno State (1955)[e] | 0 | — |
Nevada (1969)[f] | 0 | — |
Oregon State (2024) | 0 | — |
Portland (1976) | 0 | — |
San Jose State (1952)[g] | 0 | — |
UC Santa Barbara (1964)[h] | 0 | — |
Washington State (2024) | 0 | — |
- ^ The University of the Pacific left in 1971 to join its football team in the Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA), now known as the Big West Conference. Pacific had been a charter PCAA member for football only in 1969. The school, which dropped football in 1995, rejoined the WCC in 2013.
- ^ Brigham Young University left the WCC in 2023 to join the Big 12 Conference.
- ^ Seattle University left in 1980 to become an NAIA school. It has since rejoined the NCAA, first as a Division II school and now in Division I, and is now a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The Redhawks will rejoin the WCC in July 2025.[58]
- ^ The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) left in 1975 to become a Division I independent. UNLV is now a member of the Mountain West Conference (MW).
- ^ California State University, Fresno, more commonly known as Fresno State, spent two seasons as a dual member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) and the then-WCAC. The Bulldogs returned to exclusive CCAA membership in 1957, and are now in the MW.
- ^ The University of Nevada, Reno (Nevada) left in 1979 for the Big Sky Conference. The Wolf Pack are now in the MW.
- ^ San Jose State University left in 1969 to become a founding member of the PCAA. The Spartans are now in the MW.
- ^ The University of California, Santa Barbara left in 1969 to become a founding member of the PCAA. Apart from a two-year stint in the mid-1970s in which they were independent, the Gauchos have remained in the PCAA/Big West to this day.
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Men's West Coast Conference Player of the Year Winners". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2023. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ "Ken Sears Noses Out Russell for Player of Year". Tulare Advance-Register. San Francisco, California. March 1, 1955. p. 4. Retrieved November 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "San Francisco's Don Russell Is Player of Year". Altus Times-Democrat. Altus, Oklahoma. March 15, 1956. p. 8. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Newell Named Coach Of Year; Farmer, Top Player". The Fresno Bee. Fresno, California. March 4, 1958. p. 25. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "All-WCAC Cage Team". The Times. San Mateo, California. March 12, 1959. p. 23. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "California Faces Upstart Bengals". The Press Democrat. Santa Rosa, California. March 8, 1960. p. 11. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Meschery WCAC's Most Valuable". San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. March 15, 1961. p. 64. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Dinnel, Gray Head WCAC Cage Choices". The Modesto Bee. Modesto, California. March 21, 1962. p. 26. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Steve Gray Named MVP In WCAC". The Times. San Mateo, California. March 15, 1963. p. 19. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "USF Will Retire Basketball Star Ollie Johnson's Jersey Number 32". San Francisco Foghorn. San Francisco, California. October 30, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ a b Rodriguez, Bri (March 1, 2021). "Tiger Talk: History of Men's Basketball – 3/2". JoinPAF.org. Pacific Athletic Foundation. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ "Bronc Five Preparing For Lobos". Oakland Tribune. Oakland, California. March 11, 1968. p. 38. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Santa Clara Hall Of Honor Inductees: 2011 – Dennis Awtrey". WCCsports.com. West Coast Conference. 2023. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ "Pacific's John Gianelli Most Valuable In ACAC". Kingsport Times-News. Kingsport, Tennessee. March 7, 1971. p. 22. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Mike Stewart Heads All-WCAC Selections". The Fresno Bee. Fresno, California. March 5, 1972. p. 33. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ ""Bird" Averitt sets eight WCAC marks". Los Gatos Times-Saratoga Observer. Los Gatos, California. March 17, 1973. p. 2. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Oleynick Is WCAC's Best". Kitsap Sun. Bremerton, Washington. March 12, 1974. p. 13. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "PGA Ratifies Crosby, Hope Classics". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. March 11, 1975. p. 26. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Pepperdine Waves..." The San Bernardino Sun. San Bernardino, California. March 18, 1976. p. 75. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "Hall of Fame – William "Bill" Cartwright (1986)". USFDons.com. University of San Francisco. 2023. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ "Rambis tops WCAC picks". The Fresno Bee. Fresno, California. March 4, 1980. p. 45. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "University of San Francisco All-American Quintin Dailey Passes". USFDons.com. University of San Francisco. November 9, 2010. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ a b Gault, Roy (March 18, 1983). "Waves after confidence-builder". Corvallis Gazette-Times. Corvallis, Oregon. p. 22. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Kelly, Stockton to play in benefit". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. March 25, 1984. p. 25. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "The Greatest Waves at Every Number: #32". PepperdineWaves.com. Pepperdine University. July 13, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ "USD (cont.)". Daily Times-Advocate. Escondido, California. March 6, 1987. p. 24. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Drooz, Alan (March 5, 1988). "Loyola Marymount Ready to Make a Run for It". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. p. 57. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Lindgren, Jim (March 4, 1989). "USD Hopes for Familiar History – Notes". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. p. 43. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Pepperdine Hall of Fame – Doug Christie (2009)". PepperdineWaves.com. Pepperdine University. 2009. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ "WCC honors for Broncos' coach". San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. March 6, 1993. p. 23. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Boling, Dave (March 1, 1994). "Champ Zags are in tough". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. 11. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Stephen J. "Steve" Nash '96". SCU.com. Bronco Bench Foundation. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ McDonald, Jerry (March 2, 1997). "Santa Clara eliminated early again". Oakland Tribune. Oakland, California. p. 15. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Gonzaga bomb dodges a bullet". San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. March 1, 1998. p. 25. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Thomas, Santangelo, Frahm named to NABC all-district team". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. March 4, 1999. p. 23. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Blackman, Frank (March 2, 2000). "USF hoping the weak shall inherit WCC Tournament". San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. p. 39. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "MSU Halfway there with victory over Gonzaga". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. March 23, 2001. p. 48. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Dickau's shooting lifts Zags into NCAAs". Journal Gazette. Mattoon, Illinois. March 6, 2002. p. 13. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e Forsman, Cole (March 1, 2023). "Gonzaga's Drew Timme named West Coast Conference Player of the Year; Malachi Smith wins 6th Man". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ Bergum, Steve (April 20, 2005). "Pargo accepts invite to play with all-stars". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. 21. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Morrison makes it official: 'It's been fun'". The News Tribune. Tacoma, Washington. April 20, 2006. p. C0. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Blanchette, John (February 28, 2007). "Raivio shares POY honors". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ Meehan, Jim (April 16, 2008). "Pargo declares NBA draft eligibility". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. 21. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "All-WCC". Oakland Tribune. Oakland, California. March 3, 2009. p. 23. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Harris will return to play for Zags". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. April 2, 2010. p. B1. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Poole (cont.)". Oakland Tribune. Oakland, California. March 3, 2011. p. 24. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Dellavedova named Player of the Year". San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. February 29, 2012. p. A26. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Gonzaga vs. Southern: Marquee Players". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. March 18, 2013. p. B4. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Walters WCC coach of year". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. March 4, 2014. p. B9. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "All-WCC". Oakland Tribune. Oakland, California. March 4, 2015. p. 29. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Greene, Dana (March 1, 2016). "Kyle Collinsworth named WCC Player of the Year". abc4.com. ABC. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ Grippi, Vince (March 8, 2017). "Multiple factors add up to one great team". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. B4. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Lawson, Theo (March 6, 2018). "BYU upsets Saint Mary's, will play Zags for title". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. B5. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Meehan, Jim (March 13, 2019). "Orleans hits right notes". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. B5. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Petrusev (cont.)". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. July 21, 2020. p. B3. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Meehan, Jim (May 29, 2021). "Kispert named Academic All-American". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. B1. Retrieved November 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Lawson, Theo (March 8, 2024). "Zags will take rewards over awards". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. B5. Retrieved June 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "West Coast Conference Adds Grand Canyon University and Seattle University as Members" (Press release). West Coast Conference. May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.