Offseason Personnel Movement Around the WCC

The landscape of college basketball is ever-changing. Some of that change, conference realignment or selfish reasons for transferring, can be negative. Some though, like natural roster turnover due to graduation, is a necessary part of the college game. Regardless of whether the change is good or bad, we have to deal with it. Unfortunately, that can be really difficult. How are you supposed to keep track of players when so many are graduating, transferring in/out, coming off redshirts/redshirting or arriving for their first year at college?

Well, this is how. I've amassed all the information on the personnel movement happening at WCC basketball programs this offseason. It's all here, listed school-by-school. Take a look at who won't be back on your least favorite team next season (because you should already know who won't be back on your favorite team). You'll also find all the new recruits, the players who will be returning from a redshirt season or two year mission, the transfers, the dismissals as well as any coaching/staff changes. Plus, there are some charts to help you understand just how much each team is losing in terms of production.

The list will be updated whenever a new change occurs, so check back from time to time. Players listed under the "going" section are shown with the year they were listed as during the 2012-'13 season. Players listed under the "coming" section are shown with the year they will be for the 2013-'14 season.

Senior Series: Kevin Foster

Santa Clara and Kevin Foster between the 2008-09 season and the 2012-13 season were a match made in heaven. The two were at times good and at times bad. In 2012-13 the Broncos won 26 games and the CBI title. In 2010-11 they won 24 and the CIT title. In 2009-10 just 11. 2011-12 saw a mere eight wins and 0-17 record against WCC competition.

Kevin Foster finished his career as Santa Clara's all-time leading scorer, good enough for second place all-time in the West Coast Conference (67 points behind Hank Gathers). Standing in second place all-time is great, but Foster missed 771 shots that could have vaulted him well into first place. His 39.0% career field goal percentage made him one of the most inconsistent great players in recent memory.

There is the Kevin Foster that won the 2011 CIT MVP and 2013 CBI MVP as he led the Broncos to postseason glory. Then there is the Kevin Foster who missed the last 12 games of the 2012 season due to suspension. Despite the problems, losses, inefficiency and inconsistency these two were made for each other.

Senior Series: Elias Harris

Elias Harris as a freshman. Photo by SD Dirk.

The NBA Draft, something too many college fans hold in too high regard, seems to have an infatuation with freshmen. Elias Harris, the Zags' 6' 8'', 239 lbs power forward, was once one of those
freshmen. He spurned the draft to do what has become increasingly rare, spend four seasons as an elite college player.

Over those four seasons Harris left his mark on the program and its record books. He ranks second all-time in rebounds (all 1,670 of Jerry Vermillion's rebounds were grabbed while the Zags were an NAIA school), fourth in scoring (10 points behind Adam Morrison and 47 ahead of Matt Santangelo) and tenth in steals (the only non-guard in the top ten).

What Jamie Zaninovich Has Done To Get A Contract Extension

On Friday, May 17th, the West Coast Conference Presidents' Council approved a contract extension for Commissioner Jamie Zaninovich. His new contract goes through May 31, 2017. This is great news for the West Coast Conference. It shouldn't be much of a surprise considering his excellent track record and history in the Bay Area. Plus, the WCC has been pretty good at keeping guys (Mark Few/Randy Bennett) who are courted by the big money beasts of college athletics.

Since taking the top job on March 9th, 2008, Zaninovich has led the WCC to new heights. The following is a season-by-season retrospective of the major events and advancements in and around WCC basketball since Jamie Zaninovich was first hired.

Senior Series: Mitchell Young

It should come as no surprise that both Gaels represented in the Senior Series are Australian. Mitchell Young hails from Logan, Queensland and attended the Australian Institute of Sport.

Young's impact on the Gaels was immediate and constant, though not consistent. His Sophomore and Senior seasons were by far his most effective. Statistically speaking he was best as a sophomore, though he was not a starter for a single game that season. In his senior year he started every game for the Gaels.

The 6'9'', 235lbs forward has spent his career at Saint Mary's as a complimentary big man to guys like Omar Samhan, Ben Allen, Rob Jones and most recently Brad Waldow.

Saint Mary's Appeals Penalties

Saint Mary's has appealed some of the penalties handed down by the NCAA, according to a story from the San Jose Mercury News. The school is neither disputing the findings nor asking for the ruling to be overturned. Simply, Saint Mary's is looking to have two specific penalties waived.

If the appeal is successful, the two year ban on skill instruction and the scholarship reduction for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons will be overturned. Why those two in particular? Saint Mary's Director of Media Relations, Mike McAlpin, told the Mercury News, "There was concern that those (penalties) impact the student athletes".  His concern is justified.

It's not hard to argue that any penalty imposed upon any program can impact student athletes. When the Connecticut men's basketball program was banned from the postseason this past year, this argument could have been made. The student athletes were impacted in that they would not be able to play in the postseason. However, in Saint Mary's case the argument can be made much more effectively.

I am going to address, in particular, the skill instruction ban. 

Senior Series: Marc Trasolini

It may not be on the level of Saint Mary's with Australians or Gonzaga with the rest of the world but, Santa Clara knows how to find really good British Columbians. The 6' 9'' Trasolini hails from Vancouver (Steve Nash is from Vancouver Island). Vancouver is not just where he is from but also why he was playing for the Broncos this past season.

During the offseason after his junior (2010-11) year the Broncos made a trip to Vancouver for a series of exhibition games. What was supposed to be a happy homecoming for Trasolini quickly turned into a disaster. Just two minutes into the first game, against Trinity Western University, Trasolini tore the ACL in his left knee. He was sidelined for the entire 2011-12 season.

Senior Series: Matthew Dellavedova

Dellavedova as a freshman, photo by SD Dirk

Matthew Dellavedova had an amazing career at Saint Mary's. The 6'4'' guard from Maryborough, Victoria, Australia made an immediate impact as a freshman and continued to do so through his senior season.

Dellavedova was honored many times over his career. He was named WCC Player of the Week three times and once Player of the Month. As a junior, he was named the WCC Player of the Year and WCC Tournament MVP. He made all-WCC teams in all four of his years at Saint Mary's. In his first year he made the all-Freshman team as well as being named an all-WCC Honorable Mention. In his sophomore, junior and senior years he was named to the all-WCC Team.

He received national honors as well. Twice he was named an all-America Honorable Mention. He's made watch lists for the Naismith and Wooden Awards. The Cousy Award, for best point guard, had him as a finalist in his junior and senior seasons.

The accolades, the stats and most importantly, the wins, make Matthew Dellavedova the greatest Gael ever.

Senior Series: Raymond Cowels III

Santa Clara's Raymond Cowels III was Mr. Consistent over his four years as a Bronco. His freshman year average of 7.3 PPG is less than one point below his career PPG average. The only reason his numbers aren't higher is a slight sophomore slump.

The 6'4'', 215lbs, guard from Minneapolis spent his time at Santa Clara mostly out of the spotlight. Guys like Ben Dowdell, Marc Trasolini and Kevin Foster received the most accolades. Trasolini and Foster were, however, far less consistent than Cowels. He missed just one game over his entire career, in order to attend his grandfather's funeral.

Senior Series: Derrick Rodgers

Derrick Rodgers was the only senior on the Pilots this past season. Unlike any of the other seniors being profiled in this series, he did not play for the Pilots for his whole career. The 6'1'', 210lbs guard from Rancho Cucamonga, CA spent a year at nearby Citrus College before moving into Division I.

Rodgers was a point guard while at Citrus College. As a Pilot he would play at both guard spots. This past season, on top of being the only senior, he was forced into another leadership role (point guard) when David Carr suffered a torn ACL on January 5th. His leadership earned him the honor of being voted, by his teammates, a team captain.

Derrick Rodgers evolution, shown in key statistics for point guards, from his junior to senior season. Click image for full size view.