Also, USF and/or Portland will likely be NIT level, and may show up on the edge of the bubble at various points in the season.

On SMC: Randy Bennett is my least favorite coach in the WCC, but you have to give him credit--he develops players.

In 2014-15, SMC will have 3 of their starters back from a team that won 23 games and beat Utah in the 1st round of the NIT. Waldow, his flubbed dunk in the NIT notwithstanding, could well be one of the better big men on the West Coast this season. If he is in shape, he should have a high impact season.

SMC's weakness this season was supposed to be at guard. Bennett probably filled that gap with transfer players. SMC has 3 transfers that will play a role for them this season.

1. Former Minnesota starting shooting guard Joe Coleman is eligible to play after sitting out last season. He has 2 years to play 2. Coleman is a former ESPN Top 100 recruit, and the Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year. He became the starter half way through his freshman season at Minnesota, and helped lead the Gophers to the NIT Final 4. As a sophomore, he was the starting guard on a team that advanced to the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament.

2. Former starting Stanford PG Aaron Bright is a proven floor general. He started for 2 seasons for Stanford, and was the NIT MVP in 2012 when he lead Stanford to the NIT title. He is a nice shooter as well. He was injured at the very start of the year last season, and is transferring under the graduate transfer rule. He will be a Senior this year.

3. Former Washington Husky 6th man Desmond Simmons is also playing for SMC this season under the graduate transfer rule. He has 1 season of eligibility. He averaged 5.2 ppg and 4.6 rpg in 21 minutes per game as a Junior last season. He's a 6'7 230 lb. Forward who mostly plays the 4. He was a solid player for UW.

Those expecting SMC to be down are probably going to be disappointed, IMO. Bennett has done more with less than maybe any coach in the nation over the last decade. He gets a lot out of his players. SMC has played in either the NCAA or NIT Tournament 9 times in the last 10 seasons. IMO, they will be better than they were last season when they were on the bubble most of the year.