St. Mary’s ranked 17th in Associated Press preseason hoops poll
St. Mary’s ranked 17th in Associated Press preseason hoops poll
Randy Bennett’s St. Mary’s team received two rankings Monday: 17 and 2.
The 17 probably outranks the 2 in terms of significance.
The Associated Press preseason poll listed the Gaels at No. 17 in the country.
St. Mary’s went 29-6 last season, tied for the WCC regular-season title and reached the quarterfinals of the NIT.
The top eight scorers from that team return.
The only WCC school ranked ahead of the Gaels by AP is Gonzaga, which is 14th.
In the conference’s preseason coaches’ poll announced Monday, the Zags were picked first, with the Gaels second.
St. Mary’s, which opens its season against Nevada at McKeon Pavilion on Nov. 11, placed three men on the 10-man preseason All-WCC team: forward/center Dane Pineau and guards Emmett Naar and Joe Rahon.
Pineau, a 6-foot-9 senior, averaged 11.3 points per game and shot 66.7 percent from the floor last season.
Naar, a junior, and Rahon, a senior, combined to average just about 25 points and 12 assists per game.
The coaches ranked Santa Clara — with new head coach Herb Sendek — fifth and USF — with new head coach Kyle Smith — ninth.
The Broncos’ Jared Brownridge, a senior guard, was named to the preseason All-WCC team.
In the women’s coaches’ poll, St. Mary’s was picked third, behind Gonzaga and BYU.
Santa Clara — with new head coach Bill Carr — was slotted fifth.
USF — with new head coach Molly Goodenbour — was ranked seventh.
The Bay Area schools were represented on the 10-woman preseason All-WCC team by Santa Clara forwards Marie Bertholdt and Lori Parkinson, USF guard Rachel Howard and St. Mary’s guard Stella Beck.
Steve Kroner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.
Email: skroner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SteveKronerSF
WCC coaches’ polls
Pts. first-
place votes
BYU
Pepperdine
Pacific
USF
Women
Pts. first-
place votes
BYU
USF
Pacific
Pepperdine