Honestly, if you haven't been checking the wcc standings men's basketball lately, you are missing one of the weirdest, most lopsided, yet fascinating seasons in West Coast Conference history.
It's mid-January 2026. Everyone expected Gonzaga to be good. We knew Saint Mary's would play defense like their lives depended on it. But nobody really talked about how the two "pac-12 castaways," Washington State and Oregon State, would actually fit into the mix. It's been a chaotic transition.
Right now, there is a massive canyon between the elite tier and everyone else.
The Current State of the WCC Standings Men's Basketball
The top of the heap is a two-horse race, and it's the usual suspects. Gonzaga and Saint Mary's are both sitting at 5-0 in conference play as of January 13, 2026.
Gonzaga (17-1 overall, 5-0 WCC) is playing like they’ve got a chip on their shoulder. They aren’t just winning; they are vaporizing people. Their scoring margin is a ridiculous +23.6. They average 91.4 points per game. That is not a typo.
Saint Mary's (16-2 overall, 5-0 WCC) is the polar opposite. They are the basketball equivalent of a boa constrictor. They only give up about 64.9 points per game. It is slow. It is painful. And it works every single time.
Then you have the middle of the pack, which is where things get messy. Santa Clara is holding steady in third at 5-1, followed by San Francisco at 4-2. After that? It’s basically a free-for-all.
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Breaking Down the Top Five
- Gonzaga: 5-0 (17-1 overall)
- Saint Mary's: 5-0 (16-2 overall)
- Santa Clara: 5-1 (14-5 overall)
- San Francisco: 4-2 (12-7 overall)
- Washington State: 3-2 (8-10 overall)
The Cougars from Washington State are the most interesting part of this 2026 season. They started the year looking like they might fall apart after the massive roster turnover, but they’ve stabilized in conference play. They just took a tough loss to Saint Mary's (88-82) on January 10, but they showed they can score with the big boys.
Why Graham Ike Is Breaking the League
You cannot talk about the wcc standings men's basketball without talking about Graham Ike. The guy is a mountain. On January 12, he was just named WCC Player of the Week again.
He dropped 34 points on Santa Clara last week. He missed one shot from inside the arc. One. He also grabbed 11 rebounds for his 10th double-double of the season.
Ike is the nation's active leading scorer with 2,261 points. Think about that. He’s been in college forever, and he’s still getting better. When Gonzaga needs a bucket, they just throw it to the block, and he either scores or gets fouled. It's almost boring how efficient he is.
But it’s not just Ike. Braden Huff has been the perfect Robin to Ike’s Batman. He’s been WCC Player of the Week multiple times too. Gonzaga has so many weapons that if you double Ike, Huff or someone like Dusty Stromer will just kill you from the outside.
The Gaels and the Art of the 20-Point Trio
Saint Mary's usually doesn't have "explosive" scorers. Randy Bennett likes his system. He likes his ball screens.
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However, in their recent win over Washington State, they did something they haven't done since 2014: they had three players score over 20 points in a single game.
- Joshua Dent: Scored a career-high 26 points.
- Paulius Murauskas: Dropped 24 points.
- Mikey Lewis: Added 20 points.
Murauskas is a problem. The Lithuanian national is currently the Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week. He’s scored 20 or more in four straight games. If Saint Mary's can keep this level of offensive production to match their elite defense, the February 22nd matchup against Gonzaga is going to be a bloodbath for the regular-season title.
The Reality for the Newcomers
Washington State and Oregon State are in a "non-football" alliance with the WCC right now, and the transition has been... rocky.
Oregon State is struggling. They are 2-4 in the conference and 9-10 overall. Josiah Lake II has been a bright spot, averaging about 14 points a game, but they don't have the depth to compete with the top four yet. They recently lost to Pacific and Washington State back-to-back.
Speaking of Pacific, they are the surprise of the bottom half. They are 3-3 in the conference. Nobody expected them to be at .500 in league play. They play a fast, chaotic style that catches teams off guard.
The Bottom Half Struggles
The bottom of the wcc standings men's basketball is a bit of a graveyard.
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- Pepperdine (0-6): They are winless in the WCC. They play hard, but they can't stop anyone. They’ve lost six in a row.
- Seattle U (1-4): Despite having a decent overall record of 12-6, they've been bullied in conference play.
- San Diego (2-4): They’ve shown flashes, but they are incredibly inconsistent.
What's Next?
If you are following the wcc standings men's basketball, circle January 13 and January 15 on your calendar.
Saint Mary's goes to San Francisco tonight. That is a massive trap game. The Dons are always tough at the Sobrato Center. If USF can pull an upset, it opens the door for Gonzaga to take a full one-game lead.
Then on Thursday, Washington State hosts Saint Mary's in a rematch that could decide if the Cougars stay in the top five or fall into the middle-tier muck.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Watch the Net Rankings: Gonzaga and Saint Mary's are both top-25 teams. If Santa Clara can pick up one more "Quad 1" win, the WCC might actually be a three-bid league this year.
- Betting Tip: Saint Mary's is 20-20 from the free-throw line in their last game. They aren't missing. If you're looking at spreads, their consistency at the stripe is a huge factor in late-game situations.
- Player to Track: Keep an eye on Ace Glass III at Washington State. The freshman is averaging over 15 points and is probably the frontrunner for WCC Freshman of the Year.
The WCC isn't just the "Gonzaga Invitational" anymore. It's a high-level basketball conference that's currently being dominated by two giants, but the fight for that third and fourth spot is where the real drama lives.
Check the updated results after the Tuesday night games, because the middle of the pack is about to shift.