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I have purposely been waiting so as to see what Patty will do, but I think you can handicap the league pretty well with and without Patty.

Assuming Patty is healthy, this team should be almost as good, and depending on what the new guys have to offer, better than this past year. Saint Mary's has never had the inside-outside duo with the skill set that Omar and Patty have. The thing we need to worry about is finding a wing scorer. Looking at the way Bennett was recruited over the last couple of years, he has tried to find a guy capable of doing that job. He had one in Collins and Tron did a nice job two years ago. But now it is time to find a homegrown product. I think Chiverton or Clint could be that answer. I love Wayne, plays great defense and his offensive game has gotten better. When he does go to the hoop, he needs to look to draw the foul b/c his free throw shot is very solid. Where we will really have some problems is if Omar gets into foul trouble. Ben Allen needs to step up (as in give us 20 minutes of hard D a game). I don't think any of us realize what not having Diamon will mean. He provided so many things. However the bright spot is that from what I hear, Tim Williams is more athletic than Diamon and just as big. My hope is that RB watches lots of Villanova film and runs an offensive very similar to their this year. Also after reading ESPN, it seems like Delladova can really shoot. If this is true and he proves to be quicker and faster than Micky, he would make up for the loss of Carlin.

If you talk about GU, I think you can't underestimate this bunch. They may not have the flash of a Pargo or Josh, but I predict they will be a top 25 team for most of the year. There are a lot of questions, but I think one of the problems the Bulldogs faced this year was actually too much scorers and too many shooters. No one really played any other role. I think you will see more defined roles and a more cohesive team from them this coming year. You can make the argument that their three most talented and consistant scorers are returning. Gray and Bouldin are both complete scorers, not as quick or fast as Patty, but bigger and more powerful close to the rim. They also are proven shooters. I think Meech brings more to the table from a point guard prospective than Pargo. He plays better defense and doesn't need to be a scorer, but is still a threat to drive. Also, people in the athletic department believe this is their best recruiting class ever. Kelly Olynck, the Canadian player of the year may actually redshirt for them.

So at this point I have the league as follows

(1) SMC (with Mills...it seems like a lot of GU fans feel this way too, read their Mills posting)
(2) GU (I think this team has the talent to go back to the tournament...Don't count on them slipping that far...They are going to sneak up on people who think they are down)
(3) Portland (This team has promise, but a late season lost to Pacific?????...Reveno has the same team returning which is good, but they need to develop some consistancy before you can say they are the conference favorites)
(4) USD (with Brandon Johnson Back...You have to like Grier as a coach, but with Johnson, Jones, and Pomare leaving, don't be suprised if this team slips a lot...I think they will finish like SMC did after loosing P-40, EJ, Freddie, and Jon.)
(5) Loyola (Drew Viney and Larry Davis, with some really touted Freshman on the way...My sleeper pick...they are picking up some great talent and the league will be weak after SMC, GU, and Portland)
(6) Santa Clara (all the defections Rahon, Zimmerman, and the loss of Bryant could make this very long season for SCU, however if their backcourt of Foster and Smith can get it going, they would be dangerous)
(7) Pepperdine (They just look horrible all season...I do like Ashbury and he can recruit)
( USF (they were terrible with all conference player Dior Lowthorn on the team, and Quezada on the team and the only guy who seemed to have potential is Callerio)