SAN BRUNO, Calif.-Monday, BYU men’s basketball was picked to finish second in the West Coast Conference in the annual preseason poll of the league’s 10 coaches.

The Cougars, in their first season under head coach Mark Pope, finished 24-8 (13-3 in WCC play) last season and were picked behind Gonzaga.

The Bulldogs, who went 31-2 (15-1 in WCC play) were favored to win the WCC for the ninth consecutive season.

Cougars senior guard Alex Barcello was named to the WCC all-preseason team.

Barcello averaged 9.3 points and 3.1 rebounds last season for the Cougars.

Saint Mary’s was picked to finish third. The rest of the WCC schools were selected as follows:

4th place: Pepperdine

5th place: San Francisco

6th place: Santa Clara

7th place: Loyola Marymount

8th place: Pacific

9th place: San Diego

10th place: Portland