Welcome to Vaquero Radio’s first Western Athletic Conference men’s basketball power rankings of the 2020-21 conference season. This will be a weekly ranking of all eight WAC basketball programs, excluding ninth Chicago State due to the postponement of its season. In each publication, I will review the team’s week and provide a case for each ranking.
Please Keep In Mind:
- Without saying but for the people in the back, although this list is subjective, I will rank teams based on stats, schedules, gameplay and storylines. Ultimately, this is done in good spirit because who doesn’t like ranking things from best to worst.
- Team records are not a determining factor for ranking a team higher or lower.
- Nearly every aspect of a team will be looked at in the rankings, such as injuries, COVID-19 (although I hope these remain at a minimum throughout conference play), opponents and how a game played out.
- For example, Team B beat Team A and Team C beat Team B, so Team C is better than Team A is not a valid argument for ranking.
1. Grand Canyon University (Previous Week: N/A): 4-3
Under new Head Coach Bryce Drew, the Lopes are clicking on all cylinders with talent leftover from the previous regime and the addition of key pieces, such as Asbjørn Midtgaard averaging a near double-double at 14 points and 9.9 rebounds per game.
Although the three losses could make you question the validity of its No. 1 ranking, the losses came against Arizona State (ranked No. 59 in KenPom) 71-70; No. 75 San Francisco, 85-82; and No. 19 Colorado, 74-64. Grand Canyon is currently ranked at No. 142 in KenPom.
Simply put, Grand Canyon University has dominated teams it should beat and played the most competitive non-conference schedule of any team and nearly earned a victory or two.
2. UTRGV (Last Week: N/A): 6-3
Before the winter break, a heart-breaking loss of 69-66 to Sam Houston State University slots UTRGV at second. The Vaqueros did stumble out of the gate against No. 4 (Associated Press) Texas and a tough loss against Texas A&M. However, the team has picked up solid victories against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and the University of Texas at San Antonio.
As expected, Head Coach Lew Hill has his team playing excellent defense while Sean Rhea and Quinton Johnson II are averaging a combined 30 points per game. This is before you factor in two-time WAC DPOY Javon Levi, who has had a slow start, by his standards, coming back from injury averaging a respectful 9-4-3.
A team that has faced injuries all season will soon be getting 7-foot-1 former America East Conference DPOY Jeff Otchere back, adding to the Vaqueros’ frontcourt depth and providing the guards more opportunities to be aggressive.
Although UTRGV has had a great start to the season, it has the potential to catch fire during conference play similar to a season ago with key players returning from injury.
3. New Mexico State University (Last Week: N/A) 2-1
The Aggies come ranked third despite only playing three games, currently having paused team activities, playing away from the Pan American Center and a close loss to Cal State Northridge, 65-62. I can hear the Aggie faithful screaming, “What could go wrong did go wrong,” and Aggie haters thinking that another school will be representing the WAC in the NCAA tournament in March.
However, this team has had the most difficult time in the pandemic but, like an evil empire, I will refuse to count them out until I see it with my own eyes.
Yes, Jabari Rice did suffer a foot injury in early December and Head Coach Chris Jans seems to be at his wits end trying to find games for his team, but New Mexico State is still the three-time defending WAC champs and has the talent–Rice, Johnny McCants, Donnie Tilman, Clayton Henry and Evan Gilyard II–to match up with anyone in the conference.
4. Seattle U (Last Week: N/A): 6-5
A team that lost its two leading scorers from a season ago–Terrell Brown (20.1 ppg) who transferred to Arizona and Morgan Means (12.6 ppg) to graduation–has been able to reload with Riley Grigsby (18.1 ppg) and Darrion Trammell (17.5 ppg).
Although the Redhawks have played the most games of any WAC team, they lost a trio of PAC-12 games and their signature win headed into conference play was against Air Force, not necessarily world beating.
However, in a season that has seen a sleuth of games cancelled left and right, the on-court action and chemistry development has been invaluable and could help the Redhawks come conference play.
5. California Baptist University (Last Week: N/A) 3-2
Head Coach Rick Croy has been able to assemble a complete roster on the fly, bringing in Gorjok Gak, who currently averages 11 points and 10 rebounds, and seeing guard Ty Rowell bounce back from an injury that cut his 2019-20 season short to 17 points per game in 2020-21.
Despite having excellent team shooting splits, 48%-39%-75%, CBU has only played one high-quality opponent in a season opener overtime loss, 95-87, against University of Southern California.
A combination of only playing five games and having a nearly monthlong layoff before its matchup against Utah Valley University is what earns the team the fifth spot. However, the Lancers are always dangerous and could easily make a jump to the top two spots in the coming weeks.
6. Utah Valley University (Last Week: N/A) 2-5
Head Coach Mark Madsen has a tall task ahead of him in his second go around in WAC play and we’ll see if he can improve on his 5-10 record from a season ago.
The most eye-catching stat for the Wolverines this season is not that Fardaws Aimqu is averaging 15 rebounds per game, Jamison Overton is averaging 19 points per game or that Trey Woodbury is shooting 48% from the field and 44% from downtown, but instead, this team is only returning two letterwinners and added 16 newcomers!
It is for that reason that this team will come in sixth this week. Although Madsen’s teams have competed and come up short against Southern Utah, Wyoming, Utah and Weber State, a team with a lot of new pieces might struggle against teams with two or three years of chemistry and coaching staffs that have been intact for years.
7. Tarleton State (Last Week: N/A) 2-2
The Texans only victories in their first DI season have come against non-DI teams Dallas Christian and Arlington Baptist. Some Dixie State fans might argue that their 4-2 record at least grants them the seven spot, but to that I say, please read rule two up top.
Although Tarleton State lost by 21 to Abilene Christian, it almost pulled an upset in its first DI game against Texas A&M only falling by seven, 73-66. Texas A&M is currently ranked No. 98 in KenPom and Tarleton State No. 333 of 357. Enough said.
I do feel bad for the Texans in their first DI season. Having limited fans at games is already a tough pill to swallow but then to have a schedule that included No. 1 Gonzaga (AP), No. 2 Baylor and No. 6 Kansas and seeing those games cancelled is a true gut punch.
8. Dixie State (Last Week: N/A) 4-2
I want to like Dixie State for their logo alone. If there was a WAC team logo power ranking, the Trailblazers would definitely be first followed by New Mexico State and Tarleton in third.
In their first DI campaign headed into conference play, the Trailblazers are above mount .500 and looking to ruffle some feathers come conference play. Yet, two narrow victories against Denver and North Dakota isn’t enough to vault them over Tarleton State.
Guard Cameron Gooden has been the Trailblazers’ most consistent weapon, so far, averaging 13 points per contest and is aggressive getting to the line with nearly six free-throw attempts per game.
What I’m most excited to see this year from this squad, non-basketball related, will be 7-foot-3 Assistant Head Coach David Foster on the sideline. A talented player back when he played for the University of Utah (2006-12), I am willing to bet that he is the tallest coach/assistant at the Division I level.
