Last week just two doubleheaders, this week three doubleheaders and hopefully next week all four doubleheaders. Just through the first week we already saw the ensuing power struggle that is going to occur in the conference as the WAC looks to be about six deep competing for one automatic qualifier for the NCAA tournament. This is before you consider yesterday’s news of WAC Expansion that will see five new teams to join the conference that includes Southern Utah from the Big Sky Conference, and Sam Houston, Lamar, Stephen F. Austin and Abilene Christian from the Southland Conference by July 1, 2020. A lot of changes are happening in the WAC that is going to make an already competitive mid-major that much more competitive but hopefully the selection committee gives us one or two at-large bids.
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.
- Grand Canyon University Antelopes (Last Week: No. 1) 6-3, 2-0:
Grand Canyon almost became part of Tarleton State’s feel-good story last Friday night in a close victory, 75-72. The Antelopes not only almost became the Texans first WAC victory but their first DI victory of the season.
Although I do have questions about this team, and I think I will the rest of the season because the sleeping giant in New Mexico State has still not been at 100%, it showed its depth in the front court, when sophomore forward Gabe McGlothan stepped in for an injured Dima Zdor and averaged 10 and six in 25 minutes in both victories, and was able to earn a victory in a close game, something that has eluded them all non-conference season.
The Antelopes don’t have a WAC opponent this week, but they are not going to be taking the week off as they host Bethesda College out of the NCCAA at GCU Arena. The game will be televised on ESPN3.
- UTRGV Vaqueros (Last Week: No. 2) 6-3:
A blowout, 96-67, triumph over St. Mary’s is not enough to vault the Vaqueros to the No.1 spot in this week’s rankings but it is to keep them in second.
We did get to see our first glimpse of graduate forward/center Jeff Otchere, the former America East Conference DPOY, and he was spectacular in his limited action coming back from injury scoring seven points, grabbing five boards and blocking four shots in 12 minutes. The best part of his performance was that it all seemed so effortless as he was gliding up and down the court, which makes him an easy target for transition lobs and staking out a piece of real estate under the basket.
The only thing that could make the Otchere experience that much better is if senior guard Javon Levi returns from injury. Levi has missed the last four games with an undisclosed injury and is questionable to play in this weekend’s matchup against Dixie State. Yet, if you were to pair up Levi, a great passer, and Otchere, a great finisher, we can count on highlight plays every night and that is before you factor their defense as they are the only teammates in Division I to be former DPOY recipients.
- New Mexico State Aggies (Last Week: No. 3) 2-1:
The sleeping giant still rests as it licks its wounds. The Aggies won’t play until Jan. 22 and 23 when they host UTRGV in their home away from home. Unless they are able to schedule a game before the UTRGV game, which is unlikely, the Aggies would have gone over a month without playing a competitive basketball game.
Preseason WAC Player of the Year Jabari Rice should be back from a foot injury he suffered in early December to face the Vaqueros, which will be good news for the program that has dealt with nothing but bad news this entire season.
- Utah Valley University Wolverines (Last Week: No. 6) 4-5, 2-0:
I love this team! There is something about the Mark “Mad Dog” Madsen style of basketball that has infected this team and it plays with such a chip on its shoulder that it reminds me of the early 2000 Detroit Pistons.
Fardaws Aimaq is leading the nation in rebounds per game, 15.2, but most importantly is a big man that has fight, which ironically got him tossed in the second half of a 77-50 victory over California Baptist. Aimaq also has a solid set of post moves to be someone you can dump the ball to down low and let him determine an offensive possession or two. The rest of the team is a solid collection of talent that know their roles and strengths and can easily go for 20-plus points if the night’s matchup is in their favor.
That is why this team reminds me of the early 2000s Pistons that included Billups, Hamilton, Prince and the Wallace brothers. A dominant center in Ben Wallace that could get every rebound and wasn’t afraid to mix it up (the Malice at the Palace) but the rest of the team could have a career night dependent on the most favorable matchup.
- California Baptist University Lancers (Last Week: No. 5) 3-4, 0-2:
It wasn’t a particularly fun trip to Utah for the Lancers, but in all honesty who has ever had a fun trip to Utah, as they got blown out in their first conference matchup of the season, 77-50, to the Wolverines and then followed it up with a 81-77 performance that saw the comeback fall short as time ran out.
There were a lot of things against California Baptist, most notably, that Head Coach Rick Croy did not travel with the team to Orem, Utah, due to health concerns and Associate Head Coach Hardy Asprilla had to take his place and make in-game adjustments and rotations.
My primary concern with this team is I’m not confident on who is going to put the ball in the basket if a possession goes off the rails. You can point to sophomore guard Reed Nottage who is averaging a team high 14.6 points per game, excluding the first game against Utah Valley where he only played 11 minutes and had two points. Against DI talent this season, Nottage has shot 3-11 for nine points versus USC, 9-17 for 26 points against Southeastern Louisiana, 3-12 for seven points the second go around with Southeastern Louisiana, and 4-12 for 14 points in the second game matchup with Utah Valley. Although Nottage has shooting splits that players could only dream of, 49%-39%-75%, I just want to see more efficient nights from him.
- Tarleton State Texans (Last Week: No. 7) 2-4, 0-2:
The Texans definitely gave Grand Canyon everything that they could handle in their season opener but fell short, 75-72, when junior Montre Gibson’s last second three-pointer to tie bounced off the front iron.
Last week I had this team at No. 7 in the power rankings but to play two close games versus, arguably, the best team in the conference definitely deserves a one spot jump but no more because it still hasn’t defeated a DI opponent all season. This team under Head Coach Billy Gilispie can definitely play spoiler this season and the rest of the WAC schools have been put on notice.
- Seattle University Redhawks (Last Week: No. 4) 7-5:
All right, what happened to the Redhawks, why did they take a three spot fall this week? Please refer to rule No.1 up top, but most importantly, this team is currently playing out of its mind, at least statwise.
Leading scorer Riley Grigsby is currently averaging 18.6 points and is shooting 49% from the field and 42% from deep. Not to say the preseason all-WAC second team selection can’t keep this pace, but conference teams will key on him and besides their second-leading scorer Darrion Trammell, no other player is averaging double digits.
In addition, excluding Chicago State and New Mexico State due to a lack of games to get an accurate average, the Redhawks on average are attempting the lowest free-throw attempts per game at 14, next closest being California Baptist and Grand Canyon both at 19.
When the shot is falling for Grigsby and Trammell, it is excellent, but I don’t know what this team will do if the 3-point shot is not falling because all non-conference season it has seemed to have shown a reluctance to drive and draw fouls. You live by the three, you die by the three.
- Dixie State Trailblazers (Last Week: No. 8) 4-3:
Unfortunately for Dixie State, it is another week at the bottom of the standings. I’m ready to move this team up in the power rankings but this week has done nothing to change my mind from last.
Yes, you can make the argument that they played a close game against New Mexico but lost 72-62 after allowing the Lobos to go on a near-six-minute 22-6 run in the second half that split the game wide open. You can say that Tarleton State should be here, but the Texans almost took down the best team in the WAC to start conference play.
It’s been a rough start to 2021 for the Trailblazers but they have a chance to play upset against a UTRGV squad that is currently third in the standings.
