United Athletic Conference

The weekly schedule has already begun with Grand Canyon picking up a win at Loyola Marymount and Tarleton playing third-ranked Gonzaga tough. Tuesday features a battle of enchantment as New Mexico visits NM State. Wednesday also features a rivalry as Utah Valley hosts 13th-ranked Brigham Young. Thursday will feature California Baptist trying to stay perfect at home when they host Cal Poly while Friday sees UTRGV travel to Texas while NM State hops into Texas to take on rival UTEP. Future WAC member UIW visits Abilene Christian on Saturday while on Sunday, Tarleton plays host to Charleston Southern.

 

Utah Valley's Fardaws Aimaq has been named the TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week and Seattle U's Viktor Rajkovic was named TicketSmarter WAC Men's Basketball Freshman of the Week for November 22-28.

 

Aimaq, a redshirt sophomore center from Vancouver, B.C., Canada, wins the award for the second straight week after being named SoCal Challenge MVP following wins over Idaho and Nicholls State and then adding a home win against Denver on Saturday. On the week, he averaged 14.5 points per game and 15.3 rebounds per game with three double doubles, giving him a NCAA-best six on the young season. 

 

Rajkovic, a freshman forward from Mill Valley, Calif., had a breakout week for the Redhawks and helping lead SU to three wins. His biggest game came in the week's finale, scoring 12 points to go with five rebounds in an 81-64 win over visiting St. Thomas (Minn.). On the week, he average 8.7 points to go with 3.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.

 

Other nominees included: California Baptist's Daniel Akin was a perfect 7-for-7 from the field and averaged a team-best 11.0 points per game in a road loss at Texas and a home win over San Diego Christian … Dixie State's Cameron Gooden led the Trailblazers with 17 points and four assists in a loss to 24th-ranked USC on Monday … Grand Canyon's Jovan Blacksher Jr. averaged 16.3 points per game and 5.7 assists per game in three games on the week … Lamar's Davion Buster led the Cardinals with 22 points in a loss at UTSA and 20 points in a loss at Texas Tech … NM State's Teddy Allen posted the second 20-plus effort of his brief Aggie career, scoring 21 points in a win over New Mexico Highlands … Seattle U's Darrion Trammell helped the Redhawks to a 3-0 week, averaging 14.0 points per game and 5.7 assists per game in wins over UAPB, Pacific Lutheran and St. Thomas (Minn.) … Stephen F. Austin's Sadaidriene Hall helped the 'Jacks go 2-1 on the week, averaging 13.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game … Tarleton's Montre' Gipson averaged 14.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in road losses at North Dakota State and Michigan … UT Rio Grande Valley's Justin Johnson scored 18 points with nine rebounds in a win over Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday.

 

Other freshman nominees included: California Baptist's Taran Armstrong finished the week averaging 7.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game as the Lancers lost a road game at Texas before rebounding with a home win over San Diego Christian … Chicago State's Bryce Johnson scored 24 second-half points in the cougars road loss at Pacific on Monday … NM State's Marchelus Avery came off the bench to score six points and bring down nine rebounds in a 94-67 win over New Mexico Highlands … UT Rio Grande Valley's Donte Houston Jr. scored a career-high 17 points with eight rebounds in the Vaqueros' 72-67 win over Cal State Fullerton.

 

Abilene Christian leads the WAC in scoring offense (78.6), steals (14.4) and turnover margin (+11.20).Grand Canyon is the leader in scoring defense (58.7), rebounding offense (42.4), rebounding defense (27.4) and rebounding margin (+15.0). Seattle U holds the top spot in scoring margin (+15.9), free throw percentage (.788), field goal defense (.382), 3FG percentage (.397), assist/turnover ratio (1.3) and 3FG made (11.0). California Baptist leads the WAC in field goal percentage (.499), assists (19.7) and defensive rebounds (29.9). Utah Valley has the top spot in 3FG defense (.276) while Stephen F. Austin is the leader in blocked shots (5.0) and Sam Houston has the lead in offensive rebounds (16.6).

 

Individually, UVU's Fardaws Aimaq is the leader in scoring (20.3), rebounding (13.7) and defensive rebounds (10.0). CBU's Daniel Akin holds the top field goal percentage (.683), SU's Darrion Trammell has the best free throw percentage (.862) and ACU's Immanuel Allen is the leader in 3FG shooting percentage (.750). CBU's Taran Armstrong holds the lead in assists (7.6) while ACU's Damien Daniels is the leader in steals (2.4). SU's Cameron Tyson leads the league in 3FG made (3.3) and NMSU big man Johnny McCants is the leader in blocked shots (1.3). GCU's Jovan Blacksher Jr. has the top assist/turnover ratio. SFA's Gavin Kensmil boasts the most offensive rebounds (4.0) while UTRGV's Ricky Nelsonis the leader in minutes played (37.7).

 

California Baptist's Taran Armstrong recorded the WAC's first triple-double of the season on Nov. 18 against San José State, scoring 16 points to go with 12 assists and 10 rebounds in a 67-66 win.

 

Utah Valley redshirt sophomore center Fardaws Aimaq was named the Lute Olson National Player of the Week on Nov. 22 against averaging 29.5 points and 15.0 rebounds per game in overtime wins at Pepperdine and Long Beach State.

 

Abilene Christian announced a COVID-19 pause on Nov. 18, which forced the Wildcats to reschedule a non-conference game with McMurry and drop out of the Baha Mar Nassau Championship this week in the Bahamas. The Wildcats returned to the court on Saturday, Nov. 27 in the rescheduled tilt with McMurry.

 

Following the resignation of Jim Hayford, Seattle U has named Chris Victor as the interim head coach for the 2021-22 season.

 

NM State is the preseason favorite to win the Western Athletic Conference men's basketball title in 2021-22, while Seattle U's Darrion Trammell was selected as the WAC Preseason Player of the Year in a vote of the league's 13 head coaches, who could not vote for their own team or players.

 

The Aggies received eight of 13 possible first-place votes and totaled 138 points to earn the top spot. Grand Canyon was second with three first-place votes and 131 total points. WAC newcomer Stephen F. Austin earned another first place vote and 106 points to take third in the preseason poll. Utah Valley was selected fourth while Abilene Christian picked up the final first place vote and 92 total points for fifth. Seattle U was selected sixth, Sam Houston was seventh, California Baptist was eight and Tarleton tied with UT Rio Grande Valley for the ninth spot. Lamar, Dixie State and Chicago State rounded out the poll.

 

Trammell leads the list of Preseason All-WAC honorees. Joining him on the first team is teammate Riley Grigsby, Utah Valley's Fardaws Aimaq, NM State pair Teddy Allen and Jabari Rice, Grand Canyon's Jovan Blacksher Jr., Stephen F. Austin's Gavin Kensmil and California Baptist's Ty Rowell.

 

Second team selections include Abilene Christian's Damian Daniels, Sam Houston teammates Savion Flagg and Demarkus Lampley, NM State's Johnny McCants and Donnie Tillman, Tarleton's Montre' Gipson, Stephen F. Austin's Roti Ware and Utah Valley's Trey Woodbury.

 

 

The Western Athletic Conference men's basketball media have selected NM State as the preseason favorite to win the conference crown during the 2020-21 season and Utah Valley post Fardaws Aimaq as the WAC Preseason Player of the Year.

 

The Aggies edged out WAC-newcomer Stephen F. Austin for the top spot. Defending WAC champion Grand Canyon was selected third, followed by reigning Southland tournament champion Abilene Christian in fourth. Utah Valley is fifth, followed by California Baptist, Sam Houston, Seattle U, Tarleton, Lamar, UT Rio Grande Valley, Dixie State and Chicago State.

 

Aimaq was voted Preseason Player of the Year and is joined on the Preseason All-WAC first team by Grand Canyon's Jovan Blacksher Jr., Tarleton's Montre' Gipson, Stephen F. Austin's Gavin Kensmil, Sam Houston's Demarkus Lampley, NM State's Jabari Rice, California Baptist's Ty Rowell and Seattle U's Darrion Trammell. 

 

The Preseason All-WAC second team is comprised of NM State pair Teddy Allen and Johnny McCants, Abilene Christian duo Coryon Mason and Reggie Miller, California Baptist's Reed Nottage, Stephen F. Austin's Roti Ware, Utah Valley's Trey Woodbury and Grand Canyon's Holland Woods II.

 

Four of the top five scorers in the WAC return this season with Seattle U's Darrion Trammell leading the way after leading the league with 20.5 points per game. SU's Riley Grigsby (17.8), UVU's Trey Woodbury (15.6) and CBU's Ty Rowell (15.3) also return. SFA's Gavin Kensmil also returns after ranking fifth in the Southland last season at 15.9 ppg.

 

Two of the top five rebounders also return, led by UVU's Fardaws Aimaq, who led the league last season with 15.0 rpg. SU's Emeka Udenyi ranked fourth at 8.0 while SFA's Kensmil ranked fifth in the SLC at 7.1.

 

Udenyi also ranked second in the WAC in shooting percentage at .620 and will join Tarleton's Montre' Gipson (.549) and CBU's Elijah Thomas (.544) as returning. Of the new schools, SFA's Kensmil led the Southland last year at .632

 

CBU's Rowell led the WAC last season in assists (5.8) and returns for another year at CBU. GCU's Jovan Blacksher Jr. was second (5.4), SU's Trammell was third (5.3) and UVU's Woodbury was fourth (3.8). The WAC will also feature three of the Southland top guards as SFA's David Kachelries was third (4.4), ACU's Reggie Miller was fourth (4.4) and LU's Kasen Harrison was fifth (4.0). 

 

All five of the leaders in steals return this year. SU's Trammel led the WAC at 2.0 and will be joined by TAR's Shamir Bogues (1.9), DSU's Cameron Gooden (1.7), TAR's Shakur Daniel (1.6) and GCU's Blacksher Jr. (1.5). Four of the top five leaders in steals from the Southland will also be in the WAC, led by ACU's Damien Daniels (2.0), ACU's Miller (1.9), SFA's Roti Ware (1.9) and SHSU's Donte Powers (1.5)

 

Two of the top five shot blockers return, led by UVU's Aimaq (1.7) and SU's Kobe Williamson (1.2). SHSU's Tristan Ikpe also returns after averageing 1.1 blocks per game in the Southland.

 

Of the five first team All-WAC players in 2020-21, three return as UVU's Fardaws Aimaq, CBU's Ty Rowell and SU's Darrion Trammell are back. Of the second-team selections, GCU's Jovan Blacksher Jr., SU's Riley Grigsby and NMSU's Jabari Rice are all back.

 

Aimaq is the only member of the All-Defesnsive team to return while he is one of three members of the All-Newcomer team that are back, joining TAR's Montre' Gipsonand SU's Trammell.

 

From the Southland, SFA's Gavin Kensmil and SHSU's Demarkus Lampley were first team selections last season. SFA's Roti Ware and ACU's Coryon Mason also returns for their teams after earning SLC Third-Team honors last season. From the Southland All-Demensive Team, ACU trio Damien Daniels, Reggie Miller and Mason all return.

 

The UTRGV men's basketball team is dedicating the 2021-22 season to the memory of former head coach Lew Hill, who passed away tragically on Feb. 7 at the age of 55. As part of the dedication, UTRGV men's basketball head coach Matt Figger plans to leave the first seat on the bench open for Hill. The entire team will wear shooting shirts during warmups with the number three, which Coach Hill wore in college, on the front and "Lew Hill" on the back. Additionally, UTRGV Athletics is planning a Lew Hill Tribute night on Feb. 2 when UTRGV hosts Lamar at 7 p.m. at the UTRGV Fieldhouse.

 

Both Seattle U and Tarleton return all five starters from last season. California Baptist, Dixie State, NM State, Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin all return four starters. Seattle U also leads the WAC with 13 letterwinners returning while Abilene Christian, California Baptist and Dixie State each return 10 players. The complete list of letterwinners returning and lost and starters returning and lost for each team is listed below. 

 

The WAC returns to #WACVegas next March for an expanded WAC tournament. The 10-team tournament will begin on Tuesday, March 8 with a pair of games at Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay. The remainder of the tournament then moves back to Orleans Arena beginning on Wednesday with the championship game set for 7 p.m. MT on the ESPN family of networks.

 

The WAC has 20 non-conference games with 2021 NCAA Tournament participants and could add up to two more depending on MTE results in November. The WAC will also have five games, with a possibility of a sixth, against 2021 NIT participants. This is all on top of in-conference games with both Abilene Christian and Grand Canyon.

 

Games vs. 2021 NCAA Tournament Teams

Nov. 9 Dixie State at Gonzaga 6 p.m. PT

Nov. 12 Tarleton at Kansas 7 p.m. CT

Nov. 15 Lamar at Georgia Tech 7:30 p.m. ET

Nov. 16 Chicago State at Loyola Chicago 7 p.m. CT

Nov. 19 NM State vs. Utah State TBA ET

Nov. 20 Chicago State at UC Santa Barbara 1 p.m. PT

Nov. 22 Dixie State at Southern California 8 p.m. PT

Nov. 24 Tarleton at Michigan 7 p.m. ET

Nov. 24 California Baptist at Texas 7:30 p.m. CT

Nov. 26 UT Rio Grande Valley at Illinois TBA CT

Nov. 27 Lamar at Texas Tech TBA CT

Nov. 29 Tarleton at Gonzaga 7 p.m. PT

Nov. 29 Sam Houston at Texas 7:30 p.m. CT

Dec. 1 Brigham Young at Utah Valley 7 p.m. MT

Dec. 3 UT Rio Grande Valley at Texas 7:30 p.m. CT

Dec. 11 Drexel at Abilene Christian 6 p.m. CT

Dec. 11 Stephen F. Austin vs. Liberty 7 p.m. CT

Dec. 14 Texas Southern at UT Rio Grande Valley 7:30 p.m. CT

Dec. 14 Sam Houston at North Texas TBA CT

Dec. 18 Stephen F. Austin at Kansas 7 p.m. CT

Dec. 19 Chicago State at Drake 2 p.m. CT

 

Games vs. 2021 NIT Teams

Nov. 9 Utah Valley at Boise State TBA MT

Nov. 18 NM State vs. Davidson noon ET

Nov. 23 Stephen F. Austin vs. Buffalo 6 p.m. ET

Nov. 24 Sam Houston at SMU 7 p.m. CT

Nov. 24 Stephen F. Austin vs. Saint Louis TBD ET

Dec. 2 Lamar at Mississippi State 7 p.m. CT

 

As part of an expanded multi-year, multi-platform media rights agreement announced on Aug. 24, all home men's and women's basketball games in the WAC for the next four years will reside on ESPN platforms. In addition, all home football games, as well as other select events, will be housed on ESPN digital platforms.

 

The WAC will expand yet again on July 1, 2022 as both University of the Incarnate Word and Southern Utah University join the party. The Cardinals are currently members of the Southland Conference and the Thunderbirds are currently members of the Big Sky Conference.