United Athletic Conference

With teams taking finals and beginning to break for the holidays, the schedule continues to thin out this week but there are still some intriguing matchups across the league. On Tuesday, Tarleton heads to South Alabama for the first end of a rare non-conference home/home series which will see USA come to Stephenville on Friday. Wednesday includes NM State traveling to Washington State and Abilene Christian hosting CSU Bakersfield. Thursday has Chicago State traveling to IUPUI while Friday finds Utah Valley hosting Bethesda with the Wolverines looking to get back into the win column. Saturday is the biggest day on the schedule with CBU traveling to nationally-ranked Arizona, Grand Canyon taking on San Francisco in the Jerry Colangelo Classic, SFA playing at seventh-ranked Kansas and Seattle U crossing the Montlake Cut to take on Washington.

 

Dixie State's Cameron Gooden has been named the TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week and UT Rio Grande Valley's RayQuan Taylor named TicketSmarter WAC Men's Basketball Freshman of the Week for December 6 through December 12.

 

Gooden, a junior guard from Frisco, Texas, helped lead the Trailblazers to a statement win over Denver, putting up 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting and dishing out six assists with no turnovers in the 82-62 win over the Pioneers. 14 of his 22 points came in the first half as Dixie built a 20-2 lead early. He was just one point shy of his career high of 23 points, which came last year in a win at Denver.

 

Taylor, a freshman forward from Montgomery, Ala., earned his first-career double-double with 11 points and 19 rebounds off the bench in a 75-69 loss at rival Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The 19 rebounds was the highest single-game total for the Vaqueros in nearly two decades and he is one of just three freshman this season to have that many boards in a game. 

 

Other nominees included: Abilene Christian's Coryon Mason matched a career-high 21 points in just 22 minutes in a win over Drexel … California Baptist's Daniel Akin averaged 20.0 ppg and shot .889 from the field  with 6.5 rebounds as the Lancers picked up a win against North Dakota before falling to UC Riverside … Grand Canyon's Holland Woods scored a team-high 20 points in a loss at Arizona State and then added 13 points in just 23 minutes in a win over Ottawa (Ariz.) … Lamar's Davion Buster scored 21 points and put up seven rebounds in the Cardinals' loss at UTA on Saturday … NM State's Johnny McCants averaged 10.0 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game as the Aggies picked up road wins at New Mexico and Loyola Marymount … Seattle U's Darrion Trammell scored 29 points and added six steals in the Redhawks' 73-51 win over UC San Diego … Stephen F. Austin's David Kachelries helped the 'Jacks beat Liberty in the Hall of Fame Classic, putting up 14 points with five rebounds, six assist and one steal to earn Game MVP honors … Tarleton's Tahj Small put up 12.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in wins over Dallas Christian and Southwestern Assemblies of God … UT Rio Grande Valley's RayQuan Taylor posted his first career double-double with 11 points and 19 rebounds in a close loss at rival Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

 

Other freshman nominees included: California Baptist's Taran Armstrong broke the program record for assists in a game with 15 against North Dakota, adding 11 points and eight rebounds to nearly collect his second triple-double of the season … Chicago State's Jahsean Corbett scored 17 points to go with six rebounds and two steals in the Cougars' 80-71 loss to Illinois State … Dixie State's Noa Gonsalves put up nine points with three assists off the bench as the Trailblazers earned an 82-62 win over Denver … Grand Canyon's Jalen Blackmon averaged 4.0 points off the bench as the Lopes fell at Arizona State before rebounding with a home win against Ottawa (Ariz.) … Tarleton's Noah McDavid put up 25 points with five rebounds and two assists in the Texans' home win over Dallas Christian.

 

Abilene Christian leads the WAC in scoring offense (84.0), scoring margin (20.4), steals (11.6) and turnover margin (10.25). Grand Canyon is tops in scoring defense (58.7), field goal defense (.371), three-point defense (.269), rebounding offense (43.9) and rebounding margin (+11.5). Tarleton leads the WAC in free throw percentage (.772) while California Baptist is the leader in field goal percentage (.488) as well as assists (19.3) and assist/turnover ratio (1.4). Stephen F. Austin has the lead in three-point field goal percentage (.380) and blocked shots (4.8). NM State is tops in rebounding defense (31.5) while Sam Houston is the leader in offensive rebounds (15.8) and Utah Valley is the leader in defensive rebounds (28.8). Seattle U is tops in three-pointers per game (10.8).

 

Individually, UVU's Fardaws Aimaq is the leader in scoring (19.8), rebounding (13.3), defensive rebounds (9.7) and is tied with SFA's Sadaidriene Hall for the lead in blocked shots (1.6) and with SFA's Gavin Kensmil for the lead in offensive rebounds (3.6). CBU's Daniel Akin holds the top field goal percentage (.738), UTRGV's Xavier Johnson has the best free throw percentage (.909) and UTRGV's Ricky Nelson is the leader in 3FG shooting percentage (.688). CBU's Taran Armstrong holds the lead in assists (8.3)  and assist/turnover ratio (2.8) while SU's Darrion Trammell is the leader in steals (2.8). SU's Cameron Tyson leads the league in 3FG made (3.7) while UTRGV's Nelson is the leader in minutes played (38.3).

 

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 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.

 

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

 

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.