United Athletic Conference

It's a short week around the WAC but that doesn't mean there aren't any intriguing matchups. Two teams will take the court on Monday with Lamar hosting Louisiana-Monroe and NM State playing host to UT Permian Basin. On Tuesday, Stephen F. Austin hosts Jackson State, Chicago State travels to Iowa State, Sam Houston faces off against Bradley at the Sun Bowl Classic in El Paso, Tarleton hosts Air Force, UT Rio Grande Valley plays at home against Southwestern Adventist, Utah Valley visits Pac-12 Washington, Grand Canyon hits the road to Nevada and California Baptist hosts Southeast Missouri. Four teams will also be in action on Wednesday with Sam Houston taking on either UTEP or North Carolina Central to wrap up the Sun Bowl Classic, Seattle U hosting Northwest (Wash.), Abilene Christian welcoming Longwood and Dixie State traveling to rival and future WAC foe Southern Utah.

 

NM State's Teddy Allen has been named the TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week and Dixie State's Noa Gonsalves has been named TicketSmarter WAC Men's Basketball Freshman of the Week for December 13 through December 19.

 

Allen, a junior guard from Phoenix, helped the Aggies hit the double-digit win mark with wins over Washington State and Northern New Mexico. Against Washington State, he helped the Aggies claw back from 18 points down to claim a 64-61 victory for the WAC's first power-five win of the season. He finished with a team-high 18 points and his free throws with just under two minutes left to play but the Aggies up for the remainder of the game. On Saturday, he flirted with a triple double, finishing with 19 points, seven rebounds and a career-high eight assists. 

 

Gonsalves, a guard form Lehi, Utah, averaged 10.0 points per game on .615 shooting as the Trailblazers earned a pair of wins on the week. Opening the week at home against SAGU American Indian, he was 3-for-6 from the field for eight points, also adding three rebounds, three assists and a steal in the 114-49 win. He followed that up with 12 points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal over 24 minutes in DSU's 78-69 win at North Dakota. 

 

Other nominees included: Abilene Christian's Cameron Steele put up a career-high 18 points in a win against Howard Payne on Sunday … California Baptist's Ty Rowell led the Lancers with 11 points in a road loss at eighth-ranked Arizona … Chicago State's Dominique Alexander scored 15 of his game-high 17 points in the second half as the Cougars picked up a big road win at IUPUI on Thursday … Dixie State's Frank Staine averaged 12.0 points per game on .615 shooting as the Trailblazers picked up wins over SAGU American Indian and on the road at North Dakota … Grand Canyon's Jovan Blacksher Jr. was named MVP of GCU's win over previously-unbeaten San Francisco at the Jerry Colangelo Classic after scoring 23 points and adding four assists and four steals in the 49-48 victory … Lamar's Kasen Harrison averaged 12.5 points per game for the Cardinals as they dropped road games at Texas State and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi … Tarleton's Tahj Small averaged 20.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game as the Texans split a home-and-home with South Alabama … UT Rio Grande Valley's Marek Nelson averaged 11.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game as the Vaqueros fell at home to Texas Southern before picking up a road win at UTSA … Utah Valley's Le'Tre Darthard put up a career-high 30 points, adding four rebounds and a pair of steals, in the Wolverines' 107-65 win over Bethesda on Friday.

 

Other freshman nominees included: Abilene Christian's Ja'Sean Jackson had a career night against Howard Payne, scoring 15 points to go with eight rebounds, three steals and two assists … California Baptist's Taran Armstrong logged 34 minutes against eighth-ranked Arizona, finishing with nine points, three rebounds and three assists … Chicago State's Jahsean Corbett averaged 5.0 rebounds per game as the Cougars split a pair of games on the week … NM State's Marchelus Avery made his first career start on Saturday night and finished with 17 points to go with eight rebounds in a 93-60 win over Northern New Mexico … UT Rio Grande Valley's RayQuan Taylor scored a career-high 16 points in a loss to Texas Southern and then added a game-high nine rebounds with a steal and a block in a 68-50 win at UTSA.

 

Abilene Christian leads the WAC in scoring offense (85.3), scoring margin (24.4), steals (12.5) and turnover margin (10.90). Grand Canyon is tops in scoring defense (57.8), field goal defense (.370), three-point defense (.262), rebounding offense (43.7) and rebounding margin (+10.4). Tarleton leads the WAC in free throw percentage (.765) while Stephen F. Austin is the leader in field goal percentage (.488) and Dixie State holds the lead in three-point FG percentage (.384). SFA also holds the lead blocked shots (4.6). California Baptist is the leader in both assists (18.6) and assist/turnover ratio (1.4).NM State is the leader in rebounding defense (32.0) and Seattle U is averaging a WAC-best 10.4 three-pointers per game.

 

Individually, UVU's Fardaws Aimaq is the leader in scoring (19.8), rebounding (13.5), offensive rebounds (3.5), defensive rebounds (10.0) and is tied with NMSU's Johnny McCants for the lead in blocked shots (1.5). CBU's Daniel Akin holds the top field goal percentage (.721), UVU's Le'Tre Darthard has the best free throw percentage (.917) and ACU's Immanuel Allen is the leader in 3FG shooting percentage (.611). 

 

CBU's Taran Armstrong holds the lead in assists (7.8) and SU's Darrion Trammell is the leader in steals (2.9). SHSU's Tristan Ikpe holds the top assist/turnover ratio (3.1). SU's Cameron Tyson leads the league in 3FG made (3.5) while UTRGV's Nelson is the leader in minutes played (38.0).

 

ESPN has announced the WAC men's basketball game between Tarleton and Grand Canyon on Jan. 15 at GCU Arena in Phoenix has been selected to air on ESPNU and tip has been moved to 7 p.m. MT to accommodate the broadcast. 

 

The nationally-televised game is part of the WAC's broadcast partnership with ESPNU. All other home men's and women's basketball games throughout the WAC are available on ESPN+.

 

Through Dec. 19, the WAC has winning records in non-conference play against 12 other conferences, including the Big Sky (5-3), Big West (6-3), Conference USA (5-4), Southland (4-3), Summit (6-2) and West Coast Conference (6-3). The WAC is also 1-1 against the Atlantic 10 this season to bring the total to 13 conferences at .500 or better.

 

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.

 

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.