United Athletic Conference

NM State opens up the schedule for the WAC this week on Monday when the Aggies head up I-25 to Albuquerque to take on in-state rival New Mexico. On Tuesday, California Baptist will look to stay perfect at home when they host North Dakota. Wednesday features UT Rio Grande Valley traveling to rival Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Utah Valley visiting future WAC foe Southern Utah and Seattle U treking to Vegas to take on UNLV. Grand Canyon heads across the valley on Thursday when the Lopes take on Arizona State before returning home to take on Ottawa (Ariz.) on Saturday. Also on Saturday, Chicago State hosts Illinois State, UTSA and Sam Houston meet at the Toyota Center in Houston, Abilene Christian hosts fellow NCAA participant Drexel, NM State travels to Loyola Marymount, Stephen F. Austin takes on Liberty in the Hall of Fame Classic in Fort Worth, Texas, Dixie State hosts Denver and Utah Valley faces off against Wyoming. Seattle U returns home on Sunday to play UC San Diego while California Baptist makes the short trip to take on UC Riverside.

 

Utah Valley's Fardaws Aimaq has been named the TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week and California Baptist's Taran Armstrong was named TicketSmarter WAC Men's Basketball Freshman of the Week for November 29 through December 5.

 

Aimaq, a redshirt sophomore center from Vancouver, B.C., Canada, makes it three awards in a row after leading the Wolverines to an overtime win over rival and 12th-ranked BYU. Playing 44 of 45 possible minutes, he finished with 24 points, 22 rebounds, five steals, four assists and three blocks as the Wolverines earned the 72-65 win over the visiting Cougars. On the season, Aimaq leads the WAC with 20.8 points and 14.8 rebounds per game.

 

Armstrong, a freshman from Burnie, Tasmania, Australia, nearly earned his second triple-double of the season, putting up 11 points with nine rebounds and 11 assists in the Lancers' 64-55 win over Cal Poly. On the season, he is averaging 12.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game. 

 

Other nominees included: Abilene Christian's Tobias Cameron shot .750 from the field and averaged 11.7 points per game as the Wildcats earned three home wins to improve to 5-2 on the season … California Baptist's Daniel Akin finished with a team-high 14 points and nine rebounds as the Lancers earned a 64-55 win over visiting Cal Poly on Thursday … Dixie State's Hunter Schofield averaged 17.0 points and 7.7 rebounds per game as the Trailblazers picked up a pair of wins over Bethesda (Calif.) as well as a victory over St. Katherine (Calif.) … Grand Canyon's Jovan Blacksher Jr. averaged 18.7 points per game and added 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game as the Lopes earned a trio of wins on the week … Lamar's C.J. Roberts was one of three players to lead the WAC with a  24.0 ppg scoring average on the week as the Cardinals dropped a close one at Mississippi State before rebounding with a home win over Our Lady of the Lake … NM State's Sir'jabari Rice hit the game-winning shot to give the Aggies a 72-69 win at UTEP and averaged 20.0 points per game to go with 5.5 assists per game on the week … Sam Houston's Demarkus Lampley started the week with 11 points against Texas and then added 21 points in a win over Schreiner to finish with a 16.0 ppg score average on the week … Seattle U's Cameron Tyson averaged 21.5 points per game and shot .500 from three-point range as the Redhawks split a pair of games with McNeese and VMI … Stephen F. Austin's Roti Ware averaged 17.0 ppg on .550 shooting as the 'Jacks earned home wins over Lincoln (Calif.) and Wiley … Tarleton's Tahj Small scored 25 points and added seven rebounds to go with a pair of steals and a block as the Texans put a scare in third-ranked Gonzaga before falling 64-55 in Spokane … UT Rio Grande Valley's Justin Johnson put up 33 points with eight rebounds and four assists in a loss to rival Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

 

Other freshman nominees included: Chicago State's Jahsean Corbett helped the Cougars pick up a win over Tennessee State, scoring a team-high 17 points to go with eight rebounds in a 59-49 win … Dixie State's Trevon Allfrey averaged 9.7 points per game and 5.7 rebounds per game as the Trailblazers earned a trio of wins at home against Bethesda (Calif.) and St. Katherine (Calif.) … Stephen F. Austin's Sadaidriene Hall averaged 18.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in home wins over Lincoln (Calif.) and Wiley … UT Rio Grande Valley's Rayquan Taylor had a career-high 15 points and nine rebounds in UTRGV's loss to seventh-ranked Texas on Friday night.

 

Abilene Christian leads the WAC in scoring offense (85.6), scoring margin (20.9), steals (12.7), turnover margin (+11.57) and assist/turnover ratio (1.5). Grand Canyon is tops in scoring defense (58.4), field goal defense (.386), rebounding offense (42.9), rebounding defense (30.2) and rebounding margin (+12.7). Tarleton leads the WAC in free throw percentage (.761) while Stephen F. Austin is the leader in field goal percentage (.492) and blocked shots (5.1). Seattle U holds the top three-point field goal percentage (.384) and also leads in three-pointers per game (11.2) and Utah Valley is the best at defending the three-pointer (.274) while also leading the league in defense rebounds (29.8). California Baptist is the leader in assists (19.5) and Sam Houston leads the league in offensive rebounds (15.8)

 

Individually, UVU's Fardaws Aimaq is the leader in scoring (20.8), rebounding (14.8), offensive rebounds (4.3) and defensiver rebounds (10.5). CBU's Daniel Akin holds the top field goal percentage (.681), NMSU's Teddy Allen has the best free throw percentage (.909) and ACU's Immanuel Allen is the leader in 3FG shooting percentage (.667). CBU's Taran Armstrong holds the lead in assists (8.0) while SU's Darrion Trammell is the leader in steals (2.4). SU's Cameron Tyson leads the league in 3FG made (4.1) and SFA's Sadaidriene Hall is the leader in blocked shots (1.7). GCU's Jovan Blacksher Jr. has the top assist/turnover ratio (3.4). UTRGV's Ricky Nelsonis the leader in minutes played (38.2).

 

Riding a seven-game winning streak, including an overtime win over rival and then-12th-ranked Brigham Young, Utah Valley is among the teams receiving votes in the Ferris Mowers/USA Today Coaches Poll.

 

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.