United Athletic Conference

On their first trip to the Big Dance, the Grand Canyon Lopes only made it through one song, falling to second-seeded Iowa, 86-74, in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament in Indianapolis.

 

The Lopes (17-7) played with the Hawkeyes (22-8) but consensus All-American Luka Garza showed why he is the favorite to win national player of the year, scoring 24 points for Iowa. GCU was led by senior post Asbjørn Midtgaard, who finished with 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting.

 

WAC Tournament MVP Jovan Blacksher Jr. added 15 points for GCU. Alessandro Lever put up 13 points, as did Gabe McGlothan, who played 19 minutes off the bench.

 

Behind two big games from tournament MVP Jovan Blacksher Jr., the Grand Canyon Lopes secured their first trip to the Big Dance, defeating Seattle U in the semifinals and then running past rival NM State in the title bout. 

 

Blacksher Jr. earned MVP honors after averaging 17.0 points per game on 61.9% shooting, adding 3.5 assists per game and committing just one turnover in two games. He was joined on the All-Tournament team by teammate Asbjørn Midtgaard, NM State's Donnie Tillman, Seattle U's Darrion Trammell and Utah Valley's Trey Woodbury. 

 

California Baptist led the WAC in scoring offense (79.1), free throw percentage (.736), three-point FG percentage (.394), assists (17.6), assist/turnover ratio (1.3) and three-pointers made (9.3). Grand Canyon was the leader in scoring defense (62.1), scoring margin (+13.4), field goal percentage (.489), field goal defense (.383), three-point FG defense (.295), rebounding offense (39.8), rebounding margin (+9.3) and defensive rebounds (28.8). NM State was the leader in rebounding defense (30.5) while Utah Valley was the leader in blocked shots (4.6). Tarleton had the lead in steals (10.5) and turnover margin (+7.90). UT Rio Grande Valley had the top spot in offensive rebounds (13.5).

 

Individually, SU's Darrion Trammell held the scoring lead at 20.5 points per game and also led the league in free throw percentage (.866) and steals (2.0). UVU's Fardaws Aimaq had the rebounding lead at 15.0 per game and is also the leader in offensive rebounds (4.3) and defensive rebounds (10.7). GCU's Asbjørn Midtgaard was the leader in field goal percentage (.711) and Tarleton's Montre' Gipson had the lead in three-point FG percentage (.500). CBU's Ty Rowell held the lead in assists (5.8) while teammates Reed Nottage and Gorjok Gak had the lead in three-pointers made (2.5) and blocks per game (1.7) respectively. UVU's Blaze Nield boasted the top assist/turnover ratio at 3.2. SU's Riley Grigsby was the league's iron man, playing an average of 36.7 minutes per game.

 

In WAC-only play, Seattle U led the league in scoring offense (75.1), free throw percentage (.780) and turnover margin (+5.44). Grand Canyon held the lead in scoring defense (61.5), scoring margin (+7.4), field goal defense (.391) and three point FG defense (.281). Utah Valley was the leader in field goal percentage (.480), rebounding offense (40.5), rebounding margin (+8.7), blocked shots (5.0), assists (16.8) and defensive rebounds (29.2). California Baptist was tops in three-point field goal percentage (.385) and assist/turnover ratio (1.2) while NM State held a lead in rebounding defense (29.2), offensive rebounds (13.0) and three-pointers made (8.8). UT Rio Grande Valley held the lead in steals (8.0).

 

Individually, SU's Trammell held the lead in scoring (24.8) and three-pointers made (2.8). UVU's Aimaq held the lead in rebounding (15.2), offensive rebounds (4.0) and defensive rebounds (11.2). GCU's Midtgaard set a new WAC record for field goal percentage (.705), Tarleton's Gipson held the lead in free throw percentage (.895) and UVU's Darthard had the lead in three-point FG percentage (.529). CBU's Rowell hadd the lead in steals (6.3) and UTRGV's Javon Levi had the lead in steals (2.7). UTRGV's Jeff Otchere held the lead in blocked shots (3.3) while UVU's Nield had the top assist/turnover ratio (3.1).

 

CollegeInsider.com announced that UTRGV men's basketball coach Lew Hill, who passed away tragically on Feb. 7 at the age of 55, is the Skip Prosser Man of the Year, an award given annually to those who not only achieve success on the basketball court, but who display moral integrity off the floor as well.

 

"We are also so happy to see Coach Hill honored this way," UTRGV Vice President and Director of Athletics Chasse Conque said. "Coach Hill was an incredible human being. He was a close friend, a tremendous colleague, and a leader of men. His passion for people is something that set Coach Hill apart. This is a fitting tribute for a man who meant so much to so many."

 

Posting a field goal percentage of .705 in WAC play, Grand Canyon's Asbjørn Midtgaard broke a conference record that was held by Utah's Danny Vranes since the 1978-79 season.

 

With varying numbers of WAC games played, the seeds for the 2021 Hercules Tires WAC Basketball Tournament used a formula that takes into account winning percentage multiplied by percentage of conference games played. 

 

UT Rio Grande Valley hired Matt Figger on March 29 to take over the Vaqueros' men's basketball program. The head coach at Austin Peay for the last four seasons, he was the Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year in 2017-18, compliming a 76-51 record leading the Governors.

 

On Jan. 14, the WAC announced the addition of five new schools in the upcoming years. Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin and Southern Utah were all offered and accepted membership invitations. With the addition, the WAC will have six schools in Texas, more than any other conference in the country, and three schools in Utah, also a national best. The four Texas schools will join the league on July 1, 2021 and Southern Utah will follow 365 days later, officially joining the WAC on July 1, 2022.

 

When the 2021-22 season tips off, Grand Canyon won't be the only NCAA Tournament participant representing the WAC. After winning the Southland Conference tournament, Abilene Christian was responsible for one of the biggest upsets of March Madness, knocking off third-seeded Texas, 53-52, on a pair of clutch free throws by Joe Pleasant. The Wildcats' tourney run came to a close in the second round, falling to eventual Final Four participant UCLA, 67-47.

 

After going over two years without losing a WAC game, NM State's nation-leading conference winning streak came to an end at 31 on Jan. 29 at the hands of rival Grand Canyon.

 

Citing an insufficient number of healthy players, Chicago State has made the decision to suspend all games for the remainder of the 2020-21 season. "It was a difficult decision, but a necessary decision in order to prioritize the health, wellness, and academic success of the student athletes," said Elliott Charles, Athletics Director at Chicago State University.

 

UT Rio Grande Valley senior guard Javon Levi is quickly moving up a pair of WAC career statistical lists. His 237 steals rank sixth all-time while his 581 career assists rank him eighth all-time, just nine behind MLB Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn. Tulsa's Eric Coley is the WAC's all-time leader in steals at 299 while Utah's Jeff Jonas holds the career assist record with 778.

 

Due to increased public health restrictions in the state of New Mexico, the NM State men's basketball team temporarily relocated to Phoenix for nearly two months to prepare for the 2020-21 season. The Aggies practiced at the Arizona Grand Resort. State restricitions have since allowed the Aggies to return to Las Cruces for practice and the preseason favorites are expected to play home games in neighboring El Paso, Texas as a site to be determined.

 

The 2020-21 season is bound to be full of cancelations for a variety of reasons and the WAC has already seen the first wave. So far, the WAC has seen 36 men's basketball non-conference games canceled due to the pandemic. A complete list is below:

 

Before the season began, Chicago State head coach Lance Irvin announced that due to health concerns, he will not be on the sidelines this season. A two-time cancer survivor, Irvin was initially diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in 2010 and received a bone marrow transplant in 2012 after the cancer returned. Despite not being on the sidelines, Irvin will still be considered the coach-of-record for the Cougars and his career record will reflect CSU's 2020-21 record.

 

NM State is the preseason favorite to win the Western Athletic Conference men's basketball title in 2020-21, while the Aggies' Jabari Rice was selected as the WAC Preseason Player of the Year in a vote of the league's nine head coaches, who could not vote for their own team or players.

 

The Aggies received 64 points and eight first-place votes to earn the top spot. Grand Canyon captured second place with 52 points and one first-place vote. UT RioGrande Valley was third with 45 points, followed by California Baptist in fourth with 43 points. Seattle U was selected fifth with 33 points with newcomer Tarleton coming in sixth with 31 points. Utah Valley was picked seventh with 28 points, followed by Dixie State in eighth with 20 points and Chicago State in ninth with eight points.

 

Rice leads the list of Preseason All-WAC honorees. Joining him on the first team are NM State teammates Johnny McCants and Donnie Tillman, as well as Grand Canyon's Alessandro Lever and UT Rio Grande Valley's Javon Levi.

 

Second team selections include Grand Canyon's Jovan Blacksher and Oscar Frayer, Seattle U's Riley Grigsby, NM State's Evan Gilyard and Dixie State's Hunter Schofield.

 

The Western Athletic Conference men's basketball media have selected NM State as the preseason favorite to win the conference crown during the 2019-20 season and Aggies junior guard Jabari Rice as the WAC Preseason Player of the Year.

 

The Aggies received 10 first-place votes, totalling 150 points to earn the top spot. Grand Canyon was picked second with 125 points while UT Rio Grande Valley finished third with 114 points. California Baptist picked up two first-place votes to take the fourth spot with 105 points. Seattle U was selected to finish fifth with 84 points, followed by Utah Valley in sixth with 74 points. Newcomers Dixie State and Tarleton were picked seventh and eighth with 49 and 46 points respectively while Chicago State rounded out the poll in ninth place with 18 points.

 

Rice was voted Preseason Player of the Year and is joined on the Preseason All-WAC first team by NM State teammate Johnny McCants, Grand Canyon duo Jovan Blacksher and Alessandro Lever and UT Rio Grande Valley point guard Javon Levi.

 

The Preseason All-WAC second team is comprised of Evan Cole from Utah Valley, Gorjok Gak from California Baptist, Hunter Schofield from Dixie State and Evan Gilyard and Donnie Tillman from NM State.

 

The following are the returning statistical leaders in the WAC from the 2019-20 season. 

 

Just two of the top 10 scorers from last year are back. Grand Canyon's Alessandro Lever ranked third last season at 15.7 ppg while Chicago State's Xavier Johnson led the Cougars and was sixth at 15.4 ppg.

 

Four of the top rebounders from last season return, led by NM State's Johnny McCants (fourth, 6.2). GCU's Lever (seventh, 6.0), Seattle U's Riley Grigsby (ninth, 5.5) and GCU's Jovan Blacksher Jr. (10th, 5.5) also return.

 

Three of the top 10 shooters in the WAC return, led by NMSU's McCants (second, .578). GCU's Lever was fourth (.535) and NM State's Jabari Rice was 10th (.468).

 

UTRGV's Javon Levi is one of two assist leaders to return, having led the conference with 7.9 per game. Also returning is GCU's Blacksher Jr. (sixth, 3.6).

 

Levi and Blacksher Jr. are also two of three of the top steals leaders returning. Levi led the WAC with 2.4 per game, Blacksher Jr. was third with 1.6 per game and CSU's Johnson was eighth with 1.4.

 

Only two of the top shot blockers return as SU's Grigsby (ninth, 0.7) and CSU's Ke'Sean Davis (10th, 0.7) will look to control the paint.

 

Of the five first team All-WAC players in 2019-20, only NM State's Jabari Rice returns for the 2020-21 season. Two of the second team honorees return in Grand Canyon's Alessandro Lever and UT Rio Grande Valley's Javon Levi. 

 

Levi is also the only nember of the All-Defensive team to return this season while GCU's Mikey Dixon and NM State's Evan Gilyard II are the lone remaining members of the All-Newcomer Team.

 

Chicago State and Dixie State each return four starters from last year while both California Bapist and Utah Valley head into the season with no returning starters. UT Rio Grande Valley leads the WAC with 10 letterwinners returning. The complete list of letterwinners returning and lost and starters returning and lost for each team is listed below. 

 

Two new schools join the WAC this season as Dixie State (DII Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) and Tarleton (DII Lone Star Conference) join the league, replacing CSU Bakersfield (Big West) and Kansas City (Summit League). Dixie and Tarleton join California Baptist as schools transitioning from Division II to Division I. CBU is entering its third transitional year and will be eligible for NCAA postseason in the 2022-23 season while both Dixie and Tarleton will be eligible for NCAA postseason in 2024-25.

 

The NCAA announced on Nov. 16 the relocation of 13 predetermined sites for the 2021 Division I Men's Basketball Championship with the goal to relocate the entire tournament to Indianapolis and surrounding areas. The decision was made to limit travel and provide a safe an controlled environment for competition and practice venues, medical resources and lodging for teams and officials. Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis was already slated to host the Men's Final Four from April 3-5, 2021.

 

After COVID-19 wiped away the 2020 WAC Basketball Tournament, the conference will head to #WACVegas again for the 2021 tournament at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. The tournament will be held March 11-13, and will include all six NCAA-eligible teams as well as transitioning member California Baptist.

 

ESPN will once again broadcast the WAC men's tournament championship game from the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on March 13. The championship game will be broadcast by ESPNU at 7 p.m. (PT).