United Athletic Conference

The calendar turns to February as the league season is at the midpoint. This week, action begins on Wednesday with Chicago State traveling to Abilene Christian and Lamar visiting UT Rio Grande Valley. On Thursday, Utah Valley heads to Stephen F. Austin, Dixie State takes on Sam Houston, California Baptist travels to NM State and Seattle U visits Grand Canyon. Saturday's schedule features Dixie State at Stephen F. Austin, Utah Valley at Sam Houston, UT Rio Grande Valley at Abilene Christian, Seattle U at NM State, Chicago State at Tarleton and California Baptist at Grand Canyon.

 

NM State's Teddy Allen has been named the TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week and Tarleton's Noah McDavid have been named TicketSmarter WAC Men's Basketball Freshman of the Week for January 24 through January 30.

 

Allen, a junior guard from Phoenix, put the Aggies on his back on Saturday night, scoring 28 points and bringing down 12 rebounds in NMSU's 71-61 win over Grand Canyon. In addition to shooting 8-for-11 from the field, he was a perfect 12-for-12 on free throws to help ice the game. Defensively, his 12 rebounds are a career-best and he added a pair of assists, a steal and a block in the winning effort. On the season, Allen is averaging 18.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game and his .887 free throw percentage leads the WAC.

 

McDavid, a guard from Dallas, helped the Texans even their WAC record with a pair of road wins at Lamar and UT Rio Grande Valley. At Lamar, he finished the night with 11 points, adding four rebounds, two assists and a steal in a 62-57 win. He followed that up three days later with eight points, three rebounds and an assist in the Texans' 79-64 win at UT Rio Grande Valley. In his freshman campaign, McDavid has started every WAC game at guard.

 

Other nominees included: Abilene Christian's Airion Simmons hit the game-winner against UTRGV to cap a 12-point comeback and finished the week averaging 11.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game … Chicago State's Dominique Alexander scored 23 points, including a perfect 7-for-7 on free throws, in the Cougars' 101-87 loss to Utah Valley … Dixie State's Hunter Schofield posted his fourth-straight 20-plus point night with 23 points in a 79-65 win at Chicago State on Saturday … Grand Canyon's Holland Woods II scored 23 points and brought down five rebounds in the Lopes' 71-61 loss at NM State … Lamar's Kasen Harrison averaged 14.5 points and 5.0 assists per game as the Cardinals lost a pair of close games to Tarleton and Abilene Christian … Sam Houston's Savion Flagg put up 28 points with eight rebounds and three assists as the Bearkats earned a 73-68 win at California Baptist on Wednesday night … Seattle U's Riley Grigsby helped the Redhawks stay undefeated in WAC play, averaging 14.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in wins over Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston … Stephen F. Austin's Gavin Kensmil dropped a career-high 37 points in the Jacks' 81-77 win at California Baptist on Saturday … Tarleton's Freddy Hicks set a career-high with 29 points in the Texans' 79-64 win at UT Rio Grande Valley on Saturday … UT Rio Grande Valley's Justin Johnson posted a pair of 20-plus point games, averaging 22.5 points per game in home losses to Abilene Christian and Tarleton … Utah Valley's Connor Harding scored 18 points, including four three-pointers, in the Wolverines' 101-87 win at Chicago State on Thursday night.

 

Other freshman nominees included: Abilene Christian's Ja'Sean Jackson scored eight points in just 14 minutes to help the Wildcats come back to beat UT Rio Grande Valley, 87-85, on Wednesday night … Chicago State's Jahsean Corbett put up 16 points with seven rebounds in the Cougars' 79-65 loss to Dixie State on Saturday … Lamar's Brock McClure averaged 9.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in the Cardinals' home losses to Tarleton and Abilene Christian … Seattle U's Vas Pandža averaged 9.5 points per game on .667 shooting to help the Redhawks remain undefeated in league play and atop the WAC standings … UT Rio Grande Valley's Rayquan Taylor scored 14 points and added six rebounds and three blocks a the Vaqueros nearly knocked off Abilene Christian on Wednesday night.

 

Abilene Christian is the leader in scoring offense (77.8), steals (11.0) and turnover margin (9.05) while Grand Canyon holds the top spot in scoring defense (60.7), scoring margin (11.3), field goal defense (.387), three-point defense (.259) and rebounding offense (40.8). Seattle U is the leader in free throw percentage (.775) and three-pointers made (10.3). Utah Valley has the top field goal percentage (.471) and three-point field goal percentage (.373) and leads the league in rebounding margin (9.0). 

NM State is tops in rebounding defense (30.6), Stephen F. Austin holds the lead in blocked shots (4.5) and California Baptist is the leader in assists (17.5) and assist/turnover ratio (1.2).

 

Individually, SHSU's Savion Flagg is the leader in scoring (19.7) and UVU's Fardaws Aimaq is the leading rebounder (13.4), also leading the WAC in offensive rebounds (3.0) and defensive rebounds (10.4). UVU's Tim Fuller is the leader in field goal percentage (.623), NMSU's Teddy Allen is the leader in free throw percentage (.886) and GCU's Jovan Blacksher Jr. is the leader in three-point field goal percentage (.429). SU's Darrion Trammell holds the lead in both assists (5.8) and steals (2.7) while teammate Cameron Tyson holds the lead for three-pointers per game (3.9). NMSU's Johnny McCants is the leader in blocked shots (1.5) and UVU's Blaze Nield holds the lead in assist/turnover ratio (2.4). UTRGV's Ricky Nelson is the WAC's iron man, averaging a league-high 35.8 minutes per game.

 

Following a vote of athletic directors, the Western Athletic Conference has adjusted its game cancelation policy to balance the health and safety of coaches, student-athletes, staff and officials as well as protect the integrity of the conference schedule.

 

The minimum number of participants for conference play has been set at seven Covid-eligible student-athletes and one Covid-eligible coach. If a team meets the requirement, they will be expected to compete in the contest.

 

In addition, the WAC has determined that if a game is canceled for Covid-related reasons, administrators from the impacted institutions will work collaboratively to find a mutually agreeable date to reschedule. If they are unable to find a date, the game will be considered a no-contest.

 

Due to lack of player availability for non-Covid reasons, Lamar had to make the difficult decision to forfeit games on Jan. 6 against NM State and Jan. 8 against Grand Canyon. 

 

While the focus now is on league play, the WAC has its top non-conference winning percentage since the 2011-12 season. This year, the WAC is 94-69 (.577) against other conferences. In 2011-12, the WAC was 94-65 (.591) against other foes.

 

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' Gipson and 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.

 

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 University of the Incarnate Word, Southern Utah University and University of Texas at Arlington join the party. The Cardinals are currently members of the Southland Conference, the Thunderbirds are currently members of the Big Sky Conference and the Mavericks are currently members of the Sun Belt Conference.