This Week In WAC Men's Basketball - Jan. 17
This Week In WAC Men's Basketball - Jan. 17
2022-23 WAC Men's Basketball Release - Jan. 17
UTAH VALLEY AT THE TOP OF THE LATEST WAC RESUME SEEDING RANKING
In the latest WAC Resume Seeding System ranking on Jan. 15, Utah Valley remained the top of the conference seeding mountain with a 14-5 overall record and 5-1 mark in WAC play to post 3.19 points. Seattle U jumped to second with a 14-4 overall showing and perfect 5-0 WAC record (3.15 points). Other teams with positive point values included Sam Houston (13-5; 3-3 WAC; 3.07 points), Southern Utah (13-6; 5-1 WAC; 1.89 points), Grand Canyon (12-6; 3-2 WAC; 1.78 points), Stephen F. Austin (13-6; 5-1 WAC; 0.94 points) and Tarleton (10-8; 3-2 WAC; 0.03 points).
SEATTLE U THE LAST CONFERENCE TEAM WITH AN UNBEATEN WAC RECORD
Seattle U improved to 5-0 in WAC play, the only team in the league with an unbeaten conference record, after defeating NM State 69-66 on Jan. 12 and downing fellow unbeaten Utah Valley 85-80 on the road on Jan. 14. The Redhawks have earned four of their five WAC victories by six points or less, improving to 5-0 during the 2022-23 season in games decided by six or fewer points.
AN IMPRESSIVE OFFENSIVE SHOWING FOR THE WEEK
Four different players in the WAC averaged more than 20.0 points per game during the game week that ended on Jan. 14. UTRGV’s Justin Johnson led the way with 28.5 points per contest over two starts, reigning WAC Player of the Week Riley Grigsby from Seattle U turned in 23.0 points per game, Southern Utah’s Maizen Fausett tallied 20.5 points for the week and Abilene Christian’s Immanuel Allen notched exactly 20.0 points per game.
A total of seven WAC player shot 60 percent or better from the floor while making at least 10 field goals during the game week. Fausett paced the conference with a 76.2 percent clip (16-of-21), Utah Valley’s Tim Fuller hit 75.0 percent (12-of-16) of his shots, teammate Aziz Bandaogo connected on 68.8 percent (11-of-16) shots for the Wolverines, Grand Canyon’s Gabe McGlothan registered a 68.4 percent (13-of-19) effort, Johnson (20-of-32) and Tarleton’s Shamir Bogues (10-of-16) logged matching 62.5 percent marks and Allen (12-of-20) was at 60.0 percent.
JOHNSON CLAIMS 30-POINT GAME LEAD IN THE WAC
UTRGV guard Justin Johnson recorded his third 30-point performance of the season for the Vaqueros during an 85-82 win against Chicago State on Jan. 14. Johnson turned in 32 points in the victory to break a tie with Seattle U guard Cameron Tyson for the conference lead in 30-point scoring efforts. Johnson, Tyson and Southern Utah’s Tevian Jones are tied atop the WAC with 10 20-point scoring performances thus far this season as of Jan. 17.
ROAD WARRIORS
Entering play on Jan. 18, Sam Houston has posted a combined 8-4 record in true road and neutral site games this season to pace the WAC. Seattle U and Utah Valley have both registered matching 7-4 showings away from home to check in just behind the Bearkats.
THE WAC IN THE NATIONAL STATS RANKINGS
In the latest NCAA DI national statistics rankings that were released on Jan. 16, Utah Valley checked in first in the country with 6.6 blocks per game. UTRGV remained first in free throw attempts (27.4 per game) and was second in free throws made (19.1 per game). Southern Utah was second nationally in scoring offense (86.1 points per game). Sam Houston was third in bench points per game (36.00), fourth in scoring margin (19.3) and fifth in turnover margin (5.9) and turnovers forced per game (19.11). Stephen F. Austin placed fourth in turnovers forced per game (19.42). Individually, Utah Valley’s Aziz Bandaogo ranked third in total blocks (53) and fifth in total rebounds (198). UTRGV’s Justin Johnson was third in free throw attempts (149) and fourth in free throws made (97). Seattle U’s Cameron Tyson checked in fifth in made 3-pointers per game (3.75).