WAC Round-up

Utah Valley (13-8, 7-1)

The Wolverines shouldn’t be hanging out up here too much longer. A 72-49 loss to New Mexico State revealed what most of us knew before conference play started — the Aggies will run the conference.

New Mexico State (17-7, 6-2)

An injury to 7-footer Sim Bhullar prolonged NMSU’s return to WAC dominance, but the Aggies have won three straight games, including their last two with Bhullar back in the mix. Expect this trend to continue when the Aggies go on the road to face Idaho and Seattle U.

Grand Canyon (11-10, 6-2)

The Antelopes hold claim to the conference’s longest current win streak — now four games — and a win at Utah Valley means GCU would sneak into second place, while boosting NMSU to first. UVU won the home leg of the series by seven points.

Chicago State (9-12, 4-3)

Once the conference’s second-place team, Chicago State is showing its true colors now, and the Cougars have dropped two spots by losing three of their last four contests. This CSU team has been nonexistent on the glass, checking at No. 329 in the nation in rebounds per game.

Kansas City (7-14, 4-4)

One of two teams to top New Mexico State, UMKC seems like a team that could finish WAC play around .500. The Kangaroos have bounced all over the place in this conference — starting with a 95-point performance against Seattle U, to beating the Aggies, to falling in three of their last four games.

Seattle U (10-10, 2-6)

Coach Cameron Dollar and the Redhawks may not have expectedexpected to snap a three-game losing streak in Moscow, but this Seattle U team will take what it can get. A 68-67 win in the Cowan Spectrum marked the Redhawks’ first win against Idaho since 2010. The victory also knocked Texas-Pan American, Bakersfield and Idaho into a tie for last place — a spot Seattle was becoming all too comfortable with. Bakersfield (9-13, 2-6)

If conference tournament play were to start tomorrow, the Roadrunners would avoid the last seed via a win at Texas-Pan American, despite sharing the same record with them and Idaho. Issiah Grayson scored 27 points in a victory over the Broncs and has averaged 22 points per game in his last five games.

Idaho (8-14, 2-6)

Don Verlin called for maturity from his inexperienced squad, which has lost four of its past five games. Senior Stephen Madison collected 27 points in Saturday’s clash with Seattle, yet it was the team’s leading scorer who turned the ball over with a few seconds remaining, sealing the Redhawk victory. The Vandals are just 1-6 in the Cowan Spectrum this year and things won’t be any easier when they host powerhouse NMSU Thursday.

Texas-Pan American (6-17, 2-6)

Thankfully for Idaho, there is a team in the WAC that performs worse on its home court than the Vandals do. UTPA is 1-8 this season at home and the Broncs have yet to win a conference game at the UTPA Fieldhouse since Nov. 13. With three consecutive losses, the Broncs might fancy their chances on the road, when they visit Seattle and Idaho.

About the Author

Theo Lawson Vandal Nation blog manager Sophomore in journalism Can be reached at [email protected]

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