1. Utah Valley (10-7, WAC 4-0)
The Wolverines haven’t lost since before Christmas and if coach Dick Hunsaker made his New Year’s resolution to have an undefeated conference season, he’s getting just that. Yet in a league that struggles to have any continuity, don’t be surprised if the streak doesn’t last. All of the losses have been by less than 10 points and at bottom-ranked Seattle U, UVU barely scraped out a 52-51 win.
2. Chicago State (8-10, 3-1)
Speaking of inconsistency, this same Cougar team that went 5-8 in the nonconference season has picked up three wins in its last five contests, with two of those coming on the road and one coming at home against league favorites New Mexico State. A West Coast road trip is on tap for Chicago State, who could pull ahead if the Cougars retain their road-warrior mentality at Bakersfield and UVU.
3. New Mexico State (14-7, 3-2)
With the best overall record in the conference, the Aggies have been underwhelming five games into conference play. Credit that to consecutive losses to Chicago State and Kansas City, following a 3-0 start in the WAC. Credit those losses partially to the absence of 7-foot-5 sophomore center Sim Bhullar, who hasn’t appeared in a conference game yet after averaging more than nine points and seven rebounds per game in the non-league season.
4. Missouri-Kansas City (6-11, 3-2)
These Roos are somewhat of a mystery at the moment. UMKC pulled off victories at Idaho and Seattle U, then lost a pair at home. Yet now, the conference newcomers are coming off their biggest win thus far — a 68-66 decision against NMSU. The Kangaroos play six games of their next seven away from home. Essentially, a stretch that could make or break this team’s season ahead of the conference tourney.
5. Grand Canyon (7-10, 3-2)
The third of the three 3-2 WAC teams comes in below .500 overall, a common trend for this watered down conference, which has just two teams above .500. With each game as unpredictable as the next, in a conference that has been all over the place, the Antelopes will like their chances in upcoming home games against Idaho and Seattle U.
6. Texas-Pan American (6-14, 2-3)
A 10-game slump had all but solidified UTPA’s status as conference bottom-dwellers — or so we thought. A couple of wins have the Broncs back into the thick of things early on, though a road test in Las Cruces, N.M. will be a must-win game if UTPA hopes to continue its ascent. League leaders Utah Valley will follow for the Broncs.
7. Idaho (8-12, 2-4)
A team that once contended former conference foes Utah State and Nevada is struggling six games into WAC play. Yet a home win against Bakersfield may be just what the Vandals needed to restart their engines. If Idaho can pull out three wins in its next four games — three of which are at home — the Vandals will put themselves in a favorable position before going on the road for five of their last seven games.
8. Bakersfield (8-10, 1-3)
With a loss in Moscow, Bakersfield slipped down to the eighth spot and with just one conference win — against ninth-place Seattle — the upcoming schedule doesn’t appear to be a positive for the Roadrunners. However, the fact that Bakersfield’s four conference losses have come by an average of 4.5 points does. CSUB hosts Chicago State and UMKC next.
9. Seattle U (9-9, 1-4)
The Redhawks have the conference’s leading scorer in Isiah Umipig, averaging north of 19 points per game. And at the moment, that’s about all Seattle has going for it. With three consecutive losses, one of the league favorites will have to pick it up in a hurry, and ideally that would start on the road at Grand Canyon and Idaho.