WAC Basketball: Who is the star player on each team in 2017-18?

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 11: Members of the New Mexico State Aggies celebrate after defeating the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners 70-60 to win the championship game of the Western Athletic Conference Basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on March 11, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 12: The New Mexico State Aggies and the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners warm up during the championship game of the Western Athletic Conference Basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on March 12, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by John Gurzinski/Getty Images) /

Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros – SR Nick Dixon

The Vaqueros were also one of the most one-sided teams in the country last year. The problem wasn’t the offense; they were second in the WAC in scoring.

Defense was their main issue; they were dreadful. Rio Grande Valley finished either dead last or next to last in every defensive category. Teams could shoot at will against them, and ultimately all the games became a shootout.

The two bright spots of the team were Nick Dixon and Antonio Green. They combined for over 36 a game and were supposed to make the best backcourt in the league this upcoming season.

Unfortunately for the team, Green decided to transfer in the spring to Middle Tennessee State.
This leads just Dixon, who tied with Chicago’s Fred Sims for second in the conference in scoring at 18.8 ppg.

His scoring ability is impressive, shooting at a 52% clip and is willing to hang down low, chipping in with five rebounds.

The problem will be how will Dixon handles being the lone offensive threat on the team. No return player scored more than nine points per game so all of the attention will be on Nick.

The Vaqueros atrocious defense will win them very few games this season and with Green gone the offense will take a hit. It will be up to Dixon to not just be the leader on offense, but on defense as well.