WAC basketball: 2017-18 power rankings

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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LAWRENCE, KS – DECEMBER 06: Head coach Kareem Richardson of the UMKC Kangaroos applauds from the bench during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse on December 6, 2016 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

8. UMKC Kangaroos

2016-17 season result: 18-17 (6-8) – Lost in the quarterfinals of the College Basketball Invitational

After a top-four finish the previous season, the Kangaroos come back with the least talented roster in the conference. That’s what happens when you lose an 18 ppg scorer in Lavell Boyd. To make matters worse for the program, the next two leading scorers after Boyd are gone as well.

UMKC will be the only one in the conference who doesn’t bring back a double-digit scorer from last year. Combined with their defensive issues, it appears that this team is in rebuilding mode.

Unless one of the guys on the roster explodes into a high volume bucket-getter, they’ll be looking up at everyone else in the standings.

7. Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros

2016-17 season result: 10-22 (2-12) – No postseason

The Vaqueros had a real opportunity to get a top-four finish themselves this year, but those hopes were dashed with the announcement that Antonio Green was transferring to Middle Tennessee State.

That now leaves just Nick Dixon to shoulder all of the scoring load for the team. While Dixon has the potential to drop 20 a night, it’s the surrounding depth that leaves the Texas school towards the bottom of the rankings. That, and their defensive issues from last year as well.