WAC basketball: 2017-18 power rankings
1. New Mexico State Aggies
2016-17 season result: 28-6 (11-3) – Lost in first round of NCAA Tournament
The usual suspect at the top of the WAC standings, the Aggies have a great shot at repeating despite losing their top two players. They will lose 30 ppg from their two leading scorers in Ian Baker and Braxton Huggins.
Huggins became a grad transfer to Fresno State while the Aggies replaced him with a couple more in Zac Lofton, a high scoring guard from Texas Southern, and Jojo Zamora from Utah. These were solid acquisitions for first year head coach Chris Jans, who looks to keep the program in contention regardless of the coach.
The team also gets two more players in former Ohio State player AJ Harris, who is coming off a redshirt, and Frenchman Sidy N’Dir, who played very well before going down just nine games in.
Combine these newcomers to mainstays Johnathon Williams, Jemerrio Jones, and Eli Chuha, and the Aggies have the most quality depth by far in the conference.
Some teams in the league can play well either offensively or defensively, but New Mexico State can do both well. Their ability to win on the road is what separates them from other teams in the standings, and their offensive balance is second to none.
The WAC championship seems very likely to come down to Grand Canyon and New Mexico State, and the series is starting to become one of the top mid major rivalries out there. With the Antelopes now eligible, the stakes have never been higher as both teams have plans for extended March games. For this season, the WAC should definitely be a conference to watch.