New Mexico State Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Aggies

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 10: Head coach Chris Jans of the New Mexico State Aggies hold up the net after defeating the Grand Canyon Lopes 72-58 in the championship game of the Western Athletic Conference basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on March 10, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

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SAN DIEGO, CA – MARCH 16: A.J. Harris #12 of the New Mexico State Aggies carries the ball upcourt as they take on the Clemson Tigers in the first half in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena on March 16, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) /

After another trip to the NCAA Tournament, New Mexico State Basketball loses a ton of talent on the court. Can the Aggies still win the WAC this year?

In terms of sheer dominance, there are few D-1 programs with as much recent success as New Mexico State Basketball. They’ve made the NCAAT six of the last seven years, and in just the last four the Aggies went 49-7 in the WAC alone.

The consistency has been all the more impressive considering the amount of coaching turnover the program has dealt with. The Aggies have had three coaches in the last three years, with former Wichita State assistant Chris Jans sticking around for his second season.

After finishing with a 28-8 (12-2) record and a 12 seed in the Big Dance, New Mexico State has to deal with losing four of the team’s top six scorers. That includes 20 ppg scorer Zach Lofton, along with Jermerrio Jones, who ranked second in the nation in rebounding at 13.2 rpg. He also led the team in assists at 3.1 per game. Johnathon Wilkins also graduated while Sidy N’Dir left for Pittsburgh as a grad transfer.

That leaves a ton of production that can’t normally be replaced, even though the Aggies have traditionally done a great job at doing so. And then there’s rival Grand Canyon, who’s been chomping at the bits to dethrone them. Utah Valley and Seattle also made strides last season at being a true threat to NMST as well.

This could very well be the most vulnerable the Aggies have been since the new-look WAC has been formed. Should they still be considered the favorites? Find out what the team has going for them this upcoming season.