Dixie State Basketball: 2020-21 season preview for the Trailblazers

Dixie State Basketball joins the WAC for the upcoming season as a D-I program. What are the expectations and outlook for the Trailblazers?

One of four new teams to enter the world that is Division 1 Basketball is Dixie State Basketball. The Trailblazers hail from St. George, Utah, and are one of two new additions to the Western Athletic Conference (Tarleton State).

Dixie State competed in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) at the Division II level and won the conference last season. The Trailblazers finished last season, going 23-7, finishing 17-5 in conference play.

The Trailblazers were going to be the #3 overall seed in the NCAA Division II tournament, until the tournament got canceled, due to COVID-19. Prior to an upset in the RMAC Postseason Tournament, the Trailblazers were among one of the hottest teams in the conference, winning 5 of their last 7, heading into the RMAC tournament.

The man that will be leading the charge in his 16th season in St. George will be Jon Judkins. Judkins has quite the resume in the D-II ranks, with six Pacific West Conference Coach of the Year awards, to go along with 569 career wins.

That is the most in Utah collegiate basketball history. Judkins has led the Trailblazers to 11-straight winning seasons and six Pacific West Conference championships.

The leader from last year’s team came from RMAC Player of the Year, G Jack Pagenkopf. The senior averaged 15.1 PPG, while grabbing six rebounds and dishing out a team-leading six assists. Pagenkopf also led the team in steals, by grabbing two per contest.

The Trailblazers lose three seniors from last year, including key reserve G Andre Wilson and Pagenkopf. DSU brings in a player or two that can make an immediate impact, that could help the blow of loss. This is a big transition for Dixie State as the school will be improved in multiple avenues with this decision.

Dixie State will get more exposure, in terms of TV and will be a helpful recruiting tool, playing against more well-known competition. The jump in Year 1 certainly will not be an easy one. However, there are not many other teams in the D-II ranks are up for the challenge more than Dixie State.

Here is how the Trailblazers expect to start their 2020-2021 with the expected starting lineup.