WAC Basketball: 2021 Conference Tournament preview and predictions

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 16: Ivan Aurrecoechea #15 and C.J. Bobbitt #13 of the New Mexico State Aggies celebrate after winning the championship game of the Western Athletic Conference basketball tournament against the Grand Canyon Lopes at the Orleans Arena on March 16, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. New Mexico State won 89-57. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images) /

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WAC Basketball Coach Chris Jans New Mexico State Aggies (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images) /

The 2021 Western Athletic Conference Tournament will commence at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, from March 11-14. The Hercules Tire WAC Basketball Tournament will be aired by the ESPN family of networks.

While the WAC Basketball Tournament has taken place since 1984 but this year’s event is the first with this group of teams. The WAC consists of nine teams but the conference tournament will only have six participants as Dixie State (4-10, 4-6 WAC) and Tarleton (10-10, 5-7) are ineligible as a result of them being in their transition period. Chicago State is also not participating as the program was shut down at the end of December.

Grand Canyon and Utah Valley were crowned co-champions of WAC after the teams split their two games this past season. UVU took Friday night’s game 59-55, behind 20 points from Evan Cole, to assure themselves of at least a share of the conference title — marking their second-ever WAC regular-season title.

GCU bounced back on Saturday and came away as the Antelopes dominated the boards, leading to a 14-0 advantage in second-chance points. Asbjorn Midtgaard posted his 11th double-double of the campaign with 15 points along with 11 caroms to lead the Lopes, who shot 50% from the field and committed just 10 turnovers.

Grand Canyon (15-6, 9-3) is the WAC’s top seed as the Antelopes have a slightly higher conference winning percentage than the second-seeded Wolverines (11-10, 9-4). New Mexico State (10-7, 7-6) is the third seed followed by California Baptist (13-9,6-6) and Seattle (11-10 4-5). UT Rio Grande Valley (9-9, 2-5) finished in seventh place but the Vaqueroes are the sixth seed due to the teams being ineligible.