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WAC Basketball: 2022 Conference Tournament preview and prediction

By Daniel Benjamin

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 13: The Grand Canyon Lopes celebrate after defeating the New Mexico State Aggies following the championship game of the Western Athletic Conference basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on March 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Lopes defeated the Aggies 74-56. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 13: The Grand Canyon Lopes celebrate after defeating the New Mexico State Aggies following the championship game of the Western Athletic Conference basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on March 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Lopes defeated the Aggies 74-56. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images) /
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WAC Basketball Seattle Redhawks guard Darrion Trammell Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
WAC Basketball Seattle Redhawks guard Darrion Trammell Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

1. New Mexico State Aggies

New Mexico State won its fourth WAC regular-season title in five years. NMSU has also now won at least 23 games nine straight seasons and has earned 12 or more WAC victories in eight consecutive campaigns — last year’s pandemic year notwithstanding.

The Aggies are a veteran team that has good size and is very strong up front. They shoot the ball decently well, but they are an excellent offensive rebounding team and a pretty strong rebounding team overall. New Mexico is also pretty efficient defense — leading the WAC in defensive field goal percentage 38.6% — as they do a solid job protecting the rim. Teddy Allen averaged 20.5 points during conference play to lead eight players who averaged at least five points a game.

2. Seattle Redhawks

Seattle’s 14 WAC victories are their most ever and their 23 wins overall were their most since 1958. The athletic Redhawks are pretty small and very young as they only have one senior. The Hawks are the league’s top-scoring offense (73.7) as they play relatively fast and don’t turn the ball over. They love shooting from deep and lead the WAC in both attempts and makes from deep.

Defensively, SU defends the rim well and is very active overall. Five-foot-10 point guard Darrion Trammell averages 16.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 5.1 dimes to lead three players averaging at least 13 points a game.

3. Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks

Stephen F. Austin is extremely athletic but they are not very experienced or big, although the Lumberjacks do have a bruiser is 6-foot-7, 255-pound forward Gavin Kensmil (16.7 PPG, 6.8 RPG). SFA shares the ball exceptionally well and gets to the rim which results in a lot of fouls as well as hits the offensive boards hard.

4. Sam Houston State (18-13, 13-5)

Sam Houston has won 17 or more games for the 10th straight year. SHSU is led by six upperclassmen though they are not very big or overly deep — they use nine players generally. The Bearkats shoot it well from long-distance and they don’t turn over the ball. But they don’t get to the foul line very much. Defensively, the Kats don’t foul and don’t allow second-chance points. Texas A&M transfer Savion Flag is the team’s top scorer (18.7) and rebounder (8.1).

5. Grand Canyon (22-7, 12-5)

Grand Canyon set the program record for most WAC victories and the 22 victories tie their second-most as a D-I member. The Antelopes are a good 3-point shooting team though it is on the defensive end where they make their mark. The Lopes are second in the conference in field goal defensive percentage and first in 3-point defensive percentage while ranking seventh in the nation in defensive efficiency.

Five-foot-11 point guard Jovan Blacksher (16.0 PPG, 4.0 APG) and 6-foot-1 guard Holland Woods (14.1 PPG, 3.1 APG)  are solid playmakers as they both can score and distribute the ball.

6. Abilene Christian (20-9, 11-7)

Abilene Christian has won 20 games for the fourth straight season. ACU is pretty young and the smallest team in the league with an average height of 6-2. However, the Wildcats go nine deep and all very well-balanced with eight players averaging at least six points. They play at a blistering pace and create a lot of turnovers, however, the Cats don’t shoot the ball well and foul way too much.

7. Utah Valley (19-7, 10-8)

Utah Valley has a tall frontcourt led by Fardaws Aimaq (18.8 PPG, 13.9 RPG) , but they are very young with no seniors. UVA shoots the ball well especially from deep, although the Wolverines don’t shoot an overabundance of those shots. They are an excellent rebounding team — particularly on the defensive end — protect the rim well. However, turnovers and fouling are issues.

8. California Baptist (17-14, 7-11)

Cal Baptist has posted a winning record for the fourth consecutive season. CBU is experienced and very well balanced with five players averaging at least nine points and six players contributing seven or more points along with three rebounds. The Lancers get to the line a lot but they are not a great shooting or rebounding team, Plus, they foul too much.

9. UT Rio Grande Valley (8-21, 3-14)

UTRVG is semi-experienced and they play a lot of people. Justin Jackson (18.1 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.4 APG) is among eight players who average five points or more. The Vaqueros finish well at the rim and draw fouls, but they are the worst team in the league on the defensive end.

10. Chicago State (7-23, 3-14)

Chicago State has won their most games overall and in WAC play since 2014-15. The Cougars entered this season having not won a conference game in the last three years and totaling just five league victories over the last six years. They didn’t play any WAC games last year due to the pandemic.

First-year coach Gerald Gillion has a very young roster and had to use a lot of players. The Cougars love to shoot the three and they ranked in the middle of the pack with 7.2 treys a game, but really that is all that was good. They did have three players average double-figures, led by junior guard Brandon Breston with 14.2 points along with 3.0 assists, and 2.4 rebounds.