WAC MEDIA DAY PRESEASON COACHES POLL:
- California Baptist
- Utah Valley
- Abilene Christian
- UT Arlington
- Tarleton State
- Utah Tech
- Southern Utah
COMMENTS FROM DAVID:
This is the last year of the WAC as we know it. It is being rebranded/merged into the United Athletic Conference next year. I have always liked this conference and am genuinely sad to see it go. The Mountain West, which we do not consider to even be an Under the Radar conference (well, Joby Fortson might) came from the WAC once upon a time when the then 16 full members decided they were too bloated and wanted to form two conferences of 8 teams instead. My GOODNESS things were different back then!
And, for the WAC finale, the league will be playing a TRIPLE-Round-Robin format!!!
-California Baptist was a modest 9-7 in WAC play a year, but with the return of Dominique Daniels, who is one of the best players in the league, as well as the additions of some standout players from lower divisions, the expectations are high for the Lancers and we may see them make their first ever NCAA Tournament as a D-1 team this year.
-For all the hype that Grand Canyon got last year, it was actually Utah Valley that dominated the league. Unfortunately they did not win the conference tournament and therefore did not receive a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Just one starter returns from a team that won 25 total games a year ago and lost just one conference game in regular season play. They do not have much in the way of proven D-1 experience, so it will be interesting to see if this roster can come together and continue their winning ways.
-Abilene Christian was a .500 team both in league play and overall for the season. They were playing much better down the stretch as they won 7 of their last 9 before losing in the conference tournament. Bradyn Hubbard, who was a double-digit scorer and the team’s leading rebounder, returns to the roster this year. He will be joined by Charlie Yoder, who was a standout player in NAIA last year and who I think can compete and contribute right away in the WAC. They have some other transfers who can probably step in right away and contribute as well. I really like this Abilene Christian team this year and think they have as good of a chance at winning the league as anyone.
-UT Arlington has just one starter back from a team that won just 13 games a year ago. Raysean Seamster was a solid all around player who had some great performances, but he cannot do it by himself. They do have a smattering of transfers with D-1 experience who will need to step up this year.
-Tarleton State coach Billy Gillispie has been in the news this offseason. After winning 25 games two years ago, the Mavericks won just 12 last year. Gillispie is a proven coach, but he does not always get along with his players. Dantwan Grimes, who was a double-scorer for Baylor last year, comes in and will be a huge piece right away. They have some other D-2 and JUCO transfers who can probably play in the WAC right away. They will almost assuredly be a tough defensive team, and I think we will see noticeable improvement this year. I certainly like them m0re than the preseason voters seem to.
-Utah Tech won just 2 WAC games last year and the expectations are not high this year. Just one starter is back, and while you never want to underestimate a member of the mythical Bee Hive Conference I do not see them being very good this year. Speaking of the Bee Hive…
-Southern Utah is picked dead last. While I do not like them quite as much as the teams that I think will finish near the top, I do not expect them to finish dead last either. I think they have enough proven D-1 experience to at least be better than mythical (and actual) conference rival Utah Tech.
