Hello basketball fans! Conference play in
finally upon us! Last year, the Western Athletic Conference was mainly a
two-team race- New Mexico State vs. Nevada. The Wolfpack went on to win the
regular season title, while the Aggies won the WAC Tournament and advanced to
the NCAA Tournament. How about this season? It should be an interesting
year.
First off, lets begin with my All-WAC Accolades:
Player of the Year: Raheem Appleby (LaTech)
Coach of the Year: Marvin Menzies (NMSU)
All-WAC First Team
G Raheem Appleby (LT)
G Preston Medlin (USU)
G Daniel Mullings (NMSU)
F Chris Udofia (DEN)
C Kyle Barone (ID)
All-WAC Second Team
G Michael Hale III (UTSA)
G James Kinney (SJSU)
F Jordan Reves (UTSA)
F Royce O'Neale (DEN)
F Jarred Shaw (USU)
I believe that there will be a 3-team race for the WAC title between NMSU, Utah State, and Louisiana Tech. There is a lot of inexperience in the conference this season, and these teams seem more comfortable. Here is a look at my projected standings:
WAC Projections
Player to Watch: Raheem Appleby, So., G
1. New Mexico State 15-3
First off, lets begin with my All-WAC Accolades:
Player of the Year: Raheem Appleby (LaTech)
Coach of the Year: Marvin Menzies (NMSU)
All-WAC First Team
G Raheem Appleby (LT)
G Preston Medlin (USU)
G Daniel Mullings (NMSU)
F Chris Udofia (DEN)
C Kyle Barone (ID)
All-WAC Second Team
G Michael Hale III (UTSA)
G James Kinney (SJSU)
F Jordan Reves (UTSA)
F Royce O'Neale (DEN)
F Jarred Shaw (USU)
I believe that there will be a 3-team race for the WAC title between NMSU, Utah State, and Louisiana Tech. There is a lot of inexperience in the conference this season, and these teams seem more comfortable. Here is a look at my projected standings:
WAC Projections
1. Louisiana Tech 16-2
- LaTech is coming off a cinderella story season last year making it all the way to the WAC Tournament championship, losing to NMSU. They finished 18-16 last year (6-8 in WAC) under 1st-year coach Michael White. They also were paced by WAC Freshman of the Year Raheem Appleby who averaged 13.9 ppg, who I expect to be the WAC Player of the Year. The media and coaches are not too high on the Bulldogs this season, but I believe they will be really good this season... I am HUGE on LaTech this year. Watch out!
Player to Watch: Raheem Appleby, So., G
1. New Mexico State 15-3
- NMSU is coming off a 2012 campaign in which they won the
WAC Tournament and posted a 26-10 record (10-4 in WAC play). The Aggies have a
lot of experience returning and also welcome a handful of newcomers. NMSU has
been very consistent in the WAC and don't be surprised if they completely run
the table this season. Look for senior forward Tyrone Watson to break out during
conference play and sophomore guard Daniel Mullings to make a run at the Player
of the Year Award. If NMSU can utilize their bench as well as LaTech this season, they will finish first.
Player to Watch: Daniel Mullings, So.,
G
3. Utah State 13-5
3. Utah State 13-5
- The Utah State Aggies are coming of by far their worst
season as members of the WAC finishing in fourth place with a 21-16 record (8-6
in WAC). They look to change that this season. The Aggies are off to a superb
9-1 record in non-conference play, but pretty much all against Division-II
talent. They lost four-year starter Brockeith Pane to graduation last season and
will rely on All-WAC performer Preston Medlin to take over as leader. Oh yeah,
they also are coached by Stew Morrill, who has 354 wins at USU. He won't let
them fail.
Player to Watch: Preston Medlin, Jr., G
4. Idaho 10-8
- Many people forget that Idaho finished third in the WAC standings last season
due to their first round exit in the WAC Tournament by way of Hawaii. The
Vandals return this season led by All-WAC senior center Kyle Barone and junior
forward Stephen Madison, both who average 15.9 ppg each through the team's first
10 games in 2012. Besides those two however, they do not really have any other
weapons. Look for them to win 10 games this season in WAC play.
Player to Watch: Kyle Barone, Sr., C
5. Denver 9-9
- Welcome to the WAC, Denver. The Pioneers come from the Sun Belt conference as did NMSU in 2005, and finished with a record of 22-9. This team will definitely be the most talented of the four newcomers this season. Junior forward Chris Udofia averaged 14.5 ppg last season and will try to do the same kind of damage to the WAC. Sophomore forward Royce O'Neale accompanies Udofia to form one of the conference's most dangerous frontcourts in the conference.
Player to Watch: Chris Udofia, Jr., F
6. UT-San Antonio 7-11
- The University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners- not very intimidating. Don't tell that to senior guard Michael Hale III who is off to a great start averaging 16.9 ppg this season. Look for him to be a force for the Roadrunners along with fellow senior guard Kannon Burrage who is dropping 18.6 a game. They have not played a challenging schedule though, so look for the WAC to be a step up for them.
Player to Watch: Michael Hale III, Sr., G
7. San Jose State 6-12
- A lack of a supporting cast for All-WAC performer James Kinney will lead to San Jose State tying for seventh place in the WAC standings. Kinney, a senior, leads the WAC in scoring with 22.6 ppg. They are not a deep team and that will cost them- however junior forward Chris Cunningham is a double-double machine and will provide some assistance to Kinney.
Player to Watch: James Kinney, Sr., G
7. UT-Arlington 6-12
- This may be a little low for the UT-Arlington Mavericks, who could easily be a sleeper in the WAC this season and climb into the top-5. Senior forward Jordan Reeves averages a double-double and unlike SJSU, the Mavericks are a deep team. They have seven players who average at least 5.5 ppg. They are also 18th in the nation in rebounding. Watch out for them
Player to Watch: Jordan Reeves, Sr., F
9. Seattle 4-14
- The Redhawks come into the season as a cellar-dweller. Junior forward Clarence Trent and freshman Deshaun Sunderhaus each average 10 points and 7 rebounds a game... which may be why they are EIGHTH in the nation in rebounding... Yes, eighth.
Player to Watch: Clarence Trent, Jr., F
10. Texas State 3-15
- Last but not least, we have Texas State. The Bobcats are going to be overlooked a lot, and that may be just what they want. Senior forward Matt Staff and junior forward Joel Wright each average 15.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Those numbers are against however, teams by the likes of Fordham, UC-Riverside, and Division III Texas-Tyler. Yeah, don't really count on them to have a huge impact on the WAC this season.
Player to Watch: Matt Staff, Sr., F
Follow me on Twitter: @JoeTheWigBoy
Leave comments below!!!!
5. Denver 9-9
- Welcome to the WAC, Denver. The Pioneers come from the Sun Belt conference as did NMSU in 2005, and finished with a record of 22-9. This team will definitely be the most talented of the four newcomers this season. Junior forward Chris Udofia averaged 14.5 ppg last season and will try to do the same kind of damage to the WAC. Sophomore forward Royce O'Neale accompanies Udofia to form one of the conference's most dangerous frontcourts in the conference.
Player to Watch: Chris Udofia, Jr., F
6. UT-San Antonio 7-11
- The University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners- not very intimidating. Don't tell that to senior guard Michael Hale III who is off to a great start averaging 16.9 ppg this season. Look for him to be a force for the Roadrunners along with fellow senior guard Kannon Burrage who is dropping 18.6 a game. They have not played a challenging schedule though, so look for the WAC to be a step up for them.
Player to Watch: Michael Hale III, Sr., G
7. San Jose State 6-12
- A lack of a supporting cast for All-WAC performer James Kinney will lead to San Jose State tying for seventh place in the WAC standings. Kinney, a senior, leads the WAC in scoring with 22.6 ppg. They are not a deep team and that will cost them- however junior forward Chris Cunningham is a double-double machine and will provide some assistance to Kinney.
Player to Watch: James Kinney, Sr., G
7. UT-Arlington 6-12
- This may be a little low for the UT-Arlington Mavericks, who could easily be a sleeper in the WAC this season and climb into the top-5. Senior forward Jordan Reeves averages a double-double and unlike SJSU, the Mavericks are a deep team. They have seven players who average at least 5.5 ppg. They are also 18th in the nation in rebounding. Watch out for them
Player to Watch: Jordan Reeves, Sr., F
9. Seattle 4-14
- The Redhawks come into the season as a cellar-dweller. Junior forward Clarence Trent and freshman Deshaun Sunderhaus each average 10 points and 7 rebounds a game... which may be why they are EIGHTH in the nation in rebounding... Yes, eighth.
Player to Watch: Clarence Trent, Jr., F
10. Texas State 3-15
- Last but not least, we have Texas State. The Bobcats are going to be overlooked a lot, and that may be just what they want. Senior forward Matt Staff and junior forward Joel Wright each average 15.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Those numbers are against however, teams by the likes of Fordham, UC-Riverside, and Division III Texas-Tyler. Yeah, don't really count on them to have a huge impact on the WAC this season.
Player to Watch: Matt Staff, Sr., F
Follow me on Twitter: @JoeTheWigBoy
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