49ers Falter, Trio of Teams Clinch, and Coach of the Year Talk Heats Up
Run the ball, Kyle Shanahan! And much more in the Monday newsletter
Christian McCaffrey led the NFL in rushing yards in 2023-24. McCaffrey was arguably the best running back in the league.
And yet, with a lead in the third quarter of Super Bowl LVIII, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan put the ball in Brock Purdy’s hands.
Game over. When the 49ers finally did decide to run the football in the 4th quarter, the momentum had already shifted to the Chiefs.
Just run the damn football. You would think Kyle Shanahan, the son of Hall of Famer Mike Shanahan would understand the value of running the football, especially in moments like that.
Okay, rant over. I am not even a 49ers fan. It was just a simple thing that cost the 49ers the ball game on Sunday night in Las Vegas.
Anyway, back to the task at hand. Remember to subscribe to the WAC Hoops Nation newsletter. Daily newsletters delivered straight to your inbox. There are usually two women’s basketball newsletters, two men’s basketball newsletters and then a fifth newsletter filled with different topics.
Alright, back to basketball.
Three teams clinched their spot at WAC Vegas on Saturday.
Both of the GCU squads made the field.
The GCU men did so with an emphatic 29-point win over Southern Utah.
GCU is currently tied with Purdue and UConn for the best record in the country at 22-2.
The Lopes sit at 12-1 in WAC play and really need either two wins or a Tarleton loss at UT Arlington clinch the top-seed at WAC Vegas. GCU hosts Utah Tech and California Baptist this week at GCU Arena.
The GCU women punched their ticket to WAC Vegas with a 77-61 win at Southern Utah on Saturday.
Molly Miller’s team is 20-4 overall and 12-1 in WAC play. GCU is at Utah Tech and at California Baptist this week.
Speaking of California Baptist, Jarrod Olson’s squad punched their ticket to WAC Vegas with a pair of wins this week at UT Arlington in a thriller and over Utah Tech in Riverside. CBU is 11-1 in WAC play and 19-2 overall.
Chloe Webb continues to put her stamp on Player of the Year with a 32-point performance on Thursday and 22 more points on Saturday.
CBU is at Utah Valley on Thursday before returning home to host GCU on Saturday in a game that could determine the regular season champion.
On the women’s side, that means six spots are left for WAC Vegas.
Right now, SFA and Utah Tech are in by a solid margin. UT Arlington and Abilene Christian are also in, as of today. The Lady Mavs have a 3-game lead over UTRGV, Tarleton and Southern Utah while ACU has a 2-game lead over that trio.
It will be a fun race to pay attention to down the stretch.
Coach of the Year Talk Heats Up
With seven games left in the regular season, the postseason awards are starting to heat up.
One award that is garnering attention is the WAC Coach of the Year award.
Unless something bizarre happens down the stretch, this race is down to two in GCU head coach Bryce Drew and Tarleton acting head coach Joseph Jones.
Both the Lopes and Texans are atop the WAC standings. Both have double digit wins in WAC play…the only two teams to accomplish that thus far.
Tarleton has won five straight. GCU has won five straight.
The Lopes are 22-2 overall. Tarleton is 17-7 overall and 15-5 since Jones took over for Billy Gillispie in late November.
GCU is 12-1 in WAC play. Tarleton is 10-3. Both teams feature some very dynamic players.
Lue Williams, Jakorie Smith, and Kiandre Gaddy among others for the Texans.
Tyon Grant-Foster, Ray Harrison, and Gabe McGlothan among others for the Lopes.
GCU already beat the Texans back on Jan. 13 in Phoenix. The two teams are set to meet at Wisdom Gym on Feb. 22 in Stephenville.
Jones has led Tarleton to its current spot despite limited resources, NIL and so forth as well as being picked middle of the road or lower in most preseason polls.
Bryce Drew has led GCU to its best start in the Division I era with a massive target on the backs of the Lopes all season with all the preseason hype.
One fan base believes it is their coach who should get the award. Another fan base feels exactly the same.
If we are being honest, you can’t go wrong with either decision in 2023-24.
Big Performances from Saturday
Jaylen Searles, Utah Tech - Searles had a career-high 33 points as well as eight rebounds to help the Trailblazers sweep CBU.
Ethan Potter, Utah Valley - Potter had a career-high 20 points as well as eight rebounds in a blowout win for the Wolverines.
Jakorie Smith, Tarleton - Smith had 24 points in the first half and finished with 26 points total to help Tarleton sweep the road trip with wins at Utah Valley and Seattle U.
Breaunna Gillen, Utah Tech - Gillen had 17 points and 11 rebounds in a loss at CBU just two days after recording a triple-double in a win at UT Arlington.
Chloe Webb, CBU - Webb continues her stellar play with 22 points and eight rebounds in a win over Utah Tech.
Tessa Chaney, Utah Valley - Chaney had a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double in the Wolverines loss at ACU.
Olivia Lane, GCU - Lane had a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double to lead the Lopes to a win at Southern Utah.
Kurstyn Harden, SFA - Harden had 21 points and 14 rebounds in a losing effort to UT Arlington.
Julianna Walker, Seattle U - Walker had 20 points to lead the Redhawks to just their second win of the season on the road at Tarleton.