MBB: WAC Semifinal Preview
Will the top seeds rule the day? Or will we see some new faces play for a WAC title?
Four teams, two games, and a chance to play for a trip to the Big Dance.
In a city where you sit down at a table and play some high-stakes poker, the stakes don’t get much higher than at Orleans Arena on Friday night.
Utah Valley and Seattle University tip off the night, and GCU and California Baptist cap off the night.
Will the narrative from the regular season continue? You know the narrative where the top two teams just continue to win? Or will there be a massive upset?
Let’s get to the preview.
1-Utah Valley vs. 5-Seattle U
Tip: 6 PM PT
TV: ESPN+
The Wolverines are 24-7, winners of nine straight, and playing for its first-ever trip to the WAC title game.
Seattle U is 14-17, winners of three straight, and playing for its first trip to the WAC title game since 2015.
Utah Valley swept the season series with wins by five and four over the Redhawks.
However, in the lone meeting at Orleans Arena on March 9, 2017, Seattle U put on the defensive clamps in a 65-53 win over the Wolverines.
In the last six meetings between the two teams, neither team has won by double figures. Utah Valley won by nine on Feb. 18, 2023, at the Redhawk Center
The Wolverines had Thursday off after beating Utah Tech on Wednesday. Add in that the Utah Valley starters didn’t play the final six minutes and change in the win, and the Wolverines are well-rested.
Seattle U is coming off a 69-63 win over ACU on Thursday night in which the Redhawk starters played 30-plus minutes.
The last time the Wolverines played in the WAC semifinals, they gave up a 23-point lead in a dramatic loss to Southern Utah.
The last time Seattle U played in the WAC semifinals, the Redhawks lost 80-72 to eventual champion GCU.
Who will win the rubber match to advance to Friday’s title game?
It should be an entertaining one to tip off the WAC semifinals.
2-GCU vs. 3-California Baptist
Tip: 8:30 PM PT
TV: ESPN+
As many already know, GCU hasn’t lost at Orleans Arena in two years, and hasn’t lost to anyone at Orleans Arena in the current WAC.
Yes, that is how good GCU is in this building.
On Wednesday night, the Lopes put up 96 points in a blowout win over UT Arlington.
Along with that, GCU had 24 assists in the win. That is unheard of for this version of the Lopes.
But, it happened, and it led to another trip to the WAC semifinals.
California Baptist joins the discussion after holding off Tarleton State, 55-51, on Thursday night.
Rick Croy’s squad is playing its first-ever WAC semifinal after Croy picked up his 250th win.
The Lopes and Lancers split the season series. CBU won in Riverside, and GCU won in Phoenix.
CBU won when both Dom Daniels Jr. and Tyon Grant-Foster played. GCU won when both Dom Daniels Jr. and Tyon Grant-Foster didn’t play.
So, who will win the rubber match?
JaKobe Coles had 24 points in his first game at Orleans Arena on Wednesday night. Tyon Grant-Foster returned for the Lopes after missing the last five games with a lower-body injury.
CBU played a more physical, defensive type of game on Thursday night. Dom Daniels Jr. had 13 points to lead the Lancers.
However, Friday night will be a much different style of basketball.
Will GCU’s size and athleticism rule the day? Or can the Lancers be the first team in the current WAC to knock off the defending champs?
The nightcap could prove to be extremely entertaining.