Tuesday Tilt: Ranking Four WAC Hoops Games, Highlighted by ESPNU Game in Phoenix
Tuesday Tilt: Ranking Four WAC Hoops Games, Highlighted by ESPNU Game in Phoenix
GCU has big opportunity as do other WAC teams on Tuesday
On Monday night, a tweet was put out on the WAC Hoops Nation Twitter/X account.
So, with that being said, let’s rank each of Tuesday night’s ball games around the WAC by way of importance. We will go bottom to top so you have to read the entire write-up.
Before we do, remember to subscribe to the WAC Hoops Nation Newsletter. We off free subscriptions, and a pair of paid options, as well. $8 per month or $80 per year. If we get 100 paid yearly subscriptions, we will do a drawing for two subscribers to get their rooms paid for at WAC Vegas in March.
Now, to those rankings of the four games on tap on Tuesday.
4 - Southern Utah at Utah
Tip: 7 p.m. MT
Broadcast: Pac-12 Network
Coming off a bad home loss to start WAC play and a road loss at Seattle U to cap the week, Southern Utah is not making life easy on itself.
Rob Jeter’s crew, with a significant lack of size, has to go up on the hill in Salt Lake City to face a Ute squad that has a TON of size.
Here is Utah’s starting lineup: 7’1, 7’0, 6’7, 6’6, and 6’4.
Here is Southern Utah’s starting lineup: 6’3, 6’4, 6’4, 6’5, 6’9.
As you can see there is a significant height advantage for the Utes. Depth is another issue. 85 percent of Southern Utah’s scoring comes from its starters.
So, where will points come from if Utah locks down one of the SUU starters?
This is a matchup of David vs. Goliath. In 2023-24, college basketball has seen David knock off Goliath plenty of times.
It would be even bigger in Southern Utah were to do it on Tuesday night at the Huntsman Center. However, it seems very unlikely.
3 - Weber State at Utah Valley
Tip: 6 p.m. MT
Broadcast: ESPN+
Radio: ESPN960
It is the second straight in-state game for the Wolverines. Utah Valley struggled offensively in the second half in a double digit loss at rival Utah Tech on Saturday.
Now, the Wolverines return home to face a Weber State squad that already has a big win in 2023-24 over then-23rd ranked Saint Mary’s.
Utah Valley has lost two straight to Weber State in the series. It has been three years since these two teams last played. Weber State beat the Wolverines in 2020 at the Dee Events Center in Ogden.
So, what will Utah Valley do as a home underdog? Will the offensive inconsistency from Saturday play a role on Tuesday night at the UCCU Center?
Scoring droughts have been a problem for the Wolverines all season. Against Seattle U last Wednesday, the Wolverines had a 5-minute scoring drought in the second half, which allowed the Redhawks back in the game. In St. George, the Wolverines went 10 minutes without a field goal in the second half.
Drake Allen, Tanner Toolson, Caleb Stone-Carrawell or someone has to step up in moments like those and hit a bucket or, at the very least, get to the free throw line.
Will they do it against a Weber State squad that allows just 58 points per game?
2 - Lousiana Tech at Stephen F. Austin
Tip: 6:30 p.m. CT
Broadcast: ESPN+
Okay, the good news for Lumberjack fans…you were able to salvage a week of WAC openers with an overtime win at ACU. Bad news, slow starts or offensive struggles are going to catch up to the Jacks at some points in 2023-24.
Against Utah State at the Cayman Islands Classic, the Jacks got out of the gate really slow. Against Tarleton, the Jacks were playing catch up most of the night. And at ACU, it took a Matt Hayman 3-pointer to send the game into overtime on Saturday.
Now, the Jacks host Louisiana Tech as part of the WAC/Conference USA Scheduling Initiative on Tuesday night.
Remember this game is Ruston in 2022? AJ Cajuste hit a driving layup as time expired to give the Jacks an 80-79 overtime win over Kyle Keller’s Alma Mater.
Not only is this game important for the Scheduling Initiative, it is also important because it is a Quad II opportunity for the Jacks.
La Tech comes in at 44 in the first NET rankings of 2023-24. SFA sits at 102 as of Tuesday morning.
So, it is a huge opportunity for the Jacks, who are 5-3 overall in 2023-24.
Can AJ Cajuste, Day Hall, Chrishawn Christmas, Latrell Jossell and the Jacks get a much-need quality win in non-conference play? It is one of a few opportunities for a Quad I win for the Jacks.
It is basically a must-win type of game.
1 - No. 25 San Diego State at GCU
Tip: 7 p.m. MT
Broadcast: ESPNU
Here it is. National Television. National runner-up coming to town. Ranked opponent. A chance to make a statement.
Tuesday night is arguably the biggest game at GCU Arena in a long, LONG time. Sure, Illinois and Louisville have played at GCU Arena in years’ past.
But, those weren’t years where the Lopes had SO MUCH hype surrounding the program.
GCU is the preseason favorite to win the WAC by every media outlet in America.
Tyon Grant-Foster has been dynamic since putting on a GCU uniform. Ray Harrison was the WAC Tournament MVP and is the Preseason Player of the Year.
Gabe McGlothan is the glue.
And Bryce Drew has perhaps his best team yet in his fourth season at GCU.
The Havocs have been camping out since Saturday for Tuesday night’s game. It is garnering more national attention than any other game a WAC team has played in.
Video courtesy of Logan (@Ocsc_Logan).
For good reason. San Diego State is ranked in this week’s AP poll, coming in at 25. The Aztecs went to the Final Four in 2023 and played for the national title, losing to UConn in the title game.
Brian Dutcher is one of the best coaches in America. JaeDon LeDee is averaging almost 23 points per game. The Aztecs have won six straight since a loss at BYU.
It is the Game of the Night in the WAC.
Sitting at 56 in the NET Rankings, GCU has an opportunity for a Quad I win. Not only that, a win over the Aztecs could be a big boost especially if the Lopes were to go to Liberty on Saturday and pick up a W.
Keep an eye on the Lopes depth. If any of the starters get into foul trouble, can Syd Curry or Lök Wur or Josh Baker or any other bench player make key contributions? That will be a storyline to watch.
Enjoy the show. The Havocs are ready. GCU Arena will be popping. And it’s all on national television for the country to see.