Non-Conference Schedules, WBB/MBB Different Days and More in WAC Hoops Nation MailBag

There were 71 free throw attempts when GCU played at UTRGV on Wednesday night in Edinburg. Courtesy GCU Athletics.

The WAC openers for 20 teams have come and gone. Two teams, Utah Tech men’s and women’s basketball, will play their WAC openers on Saturday against in-state rival Utah Valley.

With that being said, we asked you to send us your questions, and we are going to rightfully answer the as best we can.

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Now, to the questions that came about from our request.

As of right now, on the men’s side, Southern Utah, Utah Tech, and UTRGV.

The Vaqueros don’t have a win over a Division I opponent, yet. Southern Utah just got blasted by 25 at home by CBU. And Utah Tech, while they have good wins at Jacksonville State and at Lindenwood, are young and I’m not sure they are there, yet. However, Jon Judkins is the all-time winningest collegiate coach in the state of Utah and they have more Division I wins than the other two.

No. I like the way they have it set up with the men playing in one location and the women playing in another location. Sure, each team has some of the same fans. But, they also have their own unique fan bases, as well.

A few coaches in the WAC said although the doubleheaders in 2022-23 were cool, they would have preferred playing on separate days or at separate locations because the fan bases for men’s teams were different than for women’s teams.

This is always a loaded question. On the men’s side, it’s a toss up between UTRGV, Tarleton and UT Arlington. The Vaqueros played at TCU and at Oklahoma. OU is currently in the top-25. And TCU is on the cusp.

In the case of Tarleton, opening up at Virginia is no easy task. Sure, at FIU isn’t big but it is a road game after getting throttle by 30. Bradley is one of the better mid-majors out of the Missouri Valley Conference, as well.

And UT Arlington, opening up with Oral Roberts, hanging with New Mexico at The Pit, and going toe-to-toe with the No. 3 team in the country for a half. Yes, the Texas State loss was bad. So, can’t have many more of those bad home losses.

ACU is also up there. I know GCU fans or maybe even CBU fans will get after me. SFA could have an argument with its games in the Cayman Island Classic vs. LMU, Drake and Utah State.

It’s too early to really look into this. Utah Tech has been on the road the entire month of November. So, they could even throw that out there.

Let’s just say this…SFA has the best win with its win over Drake. ACU might have the worst home loss with its loss to Prairie View. And thus far, Tarleton has overachieved in its non-conference slate.

Wow, big question here. I like it. Let’s start with some big names who haven’t taken the floor, yet.

Southern Utah WBB - Tomekia Whitman, Jaeden Brown

Now, I am unsure if either one of these two will play this season. Brown was dealing with a foot injury she sustained last January while at Utah Valley. Plus, per her Instagram, it appears she just had a baby girl, too.

Whitman has missed the first month of the season with an undisclosed injury. So, I am not sure what is going on there. I am sorry that I can’t give you a deeper answer on the Second Team All-WAC selection’s status.

Utah Tech WBB - Emily Isaacson, Amber Kartchner, and Kastyn Young

Well, Issacson tore her ACL the second week of the season will miss the remainder of the year. Kartchner is dealing with some personal things right now and they hope to have her back soon. And Kastyn Young tore the labrum in her hip and they are unsure when she will return, if at all, this season.

Utah Tech senior guard Emily Isaacson tore her ACL and will miss the 2023-24 season. Courtesy Western Athletic Conference.

Seattle U MBB - John Christofilis

The Creighton transfer suffered a hand injury after the first game of the season. He had 18 points in his Redhawk debut and is going to be the third scoring option. They hope to have Christofilis back in about six weeks.

California Baptist MBB - Zach Wrightsil

The Marquette transfer had offseason knee surgery and is still recovering. But the 6’7 forward will make an immediate impact once he comes back, which the Lancers hope is in January when WAC play begins.

GCU MBB - Jovan Blacksher Jr.

I was told by Bryce Drew that Blacksher would be ready by the season opener after suffering a torn ACL last season at Sam Houston. But he has yet to play a game. They may be easing him in right now so that he is ready for WAC play. Once he comes back, it will give the Lopes a true point guard and move Ray Harrison off the ball.

There may be others. I know some teams have had some season-ending injuries. But these are some of the bigger names I have heard and know about.

People will say I am biased and that is because I am with this question. But, Willy the Wolverine wins every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Lance the Lancer and Thunder the Antelope are a close second.

Not really. I did think the Lopes would win by more than 10 points. But, considering it was their first true road game, and first game away from the Phoenix area, it didn’t surprise me. UTRGV Fieldhouse is a tough place to play simply from a logistics standpoint. Add to that, the Vaqueros haven’t played but two home games throughout November.

And, if you remember, UTRGV tends to have GCU’s number. The Vaqueros beat the Lopes in Phoenix last year on Daylen Williams’ last-second shot.

UTRGV is a decent squad that just hasn’t put it all together, yet. GCU has a target on its back so will get everyone’s best shot. So, no it didn’t surprise me.

So, I want to first address something about this tweet…the officials who officiate in the WAC, also officiate in the Big West, West Coast Conference, Mountain West, Pac-12 and so forth.

So, that comparison of fouls called on average in the WAC compared to officials in other conferences cannot be made because they are one and the same.

Another thing is the WAC is part of an officiating consortium. Similar to the paragraph above, officials officiate in games in multiple conferences.

Herein lies the struggle. Each conference has a different playing style. On the West Coast, the conferences have similar playing styles. Score a lot of points, play with pace, and a little more finesse on defense.

That is where teams in the WAC differ and why we see more fouls called and more foul shots taken. Teams get after it on the defensive end. How many teams on the West Coast could handle the physicality that Tarleton, SFA, and ACU play with? That is the challenging part of this equation. The different playing styles in the Western Athletic Conference. Because the officials are officiating multiple different leagues with varying playing styles, they have a tough time adjusting.

I am not sure there is any real answer for that. John Higgins is the head man in charge of the WAC Consortium. And he’s going to get it from a lot of coaches, for sure.

But, on the flip side, whether they warrant it or not, teams have to adjust to whistles, as well. It’s not all on the officials. Watching games this year, I’m sure many more fouls could have been called that weren’t. Teams and players have to adjust just as much as officials do to playing styles.