What We Have Learned About WAC Hoops Heading Into the New Year
GCU living up to the hype, CBU women are really good, inconsistency is plentiful, and much more.
A new year is upon us. Two days away, to be exact, as of putting this write-up together. Time flies when you’re having fun, right?
It seems like just yesterday the GCU men’s basketball team was shooting its way to another WAC Tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth. But, March was nine months ago.
What about Cherita Daugherty throwing up a prayer that was answered in the WAC Tournament quarterfinals?
Or Tevian Jones completing a 4-point play to stun Utah Valley?
There was the NIT run for Utah Valley that included hosting a home game against Cincinnati.
CBU and New Mexico State made a run to the WBI where Jarrod Olson’s crew came away with the title.
Yes, those are all events that were part of the 2022-23 season.
So, what about the 2023-24 season? Or rather, the last two months of 2023.
Well, there is a lot to talk about. Some good. Some bad.
Buzzer beaters, big time performances, upset wins, top-25 wins, and much more.
GCU Men Living Up to the Hype
Every media outlet…EVERY media outlet picked GCU as the preseason favorite to win the WAC in 2023-24.
And why not? WAC Tournament MVP Ray Harrison returned after testing the NBA Draft waters. Gabe McGlothan was back. Jovan Blacksher Jr. was expected to be back from his knee injury. Josh Baker was back.
And Bryce Drew added some big time pieces in Tyon Grant-Foster, Collin Moore, and Duke Brennan among others.
So, there was a ton of hype surrounding the Lopes.
No problem.
GCU has lived up to the hype through the first two months of the season. Tyon Grant-Foster has been dynamic. Ray Harrison has been his usual self. And the glue, Gabe McGlothan, just continues to get better.
There are wins over then-No. 25 San Diego State and a road win at Liberty. Blowout wins against lesser opponents, as it should be.
Sure, the two WAC games weren’t blowouts against UTRGV and UT Arlington. And yes, the Lopes had to come back against the Mavs at GCU Arena.
But, a win is a win. After the 73-70 win over La Tech on Saturday, GCU now sits at 12-1, their best start in the Division I era.
According to KenPom, GCU is predicted to win out…is a 30-win season in the cards for the Lopes? That remains to be seen.
However, any way you look at it…the fact remains…GCU has lived up to the hype thus far.
Chloe Webb and the CBU Women are Really Good
If you haven’t had a chance to watch the California Baptist women’s basketball team play in 2023, you should probably take the time in 2024 to watch the Lancers.
Jarrod Olson’s team is really, REALLY good. And nobody is talking much about them.
Did you know the Lancers are 10-1 overall and 2-0 in WAC play. The lone loss came on the road at Louisiana Tech when the Lancers couldn’t hit water if they fell out of boat.
However, Chloe Webb and the Lancers are averaging a little over 73 points per game and shooting around 39 percent from the field.
The Lancers have hit double digit 3-pointers in three contests this season.
Chloe Webb leads the Lancers in scoring at 19.5 points per game. Filipa Barros and Grace Schmidt are also averaging double figures at just over 12 points per game.
Head coach Jarrod Olson earned his 400th win when the Lancers came back to beat Pepperdine in Malibu on Dec. 9.
Remember, this CBU squad made a run to the WAC Tournament title game before losing to Southern Utah. And then, the Lancers followed that up with a title run in the WBI.
Jarrod Olson can coach. The Lancers play fast. And Chloe Webb and company can score points in bunches.
Keep an eye on the Lancers moving forward.
Inconsistency Has Been Prevalent Thus Far in 2023
What’s the old phrase? ‘Make it make sense’, right?
Abilene Christian beats Oklahoma State on the road to open the 2023-24 season. But, that same Abilene Christian squad has also lost at home to Prairie View A&M and Northern Arizona.
California Baptist blasts Southern Utah to open WAC play. But, a couple of nights later, the Lancers gave up a double digit lead in a home loss to Utah Tech.
Speaking of Utah Tech, Jon Judkins’ team won a pair of WAC games against Utah Valley and at California Baptist. But, the Trailblazers followed that up with a home loss to Idaho, then a blowout loss to North Dakota and a blowout loss at Colorado.
Seattle U is kind of in that boat, as well. The Redhawks had a pair of close wins to start the season. Then, a loss to NAU where the Redhawks could never get control.
However, since a win over a non-Division I opponent on Dec. 9, the Redhawks have played much better. Seattle U led nearly the entire game at San Francisco before falling late. Then, there was the double overtime thriller against crosstown rival Washington. And now back-to-back wins over La Tech and at UTEP.
Are WAC teams playing for that 2-seed at WAC Vegas? GCU is on cruise control right now as we enter 2024.
So, who will be that 2-seed? Seattle U looks the part. UT Arlington, with Phillip Russell, will be a tough out. Tarleton looked good in its win over LMU to end 2023.
After that, it is a toss-up. CBU is up and down like the teams mentioned above. Utah Valley has been inconsistent. Southern Utah has been a mixed bag of results.
And it goes on and on. So, please, make it make sense.
WAC is Better Than Conference USA in MBB
If you weren’t paying attention, let us spell it out for you. The WAC proved it is better than Conference USA through 18 games.
Yep, the WAC won the WAC-Conference USA Scheduling Initiative 11-7. Utah Tech sealed the win for the WAC with an epic 96-92 overtime win over FIU on Saturday.
It was one of four overtime games in the initiative. And, outside of four games, every game was within single digits. Along with that, eight road teams picked up wins in the initiative.
GCU swept Liberty and La Tech. Utah Tech swept Jacksonville State and FIU. Seattle U swept La Tech and UTEP. Western Kentucky was the only Conference USA school to sweep its pair of games with wins over California Baptist and Abilene Christian.
This is a scheduling initiative/challenge that needs to continue and needs to be marketed MUCH better in 2024.
Two conferences that are very identical and both looking to get quality home games due to scheduling issues around the country.
Just look at the KenPom rankings for the conferences. The WAC sits at 13 and Conference USA is at 14, just .18 points behind. That is how similar these two conferences are at the current time.
As it stands for 2024, the teams will play in early November, all on the same day hopefully. And then, in December, the teams will meet again. According to sources, WAC teams will host their home games in early November, while Conference USA teams will host their home games in December.
Happy New Year, Everyone!
We are so grateful for all your support, the interactions, the camaraderie and so much more that we can’t put into words. Be safe, make 2024 great, and let’s have a fun few months as we work toward WAC Vegas!