The Western Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament will take place from Wednesday, March 12, through Saturday, March 15, from Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The tournament will also feature a play-in game between the No. 8 and No. 9 seeds, who will face off on Tuesday, March 11, at Burns Arena in St. George, Utah. All teams will be featured in this tournament as the WAC consists of nine members. Let’s meet the wild underdogs of the West to see who can punch their ticket to the Big Dance.
The Favorites
Grand Canyon Antelopes
Despite not competing in Division 1 basketball until 2013, Grand Canyon has already made the rodeo three times, including an upset of fifth-seeded St. Mary’s last year for its first tournament win. This has been accomplished under head coach Bryce Drew, the younger brother of Baylor head coach Scott Drew. The leader for the “Lopes” is senior guard Tyson Grant-Foster who leads the team in both points and blocks. GCU has four players averaging double digits in scoring on a nightly basis, including forward Duke Brennan who leads the team in rebounding while also shooting over 60% from the field. Bryce Drew has led GCU to the tournament in three of his four seasons, but the challenge for a team in the one-bid WAC is there are challengers hungry to take the Antelopes’ spot.
Utah Valley Wolverines
Utah Valley is seeking its first trip ever to the NCAA tournament. Trevan Leonhardt is the maestro of the Wolverines on both ends with his crisp passing and quick hands as he leads the team in assists and steals. Guard Dominick Nelson is the team’s leading scorer, and he’s a guard that warms the hearts of old school basketball fans with his style of play. The Wolverines split their season series with GCU, so expect a winner-take-all rubber match in the WAC Championship; but other teams will have something to say about that.
Surprise from the middle of the pack
California Baptist Lancers
This is Cal Baptist’s seventh year at the Division 1 level, and it has yet to make the tournament despite only one year finishing below .500. Dominique Daniels Jr. is the spearman for the Lancers with the ability to take over a game, like when he exploded for 36 points in a win earlier this year over Utah Tech.
Abilene Christian Wildcats
Abilene Christian’s most notable moment has to be its upset over third seeded Texas in the 2021 tournament. That was the Wildcats’ last year in the Southland conference before moving to the WAC where they have been a more middle of the pack team. Rich Smith is the kid to watch for the Wildcats, and is a good two way player. Abilene Christian is carrying some good momentum into the conference tournament having upset GCU in its regular season finale.
Tarleton State Texans
The Texans haven’t made the dance so far in their short life at Division 1 since they joined the level this decade. Despite being a lower middle tier team in the WAC, Tarleton State has some talent. Chris Mpkaka is a demon on the defensive side on the glass with both blocks and boards.
Seattle University Redhawks
Seattle actually has the richest basketball history in the WAC as its the only school to make the Final Four, doing so in 1958, making the title game as well that year. It’s been a long time since those days, as Seattle hasn’t made the tournament since 1969. This year could be that year, though, as the Redhawks, led by Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe and Maleek Arlington who form a good Lone Ranger and Tonto, have beaten a likely NCAA Tournament team in UC San Diego and upset a power four program in Washington.
UT Arlington Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks may have lost Luka Dončić, but the Arlington Mavericks have their own star. Forward Lance Ware who is almost averaging a double double per game while being the team’s leader in both blocks and steals. Ware is your typical small school guy who could burst onto the national scene if given the chance. Guard Brody Robinson can be Ware’s wingman any day.
Need Lady Luck In Vegas
Southern Utah Thunderbirds
While Southern Utah does have a similar overall record to the teams in the category above them they’ve struggled mightily in conference play. The Thunderbirds or perhaps “underbirds” is more fitting for them, do have two of the top seven leading scorers in the WAC, Jamir Simpson and Dominique Ford. They need lady luck to let the dice stay hot if they have any chance to come out and shock the world by winning the WAC.
Utah Tech Trailblazers
Utah Tech certainly isn’t blazing the Oregon Trail this year, as it’s just been a disastrous adventure this season from start to finish. Since Utah Tech started 2-0 in conference play, it’s been trailblazing, but not the kind they want. Utah Tech hasn’t won a game since Jan. 11 and has fallen to 2-13 in conference. I’d say Utah Tech could use lady luck to help them in Vegas, but if they want to conjure up a way to make the tournament, they might have to do a bit of sinning in Sin City.
The Winner: Grand Canyon Antelopes
GCU has shown the ability to be clutch when it needs to be in the conference tournament and I trust them to carry it out again. I believe you can’t cruise through a lower tier conference and expect to play well when the games matter like Utah Valley has; in contrast, the Lopes have taken some hits in conference play. I think that just sharpens them and makes the team better, and GCU goes dancing for the fourth time in the last five years.