Part of the success of this website will depend on interactions with fans. It is the goal to have regular mailbags where fans can ask questions so we can provide the best possible answers. This is the first mailbag of the 2019-20 season and it features questions from a variety of fans.
Who do you have as a dark horse to dethrone the Aggies? #WACHoops
— Happening Hoops (@happeninghoops) September 9, 2019
This is a great question. While it will most likely be NMSU and GCU again playing in the WAC Championship in Las Vegas, there are two others who might have something to say about that. Seattle University returns the majority of its starters. And Jim Hayford has a potential WAC Player of the Year candidate in Myles Carter. Losing Matej Kavas hurts but due to injuries last season, the Redhawks have a lot of guys that played a ton of minutes in 2019-20. Terrell Brown, Delante Jones, Morgan Means, Mattia Da Campo and Riley Grigsby all played a ton of minutes last year. Hayford’s group, if they stay healthy, should be considered a dark horse.
UTRGV is the other team that comes to mind. With Javon Levi and Leslie Varner II returning, Lew Hill has a solid squad returning for the 2019-20 season. And remember, UTRGV nearly knocked off NMSU in the WAC Semifinals in 2018-19.
Get ready- Which team looks to have the strongest non-con schedule?
— Matt Canaday (@MCanaday9) September 9, 2019
Another great question. It’s tough to say because some teams haven’t come out with their schedules yet. UVU will play at potentially the No. 1 ranked team in America on Nov. 18. UTRGV has road games at Omaha, Creighton, Texas Tech and Oklahoma. New Mexico State plays New Mexico twice, at Arizona, at Mississippi State and in a solid field at the Cayman Islands Classic. GCU added San Diego State to go along with Illinois, Liberty, New Mexico and Northern Iowa. UMKC might have the toughest, though. At Oklahoma State, at Kansas, at Drake, at Iowa State and at South Dakota as part of the WAC/Summit League Challenge. Plus, the ‘Roos go to The Island of the Bahamas Showcase where they will take on George Washington in their first game.
We will have to wait and see what comes of the Chicago State, Seattle University and CSU Bakersfield schedules to determine this.
What do you think is the next step/goal for WAC besides pushing out CSU? I don’t see them realistically being a consistent 2 bid league, but they’re one of the best 1 bid leagues in NCAA. What’s the next step
— Matt Canaday (@MCanaday9) September 9, 2019
This is a tough question to answer. Realistically, the WAC needs to solidify itself so teams don’t jump ship. While UMKC going back to the Summit League makes sense due to logistics, CSU Bakersfield leaving is a tough pill to swallow. It might help the league if Chicago State were to go back to the Summit League or some other midwest conference. However, Chicago State will either stay in the WAC or fold its athletic program due to financial issues before it leaves for another conference. The Cougars just don’t have the money to pay an entrance fee to another conference.
The WAC needs to add another school or two like Dixie State. That is a big addition coming in 2020-21. The location is prime for some rivalries to kick in. Plus, Dixie State has money. Perhaps not GCU or NMSU money but it has money. And its facilities can rival those of any WAC school already. The bigger question then becomes who does the WAC add? There have been some rumors of some Division II football schools but that’s all they have been are rumors.
After checking out the schedules, what’s your guess on P5 non-con wins for the WAC?
— Matt Canaday (@MCanaday9) September 9, 2019
Again, we have to wait and see what the Chicago State, CSU Bakersfield and Seattle University schedules look like. Best bet at this point with what is out there is New Mexico State beating up on Washington State. Outside of that, beating the Power 5 Conference opponents will be difficult. With Kentucky, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Mississippi State and Arizona on that list, we might not see many wins over Power 5 schools.
What’s more likely to happen- Chicago St not getting last or NMSU not winning the league (reg season)
— Matt Canaday (@MCanaday9) September 9, 2019
We will keep this one short because it’s a pretty easy one to answer. Chicago State not getting last is more likely to happen. New Mexico State is loaded and returns four starters along with Trevelin Queen who is a potential WAC Player of the Year candidate. With all that UMKC lost along with replacing Kareem Richardson, Chicago State and Lance Irvin have a chance to move up in the WAC standings.
https://twitter.com/PhxSaltyDog/status/1171094108632338432?s=20
Not at this time. There were rumors that some football schools were thinking of joining the WAC but nothing has been confirmed. Here is an article you can read that shows some schools that the WAC might pursue but at this time nothing has been confirmed.
Thank you for all the questions. Each week we will do a mailbag so send us your questions via Twitter at @WACHoopsDigest and let us answer all your WAC Hoops questions.
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