CBB Review prepares you for every conference tournament leading up to Selection Sunday. Up next: The WAC Tournament.
Realignment has caused a changing of the guard in the WAC, with New Mexico State moving to Conference USA. The Aggies had won 10 out of the last 16 titles, but Grand Canyon has taken that mantle. Winners of two out of the last three WAC Tournaments, the Lopes are almost a lock for back-to-back titles.
Tarleton State is a threat to win the tournament, but is currently ineligible due to transitioning from Division II. If they win the tournament, WAC rules say that the highest seed that is postseason eligible. Seattle, one of the few teams to beat the Lopes this season, will be looking for their first tournament bid since rejoining Division I in 2009. UT Arlington, after moving back from the Sun Belt in 2022, has jumped up the standings over the last half of the season.
2024 WAC Awards
Player of the Year: Tyon Grant-Foster, Grand Canyon
Freshman of the Year: Emmanuel Innocenti, Tarleton State
Transfer of the Year: Tyon Grant-Foster, Grand Canyon
Coach of the Year: Billy Gillispie, Tarleton State
First Team:
- G: Cameron Tyson, Seattle (17.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 1.4 APG, 37.9 3P%, 86.5 FT%)
- G: Ali Abdou Dibba, Abilene Christian (15.5 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.4 SPG, 48.0 FG%, 34.1 3P%)
- G: Tyon Grant-Foster, Grand Canyon (19.4 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.4 BPG)
- F: Jakorie Smith, Tarleton State (13.8 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.7 SPG, 81.7 FT%)
- F: Gabe McGlothan, Grand Canyon (13.5 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, 49.8 FG%)
Second Team:
- G: Ray Harrison, Grand Canyon (13.4 PPG, 3.9 APG, 2.9 RPG)
- G: Alex Schumacher, Seattle (13.4 PPG, 4.9 APG, 3.5 RPG, 1.3 SPG)
- G: Lue Williams, Tarleton State (13.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.4 SPG)
- G: DaJuan Gordon, UT Arlington (12.9 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.8 SPG, 53.4 2P%)
- F: Airion Simmons, Abilene Christian (13.1 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.3 SPG)
WAC Tournament Simulation
First Round – Wed., Mar. 13
5. Utah Valley (16-15, 11-9) vs 8. Cal Baptist (15-16, 8-12) – 9 p.m. on ESPN+
Utah Valley swept the season series, with the second matchup being a blowout. Both teams rank in the top three in scoring defense, while the Wolverines allows teams to only shoot 30.3% from three-point range. Drake Allen will lead Utah Valley to a berth into the quarterfinals.
Kyle’s pick: 5. Utah Valley
6. Stephen F. Austin (17-14, 10-10) vs 7. Abilene Christian (15-16, 10-10) – Approx 11:30 p.m. on ESPN+
The teams split the season series, with the first matchup going to overtime. In both matchups, the Lumberjacks showed why they were one of the best offenses in the conference. They outshot the Wildcats in both meetings, shooting 57.8% on 45 shots in the second matchup. Abilene Christian will need to continue getting points off turnovers, but Stephen F. Austin will have to dominate scoring off the bench. The Lumberjacks has 72 points off the bench in the two matchups, and this will continue into this matchup.
Kyle’s pick: 6. Stephen F. Austin
Quarterfinals – Thur., March 14
4. Seattle vs. 5. Utah Valley – 9 p.m. on ESPN+
This was a very hard-fought series, with both teams winning at home. The key matchup to look at is Caleb Stone-Carrawell vs. Cameron Tyson. Both players led their teams in each matchup, with Stone-Carrawell putting the Wolverines ahead for good in their first matchup. If Utah Valley wants to win, they will need to continue to block shots at a high rate and convert them to points. Seattle will move on in a close matchup.
Kyle’s pick: 4. Seattle
3. UT Arlington (18-13, 13-7) vs. 6. Stephen F. Austin – Approx 11:30 p.m. on ESPN+
UT Arlington has adjusted nicely since moving back to the WAC. The teams split the season series, with the home team winning each matchup. Matt Hayman was the star player for the Lumberjacks, leading the team in scoring in both matchups. On the other hand, the Mavericks had more of a balanced attack. Being the best three-point shooting in the league will give UT Arlington the edge.
Kyle’s pick: 3. UT Arlington
Semifinals – Friday, March 15th
1. Grand Canyon (27-4, 17-3) vs. 4. Seattle – 9 p.m. on ESPN+
Since joining the WAC in 2018, Grand Canyon has made every tournament final except the 2022 season. Seattle, in their three meetings in the tournament, has yet to defeat the Lopes. Gabe McGlothan vs Cameron Tyson has been the key offensive matchup, while the offensive boards have been close. Defensively, these teams rank in the top two in opponent’s field goal percentage. Grand Canyon will send the Redhawks back to home, but not without a fight.
Kyle’s pick: 1. Grand Canyon
2. Tarleton State (23-8, 16-4) vs. 3. UT Arlington – Approx 11:30 p.m. on ESPNU
Tarleton State swept the season series, but each game was decided by two points. Arlington kept themselves in each matchup by getting stronger production off the bench. This will be as even of a matchup in this tournament, so the key to this game is who can convert free throws in the first half. UT Arlington will edge out Tarleton to reach their first conference title game since 2013.
Kyle’s pick: 3. UT Arlington
Championship – Saturday, March 16th
1. Grand Canyon vs. 3. UT Arlington – 11:30 p.m. on ESPN2
Grand Canyon swept both matchups, with each game being decided by less than ten points. While Tyon Grant-Foster was the key offensive player for the Lopes, Arlington had a balanced offensive attack to keep the games close. The Mavericks lead in most statiscial categories, but got outplayed in key points to give Grand Canyon the edge. Arlington will force Grand Canyon to sweat out Selection Sunday, by finally edging out the Lopes. The victory will give the Mavericks their first tournament bid since winning the Southland in 2008.
Kyle’s pick: 3. UT Arlington