WAC Conference Overview

The Western Athletic Conference is one of those mid-majors that has never quite got their due.  Like many West Coast leagues the WAC does not get the recognition it deserves primarily due to the late start times (my gosh how late do Hawaii Rainbow games start in NYC) when most of the country is already in bed.  That is too bad as this is a great conference filled with great programs that have shown when they get matched up with the Big Dogs of the sport they can definitely compete.  And then some!  This year the WAC’s programs will attempt to play as many other big time programs as they can trying to earn recognotion and some TV time back East. 

Get this, WAC programs are traveling east to play the likes of programs from Kentucky, Clemson, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Murray State, Bradley and yes both Army and Navy for the Air Force Academy of course.  Will it work?  Well, we shall see when March comes as this league is looking to get more than their customary two teams in the BD!

Leading the way once again are the Utah Utes who are the best program EVER from a mid-major and quite honestly should be ranked in the top 25 going into the season. This shows you how most disrespect not only them but the whole league as well.  No team is ranked in the top 25 while 5 other mid-majors are ranked. If you include the new Conference-USA as one of these and Indy Notre Dame then it jumps to 9.  Utah is at least as good as any of these returning some studs that could play for any program in the country.  Coach Vadal Peterson’s were not their usual juggernaut last year but they have so much experience and pure talent coming back it is hard to imagine the Runnin’ Utes not getting to the Big Dance.  And then some.  Big man Billy ‘the Hill’ McGill is as good of a scorer down low as there is in the country and that includes those guys from LA which just happens to be his hometown.  He was discovered playing there with his patented ‘jump hook’ and has never looked back.  Fellow seniors Merv Jackson, Jerry Chambers and do everything Arnie Ferrin are a trio of wings that bring experience and that ability to get the job done to the table.  But the Utes are not a program to stand pat as they showed this year after not making the Big Dance last year they are bringing in a new coach to replace the legendary Peterson. That will be after the season but they have already made the charismatic new assistant the recruiting guru.  Rick Majerus is a rotund ball of fiery energy that preaches defense but will definitely keep up the moniker of this program of the ‘Runnin Utes!’  Majerus is a great recruiter and though the cupboard is far from bare in Salt Lake he has already supposedly brought in a few prized studs including a big man from down under who might be the kind of rim protector this program has never had. 

The Utes biggest rival and their biggest challenge to their title hopes are just down the road in Provo Utah.  You cannot think of the BYU Cougars and not think of the religion they represent but these Mormon kids have showed they can compete at the highest level in D-1 sports even if they are limited in who they can bring into their little corner of the world.  One advantage for Coach Stan Watts in the recruiting is the massive overseas missionary program the Latter Day Saints have cultivated.  Foremost of these is Yugoslavian big man Kresmir Cosic who was invited to come play in Provo and has seized the opportunity to become a pioneer for his home country and to be honest all of Europe.  This junior has the size at six eleven and all of the skills to go with it and has a mission to show that kids that not born in America can indeed play this game.  He is surrounded by workmanlike players and an awful lot of size and one dynamo from Eugene Oregon who is the key to this team’s success.  Feisty sophomore guard Danny Ainge came here on a baseball scholarship but this six five gamer can indeed play both sports and gives the Cougars the kind of shooting and ballhandling they were lacking in the back court.  After all basketball is not just a game of size as skill does matter too. In Provo they are finding out they might just indeed have enough skill to finally get out of the NIT and into the BD. 

The least populous state in the union, Wyoming, has a legitimate contender for the WAC title behind a senior laden backcourt and a sophomore class filled with tremendous upside.  Kenny Sailors and Flynn Robinson are the best guard combo in the league and perhaps on the West Coast.   Neither is a true point guard and neither is big enough to be a legit two guard but together they cover all of the bases.  The jump shooting Sailors is a legend here and should be a household name for what he has done in Laramie the last three years revolutionizing the way the game is played with that sweet shot.  Robinson is almost as good offensively and is a better defensive player and these Cowboys are true riders in the storm.  That sophomore class should come of age with studs Charlie Bradley and Fennis ‘the Menace’ Dembo at wings, Bill Garnett doing the dirty work down low and project big man Erick Leckner giving this team the size it has lacked underneath.  Long-time Coach Everett Shelton might finally have the team to take down the Utah teams but this team must mature quickly. 

Speaking of back courts the Texas-El Paso Miners have a dup to drool for and Coach Don Haskins thinks he has the supporting cast to shock the WAC and perhaps even the country this year.  The integrated Bear of a Man, Haskins, has seniors Nate Archibald and Bobby Joe Hill playing together but the problem is they are both true point guards.  Archibald was a transfer so has only been there one year and this is Hill’s team so their transition did not go well last season as ‘Tiny’ is the much better talent who played off guard last year (and scored often) but is better suited to have the ball in his hands.  These two need to figure it out and they have another gifted point who barely played last year who could be better than both in sophomore Tim Hardaway.  Haskins does not bask in his excess of riches as he knows he needs to find some wings and little more size to hang in the WAC.  Big men Jim ‘Bad News’ Barnes and David Lattin, both seniors, are tough, physical post players who will board all day but Barnes will play center at six eight and matching up with some of the monsters in this league will be tough but he is not called Bad News for nothing.  Haskins has recruited some projects with some size and if they work out and he can find a few more athletes on the wings this team could really surprise. 

New Mexico and Colorado State also have experienced teams that could surprise and push for post season play.  The Lobos have a huge advantage here as they get to play in the least friendly arena in the country.  The Pit as it is known is a ferociously loud little basketball venue that is notorious for having good teams play bad in front of the rabid fans.  Coach Bob King also has the most underrated big man in the country in senior Mel Daniels.  Daniels is only six nine but he is a beast underneath on both ends and with the Lobos loaded schedule he could finally get the recognition he deserves.  King has some other experienced big men next to him and a pair of gamers on the wings in seniors Toby Roybal and Ron Nelson but this team needs some quicks in the back court to get to the next level in this tough conference.  King, like many programs in this league, will rely on Juco kids to replenish their talent.  The Rams have a senior front line duo that can match up with the best of them in Bob Rule and Bill Green. Coach Jim Williams knows this team must get more athletic to move on up.  When your best guard is a football player (Lonnie Wright) moonlighting on the basketball court you know you need to find some help back there. 

The last three teams will be battling to stay out of the cellar in this competitive league.  The Hawaii Rainbows are the next best but like many teams in this league that spreads across most of the Western United States, travel is a huge issue.  The Rainbows have the most unique travel situation in the country as they are only coming to the mainland twice for long trips in the entire season.  On the flip side traveling to the Islands can be a difficult proposition as the kids definitely have a hard time keeping focus in this Shangri-La but they all want to come here as shown by the turnout they will get for their Rainbow Classic during the Holidays with 7 teams crossing the Pacific.  Coach Riley Wallace has relied on Junior College transfers but he does have a pair of studs from San Jacinto (arguably the top JC in the country) to build with in Bob Nash and Tom Henderson to build from. 

San Diego State is new to the WAC as is the other two battling to stay off the bottom but the Aztecs seem almost like a D-2 school at this point which is ironic as they were a power at that level many moons ago.  The cupboards are pretty bare in this beautiful city where basketball is not at the top of the activities and entertainment ledger as even the coaching job has not been settled as of yet with the best returning player being a carryover from the D-2 days in senior Milky Phelps.  The Aztecs do have one stud on the roster though sophomore Michael Cage looks more like a pimp bodybuilder at this point this chiseled 6-9 big man can bang and board all day.  If he can develop an offense outside of dunks he could be something special and we are not talking about making a Shaft remake! 

Of course, the Air Force Academy is limited in their basketball candidates and the cadets will be lucky to compete in this tough league.  The Falcons will try to slow games down and rely on defense but they have little size and not much speed so hopefully the thin air will help but they are not counting on much in Colorado Springs.  Seniors Bob Beckel and Cliff Parsons can play but would probably not start for any of the elite teams in this league. 

The WAC has historically been dominated by the Runnin’ Utes of Utah and this year looks to be no different. Whoever the winner is this league they want a seed they deserve which means higher than 6th.  Oh, and they want three teams in but of course when you are a mid-major come selection time you know you are going to be screwed somehow!