(11-17-2021 01:06 AM)DZ1 Wrote:  The WAC is definitely moving up as a conference. On KenPom we are now listed as the 18th ranked conference. If memory serves, we started the year at 22nd. We have passed the ASUN, Big Sky, and Horizon conferences and are closing in on the Sun Belt and Big West.
Keep the wins coming!

Some of the KenPom Rankings
12. CUSA (+0.51)
13. Southern (-0.93)
14. MAC (-1.15)
15. Colonial (-3.18)
16. Big West (-3.52)
17. Sun Belt (-3.73)
18. WAC (-3.95)
19. Horizon (-4.38)
20. Big Sky (-4.57)
21. Ivy (-4.57)
22. ASUN (-4.89)
31. Southland (-15.98)

NMSU is the reason the WAC is so high on that list right now. When NMSU leaves for CUSA in 2023, the WAC is never catching CUSA.

(11-17-2021 09:44 AM)edinburger Wrote:  

(11-17-2021 07:50 AM)YesCubanB Wrote:  

(11-17-2021 03:20 AM)edinburger Wrote:  

(11-16-2021 08:25 PM)KINGALLISON Wrote:  DAMN!!! Just saw how bad UTRGV lost to Arizona the other night. That was an ass whooping haha

Wait, you already insulted us for the Arizona game in last week's thread. :phew:Already forgot and now you're just discovering it again?

Glad we could entertain you twice. Also enjoy the recreational weed now that it's legal over there but when you start having blackouts you might consider cutting back.

EXCUSE ME SIR! You can go at with Frank all you want but PLEASE leave weed out of this.

Just coincidence, our family used to own a small place a few miles outside of Weed, NM. Beautiful scenery and forest, running streams. But still only a few hours from Las Cruces if we wanted to go sample some semi-urban squalor and look at dried up ocotillo.

The only people who get blackouts are Texans. Let's get that electric grid fixed.

(11-17-2021 09:44 AM)edinburger Wrote:  

(11-17-2021 07:50 AM)YesCubanB Wrote:  

(11-17-2021 03:20 AM)edinburger Wrote:  

(11-16-2021 08:25 PM)KINGALLISON Wrote:  DAMN!!! Just saw how bad UTRGV lost to Arizona the other night. That was an ass whooping haha

Wait, you already insulted us for the Arizona game in last week's thread. :phew:Already forgot and now you're just discovering it again?

Glad we could entertain you twice. Also enjoy the recreational weed now that it's legal over there but when you start having blackouts you might consider cutting back.

EXCUSE ME SIR! You can go at with Frank all you want but PLEASE leave weed out of this.

Just coincidence, our family used to own a small place a few miles outside of Weed, NM. Beautiful scenery and forest, running streams. But still only a few hours from Las Cruces if we wanted to go sample some semi-urban squalor and look at dried up ocotillo.

I’m sure Weed, NM is beautiful but I’m talking about good ol Mary Jane. My first true love. She’s a good lady and I don’t like you Texans dragging her name through the mud. And c’mon, we all know Frank is way too serious to be a weed smoker.

(11-17-2021 10:34 AM)KINGALLISON Wrote:  

(11-17-2021 09:44 AM)edinburger Wrote:  

(11-17-2021 07:50 AM)YesCubanB Wrote:  

(11-17-2021 03:20 AM)edinburger Wrote:  

(11-16-2021 08:25 PM)KINGALLISON Wrote:  DAMN!!! Just saw how bad UTRGV lost to Arizona the other night. That was an ass whooping haha

Wait, you already insulted us for the Arizona game in last week's thread. :phew:Already forgot and now you're just discovering it again?

Glad we could entertain you twice. Also enjoy the recreational weed now that it's legal over there but when you start having blackouts you might consider cutting back.

EXCUSE ME SIR! You can go at with Frank all you want but PLEASE leave weed out of this.

Just coincidence, our family used to own a small place a few miles outside of Weed, NM. Beautiful scenery and forest, running streams. But still only a few hours from Las Cruces if we wanted to go sample some semi-urban squalor and look at dried up ocotillo.

The only people who get blackouts are Texans. Let's get that electric grid fixed.

Jesus Christ Frank lol chill out. Edinburger is one of the good Texan posters. Let’s save our jabs for InternationalTexan.

(11-17-2021 10:28 AM)KINGALLISON Wrote:  I give ACU all the respect in the world, while the GCU and CBU of the world's schedule up on cupcakes at home, they're actually going out on the road and playing quality teams. That's going to benefit them in the spring.

I do agree with the ACU thing. I think by the end of the year they’re gonna be a top 3 WAC team possibly challenging for the outright championship.

(11-17-2021 10:39 AM)YesCubanB Wrote:  

(11-17-2021 10:28 AM)KINGALLISON Wrote:  I give ACU all the respect in the world, while the GCU and CBU of the world's schedule up on cupcakes at home, they're actually going out on the road and playing quality teams. That's going to benefit them in the spring.

I do agree with the ACU thing. I think by the end of the year they’re gonna be a top 3 WAC team possibly challenging for the outright championship.

and luckily the schedule favors NMSU since we only play them once and it's in Las Cruces.

Today, there are two good WAC games in Sam Houston State playing Missouri State and Utah Valley playing at Long Beach State. Both WAC teams should be tested.

As for GCU, they have another cupcake in Prairie View A&M to pad its belly. The Lopes should get some good propaganda highlight reel from this game to promote their program and the Havoc. GCU does have some tough games down the road... just not right now.

(11-17-2021 12:18 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  Today, there are two good WAC games in Sam Houston State playing Missouri State and Utah Valley playing at Long Beach State. Both WAC teams should be tested.

As for GCU, they have another cupcake in Prairie View A&M to pad its belly. The Lopes should get some good propaganda highlight reel from this game to promote their program and the Havoc. GCU does have some tough games down the road... just not right now.

GCU is slowly (and I mean very slowly) working its way up to playing decent teams. I don't think we will really know much about GCU until December arrives. However, they will have been tested before WAC play begins:

Grambling State (333 ranking)
North Florida (239)
Prairie View A&M (232)
Wyoming (149)
Pepperdine (180) - first away game
Loyola Marymount (78) - away
Arizona State (69) - away
San Francisco (32) - semi-away
Nevada (73) - away
(skipped a few cupcake games in between these)

Also since GCU focuses on a student-centric fan experience, they purposely schedule home games when students are still in class. Thus GCU tends to have a bunch of early home games before Thanksgiving and a few more in early December. GCU only hits the road when the students are on break. As long as the game day experience is geared around the students, I do not think this will change.

(11-17-2021 01:14 PM)DZ1 Wrote:  

(11-17-2021 12:18 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  Today, there are two good WAC games in Sam Houston State playing Missouri State and Utah Valley playing at Long Beach State. Both WAC teams should be tested.

As for GCU, they have another cupcake in Prairie View A&M to pad its belly. The Lopes should get some good propaganda highlight reel from this game to promote their program and the Havoc. GCU does have some tough games down the road... just not right now.

GCU is slowly (and I mean very slowly) working its way up to playing decent teams. I don't think we will really know much about GCU until December arrives. However, they will have been tested before WAC play begins:

Grambling State (333 ranking)
North Florida (239)
Prairie View A&M (232)
Wyoming (149)
Pepperdine (180) - first away game
Loyola Marymount (78) - away
Arizona State (69) - away
San Francisco (32) - semi-away
Nevada (73) - away
(skipped a few cupcake games in between these)

Also since GCU focuses on a student-centric fan experience, they purposely schedule home games when students are still in class. Thus GCU tends to have a bunch of early home games before Thanksgiving and a few more in early December. GCU only hits the road when the students are on break. As long as the game day experience is geared around the students, I do not think this will change.

The only issue I have with all the cupcakes is it puts an unrealistic spin on the WAC team and player stats. Right now, CBU looks like a powerhouse stat wise. It is hard to assess the true strength of each team. From what I have seen so far, I know ACU is a much stronger team than their stats would suggest. Dixie appear to be much improved. Cal Baptist look to be much stronger too; despite the inflated stats. As for Tarleton? I have know idea where their development is currently. They are playing such strong teams on the road, I just don't know where their threshold is where they become dangerous. The Texans can hang with the power team for about 2/3 of a game. But how good will they be if they are actually in contention to win a game? We have seen both ACU and UVU are a tough out if the are within striking distances in the closing minutes of a game. They have closers.

Agree it is hard to tell where any team truly is right now because of the different non-con scheduling philosophies. So far Tarleton hasn't demonstrated a go scorer that might make the difference in the close tough game, but in fairness Wichita State has a shutdown defender that is pretty much able to take the other teams best player, forward or guard out of the mix offensively.

Looks like a fairly good possibility of three wins out of three games for the conference tonight.

NMSU has now traveled to Myrtle Beach...

Missouri State taking it to Sam Houston. GCU also struggling. Not a good night right now but we'll see if it can change.

I can't watch the SHSU/MSU game since I don't have ESPN+. But based off the stats it appears either Missouri State has shutdown Savion Flagg or he is just having an off night. Either way, no body else has stepped up for the Bearkats. SHSU is getting hammered.

As for the GCU game, they are struggling with PVAMU's speed on defense. I think they will pull away in the second half but moving forward, it will be interesting to see how the Lopes can handle bigger stronger quicker teams.

NMSU seems to always be the one team in the WAC to land the ESPN college basketball tournaments.

GCU is raining threes tonight... 15 of 24 so far. In the first half PVAMU was playing tighter on the ball defense. Now, PVAMU is missing a lot of open shots and it is triggering GCU's fast break with the wings spotting up for open threes.

UVU up 31-28 at the half. Connor Harding leads UVU with 10 point. Aimaq has 6 points and 4 rebounds. LBSU seems to be keeping him in check so far.

Lopes win 91-64. They hit 17 of 27 threes (63%).

GCU did play a team who just played it's 6th game in a week so not an impressive win at all.

(11-17-2021 11:23 PM)KINGALLISON Wrote:  GCU did play a team who just played it's 6th game in a week so not an impressive win at all.

Totally agree. This was not an impressive win. Prairie View A&M had to have tired legs after all those games and the traveling.