Holy crap, Trey Woodbury just checked in the game. THAT is something I never saw coming! Bizarre.

(03-08-2022 11:46 PM)Todor Wrote:  And we’re underway with Chicago and UVU. I’m guessing UVU doesn’t shoot 70% like they did in their 14 point win last time out versus the Cougars.

If Trey Woodbury plays anywhere as good as he played last season, UVU now becomes one of the most dangerous teams in the tournament. He can be unstoppable at times.

UVU finished the first half on a 6-0 run to take the lead 32-29.

(03-08-2022 11:39 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  Keep in mind, NMSU has managed to scrape up mostly 12 and 13 seeds in what was considered a "weak" WAC. When NMSU wasn't in the NCAA Tournament the WAC Champion got a 15 seed... Cal State Bakersfield and Grand Canyon. Because of NMSU dominance, it elevated the WAC's seed to what is comparable to C-USA. "IF" NMSU can dominate C-USA in similar fashion to the WAC, NMSU seeding will more likely be a seed or two better than what they currently receive in the WAC, since the remain C-USA team "should" have overall a better NET rankings than most of the remaining WAC schools. We will see.

Yes, we will see. I will respectfully disagree with this analysis though. C-USA will have better NET rankings for the first few years, but I doubt that will last long. I still think NMSU is making a major mistake in leaving the WAC. I wish you luck, but I think you are moving into a league of misfits (like the WAC previously was). We will see.

As of today, the WAC has six teams with a record of 20 (or more) wins. That currently ties the WAC with the SEC for the most 20-win teams in one conference for this season. Of course that might change as the P5 conferences still have their post season tournaments to play.

New Mexico State... 24-6
Seattle U............... 23-8
Grand Canyon........ 22-7
Stephen F. Austin.... 22-8
Abilene Christian..... 20-9
Utah Valley............ 20-11

And, two 18 win teams (Sam Houston State (18-13) vs. California Baptist (18-14)) play on Wednesday to inch a game closer to 20 wins as well.

(03-09-2022 01:07 AM)DZ1 Wrote:  

(03-08-2022 11:39 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  Keep in mind, NMSU has managed to scrape up mostly 12 and 13 seeds in what was considered a "weak" WAC. When NMSU wasn't in the NCAA Tournament the WAC Champion got a 15 seed... Cal State Bakersfield and Grand Canyon. Because of NMSU dominance, it elevated the WAC's seed to what is comparable to C-USA. "IF" NMSU can dominate C-USA in similar fashion to the WAC, NMSU seeding will more likely be a seed or two better than what they currently receive in the WAC, since the remain C-USA team "should" have overall a better NET rankings than most of the remaining WAC schools. We will see.

Yes, we will see. I will respectfully disagree with this analysis though. C-USA will have better NET rankings for the first few years, but I doubt that will last long. I still think NMSU is making a major mistake in leaving the WAC. I wish you luck, but I think you are moving into a league of misfits (like the WAC previously was). We will see.

If it wasn’t for CUSA giving our football team a conference home I think we would have probably passed on going to CUSA. Yes we get UTEP as conference mates but every other team is so far away even though we do have some history with them. It’s nice that CUSA will still have some quality basketball teams left but we didn’t make the move to get into what we are seeing as a better basketball conference. I do agree that the WACs trajectory is pointing upwards if they can keep everyone in. CUSAs trajectory is to be determined as there are already two schools in WKU and MTSU that wanted out and I’m sure any of the other will leave at the first possibility.

(03-09-2022 08:21 AM)YesCubanB Wrote:  

(03-09-2022 01:07 AM)DZ1 Wrote:  

(03-08-2022 11:39 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  Keep in mind, NMSU has managed to scrape up mostly 12 and 13 seeds in what was considered a "weak" WAC. When NMSU wasn't in the NCAA Tournament the WAC Champion got a 15 seed... Cal State Bakersfield and Grand Canyon. Because of NMSU dominance, it elevated the WAC's seed to what is comparable to C-USA. "IF" NMSU can dominate C-USA in similar fashion to the WAC, NMSU seeding will more likely be a seed or two better than what they currently receive in the WAC, since the remain C-USA team "should" have overall a better NET rankings than most of the remaining WAC schools. We will see.

Yes, we will see. I will respectfully disagree with this analysis though. C-USA will have better NET rankings for the first few years, but I doubt that will last long. I still think NMSU is making a major mistake in leaving the WAC. I wish you luck, but I think you are moving into a league of misfits (like the WAC previously was). We will see.

If it wasn’t for CUSA giving our football team a conference home I think we would have probably passed on going to CUSA. Yes we get UTEP as conference mates but every other team is so far away even though we do have some history with them. It’s nice that CUSA will still have some quality basketball teams left but we didn’t make the move to get into what we are seeing as a better basketball conference. I do agree that the WACs trajectory is pointing upwards if they can keep everyone in. CUSAs trajectory is to be determined as there are already two schools in WKU and MTSU that wanted out and I’m sure any of the other will leave at the first possibility.

Liberty and Jacksonville State just won the regular season East and West ASUN divisions respectively. CUSA is going to be just fine as a basketball conference. Surprisingly, several of the teams leaving CUSA are the current bottom feeders of the conference.

WAC tournament preview.

https://cbbreview.com/2022/03/08/2022-wa...t-preview/

(03-08-2022 11:59 PM)Todor Wrote:  Holy crap, Trey Woodbury just checked in the game. THAT is something I never saw coming! Bizarre.

Crazy. Burning a redshirt for what may only be a couple of games. Although, like a lot of Utah players, he may be 37, married and ready to get on with his life...

Chicago State is eliminated and gone from WAC basketball. I wish them well.

ACU v UVU today should be a good one

(03-09-2022 09:08 AM)PojoaquePosse Wrote:  

(03-09-2022 08:21 AM)YesCubanB Wrote:  

(03-09-2022 01:07 AM)DZ1 Wrote:  

(03-08-2022 11:39 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  Keep in mind, NMSU has managed to scrape up mostly 12 and 13 seeds in what was considered a "weak" WAC. When NMSU wasn't in the NCAA Tournament the WAC Champion got a 15 seed... Cal State Bakersfield and Grand Canyon. Because of NMSU dominance, it elevated the WAC's seed to what is comparable to C-USA. "IF" NMSU can dominate C-USA in similar fashion to the WAC, NMSU seeding will more likely be a seed or two better than what they currently receive in the WAC, since the remain C-USA team "should" have overall a better NET rankings than most of the remaining WAC schools. We will see.

Yes, we will see. I will respectfully disagree with this analysis though. C-USA will have better NET rankings for the first few years, but I doubt that will last long. I still think NMSU is making a major mistake in leaving the WAC. I wish you luck, but I think you are moving into a league of misfits (like the WAC previously was). We will see.

If it wasn’t for CUSA giving our football team a conference home I think we would have probably passed on going to CUSA. Yes we get UTEP as conference mates but every other team is so far away even though we do have some history with them. It’s nice that CUSA will still have some quality basketball teams left but we didn’t make the move to get into what we are seeing as a better basketball conference. I do agree that the WACs trajectory is pointing upwards if they can keep everyone in. CUSAs trajectory is to be determined as there are already two schools in WKU and MTSU that wanted out and I’m sure any of the other will leave at the first possibility.

Liberty and Jacksonville State just won the regular season East and West ASUN divisions respectively. CUSA is going to be just fine as a basketball conference. Surprisingly, several of the teams leaving CUSA are the current bottom feeders of the conference.

Oh I have no doubt about the strength of the conference. I think it’ll end up way better than it looks now as teams like WKU, UTEP and MTSU are usually better than they were this year. My worry is more of the conference holding together.

I knew I should have taken this entire week off. Every one of the WAC tournament games are good and it means exhaustion the next morning staying up to watch the later ones.

Who moves on after tonight? I think Cal Baptist and Utah Valley are most probable.

(03-09-2022 09:08 AM)PojoaquePosse Wrote:  

(03-09-2022 08:21 AM)YesCubanB Wrote:  

(03-09-2022 01:07 AM)DZ1 Wrote:  

(03-08-2022 11:39 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  Keep in mind, NMSU has managed to scrape up mostly 12 and 13 seeds in what was considered a "weak" WAC. When NMSU wasn't in the NCAA Tournament the WAC Champion got a 15 seed... Cal State Bakersfield and Grand Canyon. Because of NMSU dominance, it elevated the WAC's seed to what is comparable to C-USA. "IF" NMSU can dominate C-USA in similar fashion to the WAC, NMSU seeding will more likely be a seed or two better than what they currently receive in the WAC, since the remain C-USA team "should" have overall a better NET rankings than most of the remaining WAC schools. We will see.

Yes, we will see. I will respectfully disagree with this analysis though. C-USA will have better NET rankings for the first few years, but I doubt that will last long. I still think NMSU is making a major mistake in leaving the WAC. I wish you luck, but I think you are moving into a league of misfits (like the WAC previously was). We will see.

If it wasn’t for CUSA giving our football team a conference home I think we would have probably passed on going to CUSA. Yes we get UTEP as conference mates but every other team is so far away even though we do have some history with them. It’s nice that CUSA will still have some quality basketball teams left but we didn’t make the move to get into what we are seeing as a better basketball conference. I do agree that the WACs trajectory is pointing upwards if they can keep everyone in. CUSAs trajectory is to be determined as there are already two schools in WKU and MTSU that wanted out and I’m sure any of the other will leave at the first possibility.

Liberty and Jacksonville State just won the regular season East and West ASUN divisions respectively. CUSA is going to be just fine as a basketball conference. Surprisingly, several of the teams leaving CUSA are the current bottom feeders of the conference.

Yeah, I think the size of the CUSA footprint is overstated. NMSU resided in the Missouri Valley Conference for many years and Aggie fans had fond memories of their time there. Most of those schools resided hundreds of miles away in the Midwest with West Texas State being the closest school to NMSU. NMSU build good rivalries with Indiana State, Wichita State and Tulsa back then.

If CUSA develops into a strong peer conference with programs all at a similar level, rivalries will form despite distance. Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, Louisiana Tech, UTEP and New Mexico State have all had their heyday in college basketball. And as PojoaquePosse pointed out Liberty and Jacksonville State are performing at a high level in basketball currently. There are no Chicago States or Incarnate Words in this conference.

Additionally, CUSA has only 9 members so there is still a lot of room for expansion (and improvement) for schools who want to play at the FBS level in football. It is not inconceivable CUSA couldn't add a Missouri State, Stephen F. Austin, Tarleton State, South Dakota State or North Dakota State in the near future. With a seat at the CFP table, I don't see CUSA going away anytime soon. So, from a football aspect and a money aspect, NMSU (and Sam Houston) made a good move for their respective futures.

As for the WAC, I am very happy with the school they added in recent years. The conference has a good direction now. They only need not to screw it up by adding too many Incarnate Word level programs.

Now back to WAC basketball... There are two competitive men's games today. Who do you think wins?

Make no mistake, there is not much difference between FIU and Chicago State or Incarnate Word. FIU plays in an arena just as empty as those other 2 schools. Only difference is, FIU is a huge public school in Miami, who gets millions of fees from their large enrollment.

(03-09-2022 12:46 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  Make no mistake, there is not much difference between FIU and Chicago State or Incarnate Word. FIU plays in an arena just as empty as those other 2 schools. Only difference is, FIU is a huge public school in Miami, who gets millions of fees from their large enrollment.

Since joining CUSA, FIU's record is as follows...

Florida International
2014... 15-16
2015... 16-17
2016... 13-19
2017... 7-24
2018... 14-18
2019... 20-14
2020... 19-13
2021... 9-17
2022... 15-17

FIU has a much better basketball program than Chicago State (and IWU)

Chicago State (since joining the WAC)
2014... 13-19
2015... 8-24
2016... 4-28
2017... 6-26
2018... 3-29
2019... 3-29
2020... 4-25
2021... 0-9
2022... 7-25

Incarnate Word (since joining the Southland)

2014... 21-6
2015... 18-11
2016... 17-12
2017... 12-17
2018... 7-21
2019... 6-25
2020... 9-22
2021... 8-14
2022... 7-24

(03-09-2022 01:08 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(03-09-2022 12:46 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  Make no mistake, there is not much difference between FIU and Chicago State or Incarnate Word. FIU plays in an arena just as empty as those other 2 schools. Only difference is, FIU is a huge public school in Miami, who gets millions of fees from their large enrollment.

Since joining CUSA, FIU's record is as follows...

Florida International
2014... 15-16
2015... 16-17
2016... 13-19
2017... 7-24
2018... 14-18
2019... 20-14
2020... 19-13
2021... 9-17
2022... 15-17

FIU has a much better basketball program than Chicago State (and IWU)

Chicago State (since joining the WAC)
2014... 13-19
2015... 8-24
2016... 4-28
2017... 6-26
2018... 3-29
2019... 3-29
2020... 4-25
2021... 0-9
2022... 7-25

Incarnate Word (since joining the Southland)

2014... 21-6
2015... 18-11
2016... 17-12
2017... 12-17
2018... 7-21
2019... 6-25
2020... 9-22
2021... 8-14
2022... 7-24

Make no mistake, Pistol, facts have no place here...

FIU has no NCAA or NIT appearances since 1995, their only NCAA appearance, and they report less than 1,000 for their home games and are lucky to even get half of that. They have 56,000 students. Are they better than CSU and UIW? I guess, that’s a really low floor of success though. UIW and CSU have 13,000 students combined. So how good a job does FIU do with their resources?

(03-09-2022 04:34 AM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  As of today, the WAC has six teams with a record of 20 (or more) wins. That currently ties the WAC with the SEC for the most 20-win teams in one conference for this season. Of course that might change as the P5 conferences still have their post season tournaments to play.

New Mexico State... 24-6
Seattle U............... 23-8
Grand Canyon........ 22-7
Stephen F. Austin.... 22-8
Abilene Christian..... 20-9
Utah Valley............ 20-11

And, two 18 win teams (Sam Houston State (18-13) vs. California Baptist (18-14)) play on Wednesday to inch a game closer to 20 wins as well.

As a Lopes fan, here's hoping that neither SHSU or CBU reach 20 wins this season. I hope they play a triple OT game and tire each other out.