(04-18-2019 11:00 AM)gleadley Wrote:  

(04-18-2019 10:47 AM)Trod0 Wrote:  GCU already has problems for having soft players. Menzies recruits even softer players than they already have. Menzies recruits softer players than himself so he could be their leader and for them to respect him. His type of recruits will fold once Dan chews their ass in the middle of the game in front of a crowd. The majority of his recruits are athletic, not much basketball skill and not mental tough. 90% of his recruits at NMSU wouldn’t make a Chris Jans team for toughness alone.

Would other Aggie fans agree that this is a good take? I can think of a few soft Menzies players, but it generally seemed like for every Tanveer, there is a Sim. For every Wilkins, a Nephawe. I also realize, however, that GCU fans only got to see 3 years worth of Marv's teams.

I don't think his players were soft. He is just not a good coach. He is not a bad coach or good. Mediocre. Thrived at NMSU with a water downed WAC. Was dominated by UNM and if he had stayed would have been struggling vs. an improved WAC.

(04-18-2019 02:02 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(04-18-2019 11:29 AM)gleadley Wrote:  

(04-18-2019 11:17 AM)Trod0 Wrote:  

(04-18-2019 11:00 AM)gleadley Wrote:  

(04-18-2019 10:47 AM)Trod0 Wrote:  GCU already has problems for having soft players. Menzies recruits even softer players than they already have. Menzies recruits softer players than himself so he could be their leader and for them to respect him. His type of recruits will fold once Dan chews their ass in the middle of the game in front of a crowd. The majority of his recruits are athletic, not much basketball skill and not mental tough. 90% of his recruits at NMSU wouldn’t make a Chris Jans team for toughness alone.

Would other Aggie fans agree that this is a good take? I can think of a few soft Menzies players, but it generally seemed like for every Tanveer, there is a Sim. For every Wilkins, a Nephawe. I also realize, however, that GCU fans only got to see 3 years worth of Marv's teams.

I think some will, but for some reason some say he was a great recruiter. Sim was just the biggest guy in the WAC but soft. Chili was big and athletic but not a skilled player. Trust me, if he was still here you guys would be sitting atop of the mountain right now. I’m sure you would agree with that.

No idea if we would or not. My appreciation for Menzies actually grew over time, so I probably respected him and his teams the most at the end. I also realize, though, that it was from afar. Few if any GCU fans followed the game-to-game/day-to-day of Menzies and NMSU close enough to also understand the failures and shortcomings like you all.

Menzies does not recruit "soft" players. McKines, Siakam, Rahman, Watson, Mulling, Laroche were all tough on the court. I think some Aggie fans are construing "soft" with not being "fundamentally sound". A lot of Menzies players were underdeveloped in their understanding and execution of the game. They played sloppy because Menzies didn't possess the toughness as a head coach. Menzies was soft; not his players. With the right coaching and accountability, many of the Aggie players would have achieved their potential quickly instead of floundering on the court (not mentally sharp) through much of their college careers.

Even though Watson, Mullings and Laroche were Weirds recruits I’ll give Menzies credit for those because he was our head. In an entire decade 6 players listed. I give him credit for recruiting athletes but they were softer so he could be in control. The Theus recruits were a lot tougher and it showed because they ran over him. As you stated Menzies was soft, he recruited player he could control ie soft.

(04-18-2019 03:05 PM)Trod0 Wrote:  

(04-18-2019 02:02 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(04-18-2019 11:29 AM)gleadley Wrote:  

(04-18-2019 11:17 AM)Trod0 Wrote:  

(04-18-2019 11:00 AM)gleadley Wrote:  Would other Aggie fans agree that this is a good take? I can think of a few soft Menzies players, but it generally seemed like for every Tanveer, there is a Sim. For every Wilkins, a Nephawe. I also realize, however, that GCU fans only got to see 3 years worth of Marv's teams.

I think some will, but for some reason some say he was a great recruiter. Sim was just the biggest guy in the WAC but soft. Chili was big and athletic but not a skilled player. Trust me, if he was still here you guys would be sitting atop of the mountain right now. I’m sure you would agree with that.

No idea if we would or not. My appreciation for Menzies actually grew over time, so I probably respected him and his teams the most at the end. I also realize, though, that it was from afar. Few if any GCU fans followed the game-to-game/day-to-day of Menzies and NMSU close enough to also understand the failures and shortcomings like you all.

Menzies does not recruit "soft" players. McKines, Siakam, Rahman, Watson, Mulling, Laroche were all tough on the court. I think some Aggie fans are construing "soft" with not being "fundamentally sound". A lot of Menzies players were underdeveloped in their understanding and execution of the game. They played sloppy because Menzies didn't possess the toughness as a head coach. Menzies was soft; not his players. With the right coaching and accountability, many of the Aggie players would have achieved their potential quickly instead of floundering on the court (not mentally sharp) through much of their college careers.

Even though Watson, Mullings and Laroche were Weirds recruits I’ll give Menzies credit for those because he was our head. In an entire decade 6 players listed. I give him credit for recruiting athletes but they were softer so he could be in control. The Theus recruits were a lot tougher and it showed because they ran over him. As you stated Menzies was soft, he recruited player he could control ie soft.

Shakur Juiston was the top JC player in the nation in the 2017 class. Brandon McCoy was a 5-star center who was a McDonald's All-American. He was also recruited by Oregon, Arizona and Michigan State... Altman, Miller, Izzo don't recruit soft players. As I said, Menzies is lacking as a coach but not as a recruiter. Under the direction of a better coach, Juiston and McCoy would have dominated the MWC... they are not soft players.

(04-18-2019 03:50 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(04-18-2019 03:05 PM)Trod0 Wrote:  

(04-18-2019 02:02 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(04-18-2019 11:29 AM)gleadley Wrote:  

(04-18-2019 11:17 AM)Trod0 Wrote:  I think some will, but for some reason some say he was a great recruiter. Sim was just the biggest guy in the WAC but soft. Chili was big and athletic but not a skilled player. Trust me, if he was still here you guys would be sitting atop of the mountain right now. I’m sure you would agree with that.

No idea if we would or not. My appreciation for Menzies actually grew over time, so I probably respected him and his teams the most at the end. I also realize, though, that it was from afar. Few if any GCU fans followed the game-to-game/day-to-day of Menzies and NMSU close enough to also understand the failures and shortcomings like you all.

Menzies does not recruit "soft" players. McKines, Siakam, Rahman, Watson, Mulling, Laroche were all tough on the court. I think some Aggie fans are construing "soft" with not being "fundamentally sound". A lot of Menzies players were underdeveloped in their understanding and execution of the game. They played sloppy because Menzies didn't possess the toughness as a head coach. Menzies was soft; not his players. With the right coaching and accountability, many of the Aggie players would have achieved their potential quickly instead of floundering on the court (not mentally sharp) through much of their college careers.

Even though Watson, Mullings and Laroche were Weirds recruits I’ll give Menzies credit for those because he was our head. In an entire decade 6 players listed. I give him credit for recruiting athletes but they were softer so he could be in control. The Theus recruits were a lot tougher and it showed because they ran over him. As you stated Menzies was soft, he recruited player he could control ie soft.

Shakur Juiston was the top JC player in the nation in the 2017 class. Brandon McCoy was a 5-star center who was a McDonald's All-American. He was also recruited by Oregon, Arizona and Michigan State... Altman, Miller, Izzo don't recruit soft players. As I said, Menzies is lacking as a coach but not as a recruiter. Under the direction of a better coach, Juiston and McCoy would have dominated the MWC... they are not soft players.

It's easier to recruit to Las Vegas then Phoenix though. He won't be able to attract that type of talent at GCU. He couldn't even bring that type of talent to NMSU.

Menzies the recruiter will be very successful at GCU. He was getting $400,000 for the next two seasons from UNLV. He must be getting about $500,000 to take this job. He is paid more than every head coach in the WAC, including Jans. Only at GCU. He is a head coach in waiting.

You think he’s next in line for Dan’s job, Bobcat? Or did you mean waiting for a HC position somewhere in general?

(04-19-2019 06:39 AM)Country_Wisdom_359 Wrote:  You think he’s next in line for Dan’s job, Bobcat? Or did you mean waiting for a HC position somewhere in general?

I think Menzies is probably a coach-in-waiting for GCU if Majerle decides to move on at some point. If nothing else, Menzies will have time to continue coaching and maybe an opportunity at another mid-major will come up in the next year or two. Menzies is 57, so he has probably got one more D1 head coaching opportunity out there.

This comes down to goals and objectives. GCU set a goal to be Gonzaga or Butler. They need to get there and NMSU is in the way. Even though GCU has only been D1 for six years and eligible for the tournament for just two years, they need to get better. Northern Kentucky has made the tournament twice in three years since becoming eligible for the tournament. The WAC is a better conference and NMSU is better than anyone in the Horizon, but NKU has shown that it is possible and they don't have close to the resources that GCU has.

No matter what anyone thinks of Menzies, he has been a head coach at NMSU and UNLV. He was as assistant to Rick Pitino. If he can help Majerle get to the NCAA tournament, then the price is worth it for GCU. Maybe Majerle can learn some things from Menzies. Maybe Menzies can learn some things from Majerle. Let's face it, Majerle had a long and successful career as a player. Menzies never played high school or college basketball. Maybe their different backgrounds in basketball work well together to create a better basketball team.

(04-18-2019 05:48 PM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  Menzies the recruiter will be very successful at GCU. He was getting $400,000 for the next two seasons from UNLV. He must be getting about $500,000 to take this job. He is paid more than every head coach in the WAC, including Jans. Only at GCU. He is a head coach in waiting.

I don't think anyone who believes Menzies could be a successor to Majerle is that far off. Early in his time at GCU, when Majerle was asked about professional or other coaching opportunities, his reply was consistently, "I came here to do a job." He clarified in later interviews that, among other things, the "job" was to get GCU to the tournament.

Those who don't understand Majerle's loyalty we're skeptical, but it was his way of saying he wasn't going anywhere until that "job" was done. If M&M somehow "get the job done" and get GCU to the tournament in the next couple years, it isn't that hard to imagine Majerle returning to NBA pursuits & handing the keys to kingdom over to Menzies.

Not that any of us will ever know, but I wouldn't be surprised to find out that was part of the conversation/agreement to get Menzies on board in the first place.

Majerle is tired of coaching college basketball and Colangelo is tired of not going to the tournament. Majerle has maintained a little above average results in the WAC but he won't last if they don't go to the NCAA tournament the next two years. Majerle is making big bucks not to get results and Marvin is drooling over the prospect of making even half of what Majerle makes because there is no way they are going to pay Menzies what they paid Majerle. Whats going to be really weird is when Menzies becomes head coach at GCU and UNM fires Weir, Menzies will hire Weir again to be his assistant. Bizarro world.

I wouldn’t wish MM as a head coach on anyone, well maybe Bakersfield. But seriously he’d tank GCU. That crowd they love to enjoy would be gone. We were almost averaging 10k per game when he got hired, when he left he dropped it to 4K. Possibly our all time low. He had a huge drop at UNLV also, their all time low in history. Ask UNLV fans how they feel about MM, they’ll lay it to you straight.

(04-19-2019 12:11 PM)dancingNMSUaggie Wrote:  Majerle is tired of coaching college basketball and Colangelo is tired of not going to the tournament. Majerle has maintained a little above average results in the WAC but he won't last if they don't go to the NCAA tournament the next two years. Majerle is making big bucks not to get results and Marvin is drooling over the prospect of making even half of what Majerle makes because there is no way they are going to pay Menzies what they paid Majerle. Whats going to be really weird is when Menzies becomes head coach at GCU and UNM fires Weir, Menzies will hire Weir again to be his assistant. Bizarro world.

That's better than where I thought you were going with that, which was "What's going to be really weird is when UTEP tries to poach Jans & Aggies find themselves in some kind of weird Bermuda Triangle of former HCs at rival schools.

I'm kidding, of course. Kind of.

(04-19-2019 01:28 PM)Trod0 Wrote:  I wouldn’t wish MM as a head coach on anyone, well maybe Bakersfield. But seriously he’d tank GCU. That crowd they love to enjoy would be gone. We were almost averaging 10k per game when he got hired, when he left he dropped it to 4K. Possibly our all time low. He had a huge drop at UNLV also, their all time low in history. Ask UNLV fans how they feel about MM, they’ll lay it to you straight.

UNLV fans also seem pretty delusional about their actual place in the current college basketball landscape. Grandmama and Tark ain't walking back through that door.

(04-19-2019 01:57 PM)gleadley Wrote:  

(04-19-2019 01:28 PM)Trod0 Wrote:  I wouldn’t wish MM as a head coach on anyone, well maybe Bakersfield. But seriously he’d tank GCU. That crowd they love to enjoy would be gone. We were almost averaging 10k per game when he got hired, when he left he dropped it to 4K. Possibly our all time low. He had a huge drop at UNLV also, their all time low in history. Ask UNLV fans how they feel about MM, they’ll lay it to you straight.

UNLV fans also seem pretty delusional about their actual place in the current college basketball landscape. Grandmama and Tark ain't walking back through that door.

That is so true. The MWC fan base is delusional in general about their conference as well. Again, head to head last year, WAC 6-3 over the MWC.

(04-21-2019 09:10 AM)dancingNMSUaggie Wrote:  

(04-19-2019 01:57 PM)gleadley Wrote:  

(04-19-2019 01:28 PM)Trod0 Wrote:  I wouldn’t wish MM as a head coach on anyone, well maybe Bakersfield. But seriously he’d tank GCU. That crowd they love to enjoy would be gone. We were almost averaging 10k per game when he got hired, when he left he dropped it to 4K. Possibly our all time low. He had a huge drop at UNLV also, their all time low in history. Ask UNLV fans how they feel about MM, they’ll lay it to you straight.

UNLV fans also seem pretty delusional about their actual place in the current college basketball landscape. Grandmama and Tark ain't walking back through that door.

That is so true. The MWC fan base is delusional in general about their conference as well. Again, head to head last year, WAC 6-3 over the MWC.

It is highly unlikely the UNLV basketball program will ever reach the same level (National Champions) as Tark had them in the early 90's. And, I doubt hiring the South Dakota State coach will move the needle with Rebel fans. But I do feel with the right coach at the helm, UNLV could be a perennial top 25 program once again... similar to a Houston or Cincinnati; one or two notches below the blue blood.

(04-21-2019 02:21 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(04-21-2019 09:10 AM)dancingNMSUaggie Wrote:  

(04-19-2019 01:57 PM)gleadley Wrote:  

(04-19-2019 01:28 PM)Trod0 Wrote:  I wouldn’t wish MM as a head coach on anyone, well maybe Bakersfield. But seriously he’d tank GCU. That crowd they love to enjoy would be gone. We were almost averaging 10k per game when he got hired, when he left he dropped it to 4K. Possibly our all time low. He had a huge drop at UNLV also, their all time low in history. Ask UNLV fans how they feel about MM, they’ll lay it to you straight.

UNLV fans also seem pretty delusional about their actual place in the current college basketball landscape. Grandmama and Tark ain't walking back through that door.

That is so true. The MWC fan base is delusional in general about their conference as well. Again, head to head last year, WAC 6-3 over the MWC.

It is highly unlikely the UNLV basketball program will ever reach the same level (National Champions) as Tark had them in the early 90's. And, I doubt hiring the South Dakota State coach will move the needle with Rebel fans. But I do feel with the right coach at the helm, UNLV could be a perennial top 25 program once again... similar to a Houston or Cincinnati; one or two notches below the blue blood.

There are a lot of people in the basketball world that think T. J. Otzelberger is one of the best up-and-coming coaches in college basketball. Kind of like Chris Beard was when UNLV hired him for about a week. We will see, but he has put together a good staff.

It is true that the WAC is close to being as good as the MWC. The six western schools in the WAC can definitely hold their own with the MWC. The MWC does have advantages as well. They are usually a two bid league and they were a five bid league as recently as 2013. They also have a national TV contract. Nevada had all 18 conference games nationally televised on either ESPN2 or ESPNU or CBSSN. UNLV had 13 of their 18 conference games nationally televised. NMSU had zero conference games on national television.

Back to UNLV. They have not made the NCAA Tournament since 2013, when their attendance average was 15,196, #14 in the nation. In 2017-2018, the attendance was 10,093 per game. The trends were all in the wrong direction and Menzies could not turn it around. Had UNLV been able to keep Chris Beard, there is a good chance they are at least an NCAA tournament team in the last few years.

The goal for UNLV is being a regular in the NCAA Tournament. That is possible. Once you get into the tournament, who knows. To match the Tark teams would be difficult, but you never know when a team can have a magical season. NMSU might have had a magical season if Terrell Brown hits all three free throws against Auburn. Instead, it was Auburn with the magical season. A lot of times it is just that close.

(04-22-2019 01:10 PM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  

(04-21-2019 02:21 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(04-21-2019 09:10 AM)dancingNMSUaggie Wrote:  

(04-19-2019 01:57 PM)gleadley Wrote:  

(04-19-2019 01:28 PM)Trod0 Wrote:  I wouldn’t wish MM as a head coach on anyone, well maybe Bakersfield. But seriously he’d tank GCU. That crowd they love to enjoy would be gone. We were almost averaging 10k per game when he got hired, when he left he dropped it to 4K. Possibly our all time low. He had a huge drop at UNLV also, their all time low in history. Ask UNLV fans how they feel about MM, they’ll lay it to you straight.

UNLV fans also seem pretty delusional about their actual place in the current college basketball landscape. Grandmama and Tark ain't walking back through that door.

That is so true. The MWC fan base is delusional in general about their conference as well. Again, head to head last year, WAC 6-3 over the MWC.

It is highly unlikely the UNLV basketball program will ever reach the same level (National Champions) as Tark had them in the early 90's. And, I doubt hiring the South Dakota State coach will move the needle with Rebel fans. But I do feel with the right coach at the helm, UNLV could be a perennial top 25 program once again... similar to a Houston or Cincinnati; one or two notches below the blue blood.

There are a lot of people in the basketball world that think T. J. Otzelberger is one of the best up-and-coming coaches in college basketball. Kind of like Chris Beard was when UNLV hired him for about a week. We will see, but he has put together a good staff.

It is true that the WAC is close to being as good as the MWC. The six western schools in the WAC can definitely hold their own with the MWC. The MWC does have advantages as well. They are usually a two bid league and they were a five bid league as recently as 2013. They also have a national TV contract. Nevada had all 18 conference games nationally televised on either ESPN2 or ESPNU or CBSSN. UNLV had 13 of their 18 conference games nationally televised. NMSU had zero conference games on national television.

Back to UNLV. They have not made the NCAA Tournament since 2013, when their attendance average was 15,196, #14 in the nation. In 2017-2018, the attendance was 10,093 per game. The trends were all in the wrong direction and Menzies could not turn it around. Had UNLV been able to keep Chris Beard, there is a good chance they are at least an NCAA tournament team in the last few years.

The goal for UNLV is being a regular in the NCAA Tournament. That is possible. Once you get into the tournament, who knows. To match the Tark teams would be difficult, but you never know when a team can have a magical season. NMSU might have had a magical season if Terrell Brown hits all three free throws against Auburn. Instead, it was Auburn with the magical season. A lot of times it is just that close.

My biggest concern with TJ Ozelberger, as UNLV's new coach, is he didn't actually build the South Dakota State basketball program. That task was accomplished by Scott Nagy; who is now coaching at Wright State replacing Billy Donlon there. This is a similar situation to what occurred at NMSU. Menzies more or less build/maintained NMSU's program only to leave a talented roster in Paul Weir's hands; who many though was one of the up and coming young coaching minds in college basketball. Weir was very successful in his one season at NMSU but has since struggled at UNM. Ozelberger pretty much maintained what Nagy build; and with one of Nagy's best recruits... Mike Daum. The jury is still out whether Ozelburger can build a program on his own... like what Paul Weir is now trying to do at UNM.

(04-22-2019 01:10 PM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  

(04-21-2019 02:21 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(04-21-2019 09:10 AM)dancingNMSUaggie Wrote:  

(04-19-2019 01:57 PM)gleadley Wrote:  

(04-19-2019 01:28 PM)Trod0 Wrote:  I wouldn’t wish MM as a head coach on anyone, well maybe Bakersfield. But seriously he’d tank GCU. That crowd they love to enjoy would be gone. We were almost averaging 10k per game when he got hired, when he left he dropped it to 4K. Possibly our all time low. He had a huge drop at UNLV also, their all time low in history. Ask UNLV fans how they feel about MM, they’ll lay it to you straight.

UNLV fans also seem pretty delusional about their actual place in the current college basketball landscape. Grandmama and Tark ain't walking back through that door.

That is so true. The MWC fan base is delusional in general about their conference as well. Again, head to head last year, WAC 6-3 over the MWC.

It is highly unlikely the UNLV basketball program will ever reach the same level (National Champions) as Tark had them in the early 90's. And, I doubt hiring the South Dakota State coach will move the needle with Rebel fans. But I do feel with the right coach at the helm, UNLV could be a perennial top 25 program once again... similar to a Houston or Cincinnati; one or two notches below the blue blood.

There are a lot of people in the basketball world that think T. J. Otzelberger is one of the best up-and-coming coaches in college basketball. Kind of like Chris Beard was when UNLV hired him for about a week. We will see, but he has put together a good staff.

It is true that the WAC is close to being as good as the MWC. The six western schools in the WAC can definitely hold their own with the MWC. The MWC does have advantages as well. They are usually a two bid league and they were a five bid league as recently as 2013. They also have a national TV contract. Nevada had all 18 conference games nationally televised on either ESPN2 or ESPNU or CBSSN. UNLV had 13 of their 18 conference games nationally televised. NMSU had zero conference games on national television.

Back to UNLV. They have not made the NCAA Tournament since 2013, when their attendance average was 15,196, #14 in the nation. In 2017-2018, the attendance was 10,093 per game. The trends were all in the wrong direction and Menzies could not turn it around. Had UNLV been able to keep Chris Beard, there is a good chance they are at least an NCAA tournament team in the last few years.

The goal for UNLV is being a regular in the NCAA Tournament. That is possible. Once you get into the tournament, who knows. To match the Tark teams would be difficult, but you never know when a team can have a magical season. NMSU might have had a magical season if Terrell Brown hits all three free throws against Auburn. Instead, it was Auburn with the magical season. A lot of times it is just that close.

That was true last season but with Pope leaving and all the big named transfers heading out, I'm concerned about the WAC next season. I hope we don't take a step back.

Just in case Majerle is thinking about going back to the NBA, the Suns have fired their head coach:

http://arizonasports.com/story/1761599/p...-official/

(04-22-2019 04:45 PM)PojoaquePosse Wrote:  

(04-22-2019 01:10 PM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  

(04-21-2019 02:21 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(04-21-2019 09:10 AM)dancingNMSUaggie Wrote:  

(04-19-2019 01:57 PM)gleadley Wrote:  

It is true that the WAC is close to being as good as the MWC.

That was true last season but with Pope leaving and all the big named transfers heading out, I'm concerned about the WAC next season. I hope we don't take a step back.

Well, with coaching changes at Utah Valley and UM Kansas City, the Wolverines definitely took a major step backwards; and, although the Roos lost almost everyone from their roster, the reality was Richardson maxed out what he could do with his coaching and recruiting. I'm not sure what Madsen can do as a coach and recruiter at UVU but I think Donlon will do more with the UMKC program than Richardson ever did there. Still, UMKC is a couple seasons away from "possibly" having a good team.

As for Cal State Bakersfield, they added a good guard (a Richmond transfer) just as the lose Jarkel Joiner to Ole Miss. With the players coming and going, Barnes' team should be just about the same in strength as last season; but there is no accounting for team chemistry good or bad.

Outside of NMSU, the other three teams who should be improved or at least as good as last season are Grand Canyon, Seattle U, and Cal Baptist. Majerle still needs to find a big man or two to help Lever (a job for Menzies) but their guard play should be much improved with the addition of a couple D1 transfers. Seattle and CBU lost virtually no one so any new additions to the roster will only make them stronger.

Chicago State can't get any worse so I expect them to close the gap on the 8th place team. They might even win a conference game or two this coming season.

And, UT Rio Grande Valley is an enigma. Last season, they performed better than expected. And, Hill's winning percentage has seemed to be improving season by season. So, conventional wisdom would say UTRGV should be even better next season. However, there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to UTRGV's improvement. Hill seems to always be patch working a roster together at the last minute; with grad transfers, D1 transfers, and JUCOs as late additions. The only thing for certain, Jovan Levi is probably the most hated player in the WAC; antagonistic in his style of play.

I don't see the WAC being any stronger next season than the one that just completed. the hasn't been a big bonanza in top level players entering in this recruiting class. At the moment, as a whole, the WAC has lost more talent than it has gained.

I'm still waiting to see what NMSU and GCU add to their respective rosters.

As of today my prediction...

1. New Mexico State
2. Grand Canyon
3. Seattle U
4. Cal Baptist
5. UT Rio Grande Valley
6. Cal State Bakersfield
7. Utah Valley
8. UM Kansas City
9. Chicago State

(04-23-2019 05:00 AM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(04-22-2019 04:45 PM)PojoaquePosse Wrote:  

(04-22-2019 01:10 PM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  

(04-21-2019 02:21 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(04-21-2019 09:10 AM)dancingNMSUaggie Wrote:  

It is true that the WAC is close to being as good as the MWC.

That was true last season but with Pope leaving and all the big named transfers heading out, I'm concerned about the WAC next season. I hope we don't take a step back.

Well, with coaching changes at Utah Valley and UM Kansas City, the Wolverines definitely took a major step backwards; and, although the Roos lost almost everyone from their roster, the reality was Richardson maxed out what he could do with his coaching and recruiting. I'm not sure what Madsen can do as a coach and recruiter at UVU but I think Donlon will do more with the UMKC program than Richardson ever did there. Still, UMKC is a couple seasons away from "possibly" having a good team.

As for Cal State Bakersfield, they added a good guard (a Richmond transfer) just as the lose Jarkel Joiner to Ole Miss. With the players coming and going, Barnes' team should be just about the same in strength as last season; but there is no accounting for team chemistry good or bad.

Outside of NMSU, the other three teams who should be improved or at least as good as last season are Grand Canyon, Seattle U, and Cal Baptist. Majerle still needs to find a big man or two to help Lever (a job for Menzies) but their guard play should be much improved with the addition of a couple D1 transfers. Seattle and CBU lost virtually no one so any new additions to the roster will only make them stronger.

Chicago State can't get any worse so I expect them to close the gap on the 8th place team. They might even win a conference game or two this coming season.

And, UT Rio Grande Valley is an enigma. Last season, they performed better than expected. And, Hill's winning percentage has seemed to be improving season by season. So, conventional wisdom would say UTRGV should be even better next season. However, there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to UTRGV's improvement. Hill seems to always be patch working a roster together at the last minute; with grad transfers, D1 transfers, and JUCOs as late additions. The only thing for certain, Jovan Levi is probably the most hated player in the WAC; antagonistic in his style of play.

I don't see the WAC being any stronger next season than the one that just completed. the hasn't been a big bonanza in top level players entering in this recruiting class. At the moment, as a whole, the WAC has lost more talent than it has gained.

I'm still waiting to see what NMSU and GCU add to their respective rosters.

As of today my prediction...

1. New Mexico State
2. Grand Canyon
3. Seattle U
4. Cal Baptist
5. UT Rio Grande Valley
6. Cal State Bakersfield
7. Utah Valley
8. UM Kansas City
9. Chicago State

Excellent analysis.