Here is when the WAC was legit, and yes New Mexico State was at the top of the conference at the time.
Here is the ending of the NMSU/Nevada game in Las Cruces, NMSU beats the #13 ranked team in the nation in front of a sold out crowd at the Pan American Center.
Here is New Mexico State winning the WAC Tournament in 2007 in front of 12,000 fans at the Pan American Center.
I wouldnt call the WAC legit. It was a 4 team league. Only 4 of the 9 had a winning record in 2007. But there was a 4-way tie for the conference title so it was entertaining. A lot of future NBA players played in the WAC before the conference realignment wave
(03-04-2017 02:41 AM)SeattleVandals Wrote: I wouldnt call the WAC legit. It was a 4 team league. Only 4 of the 9 had a winning record in 2007. But there was a 4-way tie for the conference title so it was entertaining. A lot of future NBA players played in the WAC before the conference realignment wave
There much more talent in the WAC back then. Nevada, New Mexico State, and Utah State were legit mid-major powers. However, the game was also much more physical then than what is allowed today.
(03-04-2017 02:41 AM)SeattleVandals Wrote: I wouldnt call the WAC legit. It was a 4 team league. Only 4 of the 9 had a winning record in 2007. But there was a 4-way tie for the conference title so it was entertaining. A lot of future NBA players played in the WAC before the conference realignment wave
The year we are talking about is 2006/2007, the WAC had the 9th best RPI in the nation.
The WAC had Nevada, and NMSU make the NCAA Tournament, and Utah State made the NIT.
The WAC was one of the top four mid-major conferences in the nation. NMSU has been at the top of this conference every year since it joined it over a decade ago. The lowest NMSU has ever finished during the regular season was 4th.
(03-04-2017 02:41 AM)SeattleVandals Wrote: I wouldnt call the WAC legit. It was a 4 team league. Only 4 of the 9 had a winning record in 2007. But there was a 4-way tie for the conference title so it was entertaining. A lot of future NBA players played in the WAC before the conference realignment wave
The year we are talking about is 2006/2007, the WAC had the 9th best RPI in the nation.
The WAC had Nevada, and NMSU make the NCAA Tournament, and Utah State made the NIT.
The RPI was good but overall the conference had a giant drop off. Go look at records. In 2006 there was 4 win Idaho and 5 win SJSU. Top heavy to the max. But this is just semantics now. It was a 4 team league
(This post was last modified: 03-04-2017 04:24 PM by SeattleVandals.)
(03-04-2017 02:41 AM)SeattleVandals Wrote: I wouldnt call the WAC legit. It was a 4 team league. Only 4 of the 9 had a winning record in 2007. But there was a 4-way tie for the conference title so it was entertaining. A lot of future NBA players played in the WAC before the conference realignment wave
The year we are talking about is 2006/2007, the WAC had the 9th best RPI in the nation.
The WAC had Nevada, and NMSU make the NCAA Tournament, and Utah State made the NIT.
The RPI was good but overall the conference had a giant drop off. Go look at records. In 2006 there was 4 win Idaho and 5 win SJSU. Top heavy to the max. But this is just semantics now. It was a 4 team league
1. Nevada - RPI 23
2. Utah State - RPI 45
3. New Mexico State - RPI 69
4. Fresno State - RPI 88
5. Hawaii - RPI 99
6. Boise State - RPI 111
7. Lousiana Tech - RPI 192
8. San Jose State - RPI 247
9. Idaho - RPI 301
The WAC was the third best mid-major conference in the nation in 2006/2007. This was a legit conference. This was a conference with legit talent. The 2006/2007 squad is probably the best squad NMSU has fielded in the last 20 years. The current WAC would not compete against the 2006/2007 WAC.