*Records as of Jan. 23, preceding Thursday night’s WAC action
La. Tech (16-3, 7-0 WAC)
Currently: 1st
Predicted finish: 2nd
This shouldn’t be as much of a surprise as it continues to be. Undefeated thus far, the Bulldogs still travel to Logan, Las Cruces and Denver. La. Tech asserted itself as a top contender after rolling all the way to the WAC Tournament final a season ago. It wouldn’t shock anyone if they did finish atop the conference standings, but the 3-point shooting has to cool down sooner or later. The rest of the WAC sure hopes so. The Bulldogs have tough opposition awaiting them and those long road trips to the west coast will take their toll.
New Mexico State (13-8, 7-2)
Currently: 4th
Predicted finish: 1st
This is a team that faced growing pains early on, but starting two freshman and a sophomore, along with two seniors that have never been the WAC’s cream of the crop, it’s to be expected. This team is maturing at a scary fast rate, and that was on display when the Aggies hammered then-first-place Denver in Las Cruces. Teams that key in on 7-foot-5 center Sim Bhullar typically face the wrath of sophomore Daniel Mullings. When you don’t pay attention to Bhullar — well let’s just end with the fact that he is every bit of 7’5.
Denver (11-8, 7-2)
Currently: 2nd
Predicted finish: 3rd
For just a minute, I might’ve had Denver at No. 1. The Pioneers have been all over the place this season. From entering their first season in conference play with a 4-6 nonconference mark to winning seven straight in the WAC, to losing by 11 at New Mexico State. Other than a six-point win at Idaho, all of Denver’s wins have come by 10 or more points. It’s hard to tell whether the Pioneers will compete for the regular season crown. The Princeton offense has been inconsistent and has scored as many as 75 points and as few as 43.
Utah State (14-3, 5-2)
Currently: 3rd
Predicted finish: 4th
It looked as though the Aggies were sailing into yet another NCAA Tournament, something that may have happened regardless of their WAC Tournament fate. The losses of guard Preston Medlin and forward Kyisean Reed, two of Stew Morrill’s leading contributors, has doomed Utah State and that was clear as day in the Aggies’ 13-point loss to New Mexico State and 11-point loss to Denver. This team is still good enough to finish within the top four… thank Mr. Morrill for that.
San Jose State (9-9, 3-4)
Currently: 5th
Predicted finish: 6th
The Spartans began WAC play 3-1 after their first four games. Those three wins came against teams that have totaled one conference win in 21 combined games. Since a five-point home win against one-win Seattle U., San Jose State has dropped three straight. The Spartans kept it close with Utah State, only losing by six before New Mexico State showed no mercy in a 73-37 rout.
Texas-Arlington (8-8, 3-4)
Currently: 6th
Predicted finish: 8th
The pride of Texas, in the WAC at least, has been much more competitive than its neighbors in San Antonio and San Marcos. “Much more” may be a bit of a stretch, but thus fa, UTA has just two wins in conference play and those have come against the Roadrunners and Bobcats. Seventeen-point and 13-point losses to Seattle U. and Idaho aren’t a sign that things will get any better for the 8-8 Mavs.
Idaho (7-10, 3-4)
Currently: 7th
Predicted finish: 5th
Remaining in the first half of conference play for the Vandals is Texas State and UTSA. Idaho’s biggest margin of loss in the WAC was a 82-75 overtime defeat at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum in Logan, Utah. They led late at undefeated La. Tech before squandering the lead and the game to the Bulldogs. A two-game home stand two weeks ago saw them lose to Denver and New Mexico State by a combined six points. As long as Idaho can avoid losses to anybody outside of the top four, a fifth-place finish should be a lock.
Seattle U. (6-11, 1-6)
Currently: 8th
Predicted finish: 7th
The Redhawks are having a rough go with this whole being in a conference idea. Seattle U. should be proud of sending things into overtime with New Mexico State and will look forward to hosting Texas State and UTSA. They’ll fight with Texas-Arlington for that 7/8 spot. Either way, it’ll be difficult to break into the six spot and steal a first round bye from Idaho or San Jose State.
Texas State (5-14, 1-6)
Currently: 9th
Predicted finish: 9th
The Bobcats are the losers of nine of their past ten games. That one win was an old fashioned overtime shootout with UTSA. The Roadrunners may well be the sole team that Texas State can guarantee a win against. The Bobcats won their four other games against UC Riverside, Texas-Pan American, Fordham and Texas-Tyler.
Texas-San Antonio (4-13, 0-7)
Currently: 10th
Predicted finish: 10th
If the Roadrunners are able to upend the Bobcats, the two could be tied as conference bottom dwellers ahead of the conference tournament. UTSA kept it close with La. Tech, only losing to the Bulldogs by two points, while Kannon Burrage has been one of the conference’s most underrated scorers, averaging more than 17 points-per-game. And I’m all out of good things to day about the Roadrunners.