Utah Valley (15-9, 9-2)
The Wolverines’ men’s basketball team had a nightmarish week, losing to Seattle U on Thursday and nearly dropping another conference contest to Idaho — another team below .500. Though a loss to the Redhawks stung, UVU can shake off the sweat after fending off a 42-point effort from the Vandals’ Stephen Madison.
New Mexico State (20-8, 9-3)
There isn’t any debate that the conference’s best team is sitting in second place, at the moment. The Aggies are winners of six of their last seven games and NMSU’s last two victories have come by a combined 54 points. Most importantly, this team plays Utah Valley in nine days time — a team NMSU manhandled on Feb. 1.
Grand Canyon (12-11, 7-3)
There’s been so much inconsistency between the fourth and ninth spots in this conference table that a few more wins could clinch a top-three finish for the Antelopes — a WAC newcomer. Though it won’t mean a thing come March, when the ‘Lopes will be ineligible for postseason play. GCU has Seattle and Idaho on the road next.
Chicago State (10-14, 5-5)
Here’s where things get interesting. The Cougars, sitting at 5-5, could do one of three things with their upcoming home stand: beat Utah Valley and Cal State-Bakersfield and come that much closer to a three seed, split the games and stay where they are or drop a spot or two, or lose both and watch themselves drop to the eighth or ninth spot.
Seattle U (12-12, 4-7)
We know this Seattle team has potential, and coach Cameron Dollar certainly must, too. Yet the Redhawks, who have been all over the place in this new-look conference, fit the mold of a team struggling to find some consistency with their last road trip. Seattle squashed league leaders Utah Valley in Orem, Utah, but fell victim to an 18-point loss in Bakersfield, Calif., to a Roadrunner team three games below .500.
Cal State-Bakersfield (11-14, 4-7)
Inconsistency appears to be a trend with the bottom half of these conference standings. Bakersfield, which lost four straight games in a span of 12 days, turned things around by winning three of its last four games. Issiah Grayson has scored 20 or more points in three of CSUB’s last five games and the senior guard will have to keep doing that should the ‘Runners pick up a win on what looks to be a brutal road trip at Chicago State and UMKC.
Missouri-Kansas City (7-17, 4-7)
So maybe the Kangaroos are a bit more consistent right now. UMKC rides a five-game losing streak and the ‘Roos, in need of their first conference victory since Jan. 25, will look to soothe the pain with four of their last five WAC contests at home.
Idaho (10-16, 4-8)
Stephen Madison needs help, and he needs it fast. The senior forward leads his team in five statistical categories and is the only player in the nation to do so. The most recent example, a 42-point performance that resulted in a narrow loss at Utah Valley. The Vandals have proven they can compete with the conference’s best, tallying one of their four wins against NMSU — but the biggest question is can they do it in Las Vegas?
Texas-Pan American (8-19, 4-8)
The Broncs were in last place before this past week’s home stand, having lost five straight games. Yet, the same UTPA team picked itself up and claimed a pair of crucial conference wins that will help translate some momentum to what looks to be a brutal home matchup against NMSU.