WAC

[azfan]

Listening to the Lopes beat Utah Valley yesterday the announcers talked about the WAC tournament. As was earlier pointed out on the board by a lurking BYer undefeated Cal Baptist is not eligible for the dance.

That means the second place team in the conference gets the auto bid. I'm not sure if the announcer knew what he was talking about but he said if Cal Baptist wins the tournament assuming there is one then the regular season second place team becomes the default rep

That being the case the split with Utah Valley was very costly for the Lopes as it looks to me like the Lopes gets swept by Cal Baptist next weekend. That puts them one game behind Utah Valley assuming UV wins out.

That also raises the question is Cal Baptist the best team not to make the dance?

If not who might be a better team who isn't dancing?

 

[Vowelguy]

I think any team on the bubble who doesnt make it is likely better.

 

[ochoopsfan]

Listening to the Lopes beat Utah Valley yesterday the announcers talked about the wac tournament. As was earlier pointed out on the board by a lurking BYer undefeated Cal Baptist is not eligible for the dance.

That means the second place team in the conference gets the auto bid. I'm not sure if the announcer knew what he was talking about but he said if Cal Baptist wins the tournament assuming there is one then the regular season second place team becomes the default rep

That being the case the split with Utah Valley was very costly for the Lopes as it looks to me like the Lopes gets swept by Cal Baptist next weekend. That puts them one game behind Utah Valley assuming UV wins out.

That also raises the question is Cal Baptist the best team not to make the dance?

If not who might be a better team who isn't dancing?

Is the above bolded correct? I dont recall in the past where it happened.
In the WNIT, the 2nd place team, in the regular season standings, gets the auto bid. I dont know if that is the same for the NCAA. I am just not sure it has happened in the past for a guideline to be used, unless it is in the rules.

Cal Baptist vs GCU this Friday and Saturday should be good.

For all those who want to know what player in the NCAA D1 WBB leads the nation in assists and APG, she plays on Cal Baptist. Her name is Ane Olaeta. Stupidly, the NCAA does not list the players on her team with the other players, in D1.
For active players, Olaeta(588) is 3rd in career assists, behind Syracuse's Mangakahia(707) and Arkansas Slocum(594).. The Syracuse's player, Mangakahia will be for 3 years vs 4 years for the other two players.

Great way for the NCAA to publicize the game.

 

[Vowelguy]

I think the conference gets to decide how its representative is determined.

 

[azfan]

Is the above bolded correct? I dont recall in the past where it happened.
In the WNIT, the 2nd place team, in the regular season standings, gets the auto bid. I dont know if that is the same for the NCAA. I am just not sure it has happened in the past for a guideline to be used, unless it is in the rules.

Cal Baptist vs GCU this Friday and Saturday should be good.

For all those who want to know what player in the NCAA D1 WBB leads the nation in assists and APG, she plays on Cal Baptist. Her name is Ane Olaeta. Stupidly, the NCAA does not list the players on her team with the other players, in D1.
For active players, Olaeta(588) is 3rd in career assists, behind Syracuse's Mangakahia(707) and Arkansas Slocum(594).. The Syracuse's player, Mangakahia will be for 3 years vs 4 years for the other two players.

Great way for the NCAA to publicize the game.

I don't know if the bolded assertion is correct or not the announcer for the Grand Canyon Utah Valley game was a hoot and a holler but I'm not sure how credible he is. Since Cal Baptist can't play in the tournament there has to be a mechanism in place for deciding which team represents the conference if they win the conference tournament. I would suspect the second place team in the regular season might be preferable to the second place team in the tournament because by definition that second place team would have lost to Cal Baptist.

 

[azfan]

Current bracketology has Utah Valley as the WAC auto bid to the Dance

 

[azfan]

"Predictions for all 31 women's college basketball conference tournaments" Predictions for all 31 women's college basketball conference tournaments

According to Creme the WAC will send the second place regular season finisher to the dance as Cal Baptist is not eligible. Cal Baptist will however be allowed to play in the postseason tournament and I wonder why the tournament is being held if the conference will already have decided their rep to the dance.

Currently Grand Canyon and Utah Valley are tied for second with eight and four records. Overall the Lopes are 16 and 10 and Utah Valley is 10 and 5. A covid shaped result for the WAC rep to the dance.

If I understand Creme correctly unless Utah Valley is swept by the sixth place Tarleton they get to go to the dance.

Earlier in the year Grand Canyon swept Utah Valley.

 

[ochoopsfan]

"Predictions for all 31 women's college basketball conference tournaments" Predictions for all 31 women's college basketball conference tournaments

According to Creme the WAC will send the second place regular season finisher to the dance as Cal Baptist is not eligible. Cal Baptist will however be allowed to play in the postseason tournament and I wonder why the tournament is being held if the conference will already have decided their rep to the dance.

Currently Grand Canyon and Utah Valley are tied for second with eight and four records. Overall the Lopes are 16 and 10 and Utah Valley is 10 and 5. A covid shaped result for the WAC rep to the dance.

If I understand Creme correctly unless Utah Valley is swept by the sixth place Tarleton they get to go to the dance.

Earlier in the year Grand Canyon swept Utah Valley.

Absolute dumb call by the WAC. Suppose CBU loses in the WAC semis, they are denying 2 teams to play for the dance.
So CBU has a reason to play hard, to remain undefeated, and the rest have no reason to play hard. Big slap in the face to GCU, IMO

 

[azfan]

Absolute dumb call by the WAC. Suppose CBU loses in the WAC semis, they are denying 2 teams to play for the dance.
So CBU has a reason to play hard, to remain undefeated, and the rest have no reason to play hard. Big slap in the face to GCU, IMO

Absolutely!

I'm wondering if there's any subtext to this decision.

Earlier on the BY it was pointed out that Grand Canyon is the only acknowledged for-profit school in division 1. Looking at the budgets and non-educational scope of activities of schools ranging from Arizona State University to University of Southern California to those East coast elite schools of Harvard and Yale I think I argued elsewhere the they are unacknowledged for profit schools.

I remember the publicity around ASU Michael Crow's decision to never play Grand Canyon. It may well be that the "non-for-profit" schools' hostility may extend a conference policy decisions.

Or am I just falling into conspiracy theory thinking?

 

[ochoopsfan]

Absolutely!

I'm wondering if there's any subtext to this decision.

Earlier on the BY it was pointed out that Grand Canyon is the only acknowledged for-profit School and division 1.

I remember the publicity around ASU Michael Crow's decision to never play Grand Canyon. It may well be that the "non-for-profit" schools' hostility may extend a conference policy decisions.

Or am I just falling into conspiracy theory thinking?

More likely he doesnt want to be embarrassed by ASU losing to GCU in his backyard. I have been to GCU, nice campus, nothing wrong with the school.

 

[nwhoopfan]

More likely he doesnt want to be embarrassed by ASU losing to GCU in his backyard. I have been to GCU, nice campus, nothing wrong with the school.

I know a handful of recent alums. They and their parents were all very happy w/ the GCU experience. Not sure why so many have such an issue with the school.

 

[azfan]

Get a summary of the Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Grand Canyon Antelopes basketball game Arizona State vs. Grand Canyon - Game Summary - December 13, 2020 - ESPN
via @ESPN App http://espn.com/app

I stand corrected. At the end of 2020 men's basketball teams did meet.

This 2017 article from Arizona Republic does provide some interesting background on the ASU view of GCU.

Why Arizona State doesn't play Grand Canyon University

GCU will be eligible for NCAA Tournament play next season in men's basketball.

amp.azcentral.com

And in an example of the existential absurdity that our government sometimes displays:

"GCU must follow for-profit rules despite nonprofit status, feds say" Grand Canyon University must follow for-profit rules despite its return to nonprofit status, feds say

 

[azfan]

WAC Women’s Basketball Postseason Honorees Announced

WAC Women’s Basketball Postseason Honorees Announced

wacsports.com

 

[ochoopsfan]

For Defensive player, I saw Bree Calhoun/Seattle Un, this past weekend. She is always in your face on defense. At the end of Saturdays game, against CBU, she was giving someone on CBU some smack talk as the teams left the court. Surprised she had to go the JC route, unless it had something to do with grades needed for a D1 team.

 

[azfan]

2021 WAC women's basketball tournament: Matchups, players to know & more

The 2021 Western Athletic Conference women’s basketball tournament will determine which team gets an automatic bid to the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.

www.foxnews.com

So if Fox sports news is correct the WAC quarterfinal is three games. If this is the case Grand Canyon will need to go through Utah Valley State to set up an outside shot at the big dance and a upset of undefeated Cal Baptist.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Grand Canyon rolling at the half, 43-22 over UT-Rio Grande Valley.

 

[azfan]

Lopes looking to storm into the big dance. They would most likely face Utah Valley State in the semis a team they split with earlier in the year. A win there gives them the chance to see if three is the charm against Cal Baptist.

Lopes have turned UTRGV 10 times in the first half, have 7 steals, held UT to 27 per cent shooting, and have 8 players in the scoring column.

Coach Molly Miller will spread minutes around in the second half. The WAC has a relatively humane tournament schedule so the teams are off tomorrow before the semis on the 12th.

 

[azfan]

Lopes cruising into the semis leading UTRGV by 24 my as the third quarter winds down. 10 steals, 14 turnovers as Lopes defense clicking. Offensively all 8 Lopes have scored and boarded.

 

[FanFromMaine]

Massey predictions for the semis: Lopes by 4; Lancers by 8

 

[azfan]

Massey predictions for the semis: Lopes by 4; Lancers by 8

Lopes split the series with Utah Valley State so 4 seems on point. Lancers are rolling, 'I d take the over.

Lancers owned NMS in regular season with 94-53 and 70-51 thumpings. First game Cal Bab hit 17 threes and 12 players scored, the second game they hit 46% from the field with 8 players in the scoring column.

@ochoopsfan has pointed out the play of Olaeta the 6-foot-4 Lancer floor general

Can the Aggies upset the undefeated Lancers?

Previewing the New Mexico State women's basketball team's WAC semifinals game against Cal Baptist.

www.lcsun-news.com

. . . the answer is NO. NMS win would be the biggest upset of the post season.

"Cal Baptist is the first women's basketball team to go undefeated in the regular season since UConn and Mississippi State completed their perfect campaigns in 2018. (Bucknell this year?)

The Lancers are led by redshirt fifth-year forward Britney Thomas. The 6-foot-1 veteran is averaging a team-high 13.7 points and a WAC-best 8.5 rebounds on 66.3 percent shooting from the floor.

Thomas is a one-on-one nightmare down low due to her strength, and yet she boasts a soft touch around the rim. Defensively, she's also averaging 1.4 blocks per game."

 

[ochoopsfan]

Lopes split the series with Utah Valley State so 4 seems on point. Lancers are rolling, 'I d take the over.

Lancers owned NMS in regular season with 94-53 and 70-51 thumpings. First game Cal Bab hit 17 threes and 12 players scored, the second game they hit 46% from the field with 8 players in the scoring column.

@ochoopsfan has pointed out the play of Olaeta the 6-foot-4 Lancer floor general

Can the Aggies upset the undefeated Lancers?

Previewing the New Mexico State women's basketball team's WAC semifinals game against Cal Baptist.

www.lcsun-news.com

. . . the answer is NO. NMS win would be the biggest upset of the post season.

"Cal Baptist is the first women's basketball team to go undefeated in the regular season since UConn and Mississippi State completed their perfect campaigns in 2018. (Bucknell this year?)

The Lancers are led by redshirt fifth-year forward Britney Thomas. The 6-foot-1 veteran is averaging a team-high 13.7 points and a WAC-best 8.5 rebounds on 66.3 percent shooting from the floor.

Thomas is a one-on-one nightmare down low due to her strength, and yet she boasts a soft touch around the rim. Defensively, she's also averaging 1.4 blocks per game."

Wow!! Ane grew a foot taller since getting to Vegas. Tallest pg in WCBB????, lol

 

[azfan]

Wow!! Ane grew a foot taller since getting to Vegas. Tallest pg in WCBB????, lol

Direct quote from the Las Cruces Sun Times. LOL

No wonder some have reservations about the media to . . . . report?

Looks like it would help if she was a foot taller as Lancers have their hands full at the half.

Lancers found their footing after that slow first quarter and are on their way to the finals, hopefully against the Lopes.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Cal Baptist rolled thru the first semi final 79-54 over New Mexico St. I don't understand the conference letting them participate in the conference tourney. It's gonna be pretty ridiculous if they finish the season undefeated and are both the regular season and tourney champ, but can't participate in the NCAA Tourney.

 

[azfan]

Slight lead at the half for the Lopes, BUT the pace really favors Utah Valley. Fingers crossed for a rematch against the Lancers . . . threes the charm.

 

[azfan]

UV hits two layups to open the second half and the game is tied at 23. After 20 minutes of play it is clear neither of these teams is going to stay within 20 points of the Lancers in the final.