WAC basketball power poll
The Western Athletic Conference remains just as confusing as it has been all season. The Utah State Aggies did lose a road game to the Idaho Vandals, but they are still holding on strong to the top spot. Everyone else in the WAC is struggling to find consistency. With the entire WAC stepping away from conference play this week, there won’t be any movement in the standings.
1. No. 24 Utah State (22-3, 12-1) –The Aggies proved to be mortal in WAC play this past week, as they lost to the Idaho Vandals in Moscow, 64-56. The Aggies bounced back quickly after the loss though, and claimed at least a share of their fourth consecutive WAC title with a 71-55 victory over the Fresno State Bulldogs. The Nevada Wolf Pack lost to Hawaii on the road Monday, and the Aggies are guaranteed a bye to the semifinals as at least a two seed during the WAC tournament.
2. New Mexico State (14-12, 8-4) – Until another team proves otherwise, the other Aggies in the WAC are in the second spot. The Aggies have won four of their last five games, and they have three road wins this season, which is second only to Utah State. New Mexico State has four games remaining, including games at San Jose State and Hawaii and games at home against Nevada and Utah State.
3. Nevada (10-15, 7-5) – It was really hard to put the Wolf Pack in the third spot, but at this time of the season, road wins are really worth their weight in gold. Nevada has picked up two road wins compared to New Mexico State’s three. After losing to Utah State in the Spectrum, the Pack seemed to be on a roll as they picked up back-to-back victories against the San Jose State Spartans, but they faltered on the road against Hawaii in overtime.
4. Idaho (14-11, 7-6) –The Vandals shocked the Aggies and the WAC last week with a 64-56 victory over the then-No. 17 Aggies. Three days later they lost on the road to Boise State, stopping their winning streak at two. The Vandals still have three road wins, which favors the Vandals remaining WAC schedule with road games against Nevada and Utah State and a home game against Fresno State.
5. Boise State (14-11, 7-6) –The Broncos defeated Fresno State and Idaho at home last week to stop a four-game losing streak. The Broncos are currently in fourth place and control their destiny as far as seeding in the WAC tournament goes.
6. Hawaii (14-10, 5-7) – The Warriors are one of those teams that are struggling to find consistency. After reeling of three consecutive WAC wins in mid-January, the Warriors are 2-2. With that kind of play the Warriors should probably stay right where they are, as they have two road games and two home games remaining.
7. Fresno State (11-14, 5-8) – After starting February with three consecutive WAC wins, the Bulldogs dropped back-to-back road losses. The Bulldogs first win in conference play was on the road against Louisiana Tech. Ever since that victory, the Bulldogs haven’t been able to win on the road.
8. San Jose State (11-12, 3-9) – There really isn’t much to say about the Spartans, but they are really difficult to figure out. Back-to-back losses to Nevada doused their chances of distancing themselves from the Bulldogs, and things don’t look to get any easier. Games against Boise State and New Mexico State will push the Spartans, but a cellar-dweller match-up against Louisiana Tech on Feb. 26 may decide who goes to the WAC tournament and who doesn’t.
9. Louisiana Tech (11-15, 2-10) – If it wasn’t for the Spartans losing games, the Bulldogs would be completely out of consideration for the WAC tournament. The Spartans keep losing however. With back-to-back wins against Boise State and Idaho two weeks ago, the Bulldogs seemed to have a glimpse of life, but are currently riding a three-game losing streak.
–ty.d.hus@aggiemail.usu.edu