WAC
The conference was controlled by Grand Canyon last season, which won a franchise record 30 games. The Antelopes’ 79.1 points per game was 3.2 points per game more than in any of their other 10 seasons at the Division I level. They also return Tyon Grant-Foster, who led the way with 20.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game last season.
The WAC is down to nine members with UT Rio Grande Valley and Stephen F Austin both leaving for the Southland. The remaining teams in the conference are poor when it comes to 3-point shooting, with UT Arlington, which was 96th in 3-point shooting percentage, being the lone team in the conference that was in the top 146 in 3-point shooting percentage last season.
A clean bill of health might be all Cal Baptist needs to ascend, as its had an 11-8 record with Dominique Daniels in the lineup. He led the team with 19.2 points and 2.9 assists per game on 36.3% 3-point shooting, but the team was 5-9 without him.
Most teams in the conference look to generate a bunch of turnovers with Abilene Christian chief among that, as the team was 31st in turnovers forced per possession on defense —which was actually the program’s worst mark since the 2015-16 season.
Free throw shooting is magnified in this conference, as every team in the WAC ranked 199th or worse in fouls committed on a per play basis on defense. Utah Tech will desperately look to improve on ranking 354th in free throw shooting percentage at 63.7%
After ranking 360th in home 3-point shooting percentage and 352nd in overall 3-point shooting percentage, Utah Valley looks to a turned over roster with three of last season’s top four scorers gone. The offense will look to take better advantage of the fact that its defense has been in the top 37 in points allowed on a per possession basis each of the past three seasons.
