GCU is playing in its first-ever NCAA tournament, CBU women are playing in the WNIT and Utah Valley women are in their first-ever NCAA Tournament plus some other bullets from around the WAC.  Image courtesy David Kadlubowski/GCU Athletics

WAC Hoops Digest

WAC Wednesday Talking Postseason Tournaments and Other WAC Bullets

Utah Valley Athletic Director Jared Sumsion joined the podcast to talk about the challenges he faced during the pandemic. Sumsion also gives credit to the student-athletes for the way they handled things as well as his colleagues around the WAC and how they have become a little closer throughout this crazy time. 

Utah Valley Athletic Director Jared Sumsion Joins the Podcast

The 2020-21 school year has been a crazy one and perhaps none more so than for the New Mexico State Aggies. Covid restrictions forced the men's and women's basketball teams to relocate for a period of time. Other sports have had to compete on the campus of rival UTEP. It has just been a wild year. And New Mexico State athletic director Mario Moccia felt the brunt of it but with the help of his staff, things have worked out alright for the Aggies. 

New Mexico State Athletic Director Mario Moccia Joins the Podcast

In this episode, Derryl and Kyle talk about the postseason awards. CBU head coach Jarrod Olson won Coach of the Year. CBU point guard Ane Olaeta won Player of the Year. Katie Scott swept Newcomer of the Year and Freshman of the Year. And Seattle U's Bree Calhoun was the Defensive Player of the Year. Derryl and Kyle also talk about the quarterfinal matchups for the women's side of WAC Vegas plus a prediction on the first game of the tournament between 4-seed New Mexico State and 5-seed Seattle.  Should be fun in WAC Vegas.  You can find the WAC Hoops Digest podcast the Podbean app and on all your favorite podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Remember to follow us on Twitter at @wachoopsdigest and check out our Facebook page under WAC Hoops Digest.

Kyle and Derryl Break Down the Postseason Awards and Talk WAC Vegas

GCU Lopes insider Paul Coro came on the podcast once again to talk about the big series happening at GCU Arena this weekend. The Lopes host Utah Valley with the WAC regular season title on the line for both schools. A sweep by either team means outright champions. A split means co-champions. Either way, it is a big series in the desert. And it's a series that could determine the WAC Player of the Year as well. It's a battle of the two best big men in the WAC. UVU's Fardaws Aimaq is averaging a nation-best 15.4 rebounds per game. And GCU big man Asbjørn Midtgaard is shooting well over 70 percent from the field. Both lead the nation in those respective categories.  The game could come down to the guard play. UVU features Jamison Overton and Trey Woodbury. GCU counters with Jovan Blacksher Jr. Or perhaps it will come down to the benches which are very similar in style, as well.  Either way, it should be a fun weekend at GCU Arena.  You can find the WAC Hoops Digest podcast the Anchor app and on all your favorite podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Remember to follow us on Twitter at @wachoopsdigest and check out of Facebook page under WAC Hoops Digest. Image courtesy GCU Athletics.    

GCU Lopes Insider Talks Big Series for WAC Regular Season Title

Ben Aird, Keawe Enos, Mitch Bruneel and Zach Nelson joined the podcast to reminisce about the 2013-14 season. Aird and Enos were seniors on a Utah Valley squad that went 13-3 in its first year in the WAC to win the regular season title outright.  A brawl that marred a really good basketball game, and receiving a technical on an exclamation point dunk are all part of this episode. Plus these former UVU players have some advice for Utah Valley as the Wolverines travel to Phoenix with a chance to win the WAC on the line at GCU on Friday and Saturday. You can find the WAC Hoops Digest podcast the Anchor app and on all your favorite podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Remember to follow us on Twitter at @wachoopsdigest and check out of Facebook page under WAC Hoops Digest. Image courtesy UVU Athletics.  

Former UVU Players Reminisce About Winning 2013-14 WAC Regular Season Crown

Another episode of the WAC Hoops Digest Podcast where Kyle and Tyler discuss the weekend. Also in the discussion is post-game celebrations and how we both feel about them. Give it a listen. 

Weekend Recap Plus Hot Takes on Post-Game Celebrations

New Mexico State shot the lights out. Utah Valley held off a pesky UTRGV squad that is playing with a lot of emotions. And Seattle U got defensive in its win over Grand Canyon on Friday night.  On the women's side, Tarleton State picked up one of its biggest wins of its first year at the DI level, beating New Mexico State in El Paso. Utah Valley and GCU kept pace for second place in the WAC standings. The Wolverines won at UTRGV and GCU dominated Seattle.  Craziness is the narrative of this 2020-21 season. And it's only going to get crazier as the regular season winds down.  You can find the WAC Hoops Digest podcast the Anchor app and on all your favorite podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Remember to follow us on Twitter at @wachoopsdigest and check out of Facebook page under WAC Hoops Digest. Image courtesy NMSU Athletics. 

Reaction to a Wild Friday Night of WAC Hoops

Here is a quick reaction episode of the news about UTRGV F Sean Rhea. 

Reaction to Report of UTRGV F Sean Rhea Entering Transfer Portal

CBU women's basketball head coach Jarrod Olson and point guard Ane Olaeta joined the podcast on Wednesday. The Lancers are the WAC regular season champs after sweeping GCU last weekend. Olaeta was the WAC Player of the Week and will perhaps earn WAC Player of the Year honors prior to WAC Vegas in a little under two weeks.  CBU is 20-0 overall and 12-0 in WAC play and looking to finish off an undefeated season. Due to not being eligible for the NCAA Tournament, the Lancers will play in the women's NIT when it begins the following week after the WAC Tournament.  Olaeta also talks about what she will takeaway from her time at CBU. In fact, Olaeta has started all but two games since coming to CBU prior to the 2017-18 season. And her head coach has some high praise for his talented guard who couldn't speak any English when she first came to Riverside. You can find the WAC Hoops Digest podcast the Anchor app and on all your favorite podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Remember to follow us on Twitter at @wachoopsdigest and check out of Facebook page under WAC Hoops Digest. Image courtesy CBU Athletics

CBU WBB Head Coach Jarrod Olson and Guard Ane Olaeta Join the Podcast

Three more WAC series ended in splits this past weekend. Friday night winners lost on Saturday night. Just making the WAC race that much more interesting. Plus some thoughts on WAC Vegas and how the seeding will work. 

Rapid Recap Tuesday Plus Thoughts on WAC Vegas

In this episode, Tyler and Kyle break down the weekend that saw all three series split between opponents. Winners on Friday night lost on Saturday night. It was a wild weekend. And series are going to continue to get heated as the regular season begins to wind down.    UTRGV currently sits atop the WAC standings but has only played two conference games. GCU had its 7-game winning streak snapped by CBU. Utah Valley and New Mexico State split their weekend series in El Paso. And the series between the WAC newcomers ended in a split, as well. It is just a wild season in 2020-21 and Kyle and Ty talk a little about that.  Kyle and Tyler also talk about preparing for WAC Vegas and how these back-to-back games are something teams can learn from as they prepare for the WAC tournament in just under three weeks.  You can find the WAC Hoops Digest podcast the Podbean app and on all your favorite podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Remember to follow us on Twitter at @wachoopsdigest and check out of Facebook page under WAC Hoops Digest. Image courtesy New Mexico State Athletics.   

Weekend Recap: Series Splits are Becoming the Norm

Halftime breakdown of a big WAC series in Riverside. CBU leads 39-36 over GCU. Katie Scott leads all scorers with 14 points. No Lancer was in double figures. The Lopes also forced 12 turnovers despite only shooting 25 percent in the second quarter. Fun game that could determine the WAC regular season champion. 

Halftime Breakdown of GCU at CBU

Just trying out a live podcast as we preview the GCU at CBU women's game that has huge implications for the WAC regular season crown. The Lopes and Lancers do battle in Riverside at CBU Events Center. 

WAC Hoops Pre-Game Live - GCU at CBU

The Utah Valley women's basketball team was a preseason favorite to win the WAC regular season crown. But, a slow start added with COVID issues has kind of made the Wolverines a bit of an afterthought. UVU is 6-3 overall and 4-2 in WAC play. The two losses were at the hands of undefeated California Baptist in the first conference series of the 2020-21 season. Dan Nielson explains how his team has dealt with the adversity of this pandemic season. In fact, he uses the fact that UVU has taken a back seat to GCU and CBU as motivation to get his team ready to play. The Wolverines are coming off a sweep of Chicago State last weekend where UVU didn't play particularly well. Nielson attributes some of that to being on pause for nearly two weeks.  The second-year coach is excited to have a few more practices under their belt before UVU hosts GCU on Friday and Saturday. The series was set for the last regular season weekend but both teams put it in motion to play a bit earlier after both had open weekends.  Josie Williams and Maria Carvalho are big pieces Nielson relies on. And Carvalho has to be her All-WAC self this weekend against GCU's pressure.  Both games are set to tip at 2 p.m. MT on the WAC Digital Network. You can find the WAC Hoops Digest podcast the Anchor app and on all your favorite podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Remember to follow us on Twitter at @wachoopsdigest and check out of Facebook page under WAC Hoops Digest. Image courtesy UVU Athletics.  

UVU WBB Head Coach Dan Nielson Joins the Podcast

All about WAC Hoops with analysis, conference updates, and power rankings.

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WAC Hoops Digest

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