More thoughts on the WAC

So the basketball portion of the Western Athletic Conference, at least right now (key term), is going to consist of:

* Denver
* Idaho
* Louisiana Tech
* New Mexico State
* San Jose State University
* Seattle University
* Texas Arlington
* Texas State
* UT San Antonio
* Utah State

There's no talk of two divisions but it geographically rounds out to:

* Denver
* Idaho
* San Jose State University
* Seattle
* Utah State

* Louisiana Tech
* New Mexico State
* Texas Arlington
* Texas State
* UT San Antonio

Plus, Boise State will rejoin the WAC in basketball on 7-1-2013 although it's seem a sure bet that the conference membership will have changed by then.

Overall, this is dispiriting.

The fact is the losses of Nevada, Hawaii and Fresno State really lower the conference stature although it's also true that having them as members didn't exactly have the league breaking into the top ten nationally.

Plus, quick words of warning spoken and typed earlier: New Mexico State and Utah State have to win the WAC 2013 tourney or face participation in a second or third tier post-season tournament. That isn't changing.

But as for the newbies:

Denver finished 22-9, 11-5 in the Sun Belt Conference (with wins against Southern Mississippi, St. Mary's and Utah State) but loses five seniors. What's also interesting is that the Pioneers play a Princeton-style offense which frustrates defenders. Also, Joe Scott's squad isn't very big on the frontline.

As an independent, Seattle completed the season at 12-15 (twin losses to Idaho, one to SJSU and and a split with Utah State) and three seniors who started most of the season are departing.

Texas Arlington notched a 24-9, 15-1 year, with two seniors starters now saying sayonara. The Mustangs were members of the Southland Conference.

It was a 13-17, 5-11 finish for Texas State and two senior starters bidding adieu to the Bobcats, also in the Southland Conference.

The third Southland Conference squad, UT San Antonio, posted an 18-14, 10-6 record and will be minus but one significant contributor. The Roadrunners (gotta love that nickname) topped Fresno State but fell to San Jose State University this season.

Maybe new rivalries can be developed but it's very hard, considering the additions, to see any sort of fan/media attention increasing locally or nationwide nor attendance going up at the WAC tournament.