The 2023–24 WAC men's basketball season began with practices in October followed by the start of the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in early November 2023. The conference began play in late November 2023. This is the WAC's 62nd season of basketball. The WAC competed with 11 teams due to two teams having left the conference since the prior season. Both New Mexico State and Sam Houston joined Conference USA effective July 1, 2023. The WAC tournament was held March 13–16, 2024 with the top eight teams competing for the automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament at Orleans Arena in the Las Vegas-area community of Paradise, Nevada.
This was the last WAC season for UTRGV, which announced on March 25, 2024 that it would join the Southland Conference that July.
Pre-season
WAC Media days The WAC's 2023 men's basketball media day was held on October 16.
+Men's Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll Place Team Points First place votes 1. Grand Canyon 999 2. Stephen F. Austin 872 3 Seattle U 86 -- 4. Utah Valley 61-- 5. Abilene Christian 60-- 6. Tarleton 49 -- 7. California Baptist 47-- 8. UT Arlington 43 -- 9. (T) Southern Utah 26 -- 9. (T) UTRGV 26 -- 11. Utah Tech 21 --
WAC Preseason All-Conference First Team
NameSchool Yr. Pos. Ray Harrison† Grand Canyon JuniorG Gabe McGlothan Grand Canyon SeniorF Cameron Tyson Seattle U SeniorG Sadaidriene Hall Stephen F. Austin JuniorF Drake Allen Utah Valley JuniorG † Denotes Preseason Player of the Year
Regular season
Early season tournaments
Team Tournament FinishAbilene ChristianParadise Jam2ndCalifornia BaptistThe Joust1stGrand CanyonArizona Tip-Off2ndSeattle USeattle MTE1stSouthern UtahLouisiana Tech MTE3rdStephen F. AustinCayman Islands Classic2ndTarletonSoCal Challenge1stUT ArlingtonAcrisure Classic3rdUTRGVAcrisure Invitational4thUtah TechLake Erie Classic2ndUtah ValleyJacksonville Classic (Bay Bracket)2nd
Conference USA-Western Athletic Conference Challenge DateConference USA teamWAC teamScoreLocationLeaderNovember 9FIUTarleton82–65Ocean Bank Convocation Center • Miami, FLWAC (1–0)Sam HoustonUtah Valley79–73OTBernard Johnson Coliseum • Huntsville, TXWAC (2–0)Middle TennesseeStephen F. Austin67–62Murphy Center • Murfreesboro, TNWAC (2–1)November 11Jacksonville StateUtah Tech81–79Pete Mathews Coliseum • Jacksonville, ALWAC (3–1)November 21Louisiana TechSouthern Utah67–53Thomas Assembly Center • Ruston, LAWAC (3–2)December 9LibertyGrand Canyon69–64Liberty Arena • Lynchburg, VAWAC (4–2)December 17UTEPAbilene Christian88–82Moody Coliseum • Abilene, TXWAC (5–2)December 18Jacksonville StateTarleton65–62Wisdom Gym • Stephenville, TXWAC (5–3)December 19New Mexico StateStephen F. Austin75–72William R. Johnson Coliseum • Nacogdoches, TXWAC (6–3)Western KentuckyCalifornia Baptist73–70Fowler Events Center • Riverside, CAWAC (6–4)December 20Sam HoustonGrand Canyon76–64GCU Arena • Phoenix, AZWAC (7–4)Louisiana TechSeattle79–73OTRedhawk Center • Seattle, WAWAC (8–4)LibertyUtah Valley63–79UCCU Center • Orem, UTWAC (8–5)December 22Middle TennesseeSouthern Utah69–63America First Event Center • Cedar City, UTWAC (9–5)December 30UTEPSeattle73–61Don Haskins Center • El Paso, TXWAC (10–5)Western KentuckyAbilene Christian86–84E. A. Diddle Arena • Bowling Green, KYWAC (10–6)New Mexico StateCalifornia Baptist66–61Pan American Center • Las Cruces, NMWAC (10–7)FIUUtah Tech96–92OTBurns Arena • St. George, UTWAC (11–7)WINNERS ARE IN BOLD. HOME TEAM IN ITALICS. Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game. Did not participate: UT Arlington, UT Rio Grande Valley
Records against other conferences 2023–24 records against non-conference foes:
Regular season Power Conferences & GonzagaRecordACC 0–2Big East 0–0Big Ten 0–0Big 12 1–4Pac-12 0–8SEC 0–3Gonzaga 0–0Power Conference Total 1–17Other NCAA Division I ConferencesRecordAmerica East 0–0American 0–2A-10 1–1ASUN 1–0Big Sky 5–6Big South 0–0Big West 4–3CAA 0–0C-USA 12–7Horizon 0–1Ivy League 0–1MAAC 0–0MAC 0–0MEAC 0–0MVC 1–2Mountain West 3–5NEC 0–0OVC 2–1Patriot League 0–0SoCon 0–0Southland 4–1SWAC 3–1The Summit 3–2Sun Belt 2–2WCC (except Gonzaga) 4–2Other Division I Total 46–38 Non-Division I Total 19–0NCAA Division I Total 47–55
Record against ranked non-conference opponents This is a list of games against ranked opponents only (rankings from the AP poll/Coaches poll):
Date Visitor Home Score 11/19 UT Arlington #3/3 Arizona L, 56–101 12/5 Grand Canyon #RV/25 San Diego State W, 79–73 12/21 Tarleton #8/7 Tennessee L, 46–651/1UT Arlington#24/21 TexasL, 62–79
Team rankings are reflective of AP poll/Coaches poll when the game was played, not current or final ranking.
Rankings
Improvement in ranking Drop in rankingRVReceived votes but were not ranked in Top 25NVNo votes received Pre Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Wk6 Wk7 Wk8 Wk9 Wk10 Wk11 Wk12 Wk13 Wk14 Wk15 Wk16 Wk17 Wk18 FinalAbilene Christian APNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVCNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVCalifornia Baptist APNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVCNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVGrand Canyon APNVNVNVNVNVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVNVRVRVRVNVNVNVCNVNVNVNVNVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVNVNVRVSeattle U APNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVCNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVSouthern Utah APNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVCNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVStephen F. Austin APNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVCNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVTarleton APNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVCNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVUT Arlington APNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVCNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVUTRGV APNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVCNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVUtah Tech APNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVCNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVUtah Valley APNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVCNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNV
Head coaches
Coaching changes Three coaching changes were made during the offseason. Todd Simon accepted the head coaching position at Bowling Green in March 2023. The next month, Rob Jeter began as head coach at Southern Utah. With 20 years of coaching experience at the college level, KT Turner was hired as the new head coach at UT Arlington. Mark Madsen was hired as the head coach at California and Todd Phillips was promoted from associate head coach to the head coach at Utah Valley in April 2023.
Coaches Note: Stats shown are before the beginning of the season. Overall and WAC records are from time at current school. Team Head coach Previous job Seasons at school Overall record WAC record WAC titles NCAA tournaments NCAA Final Fours NCAA ChampionshipsAbilene Christian Brette Tanner (Associate HC) 3rd 38–28 () 18–18 () 0 0 0 0California Baptist Rick Croy St. Mary's (assistant) 11th 85-66 () 38-42 () 0 0 0 0Grand Canyon Bryce Drew Vanderbilt 4th 64-27 () 33-15 () 1 2 0 0Seattle U Chris Victor (Assistant/interim HC) 3rd 43-21 () 25-11 () 1 0 0 0Southern UtahRob JeterWestern Illinois1st0-0 ()0-0 ()0000Stephen F. Austin Kyle Keller Texas A&M (assistant) 8th 145-68 () 25–11 () 1 0 0 0Tarleton Billy Gillispie Ranger College 4th 30-33 () 23-25 () 0 0 0 0UT ArlingtonK. T. TurnerKentucky (assistant)1st0-0 ()0-0 ()0000UTRGV Matt Figger Austin Peay 3rd 23-40 () 9-27 () 0 0 0 0Utah Tech Jon Judkins Snow College 19th 320-168 () 15-35 () 0 0 0 0Utah Valley Todd Phillips (Associate HC) 1st 0-0 () 0-0 () 0 0 0 0 Notes: Overall and WAC records, conference titles, etc. are from time at current school and are through the end of the 2022–23 season. Records and season totals only include time spent at Division I as head coach. NCAA tournament appearances are from time at current school only. NCAA Final Fours and Championship include time at other schools.
Postseason
WAC tournament
The conference tournament is scheduled to be played from March 13–16, 2024, at the Orleans Arena in Paradise, Nevada near Las Vegas. Eight of the eleven members are invited to the tournament. While Tarleton and Utah Tech are ineligible for the NCAA tournament, they are eligible for the WAC tournament.
NCAA tournament
Teams from the conference that were selected to participate: 1
Seed Region School First Four First round Second round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four Championship12WestGrand Canyon defeated (5) Saint Mary's 75–66 lost to (2) Alabama 61–72 BidsW-L (%):TOTAL:
National Invitation Tournament Number from the conference that were selected to participate: 0
Seed School First round Second round Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals W-L (%): TOTAL:
College Basketball Invitational Number from the conference that were selected to participate: 1
Seed School First round Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals3Seattle W-L (%): TOTAL:
CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament Number from the conference that were selected to participate: 2
Seed School First round Quarterfinals Semifinals FinalsN/AAbilene Christian N/ATarletonW-L (%): TOTAL:
Index to colors and formattingWAC member wonWAC member lost *Denotes overtime period
Awards and honors
Players of the week Throughout the conference regular season, the WAC offices name a player of the week and a newcomer of the week each Monday.
WeekPlayer of the WeekSchool Newcomer of the WeekSchool November 13DaJuan GordonUT ArlingtonDominique Daniels Jr.CBU November 20Shemar WilsonUT ArlingtonTyon Grant-FosterGrand Canyon November 27Jakorie SmithTarletonTyon Grant-FosterGrand Canyon December 4Tyon Grant-FosterGrand CanyonTyon Grant-FosterGrand Canyon December 11Gabe McGlothanGrand CanyonCaleb Stone-CarrawellUtah ValleyDecember 18Gabe McGlothanGrand CanyonPhillip RussellUT ArlingtonDecember 26Cameron TysonSeattle UDuke BrennanGrand CanyonJanuary 2KiAndre GaddyTarletonElijah ElliottUTRGVJanuary 8Gabe McGlothanGrand CanyonTyon Grant-FosterGrand CanyonJanuary 15Tyon Grant-FosterGrand CanyonTyon Grant-FosterGrand CanyonJanuary 22Dominique Daniels Jr.CBUDominique Daniels Jr.CBUJanuary 29Dominique FordSouthern UtahDominique Daniels Jr.CBUFebruary 5Lue Williams, Sr.TarletonPhillip RussellUT ArlingtonFebruary 12Jaylen SearlesUtah TechJaylen SearlesUtah TechFebruary 19DaJuan GordonUT ArlingtonJohn ChristofilisSeattle UFebruary 26DaJuan GordonUT ArlingtonDevon BarnesTarletonMarch 4Tyon Grant-FosterGrand CanyonTyon Grant-FosterGrand Canyon
Totals per school - Players of the week School Player of the weekFreshman of the weekTotalAbilene Christian UniversityCalifornia Baptist University134Grand Canyon University6713Seattle University112Southern Utah University11Stephen F. Austin State UniversityTarleton State University314University of Texas at Arlington426University of Texas Rio Grande Valley11Utah Tech University112Utah Valley University11Total171734
All-Americans
All-WAC First team NameSchool Tyon Grant-Foster‡Grand Canyon Gabe McGlothanGrand Canyon Cameron TysonSeattle Jakorie SmithTarleton DaJuan GordonUT Arlington ‡ WAC Player of the Year ‡‡ WAC Defensive Player of the Year
Second team Name School Ali Abdou DibbaAbilene Christian Dominique Daniels Jr.California Baptist Ray HarrisonGrand Canyon Alex SchumacherSeattle Shemar WilsonUT Arlington
All-Freshman team
Name School Braden HousleySouthern Utah Emmanuel InnocentiTarleton Makaih Williams†UT Arlington Aric DemingsUtah Tech Osiris GradyUtah Valley † Freshman of the Year
All-Defensive team Name School Collin MooreGrand Canyon KiAndre Gaddy‡Tarleton Emmanuel InnocentiTarleton DaJuan GordonUT Arlington Shemar WilsonUT Arlington ‡WAC Defensive Player of the Year
Other awards Sixth Man of the Year: Phillip Russell, UT Arlington
Coach of the Year: Joseph Jones, Tarleton
2024 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality Team School/club team − − −
Home game attendance