Down and Up

 I want to be very careful with this post. After the contest between the UT Arlington Mavericks and Grand Canyon 'Lopes in Arlington, I was ready to write a post blasting the officials in the game. The stir on social media has been very critical of the Western Athletic Conference officials. While UTA committed 25 turnovers (GCU had 19), they won most every other stat category: FG's (19-16), FG percentage (36.5% to 29.6%), 3's (5 to 4), but the free throws were way out of whack. GCU went 31-36 from the charity stripe while UTA was 18-20. The refs determined UTA committed a foul 27 times, the 'Lopes? only 19.

I was ready to write a post about it, similar to what I did after the Lady Mavs lost to Iowa State in the NCAA Tournament. But in the end, I don't want this blog to be a source of negativity or complaints. 

So I brooded a bit after the 67-61 loss and just sat back and enjoyed the ride. After the loss, UTA fell to 9-11 on the year. As of this post, they are now 16-13, having gone 7-2 in that stretch. The two losses were by a combined three points.

Going into the final week, UTA has locked a top-four seed for the conference tournament, securing themselves a first-round bye while the top two get a second-round bye. Seeds five through eight beat each other up in the first round, then three and four get the match-up. UTA would need an upset to get to the Championship game, but unlike years past, there's no team I fear.

Abilene Christian and Tarleton State proved Grand Canyon is beatable. While UTA is 0-2 against the 'Lopes, the Mavs had a lead late in both games: under three minutes in Phoenix (tied with a minute and a half left) and held a lead at home with almost a minute left in the game,

The Mavs lost to Tarleton twice too. Both losses were by two points, though a furious rally at home brought it closer. Mavs actually had a chance at the end with a steal and missed lay-up at the buzzer. If those teams meet again, I expect another slugfest.

Ironically enough, the team in the top four that scares me a little is Seattle, a team UTA swept in the regular season. In my experience, it is hard to beat a team three times and UTA's first-half drubbing in Seattle won't be forgotten. The Redhawks actually won the second half. 

UT Rio Grande Valley and Southern Utah have been eliminated. Utah Tech is in ninth, would need to win two and have either Stephen F. Austin or California Baptist lose two. Not likely, though with CBU coming to Arlington, then hosting Grand Canyon, Mavs are hoping for that.

The Trailblazers have injury-plagued UTRGV and then SFA left. The 'jacks also host Southern Utah.

The Mavs are 2-0 against current fifth-place Utah Valley, 1-1 against sixth and surging ACU, 1-1 versus SFA, 0-1 against CBU and 2-0 versus Utah Tech.

I point that out to say there's going to be no easy game. SFA may be headed in the wrong direction with injuries, but there is no love lost between those two teams. Plus, the struggling team may not make it past the first round. 

The Mavs have started to gel in February because they are starting to play as a team. They were number seven in Kenpom's efficiency margin improvement from the start to the end of February. Prior to February, you had three or four playing as a team and one or two trying to force something. Now it appears as though everyone is on the same page and united as one team.

Four guys are averaging double digit in points: Phillip Russell (13.9), DaJuan Gordan (12.9), Shemar Wilson (12) and Makiah Williams (11.1). Gordon and Wilson are double-double threats game in and out with Gordan leading the conference in that stat. Both guys get eight or more boards a game. 

But on any given day, half the team can become a scoring threat. The following players have led the team in scoring: Gordon (6), Wilson (6), Williams (6), Russell (5), Aaron Cash (3), Kade Douglas (3), Fabio Basili (1) and Akili Vining (1). That's eight players, more than half the team. In one game, all 13 players who entered the game scored. This team is a balanced offense.

UTA is first in the conference in three-point field goal percentage, second in offensive rebounds and third in scoring. They are middle of the pack defensively: seventh in scoring, fifth in field goal percentage and rebounds. They are vulnerable at the three-point line, sitting tenth in the WAC.

Fan support and excitement have also been better this year. I've haven't seen social media this abuzz in many years. The 1,771 average fans is the most since 1,881 in 2018-19. The five 2,000 plus fan games eclipses the one from last year, the two from 2021-22, the none in the COVID 2020-21 season, the two in 2019-20 and the four in 2018-19.

If 3,441 attend senior night on Thursday, UTA will surpass the attendance average from 2018-19. Not likely, but this year's team has put in the work and earned that support. I'll be there, ready to send out to WAC Vegas and hopefully gear them up for a few postseason games.