The document provides team previews for several Western Athletic Conference men's basketball teams for the 2015-2016 season. It summarizes each team's key returning players and newcomers, as well as noting the team's coach, location, and previous season's record. Highlights include Bakersfield adding transfer Damiyne Durham from Baylor, Chicago State needing breakout performances after losing four starters, and New Mexico State relying on sophomore Pascal Siakam to lead after the departure of star Daniel Mullings.

1. 216 Lindy’s Sports Annuals www.lindyssports.com 2015-16 2015-
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BAKERSFIELD
The blue floor of Bakersfield received good
news last year when Damiyne Durham announced
his intentions to transfer to the WAC school from
Baylor. It could take time for the freshman to find
his stride when he’s finally allowed to hit the floor,
but March could be the only thing that matters in
this conference. The three-star guard might be Rod
Barnes’ biggest get since taking the Bakersfield job.
Aly Ahmed’s return in the paint after his first-team
All-WAC campaign as a junior means Barnes could
have a well-rounded enough roster to finally make
a push in the WAC. Kevin Mays returns to the team
as the WAC’s leading rebounder.
ROADRUNNERS AT A GLANCE
COACH: Rod Barnes — At Bakersfield: 57-69, 4 years; over-
all: 242-257, 16 years
LOCATION: Bakersfield, Calif.
2014-15 RECORD: 14-19 overall; 7-7 WAC (Tie/4th)
2015-16 HONORS CANDIDATES: Aly Ahmed, Damiyne
Durham, Kevin Mays
KEEP AN EYE ON: The quick fix. Bakersfield has eight junior
college players on the roster, which can mean success if
enough of them jell.
RETURNING STARTERS (3): Aly Ahmed, C, 6-9, 250,
Sr. (13.9 ppg, 7.2 rpg); Kevin Mays, F, 6-4, 220, Sr.
(9.4 ppg, 8.0 rpg); Jaylin Airington, F, 6-4, 190, Jr.
(7.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
RETURNING KEY RESERVE: Brent Wrapp, G, 6-3, 175, So.
(4.4 ppg, 3.4 apg);
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH: Damiyne Durham, G, 6-4, 175;
Bradley Christian, F, 6-7, 175; Matt Smith, F, 6-6, 190;
Justin Pride, G, 5-10, 180
STARTERS LOST (2): Javonte Maynor, G, 6-0, 180
(8.9 ppg, 1.3 rpg); Tyrell Corbin, G, 6-0, 185
(5.6 ppg, 2.2 apg)
CHICAGO STATE
It never seems to get any easier for Tracy Dildy
at Chicago State. A shocking top-four finish his
first season in the WAC was followed by one in
the cellar. And now the sixth-year coach has
lost four starters, only welcoming back Trayvon
Palmer. Two of those starters were among seven
players deciding to transfer at the end of the
season. Dildy hit the junior college circuit to
bring in a trio of kids, including a guard, a wing
and a center. Graduate transfer Kieran Woods
is likely to see some time, as is true freshman
Delundre Dixon. Without breakout performances,
however, it’s a bleak outlook in Chicago.
COUGARS AT A GLANCE
COACH: Tracy Dildy — At Chicago State and overall: 42-117,
5 years
LOCATION: Chicago
2014-15 RECORD: 8-24 overall; 4-10 WAC (Tie/7th)
2015-16 HONORS CANDIDATE: Trayvon Palmer
KEEP AN EYE ON: A spark. There doesn’t seem to be one on
the roster, but all it takes is one breakout player to have
a chance to win in the WAC.
RETURNING STARTER (1): Trayvon Palmer, G/F, 6-4, 185, Jr.
(7.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
RETURNING KEY RESERVES: Montana Byrd, G, 6-4, 215,
So. (3.3 ppg, 1.2 rpg); Joshua Batson, G, 6-0, 175, Sr.
(2.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg)
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH: Jordan Madrid-Andrews, F, 6-8, 240;
Elliot Cole, G, 5-11, 170; Marcelo Ruediger, C, 6-10, 245;
Delundre Dixon, G, 6-3, 180; Kieran Woods, G, 6-2, 185
STARTERS LOST (4): Clarke Rosenberg, G, 6-4, 195
(12.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg); Joshua Meier, F, 6-8, 215
(5.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg); Anthony Glover, G, 6-2, 175
(6.8 ppg, 1.4 rpg); Sean Hill, G, 6-2, 180
(8.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg)
GRAND CANYON
Grand Canyon is still two years away from being
eligible to play in the NCAA Tournament, but
third-year coach Dan Majerle wants to win games
right now. After bringing in DeWayne Russell from
Northern Arizona last season, Majerle has brought
in two more transfers who can play right away in
Grandy Glaze from Saint Louis and Uros Ljeskovic
from Coastal Carolina. Generally, the Lopes will play
a small lineup in hopes of replicating what was the
WAC’s most efficient and highest-tempo offense, per
the advanced analytics of Ken Pomeroy. Ljeskovic
will add some much-needed size to the post, while
Joshua Braun’s return gives the Lopes two legit
scoring options in the backcourt.
ANTELOPES AT A GLANCE
COACH: Dan Majerle — At Grand Canyon and overall: 32-30,
2 years
LOCATION: Phoenix
2014-15 RECORD: 17-15 overall; 8-6 WAC (Tie/2nd)
2015-16 HONORS CANDIDATES: DeWayne Russell, Joshua
Braun
KEEP AN EYE ON: Postseason prospects. The Lopes will
look to play in their third straight CollegeInsider.com
Tournament.
RETURNING STARTERS (3): DeWayne Russell, G, 5-11, 155,
Sr. (14.2 ppg, 90 assists); Joshua Braun, G, 6-4, 195, So.
(11.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg); Kerwin Smith, F, 6-9, 200, So. (2.8
ppg, 2.3 rpg)
RETURNING KEY RESERVES: Ryan Majerle, G, 6-3, 190, Sr.
(7.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg); De’Andre Davis, G, 6-1, 180, So. (5.7
ppg, 56 assists)
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH: Grandy Glaze, F, 6-6, 235; Uros
Ljeskovic, C, 6-8, 240; Boubacar Toure, C, 6-11, 215
STARTERS LOST (2): Royce Woolridge, G, 6-3, 180 (10.6 ppg,
2.8 rpg); Jerome Garrison, G, 6-3, 200 (7.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg)
MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY
Kareem Richardson spent one season as an assis-
tant at Louisville before taking over at UMKC two
years ago, but his tenure has yet to manifest in an
up-tempo offense. Richardson has, though, built a
team that ranked second in the WAC in both steals
and blocks. It’s also developed a conference Player
of the Year as only a sophomore. Martez Harrison
will lead a group of Roos legitimately thinking
conference championship. The key may be a healthy
Shayok Shayok. He sat out due to injury after only
eight games last season, but could be a double-
double force for the Roos in the middle this season.
Contributions from junior college additions Lavell
Boyd and Dashawn King will be key.
ROOS AT A GLANCE
COACH: Kareem Richardson — At UMKC and overall: 24-39,
2 years
LOCATION: Kansas City, Mo.
2014-15 RECORD: 14-19 overall; 8-6 WAC (Tie/2nd)
2015-16 HONORS CANDIDATES: Martez Harrison,
Shayok Shayok
KEEP AN EYE ON: Tempo? Martez Harrison is the best
defensive guard in the WAC, but that needs to manifest
itself in easy baskets now.
RETURNING STARTERS (2): Martez Harrison, G, 5-11, 190,
Jr. (17.5 ppg, 3.9 apg); Shayok Shayok, F, 6-8, 220, Sr.
(8.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg)
RETURNING KEY RESERVES: Thaddeus Smith, C, 6-9, 245,
Sr. (2.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg); Darius Austin, G/F, 6-6, 210, So.
(4.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg)
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH: Dashawn King, G, 6-3, 180;
Lavell Boyd, G, 6-0, 165; Ikem Eriobuna, F, 6-9, 220
STARTERS LOST (3): Reese Holliday, F, 6-4, 215
(9.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg); Frank Williams, G, 6-6, 175
(7.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg); Deshon Taylor, G, 6-2, 165
(7.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg)
NEW MEXICO STATE
It’s a new era for Marvin Menzies and the WAC
power he’s built in Las Cruces. Star guard Daniel
Mullings, who spearheaded the Aggies to four con-
secutive conference tournament titles, has exhaust-
ed his eligibility. Sophomore Pascal Siakam will be
asked to lead a new era of Aggie stars following a
first team All-WAC season as a freshman. The Aggies
have plenty of youth with a roster featuring six
sophomores and five redshirt freshmen. The Aggies
will need a few of them to have breakout seasons to
make it five straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
Defensively, the Aggies should again be tops in the
WAC with the length they have on the perimeter.
AGGIES AT A GLANCE
COACH: Marvin Menzies — At New Mexico State and overall:
175-100, 8 years
LOCATION: Las Cruces, N.M.
2014-15 RECORD: 23-11 overall; 13-1 WAC (1st)
2015-16 HONORS CANDIDATES: Pascal Siakam, Ian Baker
KEEP AN EYE ON: Tanveer Bhullar. The 7-3 sophomore hopes
to make as big an impact as his older brother Sim Bhullar
in Las Cruces.
RETURNING STARTERS (2): Pascal Siakam, F, 6-9, 230,
So. (12.8 ppg, 7.7 rpg); Ian Baker, G, 6-0, 180, Jr.
(9.3 ppg, 2.7 apg)
RETURNING KEY RESERVES: Johnathon Wilkins, F, 6-10,
225, So. (3.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg); Travon Landry, G, 6-1, 176,
Jr. (2.0 ppg, 25 assists); Jalyn Pennie, G, 6-7, 180, So.
(2.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg)
NEWCOMER TO WATCH: Rene Esparza, G, 6-3, 175; Sidy Ndir,
G, 6-2, 180; Rashawn Brown, G, 6-1, 170
STARTERS LOST (3): Remi Barry, F, 6-8, 225 (13.2 ppg,
4.7 rpg); Daniel Mullings, G, 6-2, 170 (12.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg);
DK Eldridge, G, 6-2, 180 (8.2 ppg, 2.2 apg)
SEATTLE
Coach Cameron Dollar finally had his break-
through season at Seattle when his Redhawks
won five of their final seven games and made
a run to the WAC Tournament championship
game. Following up on that is imperative for
Dollar in his seventh season, when New Mexico
State could suffer from losing so much talent.
That will be a challenge without the hot-shooting
Isiah Umipig. A healthy Deshaun Sunderhaus
will go a long way toward giving the Redhawks a
consistent scoring option. Rebounding should be
a team strength with the return of the William
Powell and Jack Crook frontcourt. Look for Jadon
Cohee to compete for starting point guard duties.
REDHAWKS AT A GLANCE
COACH: Cameron Dollar — At Seattle and overall: 79-104,
6 years
LOCATION: Seattle
2014-15 RECORD: 18-16 overall; 7-7 WAC (Tie/4th)
2015-16 HONORS CANDIDATES: William Powell,
Deshaun Sunderhaus
KEEP AN EYE ON: The twin towers from Manchester,
England. The 7-3 Aaron Menzies is coming off his redshirt
season to join Jack Crook in the paint.
RETURNING STARTERS (2): William Powell, F, 6-6, 215,
Jr. (7.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg); Jack Crook, C, 6-11, 255, Sr.
(6.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg)
RETURNING KEY RESERVES: Jadon Cohee, G, 6-4, 185, So.
(5.7 ppg, 51 assists); Deshaun Sunderhaus, F, 6-9, 215,
Sr. (6.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg)
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH: Brendan Westendorf, G, 6-6, 200;
Jake Spurgeon, F, 6-6, 190; Aaron Menzies, C, 7-3, 250
STARTERS LOST (3): Isiah Umipig, G, 6-0, 195
(17.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg); Jarell Flora, G, 6-3, 180
(13.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg); Emerson Murray, G, 6-3, 195
(2.5 ppg, 101 assists)
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