You really didn’t think I was just going to stop writing, podcasting, and covering college basketball, did you?
Come on, now. Be Real.
Okay, sure, it crossed my mind. I got a promotion in February at my current full-time job, which eats up a lot of time. My little guy is now 9 and demands more of dad’s time. And my wife, bless her heart, has put up with me covering the sport I love for the past 10 years, and she wanted some more time at home together.
However, the number of people who reached out, whether via email, text, or social media messages, made me reconsider my position after the end of the 2025-26 season.
As you all know, the Western Athletic Conference rebranded today…officially. Technically, it rebranded a few days before July 1, 2026.
But we won’t hold it against the league we covered religiously over the past seven seasons.
With Utah Valley and California Baptist moving to the Big West, and Utah Tech and Southern Utah moving to the Big Sky, something had to change with the brand.
“UAC Hoops Nation.”
“Big West Hoops Nation.”
“Big Sky Hoops Nation.”
It was coming from all angles.
WAC Hoops Nation covered two teams currently in Conference USA.
There are currently three teams in the Southland Conference that we covered during their short time in the WAC.
GCU jumped to the Mountain West.
Seattle U is part of the West Coast Conference, where it belongs.
You get the gist.
With that being said, Unfiltered Hoops Nation begins. Coverage begins with the former WAC teams since 2019.
Abilene Christian, California Baptist, GCU, New Mexico State, Sam Houston, Seattle U, Southern Utah, Stephen F. Austin, Utah Tech, Utah Valley, UT Arlington, and UTRGV.
Teams that we have established relationships with. Despite coaching changes at the various schools, there are still relationships with admins, athletic staff, coaches, and fans.
This is where Unfiltered Hoops Nation begins.
Trips to Nacogdoches, Edinburg, Las Cruces, Cedar City, DFW Metroplex, Riverside, St. George, Orem, and more.
We will be coming to an arena near you, providing coverage for teams that oftentimes get left out of mainstream media coverage.
That is, unless they are winning a conference tournament and going dancing.
Look at Utah Valley….back-to-back WAC regular season titles. 15-1 in WAC play in 2024-25 and 14-4 in WAC play in 2025-26. Yes, the Wolverines came up short both seasons in the WAC title game. Don’t get me started on the craziness of Dominique Daniels Jr. in the final 90 seconds at Orleans Arena in March.
But the Wolverines got very little love for the success in years two and three under Todd Phillips from local media.
California Baptist got more mainstream media love AFTER winning the WAC Tournament than it has during its entire time at the Division I level.
Jon Judkins didn’t think he would be a head coach one day. Now, the Utah Tech head coach is the winningest in the state of Utah.
It goes on and on. Sure, some media pundits talk about these teams.
But it’s not enough.
That is why WAC Hoops Nation began, and it is why WAC Hoops Nation is rebranding to Unfiltered Hoops Nation.
To tell stories. To give media coverage to teams that don’t get a lot of media coverage, even in their own hometowns. And to take fans a little more behind the scenes of an ever-changing landscape in college basketball.
As we tell these stories, Unfiltered will grow to cover more teams in the leagues, especially at the mid-major level. We have connections in all kinds of leagues, from the MAC to the Big South and so forth.
Along with the website, a new Unfiltered Hoops Nation Podcast will provide unfiltered interviews that are more than just a simple ‘tell us about x or talk to us about o.’ Funny stories, things you never knew about a coach or player, and more.
It’s all unfiltered.
WAC Hoops Nation grew to over 6800 followers on X.
We want to grow Unfiltered Hoops Nation to over 10,000 followers on X.
Share with your friends, fellow fans, and more.
You teams deserve media coverage, and we intend to give them that…in an unfiltered manner.
