Taran Armstrong Named Preseason All-WAC First Team; Media and Coaches' Polls Released
10/17/2022 12:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball
RIVERSIDE - California Baptist University men's basketball standout Taran Armstrong was named to the 2022 Preseason All-WAC First Team by both the media and league coaches as released by the Western Athletic Conference office on Monday.
Along with the individual accolades being announced, the league also released both the preseason media and coaches' polls. The Lancers were picked fifth in both polls.
CBU wrapped up its final year of the transition period at the NCAA Division I level last season with momentum on the its side. The Lancers finished the 2021-22 season with an 18-16 record, marking the ninth straight winning season for Head Coach Rick Croy since taking over the program in the spring of 2013. CBU ended its season at the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) in Daytona Beach, Florida, where the Lancers earned their second postseason berth while in the transition period. CBU is now eligible ot participate in NCAA Championships including both the NCAA Tournament and the NIT postseason events.
CBU will open the 2022-23 season at home against Long Beach State on Nov. 7 at the CBU Events Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
California Baptist enjoyed another year of attendance growth inside the CBU Events Center, finishing only behind San Diego State, UCLA, and USC among the 15 NCAA DI programs in Southern California. Season tickets remain available by clicking the following link. Reserve Your Season Tickets Now
2022-23 WAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
2022-23 WAC Preseason Player of the Year: Jovan Blacksher Jr., Jr., G, Grand Canyon
2022-23 Preseason All-WAC First Team
Airion Simmons, Sr., F, Abilene Christian
Taran Armstrong, So., G, California Baptist
Jovan Blacksher Jr., Jr., G, Grand Canyon
Xavier Pinson, Sr., G, NM State
Cameron Tyson, Jr., G, Seattle U
Tevian Jones, Sr., G/F, Southern Utah
Justin Johnson, Sr., F, UTRGV
Trey Woodbury, Sr., G, Utah Valley
2022-23 Preseason All-WAC Second Team
Rayshon Harrison, So., G, Grand Canyon
Gabe McGlothan, Jr., F, Grand Canyon
Javion May, Sr., G, Sam Houston
Riley Grigsby, Sr., G/F, Seattle U
Maizen Fausett, Sr., F, Southern Utah
Sadaidriene Hall, So., F, Stephen F. Austin
Jaylin Jackson-Posey, So., G, Stephen F. Austin
Freddy Hicks, Jr., G/F, Tarleton
2022-23 WAC MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON MEDIA HONORS
2022-23 WAC Men's Basketball Preseason Media Poll
2022-23 WAC Preseason Player of the Year: Jovan Blacksher Jr., Jr., G, Grand Canyon
2022-23 Preseason All-WAC Team
Airion Simmons, Sr., F, Abilene Christian
Taran Armstrong, So., G, California Baptist
Jovan Blacksher Jr., Jr., G, Grand Canyon
Xavier Pinson, Sr., G, NM State
Deshawndre Washington, Jr., G, NM State
Cameron Tyson, Jr., G, Seattle U
Jaylin Jackson-Posey, So., G, Stephen F. Austin
Trey Woodbury, Sr., G, Utah Valley
Along with the individual accolades being announced, the league also released both the preseason media and coaches' polls. The Lancers were picked fifth in both polls.
CBU wrapped up its final year of the transition period at the NCAA Division I level last season with momentum on the its side. The Lancers finished the 2021-22 season with an 18-16 record, marking the ninth straight winning season for Head Coach Rick Croy since taking over the program in the spring of 2013. CBU ended its season at the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) in Daytona Beach, Florida, where the Lancers earned their second postseason berth while in the transition period. CBU is now eligible ot participate in NCAA Championships including both the NCAA Tournament and the NIT postseason events.
Armonstrong averaged 10.5 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game last season. He finished the season as the only freshman in the NCAA to average over 10 points, six assists, and five rebounds per game on the year. The last freshman guard to record a 10/6/5 average on the season came from Ja Morant of Murray State in the 2017-18 season. Armstrong finished fifth among all players in the NCAA in assists per game. Among his awards, Taran was the first Lancer in the program's history to bring home the WAC Freshman of the Year award in the program's DI history. Armstrong was no stranger to collecting WAC awards, as he finished the regular season with five TicketSmarter WAC Men's Basketball Freshman of the Week honors. Armstrong was also selected as a finalist for the Kyle Macy Award, presented every year to the top rookie in DI men's college basketball.Taran Armstrong was named to the 2022-23 Preseason All-WAC First Team by both the media and league coaches today!
— California Baptist Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) October 17, 2022
👉 https://t.co/kG5i4Q8ieH#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/XHQJkozB9g
CBU will open the 2022-23 season at home against Long Beach State on Nov. 7 at the CBU Events Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
California Baptist enjoyed another year of attendance growth inside the CBU Events Center, finishing only behind San Diego State, UCLA, and USC among the 15 NCAA DI programs in Southern California. Season tickets remain available by clicking the following link. Reserve Your Season Tickets Now
2022-23 WAC MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON HONORSReady for action!
— California Baptist Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) August 3, 2022
🗓 - https://t.co/KL4HMui8VW
🎟 - https://t.co/MXaJCcUAGk#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/ZfqBct8L0u
2022-23 WAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Rank | Team (1st-Place Votes) | Points |
| 1. | Grand Canyon (8) | 135 |
| 2. | NM State (3) | 127 |
| 3. | Stephen F. Austin | 111 |
| 4. | Abilene Christian (1) | 101 |
| 5. | California Baptist (1) | 96 |
| 6. | Seattle U | 91 |
| 7. | Utah Valley | 85 |
| 8. | Sam Houston | 79 |
| 9. | Southern Utah | 66 |
| 10. | Tarleton | 47 |
| 11. | UT Arlington | 31 |
| 12. | Utah Tech | 29 |
| 13. | UTRGV | 16 |
2022-23 WAC Preseason Player of the Year: Jovan Blacksher Jr., Jr., G, Grand Canyon
2022-23 Preseason All-WAC First Team
Airion Simmons, Sr., F, Abilene Christian
Taran Armstrong, So., G, California Baptist
Jovan Blacksher Jr., Jr., G, Grand Canyon
Xavier Pinson, Sr., G, NM State
Cameron Tyson, Jr., G, Seattle U
Tevian Jones, Sr., G/F, Southern Utah
Justin Johnson, Sr., F, UTRGV
Trey Woodbury, Sr., G, Utah Valley
2022-23 Preseason All-WAC Second Team
Rayshon Harrison, So., G, Grand Canyon
Gabe McGlothan, Jr., F, Grand Canyon
Javion May, Sr., G, Sam Houston
Riley Grigsby, Sr., G/F, Seattle U
Maizen Fausett, Sr., F, Southern Utah
Sadaidriene Hall, So., F, Stephen F. Austin
Jaylin Jackson-Posey, So., G, Stephen F. Austin
Freddy Hicks, Jr., G/F, Tarleton
2022-23 WAC MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON MEDIA HONORS
2022-23 WAC Men's Basketball Preseason Media Poll
| Rank | Team |
| 1. | Grand Canyon |
| 2. | NM State |
| 3. | Stephen F. Austin |
| 4. | Abilene Christian |
| 5. | California Baptist |
| 6. | Sam Houston |
| Seattle U | |
| 8. | Utah Valley |
| 9. | Southern Utah |
| 10. | UT Arlington |
| 11. | Tarleton |
| 12. | Utah Tech |
| 13. | UTRGV |
2022-23 WAC Preseason Player of the Year: Jovan Blacksher Jr., Jr., G, Grand Canyon
2022-23 Preseason All-WAC Team
Airion Simmons, Sr., F, Abilene Christian
Taran Armstrong, So., G, California Baptist
Jovan Blacksher Jr., Jr., G, Grand Canyon
Xavier Pinson, Sr., G, NM State
Deshawndre Washington, Jr., G, NM State
Cameron Tyson, Jr., G, Seattle U
Jaylin Jackson-Posey, So., G, Stephen F. Austin
Trey Woodbury, Sr., G, Utah Valley
Players Mentioned
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