Pepperdine Waves
When: Friday November 24th, 4:45 PM MT Tip-off
Line: KenPom, The Lobos are favored by 8 Points
The Waves Breakdown
After spending fifteen years in Seattle at Washington, Lorenzo Romar found employment in the seaside community of Malibu, CA at Pepperdine. Coach Romar has not found much success in one of the countries toughest conferences. With his best finish (4th) coming back in 2020-2021 and nothing coming close since.
Just look at last season, with an NBA Draft pick in Maxwell Lewis, all-WCC selection Jevon Porter and four double-digit scorers making up a top-50 scoring offense in the country. The Waves still struggled, finishing 9-22 (2-14 , 10th in the WCC).
Coach Romar’s program has similar expectations to go along with similar talented players this season. And even though they fail to put it all together at times, they have a dangerous roster with high level scorers who could create nightmares for New Mexico defensively.
Pepperdine has tremendous size this season but hasn’t gotten the chance to use it. Like New Mexico the Waves have been impacted by early season injuries to former USC transfer Boubacar Coulibaly & preseason all-WCC selection Jevon Porter. Both have been out with undisclosed injuries through the Waves’ first five games.
In their place Pepperdine are being led by all-WCC preseason selection Houston Mallette, who is pouring in 20.8 PPG as a natural scorer. The 6-5 wing is absolutely hot at the moment, shooting 45.7% from the field, 83.3% from the free throw line and an impressive 50% from deep. He is joined in the scoring column by 6-7 JUCO transfer Michael Ajayi, who is averaging a double-double with 17.2 PPG & 11.2 RPG and boasting similar shooting averages (47.9% from the floor, 80% from the stripe & 60% from deep).
Pepperdine once again has pro-level talent on their roster. Not to mention a high scoring duo and the size advantage over the Lobos in the backcourt. There may not be too much faith or recent successful history surrounding the Waves program but this roster is dangerous.
Prediction: New Mexico 82, Pepperdine 74
If the Waves can utilize their highly anticipated frontcourt on Friday then this prediction could change. Having players like Coulibaly & Porter available against a Lobo team that isn’t that deep in the frontcourt could give Pepperdine the advantage. But even if they are available, game ready and impactful are two very different things, especially after injury.
Larry Muniz covers college basketball as a writer for Mountain West Wire and WAC Hoops Digest. Also as a co-host of the college basketball podcast “Hoops Talk W/Jay & Larry”. He is also a USWBA Member.