If there is one common concern among WAC coaches...

Definition: turnovers are a combination of forced and unforced errors that hand the ball over to the opponents.

Go ahead and try and name a WAC coach who hasn't expressed concern over the turnover rate of his team this season.

A primary factor in all this is the inexperience, the 'newness' of the makeup of many of the rosters in the WAC and also at the point position in 2008-2009. It takes some time playing together to understand how to get someone the ball where a teammate prefers and can be the most successful and also to determine what is and isn't do-able at the D-1 level.

As for each squad...only two WAC teams are in the plus for turnover ratio, New Mexico State and Nevada.

Boise State has committed 134 turnovers to 105 for opposing teams. Point guard Anthony Thomas is experienced but is edging towards three turnovers a contest (however, this is close to his 2007-2008 numbers). Having a number of new Broncos on the roster has contributed to a less than enviable TO rate but what also needs factoring into the situation is having players thrust into unfamiliar major minutes playing roles. Losing four senior starters is playing out in Boise as the team is still adjusting to being on the court together.

Fresno State played Dwight O'Neil at the point early on -- someone more comfortable as a 2 -- but is now primarily using freshman Bryce Cartwright there. Despite this and along with a bevy of newcomers, the Bulldogs have just a -26 (128-102) number of turnovers. Cartwright sports a 31-18 assist-to-turnover rate after eight games and is playing just below 21 minutes a contest. These numbers bode quite well for the rest of the season considering the Bulldogs often have three freshman on the floor at times.

Hawaii Coach Bob Nash's squad is definitely suffering from the turnover-itis. Here is another team that lost a large contingent of seniors and has 116 turnovers to 78 for opponents in six games. Of late, 22 turnovers on the road versus Big 10 power Illinois is not particularly alarming but 21 were totaled against Prairie View A & M and 21 against Idaho State -- making it appear the Hawaii turnover problem is more an internal one than opponent-caused. Hiram Thompson, who has been injured this season, looks to be the most well-rounded of the Hawaii point guard but he is just getting healthy. Kareem Nitoto has filled in but his shooting woes and 20-18 assist-to-turnover numbers indicate he's better suited as a backup. Lasha Parghalava has also spent time at the point.

As Nash was quoted in one of Brian McInnis' recent Honolulu Star Bulletin articles: ""You take away some of those turnovers, we're right there at the end with a chance to tie it up or win...I thought we did a really good job at (all the little things to rebound). But they won the game because we turned the ball over and that's the issue we have to address."

Idaho also has multiple newcomers as Coach Don Verlin is in process of turning that program into a competitive one. The Vandals are sitting at 134 turnovers to 121 for opponents. Backcourters Mac Hopson, Kashif Watson and Terrance Simmons are leading in assists respectively but only Simmons is sporting a solid numbers 24-10 assist-to-turnover ratio.

The headline at the Vandals site for the recent loss to Portland is indicative: "Turnovers costly on the road for Idaho." This bunch needs more experience playing together.

Louisiana Tech actually lacks a true point and yes, it's numbers indicate such: 137 turnovers to 118 for opposing teams. Kyle Gibson, at 26-24 assists-to-turnovers, is doing the best of anyone on the roster but he's more comfortable at shooting guard or on the wing. This seems like it will be an on-going problem until experience can be gained or a new point recruited.

Illness, suspensions and newcomers have played havoc with Nevada's progress so far this season and still the Pack has 97 turnovers to 115 for opponents. Though ill for a couple of games, Armon Johnson has compiled a 40-19 assist-to-turnover ratio over eight games. That will be bettered as the season continues on and as the team gets more familiar with each other. Brandon Fields also certainly won't continue at his astounding 3-17 pace. He finished 79/58 in 2007-2008 albeit aided by playing alongside Marcellus Kemp and JaVale McGee.

Hey, hand it to New Mexico State. A 94 turnovers to 111 for opponents isn't great but give a tip of the hat to the Aggies for having produced such a ratio amidst so many newcomers. Freshman Hernst Laroche has posted 27-10 assist-to-turnovers numbers and Jahmar Young has actually bettered Jonathan Gibson in assist totals (but also in turnovers).

San Jose State has out-assisted opponents (66-64) but also leads in the turnover category (but it's close), 103-95. Point Justin Graham is even up with 24 assists and turnovers which actually is a dramatic improvement over last season (76-117). He needs to get his ratio into the plus side and now having Washington transfer Adrian Oliver eligible will help. The best-passing big in the WAC, C.J., Webster, continuing from last year, has passed for nine assists and committed 5 turnovers.

Utah State is in the midst of installing a new backcourt and has a 73-61 USU-opponents turnover differential. Jared Quayle and Jaxon Myaer are adjusting at the point and remain positive in their assist-to-turnover numbers but what jumps out are two numbers:

*** power forward Tai Wesley's 27 assists -- that and just 13 turnovers.

*** off guard/wing Tyler Newbold's 14 assists versus one solitary turnover

Even big Gary Wilkinso is at 14-9.

Yes, there are a multitude of factors at play here. Besides the aforementioned, there's quality of opponent, number of home versus away games, etc.

Anyway, here's the official WAC numbers:

ASSISTS
# Team G Assists Avg/G
-----------------------------------------
1.Utah State.......... 6 109 18.17
2.Fresno State........ 8 133 16.63
3.Boise State......... 8 128 16.00
4.Idaho............... 9 134 14.89
5.New Mexico State.... 7 99 14.14
6.Nevada.............. 8 94 11.75
7.Louisiana Tech...... 8 92 11.50
8.Hawaii.............. 6 68 11.33
9.San Jose State...... 6 66 11.00



TURNOVER MARGIN
# Team G TEAM Avg OPP Avg Margin
-------------------------------------------------------
1.New Mexico State.... 7 94 13.4 111 15.9 +2.43
2.Nevada.............. 8 97 12.1 115 14.4 +2.25
3.San Jose State...... 6 103 17.2 95 15.8 -1.33
4.Idaho............... 9 134 14.9 121 13.4 -1.44
5.Utah State.......... 6 73 12.2 61 10.2 -2.00
6.Louisiana Tech...... 8 137 17.1 118 14.8 -2.38
7.Fresno State........ 8 128 16.0 102 12.8 -3.25
8.Boise State......... 8 134 16.8 105 13.1 -3.63
9.Hawaii.............. 6 116 19.3 78 13.0 -6.33



ASSIST/TURNOVER RATIO
# Team G Asst Avg Turn Avg Ratio
-------------------------------------------------------
1.Utah State.......... 6 109 18.2 73 12.2 1.49
2.New Mexico State.... 7 99 14.1 94 13.4 1.05
3.Fresno State........ 8 133 16.6 128 16.0 1.04
4.Idaho............... 9 134 14.9 134 14.9 1.00
5.Nevada.............. 8 94 11.8 97 12.1 0.97
6.Boise State......... 8 128 16.0 134 16.8 0.96
7.Louisiana Tech...... 8 92 11.5 137 17.1 0.67
8.San Jose State...... 6 66 11.0 103 17.2 0.64
9.Hawaii.............. 6 68 11.3 116 19.3 0.59


ASSIST/TURNOVER RATIO (Min. 3.0 assists/game)
## Player-Team Cl G Asst Avg Turn Avg Ratio
---------------------------------------------------------------
1.Laroche, Hernst-NMSU..... FR 7 27 3.9 10 1.4 2.70
2.Simmons, Terrence-UI..... SR 9 27 3.0 12 1.3 2.25
3.Johnson, Armon-NEV....... SO 8 40 5.0 19 2.4 2.11
4.Wesley, Tai-USU.......... SO 6 27 4.5 13 2.2 2.08
5.Thomas, Anthony-BSU...... JR 8 40 5.0 21 2.6 1.90
6.Cartwright, Bryce-FS..... FR 8 31 3.9 18 2.3 1.72
7.Hopson, Mac-UI........... JR 9 52 5.8 31 3.4 1.68
8.Gibson, Jonathan-NMSU.... JR 6 22 3.7 17 2.8 1.29
9.O'Neil, Dwight-FS........ SR 8 45 5.6 36 4.5 1.25
10.Young, Jahmar-NMSU....... FR 7 25 3.6 21 3.0 1.19