It's feature day in the WAC

Articles on three players appeared today so here goes with USU's Tyler Newbold, Zack Moritz of Boise State and Idaho's Trevor Morris. We've always been a Newbold fan simply based on the intelligence he displays on the court. It's especially good that the latter two (Moritz and Morris) are getting some ink/pixels at long last.

Sure-handed
Shawn Harrison
Herald Journal
March 5, 2009

When the ball is in the hands of Aggie guard Tyler Newbold, it is pretty secure.

So secure, in fact, that when the rare turnover happens, you wonder what is wrong. The Utah State sophomore, known as Horse to his teammates and coaches — we’ll get to that later — just does not turn the ball over very much.

“Tyler is one of those guys that if he makes a mistake, it is like, what’s up?” USU head coach Stew Morrill said. “He is human, so he is going to make mistakes, but you don’t expect him to make any. He very seldom makes any.”

The 6-foot-4 Beehive State native has turned the ball over a few times, but less than one a game. When you factor in how often offensive plays run through him, that is saying something.

“He is such a good passer and just doesn’t turn it over,” Morrill said.

Newbold ranks second nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.72. Only Pittsburgh’s Levance Fields is ahead of the Aggie at 3.98. At one time this season, the Payson High graduate was leading the nation...

Go here for the remainder.

and

When the third-string center does get playing time, he tries to make the most of it.
Nick Jezierny
Idaho Statesman
3/05/09

Zack Moritz was one of the reasons the Boise State men's basketball team snapped a three-game losing streak Monday night at New Mexico State.

Moritz, a reserve center who rarely plays, posted career-high totals of 12 points, five rebounds and 15 minutes of action in a 104-92 win over the Aggies.

"That makes me feel great," he said. "It was very gratifying."

Moritz's reward for his breakout game likely will be his usual seat on the bench Thursday when the Broncos (18-10 overall, 8-6 WAC) play host to Fresno State (12-18, 3-11).

That's how it's been most of the season for the sophomore from Vancouver, Wash., who hadn't played in four of the team's previous five games before his Monday appearance. He averages just 6.8 minutes per game when he does play.

"It's really tough, especially game nights," Moritz said. "Practices, at least, you get to have an outlet. You try not to think about it on game nights and if (playing time) comes, it comes..."

Go here for the remainder.

and

Morris finds range
Senior guard gives Vandals boost with resurgent shooting
Josh Wright, Correspondent
Spokesman-Review
March 5, 2009

MOSCOW, Idaho – Don Verlin swears the inclination was never there, not even when Trevor Morris was in the throes of what seemed like an impossible-to-shake shooting funk.

“He’s never been told not to shoot,” the first-year Idaho coach said. “I just ask him to take good ones that are open.”

That message appears to have sunk in for Morris, the longest-tenured player on a surprising Vandals squad. The 6-foot-4 senior guard has rediscovered his long-range stroke in recent weeks, especially the past two games.

Morris pumped in 27 points and canned 7 of 9 3-pointers in a road swing through San Jose State and Fresno State last week, helping Idaho snag a much-needed split after a numbing loss to the Spartans. His resurgence is the latest in a string of rosy developments for a program picked to finish last in the Western Athletic Conference...

Go here for the remainder.