Tuesday's initial whack at WAC links

"The March to 18" took a detour last night as Northern Colorado pulled it out against Hawaii last night:

Northern Colorado takes Rainbow Classic title
Brian McInnis
Honolulu Advertiser
November 17, 2009

After a colossal meltdown, Hawaii had almost enough magic to rally for an improbable win.

But Northern Colorado held off a furious Rainbow Warriors comeback for a 81-75 win in the championship of the 46th Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center...

Go here for the remainder.


Boise State goes big with its first men's basketball signing -- he's the anti Kurt Cunningham, Mills most recently was said to weigh 'roughly' 220 (hey, so are we but we'll bet you a Thanksgiving turkey/tofurkey that the number on his scale doesn't come close to the one on ours) -- as Nick Jezierny reports.

Seven-footer signs with Boise State men
Nick Jezierny
Idaho Statesman
11/17/09

Ben Mills has grown 12 inches since he started high school, and the interest in the 7-foot forward has grown almost as rapidly as he has.

Mills, a senior at Arrowhead High in Hartland, Wisc., had 19 scholarship offers to play college basketball. He signed a national letter of intent to join the Boise State program, the school announced Monday.

It's been a hectic few summers for Mills, who averaged 13.8 points and 9.2 rebounds last season as a junior...

Go here for the remainder.


Credit Sam Wasson with locating just about all the following links, plus what he himself wrote:

The Daily Aggie
Sam Wasson
11/17/09

The Aggie men's basketball team takes the floor tonight against the hated in-state rival Lobos in a game that despite all it's importance of being a rivalry game, it holds even more importance for the Aggies in terms of hitting the reset button the season. The Aggies did not perform well in their season opener on Friday night against St. Mary's and Coach Menzies told us in our weekly interview that he believes that his team just needs to play the same why they've done in practice.

It should also be noted that St. Mary's lit up a very very good San Diego State team last night winning 80-58. That being said, the Aggies must get better performances from their backcourt of Jahmar Young and Jonathan Gibson. Even though the duo combined for 30 points against St. Mary's, it never felt as though they were in control of the offense. One other player that needs to step up is Gordo Castillo. Castillo was off target for the majority of the St. Mary's game finishing with just five points and the Aggies need Castillo to showcase his shooting ability, particularly while Wendell McKines and Troy Gillenwater, two able scorers, are out of the lineup....

Go here for the remainder.

Aggies look for better showing in home opener vs. UNM
Jason Groves
Las Cruces Sun-News
11/16/2009

Every season, there is going to be one or two games that can be thrown out for any number of reasons. It's a long season and there are going to be off-nights from time to time.

New Mexico State men's basketball coach Marvin Menzies believes Friday's 100-68 season opening loss to Saint Mary's on the road is one of those occasions.

"We played so much better in practice and have done a good job in terms of our goals as a defensive team," said Menzies, who is 2-0 in home openers at NMSU. "They have been great in practice and I feel comfortable that we have improved drastically in that area."

Go here for the remainder.


Sam has his weekly interview with Coach Marvin Menzies here.

Two of a kind: Gibson and Martinez lone seniors on teams
Jason Groves
Las cruces Sun-News
11/17/2009

Jonathan Gibson and Roman Martinez are different types of players.

Both get the job done in the classroom, but they bring different strengths to the basketball court for their respective teams.

However, they share the elder statesman status entering tonight's I-25 men's basketball rivalry game between New Mexico State and the University of New Mexico.

Gibson is the Aggies lone scholarship senior and Martinez is the Lobos' only senior.

Go here for the remainder.


Here is a Jason Groves blog entry chock full of information about Aggie basketball.


Here's another fine Gordo Castillo feature.


Chris Murray has a feature up on Wednesday's Nevada - UNLV grudge match.