It's WAC Monday and the links are plenty

Thanks to Rimrocker26 for posting this link at the Nevada Silver and Blue message board. It's NBA takes on Armon Johnson and Luke Babbitt:

AJ

LB

One question we have about Johnson (and don't know the answer): is he big enough to play shooting guard at the next level as playing the point doesn't appear to be his most proficient strength?

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Hide the wimmen and corral the horses -- the latest issue of The Refraction has been pixelated and Morehead State gets the business.

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Jason Groves offers a feature on the backcourt trio for New Mexico State

NMSU guards turning things around
Aggies play host to Alcorn State
Jason Groves
Las Cruces Sun-News
12/21/2009

In recent games, New Mexico State's guards have shown a glimmer of the promise that was hoped for entering the season.

Jahmar Young averaged 25.5 points in wins over UTEP and Pepperdine last week. Jonathan Gibson scored 24 against Pepperdine on 10-of-14 shooting. Hernst Laroche and Gordo Castillo combined for 25 points against UTEP.

"A lot of credit has to go to JY, Gib, Gordo and Hernst," Aggies coach Marvin Menzies said. "They have started to click and give us high percentage shots. It's a situation when the other team is making a run, they are hitting high percentage shots that we need to stop a run. Our better players have to be the one to make a play and that core of guards has been playing well together..."

Go here for the remainder.

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Junior college transfer Wes Perryman may or may not be available to Coach Greg Graham for the remainder of the season. Bone spurs are bothering him and he'll decide soon whether or not to have surgery in the near future which, if it happens, would sideline him for WAC play.

Boise State hoops: Perryman’s season close to being over
He is set to have surgery on his ankles in January, but he will likely play Monday.
Nick Jezierny
Idaho Statesman
12/21/09

Wes Perryman has been making strides in his first season with the Boise State men’s basketball team.

That season, though, is just about over for the junior college transfer unless he has a change of heart about having surgery to remove bone spurs from both of his ankles.

Perryman has scheduled surgery for Jan. 7, and he will be eligible for a medical redshirt if he plays in less than 30 percent of Boise State’s games...

Go here for the remainder.

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Yowza! Jared Eborn starts out his latest piece on Aggie basketball with a sentence not usually connected with USU hoops:

Aggies try to put pre-WAC struggles behind them
Jared Eborn
Deseret News
December 20, 2009

Something is wrong with Utah State hoops.

The Aggies, with four starters back and a team expected by most to win the Western Athletic Conference, are teetering on the edge of mediocrity — and not just according to its 6-4 record.

Utah State, a team that has led the nation in field goal shooting in both of the last two seasons and has won 23-games per year for more than a decade, is struggling.

And after an 'embarrassing' loss at Long Beach State on Friday, USU coach Stew Morrill colorfully described his mood when he gathered with the team Sunday to go over film..."

Go here for the remainder.

and

When Stew isn't happy, you will know it:

Morrill upset on eve of tourney
Shawn Harrison
Herald Journal
December 21, 2009

Two days after suffering a disappointing loss at Long Beach State, the Aggie head coach was still fuming.

When Utah State takes the court tonight in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum in the second game of the Basketball Travelers Invitational, sponsored by Gossner Foods, it will be looking for some redemption. In a conference call Sunday afternoon to discuss the upcoming three days of basketball hosted by the Aggies, USU head coach Stew Morrill spent a good portion of the time being upset with his team. He felt the 75-62 setback to the 49ers last Friday night was “embarrassing.”

“There were no words spared today in terms of that performance,” Morrill said. “I don’t know how we will respond, but at least they understand how I feel...”

Go here for the remainder.

There's little question -- no, make that no question, that the Aggies will beat Moorhead State but how they will do it is more important.

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Mark Campbell definitely has a remaining allegiance to Hawaii, this despite now being on the staff at St. Mary's and there being no doubt who he will be rooting for if these two teams match up in the Diamond Head Classic.

Campbell was instrumental in getting Riley Luettgerodt to head to the islands after the LMan's community college days in Oregon. We believe he was also involved in Brian Freeman considering UH before the big man chose Long Beach State -- a slower-than-molasses head coaching decision helped foil that possibility.

Brian McInnis has the story on Campbell's return to Hawaii:

Campbell lending Gaels a hand
Brian McInnis
Honolulu Star Bulletin
Dec 21, 2009

Hawaii assistant coach Eran Ganot put it best.

"So what's the story here? 'The prodigal son returns?' "

Pretty much.

Former Rainbow Warriors point guard Mark Campbell arrived back in Hawaii last night for the first time since his playing days ended nearly seven years ago, when he guided the Rainbows to 46 wins over UH's last NCAA Tournament year of 2001-02 and the NIT season of 2002-03...

Go here for the remainder.

and

Dayton Morinaga has the details on host Hawaii's tourney:

Eight teams welcome national exposure
Inaugural tourney to showcase talent from East to West
Dayton Morinaga
Honolulu Advertiser
December 21, 2009

There can only be one first time.

The eight teams in the inaugural Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic realize the significance of the three-day tournament, which starts tomorrow at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"This is the first one," University of Hawai'i senior forward Adhar Mayen said. "You win this one, your name is at the top of that list of champions forever."

The Rainbow Warriors will serve as the host team, but ESPN Regional Television will operate the tournament. As such, 10 of the 12 games will be televised on either ESPNU or ESPN2...

Go here for the remainder.