Andy Katz, Doug Gottlieb and a little WAC love

Andy Katz and Doug Gottlieb offer the WAC -- actually, make that mostly Utah State -- some hugs and kisses in a recent column (and do read the entire piece):

Teams to watch

Utah State: The Aggies are the class of the WAC once again and are led by a senior crew that is looking for its fourth straight regular-season title. Utah State will get plenty attention early with games against Utah, BYU and Georgetown. Once conference season begins, look for Tai Wesley and the Ags to fend off New Mexico State for the WAC title.

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Nonconference games to watch

Utah State at Georgetown, Dec. 4: USU coach Stew Morrill had been stubbornly against going on the road without a return against a power-six conference team. He finally took the plunge and should benefit -- win or lose -- from this venture to D.C. This will be as much of a test for the Hoyas as it will be for the Aggies, who must show well on the East Coast to create some believers come March. This game won't affect Utah State's winning the WAC but certainly could help with seeding or at-large selection (if needed).

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Five coaches who don't get enough love

Stew Morrill, Utah State: There is reason for concern, as conference realignment left USU stuck in what is now a six-team WAC for 2012. But as long as Morrill is coaching the Aggies, there is hope. He is a lock for 20-plus wins and a postseason berth every season, and he's made seven NCAA tourney appearances since 2000. This towering presence runs a myriad of sets and constantly keeps opposing coaches up late. Morrill won at Montana and Colorado State and continues to cruise in Logan.

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Five mid-major conference races to watch

WAC

You might not have noticed, but the WAC was one of the country's best non-major conferences in 2009-10. The reason? A star-dominated Nevada team featuring Luke Babbitt and Armon Johnson, a brilliant offensive conference champ in Utah State, a pair of 20-win teams in New Mexico State and Louisiana Tech, and a handful of mid-level teams with the ability to beat any of the big boys on any given night.

Johnson and Babbitt left Nevada for the NBA, but the WAC should still be worth the watch. Utah State is the clear favorite yet again: The Aggies return almost every major contributor -- Tai Wesley, Nate Bendall, Pooh Williams, Tyler Newbold -- from a team that ranked No. 18 in the nation in offensive efficiency last season. But that group, for all its talent, will be challenged by an experienced, senior-dominated New Mexico State team that played some of the better offense in the country itself last season. The Aggies also feature one of the country's best offensive rebounders in 7-foot center Hamidu Rahman. Then there's efficient junior Troy Gillenwater (who should get a much higher percentage of his team's minutes in 2010-11) and 6-6 senior Wendell McKines, all significant contributors in last year's 22-win campaign.

Nor is the WAC strictly a two-team race. Even without its two NBA-caliber stars, Nevada will be displeased with anything below a third-place finish, and upstarts like Boise State, Fresno State and San Jose State all feature a smattering of likely all-conference selections.

So, yes, the WAC can play. In 2009-10, the only better "mid-major" conferences, in so far as that term is appropriate, were the Mountain West, Conference USA and Atlantic 10. Don't expect a dropoff in 2010-11. Instead, expect a competitive race to unseat Utah State.