Friday's WAC news and notes

Dave Reardon leads PTW off with his report on Hawaii departing the WAC for the Mountain West Conference. Stephen Tsai also has his take.

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We got your NMSU - Arizona game reports right here: Sam Wasson/Bleed Crimson and Jason Groves/Las Cruces Sun-News.

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Here's a fascinating article on the it-ain't-over-til-the-LOI-is-signed (and maybe not even then) world of college sports recruiting. San Diego State has inked DeShawn Stephens who initially committed to Utah State (for a few days) and Kevin Young who 'supposedly' was a lock for Fresno State and attending Fresno City College. A tip of the hat to OldFigBBJ2 for locating and posting this at the Bark Board Save Mar6t Center MB.

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Here's a report on Bob Nash's season so far in Japan:

"...With a league-worst 2-8 record entering this weekend, the Saitama Broncos face an uphill battle to qualify for the bj-league playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

Coach Bob Nash, in his first season at the helm, recognizes this challenge, but is keeping a positive attitude as he tries to inspire the team to a dramatic turnaround.

"I think our guys have worked awful hard," Nash said by telephone on Tuesday. "The results may not have showed that, but they have worked awful hard."

This is Nash's first coaching job in the professional ranks after two-plus decades at the University of Hawaii, where he served as a longtime assistant coach and for the previous three seasons as the bench boss.

"We are learning," the ex-NBA player said. "This is obviously new for me with this level of play and being in a foreign country. I'm trying to learn the players and learn the system.

"It's been a little bit slower than I have anticipated. But the players have been very open and receptive to teaching and learning and that has been a real positive. They are working really hard and that's a positive. . ."

With the addition of ex-Indiana center George Leach, a standout with the Takamatsu Five Arrows and Ryukyu Golden Kings in recent seasons, the Broncos have solidified their frontcourt. The All-Star veteran is slated to make his season debut this weekend against Toyama.

Nash said Bruce Brown and Gordon Klaiber, Saitama's center and power forward, have not been as effective as the team had hoped from the get-go.

Their adjustment to this league has been a work in progress, he added.

"As a result, our post play has been inconsistent on offense and defense. That has been the biggest negative for us," Nash said.

Now it's back to square one with Leach expecting to make a major impact in the middle.

"There are brighter days ahead," Nash said. "We rededicated ourselves yesterday to getting this thing turned around."

What was his message to the team?

"We can't afford to take any more time off," Nash said. "We've got to get better in a hurry and just get back to work.

"I told the players that there's no elevator or escalator to success. It's just one step, one game, and our guys understand that."

He added: "We are losing by an average of 12 points per game, or three points per quarter. We need to be a little better on defense and a little better on offense.

"We've had 10 games to analyze where we are, who we are and what were are capable of doing, and now it's time to sharpen the focus on what were are capable of doing individually and collectively."

Bobby Nash, the coach's son, is the Broncos' leading scorer (13.0 ppg)..."

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Dayton Morinaga introduces readers to Trevor Wiseman. Dayton's preview on tonight's UH - Central Arkansas matchup includes a two-minute video interview with Assistant Coach Walter Roese.

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Leon Rice and Bill Grier will again be on the same court tonight but on opposite sides as Boise State travels to San Diego for a game. It's a homecoming for La'Shard Anderson.

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The BYU Jumbotron operator added end-of-the-game combustible material to the Cougar - USU rivalry. Check it out here.

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At the Go Vandals Vandal Basketball MB, Tron 13 confirms that now former Vandal backcourt recruit Gary Winston's new home will be Portland State.

The where-in-the-world-is-Renado-Parker search continues. We found Waldo. Renado, hopefully you're next.

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Louisiana Tech athletics writes that Justin Raqke has left the team after 1+ seasons, Stojan Gjuroski will redshirt and Romario Souza will be sitting for four games due to professional situation in Brazil.