Kyle Barone named WAC POW

Idaho’s Kyle Barone has been named the Western Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Dec. 24-30.

Barone, a senior center from Garden Grove, Calif. (Pacifica HS), led Idaho to a 71-64 comeback win in its WAC opener at Seattle U. Barone scored 25 points and pulled down 11 rebounds, despite regularly facing double- and triple-teams all night with leading scorer Stephen Madison on the bench in foul trouble. Barone’s 25 points are a season high and tie his career high. He now has three 20/10 games this season and back-to-back 20/10 games for the first time in his career. Barone had a season-high seven offensive rebounds and a season-high-tying 11 total rebounds in the win. He scored 16 of Idaho’s 38 points in the second half, going 8-of-10 from the free throw line in the second half and converting two of three 3-point plays during the game. In his last three games, Barone is averaging 21.3 points and 9.0 rebounds on 22-of-31 (.710) overall and 20-of-22 (.909) free throw shooting.

Other nominees:

* New Mexico State sophomore guard Daniel Mullings scored a game-high 21 points in at UT Arlington

* San Jose State junior forward Chris Cunningham recorded an 11-point, 14-rebound double-double in a win at Texas State 

* Seattle U D'Vonne Pickett Jr. scored a season-high 17 points versus Idaho

* UT Arlington senior forward Kevin Butler 18 points with six rebounds in a win over New Mexico State

* UTSA junior guard/forward Jordan Sims scored 20 points with five assists against Utah State

* Utah State junior guard Preston Medlin scored scored a season-high 24 points in a road win at UTSA.

Two more Monday links

So Sekou Wiggs must still be interested in Idaho? Or is he just home in the Emerald City on break? Wiggs had given Coach Don Verlin a verbal but didn't sign back in November.

A Garrett Tucker tweet: "2013 wing Sekou Wiggs of Kingdom Prep (GA) is in attendance for the Seattle-Idaho game tonight"

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From a holiday wish list Teddy Feinberg commentary: "...Aggie basketball identity: This comes particularly on the offensive end of the court for the men's team, which has had its struggles thus far. What's been missing? Namely a go-to scorer and playing time for the team's outside shooters. They also simply haven't had the same senior firepower that fans have been accustom to from past years (whether it be a Wendell McKines, Herst Laroche, Jonathan Gibson or even juniors like Jahmar Young or Troy Gillenwater). Marvin Menzies-led teams have shown a penchant for this in the past - slow starts to the season, heating up in February and into tournament play in March. While this year's personnel is different than years past, at the moment, simply developing an offensive identity and some go-to players would be good short-term goals..."

The world of the WAC on Monday

Four matchups are on the slate in the WAC, the last for 2012:

Texas State goes from the frying pan to the fire in facing visiting Utah State. As for the Bobcats loss to SJSU: “I apologize for this to anybody who was at the game,” [Coach Doug] Davalos said. “I’m very disappointed. This is on me. We didn’t come out and play like we needed to play.”

USU athletics and Texas State athletics preview.

Kraig Williams looks at the Aggies and Shawn Harrison is in San Marcos.

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Texas San Antonio plays host to San Jose State University.

Roadrunner athletics and Spartan athletics preview as does Inside Runner Sports.

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UT Arlington hosts Denver.

Maverick athletics and Pioneer athletics preview. Mike Chambers looks at Denver so far this season.

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New Mexico State has a lot to prove in a pairing up in Ruston with Louisiana Tech. Can the Aggies put the stench of Saturday's game behind them?

Bulldog athletics and Aggie athletics preview. Jason Groves reports on a players-only meeting for NMSU after the stinker in Arlington. Matt Vines serves up a feature on Michale Kyser.

More for Sunday

No games are scheduled until Monday.

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Daniel Martin looks at different angles of Quincy Bair's departure from USU.

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Jeff Faraudo lays out his WAC team predictions.

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USU Stats takes a look at this season's Aggies.

Sunday: reports on last night's games

There ain't no welcome mat in the WAC. 

San Jose State University went into San Marcos and took down Texas State 72-55 behind an 11/14 double-double from forward Chris Cunningham plus a career high 16 points from JC transfer Louis Garrett. Forward Joel Wright posted 22 points and six rebounds for the home team. SJSU shot 52% overall to 32% for the Bobcats. Coach George Nessman's squad stands 6-5 with a matchup upcoming versus Texas San Antonio while Coach Doug Davalos' bunch is 4-9 with the pleasure of next going against Utah State. To demonstrate what a day it was for Texas State, Matt Staff missed his first free throw of the season, ending his streak at 35.

Spartan athletics and Bobcat athletics game report -- likewise Tyler Mayforth who was on press row.

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Utah State (now 10-1) had a much tougher task down the Alamo way as the Aggies got by Texas (now 4-7) San Antonio 71-67. Preston (what slump?) Medlin went for 24 points, S Butterfield totaled 14 points and seven boards while center Jarred Shaw contributed 11/9. The odd thing is the Logan-ites shot 62% but garnered just eight assists. A trio of Roadrunners hit double figures: Jordan Sims with 20 points, Kannon Burrage at 14 plus Jeromie Hill just missing a double-double at 14/9.

A big shout out to the Herald Journal management as Shawn Harrison was present in San Antonio -- Jerry Briggs reports from the Roadrunner perspective. Matt Sonnenberg also checks in as does Sheldon Baker/Inside Runner Sports.

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Host Louisiana (now 10-3) Tech was eight better than Denver (now 4-7), 68-60. Raheem Appleby led the Bulldogs with 12 points while big Mychale Kyser provided eight points, eight boards and a trio of blocked shots. For the Pioneers, Royce O'Neale was tops with both 18 points and seven boards while Chris Udofia produced 10 points plus six rebounds. LT now faces New Mexico State, Denver has Texas Arlington next.

Bulldog athletics and Pioneer athletics game report as does Matt Vines.

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Host Seattle and Idaho were tied at 60 with 2:30 remaining but the Vandals pulled away to win 71-64. Kyle Barone powered his way to a 25/11 double-double and JC newcomer backcourter Robert Harris added 14 points. D'Vonne Pickett paced the Redhawks with 16 points and six boards plus chalked up a trio of assists. Both teams are now 5-6. 

Vandal Nation tweeted the game.

Redhawk athletics and Vandal athletics game report as does Terry Wood/Seattle Times.

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Breaking the streak of WAC newcomers being rudely treated, Texas Arlington whomped on visiting New Mexico State 68-47 behind 18 points and six rebounds from Kevin Butler as well as eight points, eight rebounds and five blocked shots from Jordan Reves. Coach Scott Cross' guys didn't shoot all that well (44%, 32%, 53%) but the Aggies were at 33%, 11% (2-18) and 48%. Daniel Mullinga went for 21 points and five boards for the Las Cruces crew but also committed eight turnovers. Sim Bhuller posted 14 points, six boards and a quintet of blocked shots.

Maverick athletics and Aggie athletics game report. Jason Groves also provides his report. Also, missed this from earlier: Jason's  three keys plus a prediction.

Jason also tweeted the pairing.

Saturday: five game previews as conference play begins

Each game features a newcomer to the WAC versus a holdover.

Texas State hosts San Jose State University.

Bobcat athletics and Spartan athletics preview. Randy Stevens also take a look.

It should be a fast-paced, high scoring  game -- Texas State is second in the WAC in scoring, SJSU fourth -- so who be be the hottest and who will defend best?

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New Mexico State is also in Lone Star territory against UT Arlington.

Aggie athletics and Maverick athletics preview. Jason Groves checks in.

It's also Sim Bhullar versus Jordan Reves.

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Making it a trifecta, Texas San Antonio welcomes Utah State to town.

UTSA athletics previews as does Kraig Williams, Shawn Harrison and Kyle Goon plus Jerry Briggs and Inside Runner Sports from the Lone Star State perspective.

Can the Roadrunners keep the Aggie insiders from going wild while winning the backcourt battle?

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Denver comes down to Ruston to battle Louisiana Tech.

Pioneer athletics and LT athletics preview. Matt Vines looks at the matchup while featuring senior Brandon Gibson.

Neither squad plays power ball inside as Tech wants to play fast and Denver will be content to run its offense. Call this one the pairing to watch tonight because of the contrast in styles.

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Seattle is setting up for its initial WAC matchup, this one versus Idaho.

Vandal athletics and Redhawk athletics preview. So does Bob Condotta as well as Seattle U Hoops.

Who knows what to predict from this pairing?

Two links for Friday

Seattle U Hoops writes about the sense of the WAC thus far this season, including team rankings.

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Matt Sonnenberg covers the Bair departure, USU being down to a trio at the wing and two spots plus departures from Logan actually being the norm.

Part Two: Who is satisfied? What is reality?

No this isn't the second part of some philosophical treatise on the existential nature of man...

Find Part One here.

In the WAC, is there any team's fan base which is generally satisfied with the play of his or hers team to date? It sure doesn't seem like it, even at the top. The expectations are for more, this often despite rosters indicating talent-to-wins (and losses) ratios that looks appropriate.

San Jose State University and Seattle both stand at 5-5 and the line from "Forrest Gump" comes to mind (with a modification): "Their games are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."

For the Spartans, beating Weber State was nice as was hanging in there versus Kansas. But an egg was laid in losing to rival Santa Clara 75-54, followed by a nine point loss in Vegas to James Madison, albeit the latter was without James Kinney.

Seattle, with a 40-point loss on the road to Virginia plus 91-82 and 87-64 homecourt falls to Jackson State and Boise State respectively, simply remains unpredictable.

Each is lacking any shouldn't-have-won victories to brag about but has the potential to take down any of the faves in the WAC. 

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What the heck are Denver and Idaho doing at 4-6? Each was supposed to be an upper division squad (albeit conference play is still forthcoming).

The Pioneers have Ls to Cal, Colorado State and Stanford and there is nothing disrespectful in that but wins over Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Mercer, Nebraska-Omaha and Southern Utah don't exactly get the crow squawking. Chris Udofia, Royce O'Neale, Chase Hallam and Brett Olson are a very solid group but the team still resembles a donut and has yet to make up for that deficiency.

The Vandals are led by Kyle Barone and Stephen Madison, a more-than-respectable duo but the absence of consistent production at the four spot and not having a point step up and take the job has held Coach Don Verlin's group back. UI shouldn't have won at New Mexico and Washington State (and didn't) but taking down Montana in Moscow was do-able (although it didn't happen).

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UT San Antonio and Texas State are caboosing it at 4-6 and 4-8 respectively.

With the Roadrunners, the season began with a loss to Morgan State, followed by three consecutive victories. But a stretch of road contests against BYU, Oregon, Cal State Bakersfield (85-52!!!), Mississippi State and USC Upstate resulted in losses. But cut Coach Brooks Thompson and his guys some slack due to having but a single home game thus far.

The Bobcats have already played 12 games, with six home contests and three up in Alaska. Matt Staff and Joel Wright are consistent assets upfront but greater contibutions are needed at the wing and backcourt spots in order for more Ws to appear.

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The most important fact to remember is it's new beginning now that WAC play is commencing. Everyone owns an equal record, along with the same number of upcoming home and road matchups. Look for at least a few real surprises to occur because their is no dominating team.

Warren Nolan currently has the WAC as the 12th ranked league thus far, just behind the West Coast Conference. CBS Sports places the WAC at #14 while USA TODAY give the WAC the 13th spot.

Now it's frosh Quincy Bair who has departed Logan. A pair of Kyle Goon tweets:

#USU hoops releases statement from Stew Morrill: He told me he has lost his passion for basketball during his junior year in high school."

and

I'm surprised the statement is so frank. Morrill: "I'm extremely disappointed in Quincy for making the decision to quit the team."

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Check the end of this Inside Runners Sport post for a Texas San Antonio basketball wish list. 

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Jason Groves checks in with WAC storylines to follow as conference play is set to start.

Part One: Who is satisfied? What's reality?

No this isn't some philosophical treatise on the existential nature of man...

In the WAC, is there any team's fan base that is satisfied with the play of his or hers team to date? It sure doesn't seem like it, even at the top. The expectations are for more, this often despite rosters indicating (or dictating) talent-to-wins (and losses) ratios that looks appropriate.

Utah State stands 9-1 although aided primarily with home games. It's still an on-going learning curve process as Coach Stew Morrill is blending a lot of the new with the old this season but a single loss to St. Mary's is not indicative of any concern. However, if Morrill had lost to BYU (in a matchup postponed) then the hounds of hell would have been unleashed minus any sense of circumstance (just because it's BYU).

USU has to be considered the conference fave dispite any bleatings from Morrill that such a pronouncement would surely bring. Okease tell PTW which other roster in the WAC would he want?

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Of all the fan bases, Louisiana Tech's seems the happiest at 9-3. Yes, victories against Northwestern State and McNeese State would have clinched 100% adoration and probably a statue on campus for Coach Mike White but both games were on the road and one loss was by just six points, the other by eight. The Bulldogs need near every cylinder working at 100% of capacity to emerge victorious each game and that's just an impossibility considering the human factor so nine wins at this point an achievement worthy of satisfaction.

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UT Arlington stands at 5-3, with a nice win at North Texas but the other victories were expected as were losses to Oklahoma, Texas and Oklahoma State.

Coach Scott Cross doesn't possess a handful of multi-talented or game in-game-out consistent players so he's riding whoever has the hot hand(s) that night and successfully so for a squad last in the WAC in scoring at 62.1 point per contest and ninth in shooting.

Holding opponents to 35% shooting (best in the WAC) and 30% on threes (second in the WAC) is going a long way. Plus, the Mavericks are a plus 7.5 in rebounding and tops in steals at 9.8 per outing.

Will anyone from Arlington make the all-league team? Jordan Reves, maybe. Such is a solid indication that Cross' guys are fulfilling the whole being better than the sum of its parts dictum.

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New Mexico State is 6-6 with a pair of losses to New Mexico vividly coloring the season so far but really, look at the roster. Big Wen is nowhere to be seen, Hernst Laroche is but a pleasant memory and Hamidu Rahman is no longer the starter in the middle. Replacing these longtime talents at a pronto pace is a short-term impossibility. 

As for the 2-12-13 roster, Daniel Mullings has stepped up his game and Sim Bhullar would be worshipped as a deity in Denver, Seattle and other locales even with his up-and-down season. 

Bandja Sy is who he is which is not a consistent points producer but more of a fourth option on offense and, granted, K. C. Ross-Miller hasn't been close to the reincarnation of Laroche and it's not appearing like he will be. Chili Nephawe is out with an injury but a step up from him is still awaiting postage prior to any delivery. So being at .500 resonates with New Mexico State's current talent/production level. 

Just look at which positions the Aggies are winning on game night? A drop down at this point is to be expected. 

The real question facing Coach Marvin Menzies is who on his roster besides Mullings and Bhullar has the latent potential to be step-up guys (the skills potential, the mind set plus the willingness to put in the necessary effort)?  

That will play out this season. Here's writing that a few more multi-skilled recruits are needed in order for the Aggies to finish at the top (combo scorers/passers, scorers/rebounders, rebounders/defenders) than currently reside in Las Cruces. Plus, it's hard to be successful when losing at the point position each time out.

PTW is re-posting Jason Grove's season-to-date summary.  

(to be continued tomorrow)

Bill Simmons and Bill Russell (nothing more need be typed)

Bill Simmons talked with Bill Russell (so you know it's a great read).

A blast from the past

Let's revisit this article by Jay Drew from back in 2010. What would everything look like now had Benson and Albrecht had pulled it off?

The Day After Digest (Utah State style)

Here's more on Rashad (brother of you-know-who) Muhammad who was just offered by Utah State:

Kyle Goon checks in.

ESPN's Joel Francisco after recently viewing Muhammad:

Best Shooter
Rashad Muhammad (Las Vegas/Bishop Gorman)
2013, SG, 6-4, 165
Status: Utah State is his only offer, but more will be on the way
Muhammad has improved as much as any prospect out west, and that ascension began in July. Does he have a slender frame? Yes. However, he can convert buckets at all three levels and his 3-point shot is feathery. In addition, he displayed a hunger to lead his team in clutch situations.

The same for Eric Bossi:

For the first three years of his high school career, Muhammad lived in the shadow of his older brother Shabazz. With 2012's No. 1 player in the Rivals150 off having a great freshman year at UCLA, Rashad has blossomed and taken his game to a new level. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard admitted to Rivals that his focus probably wasn't where it should have been in the past, but he's locked in now. A long and rangy jump shooter, Muhammad has a new-found level of confidence and is much improved as a driver of the basketball. Utah State is the three-star's only offer to this point, but more will be coming in the near future.

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Kyle also offers some quotes and notes on the Utah State program.

Kyisean Reed in 2012-13

So has Kyisean Reed turned the proverbial corner?

Kyle Goon ponders that subject.

Will that bring him a WAC First team honor or possibly the whole enchilada?

Every coach forgets but...

Rob Dauster/College Basketball Talk has the goods on Oklahoma State Coach Travis Ford not once but twice attaching an L to UT San Antonio's record rather than UT Arlington's.

Ode to and wishes for the WAC coaches

A holiday ode to the WAC coaches followed by what they were wishing yesterday.

Number one is venerable Stew Morrill
with his record can anyone quarrel?
- A forever healthy Danny Berger

Leading Tech back is young Mike White
battling the Bulldogs, it's always a fight
- How about a 7-foot beefy big man?

McKines and Laroche departed Menzies
now Mullings and Bhullar are luminaries
- A shooter, a creator and yes, a point

In Silicon Valley, it's George Nessman
riding the Kinneymobile as far as he can
- A steady scorer at the wing or the four

An alumnus of Arlington is Coach Cross
of Maverick basketball, now he's the boss
- Another year of Jordan Reves' eligibility

Denver plays small under Coach Scott
without a big can they nab the top slot? 
- The ok for Griffin McKenzie to play now

Uptempo is the forte of Cameron Dollar
in the Northwest aerie of Redhawk holler
- Consistency out of his starters

Ones and fours are the bane of Don Verlin
will his 2013 guys be searchin' or surgin'?
- A court general and help for Barone

A marksman was young Brooks Thompson
will he don a uniform and join his squadron?
- Better shooting and a physical fiver

His Staff so Wright(eous) is Doug Davalos 
but the problem is then who else follows?
- Greater talent throughout his roster

Kyisean Reed named WAC POW

Utah State’s Kyisean Reed has been named the Western Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Dec. 17-23.

Reed, a senior forward from Palmdale, Calif. (Antelope Valley JC), led the Aggies to a perfect 3-0 record at the World Vision Challenge, sponsored by Gossner Foods. Reed’s three impressive performances earned him World Vision Challenge MVP honors. He posted his first double-double of the season with 20 points and 12 rebounds in USU’s 79-72 win over Nicholls State, adding a career-high four blocks to go with three steals. After a nine-point, eight-rebound outing in a 73-61 win over UC Davis on Friday, Reed topped his season-high for the second time in three games with 21 points in a 70-58 win over Southern Illinois, helping the Aggies win the World Vision Challenge. He added three rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal.

Over his three games last week, Reed averaged 16.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He shot 57.1 percent (16-of-28) from the field and 78.3 percent (18-of-23) from the free throw line on the week.

Other nominees: 

* Denver junior forward Chris Udofia averaged 16.5 points in a pair of games last week 

* Louisiana Tech sophomore guard Raheem Appleby scored 17 points in a win at UALR

* New Mexico State freshman center Sim Bhullar averaged 15.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in two games 

* Seattle U junior guard D’Vonne Pickett Jr. averaged 11.7 points and 6.0 rebounds in three games, including two wins last week 

* Texas State junior forward Joel Wright tallied his third double-double of the season and averaged 19.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in two games last week 

* UTSA senior guard Kannon Burrage scored 21 points and pulled down 7 rebounds in a win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

The WAC's November signees

Other than Utah State (think Jalen Moore), the bounty landed in the November signing period is not impressive. Granted, the classes are primarily incomplete (USU excepted) but still. 

Kyle Goon looks at the trio of the northern Aggie signees (one is a walk-on).

Denver

Roderick Bernstine, 6-foot-5, (Colorado high school)


Idaho

* Perrion Callandret, 6-foot-2, 175 (Washington high school)

* Ayodele Ojo, 6-foot-7, 240 (Missouri junior college)


Louisiana Tech

* Leo Edwards, 6-foot-7, 220 (Michigan high school)

* Dominic Jackson, 6-foot-3, 165 (Louisiana high school)


New Mexico State

*Jalyn Pennie, 6-foot-7, 180 (North Carolina prep school)


San Jose State


Seattle U

* Shore Adenekan, 6-foot-9, 235 (Colorado JC)


Texas State


UT Arlington

* Anthony Walker, 6-foot-9, 210 (Texas junior college, signed with UTA back in 2010 out of high school)


Utah State

* Jalen Moore, 6-foot-7, 200 (Utah high school, a legacy commit)

* Carson Shanks, 7-foot-0, 225 (Minnesota high school)


UTSA

* Luke Wiltshire, 6-foot-5 (San Antonio high school)

A Utah State recruiting note

From Alex Kline/The Recruit Scoop: "Utah State has offered 2013 Bishop Gorman (NV) wing Rashad Muhammad, he confirms. Surprisingly this is his first offer"

Here's a 2011 feature on Muhammad.

A New Mexico State evaluation

At the Aggie Alert Forum, first Krimson Krazy and then jtnmsu provide their New Mexico State basketball player and coach evaluations. Good stuff.

Sunday: 3-1 with four game reports

New Mexico State and Missouri State met in Las Cruces and the former won both 20 minutes on the way to a 71-51 victory. Freshman Sim Bhullar went for 25 points as the Aggies shot 54% to 33% for the visitors.

Zack Ponce tweeted the contest.

Sam Wasson covered the contest, as did Zack. Bleed Crimson offers game photos. Jason Groves posted this -- here's hoping he has a quick recovery.

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It was host Seattle 72-49 over Campbell in a game in which the Flying Camels led by two, 32-30, after the initial half. The Redhawks owned the boards 39-18. Deshaun Sunderhaus posted a 15/11 double-double and backcourter D'Vonne Pickett did likewise with 16 points plus 10 boards.

Seattle athletics game reports as does Terry Woods.

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Utah State was back at it, this time with Southern Illinois and the Aggies finished on top 70-58. Kyisean Reed, who named the MVP of the tourney, topped Coach Stew Morrill's crew with 21 points while Preston Medlin contributed 16 points and six assists. Spencer Butterfield missed the game due to illness. USU shot 60% for the game, going 24-40.

Kyle Goon and Kraig Williams tweeted the pairing.

Rhett Wilkinson, Kyle, Shawn Harrison and Kraig all game report.

Matt Sonnenberg writes about the increased contributions from Marvin Jean (who started tonight in Butterfield's absence).

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San Jose State University paired up with James Madison as part of the Las Vegas Classic and the Spartans were consistent with 34 in each 20 minutes but the Virginia-ites totaled 24 and then 53 to win 77-68.  SJSU backcourter LaVanne Pennington topped his team with 16 points. James Kinney was out for the game on suspension.

Spartan athletics game reports.

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There are no WAC games until December 29 when conference play begins.

For Saturday: three game reports /// four contest previews

Denver manhandled visiting Southern Utah to the tune of 72-47 as Royce O'Neale and Cam Griffin scored 12 points apiece. Chris Udofia liked the number seven as he totaled that number in points and assists. Freshman backcourter Nate Engresser totaled 10 in his initial start of the season.

Pioneer athletics game reports and does Irv Moss/Denver Post.

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The Lone Star State towns of San Antonio and Corpus Christi met in the latter but it was the former in another laugher, 75-45. Backcourters Kannon Burrage and Michael Hale III scored 21 and 20 points respectively while frontcourter Jeromie Hill totaled 18.

Roadrunner athletics game reports.

Also, Jerry Briggs profiles Hale.

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Utah State got right back to it this time versus UC Davis and it was 40-39 the Davis Aggies after 20 minutes. The contest ended 73-61 as Preston Medlin went for 23 points. Spencer Butterfield contributed 14 plus seven boards.

Kraig Williams and Kyle Goon live tweeted the game.

Matt Sonnenberg, Rhett Wilkinson, Shawn Harrison, Kraig and Kyle all game report. Jennifer Meyers and Curtis Ripplinger both provide photo galleiesy from the contest.

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Today and tonight, its:

New Mexico State faces off with Missouri State in Las Cruces -- Aggie athletics previews.

Seattle welcomes Campbell aka The Fighting Camels -- Redhawk athletics previews.

San Jose State University pairs up with James Madison as part of the Las Vegas Classic -- Spartan athletics previews.

Utah State will again be back at it versus Southern Illinois.

Two more Friday links

Jason Groves offer a commentary after last night's Aggie loss.

Here's Jack Nixon in the Las Cruces Bulletin looking at the teams in the WAC.

A pair of WAC rcruiting notes

This Jeff Goodman tweet has a certain Northwest school in the running: "UCLA transfer Josh Smith is currently considering Georgetown, Kansas and Seattle University, source told CBSSports"

Everyone knows the issues surrounding Smith -- would going home be a plus, a minus or a neutral?

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John Martin/Memphis Commercial Appeal has an update on a big out of Texas who has visited San Jose State University. Memphis seems a bit high but...

The RPI of WAC teams

The RPIs aren't real impressive at the moment and the opportunity for improvement will rapidly diminish come league play. Here you go:

81. Louisiana Tech

114. Utah State

153. New Mexico State

184. San Jose State

192. UT-Arlington

234. Denver

249. Idaho

254. UTSA

277. Texas State

281. Seattle

Friday: three game reports & three previews

Texas State got Chippewa-ed by host Central Michigan 92-80 last night. Joel Wright went for a 20/10 double-double and Matt Staff scored 18 points (including sinking his only free throw) but such wasn't enough.Cm was at the foul line for 31 attempts as opposed to 10 for the Bobcats.

Texas State athletics game reports as does Central Michigan athletics.

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Utah State started its tourney versus Nicholls State and led 43-22 at the half. But the lead closed to 60-54 at the eight minute mark with the Aggies finally winning 79-72. Kyisean Reed went for a 20/12 double-double (how appropriate!) and added a quartet of blocked shots while Jarred Shaw enjoyed his own 19/11 double-double. Freshman poin t Marcel Davis started, took but one shot but passed for seven assists. USU took 47 shots to 69 for Nicholls State but the free throw count was reversed at 34 to 18.

Kyle Goon tweeted the game.

Kyle, Matt Sonnenberg,Tavin Stucki, Kyle Heywood and Shawn Harrison game report. Curtis Ripplinger offers game photos.

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Idaho enjoyed a 37-29 lead after the first 20 minutes in a rivalry matchup with Boise State but the Broncos busted out in the second half to win 78-68. Kyle Barone posted a double-double of 22 points and 10 boards plus three blocked shots while Stephen Madison put up 14 points and five rebounds. The Vandals shot 2-10 from three-point range.

Vandal Nation tweeted the game.

Josh Wright game reports.

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Friday brings:

* Denver hosting Southern Utah -- Pioneer athletics game previews.

* Texas San Antonio at Texas A&M Corpus Christi -- Roadrunner athletics game previews.

* Utah State is back in action right away versus UC Davis

Thursday: three game reports /// a trio of previews

It was Round Two for New Mexico State and New Mexico and this time in Las Cruces but the Albuquerque-ians did it again 68-63.This was winnable as three points separated the two teams at different time late.

Daniel Mullings led the Aggies with 14 points and he added five rebounds, the same number of assists and a pair of blocked shots to his line. Kevin Aronis contributed his season high of 12 points, going 4-5 from long range. Ironically, NMSU shot 38% overall but 58% on 10-17 treys attempts and then 11-20 at the foul line.

Jason Groves tweeted the game. Jason's three keys to the pairing and his prediction are worth reviewing (he was but one point off).

Jason then game reported.

Teddy Feinberg offers a post-game commentary.

Jason and Geoff Grammer discuss the game:


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UT Arlington roaded it at Oklahoma State but the Cowboys handled the Texans 69-44. OK State shot just 43% but had 12 more attempts. Arlington finished at 39% but just 1-5 at the free throw line plus with 31 turnovers. Jamel Outler scored 14 points and Kevin Butler 11 for Coach Scott Cross' squad.

UT Arlington athletics game reports.

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Seattle brought Northern Illinois to the Northwest but proved rude hosts to the tune of 75-48. Forward Chad Rasmussen paced the Redhawks with 14 points but it was backcourter Prince Obasi filling the stat sheet with 13 points, eight rebounds, six assists and a trio of blocked shots. Coach Cameron Dollar's crew shot 48% for the game and 10-25 on trey attempts.

Seattle athletics game reports -- likewise Seattle U Hoops.

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Texas State is hosted by Central Michigan tonight -- Bobcat athletics previews. 

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Idaho travels to in-state rival Boise to face the Broncos -- Vandal athletics takes a look. Sean Kramer/Vandal Nation also checks in with a look.

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Tourney host Utah State is matched up with Nicholls State out of Louisiana. Kyle Goon takes a look. Kyle also penned an article on Aggie glass cleaning. Making it a trifecta, Kyle writes about Preston Medlin's very interesting season to date.

Kraig Williams checks in on the Utah State tournament as does Shawn Harrison.

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It's official -- Pan American is coming to the WAC next year.

A salute to Troy Machir

It's long overdue but here's a major shout-out to Troy Machir of The Morning Mix. He has hooked American basketball fans with his daily output but unfortunately lessened the glow of weekends (when he doesn't publish). But five out of seven is a big win for hoops aficionados.

A cheer for TJ

Matt Sonnenberg rightly extrols the many virtues of Tony Jones, a reporter who broke more news items about USU athletics than PTW could ever dream about. Thank you Tony Jones for your efforts.

Not WAC related but...

Jason King out-does his usual solid self with a lengthy feature about the effect John Lucas is having on a number of professional, collegiate and prep basketballers plus athletes in other sports -- this after undergoing his own metamorphosis.

Wednesday' brings a single game report plus three previews

Denver ventured into Cowboy country and gave it a good effort but Wyoming went to 11-0 with a 71-61 victory. Chris Udofia busted out offensively in scoring 26 points and Coach Joe Scott's crew shot 54% for the game but the Pokes connected on an amazing 65% of their shot attempts.

Pioneer athletics game reports as does Cowboy athletics.

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It's a chance for New Mexico State to even the score and conversely for New Mexico to own this season's rivalry tonight. This one is in Las Cruces.


Jason Groves looks at the rematch of the bigs. Jason also takes an overall look at the pairing. Richard Stevens does likewise.

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UT Arlington is hoping to roil the still waters of Oklahoma State tonight. Maverick athletics previews.

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Seattle welcomes Northern Illinois to the Northwest. Redhawk athletics takes a look.

One USU Aggies basketball link

Shawn Harrison 'takes the temperature' of USU hoops.

No cupcakes, please

PTW love pastries of all sizes and flavors but we're definitely in agreement with David Harten: stop cupcaking. There is no 'nutritional' value.

Sam Bowie acknowledges he was injured from day one

Not WAC-related but PTW still thinks Portland got a bum rap in forever being damned as the team that drafted Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan. Now, Bowie admits he was hurting from the beginning of his NBA career but didn't reveal that to anyone.

What Bowie could do was extraordinary and he was next door to seven-feet tall. PTW would love to administer sodium pentathol to every NBA general manager on that draft day in order to see who would have went with Bowie and who with Jordan. Methinks it would have been an even split at best.

Tuesday's report: one win, two losses last night

Texas State went Big 10-ing versus Northwestern and made quite the impression -- leading by six with three and a half minutes remaining -- before falling 74-68 in Evanston, IL. Bobcats Joel Wright and Wesley Davis tag-teamed for 19 points apiece (Davis was 4-5 from long distance) and Matt Staff continued his perfection at the foul line going 4-4. However, Staff and Wright combined for 11 TOs.

Texas State athletics game reports as does Northwestern athletics.

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Louisiana Tech played Arkansas Little Rock on the road and came away with a two point victory, 75-73. Raheem Appleby paced the Bulldogs with 17 points while freshman backcourter Alex Hamilton totaled 14 points in 13 minutes of play (making this even more unusual is he fouled out). 

LT athletics as well as Arkansas Little Rock athletics game report. 

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Seattle hosted Jackson State and, in the third game of the tour of the Northwest for the Mississippians, they notched their initial victory of the season, 91-82. The Redhawks shot 39% overall and just 15-25 from the free throw stripe but it was 28 turnovers (17 steals by Jackson State) that couldn't be overcome. 28 fouls didn't help either. Guard Sterling Carter went for 20 points based on 6-7 three-point shooting.

Seattle athletics game reports.

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Denver heads to Laramie, Wyoming to face the 10-0 Mountain West Conference Cowboys tonight.

Royce O'Neale named WAC POW

Denver’s Royce O’Neale has been named the Western Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Dec. 10-16.

O’Neale, a sophomore forward from Killeen, Texas (Harker Heights HS), led the Pioneers to an 82-47 win at home against Nebraska-Omaha last week.

O’Neale recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds against the Mavericks, his first double-double of the season and the fourth of his career. The sophomore hit 7-of-9 shots from the field, including a 1-of-1 mark from long range. He was also perfect from the free-throw line (2-of-2). O’Neale dished out four assists and tallied one steal.

Other nominees:

* Idaho senior center Kyle Barone scored 15 points with six rebounds in a win over Walla Walla

* Louisiana Tech sophomore forward Michale Kyser recorded a 10-point, 13-rebound double-double against McNeese State

* Seattle U senior forward Chad Rasmussen averaged 17.5 points over two games last week

* Utah State freshman guard Marcel Davis had 17 points and two steals in a win at Utah Valley.

Congrats to Matt Staff

Worthy of a stand alone entry is Texas State's Matt Staff, all 6-10 of him at that, and someone who is perfect at the free throw line so far this season. The senior out of Houston is 29-29. Hopefully, PTW didn't jinx him for tonight's game.

Not the best of judgment and by seniors

No, this isn't WAC-related but still -- caught the last moments of the Florida - Arizona game Saturday night and what appeared on the screen at times was literally stunning.

Gator senior point Kenny Boynton, shooting 30% from long distance, hoisted up a trey attempt and also missed another three-point try 30 seconds earlier -- all in the last two minutes.

He also missed on the front end of a one-and-one with 21 seconds remaining despite being a 90% shooter at the foul line. But hey that happens. The badly-timed and not utilizing a strength three-point attempts didn't have to.

Arizona's Mark Lyons, another senior, hit a game-winning driving layup with seven seconds remaining but he too also cast off a trey attempt at the 1:25 mark when that shot wasn't necessary and with Florida's best and largest defender was on him.

Even the color commentator and Arizona alum Miles Simon gently noted that Lyons attempt wasn't what was drawn up in the huddle.

The Newcomer of the Year race

Was there anyone predicting that 6-foot-9 redshirt freshman Deshaun Sunderhaus would be averaging 10.4 and 6.7 rebounds per game at this point in the season? Add to that, the Georgian is shooting 47% in just under 25 minutes a contest.

But coming up on the shoulder for Newcomer of the Year is Utah State's frosh backcourter Marcel Davis, he with 21 points in 20 minutes versus Western Oregon and then 17 points in 28 minutes against Utah Valley in the last two Agge outings. Overall, Davis is averaging 5.3 points in 13 and a half minutes each time out, shooting 59% thus far.

Additionally, Texas State JC transfer Joel Wright currently sits 14.6 points and 6.3 boards per game so don't count him out.

Of course, there's Jarred Shaw in the lead with averages of 14.3 points, 10 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots each time out.

Monday's game previews

The WAC schedule was blank yesterday but tonight it's Texas State in The Land of Lincoln to battle Northwestern, Louisiana Tech in Orval Faubus territory versus Arkansas Little Rock and Seattle hosting Jackson State.

Northwestern athletics previews.

LA TECH athletics previews.

Seattle athletics previews.

Jerry Brewer takes a look at Seattle hoops from the inside in a fascinating read.

Sunday's reports on the five games from last night

Nebraska-Omaha was indeed Buffet-less as Denver handles the Cornhusker Staters 82-47. It was 45-15 at halftime. Royce O'Neale posted a 17/10 double-double and Chris Udofia enjoyed a unique line with 11 points, eight assists, five rebounds plus a trio of blocked shots.

Pioneer athletics game reported.

Speaking of O'Neale, Irv Moss offers a profile.

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New Mexico State lost both 20 minutes periods in falling to host New Mexico 73-58. Shooting 33% and having your shots blocked 11 times won't get the job done. Only Daniel Mullings with 14 points made it to double figures for the Aggies. Chili Nephewe was sidelined with his hand injury.

Jason Groves game reported plus Jason tweeted the matchup. Below is a post-game interview with Coach Marvin Menzies:


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Texas State was down by 11 at the half to Texas and got closer but just not enough as the Bobcats fell 75-63. Matt Staff led with 15 points while Joel Wright produced nine points and seven rebounds but again was troubled by turnovers with seven. 

TS athletics game reported.

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Utah State was ahead by four against Utah Valley State after 20 minutes and finished with a lead of six, 69-63. Jarred Shaw posted a double-double of 12 points and 11 boards while Marcel Davis again topped the team with 17 markers. Matt Lopez, another Aggie big, made his debut and impressed.

Shawn Harrison, Kyle Goon game reported plus Kyle provided a notes column.

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Idaho pillaged and plundered Walla walla to a 50-23 halftime margin before winning 91-47. Kyle Barone went for 15/6 in 17 minutes.

Vandal athletics game reported. So does Josh Wright who also notes that Antwan Scott is leaving Idaho to be near his ill mother.

Vandal Nation live tweeted the contest.
 
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No games involving WAC teams are scheduled for today.

Saturday's five game previews

Denver has 2-9 Nebraska-Omaha coming in but the Pioneers are hoping NO doesn't bring Warren Buffett along to purchase Denver.

Pioneer athletics previews.

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New Mexico State in headed to The Pit for a R-I-V-A-L-R-Y game with New Mexico. Forget UTEP, this is the ONE
 
Jason Groves previews both teams. Jason also offer his keys to the W. Sam Wasson checks in, too.

The message boards for one school will be gloating, the other will be warning next year, next year.

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Texas State and Texas will rectangle off in Austin.

Bobcat athletics previews.

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Utah State heads to Orem to face Utah Valley State.

Kyle Goon has Stew Morrill doing his best Alan Iverson imitation. Kyle also gets directly to the point. Shawn Harrison game previews. 

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Idaho welcomes 2-15 Walla Walla University (motto: the town so great they named it twice) to Moscow.

Vandal athletics previews.

Friday's game reports, plus recruiting items

Seattle paired off with same-city rival Washington and the Huskies jumped out to a 49-27 halftime lead. That more or less held up with the contest ending 87-74 in Coach Lorenzo Romar's favor. Seattle's Chad Rasmussen went for 19 points on 5-8 long distance shooting. The Redhawks were outshot 54% to 37% and connected on just 14-27 free throws.

Percy Allen offered a live game thread.

Redhawk athletics game reports.

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Texas Arlington matched up with visiting Houston Baptist and a whomping ensued as the Mavericks prevailed 81-47 with four of Coach Scott Cross' talents scoring in double figures: Karol Gruszecki with 18 points, 13 from Cameron Catlett, 11 by Kevin Butler and Jordan Reves totaled 10 plus 13 boards.

TA athletics game reports.

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Westwind Prep posted a pair of WAC-connected tweets.

First: "San Jose State after 2013 combo guard Larry Lewis. SJS moving into Mtn West conference needs to up its talent and looking at WPA players"

Texas San Antonio is also all over Lewis, including extending an offer as Inside Runner Sports reported back in August.

Then: "SJS also interested in local Bay Area big man 6'10" Miles Martin at WPA National"

Here's a February 2012 report on Lewis as a senior in high school. 

As for Martin, Anthony Ray/Arizona Preps wrote this some time back:

Miles Martin is a native of Cupertino, California, where he attended Homestead High School last season. While Martin is also a developing post prospect as well, he is much further along offensively than Okonkwo, but not as athletic. Martin is a good-sized post presence with a nice frame already, but still developing low post skills. He has a soft touch from mid-range and has solid footwork, but still is improving his ability to make plays inside and finish strong around the rim. He simply needs touches of the basketball and continued low post skillwork to develop as a post prospect for the collegiate level. Martin is a solid rebounder but needs to become quicker off his feet to see improvement in this area of his game. He runs the floor well for his size, but needs to be more athletic to become much more effective against top-rated low post prospects.

Martin’s best attribute currently is his sheer size. He also has some upside as a player, and has worked hard this fall to become much stronger physically and to tone up his large frame. This season spent at Westwind will also serve him a great deal as he works hard to improve his approach to the game. Currently, Martin is a low to mid-major division-I prospect that will see his share of much higher recruitment as a result of his size as a post prospect.

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No games involving WAC teams are scheduled for tonight.

Thursday's look at one game played, two coming tonight

Louisiana Tech fell to McNeese State 80-72 on the basis of a strong second half from the Lake Charles residents. Michale Kyser posted a 10/13 double-double alongside four blocked shots but the backcourt shooters for the Bulldogs had an off night.

LT athletics offers the game report.

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Kyle Goon writes that Stew Morrill will have another 'big' on hand come Saturday.

Texas Arlington Assistant Zak Buncik brings readers inside regarding recruiting duties.

Jeff Faraudo offers some press on SJSU's James Kinney.

ESPN's Andy Katz has more on Danny Berger.

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In Thursday's games:

Texas Arlington welcomes Houston Baptist into town tonight. TA athletics takes a look.

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Seattle tangles with a down Washington squad tonight. Redhawk athletics previews the pairing as does Seattle U Hoops.

Percy Allen offers a transcript of his live chat with Coach Cameron Dollar.

Wednesday: one game report, one on tap

San Jose State University and cross-town rival Santa Clara are separated by six and a half miles. One's a public school, the other a private Jesuit one. Certain prayers must have been answered as the Broncos took down the host Spartans 75-54. Santa Clara bolted out to a 44-25 halftime lead. SJSU shot just 25% overall but 43% from three-point range. James Kinney led with 19 points.

Here's Spartan athletics and then Santa Clara athletics game reporting.

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Pat Rooney profiles Pioneer Blake Foeman.

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Louisiana Tech is at McNeese State tonight in the sole WAC contest. LT athletics game previews.

Quick, who is the best basketball player out of the Cowboys basketball program? Answer: Joe Dumars.

By the way, Dumars' father was a truck driver and his mother a college custodian. Joe became a first-round NBA pick, an NBA champion with the Pistons and eventually the general manager for Detroit. College in Lake Charles, then professional life all in The Motor City -- a very unusual life in play-for-pay sports world. Overall, what an achievement for Dumars.

The Mailman is easily the best NBA-er coming out of Ruston. But can a case be made that Paul Millsap, at least collegiately, was equal to Karl Malone?

A sign of the apocalypse?

This is a few days old but ... a Jay Bilas tweet: "I counted twelve Division 1 teams that failed to reach 50 points in games played yesterday, and one of them won. Yikes."

Tuesday: one game report, a game preview, plus a bit more

Seattle went on the road to face Eastern Washington and triumphed 75-69. Forward Clarence Trent almost reached a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds while fellow frontcourter Chad Rasmussen led with 16 points on four treys. The Redhawks shot 50%, EW 37%.

Seattle athletics game reports.

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Jason Groves offers his weekly WAC team rankings.

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Tom Kirkland offers more on Danny Berger's situation -- it's being called a one time event and very thankfully so.

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Host San Jose State University and Santa Clara University tangle tonight for the Silicon Valley crown. The James Kinney - Kevin Foster backcourt scoring duel will be one to watch.

Spartan athletics is calling it The Clash of the County.

James Kinney named WAC POW

San Jose State’s James Kinney has been named the Western Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Dec. 3-9.

Kinney, a senior guard from Champaign, Ill. (Eastern Utah), led the Spartans to a pair of wins last week. He scored 27 points with five rebounds, four steals and two assists in a 73-64 road win at UC Davis. He followed up that effort with a 20-point, six-rebound performance in a 62-57 win at home against Sacramento State. Kinney has now scored 20 or more points in six of San Jose State’s eight games this season, including. He has scored 20 or more points in five straight games. He had six three-point field goals on the week, which gives him 106 for his career, tying him for 10th all-time at SJSU.

On the week, Kinney averaged 23.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 3.0 steals per game. He shot 42.9 percent (18-of-42) from the field, 33.3 percent (6-of-18) from three-point range, and 62.5 percent (5-of-8) from the free throw line.

Other nominees:

* Denver sophomore forward Royce O’Neale scored 22 points with five rebounds in a win over Mercer

* Idaho junior guard/forward Stephen Madison scored 29 points with 10 rebounds in an overtime win at Eastern Washington

* Louisiana Tech sophomore guard Kenneth Smith tallied 14 assists and 11 steals over two games last week

* New Mexico State senior forward Bandja Sy recorded an 11-point, 14-rebound double-double in a win at South Alabama

* UTSA senior guard Kannon Burrage tallied 40 points over two games

* Texas State senior forward Matt Staff scored 21 points with seven rebounds in a win over Texas-Pan American

* Utah State freshman guard Marcel Davis scored 21 points and pulled down five rebounds in a win over Western Oregon

On a game-by-game basis, it's anyone's guess

It's becoming apparent that in the WAC this season, anybody is going to have a good chance of beating anyone come conference play.

There just are no powerhouses right now, using the definition of a team not performing its best and still topping an opponent. The entire set of WAC teams each needs to play pretty damn well in order to notch a victory, home or away, and conference play will be no exception.

Denver is low in the standings at 2-5 and winless on the road. Idaho just nabbed its initial road success. Texas San Antonio has but one notch and four Ls on its road belt. New Mexico State stands 1-3 away from Las Cruces.

On the bright side, Texas Arlington is 4-1 as road warriors, with LA Tech and San Jose State University at 2-2.

Texas State has yet to play an actual away game.

Right now it's looking like a lot of very close games should be coming out of league get-togethers. Who plays best in minutes 37-40 could very well earn the conference crown.

A recruiting note, and more

From the Westwind Prep Twitter account: New Mexico State after WPA 2014 Combo guard Tate de Laveaga now. Already offered WPA 2013 guard Josh Braun.

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Kyle Goon serves up some Aggie basketball notes. 

Monday's sole game preview

Seattle travels to to meet Big Sky Conference member Eastern Washington tonight.

Seattle athletics game previews.

Coach Cameron Dollar wants more fannies in the seats for home games -- watch this:

Sunday's report on last night's six games

Texas State made it a two-fer, downing Texas Pan American for the second time this month, 73-58. Center Matt Staff went for 21 points and seven rebounds, forward Joel Wright contributed 12 points plus nine boards (but seven TOs!!!) while point Vonn Jones posted a 10 point, eight assist line.

Texas State athletics game reports as does Tyler Mayforth.

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San Antonio was in South Carolina facing USC Upstate and the hosts proved rather rude, winning 88-77, while shooting 30-49. Back in November, the Roadrunners matched up with this same team and won 67-59. A 43-22 halftime deficit was too large to overcome. Forward Jeromie Hill earned a 23/10 double-double while Kannon Burrage totaled 29 points plus four assists.

Texas San Antonio athletics game reports.

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San Jose State University wants the state capital moved back to Silicon Valley after beating Sacramento State 62-57. James Kinney went for 20 points (8-22 shooting) and six boards while Chris Cunningham went for 17 rebounds, 10 on the offensive end. Each team shot 31% but the Spartans owned the boards 55-32.

Spartan athletics game reports as does Bryan Metcalf.

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Idaho traveled to El Paso and kept in close with the Miners before falling 64-60. Connor Hill was zeroes in from outside, scoring 16 points on 5-7 shooting from long distance. Center Kyle Barone got just four shots, not nearly enough to fear the beard but foul trouble figured in that. The Vandals shot 45% but allowed UTEP to shoot 52%.

Josh Wright game reports as does Vandal athletics.

It's from the previous game -- Idaho at Eastern Washington -- but Jesse Tinsley/Spokane Spokesman Review snapped a number of great game photos. Credit silvergoldwold for posting the link at the VandalsNet MB.

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A strong second half (41-32) powered Louisiana Tech to a 65-55 victory over visiting Southern Mississippi as Kenyon McNeail came off the bench to lead the Bulldogs with 18 points. LT was out-boarded 38-22 but held the Magnolia Staters to 33% shooting and caused 23 TOs.

LT athletics game reports as does Cole Avery.

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Utah State, playing its first game since Danny Berger was sidelined, has no trouble with Western Oregon to the tune of 86-57. It must have been the Marcel Davis Coming Out Party as the freshman point lined up 21 points (9-11 overall shooting, 3-5 from long distance), five rebounds, a trio of assists and zero turnovers. Preston Medlin went for 18.

Kyle Goon, Matt Sonnenberg, Timothy R. Olsen, Shawn Harrison and Kraig Williams each game reports.

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No games are scheduled for today.