No Hernest Laroche sighting -- Kyle Barone named WAC POW

Idaho's Kyle Barone has been named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Feb. 6-12. The honor marks the first career WAC Player of the Week for Barone.

Barone, a junior center from Garden Grove, Calif. (Pacifica HS), led Idaho to a 3-0 record last week, helping extend the Vandal's win streak to a season-high four games with wins over Seattle U (70-69), New Mexico State (59-58) and Louisiana Tech (73-64). Barone led Idaho with 17 points and 12 rebounds in the win over SU on Tuesday night, while adding two blocked shots and hitting seven of his eight free throw attempts. He then added a 16-point, eight rebound, four-assist, two-block outing in the victory over NM State on Thursday. With Idaho trailing 58-51 with less than five minutes remaining to play, Barone scored six straight points for the Vandals and then assisted on the game-winning layup with 5.4 seconds remaining to secure the win over NMSU. In Saturday's win over LA Tech, Barone had 14 points and tied his career high with 15 rebounds to earn his 10th career double-double.

Over the three games, Barone averaged 15.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 2.0 assists per game. He shot 51.4 percent (18-of-35) from the floor and 73.3 percent (11-of-15) from the free throw line.

Other nominees:

* Fresno State sophomore forward Jery Brown 
* Hawai'i junior center Vander Joaquim 
* Nevada senior forward Olek Czyz 
* New Mexico State senior forward Wendell McKines 
* Utah State sophomore guard Preston Medlin