An item from Andy Katz on the Fresno State opening

From ESPN's Andy Katz (a Fresno Bee sportswriter in a previous incarnation):

"Fresno State is one of the better jobs open outside the power six conferences. There have been feelers going out from various camps connected to the following coaches: Montana's Wayne Tinkle; former Arizona State and Ole Miss coach Rob Evans, who was most recently on John Pelphrey's staff at Arkansas, and Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Reggie Theus. They're all quality hires if the Bulldogs decide to go in any of these directions."

Andy Katz on the WAC additions

ESPN's Andy Katz makes it official -- Seattle is on hold until Montana decides:

Sources: Three teams to join WAC
Andy Katz
ESPN.com

November 10, 2010

University of Denver, Texas-San Antonio and Texas State will join the WAC in 2012-13 to offset the departures of Boise State, Fresno State and Nevada to the Mountain West, multiple sources told ESPN.com...

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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.

and

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).

and

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.

and

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.

Andy Katz re-discovers his roots

PTW goes back to when Andy Katz was a sports reporter for the Fresno Bee. It was in the pre-WAC Fresno State days but ESPN Katz still gives a shout out every so often based on his western roots. Here, he brings Utah State to the basketball consciousness outside the WAC:

USU finds itself in a familiar position
Andy Katz
ESPN
March, 3, 2010

Utah State coach Stew Morrill is in the same predicament as he was a year ago.

The Aggies are atop the WAC, have a long winning streak and have the numbers to be a given on Selection Sunday -- but are once again in an angst-ridden state, unsure about how safe they are heading into the conference tournament.

Last season, Utah State won 30 games, was 14-2 in the league and yet still had to win the conference tournament to feel like a bid was available to it.

The same is true again...

Go here for the remainder.

Andy Katz with a short take on Nevada

It's not especially chock full of news but it's still a WAC team mention on ESPN via Andy Katz. Here's the link.

Andy Katz features Nevada basketball

Thanks to Chris Murray of the Reno Gazette-Journal for pointing out this Andy Katz/ESPN article on Nevada's 2008-2009 basketball team:

Andy Katz
ESPN
September 26, 2008

Nevada: If JaVale McGee had decided to return to Nevada and not entered the NBA draft the Wolf Pack could be a lock for the top 25. Nevada added one of the higher profile scoring wings in 6-9 forward Luke Babbitt and the eligibility of former Indiana wing 6-6 Joey Shaw. The guard play, according to coach Mark Fox, is expected to be the Wolf Pack's strength with the return of Brandon Fields (12.4 ppg) and Armon Johnson (11.5 ppg). But McGee left. So, there is a whole in the middle.

"The plan was to put great shooting around [McGee]," Fox said. "He didn't come back but we still got the shooting."

The Wolf Pack knew they were losing senior Marcelus Kemp, the leading scorer last season ahead of McGee. Fox said the 2-4 start last season was because of an inexperienced backcourt. Now the experience will be in the backcourt with a sophomore in Johnson and a junior in Fields...

Go here for the remainder.