Friday and the world of WAC basketball

Brian McInnis offers an update on Coach Gib Arnold's 2011 recruiting class.

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Dave Reardon makes clear his sentiment on Arnold still not being under an official contract. Maybe UH is asking for a copy of his birth certificate first?

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Jason Groves provides more on New Mexico State's current recruiting.

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Kyle Goon has some positive news about USU recruit Marcel Davis.

Thursday morning and the world of WAC basketball

Jeff Portnoy closes out his season with a final UH basketball column and we thank him for his coverage.

Dayton Morinaga reports on who is already on the Rainbow Warrior roster and what those players are up to.

Gib Arnold certainly 'gets it' media-wise and seems to make himself available to any and all. A tip o' the PTW hat to him.

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Another hat tip goes out to Sam Wasson of the Bleed Crimson site and Twitter account for noting an item about Westwind prep point Kiwi Gardner.

Tuesday's a.m. WAC basketball report

It's Mr. Wen featured in a 10+ minute video at Sam Wasson's Bleed Crimson site.

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Chris Murray has more on the Kaileb Rodriguez verbal to Cal (although that doesn't necessarily mean Nevada won't keep trying).

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Jeff Portnoy checks in with a number of basketball thoughts, mostly focused on UH hoops.

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Dayton Morinaga features Gin Arnold talking about Rainbow Warrior recruiting.

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Greg Ohlson at the Cyclone Sports Report site serves up an interview with Olu Ashaolu.

Saturday's WAC report

Dayton Morinaga has it directly from Joston Thomas -- he'll be back but with less of himself.

Ferd Lewis writes about UH's desire to twine its athletics programs to Asia, with Gib Arnold attempting to make it a reality in hoops.

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Per Bryant-Jon Anteola, Rodney Terry is already out and about making himself the public face of Bulldog basketball. He also reports that Kevin Olekaibe has decided to remain at Fresno State.

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Jim Hilley checks in with updates on a pair of former Aggies, plus notes about Coach Reggie.

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Nevada has announced the winners of various individual awards given to a number of the Wolf Pack players.

Friday's a.m. WAC basketball menu

Bryant-Jon Anteola profiles Rodney Terry.

Matt James offers some inside details and his approval of the hire.

Jeff Davis reports that ex-FSU Coach Boyd Grant likes the decision.

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Jeff Portnoy has the scoop on have-a-prospect-for-me-will-travel Gib Arnold.

From ESPN, here's the latest target.

Here's another link, this one on an unfortunate incident.

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A.W. Prince serves up a full-fledged feature on California 2011 prep backcourter Xavier McCall.

And then there were two

It's probably been this way since the weekend, if not even a few days before in the Fresno State coaching search.

Daniel Lyght offers the latest.

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Dayton Morinaga reports that Gib Arnold will be in recruiting roundup mode once again in California and Texas.

Brian McInnis tells readers that UH is headed to China and Japan for some basketball action this summer on a spread-the-word-about-UH-hoops tour.

Coming from Hawaii way

Received this much appreciated update from a longtime UH basketball fan:

"According to reliable sources, the Gibber has received a solid verbal commit from a highly touted JC point guard. His identity is being kept under wraps until it is close to signing day.

We could end up with more than five new recruits this year. Reports also have it that Hauns Brereton of Western Nebraska CC is also being offered.

The Gibber was also in Europe for nearly a week pounding the pavement.  Was it Andre Pajovic’s family that he was visiting?"

Thursday's a.m. WAC hoops links

Call it a season as Boise State fell to Oregon in Eugene -- Nick Jezierny has the game report as does Bob Clark. 

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Jason Jones at the HereComesTheDawgs site gets into who are the replacement candidates for Kerry Rupp.

Jason Pugh of the Shreveport Times writes about how the tide turned during this season for Rupp.

Jonathan Ford at the BleedTechBlue site (a Rivals sub is required) offers the background on four possibilities for the opening.

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There's World Wide Wes who first received such a mantle but World Wide Gib is coming up fast on the outside -- Ferd Lewis explains.

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It's not WAC-related but here's a fascinating article about Precision Time Systems, or lack thereof, during the Big Dance.

Thursday and the world of WAC basketball

Brian McInnis reports on the last-second loss for UH to San Jose State.

Jeff Portnoy covers the game and what's next for the Rainbow Warriors. 

Dayton Morinaga and Brian McInnis write that it's Portland for Hawaii's CIT opponent.

Brian also serves up an article on former Gib Arnold recruiting target Keith Shamburger.

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Mark Littlefield offers another game report, plus photos, of Nevada's victory over Fresno State.

Dan Hinxman also writes about the contest.

Chris Murray has included a number of quotes as the Wolf Pack faces New Mexico State.

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Sam Wasson has video of announcers Jack Nixon (New Mexico State) and Mike Chisholm (San Jose State) discussing elements of the WAC tourney.

Sam also broadcasts a segment of Wendell-Vision.

Jason Groves writes about the recent history between New Mexico State and Nevada.

Jason also has posted an article on the Aggie past, present and future.

Jason also offers a number of blog entries on the tournament.

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Daniel Lyght covers the Bulldog defeat and a number of other topics.

Matt James is all about the Bulldog in the living room.

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Nick Jezierny features Jeff Ledbetter whose play will be critical for the Vandals as they face San Jose State today.

Jim Meehan looks closely at the two teams.

Tuesday's WAC basketball scene

Jeff Portnoy reports that Hawaii has an alternative option if it's not The Big Dance for the Rainbow Warriors.

Brian McInnis tells us that Zane Johnson, as if he needed it, is experiencing greater motivation to show his wares in the WAC tourney. 
 
Wes Nakama details what UH is up to in Sin City.

Ferd Lewis, utilizing the term Cold War and rapprochement but in a basketball sense, writes about the real-politik between Riley Wallace and Gib Arnold.

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AW Prince at Silver and Blue Sports digs into the WAC tourney reality for the Wolf Pack.

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Sam Wasson has posted a video profile of Aggie senior sharpshooter Gordo Castillo.

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Jason Groves offer not a route to Las Vegas but, more importantly, a path to winning it all for New Mexico State.

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Shawn Harrison says it was on the wings of strong defending that aided Utah State in its sweep this past week. To mix sports metaphors, can the Aggies pitch a shutout?

Tony Jones emphasizes it was maturity propelling USU.

The Wednesday a.m. WAC basketball report

Do remember that the New Mexico State - Utah State matchup tonight in Las Cruces will be televised on ESPN2.

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Brian McInnis tell us that Coach Gib Arnold is a proponent of business management concept of continuous improvement. Brian also checked in with Jeremiah Ostrowski on his football playing status.

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Sam Wasson comments about Chris Murray's All-WAC selections.

Teddy Feinberg offers a very insightful column about the Aggie basketball squad.

Jason Groves' latest has Coach Marvin Menzies going philosophical and talking sports truths. Jason also features Wendell McKines' connection with the New Mexico State promotion for the Utah State game.

The NMSU - USU edition of PanAmmunition is up.

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The Idaho Statesman looks at Boise State's long list of seniors and Nick Jezierny features one of them, Justin Salzwedel.

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Josh Wright looks at the various placement scenarios of Idaho's finish in the WAC and has landed a number of quotes from Coach Don Verlin.

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Kraig Williams and Shawn Harrison inform us that Utah State will be chartering to the game against New Mexico State. Tony Jones is here and here. Tai Wesley is putting this label on the trip: the payback tour.

Thursday's overall WAC report

Dayton Morinaga reports that Coach Gib Arnold is mining southern California -- no surprise there -- and one prep forward in particular.

Brian McInnis offers more on the injury status of Hiram Thompson.

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Chris Murray names the dandiest dunkers in Wolf Pack history.

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Want some Chili for breakfast? Then go here.

It's not quite accurate but we'll label the New Mexico State - Northern Colorado matchup as big versus small and Jason Groves preview the Saturday contest. Jason also offers a blog entry on the status of Troy Gillenwater's ankle.

Wednesday a.m. and the WAC

Two days off for the USU players? Is any further evidence needed that Stew is mellowing into a basketball version of Mr. Rogers?

Tony Jones writes about the above and also has this blog entry on the Aggie point guard corps. Shawn Harrison goes in-depth on Brockeith Pane.

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Here's Sam Wasson with his weekly Marvin Menzies interview.

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Newcomer at the point Derrell Conner receives the celeb treatment -- both Joe Santoro and Chris Murray writes about the junior college transfer. Dan Hinxman looks at Wolf Pack point guards past and present.

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Per Brian McInnis, Hawaii doesn't face Utah State until Saturday and the Rainbow Warriors are homeworkin' it to be ready and advance their three-game win streak.

Dayton Morinaga has the news that Gib Arnold will sport different attire depending on the crowd numbers for the USU matchup.

Wednesday WAC log

A framed O.J. Mayo jersey among those on a wall in Gib Arnold's office? Hmmmm. Maybe it should be propped up by a 4x6 of Rodney Guillory in a running uniform. Dayton Morinaga has the details.

Per Brian McInnis, the 'Arnold Alerts' are lessening and that's a sign of progress for the UH hoopsters.

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LA TECH athletics provides the details on the Bulldog exhibition matchup and outcome.

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Can or maybe the correct word is will New Mexico State improve defensively? Jason Groves writes about that subject.

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"...Players love games, but the veterans know practice is valuable..." highlights a lengthy article on Utah State hoops by Shawn Harrison.

Nate Bendall's feet are failing him as Tony Jones reports @ Aggieville.

Friday's early WAC report

Dayton Morinaga writes that it's the graybeards performing the best so far for Coach Gib Arnold. There is no truth to the rumor that Junior Methuselah in on the UH most-wanted recruit list.

Brian McInnis has the story on Frank Arnold's take of Gib Arnold's 2010-2011 Hawaii squad.

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Nick Jezierny writes about Coach Leon Rice's expectations in the Bronco upcoming exhibition game.

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Here's a series of takes on the WAC agreement with its departees: Matt James, Dan Hinxman and Kurt Kragthorpe.

All of Hawaii's recruits qualify

Gib Arnold and the UH hoops fans received some good news -- Brian McInnis has the scoop plus additional news:

Arnold's entire recruiting class enrolled at UH
Brian McInnis
Honolulu Star Advertiser
August 18, 2010

Arnold's Army has landed on Hawaii's shores free of academic casualties.

Hawaii men's basketball coach Gib Arnold confirmed that all nine newcomers were admitted and enrolled at Manoa for the start of the fall semester on Monday...

Go here for the remainder.

A weak WAC Thursday

Gib Arnold receives from pixels from Fox's Jeff Goodman here -- scroll down a bit.

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"...It's a culture that is nasty, inebriated and civilly doesn't give our fans the respect that any fan should expect when visiting an away team..." -- Boise State president Bob Kustra speaking about the followers of the Idaho Vandals.

Not only are the Idaho faithful upset but The Spectrum-ites in Logan feel left out. ;-)

A very early look at Hawaii in 2010-2011

Apparently, nothing happened yesterday basketball-related in the WAC so luckily we had this in reserve:

HAWAII

UH is right up there with Nevada in welcoming, save a few players, what amounts to a brand new 2010-2011 roster. Hawaii needs scorers and accurate long distance shooters -- elements grievously missing from the last squad.

So, barring academic woes or inexplicable behavior, here are your 2010-2011 Rainbow Warriors:

BACKCOURT/WING

returnees

* Beau Albrechtson G 6-4 205 Jr - a walk-on who won't see much court time       
* Rykin Enos G 5-11 190 Jr. - ditto             
* Leroy Lutu G 6-3 200 Jr - ditto
* Zane Johnson G 6-6 210 Jr. - first and foremost, his role is as a catch-and-shoot from distance marksmen -- let's see if he has developed greater creative ability
* Hiram Thompson G 6-2 175 Sr. - this guy, of anyone in college basketball, deserves a healthy season and based on the current roster, he looks like the starting point -- Thompson contributes all over the stat sheet although he isn't necessarily a cut-above type creator

newcomers

* Jordan Coleman 6-foot-4 180 CA HS - a marvelous athlete possessing excellent down-the-line potential -- how quick his learning curve is will be the key to his amount of playing time
* Bo Barnes 6-foot-4 180 Westwind Prep (AZ) - another catch-and-shoot-from-distance scorer, he doesn't appear to have starting potential but definitely will find his way sooner or later into the backcourt rotation
* Bobby Miles 6-foot-1 190 CA HS - Thompson and Salter should eat up most of the available playing time at the point, so Miles is likely to redshirt
* Anthony Salter 5-foot-11 175 Iowa Western College - he brings speed and quickness, a nice change of pace from Thompson and he will hopefully quickly adapt to the D-1 level
* Trevor Wiseman 6-foot-7 200, CA HS - controlling his temper is job one here as that will allow the focus and concentration necessary to develop his skills set, it's still unknown (to PTW) if he has the necessary academics to be eligible this coming season

FRONTCOURT

returnees
        
* Douglas Kurtz C 7-0 265 Sr. - he played 125 minutes last year as a community college transfer and the likelihood is that Vander Joaquim will garner the non-Bill Amis minutes at the five this coming season, so court time will again remain scarce -- he probably should have gone to a lower level of play but dropping him now would negatively impact the inroads Arnold wishes to make in Brazil        
* Bill Amis F 6-9 220 Sr. - not a star but a solid glue guy who will add some points, rebounds and blocked shots each game -- let's see if he has added weight/strength during his redshirt year because such will increase his effectiveness

newcomers

* Dominick Brumfield 6-foot-8 210 Big Bend College (WA) - very good potential, -- the question is can he put it together as soon as this coming season?
* Vander Joaquim 6-foot-10 240 College of Eastern Utah - he won't score a lot but it's enough if he will defend and rebound
* Josten Thomas 6-foot-7 235 College of Southern Idaho - call him the key for the Rainbow Warriors' season as consistent frontcourt scoring (especially) and boardwork are the needed contributions from Thomas

By the way, Coach Gib Arnold has gathered quite the recruiting coaching staff, an element critical to making UH a factor again in the WAC. Walter Roese will roam Brazil and South America, Scott Fisher's responsibility is Australia and Benjy Taylor is familiar with Illinois and parts of the South. Arnold knows southern California as well as Utah. This assemblage was a prerequisite for any uptick in UH recruiting.

PTW's best guess at a UH starting five:

* Anthony Salter
* Hiram Thompson
* Zane Johnson
* Josten Thomas
* Bill Amis

Whatifs: If Josten can also play the three, then Joaquim can play in the middle and Amis move to the four but Johnson's shooting range is going to be needed on the court for 30+ minutes a game. He can also probably handle the two, with Salter and Thompson splitting time at the point.

The WAC on Wednesday

Brian McInnis checks in with an update on UH hoops, offering the recruiting travel plans of the Hawaii coaching staff and more. Go here.

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Travis Mason-Bushman offers an update on where Idaho center Marvin Jefferson is taking the court. Go here

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We're waiting for the part two posting of AW Prince's look at the 2010-2011 WAC rosters at Silver and Blue Sports. A sub is required but well worth the cost.

Sunday's WAC news and notes

Dayton Morinaga has a lengthy piece today about Gib Arnold's recruiting class. It is an impressive feat and one accomplished in a very short time. What will be fascinating is how well it goes with the blending of all these players, plus the returnees. Josten Thomas should be getting the most touches next season which should keep him satisfied but he is going to have to keep earning such an offensive ranking. Trevor Wiseman's temper will be another factor to monitor because all freshman are going to bump into barriers and hurdles.

We (generally) get all excited over recruiting classes and rightly so -- they provide hope and are the future. But nowadays, it seems at least a third of recruits end up at another address before the completion of eligibility so which players in each WAC team's recruiting class are candidates to fall into this category?

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I guess we woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning but we feel compelled to add our two cents on the possibility of Memphis' Roburt Sallie heading to a WAC team as Fresno State fans are speculating.

There are so many factors at play here:

1) Which school still has a scholarship available?

2) Which WAC coach is willing to wait until mid-to-late summer to see if Sallie is eligible and available?

3) Sallie is more a complementary type player and not a game changer

4) With but one season to play and obviously a desire to impress foreign and domestic scouts, what are the odds that Sallie will accept a role as the say the third option on offense?

Ultimately, we believe Sallie will try his hand overseas. Another college season just won't add much to what he is trying to accomplish.