A Greg Smith update

Adam Zagoria reports (it will take some scrolling down) that Greg Smith is on the list of invitees to next week's Chicago pre-draft camp. No Troy Gillenwater or Adrian Oliver.

Another Greg Smith workout

Rodger Bohn has tweeted that former Fresno State center Greg Smith is working out for the New York Knicks.

A few more notes from the p.m.

One time USU wing recruit Matt Glover apparently liked the sights and sounds of Happy Valley and has committed to Penn State. Read about it here.

This article states that he selected PSU over Nebraska, with Iowa dropping out.

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Chris Murray has more on the accolades coming Nevada's way via Jeff Goodman's recent hidden gems feature.

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Adam Zagoria has the news that Olu Ashaolu, Troy Gillenwater and Greg Smith will be among the many on display this weekend in New Jersey as part of an NBA draft display.

The world of WAC basketball on Wednesday morning

It's Wednesday morning, not Thursday as we originally typed. Yes, PTW is all powerful but even we have limitations and time travel is one of them.

Dayton Morinaga reports that Hauns Brereton has agreed to become a Rainbow Warrior.

Brian McInnis goes over the remaining prospects linked to UH hoops.

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Jason Groves has the scoop that Sir G/His Troyness and the NBA draft.

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Daniel Lyght adds to his 'Greg-Smith-hires-an-agent' piece with news about another Bulldog big departing.

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Tony Jones cover the 'Utah-State-will-be-different-but-how-good?' question.

Wednesday p.m.'s WAC basketball edition

Per Daniel Lyght, Greg Smith has definitely put Fresno State in his rear view mirror. Bulldog basketball fans have been wondering if Smith might return to play for Rodney Terry.

Anyone know who is repping Smith? Is it someone associated with BDA Management (Bill Duffy and Associates)? BDA is connected to the Oakland Soldiers, the top club basketball team on the West Coast, and Smith played for the Soldiers pre-college.

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Sam Wasson at his Bleed Crimson site, has the scoop about another New Mexico State basketball commit.

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seldomseensmith also breaks some news at the USUFans.com Stew's Spectrum MB on a hoops playing visitor, an Idaho native, to Logan.

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Courtesy of Gaylen Wood (GoVandals.net), PTW is cognizant of another commitment to Coach Don Verlin -- guard Connor Hill of Post Falls High in Idaho. Dale Grummert broke the news in an article in The Tribune but one needs to be a subscriber in order to read it.

Here is an Mark Nelke-penned accessible article at the CDAPress site on Conner's commit.

Here is a December 16, 2010 Spokane Spokesman Review article on Hill.

Say adios to Greg Smith

Daniel Lyght has the scoop on Greg Smith's move towards The Big Show.

We missed this one

Somehow we missed this Daniel Lyght article all about Greg Smith:

Bulldogs' Smith has untapped potential
Daniel Lyght
The Fresno Bee
March 5, 2011

Kyle Nelson of NBA Draft Express evaluated Smith's play the past two years and called him "both a legitimate prospect and an extremely frustrating player. He should be dominating mid-major collegiate competition with his physical advantages and ability to play with his back to the basket."

Draft Express statistics reveal that Smith's touches are down slightly from last season despite the departures of last year's top scorers George and Sylvester Seay...

Go here for the remainder.

Sunday's report on last night's games

Here are the final regular season standings:

Utah State 15-1    
Boise State 10-6    
Idaho 9-7    
New Mexico State 9-7    
Hawai'i 8-8    
Nevada 8-8         
Fresno State 6-10    
San Jose State 5-11    
Louisiana Tech 2-14

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It was a Castillo-powered New Mexico State triumph over Nevada as the senior backcourter put up a double-double. Troy Gillenwater had a strong effort, too.

Jason Groves, Chris Murray (a hat tip to Gazette-Journal management for sending Chris to Las Cruces) and Sam Wasson provide their accounts. Chris also has a game notes column posted. Sam provides a bevy of game photos.

We missed the Nevada edition of the PanAmmunition.

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Hawaii was soaring, Fresno State declining. So what happens? The Greg Smith Engagement and this has nothing to do with matrimony but everything to do with an 16/16 double-double.

Daniel Lyght, Dayton Morinaga and Marek Warszawski all offer game reports.

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Ethan Conley and Shawn Harrison were present and accounted for (kudos to the Herald Journal management for sending Shawn to Ruston) in the Utah State rout of LA TECH.

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Is it seven come eleven for Boise State? This after the host Broncos downed San Jose State to rack up #7 in a winning streak.

Nick Jezierny serves up his take.

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Josh Wright covered Idaho getting by Seattle in a very late in the season non-conference matchup.

Saturday's previews, notes and links

Dayton Morinaga looks at UH's final regular season game, plus he has video of a team dinner on the road. Brian McInnis writes about the Ws in relation to Hawaii hoops. Ferd Lewis plays Diogenes in asking for some honesty from Rainbow Warrior fans.

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Sam Wasson and Jason Groves preview tonight's New Mexico State - Nevada matchup.

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Daniel Lyght looks at all the angles surrounding the Greg Smith Project.

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Nick Jezierny writes that Boise State has Mighty Mo on its side entering tonight game versus San Jose State.

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Utah State is in Ruston tonight to take on Louisiana Tech. Kraig Williams, Shawn Harrison and Tony Jones check in.

Shawn also offers an in-depth feature on Tai Wesley.

Greg Smith not starting tonight

Daniel Lyght is tweeting the Fresno State - Idaho game

"Greg Smith not starting 2nite for Bulldogs. 1st time all season he hasn't started. Funk took his place. He'll enter game here @ 15:23 mark"

A Greg Smith NBA draft update

The Draft Express folks, Kyle Nelson in particular, have updated Fresno State's Greg Smith's NBA draft draft projection -- head here.

Greg Smith is the WAC POW

Fresno State’s Greg Smith has been named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for Jan. 31–Feb. 6. The honor marks the first career WAC Player of the Week award for Smith.

Smith, a sophomore center from Fresno, Calif. (Edison HS), led Fresno State to a home sweep over New Mexico State and Louisiana Tech last week. The wins snapped a six-game WAC losing streak for the Bulldogs.

Against New Mexico State, Smith didn’t miss a shot, making all seven field goal attempts and each of his free throws for 17 points. He also added seven rebounds in just 22 minutes of action as the Bulldogs defeated the Aggies 88-83 in overtime.

On Saturday, Smith led the Bulldogs from a 12-point halftime deficit against LA Tech in a 72-64 victory. He scored a team-high 18 points and had seven rebounds, three blocks, two assists and one steal in a career-high 37 minutes of action. Smith was 4-for-8 from the floor and 10-for-13 from the line. His 10 free throws also marked a career high.

On the week, Smith averaged 17.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 blocks per game. He shot 73.3 percent (11-of-15) from the field and 81.3 percent (13-of-16) from the free throw line.

Other nominees:

* Boise State senior forward Daequon Montreal
* Hawai‘i sophomore center Vander Joaquim
* Idaho senior forward Brandon Wiley
* Nevada junior forward Dario Hunt
* New Mexico State junior forward Troy Gillenwater
* Utah State junior guard Brockeith Pane

More for Friday

Teddy Feinberg comments about this year's edition of WAC basketball.

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Tony Jones lauds Brockeith Pane who is adding a dimension -- one on one- ability -- to the USU backcourt.

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A 'closer' is usually a baseball term but Chris Murray takes it to the Nevada basketball realm.

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Per Daniel Lyght, Fresno State must not go 'Smith-less' if expecting to remain in games.

Tuesday's WAC items

It's never this simple but Steed and Fresno were too much -- 80 to 74 -- for visiting Czyz and Nevada Monday night.

Check out Daniel Lyght's game report while AW Prince and Chris Murray also offer looks at the game.

Alluding to our pre-game buildup, Dario Hunt earned a 13/12 double/double and Greg Smith put up 15/9. The Bulldogs were better in assists (18-11), steals (11-2) and turnovers 8/15.

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Dayton Morinaga reports that Bill Amis is ill -- what more can hit the senior?

Is Dominick Brumfield ready and able to fill the hole left by Amis' absence? Brian McInnis takes a look.

Jeff Portnoy has posted new entries, (1) and (2). The second looks at the Mississippi State circus.

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Head to the last few paragraphs of Sam Wasson's Daily Aggies for a look at Wendell McKines' coming back this season or redshirting and returning in 2011-2012.

Thursday's opening night game reports

It was Wesley power -- 27/13 -- that propelled Utah State to a home victory over a very game Hawaii.

There's a bevy of game reports: Kraig Williams, Shawn Harrison, Tony Jones (plus a blog entry), Weston Mangum, plus Craig Peterson's 40 game photos. From the alternate perspective, Dayton Morinaga, and Jeff Hunter.

Jeff Portnoy notes that his radio show is switching days.

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Celebrating his entry into this world, Troy Gillenwater returned from injury and led the Aggies to a road win up in Moscow.

Sam Wasson is here, the Sun-News is here and Jason Groves has posted a blog entry on the game.Josh Wright twittered the game and also reports that Idaho frontcourter Djim Bandoumel is academically ineligible -- that was quick. Josh's game report is here.

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Fresno State, in its best game of the season and powered by Smith and Steed, turned back visiting San Jose State.

Marek Warszawsk's game report is here

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A 20-2 start by Boise State left visiting Louisiana Tech in the dust.

Nick Jezierny was present and offers this game report. The Daily Bronco has every number you could ever want on the game.

Three more notes

Kraig Williams' Deseret New Twitter account can be found here. Bookmark it.

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Anthony Ray has posted a feature on Keanau Post, the Canadian big who has reclassified to the 2012 class -- go here (a Rivals sub is required). Besides Utah State, the Washington State Cougars are the only other team right now with an extended offer -- but that will change.

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Andrew Conli of Fresno State Athletics features Nedeljko Golubovic and Greg Smith -- head here.

Draft Express on Greg Smith

Jonathan Givony at the Draft Express site has updated the take on Fresno State's Greg Smith.

Top NBA Draft Prospects in Non-BCS Conferences, Part One (#1-10)
Jonathan Givony
Draft Express
October 30, 2010

A pleasant surprise amongst last year's freshman class, Fresno State's Greg Smith emerged from relative obscurity at the high school level to string together a very productive season.

Smith's virtues as an NBA prospect are pretty easy to see on first glance, as he brings great size to the table to go along with a nice wingspan and a big, strong frame. Smith looks the part of a legit NBA center from a physical standpoint, which when combined with his excellent hands, puts him in a rare class of prospects right off the bat...

Go here for the remainder.

Thursday's WAC post

Dayton Morinaga has more on UH target Braeden Anderson.

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Utah State athletics writes about the latest Aggie intra-squad scrimmage. Shawn Harrison was there and provides his report.

Tyler Huskinson of The Statesman writes about the Aggie bigs.

Anthony Ray at Arizona Preps posts that Canadian 'big' Keanau Post has decided to become a 2012 recruit and will be at Westwind Prep next year too. Go here (a Rivals sub is required).Here's some info on Post from the Westwind site.

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Silver and Blue Sports has another edition of The Howl with a half hour devoted to Wolf Pack basketball.

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The Fresno Bee's Bryant Jon-Anteola offers a blog entry on Greg Smith's staying in the San Joaquin or heading to The Show after this season.

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Redshirt Drew Wiley is featured in Nick Jezierny's latest Bronco countdown.

A big time Friday WAC roundup

Fresno State will be minus its starting point for the fall semester -- Daniel Lyght has the details here. Yes, Steve Shepp has his weaknesses (which players in the WAC don't?) but now having to rely upon a freshman who was a scorer in the prep ranks and a newcomer from a junior college is never what a coach draws up in his master plan.

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The mantra at Boise State is 'intensity' and Nick Jezierny offers the background to such here.

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John Keith/Las Cruces Bulletin interviews Troy Gillenwater here and we also learn where Jahmar Young and Jonathan Gibson are now playing.

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Jeff Portnoy has re-emerged with the Star Advertiser and here is his first column on UH hoops.

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Daniel Lyght pulls double duty here with a very personal feature on Fresno State's Greg Smith.

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Shawn Harrison begins his coverage of Utah States with a column here.

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Sportsbow at the Sports Hawaii site has the scoop (as usual) on a new site -- Warrior Insider -- for UH basketball. Anyone know who is behind it as it looks very impressive and professional?

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The Quayles have returned from Belgium apparently sooner than expected -- read about it here.

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Jeff Faraudo of the Oakland Tribune offers this on San Jose State in his Bay Area college basketball preview:

Catching up: The Spartans, who lost nine of their final 11 games a year ago, will be smaller but deeper, more athletic and more versatile, according to coach George Nessman. "We definitely feel it's the best team we've had," he said.

It starts with Oliver, who has scored at least 30 points in 10 of his 49 games with the Spartans. "He received an inordinate amount of defensive attention, so we have to make it a little simpler for him to score," Nessman said. "The biggest piece for him is really feeling comfortable as a leader of a team."   

Tuesday's WAC items

Tony Jones/Aggieville confirms that USU center Nate Bendall is recovering from a foot injury.

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Jason Groves heads to the San Joaquin for his #4 selection of the WAC's best players.

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Arizona prep backcourter Collin Woods has made the call and it's UC Irvine. Fresno State was in the mix but that was some time back.

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Don't forget Matt Bauscher's blog -- he's quite the writer and well worth checking out (Rod Benson has some major competition here). The ex-Boise Stater seems about due for an October post (not that we're pressuring him).