A couple more links plus the top numbers players

Jason Groves salutes Gordo Castillo in a blog entry that also starts off with a question about the WAC tourney.

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Chris Murray writes about the Nevada - Fresno State matchup Wednesday afternoon.

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Regarding personal achievements during the regular season:

* Adrian Oliver was the top scorer at 23.4 ppg.

* Dario Hunt and Olu Ashaolu tied in rebounding at 9.4 caroms a contest.

* Kyle Barone was the top shooter at .645%

* Olek Czyz was the best three-point marksmen at .468%.

* Jeff Ledbetter took free throw honors at .875%.

* Hernst Laroche won the assists title with 5.1 a game.

* La'Shard Anderson was the top thief at 2.6 steals each time out.

* Bill Amis was the most prolific shotblocker with 2.2 rejections per matchup.

Friday's report on last night's games

With the Idaho triumph over host Nevada (and we thought about making this idea a separate post), will Don Verlin be crowding Stew Morrill for Coach of the Year honors? Really. Do think about it. The Vandals are epitomizing one of the truths of basketball -- that the whole can be greater than the sum of its parts.

About the game, Chris Murray is here, here and here. Liz Margerum offers 30 photos. Mark Littlefield is here with Josh Wright here and Joe Santoro here (which probably sets a PTW record for using this particular four letter word).

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Another road winner was La'Shard Anderson-led Boise State in the Save Mart Center. Fresno State was Tim Steed-less but his availability more than likely wouldn't have made any difference. Daniel Lyght provides a game report as does Nick Jezierny, who made the road trip (a tip o' the hat goes to the Idaho Statesman suits).

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Did anyone predict UH to have a winning season this go-around? Uh, the show of hands seems as miniscule as some of Lady Gaga's outfits.

Dayton Morinaga serves up print, video and photos of the Rainbow Warriors win over Louisiana Tech. Brian McInnis has a game report, one with a clever headline.

Looking at tonight's games

Dayton Morinaga offers print, video and a photo -- including a scouting report from a UH assistant coach -- previewing the visit of UH to Las Cruces.

Brian McInnis also looks at the two teams.

Sam Wasson serves up his weekly interview with Coach Marvin Menzies.

Jason Groves' preview, among other things, looks at the 'bigs' on each roster and that should be quite the battle tonight.

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Ethan Conley writes about tonight's LT - SJSU matchup.

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Nick Jezierny shines some light on La'Shard Anderson, who is putting together a very strong senior season. Nick also delves into the stylistic and statistical differences between Aggie and Broncos basketball play plus what to watch for in tonight's big game between the undefeated.

Shawn Harrison is here, Kraig Williams is here and Tony Jones fill us in on the emergence of Brockeith Pane.The duel between Pane and Anderson will go a long way in influencing the outcome of the game.

La'Shard Anderson wins POW honors

To the surprise of nobody -- this one had to be unanimous:

Boise State's La'Shard Anderson has been named the Verizon Western Athletic ConferenceMen's Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Jan. 3-9. The honor marks the first career WAC Player of the Week award for Anderson.

Anderson, a senior forward from San Diego, Calif. (Juniperro Serra HS), led Boise State to a pair of WAC road wins at San Jose State (102-101, 4OT) and Hawai'i (79-55). The two wins marks Boise State's first conference road sweep since joining the league prior to the 2001-02 season. Anderson scored a career-high 31 points in Boise State's quadruple overtime win at San Jose State. He scored 17 of his 31 points during the four overtime periods and scored each of the Broncos' four points in the fourth overtime. Anderson also made a pair of free throws with 35 seconds remaining and stole the ball on SJSU's final possession to secure the victory. Anderson scored 20 points in BSU's win at Hawai'i, connecting on 7-of-12 shots from the field, including a career-best 5-of-6 effort from three-point range.

On the week, Anderson averaged 25.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game. He shot 55.2 percent (16-of-29) from the field and 75.0 percent (6-of-8) from three-point range. He also hit 72.2 percent (13-of-18) of his shots at the free throw line.

Other nominees:  

* Fresno State freshman guard Kevin Olekaibe 
* Idaho senior guard Jeff Ledbetter 
* Nevada junior forward Olek Czyz 
* New Mexico State junior forward Troy Gillenwater 
* Utah State senior forward Tai Wesley

Your nightly WAC report

It's Vander time for Brian McInnis in today's Star Advertiser.

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La'Shard Anderson steps into view as Nick Jezierny's Bronco profiles continues.

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Chris Murray does the same with freshman Jordan Burris. We missed his Patrick Nyeko one here.

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Matt Sonnenberg zeroes in on the backcourt newcomers for the northern Aggies.

La'Shard Anderson sentenced

With a tip o' the hat to Sam Wasson (BleedCrimson), having a "disorderly house" was not really the problem, putting hands on a police officer after disobeying an order was -- now La'Shard Anderson can put his tête-à-tête with the Boise P.D. behind him. Patrick Orr has the details.

Does Bill Sproat have a cop costume?

Upon further reflection

and some sleep...

Here is Jason Groves'/Las Cruces Sun-News take on the NMSU - St. Mary's contest.

Maybe most importantly, it was a missed RPI opportunity for New Mexico State and the WAC. But a victory against New Mexico will get the Aggies back on track.

Jared Eborn/Deseret News offer his "Game 1 Afterburn' on USU in this piece. Tony Jones/Salt Lake City Tribune has his take.

Minus Bill Amis, Hawaii won its opener in the Rainbow Classic. Roderick Flemings achieved a double-double as Dayton Morinaga/Honolulu Advertiser provides the details. Brian McIniis/Honolulu Star Bulletin does the same.

Boise's La'Shard Anderson sure made a statement with his 16 points and 13-14 free throws. Plus, he tallied five assists and three steals.

We were unaware Travis Mason-Bushman was 'riding the dog' to and from Salt Lake City. Now that is dedication.

It's always dangerous to offer 'feedback' without knowing delivery and context but we're a bit irritated with Utah Coach advising the press that: "tonight’s game between his squad and Don Verlin’s Idaho Vandals was 'Idaho’s Super Bowl.'”

Doesn't that come off as at least a tad arrogant and a jab at both Vandal basketball and the WAC? Big Dance-rated #5 Utah lost to #12 Arizona 83-71 in the opening round of the NCAAs last March and this was an interim-coached in the midst of a rollercoaster season Wildcat squad. Let's see what happens versus Utah State in Salt Lake City on November 18. In the event of an Aggie victory, will Boylen call that 'the greatest day in Stew Morrill's life'?