Monday's WAC offerings

Due to unpopular demand, we will reluctantly be tossing our oft-tipped hat into the ring for the Oregon basketball coaching job. The University of Phil Knight has conducted a textbook how-not-to-hire-a-coach search that should be a case study for every sports management program in this country. Maybe Michael Jordan can simultaneously  run the Charlotte Bobcats and be the head coach of the Ducks?

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Okay, the Draft Express site has the official measurements of the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament participants. The two WAC players are Sylvester Seay and Roderick Flemings.

Do note that "all measurements are listed without shoes. To get a gauge for what a player would be listed at with shoes, add an inch and a quarter. We looked back at our measurement database (which includes every NBA pre-draft camp since 2000) and found that players gain 1.2 inches on average from being measured in shoes, as opposed to without."

* Syklvester Seay is listed at 6-foot 8.75 inches and 213 pounds, with a 6-foot 11-inch wingspan

* Roderick Flemings is listed at 6-foot 5.25 inches and 205 pounds, with a 6-foot 11-inch wingspan

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Longtime college coach (his history is here) Jack Fertig has an interesting post up today, titled "How Does a Player Know If He Should Declare for the Draft?" Go here.

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 Dwight McCombs tripped to Arizona State over the weekend and seems close to committing, per Chris Karpman of the Rivals ASUDevils.com site. A Rivals sub is required. He had received some mention in conjunction with Nevada. McCombs is a 6-foot-8 power forward currently at Moraine Valley College in Illinois and went to high school in Chicago as well as playing for Miami (Ohio). .

Wednesday and the WAC

Gabe Vasquez of the Bulletin in the Zone reports on the Aggie senior night, leading with an item about a missed class resulting in Wendell McKines' reduced playing time. Go here for the entry.

Jason Groves reports here that Da'Shawn Gomez is no longer a New Mexico State basketballer. Jason also has a fascinating post about the standings implications of this weekend's final games and former Arkansas mentor Nolan Richardson here.

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Brian McInnis offers a long feature on senior Roderick Flemings here.

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Shawn Harrison has a lengthy list of USU basketball notes here, including some predictions from Brady Jardine that will be used as lockerroom material during the WAC tourney. But until someone actually beats the Aggies, we'll quote the Walter Brennan character in "The Guns of Will Sonnett": "No brag, just fact." Yes, most if not all of you are rightfully and quizzically asking who, what? Call Sonnett a 180 degree character from Grandpappy McCoy and we'll end our meanderings among prehistoric television now.

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Last but certainly not least, Chris Murray details here -- in a must-read -- the keys for Nevada if they wish to reach the top of the WAC kingdom come tournament time.

Roderick Flemings WAC POW

Per Jason Erickson, the Director of WAC Media Relations:

Hawai'i's Roderick Flemings has been named the Verizon Wireless Western Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Feb. 15-21. The honor marks the second career WAC Player of the Week award for Flemings.

Flemings, a senior forward from Dallas, Texas (Weatherford College), led the Rainbow Warriors in a pair of games last week. Flemings tallied 25 points and 11 rebounds against New Mexico State for his sixth double-double of the season. He followed up that performance with a career-high 39 points versus Cal Poly. The effort marked the most points ever by a UH player in the Stan Sheriff Center and the fourth-highest point total in program history. Flemings hit 15-of-30 shots for his 39 points and recorded five rebounds, two assists and a steal.

On the week, Flemings averaged 32.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. He also shot 45.1 percent (23-of-51) from the field and 82.4 percent (14-of-17) from the free throw line.

Other nominees:

* Boise State junior forward Robert Arnold
* Fresno State sophomore forward/guard Paul George
* Idaho senior center Marvin Jefferson
* Louisiana Tech junior guard DeAndre Brown
* New Mexico State junior guard Jahmar Young
* San Jose State senior center Chris Oakes
* Utah State junior forward Tai Wesley

Friday's WAC links and notes

It's a conundrum surrounding New Mexico State's success of late but wins are wins:

Recent roll has seen Aggies win 10 of 12
Teddy Feinberg, Las Cruces Sun-News Sports Editor
2/05/2010

You wouldn't expect to hear it from a team ranked last in the Western Athletic Conference in points allowed per game.

But the New Mexico State Aggie men's basketball team believes one of the main reasons it has won 10 of its last 12 games, including six of its first eight WAC contests, is because of its defense.

"Just having a defensive mindset," junior forward Wendell McKines said. "Having our buckets come off the defensive end. Overall we're playing harder, playing together."

Head coach Marvin Menzies said that despite surrendering 78.7 points per game, the Aggies have improved on the defensive end of the floor as the season has gone along. And part of their offensive success — the team is averaging 77.7 points per contest, third best in the conference — is because of their defensive efforts...

Go here for the remainder.

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Per Daniel Lyght, Paul George made the flight to Honolulu -- more here.

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Dayton Morinaga offers a lengthy feature -- including a video interview -- on Roderick Flemings. The late George Gobel had a great line: "Did you ever feel life was a tuxedo and you were a pair of brown shoes?" Well, Flemings' skills set is suited for an up-and-down game, the antithesis of the offensive style UH utilizes and, therefore, his strengths are not maximized. But Bob Nash's style best fits what the other Hawaii players have to offer.

It hasn't been slam dunk for Flemings
'Bow's career marked by injury, inconsistency
Dayton Morinaga
Honolulu Advertiser

Roderick Flemings is fast. Just not as fast as a speeding bullet.

He is strong. Just not more powerful than a locomotive.

He can jump. Just not able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.

As good as Flemings has been for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team, he will never be the Superman some expected him to be.

"I hear what the people are saying," Flemings said. "You have to listen to it, but I try not to let it get to me. I still say coming to Hawai'i was the best decision for me, and it's not over yet..."

Go here for the remainder.

Sunday game reports on Saturday night's WAC matchups

Due to gremlins -- no, not those AMC (but best selling) clunkers of yesteryear (or if you prefer, Ghosts In The Machine -- The Refaction has been MIA. But now it's back with a vengeance. Here's the Boise State edition. Plus, for those who missed it (including us), here's the Hawaii smackdown.

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Sam Wasson has the game report on New Mexico State's takedown of Fresno State here. Plus, plenty of game photos can be accessed here.

Jason Groves writes that the Aggies tripled up on the Bulkldogs here. He blogs about Jonathan Gibson's season here.

Daniel Lyght offers his game report here as Steve Cleveland talks about this and the next two games versus USU and Nevada at home.

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Jared Eborn offers his game report of the Aggie romp over Boise State here. Shawn Harrison provides his equalizer here. Tony Jones likewise here. Jones also features transfer Brian Green's season-to-date here and well as blogging some post-game rumination here.

Nick Jezierny made the trip south (a big tip o' the hat to Idaho Statesman management) and his game perspective is provided here.

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Chris Murray is all over Nevada's win over Idaho here. He profiles Wolf Pack recruit Jordan Burris here, along with other assorted notes.

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The headline on Dayton Morinaga's game preview here says it all. Brian McInnis complements with his preview of Hawaii versus San Jose State here.

The Curious Case of Roderick Flemings is examined here.

We got more

Somehow, someway we missed this one:

Chris Murray/Reno Gazette-Journal wrote an article about the WAC and the number of bids to the Big Dance:

Pack basketball: Is WAC a two-team league come tourney time?
Chris Murray
Reno Gazette-Journal
November 14, 2009

When Utah State coach Stew Morrill pores over the rosters of this year’s WAC teams, he gets almost a nightmarish vision.

“You take a look at every team and say, ‘Wow, it’s scary what they can be,’” Morrill said.

The coach is in his 24th season as a head coach — 12th with the Aggies — and this year’s WAC might be the most competitive league he has ever been a part of.

“It looks to be a really strong league, as strong as I have seen it in my five years in the WAC,” Morrill said.

Go here for the remainder.

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Bob Zagoria had this on Herb Pope's first game with Seton Hall:

"...Herb Pope was one of the new faces trying to blend in, after sitting out as a transfer. He finished with six points, seven rebounds, six assists and four blocks, but was "passive" in his own mind because he tried to show his new teammates that he could fit in..."

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Per Jason Erickson, the WAC Director of Media Relations, Roderick Flemings has been crowned as the initial WAC Player of the Week:

DENVER - Hawai'i's Roderick Flemings has been named the Verizon Wireless Western Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Nov. 9-15. The honor marks the second career WAC Player of the Week award for Flemings.

Flemings, a senior from Dallas, Texas (Weatherford College), helped the Rainbow Warriors to a 2-0 record last week with wins over Southern Utah and McNeese State. Flemings tallied 23 points and 12 rebounds in UH's 65-48 season-opening win over Southern Utah. He recorded his second straight double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds in a 73-65 victory over McNeese
State.

On the week, Flemings averaged 18.5 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He shot 55.6 percent from the field (15-of-27).

Other nominees included: Boise State junior guard La'Shard Anderson, Fresno State freshman center Greg Smith, Louisiana Tech sophomore guard Olu Ashaolu, Nevada sophomore forward Luke Babbitt, New Mexico State sophomore center Hamidu Rahman and Utah State junior guard Tyler Newbold.

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'?

A Roderick Flemings interview

KahalaM5 at the Scout Hawaii site message board provides a link to an interview with Roderick Flemings.

Go here.

This ends that

Hawaii basketball fans can rest easier:

UH star not draft-eligible
Dayton Morinaga
Honolulu Advertiser
May 5, 2009

Roderick Flemings will not get selected in next month's NBA Draft, and it has nothing to do with the talent level of the University of Hawai'i standout.
Advertisement

Flemings is not eligible for the NBA Draft because the NBA league office has not received his paperwork for early entry...

Go here for the remainder.

Will Roderick Flemings be a one-and-done?

The young man does have a history of shall we say 'shallow roots' and if he performs at a consistent level in a manner equal to his athleticism and potential, well...

But all Bob Nash cares about, at least right now, is for a healthy Roderick Flemings.

Flemings is UH's answer to 'NBA-type'
Dayton Morinaga
Honolulu Advertiser
November 13, 2008

How good is Roderick Flemings?

It is the most asked question surrounding the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team during this preseason.

The opening statement to the answer will come tomorrow when the Rainbow Warriors host San Francisco in the first game of the 2008-09 season.

"I feel like I have the weight of the team on me, along with the fans, boosters," Flemings said. "But that gets me going. I like thinking about that to get my day started..."

Go here for the remainder.

Sad news for Roderick Flemings

Roderick Flemings has indeed suffered a death in his family. Our condolences go out to the young man on the passing of his grandfather in Dallas.

Roderick Flemings 'leaves' Hawaii

In the vein of the Weekly World News (the latter currently contains this headline -- "9-FT-TALL CYCLOPS JOINS NBA" -- the National Enquirer, even good ol' Fox News too often and definitely in far too many current political campaigns, we offer that Hawaii's top recruit has left the islands.

It's a 100% indisputable truth.

Flemings has an ailing grandfather in Texas and has gone to visit his relative. He'll be back in school on Monday.

Actually, our best wishes go out to Fleming' grandfather for a quick and complete recovery and that the young man will be able to return to his academics and basketball playing without such a heavy burden on his mind.

Yes, this was a pretty lame-brained attempt at displaying how even fact can be used to infer something that isn't accurate.

We see it in headlines, in the leads of articles, hear such on television and radio, even encounter it in pixelated postings on the 'net.

So let's vow to be much more careful and circumspect in what we say and how we write and display so-called thoughts and information (PTW definitely included) as well as in the depth of material we read, see and hear.

Add to this that we need to up our willingness to admit when we are wrong rather than bluster about this and that, attempting to avoid or obscure the central fact of being incorrect.

Okay, class is over and do send good thoughts to Roderick Flemings and his family.

Hawaii lands a major talent -- maybe

After all the hoopla and headlines comes the fine print.

We have no wish to rain on Bob Nash's parade as his landing of Roderick Flemings is quite the coup. Flemings is a talent Hawaii desperately needed -- someone who can create and score, as the Rainbow Warrior roster is filled primarily with complementary players.

But Flemings apparently has some academic catchup to do and it also wouldn't be surprising if the kid bolts to the NBA after one season, ready for the pros or not. He's collected a series of mailing addresses since high school so will he or won't he make his way to Honolulu and for how long? Bob Nash is willing to take that chance and the success of the Rainbow Warrior season will be heavily dependent on this one kid.

UH lands JC All-American
Swingman Flemings called most talented recruit since A.C.
Dayton Morinaga
Honolulu Advertiser
April 26, 2008

The last shot of the recruiting season for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team turned out to be its best.

Roderick Flemings, a junior college first-team All-America player, signed his letter of intent yesterday to play for the Rainbow Warriors.

"Let everybody know ... I'm going to be at Hawai'i," Flemings said. "A lot of schools were looking at me, but I feel like Hawai'i is the best place for me."

Flemings is 6 feet 7 and 215 pounds, and shoots with his left hand. He said he can play either the shooting guard or small forward position. "My game is versatile," he said. "I'm left-handed, so other teams have a hard time guarding me. I feel like I can shoot the 3 or take it to the basket. I can even post-up, if that's what it takes."

The proof is in the statistics. Flemings averaged 20.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.6 blocked shots per game as a sophomore at Weatherford (Texas) College last season...

Go here for the remainder.

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Here is a report from a Kentucky perspective:

Yes, Flemings to Hawaii
Jody Demling
Louisville Courier-Journal
April 26, 2008

The news broke last night that Roderick Flemings is going to Hawaii, picking the Rainbows over Kentucky. The UK staff will simply move on.

Remember UK fans, Flemings still has a lot of work this summer to become eligible. So even had he committed it wouldn't have been a sure thing.

Not a huge loss.

and

Friday, April 11, 2008
JUCO standout to visit UK?

Weatherford (Tx.) Community College forward Roderick Flemings is one of the top prospects still available in the Class of 2008. The 6-foot-7 Flemings, who was named a first-team junior college All-American, has a lot of big-time schools inquiring about his status and it appears Kentucky is in the mix.

I talked with coach Mark Osina earlier and he updated me a bit on his status.

"He has taken no visits and every school is calling," Osina said. "He's 6-7, 210 and can play inside and outside. He has a good attitude, is long and very talented."
Osina said Flemings will get plenty of attention from colleges in the coming months if "he can get it done academically. He'll have to go to summer school."

When asked if Flemings had a visit to UK set up for this weekend, Osina said "no, not to my knowledge." I know it's been reported the player will visit this weekend and I have left a message for Flemings to try and confirm if he's coming to Lexington or not.

"Kentucky sends him mail all the time, they have called and been here three or four times," said Osina, who did mention Flemings might visit Hawaii next week.

Flemings has also entertained the possibility of entering the NBA draft, and will be working out for a couple of NBA teams, according to him. However, his lack of D-1 experience make a direct entry into the NBA from junior college an unlikely scenario.

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Here's some more background, a report from 2006:

TexasHoops.com Recruiting Staff
TexasHoops.com
May 9, 2006

Sometimes your initial gut feel doesn't end up working out. When Roderick Flemings originally picked Oklahoma State as his college of choice, the versatile 6-foot-7, 215-pound swingman thought he'd be a Cowboy for his entire collegiate career. But after a year in the program, he felt that a fresh start was needed. Flemings made the decision to transfer out, and he's heading back home to North Texas having signed a letter-of-intent to play at UNT in 2007-08.

"It's just a good program," Flemings said. "I was looking around at some other schools, but I thought that UNT was a good team. I like the coaching staff, the way they run the offense, the environment - everything. It's close to my home too."

Some of the other schools Flemings was in contact with after receiving his release from Oklahoma State included Memphis, New Mexico State, UNLV, and Tennessee. When when Flemings stepped back and looked at the situation in front of him at UNT, he just couldn't turn all that down. "I'll play small forward," Flemings said. "I'll do everything, whether it's posting up or shooting outside - everything. I just need to work on my ball-handling and that's about it."