The state of the WAC on Saturday

 When can we get back to focusing on current players, recruiting prospects and the like?

Yikes. Ferd Lewis has a long memory and brings together two disparate moments -- one current and the other from 2002 -- in UH and Fresno State athletics. Go here.

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 Thank you to PackBlue at the Silver and Blue Sports Sports Forum for discovering this -- a Twitter account featuring a faux Karl Benson. Go here and have some laughs, which we need now more than ever.

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Getting serious, it appears (who knows what passes for reality at this point) Utah State is seriously exploring joining the Mountain West Conference.

Here are some 14, 15 hour old tweets from Jared Eborn/Deseret News:

A source close to the USU administration tells the Deseret News Utah State is actively negotiating a berth in MWC with WAC falling apart

and

That source at USU says the MWC will expand, again, to 12 teams if BYU can be persuaded to stay in MWC for non-football sports

and

Any conference move for USU depends on BYU's decision on FB indy status. Nothing will happen before Monday at earliest 

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To be clear, that source says nothing impending, but that is the goal of current negotiations for USU.

Plus, Tony Jones has an Aggieville article here on this subject and more.

Hawaii looking for a fifth place finish

With most eyeing who will finish near the top in the WAC, the jostling among the second-tier teams is also something to watch. Hawaii is hoping to end up as #5 in the WAC:

Good news, bad news: 'Bows have shot at fifth — also last
Dayton Morinaga
Honolulu Advertiser
February 24, 2009

In a best-case scenario, the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team could still finish as high as fifth place in the Western Athletic Conference.

In a worst case, the Rainbow Warriors could finish in last place in the nine-team WAC.

In short, there is still much to be decided in the final two weeks of the regular season for the 'Bows.

"You can look at all the options, and it's fun to do that sometimes," Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said. "But the bottom line is we can't worry about all the other scenarios. We just have to focus on what we can do."

With three regular-season games remaining, Hawai'i is 13-13 overall and in sixth place in the WAC at 5-8.

The 'Bows are scheduled to depart Honolulu tonight for a crucial two-game road trip. They will play at first-place Utah State on Thursday, then at seventh-place San Jose State on Saturday...

Go here for the remainder.

Less is more for Hawaii

Hawaii Coach Bob Nash has pared down his offensive scheme to good effect of late:

'Bows open up options on offense
Dayton Morinaga
Honolulu Advertiser
February 12, 2009

Think of the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team's newfound offense like one of those new hybrid cars.

It is a combination of the traditional and modern, all designed to make things run more efficiently.

"We're going green," Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said with a laugh.

The Rainbow Warriors simplified their offense in recent weeks, and have won three of their last four games as a result...

Go here for the remainder.