Gotta love this

If this doesn't make you simultaneously laugh and wince...

Jerry Wainwright: "There's only two ideal coaching jobs: An orphanage—no parents. Or a prison—no alums."

Tuesday's WAC basketball rollout

As requested, here are the WAC standings as of today:

Utah State 11-0 22-2   
New Mexico State 7-4 13-12   
Nevada 6-4 9-14   
Idaho 6-5 13-10   
Boise State 5-6 12-11   
Fresno State 5-6 11-12   
Hawai'i 4-7 13-10   
San Jose State 3-8 11-11   
Louisiana Tech 2-9 11-14

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New Mexico State had no trouble with Louisana Tech last night. Jason Groves offers a game report as does Sam Wasson. Sam also serves up video highlights and game photos.

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Minus points sparkplug Kevin Olekaibe, host Fresno State played Wile E. Coyote and easily quagmired the Roadrunners of Bakersfield. Daniel Lyght has the details as does Jeff Evans of the Bakersfield newspaper.

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All eyes are on the second seed in the WAC tourney as Chris Murray reports.

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Brian McInnis also digs into the desire for the second seed in the conference tourney. Jeff Portnoy covers the past, present and future of this season's UH schedule. Remember Julian Sensley? If not of if so, Dayton Morinaga has an interview wit5h the former UH star.

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Shawn Harrison features Brady Jardine, who will always have a spot with the Globetrotters at hand besides overseas ball.

Does Heath Schroyer return?

To the best of our knowledge (which makes it sound like we're testifying before Congress), Steve Cleveland didn't fill the opening when Senque Carey abruptly resigned as an assistant coach earlier this season.

Now, he will have the opportunity to bring back Heath Schroyer if each party wishes to do so because Schroyer was just let go as the head coach at Wyoming.

Miah Ostrowski emerges plus a very short ode to Mr. Arnold

From a longtime UH basketball fan:

The point guard scenario at Hawaii has been such a revolving door.

During the preseason workouts, Hiram Thompson and Salter (what was his first name? hahaha, I had to go look it up...oh yeah, Anthony) were neck and neck for the starting position. Then Salter had a bad ankle and sat for three weeks leading into the opener.

He miraculously recovers two days before the first game. Gib gave him a lot of minutes that first game. However, it was very evident to the trained eye that Salter appeared to play a one man game and did not hustle on defense. His minutes dimished real fast. Having been disgruntled, he took off and left the team. In his wake went Jordan Coleman who should have been very appreciative of the fact that the Gibber kept him since he was a Bob Nash recruit.

Ostrowski was summoned but was quite rusty for sure.

Thompson kept making mistakes, offensive charging, more turnovers, and such. He’s also a half step slow on defense. He tries and gives a lot effort, however, it is what it is.

Bobby Miles was given a lot of opportunity. But tentative play on his part was very evident. Miles we all know was not a point guard in high school and more of a scorer. We kept waithing for Bobby to unleash his game.

Meanwhile, Miah Ostrowski was slowly returning to form. One could see that he had a clue as to how to run this team. Finally, a few days after his dad passed away, Miah showed everyone what he could do.

Hiram got injured against Boise St. and missed a lot of game. In the Idaho game, Hiram was nearly missing in action at the point. Although it was never disclosed, perhaps Hiram was not himself after that knock on his head. More Miah minutes.

It looks like to most that Miah is the point guard of the Rainbow Warriors. His shot is coming back and when he is in full swing he will start averaging 12-14 points consistently. He’ll make everyone better as he did for four years in high school. He looks like the future for now.

photo courtesy of UH Athletics

Oh, yes many are calling for a contract extension already.

  

New Mexico State wins tonight.

New Mexico State had no trouble tonight in topping Louisiana Tech 75-57. Details tomorrow.

Chris Murray with a new nevada post

Chris Murray has posted a fascinating article, getting into the factors and also offering the numbers that delineate why the league play Wolf Pack squad is a distant relative, if that, of the earlier non-conference Nevada collective.

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

Monday's a.m. WAC report

Dayton Morinaga leads us off with some UH recruiting items, including video -- a great way to start the day.

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Pat Hauge at the GoVandals site looks back at Idaho's week in hoops.

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At the Silver and Blue site, Mark Rauh gas a collection of game Nebada - SJSU photos. Scott Daniel is out with a new Cannon Fodder (for you Katy Perry fans). Check it out for an explanation. Also, Chris Murray's Nevada basketball last week column is posted.

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With a tip o' the hat to Sam Wasson at Bleed Crimson, The Refraction-ers have some competition. Maybe the two can get together for a WAC poetry slam at the tourney in Las Vegas. Jason Groves previews tonight's New Mexico State - Louisiana Tech matchup in Las Cruces.

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Nick Jezierny looks into the reasons for Boise State's recent dip on the court.

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Shawn Harrison looks back at what made USU successful in the romp over Boise State. Jay Drew reports on the bump up in the polls this week for Utah State.

Sunday's report on Saturday night in the WAC

What an up-and-down WAC season it has been so far, Utah State excepted.

Idaho frustrated Hawaii up in Moscow. Doug Bauer, Dayton Morinaga and Josh Wright all provide game reports.

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Host Nevada re-started the momentum in a 'Hunt' against San Jose State University.

Mark Littlefield, Chris Murray, Chris again and Joe Santoro fill us in on the matchup.

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If possible, Boise State would have settled for a tie but got "Tai-ed' instead.

Nick Jezierny (who made the trip to Logan), Kraig Williams, Shawn Harrison, Tony Jones and Weston Mangum tell us all we want to know about the contest. Craig J. Peterson serves up 47 photos, heavily emphasizing the female Aggie species.

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It's two in a row now for Fresno State as last night's was a victory over Louisiana Tech..

Daniel Lyght took in the game and also offers a blog entry on how the southern Bulldogs utilized planes, a bus and automobiles to reach the San Joaquin -- all for naught.

Idaho over Hawaii

Idaho ended the drift downward with a 75-61 victory over visiting Hawaii. Josh Wright and Brian McInnis tweeted the game.

USU romps over BSU

Yikes, it's Utah State 77-49 over visiting Boise State. Tai Wesley scored 22 to lead both teams as the Aggies shot 27-42 while holding the Broncos to 19-56, including 5-22 on three-point attempts. Kraig Williams and Nick Jezierny tweeted the game.

Some national press for Utah State hoops and Brockeith Pane

In his last post at Jeff Goodman's blog, Jeff Borzello writes about Brockeith Pane and Utah State.

Jared Eborn on USU basketball

Utah State Back in Rankings, Back on Bubble ... Again
Jared Eborn
Fanhouse
SFGate
February 4, 2011

LOGAN, Utah -- Stop and ask yourself if any of this sounds familiar, like you've been here before.

It's late in the evening on Feb. 2 and Utah State's basketball team is polishing off Nevada, 67-45, has a 21-2 record and stands alone atop the Western Athletic Conference standings by three full games. The Aggies have cracked the Top 25 polls and enjoy one of the most notorious home-court advantages in the nation.

Just like there are every year...

Go here for the remainder.

Saturday's game previews

Hawaii is hopped up and Idaho just lost a game that was being placed in the W column plus is in a four game downslide so who gets the win tonight in Moscow?

Dayton Morinaga, Brian McInnis and Jeff Portnoy all provide coverage.

It sure looks like Bill Amis is on his way to earning All-WAC first team honors this season.

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Chris Murray writes about Olek Czyz and looking for the sophomore to aim and fire from outside from here on out. Nevada and visiting San Jose State University tangle tonight.

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Daniel Lyght covers the matchup between host Fresno State and Louisiana Tech. Steve Cleveland also wrote an appeal to Bulldog fans to turn out and turn it up tonight.

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Nick Jezierny provides the details to this question: will Boise State get Spectrum-ized tonight?

PTW is oversimplifying it but is it speed versus power tonight in Logan? Kraig Williams, Shawn Harrison and Tony Jones each cover what took place the last time these two teams faced off.

A pair of Aggies are matching their on-court contributions with effort in the classroom.

A few Friday evening links

Per Tony Jones, USU and BillS are on the national stage.

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Chris Murray takes a look at the San Jose State visit to Nevada tomorrow evening. Chris' keys to the game plus a prediction is also posted.