Going Miss Cleo on the 2011-12 WAC

Playing again off of Jason Groves' post from a while back (here it is):

First team
C — Dario Hunt, Nevada
PF — Wendell McKines, NMSU
SF — Zane Johnson, Hawaii
SG — Malik Story, Nevada
PG — Deonte Burton, Nevada

Second team
C — Kyle Barone, Idaho
PF — Olek Czyz, Nevada
SF — Brandon Gibson, Louisiana Tech
SG — Keith Shamburger, San Jose State
PG — Hernst Laroche, NMSU

Third team
C — Vander Joaquim, Hawaii
PF — Chili Nephawe, NMSU
SF — Brady Jardine, Utah State
SG — Kevin Olekaibe, Fresno State
PG — Brokeith Pane, Utah State

So I think Nevada had four of the top 10 players in the WAC, but the Aggies have some depth there while Nevada drops off after those four, but I'm assuming each team has new players who will contribute.

PTW has to put Brockeith Pane on the first team instead of Malik Story -- if Pane's upcoming season doesn't justify such a placement then Utah State will have no chance to win the WAC.

With four players on the top two teams as Jason writes, why shouldn't Nevada be the league fave in 2011-2012? Why are we 'seeing' David Carter just throw a cease and desist order in our direction?

Kevin Olekaibe is going to lead Fresno State in scoring and have a greater points per game average than last season's 13.6, so PTW is putting him in Hernst LaRoche's spot on the second team.

So who is this Brandon Gibson guy? Yes, PTW is joking. As a soph who had a torn ACL end his season early, Gibson averaged 9.2 points and 5.1 boards a game in 15 contests but shot 40% overall and 32% from long distance. He has excellent athletic prowess and the Bulldog squad will need a big points producer (or two) so the opportunity is there for the taking if he can become more accurate.

With Bill Amis gone, 251+ shots (he was injured for part of the season) open up and, despite early questions about who plays at the point (and gets the ball inside), PTW sees Vander Joaquim averaging a double-double (he was at 11.9 and 9.1 last season) and leading the WAC in blocks so he has to go on the second team.


Also, watch for Wil Carter. With Adrian Oliver and Justin Graham but memories now, Carter should reach double-double territory. He put up 9.8 points and 8 boards a game in 2010-11.

So who is going to be the top newcomer? Candidates we see as in the running number three:  

* Kevin Foster - Fresno State

* Hauns Brereton - Hawaii

* James Kinney - San Jose State