Another WAC MVP candidate

The Bigs have arrived. The Bigs have arrived.

Actually, the truth is some have been in the WAC for a while but are now ready to express some dominance

There's Vander Joaquim at Hawaii, New Mexico State's Tshilidzi Nephawe, Kyle Barone up in Idaho plus Nevada's Dario Hunt, who is entering his final season.

The latter is the one most ready to do consistent damage if 9.4 rebounds, 11.8 points and 2.1 blocked shots per game doesn't already qualify. Add 55% shooting from the floor and 68% on free throws.

By the way, Hunt jumped his foul line shooting up from 47.4% the previous year -- a remarkable achievement.

A Second Team All WAC selection after the 2010-11 season, Hunt will surely make the leap to the top five after the approaching season concludes.

But certain statistics, the length of his court appearances and the proficiency of the Wolf Pack backcourt will all be factors in his bid for the most valuable player honor.

1) There is a great deal of still untapped talent on the Nevada roster and thus the majority of shots will be shared among the quartet of Hunt, Olek Czyz, Malik Story and Deonte Burton. It's near impossible for top player in the league honors to be earned by someone tallying less than 15 markers a contest. Hunt can do this but will the shots be there?

2) Hunt fouled out five times in 16 conference games, a number that must be reduced in order to produce an overall effect on the court that is in the same territory as the other MVP contenders.

3) Concurrently, Hunt needs to be flanked by guards who can get him the ball inside when and where he wants it and who also can shoot the trey with enough accuracy so that double-teams inside are reduced. Besides Deonte Burton, who will fill this role for the Wolf Pack?