The WAC finish in 2011-12

Okay, here it is.

After much thought, multiple rounds of rock-paper-scissors and donning the headdress of Carnac the Magnificent, PTW has decided this will be the order of finish in the 20 11-12 WAC season.

1 Hawai`i
2 Nevada
3 Utah State
4 New Mexico State
5 Idaho
6 San Jose State
7 Fresno State
8 Louisiana Tech

Now we will head to the family bunker for an extended period of time before the incoming ordnance starts arriving hot and heavy.

But first, here are the 'whys' for each selection.

1. Hawai`i

This selection is based on a healthy Zane Johnson throughout the season and a non-mercurial Joston Thomas season. Yes, we either have grande cojones or mucho rocks in la cabeza to go with a team boasting a freshman (Shaq Stokes) at the point. There won't be a lot of depth available but the talent at Coach Gib Arnold's disposal who will be playing major minutes is the highest number in the WAC (Johnson, Thomas, Shaq Stokes, Vander Joaquim, Trevor Wiseman and Hauns Brereton, plus Bobby Miles, Garrett Jefferson on the cusp and possibly even Jeremiah Ostrowski (depending on his health after football).

2. Nevada

The Wolf Pack's journey to the promise land is predicated on improvement as a sophomore by Deonte Burton, an expansion of Olek Czyz' skills set but the primary question is can 6-foot-10 Devonte Elliott begin impacting games?

Burton will get even better, we're not sure if Czyz has a dribble-drive capacity in his arsenal and just flat don't know the answer about Elliott. Nevada falters some when Dario Hunt is in foul trouble and that would lessen, if not disappear, if Elliott asserts himself in the paint.

3. Utah State

Lots and lots of new personnel plus not a lot of experience makes us probably in a minority in not going with the perennial champ. It's not out of the question but asking Jordan Stone, just back from his LDS mission, to play a major role this season is extending out on the proverbial limb. But there's always The Spectrum, the Aggie sixth man, that can be counted on.

4. New Mexico State

It's Wendell McKines in a starring role and bigs a-plenty but is there enough middle distance but especially outside shooting to keep defenses honest? Plus, will the Aggies defend like never before? Possibly. This should be a hungry team.

5. Idaho

Calling last season's 18-14, 9-7 finish something along the lines of a harmonic convergence shortchanges the effort put in by the Vandal players and coaches. Now the question is: can Don Verlin and crew do it again? Yes, if enough accurate outside shooting appears and the Idaho backcourters can win or at least finish in a draw with opposing guard sets.

6. San Jose State

This is a squad now minus longtime backcourt stalwarts Adrian Oliver and Justin Graham. Besides a new identity, the Spartans must establish they can win three of the in-game battles at the five positions -- center, power forward, wing, two guard and point. Wil Carter and Keith Shamburger offer opportunities for doing this but it's a matter of enough others stepping up.

7. Fresno State

A critical mass of the necessary 'tools' just aren't quite there as yet but it's just as important that the mindset of the team has been changed offensively and defensively. Both the Bulldog frontcourt and backcourt are thin but with a few solid players so here are the FSU questions: will the Bulldogs get tough on D, scrap on the offensive boards and play unselfishly with the ball? To invoke and paraphrase the venerable Meatloaf, Coach Rodney Terry will not accept that two out of three ain't bad, and that's good but just not enough in 2011-12.

8. Louisiana Tech

Like Rodney Terry, new Coach Mike White will need time. There's a lack of talent and too much inexperience but those minuses can be soothed, at least to a degree, by effort. Bulldog fans can take heart that White is hauling in point, two guard and wing recruits who offer much better combinations of basketball skills and physical gifts than Tech the past few years. But a couple more frontcourters fitting this description need to be landed.