PTW's WAC honors

For better or for worse, here are our selections for Western Athletic Conference honors:

Player of the Year

* Deonte Burton, Nevada,
His numbers: 17.3 points and 4.1 assists and 1.2 steals a game, 75% on free throws, 39% on treys

Why:

* Nevada winning league
* his numbers
* his making Dario Hunt and Olek Czyz more effective offensively
* his being the team leader and yet just a sophomore

With profuse apologies to Big Wen.

Coach of the Year

* David Carter, Nevada

Why:

He has obviously done well, buttressed with a load of talent in the starting five, but also give him credit because there really hasn't been all that much help off the bench in Reno this season. Carter really has but one creator offensively. Plus, the Pack is #1 in field goal percentage defense in the WAC.

*** But Louisiana Tech's Mike White deserves public notice for what he and his Bulldogs accomplished this season -- both a record and a competitiveness nobody predicted.

Solid cases can also be made for Marvin Menzies and Don Verlin.

All WAC First Team

* Wendell McKines, New Mexico State

Why: a double-double average of 18.6 points and 10.9 rebounds a game  46% shooting, 78% free throw

* Vander Joaquim, Hawai

Why: 15.4 points and 9.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots a game while shooting 63%

* Kevin Olekaibe, Fresno State

Why: 16.3 points per game, most minutes played (39.7 a game), with a neon target on his back every second, the Bulldogs go empty in league play with Olekaibe

* Preston Medlin, Utah State

Why: 18.5 points and 2.6 assists a game, 52% shooting, 46% on treys, most treys made (42), 84% free throw

* Olek Czyz, Nevada

Why: 14.9 points and 7.3 rebounds a game, 57% shooting

All WAC Second Team

* Hernst Laroche, NMSU

Why: 12.6 points and 4.0 assists and 2.2 steals a game, 41% on treys, running the show alongside a now departed player and then a freshman

* Dario Hunt, Nevada

Why: 10.1 rebounds and a league-leading 2.8 blocks a game, 52% shooting

* Wil Carter, SJSU

Why: a double-double average of 15.8 points and 10.3 rebounds a game, 54% shooting, 79% free throw

* Joston Thomas, Hawaii

Why: 16.9 points and 6.0 rebounds a game, 51% shooting

* Malik Story, Nevada

Why: 14.6 points a game, 41% on treys

Other Candidates

Sorry to:  

* Kyle Barone, Idaho

* Hamidu Rahman, New Mexico State

* Zane Johnson, Hawaii

* Brockeith Pane, Utah State

* Deremy Geiger, Idaho

Freshman of the Year

between

* Daniel Mullings, NMSU

Why: 10.4 points. 52% shooting, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 25 steals, 52% shooting

* Raheem Appleby, Louisiana Tech

Why: 15.1 points per game, 44% overall shooting, 20 steals

Heck, a case can be made for either one so it's co-winners.