An item about another basketball option for the WAC

Credit wamba2000 for passing this along: it's a Dan Bickley column about Grand Canyon University (Phoenix, Arizona) desiring to join the WAC, or any other D-1 conference. It sure sounds like those joining up or wanting to and also playing football are situated in Texas, while the basketball only options are geographically west coast oriented. With Boise, Fresno, Hawaii  and Nevada departing, the non New Mexico States and LA TECH WAC schools will need some closer playmates. Denver will be one but more are needed.

Thursday and the WAC (or what's left of it)

Everyone has a take and yet nobody knows. Kind of like life itself.

We're already weary about the coming and the goings with more movement sure to happen so we'll leave it to Sam Wasson at his Bleed Crimson site to offer the commentary and a bevy of links.

PTW finds it quite interesting how Karl Benson went from hero to goat in less than 24 hours. This whole matter continues to demonstrate why so-called instant analysis becomes as shape-shifting as dawn to dusk and beyond.

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Getting back to player personnel, RealBigAggieFan at the Scout Utah State basketball forum has posted a link on Gary Wilkinson's latest address. You can also go here.

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If all proceeds, the BYU - USU basketball rivalry just kicked up about 15 notches. That's a positive.

Nevada craps on the WAC, Fresno State say no raisins for you Wac-ateers

Uh, make that the WAC seems in need of some super glue as Nevada and Fresno State have accepted the siren call of the Mountain West Conference. Can we at least get a draft pick plus a player to be named later?

For the uber-literal, the headline is a gaming reference, followed by a Seinfeld one.

The Reno Gazette-Journal is reporting that the Wolf Pack has bid adieu -- go here. The RGJ also says that Nevada didn't sign any financial death penalty departure clause, one created after Boise State departed -- go here.

The Fresno Bee is reporting that FSU is also putting the WAC in its rearview mirror -- go here and here. Nothing in print yet about the $5 million buyout clause.

Wednesday's a.m. WAC report

Sam Wasson at The Daily Aggie has done it again with a fine collection of links and items on the state of the dollar bottomline for some WAC members.

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The Fresno Bee's George Hostetter offers a fascinating article that displays a keen financial eye on the WAC and beyond while moving way beyond the usual sports bar talk on and about expansion/contraction. He makes some predictions, backing them up with facts and analysis. This is a must-read.

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FSU Assistant Coach Senque Carey is presented in a background piece from Fresno State athletics. Go here.

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Chris Murray features David Aldridge on Luke Babbitt and Armon Johnson. The media mouths would be FORCED to talk about the WAC if Johnson lands late in round one 'cause how does a 'non-descript' conference land three underclassmen in the first round?

Chris also offers some WAC draft history here.

A couple more thoughts

Just asking: nearing the end or right after the NBA draft concludes, will anyone in the national media make note that two WAC UNDERCLASSMEN went in the top 12 or 13 plus that three players -- ALL UNDERCLASSMEN -- from the little bitty league were selected?

This versus one second-rounder from the MWC.

Should we be holding our breath?

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We are joking to a degree but waaaay too much credit is being given here -- c'mon, at worst PTW could have 'svengalied' John Wall into the #2 spot in LAST year's NBA draft (behind Blake Griffin) plus similar draft landings for fellow freshmen for DeMarcus Cousins, Eric Bledsoe and Daniel Orton.

We're not knocking him (on this matter) but the meme that John-Calipari-gets-players-to-the-NBA as a major reason why kids sign on with Kentucky is a hollow and laughable one.

Who is on the ALL WAC First Team to date?

This is probably our strangest post of the year -- yeah, yeah, the competition for such a title is fierce.

So, based on the non-conference games to date, who should be the five players constituting the All WAC First Team?

Granted, such a sentence makes zero sense but let's have some fun and proceed.

Here's our candidates:

* Kyle Gibson

* Jahmar Young

* Luke Babbitt

* Adrian Oliver

* Armon Johnson

* Jonathan Gibson

* Ike Okoye

* Mac Hopson


LA Tech's Kyle Gibson, at 21 points per game and 3.2 assists is a cinch. Any objection is a non-starter.

Jahmar Young - NMSU, 20.6 points per game, also has to be there. We can't find any justification for his non-inclusion.

Luke Babbitt of Nevada is our third choice. His current inarguable résumé: 19.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 52% shooting.

Nevada doubles up with Armon Johnson, currently posting 17.1 points per game, 4.9 assists a contest and 54% overall shooting. Gotta include him.

Probably our biggest surprise is Ike Okoye. His numbers: 14.1 points each time out, 56% shooting, 9 boards a game plus 2 blocks. He's been carrying BSU on the frontline.

Other candidates:

FSU's Paul George would be next with a bevy of impressive numbers: 17.4 points and 8.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.8 steals a match. All that is missing is a degree of assertiveness.

Adrian Oliver/SJSU with 19.9 pointsand 6.5 boards a contest. His shooting percentage needs to pick up.

New Mexico State Aggie Jonathan Gibson is scoring 18.8 points a game and shooting well across the board. Keep this up and add consistency -- he'll force some tough decisions.

Idaho's Mac Hopson at 13.0 points a game along with 4.5 assists. But his TOs have risen from last season and we also expected a higher shooting percentage with the addition of Steffan Johnson.

What's up with Utah State? Jared Quayle is doing fine with his assists and rebounding but his shooting has dropped so far thus season (37% overall). Tai Wesley still hasn't taken that next step up -- at least not yet.

Who did we miss? On who have we miscalculated? Have at it.