Two more Sunday hoops links

Has the old Pane gone away? Tony Jones writes about the Brockeith Pane - Deonte Burton Saturday matchup and wonders if the former has turned the proverbial corner and jettisoned his earlier season level of play.

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Gaylen Wood/Go Vandals writes about the initial pair of Idaho games this season, including some informative quotes.

Brockeith Pane named WAC POW

Utah State’s Brockeith Pane has been named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Nov. 7-13. The honor marks the first career WAC Player of the Week award for Pane.

Pane, a senior guard from Dallas, Texas (Oak Ridge HS), led Utah State to a season-opening 69-62 win against in-state rival Brigham Young. Pane scored a game-high 21 points with five assists, four rebounds and three steals. He connected on 6-of-10 field goals and was a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line. For Pane, it is his fourth-career 20-point game and 23rd career double-figure scoring game.

Other nominees included:  

* Fresno State sophomore guard Kevin Olekaibe
* Idaho senior forward Djim Bandoumel
* Louisiana Tech sophomore guard Cordarius Johnson
* Nevada sophomore forward Kevin Panzer 
* New Mexico State sophomore guard Christian Kabongo.

Brockeith Pane and the NBA

Here's an interesting tweet from Tony Jones:

"NBA scout told me tonight Pane has a chance because of his strength and scoring ability. Says he needs more consistent jumper"

Thursday's WAC hoop-itude

Chris Murray writes about senior Olek Czyz and his last go-around this coming season.

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Robert Kuwada offers the latest on Fresno State basketball.

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Tony Jones has Brockeith Pane as the Aggie triggerman in a different Aggie offensive style in 2011-12.

C'mon Stew, make Utah State opponents fear the beard.

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Jason Groves has an article plus a blog entry on the exhibition win for New Mexico State.

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Dayton Morinaga is starting an "Ask Coach Arnold" series so all those posting questions on the various MBs need to jump on this.

Wednesday's WAC basketball merry-go-round

Tony Jones offers a four-minute video interview with Brockeith Pane.

Kraig Williams has posted a lengthy feature on Brady Jardine, including a lot of interesting background information.

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Dayton Morinaga gets into the hiring of Kerry Rupp.

Brian McInnis offers what roles Hawaii's prominent redshirts will play this season.

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Jason Groves offers a two-fer today: background on the plethora of New Mexico State bigs plus a look at the upcoming Aggie exhibition game.

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From WAC headquarters comes this announcement about TV games this season:

The WAC Sports Network (WSN) today announced its men’s basketball broadcast schedule and talent line up for the upcoming 2011-12 season.
   
WSN – a product of the Western Athletic Conference and its multimedia rights partner, Learfield Sports – will broadcast nine evening games from Jan. 5 through Feb. 25, 2012. In its second year, the WAC Sports Network allows for WAC football and basketball games to be produced and distributed to media outlets in the respective schools' markets.

The broadcast team for the 2012 men’s basketball games comprises Rich Cellini and Guy Haberman (play-by-play) and Dave Bollwinkel and Bob Donewald (color). All four members are returning from WSN’s debut season last year. The entire schedule and respective talent lineup is as follows:

Jan. 5  Fresno State at Utah State (7 p.m. MT)   
Jan. 7   Fresno State at Idaho (3 p.m. PT)   
Jan. 7   Nevada at Utah State (7 p.m. MT)   
Jan. 21 Fresno State at Nevada (7 p.m. PT)   
Jan. 26 Fresno State at Louisiana Tech (6 p.m. CT)   
Jan. 26 Neavda at New Mexico State (7 p.m. MT)   
Jan. 28 Fresno State at New Mexico State (7:30 p.m. MT)   
Feb. 9   Fresno State at San Jose State (7 p.m. PT)   
Feb. 25 Nevada at Fresno State (7 p.m. PT)

Wednesday's WAC report

Jason Groves writes about the 'north of the border' troika manning New Mexico State's backcourt.

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Chris Murray/Dan Hinxman 'Five Question' Richard Bell -- who reinstates the Bell lineage (remember Chad?) in Reno.

Joe Santoro of Silver & Blue Sports has more on less of Malik Story.

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Running with Pane (not pain) is the subject matter encompassing Tony Jones' latest blog entry.

Tony also offers a feature primarily on Morgan Grim, one containing a little news about Preston Medlin.

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Jeff Portnoy's blog entry covers the recent WAC polls and Hawaii's schedule this season.

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Thanks to a MB post by TayIdaho83843 at the SCOUT GoVandals basketball MB, here's Nick Groff's feature on Idaho hoops.

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Of course, the NCAA blinked on the APR-related entrance 'fee' to the 2012 Big Dance -- Eamonn Brennan has the details.

Tuesday's WAC-aroo

Chris Murray and Dan Hinxman team up to feature Nevada sophomore Kevin Panzer.

Chris has details on the verbal from Cole Huff. 

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Robert Kuwada writes about the new and improved Garrett Johnson who, with consistent shooting, will provide a missing component for the Bulldogs.

The Bee has a bit more on the securing of Braeden Anderson's services.

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Shawn Harrison serves up quotes from Brockeith Pane and Brady Jardine in his Aggie basketball update.

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Will it be 2012 or 2013 for stricter Big Dance APR requirements?

Why no Brockeith Pane?

It's a good question, why no listing or mention of Brockeith Pane as a candidate for top scorer in the WAC? After all Jaycee Carroll did it while an Aggie.

Two points, one a hunch and the other a number.

1. PTW has the gut feeling that Stew Morrill will be wanting Pane to get his quartet of teammates on the court involved, the new ones (including big Jordan Stone) and also Brady Jardine, who can score inside but not necessarily on dribble-drives (or at least he has yet to demonstrate that proclivity).

Of course, gut feelings led to the Iraq War debacle but hopefully we are more accurate.

2. Pane's 13% shooting from three-point range in 2010-11. That number won't be repeated but is indicative of a limited offensive game (although Pane was still the second leading scorer for the Aggies at 12.5 a contest).