Monday morning coming down with your WAC basketball items

Gerard Martinez (a Rivals sub is required) reports that Sacramento area football/basketball player Aric Armstead has de-comitted from USC and that Nevada (plus a handful of heavy hitters) remain in contention.

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Nevada's Deonte Burton receives Jason Grove's nod as the second best WAC talent.

Using the process of elimination, Las Cruces hoops fans will enjoy the rollout of #1 (which should happen on Wednesday, right?).

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From ESPN's Andy Katz:

"If Boise State and the Big East end up reaching a football-only agreement, it'll leave the men's basketball program in a precarious spot. Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson said on a conference call Friday that BSU can’t be in the MWC without football. Western Athletic Conference commissioner Karl Benson said Sunday he hasn’t talked to Boise about its other sports programs, but the options are limited. The West Coast Conference doesn’t want state schools and the Big Sky or Big West would be a perceived step down. Coach Leon Rice came to Boise thinking the MWC was the future home, playing programs like UNLV, San Diego State and New Mexico. That might last all of one season."

Would the WAC take Boise back for everything but football? PTW doesn't think so for what purpose would it serve? Your takes?

Wednesday and the WAC

Host Hawaii took care of Portland as Wes Nakama, Dayton Morinaga, Brian McInnis and Dave Reardon each report.

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Nick Jezierny it was La'Shard time at the end of the BSU - Austin Peay matchup in Boise and the senior came through.

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Steve Pivovar at Omaha.com has print, video and photos of Creighton's win against visiting San Jose State.

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Daniel Lyght has an article up on the status of Coach Steve Cleveland.

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Chris Murray is postmorteming the Wolf Pack 2010-2011 roster, with analysis so far of Deonte Burton, Jordan Burris and Derrell Conner.

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Josh Wright is here and here about tonight's Idaho - USF matchup in The City as senior Brandon Wiley returns to the Bay Area.

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Kraig Williams previews Thursday's USU - Kansas State get-together.

Tony Jones writes Pane is good for the Aggies because he causes such for opponents. Tony also gives some love to Nate Bendall and he goes all Olivia Newton-John in his third post.

Doug Robinson addresses, or actually dresses down, the NCAA Selection Committee.

Monday's WAC basketball report

Mark Emmons goes long on SJSU's Justin Graham.

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Does UH offer a major in videography? PTW is asking because Dayton Morinaga has more from the Rainbow Warriors that would qualify for academic credit. Gotta love the headline on Brian McInnis' latest feature. Jeff Portnoy is Vander-ing about a couple of omission from the All-WAC selections.

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AW Prince has a few words about Deonte Burton's selection as the FOY. Wolf Pack defense and boardplay are covered in Chris Murray's latest.

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Has New Mexico State discovered a two-hour energy drink? Jason Groves recounts the latest efforts by the Aggies. Jason also posted his various All-WAC selections and the reasons for them prior to the official announcement. It contains some different names than 'the usual'.

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Kraig Williams leads off the USU coverage. Shawn Harrison also checks in while Tony Jones warns about the invasion of the bid snatchers.

Nevada tops Louisiana Tech

Nevada took down Louisiana Tech 73-70 in Ruston tonight. Deonte Burton led the way with 24 points, including 4-5 on three-point attempts.

The Monday a.m. WAC rollout

Per Dayton Morinaga, it was Miah time -- although he would say differently -- even as UH fell in two overtimes to Utah State. Brian McInnis is right there, too.

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It's also Deonte time according to Scott Daniel. Going inside the numbers produced by the Wolf Pack thus far is Pat Hosier.

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Sam Wasson is offering Aggie video highlights, the game writeup and a load of photos all about New Mexico State's victory over Idaho.

Jason Groves' article today is about the home record for Marvin Menzies' squad being perfect this season, putting the Aggies into a solid position for earning a first-round bye in the league tourney. The last place WAC finisher get a bye-bye.

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Shawn Harrison tells us Utah State got little from Tai Wesley and Brockeith Pane yet still was able to pull the game out in Hawaii. Tony Jones also writes about this subject. Does USU move up from #25 what with all the Top 25 upsets this past weekend?

Deonte Burton WAC POW

Nevada’s Deonte Burton has been named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Jan. 17-23. The honor marks the first career WAC Player of the Week award for Burton.

Burton, a freshman guard from Los Angeles, Calif. (Compton Centennial HS), led Nevada to a pair of conference wins against New Mexico State (90-71) and Louisiana Tech (66-58) last week.

In the win over New Mexico State, Burton tied for game-high honors with 22 points making 8-of-11 shots from the field, including 3-of-5 shots from three-point range. He also dished out a game-high six assists and collected three steals. His five rebounds against the Aggies established a new career high for the freshman. Burton’s 22 points against NM State marked his third consecutive 20-point game and just one point off his career high.

In the victory against Louisiana Tech, Burton totaled a team-high 18 points making 7-of-9 field goals, including a 2-of-2 performance from beyond the arc. The game marked the fourth-straight game that Burton has led the Wolf Pack in scoring. For the second game in a row, Burton also tallied six assists and three steals, which were both game highs.

On the week, Burton averaged 20.0 points, 6.0 assists, 3.0 steals and 3.0 rebounds per game. He shot 75.0 percent (15-of-20) from the field and 71.4 percent (5-of-7) from three-point range.

Other nominees:

* Boise State senior guard La’Shard Anderson
* Fresno State sophomore center Greg Smith
* Hawai‘i senior forward Bill Amis
* Idaho sophomore center Kyle Barone
* Louisiana Tech junior forward Olu Ashaolu
* Utah State senior forward Tai Wesley

Chris Murray with a Deonte Burton feature

Has a corner been turned? Will there be some blips along the way?

Chris Murray offers up a lengthy feature on freshman Deonte Burton who is making progress towards joining the ranks of Ramon Sessions and Armon Johnson.

Sunday's report on last night's games

Led by a Bill Amis double-double and an almost one by Vander Joaquim, visiting Hawaii finally notched a conference victory, leaving Louisiana Tech by its lonesome.

Here's Ethan Conley, Jeff Portnoy and Dayton Morinaga.

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Nevada punctured a second hole in host Boise State's WAC season. Has Deonte Burton already turned the corner this early in his college basketball career?

Here's Nick Jezierny, Mark Littlefield and Chris Murray with game reports plus Chris re-visiting his  checklist preview.

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Yikes! 52-39, it's the Aggies over the host Bulldogs. Tim Steed returned from injury for Fresno State and played 31 minutes but provided rusty-like numbers.

Daniel Lyght, Shawn Harrison and Tony Jones all were present (thank you) and provide their takes.

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New Mexico State took out visiting and Adrian Oliver-less San Jose State 78-53.

Here's Sam Wasson and Jason Groves. Jason also offers a number of blog posts.

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Host Cal State Bakersfield got Ledbetter-ed as the senior Idaho backcourter nailed a very last second overtime trey to put the Vandals into the win column. Kyle Barone led with 20 points.

Jeff Evans of the Bakersfield newspaper has the writeup.

Friday night WAC

Jason Groves reports that New Mexico State has received a verbal commit.

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Dayton Morinaga tells us it's 'no ocean for you' for the UH basketballers who are now ensconced on Maui for a matchup. PTW speculates the Chicago Staters will probably hold a fullout practice on the golden sands of Ka’anapali Beach or at the very least the coaches will be holding an all hands meeting amidst the bikinis. We're undecided but such would qualify as either a mortal or a venial sin NOT to do so.

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Boise State came mighty close on the road but fell by two, 86-84, against the Runnin' Utes. Daequon Montreal totaled 28 points in 34 minutes of play and Reggie Arnold added 16 but didn't shoot particularly (5-15) well. Freshman frontcourter Ryan Watkins came close to a double-double with 10/8 in 23 minutes.

The Broncos had a 48-40 lead at the half.

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In the second half, host Nevada doubled its point total achieved in the initial 20 minutes but fell just short against Arizona State 78-75. A quartet of Wolf Packers scored in double figures: Malik Story with 19, Deonte Burton turning in 18 plus Olek Czyz and Dario Hunt providing 10 apiece. Czyz shot 3-4 overall, 1-1 from long distance and 3-7 from the foul line in his first game.

Thursday's items continue

Boise State athletics has a feature on Coach Leon Rice's five signings -- four guards and a big.

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Jason Franchuk at the Cougar Blue site talked with Coach Steve Cleveland and has written a good read.

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Chris Murray has a piece on Dario Hunt, another on Deonte Burton and a third on the Wolf Pack starting lineup for Saturday's game against Montana. Keep 'em coming Chris.

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Brian McInnis provides the UH starting lineup for Friday's opener versus Montana State. Plus, Ronnie Stevens made it official.

Tuesday evening WAC notes

Thanks to Al in Hawaii, the misidentification of J-o-s-t-o-n Thomas has ended. Dayton Moriinaga spells it out for us here.

Brian McInnis serves up a Q-and-A with senior Hiram Thompson.

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Jason Groves offers some quotes from Coach Marvin Menzies here.

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Chris Murray has been busy, having posted a Q-and-A with transfer Olek Cyyz and a backgrounder on newcomer Deonte Burton.

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Freshman James Walker is featured by Tony Jones @ Aggieville.

Sunday's basketball WAC-iness

 Brian Murphy goes biographical on Leon Rice with a superlative piece in today's Idaho Statesman.

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 Shawn Harrison provides a story on Utah State's exhibition opener.

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From Spencer Farrin at Vandal athletics:

There were still some kinks and some hitches, but Idaho men’s basketball coach Don Verlin liked a lot of what he saw in his team’s exhibition opener against Northwest Christian, an 81-35 Vandal win.

“There were a lot of good things that came out of this game,” Verlin said. “I got to play all 12 guys and I got some guys out there that didn’t have any game experience, so I felt like this game was real important to us as far as finding out what guys can do.”

Not only did 12 Vandals enter the game, but every player scored, 10 of them registered at least one assist, and everyone played at least 11 minutes in the game.

Sophomore center Kyle Barone led all scorers with 15 points and 10 rebounds on 6-of-8 shooting, along with two blocks, while senior Jeff Ledbetter went 5-of-8 from the floor with four rebounds, one assist and one steal.

Juniors Landon Tatum and Deremy Geiger, both of whom are vying to replace the departed point guard spot, each dished five assists, while Tatum scored six and grabbed three steals, and Geiger scored five and had three rebounds.

Verlin said he also liked Idaho’s action on the boards and the way the Vandals shared the ball.

“I thought we did some really good things, especially rebounding the basketball, we passed the ball very well tonight – we had 24 assists on 34 baskets, that’s pretty good,” Verlin said. “That’s one thing you’re going to see with this team, they’re very unselfish.”

The Vandal men dominated down low against the undersized NCU front court, and Verlin said he hopes to see even more improvement from Idaho’s post players as the season goes on.

“That has to be our strength this year,” Verlin said of post play. “That’s where our returning veterans are at, that’s where our size is at, and I think that’s where the strength of our team has to be.”

Between Barone, juniors Luiz Toledo, Djim Bandoumel, Renado Parker and redshirt freshman Joe Kammerer, the Vandals scored 37 points on 17-of-29 (.586) shooting, along with 26 rebounds and three blocks. Idaho out-rebounded NCU by a 51-23 margin and held the Beacons to 14-of-51 (.275) shooting.

Idaho outscored Northwest Christian by a 52-12 margin in the paint, 22-4 off turnovers and 14-4 in second-chance points. The Vandals also ran the floor for 14 fast-break points, while allowing just one transition field goal.

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Wolf Pack athletics offers separate videos and Q-and-As with Deonte Burton and Derrell Connor.

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Brian McInnis offers a Q-and-A with redshirt Zane Johnson.

Chris Murray is back with a vengeance

No, Chris isn't trying to one-up "A Nightmare On Elm Street" but he is back from an apparent vacation with a fistful of fury:

His news and notes catchup column is here.

Olek Czyz gets posterized (in a different manner) here.

Deonte Burton receives some major love courtesy of the Long Beach Press-Telegram. A Press-Telegram prep basketball article not written by the venerable Frank Burlison? Can some things please stop changing?

Saturday's WAC links and notes

Thanks to 4thyearsophomore for posting this on ther basketball board at the SCOUT USU site:

Third-team All-American juco transfer to redshirt next season
Matt Sonnenberg
Aggie Town Square
4-23-2010

Chaz Spicer left a legacy at Utah State as the ultimate go-to guy with a game on the line.

Gary Wilkinson was the leader and Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year on a team that won more games than any other team in USU history...

Go here for the remainder.

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Here's Jason Groves adding more to the newest Aggie additions. They appear to be good pickups, eh?

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Ditto for Daniel Lyght on Paul George's decison to play for pay.

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Jeff Portnoy writes his last blog of the season on UH basketball.

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This is intriguing. Alan Utter of the BruinBlitz.com site wrote an article about UCLA basketball recruiting on April 23 that contained this item:

"...In other news, BruinBlitz.com sources have confirmed that UCLA has officially offered Deonte Burton, the 6-2 combo guard from Compton (Calif.) Centennial, a scholarship to play basketball there next season. Burton has been waiting for this offer and is now deciding which school he will attend in the fall..."

Fascinating. Coach Ben Howland doesn't have the greatest reputation with a few of the various high level club basketball teams but we have no idea if such might have been a factor in Burton's decision to go with Nevada. Howland has produced successful backcourters (although not necessarily at the moment) but the Bruin grind-it-out offensive style isn't attractive to some guard prospects. Plus, the possibility is that Burton may have felt denigrated bu such a tardy offer. Or maybe the senior felt his talent level meshed more with that of the Western Athletic Conference.

Who really knows but when is the last time UCLA missed on a recruiting target when the opposition was a mid-major? (Ray McCallum and Troy Ziegler don't count due to deciding to play for their fathers respectively).

Monday afternoon WAC offerings

It's probably too late at this point in the 'recruiting season' but buying stock in Verizon and the like prior to this time is probably the closest thing available to a sure moneymaker. Jared Eborn is all over the Stephen Rogers Situation here and here with Tony Jones talking with Stephen Rogers and getting the latest decision deadline here.

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There's Alec, Billy, William and Stephen but Nevada fans are hoping it's Illiwa Baldwin who has the best next two years. Chris Murray writes about the big 'big' here.

Deonte Burton's call is next in line and Chris talked with him and reports back here. UCLA has 'supposedly' offered (will we ever know the truth?) but also made Burton feel like 'backup plan' (which he was) by having him wait until Ray McCallum and Trey Ziegler made their recent decisions. We've been told that Burton is a much better talent fit for the WAC than the PAC-10 or the Big East -- if such will influence his decision.

Here's more from Chris on the upcoming Babbitt Decision here.

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Chris also offers something on Magnum Rolle working out for the NBA draft. We just had a thought: is Rolle more of a wing forward, get-up-and-down-the-floor type, NBA-wise, rather than a true four? At least physically? He's not necessarily a creator offensively -- at this point -- and he looks mighty thin for the paint pounding he'll face. But do give him credit for putting the time and effort in to be ready.

For openers, here's your Thursday morning edition of WAC hoops news

Jason Groves leads us off with a commentary about the manner of Jahmar Young's dismissal.

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Daniel Lyght offers a briefing on Fresno State's recrutiing thus far.

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Chris Murray provides Jordan Finn's official signing with Nevada. Chris also has a feature on Deonte Burton's club team coach speaking about his pupil. There is certainly an opening for Burton to play major minutes should he decided to join the Wolf Pack. Landing him would really create a buzz for David Carter's recruiting prowess.

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The Tre'-Nichols-to Boise-State train has officially arrived as Nick Jezierny details.

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Brian McInnis updates Gib Arnold's signing class and offers a couple of names of backcourter who will decide between UH and elsewhere soon.

SoCal backcourter receiving WAC recruiting attention

Kevin Scarpati of Section Sports has a feature up today on Compton Centennial, with an emphasis on 6-foot-1 guard Deonte Burton.

The primary question appears to be if Burton can proficiently play the point in D-1.

Both Nevada and New Mexico State have offered Burton but some big(ger) boys are lurking around the neighborhood and still deciding on extending an invite.

Go here for the article and a Rivals sub is required.

Here is a December 2009 partial evaluation of Burton:

"Burton is out of the mold of Nate Robinson (Knicks). He's an undersized 2-guard with astounding athleticism and an improved perimeter game. He excels in transition and is tough to stop due to his bounce and quickness. He competes each and every possession and is just relentless..."

Here is a Los Angeles Times feature.

Here is a 90-second video of Burton.