Wednesday and the world of WAC hoops

Brad Rock writes about a USU change of mind regarding a neighbor.

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The best PTW can do after the opener -- at least for now -- is offer some APR features:

Ferd Lewis writes about academics and UH athletics.

Here's the report from the WAC including links.

Tuesday's WAC report

AW Prince at Silver and Blue Sports offers a piece on a Chicago prepster apparently of interest to Nevada, Jamall Millison, a 2012 prospect.

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Ferd Lewis says the WAC should be inspired by the late Johnny Cash's song "A Boy Named Sue" -- with all emphasis on the last word.

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Here's a Jack Carey/USA TODAY-penned summary of the state of the WAC.

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Coach Marvin Menzies has added a former southern California prep star -- Tom Lewis -- to his staff as the coordinator of player development. Former Aggie Chris Gabriel played for Lewis at Junipero Serra High.

Here is a 1985 Los Angeles Times column by Chris Dufresne that takes satire to a whole 'nother level.

Another golden oldie can be read here

Mal Florence of the Times has a lengthy piece on Lewis here..

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Andre Almeida is a 7-footer out of the Arizona juco ranks who signed with Nebraska. His connection was Walter Roese, a fellow Brazilian and a Cornhusker assistant at the time, who was later hired at Hawaii by Gib Arnold. Some UH fans were hoping Almeida would follow Roese to the islands but that didn't happen. Almeida would have become a starter in the middle for the Rainbow Warriors but we just saw a note that he his on campus in Lincoln -- so that candle flame can be extinguished. Roese also is credited for the earlier Nebraska signing of center Vander Joaquim, another native of Brazil who had to attend an Arizona juco due to academics, but someone who did sign with UH this year.

The state of the WAC on Saturday

 When can we get back to focusing on current players, recruiting prospects and the like?

Yikes. Ferd Lewis has a long memory and brings together two disparate moments -- one current and the other from 2002 -- in UH and Fresno State athletics. Go here.

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 Thank you to PackBlue at the Silver and Blue Sports Sports Forum for discovering this -- a Twitter account featuring a faux Karl Benson. Go here and have some laughs, which we need now more than ever.

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Getting serious, it appears (who knows what passes for reality at this point) Utah State is seriously exploring joining the Mountain West Conference.

Here are some 14, 15 hour old tweets from Jared Eborn/Deseret News:

A source close to the USU administration tells the Deseret News Utah State is actively negotiating a berth in MWC with WAC falling apart

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That source at USU says the MWC will expand, again, to 12 teams if BYU can be persuaded to stay in MWC for non-football sports

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Any conference move for USU depends on BYU's decision on FB indy status. Nothing will happen before Monday at earliest 

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To be clear, that source says nothing impending, but that is the goal of current negotiations for USU.

Plus, Tony Jones has an Aggieville article here on this subject and more.

Tuesday's WAC menu

 Daniel Lyght mentions that Steve Cleveland is still looking for a post player? Just asking (not knowing anything): could Matt Korcheck in the mix?

JC transfer signs with 'Dogs men's hoops
Small forward Steed is fifth recruit for 2010-11.
Daniel Lyght
The Fresno Bee
May 4, 2010

Fresno State basketball coach Steve Cleveland continues to search for scoring options, and Tim Steed could be that man.

Fresno State on Monday announced it has signed the junior-college transfer, who last season was named Arrowhead Conference MVP for Highland Community College, averaging 16 points, seven rebounds and 4.7 assists while playing every position but center...

Go here for the remainder.

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Another player is exiting from Boise State:

Forward Tyler Young leaves Boise State basketball program
Nick Jezierny
Idaho Statesman
5/04/10

Boise State basketball player Tyler Young will leave the program at the end of the semester, coach Leon Rice said Monday.

The 6-foot-8, 219-pound forward from Leesburg, Va., would have been a sophomore this season.

He played 24 minutes in 10 games last season, averaging 1.2 points and 0.8 rebounds...

Go here for the remainder.

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Ferd Lewis has a column on Gib Arnold's first 44 days. Forget "The Amazing Race" -- wouldn't filming Arnold have made for a compelling reality show?

The Hawaii newspapers weigh in on UH hoops

Both of the major Hawaii newspapers offer lengthy takes on UH basketball -- specifically the Bob Nash as coach situation -- in today's editions. Regardless of what happens, Nash has remained his classy self AND made sure his players graduated -- two of the critical aspects of coaching and achievements that cannot be dimlighted by anything else.

What next?
Dayton Morinaga and Ferd Lewis
Honolulu Advertiser
March 7, 2010

Three years ago, almost to the day, the Stan Sheriff Center broke out in a booming, Danny Kaleikini-led chorus of: "We Want Nash! ...We Want Nash! ..."

The occasion was the postgame tribute to then-University of Hawai'i men's basketball head coach Riley Wallace, who had coached his last game at the school. And Bob Nash, his long-time assistant, was a popular choice for successor.

But as Nash's third season ended yesterday at 10-20 with 11 losses in the final 12 games and a last-place (3-13) finish in the Western Athletic Conference standings, several signs point to the cash-strapped school attempting to buy out the final year of his extended contract and hiring a replacement...

Go here for the remainder.

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Dave Reardon weighs in with his verdict:

Firing Nash right move, but it isn't an easy one
Dave Reardon
Honolulu Star Bulletin
March 7, 2010

As I write this -- or, perhaps a few hours later as you read it -- Jim Donovan should be talking to his bosses, getting them to sign off on the toughest move he may ever have to make as University of Hawaii athletic director. "Move," not "decision" because the decision itself is easy.

How do you tell a legend he's no longer wanted?

Go here for the remainder.