Your Friday p.m. WAC edition

Chris Murray offers a preview of Nevada's Saturday night matchup in Las Cruces against New Mexico State. Chris also serves up four keys to the contest and a prediction. 

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Brian McInnis writes about Hawaii's projected matchups in the WAC tourney. The key line: If UH wins tomorrow, it will play Fresno again in the 5-8 matchup. If UH loses, it could be 5 or 6 and play either Fresno or San Jose State."

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Jeff Portnoy covers similar territory. 

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Jason Groves goes over the various ifs, ands and buts of the regular season finish and the subsequent tourney seeding implications for all the WAC teams.

Monday morning and the WAC

Courtesy of Dayton Morinaga and with some teammate assistance, Bill Amis captured the sights and sounds resulting from a Rainbow Warrior victory.

Jeff Portnoy looks backwards and forwards at UH hoops.

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Mark Rauh has posted his Nevada - Irvine game photos at Silver and Blue Sports.

Chris Murray's Wolf Pack week in review is up.

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Jason Groves also looks in the rear view mirror and then ahead.

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Shawn Harrison writes about the four better halves of the Aggies and no, he isn't  describing a quartet of the top 20 minutes of play for USU.

Portnoy and Jones check in

Jeff Portnoy plays Carnak the Magnificent in envisioning how the remainder of the WAC regular season plays out.

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Tony Jones has praise for James Walker's latest effort and also advises readers to focus on Newbold and Williams challenging McConnell and Delladova (and vice versa) come BracketBustin' time.

The Tuesday WAC evening edition

Jeff Portnoy writes about "A Night To Remember" and also has some thoughts about the BB games, invoking Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels (or, trying to be non-partisan, insert your own pair of names of politicians -- PTW has quite the array in mind).

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Chris Murray writes that the stars seem aligned for Nevada in tomorrow night's matchup with Utah State (minus the location). Chris also provides the keys to toppling the Aggie kingdom. He then offers the details on the D-League debut of Armon Johnson. Best of all for those of us not in Logan, the game is on ESPN2.

He's back, no wait, he never left

Maybe it PTW's fault but we would like the Star Advertiser to feature this particular blog a bit more prominently.

Who and what are we talking about?

Hoops Talk and Jeff Portnoy

It's all about UH basketball and we believed it was a goner with the two-into-one newspaper morphing some months back. Do bookmark it.

A big time Friday WAC roundup

Fresno State will be minus its starting point for the fall semester -- Daniel Lyght has the details here. Yes, Steve Shepp has his weaknesses (which players in the WAC don't?) but now having to rely upon a freshman who was a scorer in the prep ranks and a newcomer from a junior college is never what a coach draws up in his master plan.

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The mantra at Boise State is 'intensity' and Nick Jezierny offers the background to such here.

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John Keith/Las Cruces Bulletin interviews Troy Gillenwater here and we also learn where Jahmar Young and Jonathan Gibson are now playing.

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Jeff Portnoy has re-emerged with the Star Advertiser and here is his first column on UH hoops.

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Daniel Lyght pulls double duty here with a very personal feature on Fresno State's Greg Smith.

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Shawn Harrison begins his coverage of Utah States with a column here.

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Sportsbow at the Sports Hawaii site has the scoop (as usual) on a new site -- Warrior Insider -- for UH basketball. Anyone know who is behind it as it looks very impressive and professional?

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The Quayles have returned from Belgium apparently sooner than expected -- read about it here.

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Jeff Faraudo of the Oakland Tribune offers this on San Jose State in his Bay Area college basketball preview:

Catching up: The Spartans, who lost nine of their final 11 games a year ago, will be smaller but deeper, more athletic and more versatile, according to coach George Nessman. "We definitely feel it's the best team we've had," he said.

It starts with Oliver, who has scored at least 30 points in 10 of his 49 games with the Spartans. "He received an inordinate amount of defensive attention, so we have to make it a little simpler for him to score," Nessman said. "The biggest piece for him is really feeling comfortable as a leader of a team."   

Late night Tuesday WAC links

The Fresno Bee's Andy Boogaard pulls no punches in his latest post involving area basketballer Robert Sandoval:

"...Clovis East coach Tim Amundsen and Bee Player of the Year Robert Sandoval say Fresno State has vanished in regard to its interest in the point guard. So Washington State is swooping in. To repeat: Absolutely inexcusable..."

In talking with various basketball 'people' (for lack of a better term), the majority are saying that Sandoval's not running a traditional setup offense at Clovis West is a primary factor in not drawing enough interest from Coach Steve Cleveland. But nobody has any doubts about Sandoval's makeup -- tough, gritty and determined -- and his effort which is always 100%.

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Tony Jones checks in offering a WAC eulogy for Jahmar Young and a re-ranking if his top team in the league next season.

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Chris Murray provides a piece on NCAA recruiting changes and also has his early team rankings for next season.

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Jeff Portnoy writes here  about the upcoming UH basketball banquet and the various elephants that will be in the dining room.

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Jeff Portnoy's latest is fascinating

Let's have a wow followed by a few exclamation points !!!.

Jeff Portnoy's column today is an eye-opener -- all about former UH Coach Riley Wallace's enmity towards both Gib Arnold and the timeline of the courting, if not hiring, process for a new mens basketball coach.

Go here for Jeff's article.

Arnold knew early on this season that he wouldn't be remaining at USC so landing another coaching position was paramount. Everyone and his brother and sister knew halfway or so into the 2009-2010 season that Bob Nash wasn't going to be retained and it is not beyond the realm of comprehension that AD Jim Donovan received a number of 'hello, I am interested if' or 'hello, I'm representing so-and-so who would be interested if' overtures. That's the nature of the beast.

Are we missing something? If (and nobody will ever produce smoking gun evidence of such) Arnold professed his interest to Donovan prior to Nash's actual departure, is that a 'sin' within the coaching ranks?

Also, did Riley Wallace have a fave he was pushing for or more than one? Does anyone know? Or is it more a matter of his believing Arnold and Donovan crossed some sort of boundary in moving the former into the position?







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Saturday's WAC items

Here is a David McCollum editorial from the Las Cruces Bulletin in the Aggies late-season emergence.

New Mexico State Associate Athletic Director has quite the column today at BleedCrimson.net. It will certainly get readers thinking.

Our unasked-for take: Coaches receive too much credit and also too much blame during the good and the lean times respectively. Those message board posters who accused Marvin Menzies of being in over his head and not knowing how to coach -- whatever that means -- were simply but unknowingly and quite tellingly describing themselves. Has Coach Menzies grown in his capacity during his head coaching tenure in Las Cruces? Absolutely. That's human nature in any occupation except for the empty suits in our workforce too scared or too rigid to learn, adapt and advance.

We will reserve a degree of criticism for the administrative leniency displayed at times in Las Cruces for certain player behavior and academic inattention. That's fair.

All New Mexico State basketball fans should be reveling in the success of the 2009-2010 season, no ifs, ands or buts. However, the ones who also offer that they hope acceptable grade point levels and student-athlete academic advancement are par for the course from here on out are not to be summarily dismissed. The recent past should not be forgotten amidst the rightful joy of this season's tremendous achievement.

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It's Rice the coach, now known as the Boise treat. (yes, we really labored on that one so no minus points if you don't get it)

Nick Jezierny offers a human interest-type feature on Leon Rice, who will receive a greater salary, plus improvements in the recruiting budget and the amount he can offer assistants.

Nick also has another Rice article here.

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Jeff Portnoy offers another column, one with a John Calipari sighting.

Jeff Portnoy talks about Hawaii hoops

Jeff Portnoy is a lawyer. Additionally, he is the longtime color announcer for the Rainbow Warrior radio broadcasts. He also blogs about UH basketball for the Honolulu Advertiser. His bonafides vis-à-vis Hawaii hoops go back four decades so he can definitely be considered one of the 'go-to' guys for insight about the program.

PTW recently talked with him about the current coaching search and other basketball elements.

About the various coaching candidates mentioned so far -- at least the ones with a modicum of credibility -- Portnoy offered this insight: "The various constituencies representing each one are leaking information on what they want to happen."

As for names, according to multiple newspaper reports, St. Mary's Associate Head Coach Kyle Smith interviewed this past weekend. Pittsburgh Coach Jamie Dixon, a former assistant at Hawaii, has strongly promoted Smith. That means something to Portnoy because, "Dixon coached here and has an understanding of what it is like and what it takes to be successful. So I put more credibility into his recommendation than say if Tom Izzo -- who is a fine coach but has no insight regarding the program -- offered a recommendation for someone."

Gib Arnold falls into the favorite son category for having graduated from one of the most prestigious high schools in Hawaii and also as the progeny of a former Hawaii head basketball coach. Arnold is another strong contender, one who has the backing of some of the economic elite involved with UH athletics. He interviewed this past Monday.

Then there is the darkhorse. "Northern Colorado's Tad Boyle meets all the qualifications," Portnoy explained. "He is a head coach, been successful in Greeley, Colorado and the Hawaii position would be a step up for him."

Additionally, Steve Barnes, the Associate Head Coach at Southern Mississippi (he was also the head coach at San Jose State from 1999 to 2002 and posted a 39-51 record) is being mentioned. "He knows Riley Wallace and Riley has put in a good word for him," Portnoy said.

If he were doing the interviewing, here is what Portnoy would be looking for: "The answers to questions are not as important as the face-to-face reactions of the candidates. How excited is he? Does he want the job or does he need the job? Does it come across that he can do something for Hawaii basketball?"

Continuing on, he added, "A sense of what it will take to succeed is critical. The next coach will need to completely understand about coaching in Hawaii and also the living environment. The travel is so far different from any other position, the distance for recruiting too. Coaches can't hop in the car and drive to see a prospect."

We then ventured into the world of recruiting, the lifeblood of all coaches and the most prominent key to a successful coaching tenure. Asked if Hawaii can sign quality prep players, Portnoy said, "That's a big question. There is very little local D-1 talent. There is a significant Pacific Islander community here that produces football players but there is also a lack of any significant African American community and most of it is military and transient. The geography leaves family, girlfriends at least 2,500 miles away so you be will away from them."

He added, "It's really a whole different ballgame and difficult to convince high school kids to make the trip. So the next coach will need to recruit outside the traditional recruiting bases, like in Australia, Europe and Japan. But despite the obstacles in recruiting high school kids, I think it can get done. However, it's certainly more difficult than at mainland D-1 programs."

"It's also not a dead end job," Portnoy explained, offering Dixon's name and also Scott Rigot, who assisted at Kentucky and now is working in the same capacity at Duquesne. "But the previous coaches who had the position saw it as an end, not as a means to an end. It's been three decades of older coaches who saw the job as the end of their careers."

Portnoy desires a "young, aggressive assistant from a West Coast school who can relate to the players."

There is also this reality. "Fans are very tired of the halfcourt basketball style." he explained. "The next coach needs to understand that uptempo basketball puts people in the seats. However, an uptempo style requires a certain type of player who we have not been able to get lately."

Then there is the opening at Boise State, one that offers a better upside. "Boise pays more," Portnoy said "and is committed to getting out of the WAC."

He also inserts a strong element of realism into the prognosis for the Rainbow Warrior basketball program: "Being competitive in the WAC and having a shot to win the league tournament" is what Portnoy views as reasonable goals for the program.

Your Monday WAC links

The Bulletin in the Zone offers a nice slideshow of the WAC championship game here.

Sam Wasson/Bleed Crimson provides photos here of the New Mexico State Big Dance Selection Party. Sam also has an post championship game interview with Coach Marvin Menzies here.

Jason Groves says here that there is a top three of basketball programs in the WAC. He also serves up video interviews with Wendell McKines and Jonathan Gibson and a written article here.

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Chris Murray reports here that Nevada will hit the road to Wichita State for the NIT.

Also, Louisiana Tech will host Southern Mississippi as part of the CIT. Here's an article on that matchup.

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Travis Mason-Bushman of ... WAC Nation will seemingly be hitting the road again to cover the NCAA tourney - Spokane edition. Here's hoping the NCAA folks understand that it's someone's body of work that counts. If so judged, he's in like flynn/flint, depending upon your age/cultural knowledge.

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Jared Eborn has a convenient USU - TAM at-a-glance writeup here and here.

Shawn Harrison was busy cranking out Aggie versus Aggie articles. Here's one, another and another.

Tony Jones reports in here.

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Check out Jeff Portnoy's blog for several columns about the NCAAs and UH's coaching search.

Some additonal WAC-related notes and links

Dave Keefer at the Rivals California Preps site recently had this to say on New Mexico State big man signee Tshilidzi Nephawe's play in a recent game:

"...Stoneridge [Prep] had another big, 6-foot-9 senior Tshilidzi Nephawe ("Chili"), who was very effective in the paint. Chili's got a pro body... and had his way under the basket..."

Here's a November 2009 description of the young man: "Nephawe uses his strength, athleticism and power to impact the game on both ends of the floor. Tshilidzi is a hard playing, aggressive post player that loves to create contact. Offensively, he doesn't play well outside of a five foot perimeter. He can only score around the basket, predominately..."

Here is the signing announcement from back in November. For what it's worth, here is his Facebook page.

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Jared Eborn catches up here with former Aggie Stavon Williams.

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Jeff Portnoy offers advice about Hawaii basketball here with the promise that he'll have more to say on Sunday

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The Draft Express site Twitter account contained this item:

"Most ridiculous one I heard is Magnum Rolle passing up playing at the PIT. Buddy, u play in the WAC, 95% of NBA doesn't even know your name.
2010-03-05 12:09:04"

We haven't seen anything definite on this but Rolle would be smart to utilize every opportunity for exposure, including the Portsmouth Invitational tourney.

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Another Jeff Portnoy post

Jeff Portnoy is back with his usual insight on Hawaii hoops and, most importantly, the specifics of Coach Bob Nash's contract:

a really stupid game
Jeff Portnoy
Honolulu Advertiser
February 16, 2010

No, not last night's blow-out, although that was nothing to write home about. 28 New Mexico State points off of 18 turnovers ( where have we heard that before?); 39 percent filed goal percentage ( where have we heard that before?); Thompson completely wearing down ( 1 assist, 6 turnovers- a reversal of the t/o to assist ratio we saw all season until a few games ago), Campbell and Balocka continuing their meltdowns once the WAC started; but on the positive side, maybe Xiang"s best game as a Rainbow and Flemings doing all one man can do to keep Hawaii competitive...

Go here for the remainder.

More Friday WAC stuff

Boy, Jeff Portnoy pulls no punches. He's back with another column:

yes it can get worse
Jeff Portnoy
Honolulu Advertiser
February 11, 2010

in my last post, i asked whether things could much worse for the basketball Bows. Well, it can and did. The latest news is that Jeremy Lay's season is over. The stated reason is that he will undergo hernia surgery. I find it very curious that he says he has to been dealing with this injury all season, but only now has decided to miss the rest of the season with only three weeks to go. If he has been living with it, there was no prior information regarding the injury and it certainly did not show on the court. I am not saying it doesnt exist nor am i saying he doesnt need surgery. I just find the timing very strange. This is a team that is now left with one scholarship guard, and will have to finish the season with either guys playing out of position or walk-ons at the Guard position.. And speaking of guys playing hurt, some say its possible Thompson may need surgery on his shoulder after the season, but he continues to suck it up game after game...

Go here for the remainder.

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This was inevitable -- Don Verlin hears from Karl Benson. Chris Murray has the details here.

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It's thankfully not WAC-related but here's yet another Icarus-like tale of a big-time basketball wannabe.

Neither does George Vecsey hold back anything (has he ever?). Binghamton's rise was a house of cards with too many jokers and very few aces. Did these people really think the charade would work? Or were they figuring they would be elsewhere when the eruption occurred?

Pete Thamel has a more formal report here.

Here's the litany in full-length form.

If you employ Don (Renardo Sidney) Jackson as your lawyer, well, prepare to wear stripes and pound rocks.

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Another Jeff Portnoy column

Jeff Portnoy is back with yet another column here on Hawaii hoops.

As for our two cents, nothing we write or say has any effect (as it should be -- we try to not kid ourselves) but barring winning its remaining games or making some noise in the WAC tourney, the UH basketball program needs some sort of a momentum changer heading into next season.

It's just not a sell-able business product right now and season ticket sales will drop even further heading into the 2010-2011 season.

By all accounts, Bob Nash is a very good and honorable man but his recruiting hasn't been up to par and that is unlikely to change if he is in that limbo stage of will-he-or-won't-he be retained.

But on the plus side, he has Bill Amis returning next season and two D-1 transfers who will also be eligible.

Regardless of a change or not (and for what it's worth), we do hope the personal attacks on Nash cease. They are uncalled for on someone who is trying to do the best he can with what he has in what is a sport -- a diversion whose outcomes have zero effect on the quality of our daily lives and those who surround us.

A few more WAC items

It isn't really WAC basketball related but we loved this Chris Murray tweet from his Twitter account:

"I'm at the SLC airport and they have a store called "Natural Snacks," at which they sell gummy worms. Can I plant a gummy worm tree?"

Amen. Words have been eviscerated of meaning in pursuit of the dollar/yen/ruble/pound et al. This is but a miniature example but when you stand for nothing there's no point in remaining upright.

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We had a vision last night -- it was an ad placed in the Las Cruces Sun-News and on EBay:

FOR SALE

Never-used rail

Purchased it when sure it was absolutely necessary

Can be utilized to run head basketball coaches out of town

Available to the highest bidder or in exchange for hopefully easily-digestible crow

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Plus, Jeff Portnoy has another column posted about Hawaii basketball.

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A couple more WAC items

Draft Express has an update on Luke Babbitt:

Joseph Treutlein
Assistant Director of Scouting
Draft Express
2-3-2010

One of the highest impact freshman in the country last season, Luke Babbitt has picked up right where he left off as a sophomore, upping his numbers across the board and just playing outstanding basketball for the Wolf Pack.

On the offensive end, Babbitt possesses an extremely high skill level to go along with an outstanding feel for the game, assets which allow him to score easily and efficiently from all over the floor. The smooth left-handed shooter is hitting with deadeye accuracy from the free-throw (89%) and three-point lines (41%), while also showing strong ability off the dribble, namely with his mid-range jumper...

Go here for the remainder.

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Jeff Portnoy is not wanting Dwain Williams to return:

on tobacco road
Jeff Portnoy
Hoops Talk
February 2, 2010

if you think Bob Nash and the rainbows are struggling, you should hear the angst here in Chapel Hill as the Tarheels suffered their worst home loss under Coach Roy Williams Sunday night against Virgina. TheTarheels are perilously close to missing the NCAA tournament after winning two National Championships in the last 4 years. And Duke got smashed by Georgetown over the weekend and look to rebound against Georgia Tech Thursday night. Frankly, both teams have problems defending quick guards, but i suspect Duke is a possible final 8 team while it may be the NIT for the Heels (something Rainbow fans would give their eyetooth for)...

Go here for the remainder.

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Do bookmark Jeff Portnoy's blog

Jeff Portnoy is certainly adding to the information about Hawaii men's basketball and we appreciate his forthrightness. He has another column posted at the Honolulu Advertiser site in which he offers a shout out to Brandon Adams plus an item speculating that Dwain Williams might not be collecting his mail in Honolulu for much longer -- for a combination of reasons.

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Jeff Portnoy on Hawaii basketball

A Crossroad Up Ahead
Jeff Portnoy
Honolulu Advertiser
January 12, 2010

This is a painful blog to write. Painful because I am friends with the Hawaii coaching staff and have been a loyal supporter of the Basketball Program for almost 40 years. Painful because I am a longtime member of the Booster club and supported Bob Nash on his successful effort to succeed Riley Wallace. But after last night's record setting loss at Utah State, it must be clear to anyone who thinks with his/her brain, and not with their heart, that this year's team is at a crossroads in its season...

Go here for the remainder.