Kenyon McNeail named WAC POW

Louisiana Tech’s Kenyon McNeail has been named the Western Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Jan. 7-13.

McNeail, a junior guard from Conway, Ark. (Conway HS), came off the bench to help the Bulldogs to a pair of road wins last week. In a 73-71 win at UTSA, McNeail tied LA Tech’s record for most made three-point field goals in a single game with nine and broke the school record with 15 three-point field goal attempts. McNeail scored a career-high 34 points, including the game-winning three in the win at UTSA. His nine three-pointers is the top mark in the WAC this season and the third-best single-game performance in the nation this season. McNeail also came off the bench to score six points with four rebounds in an 84-67 road win at Texas State.

On the week, McNeail averaged 20.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 steals per game. He shot 52.0 percent (13-of-25) from the field, 52.4 percent (11-of-21) from three-point range and 75.0 percent (3-of-4) from the free throw line.

Other nominees:

* Denver senior guard Chase Hallam averaged 15.5 points in a pair of road wins

* Idaho sophomore guard Connor Hill averaged 14.5 points over two games

* New Mexico State senior forward Tyrone Watson scored a career-high 26 points in a road win at Seattle U

* Seattle U junior forward Clarence Trent averaged 15.0 points and 8.0 rebounds over two games

* Texas State junior Joel Wright averaged 24 points in two games

* UT Arlington senior center Jordan Reves averaged 16 points and 6.5 rebounds in a pair of road wins

* Utah State junior guard Preston Medlin scored a season-high 25 points to lead the Aggies to a win over San Jose State

Monday: one game report and a bevy of links

Texas San Antonio went into The Mile High city but definitely didn't elevate their game and lost 75-50 to Denver. The Pioneers led 39-19 at the half. Coach Joe Scott's group shot 53% overall, a very nifty 14-30 from long distance and earned 24 assists on 26 baskets. Freshman forward Marcus Byrd led with 12 points, Chase Hallam had 11 plus Chris Udofia and Royce O'Neale each scored 10. The latter posted a double-double with 10 boards. The Roadrunners were led by Jeromie Hill's 13 points but shot 33% as a team as backcourters Michael Hale went 2-8 and Kannon Burrage 1-9.

It has to sting that Hallam, Udofia and O'Neale are all from the Lone Star State.

Pioneer athletics and Roadrunner athletics game report. So does Irv Moss and Jerry Briggs.

Not to belabor the point but what's up with Texas basketball WAC members?

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Missed this from earlier: Matt Vines with Coach Mike White talking about Louisiana Tech's Alex Hamilton and Kenyon McNeail.

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Skiildawg has a post up on Louisiana Tech sophomore big Michale Kyser and his astounding shotblocking prowess. Basketball sandwiches anyone?

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Fabulous twitter post by Assistant Media Relations Director for Idaho Athletics Spencer Farrin: "Idaho's 1986-87 MBB coaching staff: Tim Floyd (HC), Larry Eustachy (AC), Kermit Davis (AC), Randy Bennett (GA)...All head coaches now"

Wow. Not just head coaches but winning HCs. It's probably happened before where all the members of a staff went on to become head coaches but the success of all these guys (despite their various 'warts') is amazing.

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After this weekend of play, it's very difficult not to go with Utah State as the top team in the WAC. The Aggies currently are not a great team and a one-and-done in the Big Dance if it breaks that way but every other WAC squad has a hole or holes and generally needs solid contributions from every member of the starting five or a couple of reserves playing up in order to grab a W. However, in a short span such as the WAC tourney, anything can happen. Louisiana Tech comes to Logan on January 26 and the Logan-ites hit Ruston on February 28 -- both contests should be on national television, ESPN2 specifically (hint, hint).

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There are no games scheduled for today.