Malik Story named WAC POW

Nevada's Malik Story has been named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Nov. 21-27. The honor marks the second career WAC Player of the Week award for Story.

Story, a junior guard from Pasadena, Calif. (Artesia HS/Indiana), led the Wolf Pack to a pair of wins as Nevada went 2-1 in the Chicago Invitational Challenge last week. Story began the week with a game-high 28 points as the Wolf Pack defeated Longwood 80-78. He made a career-high seven three-pointers in the win over Longwood. In the loss to Brigham Young, Story tied for team-high honors with 11 points. He concluded the week with his second 20-point game of the week in the Pack's 64-59 victory over Bradley. The 20 points marked a game high and he made 6-of-10 field goals including 4-of-6 from behind the arc. For his play at the Chicago Invitational, Story was named to the all-tournament team.

On the week, Story averaged 19.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 0.7 steals per game. He shot 48.7 percent (19-of-39) from the field and 53.8 percent (14-of-26) from three-point range.

Other nominees:  

* Fresno State senior forward Jonathan Wills
* Idaho senior guard Deremy Geiger
* New Mexico State sophomore guard Christian Kabongo
* Utah State senior forward Morgan Grim

Friday's WAC roundball items

Chris Murray and Dan Hinxman double-team Deonte Burton.

Chris then dishes on Malik Story who should be switching to #23 this season.

Chris also fleshes out Nevada recruiting target Cole Huff, whose name conjures up the image of an Old West gunslinger.

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Tony Jones looks at the small forward/wing candidates for Utah State.

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The Utah Statesman men's basketball edition contains a number of quotes for Stew Morrill, including these:

“What’s important to me is that he [Brockeith Pane] gets better. Everybody in the league knows he’s a power guard and that he gets to the line and that he gets in the lane and makes plays, and we certainly need that and expect that, but we also need him to be a more consistent shooter and to be a better defender. We can’t hide him defensively like we could at times last year, so the parts of his game that weren’t as strong, I expect to improve and yet still remember where his strengths are”.

and

“Brady’s [Jardine] been like a starter the last couple years in a lot of ways, even though he hasn’t had the opportunities that a starter gets minute--wise and shots and those kinds of things, so I’m really anxious, and I’m sure Brady is too, to see what he can do as a go-to-guy, and that’s what he’s got to be for us is a go-to-guy. I have no question of the effort and the confidence he’ll put into it. Brady is a very valuable guy in terms of character and effort, so his senior season should be really special. That’s what we think and I know that’s what he wants too.”

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Dayton Morinaga profiles Assistant Coach Scott Fisher who provides quite the closing line.

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The Vandal Nation folks take a look at the Idaho roster.

Now if only Jerry Evans said his culinary fave is Ruby Tuesday...

Here's Tuesday's WAC hoops compilation:

Dan Hinxman talks with extra droll Wolf Pack wing Jerry Evans. PTW says let this guy tweet during the season, please, please, please.

Dan also interviews Malik Story.

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Jason Groves busts out his choice for the top player in the WAC.

Jason also has a feature on Aggie assistant coach Tony Delk and what he is bringing to the NMSU program.

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Per Anthony Ray (a Rivals sub is required), 6-foot-8 Joe Boyd (a 2013 prospect) has de-comitted from New Mexico State. The young man says he wants to survey his possibilities and still includes the Aggies as a contender for his services.

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6-foot-5 Bayou State basketballer Michael Qualls chose Arkansas over Louisiana Tech, which is still a plus in that the Bulldogs were running with a bigtime program.

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Brian McInnis reports on the makeup of the TV crew for UH games this season plus he has a scoop on the Rainbow Warriors director of operations opening.

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Fear the beard may or may not reappear, per Dayton Morinaga.