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?

+++++

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

+++++

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

+++++

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.

+++++

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).

+++++
+++++
+++++

There are no games scheduled for today.

Kyser on a roll

We thought Isaiah Massey, the 6-foot-8 redshirt freshman transfer from Ole Miss, would be the most immediately helpful newcomer to the Louisiana Tech frontline But nNeither for the first time, nor the last, PTW was wrong.

That particular honor, at least so far this season, goes to 6-foot-9 Michale Kyser, also a year out of high school after a season at a prep institution.

Kyser has appeared in all 12 Bulldog games and is averaging just over 15 minutes a contest. His offensive skills remain raw but he is grabbing 2.8 rebounds each time out, split almost evenly at 16 offensive and 18 defensive.

However, what has stood out is Kyser's 31 blocked shots, culminating in seven rejections during 16 minutes of court time, versus Northeastern on December 20. Also, Kyser was credited with three swats in but seven minutes of play in the previous matchup with UALR and in the contest prior to that, Kyser blocked two shots in seven minutes.

Get him a flyswatter endorsement.