Marvin Menzies has a plan

Coach Marvin Menzies has a plan and is utilizing it to what seems like an excellent benefit:

NMSU recruits getting head start
Jason Groves
Las Cruces Sun-News
2/12/2008

LAS CRUCES —Spending time in high major programs has made an impact on New Mexico State University men's basketball coach Marvin Menzies.

Menzies was hired as a first-time Division I coach in large part due to a successful career recruiting, which he has proven in his short time in Las Cruces.

Menzies, like those that he has worked under, likes to get the most out of his talent.

"I like the idea of bringing in recruits and them not playing for a year so they can understand what college life is like," Menzies said. "Utilizing the Doña Ana Community College, we have been able to bring in some kids who weren't initial qualifiers out of high school."

With current redshirts Troy Gillenwater, Hamidu Rahman and Robert Lumpkins already at the branch campus, Menzies added two more guards in the last month. Terrance Joyner (Genesis One in Missisippi) and Faisal Aden (God's Academy in Dallas) are the latest two additions.

Joyner and Aden came to Las Cruces for the spring semester, where they have had an opportunity to improve academically after leaving prep schools, which have come under more scrutiny from the NCAA...

Go here for the remainder.

The story behind the story

The story behind the story is the one we rarely access but Steve Sneddon gives it a good shot in the following article. It is interesting that Coach Mark Fox came to the decision that Hanson could no longer be part of the team despite no criminal violations. Maybe the simple truth truly is that Hanson needed to get out of Reno -- although he doesn't or didn't feel that way.

Tyrone Hanson begins long road back
Steve Sneddon
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
February 10, 2008

WARNER, Okla. -- Junior college basketball is filled with players hoping for a second chance.

Hundreds of them, still holding out hope they can get back to major college basketball, or get there for the first time.

Tyrone Hanson, who is enrolled at Arkansas-Fort Smith Community College, is trying to make a return, after being dismissed from the Nevada men's basketball team on Oct. 30.

"I feel like I'm back in high school again, really," said Hanson, who is redshirting this season and will play for Arkansas-Fort Smith as a sophomore in 2008-09 season.

For now, Hanson practices and watches his team play games at home and on the road. On the road, the Lions travel, by van, to places like Connors State College in Warner, Okla., which has a population of about 2,000.

"After playing in front of thousands, now, it's like small gyms, like I'm back in high school," said the former Pack player, who sat for an interview in Warren two weeks ago. "The level of the competition is real good. There's a lot of Division I guys on my team. I'd say about five of them. The team is real good. Guys work hard."

Hanson is starting over.

He was dismissed from Nevada following a tumultuous series of events in Reno that started with the homicides of three college-aged men at a Halloween party in the early morning hours of Oct. 28. Hanson, who turns 21 today, was robbed and beaten at the party.

Nevada coach Mark Fox said Hanson was not removed from the team for being involved in a fight, but for disregarding instructions not to go to the party after an earlier team policy violation.

Fox helped Hanson, who said the earlier violation was a positive test for marijuana, transfer to Arkansas Fort-Smith. The Lions' coach is former Nevada assistant Josh Newman...

Go here for the remainder.

The story gets deeper with this article "I can hear the screaming, I can hear the guns" Do click on the link and read further.

Watch out for Nevada come tourney time

Nevada sure seems to be peaking at the right time, with sixth-year senior Marcelus Kemp leading the charge. It's telling that Utah State, even with an all-senior starting backcourt and soon-to-be WAC Player of the Year Jaycee Carroll, isn't the all-efficiency unit of the past.

We've highlighted a quote by Gary Wilkinson in the first article -- words that need to be kept in mind. Here is a very solid player, albeit a newcomer to D-1 from the junior college ranks, and he is talking about the critical mental approach that is needed to win games and how he is just getting the hang of it.

Besides Wilkinson, the Aggies are also starting two freshman -- obviously talented ones and 21 years olds -- but just like the Supremes of way back with "You Can't Hurry Love," full-fledged 'getting it' takes time, effort, experience and lots and lots of patience.

Nevada 85, USU 80
USU: Aggies at least show heart in making it close
Martin Renzhofer
The Salt Lake Tribune
2/12/2008

RENO, NV - A funny thing happened on the way to a Nevada blowout Monday night - Utah State showed up in the second half.

For the first time this season, USU played hard-nosed basketball away from Logan. The Aggies lost the game, 85-80, but may have found their heart. Jaycee Carroll's 24-point second-half performance provided the pulse.

Nevada had to sweat for its victory in the Lawlor Events Center, a win that pulled it within a half-game of the Aggies in the Western Athletic Conference race. However, USU rallied from 18 down to come within four points with 46 seconds to play.

Marcelus Kemp, who scored 35, sealed the game by converting 5 of 6 free throws.

"We kept our composure," Kemp said. "Jaycee and others made some tough shots, but we kept our composure and got the win."

USU coach Stew Morrill wasn't about to crow about a moral victory. However, "Our team hung in there and battled," he said. "I have no complaints about our effort. We had the tempo of the game where we wanted it. We let it get away from us."

Tempo means everything for Utah State (18-7, 8-2 WAC), which prefers a moderate, run-the-offense style of game. The Aggies had the tempo they wanted and, despite struggling a bit offensively, had a one-point lead with four minutes to play in the first half.

Nevada (16-8, 8-3) then put the hammer down defensively outscoring USU 37-18 during the next 14 minutes to take a 64-46 lead.

Plus,

"I'm learning how to win in the WAC on the road," said Wilkinson, who finished with 12 points. "In the second half, I started to get a feel for the game..."

Go here for the remainder.

and

From the Nevada perspective:

Kemp blows up in Nevada win over Utah St.
DARRELL MOODY
Nevada Appeal Sports
February 12, 2008

RENO -- Star players tend to come up big in important games.

Monday night was one of Nevada's biggest, most important games of the season, and Marcelus Kemp turned it into a personal highlight show.

Not only did Kemp score a career-high 35 points, but he also passed Alex Boyd for third place on the all-time scoring list and then helped the Wolf Pack withstand a late Utah State rally to lead Nevada to an 85-80 win before a crowd of 8,454 at Lawlor Events Center.

Nevada, which has won three straight and six of its last seven, improved to 8-3 in Western Athletic Conference play and 16-8 overall. Utah State dropped to 8-2 and 18-7, respectively.

Kemp is all about wins first and personal achievement second, so it was extra special that he was able to win the game and achieve another milestone in his tremendous career. He passed Boyd when he converted a three-point play with 7 minutes, 50 seconds to go in the first half. Kemp now has 1,757 career points.

"It's a great accolade," Kemp said. "I heard [Boyd] was a great player, but I never got a chance to see him play. I'm just happy we got the win."

As he has done all season, Nevada coach Mark Fox was full of praise for his star player and the way his team played, especially the 24 assists compared to just four turnovers...

Go here for the remainder.

LA TECH wins one and a WAC shakeout at the top

Giving credit where it is due, let's lead with LA TECH's home win over Idaho, the first league victory for the Bulldogs this season.

Tech men topple Idaho for long-awaited first WAC win
T. Scott Boatright
The News Star
February 10, 2008

RUSTON -- When Louisiana Tech men's basketball team breaks a huddle, they always yell "Stay Together" while heading to the floor or bench.

Stay together the Bulldogs did on Saturday as Louisiana Tech picked up their first Western Athletic Conference win over the season with a 72-64 home decision over Idaho.

Tech (4-18, 1-9 WAC), used a scrappy pressure to force 27 Idaho turnovers, converting those Vandal miscues into 21 points, to pull off the win.

"That's the type of basketball we have to play," Tech coach Kerry Rupp said. "Especially because we're smaller. We have to press and try to create more defensively."

Tech wasn't only smaller than the Vandals, the thin Bulldogs bench was even thinner against Idaho (5-17, 2-9) after Adrian Rogers was injured in a freak mishap on Saturday morning, injuring a hamstring helping a friend move... Go here for the remainder.

and

New Mexico State fully demonstrated that it's themselves and Utah State vying for the top spot. In fact, Boise State needs to worry about hard-charging Nevada:

Aggie romp Boise, take sole possession of second
place
Jason Groves
Las Cruces Sun-News
2/10/2008

LAS CRUCES — With so many options, sometimes it's possible to be too unselfish.

It's a problem New Mexico State University men's basketball coach Marvin Menzies is fortunate to have.

The Aggies had 24 assists and extended their winning streak against Boise State to six with a 99-80 Western Athletic Conference victory over the Broncos on Saturday at the Pan American Center, taking sole possession of second
place and keeping first-place Utah State (8-1) within reach.

Saturday was also the Aggies' third straight win, helping NMSU improve to 14-12 overall and 8-3 in the WAC.

"It's a big victory," Aggies sophomore guard Jonathan Gibson said. "We just needed to make sure to keep running and keep playing how we were playing. We needed to try to stop their 3-point shooters and keep running our offense..." Go here for the remainder.

and

From the Idaho perspective:

Rebounding woes prove costly as BSU men's 5-game win streak snapped
NICK JEZIERNY
Idaho Statesman
2/10/08

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Boise State coach Greg Graham preached three things to his team prior to tip-off Saturday at New Mexico State:

Get off to a good start.
Rebound.
Take care of the basketball.

Good ideas, none of which the Broncos were able to execute in a 99-80 loss in front of a crowd of 6,443 at The Pan American Center.

The loss snapped BSU's five-game winning streak and knocked the Broncos (17-6 overall, 8-3 WAC) down to third place in
the conference standings.

The Broncos fell behind by as many as 16 points in the first half and never were closer than seven the rest of the way.

NMSU outrebounded BSU 50-28 and scored 23 second-chance points. The Broncos also turned over the ball 22 times...

Go here for the remainder.

and

Wolf Pack leaps over Hawaii

DARRELL MOODY

Nevada Appeal

February 10, 2008

RENO - It was Silver Saturday at Lawlor Events Center, so Nevada coach Mark Fox broke out brand-new silver uniforms for the occasion.

The uniforms looked good, and so did the Wolf Pack.

Nevada shot 65 percent from beyond the arc and 61 percent overall to roll over Hawaii, 88-68, in a nationally televised
Western Athletic Conference game.

Nevada improved to 15-8 overall and 7-3 in conference heading into Monday's showdown against conference-leading Utah State, 8-1. Nevada is in fourth place, a half- game behind Boise State and New Mexico State, which are tied at 8-3. Hawaii dropped to 10-12 overall and 6-4 in conference.

Fox said that the uniforms were ordered over the summer from
Nike. "We had planned to wear them for the league opener (against Utah State)," Fox said. "When I heard it was going to be Silver Saturday, I decided to wait for today. The kids have been wanting to wear them."

After Saturday's performance, one would expect the players would want to wear them more. Besides sinking shots from every angle on the floor, the Pack played solid defense and won the rebounding battle, 33-28.

"We were real focused," said Marcelus Kemp, who finished with a game-high 25 points. "It was a big game for us. We needed to win. We played real hard and got the win."

The first half belonged to Kemp, Brandon Fields and JaVale McGee. The trio combined for 39 of Nevada's 44 points, sparking the Pack to a 44-33 lead at the half.

Kemp had 20 in the first half, going 7-for-9 from the floor, including 4-for-5 from beyond the arc. Fields added 11 of his 17 in the first 20 minutes and McGee scored eight of his 20 in the opening half...

Go here for the remainder.

and

USU: Aggies wake up in time to top upset-minded
Spartans
USU allows 17 offensive rebounds and struggles with shooting
early, but still gets past the aggressive Spartans
Martin Renzhofer
The Salt Lake Tribune
2/10/2008

LOGAN - Utah State escaped a natural trap Saturday night against visiting San Jose State. Yet the Aggies, even performing at less than their optimal mental level, always appeared the better team.

The struggling Spartans were game, but the Aggies managed to play well enough during a five-minute stretch midway through the second half to open a double digit lead. USU milked that advantage down the stretch for a 78-73 Western Athletic Conference victory in front of 10,270 in the Smith Spectrum.

Following victories against Nevada and Fresno State, and a rematch with Nevada looming on Monday, no one playing for USU (18-6, 8-1 WAC) can't say weren't warned about a possible letdown against lowly SJSU (10-13, 2-8).

"Maybe we don't believe coach," said Jaycee Carroll, who shook off his own shooting slump to score 26 points - 16 in the second half. Carroll's 11 rebounds also gave the Aggie guard his second double-double this season.

"San Jose played well," USU coach Stew Morrill said. "They kind of manhandled us. They beat us on the offensive rebound. They beat us on the dribble so much that we couldn't block off."

Morrill could see this performance, including allowing 17 offensive rebounds, coming.

"You try, you try, you try. But it's up to them," he said. "Our posts ought to be embarrassed..." Go here for the remainder.

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Would, could Stew Morrill follow his former AD?

Disclaimer: this is pure speculation, we repeat, pure speculation. Do not mistake the following as having any basis or foundation or written because of any sort of a tip or inside knowledge.

Okay, we have that squared away so read on if you wish:

Since the Utah State Athletic Director Randy Spetman recently accepted the same post at Florida State will he attempt to entice Stew Morrill to Tallahassee? Hat tip to our buddies at www.bleedcrimson.net for planting the question in our brain.

Spetman is a retired Air Force colonel who also was the AD at Air Force. We think his hire will get the A-T-T-E-N-T-I-O-N of the Seminole coaches and players, even including Bobby Bowden.

But first let's focus on FSU men's basketball.Leonard Hamilton's squad is currently 14-10 overall, 3-6 in the ACC and Hamilton has been reduced to a cipher visibly nationally, regionally and statewide by the gigantic shadow of Billy Donovan.

Not that it's Hamilton's fault or he deserves such status -- it's just reality.

The state of Florida and the surrounding states have numerous talented prospects annually but FSU is not even close to be a 'prime player' regionally, let alone nationally. Hamilton is 87-71 in six seasons at FSU and his previous tenure at Miami also wasn't tremendously successful either. Plus, Florida State loses most of its leading scorers after this season so the future doesn't bode well.

Maybe the focus on the troubles (on the field and off, plus in the classroom) primarily with the FSU football program will spare Hamilton. Who knows? Bobby Bowden's annointed successor is already assisting him -- Jimbo Fisher is the FSU offensive coordinator and next in line -- so there's not much for a new AD to do personnel-wise in order to put his respective stamp there.

A brand new AD usually wishes to have his own head football coach in place but Spetman won't be getting that chance. However, getting Bowden to retire will take quite the time and effort.

So where does that leave Spetman? His work is cut out for him in raising the public stature of FSU athletics out of the mud, keeping the police blotters clear of any name of FSU student-athletes and upgrading the levels of donations but how about the tangible that even the most casual of fan follows -- won-loss records?

Stew Morrill could make much more money in the FSU position if so inclined but is he at an age (55) where the financial doesn't concern him anymore?

He's also been a western kind of guy geographically his entire coaching career -- Big Sky, Big West, WAC, Gonzaga, Montana, Colorado State, Utah State -- this after being born in Provo.

There is also a question of how Morrill would 'play' as a recruiter for an ACC school. He's sort of a 'old school' kind of coach -- not sparing the feelings of his crew -- a trait that typically works well with less than stellar players. Such an approach doesn't always jibe with high-level talent and big potential guys -- the kind Morrill would need to land to get FSU more competitive in the ACC.

A Coach K, a Roy Williams, a Tom Izzo can 'get away' with that type of manner because of the stature they enjoy. A relative unknown to any sort of a national audience or awareness, Morrill would be at the very least a questionmark in that regard.

Could he also be 'sold' to the basketball boosters, the big donor crowd? It's easy to believe that most would be asking 'Stew who?' This despite Morrill's immense credibility in the college coaching ranks.

The guess here is that Morrill is also a member of the LDS faith and, who knows, but that could be an initial negative factor in ACC country.

Of course, winning cures most things and a sector of any group of boosters will dance with the devil or someone they perceive as such as long as he or she produces victories.

Now there's no doubt Morrill gets the most from his players and his kids develop. They also graduate. There's also no doubt he demands positive behavior and hands out disciplinary actions when lines are crossed. There's no muddying the water in this aspect -- Morrill keeps his expectations clear cut.

We think Morrill to FSU would be a grand experiment if indeed Leonard Hamilton is pink-slipped -- something not factual at this moment and an event that simply may not occur.

But ultimately, we see Morrill being a square peg for a round hole in Tallahassee -- FSU isn't a good fit for him.

Someone who seems a natural would be VCU's Anthony Grant. Grabbing the young coach who was going to take over for Billy Donovan -- well, that would be the ultimate touche to FSU's bitter rival.

There is no complete team in the WAC

There is no 'complete' team in the WAC -- that is for certain at this point.

Complete meaning a squad full of both talent and experience that shows up every game, ready to perform its best and then doing so each night. Call it a nightly fulfillment of potential, executing a demonstration of such.

In our take, NMSU possesses the best experience, talent and potential -- but such doesn't always make an appearance. When the Aggies are on, there is but one team in the WAC that can match Marvin Menzies squad.

That is USU. The Logan-based Aggies own a home victory against their southern brethren and the Las Cruces bunch just pasted Stew Morrill's team in the return match -- one in which Utah State was shorthanded. Jaycee Carroll and his teammates are the steadiest bunch in the WAC but have a lesser ceiling than NMSU.

Boise State is the spoiler. If Greg Graham's starters are bringing their 'A' games -- something happening most of the time this season -- then the Broncos can compete with both sets of Aggies. But this can be an iffy proposition, especially come tournament time where consecutive games can dismantle the resiliency of players, especially the legs of jumpshooters. The experience of Boise's group of seniors is a hedge though against such ups-and-downs.

Nevada is a darkhorse. Any time a club can put a Marcelus Kemp, a JaVale McGee and an Armon Johnson on the court, surrounded by solid complementary teammates, then it cannot be discounted. The Wolf Pack is one of those squads that will keep progressing throughout the season and more than likely be at its zenith come tourney time.

One of the things this all means is that a Hawaii and a Fresno State, if on a roll at the right time, could improbably win the WAC tournament. The Rainbow Warriors have recently demonstrated a propensity to beat any WAC opponent anytime. Similar to Boise State but minus inside players Matt Nelson and Reggie Larry, Bob Nash's group is competitive when the jumpshots are dropping -- not so if otherwise. P.J. Owsley's recent injury is worrisome -- Hawaii needs him healthy and available for 25 minutes a game.

The Bulldogs of the Central Valley recently welcomed back Dwight O'Neil thereby immediately upgrading their defensive play and rebounding, with scoring to come as O'Neil's wrist gets healthier. The shooting of Eddie Miller will be the biggest factor in Fresno's attempt to do some tourney damage.

SJSU is more an unknown. Justin Graham has returned from his wrist and elbow injuries so the Spartans are intact again -- something important for a team lacking depth in the backcourt.

To be blunt, it isn't going to happen this season for Idaho or Louisiana Tech.

Call it a wide open WAC.

Ramon Sessions must feel jinxed

You come early out of college when so many are saying stay for your final season and then you shine in the Developmental League, enough so that the NBA team that drafted you calls you up.

Unfortunately, Ramon Sessions has injured his hand, during practice no less. Yes, timing is everything, well, at least in this case:

Sessions breaks hand in return to Bucks
STAFF REPORT
2/4/2008

Former Nevada basketball player Ramon Sessions was one day removed from being recalled from the NBA's Development League when he sustained a left hand fracture on Friday.

Sessions, who played three seasons with the Wolf Pack before declaring for the NBA draft, was practicing with the Milwaukee Bucks when he broke his hand. Sessions had been assigned to the Tulsa 66ers on Nov. 8. He was recalled by the Bucks on Thursday.

The rookie guard is expected to miss at least six weeks, according to Bucks general manager Larry Harris.

Hawaii on a roll despite injuries

Honolulu Advertiser columnist Ferd Lewis has a column today on the recent impressive play by Hawaii -- this despite an assortment of injuries and missing frontcourters. One element Lewis doesn't touch upon is the experience of the Rainbow Warrior starting five -- four seniors, two of them fifth-year types -- make up the quintet coming out to begin games. That's an enormous factor.

UH hoops hitting its stride
Ferd Lewis
Honolulu Advertiser
January 3, 2008

A month ago as this Western Athletic Conference men's basketball season began, any use of University of Hawai'i and "win the conference" in the same sentence by head coach Bob Nash would have prompted laughter, if not outright derision.

It is still a longshot, but when, in response to a question about the Rainbow Warriors' goals, Nash last night linked the two once disparate elements, saying, "Whether we can win the conference, we're going to give it our best effort," there wasn't so much as a snicker in the post-game press conference.

In the wake of a 71-57 thumping of Louisiana Tech last night that left the 'Bows 6-3 in the conference — and in a tie for third place, a game out of first place — UH is sitting pretty.

Pretty amazing, really.

For here is a team that got skunked — 0-3 — in its own Rainbow Classic and then proceeded to lose two of its first three WAC games. Hardly your precursor of success.

But since then, these 'Bows have won five of six games, including three in a row. Remarkable, really, when you consider that three of their biggest players, 6-foot-11 Stephen Verwers, 6-10 Ji Xiang and 6-8 P. J. Owsley were sitting side-by-side on the bench last night in street clothes. Only Owsley, who has a knee injury, might make it back.

"I'm sure they (the other WAC schools) are scratching their heads and trying to figure out how we're getting it done with all these injuries and problems," Nash said. "I'd probably scratch my head, too, about where we are at this point..."

Go here for the remainder.

Boise columnist wonder if Bronco bench will be Achilles heal?

Idaho Statesman columnist Brian Murphy has a column today where he raises the issue about the in-and-out contributions from the Boise State bench players. Is it inconsistency from the bunch or inconsistent court time?

Boise State is sitting pretty - except for its suspect bench
BRIAN MURPHY
Idaho Statesman
2/03/08

Perhaps if Sen. Barack Obama had hung around Taco Bell Arena for Saturday night's Boise State basketball game, the Broncos might have reached their stated goal of filling 10,000 seats.
And perhaps the 6-foot-2 presidential candidate, a noted basketball junkie, might have boosted the Broncos' bench scoring along with the attendance.

He couldn't have done much worse.

Boise State's bench combined for two points - on free throws by Mark Sanchez andJamar Greene - in 43 minutes Saturday night against rival Idaho before a dull 8,492 fans.

That the Broncos notched their 14th consecutive victory against the Vandals 78-64 - and it wasn't really that close - matters little. At this point in its breakout season, Boise State should be beating overmatched opponents by double digits.

What is of some import, however, is the Broncos' inability to entrust the end of such games to its bench and, consequently, driving up the minutes logged by their formidable starters.

Last week against Hawaii, Boise State led by 31 points with 6 minutes, 19 seconds remaining. The Broncos ended up as 15-point victors. Saturday night Boise State pushed its lead to 25 points at 65-40 with 10:11 on the clock.

Time to empty the bench or at least rotate the reserves through, right? Boise State coach Greg Graham tried.

But less than four minutes later, the Vandals had cut their deficit to 14 points and seized momentum.

Back came the starters, who remained in the game until the end. "We have a tendency to relax," Graham said...

Go here for the remainder.

Dwight O'Neill is practicing again

Dwight O'Neill's return adds some missing elements to the Fresno State men's basketball program. For a team suddenly improved defensively, he will only add to that effort. Plus, once his wrist is healthy, his dribble-drive efforts will double -- only Kevin Bell has the talent to do so now -- the number of Bulldog players proficient at such a maneuver.

O'Neil returns to 'Dogs practice
Gary Estwick
The Fresno Bee
2/02/08

Junior Dwight O'Neil, sidelined for nearly three months with a fractured right wrist, returned to Fresno State men's basketball practice Saturday morning.

Pending medical clearance early next week, O'Neil will return to game action Thursday as the Bulldogs host Utah State at the Save Mart Center.

"I think there's a possibility that he'll play," coach Steve Cleveland said.

O'Neil gives Fresno State (10-12, 3-5) depth on the perimeter, something it lost after sophomore Bryan Harvey was ruled academically ineligible for the spring. He also offers the Bulldogs -- losers of their last two games and four of their past five -- a shutdown defender who can rebound.

"His intensity is what we need the most," senior Kevin Bell said.

O'Neil said his wrist, still without its full flexibility, is about 60%. Still, if the decision was his alone, O'Neil said he would play Monday night against Louisiana Tech (3-15, 0-6) at the Save Mart Center.

"But that's just me," he said, half-joking.

While he continues to strengthen his shooting wrist, Cleveland is satisfied with O'Neil's defense and rebounding.

"If he makes a basket, it's great," Cleveland said. "That's a bonus right now..."

Go here for the remainder.

Happenings in the WAC last night

From the various beat reporters in most of the WAC cities:

Here's Jason Groves from the NMSU point of view:

Gibson's floater caps Aggie victory
Jason Groves
Las Cruces Sun-News
2/03/2008

SAN JOSE, Calif. - For the third time in the last six games, the Aggies responded after losing the previous game.

Following Thursday's disappointing 94-71 loss at Hawaii, New Mexico State held off a lesser team on the road, defeating San Jose State 83-81 in Saturday's Western Athletic Conference game at The Event Center.

Aggies sophomore guard Jonathan Gibson hit a 9-foot floater on the baseline with 1.9 seconds to give the Aggies the road win.

"I knew we needed a quick shot so I just drove and threw a floater up," Gibson said.

The Aggies are 3-0 following a loss in their last six games. NMSU is 3-3 in their last six games, mirroring their 12-12 overall record on the season. Despite their mediocre overall record, the Aggies remained in the top half of the league, improving to 6-3 on a night Utah State defeated Nevada, dropping the Wolf Pack to 5-3...

Go here for the remainder.

AND

More home cookin’
Shawn Harrison
Logan Herald Journal
January 3, 2008

That bad taste in the Aggies’ collective mouths was washed away Saturday night at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

The Utah State men’s basketball team rebounded from its biggest loss of the season — suffered a week ago — in fine fashion. The Aggies never trailed and enjoyed a double-digit lead most of the night against Western Athletic Conference foe Nevada.

USU head coach Stew Morrill was concerned until the final minute, but his players made sure the Wolf Pack would return to Reno with a loss. The Aggies jumped on their visitors early and went on to record a 77-63 victory in front of a sell-out crowd of 10,270.

“Coming off the New Mexico State game, defense is something that we really looked at hard and questioned our personal integrity with what are you going to do to help the team get better,” said USU forward Gary Wilkinson, who finished with a career-high 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting and pulled down 10 rebounds. “That is where we need to focus. I think we really executed tonight.”

Boy, did they.

That was certainly evident in the early going. The Aggies (16-6, 6-1 WAC) jumped out to a 13-2 lead just three-and-a-half minutes into the contest. Only a timeout by Nevada (13-8, 5-3) stopped the momentum.

But that wasn’t for long. USU quickly made it 20-6 when Wilkinson scored and Jaycee Carroll drilled his second 3-pointer of the game. The Aggies scored points on their first nine possessions of the game...

Go here for the remainder.

AND

Or if you prefer:

USU: Aggies earn redemption
Martin Renzhofer
The Salt Lake Tribune
2/03/2008

LOGAN - Utah State, determined not to repeat the debacle that was last week's 30-point blowout at New Mexico State, played arguably its most consistent 40 minutes of 2008 on Saturday night in the Smith Spectrum.

From the opening possession, it was clear that Utah State was more than ready for the dangerous Nevada Wolf Pack. Combine home cooking, a hot start by USU guard Jaycee Carroll and Gary Wilkinson's best game in an Aggie jersey to equal a 77-63 Western Athletic Conference victory.

"We watched the [NMSU] film on Monday," Wilkinson said. "It was tough to watch. It's not what this team is about."

Utah State (16-6, 6-1 WAC), 13-0 at home this season, jumped out to a quick 20-6 lead. Carroll, disappointed with his play in Las Cruces, N.M., looked for his shot early and often. He scored 12 points before the Spectrum seats were warm and finished the half with 17 - 24 overall.

"They came out breathing fire," Nevada coach Mark Fox said. "We didn't do a good job defending them.

"After the first 10 minutes of the game, we played even. It was the first few minutes that we dug ourselves a huge hole..." Go here for the remainder.

AND


From the Nevada point of view:

Pack basketball: Slow start dooms Pack as Utah State wins
Steve Sneddon
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
February 3, 2008

LOGAN, Utah -- It was the basketball equivalent of a first-round knockout.

It was a game the Nevada basketball team had trouble getting traction from the opening minutes and Utah State used sizzling shooting to make sure there wouldn't be a Wolf Pack comeback to remember. The message was abundantly clear, don't mess with the Aggies on their home court after they were embarrassed on the road. Jaycee Carroll scored 24 points and Gary Wilkinson had 23 points as the Aggies ran past the Pack, 77-63, in front of an announced soldout house of 10,270 at Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Saturday night.

"We knew they would come out coming off what they came off (in a 100-70 loss at New Mexico State) breathing fire," said Nevada coach Mark Fox. "They played very well to start the game and we just couldn't get back into it deep enough. We got it to eight in the second half. We couldn't get one more possession where we could make a game of it."

The fire-breathing Aggies, who ran their 16-6 overall and lead the Western Athletic Conference at 6-1, scorched Nevada with a 13-2 run in the first three minutes and 32 seconds of the game. In the run, Carroll hit a 3-pointer and then sank a 15-foot jumper that gave Utah State its first double-digit lead of the game.

"They just got off to a great start. They just hit their shots," said Marcelus Kemp, who led Nevada with 16 points. "We couldn't stop their run. Get down like that it's tough to come back. Give Utah State credit. They played hard...

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AND

Broncos take their 14th in a row vs. Vandals
Nick Jezierny
Idaho Statesman
February 03, 2008

Greg Graham asked his Boise State men's basketball team to focus on defense during the practices leading up to Saturday night's game against Idaho.
Maybe practice does make perfect. Or, at least, close to it.

BSU forced 12 first-half turnovers, held Idaho to 32 percent shooting and just 22 points in the first half and racked up a 78-64 win in front of 8,492 fans at Taco Bell Arena.

"Whether it won the game or not I don't know, but I thought our defense in the first half set the tone," Graham said. "We got far enough ahead where they couldn't catch up."

The Broncos (16-5 overall, 7-2 WAC) won their fourth game in a row and extended their winning streak against Idaho (5-15, 2-7) to 14 games. BSU led by as many as 25 points and never let the Vandals get closer than 11 in the second half.

"Fourteen straight - I love it," said BSU senior Matt Bauscher, who is from Caldwell. "Being a local guy, I love 14 straight."

All Idaho coach George Pfeifer had to do was look at two statistics to know his team was in trouble - the 32 points BSU scored off turnovers and the Broncos' 42-26 edge on the boards...

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AND

'Bows beat Bulldogs for third win in row
Dayton Morinaga
Honolulu Advertiser
January 3, 2008

The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team is feeling super right now.

The Rainbow Warriors continued their surprising climb up the standings of the Western Athletic Conference with a 71-57 victory over Louisiana Tech last night.

A crowd of 4,376 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched the 'Bows improve to 10-11 overall and 6-3 in the WAC. Hawai'i is now in a tie for third place in the conference, just one game behind co-leaders Utah State and Boise State.

Louisiana Tech dropped to 3-16 and 0-7 with its seventh consecutive loss.

Hawai'i entered WAC play having lost four of five games in December. Now, the 'Bows are going the other way, as their three-game winning streak is the longest of this season.

"Just a great team effort all the way around," Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said. "That's the thing we're trying to build here at the University of Hawai'i, is that we play as an 'ohana."

In what is becoming their family tradition, the 'Bows relied on a balanced and efficient offense last night.

Bobby Nash led four Hawai'i players in double-figure points with 16 on 6-of-10 shooting.

Matt Gibson added 14 points and seven assists. Riley Luettgerodt contributed 11 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Jared Dillinger scored 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting...

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Ramon Sessions to The Big Show

Congrats to Ramon Sessions for his recent elevation to the Bucks:

D-league: Bucks call Sessions to return to big club
Reno Gazette Journal
STAFF REPORT
2/2/2008

On Friday, former Pack player Ramon Sessions was called back by the Milwaukee Bucks, general manager Larry Harris said.

Sessions was the 57th pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. He was assigned to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League on Nov. 8, two weeks into the 2007-08 NBA season, though he did not see playing time with the Bucks.

He officially re-joins the Bucks today, at home, when they host the Houston Rockets.

"Coming back here, I was feeling it in practice, I was so excited to be here," Sessions said in a podcast on the team's web site. "Once I get here, out on the court, I'll be a little nervous, but I'm pretty sure I'll enjoy every minute of it."

Sessions appeared in 24 games with Tulsa, averaging a team-high 21.1 points (sixth in the D-League), a team-high 7.6 assists (third) and 6.5 rebounds in 36.2 minutes per game. Nevada teammate Nick Fazekas, the 34th overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks, is the 66ers second-leading scorer and leading rebounder, with 18.3 points and 9.7 rebounds in 30.5 minutes per game.

"It was a great experience, by far, getting a lot of game minutes and a lot of experience..." Sessions said.

The 6-foot-3 guard left Nevada last year, a season early, while Fazekas played four years for the Pack.

Sessions played in five preseason games with the Bucks, averaging 1.4 points, 1.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 7.0 minutes of action.

Better late than never -- good article about LA TECH

We've been a bit negligent on checking our email so apologies for that. Here's an article that was brought to our attention by Chris d'A and we thank him for that. Look for the Bulldogs to certainly be in the first division in the WAC next year and likely to make a run for the top spot considering all the graduating seniors elsewhere:

In the doghouse: Thin Tech Bulldogs basketball team growing toward next season
Teddy Allen
teddy@gannett.com
January 24, 2008

RUSTON — Some people might look at Louisiana Tech's 3-13 record in men's basketball, then look at the coaching staff and find it easy to understand why three of the four don't have any hair.

Bald as basketballs.

But they didn't pull their hair out. Truth is, the coaches just like their hair short. Once a week assistant Rennie Bailey, a mainstay on the Tech NCAA Tournament teams of the early 1980s, tells basketball secretary Rebecca Pesnell he's going to get a haircut as he walks out the door, rubbing nothing but fuzz on the top of his head.

"He's back in less than an hour," she said, "and you can't tell any difference."

Short can be good when it comes to hair.

But it's not so good when it comes to basketball teams. And Tech is short — short on height, on experience, on depth, and on wins. Tech's nine-player team is looking to go up, the only direction available at 0-4 in the WAC...

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Last night in the WAC -- check out the Hawaii - NMSU game

Here's a collection of articles about last night's games written by the beat reporters at the various newspapers covering the WAC:

Bulldogs men get shut down by Nevada
Kemp and defense hand Fresno State another defeat
Gary Estwick
The Fresno Bee
1/31/08

RENO, Nev. -- Fresno State met a defense as stingy as its own Thursday night, and the result was stifling.
For the first time in weeks, Kevin Bell was unable to dominate the opposing point guard, especially in transition. Whenever Bell got a step against Armon Johnson, he had to contend with JaVale McGee and helping defenders.

Fresno State's offense never looked comfortable during this 79-67 loss at Lawlor Events Center, reaching a new level of futility: The Bulldogs, revered nationally a season ago for their long-distance shooting, endured a first half without converting a 3-pointer.

By the time Bell made the first shot behind the arc early in the second half, they trailed by 19, and Marcelus Kemp answered every Bulldogs' comeback attempt.

The Nevada guard picked apart the Western Athletic Conference's top defense, scoring a game-high 28 points, most of his shots coming around the rim. When matched against bigger defenders, like Nedeljko Golubovic, he penetrated. When he faced shorter players, such as Tyson Parker, he just elevated.

"I took what they gave me, and the shots were falling," Kemp said...

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From the Nevada point of view:

Pack basketball: Kemp leads Nevada past Fresno State
Steve Sneddon
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
February 1, 2008

Although the Nevada basketball might have hit bottom the last time it played at Lawlor Events Center, the Wolf Pack accelerated its rise when it returned home Thursday night.

Marcelus Kemp scored 28 points to become the fourth-leading career scorer in school history to lead Nevada past Fresno State, 79-67, in front of 7,317 fans. Brandon Fields had 17 points and JaVale McGee finished with 15 points.

The win was Nevada’s third in a row and 11th in the last 14 games as it ran its record to 13-7 and 5-2 in the Western Athletic Conference going into its game at WAC-leading Utah State on Saturday night. Fresno State, which has lost eight of 10 games on opponents’ home courts, dropped to 10-12 overall and 3-5 in the WAC.

“We’re getting better and we can still get better,” Nevada coach Mark Fox said. “I think this team has continued to get better throughout the year. That’s the thing we’ve been focused on doing and I’ve been pleased with the progress.

“In certain areas, we may take a step backward, but we take more steps forward than we do back. We need to learn from our wins like we did our losses early in the year.”

The Pack has won by nine points or more against New Mexico State, Louisiana Tech and Fresno State since losing at home to Boise State, 95-80, Jan. 19.

“This is the best team we’ve played,” Fresno State coach Steve Cleveland said. “This is the best defensive team we’ve played, and Marcelus Kemp is by far the best player in the league. He’s pretty special...

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But the biggest game was in Honolulu where Hawaii was 'on' all 40 minutes and took apart New Mexico State:

'White-Out' wipeout as Hawai'i rolls, 94-71
Dayton Morinaga
Honolulu Advertiser
February 1, 2008

White-Out Win.

WOW.

That's probably the reaction of the rest of the Western Athletic Conference after the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team's statement-making 94-71 victory over New Mexico State last night.

A "White-Out" crowd of 3,485 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched the Rainbow Warriors improve to 9-11 overall and move into fourth place in the WAC at 5-3. The 'Bows are just one game behind first-place Utah State, which is 5-1.

Last night's victory was surprising for the margin more than anything else. The only team to beat New Mexico State by a larger margin this season was Duke.

New Mexico State, which came to Honolulu off a 30-point victory over Utah State, dropped to 11-12 and 5-3.

"I give my team credit for giving a great effort," Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said. "The hustle was there for every single play."

The 'Bows out-hustled, out-shot and out-ran the Aggies practically from start to finish.

Matt Gibson led the effort with 20 points and a career-high 11 assists. He shot 8 of 15 from the field, and guided the Hawai'i offense to its best performance of the season.

"That's what we're capable of," Gibson said. "That's not me, that's guys knocking down shots."

Jared Dillinger led the shooters with a career-high 19 points, including five 3-pointers...

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Here's an article about Boise State and the fight to make the cutoff for The Big Dance:

College basketball's complicated ratings index could hurt BSU's NCAA hopes
Nick Jezierny
Idaho Statesman
February 01, 2008

College basketball's complicated ratings index could hurt BSU's NCAA hopes
They each have college degrees, but don't bother asking Boise State seniors Matt Bauscher, Matt Nelson and Tyler Tiedeman to explain the three magic letters of college basketball: RPI.
About all they can tell you is that the statistical ratings, which are used by the NCAA Tournament selection committee to help determine its field, probably will keep the Broncos out of the Big Dance if they fail to win the WAC Tournament in March.

As of Monday, which was the last time the NCAA updated the RPI rankings, the 15-5 Broncos were ranked 124th out of 341 teams (a smaller number is better). Only 65 teams are selected for the tournament.

"It's frustrating, but there is nothing the players can do about it," Tiedeman said. "We're just trying to go out and take care of our end of the deal, which is to win games, and that's what we've been doing."

The RPI, which stands for Ratings Percentage Index, is a formula with three basic components:

Overall win-loss record against Division I teams counts as 25 percent.

A team's opponents' win-loss record counts as 50 percent.

The team's opponents' opponents' win-loss record counts as 25 percent...

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Finally, the Utah State player previously suspended are back:

Suspensions lifted
Shawn Harrison
Logan Herald Journal
February 1, 2008

They’re back.

Four Aggie men’s basketball players that were suspended last Saturday for one game each are back in the fold. Three of them will be available for action this Saturday when Utah State hosts Nevada in a Western Athletic Conference game at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. The fourth is redshirting.

“As far as our guys that were suspended, they will be available for play on Saturday,” USU head coach Stew Morrill said Thursday during a press conference. “This one-game week gave me a chance to meet with them and all of that.”

Hours before facing New Mexico State last Saturday in Las Cruces, N.M., Morrill announced the suspensions of senior forward Stephen DuCharme, junior guard Desmond Stephens and freshmen guards Jaxon Myaer and Pooh Williams. The four Aggies were sent back to Logan on Friday night for violating an undisclosed infraction of team rules. Myaer is redshirting this season.

The violation, which has not been disclosed by Morrill, took place Jan. 24, in Ruston, La., after USU had defeated Louisiana Tech earlier that night.

“As I told you before, this was a case of some good kids making a bad choice,” Morrill said Thursday. “We’re done with it and moving on. They have apologized to their teammates and coaches. We’re on to the next thing. They will play on Saturday.”

As far as Morrill is concerned, the matter is now closed and the team is moving forward...

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