Parsing The WAC --- by Chris Murray

Hey, we've actually been giving it some thought that we should be including Chris Murray's name in the title of this blog since he is supplying so much of the 'updates' we post here.

We are still planning on doing an early WAC preview of each team as soon as things slow down with our other writing.

But in the meantime...Chris offers his take on the latest LA TECH happenings in his most recent column:

Changes aplenty at one WAC basketball school
Chris Murray
Reno Gazette-Journal
May 27, 2008

The Louisiana Tech basketball team was horrible last season. Some of that was design. The Techsters were 6-24 overall and a WAC-worst 3-13 in league under first-year coach Kerry Rupp. You never want to go through a season like that, but all that pain might start paying off next season. However, it won't come without a little controversy.

Rupp decided to build Louisiana Tech with the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons in mind. He lured three transfers from BCS schools in Jamel White of Nebraska, Magnum Rolle of LSU and Kenny Cooper of Oklahoma State. All three become eligible this season and will have at least two years of eligibility left. The coach also nabbed a pair of prep stars from Canada before last season in four-star recruit Olu Ashaolu and three-star recruit D.J. Wright. Both were redshirted (and Wright failed to academically qualify, which forced a transfer to Salt Lake Community College. He said he will spend two years at SLCC and return to Louisiana Tech).

The next step was adding this season's recruiting class, which included JC transfer David Jackson, who averaged 7.2 points per game as a freshman at Idaho in 2006-07 before transferring to Mesa Community College and then La. Tech. The five-player class includes another JC transfer in Jamel Guyton and prep products Brandon Gibson, Josh Brown and Holton Hunsaker, who won't join the team until the 2010-11 season after going on a Mormon mission to Fiji...

Go here for the remainder.

Did LA Tech do the right or wrong thing?

To fill you in, Lee Fletcher is an LA TECH uber-fan. His latest post is printed below in its entirety because of continuity sake. We apologize for doing so ahead of time. Our take on his piece will follow:

Rupp Did the Right Thing: Tech Basketball Stronger With Changes In Place
Lee Fletcher
Louisiana Tech report
http://www.latechreport.com/index.php
May 24, 2008

Louisiana Tech basketball was noted in recent media stories about players who are no longer on the team.

Sometimes additions by subtraction can be the best moves one can make when faced with a set of circumstances.

In fact, in this case it is obvious the Louisiana Tech Basketball program is stronger today than it was before the recent changes. The entire story is one that probably will never be told or fully understood.

Here is our perspective. Coach Rupp did the right thing. Period.

How did we get here? Well from some careful research this is not the first time there was a revolving door from recent years past.

The higher standard had to be set and met. The higher standard is needed in every sport and is being put in place and enforced thank goodness.

Many of us have been really concerned for some time about what actually happened to our entire athletic program.

It is obvious that the same devolution happened in other sports at Tech in the past five years namely football, baseball and women's basketball.

Now we can clearly see that things were held together with masking tape and smoke and mirrors at times. So it is not surprising that things were unravelling before our very eyes over the last few years and changes had to be made to save the ship.

Enter Coach Rupp and a much-needed new direction.

Coach Kerry Rupp made it clear that he wanted a team made up of players that would be outstanding in the class room, on the court and in the community. This set of higher standards was clear (and necessary) from the very first press conference. This set of higher standards was communicated constantly and reinforced with the players before the first practice or scrimmage.

Coach Rupp did the right thing in this case by sticking to the higher standard. The higher standard needed to be set and in place a long time ago. The standard that serves everyone equally with an open and stated set of requirements on both ends from day one. These rules and benchmarks have not changed and were communicated up front to everyone involved.

In fact, the background info on this story line is full of speculation which can be both true and untrue depending on the specific case in question. The truth is that the program is stronger today than it was before. The background on what players were doing what is one that needed to improve and has moved in that direction.

One thing is clear in that we wish the players well but we cannot allow the standard to be compromised. The rules were set and in place for all the world to see and understand.

Those rules are being enforced which is exactly what many have called for over the years past and have now gotten. This will only help the program over the long haul and move us one step closer to where we want to be.

An interesting note is that coaches all over America move players off their roster when faced with the same circumstances and no one really says much.

In this case, this set of actions is exactly what had to be done. This set of actions was appropriate based on adhering to a standard that everyone knew and agreed to going in so there really were no surprises no matter what you hear, in our view.

Keep this in mind...there are always more sides to the story.

One final thought in the form of a question..Do you really think a coach will [there seems to be a word missing here and it probably is 'let'] a player go or move them off their team when the player was performing up to the standard in the classroom, on the court and in the community?

For far too long there were too many looks the other way on some of the discipline issues and sketchy decisions on signing players that maybe should never have been here in the first place...

Thank goodness those days are behind us...Tech Basketball and Tech Athletics is stronger today with changes in place.

OUR TAKE: Fletcher deserves credit for his taking a stance on this week's dropping of four player from the Bulldog roster. It's curious that he refers to the institution of higher standards in the classroom, on the court and in the community by Coach Kerry Rupp and, zeroing in on one of those specific categories, what if the student commitments in the classroom and in the community were just fine and acceptable but it became a matter of their talent not measuring up?

It appears Fletcher's ultimate measuring stick is that he feels the men's basketball program is stronger and better, period.

But what about the commitment the university made to these student-athletes? Especially if that the 'sins' of these four players were simply not being skilled enough?

Plus, Fletcher makes no mention of the timing of all this. Was when it was done to the benefit of Louisiana Tech men's basketball, for the players, for both, for neither side?

And as for higher standards, what is Rupp being held to? Is it a win at all costs philosophy that cannot be compromised?

Is this truly what had to be done?

And that these actions came as no surprise?

Did Rupp wait until now to determine the academic progress of this group of kids and, seeing it was good, dumped them because their academic standing wouldn't negatively effect the school APR OR did he dump these guys because their academics were substandard and they failed to keep up their commitment?

Granted, there are more unknowns than knowns here and areas that Rupp and LA TECH cannot address publicly without an invasion of privacy. But there's a 'smell' about all this and the odor appears to be emanating more from the Bulldog men's basketball program.

+

Here's a few members of The News Star staff weighing in on what took place at LA TECH:

Our Sunday morning take on the world of sports
Staff report
The News Star
May 25, 2008

...Tech coach Kerry Rupp cut three players last week, including two from local schools. Shouldn’t he have done this earlier to give the kids more options?

It’s expected that new coaches will remake a program to their own goals and standards. But since when did we start tossing kids in the trash when we’re done with them? College athletics, unfortunately, is no longer about college athletes. — Nick Deriso

There will be long-term repercussions for this cold-hearted act. Good luck recruiting in West Monroe or Ruston from now on. — Paul Letlow

Absolutely. To wait until they can’t sign anywhere else is quite a slap in the face and then some, if you ask me. — Tabby Soignier

This isn’t the first time nor will it be the last that college athletes have lost their scholarship. Regardless of the situation, as a parent this is always disappointing and disturbing. Hopefully, things will work out for these young men and all will someday earn a degree. — Keith Prince

Voila!!! A Marcelus Kemp update

Geeesh, we make mention of the absence of Marcelus Kemp/NBA draft coverage across the 'net and shazam, this appears:

Nevada basketball: Kemp hoping to get noticed at camp
Chris Murray
Reno Gazette-Journal
May 24, 2008

When the annual Orlando pre-draft camp begins Tuesday, 64 players will be trying to gain a foothold into the mind of pro scouts.
Advertisement

For the second straight season, one of those players will be Nevada shooting guard Marcelus Kemp, who was recently invited to the exclusive camp.

The 6-foot-5, 210-pound Kemp will be one of 64 players -- give or take a few -- to showcase his skills in front of talent evaluators from all 30 teams. Each player will run through a sequence of drills before six teams are formed and a series of games are played...

Go here for the remainder.

Idaho's roster moves

For those of you keeping track at home:

Being in Moscow, Idaho athletics don't receive as much coverage as other WAC programs (and no, it has nothing to do with the heavy hand of the Kremlin). Here's our best at keeping up with roster changes there:

Vandal basketball programs continue overhauls
Three leave women's squad, Kale departs from men's team
Aaron Wasser
Daily News
May 16, 2008

...First-year men's coach Don Verlin said Thursday that soon-to-be senior post Mike Kale will not return. Kale leaves with one season of eligibility remaining, but he will graduate this summer and has decided to try his hand with a professional career overseas despite Verlin's invitation to return for the 2008-09 campaign...

...Verlin was in Salt Lake City on Thursday and will make his way to Boise today before returning to Moscow on Monday. Upon his arrival, he'll get his first look at final grades that he said will help him determine who will stay and who will go.

With Kale's departure, the men's roster stands at 15 players, including the four Verlin signed to National Letters of Intent since being hired in April.

Programs are allowed a maximum of 13 scholarships and Verlin said the men's program will meet the NCAA compliance date of July 1, he's just not sure exactly how yet.

"We have a lot of things hanging out there," he said. "We will be in compliance by July 1, how exactly that will work remains to be seen, but we will be in compliance by then."

and

It was posted on the Rivals network and then a message board (yes, those paragons of truthiness) that 5-11 guard Kelvin Potts out of Chabot JC (up in Hayward) had signed with Idaho. He averaged 9.5 ppg, 5.2 apg, 3.1 turnovers a contest, 39% overall from the field, 38% from three-poi nt range and 77% from the foul line.

But then Potts disappeared from the list of Idaho's signees at Rivals so your guess is as good as ours.

Plus, Anthony Simpson (6-6, 210) signed on with Idaho when George Pfeiffer was still the head coach and now has been released from his letter-of-intent.

Finally this bizarre tale:

Ghazoul facing deportation
Amy Dalrymple
The Forum
5/13/2008

A North Dakota State College of Science basketball player who racked up thousands of dollars in international phone bills now faces deportation without the right to a hearing.

Touhami Ghazoul, 21, is being held in the Elk River, Minn., jail until he can be deported to his home country of Algeria, authorities said.

Ghazoul's deportation could occur in a few days to a few weeks before travel documents are in order and flight arrangements can be made, Counts said on Friday...

...Former NDSCS coach Steve Irwin gave Ghazoul a school calling card number so he could stay in touch with Ghazoul while the player was at a basketball camp in Oklahoma.

But Ghazoul continued using the number to make national and international calls after he returned home. Court records say he made 395 calls and NDSCS was charged an average of $9.80 per minute.

Ghazoul was suspended from playing basketball and the team was sanctioned by the National Junior College Athletic Association.

"He admits what he did was wrong," said Henderson, who advises NDSCS international students. "But he had no idea of the dollar amount, I'm sure."

Henderson said when he met Ghazoul on his first day at NDSCS, the player "had no grasp of the English language." Today, his reading and writing of English is probably at a fifth- or sixth-grade level, Henderson said.

But Ghazoul worked hard and had nearly completed most of his coursework at the time of his arrest, Henderson said.

Attorney Dan Krassin, who represented Ghazoul on the theft charge, said Ghazoul pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor because the University of Idaho was willing to recruit him as long as he wasn't convicted of a felony.

A letter of intent signed by Ghazoul and a University of Idaho athletic official from Nov. 14 confirms that he was a recruit for the basketball team...

D.J. Wright re-surfaces

A one-time LA TECH recruit (still connected to Ruston) who also was a former Louisiana State recruiting target but unable to gain eligibility at either school has landed at a powerhouse community college in Utah:

SLCC: Bruins excited about stud basketball recruit
Former LSU signee also brings prep teammate to SLCC
Jody Genessy
Deseret News
May 22, 2008

A big-time basketball player with pro potential has signed a national letter of intent to play hoops in the Beehive State beginning next fall.

As a bonus, he's bringing his 6-foot-11 buddy along with him, too.

BYU, Utah, Utah State and the state's other four-year programs will have to watch them from the stands, though.

D.J. Wright, a Rivals.com three-star and Top 150 player in 2007, has agreed to take his highly rated game to Salt Lake Community College. Making the Bruins' coaches all the more giddy, they also landed the former Louisiana State signee's prep school teammate, Mike Luby.

They both faxed their letters to the SLCC coaches from Toronto, where they live, after spending last weekend in Salt Lake City on a recruiting trip...

Go here for the remainder.

One columnist down Ruston way has some qualms

Someone is the media down the Ruston-area way smells hypocrisy in the air:

Tech tosses players out with the trash
Jimmy Watson
Shreveport Times
5/22/2008

While there may have been good reasons for it, Louisiana Tech men's basketball coach Kerry Rupp created a lot of negative vibes for his program on Wednesday when he mysteriously released four players from his program.

The timing of the move is what a lot of people are questioning. Normally, players are reviewed soon after the end of their season, but it appears that Rupp waited until near the end of school to review this group and to tell them their services were no longer needed.

With the spring signing date concluded, this foursome has little chance to move on to another school and continue their free education. Unless a school has an extra scholly lying around and wants them, these guys are screwed. Why you would want to do this to student-athletes who suffered with you through perhaps the most miserable men's basketball season in Tech history doesn't seem to make sense...

Go here for the remainder.

The fickleness of fandom

Chris Murray is back yet again with another college/pro basketball blog entry. Here's a very well-rounded column fully illustrating the fickleness of fandom.

It's curious how nothing is being written about Marcelus Kemp anywhere, making it appear the former Wolf Pack shooter/scorer won't be hearing his name called in the upcoming NBA draft.

If true, such will demonstrate just how big a leap it is from college to the pros.

Chris Murray
Reno Gazette-Journal
May 22, 2008

McGee's interesting relationship with Pack fans

Pamela McGee resigned as Sacramento High's girls basketball coach to spend more time with her son, JaVale, as he prepares to make the transition from a collegiate player to a professional. Ms. McGee has been in the news off and on since JaVale came to Reno to play for the Wolf Pack in 2006. She has earned a reputation as being outspoken and no-nonsense. She also has been quite confident in her son's ability. She gave JaVale the nickname "The Big Secret," said he had a skill set superior to 70 percent of current NBA players and added that he was the most skilled 7-footer in the world. She also compared JaVale to Tyson Chandler, Michael Jordan and Dirk Nowitzki.

In addition, she has been blamed by many Wolf Pack fans for forcing JaVale to bypass his last two seasons in college to cash in in the pros right now. For what it's worth, when I interviewed JaVale a day before his official press conference to announce his NBA future, he said that Pamela did not force him to enter the NBA, adding that the decision was ultimately his. Conversely, I have heard from sources close to the Wolf Pack program that Pamela had quite a bit more say in the decision. I bring all this up because throughout the season an interesting trend seemed to develop in regard to JaVale. The Wolf Pack fans developed a love-hate relationship with the talented sophomore last season...

Go here for the remainder.

A little bit on USU's backcourt in 2008-2009

Utah State is looking to fill both guard spots in the coming season. Here's a brief rundown by Jay Hinton on that task and the players involved:

USU Aggies Blog
Aggies have questions at the guard line
Jay Hinton
DeseretNews.com blogger
May 22, 2008

Utah State basketball coach Stew Morrill learned early in his coaching career that it's good to have options.

"I would rather have too many guys that can play than not enough," he said. "It sometimes can clutter it up a bit, but it also gives you a chance to look at a whole lot of possibilities"

Such is the case with the point guard position.

Kris Clark, the Aggies' all-time single-season assists leader, is gone, and with Desmond Stephens returning as well as redshirt Jaxon Myaer, and newcomer Dermey Geiger, Morrill will have possibilities when it comes to who will run the team...

Go here for the remainder.

Another reason why Greg Graham deserves a raise and an extension

Thanks to an article on BSU athlete graduations by Nick Jezierny of the Idaho Statesman, we offer this snippet:

BOISE STATE STUDENT-ATHLETES AT A GLANCE

The average grade-point average for student-athletes at Boise State was 3.0 last semester. Spring semester numbers aren't available.

BSU basketball player Matt Nelson, who earned his degree and graduated in December, was the school's only Academic All-American this year...

...The Broncos had the highest Academic Progress Rate (APR) in the WAC in men's basketball, women's basketball, football, men's tennis and women's soccer..."

Chalk up another reason to extend Greg Graham's contract, with a raise -- a clean program, one whose student-athletes graduate and the WAC tourney champs in 2008.

Chris Murray is back with a JaVale McGee update

Here's Chris Murray with a blog entry sizing up JaVale McGee's present NBA draft status. We're not sure if the use of the word 'project' at the end of his third sentence is a play on words or unintentional:

Chris Murray
Reno Gazette-Journal
May 21, 2008
Projecting McGee in the draft

The NBA draft lottery was Tuesday, and the Chicago Bulls got the lucky ping-pong ball bounce and will draft first overall. With the draft order officially set, a slew of new mock drafts were released. So where does Nevada sophomore JaVale McGee project? Pretty well, actually. Here's a sampling...

Go here for the remainder.

Jahmar Young trial date set

This will certainly endear us even further to the NMSU fan-atics who choose to see and hear what they wish (which is their prerogative) but, heck, we don't make the news nor does the Las Cruces Sun-News publication.

In this particular case, Jahmar Young and the New Mexico state judicial system does.

Now if we wish to be particularly snarky, we would advise Young to touch base with former Aggie Tyrone Nelson for tips on how to work his case -- oops. Here comes the barrage of emails from Las Cruces.

Actually, here's hoping the kid is found innocent but, regardless, that the outcome be a result of a fair proceeding.

Area Briefs: Trial date set for Young
Las Cruces Sun-News report
5/22/2008

LAS CRUCES — A trial date has been set for New Mexico State basketball player Jahmar Young's indecent exposure case.

Young, 21, is scheduled for a bench trial before state District Judge Doug Driggers on June 27.

Young faces misdemeanor charges of indecent exposure and battery for an on-campus incident last summer. He also was charged with resisting arrest in January after turning himself in on a warrant that was issued for failing to show up for his arraignment on the misdemeanor charges.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Young has played one year for the Aggies. He has played in 21 games, averaging 10.3 points per contest.

Kerry Rupp drops three players -- no, make it four

Okay, anyone know the reason or reasons behind this?

The timing certainly isn't good for the players but they will certainly land elsewhere. Was it a grades issue, a behavioral issue, a desire to eliminate any roster connections to the departed Keith Richard, a combination or something else? Regardless, Coach Kerry Rupp received nothing but good press for his bloodied but unbowed march with a depleted roster through the recently concluded season. He continually spoke of team, character and effort and striving to do better. But now this? Ruston may be considered in the media backwaters to some degree but the press that covers LA TECH still won't allow this to disappear without a further explanation beyond a brief press release. Someone has some 'splainin' to do.

Tech releases three men's basketball players, including ex-West Monroe standout Lathan
Ethan Conley
The News Star
May 21, 2008

Louisiana Tech men's basketball coach Kerry Rupp has informed freshmen Dwayne Lathan, Orren Tims, and Brandon Mims that their scholarships would not be renewed for the 2008-09 season.

The three players committed to Tech when the program was under the direction of coach Keith Richard, who was dismissed after the 2006-07 season.

Lathan said there was no indication from Rupp before Friday that his scholarship was in jeopardy. He said Rupp gave no specific reasoning for the decision, other than a desire to move the program in a different direction.

"We all feel the same way," Lathan said. "We were kind of blindsided. We went through the whole season, with the tough year we had, and we sacrificed everything. It’s kinda hard to take."

Rupp, in a statement released several hours after this story was posted at thenewsstar.com, said: “There are many factors that affect a decision not to renew a scholarship. High expectations are placed on our student-athletes both on and off the court. This is always a tough decision for a coach, and we wish them the very best in the future.”

Hold on, there's more as another player was also dumped -- Drew Washington:

Louisiana Tech men's basketball releases four
Ethan Conley
The News Star
May 22, 2008

Dwayne Lathan walked into Louisiana Tech coach Kerry Rupp's office on Friday expecting to set up a summer workout schedule. He walked away without a scholarship.

After bringing each player in for an individual meeting, Rupp informed Lathan and fellow freshmen Orren Tims and Brandon Mims along with junior Drew Washington that their scholarships would not be renewed for the 2008-09 season.

Lathan, a West Monroe product, said there was no indication from Rupp before Friday that his scholarship was in jeopardy. He said Rupp gave no specific reasoning for the decision, other than a desire to move the program in a different direction...

..."When you're in a position where you're supposed to build character and instill values into these players, these guys were treated very unfairly," said Lathan's father, Dwayne Lathan Sr. "All (my son) has done is eat, drink and sleep basketball. Dwayne loves that school. He loved Tech so well. He was loyal to that program — as loyal as any player in the nation.

"He followed every rule, had no discipline problems. I'm just hoping no one else's son will have to go through what we're going through right now...

Go here for the remainder.

A little more on Greg Graham's contract status

As part of a column chock full of updates on Boise State athletics, this portion provided a little more information of Greg Graham's contract status.

We've been wondering about the pokiness of the announcement...hoping it won't become a replay of what recently took place up at Stanford:

BSU 'GETTING CLOSE' ON CONTRACT WITH GRAHAM
Chad Cripe & Brian Murphy
Idaho Statesman
5/21/08

The status of men's basketball coach Greg Graham's contract continues to linger. Graham and athletic director Gene Bleymaier said the sides are working on it and hope to have a resolution soon.

Graham, the WAC coach of the year in 2008 after guiding the Broncos to a share of the regular-season title and the tournament crown, is entering the final year of his five-year deal.

"I've been traveling and he's been traveling. We're making progress," Bleymaier said. "We haven't finalized anything yet. ... Everything's fine and when we have something to report we will."

A new contract would have to be approved by the State Board of Education.

Marvin Menzies on his recruiting class

Looking at the headline of the article below, has there ever been a coach who blasted his recruiting class during an interview? Whether Marvin Menzies (or any other coach for that matter) is satisfied or unhappy with his most recent batch of recruits, well c'mon, he isn't going to throw them under the proverbial bus...and rightfully so.

On paper, it certainly appears NMSU has corralled some intriguing prospects. What would have made this article much more informative is some analysis from someone qualfied to speak about Menzies' newest kids, their strengths and weaknesses, their potential and especially their eligibility beyond the mention about Terrance Joyner. But maybe that's coming down the road.

Menzies pleased with 2008 recruiting class
Jason Groves
Las Cruces Sun-News
5/21/2008

LAS CRUCES — As the college basketball regular signing period ends today, New Mexico State men's basketball coach Marvin Menzies believes the Aggies have taken steps forward to not only compete next season, but continue to build the program.

"I feel like we addressed the needs that I felt like we needed to shore up, getting some young, big kids in was necessary to grow the program," Menzies said. "If there was a junior college player, someone more seasoned that was available for another big or the point guard spot, I didn't find anybody that I thought would have fit here."

Menzies brought in Baltimore, Md., product Johnny Higgins (Notre Dame Prep) and 7-foot center Abdoulaye N'doye (AB-do-lie DOY) from Dakar, Senegal, during the regular period. In November, center Chris Gabriel signed early with the Aggies, joining guards Terrance Joyner and Faisal Aden, who verbally committed to the Aggies during the school year. With redshirts Troy Gillenwater, guard Robert Lumpkins and center Hamidu Rahman already on campus, the Aggies will be athletic but extremely young next season...

Go here for the remainder.

Nevada's wow schedule

It sure seems that a lot of coaches are always whining about the difficulty of filling out a schedule because the 'bigs' and even some of the mid-majors won't go on the road unless either special circumstances exist or a coach has an anybody, anywhere, anytime mentality.

Well, Mark Fox is still working his Wolf Pack schedule for next year but the pieces he already has in place are astounding. Give this coach a tip of the cap as Nevada fans are in for quite a treat.

Plus, thanks to Chris Murray for yet another blog entry.

Pack basketball schedule taking shape
Chris Murray
Reno Gazette-Journal
May 20, 2008

Finalizing the Wolf Pack's basketball schedule has taken somewhat of a Herculean effort the last two seasons. In both years, the schedule wasn't finished until early October, with the season beginning about a month later. Well, that doesn't figure to be the case this year. The majority of the team's schedule is already etched in stone, with only a few open slots remaining. Below are the team's scheduled games thus far.

Home games
UNLV
Southern Illinois
North Carolina
Oregon State
Pacific

Road games
Cal (on Dec. 20)
Colorado State
Montana State
San Diego

Site TBD
BracketBuster

Go here for the remainder.