D.J. Wright no longer at Mt. San Jacinto

Louisiana Tech signee D.J. Wright, who played at Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) last season but switched to Mt. San Jacinto College in southern California for academic purposes, has encountered a family emergency and left school.

"...Standout sophomore forward D.J. Wright has left the team to help care for his sick mother. Wright is most likely done for the year.

"With the severity of the family issues, we don't expect him to be coming back," Springer said.

Wright left the team after Mt. San Jacinto's 68-61 loss to Saddleback on Dec. 12..."

This obviously doesn't bode well for his move to D-1 since he would need to earn an A.A. degree in order to be eligible. Maybe the 6-foot-7 Wright will instead head to the pros if and when his mother's health allows.

Wright won most valuable player honors in the national tournament last year for SLCC as his team took the crown. He was averaging a Foothill Conference-leading 18.9 points per game this season prior to his departure.

Additional Tuesday WAC links

Jahmar Young receives some major love from the Mid Majority folks here.

+++++

With a top o' the hat to Sam Wasson at BleedCrimson.net, here's a feature on Hamidu Rahman.

+++++

Jeff Goodman gives a national salute to the 2009-2010 Louisiana Tech squad here.

Tuesday's early WAC links

PTW is up early because the gods and goddesses are playing a thunder and lightning set in the heavens, so...

Nevada walk-on Keith Fuetsch is nicely featured today by Chris Murray here . Chris has a ton of recruiting news in another post here, with one item of particular interest to northern Bulldog and southern Aggie fans. As he states, one prepster's recruiting is bringing to mind a kid in a candy store.

+++++

Shawn Harrison offers an interview with one of the USU boosters, a former player, here.

+++++

More later if we stumble across anything. Time for additional caffeine.

Jared Quayle WAC POW

Per Jason Erickson, WAC Media Relations Director:

Utah State’s Jared Quayle has been named the Verizon Wireless Western Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Jan. 11-17. The honor marks the second career WAC Player of the Week award for Quayle.

Quayle, a senior guard from Perry, Utah (Western Wyoming CC), led Utah State to a 3-0 record last week with home wins over Hawai‘i (98-54) and Boise State (81-59), and an overtime win at Nevada (79-72). In the overtime victory at Nevada, Quayle scored 21 points to go along with seven rebounds, five assists and one steal in 42 minutes. He was 8-of-15 from the field and 4-of-7 from three-point range. Quayle also had 11 points, five assists, two rebounds and two steals against Hawai‘i in just 22 minutes. He also tallied 10 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in just 28 minutes against Boise State.

On the week, Quayle averaged 14.0 points, 5.7 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. He shot 55.2 percent (16-of-29) from the field, 53.8 percent (7-of-13) from three-point range and was 3-of-3 from the free throw line.

Other nominees:

* Fresno State sophomore guard/forward Paul George
* Hawai‘i senior forward Brandon Adams
* Idaho senior guard Mac Hopson
* Louisiana Tech senior guard Kyle Gibson
* New Mexico State junior guard Jahmar Young

A Matt Simpkins update

It's probably not 'news' at this point but former prep wunderkind Matt Simpkins, whose basketball promise and personal issues have had him playing all around the country since his freshman year in high school, is no longer headed to Nevada.

The latest plan was for Matt Simpkins to get his academics in order at Diablo Valley College and then head up to Reno on a Nevada basketball scholarship.

Call this detour #45732.

That's because he was recently jailed Memphis (in December), Nevada has moved on (this may have happened even prior to the latest trouble -- we don't know) and another opportunity to display his skills and earn a college education has been squandered.

Go here.

It's never to late to grow up and turn matters around but the first step is quit deepening the hole you're digging/have dug. At this point, Simpkins needs to focus on and resurrect his life, period. Forget about basketball maybe altogether but certainly at least until some personal progress and stability have been established.

But enough moralizing. Let's move on.

Damon Powell no longer playing at Los Medanos College

One-time Fresno State recruit Damon Powell, whose 'hops' rival those of anyone, is no longer playing for Los Medanos College. the 6-foot-5 Powell needed to shore up his academics, hence his not being in Fresno. We will try and find out if he is still attending school or if that has ended also.

Monday WAC news and notes

Dayton Morinaga has the details here on Hawaii's last-second win over visiting San Jose State last night. Brian McInnis offers his game report here. Hey, here is our game report although the PTW fiscal controller -- otherwise known as she-who-must-be-obeyed (thank you Rumpole) -- precluded our being in actual attendance even though we devoutly countered with the vow to avert our eyes at the sight of any bikinis -- even on mannequins, and limit mai-tai consumption to strictly medicinal purposes.

+++++

Shawn Harrison reports here that Utah State's bench is developing nicely -- just what opposing WAC teams want to see.

+++++

Daniel Lyght says here that Fresno State has a new backup point and, at his size, he'll be more of a nightmare to opponents than usual.

+++++

We'll be back with the selection of the WAC Player of the Week as soon as it is announced.

Sunday game reports on Saturday night's WAC matchups

Due to gremlins -- no, not those AMC (but best selling) clunkers of yesteryear (or if you prefer, Ghosts In The Machine -- The Refaction has been MIA. But now it's back with a vengeance. Here's the Boise State edition. Plus, for those who missed it (including us), here's the Hawaii smackdown.

+++++

Sam Wasson has the game report on New Mexico State's takedown of Fresno State here. Plus, plenty of game photos can be accessed here.

Jason Groves writes that the Aggies tripled up on the Bulkldogs here. He blogs about Jonathan Gibson's season here.

Daniel Lyght offers his game report here as Steve Cleveland talks about this and the next two games versus USU and Nevada at home.

+++++

Jared Eborn offers his game report of the Aggie romp over Boise State here. Shawn Harrison provides his equalizer here. Tony Jones likewise here. Jones also features transfer Brian Green's season-to-date here and well as blogging some post-game rumination here.

Nick Jezierny made the trip south (a big tip o' the hat to Idaho Statesman management) and his game perspective is provided here.

+++++

Chris Murray is all over Nevada's win over Idaho here. He profiles Wolf Pack recruit Jordan Burris here, along with other assorted notes.

+++++

The headline on Dayton Morinaga's game preview here says it all. Brian McInnis complements with his preview of Hawaii versus San Jose State here.

The Curious Case of Roderick Flemings is examined here.

Saturday night WAC scores and mini-reports

The Good Ship Logan has apparently righted itself as the Aggies handily beat visiting Boise State 81-59.

Reserve Brian Green led USU with 14 points and Tai Wesley added 13, plus seven boards.

It was 42-25 at the half. The Broncos made a run in the second 20 minutes but it was repelled.

Stew Morrill's squad finished 30-57 from the floor. BSU shot 41% overall with the starters going a collective 16-41.

Robert Arnold topped the now 0-6 in-the-WAC Broncos with 12 points.

It sure is looking like Greg Graham's bunch is being out-skilled at this point, more a collection of solid if not standout talents but just not the overall level of the Bauscher/Sanchez/Nelson/Tiedemann squad. Plus, BSU is lacking a go-to star or two who can produce a steady 20 or plus points a night.

Luckily, four of the next five Boise games are at home but the opponents will be the tougher WAC brethren.

+++++

New Mexico State hosted Fresno State in a pairing of offensive collectives and the Aggies won 86-77. Jahmar Young totaled 26 points with Jonathan Gibson just behind at 25. Wendell McKines posted a double-double of 13 and 15 with Hernst Laroche adding a most impressive line of 10 assists versus zero turnovers.

It sounds like this match was a tale of two halves as FSU led 43-34 after the initial 20 minutes.

But a 52-34 Aggie second half, which included a 19-1 run, penned the Dogs. They did cut the point differential to just three with a minute remaining but couldn't get a defensive stop.

The Bulldogs Sylvester Seay scored 22 points. Paul George shot just 4-15 and posted six turnovers. FSU 28% from three-point range.

+++++

Nevada got past visiting Idaho 76-68. Luke Babbitt led the way with 19 points and Armon Johnson was just behind with 17. The former added nine boards, four assists and shot 7-10 overall with zero three-point attempts.

Ray Kraemer cooled off at 2-6 from long distance and also missed both his free throw attempts.

The good news: Idaho was perfect at the foul line. The bad news: the Vandals earned only five free throws (Nevada shot 31).

Mac Hopson scored 16 point, combined with five boards and four assists. Steffan Johnson contributed 13 on 5-10 shooting that included 3-6 from three-point land. Luiz Toledo totaled 12 points on 6-7 shooting.

Kyle Barone started in place of Marvin Jefferson but, in the endm he played 17 minuites to Jefferson's 19.

Nevada grabbed nine steals to just a pair for the Vandals and incurred but eight turnovers to Idaho's 16.

A couple more links

Sam Wasson and Travis Mason-Bushman offer their weekly WAC report at the Rush The Court site.

+++++

Here's Stew Morrill at the USU Big Blue luncheon. It's a just short of 38 minutes video.

+++++

Saturday WAC links for now

Is Fresno State a contender? We think so and a much truer test will take place tonight in Las Cruces as Shepp is back per Daniel Lyght. Do we call him the Shepp-ster or the Shepp-meister? We're leaning towards the former.

+++++

Who on Idaho will be matched up with Luke Babbitt and Armon Johnson as the Vandals are in Reno tonight? We're guessing it is Luiz Toledo and Mac Hopson respectively. The Hopson-Johnson battle should be fascinating. Coach Don Verlin's squad really needs a win and Nevada is upset for losing a lead and falling to visiting Utah State. Chris Murray has the details.

Again, Verlin and Hopson are video-interviewed here courtesy of Travis Mason-Bushman.

+++++

Boise State faces USU in Logan and Nick Jezierny writes about Anthony Thomas' expected welcome back and gives The Refraction some major love. Hey, we noticed that only Kraig Williams is mentioned as one of the two Refraction-ers. Matt, are you going to stand for that?

Shawn Harrison has a game report here as does Tony Jones here.

We're not sure if the Broncos can shoot well enough against the defense of the Aggies.

+++++

Two additional WAC basketball links

Jason Groves offers a feature on Hernst Laroche and some other Aggies notes here.

+++++

Chris Murray has a long feature on the twining of Armon Johnson's and Luke Babbitt's lives here. He also has a number of Nevada basketball notes here.

+++++

This morning's WAC links and notes

Daniel Lyght has the game report on the northern Bulldogs loss to their southern counterparts. Fret not you San Joaquin-ers, Steven Shepp will be back in the lineup for the next FSU game.

+++++

Here is an Idaho Statesman staff report on San Jose State's win over Boise State. San Jose State athletics offers this lengthy game review.

Craig Hislop in the Herald-Journal features a look at Boise State present and past.

+++++

Tony Jones dined with ESPN basketball analyst Adrian Branch after the Utah State - Nevada game and captured some very interesting quotes. It's a great read.

+++++

It was in the world of unquantifiables but we never bought it for a minute that Jeronne Maymon was ever seriously interested in coming to Reno as Chris Murray has the Marquette transfer's actual destination.

+++++

Jason Groves has a feature up on the state of the Aggies, who have won seven of eight including a number of tught ones. With tongue very firmly in cheek, we can only guess that Coach Menzies has been scouring message boards for the tips and ideas that have aided New Mexico State's progress.

+++++

With a top o' the fedora to Vandal Nation's Travis Mason-Bushman, here is a Jake Alger feature dissecting Idaho's 'needs improvement' areas.

'Stoppers' key in WAC this year
Jake Alger
Idaho Press
January 14, 2010

Something is missing.

If you follow the University of Idaho men's basketball team, you probably share this sentiment. But it's difficult to pinpoint the problem. That is, difficult until the game is on the line.

The Vandals aren't getting blown out; they've lost their last three games by a total of 12 points to good Western Athletic Conference squads — albeit two of those contests were at home in Moscow. They're missing a lot of free throws and turning the ball over quite a bit, but they're also out-rebounding opponents and holding them to just under 43 percent shooting from the field. Heck, they even have a winning record at 8-7 overall.

But regardless of what Idaho is doing right, 1-3 in the WAC is wrong. More specifically, not establishing one, two or even three guys as go-to "stoppers" is hurting the Vandals when the outcome is in doubt...

Go here for the remainder.

+++++

Speaking of Travis Mason-Bushman, he has an Idaho - Nevada game preview up featuring video interviews with Coach Don Verlin and point Mac Hopson. Go here to access it.

+++++

San Jose State over Boise State 76-74

One concern emanating out of Boise State this week was a so-called lack of a go-to guy at the end of games. Fittingly, that meme reared its head tonight, both positively and negatively for the Broncos in a 76-74 loss.

With 2:43 remaining, Adrian Oliver made a pair of free throws (note a theme beginning here) to make it 71-66 in San Jose State's favor.

At the 2:10 mark, BSU's La'Shard Anderson buried a trey. After an exchange of possessions, Daequon Montreal scored on a putback to tie the game.

AO was fouled again and repeated his earlier success, making both free throws to push the Spartans back up 73-71.

Anderson came down and buried another trey to put the Broncos ahead 74-73 with 59 second left.

At the 34 second mark, Oliver was fouled yet again and duplicated his previous attempts, burying both free throws to nudge San Jose State back up 75-74.

After a BSU timeout, Anderson missed a three-point attempt and Mac Peterson was fouled after gathering in the rebound.

Peterson missed his initial free throw and made the second, leaving the score 76-74.

Boise State came down, missed on a shot and then a rebound putback but Anthony Thomas boarded and scored down low. However, he released his shot after the clock ran out.

SJSU's Oliver scored 37 in the last matchup with Boise State -- tonight he poured in 33.

The Spartans shot 48% as a team to BSU's 40%. SJSU went 17-21 at the foul line and this is where Coach Greg Graham's team stumbled, going 7-16. Boise State did enjoy a 49-29 rebounding advantage, with 26 offensive boards.

At the half it was even at 40 apiece. Oliver had 19 at that point and Justin Graham 11. The latter scored four baskets early on with dribble-drives to the hoop. After 20 minutes, there were already 13 ties and 11 lead changes between the teams.

We loved this initial half quote, coming from the Boise State announcers: "nobody is stopping anybody tonight."

It was soon followed with "who puts up two defensive stops and comes down and scores, wins it."

But that changed -- to a degree -- when the teams returned to the court.

San Jose State's C.J. Webster missed the game after being poked in the eye against Fresno State in the previous contest.

LA TECH bests Fresno State

Louisiana Tech got out to a big lead, Fresno State closed but the point differential proved to be too much as the southern Bulldogs won 81-73.

At the 14:45 mark of the second half, host LT lead 53-33.

With 5:30 remaining, it was reduced by 10 to 67-57.

The lead got cut to six -- 72-66 -- with 3:11 showing.

But two minutes later, it went in the other direction -- 77-68

FSU point Steve Shepp didn't travel/play tonight, apparently because he needed to attend an accelerated winter break course.

Kyle Gibson was definitely in 'eharmony' mode with the basket at 32 points scored. He shot 9-15 overall, 7-12 on three-point attempts and 7-7 from the foul line. Magnum Rolle contributed a double-double of 16 points and 13 boards. Jamel Guyton was off with his two-point attempts but still made 4-9 treys.

Tech out-rebounded Fresno State 35-24.

Only Greg Smith at 6-10 shot well for Steve Cleveland's squad. Sylvester Seay scored 19 on 6-16 shooting and Paul George 18 on the same shooting numbers. As a team, FSU shot 41% to Louisiana Tech's 46%.