Monday's WAC basketball roundup

There are no Monday games scheduled but Tuesday offers a handful (minus the thumb) of quirky pairings:

* Utah State plays host to Montana Tech (which is arriving at exactly the wrong time in MT's interest).

* Hawaii welcomes New Orleans.

* Nevada has Cal State Bakersfield in town as the Roadrunners continue playing what seems like every WAC member

* New Mexico State brings in Northern New Mexico.

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This prepster has been 'connected' to Utah State as well: "2013 Tesoro (CA) PF Tanner Lancona has received his first offer from U.C. Davis" -- Alex Kline/The Recruit Scoop 

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Utah State Assistant Chris Clark is in the running but PTW thought more WAC assistants might be giving it a go -- the candidates for the opening at idaho State.

There is still the head coach spot at Northern Arizona. 

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Mark Rauh offers game photos from the Nevada - San Jose State University matchup.

Will it be unanimous?

PTW says make it unanimous here and now -- Hernst Laroche gets WAC Player of the Week.

Missed this one

Gaylen Wood offers a game report -- one loaded with coach and player quotes -- on Idaho's win over Louisiana Tech.

Sunday's report on last night's contests

Nevada trekked down to San Jose State and opened an eight-point lead at the half, 35-27. The point differential got closer but the horn eventually sounded with the Wolf Pack leading 76-70. Olek Czyz posted a 27/10 double-double and Malik Story added 23 points, shooting 6-11 from long distance. Deonte Burton had an uncharacteristically quiet night, attempting but seven shots although he finished with eight assists versus zero TOs. James Kinney was on tonight for the Spartans, concluding with 26 points, five boards and four assists while Keith Shamburger produced 17 markers plus six assists.

Chris Murray was on press row, also posted a 'notes' column and  tweeted the pairing.

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Idaho welcomed Louisiana Tech and led 33-26 after the initial 20 minutes.The Vandals finished ahead 73-64 powered by 15 points apiece from Kyle Barone, Deremy Geiger and Landon Tatum. Barone also snatched 15 rebounds to earn a double-double. Don Verlin's bunch won the rebounding battle 33-23 and shot 54% overall. Cordarius Johnson led LT in both categories with 21 points and seven boards. Raheem Appleby shot 0-8 on the night.

Josh Wright game reports. Vandal Nation tweeted the matchup.

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Hawaii bid aloha to Fresno State and the two then battled fairly evenly all night with the Rainbow Warriors finally coming out on top 62-58. Vander Joaquim totaled 23 points and 12 rebounds against the smaller Bulldogs while Zane Johnson went for four points in 39 minutes of action. UH shot 51% on the night. Jerry Brown led FSU with 17 points. Kevin Olekaibe took just six shots in scoring eight points. Coach Rodney Terry's team shot 39% overall.  

Wes Nakama filed a game report. Brian McInnis was twitterin'. Robert Kueada also checks in.

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Sam Wasson has a report on the New Mexico State victory in Logan.

The matchup in Logan

New Mexico State stayed tough throughout and took down Utah State 80-69 in Logan. The southern Aggies won both 20 minutes after leading 38-33 at the half.

Jason Groves, Matt Sonnenberg, Shawn Harrison, Tony Jones and Kraig Williams serve up reports.

Craig J. Roberts has posted 42 photos.

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PTW caught the second half so here's our three dot lounge observations:

Zero northern Aggie free throws in the first half? That's not USU basketball ... Brockeith Pane wasn't present and accounted for near the end but we loved two of his second-half dribble-drive passes that led to layups ... Daniel Mullings is an offensive wing -- not a two, at least at this point ... Imagine Kyisean Reed in an uptempo system -- but also remember that playing in the Utah State offense is broadening his overall game, enhancing the so-called intangible part of a skills set ... PTW hasn't a clue as to how to teach balance but Hamidu Rahman could really benefit from honing his ... everyone in the building knows New Mexico State is going inside via passes or dribble-drives like 60% of the time but knowing it and defending it are quite different matters ... the southern Aggies played simply smarter and harder down the stretch ... last but certainly not least, Hernst Laroche could have stayed on the floor during the sequence where he fell while defending Preston Medlin near the conclusion but he rolled, bounded up, blocked the shot and then went the other way with the ball -- a most remarkable sequence

Fresno State looking at a CT point

Alex Kline/The Recruit Scoop tweeted:

"2012 Marianapolis Prep (CT) PG Nigel Sydnor had 23 pts & 6 assts. He lists Vermont, Hartford, Texas St. Stony Brook, Fresno St & NJIT"

Here's some 'old' video. 

Here's a much more recent, albeit brief one.

A description from 2010:

"Nigel is an athletic guard who has one of the toughest work ethics our staff has ever seen. Since starting his conversion from power forward (8th/9th grade) to point guard in his sophomore year, Nigel?s game has progressed significantly each season. The key is the time and effort he commits to his mental and skill development in the off-season. Nigel is a quintessential fast break point guard. He is incredibly fast with the ball in his hands and willing to release the ball early to teammates sprinting ahead of him. He is adept at getting to the basket in transition and half court and finishing at the rim. Nigel possesses a quality mid-range pull-up jump shot and is becoming a better 3-point shooter each season. Regardless of his individual stats, every team Nigel plays on seems to find a way to win. Despite his many physical gifts, his intangibles are what set him apart. Nigel is a gifted leader with maturity and insight of a person 5 years older than himself. Because of his ability to connect with his peers and earn their respect, he has completely set the tone for our program in the off-season. This is a player whose best is yet to be uncovered and the way he works, there is no telling how good he can be in the next few years."

Previews of Saturday's games

It's lace 'em up time again today and tonight ...

In the afternoon and on ESPN2, it an Aggie showdown in Logan between Utah State and New Mexico State. It's a game both teams really need to grab.

Jason Groves takes a pair of looks here and here plus Kraig Williams and Shawn Harrison pre-game report. Tony Jones offers a solid look at the Family Medlin.

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San Jose State hosts league-leading Nevada.

Chris Murray is here and here with pre-game looks. 

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On-a-roll Idaho (three in a row including Nevada and New Mexico State) sez come-on-up to Louisiana Tech. The Vandals trio of wins have come by a total of six points so someone(s) is playing clutch at the end which is what a coach loves to see in close ones.

Josh Wright digs into the matchuip.

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Host Hawaii is going to hula with Fresno State.

Trevor Wiseman is back. Jeff Portnoy checks in. Robert Kuwada and Dayton Morinaga looks at the keys.

Utah State hoops backwards and forwards

Matt Sonnenberg serves up a gumbo of numbers, facts and opinions all involving past, present and future USU basketball. Do check it out.

Joe Santoro with a different take

Was there a silver lining in Nevada's loss to Idaho? Joe Santoro explores this theme.

Friday's WAC roundup

The Good Ship Aggie righted itself with a Thursday night 77-63 victory over Louisiana Tech. Preston Medlin totaled 22 points, followed by Kyisean Reed's 20, plus Brockeith Pane contributed six assists versus nary a turnover. Raheem Appleby and Brandon Gibson each scored 15 points for the Bulldogs but LT shot 40% overall to 56% for USU as almost half the shots attempted by the Ruston-ites were three-pointers.

Tony Jones and Kraig Williams tweeted.

Craig J. Peterson has 43 game photos posted for you.

Kraig Williams, Tony Jones and Shawn Harrison offer game reports. Plus, Matt Sonnenberg reflects.

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It took two overtimes with Fresno State ready to ask for volunteers as two semi-bigs fouled out (Jerry Brown and Kevin Foster) but host San Jose State got off the WAC schneid and triumphed 79-71. Wil Carter was unstoppable all night, scoring 23 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Kevin Olekaibe led the Bulldogs with 21 points but needed 20 shots to do so and didn't get many good looks. FSU shot just 35% while SJSU ended the game at 48%.

Robert Kuwada was in San Jose and serves up his take.

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The Nevada - Hawaii pairing was expected to be a good, close one and the Rainbow Warriors led by three, 39-36, at the half. But the Wolf Pack came on, owning the boards, for an 88-79 win.

Chris Murray was a-twitterin' as was Brian McInnis.

Dayton Morinaga has a multi-media game report and Chris Murray checks in.

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Idaho welcomed New Mexico State and it was 31-up after 20 minutes. The Vandals topped the Aggies by one in the second half, winning 59-58 on Djim Bandoumel's basket with five seconds showing on the clock.

Josh Wright was operating his Tweet-mobile and must have been tag-teaming with Sam Wasson.

Kyle Barone posted an impressive, well-rounded line of 16 points, right rebounds, four assists and a pair of blocks. Wendell McKines and Hamidu Rahman each scored 12 for the Aggies, who allowed Idaho to shoot 50%.

Josh Wright was present and accounted for and Vandal Nation provides a post-game video interview.

Fresno State on Marvell Wynne

Credit Scott Sommer for this item:

"Marvell Harris, 6’3, Eisenhower (2012) – the unsigned senior had 25 points by hitting from outside and getting to the line. Harris is hearing from Fresno St., Wyoming, UC Davis and UC Riverside. Fresno St., who has offered, is his leader. He would like to make a decision as soon as possible"

Tyler Newbold surfaces

USUNLV has the latest on where former Aggie Tyler Newbold is hoopin'.

The most interesting man in college basketball

Myron Medcalf has located the most interesting man in college basketball (we're not going to be fenced in by conference) and, lo and behold, he play in Las Cruces.

Didn't know he has a Flo-crush.

h/t to ABQAggie49 for posting this and do hit the link

Thursday's slate of games and more

Hawaii and Nevada tangle tonight in Honolulu.

Chris Murray has posted his four keys and also has a prediction for the matchup. Dayton Morinaga goes long and multi-media with his look. Dayton also writes about a blackout and he's not referring to any television showing. Joe Santoro has posted an interesting column touching a number of Wolf Pack basketball subjects. Chris has another post about Nevada getting into the zone.

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Idaho welcomes New Mexico State.

Wendell Faines and Djim Bandoumel talk about the game in a Vandal Nation video. Jason Groves write about stylin'.

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Louisiana Tech will be exposed to The Spectrum Experience but will the students keep up the attendance and therefore the effect for Utah State?

Tony Jones, Shawn Harrison and Kraig Williams each preview.

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Fresno State is short-tripping it to San Jose State.

Angel Moreno/The Collegian looks at the Bulldogs and Robert Kuwada drills down to what is different of late about FSU.

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Jason Groves writes about a mini-McK on the Aggie roster.

Jeff Portnoy is back with a new UH hoops column.

Remember Boise State?

Hey, they're coming back in another year if what is in place stays, which is never a given nowadays. Them being Boise State basketball, currently standing 0-7 in Mountain West Conference play.

No, this isn't to bash the breakaway Broncos (who else in the WC would NOT have taken the action they did?) but to indicate what a step (or two or three) up Mountain West Conference basketball is over the WAC. -- or at least as both are currently constituted.

But such a record happens, especially when your last four opponents are UNLV, Wyoming, San Diego State and New Mexico. Plus, be sure to add in that Leon Rice's troops are generally a mix of newcomers and freshmen.

So those still desiring to switch conferences have to be careful with what they are seeking. The dollars might be greener but not necessarily the grass. Other than Nevada (which along with Fresno State is headed MWC way next season), seemingly every other WAC team would be experiencing a below .500 league record this go-around if each had MWC membership.