Robert Kuwada has posted his weekly Talkin' WAC column. There are chicken nuggets and then then are numbers nuggets -- Robert serves up the nutritious latter, add your own condiments.
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Jason Groves offers reactions from Coach Marvin Menzies and three of the Aggies to the All-WAC selections. Jason also looks back and thus forward in what worked for New Mexico State this season.
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Vandal Nation serves up a close-to-14-minute video featuring Coach Don Verlin and players Deremy Geiger and Landon Tatum talking about the tournament.
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Not the news Hawaii needed -- Zane Johnson is ill, per Dayton Morinaga.
Absolutely love the last paragraph from this Brian McInnis blog entry.
Jeff Portnoy writes about Hawaii and the WAC tourney.
DeBeast films is back.
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Chris Murray is burnin' up the bandwidth:
* why Nevada will win the tourney
* why Nevada won't win the tourney
* the odds for each tourney team
* capsules on each tourney team
* the Pack is feeling good where they are at right now
Joe Santoro checks in with some of the Nevada players on Thursday's opponent, San Jose State.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Tuesday's buffet of WAC basketball links
Monday, March 5, 2012
Wendell McKines WAC POW
From Jason Erickson, WAC Director of media Relations:
New Mexico State’s Wendell McKines has been named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Feb. 27-March 4. The honor marks the first career WAC Player of the Week for McKines.
McKines, a senior forward from Oakland, Calif. (Richmond HS), led the Aggies to a 1-1 road record last week. McKines pulled down a career-high 18 rebounds and scored 20 points in a come-from-behind win at Fresno State in overtime on Saturday. The performance marked his 16th 20-point game of the season. He tied personal-best marks with four made 3-pointers, including three in the overtime period, and eight 3-point attempts. He also recorded his 18th double-double of the season and 45th of his career in the victory at Fresno State. At Nevada on Thursday night, McKines had a team-high 10 points and 13 rebounds.
On the week, McKines averaged 19.5 points, 15.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. He hit 8-of-16 three-point field goals on the week.
Hawaii checking out McLaughlin
Clint Parks recently tweeted this: "Gib Arnold from Hawaii and Jim Shaw assistant from Washington are here in Kennewick to see Mark McLaughlin"
Bob Condotta has a feature on McLaughlin, addressing his many moves.
A question for you
Viewing the full and noisy stands in the Orleans Arena for the West Coast Conference semi-finals, it got PTW wondering why the attendance for the WAC tourney pales in comparison?
As for what was witnessed over the last few days (and what will be seen tonight), is it because Gonzaga brings a large number of fans and possibly St. Mary's too? Having BYU around this time also had to help.
It doesn't seem likely that Loyola Marymount, Pepperdine, Portland, San Diego, USF and Santa Clara lured all that many behinds in the seats (is PTW off base with any of the listings here?).
Having some of those schools also not being all that geographically far away from Sin City probably aided the numbers but again, the majority of the closer schools aren't draws.
So who are the WAC schools bringing in sizeable numbers to the tourney? Does Utah State lead? Will a goodly contingent of Reno-ites be heading south for Thursday? How about any exodus from Las Cruces? The rest of the WAC members either have either virtually no chance of winning or are fairly distant from LV and don't seem to travel well fan-wise.
Having the game setup adopted this year will help -- last season's format seemed a disaster for attendance -- but will the Orleans be jammed for any WAC tourney contest?
Monday's WAC hoops digest
Matt Sonnenberg comments on the various All-WAC choices while Shawn Harrison talked with PMed.
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iamloyaltonewmexicostate has posted at the Sports Trough MB (AggieAlert site) about NMSU offering Givon Crump, a wing from Pasadena (CA) City College.
Coincidentally, PTW did a story on Crump in late January.
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Mark Rauh shares photos from Senior Night at the Nevada - Louisiana Tech Saturday contest.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
PTW's WAC honors
For better or for worse, here are our selections for Western Athletic Conference honors:
Player of the Year
* Deonte Burton, Nevada,
His numbers: 17.3 points and 4.1 assists and 1.2 steals a game, 75% on free throws, 39% on treys
Why:
* Nevada winning league
* his numbers
* his making Dario Hunt and Olek Czyz more effective offensively
* his being the team leader and yet just a sophomore
With profuse apologies to Big Wen.
Coach of the Year
* David Carter, Nevada
Why:
He has obviously done well, buttressed with a load of talent in the starting five, but also give him credit because there really hasn't been all that much help off the bench in Reno this season. Carter really has but one creator offensively. Plus, the Pack is #1 in field goal percentage defense in the WAC.
*** But Louisiana Tech's Mike White deserves public notice for what he and his Bulldogs accomplished this season -- both a record and a competitiveness nobody predicted.
Solid cases can also be made for Marvin Menzies and Don Verlin.
All WAC First Team
* Wendell McKines, New Mexico State
Why: a double-double average of 18.6 points and 10.9 rebounds a game 46% shooting, 78% free throw
* Vander Joaquim, Hawai
Why: 15.4 points and 9.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots a game while shooting 63%
* Kevin Olekaibe, Fresno State
Why: 16.3 points per game, most minutes played (39.7 a game), with a neon target on his back every second, the Bulldogs go empty in league play with Olekaibe
* Preston Medlin, Utah State
Why: 18.5 points and 2.6 assists a game, 52% shooting, 46% on treys, most treys made (42), 84% free throw
* Olek Czyz, Nevada
Why: 14.9 points and 7.3 rebounds a game, 57% shooting
All WAC Second Team
* Hernst Laroche, NMSU
Why: 12.6 points and 4.0 assists and 2.2 steals a game, 41% on treys, running the show alongside a now departed player and then a freshman
* Dario Hunt, Nevada
Why: 10.1 rebounds and a league-leading 2.8 blocks a game, 52% shooting
* Wil Carter, SJSU
Why: a double-double average of 15.8 points and 10.3 rebounds a game, 54% shooting, 79% free throw
* Joston Thomas, Hawaii
Why: 16.9 points and 6.0 rebounds a game, 51% shooting
* Malik Story, Nevada
Why: 14.6 points a game, 41% on treys
Other Candidates
Sorry to:
* Kyle Barone, Idaho
* Hamidu Rahman, New Mexico State
* Zane Johnson, Hawaii
* Brockeith Pane, Utah State
* Deremy Geiger, Idaho
Freshman of the Year
between
* Daniel Mullings, NMSU
Why: 10.4 points. 52% shooting, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 25 steals, 52% shooting
* Raheem Appleby, Louisiana Tech
Why: 15.1 points per game, 44% overall shooting, 20 steals
Heck, a case can be made for either one so it's co-winners.
The official WAC basketball honorees
Player of the Year: Deonte Burton, So., G, Nevada
Freshman of the Year: Raheem Appleby, G, Louisiana Tech
Don Haskins Coach of the Year: David Carter, Nevada
All-Conference First Team
* Vander Joaquim, Hawai‘i, C, 6-10, Jr.
* Deonte Burton, Nevada, G, 6-1, So.
* Olek Czyz, Nevada, F, 6-7, Sr.
* Wendell McKines, New Mexico State, F, 6-6, Sr.
* Preston Medlin, Utah State, G, 6-4, So.
All-Conference Second Team
* Kevin Olekaibe, Fresno State, G, 6-2, So.
* Kyle Barone, Idaho, C, 6-10, Jr.
* Raheem Appleby, Louisiana Tech, G, 6-2, Fr.
* Dario Hunt, Nevada, F, 6-8, Sr.
* Hernst Laroche, New Mexico State, G, 6-1, Sr.
Honorable Mention
* Zane Johnson, Hawai‘i, G, 6-6, Sr.
* Deremy Geiger, Idaho, G, 5-11, Sr.
* Trevor Gaskins, Louisiana Tech, G, 6-2, Sr.
* Malik Story, Nevada, G, 6-5, Jr.
* Hamidu Rahman, New Mexico State, C, 6-11, Sr.
* Brockeith Pane, Utah State, G, 6-1, Sr.
All-Defensive Team
* Vander Joaquim, Hawai‘i, C, 6-10, Jr.
* Landon Tatum, Idaho, G, 5-11, Sr.
* Trevor Gaskins, Louisiana Tech, G, 6-2, Sr.
* Jerry Evans Jr, Nevada, G, 6-8, So.
* Dario Hunt, Nevada, F, 6-8, Sr.
All-Newcomer Team
* Djim Bandoumel, Idaho, F, 6-7, Sr.
* Raheem Appleby, Louisiana Tech, G, 6-2, Fr.
* Daniel Mullings, New Mexico State, G, 6-2, Fr.
* James Kinney, San Jose State, G, 6-2, Jr.
* Kyisean Reed, Utah State, F, 6-6, Jr.
For the record, here are some takes from the beat reporters:
Tony Jones
Chris Murray
Jason Groves
The WAC tourney particulars
Orleans Arena - Las Vegas, Nevada
March 8 (Thursday)
Game 1 - Quarterfinals
* #3 Idaho vs. #6 Hawai‘i, 12:00 p.m. PT
Game 2 - Quarterfinals
* #2 New Mexico State vs. #7 Fresno State, 2:30 p.m. PT
Game 3 - Quarterfinals
* #1 Nevada vs. #8 San Jose State, 6:00 p.m. PT
Game 4 - Quarterfinals
* #4 Utah State vs. #5 Louisiana Tech, 8:30 p.m. PT
March 9 (Friday)
Game 5 - Semifinals
* Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 6:00 p.m. PT (WSN)
Game 6 - Semifinals
* Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 8:30 p.m. PT (WSN)
March 10 (Saturday)
Game 7 - Championship
* Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 9:00 p.m. PT (ESPN2)
Sunday's report on last night's WAC matchups
Louisiana Tech led 29-27 at the half over Nevada but the Wolf Pack came back and eventually won at home 79-69. Deonte Burton led David Carter's squad with 20 points plus seven assists and five rebounds while Dario Hunt posted a 16/14 double-double. Bulldog Romario Souza tallied 16 for LT. There was a 42-20 rebounding differential in favor of Nevada.
Chris Murray was a-tweeting.
Chris also posted this game report and Chris also offers up a 'notes' column.
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Fresno State enjoyed a 15-point halftime lead over visiting New Mexico State -- 41 to 25 -- after the initial 20 minutes. Then, the Aggies were 15 better in the second half, followed by a 16-11 overtime period that went the way of Marvin Menzies' guys. Wendell McKines scored 20 points on a bizarre shooting night (4-8 on treys, 6-18 overall) plus grabbed 18 boards for the victors. Bandja Sy went for 22. Kevin Olekaibe led the Bulldogs with 23 points and Kevin Foster posted 20. NMSU nailed down a second-place WAC finish.
Jason Groves tweeted the pairing.
Robert Kuwada was on press row.
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Utah State jumped out to an early 15-7 lead, then UH closed it to 19-16 with a bit more than 10 minutes remaining in the first period. The closeness then continued throughout until USU big Morgan Grim hit the game winner and Hawaii then turned it over on a no-call play. Brockeith Pane finished with 20 points, closely followed by Preston Medlin's 19.
Shawn Harrison and Matt Sonnenberg check in from the Logan perspective while Dayton Morinaga goes ditto, with print, photos and video, from the islands.
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Back from the islands, Idaho hooked up with host San Jose State and grabbed a 70-64 triumph. Deremy Geiger struggled at the foul line (5-10) but still led the Vandals with 16 points. Wil Carter earned another double-double with 12 points and an equal number of rebounds while James Kinney topped the Spartans with 19. The visitors shot 54% to 40% for SJSU. UI earned the third spot in the regular seasons team rankings.
Josh Wright took to Twitter.
Josh also posted a game review.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Utah State & and a JC point
Adam Zagoria profiles Trivante Bloodman, a 6-foot-0 point at Olney College (Illinois) who has an offer from Utah State, among others. The young man has three years of eligibility remaining.
Here's an article when Bloodman signed with Olney.
The WAC regular season end cometh
* Nevada welcomes Louisiana Tech -- will the Wolf Pack be overlooking this one?
Chris Murray checks in with his quartet of keys to the contest and a prediction. Chris also profiles departing senior Olek Czyz. Making it three times a charm, Chris writes about Coach David Carter and the winning of the WAC.
Brandon Russell has posted photos from the win over New Mexico State.
A question: how can Dario Hunt be at 48% from the foul line this season after he made the jump to 69% in 2010-11? Yes, he finished at 47% as a sophomore so what changed during his junior year and why the regression now?
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* Fresno State hosts New Mexico State in a sort of David versus Goliath contest.
Robert Kuwada and Jason Groves game preview, with Jason also looking at Thursday night's loss to Nevada.
Hey, when is a Sherwin-Williams, a Benjamin Moore or even a Glidden going to affiliate with NMSU, a program that thrives in the paint? G-r-o-a-n.
Wanna see some southern Aggie flushes?
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* Idaho is in San Jose -- will that big win in the islands have the Vandals coasting a bit?
Theo Lawson takes a pre-game gander.
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* Hawaii and Utah State tangle in Honolulu -- it's not the only present concern but can UH get back to defending like earlier in the season?
Tony Jones, Kraig Williams each check out the matchup from the Aggie perspective while Jeff Portnoy and Dayton Morinaga take the Rainbow Warrior point of view.
Tony also supplies his pics for the various All-WAC honors.
Friday, March 2, 2012
SJSU connected to a SoCal big
It's a 6-foot-7 prepster with one great name -- Daddy Ugbede.
Adam Zagoria offers the details.
Friday's report on last night's WAC games
Well, it wasn't pretty but Nevada will take it because with the victory comes a WAC regular season championship. Congrats to the guys from Reno.
It was a game that brought to mind a "I went to a basketball game and a rugby scrum broke out" sense as the Wolf Pack eventually downed New Mexico State 65-61. Olek Czyz, Malik Story and Dario Hunt scored 15, 14 and 10 points respectively plus Hunt blocked six shots while the Aggies were paced by Wendell McKines' 19/13 double-double.
Chris Murray was a'twitterin' and the same for Jason Groves.
Joe Santoro, Chris Murray, Dan Hinxman, Sam Wasson and Jason Groves cover the action.
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Idaho led host Hawaii 45-27 after 20 minutes. UH pulled within nine early in the second half but that was as close as the Rainbow Warriors came in falling 82-63. Deremy Geiger paced the Vandals with 20 points and teammate Stephen Madison scored 17. Zane Johnson was back on track, shooting 4-8 from three-point range while totaling 18 points. It was another poor defensive night for the islanders as Idaho shot 51% overall to 35% for Gib Arnold's crew and Don Verlin's bunch also won the battle of the boards 43-26.
Brian McInnis tweeted the matchup as did Josh Wright.
Wes Nakama offers multi-media coverage and Wright serves up his take.
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Louisiana Tech came to the San Joaquin and departed with a 75-70 victory over Fresno State. A quartet of southern Bulldogs -- Trevor Gaskins, Raheem Appleby, Romario Souza and Brandon Gibson -- at 16, 15, 12 and 12 points respectively. Gibson also nabbed 11 boards for a double-double. Jonathan Wills led the northern Bulldogs with both 16 points and eight rebounds. LT shot 52% overall to FSU's 41%.
Robert Kuwada was on press row.
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It was too much Medlin as the Utah State sophomore continued his hot streak with 26 points (9-13 overall shooting, 5-8 on treys) in pacing USU to a 71-61 triumph over host San Jose State. Brockeith Pane contributed 14 points and six assists versus just one turnover while little-used Mitch Bruneel hit four of five long distance shots to total 12 points. Guard James Kinney was the top Spartan scorer with 24 points and forward Wil Carter earned yet another double-double with 19 points and 13 boards. The Aggies shot 55% as a team to SJSU's 39%.
Shawn Harrison game reports (from San Jose so offer a shout out to Herald-Journal management) and Matt Sonnenberg game reviews.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Thursday WAC hoops roundup (game previews)
Chris Murray is out with his four keys to the Nevada - New Mexico State pairing plus a prediction. Chris also offers a second feature plus, peering into the future, Chris looks at who can fill the shoes of the departing Dario Hunt and Olek Czyz.
Joe Santoro provides a lengthy Wolf Pack 'notes' column.
Teddy Feinberg posted a piece on the Aggies peaking at the right time.
Do check out ESPN2 at 8 o'clock.
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Utah State is roadin' it at San Jose State -- can the Medlin-production seep into that of the other Aggies? Kraig Williams, Shawn Harrison and Tony Jones game preview, plus Tony and Matt Sonnenberg (especially so) zero in on the sophomore from Texas.
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Josh Wright checks in with a long piece all about Vandal basketball, including tonight's matchup with Hawaii.
Dayton Morinaga looks at the pairing from the UH point of view.
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Robert Kuwada previews the Fresno State - Louisiana Tech contest.
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