LA TECH issues a roster update

Louisiana Tech has released an official count of the additions to the basketball squad and four of the names are new to us:

Rupp Adds Nine for Upcoming Season
Bulldog basketball adds nine for the 2010-11 season
Louisiana Tech Athletics
August 31, 2010

Louisiana Tech head coach Kerry Rupp and his staff have signed eight newcomers to national letters of intent and added one walk-on for the 2010-11 men's basketball season.

Having lost five letterwinners from last season's 24-11 team, including second round NBA draft pick Magnum Rolle and Kyle Gibson who ranks sixth on the all-time scoring list, Rupp and Co. had a lot of work to do this summer.

"We are very excited about our recruiting class," Rupp said. "This will give us high caliber players as well as outstanding young men to work with and who will fit into our program and system extremely well. I want to praise my entire staff on the excellent job of working together to bring in this outstanding group of student-athletes."

Of the nine new Bulldogs, four are college transfers and five are incoming freshmen with two from the state of Louisiana...

Go here for the remainder.

BYU goes with the West Coast Conference

BYU's move wasn't a surprise.

PTW fully expects Karl Benson to don his favorite sweater and begin belting out:

"It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood,
A beautiful day for a neighbor,
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?

It's a neighborly day in this beautywood,
A neighborly day for a beauty,
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?

I have always wanted to have a neighbor just like you,
I've always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you..."

 If he receives any affirmative responses, the next tune will be:

"You are my friend
You are special
You are my friend
You're special to me.
You are the only one like you.
Like you, my friend, I like you..."

Jared Eborn gone from The Deseret News

Joining Dayton Morinaga/Honolulu Advertiser, Jared Eborn has been let go from the Deseret News in an evisceration of that newspaper staff (totaling 43% of the work force).

From his now sole Twitter account:

It's been real it's been fun but I'm out.     about 6 hours ago  via txt

But he offers some great advice:

Life strategy for aspiring journalists tip No. 1: Marry well     about 4 hours ago  via web

All that we can add to that is marry up, too. It's working for PTW.

As for consolation, we expect to see Jared clad in "Mellow Johnny" at some point (maybe the end?) of the next Tour De France.

Ride, captain ride upon your mystery ship.

Do you or don't you?

There are the proverbial two schools of thought here: do or don't call a timeout, either as the team ahead or the one behind, on the last possession of a game when there is a two or less point differential separating the teams?

Rush The Court found some analysis of this situation -- go here -- and either agree or disagree.

The WAC basketball world on Tuesday

We might have posted this before but just in case: Midnight_Ploughboy at the Scenic West Conference message board on the Juco Junction site has posted that former Boise State (Greg Graham) recruit Mason Sawyer is at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah . He's a point out of the Utah high school ranks who went on his LDS mission right out of high school and returned this year.

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Blue Zertuch of the Rivals TexasHoops site is reporting that 2012 backcourter Phil Forte has an offer from Boise State as well as many other colleges. The 5-foot-10 Forte is out of Flower Mound, TX.

Here's a description of the young man at the DFW Basketball News site after the April 2010  Great America Shootout:

"This prospect is just a winner...  He shot lights out from the 3pt area. He kept his team under control during close games.  Either getting a bucket or hitting open teammates for wide open shots."

Here's something from Jerry Meyer of Rivals after a July 2010 event:

"Phil Forte  (Texas Assault 16-U, 2012) - Forte did a nice job handling the basket against DC Assault's defensive pressure. He also did a nice job finding the bottom of the net. Often a beneficiary of [Marcus] Smart's penetration and passing, Forte knocked down six three-pointers in the game for a total of 20 points."

Forte's father is the coach of his high school team.

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Matt Norlander at Jeff Goodman's blog has an entry on New Mexico State's sojourn to Canada. Go here and scroll down a bit.

Nick Jezierny catches an Idaho basketball no-show

Nick Jezierny tweeted earlier today that an Idaho basketball recruit didn't make it to campus -- go here.

The young man played at Brevard College in Florida as a frosh, redshirted a second year there and played at North Idaho College last season. Could it really be academics that thwarted his entry into Vandal territory or did he just decide to play somewhere closer to home (Lakeland, FL)?

Jason Groves tackles the Aggie basketball scholarship recipients

Sorry for the mixed sports metaphor in the headline.

Jason Groves has clarified who is a scholarshipped member of the 2010-2011 New Mexico State basketball team -- go here for this update and we thank Jason for taking the time to do so.

A Texas big to visit Boise State

We were sent a note that 6-foot-8, 230-pound Darrious Hamilton, out of the San Antonio prep ranks, is scheduled to visit Boise on September 23.

Here's a January 2009 writeup on Hamilton.

Here's a July, 2010 article containing a description of the young man.

Thomas Bropleh doing well in summer school

Peter Hutchins, the boys varsity basketball coach at New Hampton School tweeted this recently:

"Proud to report that 2009-2010 HUSKY and Boise St freshman, @Tbropleh, earned one A and one B in summer school. Great job, Tom!"

Hutchins is referring to 6-foot-5 forward Thomas Bropleh, who played at New Hampton last year.

Nine questions

In no particular order, a question for each WAC team::

Boise State: who steps up as the go-to creator at the end of the game or nearing the conclusion of the shot clock?

Utah State: name the person who takes over and replaces Jared Quayle's timely daggers (baskets)?

New Mexico State: it won't be needed as much due to Gillenwater and McKines in the frontcourt but who in the 2010 Aggie backcourt will create offense?

San Jose State: we're not sure quite how to achieve it but can Adrian Oliver 'make' his teammates more effective?

Louisiana Tech: doesn't it seem that the LT Bulldogs remain competitive regardless of the roster/talent makeup?

Fresno State: can the CA Bulldogs prosper with a 'bigs' group consisting of a sophomore, two freshman and a senior coming off injury?

Nevada: let's see who shakes out as the leader or leaders on this newcomer-dominated squad

Hawaii: It may not fully take until the 2011 season but opponents are finally going to have to guard out to the three-point line against UH

Idaho: can the collective Vandal backcourt -- the starters and off-the-benchers -- match up with the best in the league?

A solid Sunday edition of WAC items for you

The NetScouts site is reporting these former WAC players as landing work overseas;

*** Roderick Flemings (Hawaii), C.B. Canarias (Leb Oro), Spain

*** Jonathan Gibson (New Mexico State) Oyak Renault, Turkey

*** Petras Balocka (Hawaii) Lietuvos Rytas, Lithuania

*** Chris Oakes (San Jose State) Radnicki, Serbia

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UnderdogAggie at the SCOUT New Mexico State site Sports Trough message board is reporting a Canadian backcourter as having committed to the Aggies. Daniel Mullings is a 6-foot-1 combo guard out of Toronto. It seems unclear if he is to be on the roster this season but redshirting or arriving next year.

Here's Steven Luong writing about Mullings after a June all star game in Canada:

"...Daniel Mullings led the way for Team Red scoring 32 points and also playing some outstanding defense which included two spectacular run-down blocks in the fourth quarter on [Myck] Kabongo, and UNLV commit Grandy Glaze that was reminiscent of NBA all-star’s LeBron James’ signature defensive play.

“I love LeBron [James],” Mullings said. “His tenacity on defence, how he gets back on help defense, how he gets his team involved. I look up to him a lot.”

Both Mullings and Kabongo were able to score in very similar fashions. Making good use of their quick first steps, excellent ball handling skills and athleticism to get to the hoop consistently..." 

Here's another Mullings writeup on the same event:

"...The dark horse in this game was undoubtedly 6-2 Combo guard Daniel Mullings (2010). He entertained the crowd with his high flying act and showed his combination of speed and athleticism. Mullings was able to consistently get to the rim at will and finish over the trees as he filled up the basket for 32 points. It was a break out performance by Mullings which was unexpected by most due to the lack of buzz he received leading up to the game. The good news for college coaches is that he is still uncommitted and surprisingly only has one offer from New Mexico State..."

Here is some video on the young man.

Here is 6:26 YouTube video interview of Mullings.

Does anyone know if Coach Menzies has a scholarship open for the coming season, especially with the recent addition of Remi Barry?

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Fred Lewis offers a lengthy column about past and present WAC breakups here. It's always fascinating how quick some are to hit the message boards and criticize Karl Benson and others when what is happening in the background is unknown except to a select few. Instant analysis is a modern malady especially when performed by the uninformed.

Saturday's WAC brunch

Here's the official announcement of the WAC Sports Network. Here's Daniel Lyght with more information.

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hellaprogressive at the SCOUT Bronco Country site basketball message board reports that former Boise Stater Kurt Cunningham is going to play pro ball in Hungary.

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Jared Eborn offers more on the daily question: is BYU behind door #1, door #2, door #3 or not in the building regarding WAC affiliation.

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Jay Drew has more on the behind-the-scenes happenings involving the various WAC and BYU college presidents.

WAC Friday

Jay Drew is The Man. The Salt Lake City Tribune has obtained emails that deliciously fill in a large portion of the behind-the-scenes dealings involving the WAC and BYU. Fresno State's John Welty must have tremendous body control as his ability to do a 180 in tight space is impressive. Go here and enjoy.

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Travis Mason-Bushman tweets the whereabouts of former Vandal Mac Hopson -- go here.

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Jason Groves blogs about newcomer Remi Barry and a bit on New Mexico State's television game schedule here. The PAC-10 doesn't allow non-qualifiers to enroll so those two schools couldn't formally extend offers to Barry but we don't know the Big East (St. John's) bylaws pertaining to NQ's. Barry will certainly be the best Aggie talent next season but his scoring ability would be quite the boon for Coach Marvin Menzies if the NCAA clears the young man from France for this season.

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Chris Murray has the names of those trying out for the Reno Bighorns and there are a number of former WAC players among them -- go here. For you weekend warriors, put together $150, get to Oakland and have a story to tell your children and grandchildren although posterization is also always a possibility.

It poll time...the poll we've been waiting for

Our eyes have been glassing over at any in-the-last-month mention or appearance of the word poll (we tolerate football but loooove basketball -- that's just how we roll) but PTW just caught a Chris Murray column about a WAC BASKETBALL POLL, plus all-league selections, courtesy of the Sporting News. Go here and savor the coming season, one in which hoops will be far more interesting than football due to the number of teams that have a legitimate chance of winning the tourney.

One more item

Collin Woods, who we thought was headed to Arizona State but that was prior to the commitment of high level point Jahii Carson, is apparently wide open right now and considering mid-major destinations. The Arizona prepster was also considering Colorado but that relationship looks to be either in a holding pattern or heading south. 

We mention Woods because Fresno State has extended an offer. The young man is 6-foot-2, 165 pounds and plays the point.

All this is according to Adam Munsterteiger at the Buff Stampede.com site. (a Rivals sub is required)

Here is Woods' personal site, which we have featured before. Anybody who lists pre calculus as his favorite class impresses us