Wednesday WAC roundup

Finally located the whereabouts of former Utah State wing/guard Steve Thornton. It's Citrus College in southern California, a perennial contender for the state community college championship.

+++++

Andy Glockner offers some 'mid-major' players to track and Preston Medlin is listed:

Learn the name because he has the game and the Aggies may splash back onto the national scene come March as their young roster has started to mature. The Aggies usually run very efficient offense, but it helps when you have a guy who shoots 50 percent from the field and 42 percent from the arc.

Under 'Breakout Stars' comes Denver's Chris Udofia:

The overall stats won't blow you away because the Pioneers play so slowly on offense, but he's a major athlete who can score and board. Joe Scott's men could win the WAC in their debut season.

+++++

Sean Kramer writes that Idaho's playing rotation is firming up very early.

+++++

Jason Groves offers his latest on New Mexico State's depth chart.

Teddy Feinberg checks in with his Aggie player and team take.

+++++

Michael Eldridge/Texas Arlington athletics previews the Mavs.

Tuesday and the WAC basketball world

At the USU Fans Stew's Spectrum MB, liquidforce (how appropriate) uncovers something that may have spurred Riley Bradshaw's decision to depart the USU basketball team.

+++++

New Mexico State led 52-27 after the initial 20 minutes before winning 98-49 versus Western New Mexico.

Jason Groves tweeted throughout the game. Jason also provides a game report. To make it a trey, Jason also writes about the biggest Aggie, the point position and more. Sam Wasson provides Coach Marvin Menzies and Jack Nixon in a post-game audio interview.

+++++

Mike Chambers/Denver Post interviews Mr. Versatile Royce O'Neale, just a sophomore but a key to the success of the Pioneers.

+++++

SeattleUHoops writes that a pair of Redhawks must succeed offensively for Seattle to move up.

Articles/tweets to ignore

If you're like me (perish the thought), nothing will get me moving on to a new site, blog or Twitter account than browsing a headline or lead like this:

"Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Class of' 2015 updated us with the latest on his recruitment -- go here to read all about it"

Yep, that 15-year-old really knows what he wants and where he wants it, let alone which coaches will be at the end of the rainbow come time to actually sign.

Not WAC-related but interesting

A Hoopniks tweet: "Jordan Bell is down to Oregon and Auburn. Will officially visit Auburn next weekend"

Bell is a high-flying 2013 SoCal frontcourter still developing ball skills but the reason for this particular post is the disparity is his two choices.

Auburn has a young coach (Tony Barbee) seemingly on the way up in the college coaching universe but it's a program which will always play second fiddle at the school to football (despite however the gridiron squad is doing) and also always be faced with Alabama as the overall state favorite and media darling (even in basketball). The War Eagles also face Kentucky and Florida on the court and will never out-recruit them. For what it's worth, Auburn is an Armour school.

Oregon (or Nike Phil Knight U in reality) also is more of a football school but Dana Altman is doing very well in changing that thinking. It's a program on the rise and facilities are next to none. It's always going to be a hard slog for the Ducks to top Arizona and UCLA in recruiting, plus Washington isn't easy to best. But being in the Pac-12 means Bell will always have 'home' games against UCLA and USC each season.

Maybe it's just me but Bell's final two just seem so ... different. It would be fascinating to hear him tell the how and why it came down to this disparate two.

The 2012-13 Seattle Redhawks

Here's Coach Cameron Dollar's 2012-13 roster:

(alphabetical)

Prince Obasi G 6-2 205 Sr. Reseda, CA (Saddleback CC) (Cleveland HS)

Allen Tate G 6-5 205 Sr. Hobbs, NM (Lamar CC) (Hobbs HS)

(redshirting) - Emerson  Murray G 6-3 195 Jr. Vancouver, B.C. (California) (St. George's School)

D'Vonne Pickett G 6-0 195 Jr. Seattle, WA (Central Arizona College) (Rainier Beach HS)

Sterling Carter G 6-0 200 RJr. Seattle, WA (University of the Pacific) (Franklin HS)

Deshaun  Sunderhaus F 6-9 215 RFr. Rockdale County, GA (Rockdale County HS)

Clarence Trent F 6-6 225 RJr. Tacoma, WA (University of Washington) (The Patterson School (N.C.)

Louis Green C 6-9 240 Sr. Westchester, IL (Moraine Valley CC) (St. Joseph's HS)

Emmanuel Chibuogwu G 6-6 185 Fr. Shoreline, WA (Shorecrest HS)

Chad Rasmussen F 6-7 200 Sr. University Place, WA. (Tacoma CC) (Curtis HS)

Jack Crook C 6-11 255 Fr. Manchester, U.K. (Loreto College)

David Trimble G 6-1 185 Fr. Yakima, WA (Davis HS)

(redshirting) - Isiah Umipig G 6-0 195 Jr. Federal Way, WA (Cal State Fullerton) (Federal Way HS)

Tidjane Diop F 6-8 215 Sr. Queensland, Australia (Lamar CC) (Victoria Point State HS)

Luiz Bidart G 6-0 195 RFr. Sao Paulo, Brazil (Christian HS (San Diego)

Jarell Flora G 6-3 180 RSo. Bremerton, WA (Bremerton HS) 

Overall, the best Redhawk talents -- Murray and Unipig -- are redshirting. 

+++++

Frontcourt analysis

* T.J. Diop, 6-foot-8, 215, senior

2.3 points and 2.0 rebounds per game, shot 45% overall

* Louis Green, 6-foot-9, 240, senior 

3.8 points and 2.6 rebounds, shot 54% overall

* Chad Rasmussen, 6-foot-7, 200, senior

5.2 points per game, 36% overall shooting, 36% from long distance, shot four free throws in 505 minutes so he's an outside player

* Deshaun Sunderhaus, 6-foot-9, 215, redshirt freshman (didn't play)

* Clarence Trent, 6-foot-5, 225 junior     

9.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, shot 46% overall

* Jack Crook, 6-foot-11, 255 freshman out of the UK


He possesses the best size but any immediate contribution from him would be unexpected, although he was on the trip Seattle took to China this summer.

Backcourt analysis

* Sterling Carter, 6-foot-0, 200, junior

10.1 points but 37% overall shooting, 36% from long distance, just 23 free throws attempts on the season
  
* Jarell Flora, 6-foot-3, 180, sophomore

3.4 points per game, shot 43%

* Prince Obasi, 6-foot-2, 205 senior

4.8 points per game, shot 41% overall, 38% from long distance, 73 assists

* Allen Tate, 6-foot-5, 205, senior

2.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game, shot 35%

Word is that Tate has started to come on.

D'Vonne Pickett, 5-foot-11, 180, junior

He scored 11.7 points and passed for 5.5 assists a game this past season. Pickett shot 42% overall, 36% from three-point range and 53% from the foul line. He enjoyed a better statistical year as a freshman but still looks to be the starter for Dollar at the point.

Emmanuel Chibuogwu, 6-6 185 freshman

Won't see much time, may redshirt

Luiz Bidart 6-0, 195 redshirt freshman

David Trimble 6-1, 185 freshman

He did make the Redhawk trip to China so that should aid in his early development.

+++++

Seattle is coming off a 12-15 season, with a positive 9-6 record at home. Against WAC teams in 2011-12, Dollar's squad lost twice to Idaho, split with Utah State, lost to SJSU and also dropped one to Fresno State.

It's a sense of mañana for the Redhawks as Emerson Murray, a 6-foot-3 junior transfer from California and Isiah Umipig, a Cal State Fullerton 6-foot-1 transfer will be redshirting this season.

Dollar does have quite a number of seniors on his roster (five) and he is going to have to count on his previous role players demonstrating advancement if the Redhawks are to become a player in the WAC this season. Trent has the potential to be a double-double guy each game so watch to see if he's taken a step forward.

It's dangerous prognosticating period, especially so without having seen a team play but, based on the above, it's hard to see an upper division Redhawk finish. There aren't enough guys who are capable of winning their position each night. That ought to work as solid bulletin board material.

+++++

The Redhawk starting lineup:

* Louis Green
* Clarence Trent
* Sterling Carter
* D'Vonne Pickett
* Prince Obasi

Monday and the world of WAC hoops

Loved these Kraig Williams tweets:

BREAKING: Stew Morrill was smiling and laughing on the bench. Has never happened before

Chris Larsen responds:

I don't believe you. This seems like a headline from The Onion

Then, Kraig types:

and then Jarred Shaw almost got a T and Stew went back to being upset

+++++

Jason Groves checks in before New Mexico State's game.

Sunday's WAC, make that Utah State, roundup

Utah State had no trouble last night with Simon Fraser to the tune of 92-56. Kraig Williams and Kyle Goon were present and tweeted throughout the game.

Game reports: Doug Hoffman, Kyle Goon, Kyle Haywood and Matt Sonnenberg. Curtis Ripplinger serves up a bevy of game photos.

Also, treesap32 has posted the whereabouts of Brockeith Pane at the USU Fans Stew's Spectrum MB.

As a bonus, Utah State fans will recall the name Norvell Arnold - he's now at Adams State (CO) and scored 18 points in 21 minutes against Northern Arizona last night, no rebounds and no assists. The 6-foot-5 junior shot 6-13 overall, 4-7 from long distance.

Saturday's WAC hoops compilation

Per William Whelan (a Rivals sub is required), Utah State and San Jose State University are watching 6-foot-1 2013 Arizona prep shooting guard Ryan Berg.

+++++

Raphielle Johnson previews the WAC.

+++++

Kyle Goon focuses on the USU frontcourters.

+++++

AggieDude at the AggieFans Stew's Spectrum MB writes about viewing a recent Aggie scrimmage.

+++++

Idaho took down Central Washington 92-75 last night with Kyle Barone back on the court. Interesting note: former Nevada et al player Mark McLaughlin scored 28 points for the CW but didn't shoot all that well.

+++++

Also, LA Tech handled Central Arkansas 66-56 as Bulldog athletics provides the game report.

Coach Mike White discusses the game:


+++++

KrimsonKrazy at the AggieAlert MB posted Jack Nixon's tribute to the contributions and effect of Tyrone Watson.

+++++

Per Jason Groves, Coach Marvin Menzies re-upps with New Mexico State.

+++++

Seattle U Hoops profiles redshirt freshman backcourter Luiz Bidart.

Friday's get-away day WAC week wrapup

Matt Sonnenfeld isn't making demands, just what he wants to see on Saturday night (it will take scrolling past the football content).

+++++

Renaldo and Remi. Remi and Renaldo. It could be a new cop buddy show on TBS but this one is actually a Jason Groves post on the two New Mexico State frontcourters facing a critical season.

+++++

Caught this on JeffGoodman/Jeff Borzello's uber injury report:

Cameron Catlett, UT Arlington - hip, out until mid-November

+++++

It was UTSA 71-43 over Southeastern Oklahoma State last night behind 22 points and eight steals from Michael Hale III.

InsideRunnerSports talked with Larry Lewis after his UT San Antonio recruiting visit. They write that Jeff Davis, who accompanied Lewis, does not have an offer, contrary to an earlier tweet.

The IRS staff also provide an updated season preview.

+++++

San Jose State University defaced Academy of Art University 88-54 last night, powered by D.J. Brown's 22 points plus Alex Jones' 17 points, 11 boards and five blocked shots.

Thursday's WAC compilation

Recruit Dirt tweeted: "6'7 F Jacoby Armstrong #2013 of Quest Academy (NV) - Offers from UTA, Montana State, Sam Houston State, Albany,& New Hampshire"

+++++

Robert Robinson tweeted regarding Riley Bradshaw: "interesting 2 see what restrictions former Griz coach Morril puts on his release Can not go 2 Griz or maybe has 2 go 2 the Griz"

+++++ 

Kyle Goon writes it's Simon Fraser next in The Spectrum and provides a number of player quotes from Stew Morrill.

+++++

Here's Joe Scott at Media Day on his Denver squad: "Talent-wise, there is no doubt the ability is there, now it's just about gelling as a team," Scott said. "It's about the way the team comes together, the team personality and the team chemistry. Right now I think we're doing well in all those areas, but you never really know about those things until you have to step onto the court and they turn the lights on for real..."

Wednesday's WAC roundup

Jerit Roser previews Coach Mike White's 2012-13 version of the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. Best quote (from White): "A lot of our Bullpuppies have grown into Bulldogs now..." 

+++++

Dan Hanner/The Basketball Prospectus forecasts a 13-5 conference record for Utah State, 10-8 for New Mexico State and another 10-8 for Denver.

+++++

Jeff Goodman rolls out his Top 50 Shooters and, yes, there is a Preston Medlin sighting at #27.

Matt Sonnenberg explores Riley Bradshaw's departure as do Tony Jones & Kyle Goon.

+++++

Picoso at the Crimson To The Core Cantina MB has a link to an interview with Wendell McKines. Wen checks in at the 4:40 mark.

Tuesday's WAC basketball digest

Louisiana Tech athletics offers a preview of this year's squad, with some player attribute updates.

+++++

2013 Backcourter Trey Dickerson lists an offer from Seattle. From New York City and also Los Angeles, here's a profile. It looks like he is doing a prep year in Dallas.

+++++

In a solid p.r. gesture, New Nexico State is inviting basketball season ticketholders to a practice.

+++++

From Frank Woodford's latest (a Rivals sub is required):

Zylan Cheatham - 2014 Small Forward from Westwind Prep -
...The six-foot-seven forward wowed the crowd with his athleticism and competitiveness, no one wanted to tell Cheatham that this was only a showcase. The small forward's greatest attribute is his effort and motor. He accedes at playing as a point forward, he is creative and showed good creativity over the weekend. There were many times the forward skied for a rebound, and then took the ball coast to coast for a dunk. Defensively, Cheatham was all over the court, blocking shots, rebounding and playing the passing lanes. The area that he must improve however is his outside shooting...

Jake Toolson - 2014 Shooting Guard from Highland High School -
...he is a terrific one on one player that utilizes several go-to moves to create separation for his favorite move, a step back jumper. The junior-to-be is an interesting prospect because he has the size and strength to be a wing, but is more productive with the ball in his hands at the point. Toolson is creative and can play a point forward at times, but his ball handling must improve if he was to slide over and play the position on a regular basis. His greatest attribute on the basketball court is his shooting, he has great range and is a threat from anywhere on the court...

Both hold offers from Utah State.

Bradshaw leaves USU

Per Tony Jones, freshman guard Riley Bradshaw has left the Utah State basketball program. His departure will have no effect this season but it's always tough to lose a very promising talent who owns four seasons of eligibility. What's interesting is that now he will have to redshirt somewhere, if that was his concern.

An easy prediction based on no inside knowledge: here comes Montana U and Coach Wayne Tinkle but many others outside of The Big Sky State will be rushing in to fill the void.

Here's mslacat with a 2010 feature on Bradshaw plus one from USUStats.

The interwebs in Logan will certainly be buzzing this morning.

So who is Chris Udofia and is he enough to overcome a team height disadvantage??

University of Denver's Chris Udofia is receiving praise and predictions as one of the top, if not the top, performer in the Western Athletic Conference in the upcoming 2012-13 season.

Denver is new to the WAC so very few have seen Udofia in action.

For the record, he averaged 14.5 points and 5.2 rebounds in 30 minutes of action a game as a sophomore. Udofia shot 57% overall, 72% from the foul line and 29% from long distance. His blocked shots totaled 74 and he posted an 82/74 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Plus, he sports a 3.5 grade point average.

Also for the sake of reference, check out his statistics as a freshman: 8.3 points, 50%, 62% and 26% shooting, 39 blocked shots and a 40/41 assist-to-turnover ratio -- in 29 minutes a contest.

He definitely plays bigger than his 6-foot-6 frame.

In the Sun Belt Conference last season, Denver went 11-5 (22-9 overall). The season featured home victories over very athletic Southern Mississippi and a St. Mary's squad with Rob Jones and Brad Waldow plus at Utah State (against the latter, Udofia had 15 points, six rebounds and three assists in 28 minutes while the Pioneers shot 52% overall, 40% from three-point range and lost the battle of the boards 27-22). Additionally, Coach Joe Scott's team beat Mountain West Conference member Wyoming at home but lost to Colorado State of the MWC on the road.

The Pioneers will certainly miss leading scorer Brian Stafford (he shot 50% overall, 46% on treys) but Udofia plus returnees Royce O'Neale (leading rebounder at 5.8), Brett Olson and Chase Hallam are a very solid heart of a team.

It's worth noting that 6-foot-7, 225-pound Rob Lewis, the starter in the middle last season, has graduated, taking his 7.4 point and 3.2 rebound averages per game with him. For the record, Scott was putting out Lewis, 6-foot-6 Udofia, 6-foot-4 Stafford, 6-foot-5 Chase Hallam and 6-foot-5 Brett Olsen as his opening quintet. It's not a tall group but very good-sized for the wing and guard positions.

All this leaves a legitimate question for Denver this season: where's the beef?

In 2012-13, 6-foot-8, 220-pound Jake Logan is a redshirt freshman and Dom Samac a 6-foot-9, 200-pound true frosh. 6-foot-7, 215-pound Marcus Byrd also sat out his initial college season.

That's it for possibilities vis-a-vis matchups in the middle.

On the other hand, New Mexico State will feature 6-foot-10, 270-pound Chili Nephawe, with 7-foot-5 Sim Bhuller as his backup.

The trio of 6-foot-10, 235-pound Jarred Shaw, 6-foot-10, 270-pound Jordan Stone and 6-foot-11, 245-pound Matt Lopez have Utah State fans dreaming of a bounty of points, rebounds and blocked shots in the paint.

The road to the WAC championship will definitely wind through Las Cruces and Logan -- there are no alternate routes. Obviously, some think Denver also.

Now Scott's offensive framework may negate needing power players inside but it's harder to mask that absence defensively.

For the record, the Pioneers were a -4 per game in overall rebounding in 2011-12 and shot 77 less free throws.

On the flip side, Denver was a +42 in blocked shots, a +69 in steals, shot 49% to 44% overall and committed 78 less turnovers.

Can Udofia carry the Pioneer frontcourt, and with his teammates, overcome a lack of size?

Some think so, but that's why the games are played.

Monday's WAC hoops roundup

Andy Glockner has the WAC at #16 in his conference rankings.

+++++

Matt Sonnenberg analyzes/evaluates what he witnessed in Utah State's win over Grand Canyon.

+++++

Texas San Antonio offered a pair of weekend visitors -- Westwind Prep tweeted: "WPA post grads Larry Lewis and Kevin Davis took official visits to Conference USA Texas San Antonio this past weekend. Both receive offers"

* TSA is in the WAC but headed to CUSA by the time said players would arrive.


+++++

Jeff Goodman issued his Top 30 Breakout Players -- no Preston Medlin or Chris Udofia. Maybe they are considered already past breaking out but more than likely just overlooked.