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Continuing with my conference player rankings, its on to the Mountain West. This list was compiled just before the season started, but some names not listed have gotten off to quality starts: Andrew Henke of Air Force is averaging 15 and 7 after two consistent games. Senior Alvarado Parker is averaging 14 and 10 after two games, including a double-double in a blow out win over Rice.

Top 10 Players in the MWC

1. Brandon Ewing, G, Wyoming
2. Luke Nevill, C, Utah
3. Trent Plaisted, C, BYU
4. Wink Adams, G, UNLV
5. JR Giddens, G, New Mexico

BYU (25-9, 13-3)

San Diego State (22-11, 10-6)

UNLV (30-7, 12-4)

Utah (11-19, 6-10)

Other (Air Force, New Mexico, Wyoming, etc)

UNLV Runnin’ Rebels

 

Overall Rank: #67

The NBA Draft is finally behind us, where half of this year’s top dozen picks were freshmen. 2008 looks to be no different, with the likes of one-and-doners Derrick Rose, OJ Mayo and Michael Beasley in all likelihood hearing their names called early.

But of course, not all incoming freshmen are already fielding calls from would-be agents. In fact, not every member of the stellar Class of 2007 is even going to the so-called “Big Six” power conferences. Many are going to be thrilling fans at the mid-major level as well.

Butler (5 - Midwest Region)

SIU (4 - West)

Tennessee (5 - South)

UNLV (7 - Midwest)

USC (5 - East)

Vanderbilt (6 - East)

Wisconsin at Michigan State, Air Force at UNLV, Texas A&M at Oklahoma State, and Duke at Clemson

Arizona (6 RPI - High)

Southern Illinois (9 RPI - High)

Syracuse (64 RPI - Low)

Texas (52 RPI - Low)

UNLV (12 RPI - High)

This is dedication.. 11:30 on a Saturday night, and I'm not out on the town, but in on the computer writing the Dribble.. or is it just being lame? I'll leave it up to you to decide..

I already wrote an earlier entry this afternoon, which includes thoughts on Virginia Tech's big upset of Duke. The rest of my afternoon and evening was spent watching the NFL Playoffs.. so unfortunately I didn't get to watch some of the day's later upsets.

The only game I did get a peak at was Air Force's 56-50 win over UNLV. At 15-1, the Academy is off to its bes start ever.. while UNLV drops to 14-3. This game was surprising because you think of both of these teams as being dangerous from three, but no one could hit from outside. UNLV was 1-18 from three, and AFA was 3-12. Kevin Kruger, averaging 14 ppg and coming off an 8-three game against Utah, was ice cold and finished with 4 points on 1-9 shooting. Who know.. maybe if he was hot, this game would have had a different ending. Regardless, it was close because UNLV dominated on the interior.. getting 38 rebounds to just 19 for Air Force. Essengue and White really had their way on the inside. Overall, it was a well-fought though not necessarily very well played game. The only player that stood out was AFA's Dan Nwaelele. This isn't a name that you hear often nationally, but it should be. Nwaelele leads the team at 15 ppg as a 6-5 small forward, and amazingly does it by shooting 62% from the floor and 56% from three. As good as those numbers are, you can't help but think the senior could be even better. With a solid 6-5 frame, and that nice shooting touch, this is a guy who should be getting an outside look by NBA scouts. Unfortunately, the color commentator was quick to point Nwaelele should shoot more, and a dozen other things he knew was right. I kept trying to figure out who this know-it-all was.. than they finally said it was Rick Barry.. and suddenly the condescending tone made perfect sense.

UNLV's roster is stocked with quality guards, but the play of the bigs will determine how far they go.