Idaho

Saturday Recap: Missouri's Finishing Kick Proves to Be the Difference

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 10:43:28 -0800

Rivalry games bring more to the table when it comes to intensity, and that was definitely the case in the battle between #4 Missouri and #8 Kansas in Columbia on Saturday night. In a game that featured many momentum swings and neither team leading by more than eight points, it was Frank Haith's Tigers who landed the final blow. Kansas led 71-63 with 3:25 remaining but they would not score again, as Missouri finished the game on an 11-0 run to win 74-71. Marcus Denmon, who entered the game having made just 34.9% of his shots in Big 12 play, shot 10-for-16 from the field and scored a game-high 29 points to lead the way.

"He made some tough shots," said Haith. "He got into a rhythm and when Marcus gets into a rhythm he can rattle off a few shots in a row. And I think at that point in time he just got in a rhythm."

But Denmon wasn't the only star for the Tigers, with Kim English scoring 18 points and Michael Dixon Jr. adding 15 off the bench. English received a lot of attention from the Kansas defense due to his three-point shooting ability but the senior from Baltimore made things happen in other ways. The foul line was huge for the Tigers, as their shot 14-for-20 from the charity stripe with Kansas making five of nine and being called for ten more fouls (20-10). Thomas Robinson led the Jayhawks with 25 points and 13 rebounds, and Tyshawn Taylor added 21, but the Missouri comeback was aided by player control fouls called on both down the stretch.

Robinson's fourth foul with 1:45 remaining ultimately led to a Denmon three to make the score 71-69, and Taylor's foul with ten seconds remaining led to a pair of Dixon Jr. free throws to give Missouri a 74-71 lead. Elijah Johnson ended up with the ball in his hands in the final seconds but he hesitated, eventually having to put up a highly-contested shot as time expired. Kansas played with a great deal of poise for just over 36 minutes, but when the Jayhawks needed sound execution to close out the contest the Tigers proved to be too much.

"We definitely did it to ourselves," remarked Jeff Withey when asked about the decisive stretch. "We had the lead and if we would have just held onto the ball, I think it would have been a way different outcome."

The end result: a three-way tie atop the Big 12 with Missouri boasting a 2-0 record vs. Kansas and Baylor. Ricardo Ratliffe was quiet due to his being in foul trouble for much of the night but others stepped up to help the Tigers hold their own on the glass. Denmon grabbed nine rebounds and five other players grabbed at least two as Missouri was out-rebounded by just three (29-26) on the night. Continue to point out Missouri's lack of size if you wish, but it should be pretty clear by now that they've got more than enough to compete for a national title.

Other Notable Happenings

1. Memphis comes back from ten down in the second half to beat Xavier, picking up a needed non-conference victory.
There was no mistaking how important the contest between Xavier and Memphis was for both teams with regards to their NCAA resumes, and the Musketeers looked to be well on their way to the key win. A Dezmine Wells three-point play with 6:16 remaining gave Xavier a 62-51 lead, but Josh Pastner's team refused to lie down. A Wesley Witherspoon three started a 17-1 run over the next six minutes, and Memphis would put away the 72-68 win from the foul line (Joe Jackson hit all four of his free throws to seal the deal). The question is which team needed the win more, and while it was vital for both teams a look at their remaining schedules will reveal the answer. Memphis won't have another shot at an RPI Top 50 win the remainder of the regular season while Xavier still has matchups with Temple and Saint Louis (both on the road) to deal with.

2. Florida State holds off Virginia at home to remain tied atop the ACC.
Low-scoring games tend to amp up those who feel that basketball has to be high-scoring in order to entertain, and those who took this route missed a very good battle in Tallahassee. Okaro White scored 13 points off the bench and Xavier Gibson added ten as Florida State won their seventh straight game to move to 7-1 in the ACC as they beat Virginia 58-55. Joe Harris and Mike Scott scored 16 apiece to lead the Cavaliers and Malcolm Brogdon added ten off the bench, but the struggles of Sammy Zeglinski (2-for-7, five points) down the stretch were just one reason why the Hoos were unable to pick up what would have been a very good road victory. In a game that finished with 63 possessions it was Florida State's work on the offensive glass (OR% of 34.3%) that made the difference (12-7 edge in second-chance points). Work of art? No, especially with the two teams combining for 39 turnovers. But it definitely was an entertaining show that the ACC's two best defensive teams put forth in Tallahassee.

3. Notre Dame puts it to Marquette in the second half to move to 7-3 in the Big East.
Once again Mike Brey is one of the favorites in the race for Big East Coach of the Year, as a team that looked to be well on its way to the NIT (or worse) in December finds itself in the thick of the race for second place. The Irish shot 57.7% from the field in the second half as they ran away from #15 Marquette to win 76-59, moving to within a half-game of second place as a result. Freshman Pat Connaughton led four Notre Dame players in double figures with 23 points, and the growth of he, Eric Atkins and Jerian Grant has played a huge role in Notre Dame not only surviving but thriving in dealing with life without the injured Tim Abromaitis. Grant's versatility was on display against Marquette, as he not only scored 11 points but dished out a team-high eight assists while Atkins scored 18. The play of Syracuse has turned the Big East into a league that will offer more suspense in the race for second, and at this point Notre Dame is just as capable as anyone else to grab that spot.

4. Iona's second half execution on both ends of the floor too much for Manhattan.
At the under-8 media timeout in the first meeting between the rivals separated by just nine miles, Iona held a 67-49 lead in a game that would eventually end on an Emmy Andujar three as time expired (75-72 Manhattan win). No such heroics this time around as the Gaels made sure to not allow the Jaspers to storm back, winning 85-73 thanks to improved play on the defensive end of the floor in the second half. Iona limited the quality looks for George Beamon, who finished with 26 points after scoring 19 in the first half, and as a team Manhattan shot just 38.2% from the field. Mike Glover led a balanced attack with 19 points and seven rebounds while Scott Machado (nine assists) and Momo Jones scored 18 apiece for the Gaels, who remain in first place with the win. Next up for Iona is a trip to Loyola (MD) on Friday night, which could also be a battle for first is the Greyhounds take care of business against Saint Peter's.

5. George Mason hangs on at home to beat ODU, resulting in a three-way tie atop the CAA.
Paul Hewitt's Patriots have now won seven of their last eight games, rebounding from a loss to Delaware to beat ODU 54-50 in a matchup of two of the four teams that entered Saturday tied for first in the CAA. George Mason got the job done by doing something simple in the second half: they made shots. GMU shot just 20% from the field in the first half, trailing 26-20 at the break and their 12 turnovers didn't help matters either. The second half was a different story as the Patriots shot 41.2% from the field while also refusing to settle for threes as they did in the first. George Mason's parade to the foul line (19-for-23 in the second half, 27-for-35 for the game) would prove to be the difference as the Patriots outscored the Monarchs by 17 from the charity stripe. VCU and Drexel are a part of the tie at this point, and while Mason doesn't play Drexel again (the Dragos won the first meeting) they do get two shots at VCU. Can someone in this group earn an at-large berth? The possibility is definitely there at this point.

Quick Hitters

1. No Kevin Parrom to start the trip and no Jordin Mayes on Saturday as well, but that didn't stop Arizona from beating Stanford 56-43 in Palo Alto. That completes the Wildcats' road sweep of the Bay Area schools and keeps them two games back the Pac-12 behind Washington. Kyle Fogg led four players in double figures with 14 points and the Wildcats limited Stanford to 25.4% shooting from the field.

2. Victor Oladipo scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead Indiana past Purdue 78-61, snapping their five-game losing streak to the Boilermakers and moving the Hoosiers to 6-6 in the Big Ten. Robbie Hummel led the Boilers with 16 points and ten rebounds, but Purdue shot just 29.6% from the field in the loss.

3. One team that picked up a much-needed win for their resume was Wyoming, who knocked off #13 UNLV 68-66 in Laramie. Leonard Washington and Paco Cruz scored 16 points apiece and Luke Martinez 15 as the Cowboys made up for a disappointing loss to TCU earlier in the week. Larry Shyatt deserves a little more pub nationally than he's received for the Pokes' 18-5 start.

4. How the Atlantic 10 will shake out from an NCAA tournament bid standpoint has been one of the major points of conversation recently, but there may not be much doubt as to who the best team is. Temple sits alone in first place due to their 73-56 win over Rhode Island and La Salle's 70-66 loss to Saint Joseph's. The Owls' perimeter trio of Juan Fernandez, Ramone Moore and Khalif Wyatt may be the best in the A-10, something that seemed preposterous to suggest before the season started due to the presence of Tu Holloway and Mark Lyons at Xavier.

5. There's now a tie for first in the Missouri Valley as Northern Iowa knocked off #12 Creighton 65-62 on an Anthony James three as time expired. Wichita State took advantage of this, beating Indiana State 71-66 behind Garrett Stutz' 24 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks. The February 11th rematch in Omaha (Creighton won the first meeting) will likely determine the top seed in Arch Madness.

6. Nevada took their first loss in WAC play as they fell 72-68 to Idaho in Reno. Kyle Barone scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Vandals, who were able to take advantage of Dario Hunt and Malik Story combining to shoot 3-for-12 from the field. While the Wolf Pack are 19-4 overall (8-1 WAC) this is a tough loss to take in regards to a possible at-large bid should they need it (entered the week with an RPI of 59 and an SOS of 182 per the NCAA's numbers). That Sears BracketBusters game at Iona became a lot more important for the visitors.

7. While much of the country focused on the Kansas/Missouri battle there was a big matchup in the Big West, with the winner likely emerging as the biggest threat to Long Beach State in the conference tournament. Bob Burton's Cal State Fullerton squad made quite the statement, beating UCSB 99-86 thanks in large part to 37 points from Kwame Vaughn and 25 from Isiah Umipig. Fullerton shot 52.6% from the field and a ridiculous 17-for-26 from three to move into a tie for second with UCSB.

8. The majority of the talk surrounding the Conference USA race has centered around the four teams that looked to have the best shot at earning an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. But don't forget about Tulsa, who beat Marshall 79-70 at home to move to 7-2 in league play. Doug Wojcik's Golden Hurricane have won seven straight and while they do have to visit Southern Miss, Tulsa gets Memphis at home in the regular season finale.

9. Yes Fab Melo returned to the lineup for #2 Syracuse, but while the big man is definitely a major part of their plans to say his return was the only reason for the Orange's 95-70 win over St. John's would be short-sighted. Dion Waiters and C.J. Fair each scored 14 points and Michael Carter-Williams 13 off the bench and five Syracuse players finished in double figures.

10. Jared Sullinger scored 24 points and corralled ten rebounds as #3 Ohio State avenged last season's loss in Madison with a 58-52 win over Wisconsin. Deshaun Thomas added 16 for the Buckeyes while Wisconsin was done in by their 5-for-27 shooting from beyond the arc.

11. There have, and will be, matchups in which it looks unfair to have teams play #1 Kentucky. That's what happened to South Carolina, who was in over their heads in the 86-52 pasting that wasn't that close. Anthony Davis missed out on that elusive triple-double but 22 points, eight rebounds and eight blocks is nothing to scoff at. It will be fun to see how #11 Florida matches up with the Wildcats on Tuesday night, as the Gators may be the "last stand" for the rest of the SEC.

12. Florida took care of business at home with a 73-65 win over Vanderbilt in Gainesville with Kenny Boynton (18 points) and Bradley Beal (16 points, seven rebounds) leading four players in double figures. Jeffery Taylor led the Commodores with 25 points and John Jenkins added 15 but it's tough to win anywhere much less in the O-Dome when you shoot 8-for-25 from beyond the arc.

13. Without Jim Calhoun on the sidelines it was time for the Connecticut Huskies to step up both their play and their leadership. That happened, as UConn beat a Seton Hall team without the services of Herb Pope 69-46 in what would turn out to be a bad afternoon for Big East coaches from the Garden State. Kevin Willard would get ejected in the loss (Rutgers' Mike Rice was run at Louisville), the sixth in a row for the Pirates. Ryan Boatright led the Huskies with 19 points and Jeremy Lamb added 17 for UConn.

Five Notable Performances

1. G Kwame Vaughn and G Isiah Umipig (Cal State Fullerton)
Vaughn put up 37 points, six rebounds and six assists in the Titans' 99-86 win over UCSB while Umipig added 25 points, five assists and four rebounds.

2. F Josten Thomas (Hawai'i)
29 points, 12 rebounds and four assists in the Warriors' 83-81 overtime win at San Jose State.

3. G Reggie Hamilton (Oakland)
40 points (9-14 3PT), four rebounds and four assists in the Golden Grizzlies' 74-70 double overtime win at Western Illinois.

4. G Damian Lillard (Weber State)
34 points (12-18 FG), five assists, three rebounds and two steals in the Wildcats' 93-81 win over Northern Colorado. It's beyond time that Lillard receive some National Player of the Year pub.

5. G Marcus Denmon (Missouri)
29 points (10-16 FG), nine rebounds and two assists in the Tigers' 74-71 win over #8 Kansas.

Jon Teitel's "Forgotten Legends" Series: Idaho's Orlando Lightfoot

Jon Teitel — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:30:54 -0700

In the most recent installment in his "Forgotten Legends" interview series CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with Idaho great Orlando Lightfoot, who in three years at the school posted some numbers that may never be reached. Lightfoot is still the school's all-time leading scorer, having scored 2,102 points in three seasons before playing 13 years in Europe. Lightfoot is now an account manager for a trucking company in Chattanooga.

Jon Teitel: Why did you choose to go to Idaho?

Orlando Lightfoot: I was a Parade HS All-American in 1988 and originally signed with Oklahoma, but I was a Prop 48 athlete who did not qualify academically. I decided to go to a JC, and my JC coach later became coach at Idaho.

JT: After failing to qualify as a high school senior in Chattanooga and doing poorly at Hiwassee JC, you did not miss a class at Idaho and graduated on time. What was the reason for your great turnaround, and what value do you place on education?

OL: I was not dumb, just lazy and spoiled. I was put on probation at Idaho and they would have kicked me out of there if I screwed up even once. Basketball was everything to me and it was my out, so I gave it all I had and buckled down in school. Many kids go to college to play sports, but the main thing they should focus on is getting an education.

JT: You were named First Team All-Big Sky during each of your three years at Idaho. How were you able to come in and contribute from the start, and how were you able to dominate throughout the rest of your college career?

OL: I was a highly-touted player coming out of high school, so I knew how to score. I had to sit out for one year after leaving JC early, so I just learned the system and then busted my butt during the rest of my time there.

JT: In 1993 you scored a school-record 50 points (including a career-high 8-11 3PT) in a 76-69 loss to Gonzaga. Was it just one of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were "in the zone", and did your teammates feel bad that they only scored 19 points in support of you?

OL: I was just talking to my old point guard about that game. I was not feeling great in warm-ups and thought there was something wrong with the rim, but ended up getting in a flow. I sat out 10 minutes in the first half due to foul trouble, so I scored 50 while only playing 30 minutes!

JT: In 1993 and 1994 you were named Big Sky POY. What did it mean to you to win such outstanding individual honors?

OL: It meant a lot to me, as I put in a lot of work and tried to be a good leader. The media and the other coaches saw that, but I had a lot of help thanks to some great teammates.

JT: In 1994 you graduated as the leading scorer in conference history. Did you realize at the time how prolific a player you were?

OL: To be honest, I did. I knew there were a lot of people watching me, and I knew that one day I could use basketball to do something with my life.

JT: You career scoring total is 500 points better than the second-best mark, even though you only played three years. Do you think anyone is ever going to break your record or even come close to approaching it?

OL: I think it will happen, as all records are made to be broken. I do not know when or how, but I think Rodney Stuckey was on pace to break it if he had stayed four years at EWU. It will have to be a young kid who stays all four years. However if you are scoring 20 PPG as a sophomore, then I think you might leave early and go to the NBA.

JT: After not being taken in the NBA Draft, you spent 13 years playing professionally in Europe and being named to numerous all-star and all-league teams. What did you learn from the experience, and how did it compare to college basketball?

OL: When I first got over there it was a total culture shock. The biggest thing was to learn how to adapt to a foreign county with only two American players on each team. You do not know the language or understand the food, and it was hard to even find someone who spoke English. If you do not adapt, then they will send you home quickly.

JT: After retiring in 2007 you became an account manager for a trucking company in Chattanooga, and then your wife gave birth to your first child. How do you like the job, and how do you like being a dad?

OL: I never thought that I would play at Idaho, then never thought I would play professionally in Europe, then never thought I would get a job in trucking. My path has been full of unexpected things, but the job is great. It is amazing to be a father: I try to give my son all the attention I can.

JT: When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most?

OL: I want people to say that he played for the big game. When the game was on the line and everything mattered, he made all the big shots and led his team to a win.

Lightfoot is also on Jon's list of best fantasy players in WAC history.

Boise State: Chris Childs (1989) 1602 PTS (#5), 392 AST (#3), 215 STL (#1), 42.2 3P% (#4), 81.8 FT% (#1), conference POY
Fresno State: Melvin Ely (2002) 1951 PTS (#1), 924 REB (#2), 362 BLK (#1), 57.7 FG% (#3), All-American, 2-time conference POY
Hawaii: Melton Werts (1976) 1314 PTS (#5), 1098 REB (#1), 163 BLK (#2)
Idaho: Orlando Lightfoot (1994) 2102 PTS (#1), 766 REB (#3), 168 3PM (#1), All-American, 2-time conference POY
Louisiana Tech: Mike Green (1973) 2340 PTS (#1), 1575 REB (#1), 58 FG% (#2), 3-time All-American, conference POY, national POY
Nevada: Nick Fazekas (2007) 2464 PTS (#1), 1254 REB (#2), 192 BLK (#1), 3-time All-American, 3-time conference POY
New Mexico State: James Moore (2003) 1651 PTS (#5), 174 STL (#2), 200 BLK (#1), 56.4 FG% (#4), 80.1 FT% (#4), All-American, conference POY
San Jose State: Ricky Berry (1988) 1767 PTS (#1), 266 AST (#5), 113 3PM (#5), 45.9 3P% (#1), 82.1 FT% (#1), 3-time All-American
Utah State: Jaycee Carroll (2008) 2522 PTS (#1), 369 3PM (#1), 46.5 3P% (#1), 2-time All-American, conference POY

College Hoops Wednesday Recap: Duke Comes Back to Beat North Carolina

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 02:02:15 -0800

The question going into Wednesday's matchup between rivals North Carolina and Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium was how the young Tar Heels would respond to the atmosphere. They responded quite well in the first half, scoring the first seven points of the game and leading by as many as 16 points before taking a 43-29 lead into the locker room. If anything the first half was a case of the more experienced Blue Devils being caught up in the moment, as getting away from the things they do best in addition to failing to truly compete inside landed them in the early hole. North Carolina outscored Duke 28-12 in the paint, with forwards John Henson and Tyler Zeller combining for 23 points and 15 rebounds, and outside of Nolan Smith the Blue Devils were largely quiet offensively.

While the second half included a lot more of Smith, who established a new career-high with 34 points, Duke also received 18 points from Seth Curry and out-rebounded UNC 23-20 as they won 79-73. Duke also scored 10 points off of six North Carolina turnovers while the Tar Heels could get nothing from three Blue Devil miscues. Duke remains atop the ACC standings with the victory but the outcome shouldn't take anything away from North Carolina, who found out not just that they can hang with the conference's best (and likely make some noise in March) but also what they need to do in order to ultimately win games like Wednesday night's. Kendall Marshall finished the game with nine points and six assists to just one turnover, but there were times in the second half where the tempo seemed to get away from the Heels a bit. That's something that improves with experience and Nolan Smith is a good example of that.

"in the second half we just settled down and did that and got some great looks and knocked them down," said Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski. "Again, Nolan and Seth were ... I mean Nolan's performance was off the charts. That was one heck of a performance by that kid."

Henson (14 and 12) and Zeller (24 and 13) both posted double-doubles for the Tar Heels, and while Kyle Singler did shoot just 3-for-17 from the field he isn't going to do that very often. The concern for Duke as the season wears on has to be the play of their three big men: Ryan Kelly and brothers Mason and Miles Plumlee. The trio did finish the game with a combined 25 rebounds with 12 coming in the first half, but things looked to be far too easy for UNC's forwards. While many jumped to cite a "lack" of athleticism following the loss at St. John's, the play of the bangers inside could be what poses a problem for the Blue Devils when it comes to possibly winning a national title. That being said, if Curry can bottle up Wednesday's performance and become a consistent presence offensively (along with Singler and Smith) the Blue Devils will be an even tougher group for anyone to knock off.

"Seth knows he's a very good player, and he knows he can play in this league," said Smith. "And tonight he showed that - on the biggest stage. He showed up tonight, and he played the way we know he can." (quotes courtesy of Duke Athletics)

Other Notable Happenings

1. Georgetown's offensive execution and defense lead them to win at Syracuse.
During their four-game losing streak the issue for Syracuse was their defense, and once they solved that riddle the Orange won consecutive games leading into Wednesday's matchup with rival Georgetown. But in their loss to the Hoyas it was the offensive end of the floor that sealed Syracuse's fate, and Georgetown had something to do with that slip in execution. The Hoyas went on a 9-0 run late and held Syracuse without a field goal for the final six minutes in winning 64-56, the seventh straight conference win for John Thompson III's team after a 1-4 start. Syracuse shot just 39.6% from the field and turned the ball over fourteen times, and with Rick Jackson battling foul trouble the Orange were out-rebounded by nine in the second half. Georgetown did a good job of working the ball into the middle of the zone in the high post and knocking down perimeter shots at a solid clip, but it was ultimately their defense that delivered in the end. And that could be the recipe for Georgetown as the season reaches its climax.

2. Memphis and Texas A&M pick up important road victories.
While the Tigers and Aggies are in different positions in terms of getting to the NCAA Tournament there's no mistaking the fact that their victories on the road mean quite a bit for both. Antonio Barton, who has gone from recruiting throw-in to an integral member of the rotation, knocked down the game-winning three pointer in the final seconds to give Memphis a 63-62 win at UCF. Antonio scored 14 off the bench and was one of four Tigers in double figures as they remained within striking distance of first-place UTEP. As for A&M, they aren't close to Texas in the Big 12 standings but their win over Colorado in overtime was a much-needed result given their recent string of defeats. BJ Holmes was huge late, knocking down a deep three to send the game into overtime and scoring five of his 13 in the extra session. Now 5-4 in conference play, Mark Turgeon's club can go on a run with their next two games against Texas Tech and Iowa State. Neither win will be seen as the one that punches a ticket to the Big Dance but they do keep the Tigers and Aggies in the conversation for the time being. And that's the least you can ask for at this time.

3. Idaho ends Utah State's 17-game win streak.
Don Verlin's first win over his former boss was an important one, as Idaho won their second straight conference game after a four-game skid nullified their best start to league play as a WAC member. It was also a big one for guard Deremy Geiger, who scored 12 in his first game against his former school, helping lead the Vandals to a 64-56 win over Utah State and postponing the Aggies' clinching of the regular season title. Utah State shot just 33.8% from the field, including 5-for-28 from beyond the arc as they lost for the first time since December 4th at Georgetown. But the result is more about what it means to Idaho (a win would do little for the Aggies, who may not be able to bolster their at-large hopes until the meeting with Saint Mary's in the Sears BracketBusters event), whose senior class has yet to do anything of consequence in their careers when it comes to team accomplishments. To finally beat Utah State is something they can build on, and it helps Coach Verlin in selling the growth of his program.

Top Three Games

1. (5) Duke 79, (21) North Carolina 73

2. Rutgers 77, (10) Villanova 76 This may have featured the best ending of the season (unless you're a Villanova fan), with Mike Rice's team refusing to give up despite trailing by 10 with less than four minutes to go. Ultimately a Jonathan Mitchell four-point play gave the Scarlet Knights the win at the RAC. Mitchell led all scorers with 25 while Corey Fisher led the Wildcats with 23.

3. (7) Notre Dame 89, (15) Louisville 79 (OT) The game was tight for much of the night until the Irish scored the first 14 points of the extra session, ultimately defending their home floor by 10. Louisville's Kyle Kuric led all scorers with 28 points while Ben Hansbrough led Notre Dame with 25, and Carleton Scott scored 9 of his 16 in overtime.

Three Notable Performances

1. G Nolan Smith (Duke) Scored 22 of his career-high 34 points in the second half as Duke beat North Carolina 79-73.

2. F Jamie Skeen (VCU) 32 points and 11 rebounds in the Rams' 84-74 double-overtime win at Delaware.

3. F Ken Horton (Central Connecticut State) 23 points, 11 rebounds, six blocks and six steals in the Blue Devils' 71-55 win over Bryant.

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Poll: Who Will Win the WAC Tournament?

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:58:28 -0800

WAC Basketball Preview: 2009-10

CHN — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:52:52 -0800

Nevada has perhaps the league's best player in Luke Babbitt, but a lack of depth should help keep the likes of Utah State and NMSU in the midst of the league race. .

Conference Rank: 11th

10 year average: 11th

Conference Page

All-WAC Team
Pos.	Player	Team	Yr.

G	Jahmar Young	Nevada	So
G	Mac Hopson	Idaho	Sr
G	Roderick Flemings	Hawaii	Sr
G/F	Jared Quayle	Utah State	Sr
F	Luke Babbitt	Nevada	Fr

Player of the Year - Luke Babbitt Freshman of the Year - Greg Smith (Fresno)
CHN Award Winners		Returning Leaders
CHN All-Americans Luke Babbitt High-Major All-Americans Luke Babbitt (1st Team) Mac Hopson (3rd) Roderick Flemings Armon Johnson Jared Quayle Jahmar Young All-Freshman Greg Smith		Points: Jahmar Young 17.9 Rebounds: Wendell McKines 10.0 Assists: Mac Hopson 5.9 Team Points: New Mexico State 76.3

WAC Standings
Nat'l	Team	League	Tourney

46	Nevada	WAC	1	NCAA
51	Utah State	WAC	2	NIT
75	New Mexico St	WAC	3	NIT
105	Boise State	WAC	4	CBI/CIT
146	Idaho	WAC	5
169	Fresno State	WAC	6
185	Louisiana Tech	WAC	7
197	San Jose State	WAC	8
255	Hawaii	WAC	9

*Click on links for full Top 144 team preview

Poll: Who Do You Think Will Win the WAC?

College Basketball Preview - 348 Team Ranking - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

Poll: Who Will Win the WAC?

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:06:41 -0700

The Ultimate Schedule: WAC

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:19:49 -0700

WAC Scheduling “Rules”:

- Five non-conference games (as a result of playing at Hawaii, you get to make up travel costs with an extra home game)

- Eight conference games

Week 1: Oregon @ Boise State (September 3^rd)

Things got a little heated in last season’s meeting, which was won by the Broncos. Boise State picked up two personal fouls for late hits, one of which resulted in an ejection (Oregon QB Jeremiah Masoli was knocked out of the game on one of those hits). Of course the rematch coincides with the new mandate that teams must shake hands prior to the game. Let’s just say that Masoli and friends were none too thrilled with that prospect, and RB LaGarrette Blount told Sports Illustrated’s Austin Murphy in the offseason that “we owe them an ass whuppin’.” The national media may place more focus on Alabama/ Virginia Tech, but this may be the game of the weekend.

Other Games Considered: Nevada @ Notre Dame (9/5), Louisiana Tech @ Auburn (9/5), Idaho @ New Mexico State (9/5)

Week 2: Louisiana Tech @ Navy (September 12^th)

Before playing Army last season the Bulldogs had never faced a service academy team in football. It probably wouldn’t be a good idea to mention that Louisiana Tech managed just 152 yards of offense in the 14-7 loss, and Navy’s a much better team than the Black Knights. But Derek Dooley’s team should perform better on offense this season with Ross Jenkins firmly entrenched as the starter.

The Bulldogs ranked second in the WAC and thirteenth nationally in rush defense, allowing opponents to rush for just under 104 yards per game. A performance like that against the team that’s led the nation in rushing each of the last four seasons would be improbable, but the Bulldogs just need to do enough to ensure a win.

Other Games Considered: Fresno State @ Wisconsin (9/12), Utah @ San Jose State (9/12)

Week 3: Boise State @ Fresno State (September 18^th)

The Bulldogs haven’t had much success against Boise State in recent years, dropping three straight and seven of the last eight meetings. If Pat Hill’s team wants to entertain any thoughts of winning the WAC they need to defend their home turf in front of a national television audience. Things got beyond out of hand on the “Smurf Turf” last season, with Boise State romping to a brutally efficient 61-10 win. Fresno State won’t be able to match the Broncos score for score; if the defense can slow down the vaunted BSU attack they just might stick around for a bit.

Other Games Considered: Nevada @ Colorado State (9/19), San Jose State @ Stanford (9/19)

Week 4: Missouri @ Nevada (September 25^th)

For the second consecutive season the Wolf Pack will host a team from the Big 12, and the thought of beating Missouri is a bit more realistic than beating Texas Tech last season. The Tigers will be working with a new quarterback (Blaine Gabbert) among other newcomers at the skill positions, and while the defense returns First Team All-Big 12 selection Sean Witherspoon (155 tackles) Colin Kaepernick could be in position to make some things happen. Things got out of hand in Columbia last season, with the Tigers blowing out Nevada 69-17. But Chase Daniel, Jeremy Maclin and Chase Coffman won’t be on the field in Reno, which gives the home team a puncher’s chance.

Other Games Considered: Fresno State @ Cincinnati (9/26), New Mexico State @ New Mexico (9/26)

Week 5: New Mexico State @ San Diego State (October 3^rd)

Not exactly a marquee game, but it is a matchup between two teams working with new coaching staffs. Brady Hoke and DeWayne Walker hope to change the culture at their respective schools, and a game like this could be a springboard into bigger things. You have to learn how to win before aspiring to win championships. The solutions for both teams go beyond one side of the football; they struggled on both sides of the ball in 2008. This will either be a low-scoring game because both teams struggle offensively or a high-scoring game due to the play of both defenses.

Other Games Considered: UNLV @ Nevada (10/3), Hawaii @ Louisiana Tech (9/30)

Week 6: Louisiana Tech @ Nevada (October 9^th)

The winner becomes Boise State’s biggest challenger while the loser has to hope for some serious help if they’re to remain a part of the championship chase. Nevada’s won the last four meetings, including coming back from a 31-14 deficit to steal a 35-31 decision in Ruston last year. The Bulldogs will need a big day from QB Ross Jenkins, but they won’t need to ask him to match Colin Kaepernick play for play. Both teams have the talent necessary to pose a threat to Boise State; whether or not they get to play the Broncos with something on the line will likely be decided by this game.

Other Game Considered: Fresno State @ Hawaii (10/10)

Week 7: Boise State @ Tulsa (October 14^th)

There could be some serious fireworks in Tulsa when the Broncos step onto the field. Two of the nation’s best offenses in 2008 are poised to rack up points in 2009, even though the Golden Hurricane haven’t decided on a starting quarterback just yet. G.J. Kinne, Jacob Bower and Shavodrick Beaver are all possibilities to start, and all three will likely see snaps. The options available to Tulsa head coach Todd Graham could make preparation a bit more difficult for the Broncos. This could be a game in which the team with the ball last wins.

Other Games Considered: San Jose State @ Fresno State (10/17), Nevada @ Utah State (10/17)

Week 8: Louisiana Tech @ Utah State (October 24^th)

There are some, despite the hiring of a new head coach, who believe that the Aggies can make a move up the WAC standings. But the Bulldogs have won the last four meetings and used a pair of pick-sixes to win 45-38 in Ruston last season. In order for Gary Andersen’s team to move up in the standings the defense needs to improve. Utah State ranked eighth in the conference in both scoring and total defense. Hence the decision to hire the former Utah defensive coordinator, who helped lead the Utes to an undefeated season last year. If the Aggies take care of the football they’ll be in the game throughout.

Other Game Considered: Boise State @ Hawaii (10/24)

Week 9: Bye Week (October 31^st)

Utah State at Fresno State may be the game with the biggest impact on the conference race, and neither has been projected to be a title contender. Boise State hosts a San Jose State team that could match them defensively but still has a number of questions to answer on offense. Hawaii’s trip to Nevada has the ability to be a wild affair, but you have to wonder about the ability of the Warrior defense to stop Colin Kaepernick.

Week 10: Boise State @ Louisiana Tech (November 6^th)

Boise State has won the last seven in the series, and they haven’t been very close either. It’s another case of a team getting into a shootout with the Broncos, only to find that they don’t have the bullets necessary to survive. Provided both teams take care of business in the weeks leading up to this matchup it should be a frenzied atmosphere with a national television audience tuning in. A good individual matchup to watch will be Tech WR Phillip Livas against Boise State CB Kyle Wilson.

Other Games Considered: Nevada @ San Jose State (11/8), Utah State @ Hawaii (11/7)

Week 11: San Jose State @ Utah State (November 14^th)

One of these two teams, if not both, may be in the position of needing wins to become bowl eligible in mid-November. The Spartans have had a tough time winning in Logan, including a loss there in 2005. SJSU won in Logan in 2007, but the final margin was just three points. The Spartans won at home 30-7 last season, holding the Aggies to 190 yards of offense and ten first downs. The lone touchdown for Utah State came with less than two minutes remaining in the game when the Spartan starters were on the bench. Expect a closer meeting in the rematch.

Other Games Considered: Fresno State @ Nevada (11/14), Louisiana Tech @ LSU (11/14)

Week 12: Louisiana Tech @ Fresno State (November 21^st)

The battle of the Bulldogs and the winner will do themselves a favor in the caliber of their bowl game. Daniel Porter gashed Fresno State to the tune of 189 yards in the 38-35 Louisiana Tech win, so he’ll be a focal point for Fresno State’s defensive efforts. Fresno State rushed for just sixty-three yards in the loss while allowing Louisiana Tech to rush for 280. Phillip Livas also had an impact, returning a punt eighty-one yards for a touchdown. Louisiana Tech did practically nothing in the air but the dominant performance on the ground was all they needed. Fresno State had better take care of that if they want to entertain any thoughts of winning.

Other Games Considered: Hawaii @ San Jose State (11/21), Boise State @ Utah State (11/20)

Week 13: Nevada @ Boise State (November 27^th)

The WAC title could be on the line the night after Thanksgiving, and in the case of the Broncos they could be chasing a BCS berth as well. New Mexico State the following weekend won’t pose much of a challenge, so it may all come down to beating a Nevada team that gave them all they wanted in Reno last year. Boise State has won the last seven games in the series, with the majority of those wins being blowouts. Boise State survived last season despite turning the ball over four times, stopping the Wolf Pack late in the fourth quarter to hang onto the 41-34 win. Nevada can compete; whether or not they can compete against Boise State on the road has proven to be another matter in the past.

Other Game Considered: Navy @ Hawaii (11/28)

Week 14: San Jose State @ Louisiana Tech (December 5^th)

Louisiana Tech was dominant in last year’s 21-0 win, holding the Spartans to 148 yards of offense and a paltry six first downs. It’s hard to predict the same, but Dick Tomey’s team has never been known to light up a scoreboard. Kyle Reed was decent last year and the hope this season is that Reed can help lead an offensive resurgence. By the time December 5^th rolls around we’ll know what kind of answer the Spartans have for their offensive issues, and someone could be playing for a bowl berth as well.

Other Games Considered: Wisconsin @ Hawaii (12/5), Fresno State @ Illinois (12/5)

WAC Football Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:15:46 -0700

Boise State looks for a return to the BCS

The last decade has been a rather successful one for the Boise State football program, and the last two seasons have been rather special. Under Chris Petersen Boise State has won thirty-five of thirty nine games, and they’ve also finished the regular season undefeated on two separate occasions. Because Utah was ranked higher in the final BCS poll Boise State ended up taking on TCU in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl instead of going back to the BCS, but that shouldn’t take away from an outstanding campaign. And last season’s 12-1 outfit was expected to be even better in 2009, meaning that the Broncos could be poised to once again crash the BCS party.

Quarterback Kellen Moore had an outstanding rookie season, throwing for nearly 3,500 yards and twenty-five touchdowns. Only six starters return on each side of the football, but with just three seniors on the preseason two-deep the Broncos could be poised for a sustained run at the top of the WAC. Boise State finished 2008 ranked second in the WAC in total offense and first in total defense, numbers that should replicate themselves in 2009. Boise State’s credentials are known; a season-opening grudge match with Oregon will determine how realistic their BCS aspirations are.

The better question may be who finishes second behind the Broncos: Fresno State, Louisiana Tech or Nevada? Louisiana Tech improved their win total by three games under Derek Dooley, finishing in a three-way tie for second in 2008. Nine starters return on offense with First Team All-WAC performers Daniel Porter and Phillip Livas (as a punt returner) leading the way. Quarterback Ross Jenkins had a solid campaign for the Bulldogs, who were expected to rely on Georgia Tech transfer Taylor Bennett when the season began.

Jenkins didn’t put up the greatest numbers but he kept his turnovers to a minimum while making sure the ball ended up in the hands of the Bulldogs’ best playmakers. Look for more out of him in 2009. Defensively Louisiana Tech returns seven starters, including leading tackler FS Antonio Baker (115 tackles). Baker and defensive tackle D’Anthony Smith were both First Team All-WAC selections last season and will be expected to make the same impact in 2009. But while Louisiana Tech hosts Boise State they have to visit both Fresno State and Nevada.

Speaking of the Wolf Pack, Chris Ault has the pleasure of welcoming back one of the nation’s most underrated quarterbacks in junior Colin Kaepernick. As well as Kellen Moore played at Boise State last season it was Kaepernick who was named WAC Offensive Player of the Year, accounting for nearly 4,000 yards of total offense and thirty-nine combined touchdowns.

Seven starters return on both sides of the football for Nevada, and the fact that they get both Bulldogs (Fresno State and Louisiana Tech) in Reno. If the Wolf Pack can improve a defense that ranked sixth in the WAC in total defense, they may be able to go into the regular season finale at Boise State with a shot at the conference title.

There was the question of whether or not Pat Hill would stick around after last season, but he’s back and the Bulldogs are hungry to improve upon a disappointing 2008 season. Things started off pretty well for Fresno State, winning at Rutgers in the season opener. But the defense faltered, finishing seventh in the conference in total defense, and the offense turned the ball over twenty-four times (the defense forced just thirteen turnovers). But they were still able to get to a bowl game, losing to Colorado State in the New Mexico Bowl.

Fresno State returns eighteen starters with nine being on defense. Defensive end Chris Carter and linebacker Ben Jacobs led the Bulldogs in tackles last season; in fact the top four tacklers from 2008 return. Offensively Fresno State will need a big year from their running backs, and with the top five rushers from 2008 back they’ve got a chance to do just that. With a new quarterback taking over for the graduated Tom Brandstater the running game becomes that much more important. Fresno State gets Boise State and Louisiana Tech at home, a scheduling quirk that could give them an advantage over the other contenders.

The next tier could be just as hard-fought, with San Jose State, Hawaii and maybe even Utah State jockeying for position. Hawaii didn’t end 2008 on the best note, getting blown out in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl by Notre Dame. Head coach Greg McMackin didn’t help matters with some comments made in poor taste at WAC Media Day, and it remains to be seen if the controversy has any impact on the Warriors. Seven starters return on offense, led by a quarterback in Greg Alexander who progressed as the season went on. The defense may have some problems with just two starters returning. Defensive end John Fonoti and middle linebacker Brashton Satele will need to be leaders in every sense of the word if the Warriors are to exceed expectations.

San Jose State’s issues aren’t on the defensive side of the football; the Dick Tomey era has been defined by tough defensive play. But can the Spartans put up enough points to win a game or two they won’t be expected to. SJSU ranked second in the conference in scoring defense, allowing just under twenty-two points per game. Not a bad number…unless the offense is scoring just under twenty points per game (last in the WAC). Seven starters return on each side of the football, and they’ll be tested early with games against USC, Utah and Stanford to start the season.

There’s intrigue in Logan due to the arrival of Gary Andersen, who over the previous five seasons was the defensive coordinator at Utah. The Aggies return seventeen starters, including ten on offense, and the hope is that the change in messenger can bring about a change in results. There’s an awful lot of experience back, led by QB Diondre Borel, C Brennan McFadden and OLB Paul Igboeli, but how quickly can you teach a team not used to winning how to win? If the Aggies prove to be quick studies could surprise some people.

Fighting to stay out of the cellar are perennial doormat Idaho and rebuilding New Mexico State. Rob Akey dropped into a tough situation in Moscow taking over an Idaho program that had been dropped by the wayside by Dennis Erickson when the Arizona State job opened a couple of years ago. When combining the lack of trust the players may have in the coaching situation (and it’s understandable) with a lack of success rebuilding can take a bit longer than anticipated.

The Vandals return seven starters on offense and nine on defense, making up arguably the most experienced team of the Akey era. QB Nathan Enderle will need to cut down on his seventeen interceptions while staying right around the twenty touchdowns number he posted last season, and the top three rushers from last season also return. Free safety Virdell Larkins, who led the Vandals with eighty-two tackles in 2008, returns to lead a defense that was last in the conference in total defense by sixty yards.

New head coach DeWayne Walker has quite the task ahead of him in taking over for the departed Hal Mumme. The Aggies had offensive capabilities due to the system combined with QB Chase Holbrook, but when you can’t stop anyone you’re going to have a hard time winning football games. Hence the decision to hire Walker, who consistently had UCLA in the top half of the Pac-10 in most of the major defensive categories during his time in Los Angeles.

The task is to take a team that returns seven starters on each side of the ball and teach them how to win consistently (NMSU hasn’t finished above .500 since 2002). Junior Jeff Fleming will start the opener at quarterback, which also happens to be their conference opener (Idaho). New Mexico State got in trouble last season due to turnover margin and the fact that they could neither run the football nor stop the run. Look for those aspects to improve under Coach Walker.

Storyline: Can Boise State get back to the BCS? For all the talk about the Mountain West clamoring for an automatic spot, can the success of the Broncos over the last decade be ignored? And don’t expect a cakewalk through the conference either; BSU will visit Fresno State, Hawaii and Louisiana Tech this year. Not to mention non-conference games against Oregon and Tulsa.

Players of the Year: QB Colin Kaepernick (Nevada) and CB Kyle Wilson (Boise State)

How they’ll finish

1. Boise State

2. Nevada

3. Louisiana Tech

4. Fresno State

5. San Jose State

6. Hawaii

7. Utah State

8. Idaho

9. New Mexico State

Next: WAC Ultimate Schedule

WAC Championship: Preview & Odds

Evan Dorey — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 07:27:02 -0700

This is one in a series of conference tournament previews, in which I run down all the teams involved, give a brief statistical review and present the log5 projections, using in-conference offensive and defensive efficiency. The basic log5 methodology comes from Bill James, and this is an area Ken Pomeroy has looked at in the past as well. I claim nothing new in the application, but obviously with slightly different methodologies, these numbers may differ from others you find. I don’t claim to be an expert on any particular conference, and I’m sure there are some mis-characterizations on some players I’ve seen sparingly at best, so please add your thoughts in the comments. Anyway, with no further ado, the preview follows below:

Western Athletic Conference

The WAC tournament takes place in Reno, NV, home of the Nevada Wolfpack, with the bottom two teams contesting an opening-round game before the quarterfinals.

#	Team	QF	SF	F	W
1	Utah St.	100.00%	89.40%	71.39%	41.57%
2	Nevada	100.00%	89.99%	74.64%	44.22%
3	Idaho	100.00%	50.12%	10.97%	2.85%
4	Boise St.	100.00%	52.31%	13.57%	4.07%
5	New Mexico St.	100.00%	47.69%	11.64%	3.30%
6	Louisiana Tech	100.00%	49.88%	10.88%	2.82%
7	San Jose St.	100.00%	10.01%	3.52%	0.59%
8	Hawaii	47.47%	4.79%	1.48%	0.25%
9	Fresno St.	52.53%	5.81%	1.92%	0.35%

Nevada’s home court advantage gives them a serious chance of causing an upset in what would otherwise be a romp for the Aggies. The 3-6 teams don’t show a lot of separation, and any could pull an upset of the top two.

#1 – Utah St. Aggies (27-4, 14-2) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.131

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2006 (1^st Round)

The Aggies looked to be one of the nation’s mid-major darlings when they sat at 24-1 overall, and were fairly well placed in the national rankings, but closing the season 3-3 has taken a bit of the shine of their record. Still, this is a very good team, powered by one of the nation’s best offenses. Utah St. plays a slow offensive style, and does a heck of a job with it, shooting excellent percentages inside and out, and controlling turnovers effectively. The Aggies’ Achilles heel has been defense, as they are only ranked 5rh in the WAC, allowing opponents to shoot well from three and rarely taking the ball away from them.

Players to watch:

6-9 SR Gary Wilkinson, 16.9 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 59.9 eFG% - The best player on the league’s best team, Wilkinson sits in the top 3 of the league in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage, a dangerous combination of traits for the Aggies’ opponents. He’s great at the free throw line and rarely turns the ball over, so whenever the ball gets into Wilkinson’s hands, it’s a positive for Utah St.

6-1 JR Jared Quayle, 12.9 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.5 SPG, 55.5 eFG% - Quayle is the team’s best three-point threat at 38%, and also chips in with good assist and steal rates. He’s not quite as efficient as Wilkinson, but that’s hardly an insult, and his strong shooting and ability to avoid turnovers means he makes few mistakes.

#2 – Nevada Wolfpack (19-11, 11-5) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.071

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2007 (2^nd Round)

Nevada beat Utah St. on its floor just a week ago, so a repeat performance in the tournament final would not be a huge surprise from the clear #2 team in the WAC. The Wolfpack have had the best offense outside of Logan, thanks to a low turnover rate and great free-throw shooting. They are one of the nation’s weakest teams at making threes, so they will ideally avoid taking too many. Nevada also boasts the WAC’s best defense, and though it has not been good outside on this side of the ball either, it dominates inside, holding opponents to 42% from inside the arc.

Players to watch:

6-9 FR Luke Babbitt, 16.4 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 49.9 eFG% - Babbitt has been one of the WAC’s best freshman, and leads the team in both points and rebounds. He’s been a consistent player who has stepped into a leading role on the team with little problem.

6-3 SO Armon Johnson, 15.0 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 4.3 APG, 44.0 eFG% - Johnson is an excellent ball control guard, putting up a very good assist rate and a strong turnover rate as well.

#3 – Idaho Vandals (16-14, 9-7) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.011

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1990 (1^st Round)

There’s a big gap back from the two leading teams to a cluster that sit 3^rd – 6^th, and Idaho is the hottest of these, coming in on a 6-1 record in its last seven games. The Vandals have only been 5^th in efficiency margin, and are average on both ends of the floor. They rarely turn the ball over, and are decent shooters, but are terrible on the offensive glass. Defensively, their malaise is more general , as they are below average in most areas, but their biggest struggles have come defending the three-point shot.

Players to watch:

6-2 JR Mac Hopson, 16.6 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.8 SPG, 52.3 eFG% - Hopson has been the best guard in the WAC, leading the conference in assists and steals, and putting up a lot of points as well. He shoots about the same percentage from three and two, and at around 46%, that makes him a very dangerous scorer.

6-6 JR Brandon Wiley, 8.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 57.2 eFG% - Wiley is only the team’s fifth scorer, but he leads in rebounding and shoots a good percentage on the relatively few chances he gets.

#4 – Boise St. Broncos (19-11, 9-7) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.009

Last NCAA Tournament bid: None

Boise is the third ranked team in the WAC by EM, but lost out on a tiebreaker to in-state rivals Idaho to get the 4^th seed, and a potential semifinal against Utah St. The Broncos are the WAC’s fastest paced team, and take the ball inside with good success, over 50% on two-point shots. They don’t make a lot of threes, however, and are poor offensive rebounders who rarely get to the foul line. The Bronco defense has been better, holding opponents to fairly low percentages, though it forces few turnovers.

Players to watch:

6-7 SR Mark Sanchez, 12.8 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 53.1 eFG% - Sanchez leads the team in scoring and rebounding, and is a quality inside shooter who went through a serious lull in mid-January, but has come back in the last couple of weeks.

6-9 JR Kurt Cunningham, 9.8 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 54.3 eFG% - Cunningham is a player who would benefit a lot from getting more playing time, as he’s been spectacular when he’s had chances, leading the WAC in field goal percentage at 67%, and is a good rebounder. He has had a fair amount of foul trouble, though, and will need to cut down on that to get those extra minutes.

#5 – New Mexico St. Aggies (16-14, 9-7) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.001

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2007 (1^st Round)

New Mexico St. has had an up-and-down season, but earned a spot right in the middle of the WAC with a very good offense and one of the conference’s worst defenses. The Aggies are excellent three point shooters who make relatively few mistakes on the offensive end, but struggle to defend the inside, crushed on the boards and not defending shots particularly well.

Players to watch:

6-4 SO Jahmar Young, 18.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 50.4 eFG% - Young is the conference’s leading scorer, but unlike what you might expect, he doesn’t have a dominant role in the Aggie offense. Instead, he’s a deadly shooter on a fairly high number of attempts, 44% from behind the arc and over 80% from the free throw line, and rarely turns the ball over.

6-6 SO Wendell McKines, 12.2 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 51.7 eFG% - McKines is the conference’s leading rebounder, and the only WAC player to average a double-double, if only barely. He’s a pretty solid scorer, but his game depends on his strong showings on the glass.

#6 – Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (14-17, 6-10) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.011

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1991 (1^st Round)

If you’re looking for an outside shot to make some noise in Reno, it just might be the Bulldogs, who have been somewhat better than their record, and should have a serious chance against Idaho in the quarters, and against Nevada, a team they beat on the road, in the semis. Louisiana Tech has had one of the WAC’s best defenses, forcing a lot of turnovers and giving opponents a lot of trouble behind the arc. It also shoots well from long-distance, but turns the ball over quite often and has been poor at the free throw line.

Players to watch:

6-11 JR Magnum Rolle, 12.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.8 BPG, 53.2 eFG% - The Bahamian big man has dominated on the glass and is a good shot-blocker, and shoots a decent percentage for an inside player.

6-5 FR Kyle Gibson, 14.1 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.5 APG, 55.1 eFG% - Gibson is the team’s best three-point shooter at 43%, and has been on fire over the last month, averaging nearly 20 points since the start of February.

#7 – San Jose St. Spartans (13-16, 6-10) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.069

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1996 (1^st Round)

Now, as we head down to the bottom three teams, there is a clear separation in the efficiency margin between this group and the teams above. The Spartans have had the conference’s worst defense, allowing opponents to shoot a good percentage and giving them a lot of chances by rarely getting them to cough up the ball. They’ve been especially vulnerable from three, giving up more than 40% from the field. The same problem on the outside occurs on the offensive end, as they make a pretty low percentage of long-distance attempts. The good news in that respect is that they attempt very few threes, tending to stick to the inside, where they’ve been better, and that they get a lot of extra chances from the offensive glass.

Players to watch:

6-9 JR Chris Oakes, 8.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 1.3 BPG, 58.2 eFG% - Oakes is a good player who just needs to take a bigger role on the offensive end to really break through. He’s a great rebounder who puts up good shot-blocking numbers and shoots an excellent percentage, but is only 5^th on the team in scoring because he takes few attempts.

6-9 JR C.J. Webster, 11.7 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 49.6 eFG% - Webster is another solid inside player who shoots effectively and has done well on the glass.

#8 – Hawaii Warriors (13-16, 5-11) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.062

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2002 (1^st Round)

The Warriors have had the worst offense in the WAC, and while they’ve been good defensively, it just hasn’t been enough to make up for their struggles with the ball. They are one of the country’s worst three-point shooting teams, and while they do minimize this by focusing on getting the ball inside, they haven’t been all that good there either. The Warriors do have offensive strengths, as they are among the national elite in offensive rebounding and in getting to the free throw line. Defensively, Hawaii forces a lot of turnovers, and holds opponents pretty well inside, but allows a high enough percentage on three-pointers to cause itself trouble.

Players to watch:

6-7 JR Roderick Flemings, 16.6 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 49.3 eFG% - Flemings has led the WAC in minutes played, and is a critical player for Hawaii’s offensive chances, both the most important and most efficient man on the team. He’s a good inside scorer who does pretty well at the free throw line and on the offensive glass.

6-9 JR Bill Amis, 10.8 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.4 BPG, 47.7 eFG% - Amis is a very good rebounder and shot-blocker, but his offensive game could use some work, his percentage is lower than you’d like from a 6-9 player.

#9 – Fresno St. Bulldogs (12-20, 3-13) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.055

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2001 (2^nd Round)

Fresno has been fairly unlucky, as it is last ranked in the standings, but 7^th in efficiency margin. It has been a fairly poor shooting team that is at its best on the defensive perimeter, holding opponents to just 31% from behind the arc. The Bulldogs do give up a lot of points inside, and have struggled on the glass at both ends.

Players to watch:

6-7 FR Paul George, 14.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 56.0 eFG% - George has been an excellent freshman, but after a spectacular start has cooled down a little in the final month of the season. He’s a strong three-point shooter who also leads the team in rebounds and steals.

6-9 JR Sylvester Seay, 15.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.7 BPG, 51.8 eFG% - Seay is the Bulldogs’ leading scorer, a good inside shooter and shot-blocker who can also step out and hit threes, though not as well as George.

My statistical all-WAC team:

Idaho JR G Mac Hopson, 16.6 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.8 SPG, 52.3 eFG%

Utah St. JR G Jared Quayle, 12.9 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.5 SPG, 55.5 eFG%

New Mexico St. SO G Jahmar Young, 18.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 50.4 eFG%

Utah St. SR F Gary Wilkinson, 16.9 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 59.9 eFG%

Fresno St. FR F Paul George, 14.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 56.0 eFG%

+2009 NCAA Tournament
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Utah St Locks Up WAC Title With a Month to Spare

Press Release — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 21:03:45 -0800

MOSCOW, Idaho - Senior forward Gary Wilkinson recorded his sixth double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead 17th-ranked Utah State to a 62-53 road win here against Idaho Thursday night. With the win, Utah State claims a share of its second-straight Western Athletic Conference regular season championship as it improves to 12-0 in league play and 24-1 overall. Idaho falls to 10-13 on the season and 4-6 in the WAC with the loss.

Utah State also extended the nation's longest winning streak this year to 19 straight games, which is tied with the 1999-2000 USU team for the longest winning streak in school history. The Aggies also improved to 10-0 on the road this year, which is the best in the nation, and is again tied with second-ranked Oklahoma for the most wins and best record in the country.

Along with all of its other streaks, Utah State also posted its 16th-straight WAC win, which is the longest winning streak in the conference since Utah won 19 straight WAC games in the late 1990s.

Junior guard Jared Quayle also scored in double-figures for Utah State and finished with 12 points and six rebounds, while sophomore forward Tai Wesley finished with nine points and five rebounds before fouling out in the final minute. Mac Hopson led Idaho with 17 points, while Luciano de Souza scored 11 points off the bench for the Vandals.

Once again, Utah State found a way to win a game in the final minutes as it out-scored Idaho 18-9 in the final 6:45. With the game tied at 44-all, junior guard Stavon Williams hit his second three-pointer of the game. Quayle later added back-to-back baskets, including one following a steal in the backcourt to give the visitors a 52-46 advantage with 4:01 to play.

Following his third trey of the half from de Souza to get UI back to within three both teams went nearly two minutes without scoring before Wilkinson hit only his third three-pointer of the season to stake the Aggies to a 55-49 lead with just under two minutes to play. USU then hit 7-of-8 free throws down the stretch to post the nine-point win.

Utah State finished the game by shooting just 40.5 percent from the field (17-42) as its 17 made field goals were a season-low. USU did, however, shot 43.8 percent from three-point range (7-16) and made 77.8 percent of its free throws (21-27). Idaho finished the game by shooting just 36.4 percent overall (16-44), including 41.2 percent from behind the arc (7-17), and 70.0 percent at the free throw line (14-20). USU dominated the glass and out-rebounded Idaho, 40-21.

Utah State built and early eight-point advantage at 11-3 as Wilkinson scored six points during the opening seven minutes. Idaho, however, rallied with a 12-3 run during the next six minutes to take its first lead of the game at 17-16 with 5:12 to play. USU responded with four straight points and went into the locker room up 24-22 at the break.

Wilkinson led Utah State with 10 first-half points, while Terrance Simmons had seven for Idaho. USU shot just 36.4 percent (8-22) in the first 20 minutes, but held the Vandals to just 29.2 percent shooting (7-24).

Utah State will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 14 when it plays at Boise State (16-7, 6-4) at 7 p.m. (MT). The game against the Broncos will be televised live on KJZZ-TV.