Nov
1
Written by:
Vince Hordemann
11/1/2009 10:07 AM
For basketball fans that appreciate quality hoops, this year's Western Athletic Conference should provide exactly that. With all but two teams returning at least 7 players, and all teams but Nevada keeping their head coaches, this should be a year of great chemistry and improved basketball.
The top programs from the last few years look like they will be staying put, with Utah State and Nevada leading the way. Idaho shocked everyone last year but isn't expected to move into the top two yet. And don't be surprised if Boise State and/or San Jose State finish higher than they have been picked.
Predicted order of finish (click on team to jump to their summary)
Team Media Coaches Prev. Conf. Record
Utah State 1 1 14-2
Nevada 2 2 11-5
New Mexico State 3 3 9-7
Idaho 4 4 9-7
Boise State 5 7 9-7
Louisiana Tech 6 5 6-10
Fresno 7 6 3-13
San Jose State 8 8 6-10
Hawaii 9 9 5-11
Boise State
The Broncos return 7 letterman from last year's 5th place team, including 4 of their top 5 scorers and rebounders. Anthony Thomas and Kurt Cunningham will serve as the team leaders with Paul Noonan and Zack Moritz also being relied upon.
The Broncos lost their team leader from last year, Mark Sanchez, whom averaged 13.0 points and 7.2 rebounds. Cunningham scored 10.2 points but will need to increase his rebounding to go along with senior Ike Okoye (5.6 rpg) in the key. Thomas did a good job scoring from the point last year (9.5 ppg) and also averaged 4.7 assists while leading the team in minutes played. His leadership will be key to the Bronco's success.
Expect Noonan to increase his scoring from 10.0 ppg and big contributions from newcomers Wes Perryman (Monroe College) and Daequon Montreal (College of Southern Idaho) if he doesn't redshirt.
The Broncos will get an early look at where they stand when they go to Champaign to take on the Illinois Fighing Illini December 5.
Fresno State
The Bulldogs return six players from last year's team that finished last in the WAC. The key player for the Bulldogs is Sylvester Seay, the 6-10 Sr. forward that averaged 15.3 ppg and 5.8 rpg and was an all-WAC second teamer last year. Sophomore forward Paul George will also get more attention this year (he averaged 14.3 ppg and 6.2 rpg) but it will be Seay that will have to help the Bulldogs get out of the WAC basement and into contention.
Hawaii
If nothing else, the Warriors do have experience with 10 players seeing action in the previous season. They return their top 2 scorers and rebounders and their biggest impact player, Roderick Flemings, whom averaged 16.6 ppg and was selected to the all-WAC second team last year. However, Flemings only sat out about 4 minutes a game last year (led the WAC in minutes played per game) and if the Warriors hope to avoid dropping to 9th in the WAC (they finished 8th last season) they will need to find Flemings some help. That help may come from Jr. guard Dwain Williams, a transfer from Providence and is now ready to play after redshirting last year.
Idaho
The Vandals made last season a turn around year that no one expected, but one that the coaches and the media expect to continue into Don Verlin's second year of coaching. They return 6 players from last year's team, including their top 5 scorers and rebounders.
The Vandals are led by Washington State transfer Mac Hopson and Marvin Jefferson. Hopson was a first team all-WAC player last season after averaging 16.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 5.8 apg (led the WAC in assists) and is expected to earn the same honor this year. Jefferson averaged 9.1 ppg and 4.5 rpg. He has shown that he can be a great presence inside but will need to avoid foul trouble to have the biggest impact.
Though the Vandals have 10 newcomers to the program, three of them are transfers from other programs and redshirted last season. Two of them are from Division I programs; Marcus Lawrence is a 5-11 Jr. that played two seasons at UNLV and Steffan Johnson is a 6-1 Sr. that played three seasons at Pacific. Johnson will be in the running for WAC Newcomer of the Year.
The Vandals have the talent coming back to compete for a top spot in the WAC. The question is, can they continue to improve now that expectations have been increased?
Louisiana Tech
The Bulldogs finished in 6th place last season and the expectations are about the same for this year. They will be led by Kyle Gibson, the team's leading scorer and the only player on the team that has three previous years with the team. Unquestionably the team leader, no one played more minutes for the Aggies than the 6-5 Sr. guard, who was an all-WAC second team selection last year and led the WAC in 3-pointers made. Gibson will get some support from Mangum Rolle, whom averaged 12.2 ppg and led the team in rebounding with 7.2 rpg.
The Bulldogs have some interesting storylines from an Idaho perspective. Their roster includes 6-10 Jr. center Shawn Oliverson from Preston, Id. Oliverson started at Cornell before transferring to Louisiana Tech.
The other story is David Jackson. Jackson actually started at Idaho before deciding to transfer. The teams first meet up in Moscow on January 9. The teams split their games last year in the regular season before the Bulldogs knocked the Vandals out of the WAC tournament in the first round.
Nevada
The Wolfpack finished second last year in the regular season and tournament and should finish at or near the top again this year. They are led by the WAC Freshmen of Year Luke Babbitt (2009) and Armon Johnson (2008). The duo combined to average 32.4 ppg last season and were both elected to the WAC first team. Babbitt also averaged 7.4 rpg and Johnson averaged 4.3 apg.
The Pack will be adjusting to a new head coach in David Carter. Coach Carter is anything but new to the Wolfpack program, having spent the previous 10 seasons in Reno. He not only benefits with the return of Babbitt and Johnson but 8 total lettermen that have seen action. Two of those that are expected to compete for starting positions this year are Joey Shaw and Brandon Fields. Shaw and Fields were co-sixth men of the year for Nevada last season. Shaw also played at the College of Southern Idaho.
The Wolfpack will get a big test when they head to Chapel Hill on November 29 to take on defending national champions, North Carolina.
New Mexico State
The Aggies return 10 lettermen from last year's fifth place team, including 6-5 Jr. guard Jahmar Young and 6-6 Jr. forward Wendell McKines. Young, whom averaged 17.9 ppg last year (led the WAC) was selected to the WAC's first team. McKines is a double-double guy, averaging 12.1 ppg and 10.0 rpg (led the WAC in rebounding).
Of all the returnees, 4 of them were top scorers from last year and 3 of them were top 5 rebounders on the team. The biggest early game for the Aggies is on December 15 when they travel to Los Angeles to play UCLA.
San Jose State
The Spartans return 8 players including 6-4 Jr. guard Adrian Oliver and 6-9 Jr. forward C.J. Webster. Oliver averaged 17.1 ppg last season in 18 games while Webster averaged 12.0 ppg and 6.5 rpg.
The Spartans do lack in experience and may not have a lot of success early. But, if they can stay healthy and get a couple of players to step up, they could get themselves out of the basement this year. They take on Washington in Seattle on November 20.
Utah State
The Aggies have finished at the top of the WAC regular season the last two years, winning the tournament last year and giving Marquette a run for their money at the NCAA tournament.
This year, they will have to deal with losing their leader in Gary Wilkinson, whom was their top scorer and rebounder. But, as Stew Morrill seems to do every year, he has players in the waiting.
Expect the Aggies to be led by 6-1 Sr. guard Jared Quayle and 6-7 Jr. forward Tai Wesley. Quayle was selected to the all-WAC second team last year after averaging 13.1 ppg and 6.0 rpg. Wesley is poised to emerge this year after averaging 12.0 pg and 6.0 rpg.
Also on the roster is Twin Falls native Brady Jardine. Jardine is a 6-7 So. forward that led the Twin Falls Bruins to the 2006 5A state championship. He is regarded as one of the best pure athletes on the team.
Blogs
Check out these blogs and websites from the WAC:
Western Athletic Conference
>>>http://www.wacsports.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10100&SPID=4126
Parsing the WAC
>>>http://parsingthewac.blogspot.com
Jared Eborn, DeseretNews.com, Utah State
>>>http://www.deseretnews.com/blogs/1,5322,25,00.html?bD=20091016&sc=dmn
Yardbarker, Nevada
>>>http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/teams/Nevada_Wolfpack/1392
Matt Bauscher, former Boise State Player
>>>http://mattbauscher.blogspot.com
Tags:
1 comments so far...
Re: WAC Basketball 2010
Tell me how La.Tech fits into the WAC
By stinger on
11/2/2009 4:35 PM
|