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WAC MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT TEAM CAPSULES
BOISE STATE BRONCOS
Team record: 15-16, 5-11.
Head coach: Greg Graham (8th year at BSU, 142-111)
WAC tournament opener: Boise State (8th seed) vs. Utah State (1st seed), Thursday, noon.
Results vs. Utah State in 2009-10: 0-2. Lost 81-59 on Jan. 16 (road), lost 72-67 on Feb. 11 (home).
WAC Tournament titles: 2008.
How they finished: Broncos won three of last four games.
Offense: 74.5 (3rd in WAC).
Defense: 72.5 (5th).
Strength: Broncos are second in WAC with 16.1 assists per game and 7.7 steals.
Weakness: The Broncos are sixth in WAC in free throw shooting (.676) and seventh in 3-pointers (6.0 per game).
Likely starters: Ike Okoye (6-9, 235), 12.9 pts., 8.0 rebs., 1.5 blocks; La'Shard Anderson (6-1, 170), 9.9 pts., 2.5 rebs., 3.7 assists., 2.6 steals; Daequon Montreal (6-7,229), 10.6 pts., 5.4 rebs.; Anthony Thomas (6-0, 211), 7.6 pts., 3.1 rebs., 1.6 steals, 3.7 assists.; Robert Arnold (6-6, 170), 11.7 pts., 4.2 rebs.
Key reserves: Paul Noonan (6-7, 214), 9.0 pts., 3.6 rebs., 2.2 threes; Kurt Cunningham (6-9, 265), 7.9 pts., 3.5 rebs.
Bronco notes: Graham is currently tied with Bobby Dye for first in school history with an average of 17.8 victories per season as Boise's head coach . . . La'Shard Anderson is first in the WAC in steals (2.6) . . . The Broncos are 8-5 under Dye in the WAC tournament . . . Former Wolf Pack assistant coach Andy McClouskey is an assistant for Broncos . . . Wolf Pack coach David Carter replaced Graham as an assistant on Saint Mary's coaching staff in 1997-98.
FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS
Team record: 15-17, 7-9.
Head coach: Steve Cleveland (5th year at FSU, 78-80)
WAC tournament opener: Fresno State (5th seed) vs. Louisiana Tech (4th seed), Thursday, 2:30 p.m.
Results vs. Louisiana Tech in 2009-10: 1-1. Lost 81-73 on Jan. 14 (road), won 66-59 on March 4 (home).
WAC Tournament titles: None.
How they finished: Bulldogs lost five of last seven.
Offense: 66.3 (9th in WAC).
Defense: 66.7 (2nd).
Strength: Defense. Bulldogs second in WAC with 4.4 blocks a game and first in steals (7.8).
Weakness: Offense off bench. Bulldogs also last in WAC in field goal percentage (.426).
Likely starters: Paul George (6-8, 210), 16.6 pts., 7.1 rebs., 2.1 threes, 3.1 assists.; Sylvester Seay (6-10, 235), 14.3 pts., 6.0 rebs., 1.1 blocks; Greg Smith (6-10, 250), 11.9 pts., 6.0 rebs., 1.7 blocks; Mike Ladd (6-5, 190), 10.3 pts., 3.5 rebs., 2.1 threes; Steven Shepp (6-2, 170), 5.6 pts., 2.5 rebs., 4.7 assists., 1.8 steals.
Key reserves: Nedeljko Globoid (6-8, 245), 3.1 pts., 1.9 rebs.; Brandon Sperling (6-7, 195), 3.1 pts., 2.6 rebs.; Jerry Brown (6-7, 195), 2.7 pts., 1.6 rebs.
Bulldog notes: Cleveland was BYU's head coach from 1997-05 (138-108) . . . A loss on Thursday will give the Bulldogs their third consecutive losing season . . . Bulldogs are eighth in WAC in rebound margin (minus- 1.6) despite having Sylvester Seay and Greg Smith (both 6-foot-10) . . . Bulldogs struggle from field (.426) and free throw line (.673).
IDAHO VANDALS
Team record: 15-15, 6-10.
Head coach: Don Verlin (2nd year at Idaho, 32-32).
WAC Tournament opener: Idaho (7th seed) vs. Nevada (2nd seed), Thursday, 6 p.m.
Results vs. Nevada in 2009-10: 0-2. Lost 67-66 on Feb. 10 (home), lost 76-68 Jan. 16 (away).
WAC Tournament titles: None.
How they finished: Vandals were 5-5 in last 10 games.
Offense: 71.2 (7th in WAC).
Defense: 70.0 (4th).
Strength: Vandals third in WAC in field goal percentage (.467), third in assists (14.9 per game).
Weakness: Vandals 8th in WAC in free throw percentage (.663), seventh in scoring.
Likely starters: Mac Hopson (6-2, 185), 14.4 pts., 5.1 rebs., 5.1 assists; Steffan Johnson (6-1, 180), 10.2 pts., 3.0 rebs., 2.5 threes, 1.2 steals, 3.2 assists; Marvin Jefferson (6-9, 250), 9.0 pts., 6.1 rebs., 2.0 blocks; Luiz Toledo (6-8, 225), 7.5 pts., 4.1 rebs.; Luciano De Souza (6-7, 210), 6.4 pts., 2.2 rebs.
Key reserves: Kashif Watson (6-4, 186), 10.7 pts., 3.0 rebs.; Kyle Barone (6-10, 220), 4.9 pts., 4.0 rebs.; Shawn Henderson (6-3, 178), 3.9 pts., 2.2 rebs.; Jeff Ledbetter (6-3, 195), 3.0 pts., 1.2 rebs.
Vandal notes: Vandals beat Wolf Pack in Reno to open 2008-09 WAC season, 78-73 on Jan. 3, 2009 . . . Kashif Watson, a regular starter, was suspended for the final regular season game for making critical comments on his Twitter account concerning head coach Don Verlin . . . Verlin was reprimanded by the WAC for making critical comments about the officials after the 1-point loss to Nevada in February . . . Verlin was an assistant under head coach Stew Morrill at both Colorado State (1995-98) and Utah State (1999-2008) . . . Vandals have gone 6-12 in last 18 games against WAC teams dating back to March 12, 2009.
LOUISIANA TECH BULLDOGS
Team record: 22-9. 9-7.
Head coach: Kerry Rupp (3rd year at LTU, 43-51).
WAC tournament opener: Louisiana Tech (4th seed) vs. Fresno State (5th seed), Thursday, 2:30 p.m.
Results vs. Fresno State in 2009-10: 1-1. Won 81-73 on Jan. 14 (home), lost 66-59 on March 4 (road).
WAC tournament titles: None.
How they finished: Bulldogs started year 17-2 and were 5-7 in last 12 games.
Offense: 74.9 (3rd in WAC).
Defense: 69.8 (3rd).
Strength: Bulldogs were third in WAC in rebounding margin (plus 3.6), third in steals (6.8 per game), third in offense, defense.
Weakness: Bench scoring, Bulldogs were last in WAC in assists (12.4 per game), 7th in field goal percentage (.455).
Likely starters: Kyle Gibson (6-5, 2.5), 19.1 pts., 4.1 rebs., 3.2 assists; Magnum Rolle (6-11, 225), 14.5 pts., 8.8 rebs., 2.2 blocks; Jamel Guyton (6-3, 200), 11.5 pts., 3.7 rebs., 2.0 threes, 1.6 steals; DeAndre Brown (5-11, 160), 11.1 pts., 2.9 rebs., 3.5 assists; Olu Ashaolu (6-7, 220), 10.6 pts., 8.3 rebs.
Key reserves: David Jackson (6-8, 205), 5.1 pts., 4.1 rebs.; Anson Bartlett (6-3, 175), 2.1 pts., 1.0 rebs.; Darius Redding (6-4, 205), 2.0 pts., 1.5 rebs.
Bulldogs notes: Head coach Kerry Rupp has won more games this year (22) than he won the last two years combined (21) . . . Magnum Rolle leads the WAC with 2.2 blocks per game . . . Gibson did not score a point in final three games. He missed two with an injury and then played 18 minutes vs. Wolf Pack and did not score . . . Rupp coached under head coach Rick Majerus at Utah (2000-04) and is credited for helping Andrew Bogut become top pick in NBA draft in 2005 . . . Bulldogs lost to Wolf Pack in semifinals of last year's WAC tournament, 77-68.
NEVADA WOLF PACK
Team record: 19-11, 11-5.
Head coach: David Carter (1st year, 19-11).
WAC tournament opener: Nevada (2nd seed) vs. Idaho (7th seed), Thursday, 6 p.m. (630-AM, no television).
Results vs. Idaho in 2009-10: 2-0. Won 67-66 on Feb. 10 (away), won 76-68 Jan. 16 (home).
WAC tournament titles: 2004, 2006.
How they finished: Wolf Pack won six of last eight.
Offense: 79.3 (1st in WAC).
Defense: 74.8 (7th).
Strength: Starters' offense, 3-point shooting, field goal percentage (.480, 2nd in WAC).
Weakness: Depth, overall defense.
Likely starters: Luke Babbitt (6-9, 225), 21.7 pts., 9.3 rebs., 1.1 steals; Brandon Fields (6-4, 190), 14.6 pts., 3.9 rebs., 1.9 threes; Armon Johnson (6-3, 195), 16.0 pts., 3.3 rebs., 5.6 assists; Joey Shaw (6-6, 210), 10.4 pts., 5.0 rebs.; Dario Hunt (6-8, 230), 6.3 pts., 7.0 rebs, 2.0 blocks.
Key reserves: Ray Kraemer (6-4, 200), 6.0 pts., 2.1 rebs., 1.7 threes; Marko Cukic (6-9, 240), 2.4 pts., 1.6 rebs.
Wolf Pack notes: Wolf Pack is 14-1 at Lawlor Events Center this year . . . One more victory will give Wolf Pack its seventh consecutive 20-victory season . . . Wolf Pack is 304-109 at Lawlor Events Center since facility opened 27 seasons ago . . . Wolf Pack is 13-7 all-time in WAC tournament . . . Pack has gotten to WAC tourney finals in 2003 (loss to Tulsa), 2004 (beat UTEP), 2006 (beat Utah State) and 2009 (loss to Utah State).
NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES
Team record: 19-11, 11-5.
Head coach: Marvin Menzies (3rd year at NMSU, 57-40).
WAC tournament opener: New Mexico State (3rd seed) vs. San Jose State (6th seed).
Results vs. San Jose State in 2009-10: 1-1. Lost 93-84 on Jan. 23 (away), won 94-82 on Feb. 6 (home).
WAC tournament titles: 2007.
How they finished: Aggies won seven of last 10 games.
Offense: 78.5 (2nd in WAC)
Defense: 78.6 (9th).
Strength: Three-pointers (1st in WAC at 8.6 a game), overall offense, depth.
Weakness: Overall defense, rebounding (9th in WAC in rebounding margin).
Likely starters: Jahmar Young (6-5, 180), 20.9 pts., 3.5 rebs., 2.3 3-pointers per game, 3.0 assists; Jonathan Gibson (6-1, 171), 17.8 pts., 2.9 rebs., 3.2 3-pointers, 1.4 steals; Hamidu Rahman (6-11, 245), 10.8 pts., 8.4 rebs., 1.4 blocks; Wendell McKines (6-6, 224), 10.6 pts., 9.9 rebs.; Hernst LaRoche (6-1, 170), 6.6 pts., 3.4 rebs., 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals.
Key reserves: Troy Gillenwater (6-8, 234), 14.0 pts., 6.3 rebs.; Gordo Castillo (6-5, 197), 5.6 pts., 2.1 rebs.; Tyrone Watson (6-5, 225), 2.8 pts., 2.0 rebs.
Aggies notes: The Aggies returned all five starters this year . . . Menzies was assistant at Sacramento State in 1997-98 and UNLV (under Lon Kruger) in 2004-05 . . . McKines is from Oakland's Richmond High School . . . Gibson's 3.2 3-pointers per game is first in WAC . . . Young is 3rd in WAC with 20.9 points per game . . . New Mexico State-San Jose State winner will play winner of Nevada-Idaho game on Friday night at 9 p.m. on ESPN2.
SAN JOSE STATE SPARTANS
Team record: 14-16, 6-10.
Head coach: George Nessman (5th year at SJSU, 51-102).
WAC tournament opener: New Mexico State (3rd seed) vs. San Jose State (6th seed).
Results vs. New Mexico State in 2009-10: 1-1. Won 93-84 on Jan. 23 (home), lost 94-82 on Feb. 6 (away).
WAC tournament titles: None.
How they finished: Spartans lost six of last eight games.
Offense: 74.0 (5th in WAC).
Defense: 75.1 (8th).
Strength: Adrian Oliver leads WAC in scoring at 22.9 per game, Spartans shoot .724 (2nd in WAC) at free throw line and have made 6.6 3-pointers (3rd in WAC) per game.
Weakness: Defense.
Likely starters: Adrian Oliver (6-4, 210), 22.9 pts., 5.4 rebs.; Chris Oakes (6-10, 235), 10.9 pts., 9.1 rebs., 1.5 blocks; Justin Graham (6-4, 195), 10.1 pts., 3.4 rebs., 4.8 assists, 1.5 steals; Robert Owens (6-3, 195), 10.6 pts., 2.3 rebs., 2.6 3-pointers per game; Mac Peterson (6-3, 195), 10.6 pts., 2.3 rebs.
Key reserves: C.J. Webster (6-9, 255), 8.6 pts., 4.9 rebs.; Kyle Thomas (6-8, 225), 2.8 pts., 2.4 rebs.; Chris Jones (6-4, 205), 1.8 pts., 1.4 rebs.
Spartans notes: Spartans have not had winning season since 1993-94 when they went 15-12 in Big West Conference . . . That has been their only winning season since 1986-87 . . . Aggies have gone 6-13 vs. WAC teams since 89-66 loss at Nevada on March 5, 2009 . . . San Jose State's all-time record in the WAC is 51-169 . . . The 14 wins this season is the Aggies' most under Nessman . . . Nessman was an assistant at Cal-Berkeley in 2004-05. Before that he coached high school basketball from 1981-1993 and junior college basketball from 1993-2004.
UTAH STATE AGGIES
Team record: 25-6, 14-2.
Head coach: Stew Morrill (12th year at USU, 292-97).
WAC tournament opener: Boise State (8th seed) vs. Utah State (1st seed), Thursday, noon.
Results vs. Boise State in 2009-10: 2-0. Won 81-59 on Jan. 16 (home), won 72-67 on Feb. 11 (road).
WAC tournament titles: 2009.
How they finished: Aggies have won last 15 games in a row.
Offense: 73.4 (6th in WAC).
Defense: 59.5 (1st).
Strength: Coaching, defense, free throw shooting (1st in WAC at .766), field goal shooting (1st in WAC at .489), rebounding (1st in rebound margin at plus 5.7), sharing the ball (1st in WAC in assists, 16.9).
Weakness: Overall athletic ability.
Likely starters: Tai Wesley (6-7, 245), 13.7 pts., 6.4 rebs., 3.3 assists, 1.3 blocks; Jared Quayle (6-1, 180), 11.9 pts., 6.2 rebs., 1.9 3-pointers per game, 4.3 assists, 1.2 steals; Tyler Newbold (6-4, 210), 8.3 pts., 3.9 rebs., 1.7 3-pointers per game; Nate Bendall (6-9, 245), 10.5, 5.7 rebs., 1.0 blocks; Pooh Williams (6-3, 200), 8.7 pts., 1.9 rebs.
Key reserves: Brian Green (6-1, 195), 7.2 pts., 1.5 rebs.; Brady Jardine (6-7, 220), 6.2 pts., 4.5 rebs.; Preston Medlin (6-4, 165), 4.1 pts., 0.6 rebs.; Matt Formisano (6-8, 240), 2.5 pts., 1.7 rebs.; Jaxon Myaer (5-9, 165), 1.7 pts., 0.5 rebs.
Aggies notes: Utah State has gone 40-8 in the regular season in WAC play over the last three seasons . . . Aggies have gone to either the NCAA tournament (six times) or NIT (four times) in each of the last 10 seasons . . . Aggies, though, are just 1-10 in the NCAA and NIT in those 10 years . . . Utah State has won 20 or more games in each of the last 11 seasons (all under Morrill) . . . Morrill was named the WAC Coach of the Year this year for the second consecutive season . . . Morrill has been a head coach for 24 seasons and has 23 winning seasons . . . He became the 55th coach in Division I history this year to reach 500 victories in his career (510-235) at Montana, Colorado State and Utah State.
— Joe Santoro
Team record: 15-16, 5-11.
Head coach: Greg Graham (8th year at BSU, 142-111)
WAC tournament opener: Boise State (8th seed) vs. Utah State (1st seed), Thursday, noon.
Results vs. Utah State in 2009-10: 0-2. Lost 81-59 on Jan. 16 (road), lost 72-67 on Feb. 11 (home).
WAC Tournament titles: 2008.
How they finished: Broncos won three of last four games.
Offense: 74.5 (3rd in WAC).
Defense: 72.5 (5th).
Strength: Broncos are second in WAC with 16.1 assists per game and 7.7 steals.
Weakness: The Broncos are sixth in WAC in free throw shooting (.676) and seventh in 3-pointers (6.0 per game).
Likely starters: Ike Okoye (6-9, 235), 12.9 pts., 8.0 rebs., 1.5 blocks; La'Shard Anderson (6-1, 170), 9.9 pts., 2.5 rebs., 3.7 assists., 2.6 steals; Daequon Montreal (6-7,229), 10.6 pts., 5.4 rebs.; Anthony Thomas (6-0, 211), 7.6 pts., 3.1 rebs., 1.6 steals, 3.7 assists.; Robert Arnold (6-6, 170), 11.7 pts., 4.2 rebs.
Key reserves: Paul Noonan (6-7, 214), 9.0 pts., 3.6 rebs., 2.2 threes; Kurt Cunningham (6-9, 265), 7.9 pts., 3.5 rebs.
Bronco notes: Graham is currently tied with Bobby Dye for first in school history with an average of 17.8 victories per season as Boise's head coach . . . La'Shard Anderson is first in the WAC in steals (2.6) . . . The Broncos are 8-5 under Dye in the WAC tournament . . . Former Wolf Pack assistant coach Andy McClouskey is an assistant for Broncos . . . Wolf Pack coach David Carter replaced Graham as an assistant on Saint Mary's coaching staff in 1997-98.
FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS
Team record: 15-17, 7-9.
Head coach: Steve Cleveland (5th year at FSU, 78-80)
WAC tournament opener: Fresno State (5th seed) vs. Louisiana Tech (4th seed), Thursday, 2:30 p.m.
Results vs. Louisiana Tech in 2009-10: 1-1. Lost 81-73 on Jan. 14 (road), won 66-59 on March 4 (home).
WAC Tournament titles: None.
How they finished: Bulldogs lost five of last seven.
Offense: 66.3 (9th in WAC).
Defense: 66.7 (2nd).
Strength: Defense. Bulldogs second in WAC with 4.4 blocks a game and first in steals (7.8).
Weakness: Offense off bench. Bulldogs also last in WAC in field goal percentage (.426).
Likely starters: Paul George (6-8, 210), 16.6 pts., 7.1 rebs., 2.1 threes, 3.1 assists.; Sylvester Seay (6-10, 235), 14.3 pts., 6.0 rebs., 1.1 blocks; Greg Smith (6-10, 250), 11.9 pts., 6.0 rebs., 1.7 blocks; Mike Ladd (6-5, 190), 10.3 pts., 3.5 rebs., 2.1 threes; Steven Shepp (6-2, 170), 5.6 pts., 2.5 rebs., 4.7 assists., 1.8 steals.
Key reserves: Nedeljko Globoid (6-8, 245), 3.1 pts., 1.9 rebs.; Brandon Sperling (6-7, 195), 3.1 pts., 2.6 rebs.; Jerry Brown (6-7, 195), 2.7 pts., 1.6 rebs.
Bulldog notes: Cleveland was BYU's head coach from 1997-05 (138-108) . . . A loss on Thursday will give the Bulldogs their third consecutive losing season . . . Bulldogs are eighth in WAC in rebound margin (minus- 1.6) despite having Sylvester Seay and Greg Smith (both 6-foot-10) . . . Bulldogs struggle from field (.426) and free throw line (.673).
IDAHO VANDALS
Team record: 15-15, 6-10.
Head coach: Don Verlin (2nd year at Idaho, 32-32).
WAC Tournament opener: Idaho (7th seed) vs. Nevada (2nd seed), Thursday, 6 p.m.
Results vs. Nevada in 2009-10: 0-2. Lost 67-66 on Feb. 10 (home), lost 76-68 Jan. 16 (away).
WAC Tournament titles: None.
How they finished: Vandals were 5-5 in last 10 games.
Offense: 71.2 (7th in WAC).
Defense: 70.0 (4th).
Strength: Vandals third in WAC in field goal percentage (.467), third in assists (14.9 per game).
Weakness: Vandals 8th in WAC in free throw percentage (.663), seventh in scoring.
Likely starters: Mac Hopson (6-2, 185), 14.4 pts., 5.1 rebs., 5.1 assists; Steffan Johnson (6-1, 180), 10.2 pts., 3.0 rebs., 2.5 threes, 1.2 steals, 3.2 assists; Marvin Jefferson (6-9, 250), 9.0 pts., 6.1 rebs., 2.0 blocks; Luiz Toledo (6-8, 225), 7.5 pts., 4.1 rebs.; Luciano De Souza (6-7, 210), 6.4 pts., 2.2 rebs.
Key reserves: Kashif Watson (6-4, 186), 10.7 pts., 3.0 rebs.; Kyle Barone (6-10, 220), 4.9 pts., 4.0 rebs.; Shawn Henderson (6-3, 178), 3.9 pts., 2.2 rebs.; Jeff Ledbetter (6-3, 195), 3.0 pts., 1.2 rebs.
Vandal notes: Vandals beat Wolf Pack in Reno to open 2008-09 WAC season, 78-73 on Jan. 3, 2009 . . . Kashif Watson, a regular starter, was suspended for the final regular season game for making critical comments on his Twitter account concerning head coach Don Verlin . . . Verlin was reprimanded by the WAC for making critical comments about the officials after the 1-point loss to Nevada in February . . . Verlin was an assistant under head coach Stew Morrill at both Colorado State (1995-98) and Utah State (1999-2008) . . . Vandals have gone 6-12 in last 18 games against WAC teams dating back to March 12, 2009.
LOUISIANA TECH BULLDOGS
Team record: 22-9. 9-7.
Head coach: Kerry Rupp (3rd year at LTU, 43-51).
WAC tournament opener: Louisiana Tech (4th seed) vs. Fresno State (5th seed), Thursday, 2:30 p.m.
Results vs. Fresno State in 2009-10: 1-1. Won 81-73 on Jan. 14 (home), lost 66-59 on March 4 (road).
WAC tournament titles: None.
How they finished: Bulldogs started year 17-2 and were 5-7 in last 12 games.
Offense: 74.9 (3rd in WAC).
Defense: 69.8 (3rd).
Strength: Bulldogs were third in WAC in rebounding margin (plus 3.6), third in steals (6.8 per game), third in offense, defense.
Weakness: Bench scoring, Bulldogs were last in WAC in assists (12.4 per game), 7th in field goal percentage (.455).
Likely starters: Kyle Gibson (6-5, 2.5), 19.1 pts., 4.1 rebs., 3.2 assists; Magnum Rolle (6-11, 225), 14.5 pts., 8.8 rebs., 2.2 blocks; Jamel Guyton (6-3, 200), 11.5 pts., 3.7 rebs., 2.0 threes, 1.6 steals; DeAndre Brown (5-11, 160), 11.1 pts., 2.9 rebs., 3.5 assists; Olu Ashaolu (6-7, 220), 10.6 pts., 8.3 rebs.
Key reserves: David Jackson (6-8, 205), 5.1 pts., 4.1 rebs.; Anson Bartlett (6-3, 175), 2.1 pts., 1.0 rebs.; Darius Redding (6-4, 205), 2.0 pts., 1.5 rebs.
Bulldogs notes: Head coach Kerry Rupp has won more games this year (22) than he won the last two years combined (21) . . . Magnum Rolle leads the WAC with 2.2 blocks per game . . . Gibson did not score a point in final three games. He missed two with an injury and then played 18 minutes vs. Wolf Pack and did not score . . . Rupp coached under head coach Rick Majerus at Utah (2000-04) and is credited for helping Andrew Bogut become top pick in NBA draft in 2005 . . . Bulldogs lost to Wolf Pack in semifinals of last year's WAC tournament, 77-68.
NEVADA WOLF PACK
Team record: 19-11, 11-5.
Head coach: David Carter (1st year, 19-11).
WAC tournament opener: Nevada (2nd seed) vs. Idaho (7th seed), Thursday, 6 p.m. (630-AM, no television).
Results vs. Idaho in 2009-10: 2-0. Won 67-66 on Feb. 10 (away), won 76-68 Jan. 16 (home).
WAC tournament titles: 2004, 2006.
How they finished: Wolf Pack won six of last eight.
Offense: 79.3 (1st in WAC).
Defense: 74.8 (7th).
Strength: Starters' offense, 3-point shooting, field goal percentage (.480, 2nd in WAC).
Weakness: Depth, overall defense.
Likely starters: Luke Babbitt (6-9, 225), 21.7 pts., 9.3 rebs., 1.1 steals; Brandon Fields (6-4, 190), 14.6 pts., 3.9 rebs., 1.9 threes; Armon Johnson (6-3, 195), 16.0 pts., 3.3 rebs., 5.6 assists; Joey Shaw (6-6, 210), 10.4 pts., 5.0 rebs.; Dario Hunt (6-8, 230), 6.3 pts., 7.0 rebs, 2.0 blocks.
Key reserves: Ray Kraemer (6-4, 200), 6.0 pts., 2.1 rebs., 1.7 threes; Marko Cukic (6-9, 240), 2.4 pts., 1.6 rebs.
Wolf Pack notes: Wolf Pack is 14-1 at Lawlor Events Center this year . . . One more victory will give Wolf Pack its seventh consecutive 20-victory season . . . Wolf Pack is 304-109 at Lawlor Events Center since facility opened 27 seasons ago . . . Wolf Pack is 13-7 all-time in WAC tournament . . . Pack has gotten to WAC tourney finals in 2003 (loss to Tulsa), 2004 (beat UTEP), 2006 (beat Utah State) and 2009 (loss to Utah State).
NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES
Team record: 19-11, 11-5.
Head coach: Marvin Menzies (3rd year at NMSU, 57-40).
WAC tournament opener: New Mexico State (3rd seed) vs. San Jose State (6th seed).
Results vs. San Jose State in 2009-10: 1-1. Lost 93-84 on Jan. 23 (away), won 94-82 on Feb. 6 (home).
WAC tournament titles: 2007.
How they finished: Aggies won seven of last 10 games.
Offense: 78.5 (2nd in WAC)
Defense: 78.6 (9th).
Strength: Three-pointers (1st in WAC at 8.6 a game), overall offense, depth.
Weakness: Overall defense, rebounding (9th in WAC in rebounding margin).
Likely starters: Jahmar Young (6-5, 180), 20.9 pts., 3.5 rebs., 2.3 3-pointers per game, 3.0 assists; Jonathan Gibson (6-1, 171), 17.8 pts., 2.9 rebs., 3.2 3-pointers, 1.4 steals; Hamidu Rahman (6-11, 245), 10.8 pts., 8.4 rebs., 1.4 blocks; Wendell McKines (6-6, 224), 10.6 pts., 9.9 rebs.; Hernst LaRoche (6-1, 170), 6.6 pts., 3.4 rebs., 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals.
Key reserves: Troy Gillenwater (6-8, 234), 14.0 pts., 6.3 rebs.; Gordo Castillo (6-5, 197), 5.6 pts., 2.1 rebs.; Tyrone Watson (6-5, 225), 2.8 pts., 2.0 rebs.
Aggies notes: The Aggies returned all five starters this year . . . Menzies was assistant at Sacramento State in 1997-98 and UNLV (under Lon Kruger) in 2004-05 . . . McKines is from Oakland's Richmond High School . . . Gibson's 3.2 3-pointers per game is first in WAC . . . Young is 3rd in WAC with 20.9 points per game . . . New Mexico State-San Jose State winner will play winner of Nevada-Idaho game on Friday night at 9 p.m. on ESPN2.
SAN JOSE STATE SPARTANS
Team record: 14-16, 6-10.
Head coach: George Nessman (5th year at SJSU, 51-102).
WAC tournament opener: New Mexico State (3rd seed) vs. San Jose State (6th seed).
Results vs. New Mexico State in 2009-10: 1-1. Won 93-84 on Jan. 23 (home), lost 94-82 on Feb. 6 (away).
WAC tournament titles: None.
How they finished: Spartans lost six of last eight games.
Offense: 74.0 (5th in WAC).
Defense: 75.1 (8th).
Strength: Adrian Oliver leads WAC in scoring at 22.9 per game, Spartans shoot .724 (2nd in WAC) at free throw line and have made 6.6 3-pointers (3rd in WAC) per game.
Weakness: Defense.
Likely starters: Adrian Oliver (6-4, 210), 22.9 pts., 5.4 rebs.; Chris Oakes (6-10, 235), 10.9 pts., 9.1 rebs., 1.5 blocks; Justin Graham (6-4, 195), 10.1 pts., 3.4 rebs., 4.8 assists, 1.5 steals; Robert Owens (6-3, 195), 10.6 pts., 2.3 rebs., 2.6 3-pointers per game; Mac Peterson (6-3, 195), 10.6 pts., 2.3 rebs.
Key reserves: C.J. Webster (6-9, 255), 8.6 pts., 4.9 rebs.; Kyle Thomas (6-8, 225), 2.8 pts., 2.4 rebs.; Chris Jones (6-4, 205), 1.8 pts., 1.4 rebs.
Spartans notes: Spartans have not had winning season since 1993-94 when they went 15-12 in Big West Conference . . . That has been their only winning season since 1986-87 . . . Aggies have gone 6-13 vs. WAC teams since 89-66 loss at Nevada on March 5, 2009 . . . San Jose State's all-time record in the WAC is 51-169 . . . The 14 wins this season is the Aggies' most under Nessman . . . Nessman was an assistant at Cal-Berkeley in 2004-05. Before that he coached high school basketball from 1981-1993 and junior college basketball from 1993-2004.
UTAH STATE AGGIES
Team record: 25-6, 14-2.
Head coach: Stew Morrill (12th year at USU, 292-97).
WAC tournament opener: Boise State (8th seed) vs. Utah State (1st seed), Thursday, noon.
Results vs. Boise State in 2009-10: 2-0. Won 81-59 on Jan. 16 (home), won 72-67 on Feb. 11 (road).
WAC tournament titles: 2009.
How they finished: Aggies have won last 15 games in a row.
Offense: 73.4 (6th in WAC).
Defense: 59.5 (1st).
Strength: Coaching, defense, free throw shooting (1st in WAC at .766), field goal shooting (1st in WAC at .489), rebounding (1st in rebound margin at plus 5.7), sharing the ball (1st in WAC in assists, 16.9).
Weakness: Overall athletic ability.
Likely starters: Tai Wesley (6-7, 245), 13.7 pts., 6.4 rebs., 3.3 assists, 1.3 blocks; Jared Quayle (6-1, 180), 11.9 pts., 6.2 rebs., 1.9 3-pointers per game, 4.3 assists, 1.2 steals; Tyler Newbold (6-4, 210), 8.3 pts., 3.9 rebs., 1.7 3-pointers per game; Nate Bendall (6-9, 245), 10.5, 5.7 rebs., 1.0 blocks; Pooh Williams (6-3, 200), 8.7 pts., 1.9 rebs.
Key reserves: Brian Green (6-1, 195), 7.2 pts., 1.5 rebs.; Brady Jardine (6-7, 220), 6.2 pts., 4.5 rebs.; Preston Medlin (6-4, 165), 4.1 pts., 0.6 rebs.; Matt Formisano (6-8, 240), 2.5 pts., 1.7 rebs.; Jaxon Myaer (5-9, 165), 1.7 pts., 0.5 rebs.
Aggies notes: Utah State has gone 40-8 in the regular season in WAC play over the last three seasons . . . Aggies have gone to either the NCAA tournament (six times) or NIT (four times) in each of the last 10 seasons . . . Aggies, though, are just 1-10 in the NCAA and NIT in those 10 years . . . Utah State has won 20 or more games in each of the last 11 seasons (all under Morrill) . . . Morrill was named the WAC Coach of the Year this year for the second consecutive season . . . Morrill has been a head coach for 24 seasons and has 23 winning seasons . . . He became the 55th coach in Division I history this year to reach 500 victories in his career (510-235) at Montana, Colorado State and Utah State.
— Joe Santoro
Nobody has to remind the Nevada Wolf Pack men's basketball team that it is tournament time.
Finally.
"We've been looking forward to this since the end of last year," Wolf Pack first-year head coach David Carter said this week. "I think we're ready."
Ready or not, here it comes.
The second-seeded Wolf Pack (19-11, 11-5) will take on the seventh-seeded Idaho Vandals (15-15, 6-10) on Thursday night (6 p.m., 630-AM) as the Western Athletic Conference tournament opens with four games at 11,536-seat Lawlor Events Center.
Top-seeded Utah State (25-6, 14-2) meets eighth-seeded Boise State (15-16, 5-11) in the first game on Thursday (noon) followed by fourth-seeded Louisiana Tech (22-9, 9-7) and fifth-seeded Fresno State (15-17, 7-9) at 2:30 p.m. The quarterfinal round will conclude with No. 3 seed New Mexico State (19-11, 11-5) meeting No. 6 seed San Jose State (14-16, 6-10) at 8:30 p.m.
The tournament's championship game is Saturday night (7 p.m.). The winner earns the WAC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
"That's my goal since I got here," Wolf Pack senior Joey Shaw said of the NCAA tournament. "I'm going to do everything I can to help us get there."
"I want to go out a winner," senior Brandon Fields said. "That's the most important thing in my life right now."
"It's been too long as far as I'm concerned," junior Armon Johnson said of the Pack's absence from the NCAA tournament since 2007. "I definitely feel like it's time to get back there."
The Wolf Pack lost to Utah State at Lawlor in the WAC tournament title game, 72-62, last March as Babbitt scored eight points in 31 minutes on 3-of-12 shooting.
"We've had all season to motivate us," Babbitt said. "You don't think about it but that game (the loss to Utah State) is in the back of all our minds."
"We don't want that same feeling like last year," Shaw said.
"That's a big factor for all us," Johnson said. "We all remember how that felt."
The Wolf Pack will have to win three games in three days to earn a NCAA tournament spot. They might even have to win a game or two this week to be considered for a National Invitation Tournament (NIT) or College Basketball Invitational (CBI) spot.
The Pack has been to the postseason for the past seven years. The streak started with a NIT spot in 2003 followed by four consecutive trips to the NCAA's. The Pack has lost in the first round of the CBI the past two years at Lawlor.
"It's do or die now," Carter said.
Babbitt said the Pack has a definite sense of urgency.
"We know it's one loss and you're out," he said. "It's exciting but at the same time we know we have to play our best or it's going to be over. Nobody likes that but that's the nature of college basketball. The best team will win Saturday night and we hope it will be us."
The Wolf Pack is 14-1 at home this year and is 2-0 against Idaho. The Pack, though, had to score six points in the final 22 seconds on Feb. 10 at Moscow, Idaho to beat the Vandals, 67-66. Idaho is led by guard Mac Hopson (14.4 points) and center Marvin Jefferson (9.0 points, 6.1 rebounds).
The Vandals, who joined the WAC before the 2005-06 season, have never won a WAC tournament game. They are 0-4 with two of the losses coming to the Pack in 2006 and 2007.
"I really believe we're a team that can make a run in the tournament," Idaho coach Don Verlin said this week. "It's like I told our guys. It's the team that plays best for 40 minutes, not the team that plays best for four months."
Verlin's Vandals beat the Pack 78-73 at Lawlor on Jan. 3, 2009, to open last season's WAC regular season schedule.
"That helps us," Verlin said. "Our guys believe they can go down there and compete at a high level."
The Idaho-Nevada winner will meet the New Mexico State-San Jose State winner on Friday night at 9 p.m. (ESPN2).
"We feel like we're ready," Babbitt said. "We're going to come out and be aggressive."
"It's win or go home and nobody wants to go home," Shaw said.
Finally.
"We've been looking forward to this since the end of last year," Wolf Pack first-year head coach David Carter said this week. "I think we're ready."
Ready or not, here it comes.
The second-seeded Wolf Pack (19-11, 11-5) will take on the seventh-seeded Idaho Vandals (15-15, 6-10) on Thursday night (6 p.m., 630-AM) as the Western Athletic Conference tournament opens with four games at 11,536-seat Lawlor Events Center.
Top-seeded Utah State (25-6, 14-2) meets eighth-seeded Boise State (15-16, 5-11) in the first game on Thursday (noon) followed by fourth-seeded Louisiana Tech (22-9, 9-7) and fifth-seeded Fresno State (15-17, 7-9) at 2:30 p.m. The quarterfinal round will conclude with No. 3 seed New Mexico State (19-11, 11-5) meeting No. 6 seed San Jose State (14-16, 6-10) at 8:30 p.m.
The tournament's championship game is Saturday night (7 p.m.). The winner earns the WAC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
"That's my goal since I got here," Wolf Pack senior Joey Shaw said of the NCAA tournament. "I'm going to do everything I can to help us get there."
"I want to go out a winner," senior Brandon Fields said. "That's the most important thing in my life right now."
"It's been too long as far as I'm concerned," junior Armon Johnson said of the Pack's absence from the NCAA tournament since 2007. "I definitely feel like it's time to get back there."
The Wolf Pack lost to Utah State at Lawlor in the WAC tournament title game, 72-62, last March as Babbitt scored eight points in 31 minutes on 3-of-12 shooting.
"We've had all season to motivate us," Babbitt said. "You don't think about it but that game (the loss to Utah State) is in the back of all our minds."
"We don't want that same feeling like last year," Shaw said.
"That's a big factor for all us," Johnson said. "We all remember how that felt."
The Wolf Pack will have to win three games in three days to earn a NCAA tournament spot. They might even have to win a game or two this week to be considered for a National Invitation Tournament (NIT) or College Basketball Invitational (CBI) spot.
The Pack has been to the postseason for the past seven years. The streak started with a NIT spot in 2003 followed by four consecutive trips to the NCAA's. The Pack has lost in the first round of the CBI the past two years at Lawlor.
"It's do or die now," Carter said.
Babbitt said the Pack has a definite sense of urgency.
"We know it's one loss and you're out," he said. "It's exciting but at the same time we know we have to play our best or it's going to be over. Nobody likes that but that's the nature of college basketball. The best team will win Saturday night and we hope it will be us."
The Wolf Pack is 14-1 at home this year and is 2-0 against Idaho. The Pack, though, had to score six points in the final 22 seconds on Feb. 10 at Moscow, Idaho to beat the Vandals, 67-66. Idaho is led by guard Mac Hopson (14.4 points) and center Marvin Jefferson (9.0 points, 6.1 rebounds).
The Vandals, who joined the WAC before the 2005-06 season, have never won a WAC tournament game. They are 0-4 with two of the losses coming to the Pack in 2006 and 2007.
"I really believe we're a team that can make a run in the tournament," Idaho coach Don Verlin said this week. "It's like I told our guys. It's the team that plays best for 40 minutes, not the team that plays best for four months."
Verlin's Vandals beat the Pack 78-73 at Lawlor on Jan. 3, 2009, to open last season's WAC regular season schedule.
"That helps us," Verlin said. "Our guys believe they can go down there and compete at a high level."
The Idaho-Nevada winner will meet the New Mexico State-San Jose State winner on Friday night at 9 p.m. (ESPN2).
"We feel like we're ready," Babbitt said. "We're going to come out and be aggressive."
"It's win or go home and nobody wants to go home," Shaw said.
