Conference Notes

WAC Preview



Western Athletic Conference 2006-07 Preview

by Phil Kasiecki

It’s a new season, but a couple of things won’t be new in the Western Athletic Conference in 2006-07, notably places in the standings. Most notably, Nevada should still be the favorites with the return of Nick Fazekas, who tested the NBA waters in the off-season. His return, as well as that of three other starters and head coach Mark Fox, whose name came up for head coaching vacancies this off-season, ensures that the Wolfpack should stay atop the standings.

But the Wolfpack will have challengers in a conference with a lot of newcomers expected to play key roles. New Mexico State has veterans as well as touted newcomers, and the Aggies will contend if they all meld together come January. Fresno State has enough talent and experience to be dangerous as well, Hawaii always has a big homecourt advantage and Stew Morrill’s teams at Utah State always have enough players to contend.

Only one coaching change happened this off-season, with George Pfeifer taking over at Idaho. The Vandals have a new look in personnel this season as well, so contending looks to be a year or two away. As mentioned, Fox’s name came up in the off-season, but he opted to stay in Reno. Rumors continue to persist that Hawaii head coach Riley Wallace will retire in the foreseeable future, but he’s still there and has a team that could be a dark horse this season.

Most teams will count on newcomers to provide some help, with a few needing them to come through right away. A good number come from the junior college ranks, while there are also a few possible impact transfers from four-year schools, which means teams are getting newcomers that have college experience.

Preseason Awards

Player of the Year: Nick Fazekas, Nevada
Top Newcomer: Justin Hawkins, New Mexico State
Defensive Player of the Year: Kyle Shiloh, Nevada

All-WAC Team
Jaycee Carroll, Jr. G, Utah State
Nick Fazekas, Sr. C, Nevada
Quinton Hosley, Sr. F, Fresno State
Coby Karl, Sr. G, Boise State
Tyrone Nelson, Jr. F, New Mexico State

Nevada (27-6, 13-3 WAC)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Ramon Sessions (4.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 4.9 apg, 1.2 spg)
Sr. G Kyle Shiloh (8.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.2 apg)
Jr. G-F Marcellus Kemp (15.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.3 apg)
Sr. F-C Nick Fazekas (21.8 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.1 spg)
Jr. C David Ellis (1.6 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 8.2 mpg)
Schedule Highlights: Eight home games dot the challenging non-conference schedule, with notable home opponents including UNLV, Big West contender Pacific and America East contender Maine. Notable road games are at Oregon State, at California, at MAC favorite Akron and Gonzaga in Seattle. The most notable part of the WAC schedule is a three-game road stretch right after the BracketBusters game (in Reno) in late February.
Outlook: The Wolfpack are still clear favorites with Fazekas’ return, although they would still be a contender without him. As good as Fazekas is, he has an excellent support cast on the perimeter, led by a finally-healthy Kemp, the emerging Shiloh with his great stroke, and Sessions, who has started since his freshman year. As Sessions continues to improve, so will the team, although the more important barometer of the team’s success may be the development of the inside complements to Fazekas as there is not much experience there. Demarshay Johnson won’t play for at least the first semester due to academics, so it’s up to players like David Ellis and freshman JaVale McGee to give the Wolfpack another inside presence, and this team doesn’t have much proven depth. The non-conference schedule will prepare them well for WAC play, so they’ll get a chance to develop some depth along the way.

New Mexico State (16-14, 10-6 WAC)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Elijah Ingram (13.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 3.1 apg)
Jr. G Justin Hawkins (transfer from Utah)
Sr. F David Fisher (8.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg)
Jr. F Tyrone Nelson (17.8 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.6 spg)
Jr. C Martin Iti (transfer from Charlotte)
Schedule Highlights: Nine home games are on tap in non-conference, including hosting the Lou Henson Classic and a game in the BracketBusters. The home slate includes Big West contender Pacific, in-state rival New Mexico, and UTEP. Among the road games on tap are trips to Arizona, New Mexico and UTEP (completing a home-and-home for this year with the last two). In WAC play, the Aggies have a three-game road stretch and then host Nevada early, but finish the regular season with three straight at home before a trip to Nevada.
Outlook: The Aggies have talent, but also have to get several newcomers integrated into the scheme and have had distractions. Hawkins and Kansas State transfer Fred Peete will get plenty of minutes on the perimeter, where Ingram can run the show but needs to look less for his own shot. Nelson has the talent to be one of the WAC’s best, but two off-court incidents before the season mean that’s a concern. Iti was an underachiever at Charlotte, but he could help Nelson be that much better inside. Two key areas for improvement are defense, as only two WAC teams allowed opponents to shoot better from the field, and taking care of the ball, as Ingram’s 104 turnovers helped the Aggies lead the WAC in turnovers.

Fresno State (15-13, 8-8 WAC)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Kevin Bell (7.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 5.9 apg, 1.6 spg)
Jr. G Dwight O’Neil (10.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.4 spg)
Sr. G Ja’Vance Coleman (17.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.2 apg)
Sr. F Quinton Hosley (18.6 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 1.4 apg, 2.1 spg)
Jr. F Hector Hernandez (8.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.1 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Bulldogs open the season hosting a tournament with Winston-Salem State, UC Irvine and Sun Belt contender South Alabama. Six more home games are on tap in non-conference play, notably Creighton and Stanford, and a seventh is a home game in BracketBusters. They have a three-game road stretch mixed in, with Oregon State being the most notable opponent. After opening WAC play with back-to-back home games, they have a tough three-game road stretch that starts in Hawaii and ends in Nevada.
Outlook: The Bulldogs might have the most talent in the conference, but the talent mix might be a problem since a lot of it is on the wing. All five starters return, led by All-WAC candidates Hosley and Coleman, and California transfer Dominic McGuire and Louisville transfer Bryan Harvey both should figure into the equation; McGuire started 23 games at Cal two seasons ago. Bell should only get better as the steady floor leader with all the scoring options, though his leadership will be a key to their success. In the frontcourt, Hernandez is a good role player who could get some help from Rekalin Sims, who never lived up to his billing at Kentucky but might fare better with the change of scenery. Besides the talent, this team has a year under Steve Cleveland, which will only help, but the right mix of players must be found for the talent to be fully harnessed.
While the Bulldogs will score, they won’t win if they don’t improve on the defensive end, where they allowed opponents to shoot over 46 percent from the field last season, and improvement on the glass is a must after they had the worst rebounding margin in the WAC last season.

Utah State (23-9, 11-5 WAC)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Jaycee Carroll (16.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.6 apg)
Jr. G Mikel Watson (redshirt)
Sr. G Durrall Peterson (7.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.1 apg)
Sr. F Chaz Spicer (7.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
Jr. C Arvydas Vaitiekus (redshirt)
Schedule Highlights: The Aggies have six non-conference home games on the slate, notably in-state rival Utah. Road games weren’t easy to come by, as the most notable one is at Brigham Young. They are also on the road in the BracketBusters and will be in the Top of the World Classic. After beginning WAC play with two road games, they trade three home games and three road games in a row, the latter concluding with a tough stretch at Nevada and at Hawaii.
Outlook: Stew Morrill’s teams have been consistent winners, but he has a tougher challenge this season thanks to the departure of three key starters from last season’s team. Returning starters Carroll and Peterson ensure that the wing will be fine, as Carroll has a sweet stroke and plays a solid all-around game. The questions come in at the point, where Watson doesn’t have much experience at this level, and the post, where Spicer needs to improve now that he’ll be a starter and Vaitiekus gives them size but is an unknown quantity.
Morrill’s teams are always efficient, so although last season’s 50 percent showing from the field will be tough to repeat, it’s not impossible. The real key will be repeating last season’s good rebound margin since they forced the fewest turnovers at the defensive end.

Hawaii (17-11, 10-6 WAC)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Matt Gibson (redshirt)
Sr. G Matt Lojeski (13.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.3 spg)
Jr. G-F Bobby Nash (redshirt)
Sr. F Ahmet Gueye (12.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.2 apg, 2.5 bpg)
Jr. C Stephen Verwers (transfer from Colorado State)
Schedule Highlights: The Rainbows will be tested in non-conference play, starting at UNLV (which returns the game in December) and hosting Oregon State before the Great Alaska Shootout, where they open with Hofstra and then play either Marshall or California. They host the Rainbow Classic, opening with San Francisco. In WAC play, they open with two straight road games and alternate with two straight home games the rest of the way. The toughest road swing is likely to be at the beginning of February, when Fresno State and Nevada loom.
Outlook: The Rainbows have talent, but questions loom about the effectiveness of a few likely starters due to injuries. Gibson and Nash redshirted last season, while Gueye tore up his knee in March and has had to rehab the entire off-season. It will be a challenge to integrate Verwers and the redshirts into the starting lineup and find the right mix, especially with four junior college transfers also figuring into the picture.
The Rainbows are always tough at home, meaning that some road wins are the key to reaching the NCAA Tournament. If they can repeat their defensive showing from last year, when they were third in the WAC in field goal percentage defense, they will have a chance even if they have some struggles on offense with the lineup changes.

Boise State (14-15, 6-10 WAC)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Eric Lane (11.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.1 apg)
Sr. G Coby Karl (17.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 4.0 apg)
Jr. G Matt Bauscher (8.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.2 apg)
Jr. F Reggie Larry (junior college transfer)
Jr. F Matt Nelson (transfer from Eastern Washington)
Schedule Highlights: Seven home games are on tap in a challenging non-conference slate that includes a home-and-home with Colorado State. Notable home games are against Brigham Young and one in BracketBusters, while road highlights are at Wyoming, Washington State, Big Sky favorite Montana and West Coast Conference contender Loyola Marymound. WAC play begins with three of four and five of seven at home, but the first two aren’t easy: Utah State at home and Nevada on the road. They also close the season with a tough stretch: Nevada at home, then at Fresno State and Hawaii.
Outlook: Carl is one of the conference’s best, and Lane and Bauscher combine with him for an experienced perimeter unit. That’s a good start, but they were part of last season’s sub-.500 showing. Larry and Nelson figure to give them a lift, as does redshirt freshman guard Anthony Thomas. There looks to be enough talent and experience for this team to make a push toward the top, but they have to prove themselves with more consistency.
The Broncos should be among the leaders in scoring again, but they need to improve on the glass with two new starters and take better care of the basketball.

Louisiana Tech (20-13, 11-5 WAC)
Projected Starters:
So. G Drew Washington (2.2 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 1.1 apg)
Sr. G Trey McDowell (5.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg)
Sr. F Jerome Richardson (5.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.6 apg)
Sr. F Chad McKenzie (6.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.7 apg)
Jr. C Shawn Taylor (junior college transfer)
Schedule Highlights: The Bulldogs open in the Texas A&M Tournament, where the host school will pose a challenge as well as Saint Louis. Southern Illinois and Texas Tech highlight three non-conference home games, while they have a home-and-home with Southern (consecutive games one week apart). Road games with LSU and Arkansas close out a challenging non-conference slate. After starting with two home games in WAC play, the Bulldogs play five of six on the road.
Outlook: The Bulldogs return an experienced team, but they lost a good deal of talent with the departures of Paul Millsap and Daevon Haskins. Millsap dominated inside before leaving for the NBA Draft and was a big reason they led the WAC in rebounding margin last season, and he will be the toughest player to replace in the conference. Someone has to emerge as a go-to guy among the holdovers, while Washington moves into the starting lineup after capably backing up Haskins last season.
The loss of scoring is particularly striking because the Bulldogs scored less than all but two WAC teams last season, meaning they’ll likely have to repeat their excellent defensive showing (second in the WAC) to have a chance to win games.

San Jose State (6-25, 2-14 WAC)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Jamon Hill (junior college transfer)
Sr. G Carlton Spencer (9.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.0 apg)
So. F Tim Pierce (transfer from Arizona State)
So. F Kerry Wooldridge (transfer from Minnesota)
Sr. C Menelik Barbary (6.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.2 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: Just three home games are on tap in a difficult non-conference schedule, with the most notable opponent being Big West favorite Long Beach State. They open in the College Basketball Experience Classic at Stanford, then getting either Air Force or Long Beach State. Then the challenging road games keep coming: Arizona State, Saint Mary’s, Brigham Young, Big West contender Cal State Fullerton and Duke. The Spartans hardly get a break in WAC play: early on, a three-game homestand has Nevada, Fresno State and Utah State.
Outlook: Spartan fans will need a program, as there are eight newcomers that should help the program move in the right direction. Spencer and Barbary should be the leaders, while Hill, Pierce and Wooldridge look like the best newcomers. If they can make an impact, the Spartans have a chance to move up in the standings, but this season is a building block for the future.

Idaho (4-25, 1-15 WAC)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Mario Mackey (junior college transfer)
Sr. G Keoni Watson (10.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.2 spg)
Jr. G Miles Webb (junior college transfer)
Jr. F Mike Kale (junior college transfer)
Jr. F-C Darin Nagle (junior college transfer)
Schedule Highlights: Six home games are on tap in the non-conference slate, including an appearance in the BracketBusters event. Washington State is the most notable home opponent, while notable road games are at Gonzaga and Washington. They play home-and-home series this season with North Dakota State and South Dakota State. WAC play gets tough right away, with consecutive road games at Fresno State and Nevada, then New Mexico State at home.
Outlook: New head coach George Pfeifer takes over a team with just three players who return from last season, when he was an assistant. Eight junior college transfers join the program, which gives them college experience but not at this level. Watson looks to be the best holdover and will be counted on to lead the way. This is the beginning of a rebuilding phase for Pfeifer, and the success of his tenure won’t be judged on this season.

Conference Outlook

The WAC has six teams with solid postseason potential, with the top three teams looking particularly strong compared to the others. Utah State and Hawaii are dark horses, while Boise State could earn an NIT bid if their veterans play up to their experience. But there is one big variable in all of this, which is the newcomers: each team will have newcomers playing a key role in some way, shape or form. They may count on newcomers to start, play a key role off the bench, or find a way to integrate them into the rotation with holdovers. It all means that a good race should be ahead this season in the WAC, with some postseason bids following it.

     

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