Mountain West Conference 2009-10 Season Preview

Once again the teams of the Mountain West Conference will be fighting for credibility on the national stage. It won’t help that 13 of the 15 all-conference players from last year have moved on, representing at least the top player from every team. There aren’t many household names remaining, but that doesn’t mean that the MWC won’t be competitive or have a good influx of new talent.

UNLV and San Diego State will benefit the most from transfer players from big-name programs, including Kentucky, UCLA and Illinois. And as for freshman, these two teams also share much of the wealth. UNLV’s four-star shooting guard Anthony Marshall and San Diego State’s forward, Kawhi Leonard, the L.A. Times California Player of the Year, will challenge one another for Freshman of the Year honors.

The league does have stability in the coaching ranks, with all nine teams returning their head coaches. BYU coach Dave Rose is coming off successful treatment for pancreatic cancer and should be an inspiration to his players. Jim Boylen at Utah and Steve Alford at New Mexico enter their third seasons in the MWC. They both shared a piece of the conference title last year with BYU and will be shooting for the top once again. Tim Miles at Colorado State and Jeff Reynolds at Air Force are also in their third seasons, but they will continue to bring up the rear this season.

With a lot of unknowns this year, there are five teams with a decent shot at challenging for the conference championship. BYU gets the early season edge as they have only one significant loss in their roster. San Diego State may be the most talented, but how soon can their talented transfers and freshmen play as a cohesive team? And UNLV, New Mexico and Utah aren’t far behind. This all sets up for another exciting year of Mountain West Conference men’s basketball.

All MWC First Team

Jimmer Fredette, G, BYU

Tre’Von Willis, G, UNLV

Jonathan Tavernari, F, BYU

Malcolm Thomas, F, San Diego State

Zvonko Buljan, C, TCU

Honorable Mentions: Carlon Brown, Utah; Roman Martinez, New Mexico; Afam Muojeke, Wyoming; Chace Stanback, UNLV; Billy White, San Diego State

Player of the Year

Jimmer Fredette, BYU

Newcomer of the Year

Malcolm Thomas, San Diego State

Freshman of the Year

Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State

Team Projections

1. BYU Cougars

2008-09 record: 25-8, 12-4 MWC (Tie 1st place)

Projected starting five:

Jackson Emery, Jr. G

Jimmer Fredette, Jr. G

Jonathan Tavernari, Sr. F

Chris Abouo, So. F

Chris Miles, Sr. C

Lee Cummard (17 points, 6 rebounds) is gone but the rest of the BYU squad remains intact. This gives them a big advantage as far as team chemistry and consistency are concerned. It also helps to have two of the best players in the conference suited up on their side. And with the team rallying around Coach Dave Rose and his battle with cancer, the Cougars are poised for another title run.

Guard Jimmer Fredette is an exciting playmaker who can get his own shot or set up a teammate. He leads all returning players with 16 points and 4 assists per game a year ago. His ability to drive the lane and score easy baskets or get to the foul line was a difference-maker for BYU last year. His backcourt partner will once again be Jackson Emery, who has an average of eight points in 28 minutes per game. He also made the all-defensive team with 47 steals and handed out 100 assists. This tandem will be as strong as any they face all year.

Senior Jonathan Tavernari is one of the league’s best shooters, averaging 38 percent on three-point shots and scoring 16 points per game as a junior. He also has international experience, having played on the Brazilian national team.

Chris Miles is the anchor in the middle. His 6-11 size is sufficient to go up against the other tall centers in the conference. He shoots well from close range but doesn’t need to be a big scoring threat for this team to succeed.

Filling in the only missing piece in the starting lineup will likely be sophomore Chris Abuou. He had a few shining moments last season and will be called upon for production and consistency this year with the increase in playing team. He will share time with freshman Tyler Haws, regarded as one of the best prep players in Utah history. Haws is joining the team following the completion of his church mission.

Schedule
Key out of conference games:
Nov. 13 vs. Bradley
Dec. 8 vs. Arizona State

Dec. 22 at Nevada

Dec. 28 at Arizona

A very talented, experienced and emotionally engaged BYU team will be tough to beat on the road and nearly impossible to beat at home. Look for them to recapture the conference crown and win at least one game in the NCAA tourney at the end of the season.

2. San Diego State Aztecs

2008-09 record: 26-10, 11-5 MWC (4th place)

Projected starting five:

D.J. Gay, Jr. G

Tyrone Shelley, So. G

Billy White, Jr. F

Malcom Thomas, Jr. F

Brian Carlwell, Jr. C

This is one of the deepest teams in Aztecs history, even though there are a lot of new faces to bring into the fold this season. Coach Steve Fisher, now entering his 11^th season at San Diego State, said that he has 10 players who all think they should start. And this is on the heels of the Aztecs’ 26-10 run last year that took them to the final four in the NIT.

In the backcourt, junior combo guard D.J. Gay will be tasked with running the point. This is the one area where the Aztecs are lacking in depth, as coveted point guard recruit Eric Lawton didn’t qualify. His backup will likely be freshman Chase Tapley, who was the California D-III player of the year. Tyrone Shelley, who led Pepperdine in scoring two years ago as a freshman, is the front-runner for the shooting guard position.  While more of a scorer than a pure shooter, Shelley will absorb some of the impact from the graduation of seniors Kyle Spain and Lorenzo Wade.

Guard Kelvin Davis received a medical redshirt for another season as he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease and underwent treatment that caused him to sit out much of last season. He was honored by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association with the Most Courageous Award last spring. His presence adds experience, outside shooting and an emotional lift.

Forward Malcolm Thomas was Shelley’s teammate at Pepperdine two years ago and should be a starter from day one. He is regarded as an NBA prospect, who will help the team in rebounding, shot-blocking and scoring. Billy White returns as a very athletic player who can play either forward position. He excels on the defensive end and is very efficient on offense, making 66 percent of his shots down low. Tim Shelton is coming off another knee surgery and will see limited minutes early in the season. Frenchman Mehdi Cheriet joined the Aztecs last season via Arizona Western junior college. He will take a redshirt this season.

For the first time in many years, the Aztecs have themselves a true center in 6-10, 296 lb. Illinois transfer Brian Carlwell. He looked surprisingly mobile in practice and shouldn’t inhibit the Aztecs desire to run. At the same time, he could be a defensive stopper in the middle.

Schedule
Key out of conference games:
Nov. 16 at St. Mary’s

Dec. 12 vs. Arizona
Dec. 19 at Arizona State

Dec. 22 at Drake

If the chemistry of all the newcomers can come together quickly, the Aztecs will be dangerous this season. They have the talent to be even better than last year’s team, which was one of the best in San Diego State history.

3. UNLV Runnin’ Rebels

2008-09 record: 21-11, 9-7 MWC (5th place)

Projected starting five:

Tre’Von Willis, Jr. G

Derrick Jasper, Jr. G

Oscar Bellfield, So. G

Chace Stanback, So. F

Matt Shaw, Jr. F

The Runnin’ Rebels finished a disappointing fifth last season as they seemed to run out of gas late in the year. Coach Lon Kruger appears to have upgraded the talent level with a couple of transfers and a freshman that should make an immediate impact and enable them to compete for the top spot once again.

Tre’Von Willis will get some help in the backcourt, but the Rebels lose Wink Adams, who was the leader of this team for the previous four years. Help will come in the form of Derrick Jasper from Kentucky after the 6-6 guard spent last season rehabilitating from knee surgery. Reports are that he is explosive and ready to go. Oscar Bellfield had a promising freshman season and a solid 2-1 assist-to-turnover ratio that should earn him more minutes.

Another high-profile transfer, forward Chace Stanback from UCLA, should make up for the loss of Rene Rougeau and Joe Darger. He’s got a solid outside jumper and can play the post and grab rebounds too. If Matt Shaw recovers well from knee surgery, he could provide much needed size and rebounding down low. If not, the Rebels will look to Brice Massamba to fill the role.

And keep an eye out for 6-3 shooting guard Anthony Marshall. It’s a crowded backcourt already, but if Marshall can get some playing time, he has a chance to be one of the top freshmen in the conference.

Schedule
Key out of conference games:
Nov. 21 vs. Southern Illinois

Nov. 28 vs. Louisville
Dec. 2 at Arizona
Dec. 12 vs. Kansas State

Don’t be surprised if the Rebels go with a three-guard lineup and use their athleticism to wear down and speed past opponents. They will be competitive as always, but I think they’ll have trouble getting past BYU and San Diego State.

4. New Mexico Lobos

2008-09 record: 22-12, 12-4 MWC (Tie 1st place)

Projected starting five:

Dairese Gary, Jr. G

Phillip McDonald, So. G

Roman Martinez, Sr. F

Chad Toppert, Sr. F

Daniel Faris, Sr. F

Even though the Lobos tied for the conference regular season crown last season, they were the odd team out in a three-way tie and when invitations were given for the Big Dance, all they got was the NIT. And this on the heels of going 24-8 the previous season and being left out of the NCAA tournament. You would think that a Steve Alford team would get a little more respect.

The Lobos lose their go-to guy and one of the best all-around players in the conference last season in Tony Danridge. The previous year it was J.R. Giddens. This season it looks as though senior forward Roman Martinez is ready to take over the leadership reins. While not as flashy as his predecessors, he has a solid all-around game and maturity that is needed for this team.

Guards Phillip McDonald and Dairese Gary both averaged more than 20 minutes per game last season and should play more prominent roles in the offense in the upcoming campaign. Gary will run an up-tempo offense from the point and look for McDonald on the wing.

Junior college transfer Darrington Hobson should provide some scoring punch as a well-rounded offensive threat. Curtis Dennis can shoot from distance and could help replace Chad Toppert, who was deadly from the three-point line.

The Lobos waited two years for big man Isaiah Rusher to become academically eligible but then dismissed him from the team in July. That leaves the team really thin in the middle. Sophomores Will Brown and A.J. Hardeman will likely share minutes and be pushed by freshman Matt Staff.

Schedule
Key out of conference games:
Dec. 2 vs. California
Dec. 19 vs. Creighton
Dec. 29 vs. Texas Tech

Jan. 1 vs. Dayton

The Lobos appear to be a middle-of-the-pack team this season, without any superstars and without much height. The Pit always gives them a solid home court advantage, but they will be hard pressed to duplicate the same success on the road.

5. Utah Utes

2008-09 record: 24-10, 12-4 MWC (Tie 1st place)

Projected starting five:

Luka Drca, Sr. G

Carlon Brown, Jr. G

Jordan Cyphers, So. F

Kim Tillie, Sr. F

Jason Washburn, Fr. C

The Utah Utes may have been hit hardest by players graduating, but Coach Jim Boylen has done an excellent job of implementing his defensive-minded system in his first two years and his team will definitely rebound and run and battle for 40 minutes.

The loss of 7-2 center Luke Nevill will change the dynamics. So will the loss of three additional players (Shaun Green, Lawrence Borha and Tyler Kepkay) who all averaged 10 points or more per game last season. With 70 percent of last season’s production now gone, how will the Utes respond?

Look to Carlon Brown, a highlight reel player, to fill up the stat sheet. He’ll need to be more disciplined and team focused, but he can develop into a big-time scorer. Senior guard Luka Drca is a three-point scoring threat, averaging 38 percent from beyond the arc. Without Nevill in the middle, the Utes figure to get more of their points outside the paint.

On the wing, look for sophomores Jordan Cyphers and Jace Tavita to battle for more playing time this year. Down low, redshirt freshman Jason Washburn appears to be the frontrunner to replace Nevill. Junior college transfer Matt Read as well as 7-3 David Foster will also get a chance.

Kim Tillie was a starter last year but didn’t play starter’s minutes. He’ll need to this year and to improve upon his 3 points and 4 rebounds per game for the Utes to be more competitive.

Schedule
Key out of conference games:
Nov. 27 at Illinois
Dec. 9 vs. Michigan

Dec. 12 vs. Oklahoma

Jan. 2 at LSU

This looks to be a rebuilding year that will focus on experienced guard play and defense to keep them in games. Utah never slips too far so a middle of conference finish and an invite to the NIT sounds about right.

6. Wyoming Cowboys

2008-09 record: 19-14, 7-9 MWC (6th place)

Projected starting five:

JayDee Luster, So. G

Thomas Manzano, So. G

Afam Muojeke, So. F

Boubacar Sylla, So. F

Adam Waddell, So. C

Brandon Ewing had a tremendous four-year career as a starter for Wyoming. The rest of the conference will breathe a sigh of relief when they step on the court and he’s no longer wearing the brown and gold. Had the Cowboys been a more successful team during his tenure, he would have been player of the year multiple times.

But all is not lost. Freshman of the year Afam Muojeke returns, having beefed up in the off-season. Muojeke will be the focus of the offense in Ewing’s absence and is one of the rising stars in the conference.

New Mexico State transfer JayDee Luster hasn’t played a minute for the Cowboys but has already been named team captain. He will lead the team from the point guard position. He is lightning quick getting up and down the court and should keep them in an up-tempo offense. Luster will be joined in the backcourt by junior college transfer Thomas Manzano, who averaged 26 points per game in the national JC tournament.

In the frontcourt, Adam Wadell started to emerge last season as just a freshman. The eligibility of Auburn transfer Boubacar Sylla should enable the Cowboys to clog up the middle. Another big man, Djibril Thiam adds a shot-blocking ability and a rebounding presence to the mix.

Schedule
Key out of conference games:

Nov. 29 vs. Pepperdine
Dec. 15 at Tennessee

Dec. 23 at Northern Iowa

The Cowboys have put together a very winnable out-of-conference schedule that will help their confidence and should enable them to go into conference play with a solid record. But conference play will prove to be much tougher, especially as they go on the road.

7. TCU Horned Frogs

2008-09 record: 14-17, 5-11 MWC (7th place)

Projected starting five:

Ronnie Moss, So. G

Greg Hill, Jr. G

Edvinas Ruzgas, Sr. F

Garlon Green, Fr. F

Zvonko Buljan, Sr. F

So who did TCU lose this year? Kevin Langford, of course. Langford was their top scorer and playmaker. But it was Zvonko Buljan who was the big surprise a year ago and is a great piece to build on in the upcoming season. Buljan was the MWC Newcomer of the Year and has a non-stop motor. He is a relentless rebounder and a dangerous inside scorer.

Second-year coach Jim Christian can also build around guard Ronnie Moss, who followed him from Kent State and started as a freshman. Moss averaged 10 points and should see that go up this year. Edvinas Ruzgas is an outside shooting threat from the wing position and is poised for a solid senior season.

Junior college transfer Greg Hill may be their best three-point option so he will challenge for playing time at the shooting guard position.

Garlon Green, younger brother of Dallas Maverick forward Gerald Green, should see the court early and often. He is a highly athletic player who should be able to make an impact in a variety of ways.

Schedule
Key out of conference games:
Nov. 21 at Nebraska
Dec. 8 vs. Texas Tech

Dec. 12 at Wichita State

The Horned Frogs are headed in the right direction and should pull a few upsets this season. They have yet to establish a home-court advantage. That is something that is essential in this conference and will be one of the keys to lasting success of the program.

8. Colorado State Rams

2008-09 record: 9-22, 4-12 MWC (8th place)

Projected starting five:

Harvey Perry, Sr. G

Dorian Green, Fr. G

Andre McFarland, Jr. F

Andy Ogide, Jr. F

Mame Bocar Ba, Sr. F

Well, four conference wins is better than none the previous year, but Coach Tim Miles is finding the turnaround at Colorado State to be quite a challenge. The Rams lost seven of their final eight games, and they no longer have the services of leading scorer Marcus Walker.

Forward Andy Ogide is the leading scorer among returning players, averaging 10 points along with 6 rebounds per game. Another junior forward, Andre McFarland will need to make a big contribution as well.

Guard Jesse Carr had a promising freshman season in the backcourt. Unfortunately he sustained an injury in the spring that may keep him out for the first part of this season. Injuries ended the playing career of Dan Vandervieren, who had one year of eligibility left and have called into the question the playing ability of Minnesota transfer Travis Busch.

The Rams usually have an ample supply of solid big men, but this year’s stable is looking a little light. Mame Bocar Ba saw limited minutes last season. Hopes are focused on 7-0 freshman center Trevor Williams to be the big man of the future.

Schedule
Key out of conference games:
Nov. 15 at Oregon

Dec. 10 vs. Colorado
Dec. 22 at UCLA
Dec. 28 at Fresno State

Look for about a similar season as the last one. The Rams will win a few conference games and go down to the wire on a few more. In the end, they are still short on talent and experience to make a more impressive run.

9. Air Force Falcons

2008-09 record: 10-21, 0-16 MWC (9th place)

Projected starting five:

Evan Washington, Jr. G

Avery Merriex, Sr. G

Taylor Stewart, So. F

Grant Parker, Sr. F

Sammy Schafer, So. C

Andrew Henke, the last remnant of the Air Force teams that won 20 plus games, has now graduated. The Falcons lose their top three scorers in Henke, Anwar Johnson and Matt Holland, and it isn’t clear how this last place team will show any improvement this season.

Evan Washington is one of the more consistent and productive players on this year’s roster, but he only averaged 7 points per game. Avery Merriex got his first start in the MWC tournament last season and hopefully can build on that experience to provide help in the backcourt.

Air Force has more size than usual this year, but that doesn’t necessarily fit with their perimeter-based scheme with lots of motion. Sammy Schafer has legitimate size for a center and can take up space in the middle. Grant Parker can pull down rebounds as well and should be a more productive scorer this season.

Schedule
Key out of conference games:
Dec. 5 at Missouri State

Dec. 12 at Washington State

For a military school that can’t recruit JC players, it’s difficult to turn things around very quickly. This doesn’t look to be their year.

MWC Summary

This may be a year in transition for the Mountain West. Few teams are loaded with senior leadership, although there is talent in the younger classes. BYU has the most proven success among returning starters, so they are the team to beat. If San Diego State and UNLV can gel quickly with their transfers and freshman, then they have the talent to challenge BYU for the top spot.

It looks like another two-bid season for the MWC in the NCAA tourney with another couple of teams landing in the NIT.

Mountain West Notebook – A So-So Lobo Return

The view from the Mountain is about what you would expect at this point in the season. Collectively the Mountain West Conference is 52-20 as of December 7.

BYU has the only untarnished record at 8-0. One could argue that they really haven’t played anyone yet as their RPI is 81 and their strength of schedule is 287. The Cougars won’t get their first true test until Dec. 20 when they take on Arizona State in Tempe.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Colorado State is the only team with a losing record, as they sit at 3-5. But even they look to be an improved team this year. In their toughest contest to date, they lost by just one point to Tubby Smith’s Golden Gophers.

San Diego State (7-1) was crowned champions of the Great Alaska Shootout last week and got a big boost with the reinstatement of MWC First Team Player Lorrenzo Wade. A San Diego judge dismissed felony burglary charges against Wade, and he is now practicing with the team. He did not play in SDSU’s victory over cross-town rival USD on Saturday night, but he should see the court against Arizona on Wednesday night.

Wyoming is off to a 6-1 start and may have a more balanced and complete team this year. Last year the focus was all on their two standout guards, Brandon Ewing and Brad Jones. Now that Jones has graduated, Ewing has moved to the point guard position and wants to distribute the ball more and not just be the designated scorer from the two guard spot. It shows as the Cowboys have four players averaging double figures in scoring. With a stronger supporting cast, Ewing may get the opportunity he desires to refine his point guard skills and have a career in the professional ranks once his senior season is over.

The UNLV Runnin’ Rebels aren’t looking quite as dominant as many expected, and their 7-2 record shows it. They narrowly escaped with a win in their home opener versus the University of San Diego, even though San Diego had three key players on either suspension or out with an injury. After a couple of easy wins, the Rebels thought they were ready for a bigger test, but when the Bears came to town, the Rebels didn’t have an answer. First it was the Cal Bears, who defeated UNLV by 18 points. The next day, the Cincinnati Bearcats completed the sweep with a two-point victory.

The Air Force Falcons have one of the weakest out of conference schedules to date as indicated by their RP1 of 158 and Strength of Schedule at 226. They lost by 19 points to Stanford, the only team of significance on their pre-conference schedule. But at 6-2 and riding a three-game winning streak, they should rack up a few more wins this month and have some confidence going into conference play.

Utah (5-2) is an early season enigma. They have quality wins over Oregon, Missouri State and Mississippi but bad losses against Southwest Baptist on their home court and against Idaho State on the road.

The 6-3 TCU Horned Frogs are on a five-game winning streak and trying to prove that they are more than just a football school. They had a convincing 16-point road victory over Colorado on Saturday but will be further tested this week at home versus Wichita State before traveling to Indiana.

New Mexico (4-4) is still trying to find its rhythm in the absence of J.R. Giddens, who was last year’s MWC co-player of the year and then selected in the first round of the NBA draft. Tony Danridge, who missed all of last season with a broken leg, was expected to re-emerge as the team’s leading scorer and go-to guy. He led the team two years ago but has been inconsistent so far.

All indicators point to this being a better than average year for the Mountain West Conference, and there figures to be a considerable amount of parity. As teams take on a few more tough out of conference opponents in the next couple of weeks, we will start to see who rises to the top and whether they can hold onto that position by winning on the road.

San Diego State Gets Hot in Great Alaska Shootout

The Aztecs left sunny San Diego for a real taste of winter in snowy, Anchorage, Alaska to participate in the Great Alaska Shootout. They warmed up Sullivan Arena with three victories in three days to capture the 2008 championship.

The Western Carolina Catamounts had the Aztecs on the ropes on Thursday night, but a solid defensive effort and excellent free throw shooting helped the Aztecs come out on top. The Catamounts turned out to be the surprise team in the tournament as they went on to win their next two games and finish in fifth place.

Kyle Spain continued to lead the Aztecs in scoring in the absence of Lorenzo Wade, who is still waiting for his day in court. Spain hit some late free throws to secure the win in the first game over Western Carolina. He finished with 22 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Spain led all scorers with 15 points in just 21 minutes in the second game against Seattle University. He had a solid effort in an easy victory over Hampton in the finale. For his efforts, he was recognized as the MVP of the tournament.

The Aztec big men had a good tournament as well. Senior Ryan Amoroso played well at both ends of the court despite lingering back issues. He is also the only player to have won the tournament more than once. Amoroso was on the Marquette squad that was victorious in 2005. JUCO transfer Mehdi Cheriet is also starting to find his form. He scored 11 points in 11 minutes on Friday against Seattle University for his highest D-1 scoring effort to date. He also had three rebounds and one block on the defensive end.

And let’s not forget San Diego State’s quick guards, who took turns sharing the spotlight. Senior point guard Richie Williams had 15 points and four rebounds against Western Carolina. Against Seattle, Williams was limited to just four points, but distributed eight assists and gave up just one turnover. Sophomore guard D.J. Gay led all scorers with 20 points in the championship game, nailing six three-point shots. Gay was named Player of the Game against Hampton.

The Aztecs will take a detour next week to play at Northern Colorado on December 3. Then it’s back home to play USD in the annual cross-town rivalry game on December 6.

Mountain West Preview

Mountain West Conference 2008-09 Preview

by Brad Best

Things are looking up in the Mountain West Conference. With only a handful of premier players moving on to either the next level or the rest of their lives, the conference as a whole is set up for even greater success.

The UNLV Runnin’ Rebels are the consensus favorite to claim the conference title and do some damage in the NCAA tournament. The other three teams battling for second-best are BYU, San Diego State and New Mexico. With senior leadership and proven playmakers suiting up for each squad, competition will be fiercer than ever. All the top contenders in the Mountain West do well at protecting their home court, so the true test is winning on the road. BYU holds the nation’s longest homecourt winning streak at 47 games, but look for that to fall this year.

Utah, New Mexico, Colorado State and Wyoming will all be in year two with their new coaches and systems, so look for improvement all around and new recruits to more closely match the playing styles of their programs.

With a couple of the tall trees (6’11″ Trent Plaisted and 7’0″ Stuart Creason) no longer playing the in the Mountain West, the Runnin’ Rebels tagline may be a suitable description for more than just the team from Las Vegas. Up-tempo, high-scoring shootouts will play out nightly in the upcoming season in the Mountain West Conference.

All-MWC First Team
Wink Adams, G, UNLV
Lee Cummard, G, BYU
Brandon Ewing, G, Wyoming
Lorenzo Wade, F, San Diego State
Luke Nevill, C, Utah

Honorable Mentions: Tony Dandrige, New Mexico; Andrew Henke, Air Force; Kyle Spain, San Diego State, Marcus Walker, Colorado State

Conference MVP
Wink Adams, UNLV

Newcomer of the Year
Tre’Von Willis, UNLV

1. UNLV Runnin’ Rebels
2007-08 record: 27-8, 12-4 MWC (2nd place)

Projected starting five:
Wink Adams, Sr. G
Tre’Von Willis, So. G (Transfer)
Rene Rougeau, Sr. G
Joe Darger, Sr. F
Beas Hamga, Fr. C

With back-to-back NCAA tournament berths, Lon Kruger has proven he can recruit, reload and re-energize a new crop of talent and remain atop the Mountain while playing in the desert.

Wink Adams will vie for conference Player of the Year honors in his senior season. In the backcourt, help will come in the form of Memphis transfer Tre’Von Willis. With Willis running the point, Adams can focus on scoring, whether it is driving the lane and spotting up for an open three-pointer. His court leadership and tenacity on defensive make him a complete player and future NBA prospect.

The Runnin’ Rebels succeeded without a true big man on the roster last season, but will have a couple of true centers to choose from in the upcoming campaign. Beas Hamga has finally been cleared to play and should have an immediate impact on the defensive end. Back-up 6’10″ Brice Massamba is a transplant from Sweden with more refined skills on the offense than Hamga.

Joe Darger defended the post on many occasions last year but can now go back to the small forward spot, where he is a three-point threat. Matt Shaw played well a year ago but injured his knee and will sit this season out. So the power forward position is up for grabs, but it looks like the Rebels have a sufficient mix of talent at that spot to still be very solid overall.

Schedule
Key out of conference games:
Nov. 15 vs. San Diego
Nov. 28 vs. Cal
Dec. 20 vs. Arizona
Dec. 31 vs. Louisville

Kruger did an admirable job of replacing key starters and coaching an undersized team up to the top of the conference. Look for the Rebels to add to their success with their new additions and once again claim the conference crown and NCAA tournament bid.

2. BYU Cougars
2007-08 record: 27-8, 14-2 MWC (1st place)

Projected starting five:
Lee Cummard, Sr. G
Jimmer Fredett, So. G
Jonathan Tavernari, Jr. F
Gavin McGregor, Sr. F
Chris Miles, Jr. C

Trent Plaisted left school early and was selected in the NBA draft, but Lee Cummard withdrew his name from the draft and decided to return for his senior season. With Cummard returning with an average of 16 points and 6 rebounds per night, along with Jonathan Tavernari (13 points, 5 rebounds), Coach Dave Rose has a strong nucleus to build around.

Chris Miles appears to be the frontrunner for the center position as Vuk Ivanovic has moved on as well. Senior Gavin MacGregor should contribute minutes in the middle.

Guard Jimmer Fredette can play either the point or the shooting guard position and will need to step up his production this year. He proved in his freshman season that he can handle the ball and will have more opportunities to shine going forward.

Schedule
Key out of conference games:
Nov. 18 at Pepperdine
Dec. 20 at Arizona State
Dec, 30 at Tulsa
Jan. 3 vs. Wake Forest

With the attrition of Plaisted and company, the Cougars will not be able to hold onto their 47-game homecourt winning streak but will still hold a firm homecourt advantage of opponents. If Cummard and Travernari can get some help inside and if the ball bounces their way, they’ll be dancing again.

3. San Diego State Aztecs
2007-08 record: 20-13, 9-7 MWC (4th place)

Projected starting five:
Richie William, Sr. G
DJ Gay, So. G
Kyle Spain, Sr. F
Billy White, So. F
Ryan Amoroso, Sr. F

The Aztecs have a nice blend of youth and experience, but as usual also have an off-court issue that is poised to stunt their success. Preseason All-MWC selection Lorenzo Wade was the go-to guy last season and seemed poised for a solid senior season before his actions led to criminal charges and suspension until court rulings add clarity to the situation. Besides Wade, the Aztecs are stacked with seniors and new additions from the JUCO ranks should give them the depth the sorely needed a year ago.

Senior Kyle Spain served a suspension for violating team rules last season and the team sputtered down the stretch in his absence. He is the Aztecs’ best catch-and-shoot player and will need to regain his form and place on the team in Wade’s absence.

At the point guard position, Richie Williams will need to have a strong senior season and lead the team on and off court. He, too, had his share of challenges last year, missing valuable court time with a suspension and an injured wrist. D.J. Gay showed promise as a true freshman and will share time at both the point and the two guard positions. Senior Matt Thomas was granted a medical redshirt and if his back holds up, he has the size to defend the perimeter and help initiate the break.

Kelvin Davis was slotted to replace Brandon Heath a year ago but proved to have an inconsistent outside shot and was in and out of the starting lineup. After the season, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease and has been undergoing treatments. He has been practicing with the team and whether or not he can go this season remains to be seen. New addition Tim Island comes from one of the top junior colleges in the country and should add some much-needed three-point shooting.

Ryan Amoroso will anchor the Aztecs’ frontcourt again this year. At 6′ 8″, 257 pounds, he has proven to have the strength to guard bigger, taller opponents down low. Freshman of the Year Billy White is the most athletic player on the team. He shined on defense but would disappear on offense at times. Outside of easy putbacks and dunks, he really didn’t focus on getting his own shot. Look for the Aztecs to run more plays for him, especially in Wade’s absence. Junior college transfer Mehdi Cheriet (6’9″) will be a welcome addition to the frontcourt and can step outside and knock down shots.

Freshman forward Tim Shelton played very effectively in four games last year before going down with a knee injury. Coach Steve Fisher is bringing him along slowly, but if healthy, Shelton is a very important member of this team and a leader.

Schedule
Key out of conference games:
Nov. 18 vs. Arizona State
Dec. 6 vs. San Diego
Dec. 13 vs. Saint Mary’s (Wooden Classic)
Dec. 22 at Arizona

If Wade can rejoin the team sooner rather than later, the Aztecs can compete for the top of the conference. Otherwise, these Aztecs may finish in the middle of the pack without a go-to scorer and lingering injuries and off-court issues with other players.

4. New Mexico Lobos
2007-08 record: 24-9, 11-5 MWC (3rd place)

Projected starting five:
Tony Danridge, Sr. G
Dairese Gary, So. G
Phillip McDonald, Fr. G
Chad Toppert, Sr. F
Daniel Faris, Sr. F

The Lobos went from eighth place to third under the guidance of first-year head coach Steve Alford. Alford is also working his magic on the recruiting front and appears to be building a solid program in Albuquerque.

J.R. Giddens was a first-round NBA draft pick, but the return of Tony Danridge should help fill the scoring void and the Lobos should have a more balanced team without Giddens in the lineup.

All the talk this year is around freshman Phillip McDonald. This top 100 prospect turned down Big 12 scholarships to play for Alford. Also, Isaiah Rusher is a 6’9″ post player who should get minutes as a freshman.

Daniel Faris cemented his place in the middle of the lineup by starting every game and earning honorable mention All-MWC player last season. He should continue to improve in his senior season and welcome freshman Will Brown, who adds some additional beef in the middle.

Schedule
Key out of conference games:
Nov. 16 at Creighton
Nov. 10 at San Diego
Dec. 13 vs. Mississippi
Dec. 20 at Texas Tech

The return of Danridge and another year under Alford should help the Lobos be competitive again this year. The will hold their own, especially in The Pit, but may struggle on the road as they seek to integrate seven new faces onto this year’s roster. They’ll likely earn an invitation to the NIT when the season comes to an end.

5. Utah Utes
2007-08 record: 18-15, 7-9 MWC (6th place)

Projected starting five:
Tyler Kepkay, Sr. G
Lawrence Borha, Sr. G
Carlon Brown, So.G
Shaun Green, Sr. F
Luke Nevill, Sr. C

Coach Jim Boylen put down a solid foundation in his first year as a head coach. As promised, he helped the team increase its defensive intensity, which kept them in more games. He now has a team loaded with seniors and one of the best big men around.

Luke Nevill (7’1″) is one of the most talented big men in the country but has lived in the shadow of BYU’s Plaisted for the last three years. With Plaisted and other big centers out of the way this year, Nevill will have every opportunity to prove that he is NBA-caliber. He has been prone to foul trouble, which has limited his minutes in key games. Kim Tillie, a 6’9″ junior, will provide some help for Nevill down low.

Guard Johnnie Bryant (14 ppg) was instant offense last year and his scoring ability will be missed. Shaun Green had an off year in his junior campaign, but look for him to be right up there with Nevill as far as putting points on the board this year. Tyler Kepkay transferred in last season and secured a role as point guard. Lawrence Borha is the defensive stopper on the perimeter.

Sophomore Carlon Brown started some games as a freshman and should continue to show improvement with additional minutes this year.

Schedule
Key out of conference games:
Nov. 28 at Missouri State
Dec. 3 vs. Oregon
Dec. 10 vs. California
Dec. 13 at Oklahoma

If Nevill can stay on the court and out of foul trouble, the Utes are capable of knocking off any team in the conference on any night. This team is filled with seniors, and that combined with Boylen’s discipline should upset a few of the top teams. In the end, they may just be good enough for the NIT.

6. Air Force Falcons
2007-08 record: 16-14, 8-8 MWC (5th place)

Projected starting five:
Evan Washington, So. G
Andrew Henke, Sr. G
Anwar Johnson, Sr. F
Matt Holland, Sr. F
Grant Parker, Jr. F

A sixth-man for the past couple of years, Andrew Henke is the top scorer among returning players at 11 points per game. That says something about the experience of this year’s squad and where they may end up.

The cadets will definitely miss the services of Tim Anderson and his 14 points per game. Anderson was the link to the Top 25 teams from a few years back. Now Henke will need to provide leadership and scoring.

Alongside Henke in the backcourt will be Evan Washington, who was one of the top freshmen in the conference last season. Washington averaged about 7 points per game a year ago and will get more looks this year.

Military schools are typically short on size, and this year’s Air Force roster is no exception. Returning forwards Anwar Johnson and Matt Holland will do what they can inside, but perimeter shooting and movement are the keys to the Falcons success. Freshman Sam Schafer provides some much-needed size at 6’9″ and will try to work his way into the lineup.

Clune Arena has been very good to the Falcons. They posted a 12-4 record at home last season but were just 3-8 on the road. This year may be much of the same.

Schedule
Key out of conference games:
Nov. 26 at Stanford
Dec. 6 at Northern Colorado
Dec. 27 at Portland

Air Force will continue to shoot bombs from the outside and look to win with perimeter shooting and controlling the clock. Some nights it will prove successful, but don’t look for them to be one of the top teams in conference this year.

7. Wyoming Cowboys
2007-08 record: 12-18, 5-11 MWC (8th place)

Projected starting five:
Brandon Ewing, Sr. G
Sean Ogirri, Sr. G
Joseph Taylor, Jr. F
Bienvenu Songondo, Jr. F
Travis Nelson, Sr. C

The backcourt tandem of Brandon Ewing and Brad Jones just wasn’t enough to help first-year Wyoming coach Heath Schroyer to a successful season. All too often the Cowboys were over-matched and out-gunned. Ewing is one of the best players in the league and would vie for Player of the Year honors if he played for another school. With Jones gone now, it’s hard to see how the Cowboys are going to see much improvement unless their transfers really hit the ground running.

Wichita State transfer Sean Ogirri should help fill in for Jones on the perimeter, but he only has one year of eligibility. Freshman A.J. Davis will back up Ewing. There is a sharp drop-off after Ewing, who has led the Mountain West in scoring twice.

Mikhail Linskens out of Belgium returns for his sophomore season and provides a big presence in the middle. He will be surrounded by Ryan Dermody at the power forward position as well as Tyson Johnson, who averaged 7 points per game off the bench. Transfer Djibril Thiam from Baylor will be eligible after the first semester and will help improve the frontcourt depth.

The Cowboys have high hopes for Mahamoud Diakite from France. He played at a junior college in California last year and could make an immediate impact.

Schedule
Key out of conference games:
Dec. 3 at Boise State
Dec. 13 vs. Northern Iowa
Dec. 23 at UCLA

With a pretty friendly non-conference schedule, Schroyer will try to integrate a bevy of junior college players into the mix early and try to turns things around in Laramie. This is likely a transition year as Ewing will be the focal point among a number of new faces.

8. Colorado State Rams
2007-08 record: 7-25, 0-16 MWC (9th place)

Projected starting five:
Marcus Walker, Sr. G

Willis Gardner, Sr. G
Andre McFarland, So. F
Andy Ogide, Jr. F
Ronnie Aguilar, Jr. C

The 2007-08 season was a rough year for this Rocky Mountain school, as they failed to win a single conference game at home or on the road. But they did manage a victory over Wyoming in the conference tournament, so maybe that’s a positive sign. Coach Tim Miles, previously from North Dakota State, is better than this and will get things heading in the right direction.

Big man Stuart Creason has graduated and so the Rams are likely to transition from a low-post focused team to one with more emphasis on the perimeter. Ronnie Aguilar will likely start the year at center but will need to stay healthy this year if he is going to be effective. The Rams will also get help inside from two transfers, Andy Ogide from Ole Miss and Dan Vandervieren from Purdue.

Marcus Walker and Willis Gardner will form the backcourt tandem and are the only seniors on the team. Walker was Newcomer of the Year in 2007-08 and averaged 17 points per game as a junior. Gardner averaged about 10 points per game and led the team in assists.

Schedule
Key out of conference games:
Nov. 22 vs. Minnesota
Dec. 2 vs. Nevada
Dec. 10 at Colorado
Dec. 14 vs. Stanford

Miles will have his hands full again this season, but they will win a few conference games this season and regain a little credibility. They have a long way to go before they can compete with the top teams in the conference.

9. TCU Horned Frogs
2007-08 record: 14-16, 6-10 MWC (7th place)

Projected starting five:
Keion Mitchem, Jr. G
Jason Ebie, Jr. G
Kavon Rose, Fr. G
Kevin Langford, Sr. F
Zvonko Buljan, Jr. F

The Horned Frogs successfully got out of the Mountain West cellar last year, even though they were 1-7 on the road in conference play and 1-12 away from home overall. They did manage to pull some upsets at home and will look to do more damage this year.

Kevin Langford led the team with 13 points and 5 rebounds per game last year, which was consistent with his prior year’s performance. He will be called upon to bear much of the scoring burden and provide team leadership in this final season.

Brent Hackett was a streaky outside shooter, and his 11 points per game will certainly be missed on the perimeter. Keion Mitchem should be able to increase his scoring ability with more minutes and experience this year. Junior Jason Ebie will also get plenty of playing time at the guard spot.

Kavon Rose should provide a spark as a true freshman and could crack the starting lineup. He is one of the top-rated freshmen in the league who originally signed with a Pac-10 team.

There aren’t a lot of big bodies on the roster. A couple of international players, Zvonko Buljan and Edvinas Ruzgas will try to fill that space.

New coach Jim Christian from Kent State will try to do what his predecessor Neil Doughtery could not do since joining the Mountain West, which is posting a winning conference record. But don’t expect it this year.

Schedule
Key out of conference games:
Dec. 3 at Colorado
Dec. 8 vs. Wichita State
Dec. 10 at Indiana
Jan. 6 at Texas Tech

The Horned Frogs will struggle again this year. Lots of new faces, only one proven scorer and a new coach do not sound like a recipe for success in the upcoming campaign.

MWC Summary

This figures to be an improved year in the Mountain West. UNLV appears to be the cream of the crop but BYU, San Diego State and New Mexico will test the mettle of the Runnin’ Rebels. With senior-laden teams up and down the conference, experience should translate into exciting and competitive matchups all around.

Look for two teams to go dancing and another two to be included in the NIT when the season comes to a close.

Mountain West Notebook

Mountain West Notebook

by Brad Best

The Mountain West Conference men’s basketball teams have collectively hit a bumpy patch in the road that has brought many teams down from their early season peaks and into the valley where pre-season expectations were formed.

Take Saturday, December 8 as an example. BYU and Utah each had opportunities to beat ranked opponents but came up short. San Diego State had a chance to knock off Saint Mary’s, the No. 2 RPI team in the country, and likewise didn’t come out on top. Colorado State went up against Minnesota and lost as well. These were opportunities for the conference to stretch itself beyond its borders and gain some national recognition.

With just a few more games on the non-conference schedule, we’ll see who can bolster their resumes for March with some quality wins and gain some momentum going in to conference play.

New Mexico Lobos (8-2)
After a 7-0 start, the Lobos dropped two in a row before rebounding with a convincing win over the University of San Diego. Mississippi handed the Lobos their first loss by an eight point margin. Arch-rival New Mexico State defeated them by nine points just three days later. These were two of the early tests for New Mexico and they failed to measure up on both accounts. These games were played away from the friendly confines of The Pit, which is often a difference-maker for New Mexico.
Coach Steve Alford is giving everyone a chance to play, with 10 players getting minutes in each game. This has led to 44 percent of the scoring and 45 percent of the rebounding coming off the bench.
Next opponents:
Dec. 15 vs. Texas Tech
Dec. 19 vs. New Mexico State

San Diego State Aztecs (8-2)
There is also a lot of team basketball being played at San Diego State. The Aztecs have five players scoring in double figures and Richie Williams is just shy of joining that group. After serving an early season suspension and having to earn his way back into the starting lineup, Williams has picked up the pace in the last three games. Junior college transfer Kelvin Davis is emerging as an explosive and consistent scorer who may develop into the go-to guy.
The Aztecs did not schedule especially tough this year, so losses to Cal and Saint Mary’s are missed opportunities. A road victory over Arizona next week would certainly help their chances for an at-large bid come March.
Next opponents:
Dec. 17 vs. Navy
Dec. 22 at Arizona

BYU Cougars (7-2)
The Cougars have beat up on the teams that they were supposed to and have played tough against ranked opponents. So no surprises either way out of BYU thus far. It should be status quo for the remainder of the non-conference schedule. The one exception may be the away game at Wake Forest in January. The Cougars get another shot at an ACC team and will look to make the most of it. Trent Plaisted, Lee Cummard, and Jonathan Tavernari are the team leaders in both points and rebounds.
Next opponents
Dec. 12 vs. Lamar
Dec. 15 vs. Pepperdine

UNLV Runnin’ Rebels (7-2)
The Rebels have a perfect record in December after dropping two games in late November. They will have a tough test against Arizona next week, but they will have home court advantage. Curtis Terry, Wink Adams and Joe Darger are each averaging 13 points per contest to lead the way. Adams and Darger are shooting sub-40 percent from the field, so the Rebels will need to improve shot selection and execution as they move into closer to conference play. Their rebounding numbers are also surprisingly low considering how many shots they are missing. Not sure if the Rebels will be in the top tier of the conference when it is all over.
Next opponents
Dec. 19 vs. Arizona
Dec. 22 vs. Univ. Tennessee-Martin

TCU Horned Frogs (5-3)
With a lackluster schedule and so-so record, it’s hard to tell whether there will be much improvement this year by the Horned Frogs. Most recently they beat a 1-5 Texas Southern team at home. The Horned Frogs feature a three-guard, two-forward starting line-up. Junior college transfer Henry Salter is the leading scorer, with returning starters Brent Hackett and Kevin Langford close behind. While they are taking a team approach to rebounding, with five players averaging at least four rebounds per game, they will need more minutes and more help from their big men if they are going to be successful against the tall trees in the Mountain West.
Next opponents
Dec. 17 vs. Univ. Texas-Arlington
Dec. 22 vs. Prairie View

Utah Utes (5-3)
Utah has the type of inside-outside game that should make them a tough match-up on any given night. They also have one of the top big men in the country in Luke Nevill. New coach Jim Boylen just needs to figure out how to make it all work well together. Highly touted transfer Tyler Kepkay scored a career-high 23 points in the loss against Oregon, but was the only double-digit scorer for the Utes. Still, look for the Utes to make some noise in conference play.
Next opponents
Dec. 15 vs. Missouri State
Dec. 22 at California

Air Force Falcons (6-4)
After a 5-0 start, the Falcons dropped the next four games before bouncing back against Prairie View. The Falcons have three players shooting better than 50 percent, but it looks like this year’s squad will take a step back from where the program has been the last few years. Three-point shooting is down this year, and the Falcons are typically lacking in size as most military schools are. It looks like a tough road is ahead.
Next opponents
Dec. 13 vs. Norfolk State
Dec. 22 vs. Colorado Christian

Wyoming Cowboys (4-3)
Former Wyoming coach Steve McClain, now an assistant coach with Colorado, didn’t have the same type of homecoming his new head coach Jeff Bzdelik had when he returned to face the team he coached last season. Bzdelik and the Colorado Buffaloes were able to knock off Air Force, but they came up short against the Cowboys last week in a good early win for Wyoming. They have the best backcourt in the conference. Brandon Ewing is a potential MVP for the conference and tough to contain. If they can just get a little help from the frontcourt they should be pretty good.
Next opponents
Dec. 15 vs. Montana State
Dec. 21 vs. Buffalo

Colorado State Rams (5-4)
In their first three away games, the Rams dropped all three contests by a combined total of 69 points. Poor shooting and failure to take care of the basketball were key reasons whey they were not successful. Marcus Walker has put up nearly 40 more shots than anyone else on the team but is shooting close to 50 percent. His three-point shooting has been sub-par though and will need to improve if he is going to continue to shoot out there. The Rams can put up a size advantage over most teams, so look for them to slow games down and create opportunities for their big men inside.
Next opponents
Dec. 15 at North Dakota State
Dec. 19 at Nevada

Mountain West Notebook

Mountain West Notebook

by Brad Best

The Mountain West Conference men’s basketball is off to a solid start in early non-conference play, with a combined record of 36-10. Going into Saturday, five teams were undefeated, but that got trimmed to two teams as BYU, San Diego State and Air Force each lost for the first time. Even so, in a year that many saw as rebuilding for the future, the conference looks to be competitive, especially considering BYU’s showing against North Carolina.

The New Mexico Lobos lead the pack with their 6-0 start. The have easily won their five home games by an average of more than 30 points per game. The only competitive contest was a seven-point victory over Colorado in Boulder. Southern Utah and Mississippi are next up on the schedule. Junior Chad Toppert and Senior J.R. Giddens are the leading scorers so far, each averaging 13 points per game. Toppert is averaging 9 points per game from beyond the arc and is shooting 53% percent from long range. Giddens is an athletic guard who can break down defenses and score inside and out, and thus far he’s doing just that.

The TCU Horned Frogs are an improving team that is off to a quick 4-0 start. With two seniors and three juniors in the starting lineup, this veteran bunch should be able to move up the standing this season. They’ve had an easy time of it so far, but they will travel to Lubbock to square off against Bobby Knight’s Red Raiders next week.

BYU has breezed through its first four opponents as expected. Then came Louisville as part of the Las Vegas Invitational. The Cardinals were minus center David Padgett, who suffered a knee injury last week as well as senior forward Juan Palacios, so BYU had a timely opportunity to face a top 10 opponent on a neutral site and made the most of it with a two-point victory. Then on Saturday night they got a chance to play No. 1 North Carolina. Junior Trent Plaisted impressed a national audience with 24 points and 17 rebounds but it was not enough to upset the Tar Heels.

Next in line is San Diego State, where freshman and transfers are making an immediate impact in the Aztecs 5-1 start. They could field a pretty solid squad simply by starting their two transfers (Ryan Amoroso and Kelvin Davis) and three true freshmen (Tim Shelton, Billy White and D.J. Gay). With that lineup, they would have three guys averaging in double figures and a fourth averaging 9 points per game. Returning players Lorenzo Wade and Kyle Spain lead the team in scoring. The Aztecs got their first real test against Cal and came up short in the second half, after holding a seven-point edge at the break.

Air Force is a bit of a surprise to be at 5-1, as Tim Anderson is the only returning starter. But with all their games at home so far and no marquee opponents, it’s hard to determine how they’ll do against tougher foes. Andrew Henke, last year’s sixth man, and Anderson are the only two scorers in double figures, but Air Force likes to control the clock and limit possessions. Most recently they knocked off winless Mississippi Valley State. Montana handed the Falcons their only defeat in the Cougar Hispanic College Fund Challenge. The real test will come next against Washington State.

The UNLV Runnin’ Rebels had a pretty easy time in their first three contests, leading to a 3-0 start. But Louisville came to town, and even without two of their starters, they handed UNLV a 20-point defeat. This broke a 19-game home win streak for the Rebels. Wink Adams and Curtis Terry are the two most proven returning players from last season and lead the team with 12 points apiece per game. Only Matt Shaw scored in double figures for the Rebels in their loss to Louisville. UNLV rebounded nicely in defeating arch-rival Nevada by 13 on Saturday, after leading by only a point lead at the half.

The Colorado State Rams stumbled in their first game at Montana, losing by 36 points in their first game. Then they surprised Pac-10 opponent Oregon State by beating them by 13 and went on to win the Top of the World Classic. They were 3-1 going in to the Stanford on Saturday, but had a miserable first half and ended up losing by 20.

Wyoming is 2-2, having played just one game at home. Saturday night they squared off against a tough Wichita State team from the Missouri Valley Conference. At half it was a one-point game, but the Shockers’ three-point shooting helped them coast to a 12-point victory over the Cowboys. As expected, guards Brandon Ewing and Brad Jones lead the team in scoring, but it has to be disconcerting that Jones is also the leading rebounder. The Cowboys big men need to step up at least on the defensive end if the team is going to succeed.

Utah is at the bottom of the conference with a 2-2 mark. They lost on the road against Washington and then fell by 15 points at home to Santa Clara. Johnnie Bryant is leading the team in scoring with 14 points per game and is playing a valuable sixth man role. Luke Nevill is averaging 13 points and 7 rebounds per game. More was expected of returning starter Shaun Green, who is averaging 28 minutes per game but only producing 2 points per game. Next up is Weber State.

Mountain West Preview

Mountain West Conference 2007-08 Preview

by Brad Best

The Mountain West will look a lot like the Wild West as competition for the conference crown is wide open. With many of the proven scorers in the conference gone and with more than half of the teams adjusting to new coaches, the Mountain West is up for grabs. For now it’s too early to tell which team will gel together come conference play and become the team to beat.

Last season, two Mountain West teams found surprising success in postseason play. Coach Lon Kruger and son Kevin led the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA tournament, knocking off Wisconsin and Georgia Tech along the way. Air Force stumbled down the stretch at the end of the regular season but found new life in the NIT. They were just a basket away from making it into the finals at Madison Square Garden. This year neither team figures to have that kind of magic.

BYU appears to be the early favorite. Coach Dave Rose has excelled in his first two seasons, winning 20 games his first year and 25 games and the conference title last year. So look for the Cougars to be in the hunt for the title again this season.

Coach Steve Fisher enters his ninth season at San Diego State and is now the most tenured of all MWC coaches. Air Force’s Jeff Bzdelik left the cupboard nearly bare when he moved on to coach the Colorado Buffalos. New Mexico, TCU, Colorado State and Wyoming all gave their coaches the boot as they hope new leadership will lead to greener pastures.

Once again, look for this to be a conference in which size matters. Big men Luke Nevill at Utah and Trent Plaisted at BYU look to tower over their opponents, while the much smaller Richie Williams at San Diego State and Wink Adams at UNLV seek to speed past the competition. The table is set for another exciting season in the Mountain West Conference.

All MWC First Team
Brandon Ewing, G, Wyoming
J.R. Giddens, G, New Mexico
Lorenzo Wade, F, San Diego State
Trent Plaisted, F/C, BYU
Luke Nevill, C, Utah

Honorable Mentions: Wink Adams, UNLV; Johnnie Bryant, Utah; Stuart Creason, Colorado State; Brad Jones, Wyoming; Richie Williams, San Diego State

Conference MVP
Brandon Ewing, Wyoming

Newcomer of the Year
Ryan Amoroso, San Diego State

1. BYU Cougars
2006-07 record: 25-9, 13-3 MWC (1st place)

Projected starting five:
Jr. G Lee Cummard
Jr. G Lamont Morgan
So. F Jonathan Tavernari
Sr. F Vuk Ivanovic
Jr. C Trent Plaisted

Even with the exodus of five seniors, three of them starters, Dave Rose feels confident his team is positioned well for this year and beyond. Certainly Keena Young along with Jimmy Balderson and Austin Ainge will be missed, but there should be enough role players ready to step up and newcomers who can play for BYU to continue its successful run of the past two years.

Trent Plaisted is the returning leader in scoring and rebounding for the Cougars. Joining him in the frontcourt are 6’10″ senior Vuk Ivanovic and 6’11″ Chris Miles, who is returning from a Mormon mission. They will compete for playing time at the power forward and center positions.

In the backcourt, starter Lee Cummard returns and looks to improve upon his nine points and five rebounds per game last season. He is the team’s best three-point shooter, a solid rebounder and excellent defender. Jonathan Travernari had a solid freshman season and should end up starting alongside Cummard.

BYU has a large crop of newcomers who could make an immediate impact. Most notably, freshman Jimmer Fredette is a sharpshooter from New York who averaged 28 points per game and led his team to the state championship game last year. Chris Collingsworth was a standout at Provo High School and can play inside and outside. Junior college transfer Lamont Morgan is quick with the ball and accurate with the pass, so look for him to fill Ainge’s shoes at the point guard position.

Schedule Highlights
Key out of conference games:
Nov. 23 vs. Louisville
Nov. 24 vs. North Carolina
Dec. 8 vs. Michigan State
Jan. 8 at Wake Forest

With the departure of MWC Player of the Year Keena Young, Trent Plaisted and company will need to come through when it counts to repeat as conference champion and move on to the Big Dance.

2. Wyoming Cowboys
2006-07 record: 17-15, 7-9 MWC (5th place)

Projected starting five:
So. G Brandon Ewing
Jr. G Brad Jones
Jr. F Joseph Taylor
Jr. F Bienvenu Songondo
Sr. C Travis Nelson

The good news for the Cowboys is that they have the best backcourt tandem in the conference. The bad news is that this is a conference dominated by big men, and they don’t have any proven players with size.

Brandon Ewing led the conference in scoring in his sophomore season and is the frontrunner for player of the year honors this time around. He can knock down shots on the perimeter or create his own shot and finish at the rim. His versatility will help keep the Cowboys in games, especially those played at altitude. Ewing’s backcourt partner is Brad Jones, who averaged 18 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists per game. But this dynamic duo cannot do it alone.

First-year head coach Heath Schroyer will take over the reins for Steve McClain. Schroyer was previously an assistant with the Cowboys prior to roles as head coach at Portland State and assistant coach at Fresno State. He has looked overseas to fill immediate needs.

In the frontcourt, Joseph Taylor should start at the small forward but may be pressed for playing time by Eric Platt if Schroyer employs a more up-tempo pace. Travis Nelson and Bienvenu Songondo have the size to play power forward or center but are short on experience. Newcomer Mikhail Linskens of Belgium brings his 7-foot frame to the prairie in hopes that his European game will translate into playing time and wins for the Cowboys.

Schedule Highlights
Key out of conference games:
Nov. 24 at Wichita State
Dec. 5 vs. DePaul
Dec. 8 vs. Colorado
Dec. 29 vs. Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Schroyer needs to improve the league’s worst defensive squad from a year ago and put fans back in the seats in Laramie. If Ewing and Jones can get some help on the inside, they could compete for the top of the conference.

3. Utah Utes
2006-07 record: 11-19, 6-10 MWC (Tie/6th place)

Projected starting five:
Jr. G Tyler Kepkay
Jr. G Lawrence Borha
Jr. F Shaun Green
Jr. F Stephen Weigh
Jr. C Luke Nevill

After more than 20 years in the business, Jim Boylen gets his first shot at a head coaching position. The former Tom Izzo assistant should add focus and defensive intensity to a talented core of players who could surprise many opponents this year.

Luke Nevill is one of the most talented big men in the country. The 7’1″ center shoots over 60 percent from the field and averaged 16 points and 7 boards per game as a sophomore. If he can stay out of foul trouble, he will be even more effective.

Shaun Green is a scoring threat from the outside and a tough perimeter matchup from the power forward position. With 64 three-pointers last season, Green cannot be left open. Johnnie Bryant is another outside complement to Nevill from the guard position, but his style of play may not fit in as well in Boylen’s scheme. Instead, junior college transfer Tyler Kepkay brings toughness and true point guard capabilities to the position. Look for Lawrence Borha to maintain his role as shooting guard with Bryant playing a valuable sixth man role.

Talented sophomore Kim Tillie should figure into the mix as well. Boylen likes his ability to play either forward position and score with his back to the basket. He suffered a broken leg last season but has played well in the team’s preseason trip to Australia.

Schedule Highlights
Key out of conference games:
Dec. 8 at Oregon
Dec. 15 vs. Missouri State
Dec. 22 at California
Dec. 31 at Gonzaga

The Utes underachieved under Ray Giacoletti but look for better results under Boylen. With skilled players down low and on the perimeter, the Utes will be a tough out at home and on the road this season and have a good shot at post-season play.

4. San Diego State Aztecs
2006-07 record: 22-11, 10-6 MWC (Tie/3rd place)

Projected starting five:
Jr. G Richie Williams
Jr. G Kelvin Davis
Jr. F Kyle Spain
Jr. F Lorenzo Wade
Jr. F Ryan Amoroso

The Aztecs will be missing three players who accounted for 46 points per game a season ago, but still have enough talent to be dangerous. First Team All-MWC Player Brandon Heath, who is also the all-time leading scorer in the conference, was the go-to guy in pressure situations during his entire career and will be sorely missed. Mohamed Abukar and Jerome Habel provided both scoring and rebounding in the frontcourt and will be hard to replace as well.

This should be Lorenzo Wade’s year to shine. The athletic wing who transferred from Louisville needs to come into his own in his second year in the Mountain West. He is the team’s best defender and an exciting scorer. But his awkward and inconsistent outside shot needs to improve. Kyle Spain had a promising freshman year but slumped during his sophomore season. Both his scoring and shooting percentage need to return to or surpass his first-year performance for him to stay in the starting lineup.

At the point guard position, two-year starter Richie Williams will feature prominently in the Aztecs future. Williams shot a high percentage (.458) of three-pointers last year and will need to look for his shot more often. With the addition of freshman D.J Gay and a healthy Matt Thomas available once again, there should be sufficient depth at the point guard position for this to be one of the team’s strengths. Gay averaged 29 points per game in high school and could help spark the Aztecs offense.

Newcomer Kelvin Davis has been tabbed as Brandon Heath’s replacement. Davis played a season at UTEP before moving on to Southern Idaho, where he averaged 15 points and 4 assists per game. Rivals.com ranked him as the 11th-best junior college player, so the Aztecs have high hopes for him.

Ryan Amoroso sat out last year after transferring from Marquette. With the unexpected loss of Habel, Amoroso will be the centerpiece of the Aztecs frontcourt. At 6’8″, 270 pounds, he has the girth but maybe not the height to be a defensive stopper down low. Junior Chris Lamb (6’10″, 245 lbs) will likely see more minutes this year to help slow down opposing teams 7-footers.

Sophomore reserves Jer’Vaughn Johnson and Jon Pastorek are both small forwards that may be asked to play the four spot. Johnson is tough down low and a solid rebounder, but at 6’6″ it will be a challenge for him to defend some of the larger power forwards in the league. Pastorek is a taller, thinner player who is well-disciplined and has a good outside shot but lacks the strength to out-muscle players in the paint.

Freshman forwards Billy White and Tim Shelton will both compete for playing time right away. White is a very athletic lefty who averaged 20 points and 14 rebounds per game his senior year at Green Valley High. Shelton, son of former NBA player, Lonnie Shelton, can play inside and out and is coming off an ACL injury his senior year.

Schedule Highlights
Key out of conference games:
Nov. 11 at Fresno State
Nov. 24 at California
Dec. 8 vs. St. Mary’s (Wooden Classic)
Dec. 22 at Arizona

An undersized, yet athletic Aztec team may struggle against the tall trees in the MWC. Overall, look for them to play an exciting brand of basketball and outscore the competition with a fast-paced attack that puts them outside the top of the conference but in the NIT.

5. New Mexico Lobos
2006-07 record: 15-17, 4-12 MWC (Tie/8th place)

Projected starting five:
Sr. G J.R. Giddens
Sr. G Jamaal Smith
Jr. G Chad Toppert
Jr. F Daniel Faris
Jr. F Monquel Pegues

New Mexico lured Steve Alford away from Iowa to replace Coach Ritchie McKay. Alford appears to be the type of big name coach that Lobos fans were hungry for, and he promises to make them a contender again.

How well the Lobos perform this season may depend on how well Alford and J.R. Giddens get along. Giddens is as talented as they come but has had on and off-court issues that have prevented him from realizing his potential.

Tony Danridge was all set to return for his senior season before suffering a broken leg in a pickup basketball game, which will delay his ability to play until January. In his absence, Roman Martinez figures to pick up the slack. He played well in the team’s games in the Bahamas in May.

While there is depth and talent in the backcourt, the frontcourt is a bit of a mystery. The Lobos will miss Aaron Johnson’s rebounding ability and toughness in the middle. Daniel Faris started 10 games last season and is more experienced than the rest of the pack. 6’10″ junior college All-American Monquel Pegues should see significant minutes as well.

Schedule Highlights
Key out of conference games:
Nov. 9 at Colorado
Nov. 21 vs. Hawaii
Dec. 4 at New Mexico State
Dec. 15 vs.Texas Tech

The loss of Danridge for the first half of the season may mean a rough start for Alford and the Lobos. But returning most of the talent from a year ago and adding some key newcomers to the mix should enable the Lobos to return to respectability.

6. UNLV Runnin’ Rebels
2006-07 record: 30-7, 12-4 MWC (2nd place)

Projected starting five:
Jr. G Wink Adams
So. G Marcus Lawrence
Sr. F Curtis Terry
So. F Lamar Robertson
Jr. C Emmanuel Adeife

While it is still too early to know for sure, the Rebels’ Sweet Sixteen finish last season may set them up for a bigger-than-expected fall this year. Lofty expectations will be hard to reach this season with the loss of four starters. Except for Wink Adams, all the principal players, including Kevin Kruger, Wendell White, Michael Umeh and more, from their return to glory will not be on campus this season.

Prized recruit Beas Hamga was pegged as the starting center en route to the NBA, but the NCAA Clearinghouse has delayed his eligibility for another year. In the meantime, role players, redshirts and newcomers will be called upon to deliver results.

Wink Adams will continue to be a tough matchup on both sides of the ball for most guards in the conference. Marcus Lawrence will likely start at the point as he builds upon the success of his freshman season. He had more steals than turnovers and an excellent assist-to-turnover ratio but will need to shoot better to make opponents respect him as a scorer. Freshman recruit Kendall Wallace will provide depth in the backcourt.

Up front, 6’10″ transfer Emmanuel Adeife will need to adjust quickly if the Rebels are going to be a contender. Curtis Terry is the likely starter at small forward as he returns for his senior season. Lamar Robertson, a redshirt sophomore, Joe Darger, more of a three-point threat, and sophomore Matt Shaw are all about the same size and will compete for minutes.

Schedule Highlights
Key out of conference games:
Nov. 21 vs. Louisville
Nov. 24 vs. Nevada
Dec. 19 vs. Arizona
Dec. 30 vs. Minnesota

UNLV has too many question marks to put them on par with last season. Under Kruger’s direction, they should finish in the middle of the pack as they integrate all the new faces.

7. TCU Horned Frogs
2005-06 record: 6-25, 2-12 MWC (9th place)

Projected starting five:
Sr. G Brent Hackett
So. G Jason Ebie
Sr. F Neiman Owens
Jr. F Kevin Langford
Sr. F Alvardo Parker

Look for continued improvement from the Horned Frogs that gets them out of the cellar for the first time in their three years in the Mountain West. Coach Neil Dougherty is in his sixth season and has four returning starters and four returning reserves.

TCU won three of their final five games last year, including a big upset over Air Force, and should enter the season more confident and battle-tested than before. Kevin Langford led the team with 13 points and 6 rebounds per outing a year ago, and he could improve upon those numbers in his second year in the Mountain West.

Brent Hackett was exceptional at times and earned TCU’s first Player of the Week award last year. It is still a question mark as to who will join him in the backcourt. Sophomore Jason Ebie will get a chance but look for freshman Mike Scott to push him for minutes at the point.

At the small forward position, senior Neiman Owens averaged six points and two assists per game. His numbers need to go up, but he is not a good three-point shooter, making only 22 percent of his attempts. He is a good defender and rebounder, so the Horned Frogs will keep him in the lineup.

Junior college transfer John Ortiz will get a shot at defending the post and will compete for playing time with redshirt freshman Luke Tauscher and incoming freshman Daniel Ford.

Schedule Highlights
Key out of conference games:
Nov. 28 at Texas Tech
Dec. 2 vs. Oklahoma
Dec. 5 at Southern Methodist
Jan. 2 at Texas

With most of the conference in a rebuilding process, this should be TCU’s best chance to rise to the middle of the pack and pull off some upsets.

8. Air Force Falcons
2006-07 record: 26-9, 10-6 MWC (Tie/3rd place)

Projected starting five:
Sr. G Tim Anderson
Jr. G Andrew Henke
Jr. F Anwar Johnson
Sr. F Eric Kenzik
Sr. C Keith Maren

This will be a rough year for the Falcons, who have enjoyed surprising success over the past four seasons. Coach Bzdelik has moved on along with four talented starters. Jeff Reynolds comes in as the Falcons’ fourth coach in five seasons. Reynolds was an assistant to Bzdelik but will not have nearly the talent and experience suiting up for him this time around.

Lone returning starter Tim Anderson will need to move up from the supporting cast to be the leading man and improve upon his 9 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists last season. Andrew Henke previously played a vital sixth man role and figures to start alongside Anderson going forward. The backcourt should be the strength of the Falcons this season.

Upfront there is an undersized group of unproven players. Eric Kenzik and Kevin Maren will see more court time and try to fill the gap left by Nick Welch and Jacob Burtschi. Maren is the team’s biggest player at 6′ 8″, 240 pounds. Freshman Phillip Brown is also expected to help rebound and block shots down low.

At small forward, Anwar Johnson should move into a starting role and increase his production. The Falcons hope that incoming freshmen forward Tom Fow and guard Tyler Burke can contribute right away.

Schedule Highlights
Key out of conference games:
Nov. 23 vs. Mississippi Valley State
Nov. 25 at Washington State
Nov. 29 vs. Colorado
Dec. 30 at Wake Forest

The core of players that won 90 games over the last four seasons is gone, and the Falcons will fall to the bottom ranks of the conference. These Falcons won’t enjoy nearly the home court winning percentage that Clune Arena fans have enjoyed in recent history.

9. Colorado State Rams
2006-07 record: 17-13, 6-10 MWC (Tie/6th place)

Projected starting five:
Jr. G Marcus Walker
Jr. G Willis Gardner
Fr. F Josh Simmons
Jr. F Ronnie Aguilar
Sr. C Stuart Creason

Sometimes things need to get worse before they get better. It will at least seem that way for the Rams this season. Jason Smith exited for the NBA, coach Dale Layer was let go, and several players decided to seek better fortunes elsewhere.

Tim Miles from North Dakota State takes over for Layer and brings enthusiasm and energy to the head coaching position. He helped his former school reach Division I status and pulled off some big wins over Wisconsin and Marquette in the past two seasons.

Stuart Creason should come into his own this year in the absence of Smith. The 7-foot senior will be the focal point of the offense and prove that he is one of the best big men in the conference. His 10 points and 5 rebounds per game last year should go up as he assumes more of a leadership role.

Ronnie Aguilar is a back-up center with limited playing time. He could start alongside Creason if Miles elects to employ a twin-towers strategy. Freshman Josh Simmons and Andre McFarland will compete for the wing position.

Junior college transfers Marcus Walker and Willis Gardner will get strong consideration for starting roles at the guard positions, with Gardner running the point.

Schedule Highlights
Key out of conference games:
Nov. 15 at Oregon State
Nov. 24 at Stanford
Dec. 19 at Nevada
Dec. 22 vs. Colorado

The Rams lost more than 80 percent of their scoring, assists and rebounding from a year ago. This will be a long, long season for new coach Miles and company.

MWC Summary

Rebuilding and readjusting to new coaches will be prevalent throughout the conference and will lead to some tough games among the top six teams. Don’t look for anyone to run away with the conference title.

With scarcely a complete balanced team in the bunch, the Mountain West will have a number of close games and upsets throughout the season. This may be a year in which only one team makes the Big Dance and a couple of teams compete in the NIT.

Mountain West Notebook

Mountain West Conference Notebook

by Brad Best

No matter whom you asked – coaches, players, the media – everyone was saying that the Mountain West Conference would be tougher this season, both in and out of conference. So far, that prediction is proving true, at least in non-conference play. Collectively, the conference’s teams are off to a 35-10 start, even though they have had more former NCAA Tournament teams on their schedule.

With early wins against Texas Tech, California, UAB, Stanford and Colorado, Mountain West teams are building a résumé for postseason play and preparing to do battle with one another come January. Last season, the NCAA made Air Force a controversial selection because the Falcons didn’t have any marquee wins. The conference is hoping to improve its chances this year and possibly even get three teams into the big dance.

San Diego State Aztecs (7-0, 0-0)
The Aztecs are showing signs of being a good team. They are finding ways to win when they don’t bring their A game, and they are beating the teams they are supposed to beat. Last week, the Aztecs knocked off a Pac-10 team for the first time since 2000 and are off to their best start in 22 years. JuCo transfer Jerome Habel has filled much of the scoring and rebounding void left by Marcus Slaughter, and Louisville transfer Lorenzo Wade is proving to be a valuable addition on offense and defense. Senior Brandon Heath was named the most valuable player of the Shamrock Invitational, which the Aztecs won, and he was also the Mountain West Conference Player of the Week.

New Mexico Lobos (4-0, 0-0)
Coach Ritchie McKay is easing his team into the season with favorable match ups, and they haven’t left the friendly confines of the Pit. This combination has translated into four predictable victories for the Lobos, each by at least 24 points. Although their résumé includes wins against two Big 12 teams – Colorado and Kansas State – the Lobos have not faced any noteworthy challengers. New Mexico State and Texas Tech should prove to be tougher tests in the upcoming weeks. Kansas transfer J.R. Giddens is averaging 20 points per game and will be a difference-maker among the many new faces in the Lobos’ lineup.

Air Force Falcons (6-1)
With four returning starters in addition to a healthy Nick Welch – an All-MWC performer during the two years before leg and foot injuries forced him to sit out last season – the Falcons are an experienced team and have had an excellent start. Their lone loss was against Duke. Air Force faces Wake Forest this week at home. This season is coach Jeff Bzdelik’s second, and he should have a better grasp of the Princeton-style offense. All five starters have double-digit scoring averages, even for the low-scoring style of play that Air Force uses. Three players have 15 or more three pointers.

TCU Horned Frogs (4-1)
The Horned Frogs had a disappointing first season in the Mountain West and will struggle again this year. They will need to rack up some wins early to still look respectable by the end of the year. They have not beaten any teams of consequence, but at least the Horned Frogs are winning. Upcoming games against Texas Tech and Oklahoma will give us a better indication of TCU’s competitiveness this season. Transfers Ryan Wall from New Mexico and Kevin Langford from California are the team’s two leading scorers.

UNLV Runnin’ Rebels (4-1)
The Runnin’ Rebels lost at home to Santa Barbara, which is not a good sign. Wins against Washburn and Eastern Washington are not likely to mean much to anyone. Their most challenging non-conference games are still to come. UNLV travels to Arizona this week and then to Nevada. Beating either the Wildcats or Wolf Pack would make a much stronger statement and boost the team’s confidence. Sophomore Jo’Van “Wink” Adams continues to impress. Kevin Kruger has played in only two games because of a sprained ankle.

BYU Cougars (3-1)
With a loss at UCLA as the only blemish on their record, the Cougars are continuing where they left off at the end of last season. Seniors Keena Young and Jimmy Balderson lead the team in scoring. Sophomore sensation Trent Plaisted is starting to hit his stride, putting up 19 points and 12 rebounds in the win against Southern Utah. BYU hits the road Dec. 9 to face Michigan State. In the meantime, the Cougars will face Boise State and Weber State.

Wyoming Cowboys (3-1)
In early action, the Cowboys have split two games against UAB, with each team winning at home. Wyoming also roughed up Boise State and Montana at home. Looking forward, Wichita State presents a tough test Dec. 9. In terms of scoring, it’s been all about the backcourt. Sophomore Brandon Ewing and Junior Brad Jones are averaging more than 20 points per game and are carrying the team’s scoring load. The Cowboys will miss Justin Williams up front and will need to find a way to replace his dominant defense and scoring ability.

Colorado State Rams (3-2)
Jason Smith averages a double-double, but he’ll need more help from his teammates if the Rams want to improve this season. Smith is a junior 7-foot NBA prospect. Only one other player, Tyler Smith, has a scoring average in double figures. The Rams started 11-2 last season before crumbling during conference play. With an average, at best, start to this season, they don’t appear ready to challenge the top teams in the conference.

Utah Utes (1-3)
What has happened to Utah? The Utes used to be a perennial contender for the conference crown but haven’t shown many signs of life this season. They recorded their first win against Rice Saturday. Before that, they had been beaten down by Southern Utah, Santa Clara and Colorado. Sophomore center Luke Nevill leads the team in scoring and rebounding. Johnnie Bryant tied his career high of 28 points against Rice, so that’s at least a little encouragement. Upcoming games against Weber State and Washington State will show us what the Utes are made of.

Mountain West Preview

Mountain West Conference 2006-07 Preview

by Brad Best

With most of the top talent returning for another helping of collegiate competition, this looks to be a resurgent year for men’s basketball in the Mountain West Conference. Quality freshman recruits, impressive transfers and upperclassman leadership should add up to some real conference shootouts and well-fought battles on the hardwood.

Last season, the San Diego State Aztecs lived up to their potential and claimed the Mountain West Conference title for the first time. They went on to win the Mountain West Conference tournament and secure an automatic bid for the NCAA tournament. But repeating as champions will be harder this year, even though they return four starters.

Big men will play a pivotal role in conference play this season. The Mountain West has more than its share of seven-footers, which will present interesting match-ups against some of the smaller squads. Colorado State’s Jason Smith is back for his junior season while Utah’s Luke Nevill and BYU’s Trent Plaisted are looking to become stars as sophomores.

But the guards will have something to say about the final score as well. Brandon Heath, last season’s MWC Player of the Year, returns to lead a rising San Diego State squad. Newcomer Kevin Kruger looks to help his father, Coach Lon Kruger, put UNLV back in the spotlight. And Kansas transfer J.R. Giddens is set to lead a lot of new but talented Lobos in New Mexico.

All-MWC First Team
Brandon Heath, G, San Diego State
J.R. Giddens, G, New Mexico
Kevin Kruger, G, UNLV
Trent Plaisted, F/C, BYU
Jason Smith, C, Colorado State

Honorable Mentions: Nick Welch, Air Force; Luke Nevill, Utah; Jacob Burtschi, Air Force; Mohamed Abukar, San Diego State; Brandon Ewing, Wyoming

Conference MVP
Brandon Heath, San Diego State

Newcomer of the Year
J.R. Giddens, New Mexico

1. San Diego State Aztecs
2005-06 record: 24-9, 13-3 MWC (1st place)

Projected starting five:
Brandon Heath, Sr. G
Richie Williams, So. G
Kyle Spain, So. F
Mohamed Abukar, Sr. F
Jerome Habel, Jr. C

The Aztecs return four starters and Coach Steve Fisher just inked a contract extension. This bodes well for their chances this year and beyond. Conference Player of the Year Brandon Heath should continue to light up the scoreboard and should get plenty of help from his teammates.

The small forward position should be a mismatch in favor of the Aztecs on most nights. Kyle Spain looks to be an emerging star who can play both inside and out. Louisville transfer Lorenzo Wade will likely come off the bench but will get plenty of minutes. He can slash his way to the rim or pull up for a midrange jump shot.

Down low, junior college recruit Jerome Habel will attempt to replace the rebounding void left by Marcus Slaughter, who submitted his name for the NBA draft but ended up playing in Turkey. Mohamed Abukar was a key component of last year’s success and is primed for a great senior season if his shins are healthy enough for him to practice and play.

Schedule – Key out of conference games:
Nov. 10-12 Shamrock Invitational
Nov. 18 vs. California
Dec. 9 vs. Arizona
Dec. 21 at Washington State

After last year’s success as well as the disappointment of a first round NCAA tournament loss, the Aztecs are hungry for more and are poised to position themselves atop the Mountain West once again. Their bench is not as deep this year, but their battle-tested starters will provide a formidable challenge to any team on the schedule.

2. Air Force Falcons
2005-06 record: 24-7, 12-4 MWC (2nd place tie)

Projected starting five:
Tim Anderson, Jr. G
Matt McCraw, Sr. G
Dan Nwaelele, Sr. F
Jacob Burtschi, Sr. F
Nick Welch, Sr. C

Nick Welch, All-MWC performer two years ago, returns after a red-shirt season to heal knee and foot injuries. He rejoins a sharp-shooting, well-disciplined team that is loaded with seniors and well-positioned for a successful run at the top.

Forward Jacob Burtschi is the leading return player in most of the statistical categories and will be counted on for another high-energy, high-productivity season. The Falcons will miss Antoine Hood, but maybe younger brother Adam will step up and replace some of his production.

Jeff Bzdelik’s second season at the helm should enable him and his players to feel more comfortable in their modified Princeton-style offense. With a bunch of mature cadets who can light it up from beyond the arc, they are a difficult match-up, especially for their out-of-conference foes.

Schedule – Key out of conference games:
Nov. 18 at Colorado
Nov. 29 vs. Wake Forest
Dec. 28 at George Washington

A couple of big non-conference wins could help the Falcons tournament chances. They squandered a surprise NCAA tournament bid last year but appear to be better this season. The four returning senior starters need to give it all they’ve got.

3. BYU Cougars
2005-06 record: 20-9, 12-4 MWC (2nd place tie)

Projected starting five:
Jimmy Balderson, Sr. G
Rashaun Broadus, Sr. G
Fernando Malaman, Sr. F
Keena Young, Sr. F
Trent Plaisted, So. C

Dave Rose guided the Cougars to a surprising 20-win season in his first year so the expectations are high for yet another MWC team loaded with seniors.

Trent Plaisted earned Freshman All-American honors a season ago and should be a force down low for the Cougars this season. He is the returning leading scorer and rebounder. Keena Young is another key component in the front court and will need to take some of the pressure off of Plaisted.

In the backcourt, Rashaun Broadus will need to replace Brock Reichner at the point guard position and set up his teammates for easy looks. Jimmy Balderson will move in to a starting role and will need to continue to hit big shots as his minutes increase.

Schedule – Key out of conference games:
Nov. 15 at UCLA
Dec. 9 at Michigan State
Dec. 16 vs. Utah State
Dec. 30 vs. Seton Hall

With the emergence of Plaisted and a strong supporting cast, the Cougars should finish near the top and get the third NCAA tournament bid from the MWC.

4. UNLV Runnin’ Rebels
2005-06 record: 17-13, 10-6 MWC (4th place)

Projected starting five:
Kevin Kruger, Sr. G
Michael Umeh, Sr. G
Jo’van Adams, So. F
Tristan Parham, Sr. F
Joel Anthony, Sr. C

The Runnin’ Rebels will field perhaps the smallest lineup in the conference, which could be a tell-tale sign. Kevin Kruger brings proven Pac-10 playmaking ability to his father’s team but doesn’t help overcome the need for size.

Joel Anthony will likely get the starting nod at center, but how well will his 6-9 frame hold up against the tall trees in the MWC? Will Wendell White and Gaston Essengue become more consistent threats this year? We’ll have to wait and see.

Jo’Van Adams should continue to be a spark in the backcourt along with senior Michael Umeh, who is coming off knee surgery.

Schedule – Key out of conference games:
Nov. 28 at Arizona
Dec. 9 at Nevada
Dec. 22 vs. Minnesota
Dec. 28 at Texas Tech

UNLV has potential to challenge the top teams in the conference, but issues about size and consistency make it hard to pick them any higher than fourth.

5. New Mexico Lobos
2005-06 record: 17-13, 8-8 MWC (5th place)

Projected starting five:
J.R. Giddens, Sr. G
Jamaal Smith, Jr. G
Tony Danridge, Jr. F
Aaron Johnson, Sr. F
Kellen Walter, Sr. C

There are lots of new faces on Ritchie McKay’s squad as four starters exit the program. Lone returning starter Tony Danridge will need to improve his outside shooting touch and become more of a consistent scorer.

The Lobos will rely heavily on two transfers who have had their share of off-court issues. J.R. Giddens is a tremendous athlete from Kansas and should make an immediate impact on the offensive side. Aaron Johnson from Penn State is more of a defensive stopper who led the Big Ten in rebounding in his junior year.

There are question marks about the remaining pieces. Jamaal Smith is a junior college recruit who could step in at the point. Freshman Derek Oestricher, 6’11, 245 lbs, has the size the Lobos need in the middle, but is he ready?

Schedule – Key out of conference games:
Nov. 14 vs. Colorado
Nov. 21 vs. Kansas State
Dec. 5 at New Mexico State
Jan. 1 at Texas Tech

The Lobos are a tough team to predict as this is simply a team that has never played together. Giddens and Johnson have the pedigree to make a difference but without a strong starting lineup it will be tough for the Lobos to earn any post-season play.

6. Utah Utes
2005-06 record: 14-15, 6-10 MWC (6th place)

Projected starting five:
Johnnie Bryant, Jr. G
Chris Grant, Jr. G
Shaun Green, So. F
Misha Radojevic, Jr. F
Luke Nevill, So. C

The Utes are one of the younger teams in conference and it will show in the final tally. Luke Nevill showed a lot of promise in his freshman year, and the 7-1 center should continue to improve on both sides of the ball.

Johnnie Bryant is a nice outside complement to Nevill. Bryant is capable of some big performances and should be more at home in the shooting guard role this year.

Seven freshmen and redshirt junior Misha Radojevic will be called upon the bear the rest of the load. The Utes will certainly miss the scoring ability of Bryant Markson and will need to find some consistent scorers in a hurry.

Schedule – Key out of conference games:
Nov. 21 vs. Colorado
Dec. 2 vs. Washington State
Dec. 9 at Rhode Island
Dec. 28 vs. Albany

The Utes have had a big drop-off from their Sweet 16 run just over a year ago. Coach Ray Giacoletti is looking for the right recruits and chemistry to get them back on top, but it won’t be this year.

7. Colorado State Rams
2005-06 record: 16-15, 4-12 MWC (8th place)

Projected starting five:
Tyler Smith, Jr. G
Cory Lewis, Sr. G
Freddy Robinson, Sr. F
Jason Smith, Jr. F
Stuart Creason, Jr. C

The Rams got out of the gate quickly last year and rode to an impressive 11-2 start. But injuries and mental toughness caused them to spiral down and lose 13 of their final 18 games.

Junior forward/center Jason Smith is a very talented big man who needs to avoid foul trouble and get himself and his team in the game. With the announcement of Michael Harrison’s surprise departure, Smith will be counted on more than ever.

In the backcourt, senior Cory Lewis needs to continue to distribute the ball to his teammates and play under control. If he can continue to lead the league in assists and average double digits scoring, he will be a big part of the team’s success.

Schedule – Key out of conference games:
Nov. 14 vs. Baylor
Dec. 2 vs. Kansas State
Dec. 9 at Colorado

The Rams didn’t schedule a tough non-conference schedule and will have trouble convincing the committee that they are worthy of an at-large bid. Jason Smith will help keep them in some games, but it won’t be enough to produce a winning season.

8. Wyoming Cowboys
2005-06 record: 14-18, 5-11 MWC (7th place)

Projected starting five:
Brandon Ewing, So. G
Brad Jones, Jr. G
Chris Anderson, Sr. F
Joseph Taylor, Jr. F
Daaron Brown, Sr. C

Last year there were rumors about Coach Steve McClain’s job being in jeopardy, but he is back for another round. The Cowboys had some early success under McClain but have fallen on trying times the last couple of years.

The strength of the team is definitely guard play. Brandon Ewing had a very successful freshman season and should improve upon his 13 points per game from a year ago. His backcourt mate is Brad Jones, a junior point guard who led the team with 3.5 assists per game.

Upfront, senior Daaron Brown has enough bulk to clog up the middle but is not a real scoring threat. The Cowboys will miss the athletic shot-blocking ability of Justin Williams, who helped disrupt the offense of opponents and keep the Cowboys within striking distance.

Schedule – Key out of conference games:
Nov. 22 at UAB
Nov. 26 at Colorado
Dec. 9 vs. Wichita State
Dec. 20 at Nebraska

McClain will have to work wonders if he is going to stay in the good graces of the Wyoming faithful. A lot may depend upon a couple of junior college transfers and how quickly they can get into the flow of the game.

9. TCU Horned Frogs
2005-06 record: 6-25, 2-12 MWC (9th place)

Projected starting five:
Brent Hackett, Jr. G
Neiman Owens, Jr. G
Kevin Langford, So. F
Blake Adams, Sr. F
Femi Ibikunle, Sr. C

While the TCU football team made a nice transition to the Mountain West last year and took the conference crown, the men’s basketball team had the opposite fate. The Horned Frogs lost early and often, finishing with just two wins in conference.

It doesn’t figure to get much easier this year as the Horned Frogs will need to compete without their top two scorers from a year ago. Brent Hackett is their only proven player with 10 points per game.

In the front court, Femi Ibikunle is a good defender but needs to increase his rebounds and scoring ability this year. The bright hope is that California transfer Kevin Langford will step into a starting role and lead the team.

Schedule – Key out of conference games:
Nov. 29 vs. Texas Tech
Dec. 2 at Oklahoma
Dec. 9 vs. Tulane
Dec. 30 at Colorado

The expectations are low for TCU going into this season but look for them to at least hold their home court more often and put up more of a fight than a year ago.

MWC Summary

The Mountain West conference retained much of its talent from last season and should be more competitive top to bottom in the 2006-07 season. San Diego State, Air Force and BYU appear to be a notch above the rest and will fight it out to see who finishes first.

The conference has the potential to launch a few NBA careers and should come away with more non-conference victories than in previous years. Look for the top three to compete in the NCAA tournament plus one or two teams to be invited to the NIT.

West Coast Recap

West Coast Conference 2005-06 Recap

by Brad Best

Once again the Gonzaga Bulldogs took care of business in the West Coast Conference, earning its sixth straight conference title. Led in scoring and spirit by All-American Adam Morrison, the Bulldogs went on to record a perfect 14-0 conference record. Loyola Marymount had an awful non-conference record (3-11), although they had some heart-breaking losses in the mix, but they started buying into first-year coach Rodney Tention’s system by the start of conference and their 8-6 record was good enough for a second place tie.

San Diego was the biggest disappointment. Following a 10-3 non-conference record, the Toreros could only manage a 6-8 conference record and a fifth place finish. Santa Clara was a disappointment as well. Travis Niesen finished third in WCC scoring but overall team play from night to night was too inconsistent to produce wins.

The two bottom teams in the league have both replaced their coaches. Pepperdine’s Paul Westphal has been replaced by Vance Walberg, who has experienced success in the high school and college ranks in the Fresno, Calif. area. Eric Reveno takes over the coaching reins at Portland. He served as an assistant coach at Stanford for the past nine seasons.

With Gonzaga and first place out of reach early, four teams battled it out for second place. Loyola Marymount was the front-runner. San Francisco and San Diego had flashes of being contenders but ultimately faded. So it was St. Mary’s that turned around a lackluster season and nabbed a share of second place with Loyola Marymount.

Conference Tournament

No upsets occurred in the first round of the WCC tournament. No. 5 San Diego ousted No. 8 Pepperdine, while No. 6 Santa Clara took care of No. 7 Portland. San Diego earned a hard-fought victory over No. 4 USF in the quarterfinals. San Diego was led by senior Nick Lewis. In the other quarterfinal game, No. 3 St. Mary’s held off Santa Clara in overtime to move on to the next round.

After two byes, Gonzaga finally got to take the court, their home court actually, and faced off against San Diego. The Torero’s Corey Belser has proven to be one of the most effective defenders against Morrison in three year’s worth of match-ups. But Morrison and the Bulldogs prevailed in overtime to move on to the finals. On the other side of the bracket, No. 2 Loyola Marymount took on St. Mary’s. Matthew Knight produced 16 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Lions over the Gaels.

In the championship game, Gonzaga continued to dodge bullets from their opponent, as they have done all year, and were fortunate that a lay-up opportunity by Loyola Marymount missed the mark and preserved their victory. This also ensured that Gonzaga would be the only team representing the WCC in the NCAA tournament.

NCAA Tournament

Gonzaga entered the tournament as a No. 3 seed and faced off against No. 14 Xavier in Salt Lake City. Xavier held the lead for much of the contest, but Adam Morrison and his much maligned mustache would not be denied. Morrison knocked down a three, battled for a defensive rebound and sunk his free throw shots in the final moments to give the Bulldogs a lead that they would not relinquish. J.P. Batista was the only other Bulldog to score in double figures.

The second round match-up pitted Gonzaga against No. 6 Indiana. Gonzaga didn’t need another 35 point performance from Morrison to defeat the Hoosiers. The Bulldogs had a more balanced scoring attack on this night and handed Coach Mike Davis his final loss as a Hoosier.

Billed as a west coast showdown, Gonzaga took on No. 2 UCLA in the Sweet Sixteen. UCLA came out flat and Gonzaga was able to build an early led and were ahead 42-29 at the half. But UCLA, despite their poor shooting, did not give up or go away. Still down by nine points with 3:26 to play, the Bruins mustered an improbable comeback and dealt Gonzaga a stunning loss in the final seconds.

Hoopville All-Conference Team Awards

All WCC First Team
Brandon Worthy, G, Loyola Marymount
Pooh Jeter, G, Portland
Nick Lewis, F, San Diego
Adam Morrison, F, Gonzaga
J.P. Batista, C, Gonzaga

Conference MVP
Adam Morrison, Gonzaga

Freshman of the Year
Diamon Simpson, St. Mary’s

Newcomer of the Year
Armondo Surratt, San Francisco

Defensive Player of the Year
Corey Belser, San Diego

Gonzaga Bulldogs
2005-06 record: 29-4, 14-0 WCC

While Gonzaga had an outstanding season, Adam Morrison’s emotions said it all as UCLA knocked them out in their Sweet Sixteen finale. Gonzaga had hoped for, expected and thought they had more than a Sweet Sixteen appearance. This team wanted a Final Four opportunity.

Team MVP – Adam Morrison 28.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.7 apg
Top Scorer – Adam Morrison 28.4 ppg
Top Rebounder – J.P. Batista 9.5 rpg
Top Assists – Pierre Altidor-Cespedes 2.8 apg

Starters Leaving
Adam Morrison (NBA)
J.P. Batista (Graduation/NBA)

Key Returning Players
Derek Raivio, Jr. G, 10.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.6 apg
Sean Mallon, Jr. F, 6.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg
Josh Heytvelt, Fr. F 4.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg

Outlook: The team will be back, but its two top players are moving on. Coach Mark Few is a terrific recruiter and will not doubt reload and have the Bulldogs back as the team to beat in the WCC.

Loyola Marymount Lions
2005-06 record: 12-18, 8-6 WCC

They started the season like lambs but lived up to their lion namesake by finishing in second place in the WCC. Chris Ayer and Wes Wardrop stepped up and were major contributors in their senior seasons.

Team MVP – Matthew Knight 16.3 ppg, 10 rpg
Top Scorer – Matthew Knight 16.3 ppg
Top Rebounder – Matthew Knight 10 rpg
Top Assists – Brandon Worthy 4.3 apg

Starters Leaving
Wes Wardrop (Graduation)
Chris Ayer (Graduation)

Key Returning Players
Matthew Knight, Jr. F, 16.3 ppg, 10 rpg
Brandon Worthy, Jr. G, 15 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.3 apg

Outlook: With Knight and Worthy returning, the Lions still have a potent inside-outside game. Look for a much better non-conference record next season and a team that will compete for the top of the conference.

Saint Mary’s Gaels
2005-06 record: 17-12, 8-6 WCC

The nucleus of the team came together late in the season, and the Gaels put together a string of victories down the stretch to claw their way into second place. But due to their slow start, their only hope of postseason play was to win the conference tournament.

Team MVP – Daniel Kickert 16.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1 apg
Top Scorer – Daniel Kickert 16.7 ppg
Top Rebounder – Diamon Simpson 6.9 rpg
Top Assists – John Winston 3.7 apg

Starters Leaving
Daniel Kickert (Graduation)

Key Returning Players
John Winston, Jr. G, 8.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.7 apg
Brett Collins, Jr. F, 11.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg
Diamon Simpson, Fr. F, 8.2 ppg, 6.9 rpg

Outlook: With momentum from this season and a core group of talented players, look for the Gaels to at least make the NIT next season.

San Francisco Dons
2005-06 record: 11-17, 7-7 WCC

The addition of transfer Armondo Surratt was just what the Dons needed. He can score and make the rest of the team better. The Dons were in the hunt for second until the last week and appear to be a program on the rise.

Team MVP – Armondo Surratt 14.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 5.1 apg
Top Scorer – Armondo Surratt 14.2 ppg
Top Rebounder – Alan Wiggins 8.3 rpg
Top Assists – Armondo Surratt 5.1 apg

Starters Leaving
Jerome Gumbs (Graduation)
Jason Carter (Graduation)

Key Returning Players
Armondo Surratt, Jr. G, 14.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 5.1 apg
Alan Wiggins, Jr. F, 14.1 ppg, 8.3 rpg

Outlook: With juniors Surratt and Wiggins set to return for their senior seasons, don’t count out the Dons. They should be among the scoring leaders next year and propel their team into the top half of the conference.

San Diego Toreros
2005-06 record: 18-12, 6-8 WCC

The Toreros posted a surprisingly good non-conference record despite having lost two of their best players from the previous year. But hopes were dashed when they dropped their first two conference games and then could only beat the bottom teams in conference. Seniors Nick Lewis and Corey Belser had solid years.

Team MVP – Nick Lewis 18 ppg, 4.9 rpg
Top Scorer – Nick Lewis 18 ppg
Top Rebounder – Corey Belser 6.9 rpg
Top Assists – Brandon Johnson 4.1 apg

Starters Leaving
Nick Lewis (Graduation)
Corey Belser (Graduation)

Key Returning Players
Ross DeRogatis, Jr. G, 12 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.7 apg
Gyno Pomare, Fr. F, 10.4 ppg, 5 rpg
Brandon Johnson, Fr. G, 9.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 4.1 apg

Outlook: Even though the Toreros lose their leading scorer and best defender, there’s a lot to like about the young Toreros going into next season. Their four freshmen saw lots of minutes and we’ll be ready from the start next year.

Santa Clara Broncos
2005-06 record: 13-16, 5-9 WCC

Travis Niesen and Brody Angley were officially co-MVPs of the team. Niesen had a standout senior season and Angley continued to impress as a sophomore. But this was a team that couldn’t win when it was supposed to and could never put a real winning streak together.

Team MVP – Travis Niesen 18.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg
Top Scorer – Travis Niesen 18.9 ppg
Top Rebounder – Travis Niesen 6.6 rpg
Top Assists – Brody Angley 4.9 apg

Starters Leaving
Travis Niesen (Graduation)

Key Returning Players
Brody Angley, So. G, 10.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.9 apg
John Bryant, Fr. C, 6.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg
Sean Denison, Jr. C, 8.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg

Outlook: It’s hard to tell how this time will fare without Niesen in the lineup. But with Angley still onboard and Bryant clogging up the middle, the Broncos will have their share of opportunities to show their mettle.

Portland Pilots
2005-06 record: 11-18, 5-9 WCC

Good guard play wasn’t enough to earn a winning season for the Pilots. Pooh Jeter and Darren Cooper were a lethal tandem but rebounding and defending was a problem.

Team MVP – Pooh Jeter 18.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3 apg
Top Scorer – Pooh Jeter 18.6 ppg
Top Rebounder – Marcus Lewis 5.8 rpg
Top Assists – Pooh Jeter 3 apg

Starters Leaving
Pooh Jeter (Graduation)
Donald Wilson (Graduation)

Key Returning Players
Darren Cooper, Sr. G, 14.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.2 apg
Marcus Lewis, So. F, 10.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg

Outlook: Darren Cooper was granted a season-of-competition waiver and eligibility to come back and play next season. That’s great news for the Pilots who will be under a new coach and a new system next year and be fighting to stay out of the cellar.

Pepperdine Waves
2005-06 record: 7-20, 3-11 WCC

The Waves were ill served by youth and injuries this year. Injuries down the stretch to Michael Gerrity really sunk this team. They lost their final eight games and won only one game away from home all season.

Team MVP – Tashaan Forehan-Kelly 15.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg
Top Scorer – Tashaan Forehan-Kelly 15.5 ppg
Top Rebounder – Tashaan Forehan-Kelly 5.8 rpg
Top Assists – Michael Gerrity 3.3 apg

Starters Leaving
Tashaan Forehan-Kelly (Graduation)

Key Returning Players
Michael Gerrity, Fr. G, 14.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.3 apg
Willie Galick, Fr. F, 7.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg

Outlook: Paul Westphal’s young team couldn’t save his job. Hopefully a year of growing pains will translate into more success for incoming coach Vance Walberg who will try to get the program back on track.

2006-07 WCC Outlook

Gonzaga did what good teams do: they found a way to win a lot of close games. Morrison and Batista had the skill and the will to win that may be tough to replace next year. Look for Gonzaga to have a few blemishes on its conference record next season but still come out on top.

For the rest of the teams in the WCC, look for more success in the 2006-07 season than they experienced this year. Loyola Marymount, St. Mary’s, San Diego and San Francisco will all retain a core compliment of players that should help them knock off a few high profile opponents and have a shot at postseason play.

McDonald’s All-American Game

McDonald’s Co-MVPs Deliver Upset Victory for the West

by Brad Best

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – While the East team looked more impressive early on, it was the West team that ran away with the game in a 112- 94 victory on Wednesday night in San Diego at the McDonald’s All American Boys High School Basketball game. The West managed to overcome a 20-point deficit in the first half, closing the gap to just seven points at halftime.

In the first five minutes of the second half, Daequan Cook had a steal, three three-pointers and an assist to lead the West comeback. After that, it was the Kevin Durant and Chase Budinger show. Durant and Budinger went on to becoming co-MVPs. Durant, who is headed to Texas in the fall, had 18 second-half points to finish with 25 points, four assists, and five rebounds. Budinger is a local product out of La Costa Canyon High School, just north of San Diego. He added 11 points, four assists (all to Durant) and three rebounds and will be a fine addition to Lute Olson’s squad at Arizona. He is also an exceptional volleyball player.

Both MVPs exhibited great humility afterward. Durant said, “I was glad I got picked and glad I played well,” referring to his selection and performance. “We played within ourselves and let the game come to us like a regular game.”

Over the last few weeks they had been hearing about the dominance of the East, having won the last four straight games. That proved to be a motivating factor for the West players.

When asked for his reaction, Budinger said, “It was so much fun. It was unbelievable. I got goose bumps. The crowd would erupt every time I scored.”

In fact, the home crowd actually booed whenever Budinger was taken out of the game.

For the first time in its 29-year history, the McDonald’s All American Games were played in San Diego. John Wooden was the Chairman of the event and was on hand to hand out the trophies to the award winners. He received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd whenever his name was mentioned.

If you are counting blocks, Greg Oden had four. They added up quickly, and they looked impressive. But they all came in the first seven minutes of the contest. After that, the West team kept away from Oden in the paint. Oden finished with 10 points, knocking down all four of his free throws and adding some easy put-backs and lay-ups. West head coach Harvey Kitani (Fairfax High School) gave the credit to Robin Lopez for keeping Oden’s scoring in check.

“He did a great job on Oden. He’s a great kid with a great attitude,” said Kitani.

Oden is one of the most highly-touted high school players in the country. His man-sized body and athleticism will be a welcome addition at Ohio State next year. Ohio State nabbed three McDonald’s All Americans this year and is regarded by many to have the top recruiting class.

Gerald Henderson Jr. no doubt made his former NBA father proud as one of the standouts for the East side. He shot 60 percent from the field and finished with 16 points to lead the East in scoring. Henderson will join fellow McDonald’s All American Jon Scheyer at Duke next year. Scheyer had the look and game of the prototypical Duke player. He finished with nine points, four assists, and three rebounds in just 15 minutes of court time.

When asked about the attitude of the West players, Coach Kitani recalled asking his team whether they wanted to play to win or just play. In the second half, they proved that they wanted to win.

West Coast Notebook

West Coast Conference Notebook

by Brad Best

Very few surprises down the stretch in the West Coast Conference this season. Gonzaga continues to solidify its position for March Madness and has maintained its perfect conference record. Loyola Marymount held onto its two-game lead in the battle for second place. Saint Mary’s continues a late charge to get to the top half of the conference. Having won five of its last six, the Gaels are challenging San Diego and San Francisco, who are currently tied for third in conference. With only three games remaining for most teams, Gonzaga has clinched at least a share of the conference title. This appears to be a year in which only Gonzaga will emerge from the WCC to go to the Big Dance, while San Diego and maybe one other team should end up in the NIT.

Gonzaga (22-3 overall, 11-0 WCC) Last week, 2-0.
After easily defeating Portland earlier in the week, the Bulldogs went on the road to face second place Loyola Marymount. This looked to be one of their toughest conference games, and it was. The Lions posted a four point led at halftime and held Adam Morrison to just 7 points in the first half. But since they still play two halves and each one counts just as much as the other, the Bulldogs showed what they were made of in the second half. Morrison himself outscored the Lions 37-33 in the second period as Gonzaga went on to defeat LMU 79-70.

Loyola Marymount (11-14, 8-3) Last week, 0-1.
The hard-fought loss against Gonzaga will help prepare the Lions for the WCC tournament. If they can hang on to second place, they would not have to face Gonzaga again until the conference tournament, should both teams make it that far. That would appear to be the only hope for post-season play. Their dreadful non-conference record nearly buried them before they turned things around under first-year head coach Rodney Tention,

San Diego (16-8, 6-5) Last week, 0-1.
The Toreros missed an opportunity to claim third place as their own when they dropped a game at San Francisco after beating them at home just two days earlier. Seniors Nick Lewis and Corey Belser will play their final home game on Monday against an improving Saint Mary’s team. The Toreros finish on the road against Gonzaga and Portland, so they’ll have to rise to the occasion if they want to hold off San Francisco for third.

San Francisco (10-14, 6-5) Last week, 1-0.
The Dons regained their winning form against San Diego at home and get to face lowly Santa Clara on Monday. They should be able to take care of Portland on the road before heading up to Gonzaga for their final game of the season. They have a slightly easier schedule than the Toreros down the stretch, but both teams will likely go 2-1 and finish tied for third.

Saint Mary’s (13-11, 5-6) Last week, 2-0.
The Gaels are working their way into contention for a run in the WCC tournament. They did what they were supposed to do last week and need to finish strong against a couple of tough opponents. They lead the WCC in scoring defense, holding opponents to 65 points per game. This tenacity, along with the emergence of an improved supporting cast to go along with Daniel Kickert, has helped the Gaels develop into a formidable conference opponent in the second half of the season.

Portland (9-16, 3-8) Last week, 1-1.
Earning a split in last week’s games won’t be enough to help the struggling Pilots. A strong backcourt of Pooh Jeter and Darren Cooper has not been enough to keep pace with the bigger, stronger frontcourt dominance of other teams. Four of their last five opponents have put up 80 points or more on the Pilots. With three tough games left on the schedule, it will be next to impossible for Portland to move up in the standings or have much hope of doing any damage in the conference tournament.

Pepperdine (7-16, 3-8) Last week, 0-1.
With Michael Gerrity still sidelined by an injury, the Waves were defeated at home by Portland. Things won’t get any easier as they head up to Gonzaga on Monday. Without Gerrity’s scoring ability in the lineup, the Waves find it difficult to put up enough points to have a chance to win.

Santa Clara (9-15, 2-9) Last week, 0-2.
Back to their losing ways, the Broncos couldn’t avenge their loss to Saint Mary’s or defeat Hawaii. With San Francisco next up, followed by games against Loyola Marymount and Pepperdine, the Broncos may be fortunate to just win one of their final three. When you’re in last place, you’re looking at every opponent as an uphill battle. Senior Travis Niesen has been a one-man warrior this season. Without him, the Broncos may be in even worse shape at this time next year.

West Coast Notebook

West Coast Conference Notebook

by Brad Best

With very little changes in the standings, the West Coast Conference is separating the contenders from the pretenders. Gonzaga and Loyola Marymount continue to anchor the top two spots, while San Diego and San Francisco duke it out for third. Saint Mary’s is starting to make a little noise, having won three of its last four and taking Gonzaga to the final buzzer in Spokane. Gonzaga and San Diego are the only two teams with winning overall records and conference records in the WCC.

Gonzaga (20-3 overall, 9-0 WCC) Last week, 2-0.
Gonzaga survived the week with two wins, but were tested in both games. The Saint Mary’s Gaels gave Gonzaga all it could handle and are starting to hit their stride. On Saturday, a hungry Stanford team came in looking for a big win over a ranked opponent. Gonzaga overcame a five-point halftime deficit and outplayed the Cardinal down the stretch. Adam Morrison scored 13 of Gonzaga’s final 14 points. He did it all on both sides of the ball, getting a key block on the defensive end and knocking down three-pointers and free throws to secure the victory.

Loyola Marymount (11-13, 8-2) Last week, 2-0.
In what appeared to be a battle for second place, the Lions blew traveled to San Diego and blew out the Toreros 94-76. This was their most impressive conference victory and gave them some much need separation from the pack. On Saturday, they needed an overtime period to get revenge over Pepperdine, who handed them their only non-Gonzaga conference loss of the season. Gonzaga has looked a little vulnerable lately, especially on the defensive end, so look for the Lions to take a hard run at them in Spokane on Friday, February 17.

San Diego (16-7, 6-4) Last week, 1-1.
Winners of five of their last six, the Toreros bounced back from an embarrassing home loss to Loyola Marymount to beat San Francisco on Saturday afternoon. Senior Nick Lewis, who averages 17 points per game, managed just 8 points against LMU and was held scoreless against San Francisco. His disappearing act has to have Coach Brad Holland concerned. The Toreros continue to get good bench production from big men Nir Cohen and Gyno Pomare, who have helped to fill the scoring void. The Toreros may have to settle for a split in their final four games, which would open the door for San Francisco to finish ahead of them in third place.

San Francisco (9-14, 5-5) Last week, 1-1.
The Dons have picked a bad time to go cold. Having dropped three of their last four, the Dons need to turn things around quickly to secure a seed in the top half of the conference tournament. Their next two homes games should be winnable. They’ll have a chance to revenge their Saturday night loss to San Diego on Monday in front of their home crowd. Then they’ll rest up before taking on Santa Clara the following week.

Saint Mary’s (11-11, 4-6) Last week, 1-1.
The Gaels have made a nice turnaround of late, posting three victories in their last three games. They had Gonzaga on the ropes but couldn’t deliver the knock-out blow. That said, they appear to be hitting their stride and this young team could be a tough out during the conference tournament. Their remaining schedule should set up pretty well for them, so with any luck they should finish above .500 overall and right at the .500 mark in conference.

Pepperdine (7-15, 3-7) Last week, 0-2.
Just when you think the Waves are getting on a roll, they drop two in a row and fall back into the bottom ranks of the conference. Both games were on the road and both were close, but losses are losses at this point. The Waves will continue to fight hard under Coach Paul Westphal. With only a home game against Portland on the schedule for this week, the Waves should be able to start a new winning streak. The bad news is they still have to contend with Gonzaga once more and they need to win out if they want to salvage a .500 season.

Portland (8-15, 2-7) Last week, 0-1.
The Pilots only had one game on their schedule last week, and it was an 80-56 pummeling at the hands of last place Santa Clara. So they kept alive their five-game losing streak in bold fashion. Darren Cooper is back from injury and in the lineup, but his 20 points weren’t enough to stop Travis Neisen and the Broncos from having a brief moment in the sun.

Santa Clara (9-13, 2-8) Last week, 1-1.
Except for looking really good against Portland, the Broncos have looked pretty bad for quite some time. But now their seven-game losing streak has come to an end, let’s see if they can finish the season on a high note. They have a chance to avenge their Saturday night loss to Saint Mary’s on Monday. After that, they have two road games before finishing the season at home. Don’t look for any miracles here.

West Coast Notebook

West Coast Conference Notebook

by Brad Best

With six of the eight teams in conference sweeping their opponents or getting swept, there is a little more separation from top to bottom in the West Coast Conference. Gonzaga continues to power its way through the conference schedule as Adam Morrison and J.P. Batista unleash a combined total of nearly 50 points a night on their foes. San Diego evened up its conference record and Pepperdine came away with two surprising victories. Saint Mary’s and Santa Clara are competing for the biggest disappointment award as both have just one victory in conference.

Gonzaga (17-3 overall, 7-0 WCC) Last week, 2-0.
The only real question is whether Gonzaga will go undefeated in the West Coast Conference. They had a scare down in San Diego recently but other than that they have handled the rest of the field in short order. Maybe someone will catch them on an off night when they see them for a second time this season. A top-ranked Gonzaga is good for the WCC, but it is discouraging for the remainder of the pack.

Loyola Marymount (8-13, 5-2) Last week, 1-1.
After beating up on St. Mary’s, the Lions were tamed by Pepperdine on Saturday. So how good are these Lions? Certainly they’ve shown themselves to be more formidable than their 3-11 non-conference record would indicate. All indications are that they are for real and will finish in the top half of the conference. How they do this week will be telling as they must go on the road to face San Francisco and San Diego.

San Francisco (8-11, 4-2) Last week, 1-1.
As expected the Dons lost to Gonzaga but managed to beat Santa Clara last week. This team should do no worse than 1-1 this week with an away game at Saint Mary’s followed by a home game against Loyola Marymount. If they can continue to play .500 or better, they should set themselves up for a decent run in the conference tournament. Considering that they started the year 4-9, they’ve had a nice turnaround and come together just in time for conference play.

San Diego (13-6, 3-3) Last week, 2-0.
Winning one at home and notching their first conference road win of the season, the Toreros are back to .500 in conference. If they go and do likewise this week, they’ll be back in the hunt for second place. Ross DeRogatis has 10 three pointers in the last two games and freshman Gyno Pomare has made big contributions from the bench. This helps ease the burden of team scoring leader Nick Lewis.

Pepperdine (7-12, 3-4) Last week, 2-0.
With two solid wins last week, the Waves lifted themselves out of the conference cellar and moved ahead of three teams that went 0-2 for the week. Not bad. Tashaan Forehan-Kelly scored a career-high 35 points to lead the Waves to victory over Loyola Marymount. But Forehand-Kelly and Michael Gerrity can’t do all the work. Someone else will need to join them in double figures for them to continue their winning ways. Let’s see if last week was the start of something special or merely one good week.

Portland (8-11, 2-5) Last week, 0-2.
With their second-leading scorer, Darren Cooper, sidelined with an injury, the Pilots came up a little short against San Diego and were overmatched by Gonzaga. Pooh Jetter is a scoring machine, but the Pilots need to find more ways to slow down the competition. Marcus Lewis came off the bench against San Diego and proved to be a good scoring option down low. He posted 15 points against San Diego and 16 against Gonzaga. Only one game this week, and it’s at home against lowly Saint Mary’s, so the Waves will have a good opportunity to inch their way away forward.

Saint Mary’s (8-10, 1-5) Last week, 0-2.
The expectations were high for the Gaels this season following their impressive run a year ago, but this is largely a new crop of players and they haven’t found ways to win the games that are within their grasp. They couldn’t hold the lead at home against San Diego last week and now the future looks dim. Daniel Kickert continues to post solid numbers every night and is the lone bright spot in a tough season.

Santa Clara (8-10, 1-5) Last week, 0-2.
Having dropped their last five games and with two tough foes on this week’s schedule, the Broncos appear to be down for the count. They did battle mightily against USF last week and could prove to be a spoiler down the stretch if other teams look past them. The Broncos will likely be 1-7 and have the cellar all to themselves by the end of the week.

West Coast Notebook

West Coast Conference Notebook

by Brad Best

Gonzaga (15-3 overall, 5-0 WCC) Last week, 2-0
Gonzaga did what good teams do this week: they found a way to take the lead with nine seconds to go in San Diego and hung on for a one-point victory. They looked shaky at times. Adam Morrison was held in check, scoring 12 below his average. But they came away with a victory nonetheless. Someone in conference will likely put a blemish on their perfect conference record, but it didn’t happen last week.

Loyola Marymount (7-12, 4-1) Last week, 1-1
The Lions continue to surprise their foes in conference play. They’ve turned around a miserable non-conference season and are sitting alone in second place in the WCC. They bounced back from a loss at Gonzaga to defeat Santa Clara by 10 points. Wes Wardrop continues to spark the offense from the perimeter and Michael Knight and Chris Ayer are a tough tandem down low.

San Francisco (7-10, 3-1) Last week, 2-0
After a 4-9 run in non-conference games, most would not have expected the Dons to be 3-1 and sitting third in conference. And there only conference loss was in double overtime. But they have feasted on WCC teams that are just 4-10 in conference so they haven’t truly been tested. We’ll know more next week after they’ve played Gonzaga and Santa Clara.

Portland (8-11, 2-3) Last week, 1-1
The Pilots squeaked by Pepperdine at home and then lose by double digits on the road at USF. Pooh Jeter scored 22 against USF, which equaled the Pilots second half scoring total. Guard Darren Cooper left early in second half with a toe injury. Portland needs to get more production out of its big men if they are going to put wins on the board.

San Diego (11-6, 1-3) Last week, 1-1
Just a rebound away from knocking off Gonzaga on Saturday night, the Toreros showed that they have the skill and the spirit to play with the best in the conference. But with the 1-3 start, they have an uphill battle ahead. The next four games are against the bottom tier of the conference, so this would be a good time to start a fresh winning streak.

Santa Clara (8-8, 1-3) Last week, 0-2
Travis Niesen needs more help. He’s the only Bronco averaging in double figures, so his 20 ppg is lapping his teammates. After losing to Gonzaga and then dropping two on the road to LMU and San Diego, the Broncos have yet another road game before coming home. It’s been a rough start to conference but don’t count them out.

Saint Mary’s (8-8, 1-3) Last week, 1-1
The Gaels are coming up just a little short this year. Their last two losses were by a combined three points. Now they just need to figure out how to win the close ones like they did last season. Their schedule doesn’t get any easier as they face Loyola Marymount and San Diego this week. If they could get a sweep, they’d be right in the thick of things. If they get swept, they’ll be on life support.

Pepperdine (5-12, 1-4) Last week, 0-2
Having lost five of their last six, the Waves will see if they can turn things around in their next two home games. They were blown out at home by St. Mary’s on Saturday and only made one-third of their shots. The WCC is a fairly high-scoring league, and so the Waves will need to rejuvenate their offense if they are going to be competitive.

West Coast Notebook

West Coast Conference Notebook

by Brad Best

Conference Play Begins

It feels as if there is a little Jekyll and Hyde going on in the West Coast Conference. Maybe a couple of these teams had us fooled with their non-conference performance. Most notably, what happened to San Diego? The Toreros rattled off an impressive 10-3 start only to lose their first two conference games. Albeit they were both on the road, but Pepperdine hasn’t looked good all season and Loyola Marymount was just 3-11 going into that game. Speaking of Loyola Marymount, they’ve switched places with San Diego and with their 3-0 conference start are tied with Gonzaga atop the WCC.

Gonzaga (13-3, 3-0 Conf.)
Preseason ranking: 1
Conference Play: So far, so good for the Bulldogs. They have won comfortably over St. Mary’s, Santa Clara and Pepperdine.
Surprise Factor: Mild surprise that J.P. Batista is averaging 19 points and 8 rebounds per game, up from 12 points and 6 rebounds last season, while Derek Raivio’s numbers haven’t gone up at all.
Comment: They help sell out the home courts of their conference opponents when they come to town. The added pressure of being Goliath to the rest of the Davids in the league will help prepare them for the Big Dance.

Loyola Marymount (6-11, 3-0 Conf.)
Preseason ranking: 4
Conference Play: Hard to explain their undefeated start in conference play other than to say they weren’t as bad as their record indicated. They’re sure to be taken seriously by their conference foes now.
Surprise Factor: From worst in non-conference to tied for first in conference with their great start. It will really be surprising if they knock off Gonzaga in their next game.
Comment: With Matthew Knight on the inside and Wes Wardrop on the outside, they have a nice combo attack.

Santa Clara (8-6, 1-1 Conf.)
Preseason ranking: 5
Conference Play: With a win over Portland and a hard-fought loss against Gonzaga, the Broncos will be competitive this year. Next up is a tough match-up against a hungry San Diego team.
Surprise Factor: Kudos for winning the Cable Car Classic. Now let’s see what they can do in the rest of their conference games.
Comment: Big man John Bryant must stay out of foul trouble and become a defensive stopper so Travis Niesen can focus his energy on the offensive end.

San Francisco (5-10, 1-1 Conf.)
Preseason ranking: 6
Conference Play: Win over Pepperdine and a double overtime loss to Loyola Marymount suggest that the Dons will not be an easy out.
Surprise Factor: Newcomer Guard Armondo Surratt leads the team in both scoring and assists.
Comments: Need to do a better job of finding ways to win the close ones.

Portland (7-10, 1-2 Conf)
Preseason ranking: 3
Conference Play: Getting blown out at home by Loyola Marymount in their most recent game doesn’t bode well.
Surprise Factor: Why is this team so inconsistent? Usually good guard play translates into wins and guard Pooh Jeter is the leader of this team.
Comments: Maybe they’ll get their confidence back against Pepperdine.

Pepperdine (5-10, 1-2 Conf.)
Preseason ranking: 8
Conference Play: Haven’t been impressive yet and things don’t look optimistic this year.
Surprise Factor: Held off San Diego to walk away with a one point victory.
Comment: Will be interesting to see how they rebound from a 29 point defeat at the hands of Gonzaga.

San Diego (10-5, 0-2 Conf)
Preseason ranking: 7
Conference Play: Have played down to the level of their competition so far, and it has resulted in two loses on the road.
Surprise: The Toreros were favored to win and should have won their two opening games in the WCC.
Comment: Rough start to conference play already and they’re hosting Gonzaga on Saturday.

Saint Mary’s (7-7, 0-2 Conf.)
Preseason ranking: 2
Conference Play: With a loss to Gonzaga and then a double overtime loss to Portland, the 0-2 record isn’t quite as bad as it looks.
Surprise Factor: Everyone expected a much better start. Did they simply lose too much talent and experience from last year’s squad?
Comment: Two winnable road games are up next so look for the Gaels to post their first conference win this week.

West Coast Notebook

West Coast Conference Notebook

by Brad Best

Non-Conference Summary

Gonzaga (10-3)
Preseason ranking: 1
Best win: Heroic effort by Adam Morrison in a triple overtime 109-106 victory over Michigan State in the semi-finals of the Maui Invitational.
Worst loss: 99-95 at Washington. Lost their in-state bragging rights against a tough Huskies team.
Comment: Gonzaga has largely lived up to their reputation and currently holds the longest home game winning streak at 30 games. Morrison leads the nation in scoring average at 27 ppg. J.P. Batista is a bit of a surprise, averaging 19 points and 8 rebounds per game.
Outlook: The Bulldogs are as dangerous as ever. They won’t sneak up on anyone anymore, but they have the firepower and the passion to dominate their conference and go deep in the NCAA Tournament.

San Diego (10-3)
Preseason ranking: 7
Best win: 63-56 vs. New Mexico. USD big men dominated the action.
Worst loss: 94-91 vs. Texas Arlington. In the midst of a six-game winning streak, the Toreros let this one get away from them at home.
Comment: The Toreros have played good team basketball so far. Nick Lewis is averaging 20 ppg, third-best in the WCC.
Outlook: Brad Holland’s combination of seniors and freshmen will continue their winning ways and finish near the top of the conference.

Saint Mary’s (7-5)
Preseason ranking: 2
Best win: 89-80 vs. Nevada. Only their second win over a ranked opponent in 30 years.
Worst loss: 73-54 at Colorado. Only two Gaels scored more than 3 points in that one.
Comment: Daniel Kickert and Brett Collins are the only players averaging in double figures in points per game.
Outlook: The young supporting cast will need to step up if this team wants to see any postseason play.

Santa Clara (7-5)
Preseason ranking: 5
Best win: 77-68 vs. Bucknell. Knocked off top Patriot conference team to win the Cable Car Classic.
Worst loss: 67-56 vs. Montana. These are ones you have to win, especially at home.
Comment: They have a decent nucleus anchored by Travis Niesen, who is averaging 20 ppg. Three other players contributing at least 9 ppg. Freshman John Bryant is holding his own in the middle.
Outlook: Could big a factor in the race for second place.

Portland (6-8)
Preseason ranking: 3
Best win: 80-72 vs. Oregon. Bragging rights in the state as they also knocked off Oregon State.
Worst loss: Following the win over Oregon, they lose 76-53 to UC Santa Barbara.
Comment: Beat two Pac-10 teams so far but play has been very inconsistent from game to game. Underperforming when you consider they returned four starters and their top five scorers.
Outlook: If they can bring the same intensity each night, they could be competitive in conference.

Pepperdine (4-8)
Preseason ranking: 8
Best win: 75-61 at UNLV. Big edge in shooting percentage and rebounding spelled the difference.
Worst loss: 63-45 at Dayton. Not their biggest loss in a tough schedule but should have been more competitive here.
Comment: A very young team that has yet to put things together.
Outlook: Hopefully the experience they’re getting will make them more competitive next season.

San Francisco (4-9)
Preseason ranking: 6
Best win: 90-72 vs. Texas Tech. Huge game (31 points) for Jerome Gumbs, who averages 10 ppg.
Worst loss: 82-59 at UCSB. Started the season out on a bad note and haven’t got much better.
Comment: With four players scoring in double figures, you’d think they’d be more consistent and win some close ones.
Outlook: A four-game losing streak going into conference play does not bode well for the Dons.

Loyola Marymount (3-11)
Preseason ranking: 4
Best win: 83-71 at BYU. Unfortunately, they haven’t looked that good since then.
Worst loss: 79-60 at UNLV. They’ve lost some close ones this year, but this one wasn’t close.
Comment: Seemed a little overrated in the preseason. They do have some fight in them and coach Rodney Tention should have them pulling off some upsets in conference.
Outlook: Not as bad as they seem on paper. Could be a spoiler.

Non-conference First Team
Adam Morrison – Gonzaga
J.P. Batista – Gonzaga
Nick Lewis – San Diego
Pooh Jeter – Portland
Wes Wardrop – Loyola Marymount

West Coast Notebook

West Coast Conference Notebook

by Brad Best

USF lances Bobby Knight’s Red Raiders
Coming off a four-point loss to Pacific on November 30 and riding a three-game losing streak, the University of San Francisco Dons didn’t appear to be much of a threat to Texas Tech. But the Dons turned the tables on the Red Raiders this year and ran away with a 90-72 victory on Saturday. When the two teams met in Lubbock last season, Texas Tech handed the Dons a 97-53 defeat. Miami transfer Armondo Surratt recorded his first career double-double and Jerome Gumbs led all scorers with 31 points en route to the Dons victory. True freshman Dior Lowhorn was the leading scorer for Texas Tech with 20 points.

Gonzaga Looks for “Barking” Rights in the State of Washington
The Gonzaga Bulldogs square off against the University of Washington Huskies on Sunday and then take on the Washington State Cougars on Thursday, December 8. The Bulldogs have won seven straight against the Huskies. While Washington has this circled this as one of the premier games on their schedule, Gonzaga doesn’t have that luxury. They must also get ready for Oklahoma State, Memphis, and Stanford and part of their non-conference schedule.

University of San Diego Holds Court Against Crosstown Rival
The Toreros knocked out the San Diego State Aztecs 90-80 on Wednesday, November 30 with sharp shooting from the perimeter. As a team, the Toreros shot 60 percent from the field, 70 percent from beyond the arc, and 80 percent from the free throw line in the second half. Ross DeRogatis hit on 5-of-6 three pointers in the second half. The Aztecs continually doubled down to defend post position players and made themselves vulnerable to outside shooters. The Aztecs are the preseason pick to finish first in the Mountain West Conference.

Loyola Marymount Ends Four-Game Losing Streak
The Loyola Marymount Lions notched just their second victory of the season on Saturday, defeating UC Santa Barbara in convincing fashion, 77-60. Matthew Knight led the way with 20 points and 12 rebounds. The Lions finished the first half on a 27-6 run and never looked back. They increased their led by as much as 26 points in the second half before finishing with a 17-point victory. They’ll host USC on December 10 and look to become battle-tested before starting conference play.

Santa Clara Narrowly Missed Regulation Win Over SEC Foe
The final score, 82-69, doesn’t tell enough of the story. With just two seconds left in the second half, Santa Clara’s Brody Angley had a chance to knock off Mississippi State. But when his jumper bounced off the rim, apparently so did the Broncos chances of winning. Mississippi State could not be stopped in the overtime period, and Santa Clara made just one basket in the extra period. Travis Niesen led the way for the Broncos with 22 points. Angley had 17 points, including five three-pointers.

West Coast Preview

West Coast Conference 2005-06 Season Preview

by Brad Best

In life and in basketball, some things change and some things stay the same. In the West Coast Conference (WCC), Gonzaga will once again take the conference crown, but how the rest of the teams finish is up for grabs.

The WCC assembled a feisty group of teams last year that competed hard and won against bigger, stronger foes. St. Mary’s defeated Cal; Pepperdine beat Wisconsin; Santa Clara took down eventual NCAA champion North Carolina. All were impressive wins for a bunch of the little guys. But much of the talent in the WCC, except for Gonzaga, has moved on and the road to non-conference victories of this caliber will be harder for many of these teams to realize in the upcoming season.

Gonzaga continues to take on all comers and will have its hands full with some stiff competition in the Maui Invitational. Their first round match-up against Maryland is no sure thing. A win there would likely pit them against Michigan State, which is a Final Four team on many lists, and a trip to the finals may mean having to face Connecticut or Arizona. These tough early tests will give Gonzaga an indication of how good they’re going to be this year. They should be very good.

Look for San Francisco to be a team on the rise. They got their first NIT bid in 29 years last season and should be a tough out, especially with the addition of Armondo Surratt from Miami. Portland stumbled down the stretch last year but with four returning starters, including Pooh Jeter, they should finish in the top half of the conference. Pepperdine is headed in the other direction, due in part to Alex Acker’s surprising leap to the NBA. Coach Paul Westphal has too much youth and inexperience to make a run this season.

On the coaching front, Loyola Marymount will introduce new head coach Rodney Tention, who gets his first head coaching job following an eight-year run as an assistant coach under Lute Olson at Arizona. At Saint Mary’s, Randy Bennett was rewarded with a new six-year contract after his team put up 25 wins a year ago. The Gaels will have an uphill battle to match that record this year, but kudos to Bennett for his first four years at the helm.

All-WCC First Team
Derek Raivio, G, Gonzaga
Pooh Jeter, G, Portland
Daniel Kickert, F, St. Mary’s
Adam Morrison, F, Gonzaga
J.P. Batista, C, Gonzaga

Honorable Mentions: Darren Cooper, Portland; Erroll Knight, Gonzaga; Matthew Knight, Loyola Marymount; Nick Lewis, San Diego; Travis Niesen, Santa Clara

Conference MVP
Adam Morrison, Gonzaga

Freshman of the Year
Gyno Pomare, San Diego

Newcomer of the Year
Armondo Surratt, San Francisco

Defensive Player of the Year
Corey Belser, San Diego

1. Gonzaga Bulldogs
2004-05 record: 26-5, 12-2 WCC (1st place)
Projected starting five:
Derek Raivio, Jr. G (13 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 4.8 apg)
Erroll Knight, Sr. G 6.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg)
Adam Morrison, Jr. F (19.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg)
Sean Mallon, Jr. F (7.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg)
J.P. Batista, Sr. C (12.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg)

Gonzaga should once again dominate the West Coast Conference on its way to its eighth straight NCAA Tournament appearance and sixth straight conference title. With four returning starters and an infusion of talented freshmen, the Bulldogs are a formidable opponent for any team in any conference. Led by one of the best players in the country, Adam Morrison, the Bulldogs should put on an impressive show every time they take the hardwood. Morrison is almost unstoppable on the offensive end, and this is clearly his team and his season to shine en route to the NBA.

The Bulldogs will no longer have the services of Ronny Turiaf, who contributed nearly 16 points and 10 rebounds per game last season. But Turiaf was often in foul trouble, so his former teammates are used to playing big minutes without him. Sean Mallon and J.P. Batista will have to step up this season and fill the rebounding void. Erroll Knight has been slowed by a knee injury and subsequent arthroscopic surgery but shouldn’t miss more than a couple of games. Derek Raivio led the league in assists and will deliver the ball to the big men. He’s also a great free throw shooter and put up 13 points per game last season, so he cannot be ignored.

Larry Gurganious, a freshman from Berkeley, Calif., was one of the highlights from Gonzaga’s rout of Lewis-Clark State College in their exhibition game. Gurganious made 7 of 13 shots from the field while playing 22 minutes. Redshirt freshman Josh Heytvelt, who is nursing a sore foot, warmed up but did not play. Both players will get some playing time this year and could make solid contributions.

Schedule
Key non-conference games:
Nov. 21-23 Maui Invitational
Dec. 4 at Washington
Dec. 10 vs. Oklahoma State
Dec. 31 vs. Saint Joseph’s

Gonzaga will definitely be battle-tested by the start of conference play. It will be interesting to see who, if anyone, can keep them from running the table. Barring any unforeseen injuries, Gonzaga looks to make the NCAA Tournament with ease and figures to be an Elite Eight team this season.

2. Saint Mary’s Gaels
2004-05 record: 25-9, 11-3 WCC (2nd place)
Projected starting five:
Jason Walberg, Sr. G (4.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg)
John Winston, Jr. G (Transfer from UNLV)
Brett Collins, Jr. F (6.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
Daniel Kickert, Sr. F (16.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg)
Blake Sholberg, Jr. C (3.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg)

With senior Daniel Kickert as the lone returning starter, the fate of this year’s season will revolve around him. Newcomers and bench players will need to find a way to replace the 44 points and nearly 20 rebounds per game the other starters produced last season. Thankfully for the Gaels, Kickert is one of the best players in the conference and shows up to play every night. He was second in field-goal percentage and first in three-point accuracy in the WCC.

Brett Collins scored in double figures in 10 games last season and will need to step up as a starter this year. He scored 13 points in the opening round of the 2005 NCAA Tournament against Southern Illinois and will need to contribute in similar fashion if the Gaels are going to continue their winning ways.

Freshmen Diamon Simpson and Ian O’Leary will get a chance to contribute right away. UNLV transfer John Winston should replace Paul Marigney at the point when he becomes eligible after the fall semester.

Schedule
Key non-conference games:
Dec. 10 at Arizona
Dec. 13 at Air Force
Dec. 28 vs. Saint Joseph’s
Dec. 31 vs. Nevada

If the Gaels can jell as a team and pull out an upset or two in non-conference play, they may have the confidence to bring Gonzaga down to size one time this season. Bennett-coached teams are stamped with a commitment to defense, which will help give them a chance to win close games and keep their post-season hopes afloat. Look for them to settle for a NIT bid this season.

3. Portland Pilots
2004-05 record: 15-15, 4-10 WCC (7th place)
Projected starting five:
Pooh Jeter, Sr. G (15.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg)
Darren Cooper, Sr. G (11.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg)
Donald Wilson, Sr. F (8.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg)
Marcus Lewis, So. F (9.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg)
Ben Sullivan, Jr. C (8.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg)

With one of the best backcourts in the WCC, Portland should be in position for a breakout season. In last year’s campaign, they ran out of gas down the stretch and dropped eight of their final ten conference games. Four returning starters will remember that well and help keep history from repeating itself.

Pooh Jeter is an All-WCC player who forms a nice tandem with fellow guard Darren Cooper. They combined for 26 points per game last season and shot the ball extremely well from the foul line. They’ll help senior swingman Donald Wilson have his best year.

WCC All-Freshman team selection Marcus Lewis and Oregon State transfer Kevin Field will battle for the fifth starting position. Either one should be a more potent scoring threat than starter Andreas Gahlmann was a year ago.

Schedule
Key non-conference games:
Nov. 8-18 Coaches vs. Cancer
Dec. 10 vs. Oregon State
Dec. 17 at Washington State
Dec. 22 vs. Oregon

The Pilots non-conference schedule sends them up against three Pac-10 foes within a two-week stretch and should prepare them well for conference play. With an extra year of maturity under their belt, the Pilots look to be on the verge of a promising season and an invitation to the NIT.

4. Santa Clara Broncos
2004-05 record: 15-16, 7 WCC (3rd place tie)
Projected starting five:
Brody Angley, So. G (5.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg)
Brandon Rohe, Jr. G (5.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg)
Travis Niesen, Sr. F (15.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg)
Tristan Parham, Sr. F (4.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg)
Sean Denison, Jr. C (3.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg)

Guards Kyle Bailey and Doron Perkins combined for 30 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists last season. The departure of their starting backcourt means the Broncos will shift to a more half-court dependent offense. Picking up the slack in the backcourt will be sophomore Brody Angley, a WCC All-Freshman Team selection. Joining him will be Brandon Rohe, who was one of the top three-point shooters in the league two years ago. He sat out last year with a back injury.

The frontcourt will be led by senior forward Travis Niesen. He is one of the league’s best big men and should be their primary scoring option down low. Alongside Niesen will be Sean Denison and Tristan Parham, who will both need to make bigger contributions this year.

Speaking of big, incoming freshman John Bryant (6-11, 330 pounds) figures to see significant playing time and make the frontcourt even more fearsome for opponents. Fellow freshman Domineek Daniel and Calvin Johnson will also compete for minutes.

Schedule
Key non-conference games:
Nov. 22 at UC Irvine
Dec. 3 at Mississippi State
Dec. 13 at Oregon
Dec. 17 at North Carolina

With some difficult tests in their non-conference schedule, Santa Clara should be toughened up by conference play and finish with around sixteen wins. This would match coach Dick Davey’s average in his thirteen years with the program.

5. San Francisco Dons
2004-05 record: 17-14, 6-8 WCC (5th place tie)
Projected starting five:
Jerome Gumbs, Sr. G (9.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg)
Armondo Surrattt, Jr. G (Transfer from Miami)
Alan Wiggins, Jr. F (5.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg)
Johnny Dukes, Jr. F (5.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
Jason Carter, Sr. C (2.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg)

The job Jessie Evans did as first-year coach has to be commended. He not only led the Dons to post-season play, but they also netted a first round NIT victory. Evans and the Dons will miss John Cox, who quietly led the WCC with 20 points per game a year ago. Tyrone Riley is also gone, along with his 15 points per game and team-leading 9 rebounds.

They hope that projected Newcomer of the Year Armondo Surratt helps them ease the pain. Surratt, who started for Miami in his two seasons there, should make an immediate impact. If the first exhibition game is any indication, the Dons will get what they were hoping for: Surrant led the team with 26 points on their way to a 112-85 rout of Stanislaus State.

Returning starters Jerome Gumbs and Alan Wiggins will need to increase their production this year. Both fared well against Stanislaus State, putting up 23 and 21 points, respectively. Key reserve Johnny Dukes will likely move into a starting role for his senior season. Freshman Omar Samhan and Drew Shiller should see the most action from a good recruiting class.

Schedule
Key non-conference games:
Nov. 23 at Stanford
Dec. 3 vs. Texas Tech
Dec. 17 at Marquette
Dec. 29 at Fresno State

The Dons haven’t shied away from top-rated competition prior to conference play and may just upset one or two of them. Jessie Evans has this team moving in the right direction, so don’t be surprised if they finish in the top half of the conference.

6. San Diego Toreros
2004-05 record: 16-13, 7-7 WCC (3rd place tie)
Projected starting five:
Ross DeRogatis, Jr. G (7.9 ppg, 3.4 apg)
Michael Hubbard, Jr. G (3.2 ppg, 1.6 rpg)
Corey Belser, Sr. F (6.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg)
Gyno Pomare, Fr. F (redshirted)
Nick Lewis, Sr. C (12.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg)

Brad Holland worked his magic last season and turned a last place 4-26 team in 2003-04 into a 16-13 team that tied for third in the WCC in 2004-05. Unfortunately, some of his best players are gone, and Holland will once again have to work wonders to stay out of the bottom half of the conference.

The Toreros will be without their two top scorers and rebounders in the upcoming campaign. Brandon Gay led the way with 17 points and 6 rebounds per game, and Brice Vounang played with heart and passion in the middle for the Toreros, giving them 15 points and 7 rebounds a night. Both will be sorely missed.

Had Floyd North III returned to school and the team lineup, the Toreros would have been projected higher. His absence will make it much tougher for them to consistently put wins on the board. North was one of the most athletic players on the roster and is the third player to leave the program since last season’s finale, not including the three seniors who completed their eligibility.

The burden to carry the team now falls on fifth-year seniors Nick Lewis and Corey Belser. Lewis showed great potential from his freshman season on, and he will need to take over as the number one scoring threat this year. Belser is one of the best defenders in the league and will need to step up more on the offensive end. Last season, Ross DeRogartis was third in the WCC in assist to turnover ratio and shot 46 percent from three-point range. His contribution from outside could help keep opponents honest this year.

Schedule
Key non-conference games:
Nov. 21 vs. UC Santa Barbara
Nov. 30 vs. San Diego State
Dec. 10 vs. Fresno State
Dec. 22 vs. New Mexico

With too many key losses to a team that outshined expectations last year, the Toreros don’t have the firepower to compete for the crown this season. Look for them to play hard but fall short of a winning season.

7. Loyola Marymount Lions
2004-05 record: 11-17, 3-11 WCC (8th place)
Projected starting five:
Brandon Worthy, Jr. G (11.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
Wes Wardrop, Sr. G (7.2 ppg)
Matthew Knight, Jr. F (15.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg)
Daryl Pegram, Jr. F (6.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
Chris Ayer, Sr. C (3.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg)

With three returning starters, the Lions are cautiously optimistic. They always seem to be a sleeper pick, but they seldom turn in a Cinderella season. After dropping their final six games last season to finish last in conference, and firing head coach Steve Aggers, the Lions have nowhere to go but up.

Junior forward Matthew Knight is back to lead the Lions. Teamed with guard Brandon Worthy, they form a solid inside-outside attack. Center Chris Ayer has looked strong in intra-squad scrimmages and needs to be more of a factor in his senior year.

Damian Martin and Wes Wardrop will work alongside Worthy in the backcourt. John Montgomery suffered an ACL injury in the final week of the 2004-05 season but appears to be healthy again. Daminan Martin ruptured his Achilles tendon while playing with Australia national team over the summer and will redshirt this season.

Schedule
Key non-conference games:
Nov. 18 at BYU
Nov. 25 at Washington
Dec. 10 vs. USC
Dec. 29 at UNLV

This is one of the most experienced teams in the conference, and they played a lot of tough games last season. We’ll have to wait and see what that experience adds up to as the season goes on. The Lions should improve a little over last year but in the end will be tamed by most of their opponents.

8. Pepperdine Waves
2004-05 record: 17-14, 6-8 WCC (5th place tie)
Projected starting five:
Marvin Lea, Jr. G (4.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg)
Kingsley Costain, So. G (7.4 ppg, 1.8 apg)
Chase Griffin, Jr. G (2.8 ppg, 1.0 rpg)
Keith Jarbo, Sr. F (1.9 ppg, 1.9 rpg)
Russell Hicks, So. C (4.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg)

The good news is that Paul Westphal’s team is returning two WCC All-Freshman players from last season. The bad news is that departing starters took with them 50 points and nearly 20 rebounds per game.

The tall (7-foot center Russell Hicks) and the short (5-7 point guard Kingsley Costain) of the Waves young team will be looked upon for production and leadership. Costain will direct the action from the point and need to set up his teammates for easy scoring opportunities. Hicks will have to emerge as more of a scoring threat and continue to intimidate on the defensive end.

Freshman Chris Oakes, Mike Gerrity and Willie Galick will get a chance to show what they can do early in the season.

Schedule
Key non-conference games:
Nov. 18 vs. Connecticut
Dec. 3 at Wisconsin
Dec. 19 at Kansas
Jan. 3 vs. Oklahoma State

Compensating for the production of last year’s starters will be tough to do with an unimpressive bench and a crop of young recruits. Don’t look for this to be Pepperdine’s year to make a run.

WCC Summary

Gonzaga will continue to be the front-runner of the league and capture its share of the national spotlight. The rest of the pack will largely fly under the radar and garner almost no recognition unless they can pull off some big upsets.

This season, non-conference opponents will be wary of WCC teams, making the challenge of having a breakout season even more daunting. But don’t count out the talent and spirit of this league, which should still send Gonzaga deep into the NCAA Tournament and two other teams to the NIT.

West Coast Notebook

West Coast Conference Early Season Notes

by Brad Best

Portland Takes a Beating in Charity Tournament: The Portland Pilots, picked by the WCC Preseason Coaches Poll to finish third in conference, looked anything but impressive in the Lubbock Regional of the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer. On Thursday, November 10, they fell to Georgia Southern, 89-75. Sophomore forward Marcus Lewis was the bright spot, leading the Pilots with 21 points and 6 rebounds. In the consolation game on Friday, the Pilots were blown out by San Jose State in an 82-53 rout. At least it was for a good cause.

Morrison Named AP Preseason All-American: Junior forward Adam Morrison is the first-ever preseason AP All-American in men’s basketball history to play for Gonzaga. He was selected fourth in the voting and is the only non-senior on this year’s list. Morrison scored 19 points per game last season while shooting just under 50 percent from the field. He also pulled down 5.5 rebounds and dished out 2.8 assists. Morrison was an honorable mention AP All-American a year ago.