Louisiana Tech picked up wins over Hawai'i and Fresno State last week to improve to 4-0 in the WAC and is the only team without a loss in league play. It is the first time the Bulldogs have ever started 4-0 in the WAC. Last season, Nevada was 4-0 before losing to UTEP. The Miners then became 4-0 but lost to Fresno State in their next game. The last WAC team to open 5-0 in league play was Fresno State in 2004. Fresno State then lost its next game against UTEP.
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XBOX LIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK ?“ Louisiana Tech forward Paul Millsap, a junior from Grambling, La. (Grambling HS), averaged 21.5 points, 16.5 rebounds and 4.0 blocked shots in a pair of home victories last week. On Thursday, he scored 23 points and pulled down 15 rebounds against Hawai'i. He then had 20 points, 15 boards, six blocks, four assists and two steals in the win over Fresno State on Saturday. For the week, Millsap shot 54.8 percent from the field (17-of-31). It is Millsap?™s sixth career WAC Player of the Week award and third this season.
Others nominated:
Kyle Shiloh, Jr., G, Nevada - averaged 18.5 points and 3.0 rebounds in a pair of home wins. He was 11-of-17 (.647) from the field including 8-of-11 (.727) from three-point range. On Thursday, he scored a career-high 20 points in the win over Idaho. He then added 17 points against Boise State on Saturday, marking the first time in his career that he had turned in back-to-back double-figure scoring nights.
Tyrone Nelson, So., F, New Mexico State - recorded two double-doubles in a pair of home wins last week. He scored 15 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in a three-point victory over Fresno State and then added 28 points and 11 rebounds in a three-point win over Hawai'i. For the week, he averaged 21.5 points, 11.5 rebounds and made 17-of-21 free throws.
Nate Harris, Sr., F, Utah State - averaged 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in two home wins. He scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds against Boise State and then added 13 points in the win over Idaho. Harris was 12-of-21 (.571) from the field in the two games combined.
NMSU, HAWAI'I POST PAIR OF THREE-POINT GAMES ?“ Last week, New Mexico State won both of its games by three points after beating Fresno State, 73-70, and Hawai'i, 87-84. On the flip side, Hawai'i lost both of its games by three points as it opened the week with a 65-62 loss at Louisiana Tech.
MILLSAP FIRST IN NATION IN REBOUNDING ?“ Louisiana Tech junior forward Paul Millsap moved up to first nationally in this week?™s rebounding statistics with 12.5 per game. Hartford?™s Kenny Adeleke is second with 12.1 per contest. Millsap was the nation?™s leading rebounder in each of the past two seasons. As a freshman, he became the first WAC player to lead the nation in rebounding with 12.5 boards per game. Last year, he became the first player to lead the country in rebounding in back-to-back seasons since American?™s Kermit Washington did it in 1971-72 and 1972-73. Millsap was also the first ever to take consecutive rebounding titles as a freshman and sophomore. No player has ever won three NCAA rebounding titles.
WAC SCHOOLS STREAM VIDEO OF HOME GAMES ?“ The WAC has completed installation of hardware that enables live video and audio streaming of its schools?™ home games via the WAC?™s website at www.wacsports.com.
This week?™s schedule:
January 18 (Wednesday)
Louisiana Tech at Utah State, 7:00 p.m. MT
Nevada at Fresno State, 7:00 p.m. PT
January 19 (Thursday)
San Jose State at Boise State, 7:30 p.m. MT
January 21 (Saturday)
San Jose State at Idaho, 2:00 p.m. PT
New Mexico State at Louisiana Tech, 7:00 p.m. CT
NATIONAL RANKINGS ?“ No teams from the WAC are in the top 25 but Nevada is receiving votes in both the AP and ESPN/USA Today coaches polls. In the CollegeRPI.com ratings, WAC teams ranked in the top 100 are: Nevada-42nd; Louisiana Tech-77th; Utah State-81st; and Hawai'i-100th.
1,000-POINT SCORERS ?“ The WAC has three players that have scored more than 1,000 points in their collegiate careers. Those players with points and all-time school ranking: Nevada junior forward Nick Fazekas (1,430-7th), Louisiana Tech junior forward Paul Millsap (1,414-16th); and Utah State senior forward Nate Harris (1,190-22nd). Three other players are getting close: Boise State?™s Coby Karl (973); Hawai'i?™s Julian Sensley (971); and Louisiana Tech?™s Corey Dean (909).
KARL LEADS TEAM ?“ Boise State?™s Coby Karl is the only player in the WAC to lead his team in scoring, rebounding and assists. The WAC has six other players that lead their teams in two of those three statistical categories
Coby Karl, Jr., G, Boise State (15.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 4.3 apg)
Quinton Hosley, Jr., G/F, Fresno State (18.4 ppg, 9.6 rpg)
Tanoris Shepard, Sr., G, Idaho (15.1 ppg, 3.6 apg)
Paul Millsap, Jr., F, Louisiana Tech (20.8 ppg, 12.5 rpg)
Nick Fazekas, Jr., F, Nevada (21.2 ppg, 9.1 rpg)
Tyrone Nelson, So., F, New Mexico State (17.3 ppg, 8.7 rpg)
Nate Harris, Sr., F, Utah State (17.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg)
UTAH STATE/NEVADA TOP TEAMS OVER LAST FOUR YEARS ?“ Over the last four seasons, Utah State is 84-25 (.771), the best record of any WAC team during that time. In conference games, Nevada has won 43 games, the most in that same time period.
UTAH STATE OWNS LONGEST HOME STREAK ?“ With its two wins last week, Utah State has now won 11 games in a row at home, the longest active streak in the WAC and 17th longest in the nation. The Aggies host Louisiana Tech on Wednesday night.
HOME SWEET HOME ?“ The WAC?™s nine teams are a combined 50-18 (.735) at home this season. On the road and in neutral site games, the WAC is 22-44 (.333). Last week, WAC teams were 8-0 at home.
NON-CONFERENCE MARK ?“ The WAC is 56-45 (.554) in non-conference games, including a 50-45 (.526) mark against Division I teams. In 2004-05, WAC teams were 63-45 (.583) in non-conference games with a 55-45 (.550) mark against Division I teams. The WAC?™s best record ever against non-conference opponents came during the 1974-75 season when it was 73-22 (.768).
WAC ON ESPN/SPORTSWEST ?“ The WAC has a multi-year contract with both ESPN and SportsWest for coverage of WAC football and basketball. Currently, 22 basketball games between the two networks are scheduled this season.
EBAY BRACKETBUSTERS ?“ For the fourth year in a row, the WAC has partnered with ESPN and several other top college basketball conferences for eBay BracketBusters, a men?™s basketball event matching potential NCAA tournament hopefuls against each other. All nine WAC teams are part of the 100-team pool. 26 teams will be selected to play in 13 games that will be televised on various ESPN outlets between Feb. 17-19. The match-ups for eBay BracketBusters will be determined by ESPN in conjunction with the conferences on Monday, Jan. 30, 2006.
NEVADA TO HOST 2006 TOURNAMENT ?“ For the second consecutive year, Nevada?™s Lawlor Events Center (11,200) will host the WAC Basketball Tournament. The dates for this season?™s tournament are March 9-11. Due to self-imposed penalties, Fresno State will not compete in the 2006 tournament. Therefore, with an eight-team field, there will be no first round games as in years past. The quarterfinals will begin on Thursday, March 9. As announced on Nov. 11, New Mexico State will be the host for the 2007 and 2008 tournaments.
TWO WAC PLAYERS NAMED TO WATCH LISTS ?“ Louisiana Tech junior forward Paul Millsap and Nevada junior forward Nick Fazekas have been named as two of the top 50 preseason candidates for the 2005-06 Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy.
FAZEKAS NAMED PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR ?“ In a vote by the WAC?™s head coaches and media, Nevada junior forward Nick Fazekas was picked as the league?™s preseason Player of the Year. Last season, Fazekas led the WAC in scoring with 20.7 points per game and also pulled down 9.4 rebounds per contest. He helped lead the Wolf Pack to a 25-7 record and to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
TEAM-BY-TEAM NOTES
Boise State Broncos (8-7, 1-3 WAC)
Has lost three of its last four games ... is in a stretch where it does not play two consecutive conference home games the rest of the season ... Kareem Lloyd grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds in the game at Utah State last week ... Coby Karl scored 23 points against Utah State on Thursday, which was the most by a Bronco this season until Tyler Tiedeman scored a career-high 24 points at Nevada on Saturday ... Karl has started 54 consecutive games, tied for the longest current streak in the WAC ... he is the only player in the WAC to lead his team in scoring (15.5), rebounds (4.9) and assists (4.3) ... Karl needs 27 points to become the 17th player in Bronco history to reach 1,000 for his career ... the Broncos lead the WAC in free throw percentage (.711).
Fresno State Bulldogs (8-6, 1-2 WAC)
Plays four of its next five games at home ... Ja?™Vance Coleman scored a game-high 26 points in the loss at New Mexico State last week ... he then had just four points in the next game against Louisiana Tech ... Quinton Hosley was 0-for-13 from the field in the Tech game ... both Hosley and Coleman have scored 20 or more points in the same game six times this season ... Coleman has scored at least 20 points in eight games while Hosley has reached that mark seven times ... Coleman leads the WAC in three-point field goals made per game (3.00) ... Hosley leads the WAC in steals with 2.79 per game ... sophomore Kevin Bell is ninth in the nation in assists with 6.4 per game ... the Bulldogs have recorded 10 or more steals in eight games.
Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors (8-6, 2-2 WAC)
Is 8-2 when scoring more than 61 points after losing both contests last week ... all six of its losses have been by six points or less ... lost its second game over the last 42 when scoring 80 or more points last week at New Mexico State ... Julian Sensley scored a career-high 32 points in the loss at NMSU ... has won seven straight overtime games dating back to the 2002-03 season ... junior Ahmet Gueye leads the WAC in blocked shots (2.64) ... senior forward Julian Sensley became the 10th Rainbow Warrior to reach 500 rebounds in his career last week and currently has 509 ... with 29 more points, he will become the fourth Rainbow Warrior with 1,000 points and 500 rebounds ... has lost 18 of its last 20 road games.
Idaho Vandals (3-11, 0-4 WAC)
Has a five-game losing streak after winning three of its previous five games ... senior guard Tanoris Shepard averaged 18.5 points per game over the two contests last week after scoring 15 points at Nevada and 22 points at Utah State ... he has led the Vandals in scoring in 10 games this year and has reached double figures in scoring in 15 straight games ... in three of the last five games, Shepard was the only Vandal to score more than 10 points ... has won just four road games since the 2003-04 season ... has not allowed its opponents to score 100 points in a game for 416 contests, the longest such streak in the WAC.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (11-6, 4-0 WAC)
Has won five of its last six games ... its 11-6 start is its best since going 12-6 during the 2001-02 season ... is 4-0 in the WAC for the first time in its five seasons in the league ... travels to Utah State on Wednesday night for its first ever meeting with the Aggies ... junior forward Paul Millsap leads the nation in rebounding (12.5) and is second in the WAC in scoring (20.8 ppg) ... no WAC player has finished the season leading the conference in both of those categories since Utah?™s Josh Grant in 1992-93 ... Millsap has scored 20 or more points in 35 contests during his career ... Millsap is the WAC?™s active leader in double-doubles with 56 ... he has started 54 consecutive games, tied for the longest current streak in the WAC.
Nevada Wolf Pack (13-3, 3-1 WAC)
Has won seven of its last nine games ... Nick Fazekas made all nine of his field goal attempts in the game against Boise State ... Kyle Shiloh came off the bench on Saturday night, snapping his streak of 47 consecutive starts ... is 8-0 at home this year ... Nick Fazekas leads the WAC in scoring (21.2 ppg) and has scored 20 or more points 35 times in his career ... he has started 54 straight games, tied for the longest current streak in the WAC ... Fazekas has had 30 double-doubles in his career ... Marcelus Kemp leads the WAC in FT% (.872) ... has won its last 34 games when holding an opponent to under 60 points ... leads the WAC in scoring defense (62.9 ppg) ... sophomore C David Ellis broke his right hand in practice Monday and will be out 4-6 weeks.
New Mexico State Aggies (7-8, 3-1 WAC)
Has a two-game winning streak for the first time since the opening of the 2004-05 season ... has not won three in a row since winning the first four of the 2003-04 season ... has won four of its last six games ... the win over Hawai'i was its first this year when trailing at the half (1-5) ... has one more win than all of last season (6-24) ... Tyrone Nelson is averaging 22.0 points and 11.3 rebounds per game over his last six contests ... has had three or more players score in double figures in 12 games, including the last 10 ... had all five starters reach double figures in the 73-70 win over Fresno State last Thursday ... Reggie Theus, in his first year as a head coach, was an assistant at Louisville when the Cardinals advanced to last year?™s Final Four.
San Jose State Spartans (4-11, 0-2 WAC)
Plays at Boise State on Thursday night, its first game since losing to Nevada on Jan. 7 ... leading scorer Demetrius Brown missed the Nevada game after sustaining an injury two nights earlier ... it was the fifth game he has missed this season ... has lost 10 of its last 11 games (including six in a row) after winning three of its first four ... is the only team in the WAC to win more games away from home (3-2 road, 1 neutral) than at home (1) ... has won two road games for the first time since the 2002-03 season ... has not won three road games since going 5-9 away from home in 2000-01 ... its four wins have all come by double digits ... has not scored 100 points in a game since beating Utah State, 101-85, on Jan. 25, 1979 (759 games).
Utah State Aggies (11-4, 3-2 WAC)
Has won seven of its last eight games ... the win over Idaho was the Aggies?™ 400th at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum ... Nate Harris leads the WAC in field goal percentage (.618) ... the Aggies lead the WAC and are third in the nation in FG percentage (.518) ... USU also leads the WAC in scoring (76.0), scoring margin (+11.6) and in three-point FG percentage (.416) ... Jaycee Carroll has scored in double figures in 18 straight games, the longest active streak in the WAC ... Carroll leads the WAC in three-point FG percentage (.489) ... has a home record of 400-102 (.797) at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, the best winning percentage of any WAC team at its current arena ... is 106-9 at home under head coach Stew Morrill.