A look back at the 2005-06 men's basketball season that saw three teams reach 20 wins. Included are notes on the teams and players, results, statistics and postseason teams and honors.
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NEVADA, UTAH STATE FALL IN FIRST ROUND NCAA TOURNAMENT GAMES ? Nevada took the nation’s second longest winning streak at 14 games into the NCAA Tournament but fell in the first round, 87-79, to Montana. The Wolf Pack were the No. 5 seed in their region, it’s highest in school history and the highest for a WAC team since Utah was a No. 2 seed in 1999. Sophomore Marcelus Kemp scored a career-high 34 points while Nick Fazekas added 24 and pulled down 12 rebounds. Nevada made just 10 trips to the free throw line (making eight), while Montana was 23-of-27 from the charity stripe. It was the Wolf Pack’s third consecutive trip to the tournament. Utah State made its second straight appearance, but the No. 12 Aggies lost to No. 5 Washington, 75-61. Jaycee Carroll scored 21 points while Nate Harris added 19 and pulled down 14 rebounds. Utah State scored just 20 points in the first half, making 7-of-21 shots from the field. The Aggies also committted 21 turnovers in the game, a season-most.
THE WAC IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT ? The WAC has a 64-87 (.424) record in its teams’ 81 previous appearances in the NCAA Tournament including the two this season by Nevada (0-1) and Utah State (0-1). In 1998, Utah advanced to the NCAA title game before losing to Kentucky, 78-69, in San Antonio. It was the furthest a WAC team has ever advanced. This year marked the 22nd time in the last 23 years that at least two teams have made the NCAA Tournament. It was the first time a WAC team had not advanced to at least the second round since 1994.
LOUISIANA TECH DROPS NIT OPENER AT CLEMSON ? Louisiana Tech made its first trip to the NIT since 2001, losing at Clemson in the first round, 69-53. The Bulldogs scored just 16 points in the first half, making 6-of-23 shots before the intermission. Paul Millsap was the only Bulldog to score in double figures for the game with 19.
THE WAC IN THE NIT ? The WAC has a 74-63 (.540) record in its teams’ 63 previous appearances in the NIT including the one this season by Louisiana Tech (0-1). Two WAC teams have won the NIT title as Brigham Young did it in 1966 and Tulsa in 2001. Fresno State won the title in 1983, prior to its WAC membership.
NEVADA ONE SHY OF SCHOOL RECORD ? Nevada finished the season with a 27-6 record, one win shy of tying the school record for wins set in 1945-46 (28-5). The Wolf Pack improved their number of wins in six of the last seven years. The only year they did not increase their number of wins was the 2004-05 season when it matched its total of 25 from the year before. Nevada has posted three straight seasons of 25 or more victories.
MILLSAP WINS THIRD STRAIGHT REBOUNDING TITLE ? Louisiana Tech junior forward Paul Millsap earned his third consecutive NCAA rebounding title with 13.3 per game this season. Hartford’s Kenny Adeleke was second with 13.1 per contest. Millsap was the nation’s leading rebounder in each of the past three seasons, becoming the first player in NCAA history to accomplish that feat. As a freshman, he became the first WAC player to lead the nation in rebounding with 12.5 boards per game. In 2004-05, 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.
MILLSAP DECLARES FOR NBA DRAFT ? Junior forward Paul Millsap announced on April 4 that he will be leaving school early to enter the 2006 NBA Draft. Millsap leaves the Bulldogs as the second leading rebounder in school history at 1,172 career boards and seventh in scoring with 1,708 points. His 26 double-doubles this past season led the NCAA. He becomes the first WAC player to forego his senior season since Nevada’s Kirk Snyder did so following his junior year in 2003-04.
NEW MEXICO STATE IMPROVES ? New Mexico State finished the 2005-06 season with a 16-14 record, 10 wins more than what the Aggies had the previous year (6-24). The 10-win improvement was tied for the fourth best in the nation. Brigham Young and Memphis tied for the best with an 11.5-game improvement while San Diego State was third with an 11-game turnaround.
UTAH STATE THIRD IN THE NATION IN FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE ? Utah State finished the season ranked third nationally in field goal percentage at .498. The Aggies led the nation in field goal percentage during the 2004-05 season at .525.
SHARP-SHOOTING AGGIES ? Utah State led the WAC in all three shooting categories this year. The Aggies shot 49.8 percent from the field, 72.2 percent from the free throw line and 40.1 percent from three-point range. After having this feat happen once in the history of the WAC prior to the 2001-02 season, this marks the fourth time in five seasons that a WAC team has performed the trifecta.
NATIONAL RANKINGS ? Nevada finished the regular season ranked 20th in the final AP poll, but dropped out of the ESPN/USA Today coaches’ poll after entering the NCAA Tournament at number 21. In the CollegeRPI.com ratings entering the NCAA Tournament, WAC teams ranked in the top 100 were: Nevada-19th, Utah State-46th, Louisiana Tech-68th, New Mexico State-97th and Hawai?i-100th.
NEVADA WINS 2006 WAC TOURNAMENT ? For the second time in three years, Nevada won the WAC Tournament after beating Utah State, 70-63, in overtime in the title game. It was the third time that the WAC championship game had ever gone into overtime. Nevada opened the 2006 tournament by beating Idaho in the quarterfinals, 68-55, and New Mexico State in the semifinals, 70-59. The Wolf Pack also won the 2004 tournament.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM ? Nevada placed three players on the WAC’s all-tournament team as selected by the media in attendance. Nick Fazekas, Marcelus Kemp and Mo Charlo were joined by Utah State’s Nate Harris and Louisiana Tech’s Paul Millsap. Fazekas was named the tournament MVP after averaging 21.0 points and 10.0 rebounds in the three games. He had at least 20 points in each contest and saved his best for last as he scored 23 points and pulled down 14 rebounds in the title game.
ATTEANDANCE ? The men’s tournament was attended by 30,859 fans during the four sessions (7,715/session). The title game drew 9,436 to the Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nevada. It was the highest attended title game and highest average session attendance since 2000 when Fresno State drew 10,021 to the championship and averaged 8,102 over four sessions.
NEVADA WINS REGULAR SEASON TITLE OUTRIGHT ? For the second straight year, Nevada won the WAC’s regular season title outright. The Wolf Pack finished the season with a 13-3 mark, two games ahead of Louisiana Tech and Utah State. It was Nevada’s third consecutive regular season title as it tied UTEP for the crown in 2003-04.
FAZEKAS NAMED SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICAN ? Nevada junior forward Nick Fazekas was named to ESPN.com’s All-America second team. Fazekas averaged 21.8 points and 10.4 rebounds per game.
FAZEKAS, MILLSAP NAMED TO AP TEAMS ? Nevada junior Nick Fazekas was named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press while Louisiana Tech’s Paul Millsap earned honorable mention honors.
ALL-WAC TEAMS ? The 2006 all-WAC teams as voted upon by the coaches were announced in early March. Nevada junior forward Nick Fazekas was named the Player of the Year for the second straight season. He is the fifth player in WAC history to earn the award at least twice. Hawai?i guard Dominic Waters garnered Freshman of the Year honors and Nevada coach Mark Fox was named the Don Haskins Coach of the Year for the second straight season. It is the first time since 1982 that a coach has won the award two years in a row.
USBWA ALL-DISTRICT TEAMS ANNOUNCED ? Nevada junior Nick Fazekas, Utah State senior Nate Harris and Boise State junior Coby Karl were named all-District VIII by the United States Basketball Writers of America (USBWA). Fazekas was named that district’s Player of the Year. Louisiana Tech junior Paul Millsap earned all-District VII honors.
5 NAMED TO NABC ALL-DISTRICT TEAMS ? Five WAC student-athletes were named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) all-district teams. Louisiana Tech’s Paul Millsap, the nation’s leading rebounder, earned first team District 8 honors. Also a first team selection for District 13 was Nevada’s Nick Fazekas, the WAC’s leading scorer. Second team selections from District 13 were Hawai?i’s Julian Sensley and Boise State’s Coby Karl. Utah State’s Nate Harris was a second team selection from District 14.
BIG MONDAY ? The WAC returned to ESPN’s Big Monday lineup this season and played four games.
Jan. 23, Utah State 59, at Nevada 53 (ESPN)
Jan. 30, at Utah State 63, Hawai?i 52 (ESPN2)
Feb. 13, at Nevada 50, Louisiana Tech 49 (ESPN2)
Feb. 27, at Fresno State 81, Boise State 79 (ESPN2)
1,000-POINT SCORERS ? The WAC has seven 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 (1,812-2nd), Louisiana Tech junior forward Paul Millsap (1,708-7th); Utah State senior forward Nate Harris (1,475-10th); Boise State junior guard Coby Karl (1,240-7th); Hawai?i senior forward Julian Sensley (1,230-9th); Idaho senior guard Tanoris Shepard (1,124-9th); and Louisiana Tech senior guard Corey Dean (1,022-30th). One other player is getting close: Fresno State junior Ja’Vance Coleman (997).
TEAM LEADERS ? The WAC had eight of its nine teams feature a player that led his teams in two of three statistical categories (points-rebounds-assists). Only Hawai?i did not.
Coby Karl, Jr., G, Boise State (17.2 ppg, 4.0 apg)
Quinton Hosley, Jr., G/F, Fresno State (18.6 ppg, 9.2 rpg)
Tanoris Shepard, Sr., G, Idaho (15.4 ppg, 3.7 apg)
Paul Millsap, Jr., F, Louisiana Tech (19.6 ppg, 13.3 rpg)
Nick Fazekas, Jr., F, Nevada (21.8 ppg, 10.4 rpg)
Tyrone Nelson, So., F, New Mexico State (17.8 ppg, 8.7 rpg)
Demetrius Brown, Sr., F, San Jose State (13.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg)
Nate Harris, Sr., F, Utah State (17.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg)
NEVADA OWNS WAC’S LONGEST HOME WINNING STREAK ? Nevada extended its home winning streak to nine in a row following the 2006 WAC Tournament. The Wolf Pack also have the longest home winning streak in WAC games only at five straight.
HOME SWEET HOME ? The WAC’s nine teams were a combined 93-40 (.699) at home this season. On the road and in neutral site games, the WAC was 49-91 (.350).
UTAH STATE/NEVADA TOP TEAMS OVER LAST FOUR YEARS ? Over the last four seasons, Utah State was 96-30 (.762), the best record of any WAC team during that time. In conference games, Nevada won 53 games, the most in that same time period.
NON-CONFERENCE MARK ? The WAC was 63-52 (.548) in non-conference games in 2005-06, including a 57-52 (.523) 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 multi-year contracts with both ESPN and SportsWest for coverage of WAC football and basketball. A total of 25 basketball games between the two networks were shown this season.
NEW MEXICO STATE TO HOST 2007 TOURNAMENT ? As announced on Nov. 11, 2005, New Mexico State will be the host for the 2007 and 2008 tournaments. The 2007 dates are March 6-10.
TEAM-BY-TEAM NOTES
Boise State Broncos (14-15, 6-10 WAC)
Lost six of its last eight games ... ended its season with a loss against Louisiana Tech in the WAC quarterfinals, 75-64 ... the Broncos were 2-of-15 from three-point range in that game ... BSU also committed 19 turnovers, the most of any team in the WAC tournament ... junior guard Coby Karl has started 68 consecutive games, the third longest current streak in the WAC ... Karl scored 20 or more points in a game 11 times this year ... he was third in the WAC in scoring in conference games only with 19.1 points per game ... Karl underwent surgery on his thyroid for Papillary Carcinoma on March 20 and was expected to fully recover ... is 21-1 when scoring 80 or more points under head coach Greg Graham.
Fresno State Bulldogs (15-13, 8-8 WAC)
Junior forward Ja’Vance Coleman scored at least 20 points in 14 games this season while junior forward Quinton Hosley reached that mark 13 times this year ... the two scored 20 or more points in the same game seven times ... Coleman led the WAC in three-point field goals made per game (3.39) ... he is three points shy of reaching 1,000 for his career ... Hosley led the WAC in steals with 2.07 per game ... sophomore Kevin Bell led the WAC in assists with 5.89 per game ... the Bulldogs led the WAC in scoring (73.8), steals (8.18) and three-point field goals made per game (9.46) ... attempted 436 3-point FGs in conference games only, a WAC record ... was 13-2 at home this year, its best mark in the three-year history of the Save Mart Center.
Hawai?i Rainbow Warriors (17-11, 10-6 WAC)
Lost its last two games after winning seven of its previous eight ... junior Ahmet Gueye, who led the WAC in blocks (2.5/game) and the team in rebounds, missed the team’s last two games due to an injury ... Gueye and junior Matt Lojeski were named to the all-newcomer team in the WAC ... rallied from double digit deficits in four of its last five wins ... posted its seventh consecutive winning season ... was 3-0 when tied at the half ... tied for the WAC lead with eight victories when trailing at halftime ... has won seven straight OT games dating back to the 2002-03 season ... led the WAC in blocked shots with 5.93 per game ... had 166 blocked shots, breaking the previous single-season school record of 128 set during the 1993-94 season.
Idaho Vandals (4-25, 1-15 WAC)
Lost 18 of its last 19 games including its last nine ... has lost 18 straight road games, including all 15 this past year ... it was the third time in school history that the team has not won a road game ... has not allowed its opponents to score 100 points in a game for 431 contests, the longest such streak in the WAC ... following its loss to Nevada in the WAC Tournament, Idaho announced that head coach Leonard Perry would not return for the 2006-07 season ... Perry spent the past five seasons at his alma mater where he compiled a 48-97 record ... assistant George Pfeifer was promoted to head coach on March 25 ... as a head coach at Lewis-Clark State College from 1989-2005, Pfeifer compiled a record of 296-208.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (20-13, 11-5 WAC)
Posted its first 20-win season since a 22-10 record in 2001-02 ... led the WAC in scoring defense (63.1 ppg) ... Paul Millsap led the nation in rebounding (13.3) ... he averaged a WAC-record 15.6 rebounds per game in conference-only contests ... his 28 rebounds against SJSU on Feb. 15 were the second most by any player in the nation ... Millsap scored 20 or more points in 42 contests and had 68 double-doubles during his career ... he reached double figures in scoring in his last 30 games ... Millsap broke WAC single-season records for rebounds both overall (438) and conference games only (250) ... Tech was the only team in the WAC to have just one player average double figures in scoring (Millsap).
Nevada Wolf Pack (27-6, 13-3 WAC)
Reached 20 wins for the third season in a row ... Mark Fox (in just his second year) became the first coach in school history to record two 20-win seasons ... its winning percentage of .818 was the 10th best in the nation ... has improved its winning percentage three straight seasons ... was 10-3 in road games ... led the WAC in FG% defense (.401) and scoring margin (+9.0) ... Nick Fazekas has scored 20 or more points 47 times in his career ... for the second year in a row, he led the WAC in scoring (21.8 ppg) and has scored in double figures in 30 straight games ... sophomore Marcelus Kemp led the WAC in free throw percentage (.851) ... Fazekas (with 1,812 points) is 65 points shy of tying Edgar Jones for first on the school’s all-time scoring list.
New Mexico State Aggies (16-14, 10-6 WAC)
Beat Hawai?i, 58-57, in the WAC quarterfinals, the only one-point game of the tournament and only upset based on seeds ... Tyrone Nelson injured his hand in the semifinals against Nevada and finished with just eight points and three rebounds ... Nelson was a first-team all-WAC performer and averaged 17.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game ... the Aggies had 10 more wins than all of last season (6-24), tied for the fourth biggest improvement by any team in the nation ... had three or more players score in double figures in 24 games, but only two reached that mark in both WAC Tournament contests ... tied for the WAC lead with eight victories when trailing at halftime ... was 14-3 when outrebounding its opponents and just 2-11 when getting outrebounded.
San Jose State Spartans (6-25, 2-14 WAC)
Lost to Utah State in the WAC quarterfinals, but shot 59.4 percent from the field in the second half, the best shooting half by any team in the tournament ... Demetrius Brown tied his career-high with 26 points in the game, the most by any player in the tournament ... lost 13 of its last 14 games including nine in a row ... won six games for the third year in a row ... the Spartans blocked 95 shots this year, 51 more than all of last season ... was the only team in the WAC to win more games away from home (4: 3 road, 1 neutral) than at home (2) ... won three road games for the first time since going 5-9 away from home in 2000-01 ... has not scored 100 points in a game since beating Utah State, 101-85, on Jan. 25, 1979 (775 games).
Utah State Aggies (23-9, 11-5 WAC)
Made its seventh consecutive postseason appearance (NCAA: 2000-01-03-05; NIT: 2002-04) ... it was the Aggies’ first NCAA at-large selection since 1983 ... became the last team in the WAC to lose consecutive games this year when it lost to Nevada and Washington to end its season ... recorded its seventh straight 20-win season ... is one of five teams across the country to win at least 23 games in each of the last seven years joining Duke, Gonzaga, Illinois and Kansas ... led the WAC in FG% (.498), three-point FG% (.401) and in FT% (.722) ... Nate Harris led the WAC in FG% (.621) ... Jaycee Carroll led the WAC in three-point FG% (.451) ... is 112-11 at home under head coach Stew Morrill.