Tag: Mountain West Conference

Transfer Profile: 5 things to know about Oregon newest DB Evan Williams

Evan Williams is more than just Bennett’s younger brother. He comes to Eugene as one of the best safeties in the Mountain West.

Perhaps it was destiny, common sense or a little of both. But when Fresno State safety Evan Williams announced he was transferring, Eugene popped up as an obvious landing spot.

Williams made it official when he told the world he was coming to Oregon to play for the Ducks, following in the footsteps of his older brother Bennett Williams, who put a bow on his Oregon career in 2022.

Evan is much more than Bennett’s younger brother. He is one of the Mountain West’s best defenders over the last two seasons. Oregon’s secondary is looking to improve, and it just added one of the best safeties on the West Coast.

With the quarterback talent in the conference, the Ducks will need all the secondary talent they can get, and adding another Williams brother will go a long way toward competing for a Pac-12 title.

Are you looking to know more about Williams and what he brings to the Ducks? We’ve got you covered.

Potential Candidates For UNLV’s Next Head Coach

Listing potential replacements for Marcus Arroyo at UNLV.

Potential Candidates For UNLV’s Next Head Coach

UNLV Fired Head Coach Marcus Arroyo On Monday

Contact/Follow @Michaelbraydaly & @MWCwire

The next head coach will try to build off UNLV’s momentum in 2022

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In what was a shocking decision, UNLV fired head coach Marcus Arroyo after three seasons on Monday.

The news came less than 48 hours after UNLV finished a 5-7 season. When he was fired, UNLV still had hopes of reaching a bowl game. UNLV had increased expectations for the program and wanted to move on from Arroyo.

With Arroyo’s firing, UNLV will have an important decision to make. There is an opportunity for the program to build off of Arroyo’s successful 2022 season. UNLV will need to bring in the right replacement to keep the program trending in the right direction.

When UNLV hired Tony Sanchez after the 2014 season, he was hired in favor of other coaches like Ed Orgeron and Houston Nutt. Most recently, Sanchez was replaced by Arroyo after the 2019 season. UNLV selected Arroyo over Keenan McCardell and Troy Taylor.

This time around, UNLV can hire a notable name with a strong background in coaching. Here are some names that could take over UNLV’s program:

Bryan Harsin (Former Auburn And Boise State Head Coach)

While it is unclear what Harsin’s next career move will be, he is very familiar with the Mountain West. In his time as Boise State’s head coach, Harsin posted a 69-19 record in seven seasons. Harsin’s time at Auburn did not end well, but UNLV could be a place for him to get his coaching career back on track.

Tim Skipper (Fresno State Asst. Head Coach/Linebackers Coach) 

This would be another coach with a decorated background in Mountain West football. Skipper is current in his second stint at Fresno State and he is in charge of the linebackers. He would be a defensive-minded head coach, which would bolster UNLV’s defense.

Keenan McCardell (Minnesota Vikings Wide Receivers Coach) 

This would be a hire that would excite the alumni. McCardell was a great player at UNLV before he played in the NFL for 17 seasons. Recently, McCardell has worked with several NFL and college teams as a wide receivers coach. He is currently the Minnesota Vikings wide receivers coach. With more than 10 years under his belt as an assistant coach, he could be ready to make the jump as his alma mater’s head coach.

Deion Sanders (Jackson State Head Coach)

UNLV has not emerged on Sanders’ radar, but that could change with this opening. Sanders is being targeted by Colorado and South Florida. Since UNLV had an improved season in 2022, Sanders could be a viable candidate to get the program over the hump. He would be a splashy hire with a proven track record to turn programs around. In 3 seasons at Jackson State, Sanders has a 26-5 record. He would also be able to bring key players with him to UNLV.

Troy Taylor (Sacramento State Head Coach) 

In 2019, Taylor was on UNLV’s radar for the previously vacant job, but he remained at Sacramento State. Nearly three years later, Taylor could still be in play to become UNLV’s next head coach. Under Taylor, Sacramento State has developed into one of the best teams in the Big Sky Conference. He is also a target of other schools like Stanford.

Scott Frost (Former Nebraska Head Coach) 

In September, Frost was fired as Nebraska’s head coach in less than five seasons. It will take some time for Frost to regenerate the buzz that he had when he was at UCF in 2017. It would be worth a look for UNLV to see Frost’s interest. He has experience coaching in at a Group of Five conference and would be able bring his experience to Las Vegas. This could be a good job for Frost to get back into coaching.

Ed Orgeron (Former LSU Head Coach) 

In 2014, Orgeron was in the mix for UNLV’s vacant head coaching position. Although Orgeron eventually landed at LSU, he could decide to take a head coaching job at a promising Mountain West program. He won a national championship at LSU in 2019 and would be able to help UNLV reach a bowl game for the first time since 2013. Las Vegas could be an attractive destination for Orgeron.

Jay Hill (Weber State Head Coach) 

Hill, who is in his ninth season at Weber State, is one of the best FCS coaches in the country. He is the all-time leader in wins at Weber State and could be ready to make the jump to an FBS program.

Andy Ludwig (Utah Offensive Coordinator)

Since 2019, Ludwig has been Utah’s offensive coordinator. Ludwig has over 30 years of experience as an offensive assistant. He is a potential successor to Kyle Whittingham at Utah and could try to land a head coaching job to prove that he could lead Utah in the future.

Manny Diaz (Penn State Defensive Coordinator)

In his first season as Penn State’s defensive coordinator, Diaz turned the Nittany Lions into one of the best defenses in the Big Ten. In the past, he accepted a job as Temple’s head coach, which showed that he was interested in a Group of Five job. Reportedly, Diaz could be a candidate for Florida Atlantic’s head coach vacancy. If he wants to move West, Diaz could be an impactful hire for the Rebels.

Brennan Marion (Texas Wide Receivers Coach) 

After one season at Texas, Marion could be ready for his first job as a head coach. Marion’s alma mater, Tulsa, is reportedly interested in him as the program’s next head coach. If UNLV reaches out to Marion, he could hold off on accepting a job at Tulsa. Marion was Hawaii’s wide receivers coach in 2020, which meant that he was familiar with UNLV and the Mountain West. In 2021, he left Hawaii for Pittsburgh and coached Biletnikoff Award winner Jordan Addison.

 

Boise State Non-Conference Schedule Preview

Previewing the non-conference schedule for Boise State.

Boise State Non-Conference Schedule Preview

Previewing Boise State basketball’s non-conference schedule in 2022-2023

Contact/Follow @Michaelbraydaly & @MWCwire

How will the early part of the season treat the Broncos?

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The 2021-2022 season turned out to be one to remember for Boise State. For the eighth time in program history, Boise State made the NCAA Tournament.

It was a postseason berth that ended early with a loss to Memphis in the first round of the tournament. The result was an 11-point, 64-53, loss in Portland, Ore. The season did not end the way Boise State would have liked, but it was a successful overall season.

Looking ahead, Boise State will try to get back to the NCAA Tournament in consecutive years since the Broncos did it in 1993 and 1994. It will take help from several key returning players to fill the void of losing Abu Kigab and Emmanuel Akot. Marcus Shaver Jr. returned to the program in May after withdrawing his name from the 2022 NBA Draft.

This preview will analyze each non-conference game and predict the outcome. The non-conference schedule will run from Nov. 9 to Dec. 22. The conference schedule opens on the road at Nevada on Dec. 28.

(Game 1) Wednesday, Nov. 9: vs. South Dakota State – Boise, Idaho, ExtraMile Arena

Like Boise State, South Dakota State had a magical run in the regular season and the Summit League Tournament. The Jackrabbits finished the season with a 30-5 record and an 18-0 conference record. This upcoming season will be a big change for the team without the top three scorers from last season. Douglas Wilson graduated from the school and Baylor Scheierman and Noah Freidel transferred from the school. South Dakota State will take a big hit from losing these three players.

Game Prediction: Boise State 84, South Dakota State 61

(Game 2) Saturday, Nov. 12: vs. Washington State – Boise, Idaho, Idaho Central Arena

In 2021, Boise State closed out the non-conference schedule against Washington State in a 58-52 win. This time around, it will be at the very beginning of the season and both teams are attempting to carry over the momentum from last season. Washington State reached the NIT Semifinal in March and ended the season with a 22-15 record.

Last year’s meeting between Washington State and Boise State was in Pullman, Wash., and the Broncos won 58-52. Since it is a home game in front of a large crowd of fans from both teams, it will help Boise State win the game.

Game Prediction: Boise State 60, Washington State 55

(Game 3) Thursday, Nov. 17: vs. Charlotte – Myrtle Beach Invitational, Conway, South Carolina, HTC Center 

An early exit in the 2022 Conference USA Tournament prevented Charlotte from having an real consideration for a postseason tournament. The 49ers had a 17-14 overall record in 2022. Jahmir Young, who was the leading scorer in 2022, entered the transfer portal and left for Maryland. The 49ers will need to build without last season’s leading scorer. This will be a difficult neutral site tournament game for Charlotte.

Boise State will be guaranteed at least one game in the tournament. If they win two games, there will be a final game on Nov. 20. If Boise State beats Charlotte, they will face the winner of Loyola Chicago vs. Tulsa in the second game. There is a chance Boise State could see Texas A&M in the tournament before their scheduled game on Dec. 3.

Game Prediction: Boise State 66, Charlotte 49

Rest of the Tournament Prediction:

Second Round: Boise State 57, Loyola Chicago 54

Championship Game: Texas A&M 53, Boise State 52

(Game 6) Saturday, Nov. 26: vs. Utah Valley – Boise, Idaho, ExtraMile Arena

Add Utah Valley to the list of recycled non-conference opponents from last season. In last year’s meeting, Boise State opened up the season with a 76-56 win over Utah Valley. Expect a similar performance from both teams. The Broncos will take advantage of a weaker team.

Game Prediction: Boise State 72, Utah Valley 53

(Game 7) Tuesday, Nov. 29: vs. Cal State Northridge – Boise, Idaho, ExtraMile Arena

In another 2021-2022 non-conference opponent, Boise State will welcome Cal State Northridge to Idaho. Boise State was on the road last season and defeated the Matadors, 74-48. This year’s game will have a similar outcome.

Game Prediction: Boise State 78, Cal State Northridge 44

(Game 8) Saturday, Dec. 3: vs. Texas A&M – The Battleground 2k22, Fort Worth, Texas, Dickies Arena

Despite missing out on the NCAA Tournament, Texas A&M nearly captured an NIT Championship in March. The Aggies finished last season at 27-13. It will be a season for the remaining key contributors to fill in for Quenton Jackson, who declared for the NBA Draft. Henry Coleman III, Tyrece Radford, and Wade Taylor IV will be the leaders of this team in 2022. The experience will be a tough test for Boise State. Based on this prediction, this will be the second meeting of the season for these two teams. Boise State will be 0-2 in the two games.

Game Prediction: Texas A&M 59, Boise State 56

(Game 9) Tuesday, December 6: vs. Eastern Oregon – Boise, Idaho, ExtraMile Arena

In what should be a bit of a breather in the schedule for Boise State, Eastern Oregon will try to make the most of a big opportunity. Eastern Oregon won 18 games last season as a member of the Cascade Collegiate Conference. This will be a tune up game for Boise State and should not be very competitive. It could be the best showing of the non-conference schedule.

Game Prediction: Boise State 101, Eastern Oregon 54

(Game 10) Saturday, December 10: at. Saint Louis – Saint Louis, Missouri, Chaifetz Arena 

Saint Louis will be a difficult road test for the Broncos. It will be the first official road game of the season and it could feature two teams on the NCAA Tournament bubble. Gibson Jimerson will be the offensive leader for the Billikens. He led the team in scoring in 2021-2022 with an average of 16.3 points. The game being on the road will be in Saint Louis’ favor.

Last season, this was a home game for Boise State and it was an overtime loss in November. Saint Louis has continued to be a strong team and will benefit from the home atmosphere.

Game Prediction: Saint Louis 83, Boise State 76

(Game 11) Tuesday, December 13: vs. New Orleans – Boise, Idaho, ExtraMile Arena

With Derek St. Hilaire no longer on the roster, New Orleans will be reliant upon the rest of the roster to make up for his absence. New Orleans went 18-14 in 2022. This should be a nice recovery game from the loss to Saint Louis.

Game Prediction: Boise State 82, New Orleans 54

(Game 12) Sunday, December 18: vs. Oakland – Boise, Idaho, ExtraMile Arena

The Horizon League turned out to be what prevented Oakland from reaching the NCAA Tournament in 2022. Oakland does not seem to be a better team in 2022-2023. This could be a trap game for Oakland since they played two close games against West Virginia and Oklahoma State in last season’s non-conference schedule. Boise State should get a convincing win.

Game Prediction: Boise State 76, Oakland 58

(Game 13) Thursday, December 22: at. Santa Clara – Santa Clara, California, Leavey Center

When these two teams met up last season in Boise, Tyson Degenhart paced Boise State in scoring with 18 points. Degenhart will need to be a factor in this road game. It will be a tight game for most of the second half, but Boise State will pull away at the end of the game.

Game Prediction: Boise State 68, Santa Clara 59

Non-Conference Record Prediction: 10-3 Record

It should be a favorable non-conference schedule. The Broncos should be able to start the season with three-straight wins over South Dakota State, Washington State, and Charlotte. If they can do that, the rest of the non-conference schedule should be a breeze. The team is projected to lose two games to Texas A&M and one game to Saint Louis.

Changes in PAC-12 and Mountain West suggest change is coming to Big Ten soon

Will the Big Ten change its division and championship game format as other conferences make changes?

The future of the conference championship game in college football is beginning to change in a significant way. While the Big Ten has yet to make any adjustments to how it will ultimately crown a conference champion in football, other conferences are making moves they feel is best for their respective situations.

The ACC has already begun exploring a different scheduling technique that would include a 3-5-5 format with three permanent rivals every season for every ACC member and rotating the other 10 schools over two seasons with five one year and five more the next. The ACC also seemed to be taking the lead in the movement to eliminate divisions in its conference structure, which would pave the path to a 3-5-5 scheduling format. The top two teams in the ACC would then play for the ACC Championship at the end of the season.

In the past couple of days, the PAC-12 and Mountain West Conference have taken strides to drastically change their championship game formats as well. The PAC-12 has not scrapped the two-division format at this point in time, but it did pass a change that will pit the two teams with the highest conference winning percentage in the PAC-12 championship game, regardless of division. This format would have resulted in a different PAC-12 championship game in five of the past 11 seasons, although last season’s game would not have been altered.

The Mountain West Conference is moving more in the direction of the ACC by ditching its division structure beginning in 2023. As a result, the two teams with the highest winning percentage in conference games will square off in the Mountain West Conference Championship Game.

All of these changes are being made possible by a decision by the NCAA to lift the restrictions on conference championship games. The NCAA used to require conferences to have 12 members in a division format to hold a conference championship game. However, the Big 12 was granted an exemption from that requirement in recent years despite only having 10 members, which was a step toward updating the way conference championships are crowned. With changes coming to the Big 12 membership with Oklahoma and Texas leaving for the SEC and the conference adding UCF, Houston, BYU, and Cincinnati, discussions are ongoingly centering on how the Big 12 will be structured moving forward.

As for the Big Ten, there are still calls for the conference to scrap divisions and take on a similar scheduling strategy as the ACC, which would seem to work well with an eight-game or nine-game conference schedule. And it looks like there will be plenty of debate on what the Big Ten should do.

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West Coast basketball top-25 rankings: Bubble teams take big strides in February

A handful of bubble teams took positive steps forward on the west coast, while UCLA got swept by the Arizona’s. Inside last week’s action:

It was a huge, bubble-altering week of college basketball on the west coast.

San Francisco throttled BYU, sending the Cougars on a spiral that could cost them a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, Wyoming cruised through a pair of tough Mountain West opponents, re-establishing themselves as a player not just for an at-large bid – but for a straight up conference title.

Seattle University lost some ground in their quest for a conference championship, while Washington State made up ground and is nearing “last four in” territory this March.

In non-bubble news, UCLA lost twice to Arizona and Arizona State, Arizona also beat USC, Gonzaga ran through BYU, and Randy Bennett’s Saint Mary’s squad remains a potent force defensively.

Only one newcomer to the list this week, Montana State, who replaces fellow Big Sky tem Weber State in the power rankings, moving up as the team to beat in the conference.

Without further ado, here are the top-25 west coast college basketball power rankings after the first week of February:

Team Preview: Fresno State offense will test Oregon’s young secondary

Fresno State’s offense has plenty of weapons to provide Oregon some problems in the Ducks season opener.

If Mario Cristobal’s goal is to schedule good competition for his Oregon Ducks football team right away in Week 1, mission accomplished.

It would be easy to invite a team from the Football Championship Subdivision such as Portland State to begin the first normal season in two years, but Oregon will welcome Fresno State Sept. 4. When the two teams take the field, it will be 644 days since a full Autzen Stadium will witness a game.

The Bulldogs come into the contest already with a win under their belt as they blew out Connecticut 45-0 last week. Granted UConn didn’t play last season and the Huskies looked more than sluggish, but Fresno State was able to show their overall team speed and an accurate quarterback that will test Oregon’s young secondary.

“They’re a team that’s impressive and you can tell they return a lot of starters,” Cristobal said of Fresno State in his weekly press conference. “They’re explosive on offense and it relates to a couple of different things. At running back, they’re as good as you’ll find. They also have a very experienced quarterback that came over from Washington and can tell by the efficiency of their passing game, the timing and precision, and their ability to protect and launch it down the field when they want to.”

That quarterback from Washington is senior Jake Haener. He transferred from the Huskies to the Bulldogs after the 2018 season where he appeared in four games in Seattle. Haener sat out the 2019 season per NCAA transfer rules, but when he was able to step out on the field for Fresno State, he delivered.

In 2020, Haener was an All-Mountain West honorable mention, leading the conference in averaging 337 yards a game. He also completed nearly 65 percent of his passes. Haener threw for 14 touchdowns in the six games the Bulldogs played last season. In the 2021 season opener, Haener picked up right where he left off going 20-of-26 for 331 yards and three scores.

The Fresno State tailback Cristobal mentioned was senior Ronnie Rivers, a 5-foot-9, 195-pounder from Brentwood, Calif. Although he had a slow day against UConn (13 carries for 58 yards), Rivers has been spectacular in his career.

Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Rivers was a first-team all-conference tailback last season where he scored seven rushing touchdowns and nine total. Rivers’ next touchdown, his 45th, will make Rivers the all-time leading touchdown scorer in school history.

Fresno State’s deep threat was on full display last week with receiver Jalen Cropper. The 6-0, 172-pounder from Parlier, Calif. had an 86-yard touchdown against UConn where his speed was just too much for the Huskies’ secondary to handle. But that was the first time Cropper has exploded for a score in his career. Far from it.

Cropper has 55 catches in his two-plus-year career and is averaging almost 15 yards per reception. He caught 37 passes last year, good for 520 yards and five touchdowns in the six-game season.

As for their next game, inside a full Autzen Stadium, Fresno State offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb knows Oregon will provide a more difficult challenge than UConn did.

“Jake (Haener) is going to have to get that ball out on time,” he said of his quarterback avoiding sacks. “I think a big part of it is staying in rhythm and not getting ourselves in a position where Jake has to throw the ball. The O-line has to play well and know where the matchup is. We’re looking for a heavy dose of a pass rush and we just have to stay firm up there.”

A lot of offensive coordinators have said the same thing when facing the Ducks defense led by defensive Kayvon Thibodeaux and have walked away wondering what went wrong. Fresno State could be in that same position about three hours after kickoff.

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Penn State’s all-time record against each FBS conference’s current membership

Penn State’s all-time records vs each FBS conference’s current membership

Penn State is among college football’s all-time winningest programs and is the most recent member of the 900-win club. Sprinkled throughout Penn State’s 9-2 all-time wins entering the 2021 season are victories against nearly every FBS program with a few notable exceptions.

We have taken a look at Penn State’s all-time records against each current FBS program, categorized by conference. But if you were curious what Penn State’s all-time cumulative record is against each FBS conference’s entire membership, look no further!

To keep in line with our previous breakdowns, all of which are linked below for each conference, this listicle is calculated using each conference’s current membership and not what conference a school played in previous meetings. For example, all games Penn State has played against Rutgers, Maryland, and Nebraska are included in Penn State’s all-time record against Big Ten schools.

As always, this listicle will be updated accordingly.

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion.

New Mexico, New Mexico St asked by NM governor to stop football prep

Big developments in the state of New Mexico

Had USC been playing a full schedule this fall, recent news from a few days ago would have had a potentially severe impact on that.

The Trojans were scheduled to play the New Mexico Lobos on September 12, right after the Crimson Tide (Sept. 5) and right before Stanford (Sept. 19). With the move to conference-only scheduling by the Pac-12, New Mexico lost out on a $1,050,000 payday against USC, $100,000 of which had already been paid to UNM back in 2016 to help with their budget shortfall situation, per Geoff Grammer of the Albuquerque Review Journal.

If a story affects UNM or NMSU, Grammer is usually the first to break the story.

So, UNM was already facing a problem given it was likely to have to pay USC back unless the Lobos could work out a plan to include that money in a game to be played after the pandemic ends. That’s likely what will happen. No college is callous enough to try to bleed a stone at this juncture, especially USC. $100,000 to the Trojans is a very small buffet to feed the entire athletic department on a random Tuesday. It is pocket change… but not for New Mexico or New Mexico State.

The state of New Mexico has intervened. The governor asked the Lobos and the Aggies to suspend all football activities immediately due to a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases both in New Mexico and around the United States. Geoff Grammer broke this news story as well.

What this would cost both schools was not mentioned in the letter, but it’s safe to assume it’s going to be a lot of money over the course of a season. The two programs — the Lobos and Aggies — will also miss out on conference revenue sharing, unless the playing institutions agree to share the pie anyhow. While the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University may have been the first programs to face these problems at the Division I FBS level, they’re not likely to be the last. If cases keep rising, governors will have little choice but to suspend large gatherings of people, just as they did early in the pandemic.

The economic toll facing some of these programs is eye-popping. How some of these schools are going to survive may come down to the generosity and magnanimity of their elite donors and booster clubs. The season is already facing a massively disjointed dimension in competition. Should teams within those conference begin dropping like flies, it’s only going to compound the complications of the season. It’s sure as hell not going to make choosing postseason teams any easier, and we covered that in a previous article for Trojans Wire.

There is a lot to consider. A lot to ponder… and there is still so much that will ultimately exist beyond the control of those in charge. Pandemics do not listen to health commissioners or sports commissioners. They don’t care about your budget shortfalls or canceled games with UCLA.

Sorry, New Mexico State, you’re simply out that $1.2 million. What’s going to happen to the sport as a result of the coronavirus is going to far surpass what’s going to happen to the sport as the result of a name, image, and likeness rules. Mark that down and be ready to cash it in the bank.

If only New Mexico and New Mexico State could cash those winnings. Alas, they won’t be able to.

Mountain West Alumni In NBA Bubble

Ten Mountain West basketball alumni are inside the Disney World NBA bubble as the 22 teams are getting ready for the 2019-20 season to resume.

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Mountain West alumni in the NBA bubble

Five Mountain West schools will be represented as the NBA resumes

Contact/Follow @cisabelg & @MWCwire

The NBA is getting ready for a restart at the end of this month with the 22 teams that made it into the bubble in Florida. Among the players who made the trip are 10 Mountain West alumni representing five schools in eight NBA teams.

JaVale McGee – Los Angeles Lakers 
Nevada Wolf Pack (2006–2008)

Before the season was paused, McGee was proving to be a valuable asset for the Lakers, the team that currently sits at the top of the Western Conference with a 49-14 record. 

He’s played in 61 games this season. In the 16.8 minutes he is averaging, the 7’0 center is getting 6.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Before the pause, he was shooting at 64.0% from the field and 50.0% from beyond the arc.

McGee has asthma, and was even hospitalized with pneumonia for three days in 2018. However, he has made it known that he feels the organization will take the necessary precautions to keep him and others safe in the bubble.

 

Kawhi Leonard – Los Angeles Clippers
San Diego State Aztecs (2009–2011)

Leonard delayed his trip to Orlando due to family matters but he has arrived and participated in his first practice on July 13. 

He is eight overall in the league in scoring this season with an average of 26.9 points per game. He is also contributing 7.3 rebounds and 5 assists per game to his team. His talent is obvious, the main question is his health. Leonard is known for load management, and was struggling with an old knee injury when the NBA was suspended.

During media availability on July 13 head coach Doc Rivers said he didn’t expect limits on Leonard because “Kawhi is healthy, for the most part” but that they were still going to be smart about how they maintained him and the rest of the players to get to the playoffs with a healthy team.

Paul George – Los Angeles Clippers
Fresno State Bulldogs (2008–2010)

Like Leonard, George wasn’t fully healthy when the world of sports stopped turning. He was recovering from offseason surgery on both shoulders but the last four months have given that recovery some extra time.

George is the Clippers’ second highest scorer, contributing 21.0 points. 5.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.

The Clippers are No. 2 in the Western Conference standings, just below the Lakers, a team the Clippers have already beat twice this season. The two LA teams will face off on the first day of reopening. 

Brandon Clarke – Memphis Grizzlies
SJSU Spartans (2015–2017)

This is Clarke’s first season in the NBA. He has appeared in 50 games, averaging 12.0 points 5.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. The 6’8 power forward suffered a quadriceps injury late February, but the four-month break gave him time to recover so he can finish his rookie season on the court.

Memphis will reopen the season with a game against the Portland Trail Blazers on July 31. When the Grizzlies beat Portland on Feb. 12, Clarke tied his season-high 27 points by going 12-of-14 from the field. That wasn’t completely out of character because he has been shooting at 62.3% this season.

 

Zylan Cheatham New Orleans Pelicans
San Diego State Aztecs (2015–2017)

Cheatham went undrafted in 2019 but his participation with the Pelicans during Summer League that year helped him sign a two-way contract with the team.

The rookie has only appeared in three games for the Pelicans so far, but he’s had good experience with Erie, the Pelican’s G-League affiliate. In 34 appearances there he averaged 16.2 points and 11.6 rebounds. 

Patrick McCaw – Toronto Raptors 
UNLV Rebels (2014–2016)

McCaw has won three championship rings in his first three seasons in the NBA. He’ll continue chasing a fourth one alongside the Raptors, the team that has surprised the league by reaching second place in the Eastern Conference even without Kawhi Leonard.

McCaw has seen the court in 37 games this season, with an average of 4.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. The Raptors had all 17 roster members go into the bubble. The players and other members of the organization have been in Florida since June 22.

Paul Watson – Toronto Raptors
Fresno State Bulldogs (2013–2017)

Watson started the season with Raptors 905, Toronto’s G-League affiliate, averaging 18.4 points and 7.2 rebounds in 13 games. It took almost three years after graduating from Fresno State, but Watson finally made his NBA debut with the Atlanta Hawks early January thanks to a 10-day contract.

After he was released by the Hawks, Watson signed a two-way deal with Toronto on Jan. 15. 

Derrick Jones Jr.– Miami Heat
UNLV Rebels (2015–2016)

Jones tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after the NBA began mandatory testing in preparation for the resumption of the season. The 23-year-old never reported any symptoms and he was cleared in time to travel to Florida with the rest of his team.

Jones has played in 51 games this season, averaging 8.9 points and 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.

Tyler Johnson Brooklyn Nets
Fresno State  (2010–2014)

Johnson is new to the Nets. The 6’4 guard signed with the team late June, but he brought plenty of experience with him. He appeared in 31 games with the Phoenix Suns earlier this season, averaging 5.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 16.6 minutes per game.

He has registered a combined 301 career games with the Suns and the Miami Heat.

Khem Birch – Orlando Magic
UNLV (2012–2014)

Birch was re-signed by the Magic in 2019, a two-year deal. The 6’9 center is not a scorer, but he is a valuable role player. Head coach Steve Clifford asked the 27-year-old to go way outside his comfort zone this season. Injuries were affecting the team and as a result, Birch was asked to play as starting power forward. 

The NBA is beginning scrimmages on July 22, and the Magic will get a good look at where they are at by having their first game be against the Clippers.

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Mountain West Conference Suspends Spring Athletic Events Indefinitely

The coronavirus’s impact on the American sports landscape finally reaches the Mountain West.

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Mountain West Conference Suspends Spring Athletic Events Indefinitely

The coronavirus’s impact on the American sports landscape finally reaches the Mountain West.

Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire

The conference moves quickly to stay safe.

Yesterday, the coronavirus made its biggest mark on American pop culture to date, touching everything from Tom Hanks to the NBA. Today, the Mountain West Conference made a move to be proactive that reflects many of the decisions being made elsewhere on the sports landscape.

As of today, all MWC sporting events have been postponed. In a press release put out by associate commissioner Javan Hedlund, exceptions will be made for those teams who are currently on the road, but it touches a number of sports like baseball and softball.

This decision by the conference also exempts teams who have qualified for an NCAA championship like Utah State and San Diego State men’s basketball or Boise State women’s basketball. However, other projected top seeds like Duke have preemptively tapped the brakes on participating in the men’s tourney, putting an on-time presentation in doubt:

The statement also leaves the status of Mountain West football’s spring games and recruiting processes at the discretion of each university. Some programs like Fresno State have not announced a formal response to COVID-19, but others like New Mexico have taken steps to close practices and Pro Day to the public at present, presumably with an eye on periodic reassessment before the spring game on April 4:

We will keep you updated on any further coronavirus-related developments.

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