A year ago, all five Nevada starters were capable of scoring in double digits every game.
That hasn't been the case this season. Only Nick Fazekas and Kevinn Pinkney have been consistent double-figure scorers. Fazekas is averaging 21 a game and Pinkney contributes 13.4. After that, it drops down to 8.5 (Ramon Sessions), 8.3 (Mo Charlo) and 7.0 (Jermaine Washington).
Nevada has lacked a dependable third scorer, but that doesn't seem to bother first-year head coach Mark Fox.
"We have a lot of guys that (can be) in that No. 3 scoring role," Fox said during Monday's WAC teleconference. "Some games it's Mo. Some games it's Ramon. Once in a while it's Jermaine (Washington). It's what people give us."
On Saturday against Louisiana Tech, both Charlo (14 points) and Washington (12 points) stepped it up offensively. It was Charlo's best game since his 19-point effort in an 83-80 loss against UTEP. Both did a superb job getting into the key and finishing plays.
PARITY IN THE WAC
The coaches have been saying it all along, but all you have to do is look at the standings to see how balanced the conference is.
Once you get past the top three teams - Nevada (9-2), UTEP (8-3) and Fresno State (7-4) - only two games separate the next four teams. Rice and Louisiana Tech are each 6-5, Hawaii is 5-5 and SMU 4-7.
San Jose State, Tulsa and Boise State, the lowest-ranked teams in the conference, all have three conference wins. They have shown, however, that they can play with the big boys. Tulsa already has knocked off Rice and UTEP and San Jose State knocked off Louisiana Tech.
"Not at all," Rice coach Willis Wilson said when asked about some of the upsets. "People around the league expected it. It's going to be a terrific tight race."
"There is not a night off in our league," Fox added.
OLD HOME WEEK FOR WALLACE
Hawai'i is in the midst of a three-game, 11-day road trip. The Rainbow Warriors left Honolulu last Thursday for their Saturday afternoon game at San Jose State. They flew to Shreveport, Louisiana Sunday for a game Thursday at Louisiana Tech.
Riley Wallace's team will practice Monday and Tuesday at Centenary College in Shreveport, which is where the veteran coach started his career. The team will bus to Ruston on Wednesday, play Thursday, bus to Dallas on Friday, play SMU on Saturday and fly back to Hawai'i on Sunday.
Wallace said his players also will have the use of Centenary's study center facilities.
"I hope it does," Wallace said when asked if trips like this bring his team together. "To keep 12 guys happy enough ... they couldn't work at a dairy farm judging by how they looked when they got up this morning. It wears on you. This is a good bunch of kids.
"I think staying in larger cities helps. I'm familiar with Ruston. The kids would go stir crazy at the Hampton Inn in Ruston. We can get done all the things we need to do here."
ROCKHURST IN FEBRUARY
Rice has just one conference game this week - Saturday against travel partner Tulsa.
Tonight, the Owls play Rockhurst University in a nonconference game. It's a rarity for a school to play a nonconference game other than the ESPN Bracket Buster during the season.
"We have a lot of guys that need experience," Rice coach Willis Wilson said. "We've pared down practice. It's good to be able to play a game at this time of the year."
Wilson admitted it's hard to find opponents once conference play gets under way, and he was happy that the schools were able to agree on a date.
POOH'S FUTURE UP IN AIR
Pooh Williamson, Tulsa's interim coach, said he has no idea where he stands in terms of getting the job on a regular basis.
Tulsa is 3-8, including upset wins over Rice and UTEP, two of the tougher teams in the league.
"I'm just going about my job," Williamson said. "I'm just going out there everyday coaching the team."
Is is difficult not knowing, or being in limbo?
"Not really," Williamson said. "There is plenty to do."
INJURY WOES AT SMU
The underachieving Mustangs (4-7, 9-10), who have three solid players in Bryan Hopkins, Eric Castro and Patrick Simpson, have some injury issues.
Hopkins has been dealing with a sprained right wrist, which coach Jimmy Tubbs said isn't getting better. It must not have been too bad because Hopkins scored 20 against Nevada last Thursday. Tubbs said he doesn't expect Hopkins to play Thursday.
Simpson slightly sprained his ankle late in the Nevada game, and Tubbs said he re-injured it against Fresno State on Saturday. His status is day-to-day. Derick Roberts has been battling a sprained knee and shoulder, according to Tubbs.
GLENN EARNS WAC HONOR
Tulsa's Jarius Glenn was named the WAC men's Player of the Week after leading the Golden Hurricane to wins over UTEP and Boise State last week.
Glenn averaged 22 points, 5.5 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals in the sweep last weekend. He scored 18 and pulled down eight rebounds in the win over UTEP, and followed that up with a game-high 27 against Boise State. He was 17 for 26 from the floor.
Glenn beat out Fresno State's Chris Berry, Hawai'i's Julian Sensley, Louisiana Tech's Paul Millsap Nevada's Nick Fazekas and UTEP's Omar Thomas for the award.
Louisiana Tech's Tasha Crain won the women's honor. She scored 50 points, dished out 12 assists, grabbed nine rebounds and had seven steals in leading the Lady Techsters to wins over Fresno State (86-76) and Nevada (108-72).
Darrell Moody can be reached at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com, or by calling (775) 881-1281
