Here's the write ups from yahoo, as the stats are pretty useless as there isn't many.
Larry Hunter is optimistic about the 2008-09 season for his Catamounts, probably more than most people thought he would be following a 10-21 season.
But Hunter feels good about the team he’s put together for this year, with six lettterwinners back, one redshirt ready to play and seven newcomers joining the squad.
Back in the fold are the top two scorers from a year ago—guard Brandon Giles (15.3 ppg) and forward Jake Robinson (10.6 ppg)—among three starters returning.
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Also back is last year’s leading assist man, guard Brigham Waginger, as well as forward Blake Gallagher. Throw in three juco transfers and four freshmen, and Hunter is excited about the numbers he’s got to work with.
“I think this is, by far, the deepest team I have had since I’ve been at Western Carolina,” Hunter said. “It’s the most talented; we’re the biggest, strongest and we do have some experience.”
But even with so many players, will the Catamounts be able to make a major improvement on last year’s dismal record? Adding three juco players might help, especially if guard Joey Parker and forwards Kendall russell and Adrian Gailliard can step right in and help.
Hunter is looking forward to a much better result this year. Now he just needs his players to come through with the results.
Notes, Quotes
• If Western Carolina is going to improve, it’s going to need to look for better shots. Last year, the Catamounts finished last in the Southern Conference in field-goal percentage at .401.
• WCU was able to keep itself in some games despite its horrible shooting by ranking second in the league in offensive rebounds, grabbing 13.68 per game as a team.
Strengths: The Catamounts are going to have plenty of players, especially with three juco transfers coming in ready to play. The depth is in the backcourt, but coach Larry Hunter will have some versatile players that can play multiple positions, giving him options of how to play his various lineups.
WCU is able to hit the boards with the best of them in the Southern Conference, especially on the offensive end. That will need to continue until the team becomes more proficient on offense. There are athletes all over the floor for the Catamounts, and Hunter will send many of them to the glass to go for second shots.
Weaknesses: Last year’s team had trouble connecting, ranking low in the Southern Conference stat leaders in assists and shooting percentage. This year’s team needs to work on its execution of the offense to get better shots and know where to find each other on the floor. Without better execution, the Catamounts are going to continue to struggle to score.
As good as the Catamounts were on the offensive glass, they were that bad on the defensive glass, allowing teams to get second shots and keep possessions alive. Opposing teams shot 44% from the field against WCU, and when they did miss, they often got the ball back for another try.
Last Year: 10-21 overall, 6-14 in Southern Conference’s North Division
Head Coach: Larry Hunter (career 543-282); fourth year at Western Carolina (34-58).
Quote To Note: “We have a lot of work we need to continue to do to be conference champions and be in the NCAA tournament. We must not flinch and continue to ‘chop wood’ every day. We must continue to plan ahead, establish priorities, stay focused, work harder and be more consistent every day.”—Western Carolina coach Larry Hunter
Strategy And Personnel
Scouting The Newcomers: A solid class comes to Cullowhee, with four true freshmen and three junior college transfers.
Junior guard Joey Parker comes from Southwestern Illinois College and will bring another solid ball-handler to the Catamounts’ backcourt. Parker, a 6-1, 195-pounder, will contend for a spot in the guard rotation from the start of the campaign.
Fellow juniors, 6-6 Kendall Russell and 6-7 Adrian Gailliard, will give WCU more options on the wing. Both players can get to the hoop off the dribble, but both can also stick the open jumper.
Freshman guards Greg Avery and Keaton Cole may find the playing time a little scarce. Both players have excellent potential, but the numbers game in the WCU backcourt doesn’t favor true freshmen getting playing time.
Swingman Antoine Childs will also have a little trouble getting on the court consistently. But he’ll get more time than 6-9 center Sam Smithson, who is expected to redshirt in 2008-09.
Key Early-season Games: The Catamounts jump into the fire from the opening tip this year, beginning their season at Connecticut. Two weeks later, WCU will travel to the Great Alaska Shootout, where it will open with San Diego State, then play either Louisiana Tech or Seattle.
The schedule doesn’t get a lot easier when the Catamounts return home, as a trip to Kent State is next on the docket. After a two-game home stand, WCU heads to Marquette and UNC Asheville before starting up the conference campaign in earnest. One positive about the schedule is there isn’t a conference game mixed in with the non-conference schedule like most Southern Conference schools do.
Program Direction: The Catamounts weren’t very good last year, but this year’s recruiting class has the potential to start an upswing. Larry Hunter needs to incorporate his young players into the rotation and start to develop the younger talent to allow the team to have more depth in the conference portion of the schedule.
Probable Starting Lineup: PG Brigham Waginger, SG Brandon Giles, SG Jake Robinson, PF Blake Gallagher and C Richie Gordon.
Roster Report:
• Junior Brandon Giles ranked fourth in the Southern Conference in scoring last year, averaging 15.3 points a game. He was the highest scoring non-senior in the league outside of All-American Stephen Curry of Davidson.
• Sophomore Blake Gallagher led the Catamounts—and ranked 20th in the Southern Conference—with 5.1 rebounds per game.
• Junior Brigham Waginger led the Southern Conference—and ranked 23rd nationally—with 2.23 steals per game. Waginger’s total of 69 steals ranked as the second-best single-season total in school history.
Larry Hunter is optimistic about the 2008-09 season for his Catamounts, probably more than most people thought he would be following a 10-21 season.
But Hunter feels good about the team he’s put together for this year, with six lettterwinners back, one redshirt ready to play and seven newcomers joining the squad.
Back in the fold are the top two scorers from a year ago—guard Brandon Giles (15.3 ppg) and forward Jake Robinson (10.6 ppg)—among three starters returning.
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Also back is last year’s leading assist man, guard Brigham Waginger, as well as forward Blake Gallagher. Throw in three juco transfers and four freshmen, and Hunter is excited about the numbers he’s got to work with.
“I think this is, by far, the deepest team I have had since I’ve been at Western Carolina,” Hunter said. “It’s the most talented; we’re the biggest, strongest and we do have some experience.”
But even with so many players, will the Catamounts be able to make a major improvement on last year’s dismal record? Adding three juco players might help, especially if guard Joey Parker and forwards Kendall russell and Adrian Gailliard can step right in and help.
Hunter is looking forward to a much better result this year. Now he just needs his players to come through with the results.
Notes, Quotes
• If Western Carolina is going to improve, it’s going to need to look for better shots. Last year, the Catamounts finished last in the Southern Conference in field-goal percentage at .401.
• WCU was able to keep itself in some games despite its horrible shooting by ranking second in the league in offensive rebounds, grabbing 13.68 per game as a team.
Strengths: The Catamounts are going to have plenty of players, especially with three juco transfers coming in ready to play. The depth is in the backcourt, but coach Larry Hunter will have some versatile players that can play multiple positions, giving him options of how to play his various lineups.
WCU is able to hit the boards with the best of them in the Southern Conference, especially on the offensive end. That will need to continue until the team becomes more proficient on offense. There are athletes all over the floor for the Catamounts, and Hunter will send many of them to the glass to go for second shots.
Weaknesses: Last year’s team had trouble connecting, ranking low in the Southern Conference stat leaders in assists and shooting percentage. This year’s team needs to work on its execution of the offense to get better shots and know where to find each other on the floor. Without better execution, the Catamounts are going to continue to struggle to score.
As good as the Catamounts were on the offensive glass, they were that bad on the defensive glass, allowing teams to get second shots and keep possessions alive. Opposing teams shot 44% from the field against WCU, and when they did miss, they often got the ball back for another try.
Last Year: 10-21 overall, 6-14 in Southern Conference’s North Division
Head Coach: Larry Hunter (career 543-282); fourth year at Western Carolina (34-58).
Quote To Note: “We have a lot of work we need to continue to do to be conference champions and be in the NCAA tournament. We must not flinch and continue to ‘chop wood’ every day. We must continue to plan ahead, establish priorities, stay focused, work harder and be more consistent every day.”—Western Carolina coach Larry Hunter
Strategy And Personnel
Scouting The Newcomers: A solid class comes to Cullowhee, with four true freshmen and three junior college transfers.
Junior guard Joey Parker comes from Southwestern Illinois College and will bring another solid ball-handler to the Catamounts’ backcourt. Parker, a 6-1, 195-pounder, will contend for a spot in the guard rotation from the start of the campaign.
Fellow juniors, 6-6 Kendall Russell and 6-7 Adrian Gailliard, will give WCU more options on the wing. Both players can get to the hoop off the dribble, but both can also stick the open jumper.
Freshman guards Greg Avery and Keaton Cole may find the playing time a little scarce. Both players have excellent potential, but the numbers game in the WCU backcourt doesn’t favor true freshmen getting playing time.
Swingman Antoine Childs will also have a little trouble getting on the court consistently. But he’ll get more time than 6-9 center Sam Smithson, who is expected to redshirt in 2008-09.
Key Early-season Games: The Catamounts jump into the fire from the opening tip this year, beginning their season at Connecticut. Two weeks later, WCU will travel to the Great Alaska Shootout, where it will open with San Diego State, then play either Louisiana Tech or Seattle.
The schedule doesn’t get a lot easier when the Catamounts return home, as a trip to Kent State is next on the docket. After a two-game home stand, WCU heads to Marquette and UNC Asheville before starting up the conference campaign in earnest. One positive about the schedule is there isn’t a conference game mixed in with the non-conference schedule like most Southern Conference schools do.
Program Direction: The Catamounts weren’t very good last year, but this year’s recruiting class has the potential to start an upswing. Larry Hunter needs to incorporate his young players into the rotation and start to develop the younger talent to allow the team to have more depth in the conference portion of the schedule.
Probable Starting Lineup: PG Brigham Waginger, SG Brandon Giles, SG Jake Robinson, PF Blake Gallagher and C Richie Gordon.
Roster Report:
• Junior Brandon Giles ranked fourth in the Southern Conference in scoring last year, averaging 15.3 points a game. He was the highest scoring non-senior in the league outside of All-American Stephen Curry of Davidson.
• Sophomore Blake Gallagher led the Catamounts—and ranked 20th in the Southern Conference—with 5.1 rebounds per game.
• Junior Brigham Waginger led the Southern Conference—and ranked 23rd nationally—with 2.23 steals per game. Waginger’s total of 69 steals ranked as the second-best single-season total in school history.
San Diego State’s Steve Fisher has coached eight other teams that returned at least four starters. Those teams advanced to the postseason all eight times, including six trips to the NCAA Tournament, and they all won at least 21 games.
All five starters—and the top eight scorers—are back in 2008-09 as the Aztecs try for their fourth straight 20-win season and fourth straight postseason bid.
Two of the returning players were question marks at the end of last season. First-team All-Mountain West forward Lorrenzo Wade flirted with the NBA and swingman Kyle Spain flirted with disaster, drawing a team suspension in February that wasn’t officially lifted by Fisher until Sept. 30.
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Spain averaged 13.2 points and 5.4 boards in 20 games. The Aztecs were 16-6 overall and 6-2 in league play before his suspension for an unspecified violation of team rules.
“In spite of the fact that we’re obviously a better team if he’s out there, that is not the reason that he’s been reinstated,” Fisher said. “He had to follow a lot of guidelines to have this opportunity. He has done that and then some.”
The versatile Wade led SDSU in scoring (14.8) and assists (119) and ranked second in blocks (20), third in rebounds (150) and fourth in steals (33) as a junior. He wasn’t happy with his draft projections and elected to stay in school.
Notes, Quotes
Strengths: The Aztecs return the players that accounted for 163 of 165 starts and 96.3 percent of their scoring last season. First-team All-MWC forward Lorrenzo Wade ranked in the Top 10 in seven categories in conference play. MWC Freshman of the Year Billy White led the league in offensive rebounding and had two double-doubles. Forward Ryan Amoroso completes a strong frontcourt. He averaged 12.6 points and 7.4 boards in league action last season.
Weaknesses: San Diego State couldn’t stay healthy last season, forcing head coach Steve Fisher to field 10 different starting lineups. That lack of continuity took its toll in close games, with the Aztecs losing 11 games by 10 or fewer points and four games by five points or less.
Last Year: 20-13 overall, 9-7 in the Mountain West; lost in first round of NIT.
Head Coach: Steve Fisher (career 331-212); 10th year at San Diego State (127-117).
Quote To Note: “We need to keep guys healthy and out of trouble. We have the keys to be a really good basketball team this season if we just listen to Coach Fisher and do the right things.”—San Diego State forward Lorrenzo Wade.
Strategy And Personnel
Scouting The Newcomers: Junior transfer Tim Island is an excellent perimeter shooter who began his collegiate career at Long Beach State. Redshirt freshman Bryan Horton and Wisconsin-Milwaukee transfer Jason Deutchman can knock down threes and 6-9 JUCO transfer Mehdi Cheriet gives the Aztecs even more front-line depth.
Key Early-season Games: The Aztecs play in two prestigious tournaments this fall, facing Western Carolina in the Great Alaska Shootout on Nov. 27 and Saint Mary’s in the John Wooden Classic on Dec. 13. Other notable games on tap include a home date with Arizona State (Nov. 18) and a tough test at Arizona (Dec. 10).
Program Direction: San Diego State has put together three consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time since 1938-41 and earned three straight postseason invitations for the first time since 1939-42.
Probable Starting Lineup: PG D.J. Gay, G/F Kyle Spain, SF Lorrenzo Wade, PF Billy White and F/C Ryan Amoroso.
Roster Report:
• G Matt Thomas was granted a medical hardship waiver in September and returns for his senior season. He played only two games in 2006-07 due to a back injury.
• G/F Kyle Spain, a 6-5 senior was reinstated to the team on Sept. 30. He averaged 13.2 points and 5.4 rebounds in 20 games last season before being suspended for violations of team policy on Feb. 8.
• SG Tyrone Shelley, a 6-6 sophomore and San Diego native, will sit out this year after transferring from Pepperdine. He averaged a team-high 15.1 points with 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals last season and started 19 games.
• C Brian Carlwell, a 6-11, 265-pound junior, will also miss the 2008-09 season after transferring from Illinois. He played in 29 career games and averaged 1.5 points and 1.2 rebounds for the Fighting Illini
All five starters—and the top eight scorers—are back in 2008-09 as the Aztecs try for their fourth straight 20-win season and fourth straight postseason bid.
Two of the returning players were question marks at the end of last season. First-team All-Mountain West forward Lorrenzo Wade flirted with the NBA and swingman Kyle Spain flirted with disaster, drawing a team suspension in February that wasn’t officially lifted by Fisher until Sept. 30.
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Spain averaged 13.2 points and 5.4 boards in 20 games. The Aztecs were 16-6 overall and 6-2 in league play before his suspension for an unspecified violation of team rules.
“In spite of the fact that we’re obviously a better team if he’s out there, that is not the reason that he’s been reinstated,” Fisher said. “He had to follow a lot of guidelines to have this opportunity. He has done that and then some.”
The versatile Wade led SDSU in scoring (14.8) and assists (119) and ranked second in blocks (20), third in rebounds (150) and fourth in steals (33) as a junior. He wasn’t happy with his draft projections and elected to stay in school.
Notes, Quotes
Strengths: The Aztecs return the players that accounted for 163 of 165 starts and 96.3 percent of their scoring last season. First-team All-MWC forward Lorrenzo Wade ranked in the Top 10 in seven categories in conference play. MWC Freshman of the Year Billy White led the league in offensive rebounding and had two double-doubles. Forward Ryan Amoroso completes a strong frontcourt. He averaged 12.6 points and 7.4 boards in league action last season.
Weaknesses: San Diego State couldn’t stay healthy last season, forcing head coach Steve Fisher to field 10 different starting lineups. That lack of continuity took its toll in close games, with the Aztecs losing 11 games by 10 or fewer points and four games by five points or less.
Last Year: 20-13 overall, 9-7 in the Mountain West; lost in first round of NIT.
Head Coach: Steve Fisher (career 331-212); 10th year at San Diego State (127-117).
Quote To Note: “We need to keep guys healthy and out of trouble. We have the keys to be a really good basketball team this season if we just listen to Coach Fisher and do the right things.”—San Diego State forward Lorrenzo Wade.
Strategy And Personnel
Scouting The Newcomers: Junior transfer Tim Island is an excellent perimeter shooter who began his collegiate career at Long Beach State. Redshirt freshman Bryan Horton and Wisconsin-Milwaukee transfer Jason Deutchman can knock down threes and 6-9 JUCO transfer Mehdi Cheriet gives the Aztecs even more front-line depth.
Key Early-season Games: The Aztecs play in two prestigious tournaments this fall, facing Western Carolina in the Great Alaska Shootout on Nov. 27 and Saint Mary’s in the John Wooden Classic on Dec. 13. Other notable games on tap include a home date with Arizona State (Nov. 18) and a tough test at Arizona (Dec. 10).
Program Direction: San Diego State has put together three consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time since 1938-41 and earned three straight postseason invitations for the first time since 1939-42.
Probable Starting Lineup: PG D.J. Gay, G/F Kyle Spain, SF Lorrenzo Wade, PF Billy White and F/C Ryan Amoroso.
Roster Report:
• G Matt Thomas was granted a medical hardship waiver in September and returns for his senior season. He played only two games in 2006-07 due to a back injury.
• G/F Kyle Spain, a 6-5 senior was reinstated to the team on Sept. 30. He averaged 13.2 points and 5.4 rebounds in 20 games last season before being suspended for violations of team policy on Feb. 8.
• SG Tyrone Shelley, a 6-6 sophomore and San Diego native, will sit out this year after transferring from Pepperdine. He averaged a team-high 15.1 points with 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals last season and started 19 games.
• C Brian Carlwell, a 6-11, 265-pound junior, will also miss the 2008-09 season after transferring from Illinois. He played in 29 career games and averaged 1.5 points and 1.2 rebounds for the Fighting Illini
<table width="625" bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0"><tbody><tr><td class="style7" bgcolor="#f8f8f8">
San Diego State
</td> <td class="style7" bgcolor="#eeeeee">Western Carolina
</td> <td rowspan="31" class="style7" width="1%" bgcolor="#b9b9b9"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="style3" width="33%" bgcolor="#efefef">SHOOTING</td> <td class="style3" width="12%" bgcolor="#efefef"> </td> <td class="style7" width="27%" bgcolor="#efefef"> </td> <td class="style7" width="27%" bgcolor="#eeeeee"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="style3" bgcolor="#ffffff">FG-FGA</td> <td class="style3" bgcolor="#ffffff">TOTAL
</td> <td class="style7" bgcolor="#f8f8f8"> 8-18 (44.4%)
</td> <td class="style7" bgcolor="#eeeeee"> 13-30 (43.6%)
</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="style3" bgcolor="#ffffff"> </td> <td class="style3" bgcolor="#ffffff">1st HALF
</td> <td class="style7" bgcolor="#f8f8f8"> 8-18 (44.4%)
</td> <td class="style7" bgcolor="#eeeeee"> 13-30 (43.6%)
</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="style3" bgcolor="#ffffff"> </td> <td class="style3" bgcolor="#ffffff">2nd HALF
</td> <td class="style7" bgcolor="#f8f8f8"> (0.0%)
</td> <td class="style7" bgcolor="#eeeeee"> (0.0 %)
</td> </tr> <tr> <!--<td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="style3"> </td> <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="style3">TOTAL
</td> <td bgcolor="#F8F8F8" class="style7">
</td> <td bgcolor="#EEEEEE" class="style7"> <dbsetvar>fmade=<DBXML NAME="FB" ELEMENT="team{vh=H}.totals.stats(fgm)"/></dbsetvar> <dbsetvar>fattempt=<DBXML NAME="FB" ELEMENT="team{vh=H}.totals.stats(fga)"/></dbsetvar> <dbscriptexec name="getpercent" scope="local" param1="<dbvar>fattempt</dbvar>" param2="<dbvar>fmade</dbvar>"/>%
</td>--> </tr> <tr> <td class="style3" bgcolor="#ffffff">3-PT FG-FGA</td> <td class="style3" bgcolor="#ffffff">TOTAL
</td> <td class="style7" bgcolor="#f8f8f8"> 4-8 (50.0%)
</td> <td class="style7" bgcolor="#eeeeee"> 6-15 (40.0%)
</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="style3" bgcolor="#ffffff"> </td> <td class="style3" bgcolor="#ffffff">1st HALF
</td> <td class="style7" bgcolor="#f8f8f8">4-8 (50.0%)
</td> <td class="style7" bgcolor="#eeeeee">6-15 (40.0%)
</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="style3" bgcolor="#ffffff"> </td> <td class="style3" bgcolor="#ffffff">2nd HALF
</td> <td class="style7" bgcolor="#f8f8f8">(0.0%)
</td> <td class="style7" bgcolor="#eeeeee">(0.0%)
</td> </tr> <tr> <!--<td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="style3"> </td> <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="style3">TOTAL
</td> <td bgcolor="#F8F8F8" class="style7"> <dbsetvar>3fmade=<DBXML NAME="FB" ELEMENT="team{vh=V}.totals.stats(fgm3)"/></dbsetvar> <dbsetvar>3fattempt=<DBXML NAME="FB" ELEMENT="team{vh=V}.totals.stats(fga3)"/></dbsetvar> <dbscriptexec name="getpercent" scope="local" param1="<dbvar>3fattempt</dbvar>" param2="<dbvar>3fmade</dbvar>"/>%
</td> <td bgcolor="#EEEEEE" class="style7"> <dbsetvar>3fmade=<DBXML NAME="FB" ELEMENT="team{vh=H}.totals.stats(fgm3)"/></dbsetvar> <dbsetvar>3fattempt=<DBXML NAME="FB" ELEMENT="team{vh=H}.totals.stats(fga3)"/></dbsetvar> <dbscriptexec name="getpercent" scope="local" param1="<dbvar>3fattempt</dbvar>" param2="<dbvar>3fmade</dbvar>"/>%
</td>--> </tr> <tr> <td class="style3" bgcolor="#ffffff">FT-FTA</td> <td class="style3" bgcolor="#ffffff">TOTAL
</td> <td class="style7" bgcolor="#f8f8f8"> 5-12 (41.4%)
</td> <td class="style7" bgcolor="#eeeeee"> 1-3 (33.6%)
</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="style3" bgcolor="#ffffff"> </td> <td class="style3" bgcolor="#ffffff">1st HALF
</td> <td class="style7" bgcolor="#f8f8f8">5-12 (41.4%)
</td> <td class="style7" bgcolor="#eeeeee">1-3 (33.6%)
</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="style3" bgcolor="#ffffff"> </td> <td class="style3" bgcolor="#ffffff">2nd HALF
</td> <td class="style7" bgcolor="#f8f8f8">(0.0%)
</td> <td class="style7" bgcolor="#eeeeee">(0.0%)
</td></tr></tbody></table>SDSU will play a helluva lot better in the 2nd half.........
Like em -7
personally im not watching the game so cant say i have a good read on where its heading in the 2nd half. i would lean with carolina to win this game though. they are a tough team and were able to keep it respectable against uconn earlier this month (if you call 26 pts respectable, which i do against that caliber).
again though, not watching and cant tell the flow of the game. im just gunna sit back with my carolina +11 bet. bol on whatever you play
