Only way to go is up

The various basketball analysts at CBSSports have San Jose State University as the caboose in the coming season's Mountain West Conference race. But quiz them and most could probably name just one player on the team at most so its not like there is any familiarity with the Spartans.

Boise State, New Mexico, UNLV and San Diego State are predicted as the top four finishers

The level of competition

Another example of the level of competition San Jose State University will now be facing: Utah State's Preston Medlin is listed as a third-team honoree as prognosticated by College Sports Madness.

In the WAC, he would be considered an MVP possibility.

By the way, Spartan Chris Cunningham is also predicted as a third-teamer.

1,000 fans for a scrimmage

This isn't even a big-time number but it still demonstrates how far SJSU basketball has to go.

The new 2013-14 Wolf Pack team

Nevada Coach David Carter says that some of the players on last year's team "checked out" in February. They are no longer on the squad.

Another look at the Mountain West Conference

A Daly Dose of Hoops (which appears to be NY based) previews the Mountain West Conference. Biggest surprise? Annointing San Diego State to finish in fifth place.

Anthony Dixon re-surfaces

Former San Jose State Spartan Anthony Dixon is listed on the 2013-14 roster of the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds, an NAIA squad. He was at West Valley College two years ago:

* Anthony Dixon – 6-5 Junior, Forward (West Valley College)

Dixon comes to FPU from West Valley College in the Bay Area where he averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds per game as a sophomore, earning first team all-coast conference honors. Prior to West Valley, he played at NCAA Division I San Jose State where he appeared in 21 games as a freshman. Originally from Chicago, Dixon prepped at Hyde Park Academy.

Coach Wright says: "Anthony is a talent that can do a lot of special things on the basketball court. He is an explosive athlete that can really score off the bounce and by getting to the rim. He will be tremendous in transition and our style of play. We also think he is a great defender that can effectively guard anyone in our league."

The Spartans offer a 2014 frontcourter

From Josh Gershon: "2014 Sacramento (Calif.) Grant forward Cameron Oliver returns from injury, picks up offers from Oregon & San Jose St"

Here's a feature we did on the 6-foot-8 Oliver from last March.

Townes with offer #2

From MC Basketball: "Anthony Townes picked up his second offer today from San Jose State. Congratulations Anthony!"

Townes is a 6-foot-5 2015 prospect at Modesto Christian High. He also has an offer from Pacific.

The Splash Brothers Fantasy Basketball Clinic

Yet another Warriors Basketball Camp is in the books with Aalim Moor III aiding Steph Curry and Klay Thompson in their efforts at the downtown Oakland practice facility this past weekend. This one was special due to the hometown location and because former NBA players Dell Curry and Mychal Thompson took to the court alongside their their sons and participated in the shooting drills.

(Moor poses with Splash Brothers Steph Curry, Clay Thompson and camp counselors)

Newly signed Warrior Andre Iguodala and teammate Kent Bazemore also made appearances, participating in running some drills at the camp. Iguodola also brought his young son who joined in the fun with the other campers. It was truly a Warriors Family Affair.  

(Andre Iguodala and Kent Bazemore)

The Fearsome Foursome:

 (l to r - Mychal and Klay Thompson, Steph and Dell Curry)

During a break in the action, Moor received a personal congratulations from Golden State owner Joe Lacob for his efforts in making the clinic a success. "I was both surprised and honored by Mr. Lacob's comments," Moor said.

The Chronicle's Al Saracevic covered the entire event.

Below is Steph Curry playing P.I.G. against his father -- guess who emerged victorious? Hint: age before youth.

McNeace's recruiting has gone big time

Blue Zertuche/Texas Hoops (a Rivals sub is required) is all over Jamuni McNeace's recruiting:

Six-foot-9 jumping jack, Jamuni McNeace has taken visits to Utah and Louisiana Tech. However, the interest that he has received over the past week may have him waiting a bit for a decision. Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and Purdue are going to Allen high school Wednesday. Teams that have already passed through have been, West Virginia, Marquette, among others. Oregon, UCONN and Wisconsin have all been in touch with McNeace. Oklahoma has offered and has a visit set for Friday, October 4.

The big boys have taken this one over.

Can Utah State nab another 21 victories?

The Utah newspapers are all over start up of the season for the Aggies:

* Shawn Harrison/Herald Journal

* Kyle Goon/Salt Lake Tribune

* Doug Hoffman/Deseret News

From Hoffman's article: "USU is one of just five teams in the country to win at least 21 games in each of the past 14 seasons along with Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas and Syracuse."

Opposing fans can try and belittle that achievement but whatever manner is employed will fail AND those same fans would be so damn proud if it was their team. 

A Braeden Anderson update

From Robert Kuwada:

Fresno State forward Braeden Anderson, who underwent two surgeries on his neck last week at Stanford University Hospital after he was seriously injured in a multi-car auto accident earlier in the month, returned to campus on Monday and is expected to rejoin his classes by midweek.

It's doubtful Anderson will be able to get on the court this season. Fresno State opens practice on Sept. 30 and opens the season on Nov. 8 at UC Irvine and plays its first game at the Save Mart Center on Nov. 16 against Cal State Northridge...

Come Meet Our New Coach

Come meet Coach Dave Wojcik. He will discuss his thoughts on the upcoming season, new players and goals for San Jose State University basketball.

Place: Original Joe's - 301 South First Street, San Jose
Cost: No charge (but RSVP-ing is required)
When: Tuesday, October 1
Time: 6:30 p.m.

This post is for those who have yet to respond. Thank you very much for those who have already committed.

Please RSVP to:

Blake Sasaki
Sr. Associate Athletic Director, External Relations, San Jose State Athletics
408-593-6754 - blake.sasaki@sjsu.edu

Remember Kevin Magee?

The late Kevin Magee is a name from the past so dig into your memory bank and recall how he was just impossible for the Spartans to stop when SJSU and UC Irvine matched up at the San Jose Civic. Of course, the 6-foot-8 Anteater was also impossible for others to stop.

 So where did Magee go once his eligibility was completed? Vladimir Stankovic offers the details:

 Kevin Magee, a mythic figure lacking only titles

If a player loses four finals in European competitioms three of them in the top competition, maybe someone could wonder what is he doing in a series dedicated, basically, to the great players of the past, who normally hold trophies in the three continental competitions. But the case of Kevin Magee (born Gary, Indiana on January 24, 1959; died Amite, Louisiana on October 23, 2003) is the "exeption that confirms the rule".

Also, the title of this entry is not perfectly accurate because even if Magee didn't win a continental trophy, he did win a national one with CAI Zaragoza, the Spanish King's Cup in 1983. Also, if in a survey in Israel about a club like Macca Tel Aviv, a player is chosen as the "best foreigner ever to play in the club", there is no doubt that Kevin Magee deserves to be considered among the best. From a personal point of view, I didn't see Magee many times live, but a couple games on site plus many times on television are enough for me to consider him one of the greats.

A mistake by Phoenix

After his brilliant years in high school and Saddelback Junior College (29.3 points averaged in the 1979-80 season), Kevin Magee followed his coach Bill Mulligan to University of California-Irvine in the NCAA's Division I, also with excellent scoring averages: 27.5 (1980-81) and 25.2 (1981-82). His 46 points against Loyola Marimount and 25 rebounds against Long Beach State are still records. After his first year at the university, he was chosen for the USA Team at the University Games in Bucharest. In the final, with his 27 points, the USA defeated the USSR by 91-87. Magee also led that team with 7.1 boards per game.

In the 1982 NBA draft, he was picked by the Phoenix Suns with number 39, but after the summer camp the club could not offer him a guaranteed contract until September. He didn't want to wait to start playing and he accepted an offer from Italy he could not refuse: he would play with Cagiva Varese, a multiple European champion then looking for someone to fill in for a living legend, Dino Meneghin, who had moved to Milano two seasons prior. His debut could hardly have been better: 28 points and 17 rebounds against the European champion, Ford Cantu.

After a great season in Italy, Magee wanted back in the NBA, but in October of 1983, the Suns made the same mistake for the second time: they cut Magee and forced him to go back to Europe, but this time to Spain, where he joined modest CAI Zaragoza, a club that was growing season after season. For the 1983-84 season, the city of Zaragoza was awarded with the organization of the Spanish King's Cup tourney, which was to feature a Final Four format for the first time. However, unlike now, the host team had to earn its way into the final phase. The key game was against Real Madrid. Only three days after his arrival to Zaragoza, Magee helped CAI with his 14 points and 14 rebounds to defeat Real Madrid for the first time, 83-82. In the Final Four, played on November 30 and December 1 of 1983, CAI Zaragoza defeated Joventut Badalona first (87-83 with 36 points, 17 rebounds and 2 blocks by Magee) and FC Barcelona later in the title game (81-78 with 19 points by Magee plus 18 by Jim Allen, with whom Magee formed a great duo).

That same season, CAI Zaragoza played the Korac Cup and reached the semifinals. Magee shined: 34 and 23 points against Tours, 23 and 37 against Trieste, 26 and 30 against Sibenka. But in the semifinal, despite Kevin's 28 and 27 points, Crvena Zvezda eliminated CAI Zaragoza by 130-100 in Belgrade (that was the first time I saw Magee live) despite a 108-87 in Zaragoza.

An idol in Tel Aviv

Despite its ambition and growth, it was clear that CAI Zaragoza would not be able to retain such a big star. Enter Maccabi Tel Aviv from Israel, who appeared on the scene with a superior offer. The media at the time talked about 250,000 dollars for Kevin Magee and Lee Johnson, a dream duo that had to put Maccabi back to the top in Europe.

The six following years, Maccabi won six national league titles plus five Israeli cups, but the most coveted title, that of the Euroleague, it never got back. In three straight finals, Maccabi was always the loser: 1987 in Lausanne against Tracer Milan (71-69), 1988 in Ghent against the same opponent (90-84) and 1989 in Munich against Jugoplastika Split (75-69). I saw Magee twice in the 1987-88 season, first in Belgrade where Maccabi fell to Partizan with young Vlade Divac and company by 85-77, and later in Tel Aviv with a 98-84 Maccabi win, although both teams had already qualified for the first Final Four.

Magee was not a tall player, officially he was 2.03 meters, but his rebounding abilities were immense. He was a strong player, and he liked contact where his physical potential granted him superiority over the opponent. But he also had a good shooting hand from the midrange. He normally reached double-doubles, meaning he was a life insurance for his team. Maybe he wouldn't have his best day sometimes, but that didn't mean he was having his worst day, because he was never below a certain standard.

In the Euroleague of the time, Magee scored 2,081 points for Maccabi. Above him there are ranked only two other Maccabi legends - Micky Berkowitz (3,588) and Doron Jamchy (3,262). He was an idol among Maccabi fans and nobody even blinked when, in a survey long after his departure from Tel Aviv, he was still chosen by fans as the best foreigner to have ever played in Maccabi, even ahead of Earl Williams.

A tragic accident

For the 1990-91 season, Magee was back to Spain to play with his CAI Zaragoza again. In a new attempt to win a continental trophy, he led his team to the Cup Champions Cup final against PAOK Thessaloniki, played on March 26 of 1991 in Geneva. It was a shameful game because of the violent behavior of the Greek fans. On the court, Zaragoza was a better team for 30 minutes, but with 2 minutes to go the score was 72-72. Some mistakes down the stretch cost CAI the final win.

For Magee, not even the fourth was the charm. He finished the season with 406 rebounds, the best one in the Spanish League, and then he moved back to Italy to play with Reggio Emilia. In his two Spanish League stints, he played 57 games, averaging 24.6 points and 12.1 rebounds, while in the Italian League he played 65 games to average 23.8 points and 14.1 rebounds. His next stop would be Racing Paris, where he also earned honors as best rebounder in the French League while his last team would be Maccabi Rishon in 1993-94. He retired at 36 years old and was back to the United States where, in 1996, the University of California-Irvine retired his jersey.

From then, he was dedicated to his business and his family, as he had three kids. In the summer of 2003 his family moved from California to Louisiana. It was there where, driving back home from work on October 23, that Magee was involved in a car crash that not even the big fighter like him had a chance against. For us who were lucky enough to know him through his great points and rebounds, the memory of a great player who maybe lacked titles but was still one of the greats, will remain.

Here's another Magee feature.

The Aggies nab a Texas high school two guard

Utah State has landed a commitment from a 6-foot-2 Lone Star State prep shooting guard -- from George Clay: "2014 Proskills SG Julion Pearre committed to Utah State tonight"

Texas Hoops analysis: Pearre is a well built guard who can slash to the rim and finish in traffic or knock down shots from the wing. He has the body to take contact on the way to the rim and keep his path, can create his shot and will hit the open 3 point shot. He can handle the ball in the open floor, goes to the boards well and works hard on defense.


Stew Morrill's best player, guard Preston Medlin, is out of Texas.

Get to know guard Mike Perez

Nevada is profiling various 2013-14 team members, especially the newcomers, so when does SJSU begin?

SJSU alongside the big boys

A Josh Gershon tweet: "Washington head coach Lorenzo Romar + assistant along with coaches from UCLA & San Jose State are watching Temecula Valley PG Justin Simon"

Simon is a 6-foot-4 2015 backcourter.

Here is a July 2013 feature. In it is mention of Simon taking an unofficial visit earlier this summer to Washington Square.

Looking at the 2013-14 Utah State Aggies

For your edification, here's a preview of another SJSU Mountain West Conference opponent: #52 Utah State

Fleming in the UK

It looks like former SJSU Spartan Kevin Fleming is now playing in the United Kingdom with the Surrey United team of the British Basketball League.

Looking at the 2013-14 UNLV Rebels

For your edification on who SJSU will be facing this season: #37 UNLV

Craighead meets the press

Jimmy Durkin covers the rollout of new San Jose State University Coach Jamie Craighead.

Facetiously (for the humor impaired), no, AD Gene Bleymaier did not have Craighead recite chapter and verse of the NCAA rulebook nor did he stipulate the need for a blood oath that all would be obeyed.

That was quick -- a new SJSU women's BB coach

Here's the announcement from Sacramento State athletics:

Sacramento State women's basketball head coach Jamie Craighead has resigned to take over the women's basketball program at San José State.

"Sacramento State has been my home for the past six years," Craighead said. "It has been a pleasure being a part of the university and the athletics department. I have been able to help build the women's basketball program in my time here and I believe I am leaving the program in better shape than where I found it.

"I will miss working with my players but I know they will continue to change the culture of Sacramento State women's basketball in the coming season and years."

Craighead served as the Hornets head coach for four seasons and led the team to its first two Big Sky Tournament wins over the last two years. She amassed a record of 51-71 in her four years, including a 19-12 record last season to tie the program record for single-season wins.

In 2012-13 Sacramento State led the Big Sky in points per game, 3-pointers per game, and assists on the offensive end and had league best totals in steals and blocks defensively. Nine players garnered all-Big Sky honors in Craighead's four seasons with the Hornets.

The Spartan Daily also posted an article on the hire.

Two items for today

The folks at Blue Ribbon Basketball Yearbook (the Bible of hoops magazines) list New Mexico at #25 in their pre-season national rankings. It's pretty well a consensus that the Lobos are the best team in the Mountain West Conference this fast approaching season. They come to Walt McPherson Court on January 11.

+++++

Boise State has received a commitment from 6-foot-9 David Wacker, a very solid prep talent out of the Lone Star State. His father played at Texas but the Longhorns either didn't seem to be interested and/or in the running. SJSU also really needs to land a power forward type who can help right away in this recruiting go-around -- let's see what happens.

Great quip

Utah State's Danny Berger collapsed at a practice last season and his heart stopped. Luckily, he was revived and is back playing this go-around. Here's a quip from him that Coach Stew Morrill flat-out walked into:

“I gathered the team together in summer workouts and told them that they’ve got to take care of themselves because last year killed me,” Utah State Stew Morrill recalled. “Danny then spoke up and said, ‘Me too.’ It was a great line. He has a great sense of humor. But seriously, he is an unbelievable kid.”

Tim Marrion back in Pullman

Former San Jose State University Assistant Coach Tim Marrion has returned to the Washington State coaching staff as the director of player development. Good for Tim.

Spartans not in McNeace's plans

Communicated with Marty Saiz, the coach of the Danny Granger DI Ambassadors basketball club -- the one Jamuni McNeace plays for -- about his 6-foot-10 2014 talent:

Right now, I don't think Jamuni has plans to visit San Jose St. I know he has a visit to the University of Colorado on the 1st weekend in October. He a max 6 official visits. Thus, he would have two official visits left.

Unless some magic is worked, it looks like it's cross-him-off-the-list time as various Pac-12 members have moved in on him (Colorado, Utah). Plus, Louisiana Tech also got a visit.

Vegas at #57

Todd Salem/College Sports Madness has UNLV has the 57th best team in the country. Let's just say the SJSU move to the Mountain West Conference is bringing a completely different level of opponent.

Speed City to rise again?

San Jose State University was once known as Speed City what with John Carlos, Tommie Smith, Lee Evans, Ray Norton, Bob Poynter, Ronnie Ray Smith and others dominating the track. The late Bud Winter was the much-heralded track and field coach and he had many others coming to Washington Square to learn his training techniques. All this success put San Jose on the map.

So when mention was made by AD Bleymaier during the September 9 San Jose State University President's Cup Golf Tournament that men's track would eventually be returning to the land of Sparta, well, that was news.

Good news.

No, make that great news.

We can't wait.

Itah State with two impressive home games

From Andy Katz:

"Utah State has a rarity of hosting two schools from power conferences in USC (Pac-12) and Mississippi State (SEC) in Logan this season -- the first for the Aggies in the Mountain West. The series with the Bulldogs is a two-for-one that coach Stew Morrill wasn’t thrilled with but will do. The Aggies went out to Starkville in 2012 (lost by two), get the Bulldogs in Logan this season after the series took a year off under new coach Rick Ray and will go back next season. The USC game was as a result of the Aggies going to USC -- Sept. 21 -- in football. "My AD (Scott Barnes) asked that if we do that could we get a home and home in basketball," said Morrill. The series was supposed to start last season in Logan but former USC coach Kevin O'Neill said he needed to put it off a year but then would play the opener this season. O’Neill then got fired. "I told him there was a hefty buyout to move it back a year and that the buyout doubled," said Morrill. "Andy (Enfield) got the job, and there was a $150,000 buyout on this game." Utah State opens up with USC at home Nov. 8 and will return the game next season. "People have no idea how hard it is to get games," said Morrill. Utah State has kept the BYU series in Salt Lake City on a neutral court. Utah has put off playing Utah State and Morrill said he would only play the Utes in a home-and-home situation."

McNeace tripping to Utah

Via Ballers Bridge: "Jamuni McNeace (Allen HS) making his official visit to Utah today."

SJSU really wants the 6-foot-10 2014 prospect who is raw but widens the eyeballs of coaches with his vast potential. No indication yet whether he has San Jose among his visits. He hit up Louisiana Tech last weekend.

The next step for Aalim Moor III

(Five years and counting Moor has been a loyal and proud employee of the Warriors)

Yes, for five consecutive summers, Aalim Moor III has worked the summer basketball camps sponsored by the Golden State Warriors organization. He first began after graduating from St. Mary's College High in Albany and was to begin at San Jose State University (SJSU) on a basketball scholarship.

The Warriors, a professional basketball entity ensconced in Oakland, have longtime roots there, as does Moor, and involvement with the fan base is an important aspect of their corporate business model.

So how did this connection come about?

Jeff Adiego is the Director of Youth Basketball for the Golden State Warriors and also a St. Mary's College High alumnus. Let's have Moor take it from here: "The summer going into my freshman year at SJSU, he reached out and asked if I wanted a summer job to make some money. I agreed, hence my beginning with the Golden State Warriors Summer Camps. Since that time, Jeff really has been extremely helpful with everything regarding the Warriors."

Each go-around for Moor has resulted in greater exposure and added responsibilities because of his hard work and determination.

"The Warriors are such a first-class organization and how honored I am to be working within that organization, Moor explained. "Growing up, I went to camps where professional NBA players ran them and I would be so enamored by them because of their status and fame and now I get to be on the other end working with one of the premier players in the world and giving back. It's a double blessing." 

He's referencing when Warrior shooting guard Stephon Curry recently held his own basketball camp at Pebble Beach's Stevenson School in late August. Moor was handpicked to work it.

"I was chosen by Jeff Adiego to work the Steph Curry camp. It was a process by which all the summer camp coaches were told that if we worked hard, showed leadership, and proved to the directors of the youth camps that we deserve to be there, we would be selected."

 (Moor and Steph Curry relaxing at the latter's camp)

Moor taught drills and coached, similar to his work with the Warriors. Both with the Warriors and this were a way for Moor to give back in a manner replicating the many others who have helped him in his life journey to the present.

 (The camp coaches with Steph and Dell Curry in the middle)

Moor's impression of Curry?

"He's very personable, very sociable and down-to-earth. Unlike what happens at a lot of other camps, he was at the camp the whole time."

For some background, Jacob Bourne reviews Curry's camp.

Come late January, Moor will begin a Master's Degree program in Counseling at San Jose State University. It will contain a concentration on Corporate Counseling.

The why behind that? "I think it will help open different doors for me."

Katz on the various MWC team schedules

Andy Katz provides analysis on the schedule of each Mountain West Conference team. New Mexico receives the top ranking for schedule toughness.

Here's what he wrote about SJSU:

Toughest: at Santa Clara (Nov. 12)
Next toughest: at Houston (Dec. 7)
The rest: Milwaukee (Nov. 15 in DeKalb, Ill.), at Northern Illinois (Nov. 16), James Madison (Nov. 17 in DeKalb, Ill.), at Pepperdine (Nov. 20), Cal State Fullerton (Nov. 23), at Portland (Nov. 27), at Weber State (Nov. 30), UC Davis (Dec. 18), Westminster (Dec. 21), Pacifica (Dec. 28)

Toughness scale: 2 -- Going to Santa Clara, an upstart in the WCC, and Houston out of the American will be tall tasks for the Spartans. The first-time MWC member clearly tried to tone down the slate a bit in advance of conference play. But the chances of San Jose State getting high-profile home games is highly unlikely.

Utah State offer is strange

From State College of Florida Head Coach Elliot Washington: "6"8 PF Obinna Oleka picked up an offer today from Utah St in the Mountain West Conference"

Originally out of D.C., he is listed as 6-foot-7, 220 on his school roster. In 27 contests and 11.8 minutes per game last season, he averaged 10.8 points an outing, shooting 55% and 61% plus 6.2 rebounds.

Here's an article on Oleka dated 2011. Here's another one from 2011. The writeups indicate he is a very athletically gifted prospect.

It doesn't appear like he would be enthused at playing in the Aggie offensive style so whether something actually materializes looks dim. Maybe Coach Wojcik will swoop in and give him a shot.

The top assistant coaches in the MWC

There's no information provided regarding the criteria Next Up Recruits utilized in deciding the top five assistant coaches in the Mountain West Conference so keep that in mind when reading the selections:

1) Todd Simon – UNLV
2) Kyle Bankhead – San Diego
3) Lamont Smith – New Mexico
4) Ross Hodge – Colorado State
5) Silvey Domiguez – Air Force

What makes this list suspect is that Todd Simon is in his first season at UNLV so he has no track record as an assistant coach. Yes, Simon ran the fabulously successful Findlay Prep basketball program (six years as an assistant, one as head coach) and he did work two years as a video assistant for former UNLV Head Coach Lon Kruger but how he gets the #1 placement is a head-scratcher.

Even more mysterious is that Kyle Bankhead coaches at San Diego which is in the West Coast Conference, not the Mountain West.

As for Lamont Smith, a case could be made to put him at the top of the list as he has previously assisted at St. Mary's, Santa Clara, Arizona State and Washington.

Ross Hodge is a one-year assistant, having been at Southern Mississippi (also with Larry Eustachy), Midland College, Ranger College and Texas A&M Commerce.

At age 59, Silvey Dominguez has coached close to near everywhere and is well respected but has never led a program.

Just wondering: How did San Diego State Associate Head Coach Brian Dutcher, who will take over when Steve Fisher retires, not make it into the Top 5? Where is Nevada Associate Head Coach Doug Novsek? Was Wyoming Associate Head Coach Scott Duncan considered? Or UNLV's Heath Schroyer, someone who has head coaching experience? How about Boise State Associate Head Coach Jeff Linder or Air Force Associate Head Coach Steve Snell?

Something smells.

From back in May: earlier practice dates

Via USA TODAY's Nicole Auerbach:

The NCAA announced Friday afternoon that a proposal for men's teams to start practicing six weeks before their first regular-season games has been approved and will take effect this fall...

...In the past, men's basketball teams were allotted 30 days of practice in the four weeks before their first games. Spreading 30 days of practice over an expanded time frame of 42 days allows for more flexibility in preseason practice schedules, and it also allows for teams' first practices to be on a Friday, meaning that Midnight Madness season tip-off events can take place on weekends...

...The 2013-14 season opens on Nov. 8, so that means teams will be allowed to begin practicing on Sept. 27.

Nevada gets a pair of 2014 commitments

Josh Gershon reports that Nevada Coach David Carter has landed two recruits for the following season: 6-foot-9 former Cal frontcourter Kaileb Rodriguez who will come in as a sophomore and guard Eric Cooper Jr., a 6-foot-1 point who be at a prep school in 2013-14.

Rodriguez redshirted his sole season as a Bear and Cooper at one point was aligned with Arizona.

Here's more from the Reno Gazette Journal.

6-foot-10 McNeace visiting Ruston

2014 Spartan recruiting target Jamuni McNeace is hitting Louisiana Tech -- "@JayMuni25 on an OFFICIAL VISIT at La Tech this weekend! I hope you have a great time. Coach White & @CoachDustyMay will treat u well!!"

Fresno's Anderson hurt

Fresno State's Braeden Anderson, at 6-foot-9 and with the best potential of any frontcourter on the Bulldog team, has been seriously injured in an automobile accident. LINK

This could be a serious setback for Coach Rodney Terry.

But, more importantly, here's best wishes to Anderson for a quick recovery.

A September 9 update via Jeff Goodman: "Fresno's Braeden Anderson set to have a second surgery today at Stanford hospital, source told ESPN. Injured in car accident last week."

Andoh back in Bay Area

 (Andoh when he played for the Bay Area Hoosiers)

With a coaching change, David Andoh departed from the San Jose State University basketball program right after the 2012-13 school year. He landed at Wagner College in Staten Island and with that transfer came the NCAA-mandated requirement of sitting out this coming season as a redshirt.

But a change of plans now has the 6-foot-7 frontcourter in the Oakland hills at Merritt College where instead he will be able to play right away for Coach Keenan McMiller.

Jaleel Williams

He's been quiet in his initial two years with SJSU basketball but keep watch on 6-foot-7 junior Jaleel Williams this fast-approaching season. It's a hunch but Williams has always displayed plus physical characteristics and we're looking for him to utilize such alongside upgraded basketball skills. There's not necessarily anyone else on the roster who can provide such explosiveness.

Here's Max Ivany of the Texas DI Ambassadors at the time of William's signing with the Spartans: "Williams has an extremely long wingspan. He’s an athletic wing who has improved his perimeter shot in the past 8 months. He’s also a shot blocker on the defensive side of the ball. His length and above the rim play make him a steal..."

Boise State picked to return to the Big Dance

USA TODAY's Scott Gleeson picks has selected Mountain West Conference member Boise State to receive at at-large bid to go Big Dancin'. The Broncos are backcourt-driven, generally not winning the nightly battle upfront but that's proven to be an effective road to success for Coach Leon Rice.