What will UNLV do?

"For Stacey Augmon, U.N.L.V.’s ‘Mr. Rebel,’ the Time for Opportunity Has Come" -- William C. Rhoden/New York Times

Westchester High 65, Dorsey High 57

Ronnie Flores: "Keith Fisher just keeps working and improving. Has come along way in 3 years. 23 points, 13 rebounds"

The 6-foot-7 Westchester senior signed with SJSU back in November.

Utah St. 88, SJSU 70

Utah State is simply the better team and showed that last night with 43-36 and 45-34 20-minute sessions on the way to turning away the visiting Spartans 88-70. The Aggies shot 55% overall, 59% from long distance and went 24-39 from the foul line. In contrast, SJSU went 40%, 28% and 17-28. There was a five minute stretch in the second half where USU held the Spartans scoreless and at 38 points.

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Some disgruntled folks in Fort Collins

"CSU firing Larry Eustachy would be a mistake" -- Matt Stephens

Eustachy's contract makes this a moot point but even that such a thought made it into a full-fledged article is amazing. Don't quite know what has spoiled certain fans in Fort Collins -- Coach K, Bill Self et al aren't walking into the coaching office of the Rams, ever.

JWojcik honored

"Santa Clara County boys athlete of the week: Jake Wojcik, Bellarmine" -- BANG

Jake Wojcik, Bellarmine
Sport: Basketball
Position: Guard
Class: Sophomore


Wojcik made six 3-pointers and finished with 31 points as Bellarmine College Prep defeated Valley Christian 66-53. He then hit two crucial 3-pointers and scored 19 points to lead the Bells past St. Ignatius 62-50 and into the CCS Open Division playoffs.

Nevada with a smart move -- where Sparta?

Chris Murray: "The Wolf Pack will hold a fan appreciation day Wednesday against Utah State, with $5 tickets available online for the game.

Nevada, which has had one of the biggest improvements in the nation based on win total, also has seen an increase in attendance in Eric Musselman's first year.

The Wolf Pack is averaging 6,455 fans per home game this season after averaging 5,497 a contest last season. That's a 17.4 percent increase, its largest from one year to the next since 2002-03 to 2003-04 when there was an 18.5 percent increase.

Nevada is offering $5 tickets online for the Utah State game by going to NevadaWolfPack.com/tickets while using the promo code "PACKFAN." A $10 ticket will be available on the day of the game..."

Jake Wojcik named to All WCAL First Team

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

JAKE KILLINGSWORTH – JUNIPERO SERRA - SENIOR

First Team

Alfred Hollins Sacred Heart Cathedral Junior

Noah Stapes Saint Francis Senior

Eddie Stansberry Archbishop Riordan Senior

Curtis Witt Saint Francis Senior

Will Emery Saint Ignatius Senior

Jeremiah Testa Junipero Serra Senior

Jake Wojcik Bellarmine Sophomore

SD St. 78, SJSU 56

Out of Laguna Creek High in Elk Grove, 6-foot-8 sophomore Malik Pope posted a 17 point, 11 rebound double-double to power visiting San Diego State to a 78-56 victory over San Jose State University. He shot 7-11 overall, 3-4 from long distance and also rejected three shot attempts.

The score was 33-29 at halftime.

Of note for the Spartans, Brandon Clarke went for 11 points, eight rebounds and his own trio of blocked shots. Fellow frosh Cody Schwartz shot 4-7 from three-point range to finish with a team-best 12 points and he grabbed five boards. He played 35 minutes and Clarke 34.

Mark Ziegler game reports.

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Bellarmine 62, St. Ignatius 50

Missed this from Friday:

Bellarmine 62, St. Ignatius 50

Bellarmine: Wojcik 4-9-19 (two treys), Bradford 3-4-12 (two treys), Clark 4-2-11, Malone 1-2-5, Athens 0-4-4, Denzel 1-0-3, Gaffey 1-0-3, Ogbogu 1-0-3

St. Ignatius: Beckman 4-8-18 (two treys), Redmond 4-2-10, Trammell 2-2-7,  Coulter 2-0-6 (two treys), Austin 2-0-4, Zacks 1-0-2, Little 1-0-2, Wong 0-1-1

Wojcik should be a first-team all West Catholic Athletic League honoree for his play this season. Needs more muscle (he's just a sophomore) but he possesses the sweetest shooting form.

Mr. Rogers grows up

"Former Salinas High standout making an impact at San Jose State" -- John Devine/Monterey Herald

Excellent background here.

Bench the disrespectful for the game -- what more could be lost?

This cannot bode well for UNLV interim Coach Todd Simon.

"In battle of pride and toughness, UNLV takes hard fall" -- Ed Graney/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Excerpt: "It was less than an hour before tipoff when the academy had a pregame ceremony for a group of new cadets being sworn into the Air Force. UNLV players were shooting at one end of the court when associate head coach Ryan Miller, in respectable fashion, told the Rebels to stop and observe the moment. It was the correct gesture by Miller.

A few UNLV players kept dribbling and shooting and messing around. Miller walked over and reminded them to stop. He tried taking the ball from one, who instead bounced it behind his back and held it as Miller shook his head and walked away..."

Wojcik with 31

From Gerry Freitas: "SAN JOSE-Bellarmine 66, Valley Christian 53. 2018 combo gd Jake Wojcik 31 for Bellarmine. Legit D-1 prospect along with 2017 gd Angelo Athens"

It was six treys on the night for Wojcik.

Nevada 61, SJSU 56

San Jose State University owned a 31-22 halftime lead but visiting Nevada fought back and ultimately won 61-55 on Wednesday. Wolf Pack frosh Cam Oliver had a relatively quiet nine point, six rebound evening while Frank Rogers paced the Spartans with both 17 rebounds and 14 points.

'En fuego' took the night off as the victors shot 40%, 17% and 57% overall versus 38%, 24% and 56%.

21 San Jose turnovers as opposed to Nevada's 10 provided one element of difference.

Chris Murray game reports.

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The Wolf Pack by six, per Murray

Chris Murray offers his three keys to tonight's game between Nevada and San Jose State University plus a prediction.

Freshman guard Juwan Anderson is out of Oakland plus freshmen Cameron Oliver and David Cunningham hail from Sacramento so there will be some fans in the seats opposing the Spartans.

Augmon out front in wanting the job

Stacey Augmon enjoyed a solid 15- year NBA career after being selected as a first-round NBA draft pick out of UNLV. Upon retiring, he worked for four seasons as an assistant with the Denver Nuggets and then came back to UNLV in 2011.

He and his wife made no bones about being upset that he wasn't selected as the interim coach when Dave Rice was let go a couple of weeks ago. He talks further in the following article:

"Augmon breaks silence, makes pitch to be UNLV head coach" -- Ed Graney

The current atmosphere in the Rebels coaching offices must be, let's say elephant-in-the-living-room like, with what isn't being said.

New Mexico 74, SJSU 58

In The Land of Enchantment last night, San Jose State University came away disillusioned with a thought towards suing the State Tourist Board after falling 74-58 to New Mexico. Elijah Brown scored 21 points with Tim Williams adding 16 while Frank Rogers with 12 was the lone Spartan in double figures.

Back on January 23, SJSU fell 83-64 to the Lobos with Brown scoring 33 points and Williams 22. In that game, Frank Rogers tallied 16 points.

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Boise deserves the victory

It sure looks like Boise State got a raw deal the other night. Will the MWC powers have the cojones and gravitas to change a rightable wrong?

A note of signee Keith Fisher

From a game this weekend: "The Westchester Comets of LA streaked by Orange Lutheran Lancers 70-50. This contest lost a little bit of its luster when 6'7" Sr Kevaughn Scott of the Lancers went up for a block, came down awkwardly and left the game three minutes into the contest never to return.

He later tweeted it was an ankle injury but not to serious and he would be out a week or two. After his departure however it seemed as though the teammates kind of deflated and the Comets seized control and never relinquished it.

6'7" Sr F Keith Fisher (San Jose St. signee) battled down low for 13pts 8reb and his presence in the paint anchored a strong defensive effort from the Comets."

UNLV 64, SJSU 61

A Las Vegas team down by 13 points at halftime (37-24) and minus heralded freshman Stephen Zimmerman came back to edge San Jose State University on Wednesday 64-61. The win was accomplished even shooting 29% for the game as the Runnin' Rebels earned six more free throw attempts and committed 10 less turnovers.

Spartan freshman Brandon Clarke continued his surge with another double-double consisting of 15 points and 14 boards and he also provided five assists and a pair of blocked shots.

Taylor Bern and Mark Anderson game report.

Ed Graney provides a 'sort-of' editorial.

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It goes down tonight

"Injured Rebels must get creative against San Jose State" -- Taylor Bern

UNLV hopes nobody else on its roster goes down.

Chris Murray has SJSU at #9 -- ahead of AF & Utah St.

"9. SAN JOSE STATE

Last week: 10
Record: 8-15, 3-8
Comment: After beating Fresno State by 12, SJSU has back-to-back double-digit wins over MW teams. Seven days ago, it had just two wins over MW opponents in 2½ years. SJSU was outscored by 15.8 points per game last season but has lowered that number to just one point per game this season. So, while the 8-15 record isn't anything special, the Spartans have had a major turnaround."

Spartans offer 2017 Southland guard

Josh Gershon: "2017 Northridge (Calif.) Heritage Christian SG Juhwan Harris-Dyson picked up an offer from San Jose State."

He's 6-foot-3, 180 pounds.

A July 2015 feature.

A March 2015 video:

A little press in the Salt Lake Tribune

Steve Luhm/Salt Lake Tribune: "A year ago, when San Jose was midway through what turned out to be a disastrous season. It finished 2-28, including 0-18 in the Mountain West Conference.

The Spartans didn't beat a Division I opponent.

They lost at Boise by 50 points.

Suspensions and injuries crushed them.

After suffering a 61-33 loss at Utah State, then-Aggie coach Stew Morrill said, "I feel bad for them — the situation they're in. … With their depleted roster, we should win going away and we did."

"San Jose State basketball coach Dave Wojcik said, "I've never gone through anything like this, in all my years. … But it's like I tell the kids: That's life. It's not fair sometimes. It's going to throw a curveball at you. But you have to continue on."

Wojcik wasn't lying.

He also made a promise.

"It will pay off," he said. "You've got to go through tough times to get to the good times."

Guess what?

At long last, San Jose has found some traction.

The Spartans are 8-15 overall and, more importantly, 3-8 in the Mountain West following Thursday night's authoritative 65-53 victory over Fresno State.

After winning one of its previous 36 conference games, San Jose State won two straight by a total of 33 points, including a 75-54 victory over Air Force on Jan. 30.

As the Mountain West season passes the halfway point, the Spartans might be the most improved team in the league, considering the depths from which they've risen."

A San Jose State University basketball reunion

A San Jose State University basketball reunion of sorts took place on the day of the recent Spartan win against Air Force Academy. Seeing some of the great Spartans of yesteryear was a joy.

Here's a duo consisting of (left to right) Wally Rank (1977-80), who was a fifth round draft choice of the San Diego Clippers and played in the NBA from 1980-81 as well as a member of the team that played in the 1980 Big Dance versus Missouri, plus Ed Uthoff (1981-83).

A San Jose State University basketball reunion

A San Jose State University basketball reunion of sorts took place on the day of the recent Spartan win against Air Force Academy. Seeing some of the great Spartans of yesteryear was a joy.

Here's a quartet consisting of (left to right) Mike (Berkeley High) Mendez (1978-81), Ed Saunders (1980-81), Sid (Aragon High) Williams (1978-81), Ed Uthoff (1981-83). Mendez, Saunders and Williams were members of the team that played in the 1980 Big Dance versus Missouri. SJSU reached that game by beating UC Santa Barbara 73-66, Utah State 94-68 and then Long Beach State 57-55 to win the Pacific Coast Athletic Association tournament. The late Dan Sullivan (1979-80) deserves mention for aiding the latter victory when he chased after a Long Beach State player out in front on a breakaway, dove from behind and knocked the ball out of bounds.

SJSU 65, Fresno St. 53

Break up the Spartans! Fresno State came to San Jose last night expecting a win but departed instead with a 65-53 defeat. Frank Rogers paced SJSU with 17 points while blossoming freshman forward Brandon Clarke posted a 15 rebound, 14 point, two blocked shots line.

Marvelle Harris, the leading pre-season candidate for Player of the Year, shot 2-16 overall, 0-6 from long distance and finished with seven points. Fellow guard Julienne Lewis was an inaccurate 0-7.

SJSU won the boards battle 41-33 and also shot a remarkable 23-27 from the foul line.

Robert Kuwada game reports.

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Bellarmine 52, Mitty 51 OT

Bellarmine College Prep, led by sophomore Jake Wojcik's 24 points and his two free throws with five seconds remaining, downed Archbishop Mitty in overtime on Tuesday.

That's the second win for the Bells over the Monarchs this season.