October 22, 2009

David Fox
Rivals.com College Basketball Staff Writer

We started with the low-major leagues, unveiling three per day, and the mid-major leagues, unveiling two per day. Each of the top 12 leagues gets a day to itself.

Now might be a good time to be an "upstart" in the WAC. Two of the league's stalwarts - Nevada and Utah State - are undergoing major changes.

The Wolf Pack now are on their third coach this decade with David Carter, while the Aggies must replace WAC Player of the Year Gary Wilkinson. These two programs have accounted for six of the conference's 10 NCAA tournament bids since 2004.

Other programs would like to wake from their slumbers and change that. Idaho and Louisiana Tech finally have enough talent on their roster to at least give them hope of ending tournament droughts that have lasted since the early 1990s. New Mexico State and Boise State have made recent trips to the tournament and aren't ready to slip to the middle of the pack.

But there's a reason Nevada and Utah State have stayed atop the league. Both programs have proven they can withstand the losses of top players and coaches.

PROGRAM ON THE RISE
Idaho: Now is the time for the Vandals to make more noise after reaching the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. The once-struggling program could start five seniors, including high-scoring guard Mac Hopson.

PROGRAM ON THE DECLINE
Hawaii: The Warriors once made four consecutive postseason appearances, from 2001-04. Since then, they've slipped down the WAC standings. A last-place finish could be on the horizon.

COACH ON THE HOT SEAT
Hawaii's Bob Nash: A part of the Hawaii program through parts of four decades, Nash essentially was given two years to put the Warriors on the right track. It won't be easy.

BIGGEST SNEAKERS TO FILL
Forward Gary Wilkinson, Utah State: Wilkinson, the WAC Player of the Year, led the Aggies to the best season in school history. They have plenty of experience coming back, but replacing his 17.1 points and 6.8 rebounds could be the difference between another NCAA appearance and a trip to the NIT.

MOST OVERRATED PLAYER
Louisiana Tech center Magnum Rolle: Rolle's final numbers looked good, but he hardly was a dominant or consistent player. He could have 20 points and 10 rebounds one game, then 10 and seven the next. And this is the WAC, not the Big East.

MOST UNDERRATED PLAYER
Fresno State forward Paul George: George already has some fanfare, thanks to some "SportsCenter"-caliber dunks last season. He needs some help to get the Bulldogs out of last place.

David Fox is a national writer for Rivals.com. He can be reached at dfox@rivals.com.