MW Notebook: UNLV 7-footer named player of the week

UNLV freshman Brandon McCoy, who averaged 21.3 and nearly 14 rebounds a contest last week in three victories, garnered the Mountain West Player of the Week honor.

The 7-footer is averaging 20.2 points and 13 rebounds a contest. He is a big reason why the UNLV men’s basketball team is off to a 6-0 start and receiving votes in the Associated Press poll.

Hard to say how valid the Rebels’ unbeaten record is because the team has yet to leave the city to play a game. They’ve played four on-campus games and twice at the MGM, which is a block away from home.

They play at Northern Iowa on the Dec. 29 and then come back to play Arizona, Oral Roberts and Illinois, all in Sin City.

A LONG TRIP

The San Jose State Spartans begin a four-school and nine-day road trip when they play a game at Bowling Green tonight.

SJSU will play Southern Illinois on Dec. 2, Denver on Dec. 5 and Portland on Dec. 9. In that span, the Spartans will travel 4,600 miles.

The trip will give Midwesterners Ryan Welage, Nai Carlisle, Jaycee Hillsman and Jalen James a chance to play before friends and relatives at Southern Illinois.

HUTCHISON RETURNING

Preseason MW Player of the Year Chandler Hutchison of Boise State is returning to action after suffering a concussion in a tournament game against Iowa State.

The Broncos are currently 5-1, and at this point, are looking good for a first-round bye come March though there’s plenty of games between now and then.

INJURED WYOMING STAR

It has been tough to keep Justin James of Wyoming off the floor.

He had an ankle injury yet still managed 19 points in 29 minutes in a win over Oregon State. He suffered a cut lip when he took an elbow from a teammate, yet he had the fifth-most minutes and scored 15 points against New Mexico Highlands.

AZTECS DROP TO 5-2

With Malik Pope sidelined most of the game, SDSU dropped a 93-86 decision to Washington State at the John Wooden event played in Orange County last week.

“I can’t worry about the losses,” first-year head coach Brian Dutcher said after the loss to Washington State. “We can’t worry about March and what we’re doing in November. It would be a disservice to our team if you’re worried about what’s happening now.

“The whole thing in basketball, is trying to get better. All we’re trying to do is get better. If we would’ve won games, I’d say we gotta get better. We’re not worried about March right now. We’re just concerned about getting the team better and improving in areas. If we do that, we’ll be successful.”

AIR FORCE STREAK CONTINUES

The Air Force has lost its last two games to Pacific and Colorado, but is still 3-2 entering the week.

The Falcons did extend their streak over Arkansas-Pine Bluff to nine with a 57-47 victory.