Sundberg’s loss hits
’Bows at crucial time
By Mike FitzgeraldStar-Bulletin
And being short-handed with the suspensions of Aaron Curry, Quentin Gallon and Kelvin Anderson - and the big blow of losing 7-foot-2 center Seth Sundberg to a lacerated spleen Monday - couldn't have come at a worse time of the season for the Rainbows.
The top of the WAC Pacific Division standings is jammed up as five teams compete for the top spot and a crucial first-round bye in the league tournament, March 4-8 in Las Vegas.
Only six out of eight teams in each division are invited to the tournament, so the scramble also is on near the bottom of the Pacific and Mountain standings.
Hawaii and Fresno State are tied atop the Pacific with 8-2 league records. Colorado State, UNLV and Wyoming are next, tied at 6-4.
UH needs at least a split of its next two games to stay in the hunt for the top spot. Fresno State is also on the road for its next two games, playing at Air Force on Saturday and at UNLV on Monday.
The showdown for the Pacific Division title could happen at the Special Events Arena on Feb. 27, when UH hosts Fresno State.
But a lot can happen between now and then.
One thing looks certain, last-place teams BYU (0-10, Pacific) and Air Force (1-10, Mountain) can cancel their Las Vegas reservations.
BYU WOES
The 6-foot-7 forward is expected to be on crutches for two months. He was hurt in the first half of the Cougars' 72-60 home loss against Wyoming last Saturday.
Weidauer, a junior, is averaging 8.7 points and 8.3 rebounds for BYU, which is 1-19 overall.
RPI RATING
The Rainbows' opponents this week and their rankings are Wyoming (No. 130) and Colorado State (No. 58) out of the 305 teams. The rest of the Pacific Division and their rankings are: Fresno State (No. 46), UNLV (No. 59), San Diego State (No. 165), San Jose State (No. 124) and Air Force (No. 239).
A brighter note for Hawaii is that ESPNET's weekly NCAA tournament projections have Fresno State and the Rainbows in the field of 64 this week.
WAC PLAYERS
Van Horn, a 6-foot-10 senior forward, earned the honors in the Mountain Division after he led all scorers in games against Colorado State and BYU. Van Horn scored 22 points against BYU and 33 points against the Rams to lead the No. 5 Utes. He averaged 27.5 points and 9.5 rebounds, and was 16 of 16 at the line.
In the Pacific Division, Forney, a 6-foot-8 junior forward who just recently became eligible for the Bulldogs, averaged 19.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in victories over San Jose State and Rice last week.
DOUBTING THOMAS
After scoring 20 points against Utah on Feb. 1 in a national TV game, his scoring has tumbled.
In the Lobos' next three games, Thomas had six points against BYU, five points at Southern Methodist and a career-low two points in New Mexico's 80-59 loss to Texas Christian.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
WAC men
Pacific Division
Conference Overall Team W L Pct. GB W L Pct. Hawaii 8 2 .800 -- 16 4 .800 Fresno State 8 2 .800 -- 16 8 .667 Colorado State 6 4 .600 2 16 6 .727 Nevada-LV 6 4 .600 2 14 7 .667 Wyoming 6 4 .600 2 10 11 .476 San Diego State 4 7 .364 4-1/2 12 9 .571 San Jose State 2 8 .222 6 10 10 .500 Air Force 1 10 .091 7-1/2 5 15 .250
Mountain Division
Conference Overall Team W L Pct. GB W L Pct. Utah 9 1 .900 -- 17 3 .850 Tulsa 8 2 .800 1 18 6 .750 New Mexico 7 3 .700 2 18 4 .816 Rice 5 5 .500 4 11 9 .550 Southern Meth 5 6 .455 4-1/2 13 8 .619 Texas Christian 4 6 .400 5 15 8 .652 Texas-El Paso 3 8 .273 6-1/2 9 11 .450 Brigham Young 0 10 .000 9 1 19 .050
Tomorrow's games
Hawaii at WyomingRice at New MexicoSan Diego St. at Colorado St.San Jose St. at Air Force
So. Methodist at UtahTexas Christian at Brigham Young
Tulsa at Texas-El Paso
Saturday's games
Hawaii at Colorado St.Fresno St. at Air ForceRice at Texas-El PasoSan Diego St. at Wyoming
San Jose St. at UNLVSo. Methodist at Brigham Young
Texas Christian at Utah
Sunday's game
Tulsa at New Mexico
WAC women
Pacific Division
Conference Overall Team W L Pct. GB W L Pct. San Diego State 11 1 .917 -- 16 6 .727 Hawaii 10 1 .909 1/2 17 4 .810 Colorado State 9 2 .818 1-1/2 18 4 .818 Wyoming 7 4 .636 3-1/2 15 7 .682 Fresno State 4 7 .364 6-1/2 11 10 .524 San Jose State 3 8 .273 7-1/2 8 14 .364 Nevada-LV 1 10 .091 9-1/2 3 19 .136 Air Force 1 11 .083 10 4 18 .182
Mountain Division
Conference Overall Team W L Pct. GB W L Pct. Utah 10 0 1.000 -- 17 3 .850 Rice 7 3 .700 3 12 8 .600 Southern Meth 7 4 .636 3-1/2 13 9 .591 Texas Christian 5 5 .500 5 11 9 .550 New Mexico 4 6 .400 6 13 7 .650 Brigham Young 4 6 .400 6 7 14 .333 Texas-El Paso 4 7 .364 6-1/2 12 8 .600 Tulsa 0 10 .000 10 4 16 .200
Tomorrow's games
Wyoming at Hawaii, 7 p.m.Air Force at Fresno St.Brigham Young at Texas ChristianColorado St. at San Diego St.
New Mexico at RiceTexas-El Paso at Tulsa
UNLV at San Jose St.Utah at So. Methodist
Saturday's games
Colorado St. at Hawaii, 7 p.m.Air Force at UNLVBrigham Young at So. MethodistNew Mexico at Tulsa
Texas-El Paso at RiceUNLV at Fresno St.
Utah at Texas ChristianWyoming at San Diego St.
HIAC
Conference Overall Team W L Pct. GB W L Pct. Hawaii Pacific 3 0 1.000 -- 20 2 .909 BYU-Hawaii 2 1 .667 1 18 4 .818 Chaminade 1 2 .333 2 8 13 .381 Hawaii-Hilo 0 3 .000 3 8 13 .381
Tomorrow's games
Brigham Young-Hawaii at Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)Hawaii Pacific at Central Washington
Saturday's games
Brigham Young-Hawaii at Central WashingtonHawaii Pacific at Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)
PWC
Tomorrow's games
Chaminade at Alaska-FairbanksHawaii-Hilo at Seattle Pacific