TULSA, Okla. >> He was in town for less than a day, but Karl Benson was the most sought-after person as the Western Athletic Conference tournament opened Tuesday at the Reynolds Center. Benson mum
on WAC’s
NCAA chancesThe commissioner doesn't have
'Bows open WAC tourney with win
much of a say on which WAC teams
make it to the national tournamentBy Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.comBenson made a brief guest appearance during the first-round game won by San Jose State over Rice, and was bombarded by questions about the NCAA bid chances for WAC teams.
"Who?" "Why?" "Why not?" "Where?"
Even if Benson knew the answers, he couldn't and wouldn't say. Such is the life of a member of the NCAA selection committee.
Benson, in his first year on the committee, left yesterday morning for NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis. There, he and rest of the members will process wins, losses, tournament outcomes, RPIs and other factors, resulting in 65 bids being awarded this Sunday.
"It's different for me this year because I've always been at our tournament through the championship games," said Benson, completing his ninth year as WAC commissioner.
The public perception is that Benson's presence on the committee helps the conference. But he is also responsible for presenting information on teams from the Pac-10, Big West and West Coast conferences.
"I've purposely tried to keep from lobbying (for the WAC)," Benson said in an ESPN radio interview Tuesday. When the possibilities for WAC teams are discussed, Benson will have to leave the room.
After Sunday, Benson will head to Sacramento, where he's been assigned to oversee the sub-regional at the ARCO Arena. It's likely that a WAC team will follow him there ... but he can't say.
Although regular-season co-champions Hawaii and Tulsa have identical 24-5 records and RPIs in the low 30s, few consider either the Rainbows or the Golden Hurricane a lock. Both Hawaii coach Riley Wallace and Tulsa's John Phillips are not counting on any largess from the selection committee.
Those who watched Monday's West Coast Conference championship game heard the broadcasters affirming that both Gonzaga and Pepperdine were in the tournament.
"I don't understand that," said Phillips. "I'll assure you, our league is tougher than that league.
"I look around the country and see some leagues getting two teams in the tournament and I don't see how they could leave either us or Hawaii out."
Some call it paranoia. Others call it reality.
History has shown that the WAC has had a hard time getting even two teams in. Forget about three most years.
Tulsa was dispatched to the NIT -- which it won -- when Hawaii got the automatic bid last year as the WAC tournament champ. Fresno State got an at-large spot.
In 1998, Hawaii fans well remember the Rainbows being snubbed for an at-large berth after being upset by UNLV. The Rebels got the automatic bid, with at-large selections going to New Mexico, TCU and Utah; Hawaii, Fresno State and Wyoming went to the NIT.
The pressure was on today for the top two seeds, Hawaii and Tulsa. Both coaches felt that the only thing that could ruin an NCAA invitation was a loss to a low seed today; San Jose State, in Hawaii's case, and Boise State for Tulsa.
The most dangerous team here this week is third-seeded Louisiana Tech, which faced Fresno State at 2 p.m. Hawaii time. The Bulldogs had won 11 of their last 12 games coming into the Reynolds Center, and were picked by ESPN.com as the "sleeper" in the WAC tournament.
There's only one way to guarantee getting to the NCAA Tournament: win on Saturday.
"We're not going to relax," said Phillips. "If you win the tournament, you leave no doubt."
Hot spot: Benson stayed Tuesday night at the DoubleTree, Hawaii's hotel. Also in the house this week are former NFL great Barry Sanders and pro basketball legend Julius Erving.
Hawaii senior guard Mike McIntyre shook Sanders' hand when the two were in the lobby yesterday morning. Sanders then walked virtually unnoticed through the rest of the Rainbows waiting for the van to practice.
"I don't think they're big NFL fans," McIntyre said of his teammates, most of whom are not from the U.S. "There goes one of the greatest running backs in history and they didn't know who he was."
Bracketology: In the latest projected tournament bracket on ESPN.com, Joe Lunardi has two WAC vs. Pac-10 first-round match-ups.
In Dallas, Hawaii (No. 9 seed) would face UCLA (8). In Washington, D.C., Tulsa (11) would meet Cal (6).
Of note: With Nolan Richardson no longer head coach at Arkansas, Texas-El Paso will cancel its scheduled four-year series with the Razorbacks, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Richardson, a native of El Paso who played for the Miners, was fired Friday after refusing to resign.
"It's a backhand slap for us to even think about playing Arkansas without El Paso's favorite son there," UTEP coach Jason Rabedeaux said. "He spent 22 years at Arkansas and Tulsa, and he has done so much for the sport, for black coaches and on top of all that, he's won."
Richardson has been mentioned as a possible replacement if third-year coach Rabedeaux is fired. UTEP (10-22) finished last in the WAC this year and was ousted from the WAC tournament Tuesday by Boise State in overtime.
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