Chasing Big John.

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NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen Preview: vs. No. 3 Kansas Jayhawks
Record: 24-8, 11-5 Big XII
Head Coach: Bill Self (438-202)
Offensive Style: Motion
Defensive Style: Man to Man with 3/4 Court Press

Team Leaders
Scoring: F Jovan Schille, Senior (22.0 ppg)
Rebounding: F Jovan Schille, Senior (7.0 rpg)
Assist: G Toree Burnstein, Junior (4.4 apg)
Steals: F Jovan Schille, Senior (1.7 spg)
Blocks: F Jovan Schille, Senior (2.2 bpg)

Season Average
PPG: 86.1
RPG: 33.8
APG: 16.5
SPG: 8.5
BPG: 5.7
FG%: 43.2
3PT%: 39.6
FT%: 75.2

Team Injuries
None

Kansas Jayhawks Projected Starters
G #3 Toree Burnstein, Junior | 5'9", 184lbs | 88 ovr, 91 close, 79 med, 88 3pt, 89 ft, 85 layup, 56 dunk, 86 handling, 83 pass, 91 defense, 88 steal, 94 speed
G #12 Max Diogu, Senior | 6'5", 222lbs | 83 ovr, 87 close, 79 med, 82 3pt, 77 ft, 84 layup, 71 dunk, 84 handling, 73 pass, 83 defense, 76 steal, 91 speed
F #24 Maceo Holden, Senior | 6'5", 228lbs | 94 ovr, 94 close, 87 med, 75 3pt, 81 ft, 88 layup, 99 dunk, 87 defense, 71 block, 72 steal, 91 speed
F #11 Jovan Schille, Senior | 6'7", 251lbs | 91 ovr, 97 close, 90 med, 82 3pt, 88 ft, 69 layup, 86 dunk, 85 defense, 87 block, 86 steal, 88 reb, 92 vert, 76 strength
C #42 Lee Ma, Senior | 6'9", 239lbs | 80 ovr, 88 close, 72 med, 69 3pt, 76 ft, 70 layup, 83 dunk, 87 defense, 81 block, 78 steal, 82 reb, 77 vert, 72 strength

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Wolfpack Cinderella Run Runs Out of Steam as Kansas Escapes with Trip to Elite Eight
NCAA Sweet Sixteen: Mar. 29, 2013 - Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX

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NEV | 39 | 44 | 83
KU | 44 | 42 | 86

Starting Lineups
Ruben Rickert, Sr. - G - G Toree Burnstein, Jr.
Christano Bitee, So. - G - G Max Diogu, Sr.
Rashod Hood, Sr. - F - F Maceo Holden, Sr.
Lubor Shepard, Jr. - F - F Jovan Schille, Sr.
Josip Lewandowski, Jr. - C - C Lee Ma, Sr.



Nevada Wolf Pack (27-7) Top Performers:
G Ruben Rickert, Senior: 1 pt, 4 ast, 5 stl, 3 to, 0-5 FG, 0-5 3PT, 1-2 FT
G Christano Bitee, Sophomore: 14 pts, 3 reb, 3 ast, stl, blk, 4-9 FG, 4-7 3PT, 2-6 FT
F Rashod Hood, Senior: 14 pts, 2 reb, 7 ast, 4 stl, 4 to, 6-10 FG, 0-1 3PT, 2-2 FT
F Lubor Shepard, Junior: 21 pts, 4 reb, 2 stl, blk, 2 to, 10-14 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-2 FT
C Josip Lewandowski, Junior: 17 pts, 9 reb, 3 ast, 4 blk, 8-15 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-3 FT

Kansas Jayhawks (25-8) Top Performers:
G Toree Burnstein, Junior: 16 pts, 5 ast, 7 to, 6-12 FG, 1-3 3PT, 3-3 FT
G Max Diogu, Senior: 10 pts, 2 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl, 2 blk, 5-12 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT
F Maceo Holden, Senior: 11 pts, 2 reb, 5 ast, 2 stl, 2 to, 5-14 FG, 1-5 3PT, 0-0 FT
F Jovan Schille, Senior: 10 pts, 9 reb, 2 stl, blk, to, 4-8 FG, 0-0 3PT, 2-2 FT
C Lee Ma, Senior: 6 pts, 7 reb, stl, blk, 2-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 2-3 FT
F Harvey Woodards, Junior: 14 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast, to, 6-9 FG, 0-1 3PT, 2-2 FT

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Sweet Sixteen
#5 Marquette def. #1 Providence, 89-67
#3 Texas def. #2 Miami, 92-68
#4 UCLA def. #9 Missouri, 96-71
#6 Stanford def. #7 Kentucky, 88-70
#1 Xavier def. #5 UNLV, 92-76
#3 Kansas def. #7 Nevada, 86-83
#5 Florida def. #9 Southern Mississippi, 93-83
#3 Syracuse def. #2 Alabama, 78-75

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Close but no cigar, Nevada can't repeat what happened after their last Sweet Sixteen appearance
Jerry Howard -- Reno Gazette Journal Sports Writer

Nevada's basketball season once again ended with a situational blunder as the Wolfpack were unable to neither trap nor foul Kansas as they ran out the clock to advance to the Elite Eight, sending the WAC champions home.

Even with the heartbreaking finish to the season, Isaiah Mohammed has now led Nevada to two Sweet Sixteens in his first four seasons and even with back-to-back losing seasons sandwiched between them, he's still managed to win the WAC in three out of his four seasons, twice winning the regular season championship as well.

The Wolfpack must now avoid the pitfall of the disastrous 2010-11 season as that team struggled to find its identity post a Sweet Sixteen run in Mohammed's first season as they lost several key starters and were in the process of rebuilding the roster. Fortunately for Mohammed and the Wolfpack, the exodus won't be as steep with Nevada losing two key starters in Ruben Rickert and Rashod Hood to graduation but returning the rest of the roster.

The Wolfpack made the run without arguably their best player in center Ira Holloway and one of their better guards in Manourou Francois. They also witnessed the emergence of Christano Bitee who averaged 18.3 points per game in the tournament against elite competition, scoring a career high 29 points in the upset win over 2-seed Michigan State.

Former walk-on Lubor Shepard was the team's best player in the loss to Kansas, posting career numbers with 21 points on 71 percent shooting, constantly going after Kansas' top player in Jovan Schille who came in averaging over twenty points per game but was limited to just ten points.

Team Stats
78.4 PPG | 32.5 RPG | 15.6 APG | 8.6 SPG | 4.4 BPG | 12.5 TOPG | 16.1 FPG | 45 FG% | 34 3PT% | 70 FT%

Player Stats
G Ruben Rickert, Senior: 9.1 PPG | 2.4 RPG | 3.4 APG | 1.6 SPG | 0.1 BPG | 24.1 MPG | 2.4 TOPG | 2.3 FPG | 41 FG% | 36 3PT% | 80 FT%
G Christano Bitee, Sophomore: 10.0 PPG | 3.2 RPG | 2.6 APG | 0.7 SPG | 0.3 BPG | 21.3 MPG | 1.2 TOPG | 1.9 FPG | 39 FG% | 36 3PT% | 68 FT%
F Rashod Hood, Senior: 17.9 PPG | 4.8 RPG | 3.2 APG | 1.8 SPG | 0.3 BPG | 26.2 MPG | 2.2 TOPG | 2.3 FPG | 42 FG% | 38 3PT% | 80 FT%
F Lubor Shepard, Junior: 6.9 PPG | 4.4 RPG | 1.2 APG | 1.2 SPG | 0.7 BPG | 21.4 MPG | 1.1 TOPG | 1.2 FPG | 52 FG% | 21 3PT% | 71 FT%
C Ira Holloway, Sophomore: 13.6 PPG | 5.7 RPG | 0.7 APG | 0.9 SPG | 1.9 BPG | 21.5 MPG | 1.3 TOPG | 2.5 FPG | 46 FG% | 30 3PT% | 55 FT%
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C Josip Lewandowski, Junior: 6.3 PPG | 2.4 RPG | 0.8 APG | 0.3 SPG | 0.3 BPG | 8.8 MPG | 0.5 TOPG | 1.0 FPG | 50 FG% | 0 3PT% | 60 FT%
F Isaac Ridnour, Sophomore: 4.6 PPG | 3.0 RPG | 0.5 APG | 0.7 SPG | 0.3 BPG | 12.6 MPG | 0.8 TOPG | 1.4 FPG | 57 FG% | 33 3PT% | 77 FT%
F Marko Mance, Sophomore: 4.3 PPG | 3.2 RPG | 0.5 APG | 0.8 SPG | 0.5 BPG | 12.8 MPG | 0.9 TOPG | 1.0 FPG | 57 FG% | 46 3PT% | 75 FT%
G Manourou Francois, Junior: 4.3 PPG | 2.7 RPG | 2.5 APG | 0.6 SPG | 0.0 BPG | 19.5 MPG | 1.1 TOPG | 1.5 FPG | 33 FG% | 27 3PT% | 80 FT%
G Chase Bauer, Junior: 3.4 PPG | 1.4 RPG | 1.2 APG | 0.4 SPG | 0.3 BPG | 14.4 MPG | 1.1 TOPG | 1.2 FPG | 38 FG% | 23 3PT% | 71 FT%
C Haim Modica, Junior: 1.7 PPG | 1.7 RPG | 0.1 APG | 0.1 SPG | 0.0 BPG | 5.2 MPG | 0.5 TOPG | 0.9 FPG | 46 FG% | 0 3PT% | 50 FT%

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Elite Eight Results

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KU | 47 | 33 | 80
XAV | 45 | 37 | 82

KU F Jovan Schille, Senior: 26 pts, 4 reb, 4 blk, 9-16 FG, 1-3 3PT, 7-8 FT
XAV G Eni Samuels, Senior: 25 pts, 9 reb, 4 ast, 4 stl, 8-17 FG, 3-6 3PT, 6-7 FT

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SYR | 38 | 36 | 74
UF | 48 | 42 | 90

SYR G Hyman Lett, Junior: 12 pts, 7 reb, 4 ast, 2 to, 5-15 FG, 1-8 3PT, 1-1 FT
UF C Immanuel Cunningham, Junior: 25 pts, 4 reb, 4 ast, 3 blk, 7-10 FG, 1-1 3PT 10-11 FT

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TEX | 36 | 51 | 87
MU | 39 | 47 | 86

TEX F Von Price, Senior: 19 pts, 7 reb, 3 stl, 2 to, 6-17 FG, 0-5 3PT, 7-10 FT
MU F Lamarr Anrin, Senior: 11 pts, 13 reb, 6 to, 4-6 FG, 1-1 3PT, 2-2 FT

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STAN | 19 | 42 | 61
UCLA | 58 | 41 | 99

STAN F Lamont McDade, Senior: 18 pts, 4 reb, stl, blk, 2 to, 8-12 FG, 0-1 3PT, 2-2 FT
UCLA G Issian Chambers, Senior: 26 pts, 7 reb, 5 ast, 3 to, 10-13 FG, 4-6 3PT, 2-2 FT

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Final Four Results

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UF | 28 | 19 | 47
XAV | 42 | 31 | 73

UF C Immanuel Cunningham, Junior: 18 pts, 5 reb, blk, to, 4-9 FG, 0-1 3PT, 10-11 FT
XAV F Cantrell Jahnke, Senior: 19 pts, 2 reb, stl, 6-12 FG, 3-6 3PT, 4-4 FT

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UCLA | 34 | 47 | 81
TEX | 32 | 38 | 70

UCLA F Femi Prince, Senior: 26 pts, 5 reb, stl, blk, 10-20 FG, 1-5 3PT, 5-7 FT
TEX F Von Price, Senior: 19 pts, 7 reb, 7-11 FG, 1-2 3PT, 4-6 FT

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NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship Game



XAV | 41 | 36 | 77
UCLA | 38 | 32 | 70

XAV F Etienne McClurkin, Sophomore: 15 pts, 6 reb, 2 blk, 5-13 FG, 1-1 3PT, 4-4 FT
UCLA F Ismail Gruber, Junior: 23 pts, 5 reb, 2 to, 6-12 FG, 3-6 3PT, 8-8 FT, 40 minutes played

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End of Season Awards

John R. Wooden Award:
Duke F Taquan Padilla, Senior | 23.7 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 46 FG%, 33 3PT%, 78 FT%

Lou Henson Award:
Hofstra C Lorenzo Blankenship, Senior | 24.7 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 2.7 BPG, 51 FG%

Naismith College Coach of the Year Award:
Xavier HC Sean Miller, 36-2, NCAA Champions

Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award:
Providence F Mading Gross, Senior | 9.0 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 1.9 SPG, 0.9 BPG

Pete Newell Big Man Award:
Duke F Taquan Padilla, Senior | 23.7 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 46 FG%, 33 3PT%, 78 FT%

Wayman Tisdale Freshman of the Year Award:
Baylor F Leroy Den Boer, Freshman | 5.5 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 0.5 SPG, 2.5 BPG, 33 FG%

First Team All-American:
UNLV G Dylan Dean, Senior: 22.0 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.3 SPG
Florida G Floyd Milton, Senior: 22.9 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.1 BPG
Buffalo F C.C. Erickson, Senior: 22.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 2.4 APG, 2.0 SPG, 1.6 BPG
Duke F Taquan Padilla, Senior: 23.7 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 1.5 BPG
North Carolina C Dragutin Prekevicius, Senior: 23.5 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 0.6 SPG, 1.8 BPG

Second Team All-American:
Miami G Arthur Brewer, Senior: 17.1 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 5.5 APG, 2.0 SPG
BYU G Leonard Rickert, Senior: 21.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.2 SPG
Texas F Von Price, Senior: 17.8 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.5 BPG
Rhode Island F Donatas Granger, Senior: 24.4 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 2.2 BPG
Hofstra C Lorenzo Blankenship, Senior: 24.7 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 2.7 BPG

First Team All-Freshman:
Maryland G Robby Lambert: 8.9 PPG, 3.2 APG, 1.1 SPG
Texas A&M G Dion Caton: 8.3 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.2 APG, 0.6 SPG
USC F Gyno Fordham: 7.4 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Baylor F Leroy Den Boer: 5.5 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 0.5 SPG, 2.5 BPG
Colorado C Mark Stys: 6.7 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 0.7 SPG, 1.4 BPG

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WAC Awards

Conference Player of the Year:
Idaho C Hassan Crandle, Senior | 21.9 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 1.9 BPG, 48 FG%, 80 FT%

Conference Freshman of the Year:
Hawai'i F Homer Osimani, Freshman | 10.6 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 0.7 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 34 FG%

Conference College Coach of the Year:
Idaho's George Pfeifer, 28-9

First Team All-Conference:
Louisiana Tech G Paul Hehn, Senior
New Mexico State G Trevor Watkins, Junior
Nevada F Rashod Hood, Senior
Boise State F Dominic Austin, Junior
Idaho C Hassan Crandle, Senior

Second Team All-Conference:
Utah State G Bobbye Bremer, Senior
Fresno State G Mohamed Buckley, Junior
Hawai'i F Shamell Terry, Sophomore
Hawai'i F Jamar Hubbard, Junior
Nevada C Ira Holloway, Sophomore

Freshman All-Conference:
New Mexico State G Theo Michaud
Hawai'i G Emerson Lewis
Hawai'i F Homer Osimani
Idaho F Blaise Den Boer
Boise State C Simon Osborne

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Players Leaving
#30 Ruben Rickert (G, Senior): Graduation » 6.7 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 17.6 MPG, 1.7 TOPG, 1.9 FPG, 42 FG%, 35 3PT%, 69 FT%
#11 Rashod Hood (F, Senior): Graduation » 12.8 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 24.1 MPG, 2.2 TOPG, 2.7 FPG, 39 FG%, 34 3PT%, 79 FT% (2012-13 First-Team All-WAC, 2009-10 Freshman All-WAC)

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Wolfpack look to reload backcourt with signing of B.A. Barber and Darek Crawford
Elton Hunter -- Reno Gazette Journal Sports Writer

The University of Nevada will need to replace two of their best players from last season in seniors Ruben Rickert and Rashod Hood with Manourou Francois and Chase Bauer as the likely replacements into the starting lineup. Replacing Francois and Bauer on the second unit will be Darek Crawford and B.A. Barber, the two members of Nevada's 2013 recruiting class.

Barber, who was Mr. Basketball in his home state of New Jersey as a senior, averaged 13.9 points per game for Brick City in the AAU circuit. A gifted shooter, Barber shot 40 percent from three for Brick City and will be looked upon to replace the three-point shooting loss with the departure of Rickert and Hood who had developed into solid shooters over their years in Reno. Xavier got involved in Barber's recruitment late but never offered the 181st ranked player in the class.

Crawford isn't the shooter or overall offensive player that Barber is as his upside is a bit more limited. Crawford is your prototypical lead guard with a decent first step that can get by unsuspecting defenders but will need some seasoning as a shooter to round out his game.

Both players are listed at six-foot-two and 178 pounds.

2013 Nevada Wolf Pack Recruiting Class
G B.A. Barber [SG #55]: 6'2", 178lbs | Elizabeth, NJ | 3-star | 13.9 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.8 SPG, 45 FG%, 40 3PT%, 60 FT% [Brick City AAU]
G Darek Crawford [PG #94]: 6'2", 178lbs | Dallas, TX | 3-star | 14.6 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.4 SPG, 47 FG%, 45 3PT%, 68 FT% [Rare Air AAU]

Five Star Signings
G Raul McLeod [PG #1]: 6'1", 172lbs | Chicago, IL | 5-star | University of Indiana
G Damond Bain [SG #1]: 6'4", 209lbs | Cincinnati, OH | 5-star | Michigan State University
G Steven Russell [SG #2]: 6'3", 196lbs | Lubbock, TX | 5-star | University of Texas
G Harold Tobias [PG #2]: 5'11", 172lbs | Boca Raton, FL | 5-star | Duke University
G Kelenna Spears [PG #3]: 6'2", 182lbs | Wichita Falls, TX | 5-star | University of Houston
F KD Carpenter [SF #1]: 6'6", 196lbs | Queens, NY | 5-star | Michigan State University
F Paris North [SF #2]: 6'7", 224lbs | Tempe, AZ | 5-star | University of Colorado
G Jose Quick [PG #4]: 5'11", 165lbs | Toronto, CN | 5-star | Syracuse University
G Torin Nengsu [PG #5]: 6'0", 174lbs | Pensacola, FL | 5-star | Florida State University
C Lionel Blankson [C #1]: 6'6", 216lbs | Austin, TX | 5-star | Texas Tech University
G Joshua Pompey [SG #3]: 6'6", 227lbs | Monterey Park, CA | 5-star | Stanford University
F Richie Marsh [SF #3]: 6'8'", 224lbs | Columbus, GA | 5-star | Vanderbilt University
G Hilton Nutter [SG #4]: 6'4", 207lbs | Houston, TX | 5-star | University of Alabama
F Samuel Gabler [SF #4]: 6'7", 218lbs | Oshkosh, WI | 5-star | Michigan State University
G Niemer Nystrom [PG #6]: 5'10", 164lbs | Merced, CA | 5-star | University of California - Los Angeles
G Lorenzo Dawn [SG #6]: 6'3", 187lbs | Grand Prairie, TX | 5-star | University of Texas
G Tamsir Mascoll [SG #5]: 6'3", 204lbs | Farmington Hills, MI | 5-star | Xavier University
F Arvydas Logan [PF #1]: 6'6", 191lbs | Chesapeake, VA | 5-star | West Virginia University
G Charlie Hammond [SG #10]: 6'3", 206lbs | El Paso, TX | 5-star | University of Arizona
G Ernest Gaines [SG #8]: 6'3", 200lbs | Morgantown, WV | 5-star | Duke University
G Zabian Adler [SG #7]: 6'3", 196lbs | Tuscaloosa, AL | 5-star | University of Alabama
F Aaron Forth [PF #3]: 6'7", 227lbs | Columbus, OH | 5-star | Michigan State University
G Giordan Hope [SG #9]: 6'4", 189lbs | Toronto, CN | 5-star | University of Buffalo
F Rickey Doyle [PF #2]: 6'7", 240lbs | Chicago, IL | 5-star | University of Indiana
F Damien Hampton [SF #5]: 6'4", 214lbs | Cape Coral, FL | 5-star | Duke University

Notable WAC Signings
C Eddie Beeler [JUCO]: 7'1", 261lbs | Honolulu, HI | 5-star | University of Hawaii
F Tejay Brooks [JUCO]: 6'5", 209lbs | Anaheim, CA | 5-star | San Jose State University
G W.C. Kovacevic [PG #20]: 5'9", 164lbs | Missoula, MT | 4-star | Utah State University
G D'Marr Dupree [PG #29]: 5'10", 160lbs | Port Arthur, TX | 4-star | Louisiana Tech University

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Oct. 18 - Midnight Madness

Non-Conference Schedule
Nov. 7 vs. UNLV
Nov. 10 vs. UC Irvine
Nov. 15 vs. CS Fullerton
Nov. 18 vs. Green Bay
Nov. 19 vs. Utah Valley State
Nov. 25 at Marshall
Nov. 28 vs. UC Davis
Dec. 1 vs. Drake
Dec. 4 at Pacific
Dec. 8 at Washington
Dec. 11 vs. Cal Poly
Dec. 15 vs. San Francisco

Conference Schedule:
Jan. 1 vs. New Mexico State
Jan. 4 vs. Fresno State
Jan. 8 vs. Louisiana Tech
Jan. 11 at Idaho
Jan. 16 at Hawai'i
Jan. 18 at Utah State
Jan. 23 vs. Boise State
Jan. 25 vs. San Jose State
Feb. 1 at Fresno State
Feb. 5 at New Mexico State
Feb. 8 at Louisiana Tech
Feb. 13 vs. Idaho
Feb. 15 vs. Hawai'i
Feb. 27 at San Jose State
Mar. 1 at Boise State
Mar. 8 vs. Utah State