WAC honors fazekas for third time

Nick Fazekas was named Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week after dominating performances against Rice and Vermont.

It's the third time this year, and fourth overall, that Fazekas has been honored by the WAC.

Fazekas, who has scored in double figures in all 25 of Nevada's games this year, had 19 points and 10 rebounds in a 73-58 win over Rice, and followed that up with 31 points and 14 rebounds in a 74-64 victory over Vermont in Saturday's Bracket Buster game.

"Nick put up some real good numbers in January even though he didn't play particularly well," Nevada coach Mark Fox said during the WAC's weekly teleconference. "He's starting to be the player we thought he could be."

Fazekas beat out Fresno State's Mustafa Al-Sayyad, Hawai'i's Matt Gibson, Louisiana Tech's Paul Millsap, SMU guard Bryan Hopkins and Tulsa's Brett McDade for the award.

Fazekas was one of four WAC players named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches all-district first team. He was joined by Rice's Michael Harris, Millsap and UTEP's Omar Thomas. Hopkins and UTEP's Fili Rivera were second-team selections.

TOUGH WEEKEND FOR WAC

The WAC didn't fare well in Saturday's Bracket Buster, posting a 3-7 record. The victories came from Nevada, Tulsa (over Northern Arizona) and Boise State (over Weber State).

"I think it's misleading," Fox said. "Fresno State's leading scorer (Ja'Vance Coleman) only played two minutes, so that's not a true representation of that team. UTEP had a difficult draw. If they play that on a neutral court, I would take UTEP. It's hard to go on the road in the middle of the conference season and play a nonconference game."

"Obviously you would like to be on the other end," Boise State's Greg Graham said. "There were a couple of close games. There were some tough games in there. The one everybody looks at is UTEP. When you go on the road for that long ... I would have liked to see the game played on a neutral court."

Ray Lopes, Fresno State coach, said the WAC's record in the Bracket Buster shouldn't affect whether the WAC gets two teams in the NCAA tourney.

"I don't think it should," Lopes said. "Nevada certainly should be in, and UTEP as well. In the course of the year, they have done a good job."

Neither does WAC commissioner Karl Benson.

"I consider us a multi-team conference," Benson said. "I think this year that Nevada and UTEP have separated themselves from the rest of the league.

"When the committee meets to evaluate teams, they will be able to evaluate the body of work and come to the conclusion that they deserve two of the 34 at-large bids."

Benson said that Nevada's and UTEP's success on the road will help both schools, especially if they are considered to be on the bubble.

Benson said that when you combine Louisiana Tech, Hawai'i, Rice, Fresno State and SMU it helps establish the WAC as a solid league. He is pushing those teams for NIT berths.

WAC EXECUTIVE IN RENO

Jeff Hurd, the WAC's senior associate commissioner, was in Reno over the weekend to tie up loose ends for the WAC Tournament on March 8-12 at Lawlor Events Center.

The Reno Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority is sponsoring the tournament in conjunction with the University of Nevada.

"There are always so many little things that have to be worked out," he said. "Ground travel for teams once they get here, air travel, team hotels and arranging practice times for teams."

The RSCVA is on the hook financially for all air travel, meals and hotel costs for all 10 men's and women's teams.

Hurd said that no teams will work out at Lawlor Events Center before the tournament starts. The Old Virginia Street Gym and Reno High are the official practice sites. The Lombardi Rec Center at UNR, acceding to Hurd, can't be used after 3 p.m. because of conflicts. He said that teams sometimes make practice arrangements on their own with individual schools.

Hurd said the nearly 3,000 all-session tickets sold is a good number for a pre-sale. He said many fans are more apt to buy single-session tickets, especially if they are from out of town. The single-session tickets went on sale today through the Lawlor Events Center ticket office ($26 per men's sessions and $7 for women's sessions). Each session consists of two games.

Darrell Moody can be reached at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com, or by calling 881-1281