League tourney up in air
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
What was already expected to be a wacky Western Athletic Conference Tournament got even wackier yesterday.
And it's still one week away.
Fresno State announced that its men's basketball team is on a self-imposed ban from the NCAA Tournament and National Invitation Tournament this season after school officials confirmed allegations of academic fraud.
The Bulldogs still want to participate in the WAC Tournament, scheduled for March 11-15 at Tulsa, Okla. Their status for that tournament will be decided by the WAC Board of Directors tomorrow.
"Fresno State's participation in the WAC Tournament has yet to be decided," WAC commissioner Karl Benson said. "We expect a decision by (tomorrow)."
The ramifications could be huge, especially for Hawai'i.
"There's a lot of scenarios out there," UH head coach Riley Wallace said. "This affects everybody no matter what they decide."
The Bulldogs clinched the WAC regular-season championship Saturday.
If Fresno State is not allowed to participate in the WAC Tournament:
• Each team would move up one spot. Tulsa, for example, is currently in second place, but would inherit the No. 1 seed.
• Hawai'i would avoid a play-in game. Under a nine-team format, only two teams — seeds No. 8 and 9 — would have to participate in a play-in game on opening day.
The Rainbow Warriors would likely become the No. 5 or 6 seed and play their first game of the tournament during the quarterfinal round on March 13.
"Having to win three games (to win the tournament) instead of four is a big difference," Wallace said.
• The WAC Tournament champ would likely be the conference's only representative in the NCAA Tournament.
Fresno State, which is 20-6 with two games remaining, appeared to be the only WAC team with a chance of earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament had it not won the conference tournament.
"It hurts the image of the whole conference," Wallace said. "But you feel sorry for the kids playing (for Fresno State) now. They've had a hell of a year and had nothing to do with the problems."
If Fresno State is allowed to participate in the WAC Tournament:
• The Bulldogs would be the No. 1 seed, and the format would not be altered.
The top six teams would be seeded into the quarterfinals, and the bottom four would participate in the play-in games to earn spots in the quarterfinals.
• Hawai'i would need to win its final two home games — against Boise State on Thursday, and then Texas-El Paso on Saturday — to even have a chance of getting out of a play-in game. The 'Bows are 15-10 overall and 7-9 in the WAC.
At best, the 'Bows could finish the regular season tied with Louisiana Tech for sixth place at 9-9. Hawai'i would win the tie-breaker, thus taking the No. 6 spot.
• Fresno State could win the tournament championship and then have nowhere to go. The WAC must decide what to do in that scenario.
The Big Ten has a similar case. Michigan is ineligible for the NCAA Tournament, but will play in the conference tournament. If Michigan wins the Big Ten Tournament, the regular-season champ would instead get the automatic bid to the NCAAs.
But in the case of the WAC, Fresno State is the regular-season champ. If the Bulldogs win the WAC Tournament as well, there is speculation that the automatic bid will go to the second-place team from the regular season.
The WAC season concludes on Saturday, with at least four teams in the running for second place.
Haim's still hurt: UH center Haim Shimonovich is still receiving treatment on his sprained right ankle, and is not expected to play this week.
"He's walking on it, but it still hurts," Wallace said. "The main thing is to get him ready for the WAC (Tournament)."
Shimonovich, a 6-foot-10 junior, is averaging 8.1 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds per game. He injured his ankle in the first half of a loss at Tulsa last Thursday.
First 500 free: The first 500 UH students to show up for Saturday's home finale will receive free admission. Also, the first 2,500 fans through the turnstiles will receive a free team photograph.
The UH players will sign autographs after the game.
