Photo. Utah State University

Last year (Dime #28) we debuted the “Player’s Ball” college hoops preview, where we went to some of the NCAA’s best players and had them preview their own conferences. This year we did it again (Dime #37), but since we didn’t have room in the mag for some of the mid-majors, we’re dropping them on DimeMag.com along with the big boys. Today, Utah State sharpshooter Jaycee Carroll breaks down the WAC:

THE EXPERT: Jaycee Carroll, Utah State, Sr., SG
Arguably the most accurate shooter in the nation, Carroll hit on almost 53 percent of his attempts from the field last season and 43 percent from long range, while his 21.3 points per game ranked 10th in the country. He annihilated New Mexico State with a 44-point outing, then dropped 30 on Reggie Theus’ former team in the next meeting. He also pulled down 6.3 rebounds per game, impressive for a 6-2, 175-pound guard. Carroll briefly put his name in the ‘07 NBA Draft before coming back to Utah State, where he is only 391 points shy of becoming the school’s all-time leading scorer.

EXPERT OPINION: “WAC games stretch the span of the country – from Louisiana to New Mexico and all the way to Hawaii. We cover a lot of ground, but everywhere we play, we see really good execution. That’s one thing that sets the WAC apart: it’s a team-oriented style of play, where people run sets to get shots for specific guys.

“That’s [Utah State's] strength, offensive execution. We’re in the top three or four in field goal percentage in the nation each season. Coach (Stew) Morrill has helped us improve beyond our usual ability to shoot the ball with some big guys who play on both sides of the floor in the paint. Gary Wilkinson (PF, Jr.) is a junior college All-American from Salt Lake CC. Tai Wesley (Fr.) will definitely make an immediate impact as a swingman.

“A lot of people looking at the WAC don’t have Nevada picked [to win] because of the loss of Nick Fazekas and Ramon Sessions, but Coach Mark Fox does a very good job of getting them organized. They return Marcelus Kemp (SG, 18.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg) and Lyndale Burleson (PG, Jr.), who gave me a tough time when he guarded me. Even though he’s ineligible until December, he’s another piece that will make a difference. One other guy who everyone has to keep their eye on is New Mexico State’s Justin Hawkins (SF, 15.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg). He’s definitely up there in the Player of the Year hunt. But the first thing that comes to my mind are their big guys. Reggie Larry (PF, 14.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg) and Matt Nelson (PF, 13.5 ppg, 8.9 rpg) are also so tough inside for Boise State. They move so well for bigs that it causes problems for people. I could see those guys keeping Boise State in the running.”

Player’s Ball archive
11/8 – SEC (Ronald Steele, Alabama)
11/7 – Missouri Valley (Daniel Ruffin & Jeremy Crouch, Bradley)
11/6 – ACC (DeMarcus Nelson, Duke)
11/5 – Mountain West (Brandon Ewing, Wyoming)
11/2 – Big 12 (A.J. Abrams, Texas)