Wyoming welcomes Shyatt back to Laramie

The University of Wyoming welcomed back a former coach today by hiring Florida assistant coach Larry Shyatt. Shyatt previously coached the Cowboys in 1997-98 before taking the head coaching job at Clemson.  He became known in his most recent job, assistant to Billy Donovan at Florida since 2004, as a defensive specialist.

Having gone 19-9 in his only season at Wyoming, Shyatt will be charged with improving on the 10-21 record the Pokes posted in their 2010-11 campaign. Wyoming was said to be one of the few jobs for which Shyatt would consider leaving Florida.

Reports from Sports By Brooks earlier today said that Shyatt was on board but was waiting for the university to commit to better salaries for assistants and an increased recruiting budget that would put Wyoming near the top of the Mountain West Conference. It is also expected that current UCLA assistant Scott Duncan will join Shyatt. The two would combine to have over 65 years of college coaching experience.

Shyatt's salary is reported to be $190,000 a year, with the maximum possibility of $645,000/year if all incentives are met.

UNLV, BYU hold on to their coaches; Utah, Wyoming still searching

Our sources have confirmed that BYU and basketball coach Dave Rose are almost done with a contract extension that will keep Rose in Provo. (It has also been confirmed by a previously-proven-as-reliable Twitter source). Rose had serious talks with Oklahoma and was rumored at places like Utah, among others.  He was reported to have been initially unhappy with BYU's move to the West Coast Conference. However, a new contract extension combined with other factors (such as the school's loyalty and support to Rose during his battle with cancer) seem that they will be enough to keep him around. Sources indicate the only thing that might stop this from happening is a sudden, very unexpected offer from a major player closer to his home state of Texas.

Ryan Greene of the Las Vegas Sun reported earlier today that while Oklahoma did contact UNLV coach Lon Kruger, the coach will be staying in Vegas, via these...three...tweets. Greene's information indicates that Kruger will stay in Vegas despite other offers other than that from Oklahoma.

Elsewhere, Wyoming officials are in Atlanta to meet with Florida assistant Larry Shyatt, and some are expecting the job to be offered for the former Wyoming coach to return. Wyoming's search for a new coach is going on almost two months now.

And at Utah, the Utes have obtained permission to speak with current Nets assistant and former Montana head coach Larry Krystowiak about their opening. Other names like Mark Gottfried seem to still be in the mix.

Fiesta Bowl CEO Junker dismissed

Fiesta Bowl CEO John Junker has been dismissed from his position after the conclusion of an investigation on how he used bowl funds for political donations and personal birthday parties. The New York Times has the details on the investigation.

***UPDATE***
The BCS has issued a statement saying that the Fiesta Bowl must demonstrate to the BCS why it should remain a BCS bowl.  For now, the Fiesta Bowl has three years left on its current contract with the BCS.

Dream seasons come to an end for SDSU, BYU

Mark J.  Terill (KC Star)

After the most successful seasons in this era for BYU, and in a program's history for San Diego State, campaigns for both schools came to an end Thursday night as both fell in the Sweet 16.  Both losses kept the Mountain West Conference from sending a representative to the round of 8, an elusive feat still to be accomplished for any school in the conference's history.

For San Diego State, its game with UConn was close throughout, with the Aztecs countering two key runs from UConn.  But its balanced offensive attack was not enough to counteract the onslaught from POY candidate Kemba Walker and impressive freshman Jeremy Lamb, as UConn prevailed 74-67.

Spring Notes: Colorado State football

With Colorado State ready to kick off spring camp tomorrow, here is a look at promising freshman QB Pete Thomas and a Q+A with head coach Steve Fairchild.

Utah coaching search continues

After firing Jim Boylen (much to the chagrin of fans who enjoy awkward press conferences and funny sound bites), Utah's search for a men's basketball coach continues.  St. Mary's head man Randy Bennett was rumored early on, even before Boylen had been fired, as a potential-and-interested candidate in Salt Lake.

Yesterday, Utah blogger BlockU reported that Utah and Bennett were in negotiations and that things had progressed to more than just contact and meetings, that Bennett seemed ready to accept the job.  Today, however, sources indicated that Bennett is now passing on the job.

The rumor mill has been somewhat slow and silent for this particular job search, but other names rumored to be connected with the job search are former Alabama coach Mark Gottfried and current LSU coach Trent Johnson. Other coaches loosely associated/rumored with the open job are BYU's Dave Rose and Dave Rice, Lon Kruger, and former Oregon coach Ernie Kent.

On Rivalries and Hate

Here at The Upset, we appreciate thoughtful, civil fans who can discuss the strengths, weaknesses, and merits of their own teams, rivals, and any other team out there without resorting to lame name calling, stereotypes, and weak/illogical arguments to put another team down.  Today, Spencer Checketts of ESPN 700 AM in Salt Lake, home of University of Utah sports, posted a thoughtful piece on what rivalries should mean, framed in the context of the Utah-BYU rivalry in which he roots and reports, after being called "pathetic," a "traitor," and likened to a "terrorist" for being a Jimmer fan despite his Ute fanhood. We second his thoughts.

WAC releases 2011 football schedules

As we await March Madness to return this Thursday, the WAC finalized and released its conference football schedule, completing the slate for each WAC squad's 2011 schedule. Here are links to each WAC school's schedule courtesy of FBSchedules.com:

Fresno State || Hawaii || Idaho || Louisiana Tech || Nevada

New Mexico State || San Jose State || Utah State

UPSET Probabilities & Predictions: Round 1

If you, like us, crave upsets like Chunk from the Goonies craves chocolate, you would like for nothing more than a first round entirely full of upsets. You still hope and pray for a 16-seed to beat a 1-seed, and anytime a 16-seed is hanging around, you root for them like your own team is about to win the title. Your heart was crushed into pieces when Gordon Hayward's half-court rainbow of beauty against Duke rimmed out. You will be rooting along with us for a feast of mid-major success. If this is you, here is a historical look at THE UPSET in the NCAA Tournament, and our thoughts on what teams are primed to win in the first round:

WAC Tournament Preview

The WAC Tournament is underway at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

At first glance, the 2011 WAC Tournament is not the sexiest of conference bills. Utah State was the runaway winner of the regular season title. The Aggies hold a national ranking, and have been the dominant team in the conference for the past four years. For the fourth consecutive season, head coach Stew Morrill’s squad is the number one seed in the conference tournament. The result is but a foregone conclusion, right?
Not if recent tournament history is any indicator.

Zach takes a look at how the Tourney may play out. Click the Title for a link to the DFN site.

Big Sky semifinals: Montana, No. Colorado advance

AP/Jack Dempsey

The top seeds have held serve in the Big Sky tournament, leading to a title-game matchup of the league's two best teams, Northern Colorado and Montana, on Wednesday night. But it wasn't exactly pretty for either school.

[2] MONTANA 57

[3] WEBER STATE 40

The first matchup of the night was basketball in its worst form. Northern Colorado students, who were awaiting their school's matchup in the night cap, broke into a "This is boring .... This is boring" chant on two occasions in the first half. Normally you could chalk it up to a good college heckling, but in this case, it was solid commentary.

MWC Tournament Preview

No conference outside the “Power 6” in college basketball has received more attention this season than the Mountain West. With two squads who have remained in the top ten for two consecutive months; the front-runner for National Player of the Year; and a surprising suspension of an important player for unique reasons, various events have put the conference in the forefront of the national college basketball conversation on many occasions. Just how will a banner year in the Mountain West Conference end? All nine squads head to the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, to find out.


Read more > from our Zach Bloxham at Dash Fans Network

WCC Title Game: Meet the new boss, same as the old boss

There is only one sheriff in the West Coast Conference, and its name is Gonzaga. Gonzaga defeated St. Mary's in Vegas 75-63 on Monday night to claim the WCC tournament crown. Here's the recap, courtesy of our Zach Bloxham.

Big Sky Semifinal Previews

The Big Sky is set to crown its auto-bid champion over the next two days. After first-round matchups, the top 4 seeds have advanced to Greeley, Colorado, home of Northern Colorado.  Here is a look at Tuesday's semifinal matchups:

[3] WEBER STATE (18-11) vs [2] MONTANA (20-9)

 Tues. 3/8 -- 5:30 pm MT -- Altitude TV

WCC Tourney Semifinal Recaps

Recaps of WCC Semifinal action in Vegas, from our own Zach Bloxham posted on Dash Fans Network:

Saint Mary's 73, Santa Clara 64


Gonzaga 71, San Francisco 67

WCC Tournament Preview

West Coast Conference Tournament Preview from our own Zach Bloxham and the one-and-only Matt Zemek. Click the title for a link to the DFN sports site.

Big Sky Tournament Schedule

Below is the full schedule for the Big Sky Tournament:

Big Sky picture clarified, WAC gets more muddled, BYU shellshocked

Standard Examiner

Wednesday's action finished the Big Sky regular season, and the Big Sky tourney is headed to Greeley, Colorado; the crazy WACtion nears its end; and BYU suffered a massive beatdown at the hands of New Mexico in its first game without big man Brandon Davies.

BYU big man Davies suspended for rest of season