2012 Western BracketBusters Schedule

Here is the full schedule for all western teams playing in BracketBusters matchups:

TV GAMES

Fri. Feb 17
Valparaiso (15-8) @ Loyola Marymount (13-9) | 7:00 pm MT - ESPN2

Sat. Feb 18

Drake (13-9) @ New Mexico State (15-7) | 1:00 pm MT - ESPNU

Nevada (18-3) @ Iona (17-5) | 2:00 pm MT - ESPN/2

Saint Mary's (21-2) @ Murray State (21-0) | 4:00 pm MT - ESPN/2

Texas-Arlington (15-5) @ Weber State (16-4) | 6:00 pm MT - ESPN3

Long Beach State (16-6) @ Creighton (20-2) | 8:00 pm MT - ESPN2

NON-TV GAMES

Larry Nance Jr channels his inner Jumpman

Even though San Diego State prevailed over Wyoming, despite a crazy journey to get to Laramie, Larry Nance Jr. still provided us with this nice nugget.

Big Sky Bracketbuster Predictions

Our man Jonathan Reed posted his predictions for what teams each Big Sky school will draw in this year's Bracketbusters in February.
http://www.bigskybball.com/2012/01/predictions-on-big-sky-bracket-buster.html

Western Hoops Update: Jan 6

Here's a round-up of all of last night's action, and where each western basketball conference stands heading into the weekend.

BIG SKY

Many Big Sky teams are falling behind early, as 5 of the 9 schools already have two conference losses.

WEBER STATE 76 EASTERN WASHINGTON 69

The Wildcats moved to 3-0 by picking up a win in their first conference road game of the year. The Cliffs (Ederaine and Colimon) scored 20 and 18 respectively for EWU, but it wasn't enough. Damian Lillard put Weber on his back down the stretch for the win, and ended with 30 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Lillard upped his nation-leading average to 25.5 PPG. Scott Bamforth added 19 of his own on 4-5 shooting from behind the arc.

Weber State (3-0) and Montana (2-0) are atop the conference, with Montana State and Northern Colorado having one loss each.

Brent Pease likely leaving Boise for Florida

Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun is reporting that Brent Pease will be the new offensive coordinator to replace Charlie Weis at Florida. (But that Will Muschamp texted him saying "nothing done.")

This news comes right on the heels of Chad Crippe tweeting (from the Idaho Statesman) that Pease was likely leaving to either Florida or Alabama. Pease came to Boise as a receivers coach when Chris Petersen took over as head coach in 2006, and became the offensive coordinator for 2011 after Bryan Harsin left for Texas.

Crippe reports that receivers coach Robert Prince will likely take over as offensive coordinator for Boise State.

CFB Epidemic: Trusting the Kicking Game

Donald Miralle/Getty Images

There are certainly plenty of things in which college football coaches have more knowledge and experience than I do. There is certainly a reason those coaches are coaching and I am not. But on display yesterday during our normally-New-Year's-Day fare of college football was a mind-numbing show of coaches trusting kickers to come through in the clutch.

To be clear: This isn't about inconsistent kickers. There are 120 FBS teams, and it appears not every school is able to find a consistent kicker. We're looking at the coaches who change the game, slow down their own offenses -- many times offenses that are rolling! -- and choose to settle for field goals. Case number one: