Jordan Richardson, WSU Freshman

October 18 When considering the outlook of Weber State men's basketball, one thing is certain: as long as we have Damian Lillard leading the team, the 'Cats will be a dominant force in the Big Sky Conference. But what happens when Lillard gets his diploma? Will the 'Cats still be able to dominate? And the question that maybe we should ask that will help answer these questions is, Is there a point guard already in the program that will be able to take over and run the team the way Lillard has?

When Jordan Richardson signed his letter-of-intent in November of 2009, the Wildcats may have found the man who will be able to run the team when Lillard moves on. Richardson attended Merrill West High School in Northern California where he averaged around 22 points per game as a senior. ESPN said the following of Richardson's skill set: "Richardson has all the physical attributes to play at the Division I level. He has a chiseled physique with solid speed, quickness, and bounce. His strong frame allows him to finish in the paint area and he loves to push it in transition." With this skill set, it is no wonder why Rahe recruited the kid. The rumors are that he will not red-shirt this year and will see some playing time. While it may be hard for him to see much time playing behind Lillard, Hughey, and JC transfer Bamforth, it will be interesting to see how Rahe plays him and how well he fits into the system as a true freshman. Below is a short Q&A he was kind enough to take the time to do with Weberhoops.com. Weber Hoops: How was your summer? Did you get to do anything fun? Jordan Richardson: My summer was pretty good, I didn't really do anything interesting, was working out the whole time. WH: How do you like college life so far? Is it anything like you expected? JR: I like it a lot so far. It's not like anything I expected though; you are busy all the time with school and basketball. WH: What is your favorite class so far? JR: I really don't have a favorite class right now. lol WH: Have you decided on a major yet? JR: I'm going into communications. WH: What is something about you that Weber fans probably don't know? Any hobbies or nicknames? JR: I like to hang out with my friends and watch movies. Everybody usually calls me Jrich. WH: Have you dunked on Trevor Morris yet? JR: Haha no i haven't yet. WH: I've heard speculation that you probably won't redshirt. What do you see your role being on the team this year? JR: Well it's kind of early to know my role now. I just try to go out and work hard everyday. WH: Now that the team is all back in Ogden and in school, do you guys get together to play ball much? How is the team looking? When do team practices officially start? JR: Yes we play pretty much everyday. Our team is looking really good right now. Official practice starts October 15. WH: How do you like playing with Lillard? Is there anything you think you can learn from playing with him? JR: I like playing with him a lot. It seems like he does everything well. I can learn just knowing how to run a team and our system. By Mark Berger For questions, comments, or thoughts, email me at mark@weberhoops.com

Weber State Goes to Boston

My little brother, Andrew, lives in Boston and was able to attend the recent Weber State v. Boston College football game. He wrote this blog for me.

WSU at Boston College

September 6 Heavy rains descended on Boston Friday night and into the early hours of Saturday morning, but by the time most New Englanders woke up, Hurricane Earl had left only clear skies, dry air and a blistering heat in its wake. The Weber State Wildcats made the 2,091 mile trek from Ogden to Boston a few days earlier to face the Boston College Eagles. BC fans didn�t seem too worried about their season opener. "I've never even heard of 'Wehbah State' before," was often said in regard to the game, "aren't they division 1?" Turns out, they didn't have much to worry about, as the Eagles pounced the Wildcats, 38-20. But the Wildcats didn't go down without a fight, and put on quite a game, gaining some respect from BC and its fans. Offensively they looked sharp. Despite being under constant pressure from BC's defensive line, Wildcat quarterback

Cameron Higgins played quite well completing 24/39 for 234 yards. He scrambled and found open receivers on several occasions. Unfortunately the pass game turned out to be Weber State's only edge. The Eagle's defensive line looked a lot like the Colonial forces during the first two advances by the British Regulars at the Battle of Bunker Hill (which took place 10 miles from BC's Alumni Stadium), allowing Weber to only run 104 yards on 39 carries. On the other side of the ball, BC was able to run for 188 yards on only 33 carries. Giant holes opened up in Weber's defense allowing BC to do some serious damage on the ground. Mental errors (Weber had 9 penalties, many of them false starts) and some key turnovers, including fumbling the ball in BC territory and an interception that was returned for a touchdown, didn't help Weber either. Weber State didn't give up. With less than two minutes remaining, Weber recovered a fumble and was able to score one last touchdown. And with 19 seconds remaining, down by 18, Weber still fought on, attempting an onside kick (which didn't recover). Overall the game was a good start to the Wildcat season. They can go back west having gained some valuable experience and with confidence that they will be a force to be reckoned with this year.

Q&A with Big Man Kyle Tresnak

Kyle Tresnak To Play True Freshman Year

August 29th Last year Weber State lost center Steve Panos to graduation. And this is Trevor Morris's last year as a Wildcat. We all know and expect Darin Mahoney to be a contributor at the center position this year and next, but who has coach Randy Rahe recruited as the next generation center? The answer is 6'10" big-man Kyle Tresnak. Tresnak, like fellow teammates Byron Fulton and Blake Davis, comes to Ogden from Arizona. It appears that this 225 pound freshman will likely see some playing time as a true freshman this year as well. Tresnak played his high school ball at Horizon High School where he proved he could score points (his season high was 30 points), block shots (10 in one game), and rebound (season high was 17). From what we've heard, WeberHoops is confident that Tresnak will be able to fit in nicely at Weber State and will continue its tradition of great centers. I plan on hearing his name mentioned along with great past Weber centers like Valeika, Allred, Patten, and Panos. Here is the Q&A that Tresnak recently did for WeberHoops.com. Weber Hoops: How has your summer been? Do anything fun? Kyle Tresnak: My summer has been great. I didn't really do anything special. I just worked out and hung out with my friends. WH: How much time have you been able to spend in Ogden so far? How have you liked it? KT: I was in Ogden for the month of June. I loved it. WH: What do you plan on majoring in? KT: Business. WH: Did you really swallow a tablespoon of cinnamon? How did that work out for you? KT: Haha. Yes I've done it 4 times. It's not that hard to do. WH: Can you tell us something about you that Weber fans probably don't know? Nicknames, hobbies, etc? KT: I have a brother that is going to NAU. WH: What do you think about joining a team with two Arizona guys already on it? KT: I'm excited. I played on the same AAU team with Blake Davis and watched the both of them through out my high school career. WH: We are glad you signed with Weber State. What helped you make the final decision to come to Weber? KT: The coaches were a main factor in my decision. They offered me my junior year and were always calling me and sending me letters. The players were also a main factor. I really felt like I could fit in when I was on my visit. WH: Any idea on whether you will play or redshirt this year? KT: As of now I am not going to redshirt, but I'm willing to do whatever the coaches want me to do. WH: Have you had the opportunity to work out and play with the other in-coming freshmen? Did anyone stand out to you? Do you have any insight on what we can expect to see out of the freshman class this year? KT: I got to play with them this June. They are solid players and great guys. We'll have to see when the season comes around. For questions, comments, or thoughts, email me at mark@weberhoops.com

Getting to Know Blake Davis

I wrote this for Weberhoops a few weeks ago and forgot to post it here. Enjoy. August 9th It has been almost two years since redshirt freshman, Blake Davis, committed to come to Ogden to play for Coach Randy Rahe and the Wildcats. Now that his redshirt year is over, he is anxious to get out on the court and show Wildcat fans he belongs on a Division I court. And should he catch Rahe's eye, he may very well get good minutes on the court this year.

Minutes from two of the three guard positions will be mostly taken by returning veterans, Damian Lillard and Lindsey Hughey. However, it appears that the third guard position is wide open for one of this year's younger players to claim. And Davis just might be the one to do so. When Davis committed to the Wildcats in September of 2008, Coach Rahe had good things to say. "Blake is a tough, hard-nosed. competitive kid. He plays extremely hard everyday and just knows how to play on both ends of the court." Rahe went on to describe Davis and the recruits he came with. He said, "We are really excited about having these players coming into our program. First off, they are all good students and work hard in the classroom. They are all high character individuals, good citizens and will be good teammates. Each of them has a bright future ahead of them here at Weber State. Davis was kind enough to respond to a few questions I emailed him. Based on his responses, I think Rahe knew what he was talking about. Weber Hoops: How has your summer been? Blake Davis: Summer's been good, and really nice to be home with the fam. WH: Is it true you work on a farm? How did you get that job? Have you always been a farmer? BD: Haha. I went to Oklahoma to visit my mom's side of the family, and while I was out there, I worked on their farm. When I'm at home, I work for my buddy's mom. They have horses, goats, chickens, roosters, pigs, turkeys, and a barn, so I just keep things clean there, and do some handy work. Just pretty much anything that needs fixing. WH: Is there something you can tell WSU fans about yourself that we don't know? Hobbies, nicknames, or anything like that? BD: Haha. I can't think of anything. WH: What have you been doing with basketball this summer? BD: I've been lifting with my strength coach, shooting at my old high school, and playing at different open runs throughout Arizona. WH: Last year you were on the team as a redshirt. This year as a redshirt freshman you will be able to play in games. How exciting is this for you? BD: I'm very excited to be playing this year. It was hard to sit through all those games last year, knowing I wasn't going to be able to get in there and play. Now that I have gone through the redshirt year, I'm glad I did it. But now it's time to get in there and hoop. WH: Have you had the opportunity to meet the incoming freshmen and JC transfer Bamforth yet? BD: I met those guys while I was at Weber for June. They're really good guys, and Kyle Tresnek is actually from Arizona. I work out with him when we are home. WH: There is going to be a lot of youth and inexperienced players on the team this year. Who do you expect to step up and contribute this year? BD: Dame is definitely going to step up and be a key factor in our season. I also think Trev will have a good senior season and bring a lot of leadership. WH: How do you hope to contribute this year? BD: I hope to bring some fire and enthusiasm to the court. Do the little things to help our team win and knock down shots. WH: Can we expect to see Rahe and the Wildcats go dancing this year? BD: Oh yeah definitely.

Getting to Know Scott Bamforth

Weberhoops.com is excited to see what Scott Bamforth, JC transfer out of Western Nebraska CC, will bring to this year's squad. The only JC transfer in this year's recruiting class, Bamforth comes highly touted. Bamforth was planning on playing his sophomore year with Western Nebraska before a season-ending elbow injury prevented that from happening. While this was most likely devastating to him, it can be seen as a positive for the 'Cats. Now, instead of having Bamforth for only 2 years, Weber will have him for 3. In Bamforth's freshman year for Western Nebraska, he played great, averaging over 18 points per game with a 45.5% field goal percentage; he shot 41% from behind the arc, sinking 88 thee-pointers; and he was an 80% free throw shooter. If this these stats carry over to DI basketball, Bamforth will be a familiar and exciting face on the court for the next three years.

I sent Bamforth a few questions via email and he was kind enough to respond. Enjoy!

Weber Hoops: How has your summer been? Did you get to do anything fun?

Scott Bamforth: My summer has been pretty good, I've just been working out and getting ready for the season to come. I've been taking some summer classes so my summer hasn't been to exciting, but I think it has been very productive.

WH: Your Facebook status says you are engaged. Congratulations! When is the wedding?

SB: Yea I am engaged and our wedding is planned for July 15th, 2011 so it should be an exciting experience in my life and we are really excited.

WH: How do you and Kendra like Ogden?

SB: Me and Kendra are excited to be out here in Ogden. We have enjoyed our summer so far. Ogden is a place that reminds us of our hometowns, which Kendra is from Denver and I am from Albuquerque, so we are familiar with having mountains really close to us.

WH: What is your major?

SB: My major is Human Performance Management.

WH: Can you tell us something about you that the Weber fans probably don't know? Hobbies, nicknames, anything like that?

SB: When I'm not playing basketball or working out, I enjoy playing video games and watching movies. I also enjoy going home and seeing my family whenever I get the chance to because they are the ones who helped me get to where I am at in my life.

WH: Last year you suffered an elbow injury. How is it feeling now?

SB: My elbow is pretty much back to 100%; it has been a long process and going through surgery wasn't the funnest thing to do but I feel I have worked hard to get back to normal and I am ready to get the season going.

WH: How do you see yourself fitting in with the team this year? What do you see your role being?

SB: This year I think we have a great chance to be very good. I think that the returning players will be ready to get back at it, especially after the hard loss that they went through at the end of the season last year. We have all been working hard, getting ready for the season and I think all of this hard work is going to pay off. I see myself fitting in really good with the team and I am willing to take on any role that I can. I can't predict what role I will have as of now, but I think that as practice starts and the season comes closer, I will be able to find my role and help the team win.

WH: There are going to be a lot of young, new players on the court this year. Do you have an idea of which ones will step up and get some playing time?

SB: I think that there are going to be a lot of new, young players who will step up and play good this year. But like I said before, as the season comes around each one of us will be able to identify our roles and we will be able to try and help this team get to where we want to go. I think that everybody on the team will have to step up if we want to win, and I think we have the talent and willingness to do that, so I am really excited.

Tourney Time

Got My Tourney Tickets!

It's official. I have my two tickets for the Big Sky tournament--a ticket for the semi final round on the 9th and a ticket for the championship game on the 10th. I know it may seem somewhat presumptuous for me to buy a ticket for the championship game when I still don't know for certain that the Wildcats will be playing in it. Even my boss was giving me a hard time for requesting to take off work a little early on the 10th to see Weber play in the championship.

I guess I figured it was bad etiquette, bad luck, bad karma or something like that to not go ahead and plan on the Big Sky champions playing in the finals of the Big Sky Championship. And besides that, I do feel very confident that Coach Rahe and the boys will get it done this year. I feel good about their chances of winning the championship and going dancing for several reasons.


1. Weber State is hosting the tournament at the Dee Events Center. The Wildcat's have yet to lose a conference game at home this season. They are a perfect 8-0 in the Purple Palace. Having the largest fan base and an always rowdy student section can only strengthen the home court advantage.

2. Big Sky MVP, Damian Lillard, and Big Sky Newcomer of the Year, Franklin Session. Weber State is the best team in the league because they have the best player in the League. Lillard, though only a sophomore, leads the Big Sky in points per game. He has managed to do this while all year having to face double-teams and defensive schemes designed with the sole purpose of stopping him. Session brings non-stop energy to the team and the arena. If he gets a breakaway dunk early, you can bet on a big night from him. One thing that I have observed all season long is that if both Session and Lillard are on, the Wildcats are virtually unstoppable.

3. The Seniors. Throughout much of this season Nick Hansen and Steve Panos have been somewhat overshadowed by Lillard's ability to score almost at will. Just because they may not be the best players on the team doesn't mean that they aren't great. In fact it was their senior leadership, maturity and poise that carried this team through the last four games of the season. And it was these seniors that were instrumental in beating UNC in a high stakes game and in leading the Wildcats in a blowout of Idaho State to clinch the Big Sky title. In the UNC game the two combined for 16-19 shooting. Panos scored 29 points and Hansen scored 18 on a perfect 6-6 shooting night from behind the arc. Since that game, Hansen has been on a 3-point shooting hot streak--he's made 22 out of his last 30 attempts!

4. Coach Rahe. His nickname isn't "The Wizard of Weber" for nothing. Rahe's Wildcats have been Big Sky Champions three of the last four years. Rahe has shown a consistency of excellence here at Weber. A gambler would be a fool to bet against this two-time coach of the year.

Some may think I'm cocky or at least a fool for having spent money on a game I can't be sure the Wildcats will even be in. But that's a risk I'm willing to take. On the 10th I may have ripped my championship ticket up and thrown it away, and maybe I will find myself at home watching two teams that aren't Weber State playing for the championship on national television. But I don't think that is going to be the case. I think this cocky fool will be at the Dee Events Center watching the Wildcats take the tournament trophy and clinching a spot in the NCAA tournament where they will be doing some dancing.