While You Were Sleeeping, President Obama Watched West Coast Hoops

Not too many college hoops fans among US presidents. I remember President Clinton took in some Arkansas games, but other than that, who? President Barack Obama is evidently only the second sitting president to take in an NCAA game, after watching brother-in-law Craig Robinson coach Oregon State to a win over George Washington on Saturday. Accompanying POTUS were wife Michelle, daughters Sasha and Malia, and Craig and Michelle's mom Miriam.

Wasn't Obama's first look at the Beavers, as the team had visited the White House the day before, where POTUS surprised them with a pep talk. "He said to go out there and be loose," related senior guard Seth Tarver. "Any time the President of the United States gives you an order like that you have to go out and follow it." (Unless you are Jack Bauer.)

Oregon State did Obama proud by beating GW 64-57. Tarver led the Beavers with 18 points.

Shot of the Week
After #20 Illinois missed a three-point attempt in a tie game with 3 seconds left, Utah's Jay Watkins delivered a perfect outlet pass to teammate Shawn Glover, who hit a running layup to give the Utes an unlikely victory. "That was my first game-winner ever," said freshman Glover.

76 Classic: Portland Up, UCLA Down.
Hard to believe it still, but UCLA really did lose all three games at the 76 Classic -- essentially home games as they were played in Anaheim. The Bruins absorbed a 27-point beat down by Portland, came back the next day with a good effort against Butler (they lost at the buzzer) and then fell to Long Beach State on Saturday. Of the three teams, only Butler had ever beaten the Bruins, and that 50 years ago. RealTime RPI puts the Bruins at #183, looking up at some schools with just a few less NCAA titles, like Youngstown State and Hofstra. Combined with the football team's blowout loss to USC, Nestor of Bruins Nation called this "the ugliest weekend in UCLA athletics in last 20+ years. I have been a Bruin hard core since the late 80s, and I don't recall anything like this." Meanwhile, Portland's wins over UCLA and Minnesota earned the Pilots a top 25 ranking for the first time in 50 years. Could the Pilots challenge Gonzaga's run of 11 straight WCC regular-season titles? Hard not to starting looking forward to January 9, when the Zags visit Portland.

One Favorite Frosh
Tyler Haws, BYU (right). This true freshman just looks comfortable on the court. Sorry. I can't describe it better than that. The son of former BYU PG Marty, Haws is always around the ball, or moving without it, making good things happen. He started the season on the Cougars' bench, but has worked his way into the starting lineup after just two games.

Gonzaga's Back, and They're Brawnier
The Zags swept through the Maui Invitational with wins over power conference teams Colorado, Wisconsin and Cincinnati. The latter was the most impressive, as Gonzaga triumphed without contributions from Matt Bouldin, who Cinci frosh Lance Stephenson held to 1-7 shooting. Coach Mark Few credited Gonzaga's success to a new-found toughness. "This group likes to hit and they don't mind to hit ...I think in the past that might have bothered some of our guys, but it doesn't bother Rob (Sacre) and Elias (Harris). I think they kind of enjoy it." Sacre saved the win over Cinci, leaping to block an alleyoop attempt at the buzzer.

Praise So Faint You'd Need the Hubble To See It
Colorado State coach Tim Miles on his team's win over Mayville State: "With a few exceptions we looked like a basketball team that looked like we knew what we were doing."

NCAA Hoops: Where Felony Assault's Okay, Just Don't Compromise Your Amateur Status
In 2006, UCLA forward Nikola Dragovic was suspended for 10 games after the NCAA determined he'd played for (but received no money from) a Serbian pro team. Now, Dragovic faces felony assault charges after allegedly pushing a man through a plate-glass window, severing the guy's Achilles' tendon (OUCH!). Dragovic's suspension? Just two games. UCLA brass say there are extenuating circumstances and they're waiting for the justice system to do its magic.

Washington State So Thankful for Hoops
Wazzu's football team just completed a putrid 1-11 season with a demoralizing, 30-0 loss to rivals Washington. The hoops team, in contrast, is one of two unbeaten teams in the Pac-10 after winning the Alaska Shootout over the weekend. The Cougs crushed San Diego 93-56 in the title game, led by Klay Thompson's 43 points. "That's what a pro looks like," said San Diego coach Bill Grier. The 6'6" sophomore's outburst broke Glenn Robinson's tournament scoring record, and propelled Thompson to the nation's scoring lead at 28.3 ppg.

Another Favorite Frosh
Derrick Williams, Arizona. True frosh post Williams is second on the 'Cats in scoring after Nic Wise. He had 25 of Arizona's 61 points in loss to Wisconsin, and received this praise from ESPN's countryfied commentator, Jimmy Dykes: "Derrick Williams does not go to the post because a coach told him to. Derrick Williams goes to the post because he wants the dadgum ball."

Honey, Why Is Your Old Coach in our Backyard?
In rebuilding a program stung by NCAA academic penalties, Wyoming coach Heath Schroyer can't just worry about the basketball lives of his players. Their academic lives are important, too. Which of course relates to their personal lives. Where does it end? For Schoryer, it doesn't. "I'd like to be a part of these guys' lives forever," Schroyer tells the Laramie Boomerang. "I want to go to their weddings, and I want to know about their first-born children."

Now It Begins
The Weber State Wildcats, favorites in the Big Sky conference, lost their first three games and were trailing Division II Western State by eight points in the second half of game four when they evidently decided to stop sucking. The Wildcats went on a 35-6 run over the next ten minutes, blowing past their Orwellianly-named opponents for their first win of the year.

The Undefeateds
Northern Colorado (6-0) Next up: Colorado St., @ Montana St., @ Montana.
Washington State (6-0) Next up: @ Gonzaga, @ Kansas State, Idaho.
New Mexico (6-0) Next up: Cal, New Mexico St., @ San Diego
Washington (5-0) Next up: @ Texas Tech, Cal-State Northridge, Georgetown
UNLV (5-0) Next up: @ Arizona, @ Santa Clara, Kansas St.
BYU (5-0) Next up: @ Utah St., San Francisco Arizona St.
UC Santa Barbara (4-0) Next up: Santa Clara, San Diego St., @ Montana St.
Cal-State Fullerton (3-0) Next up: @ Central Arkansas, @ Stephen F. Austin, @ San Diego St.

Games of the Week
Tues: Santa Clara @ UC Santa Barbara, 7pm
Weds: Washington State @ Gonzaga, 6pm FSN NW
Thurs: USC @ Texas, 6pm ESPN2
Fri: Colorado @ Oregon State 8pm FSN
Sat: Wake Forest @ Gonzaga, ESPN2; Northern Colorado @ Montana 6pm
Sun: Portland @ Idaho 5pm SWX
Mon: Long Beach St. @ Texas 6pm ESPNU

West in the Polls
AP: Washington #12, Gonzaga #17, UNLV #24, Portland #25. Also receiving votes: BYU, Cal, New Mexico, Arizona St., Washington St., Cal State Fullerton,
Coaches: Washington #10, Gonzaga #16, UNLV #21, Cal #25. Also receiving votes: Portland, BYU, Arizona St., Washington St., New Mexico, St. Mary's, Utah St.
Mid-Major: Gonzaga #1, Portland #3, St. Mary's #13, Cal State Fullerton #18, Long Beach St. #19, Northern Colorado #23.