The Associated Press reports that U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan pushed a proposal Wednesday to bar men's college basketball teams from postseason play if they fail to graduate 40 percent of their players, an idea that didn't go over well with the NCAA and coaches preparing for March Madness.

If the rule were put into place right now, 12 NCAA Tournament teams would be booted: Maryland (8 percent graduation rate), California (20 percent), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (29 percent), Washington (29 percent), Tennessee (30 percent), Kentucky (31 percent), Baylor (36 percent), Missouri (36 percent), WAC member New Mexico State (36 percent), Clemson (37 percent), Georgia Tech (38 percent) and Louisville (38 percent).

Coaches, of course, were critical of the proposal. Read the full story here.

Twice Fresno State had the opportunity to take the lead late in the game, but the best shooting team in the conference couldn't get a shot to fall.

Despite its opportunities, No. 1 seed Fresno State fell 68-66 to No. 2 seed Louisiana Tech in the Western Athletic Conference finals Saturday inside the Lawlor Events Center.

LaShay Fears' layup caromed off the bucket as the buzzer sounded and Tech's players stormed to the center of the court. After receiving their white championship hats, the Tech players celebrated in front of their booming band, waving white towels as they danced. The Bulldogs watched from their bench, dejected.

Tech's win shatters Fresno State's 19-game winning streak and its attempt to win three straight WAC tournament titles. It may not, however, shatter the Bulldogs' hopes of going to the NCAA Tournament. Bulldogs coach Adrian Wiggins said his team should still get an at-large bid to the tournament.

"I don't think an 11 seed is inappropriate," he said. "That's about where we're at."

Follow all my tweets from the WAC tournament @scoopysports

FS likes to let the other team get the tip so it can focus on playing defense from the start. They've been doing it all season. So Tech tips it to them, and then FS forward Hayley Munro kicks it out of bounds ... good stuff.

Shot clock didn't work to start the game ... "Come on clock let's go!" chant rose from the Tech band.

Sidenote: I wish the bands would play better music. I've been listening to the same songs all week. I'm done. I long for Grambling or Southern to step into this gym.

Fresno State playign really good defense to start the game...

No. 1 seed Fresno State is playing for its third straight WAC tournament title and its 20th straight win in a few minutes versus No. 2 Louisiana Tech.

FS won both of the regular season contests, the last coming in overtime. This should be another close one.

Was just handed the ballot for All-WAC tournament team. Right now I have it as a toss-up between Fresno State's Jaleesa Ross and Tech's Adrienne Johnson for MVP. If both players play well in the finals, I'll likely give it to the winner.

Johnson has the better stats:

Johnson leads all ladies with 25.5 points in two games. Ross has averaged 20 points in two games. Ross has 7.5 rebounds to Johnson's 6.5. But Johnson has 2.5 blocks per game, 4.5 assists and 3.5 steals: all more than Ross.

Idaho women's basketball coach Jon Newlee WENT OFF on the officials in his postgame news conference following Fresno State's 80-66 win over the Vandals. He's expected to be publicly reprimanded by WAC commish Karl Benson shortly.

After praising Fresno State for its win, Newlee started throwing haymakers at the refs -- all before the first question was asked.

"A team like that certainly doesn't need the help of the officials," he began. "Tonight was probably one of the most horrendous, one-sided jobs of officiating that I've been inviolved in and I've been invoved in a lot of postseason tournaments in my 21, 22 years.
Absolutely horrible. I'm embarassed for our league, and I'm embarassed for our kids that we had to go and be subjected to that. Fresno state doesn't need any help. They're good enough on their own. How that thing went down with those officials is beyond me.
It was just bad. Like I said, horrendous officiating.

Asked if he planned to take the issue up with the WAC, Newlee continued.

Yeah, I said ONLY 10! What?

I really expected the Bulldogs to blow the Vandals out of the water, and they did early.

The Bulldogs led 10-0 to start the game. The Vandals turned the ball over four times and missed their first four shots, three of which were 3-pointers.

When the Bulldogs subbed in three reserve players, the Vandals began to battle back, pulling within four points at 13-9. The Bulldogs and Vandals took turns surging the rest of the half. It's now 42-32 at halftime.

Keep in mind, the Bulldogs stomped the Vandals twice this regular season.

Highlight of the first half was LaShay Fears breaking down a Vandals player off the dribble. Fears crossed over on Shaena Kuehu and she kneeled down and had to put a hand on the floor to regain her balance. Hilarious.

The lowlight: the Bulldogs have missed way too many shots from point-blank range. They're shooting 31% right now.

After his loss Thursday to Utah State, Boise State coach Greg Graham said he felt good about his chacnes of being retained.

He was terribly off. Boise State fired Graham Friday.

Graham took over the men's program prior to the 2002-03 season and guided the Broncos to a 142-112 record during his tenure. But Boise State went 15-17, 5-11 this season and ended the season with an 84-60 loss to Utah State.

Hawaii also fired men's coach Bob Nash this offseason. Hawaii finished last in the conference and missed the conference tournament.

RENO, Nev. -- The No. 1 seed Fresno State women's basketball team had a walk-through at 7 a.m. this morning to prepare for its WAC tournament semifinal showdown with No. 4 seed Idaho. (OK, it shouldn't really be a "showdown." It'll be more like domination, but whatever.)

No balls were available for the team so they grabbed a sweatshirt, taped it into a ball and used it to run through their offense. Now that's dedication. LOL Nothing this team does suprises me at this point. Actually, the only thing that would suprise me right now would be for the Bulldogs to lose.

What's your prediction? Because I think it's going to be Fresno State 70, Idaho 57. And that's being kind to Idaho.

Fresno State beat Idaho 85-38 and 72-64 this season. It's not like Idaho had two players maimed in those games, the Bulldogs just rolled them up. Wild.

The tip is coming shortly here at the Lawlor Events Center ... talk to you soon.

RENO, Nev. -- So to recap the day: Paul George is gonna test the NBA waters, Mike Ladd got an early trip back to Fresno and the women's basketball team really knows how to hold grudges.

Guard Mike Ladd was suspended from the Fresno State men's basketball team for violating athletic department policy and sent home from the WAC tournament before the Bulldogs' quarterfinals game. The rest of the team soon followed him after losing to LaTech 74-66.

George said he will test the NBA waters, then posted on his twitter page: "League time!"

Later he wrote, "Testing the waters my tweets but I'm leanin towards leavin to the draft."

If George goes, this team's gonna be in BIG trouble. Scouts seem split on him, though. We'll see what he decides to do. He has about two months (until May 8) to make his decision ... or in other words to convince NBA teams fully of his talent. George definitely has the potential to make it big.

The only good news for Fresno State coming out of this tournament is from the women's team, which is a beast. The Bulldogs stay focused no matter what opponent they face. You know who they remind me of? Boise State football.