Damian Lillard gets an extra year of eligibility; is Weber State the best team in Utah?

Weber State got some big news on Wednesday.

Star guard Damian Lillard was granted a medical redshirt by the NCAA, meaning that he will be granted an extra year of eligibility for the 2012-2013 season. Lillard, who was averaging 21.5 ppg when he broke his foot on December 16th, only played in nine games, meaning he fell right on the 30% maximum that the NCAA requires for a medical redshirt.

Without their best player, the Wildcats still managed to finish 11-5 in the Big Sky, earning a trip to the CBI. Weber State loses two starters, but they return the rest of their rotation, including Scott Bamforth, a sharp shooting guard that had a couple of big games with Lillard on the shelf.


Weber State is going to be a good basketball team next season.

But could they be the best team in the basketball-mad state of Utah next year?

Utah is going to be down again. The Utes won just 13 games last year and just six in MWC play. They've had a slew of players transfer in the wake of Jim Boylen's exit and will be a member of the Pac-12 next season. BYU loses Jimmer Fredette and Jackson Emery to graduation, Kyle Collinsworth and Tyler Haws will miss next season on Mormon missions, and there is no definitive word on whether Brandon Davies will be back on the team next year. Utah State graduates just about everyone.

The Wildcats could very well be the flag-bearer for what will be a down year in college hoops in the Beehive State.