Kansas: Watch Your Mouth

Watch Your Mouth: Kansas assistant coach Joe Dooley was unhappy about the result of the Jayhawks’ 72-70 loss to Nevada and with words he heard Wolf Pack star Nick Fazekas say to a teammate. Instead of shaking hands, Dooley cursed at Fazekas, which was obvious to all because ESPN televised the game. Afterward, Dooley apologized to the Wolf Pack and Fazekas in particular, citing an emotional rush after the close game ended on a controversial lack of a call when Fazekas swatted a shot from C.J. Giles in the closing seconds. Whatever Fazekas said to Ramon Sessions clearly rubbed Dooley the wrong way.
[12/07/05]

Jimmy V Classic

Jimmy V Classic Has Contrasting Matchups

by Phil Kasiecki

NEW YORK – It was a contrast of matchups: two inexperienced teams looking for what might be a breakout win, followed by two teams projected to be among the nation’s best prior to the season. The Jimmy V Classic brought us a look into two worlds of college basketball, which are fast becoming one as more young players are forced to play key roles on many teams.

St. Joseph’s 70, Kansas 67

In the first game, St. Joseph’s and Kansas hooked up in a game that was a mismatch a year ago. The Jayhawks opened the Hawks’ season with a 91-51 thumping in Lawrence, a game that St. Joseph’s head coach Phil Martelli said he “must have missed” when asked about it after the game. But as much as he insisted, he must have had some flashbacks in the early going when freshman Brandon Rush scored 10 of 13 straight Jayhawk points to give them an early 17-4 lead.

Then things started to turn around. The Hawks would start to come back, then score seven straight points to get within 21-18, and suddenly it looked like a ballgame. The Jayhawks would then go on an 11-2 run to get it back to 32-20, before the Hawks scored 11 of the last 13 points of the half to get within 34-31.

That, Kansas head coach Bill Self said, was the deciding part of the game.

“We lost the game the last two minutes of the first half – we’re up 11, we go in up three,” he said after the game. “I told our team with 2:27 left, we’re up 11, and that 11 could be five or it could be 15, and that’s the difference between winning or losing. Instead of five, it was three.”

The second half was the time for Hawk senior Chet Stachitas to shine. After keying their first half runs with either baskets or assists, he would score 17 of his career-high 27 points in the second half. More importantly, every basket seemed to be in the clutch. He put them up 42-39 with a three-pointer, then made key shots that would stave off charges by the Jayhawks and broke another tie with a three-pointer that gave them a 56-53 lead.

In the end, while both teams were more experienced, St. Joseph’s had the senior leadership with Stachitas and Dwayne Lee (13 points, seven assists) to push them to the victory. The Hawks also got a nice boost from Ahmad Nivins (11 points, five rebounds), who came off the bench in the first half to get them going.

Martelli spoke of Stachitas as an old-school player, and he certainly fit that description on Tuesday night.

“He’s the type of player people should enjoy because he plays the way we all used to play,” he said. “He is always in motion.”

The win not only puts the Hawks at 4-1, it also gives them a momentum boost heading into a difficult part of the schedule. On Saturday, they host Ohio State, before taking time off for final exams and playing three difficult road games at Bucknell, St. Mary’s and Gonzaga. The Atlantic 10 awaits after those games.

The Jayhawks, on the other hand, are 3-4 for the first time since the 1971-72 season. It’s easy to think that they could be in trouble given their relative youth, but Self doesn’t look at it that way.

“The three teams we’ve lost to are probably going to be in the NCAA Tournament,” Self said of their first three losses. “We’re not far off.”

Indeed, the Jayhawks’ losses have come against Arizona, Arkansas, Nevada and now St. Joseph’s – hardly the weak sisters of the nation. The challenge will be to get the young players to keep improving as the Big 12 season nears, and to get the entire team to play a full game together.

“We just haven’t put it together yet,” said Self. “I think we’re getting closer, but obviously these are tough games to try to get confidence from, where we’re just coming up a possession short.

“We’ve just got to keep plugging, and these guys got to understand that it’s a marathon and not a sprint.”

Michigan State 77, Boston College 70

The nightcap featured two teams that were in or near the top ten of most preseason polls, making it a statement game for Boston College and Michigan State. It would wind up being a tale of two halves, with the Spartans coming out on top thanks to a big second half where they shot better than 77 percent from the field.

The first half was a game of runs, with both teams having leads and the pace suiting Boston College. Eagle post players Craig Smith and John Oates effectively bodied Paul Davis, rendering him ineffective on the offensive end in the first half as he had just four points. The Eagles neutralized the running game of the athletic Spartans by holding a 24-14 edge on the backboards and held a one-point lead at the half.

“We weren’t rebounding well enough to get any breaks,” Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo said of the first half.

In the second half, that changed. The Spartans got rebounds and turnovers leading to run-outs, with Maurice Ager leading the charge as he scored 17 of his 22 points in the second half. Up 41-39, the Spartans broke the game open with a 13-2 run with Ager scoring six of those points, then hitting a three-pointer to make it 57-44. Paul Davis also came alive, scoring 14 of his 18 points in the second half.

While the Eagles’ dynamic duo of Craig Smith (18 points, nine rebounds) and Jared Dudley (23 points) had good nights, the guard play was lacking and was ultimately the biggest reason the offense went stagnant at times. Louis Hinnant and Tyrese Rice combined to go 4-13 from the field, which took away from their eight assists against just three turnovers. Smith and Dudley had more touches where they weren’t able to make anything happen; Smith committed six turnovers.

Much of the credit goes to redshirt freshman Marquise Gray, who made his first career start. Gray had just eight points and five rebounds, but his interior defense gave the team something they needed.

“We felt we had to get more out of it,” Izzo said of the power forward spot. “Give Marquise a lot of credit, and give Mo a lot of credit because he’s been nurturing him for about four months and kind of taken him under his wing. I think that’s made a big difference in Marquise’s growth on the court and off the court.”

Michigan State now stands 6-2, with the schedule getting a little easier before Big Ten play. Having made it through the toughest part of the non-conference schedule, Izzo feels like this team is moving in the right direction. He also knows where they still have to improve.

“We are mentally, I think, a tougher team, and that’s proven by the way these guys played in Hawaii, playing through injuries,” Izzo reflected. “Physically, we’re not a strong enough team yet. I thought that team tonight was a strong, physical team. So we have to get more physical, and most of that comes down to some of our inside guys. Paul is playing that way, we thought Marquise could give us more of that junkyard dog toughness. It’s still not what it needs to be if we’re going to be a real, real good team.”

Ager, who is averaging just under 22 points per game, said it’s been a tough start despite the 6-2 record.

“It’s been rough the last couple of weeks,” said the senior guard, who had flu-like symptoms earlier but played through it. “We’re just trying to continue to grow with all the young guys we have on this team.”

Boston College, meanwhile, heads to Maryland for their first-ever ACC game on Sunday. Their hope is that they come up with a better effort to not have to play from behind, where they seem to play their best basketball.

“I don’t want to play from behind,” said Dudley. “I see that we always come back, but this time, it was too little, too late.”

San Francisco’s Memories

S.F. Opens its Gates to College Hoops Once More

by Mitch Schneider

The city of San Francisco is known for its breathtaking views, prime real estate and world-class cuisine (in addition to being my hometown). The City is not known, however, for being any sort of haven for college basketball – a sad truth hoops fans here have realized for many, many years.

But for forty brilliant minutes Saturday night, the City by the Bay was back on the basketball map, thanks to a historic showing by the University of San Francisco Dons. The Dons and their small, 5,000-seat arena played host to Big 12 power Texas Tech and legendary coach Bob Knight. And though San Francisco is a great place to visit, the stay was less than Stellar for Knight & Co. as the Dons sent the Red Raiders back to Lubbock, Texas on the wrong end of a 90-72 dismantling at USF’s War Memorial Gym.

Granted, the Dons’ (2-4) surprise win over Tech (5-3) doesn’t exactly provoke memories of Chaminade’s colossal upset over Virginia in 1982, or Villanova over Georgetown in the 1985 title game. But the victory by USF was a bright light for a program that’s been in the dark for the better part of the last half-century, and gave San Francisco basketball fans – both young and old – a taste of what life is like in towns like Durham, Storrs or East Lansing after a big win.

As wonderful and diverse a place as San Francisco is, the topic of our college basketball culture is about as popular here as a Karl Rove book-signing in Union Square. It’s not that we wine-and-cheese heads aren’t fans of the game. Quite the contrary; we can tell you all sorts of things about Cal, Stanford and the rest of the CBB world. It’s just that the city of San Francisco has only one Division I program – the Dons – and they haven’t been ranked and/or competitive on the national scale since… since… well, for a very long time.

This wasn’t always the case, mind you. Fifty years ago San Francisco was home to the best college basketball program in the United States. Led by All-Americans Bill Russell and K.C. Jones, USF won 55 consecutive games over two undefeated seasons, posting back-to-back national championships in 1954-’55 and ’55-’56. Those Russell- and Jones-led teams were without question some of the greatest squads to ever lace up a high-top and would have given any team in any era a run for its money.

After losing Russell and Jones to the NBA, it was anticipated the University of San Francisco’s basketball program would tail off somewhat. But no one expected the Dons to fall completely off the map. Following that unforgettable 1955-’56 season, USF and its fans would be forced to wait 26 grueling years for a return to the NCAA Tournament. The 1982 Dons team finally broke the string, and it wasn’t until 1998 that another USF team would qualify for The Dance.

Just two NCAA Tournament appearances in the last 49 years, not to mention the massive interest in neighboring Cal and Stanford along with our professional franchises (the 49ers and Giants, as well as the Warriors and A’s in Oakland and Sharks in San Jose), are the biggest reasons why San Franciscans appear dissociated from the college basketball scene south of the Golden Gate. Will this detachment change anytime soon? Probably not, though the 49ers may soon force us to look to the Dons for some strength in these lean, athletic times.

But all is not lost forever, San Fran fans, as evidenced by the Dons’ convincing win over the General and his gang this weekend. For one beautiful Bay Area night in a gym no larger than a sourdough bread box, San Francisco and college basketball shared the same heart beat once more.

Atlantic Sun Preview

Atlantic Sun Conference 2005-06 Preview

by Michael Protos

The Atlantic Sun Conference danced the realignment shuffle this off-season, though few media sources made much fanfare of their moves. Gone are Central Florida, Georgia State and Troy. In their place, the A-Sun welcomes East Tennessee State, Kennesaw State and North Florida.

Of the departed three, Central Florida made the leap to the most noteworthy conference – Conference USA. However, with the departure of Cincinnati, Louisville, DePaul and Marquette, that conference no longer looks quite as formidable. Troy bolted for the Sun Belt Conference, which is home to mid-major heavyweight Louisiana-Lafayette. Georgia State bounced into the Colonial Athletic Association, which is best known for UNC-Wilmington. The Seahawks have made noise in the NCAA Tournament more than once. Now that conference’s power is centered at Old Dominion.

Of the new arrivals, East Tennessee State is the most significant. The Bucs had a successful run in the Southern Conference and figure to become a perennial power in the A-Sun. Kennesaw State and North Florida are both entering their first seasons as Division I programs, so look for them to struggle for a few seasons. Both were solid Division II programs from the Peach Belt Conference.

A one-bid conference, the A-Sun is all about winning the conference tournament. And the conference handed new arrival East Tennessee State a gift by allowing the Bucs to host the conference tournament March 3-5. Only the top eight teams play in the conference tournament, which generates an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Pre-season Awards

Atlantic Sun MVP: Tim Smith, East Tennessee State
Smith is one of the most dominant players in the conference and most prolific scorers in the country. He finished seventh in scoring in the nation last season, averaging 22.2 points per game. The Bucs return their entire starting lineup, so there’s plenty of experience on this team, which requires defense to respect the second and third scoring options. Smith should have a monster season in the Atlantic Sun after tearing apart Southern Conference foes for the past three seasons.

All-Atlantic Sun Team:
Brian Bender, Gardner Webb
Simon Conn, Gardner Webb
Will Emerson, Mercer
Brian Fisk, Lipscomb
Tim Smith, East Tennessee State

Defensive Player of the Year: Tim Jennings, Gardner Webb
Jennings is a defensive monster in the post, blocking 40 shots last season. A year older, wiser and possibly quicker, Jennings should continue to wreak havoc on opposing offenses and repeat as defensive player of the year.

Coach on the Hot Seat: Robbie Laing, Campbell
Laing has guided the Fighting Camels, one of the least intimidating nicknames in sports, through one of their worst periods. In two seasons, the Camels are an astoundingly bad 5-49. The team won only two games last season and none in conference play. If Laing doesn’t get this team heading in the right direction, he will be heading out of town.

Team Capsules

Gardner Webb Bulldogs (2004-05: 18-12, 13-7)
Projected starters:
Senior center Simon Conn
Senior forward Brian Bender
Senior forward Tim Jennings
Senior guard T.J. McCullough
Junior guard Chris Gash
Schedule highlights:
at North Carolina
at Auburn
at Minnesota

Roster notes:
After sharing the league title with Central Florida last season, the Bulldogs return their entire starting lineup and every major contributor. Senior forwards Brian Bender and Simon Conn are the leaders of this seasoned team. Bender averages 15.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game while Conn averages 14.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. That’s a lot of points and significant experience in the frontcourt, and not something many mid-major programs nationwide can claim.

Look for the Bulldogs to dominate most A-Sun opponents. The teams that have the best chance of derailing Gardner Webb are East Tennessee State and Belmont. The Bucs have a great starting five, but Gardner Webb’s depth should allow the Bulldogs to win that match up. Belmont could pose a bigger threat because the Bruins win by firing a bunch of three-pointers. That is the Bulldogs’ one weakness: no player hits more than 35 percent of his three-pointers.

Prediction: First

East Tennessee State Bucs (2004-05: 10-19, Southern: 4-12)
Projected starters:
Senior forward Dillon Sneed
Sophomore forward Andrew Reed
Senior guard Ben Rhoda
Junior guard Travis Strong
Senior guard Tim Smith
Schedule highlights:
at Tennessee
at Clemson
vs. Central Michigan

Roster notes:
The Bucs return diminutive senior guard Tim Smith, the team’s leading scorer and one of the most dangerous guards in the country. At only 5-9, opposing defenses can’t stop Smith. He averaged 22.2 points per game last season, good for seventh in the country. He figures to have another great season, especially with the return of fellow seniors Dillon Sneed and Ben Rhoda.

East Tennessee State also returns starters Andrew Reed and Travis Strong, who must learn from the seniors in preparation for next season when they will have to run the team. The rest of the lineup is inexperienced, so the Bucs can ill afford an injury and will need the reserves to learn on the job. The lack of depth will prevent the Bucs from overcoming Gardner Webb, but the starting five is probably the best in the conference. It’s certainly good enough to carry the Bucs to second and guarantee a spot in the A-Sun Tournament, which will be held on the Bucs’ home court. East Tennessee State’s gym is more than double the size of any other school’s gym in the conference.

Prediction: Second

Belmont Bruins (2004-05: 14-16, 12-8)
Projected starters:
Junior center Andrew Preston
Senior forward Dan Oliver
Sophomore guard Justin Hare
Senior guard Brian Collins
Junior guard Josh Goodwin
Schedule highlights:
at Oklahoma
at Ohio State
at Kansas State

Roster notes:
The Bruins’ M.O. for the past few seasons has been to jack up enough three-pointers to out-score opponents. This season figures to be no different as Belmont plans to use a three-guard lineup most of the time, which features reigning A-Sun Rookie of the Year Justin Hare. Although Hare did not start for the Bruins last season, he logged plenty of minutes.

Hare and company must overcome the loss of Jese Snyder, who led the team in scoring last season at 11.8 points per game. But Hare, Josh Goodwin and Brian Collins also averaged in double-figures, so they will merely need to step up. With such an experienced lineup, look for Belmont to contend with the conference heavyweights, Gardner Webb and East Tennessee State. The Bruins will definitely be in the top eight and playing in the conference tournament in March.

Prediction: Third

Lipscomb Bisons (2004-05: 16-12, 11-9)
Projected starters:
Senior center Shaun Durant
Senior forward Cameron Robinson
Sophomore guard Eddie Ard
Junior guard Brian Fisk
Senior guard James Poindexter
Schedule highlights:
at Auburn
at Tennessee
vs. Liberty

Roster notes:
Lipscomb returns all five starters from last season’s squad and has an excellent opportunity to challenge for a top spot in the A-Sun. Labrian Lyons is the only significant contributor from last season who does not return. The Bisons get back junior guard Brian Fisk and senior guard James Poindexter, who both averaged in double figures last season. Seniors Shaun Durant and Cameron Robinson form a potent pair in the paint as both attack the glass to grab rebounds.

Although the Bisons return the nucleus of their team, Lipscomb lacks the same talent that Gardner Webb and East Tennessee State possess. For the Bisons to climb above those squads and Belmont, this team must play more consistently and polish off weaker A-Sun competition.

Prediction: Fourth

Mercer Bears (2004-05: 16-12, 11-9)
Projected starters:
Senior center Will Emerson
Sophomore guard Shaddean Aaron
Junior guard Jacob Skogen
Senior guard Damitrius Coleman
Junior guard Ross Alacqua
Schedule highlights:
at Oklahoma State
at Colorado
at Georgia Southern

Roster notes:
The Bears liked to score early and often last season, averaging nearly 81 points per game. But Mercer loses two of its four double-digit scorers from last season, so it must find some new contributors or slow down the pace. Senior center Will Emerson returns and is probably the best big man in the conference. He averaged 15.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game last season, but is one of only four forwards on the roster.

With so few post players, opponents will likely collapse on Emerson whenever he touches the ball. Therefore, it’s critical for junior guard Jacob Skogen to continue to be a scoring threat after averaging 14.7 points per game last season. The rest of the guards do not have gaudy statistics, but they are a solid bunch that should help propel the Bears into the middle of the pack. Mercer likely won’t join the conference’s elite, but the Bears should still be on the prowl during the conference tournament.

Prediction: Fifth

Jacksonville Dolphins (2004-05: 16-13, 11-9)
Projected starters:
Junior center Ljubisa Vrcelj
Senior forward Mario Brown
Senior forward Antonio Cool
Senior guard Jesse Kimbrough
Senior guard Aubrey Conerly
Schedule highlights:
vs. Florida State
at Florida
at Georgia Tech

Roster notes:
The Dolphins switched their coach after last season, as longtime coach Hugh Durham moved on. Jacksonville tabbed Georgia Tech assistant Cliff Warren, who enters his first year as a head coach and will have his hands full.

Jacksonville loses several critical members of last season’s team, including Haminn Quaintance, David Lee and B.J. Surry. Those three accounted for nearly half the Dolphins’ point production from last season. Returning starters Antonio Cool and Jesse Kimbrough must step up, and the same is true for several other seniors and juniors. This team will probably struggle to find an identity under new coach Warren and inexperienced starters. But Jacksonville was among the A-Sun’s defensive leaders, and good defense always gives a team a chance to win. Look for the Dolphins to win enough to reach the conference tournament.

Prediction: Sixth

Florida Atlantic Owls (2004-05: 10-17, 10-10)
Projected starters:
Senior forward Rodney Webb
Senior forward Fred Marshall
Sophomore forward Derrick Simmons
Senior guard Quinton Young
Sophomore guard Ty McTyer
Schedule highlights:
at Northwestern
at South Florida
vs. College of Charleston

Roster notes:
The most significant roster changes for the Owls this off-season is the addition of Matt Doherty as head coach. After taking a year off, Doherty is back in the coaching game after a rough three-year tenure at North Carolina, where he recruited the likes of Raymond Felton, Rashad McCants and Sean May. If Doherty can get just one player of that caliber to come to Boca Raton in three years, the Owls will have received more than they could have hoped for.

Doherty has a tough road ahead this season, however, because the Owls lost four of their top six scorers. The team does return senior guard Quniton Young, who averaged 12.3 points per game. He must fill the shoes vacated by Mike Bell, who averaged 19.1 points per game. Senior Rodney Webb is the other most significant returning Owl. He averaged 9.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game last season. The rest of the lineup is a hodge-podge of inexperienced and unproven players. The Owls should finish in the top eight and reach the conference tournament, but primarily thanks to a terrible Campbell team and two Division II arrivals in the conference. The other eight teams have to make the conference tournament.

Prediction: Seventh

Stetson Hatters (2004-05: 10-17, 8-12)
Projected starters:
Senior forward J.J. Hirst
Sophomore forward Collins Okafor
Senior guard Anthony Register
Senior guard E.J. Gordon
Junior guard Will Holloman
Schedule highlights:
at Georgetown
at Florida State
at Miami

Roster notes:
The Hatters return senior guards Anthony Register and E.J. Gordon, who combined for more than 30 points per game last season. That is nearly half of the Hatters’ production last season, and they will continue to be the driving force for the Hatters since they lack any type of viable post presence.

The graduation of Borislav Djordjic and Mark Stiles hurts Stetson’s frontcourt. Senior forward J.J. Hirst will need to become a leader in the frontcourt despite averaging less than two points and rebounds per game last season. Stetson features one of the best names in all of college basketball: Chief Killingstallionsims. The 7-1 center doesn’t see much playing time, much to the chagrin of college basketball writers nationwide. The bottom line for the Hatters is that they’ll go as far as Register and Gordon can carry them. Without a real frontcourt, that’ll only be the middle of the A-Sun pack.

Prediction: Eighth

Campbell Fighting Camels (2004-05: 2-25, 0-20)
Projected starters:
Senior forward Comerlee Poole
Senior forward Maurice Latham
Junior forward Diego Aguiar
Sophomore guard Jake Wohlfeil
Sophomore guard Ruell Pringle
Schedule highlights:
at Florida State
at Indiana State
at Evansville

Roster notes:
The good news for the Fighting Camels is that they return almost of all their lineup from last season. That means more experience, including the services of sophomore Ruell Pringle, who led the team with 12.6 points per game in his freshman season. And senior forward Comerlee Poole is a solid big man who averaged 8.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game last season.

The bad news is that this team – with the same players from last season – won only two games and none in conference play. That does not bode well for this season. Fortunately, Kennesaw State and North Florida are Division I newcomers, so the Camels should find a way to avoid finishing last, but not by much. And it won’t be enough to get them into the conference tournament.

Prediction: Ninth

Kennesaw State Owls (2004-05: 24-6, Division II)
Projected starters:
Freshman center Dusty Moore
Senior forward Kenan Knight
Sophomore guard Ronnell Wooten
Senior guard Israel Ingle
Junior guard Golden Ingle
Schedule highlights:
at George Washington
at St. Louis
at Furman

Roster notes:
Kennesaw State makes the switch from Division II to Division I at a time of transition. The Owls have virtually no one from last season’s roster left on the team. Gone are the top three scorers, and nine of the top 10 contributors. That’s a brutal turnover for a perennial D-II powerhouse that must now adjust to D-I.

Sophomore guard Ronnell Wooten is the leading man on this team after averaging 9.1 points per game. He will likely be the go-to man for points this season. But unless some of the youngsters develop quickly, opposing defenses will be able to shadow him with their best defensive stopper – or two. Luckily, Wooten is a sophomore, and with seven freshmen on the team, the Owls’ best days are ahead.

Prediction: Tenth

North Florida Ospreys (2004-05: 14-17, Division II)
Projected starters:
Junior forward James Grimball
Senior forward David Ashwell
Senior guard Derrick Scott
Senior guard Riley Didion
Sophomore guard Chris Timberlake
Schedule highlights:
at College of Charleston
at Binghamton
vs. Savannah State

Roster notes:
North Florida enters its first Division I campaign without last season’s leading scorer, Donny Lotz, who graduated after averaging 13.7 points per game last season. Against Division II competition, the Ospreys only managed to score a little more than 66 points per game. So without Lotz, the Ospreys must find a new leader and put up more points, or else this team will lose badly in a lot of games this season.

Senior guard Derrick Scott and junior forward James Grimball will carry much of the load. Scott averaged 12.3 points per game, and Grimball was good for 11.3 points per game. They are the only other Ospreys who averaged more than 10 points per game. North Florida did not shoot particularly well from three-point land or rebound effectively, and those trends figure to continue this season. The Ospreys will do well to evade last place in the A-Sun this season.

Prediction: Eleventh

Final thoughts

The Atlantic Sun Conference will likely be hierarchical this season. The best teams – Gardner Webb, East Tennessee State, Belmont and Lipscomb – contrast greatly with the worst teams – Campbell, Kennesaw State and North Florida. The top four will likely battle for seeding in the conference tournament, which could be huge because the fourth team will likely have to play a dangerous Mercer team.

Florida Atlantic, Stetson and Jacksonville do not appear particularly strong on paper, but they could still surprise the heavyweights. If nothing else, they should avoid the conference’s cellar and earn a trip to the conference tournament.

A conference championship between Gardner Webb and East Tennessee State would be worth of national attention because either team has the potential to upset an opponent in the NCAA Tournament.

Big Ten Preview

Big Ten Conference 2005-06 Preview

by James V. Dowd

Just as its football coaches talked about how the Big Ten doesn’t earn the respect that it is due in their sport, many of the Big Ten basketball programs don’t feel the conference gets the respect it deserves after putting two teams in the Final Four for the third time in a decade.

With Dee Brown and James Augustine returning to Illinois, the Fighting Illini will look to defend their conference title, but loaded Michigan State and Indiana squads have a thing or two to say about that. Led by big man Paul Davis, the Spartans are aiming to return to the Final Four after losing to North Carolina in the national semifinals last year. With Maurice Ager and Shannon Brown at his side, Davis and the Spartans will be hard to overcome.

Indiana coach Mike Davis has added a pair of Auburn transfers in hopes of taking his team back to the Final Four after falling to 14 and 15 wins on the last two seasons. Like Davis, Michigan coach Tommy Amaker is hoping to prove that his success – and NIT title – was not a fluke and that his team can contend for the conference title and an NCAA bid for the first time since NCAA sanctions were lifted for rules violations several years ago.

With so many strong teams, the conference should have ten teams contending for postseason spots as the season wraps up. Now that everyone has something to play for, one can only wonder how tight the final conference race will end up.

Preseason All-Conference Team
Maurice Ager, Sr. G, Michigan State
Dee Brown, Sr.G, Illinois
Greg Brunner, Sr. F, Iowa
Vincent Grier, Sr. F, Minnesota
James Augustine, Sr. C, Illinois
Honorable Mention: Paul Davis, Sr. C, Michigan State; J.J. Sullinger, Sr. G, Ohio State; Terrence Dials, Sr. C, Ohio State

Conference MVP: Dee Brown, Illinois
Freshman of the Year: Marcus Landry, Wisconsin
Newcomer of the Year: Marco Killingsworth, Indiana
Coaches on the Hot Seat: Mike Davis, Indiana and Tommy Amaker, Michigan

1. Michigan State Spartans
2004-05 Record: 26-7, 13-3 Big Ten(2nd)
Projected Starting Lineup:
C Paul Davis, Sr.
F Matt Trannon, Sr.
F Delco Rowley, Jr.
G Maurice Ager, Sr.
G Drew Neitzel, So.
Schedule Highlights:
11/30 vs. Georgia Tech
1/15 at Ohio State
2/26 at Indiana

After becoming the first team in history to knock of Duke and Kentucky in the same NCAA tournament, Michigan State is primed to take home this year’s Big Ten title. Led by seniors Paul Davis and Maurice Ager, the Spartans look to make up for the loss of Alan Anderson and Kelvin Torbert, two key cogs in the their run to the Final Four.

One of the keys to Michigan State’s success will be Davis’ consistency in the paint. In past seasons, Davis has seemed to play to the Spartans’ competition, struggling against lackluster opponents and starring against the toughest competition. Michigan State cannot afford a letdown in an extraordinarily competitive conference, even against the lower-ranked teams. If junior Drew Naymick can make it back from shoulder surgery, he will serve a key role when Davis is not on the court.

Ager is a high-percentage shooter that spreads the ball around well. He will be joined by sophomore Drew Neitzel, who earned a starting job in the second half of last season. As Neitzel continues to polish his game, he has the potential to become one of the premier guards in the conference over the coming years.

The Spartans will also be looking for contributions from several newcomers, including freshman Travis Walton and redshirt freshmen Marquise Gray and a pair of centers Idong Ibok and Goran Suton.

Last year, the Spartans played one of the most difficult non-conference schedules in the country, but this time around will have an easier go. Their biggest games of the year include a January 15th tilt at Ohio State, which could determine an early leader in the Big Ten race, and a late-season road game at Indiana before they close out the season with a pair of home games.

2. Indiana Hoosiers
2004-05 Record: 15-14, 10-6 Big Ten(tie-3rd)
Projected Starting Lineup:
C Ben Allen, Fr.
F D.J. White, So.
F Marco Killingsworth, Sr.
G Marshall Strickland,Sr.
G Lewis Monroe, Sr.
Schedule Highlights:
11/30 vs. Duke
12/10 at Kentucky
3/4 at Michigan

This coming season could prove the most important in Indiana coach Mike Davis’ career. After finishing fourth in the Big Ten last year, a first round loss in the conference tournament sent them to an NIT matchup with Vanderbilt, where they were immediately knocked out.

After losing Bracey Wright to the NBA Draft, Davis has restocked his team with a pair of Auburn transfers who should have an immediate impact. Marco Killinsworth and Lewis Monroe, who played in the Sweet Sixteen with the Tigers, provide the Hoosiers with valuable experience.

Killingsworth and sophomore D.J. White will provide the Hoosiers with one of the league’s top frontcourts. Behind them, Monroe and senior Marshall Strickland will form one of the Big Ten’s most experienced backcourts, meaning one thing: this team will be dangerous on any court.

In the middle, Australian freshman Ben Allen will have an immediate impact. Allen may take a few games to settle in to the American college game, but he will be counted on early and often. Other help up front comes from sophomore James Hardy and senior Sean Kline.

If the Hoosiers can manage to stay strong in the early stages of the season and not let down in the Big Ten Tournament, they have the potential to go deep into the NCAA tournament. And if they do experience a letdown, it begs the question: Is Mike Davis really the man for this job?

3. Illinois Fighting Illini
2004-05 Record: 37-2, 15-1 Big Ten(1st)
Projected Starting Lineup:
C James Augustine, Sr.
F Charles Jackson, Fr.
F Warren Carter, Jr.
G Dee Brown, Sr.
G Rich McBride, Jr.
Schedule Highlights:
11/29 at North Carolina
12/10 at Oregon
2/12 at Ohio State

After coming seconds away from running the table in the Big Ten conference season last year, the Fighting Illini have taken a big hit this coming season, losing Deron Williams, Luther Head, Roger Powell and several reserves. But with big man James Augustine and guard Dee Brown, the Illini can still find themselves in the Big Ten race this season.

Brown originally planned to enter the NBA Draft, but withdrew after breaking an ankle at the pre-draft camp and has a chance to increase his draft stock with a solid season when he is not surrounded by two first-round picks. One of the Illini’s most important attributes is Brown’s deadly three-point shooting, which always seemed to click at the right times. Brown also has an aggressive mentality, as shown in the Michigan game last year, when single-handedly changed the momentum of the game into Illinois’ favor.

Augustine is perhaps the conference’s top post player and was the Big Ten’s most accurate shooter last year. Illinois will look to Augustine to dominate down low, opening up lanes for Brown to get to the basket. His help in the front court will come from junior Warren Carter and freshman Charles Jackson, a 280-pounder touted as one of the nation’s top 100 prospects.

While Illinois can’t expect to win 37 games again this year, look for them to stay in the thick of the league race. They have a rematch with NCAA Champion North Carolina at Chapel Hill in November, and will be aiming to avenge their one conference defeat at Ohio State in February.

4. Ohio State Buckeyes
2004-05 Record: 20-12, 8-8 Big Ten(6th)
Projected Starting Lineup:
C Terrence Dials, Sr.
F Matt Sylvester, Sr.
F Ivan Harris, Jr.
G J.J. Sullinger, Sr.
G Je’Kel Foster, Sr.
Schedule Highlights:
11/28 vs. Virginia Tech
12/10 at St. Joseph’s
12/31 vs. LSU

The Buckeyes shocked the world by defeating the previously unbeaten Illinois Fighting Illini on Matt Sylvester’s impossible last-second three-pointer. While they couldn’t play in the postseason last year due to self-imposed sanctions for NCAA violations, coach Thad Matta led his team as though they had the world to play for, and this year they just might.

Ohio State’s attack will be led by senior guard J.J. Sullinger, one of the league’s most explosive players. Sullinger is one of the Big Ten’s top three-point shooters, and when center Terrence Dials can free up space by draw attention down low, Sullinger has the moves to go to the basket.

Dials averaged just under 16 ppg last season and hit 57.4-percent of his shots. He will be joined by Sylvester, who is out to prove that he’s not a one-shot wonder, and junior Ivan Harris, who has a history of sitting outside rather than battling down low. If Sylvester and Dials cannot step up their play in the front court, the Buckeyes could struggle in a big man-laden conference.

In the back court, Sullinger will have help from scrappy senior Je’Kel Foster and Jamar Butler, who both have adequate experience.

Looking at their non-conference schedule, the Buckeyes should have an easy road to the conference season, but that’s where they have to prove that they’re for real.

5. Michigan Wolverines
2004-05 Record: 13-18, 4-12 Big Ten(9th)
Projected Starting Lineup:
C Graham Brown, Sr.
F Courtney Sims, Jr.
F Ron Coleman, So.
G Daniel Horton, Sr.
G Lester Abram, Sr.
Schedule Highlights:
12/3 at Notre Dame
12/17 vs. UCLA

While Indiana coach Mike Davis is on the hot seat, Michigan head coach Tommy Amaker can’t be far behind. When he arrived in Ann Arbor and NCAA sanctions expired, fans expected the Wolverines to make the jump back to NCAA tournament contenders. But after an NIT Championship, the Wolverines fell apart last season and came nowhere near postseason play after senior Lester Abram was forced to sit out with a shoulder injury and guard Daniel Horton found himself in trouble with the law.

Abram was one of the Wolverines’ finest players during the 2003-04 season, and was named the team’s most valuable player. Horton was marked as one of the nation’s top in 2002-03 and was awarded the most valuable player trophy in the 2004 NIT.

Down low, the Wolverines have two ever-improving big men in Graham Brown and Courtney Sims. After Sims worked to put on muscle mass during the last offseason, Michigan fans were disappointed when the lanky junior didn’t show the immense improvement that they were promised. Nevertheless, he remains one of the league’s top shot-blockers.

Junior Brent Petway might not have contributed many points to the team, but his incredible dunking and shot-blocking provide game-changing moments when well-placed like in the Wolverines’ victory over Notre Dame last December. But Michigan will be without Petway for at least the first part of the season, as he was deemed academically ineligible for the fall semester.

The backcourt will consist primarily of Horton, Abram and junior Dion Harris, who shouldered most of the Wolverines’ scoring load in the absence of the other two last year. Now that some of that pressure has been lifted, Harris will likely prove to be more consistent and a legitimate threat off of the Wolverines bench.

Michigan will also use the talents of freshmen Jevohn Sheperd and Kendric Price coming off the bench to have a significant impact.

With all their talent back on the court, it’s hard not to like the Wolverines when choosing teams for the NCAA tournament. But as history has shown, what it says on paper doesn’t always translate to the court. Look for Amaker’s bunch to be motivated for a ticket to the dance.

6. Iowa Hawkeyes
2004-05 Record: 21-12, 7-9 Big Ten(7th)
Projected Starting Lineup:
C Erek Hansen, Sr.
F Greg Brunner, Sr.
F Doug Thomas, Sr.
G Jeff Horner, Sr.
G Adam Haluska, Jr.
Schedule Highlights:
11/30 vs. North Carolina State
12/9 at Iowa State
12/17 vs. Arizona State

After a hot start last year that had coach Steve Alford’s Iowa Hawkeyes flirting with the top-15 for a while. But once the conference season rolled around, the Hawkeyes faltered, going 7-9 and losing top scorer Pierre Pierce for disciplinary reasons.

This year the Hawkeyes return 11 players from last year’s team, giving them a chance to avenge their conference woes. This group is led by senior Greg Brunner, a forward who has been among the conference’s top two rebounders the past two years. Brunner is also able to put up points, but needs to stay out of foul trouble to be totally effective.

Senior guard Jeff Horner returns to the backcourt alongside junior Adam Haluska. Horner is a reliable player at the point, rarely turning the ball over, and Haluska came on strong at the end of last season to average 14.2 ppg.

The Hawkeyes’ senior-laden lineup will have help from five freshmen, including two walk-ons. Freshman Tony Freeman should be able to come off the bench at the beginning of the year.

If Iowa is looking to contend for a second consecutive tournament appearance, it will have to prevent any letdowns like the one that took them out of Big Ten title contention early on last year.

7. Wisconsin Badgers
2004-05 Record: 25-9, 11-5 Big Ten(3rd)
Projected Starting Lineup:
C Brian Butch, So.
F Alando Tucker, Jr.
F Marcus Landry, Fr.
G Kammron Taylor, Jr.
G Michael Flowers, So.
Schedule Highlights:
11/29 at Wake Forest
12/3 vs. Pepperdine
12/10 vs. Marquette

One thing is for sure: no one wants to travel to Madison to play the Badgers, especially once conference play starts. Wisconsin has lost just once in four years at the Kohl Center, and is hoping to maintain that dominance this year, trying to stay above the 20-win mark for the fourth consecutive season.

But without forward Mike Wilkinson, who simply dominated last year, staying in contention for a conference title will be a challenge. Stepping up to that challenge is junior forward Alando Tucker, who should pan out as one of the league’s top offensive threats in 2005-06. Tucker is well-known around the conference for a series of last-second prayers that beat Indiana and Iowa last winter.

Junior point guard Kammron Taylor should also contribute, improving on his total of 8.2 ppg last year. As Taylor becomes more disciplined when he handles the ball more, the Badgers will be thrilled to see his scoring numbers go up and his turnovers down.

Beyond Taylor, the Wisconsin back court lacks experience, a factor that might keep the Badgers out of the upper echelons of the Big Ten this year. But in the front court, freshman Marcus Landry should make an immediate impact. Landry will likely start with Tucker and find himself open as Tucker draws increasing coverage from the opposition.

Coach Bo Ryan has a history of pulling together the Badgers, and with such a formidable home court advantage, Wisconsin will have a chance to move up the Big Ten ranks as players mature into starting roles as the season grinds on.

8. Minnesota Golden Gophers
2004-05 Record: 21-11, 10-6 Big Ten(tie-3rd)
Projected Starting Lineup:
C Spencer Tollackson, So.
F Vincent Grier, Sr.
F Dan Coleman, So.
G Adam Boone, Sr.
G Maurice Hargrow, Sr.
Schedule Highlights:
11/30 at Maryland
12/5 at Arizona State
12/31 vs. Oral Roberts

After earning a bid to the NCAA tournament last year, Minnesota will face an uphill battle in competing for a spot this year after losing three starters. Led by senior Vincent Grier, one of Hoopville’s Preseason All-Big Ten forwards, the Golden Gophers aim to repeat their 21 wins from last season.

Grier was the Big Ten’s third-leading scorer last year, but struggled with turnovers. He will be helped by returning starter Dan Coleman, a forward who was selected to the Big Ten All-Freshman team last year. Coleman looks to add eight to ten points a game and boost the Gophers’ offense.

In the back court, the Gophers have upperclassmen Adam Boone and Maurice Hargrow, who started together two years ago before Boone was injured and Hargrow sat out after returning to Minnesota from Arkansas.

Should the Golden Gophers manage to contend for a bid to the NCAA tournament, the Big Ten could have as many as eight teams competing for bids. But after winning 19 games three years ago, the Golden Gophers fell to just 12 wins in 2004. After rebounding to 21 wins in 2005, coach Dan Monson is hoping Grier can prevent a repeat of the 2004 fall off.

9. Northwestern Wildcats
2004-05 Record: 15-16, 6-10 Big Ten(8th)
Projected Starting Lineup:
C Michael Thompson, Sr.
F Vedran Vukusic, Sr.
F Bernard Cote, Jr.
G Mohamed Hachad, Sr.
G Tim Doyle, Jr.
Schedule Highlights:
11/30 at Virginia

After three years of improvement, going from 12 to 14 to 15 wins, the Wildcats are relying on a core of veteran players to keep them in the Big Ten race. With senior Michael Thompson in the middle and Vedran Vukusic and Kentucky transfer Bernard Cote helping out, the key to Northwestern’s success lies with its forwards.

Vukusic has been consistent during his career in Evanston, posting almost 17 points per game last season. Thompson, who transferred from Duke last season, played well until he sat out the final 11 games of last season with an injured foot.

Having lost T.J. Parker to the NBA ranks, the Wildcats are banking on Mohamed Hachad and Tim Doyle in the backcourt. Hachad improved greatly last year, and performed especially well in the season’s final games. Doyle is an exceptional ball handler and can find the open men down low, giving the front three a chance to put points on the board.

If this unit can gel together, they have the potential to reach the NIT after being 15-16 last year. Should they string together a few extra wins during the non-conference schedule, talk of a postseason berth may resurface.

10. Purdue Boilermakers
2004-05 Record: 7-21, 3-13 Big Ten(10th)
Projected Starting Lineup:
C Matt Kiefer, Sr.
F Carl Landry, Sr.
F Gary Ware, Sr.
G David Teague, Sr.
G Korey Spates, Fr.
Schedule Highlights:
11/26 vs. Xavier
11/29 at Florida State
12/30 at Memphis

After finishing 17-14 two years ago, 25-year veteran coach Gene Keady was looking forward to one last season of respectability, but his vision was shattered when the Boilermakers went just 7-21 in his final campaign. New head coach Matt Painter owns a 25-5 record in his only season of head coaching, but the Boilermakers will likely struggle to win half as many games in his first season in West Lafayette.

Leading the Boilermakers’ attack is senior forward Carl Landry, who finished second in the conference scoring race last year. Landry averaged 18.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest. His main partner up front is senior Matt Kiefer, who can play outside as well as getting in down low with Landry. They will likely be joined by senior Gary Ware.

The Purdue backcourt is spearheaded by David Teague. Teague is a strong ball handler and provides the long ball threat the Boilermakers need to open the lower post game for Landry.

Having lost point guard Brandon McKnight, Painter had junior college transfer Tarrance Crump to fill the void. But Crump was arrested in late September for drunk driving and leaving the scene of an accident, and Painter suspended him for the season. That means another freshman, Korey Spates, more than likely takes over. Several other newcomers, including former Connecticut forward Marcus White, will have key roles in the Purdue game plan.

If the newcomers can gel into Painter’s system and the returning starters can pick up their offense, then the Boilermakers may have a chance to upset some teams on the way to a postseason NIT berth.

11. Penn State Nittany Lions
2004-05 Record: 7-23, 1-15 Big Ten(11th)
Projected Starting Lineup:
C Milos Bogetic, Fr.
F Travis Parker, Sr.
F Geary Claxton, So.
G Ben Luber, Jr.
G Danny Morrissey, So.
Schedule Highlights:
11/29 vs. Clemson
12/3 at Texas A&M
12/10 at Pittsburgh

Hard as it might be to believe, the Penn State Nittany Lions head into the 2005-06 season worse off then last season. After falling from 3-13 in the Big Ten to 1-15, two of the Nittany Lions’ top players, Aaron Johnson and Marlon Smith, decided to transfer elsewhere.

One of few bright spots is the play of senior forward Travis Parker. Parker is a 6-5 forward that averaged 11.4 ppg and 6.4 rpg last season. He will lead a young, inexperienced attack.

Penn State’s other top threat comes in the form of the versatile sophomore Geary Claxton, who can play as a guard or a forward. Claxton dropped almost 13 points per game last year and looks to improve on that this year.

Head Coach Ed DeChellis looks to begin a turnaround to lead the Nittany Lions back to the form they reached under his tutelage in the mid-1990s, when they won 21 games on two separate occasions.

Conference Outlook
With just one exception, every team in the Big Ten should be able to compete for a .500 record and postseason berths. If the teams at the top of the conference manage to live up to their billing, it could get even better when eight teams are gunning for NCAA tournament bids.

This season should help to provide the Big Ten with the national legitimacy that it deserves, after two more of its teams reached the Final Four last year. If the members of the Big Ten can pull off big non-conference wins, the league will emerge among the nation’s best.

Wisconsin: Tucker Plays with Nasal Injury

Who is that Masked Man?: In Wisconsin’s 91-88 loss at Wake Forest on Tuesday, Alando Tucker suffered a nasal injury while chasing after a rebound late in the first half. After ruling out a concussion, the trainer allowed Tucker returned in the second half with an awkward mask that compromised Tucker’s defensive play. Tucker quickly discarded the mask and led the Badgers with 27 points in the loss. Upon returning to Madison, Tucker saw a ear, nose and throat specialist and was fitted with an appropriate-sized mask. Early returns on the mask seem positive as Tucker led Wisconsin with 16 points in a 71-55 victory over Pepperdine on Sunday. [12/05/05]

Big East Notebook

Big East Notebook

by Jesse Ullmann and Zach Van Hart

Moore serving suspension

Cincinnati’s Chadd Moore will miss the next three games after being suspended for the team’s first five contests because he played in a summer league without permission. The senior guard has not played since February after he left the team with chronic back problems. He becomes eligible when the Bearcats play Vanderbilt on Dec. 10.

1. Connecticut Huskies (4-0)

Next: Tuesday vs. Army at 7 p.m.

If those in charge of assembling the field of 65 and in charge of the polls questioned the vigor of the Connecticut Huskies, then you better believe that at the end of the Maui Invitational all questions were put to rest. UConn, by defeating Arkansas, Arizona, and Gonzaga in a 65-63-championship thriller, set the table for a delicious season. Seniors Denham Brown and Hilton Armstrong may very well have had their coming-out parties. Possibly the biggest surprise of all? The Huskies proved they could win big games without Rudy Gay.

2. Cincinnati (2-0)

Next: Friday vs. Holy Cross at 8 p.m.

The Bearcats were about to lose their first home opener in 40 years, before James White came to the rescue. The senior forward stole the ball and went coast-to-coast for a dunk with 5.8 seconds remaining, tying Cincinnati with Murray State at 70 and forcing overtime. The Bearcats went on to win their opener 79-75. They cruised during the second game, defeating Illinois State 76-59. Freshman Devan Downey came off the bench to score 21 points and key runs during both halves.

3. Georgetown (2-0)

Next: Saturday vs. Vanderbilt at 1 p.m.

Talk about a nice start. Sophomore center Roy Hibbert scored the Hoyas first 15 points, en route to a career-high 23 and a 73-66 Georgetown win against James Madison on Monday. Hibbert only missed one shot all night, going 7-of-8 from the field and 9-of-9 from the free-throw line. Sunday the Hoyas opened the season on the road with a 72-49 win against Navy. Hibbert again led the team with 20 points, while fellow sophomore Jeff Green contributed 13 points and senior guard Ashanti Cook dropped in 12 points.

4. Notre Dame (2-0)

Next: Saturday vs. North Carolina State at 7 p.m.

Not a bad couple of warm-ups for the Irish. Notre Dame started the season with two relatively easy wins, knocking off Lafayette 84-66 and Hofstra 69-50 in the comforts of South Bend, Ind. Depending on unproven talent to overcome the departure of point guard Chris Thomas, Notre Dame received a career-high 18 points from sophomore Rob Kurz against Lafayette, followed by Colin Falls’ 19 points and five 3-pointers against Hofstra. The Irish trailed by four at halftime against Hofstra but outscored the Flying Dutchman 40-17 during the second half.

5. Pittsburgh (2-0)

Next: Saturday vs. Maine at 7:30 p.m.

Levance Fields was 13 years old when Carl Krauser began his first season in Pittsburgh. The chemistry of the two backcourt starters will be key this season and they’re of to a good start. Through three games Krauser is averaging 15ppg and 5rpg while Fields leads the team in free throw percentage and assists. The Panthers have easy wins over St. Peters and Robert Morris while edging Maine 52-49.

6. Providence (2-0)

Next: Monday @ Fairfield at 7:30 p.m.

At the start PC thought they’d have 10 players on scholarship but Dwight Brewington quit and then there were 8 and then DeSean White got hurt (and has not played yet) and then there were 8, four of whom are freshman! One of the those youngsters, Wayinmi Efejuku, could be PC’s number one scorer one day. 6’11″ sophomore Randall Hanke has a combined 40 points through two relatively easy wins over Vermont and New Hampshire.

7. Rutgers (2-0)

Next: Wednesday vs. Temple at 7:30 p.m.

12 of 16 Big East teams will make the end-of-season Tournament and the Scarlet Knights are hoping to be on of them. That may not be realistic but the Rutgers are off to an undefeated 3-0 start with Quincy Douby averaging a team best 17.3 ppg. Depth will become an issue as the season progresses for Rutgers as Gary waters has chosen to play just three guys off the bench with any significant minutes.

8. St. John’s (2-0)

Next: Tuesday vs. Hofstra at 7:30 p.m.

The NY Post and the Daily News have officially claimed that the Red Storm is back. This is a tough statement to make but it is definitely true that St. John’s has become the talk of this town. College basketball is alive and well here in NYC and in part due to a couple of Big East newcomers. Aaron Spears and Anthony Mason Jr. have been inserted into Norm Roberts starting lineup while Ricky Torres will come off the bench and shoot from outside. Daryll Hill is tops in scoring with 15 points apiece in good wins over St. Francis (Brooklyn) and Niagara.

9. Louisville (1-0)

Next: Dec. 3 vs. Prairie View A&M at 1 p.m.

Well, the Cardinals played one. It’s going to be awhile before we see them in action again. Louisville opened its season Saturday with a 78-61 win against Tennessee Martin; now it is in the midst of a two-week hiatus. Four starters reached double figures against the Skyhawks, led by sharp shooter Taquan Dean’s 18 points. Dean struggled from the field though, going 5-of-17 (3-of-13 from the 3-point line). Juan Palacios, injured all preseason, began what many critics feel will be a steady dose of double-doubles, scoring 16 and grabbing 11 rebounds.

10. South Florida (1-0)

Next: Saturday vs. Jacksonville at 7 p.m.

The Bulls continued one of their few winning traditions – taking home openers – as they knocked off Alcorn State on Saturday 69-52. Guard James Holmes scored 21 points for USF, one of four players to reach double figures. Head coach Robert McCullum doesn’t believe in having a large bench and his team’s first game reflected that, as only seven players walked on the court. Center Solomon Jones, expected to fill the big shoes left by graduated Terrance Leather, finished with 16 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks in a stellar performance. The Bulls will need a lot more of that from him this season.

11. Villanova (1-0)

Next: Wednesday @ Rider at 7:30 p.m.

With just one game in the books Jay Wright and his Wildcats have had more time to try and figure things out. One thing’s for sure this will be one of the best backcourts in the country. Randy Foye score 21 points in a 78-35 mauling of Stony Brook. Foye joins Mike Nardi and Allan Ray. None of these guys are turkeys. Will Sheridan and Jason Fraser are still awaiting word on whether or not Curtis Sumpter will return this season and join them in the post, or redshirt.

12. Marquette (2-1)

Next: Wednesday @ Nebraska at 8 p.m.

Key Wins: 82-65 over Rice
Leading Scorer: Fr. G Dominic James, 16 pts
Key Wins: 83-73 over Eastern Washington
Leading Scorer: Sr. G/F Joe Chapman, 17 pts

Key Losses: 71-64 to Winthrop
Leading Scorer: Sr. F Steve Novak, 17 pts

13. Seton Hall (2-1)

Next: Monday vs. St. Peter’s at 7:30 p.m.

Early in the season there are lots of questions that everyone wants answers to soon. Well Louis Orr should have already found an answer to whether or not Jamar Nutter is a point guard or a shooting guard. After serving his one-game suspension (93-40 loss to Duke) for being late to practice, Nutter’s role is still up in the air. The Pirates have a medley of options though with Kelly Whitney posing problems for opponents’ inside game. Sophomore forward Brian Laing has come off the bench to average nearly 28mpg and is one of only three players averaging double figures (10.1).

14. Syracuse (3-2)

Next: Wednesday vs. Manhattan at 7 p.m.

The Orange met their match in the Florida Gators during the Pre-Season NIT. At Madison Square Garden in front of what could always be described as a heavily favored crowd, Syracuse fell 75-70 to the unranked Gators. That loss may have trickled over to the next game at the Carrier Dome where the Cuse lost again, this time to a team they absolutely should have beat. With a chance to wipe the Florida loss off the their minds Syracuse fell 74-69 despite 19 points from Demetris Nichols.

15. West Virginia (2-2)

Next: Saturday vs. LSU at 4:45 p.m.

Even in defeat, the Mountaineers showed that last year’s Elite Eight run was no fluke. Playing in the Guardians Classic in Kansas City, Mo., West Virginia lost at the buzzer to No. 2 Texas 76-75 before falling a bit harder to No. 7 Kentucky 80-66. Against the highly regarded Longhorns, WVU allowed an offensive rebound and stick back by LaMarcus Aldridge with 3.6 seconds remaining. On the game’s final play, the Mountaineers worked the ball up to Mike Gansey at the block, but Aldridge rejected his layup attempt. Though the team struggled against Kentucky, tournament-legend Kevin Pittsnogle tied his career high with 27 points and added 10 rebounds. An early 20-0 Wildcat run was too much for West Virginia to overcome.

16. DePaul (0-1)

Next: Saturday vs. Northwestern at 2 p.m.

Not the start that head coach Jerry Wainwright would have wished for. DePaul never challenged as Bradley came in to All-State Arena and won convincingly on the Blue Demons’ home court 75-60. Twenty three turnovers, 14 in the first half, did in DePaul. Sophomore forward Karron Clarke was the team’s bright spot, scoring 19 points and adding five rebounds. The Miami transfer sat out last season and notched a new career high with his performance.

Missouri Valley Notebook

Missouri Valley Notebook

by Neal Heston

In the Valley, basketball is 24-7

That is, 24 wins and 7 losses in the non-conference slate – good for a .774 winning percentage. Five teams are undefeated after the first full week of action, and it could have easily been seven. Drake (3-1) nearly upset No. 10-ranked Boston College, but fell 87-84, and Wichita State (4-1) nearly downed Illinois, 55-54.

Other strong wins include Bradley over DePaul, Creighton over Dayton, Drake over Detroit and Northern Iowa and Illinois State over Western Michigan. Only two contests have resulted in MVC teams losing by a double digit deficit: Evansville by 13 to Loyola-Chicago and Illinois State by 17 at Cincinnati.

Every Valley squad has protected its court, going a combined 16-0 at home.

Strong tests await for Iowa teams

The Valley will look to send its own wave of cyclones through Ames this week when Northern Iowa travels to Iowa State on Nov. 29 and Drake hosts the Cyclones on Dec. 5. The Panthers whipped ISU in Cedar Falls last season, but haven’t fared very well in Ames. Drake will attempt to halt Iowa State with its early high-powered offense. The Bulldogs have found almost nothing but net during a 3-1 start.

Hoopville MVC Player of the Week: Nate Funk, Creighton

It’s really difficult to give this to anyone but Nate Funk. The guard has been a scoring machine and Creighton needed all of his 38 points to knock down Dayton in double overtime.

Hoopville Newcomer of the Week: Ajay Calvin, Drake

Calvin has reached double figures in all four games so far and is averaging a team-high 12.3 points per contest. He’s been a large contributor to the Bulldog’s 81 points per game.

Creighton (3-0): Soaring high early

The Bluejays flew past the opposition during week one and now look to knock down a beast from the east. At least three players have nailed double figures in all three contests. Nate Funk has led the way with more than 20 points per contest, including a 38 point effort during a double overtime win against Dayton. Johnny Mathies also put together a couple of good performances with 24 points against Dayton and another 12 in a 72-52 win against George Mason. Next up is DePaul from the Big East. DePaul already lost to another Valley squad (Bradley) this week and should have its hands full with a Bluejay squad that is shooting 46 percent from the field in November.

Week 1 team MVP: Nate Funk, 21.3 PPG

Games this week: Nov. 30 at DePaul (1-1)

Northern Iowa (3-0): Bench doing its part

One concern many had of the Panthers was their bench. All the starters returned, but three large contributors from the bench graduated. Greg McDermott’s decision not to redshirt freshman Travis Brown paid off on the season’s first night. Brown sank eight points in just six minutes during UNI’s 68-46 win over Western Carolina.

In wins over Western Michigan and Upper Iowa, senior guard John Little has stormed off the bench for a total of 16 tallies. Adam Viet and Atila Santos scored eight points apiece in the 72-47 win against Upper Iowa.

Ben Jacobson has been slightly below his league-leading scoring status from last season. The senior guard is averaging 9.7 points in three games – about eight below his average from last winter. Sophomore center Eric Coleman has led the team in scoring during two games, scoring 17 in the season-opener and 11 against Upper Iowa. He has also snatched 7.3 boards per contest as well.

Week 1 team MVP: Eric Coleman, 12.3 PPG

Games this week: Nov. 30 at Iowa State (3-1); Dec. 3 vs. Loyola-Chicago (2-0)

Bradley (2-0): Getting the job done

If you want to make a run at the postseason, beat a postseason-caliber team. That’s exactly what the Braves did during the season’s first week after knocking down DePaul, 75-60. Even with two players suspended until late December (namely Patrick O’ Bryant) because they accepted money for work not done, Bradley has had several players step up with notable performances. The leader – no surprise – is Marcellus Sommerville, who has drained 16 points per game and snatched 8.5 rebounds a contest. Tony Bennett and Lawrence Wright have also averaged 15 and 10 points, respectively, in BU’s two wins.

Week 1 team MVP: Marcellus Sommerville, 16.0 PPG

Games this week: Nov. 30 at Loyola-Chicago (2-0); Dec. 3 vs. Bowling Green (2-2)

Indiana State (2-0): Offense strong early

Senior guard David Moss has led a spark for the Sycamore offense, which has typically been known for well, not being that good. Moss sank 23 in an opening night 84-60 victory over Central State and drained another 25 during an overtime win over Middle Tennessee State. Others around Moss have also hit nothing but net, as INS is hitting 49 percent from the field and 43 percent from beyond the arc early. The one downside: hitting a mere 33 of 50 shots from the free-throw line.

Freshman forward Jay Tunnell is another Valley newcomer making noise early. Tunnell is hitting 13 points per game and is giving reason to believe the Sycamore offense may be saved this winter.

Week 1 team MVP: David Moss, 24.0 PPG

Games this week: Dec. 3 at Eastern Illinois (0-2)

Missouri State (2-0): MSU, Ahearn dismantle early opposition

Blake Ahearn has never been regarded as a top scorer in the Valley, but the senior certainly has himself at the top of the ranks after this week. The junior guard scored 19 in an 87-51 drubbing over Northern Illinois and added another 27 against Arkansas State. Kellen Easley Deke Thompson and Tyler Chaney have also sparked early, averaging more than 10 points during the first two contests. MSU hit 58 percent from the field in both victories.

The upcoming schedule looks promising for the offensive explosion to continue. MSU will host the Price Cutter Classic this weekend and will face Georgia Southern in the semifinals.

Week 1 team MVP: Blake Ahearn, 23.0 PPG

Games this week: Dec. 2 vs. Georgia Southern (3-2); Dec. 3 vs. Southern Florida or Texas A&M-Corpus Christian

Wichita State (4-1): WSU almost snags a big win

Losing a lot of its starting lineup from last winter certainly hasn’t stopped the Shockers’ offense.

After putting up 83-, 86- and 97-spots in three victories, Wichita State nearly upset Illinois this week. WSU controlled a four-point advantage at the half, but the Illini escaped with a 55-54 win.

P.J. Couisnard and Paul Miller have put together strong start after strong start during the shockers early season surge. Couisnard has hit double digits in points twice and scored nine another two times, and Miller has averaged 13 points and 7.2 boards per contest.

Week 1 team MVP: Paul Miller, 13.0 PPG

Games this week: Nov. 30 vs. Providence (2-0); Dec. 3 vs. Northwestern State (2-1)

Drake (3-1): Puppies to dogs in one week

No Klayton Korver? No problem – at least not from the way the Bulldogs performed this week. Drake has had some strong showings from newcomers – the most notable from junior forward Ajay Calvin. Calvin has put together 12.3 points per game and has been one of the power players for an offense that has averaged 81 points in four contests. Freshman Jonathan Cox has also been a pleasant surprise early, adding another 10.5 points per game.

Because of this, Drake has rolled past early competition and nearly knocked down now eighth-ranked Boston College. BC survived a scare in an 87-84 escape. Veterans Aliou Keita, Chris Bryant and Chaun Brooks made their appearances noted after the three combined for 46 points. With the offense in sync right now and the schedule that awaits, there’s good reason to expect a 5-1 record from the ‘Dogs next week and maybe an 8-1 mark when the team travels to Iowa on Dec. 20.

Week 1 team MVP: Ajay Calvin, 12.3 PPG

Games this week: Nov. 30 vs. Cornell College; Dec. 5 vs. Iowa State (3-1)

Illinois State (2-1): Defense keeps birds flying

With all of the losses from last season, few expect a lot from Illinois State this winter, but the Redbirds have shown early that defense might surprise the MVC in ’05-06. ILS has surrendered just 57.7 points per game, and that includes the 76-spot Cincinnati laid on them. Twice in their first three contests the Redbirds have limited opponents to 50 points or less. That’s good, because the offense has only managed 59 points a game.

Neil Plank, who sank 12 points in the opener against IUPUI and 16 against Western Michigan, has started to emerge as the leader of this team early, but there doesn’t appear to be any clear go-to guy yet. Greg Dilligard led the attack in the defeat at Cincinnati with 16 points and five boards.

Week 1 team MVP: Neil Plank, 12.0 PPG

Games this week: Nov. 29 vs. Grambling (2-0); Dec. 3 vs. Wisconsin-Green Bay (1-3)

Southern Illinois (2-2): Ice cold in Alaska

SIU started the season by getting revenge against La Lafeyette with a 65-47 victory, but the Salukis dropped back-to-back games for the first time since last January after defeats to Monmouth and Alaska-Anchorage in the Alaska-Anchorage Tournament. An 80-72 win against Eastern Washington in the tourney finale, in which Tatum sunk 37 points, sent the Salukis back to Carbondale with a warm feeling. The 1-2 start marked the first time SIU has flirted with the .500 mark since the 2000-01 season when the Salukis finished 16-14. Jamaal Tatum has lifted this team on his shoulders, leading the Salukis in all four contests thus far.

Week 1 team MVP: Jamaal Tatum, 21.8 PPG

Games this week: Nov. 30 at Saint Louis (1-1); Dec. 3 at Wyoming (3-1)

Evansville (1-2): Potent offense not enough

It should come as no surprise that the early weakness of the Aces is the defense. That has been the case the past couple seasons. But a team that has put an average of 81 points on the board shouldn’t be 1-2 in its first three games – unless that squad is surrendering 83 points a contest, like Evansville.

An early high note for UE has been the play of freshman Jason Holsinger. The 5-11 guard has sunk 17.3 points per game to lead the Aces. The experienced players are also turning in strong performances early. Junior Matt Webster sunk 24 points in 27 minutes during a 91-81 opening night victory against Marshall. The 6-7 forward also nailed 15 points and grabbed eight boards in a 99-86 loss to Loyola-Chicago.

Purdue, who slipped by the Aces last December (62-61), is next on the slate.

Week 1 team MVP: Jason Holsinger, 17.3 PPG

Games this week: Dec. 3 vs. Purdue (2-1)

Big Sky Notebook

Big Sky Notebook

by Nick Dettmann

Player of the Week: Slim Millien, Idaho State

Eastern Washington (1-3)

Nov. 24: Marquette 83, Eastern Washington 73 (Great Alaska Shootout, Anchorage, Alaska)
Nov. 25: USC 69, Eastern Washington 51 (Great Alaska Shootout, Anchorage, Alaska)
Nov. 26: Southern Illinois 80, Eastern Washington 72 (Great Alaska Shootout, Anchorage, Alaska)

The Eagles participated in one of the greatest early season tournaments, the Great Alaska Shootout. The Eagles started off by falling to eventual tournament champion Marquette to start the tournament. Jake Beitinger led the way with 17 points and Rodney Stuckey had 16. Rhett Humphrey had 11 points off the bench. Marquette had five players in double figures. Against the Trojans, the Eagles fell behind early and could not recover as they trailed 36-18 at halftime. Beitinger and Stuckey each led the way for a second straight game with 17 and 15 points respectively. Against the Salukis, the Eagles could not hold onto a 34-33 lead at halftime before falling to SIU. Jamaal Tatum had 37 points for the Salukis. Stuckey capped a terrific tournament with 24 points. Henry Bekkering had 17 points off the bench for Eastern Washington.

Up next: The Eagles will travel to regional rival Idaho on Nov. 30 before returning home on Dec. 4 against Cal State-Northridge.

Idaho State (2-1)

Nov. 23: Idaho State 106, University of Great Falls 64
Nov. 26: Idaho State 72, Utah Valley State 56

The Bengals went perfect last week. But, they should have. Against Great Falls, a NAIA school, Slim Millien scored 23 points and grabbed a collegiate-high 13 rebounds. Millien led four Bengals to reach double figures in points. Tim Henry added 16 points, while David Schroeder and Logan Kinghorn had 12 and 11 respectively. Against Utah Valley State, Millien had another solid game as he had his third-straight double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Schroeder had a team-high 15 points for ISU.

Up next: The Bengals will host in-state rival Boise State on Dec. 1. Then, they will finish their four-game home stand with a visit by North Dakota State on Dec. 3.

Montana (2-1)

Nov. 25: Montana 86, Western Oregon 57

In their lone game of the week, the Grizzlies won their second-straight game in convincing fashion. Andrew Strait and Kevin Criswell led the Grizzlies in scoring with 18 and 17 points respectively. The Grizz shot 63 percent from the field for the night.

Up next: The Grizzlies will continue a four-game home stand with a visit by Utah Valley State on Nov. 29. Then, Stanford comes to town on Dec. 2.

Montana State (1-3)

Nov. 27: Montana State 84, Wayland Baptist 60

In their lone game of the week, the Bobcats had no troubles with NAIA Wayland Baptist. Ja’Ron Jefferson had 12 points and three assists. The Bobcats shot 53 percent and had only 12 turnovers after averaging 20 in the first three games.

Up next: The Bobcats go out on the road for the next two. The first will be soon-to-be Big Sky conference foe Northern Colorado on Dec. 1. Then, will finish the trip on Dec. 3 against Denver.

Northern Arizona (3-0)

Nov 15: NAU 71, Morgan State 51
Nov 19: NAU 78, UC Davis 50
Nov 22: NAU 97, Cal Maritime 47

Portland State (2-3)

Nov. 23: Iowa State 72, Portland State 64 (Cyclone Challenge, Ames, Iowa)
Nov. 25: Iona 81, Portland State 75 (Cyclone Challenge, Ames, Iowa)
Nov. 26: Portland State 81, Howard 53 (Cyclone Challenge, Ames, Iowa)

The Vikings hung right with Iowa State of the Big 12 in the Cyclones’ tournament, the Iowa State tournament. The Vikings trailed by only two at halftime before the Cyclones took over. Four players scored double-figures for ISU. Juma Kamara led the Vikings with 19 points. Against Iona, four players reached double-figures for the Vikings, led by Ryan Sommer’s 16. Jake Schroeder, Kamara and Josh Neeley scored double figures with 15, 13 and 10 respectively. Against Howard, the Vikings jumped out to a 42-19 halftime lead and held Howard to 31 percent shooting from the field. Anthony Washington led the way with 15 points for PSU.

Up next: The Vikings have a meeting with sixth-ranked Gonzaga in Spokane, Wash., on Nov. 30. Then, will return home on Dec. 3 to play Middle Tennessee State.

Sacramento State (3-2)

Nov. 22: Sacramento State 100, William Jessup 61
Nov. 26: Sacramento State 85, San Francisco 78

The Hornets had a perfect week this week. Against William Jessup, the Hornets out-scored William Jessup 47-24 in the second half. Loren Leath had 19 points for the Hornets off the bench. Dashawn Freeman scored 18 points for the Hornets as well. Against the Dons, five players reached double figures, led by Freeman’s 18. Leath and Haron Hargrove had 17 points each, while Jason Harris and Alex Bausley had 16 and 10 respectively.

Up next: The Hornets continue their three-game road trip with the last two of the trip. On Nov. 30, the Hornets will play UC-Davis and then on Dec. 3, they will play at Utah Valley State.

Weber State (3-1)

Nov. 23: Weber State 82, Montana Tech 51
Nov. 26: Utah 67, Weber State 62 (OT)

The Wildcats had five players reach double-figures, led by Terrell Stovall’s 13 points against Montana Tech. Against in-state rival Utah, Stovall hit a lay-up with seven seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime. Coric Riggs led the Wilcats with 17 points and six rebounds.

Up next: On Nov. 29, the Wildcats will head south to play Southern Utah. Then, on Dec. 3 will have their second meeting with Boise State, this team it will be in Ogden.

ACC Notebook

ACC Notebook

by Michael Protos

Early Season Review

The beginning of the 2005-06 season has gone according to plan for most ACC teams. Duke, Boston College and North Carolina State are all undefeated. North Carolina and Clemson also have not lost, but they have not played any major conference competition.

Wake Forest, Virginia Tech and Maryland have four or more wins coupled with one loss. And each team has a few holes that it must address before joining the conference’s elite. Wake Forest needs Justin Gray to figure out the point guard position. Maryland needs to play shutdown defense every night. Virginia Tech needs to stop tipping in shots for the other team.

Miami and Georgia Tech are scratching their heads a little bit after losing to unranked opponents. For the Yellow Jackets, “bad” losses come with the territory of losing all five starters from last season. The Hurricanes don’t have that excuse, so losses to Air Force and Temple are not going to sit well with the fan base or selection committee.

Although the season is barely a week old, a few teams are preparing to open conference play this coming weekend. Georgia Tech plays Virginia for early rights to the ACC cellar. Duke hosts Virginia Tech with an opportunity to exorcise last year’s demons when the Hokies upset the Blue Devils in Blacksburg. Look for Duke to play mad for 40 minutes. The Hokies are talented, but this match up smells like trouble.

Let’s get on to a few early season awards and then team reviews.

ACC Player of the Week

J.J. Redick, Duke

The best player on the best team in America proved why Duke will be almost impossible to stop this season. Redick is averaging more than 22 points per game right now and has stepped up his defensive skills. He has five steals in five games and doesn’t allow his man to have many open looks.

ACC Rookie of the Week

Tyler Hansbrough, 54, 23

North Carolina is in the process of reloading after its national championship last season. Hansbrough will help the Tar Heels become explosive faster, and his opening week is a good indicator of future success. He averaged 18 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.

ACC Coach Watch

Frank Haith, Miami

Haith is no danger of receiving a pink slip, but two losses in six games isn’t what he had in mind to start the season. The Hurricanes dropped games against Air Force in the BCA Classic and at Temple. Miami is already in a position in which it must win its next couple of games against good non-conference opponents or else the Hurricanes will need to finish in the top four or five in the conference to have a realistic chance at an NCAA Tournament bid.

Team Results:

Duke Blue Devils (5-0, 0-0)

Results:
Win: Vs. Boston University, 64-47
Win: Vs. Seton Hall, 93-40
Win: Vs. Davidson, 84-55
Win: Drexel at Madison Square Garden, 78-68
Win: Memphis at Madison Square Garden, 70-67

Next week:
At Indiana, Nov. 30
Vs. Virginia Tech, Dec. 4

Duke is the top ranked team in the country, which just adds to opponents’ motivation to take down the vaunted Blue Devils. And two worthy opponents tried and failed in the finals of the NIT Season Tip-Off at Madison Square Garden. Drexel gave Duke all it could handle for 35 minutes before the Blue Devils pulled away because of senior guard J.J. Redick’s ability to get to the free-throw line. He finished with 31 points, including 13 from the line. Then Duke slipped past Memphis in the championship game when senior forward Shelden Williams dropped 30 on the Tigers.

Entering this season, Duke had few questions on their lineup. The point guard play was an area to watch because senior Sean Dockery has the experience but freshman guard Greg Paulus has the superior skills. Together, they make a terrific team, especially because Dockery is a defensive ace while Paulus is not. Neither one looks to score first because both are content setting up their teammates. And with Williams in the paint and Redick on the wing, can you blame them? Paulus and Dockery have combined for 19 assists in the past three games.

Although Drexel and Memphis played Duke tough, the Blue Devils’ defense got the better of them. By the end of the game, both the Dragons and Tigers finished with shooting percentages just a little better than 40 percent. The pattern so far is that good teams can ride adrenaline through a good first half against Duke. But the game is 40 minutes long, and only the Tigers proved they can go toe to toe with Duke for an entire game. Duke may not find many more teams all season that can do so, which makes this experience even more rewarding as the Blue Devils prepare for a national championship run.

Boston College Eagles (5-0, 0-0)

Results:
Win: Vs. Dartmouth, 80-61
Win: Vs. Shawnee State, 70-51
Win: Vs. Buffalo, 92-63
Win: Drake at Las Vegas, 87-84
Win: Oklahoma State at Las Vegas, 76-68

Next week:
Vs. Sacred Heart, Dec. 3

In past years, a win against Oklahoma State would be one of the best wins a team could hope for during a season. But the Cowboys are restocking after several consecutive experienced teams. So Boston College’s win against Oklahoma State in Vegas is good but not great. And that sums up the Eagles’ play so far this season.

The highly ranked Eagles beat Oklahoma State and Drake by less than 10 points, and Boston College needed a 10-0 run at the end of the game to beat Drake. Senior forward Craig Smith has been solid but not spectacular with no more than 12 points in the past three games. And twice he had less than five rebounds. For someone billed to be the best post player in the ACC, Smith has been underwhelming so far.

Coach Al Skinner suspended sophomore forward Akida McClain for violating a team rule, and McClain did not make the trip to Las Vegas to play Drake or Oklahoma State. In his place, sophomore forward John Oates got the start. He struggled the past two games, notching only two points. While the Eagles wait to get McClain and fellow suspended starter Sean Williams back, Boston College is using essentially a seven-man rotation. But that experience will help when Williams and McClain return. Boston College will enter ACC play with considerable depth if players like Oates, freshman Marquez Hayes and freshman Tyrese Rice become reliable options off the bench.

The early outlook for Boston College is good, but the Eagles need to get better production from the substitutes for McClain and Williams. If that happens, this team could become scary when the calendar rolls over to 2006.

North Carolina State Wolfpack (5-0, 0-0)

Results:
Win: Vs. Stetson, 91-61
Win: Vs. The Citadel, 91-59
Win: Vs. Delaware, 73-57
Win: Vs. VMI, 75-55
Win: At Notre Dame, 61-48

Next week:
At Iowa, Nov. 30

The Wolfpack’s detractors will state the obvious: Wins against Stetson, the Citadel, Delaware and VMI – all in Raleigh – are nothing to brag about. And a win against Notre Dame during what will likely be a down year isn’t much better, even if it’s on the road. But even they cannot ignore North Carolina State’s defensive prowess. In four of five games, the Wolfpack have held opponents to 22 points or less in the first half. And the exception to the rule wasn’t the Fighting Irish, who managed only 20.

When teams must play from behind, North Carolina State thrives. Coach Herb Sendek’s version of the Princeton offense let the Wolfpack bleed the clock then take high-percentage shots. On defense, the Wolfpack play with active hands, forcing more turnovers than they commit.

On offense, the Wolfpack regularly get four players in double-figures. Junior forward Ilian Evtimov has led the way for the last two games, but North Carolina State can count on production from fellow junior guard Engin Atsur and sophomore forward Cedric Simmons. As in past years, North Carolina State’s small lineup produces a problem in the rebounding category. Opponents continue to challenge the Wolfpack on the glass, so Sendek has made that a team chore. So far, six different players have registered at least six rebounds in a game.

The lesson for the Wolfpack so far is that they are a solid team, but they only succeed when they play as a team. Without Julius Hodge, the Wolfpack lack an automatic source for points. If North Carolina State continues to play suffocating defense against better teams and maintains offensive balance, the Wolfpack could quickly earn a spot in the Top 20. They might belong there now.

Clemson Tigers (4-0, 0-0)

Results:
Vs. Bethune Cookman, 84-55 win
Vs. Coppin State, 102-71 win
Vs. South Carolina State, 79-38 win
At Charleston Southern, 68-56 win

Next week:
At Penn State, Nov. 29
Vs. South Carolina, Dec. 3

With wins against Bethune Cookman, Coppin State and South Carolina State, Clemson would easily be in first place if the Tigers were in the MEAC. Unfortunately, the Tigers are in the ACC, so wins against such cupcakes matter little. The 4-0 record doesn’t look nearly as impressive when the corresponding RPI is sub-100. Although the opponents are tough to take seriously, the Tigers have shown some solid trends that – if they continue – will guide the team to some surprising wins against much more noteworthy opponents.

Clemson is playing excellent defense, possibly better than any other ACC team. Clemson has held every opponent to less than 40 percent shooting from the field and forced 25 or more turnovers in three games. Despite building huge leads early in games, the Tigers have only allowed more than five three-pointers once. Their average margin of victory is more than 27 points.

It’s tough to fairly evaluate individuals when coach Oliver Purnell can start playing the B team before halftime. But senior forward Akin Akingbala is adjusting well to his new role as a leader in the frontcourt. He put 19 points and 14 rebounds in only 24 minutes against Coppin State. That’s impressive even against a bad opponent.

North Carolina Tar Heels (3-0, 0-0)

Results:
Win: Vs. Gardner Webb, 83-80
Win: Vs. Cleveland State, 112-55
Win: Vs. UC-Santa Barbara, 83-66

Next week:
Vs. Illinois, Nov. 29
At Kentucky, Dec. 3

The Tar Heels are one of five undefeated teams in the ACC, but don’t expect that to continue. The defending national champions survived an opening-game upset bid by Gardner Webb. North Carolina needed a three-pointer from senior leader in the closing seconds to win 83-80. And Noel is not exactly a three-point specialist. So chalk that victory up to good fortune, especially when the Tar Heels led Gardner Webb shoot 50 percent in their own dome.

Clearly, coach Roy Williams castigated his team for an embarrassing defensive performance because the Tar Heels responded with a dominating 112-55 victory against Cleveland State. The team held the Vikings to 32 percent shooting from the floor and out-rebounded the Vikings by 35. The defense lapsed a bit against Santa Barbara despite the victory because the Gauchos hit 10 three-pointers. The Tar Heels cannot afford to play porous defense on the perimeter when the likes of J.J. Redick or the entire Wolfpack team come to Chapel Hill, let alone when the Tar Heels go on the road to their rivals.

The defensive struggles are natural for a team dominated by inexperienced freshman and unproven sophomores and juniors. Freshman forward Tyler Hansbrough has been the most consistent youngster, averaging 18 points and 7.7 rebounds per game so far. With Hansbrough becoming a reliable option in the paint, Williams can funnel the offense through him. The coach continues to use a nine-man rotation despite the lack of experience. Like last year, the Tar Heels commit a lot of turnovers each game, but they also force a bunch. So far, they’ve been on the winning end of those battles. But the Tar Heels need to take better care of the ball against teams with more experienced point guards, like Illinois, Arizona, Maryland and Duke.

The early lesson for North Carolina is that this team has a world of potential. The Tar Heels just might need another year to fully realize that potential.

Virginia Tech Hokies (5-1, 0-0)

Results:
Win: Vs. Radford, 80-50
Loss: Vs. Bowling Green, 72-71
Win: Vs. Western Carolina, 54-40
Win: Vs. Mount St. Mary’s, 74-62
Win: Vs. Marshall, 71-54
Win: Vs. Morgan State, 77-49

Next week:
At Ohio State, Nov. 28
At Duke, Dec. 4

Virginia Tech’s strategy for winning games still bears a closer resemblance to Big East game plans than the average ACC one. The Hokies win on stifling pressure and balanced offense from a relatively average cast of hard-working players. The Hokies rarely shoot better than 40 percent from three-point territory, but they take care of the basketball, rarely committing more than 15 turnovers.

That strategy has worked for the most part this season. The lone blemish on the Hokies’ record is a one-point home loss to Bowling Green in which freshman swingman A.D. Vassallo tipped in the winning points for the wrong team. Despite the mistake, Vassallo is a solid player and one of coach Seth Greenberg’s seven primary players. So far, the balance of Zabian Dowdell, Jamon Gordon, Coleman Collins and Deron Washington has provided enough points to take care of weaker opponents. Virginia Tech’s stifling defense has held the past three opponents to less than 42 percent shooting from the field and forced at least 15 turnovers.

Despite a solid 5-1 record, the Hokies still do not how strong their squad is. The first real tests come this week when Virginia Tech visits Ohio State and then Duke. A split would indicate that the Hokies are ready to contend within the ACC. Most observers expect the team to lose both games, so the Hokies can do nothing but surprise their critics.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5-1, 0-0)

Results:
Win: Vs. Mississippi Valley State, 78-64
Win: Vs. George Mason, 83-78 overtime
Loss: Florida at Madison Square Garden, 77-72
Win: Texas Tech at Madison Square Garden, 78-73 overtime
Win: Vs. UNC-Asheville, 79-63
Win: Vs. Appalachian State, 91-78

Next week:
Vs. Wisconsin, Nov. 29
At Elon, Dec. 3

The Demon Deacons have a solid starting record at 5-1, but with two overtime games on the record, Wake Forest could also easily be 3-3. The close calls have largely been self-inflicted. Senior guard Justin Gray has struggled to adjust to the responsibilities of playing point guard. In the Coaches vs. Cancer tournament finals at Madison Square Garden, Texas Tech and Florida pressured Gray throughout the game and forced a combined 17 turnovers. Gray still torched the nets for 35 points in two games, but his shooting percentage is down compared with last season’s percentage.

To relieve the stress, coach Skip Prosser inserted freshman point guard Harvey Hale into the starting lineup in two wins against UNC-Asheville and Appalachian State. The experiment has been a success for two games because the two guards have combined for only eight turnovers in two games. In other words, they’re each averaging only two turnovers per game. And they have combined to dish out 15 assists. A 15-to-8 assist-to-turnover ratio is pretty good. Either way, the Demon Deacons are struggling to adjust to life without Chris Paul.

In comparison with the backcourt problems, the Demon Deacons have excelled in the post. Eric Williams, Trent Strickland and Kyle Visser form one of the most dominating post triumvirates in the nation. Strickland has been on fire lately, scoring nearly 16 points per game during the Demon Deacons’ last four games. Those three have already combined to post four double-doubles. Each one is a threat to post 10 points and 10 rebounds any night. As defenses focus on Williams, Strickland and Visser must continue to be active on the glass and in the paint to free space for Gray on the perimeter and Williams on the low block.

Wake Forest is an interesting study this season because the Demon Deacons have inexperienced guards outside of Gray, who isn’t comfortable running the offense. But few teams can match Wake Forest’s muscle in the frontcourt. Based on the style of offense Wake Forest must run and the team’s turnover problem, the Demon Deacons likely won’t blow out many opponents, which constantly provides the potential for an upset against a seemingly overmatched foe.

Maryland Terrapins (3-1, 0-0)

Results:
Win: Vs. Fairleigh Dickinson, 111-85
Loss: Gonzaga at Maui, 88-76
Win: Chaminade at Maui, 98-69
Win: Arkansas at Maui, 75-62
Win: Vs. Nicholls State, 88-56

Next week:
Vs. Minnesota, Nov. 30
George Washington at Washington, D.C., Dec. 5

Maryland is off to a solid start after surviving a stacked field in the Maui Invitational. But the Terrapins left paradise with mixed feelings, beating Chaminade and Arkansas and losing to Gonzaga. Maryland lost to the Bulldogs because the Terrapins couldn’t stop them when it counted. Defense appeared to be a problem for Maryland after two and a half games.

But after trailing Division II Chaminade by two at halftime, the Terrapins turned on the defensive fortitude. Coach Gary Williams must have bust a vein in that halftime speech because the Terps are playing like a potential threat to Duke. Since that sluggish start against the Silverswords, Maryland has not allowed any opponent to score more than 35 points in a half. Yes, Chaminade and Nicholls State aren’t exactly Gonzaga or Duke, but Arkansas has a respectable lineup. And Maryland shut down some good players.

Individually, junior forward Ekene Ibekwe has had a good start, averaging about 14 points and seven rebounds per game. If Ibekwe can continue to put up those numbers throughout the season, he will free space on the perimeter for Maryland’s shooters, including Chris McCray, Nik Caner-Medley, Mike Jones and Travis Garrison.

Miami Hurricanes (4-2, 0-0)

Results:
Win: Texas-Arlington at Seattle, 76-65
Loss: Air Force at Seattle, 57-53
Win: Wisconsin-Green Bay at Seattle, 80-54
Win: Vs. Morgan State, 83-51
Win: Vs. North Carolina A&T, 87-62
Loss: At Temple, 73-56

Next week:
At Michigan, Nov. 29
Vs. Birmingham Southern, Dec. 3

The Hurricanes have not exactly aced the easiest portion of the team’s schedule. Miami let Air Force’s Princeton-style game mess with its rhythm. Miami largely relies on a three-guard set that jacks up three-pointers. But the Hurricanes need to create a lot of opportunities for their guards to hit shots to catch fire. Teams that can dictate a slower pace will be able to succeed against Miami. Air Force and Temple managed to accomplish that, and they beat the Hurricanes.

Miami must be relatively content with freshman point Denis Clemente, who is leading the offense in the absence of senior point guard Anthony Harris. Clemente has not lost games by excessively turning the ball over. But he does have a problem with shot selection, as evidenced by a 3-of-12 three-point shooting performance in the Hurricanes’ loss to Temple. Yes, the Hurricanes trailed Temple by double-digits in the second half, but if the shots aren’t falling, someone else needs to be taking them. Clemente took nearly as many shots as superstar guards Guillermo Diaz and Robert Hite combined.

Hite has been the most reliable Hurricane. During the past week, Hite has averaged a little more than 17 points per game. And he hasn’t put up 25 shots per game to score, either. Hite is shooting nearly 50 percent from the field and better than 40 percent from three-point territory. The lesson for Miami after a few games is that the Hurricanes need to stick with its experienced leaders and make sure the youngsters don’t try to force the issue.

Florida State Seminoles (2-1, 0-0)

Results:
Win: At Jacksonville, 78-48
Win: Vs. Alcorn State, 85-67
Loss: At Florida, 74-66

Next week:
Vs. Purdue, Nov. 29
Vs. Louisiana-Monroe, Dec. 2

The Seminoles already face a familiar problem after only three games – a lack of consistency. Florida State has had a different leading scorer in all three games, including two who didn’t score more than 13 points. Junior forward Al Thornton had a monster game against Alcorn State, scoring 31 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

But besides Thornton, no other Seminoles has scored at least nine points in all three games. Coach Leonard Hamilton put sophomore guard Jason Rich in the starting lineup after he led the team with 13 points in the season-opening win against Jacksonville. But he hasn’t been spectacular. Another disturbing trend for Hamilton is the team’s propensity to turn the ball over. Despite senior point guard Todd Galloway leading the offense, the Seminoles have committed 22 turnovers twice this season. And Galloway had five turnovers against Florida, a game in which the Seminoles blew a 17-point lead.

Until the Florida State can achieve some semblance of offensive consistency, the Seminoles will struggle to string together a long series of wins. An early lesson for the Seminoles would have to be shot selection. The team has jacked up at least 16 three-pointers in all three games, but the Seminoles have a lot of talent in the post. Florida State must feed its big men first until one of the younger guards proves he can consistently drain the long shot.

Virginia Cavaliers (2-1, 0-0)

Results:
Win: Vs. Liberty, 79-44
Win: At Richmond, 59-43

Next week:
Vs. Northwestern, Nov. 30
At Georgia Tech, Dec. 4

New Cavalier coach Dave Leitao has to be content with two wins against Liberty and at Richmond. But a 30-point loss at Arizona is disconcerting. The first two performances were outstanding because the Cavaliers held Liberty and Richmond to less than 30 percent shooting from the field while out-rebounding them by at least 15. But the Wildcats turned the tables on Virginia by hitting more than 50 percent of their shots. Guards Chris Rodgers and Hassan Adams found plenty of holes in Virginia’s defense.

Sophomore guard Sean Singletary has proven that a sensational freshman season was no fluke. Singletary has averaged almost 18 points, five rebounds and three assists per game. Despite his success, Leitao must be unhappy about the Cavaliers’ inability to create opportunities for teammates. Virginia had only 10 assists – combined – against Richmond and Arizona.

Another problem Leitao must address is a lack of depth. Even in the route against Liberty, Leitao used only an eight-man rotation. No bench players scored against Arizona. Sophomore forward Adrian Joseph, a promising post player last season, cracked the starting lineup against Arizona and was one of only two players to reach double figures. The Cavaliers’ lesson after three games is that this team has a serious lack of reliable talent and a bunch of players who don’t play as a team. If Leitao can get his players to focus team goals, the Cavaliers could improve. If not, Virginia can build a nest in the ACC basement because it’ll be down there all season.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (2-1, 0-0)

Results:
Win: Vs. UNC-Asheville, 80-52
Win: Vs. Elon, 81-69
Loss: Vs. Illinois-Chicago, 73-51

Next week:
At Michigan State, Nov. 30
Vs. Virginia, Dec. 4

Georgia Tech, like the Tar Heels, are adjusting to an entirely new lineup. Five new starters bear the responsibility of implementing coach Paul Hewitt’s system, which features sound, efficient offense combined with stifling defense. In the team’s two wins, Georgia Tech held its opponents to fewer than 70 points and less than 42 percent shooting from the field. On offense, the Yellow Jackets scored more than 80 points in those wins, led by sophomore shooter Anthony Morrow.

But Morrow still is not consistent. He scored 16 against Elon and 15 against UNC-Asheville but only seven points on 3-of-9 shooting against Illinois-Chicago. A more troubling concern for Georgia Tech is turnovers. The Yellow Jackets are averaging nearly 18 turnovers per game and are struggling on the boards. In the loss to the flames, the Yellow Jackets were out-rebounded by 10. The lack of fortitude in the paint is a product of the inexperience of sophomores Jeremis Smith and Ra’Sean Dickey. Until they can grow into their roles as starters, the Yellow Jackets will continue to struggle against teams dedicated to pounding the ball into the post.

Freshman guard Lewis Clinch has emerged as a rising star for the Yellow Jackets. In two wins, Clinch averaged 13.5 points. He all but disappeared against Illinois-Chicago, however, scoring only four points and hitting only two shots despite taking 13 attempts. As a team, the Yellow Jackets hit only one-third of their field-goal attempts.

The lesson after three games is that this year’s Georgia Tech team is a work in progress. Don’t expect dominance in every game, even against opponents that appear weaker on paper. The Yellow Jackets dispatched two Big South foes rather handily, but they lost big to the Horizon’s Flames. The team needs to grow up significantly before facing the ACC grind.

UCLA: Two Bruins Return From Injuries

Bruins Back From Ailments: Jordan Farmar came back Sunday night with 16 points and 10 assists to lead UCLA to a 69-57 win over Coppin State. Farmar originally injured his ankle on Nov. 17th against Temple and then sat out the next game against Delaware State. The next week, he played both games in New York in the Preseason NIT but his ankle began to ache. Farmar then missed the Bruin’s next game against Albany last Tuesday before his return Sunday night. Initially, the injury was diagnosed as a stress fracture but was downgraded to a sprain after pursuing other opinions.

Alfred Aboya also saw his first action of the season Sunday night. The 6-foot-8 freshman had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee last July and had been cleared to practice earlier in the week. Still pretty raw, Aboya had no points and two rebounds in 16 minutes in his UCLA debut. [12/05/05]

Dawan Robinson’s Return

The Rams have their leader back at last

by Phil Kasiecki

KINGSTON, R.I. – Dawan Robinson feels a little different than he did a year ago. That may be putting it mildly, but talk to him for even a couple of minutes and you can sense that what he said after Saturday’s 77-69 win over in-state rival Providence is genuine.

Robinson scored 18 points, all in the second half, while handing out five assists and getting four steals to key the victory. He scored some of those points at just the right time as well, scoring 11 straight Ram points in the final minutes to take them from a 67-65 deficit to a 76-69 lead. For good measure, he drew a key charge at the defensive end and got the rebound that led to the possession where he gave the Rams the lead for good. It all sounds like the Dawan Robinson of two years ago, when he blossomed into one of the Atlantic 10′s best guards.

“This is one of the best feelings I’ve ever had,” said the senior guard. “It’s my breakout game, and we got a big win against a big team, so it’s just a great feeling right now.”

Those words may seem hard to believe coming from someone who has played in the NIT twice in his career. Sure, it was a rivalry game, but the NIT is still the postseason. But there’s a reason why it’s easy to believe him when he says that.

In between his team’s second NIT trip and Saturday was a time period that seemed longer than it was for the native of Philadelphia. Saturday was his third game back from a 60-day suspension resulting from an incident at a bar in September, an incident that is comparatively quite minor in his comeback story. The crux of it would be his struggles of last year, when a foot injury limited him to just one minute. He missed the first eight games with a stress fracture, then re-injured it a minute into his first game back. The pain was so bad, he knew it meant the end of the season right after it happened.

But the injury was only part of the difficulty. He also lost his grandmother and grandfather three weeks apart early in the season, which naturally took quite a toll on him. It’s easy to figure that he was at a low point, and he describes last year as “ridiculous” in terms of what was thrown at him. Add that to being away from the game he loves, and the feeling he had is unmistakable.

“It’s depressing,” Robinson said of last year. “You see your team lose game after game to teams that you know you would usually destroy.”

He didn’t have to look far for support during the hard times. His parents and siblings were instrumental in helping him through the hard times, and his teammates and coaches played no small role as well. Baron could see the effects of everything on him, and knows how hard he had to work to get back to this point. Robinson also spoke of the support of students at the school, where they know he’s been through a lot just in the past year.

Amidst the tough times, he kept working in the classroom, and he graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in communications studies. He is now pursuing a masters degree and hopes to one day get into sports broadcasting. The degree certainly shined a bright light on an otherwise difficult year.

“It felt good because the one thing that I always wanted to provide for my family is a college degree,” he reflected. “I feel as though I fulfilled one of my other dreams that I had coming into college.”

There was no doubt he would be back. Robinson’s work ethic isn’t questionable; he’s been known to shoot a thousand jumpers a day. Watch him play, and his competitiveness is unmistakable. He also understands the importance of working hard; evidence is his constant shooting paying off, as he shot just over 26 percent from three-point land as a sophomore and improved to over 40 percent as a junior. So he wasn’t going away; the only question was how long it would be before he would look like the Dawan Robinson of 2003-04.

The comeback from the injury hasn’t been all rosy, and that’s not simply because he didn’t play his best basketball in his first two games back. After the injury, he figured to be able to work out in the spring at full speed to start preparing for this season, but while conditioning, he fractured the foot again. That held him back until late in the summer, when he was finally able to go at full speed.

In his first game back against Brown, he clearly looked a little overeager. He tried to do too much at times, and the results weren’t there at all as he often got bottled up trying to drive to the basket. Though he played 31 minutes, he wasn’t himself at all in terms of overall effectiveness. He was excited to be back on the court – a little too excited, he said after the game. Being the competitor that he is, he knew he didn’t play well and it weighed on him afterwards.

“Ever since that game, I’ve been killing myself, waking up in the middle of the night like, ‘come on, I gotta get back at it’,” he reflected after his second game back.

He was better against Boston University, but in his first two games back he missed all four of his three-point attempts and had four assists and 12 turnovers. So when he came up with his big game on Saturday, the natural inclination to think it just happened to be the time when it all came together for him may not suffice. Apparently, there was another explanation after all.

“I just talked to my grandparents,” he said after the game. “I lost two very important people in my life last year, so I just prayed to my grandparents, asked them to touch me and lead me, and I feel as though they did.

“It was tough and real personal for me today. With me losing two important people in my life, it was just a personal thing for me today.”

The engaging and charismatic guard is clearly happy to be back on the court and in a different place now. His confidence is clearly there, his knowledge of the game shows, and he’s leading the team almost as if he was never gone in the first place. Further evidence was his guarantee of a win on Saturday, one he backed up with his play.

Now that the Rams have their leader back, it looks like they could be in a better place than they were last year as well. After struggling mightily last season, they are currently 4-1 on the season and look to be coming together more each game. The team is ecstatic to have its leader back in action, and after Saturday’s game, it’s not hard to see why.

“The difference in the second half was Dawan Robinson,” Baron said after the game. “He’s our quarterback, he’s been our leader and the guy that’s really stepped up on the defensive end, as well as the offensive end, he got us going. He won that game for us.”

Dayton’s Brian Gregory

A Few Minutes with UD Coach Brian Gregory
(Okay, Maybe an hour, but it is good)

by Bill Kintner

OMAHA, Neb – Just several hours before Dayton takes on the Bluejays of Creighton, University of Dayton coach Brian Gregory sat down with me for an interview.

He talked about this year’s team, his coaching philosophy, recruiting, scheduling and eating. This is an interview that should make any Flyer fan proud and provide a peak into the Dayton program for any interested basketball fan.

Bill Kintner: You now have a couple of games under your belt; could you give me a brief overview of this year’s team?

Brian Gregory: We are bringing some guys back, but we are still a very young team. I think the biggest challenge for us this year is for freshmen that played a lot of minutes last year, where just playing with energy was what we demanded of them. Now, we demand in addition to playing with energy, having greater execution and performing better. The fact that our interior players, outside of James Cripe, are all freshmen and sophomores puts us in a tough position. The guys have gained weight and added strength and they’re much better players now than they were last year. Our guard play is solid and Brian Roberts is going to be a terrific player before it’s all said and done. Roberts and Monte Scott have both elevated their games and it’s important that we take advantage of that. They are in completely different roles than they were last year and they’re now both go-to guys and they’re going to have to face that challenge.

BK: You’ve played two games now, is there anything that has surprised you so far?

BG: We’re a good shooting team and we’re not shooting the ball very well right now. We’re a very good free throw shooting team and we’re shooting abysmally from the free throw line. I think those things usually even out, but we won’t be able to play as well as we’re capable of playing unless we make shots. We’re still kind of a perimeter-dominated program, so I think it’s important that we’re able to knock down some shots. Defensively, we’re good but not as good as we can be. I think the guys understand how we’re supposed to play, but still it takes some time for them to completely embrace everything in terms of this system.

BK: When your team doesn’t shoot well, is there anything you do to work on the shooting, or is it plays that you run to get your players more shots?

BG: I think it’s both of those things. One, the guys have to spend some extra time getting some shots and we’re in a tough stretch with six games in thirteen days. Two, you’ve got to make sure your better shooters are making good shots. I think of the Miami game, we got some shots up but I don’t necessarily think they were very good shots. If you aren’t taking good shots, you’re not going to make good shots.

BK: When I saw the score of the Miami game and I was sure it wasn’t right. What happened in that game?

BG: I think they went after us and we didn’t respond well. It wasn’t like we didn’t do some good things – we out-rebounded them by 20 and we got to the offensive glass – but we were impatient and that led to quick shots, bad shots and twenty-something turnovers. Against that team, because there are fewer possessions than in a normal game, you just can’t do that. It puts you in too big of a hole. We should have lost by 40.

BK: What did you work on since that game?

BG: Well, I think our poise and patience on offense. It’s very important. We play Creighton tonight and we will be challenged on that as well. They are the best team we’ve played and, maybe, the best team we’ll play all year. We need to understand who we are and what we are good at, and that’s kind of a blue-collar team that plays hard, scraps, finishes its plays inside off the offensive glass. We have two pretty good players that can score some points and we need to give them shots, and the other guys need to understand that role and really perform that role. There is nothing wrong with being a blue-collar team. We have to sell kids more now-a-days that it’s okay to be a blue-collar type player.

BK: I hear coaches talk about blue-collar teams, are there any white collar teams because I never hear a coach say, “I have a white-collar team?”

BG: I think there are some. I think that there are some really good ones. That’s the way they play and there’s nothing wrong with that. I think what it is that they play at a pace that is somewhat free-flowing and they are the ultra-talented team that play very freely and loose. Some players are the type of players that are best in those programs and some coaches are best coaching those programs. I just know I’m not one of them.

BK: Tell me about the A-10 this year. Have you been able to get your arms around it?

BG: Well, I think from top to bottom, the league may be as good as it’s ever been, because you’re looking at 18 of the top 20 scorers in the conference are back. Thirteen out of 15 all-conference players are back. It’s incredible when you look that Temple has everybody back, Xavier has everybody back, and UMass has almost everybody back. Most teams have four or at least three minimum starters back. So the league was young last year and was very good at the end of last year. When you add Charlotte and St. Louis into the mix, it only gets tougher.

BK: It seems that scheduling has almost become an art form. Some teams try to schedule for wins, others try to schedule for RPI or some combination. Some conferences give direction on how to schedule. What is your scheduling philosophy?

BG: We have a couple of things we have to do, obviously. We have to have a certain amount of home games, non-conference, due to the fact that economically it’s important for the rest of the athletic department and our program as well. So, what we try to do is to try to schedule three quality home games and that leaves four games that we consider guarantee games, where we pay teams to come in. That extra game is either a real high quality road game, like a couple of years ago when we went to Duke to play, or its either an exempt tournament, like this year we’re playing the Las Vegas Classic, or depending upon the team, like last year we played an extra guarantee game. And so, that gives us some flexibility with the eleventh game depending on what we’re trying to accomplish. Obviously, scheduling is one of our most difficult jobs, because a lot of people don’t want to come into the UD arena and play. At least, in terms of high-quality opponents.

BK: Will that change a little bit every year depending upon whether you have a young team or a more experienced team, you might tweak that a little bit?

BG: Yeah. Going into this year, we obviously upped our schedule from last year. We scheduled playing at Creighton, at Cincinnati, at Miami, and in the Las Vegas tournament where we play two top forty teams; we’ll play Northern Iowa and Cincinnati again. You try to schedule according to the best team that you have. You don’t want to over schedule too early if you have a really young team, but at the same time, if you have a real quality team, you want to have some challenges in the pre-conference schedule.

BK: Tell me a little about recruiting and your recruiting philosophy. What do you look for in a player?

BG: The most important thing is where we want to recruit – we want to recruit inside-out, meaning we want to take care of recruits in our own back yard, first, to make sure that Dayton is a great place for them. But, we’ll go anywhere to recruit kids; we have a tremendous product to sell. We have great staff in terms of guys that believe in that. We want to recruit high-quality players that are high-character kids. We’ll recruit against just about anybody – we believe in the program that we have to sell. All we need to have is the opportunity to show them, because we if we do, then we have a pretty good chance to get them. When they can see our place, see our arena, see our facilities and see how important basketball is, it’s a pretty unique situation.

BK: When you’re selling Dayton, what’s the number one thing that you’re selling?

BG: I think just how important basketball is. Kids want to go to a place where they know the work they’re going to put in is appreciated because the program is important. The program is supported within the university and within the community. I’ve also said I’m going to demand a first-class effort because they’ve got to understand that they’re playing in a first-class environment. Our biggest selling point is that they’re playing in a first-class environment. They walk into the Donoher Center; they walk into the arena, and on campus with our academics. If they need academic help, they’ll get it. Everything is done in a first-class manner. Guys understand that this is a big-time program.

BK: How is it different recruiting at Dayton than at Michigan State?

BG: I like to get it so that the gap is smaller. I think we’ve made some headway in some of that stuff. At least at Michigan State, we still recruited, we didn’t select who came there. There’s only a couple of schools out there who can do that. I like to recruit players that Michigan State is recruiting. Maybe they’re not the impact recruits, but they’re good enough to play there. In order to do what we want to do, those are the type of kids that we need to recruit.

BK: When you decided to come to Dayton, what did this job offer you? What drew you to come here?

BG: As an assistant, you’re always looking at a couple of key factors. One, does the place have a basketball tradition? Dayton obviously had that. We’ve been to a final four and a national championship game. It was some years ago, but it’s not like it’s never been done. Two, what type of leadership does the university have? In Dan Curran and Ted Kissell we have two unbelievable leaders. All you have to do is drive through campus to see the changes these men have made. Those guys have a vision and there’s no doubt that they get things done. Three, we’ve talked about recruiting. We have a great recruiting base. But, about the most important thing is that I knew the expectations and the goals of the program were a match with what I wanted to do. I didn’t want to have a ceiling put on the program. I wanted to try to get everything together and see exactly where we could get to and I think we’re taking the steps to do that.

BK: What is your coaching philosophy in terms of how you run a program?

BG: When it comes to the running of the program, everything is going to be run in a very first-class manner. Everything is going to be run in a very demanding manner. I’m a very demanding coach in terms of our players: basketball-wise, academically, and socially. I let them know that right from the start they are going to play for a program where they are going to get coached every day. If they don’t want to play in a program where they’re coached every day, where academics will be stressed, then they won’t be interested in playing here. We try to put everything out there so guys know exactly what they’re getting. I want guys to come to Dayton that really want to play for me and to understand and really believe in the things we can get accomplished at Dayton. If they feel that way, then they’ll be a really good fit.

BK: Now I am going to name a coach and I want you to just give me a few words on him, okay?

BG: Sure.

BK: Bob Huggins.

BG: Intense competitor, underrated coach and I just think he is a great coach.

BK: Sean Miller.

BG: I’ve known him since we were 18 years old. I think he is going to do a great job at Xavier. He has a great basketball IQ and he is a people person.

BK: Can you beat him in a game of one-on-one?

BG: Nah, he was a much better player than I was. (laughing)

BK: Charlie Coles.

BG: Obviously his coaching ability has withstood the test of time. He has always had good players and they play extremely hard. He still has a pulse on players today, which is hard for a coach with his experience to do.

BK: Tim Buckley.

BG: I don’t know him that well as a head coach. One thing I do know is basketball-wise and recruiting-wise, there are not a lot of guys who work harder than him.

BK: Paul Biancardi.

BG: People don’t understand how difficult that job is. I think with the type of players he has brought in, he has a reputation as a recruiter. I think he is a great recruiter and I think he is an even better coach than recruiter. I think he had proven that in his first two years there.

BK: Bobby Lutz.

BG: I don’t know him that well, but from watching his teams play, they run a lot of different things at you and still they always seem to know exactly what they are supposed to be doing. He has done a good job of mixing high school players and junior college players. The success he has had in Conference USA speaks volumes for him as a coach.

BK: Thad Matta.

BG: A much better coach than people give him credit for. He is a tremendous competitor.

BK: Tom Izzo.

BG: He’s the best! He does everything well. He recruits well and he coaches well. He’s been too hard on himself. And as always, your greatest strength is your greatest weakness. That is probably why he had the program that he has though.

BK: Travis Ford.

BG: They (EKU) beat the crap out of us last year. They did some good things against us. They exposed us in the first game in terms of some of the weaknesses that we were going to have. I think he is a good addition to the Atlantic Ten.

BK: As a big time coach, I think people look up to you. So I am sure fans have in interest in where you eat. What are your top two or three restaurants where you love to eat?

BG: The Pine Club is one, obviously. The truth is that I don’t go out to a lot of restaurants. I usually get room service on the road. I’ve gone to eat a lot at the Pine Club. The only other place I go to eat quite a bit is Dominic’s, where we have our pre-game meals.

BK: If we look at what CDs are on your CD player, what would we find?

BG: I think I have a pretty wide variety of music that I like. Probably in there right now would be U2 and probably Babyface. Let’s see, Sting and the Police would be in there. Some jazz, maybe the guy with the curly hair, Kenny G.

BK: When you are not doing basketball, what do you do in your spare time?

BG: When I am not coaching I try to spend time with my family. I have two daughters who are just unbelievable, so they are my focus.

BK: When you get up in the morning, what makes it worth getting up?

BG: I think the thing that really gets me going is we have a chance of doing something really special here. I really believe that I think I have a group of guys who believe that. I have a group of kids coming in the future that believe in that. I am excited about staying on course and seeing this thing through.

BK: That’s a wrap!

BG: Great.

Villanova’s Guards

Wildcats show that basketball teams can play small ball, too

by John Celestand

VILLANOVA, Pa. – Many basketball experts believe that a good basketball team starts with good guards. Villanova showed the country on Saturday that they may have the best collection of guards in college basketball.

The Wildcats, who start four guards because of the injury to outstanding forward Curtis Sumpter, used their savvy and quickness to continuously penetrate the Oklahoma defense en route to a 85-74 victory in front of a sold out, rowdy crowd at the Pavilion.

The Wildcats, ranked fourth in the country, usually play their big non-conference games at the Wachovia Center in downtown Philadelphia. At the Pavilion, they fed off of the energy of the campus crowd as they penetrated and pressed the Sooners into submission.

Senior guard Randy Foye continuously forced his way into the teeth of Oklahoma’s defense, finishing with a career-high 32 points on 14-of-21 shooting. Fellow guard Allan Ray shook of a slow start to score 21 points, going 10-0f-10 from the line. Promising sophomore Kyle Lowry, a Philadelphia native, chipped in with 10 points and 3 assists.

It was evident from the start that Oklahoma had more beef inside. The Sooners boast one of the better frontcourts in the country with senior All-American Taj Gray and burly forward Kevin Bookout. The Sooners constantly beat the Wildcats to the loose balls and on the boards in the first half, finishing the half with 10 offensive rebounds compared to the Wildcats’ three. They also had a 21 to 10 rebounding edge at the half.

Gray finished the game with 22 points, while Bookout added 15.

To offset their deficiencies inside, the Wildcats spread the floor as the guards took turns going one-on-one early. Foye discovered early that the Sooner guards could not guard him, and he constantly blew by the defense and scored at will. The 6’3 guard finished the half with 16 points on 7-of 12-shooting. Lowry also got in the mix, scoring on an acrobatic drive in the Wildcats last possession of the half that brought the Pavillion fans to their feet.

The Wildcats used a passive three-quarter-court press that gave the Sooners problems. The press forced Oklahoma to throw the ball out of bounds on more than one occasion. Ray heated up in the second half and Foye completely took over the game in the clutch as the Wildcats perimeter continued to control the game.

Jason Fraser, the Wildcats 6-foot-9 forward, played inspired basketball and finished the game with 10 points and 4 boards. Fraser, a highly-touted freshman when he arrived on the Main Line, has had an injury-riddled career. Although not at full strength, Fraser played 26 minutes and helped establish an inside presence with the absence of Sumpter.

The injury of Sumpter did not seem to affect the Wildcats on Saturday. The Wildcats must hope that playing “small ball” will eventually turn into a big season.

Providence vs. URI

Rhode Island rivalry shows great life

by Phil Kasiecki

KINGSTON, R.I. – It’s not exactly Duke-North Carolina, or Louisville-Kentucky; for that matter, it’s not Michigan-Michigan State or Cincinnati-Louisville. But when Providence and Rhode Island match up, it’s sure to be a ballgame and the crowd will certainly be into it.

Two years ago, the Friars played their first game in Kingston in 31 years and their first at the Ryan Center. A snowstorm blanketed much of New England, including Rhode Island, but a packed house came to see the Rams pick up their second straight win in the series at the time. A crowd just as lively came for Saturday’s game, and it had the atmosphere of a big-time rivalry game right from the get-go. Two 3-1 teams that have started the season well would have at it in a rivalry game, one deserving of such a crowd. Most got what they wanted, as the Rams came through with a 77-69 win.

You could feel it on every play, from the loud cheers every time the Rams took the lead in the second half to the back-and-forth with the Providence fans who made the trip to South County. When the Rams went up 53-48 and forced a timeout with 14:03 left in the game, the noise in the Ryan Center was almost deafening, and it was even louder when the Rams got a charge on the Friars with 54.3 seconds left while holding a 71-67 lead.

The game had the feel of a rivalry game in the way it was played as well. The first half went back and forth, though the Friars led for much of it after Rhode Island scored the first six points of the game. Foul trouble mounted for the Rams, but they stayed close thanks to the play of Jamaal Wise (11 points, five rebounds) and 11 second-chance points.

“The way the game was played in the first half, you knew it was probably going to be a basket-for-basket game,” said Providence head coach Tim Welsh.

The second half was similar, until Dawan Robinson and the Rams took over near the end. In the final two minutes, Robinson scored 11 of his 18 points and drew a key charge on defense to take the Rams from a 67-65 deficit to the victory.

The Rams didn’t just get the big effort from Robinson and 17 points (tying a career high) from Wise. Will Daniels (14 of his 18 points in the second half) helped them turn the game around early in the second half when he got some mismatches and turned them into easy scores. Daniels took over early, much like Robinson did at the end: he scored 12 of the Rams’ first 15 points, and he assisted on Robinson’s three-pointer that accounted for the other points. J.R. Moore, who has had inconsistent minutes in his first two years, gave them a good lift inside with six points and five rebounds off the bench.

“I thought that we need to use him, and I thought he did a couple of things down the stretch, especially defensively and rebounding the basketball, played very physical, very aggressive,” said head coach Jim Baron.

There was inspired ball on both sides, with players making tough shots, big plays one right after the other, and the game had a number of ties and lead changes. No team ever led by a double-digit margin. The Rams scored a season-high 77 points, which is more than they scored in any game last season, and it even prompted Baron to joke about it.

“To score 77 points, we better bottle that!” he remarked.

In short, Saturday’s game was college basketball at its finest. It was a game of well-played basketball: execution at both ends being the keys, no vying for the highlight reels, and a big-time atmosphere.

“This is just a fabulous atmosphere for college basketball,” said Baron, who thanked the more than 7,200 fans who showed up.

It isn’t one of the hailed rivalries of college basketball, but it’s clearly a good one and not just for the tiny state of Rhode Island.

Texas: Longhorns Lockdown Future Schedules

Old Foes Renew Rivalry: Texas and Arkansas have agreed to a four-year series starting next season. This will mark the first time since Arkansas joined the Southeastern Conference in 1991 that these old Southwest Conference rivals will play. The Longhorns have also agreed to a game with Gonzaga next season in Phoenix that will be part of a doubleheader that also features Arizona against Illinois. Its assumed that the NCAA will lighten its exempted tournament restrictions and Texas figures to take advantage of that. Next season, they are slated to play in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic after playing in the Guardians Classic this season and the Maui Invitational last season. In 2007, they will likely play in the NIT before going back to Maui in 2008 and the Guardians Classic in 2009. [12/04/05]

WAC Preview

Western Athletic Conference 2005-06 Preview

by Mitch McLaughlin

Entering the 2005-06 season, the Western Athletic Conference is adjusting to a massive realignment. The domino effect of schools switching conferences, which started on the East Coast, has had a big impact on the WAC. Rice, SMU, Tulsa and UTEP all left for Conference USA, and New Mexico State, Utah State and Idaho have filled those vacancies. Utah State has been a power in the Big West the past few years, going to four of the last six NCAA tournaments, including an upset victory against Ohio State in the first round of the 2001 tourney.

Utah State, like the rest of the conference, will focus on knocking off the conference’s best team, Nevada. The Wolf Pack enter the season as the favorite to win the conference once again and were ranked in preseason polls. It’s the first time a WAC team has been ranked in the preseason by the two major polls since Utah, New Mexico and TCU were in both polls in 1998.

There are many reasons the Wolf Pack enter the season as the favorite to represent the WAC in the NCAA Tournament for a third consecutive season. Nevada returns the reining conference player of the year in junior forward Nick Fazekas and starting guards Ramon Sessions and Kyle Shiloh.

Other noteworthy changes in the conference include a bunch of new coaches, as a third of the teams switched leaders. Former BYU coach Steve Cleveland is the new head man at Fresno State, former Cal assistant George Nessman is at San Jose State, and former Louisville assistant Reggie Theus arrives at New Mexico State.

Preseason Awards

1st Team All-WAC:
Nick Fazekas, Nevada
Paul Millsap, Louisiana Tech
Julian Sensley, Hawaii
Ja’Vance Coleman, Fresno State
Ramon Sessions, Nevada

Honorable Mention: Jaycee Carroll, Utah State

Player of the Year: Nick Fazekas, Nevada
Fazekas was the WAC’s top performer in 2004-05 as a sophomore, averaging 20.7 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Although he’s 6-11, he has the ability to shoot from the outside and is also difficult to defend in the paint.

Newcomer of the Year: Elijah Ingram, New Mexico State and Jerome Richardson, Louisiana Tech
Ingram enters as a junior after playing two seasons at St. John’s. He started in 47 of 52 games for the Red Storm, averaging double digits in scoring during both of his seasons there. He should see considerable action in the backcourt at New Mexico State this season. Richardson is a junior who spent the past two seasons at Frank Phillips College, where he was named a first-team NJCAA All-American last season after averaging 20.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. He is a projected starter for the Bulldogs.

Most Underrated: David Pak, Utah State
Pak’s impact doesn’t necessarily appear in the box score, but rather on the scoreboard. He only averaged 6.1 points and 3.1 assists per game last season, but he runs the offense and plays good defense. Utah State made the NCAA tournament with Pak running the team as the point guard a year ago.

Most Improved Player: Eric Lane, Boise State
Lane was supposed to have a breakout year last season, but struggled early and then had an off-court incident that slowed his season. He finished the year strong, scoring in double figures in seven of Boise State’s final nine games and putting the Broncos in the WAC tournament final.

Ascending Team: Hawaii
The Rainbow Warriors have a strong recruiting class and experience led by preseason All-WAC guard Matt Gibson. Hawaii is projected to be one of the top contenders behind Nevada after three of the top five teams from a year ago left the conference.

Descending Team: Idaho
The Vandals struggled in the Big West conference, finishing 6-12 in conference and 8-22 overall. They will have even a tougher time in the WAC.

Best Bets:
There are two. First, Nevada will make the NCAA tournament. The conference tournament will be in Reno, the home of Nevada, which means the Wolf Pack will most likely earn the conference’s automatic bid for the field of 65. Second, Louisiana Tech’s Paul Millsap will lead the country in rebounding for a third consecutive year.

Best Shooter: Jaycee Carroll, Utah State
Best Playmaker: Ramon Sessions, Nevada
Best NBA prospect: Nick Fazekas, Nevada
Best Defender: Kyle Shiloh, Nevada
Most Versatile: Julian Sensley, Hawaii

Team Capsules

1. Nevada Wolf Pack (2004-05: 25-7, 16-2, 1st)
Starters:
Sophomore guard Ramon Sessions
Junior guard Kyle Shiloh
Senior forward Mo Charloh
Junior forward Nick Fazekas
Senior center Chad Bell

Schedule Highlights:
The Wolf Pack start the preseason with away games at UNLV, at Kansas and against UCLA in Anaheim in the Wooden Classic. They have a key six-game stretch in January and early February with four of six on the road, including Fresno State, Boise State, Louisiana Tech and New Mexico State. Nevada will appear in an ESPN Bracket Buster contest Feb. 18 in Reno, and the conference season ends with a home game against Fresno State.

Outlook:
The loss of Kevinn Pinkney hurts the Wolf Pack more than any other player departure. Last season, the senior forward was the team’s most valuable player, averaging 12.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. He was the team’s backbone because he did whatever it took to win games. The most likely replacements for Pinckney are Fazekas and fellow big man Bell, who will get the chance to start in the middle his senior season. He only averaged three points and 2.8 rebounds per game in 2004-05.

Another player who looks to help fill the void left by Pinkney is JuCo transfer Demarshay Johnson, a 6-9 post player who can block shots and score inside. Denis Ikovlev is another JuCo transfer who will get plenty of playing time.

Mark Fox returns for his second season with the Wolf Pack a year after his squad went 25-7 and reached the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Two redshirt players will be active this season, guards Marcellus Kemp and Lyndale Burleson. Kemp missed 2004-05 with a knee injury but averaged 4.6 points per game two years when he helped the Wolf Pack reach the Sweet 16. He should see considerable time in the backcourt this year. Burleson, whose brother Nate plays wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings, will enter his freshman year and is an excellent defensive point guard.

The Wolf Pack should earn the conference’s bid to the NCAA tournament for a third consecutive year partially because they have the conference’s player of the year in Fazekas. They also get to play the conference tournament on Nevada’s campus in Reno, a place where they have only lost six games in the past three seasons.

2. Utah State Aggies (2004-05: 24-8, 13-5 in Big West, 2nd)
Starters:
Senior guard David Pak
Sophomore guard Jaycee Carroll
Sophomore forward Nick Hammer
Senior forward Nate Harris
Senior center Cass Matheus

Schedule Highlights:
The Aggies’ biggest games before conference play are against the biggest in-state opponents: at Utah Nov. 30 and home vs. BYU Dec.22. They have an early conference tilt at Hawaii Dec. 17. Utah State also has a tough back-to-back set in mid-January against Louisiana Tech and Nevada. A couple of weeks later, the Aggies have two tough road games at New Mexico State and Louisiana Tech.

Outlook:
The Aggies lose only one starter from last year’s team, forward Spencer Nelson. Last season, he averaged 16.0 points, 7.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. JuCo transfer Hammer will try his best to fill Nelson’s void in the starting lineup, but look for Carroll and Harris to pick up most of the slack. Those two were the only other players to average in double figures in points.

The Aggies have eight JuCo transfers this year, and they are hoping a few of them step up soon to give them the depth necessary to continue the level of play they’ve set as a standard during the past five years in the Big West. In addition to Hammer, Utah State needs contributions from Chaz Spicer, Durrall Peterson and Chris Session.

Utah State was a strong contender to reach the NCAA tournament every year when it played in the Big West conference. But with the move to the WAC, the Aggies will have a much tougher road to the tournament for a fifth time in seven years. With Carroll and Harris, they have two players who should be all-conference at the end of the season.

3. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (2004-05: 16-13, 7-11, 7th)
Starters:
Junior guard Matt Gibson
Junior guard John Wilder
Senior forward Matthew Gibson
Senior forward Julian Sensley
Senior center Chris Botez

Schedule Highlights:
Hawaii starts the season with a huge game against Final Four participant Michigan State before facing UNLV twice in a two-week span. Once again, the Rainbow Warriors host the Rainbow Classic in Honolulu, which includes Oregon State, Iowa State and Colorado State. They start the WAC season by hosting Utah State in mid-December before two big games early in January against Nevada and Louisiana Tech. Hawaii ends the regular season with two games at home against New Mexico State and Louisiana Tech.

Outlook:
Hawaii loses two starters from last season, forward Jeff Blackett and guard Jake Statos. With the loss of Statos, the point guard position is a question mark because Gibson is better on the wing. He led the team in scoring a year ago, so the Rainbow Warriors need Gibson to put the ball in the hoop in addition to running the offense. Sensley is the other player the Rainbow Warriors will significantly count on. Those two are the only returning players who averaged in double figures in scoring last season.

Hawaii’s ability to play away from the island is going to determine what kind of post-season hopes they have come March. Last season, eight of their 11 losses in conference play were on the road. This team has the experience to make a run in the conference. Their five starters are either juniors or seniors, and only JuCo transfer Wilder lacks experience among the starters. If Wilder can play the point well and let Gibson play on the wing instead, the Rainbow Warriors should be in contention for a post-season birth.

4. Fresno State Bulldogs (2004-05: 16-14, 9-9, tied 4th)
Starters:
Senior guard Dekyron Hicks
Junior guard Ja’Vance Coleman
Sophomore guard Donovan Morris
Junior forward Quinton Hosley
Junior forward Renato Cesar

Schedule Highlights:
The Bulldogs will face two schools from major conferences early in the season. Oregon State comes to Fresno Nov. 26, and the Bulldogs travel to Iowa State Dec. 3. They have a tough stretch to start the conference schedule, including Utah State, New Mexico State, Louisiana Tech and Nevada.

Outlook:
The biggest change for the Bulldogs is new head coach Steve Cleveland. His hiring has also led to several defections, which could eventually be good. The only significant loss is Mustafa Al-Sayyad, who was a good shot blocker and defender. Al-Sayyad wasn’t the only starter who is gone. Forward Chris Berry also left. Cleveland will have three JuCo transfers starting this year: Cesar, Hosley and Nicks. Nicks has the onus of replacing point guard Kevin Bell, who will come off the bench this season.

The two returning starters, Coleman and Morris, were the team’s top two scorers last season, and Coleman should earn all-conference honors. The junior guard averaged 16.9 points and five rebounds per game last season. The key to this year’s team will be whether the transfers can take some of the load off Coleman, who will again be the team’s biggest threat. If Cesar and Hosley can defend, rebound and keep opposing defenses honest, some of that pressure on Coleman may decrease, which could propel the Bulldogs into the post-season this March.

5. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (2004-05: 14-15, 9-9, tied 4th)
Starters:
Senior guard Daevon Haskins
Senior guard Corey Dean
Junior guard Jerome Richardson
Junior forward Paul Millsap
Junior forward Chad McKenzie

Schedule Highlights:
The Bulldogs open the season against Nebraska Nov. 20 face Alabama a week later. In addition to those major conference opponents, Louisiana Tech plays at Texas Tech, Memphis and Wisconsin. During the most important part of its WAC schedule, Louisiana Tech plays Nevada, Utah State and Boise State at home in early February. Louisiana Tech will end the conference season with a road game at Hawaii.

Outlook:
The big addition to the Bulldogs’ attack is Richardson, a first-team All-American JuCo point guard. He is one of the favorites for conference newcomer of the year. If he’s able to run the offense and get the ball to Millsap, this team could surprise some people in the conference. This team will have to make up for the loss of two starters in guard Donell Alick and big man Wayne Powell. Both averaged in double figures in scoring a year ago, leaving only Millsap and Corey Dean as Bulldogs who averaged at least 10 points per game last season. The other new starter, McKenzie, is also a JuCo transfer and will join Millsap in the frontcourt.

Louisiana Tech will compete night in and night out because they have one of the league’s best players in Millsap. The 6-8 junior led the country in rebounds during his first two seasons and should do so again this year. He also poured in 20.4 points per game last season. Although Nevada’s Nick Fazekas gets a lot of attention, Millsap is the league’s best post player. The hopes for Louisiana Tech depend on whether Dean can provide the perimeter shooting necessary to open the inside game for Millsap. Also, Richardson must prove he can play the point guard position.

6. Boise State Broncos (2004-05: 16-18, 6-12, 8th)
Starters:
Junior guard Eric Lane
Junior guard Coby Karl
Junior forward Tyler Tiedman
Junior forward Seth Robinson
Senior forward Tezarray Banks

Schedule Highlights:
The Broncos play BYU Dec. 7 and Arizona State in the Sun Devils’ holiday tournament Dec. 21. Boise State opens the WAC season with five of seven tough games in January. They play at Utah State, Nevada and Hawaii during that run. This tough stretch ends with Nevada coming to Boise Jan. 26. The Broncos end the season with two of three at home and a road game at Fresno State.

Outlook:
Boise State must replace two major players, forward Jason Ellis and swingman Jermaine Blackburn. Blackbrun was the leading scorer last season, and Ellis was a four-year contributor who averaged nearly a double-double last season. JuCo transfer Tiedman will need to step up to replace Blackburn. Tiedman was forced to abandon a pitching career at Arizona because of an arm injury, but the coaches are high on his shooting ability and overall feel for the game. His progress will be a big factor in the Broncos’ success.

The Broncos are projected to finish anywhere in the middle part of the WAC standings. If Tiedman excels, they could finish as high as third thanks to their returning backcourt. Juniors Lane and Karl are back and make for an experienced guard duo. Lane averaged 9.5 points per game last season as the starting point guard, and Karl, son of NBA head coach George Karl, is the leading returning scorer at 12.7 per game. Karl also averaged more than three rebounds and three assists per game last year. He will lead the Broncos’ attack this season. If anybody can match Ellis’ production in the frontcourt, Boise State will surprise people in the WAC.

7. San Jose State Spartans (2004-05: 6-23, 3-15, 10th)
Starters:
Senior guard Donta Watson
Senior guard Alex Elam
Junior forward Harry Brown
Senior forward Demetruis Brown
Senior center Matt Misko

Schedule Highlights:
The Spartans play in Lubbock, Texas, as part of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic to start the season. After that tournament, the Spartans look forward to a Nov. 30 meeting at California. They open the WAC season with two home games against Utah State Jan. 5 and Nevada Jan. 7. San Jose State then ends the season against those same teams on the road.

Outlook:
The biggest change in San Jose is new coach George Nessman. The former Cal assistant has already had a big impact for the Spartans because he signed Devonte Thomas, making Thomas the first high school senior from the Bay Area in 21years to accept a Spartan scholarship. Previously, San Jose State has made a living by signing JuCo recruits.

JuCo recruits Brown and reserves Menelik Barbary and Julian Richardson will strive to produce enough points to cover the loss of three key contributors from last year’s squad. The departed players include leading scorer forward Marquin Chandler, who averaged 19.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. They also lost Eric Bloom and Michael McFadden, who both averaged more than seven points per game. The Spartans will welcome back redshirt senior Brown, who should provide a spark for this team. He’s a 6-6 forward who started 16 of 25 games in 2003-04 and averaged 7.5 points per game that year.

The Spartans lost a lot from last season, but they have some depth in the frontcourt with Misko and Barbary. Their frontline can match up with others in the conference. This team has experience, as most contributors will be juniors or seniors. Elam is the leading returning scorer after averaging 9.8 points per game last season. Misko, Watson and Brown are all seniors who should start this year, too. The Spartans have a good chance to escape the basement of the conference for the first time since the 2002-03 season.

8. New Mexico State Aggies (2004-05: 6-24, 1-14 in the Sun Belt Conference’s West Division, 6th)
Starters:
Junior guard Elijah Ingram
Senior guard Mike Mitchell
Junior forward Supo Jegede
Sophomore forward Tyrone Nelson
Senior center Tyrone Lawrence

Schedule Highlights:
The Aggies open the season at UCLA in the NIT Season Tip-Off. The Aggies also play two games apiece against UTEP and New Mexico. Texas Tech also comes to Las Cruces Dec. 29. The toughest stretch of the WAC portion will be at the beginning of February when the Aggies face Utah State and Nevada twice in four games. They play four of their final five conference games at home and finish on the road at Hawaii.

Outlook:
The most noteworthy off-season change for New Mexico State is the hiring of Reggie Theus as head coach. The former NBA star comes from Louisville, where he was an assistant under Rick Pitino. He has brought enthusiasm back to the New Mexico State program.

Two transfers will play an important role in directing the Aggies this season. Ingram came from St. John’s after playing two seasons for the Red Storm in which he started 47 of 52 games and averaged more than 10 points per game. Theus needs Ingram to embrace the point guard position. The other key addition is Nelson, who came from Prairie View A&M. Nelson was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference freshman of the year while at Prairie View. In his only season there, he started 23 games and led the Panthers in scoring and rebounding at 15.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. JuCo transfer Jegede is also a projected starter.

This season could indicate which direction Theus will guide the program. He will use the fast-paced system that has worked so well for Pitino in Louisville, which will be a revolutionary strategy in the WAC. But this team lacks the depth necessary to be successful with this style. This team lacks experience beyond Lawrence and Mitchell, who are both seniors. If this team can win five games in WAC play, Theus can consider his first campaign a success.

9. Idaho Vandals (2004-05: 8-22 overall, 6-12 in the Big West, 8th)
Starters:
Sophomore guard Jerod Haynes
Senior guard Tanoris Shepard
Junior guard Keoni Watson
Sophomore forward Mike Kale
Junior forward Desmond Nwoke

Schedule Highlights:
Idaho open the season with three games in the state of Washington: At Gonzaga, Washington and Washington State. The Vandals open the WAC season against New Mexico State and Louisiana Tech, and their toughest stretch is on the road at Nevada and Utah State in January. Idaho ends the regular season with three road games at New Mexico State, Louisiana Tech and Boise State.

Outlook:
The biggest change for Idaho is their move from the Big West conference to the WAC. After struggling to 6-12 in the Big West last season, the Vandals will have an even rougher season in the more competitive WAC.

Aside from switching conferences, the Vandals must also deal with the loss of two of their top scorers. Guard Dandrick Jones, who averaged more than 16 points per game, and forward Anton Lyons, who averaged 11.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, were the most reliable options on an already mediocre team. Idaho must replace a third starter in forward Lionel Davis, who was second on the team in rebounding. Watson, a JuCo transfer, must help Idaho adjust to a new lineup. He can play either guard spot. Nwoke took a medical redshirt last season but now must contribute early and often.

The Vandals haven’t had a winning season since 1998-99, and with the conference switch, it’s going to be some time before they have another one. The confidence of this team could be fragile. It must learn how to win, which will be difficult in this conference. Idaho does have some size, with four players who are 6-8 or taller. The loss of three starters, however, will yield a tough season in Moscow, Idaho.

Conference Wrap Up

The WAC has one of the country’s best mid-major teams in Nevada. They are the first WAC team in seven seasons to be in both major top 25 polls entering the season, so they are definitely the favorite to win the conference. The Wolf Pack advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2004 and to the second round last season, which means the fans in Reno have high expectations for this season.

In addition to the team expectations, the WAC has two of the country’s most accomplished and noteworthy big men in Nevada’s Nick Fazekas and Louisiana Tech’s Paul Millsap. Fazekas, the conference player of the year in 2005, is the preseason player of the year and the top player on the conference’s best team. He is the WAC’s best NBA prospect. Millsap has the led country in rebounding during his first two seasons at Louisiana Tech, and he should do it for a third consecutive year. Both of these players should average more than 20 points and 10 rebounds a game.

The WAC’s biggest question is whether it will be a one-bid conference come March. Nevada will be in the NCAA Tournament, but will another team join the Wolf Pack? Most likely, no other team will merit an at-large bid. But should one team knock off Nevada in the WAC tournament, there will be two teams playing in the NCAA Tournament. Last season, Boise State knocked off Nevada on its home court in the conference tournament. Can it happen again?

Big 12 Preview

Big 12 Conference 2005-06 Preview

by Zach Ewing

Welcome to mid-America, where the towns are mostly small and the athletic budgets are huge. The Big 12 Conference is loaded again and has what it takes to be considered one of the best conferences – maybe the best – in the country.

After Kansas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State have all had their time in the sun, it’s Texas’ turn this year. Thus, any conversation about this conference starts in Austin. Junior small forward P.J. Tucker is back from an academic suspension that forced him to sit out the second semester of last year. Sophomore center LaMarcus Aldridge also returns from injury. Without those two players, the Longhorns limped to a first-round exit in the NCAA Tournament last year. With them, not to mention the return of point guard Daniel Gibson, big men Brad Buckman and Mike Williams, sharpshooter Kenton Paulino and another stellar freshman class, Texas should challenge for the national title.

After that, the Big 12 is a bit more muddled. Oklahoma State and Texas Tech both reached the Sweet 16 last season, but the Cowboys lost nearly everyone – super soph JamesOn Curry does return – and the Red Raiders looked pedestrian in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic to open the season, losing by 35 to Syracuse and in double overtime against Wake Forest. Never count out Bob Knight, though. He’ll have Tech ready to go by conference play.

Also keep an eye on Texas A&M and Colorado. Billy Gillispie did a brilliant job in year one in College Station, and if the Aggies can overcome the loss of all-Big 12 forward Antoine Wright, they could gun for an NCAA Tournament bid. Colorado was better last year than anyone, including myself, expected and returns all five starters to what is now a veteran team.

Everywhere else, change has come or might be coming soon. That includes powerhouses Oklahoma and Kansas. The Sooners still figure to be a top-15 team despite the transfer of lightning-quick point guard Drew Lavender, who went to Xavier. Lavender was spectacular at times but seemed like he was often in Kelvin Sampson’s doghouse. Of course, with big men Kevin Bookout and Taj Gray coming back, the Sooners shouldn’t have a problem making the Big Dance and staying a while.

For Kansas, it’s been a tumultuous off-season. First came the J.R. Giddens bar fight debacle. The guard was stabbed in the calf after he and several others attacked a man in a bar. Coach Bill Self kicked him off the team, and Giddens transferred to New Mexico, where he will be eligible next season. Meanwhile, the Jayhawks will rely on four freshmen or sophomores to start and a few others to play significant minutes. That’s the bad news. The good news is that Brandon Rush, Micah Downs, Julian Wright and Mario Chalmers make up the best freshman class in America.

At Kansas State, and even more so at Missouri, Jim Wooldridge and Quin Snyder are coaching for their jobs. Problem is, neither has the team to save it. The Wildcats’ Mr. Everything, Jeremiah Massey, graduated, and Tiger power forward Linas Kleiza left for the NBA draft, leaving Mizzou without an interior game. Nebraska is hoping for some kind of change. It hasn’t made the NCAA Tournament since the 1997-98 season but returns Joe McCray, who was honorable mention All-Big 12 as a freshman last season.

Baylor, meanwhile, can’t even play a non-conference schedule. That’s too bad for a Bears team that might finally have been ready to compete for a post-season berth but now will have to play its first games against a rugged and seasoned Big 12 slate.

With that said, here’s the fun part: It’s time for me to make some predictions and then time for you to laugh at them a few months from now. Seriously. You can, it’s OK. I expect it.

Projected Order of Finish
1. Texas
2. Oklahoma
3. Texas Tech
4. Iowa State
5. Kansas
6. Oklahoma State
7. Colorado
8. Texas A&M
9. Nebraska
10. Missouri
11. Kansas State
12. Baylor

Preseason Awards

1st Team All-Big 12:
Daniel Gibson, Texas
Curtis Stinson, Iowa State
P.J. Tucker, Texas
Taj Gray, Oklahoma
Kevin Bookout, Oklahoma

2nd Team All-Big 12:
JamesOn Curry, Oklahoma State
Jarrius Jackson, Texas Tech
Richard Roby, Colorado
Brad Buckman, Texas
Joseph Jones, Texas A&M

Honorable Mention:
Joe McCray, Nebraska
LaMarcus Aldridge, Texas
Aaron Bruce, Baylor
Brandon Rush, Kansas
Terrell Everett, Oklahoma
Mario Boggan, Oklahoma State
Will Blalock, Iowa State
Thomas Gardner, Missouri
Martin Zeno, Texas Tech
Kenton Paulino, Texas
Julius Ashby, Colorado
Acie Law, Texas A&M

Player of the Year: P.J. Tucker, Texas
Freshman of the Year: Brandon Rush, Kansas
Newcomer of the Year: Mario Boggan, Oklahoma State
Defensive Player of the Year: Taj Gray, Oklahoma
Most Improved Player: Joseph Jones, Texas A&M
Coach of the Year: Wayne Morgan, Iowa State
Coach on the Hot Seat: Quin Snyder, Missouri

1. Texas Longhorns (2005-06: 6-0, 2004-05: 20-10, 9-7, tied 5th)
Lost in first round of NCAA Tournament to Nevada.
Coach: Rick Barnes
Starters:
Sophomore guard Daniel Gibson
Senior guard Kenton Paulino
Junior forward P.J. Tucker
Sophomore forward LaMarcus Aldridge
Senior forward Brad Buckman

Outlook:
It’s a good time to be a Longhorn. With Texas’ football team a steady No. 2 and one game away from a national title game appearance, the basketball team is keeping pace. The Longhorns have won their first six games in hoops, including wins against West Virginia and Iowa in the Guardians Classic, and are No. 2 on the hardcourt as well.

College coaches love it when they don’t lose much from one year to the next, so Barnes has to be drooling about this year’s team. Texas lost only center Jason Klotz, which admittedly is a hole to fill, and guard Kenny Taylor. But it also has help returning in the form of Tucker and Aldridge, who both missed the majority of last season’s conference play. Tucker is explosive and tough at the same time, a combination bound for gaudy statistics. Aldridge, however, might steal the show. He’s averaging 17.2 points and 11.6 rebounds per game on the young season and teams with Buckman to form a fearsome inside
game.

And oh yeah: there’s Gibson to run the show, and he might be better than everyone else. Some say he’s better than T.J. Ford, who led the ‘Horns to a Final Four in his last season. Expect another this year.

Schedule:
Texas survived its first big test, the Guardians Classic, with close wins against the Mountaineers and Hawkeyes. There are, of course, others, starting with a New York City showdown with No. 1 Duke Dec. 10. The Longhorns also play at Memphis before always-tough conference play. Texas visits the Big 12 North’s toughest team, Iowa State, but gets Kansas at home.

Post-season Prediction: Lose in national semifinals

2. Oklahoma Sooners (2005-06: 3-0, 2004-05: 24-7, 12-4, tied 1st)
Lost in second round of NCAA Tournament to Utah.
Coach: Kelvin Sampson
Starters:
Junior guard Chris Walker
Senior guard Terrell Everett
Sophomore guard David Godbold
Senior forward Taj Gray
Senior forward Kevin Bookout

Outlook:
Sampson has raided the junior college ranks again, and it looks like he’s been successful again. You wanna transfer Drew Lavender? Go ahead.

The Sooners brought in left-handed Chris Walker, whose JuCo coach calls him the Tom Brady of college hoops. Another JuCo guard, Michael Neal, has been impressive thus far off the bench, leading the Sooners with 14.3 points per game. And let’s not forget one of last season’s JuCo splashes, Everett, who was second on the team in scoring last season. Those three, along with the rapidly improving Godbold, should make up for the loss of Lavender, Lawrence McKenzie and Jaison Williams on the outside.

But the Sooners’ real strength is inside. Gray, another guy Sampson pulled from a junior college, is possibly the conference’s best player. He’s lived up to the hype so far, with 12.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game and eight total blocks. But forget that talk about being the Big 12′s best player: Gray might not be his team’s best. Bookout, who seems like he’s in his seventh year at Oklahoma, is finally a senior. If he can stay healthy – he’s had shoulder problems throughout the past two seasons – the Sooners will have an inside tag team that no one in the Big 12, not even Texas, can match.

Schedule:
Oklahoma has had no tests so far, but you don’t have to look far ahead for the first one. The Sooners visit Philadelphia to play Villanova Dec. 3. Kansas found out how tough that can be last season. West Virginia in Oklahoma City and Alabama at home are also on the non-conference slate. Once Big 12 play starts, Oklahoma should be 5-0 when Texas comes calling Jan. 28.

Post-season Prediction: Lose in Sweet 16

3. Texas Tech Red Raiders (2005-06: 4-2, 2004-05: 20-10, 10-6, 4th)
Lost in Sweet 16 of NCAA Tournament to West Virginia.
Coach: Bob Knight
Starters:
Sophomore guard Martin Zeno
Junior guard Jarrius Jackson
Junior guard Drew Coffman
Junior forward Jon Plefka
Junior forward Darryl Dora

Outlook:
Yes, Syracuse blew Texas Tech right out of Madison Square Garden. And yes, the Red Raiders lost the next night to a Wake Forest team that’s not nearly as good as last year’s team. But don’t you remember last season’s slow start? The 15-point loss to TCU, a loss to Ohio State and a 30-point spanking from Iowa? No, you probably don’t. That’s because at the end of the year, Bob Knight had his team playing as well as anyone in the country.

Ronald Ross is gone, and this is a young team. But last year’s team had to replace Andre Emmett and still made out fine. Knight has a way of making things work, and that’s why Tech is picked third in the Big 12. Jackson will have a big year, Zeno will be a nice complement, and Dora might finally give the Red Raiders a consistent force inside. That doesn’t mean they won’t lose a few games early. It just means that come March, watch out for that red sweater.

Schedule:
After the storm Texas Tech ran into in New York, things slow down for a while. A rematch with TCU Wednesday and dates at UNLV and in Dallas against Arkansas are the only other pre-conference games worth noting. If the Red Raiders can get through their first seven Big 12 games, they’ll be fine. They open with a trap game at Texas A&M, get a breather against Baylor and then get the other five teams picked in the top half of the conference right in a row. That gauntlet begins Jan. 14.

Post-season Prediction: Lose in second round

4. Iowa State Cyclones (2005-06: 4-1, 2004-05: 18-11, 9-7, tied 5th)
Lost in second round of NCAA Tournament to North Carolina.
Coach: Wayne Morgan
Starters:
Junior guard Curtis Stinson
Junior guard Will Blalock
Senior forward Anthony Davis
Sophomore forward Rahshon Clark
Freshman center Ross Marsden

Outlook:
OK, Iona has a nice team. Sure. But there is no possible way Iowa State should have lost to the Gaels by 17 points like it did last week. This team has too much talent. That’s why folks in Ames shouldn’t be too concerned with the loss. It was a fluke. Iowa State went through a bad stretch last season but was one the Big 12′s hottest teams going into the Big 12 Tournament. This year, there shouldn’t even be a bad stretch. Having said that, Iona? Come on. That was just weird.

Stinson is one of the top three guards in the Big 12 and one of the top 10 in the country, hands down. Blalock provides a nice complement in the backcourt, and Clark can shoot from outside, too. The major concern for the Cyclones is inside. At 6-6, Clark is way undersized, and Marsden is just a big hometown kid until he proves otherwise. He’s started all four games for Iowa State thus far and has looked good at times, but he’s still far too raw for the Big 12. On the season, he has 10 points, 11 rebounds and 12 fouls. If he grows up, Iowa State could be a sleeper in the Big 12. If not, the Cyclones will go only as far as Stinson can carry them. And if the Iona loss is any indication, that might not be too far.

Schedule:
Iowa and Ohio State are obviously the giants on the non-conference slate – the Hawkeyes come to Ames, the Buckeyes to Des Moines. But the Cyclones have quite a few smaller tests: Fresno State and possibly Oregon State and Hawaii or Colorado State in the Rainbow Classic. After that, the Cyclones should blow through the Big 12 North, with the notable exception of the next team on this list.

Post-season Prediction: Lose in second round

5. Kansas Jayhawks (2005-06: 2-2, 2004-05: 23-6, 12-4, tied 1st)
Lost in first round of NCAA Tournament to Bucknell.
Coach: Bill Self
Starters:
Sophomore guard Russell Robinson
Senior guard Jeff Hawkins
Freshman guard Brandon Rush
Sophomore forward C.J. Giles
Sophomore center Sasha Kaun

Outlook:
If everyone stays in school for a couple more years, this team could be legendary. That probably won’t happen, though, so Kansas fans will have to settle for what will be one of the most exciting – and youngest – teams in the country. Rush, who averaged 15 points a game against the stiffest competition in the Maui Invitational, was a godsend for Self, who wasn’t sure whom his go-to guy would be before the season. That’s not to say that the two towers inside, Giles and Kaun, won’t be able to score at will against some teams. The bench is deep with raw talent like Mario Chalmers and Julian Wright and precious experience in the form of Christian Moody.

Reserve center Darnell Jackson will likely be another big help off the bench, but he’s been suspended for the first nine games of the season because of a mysterious connection with a Kansas booster. That’s another reason that, unlike last year, Kansas will be playing its best ball at the end of the season.

Schedule:
Seventh place in Maui wasn’t exactly what Kansas was looking for, but remember, this is a team of babies. If they can even become toddlers by season’s end, look out. Nevada at home, St. Joseph’s in New York, California in Kansas City and Kentucky at home provide stiff non-conference tests. The Jayhawks must also travel to Austin this year, though they get Oklahoma and Texas Tech at home.

Post-season Prediction: Lose in Sweet 16

6. Oklahoma State Cowboys (2005-06: 4-1, 2004-05: 24-6, 11-5, 3rd)
Lost in Sweet Sixteen of NCAA Tournament to Arizona
Coach: Eddie Sutton
Starters:
Freshman guard Byron Eaton
Sophomore guard JamesOn Curry
Freshman forward Roderick Flemings
Junior forward David Monds
Junior center Mario Boggan

Outlook:
Curry might be the best player in the conference, but he’ll have a tough time showing it without help from his mates. The good news is, Boggan appears to be the real deal. In five games, he’s averaged 13.4 points and six rebounds per game. Beyond that, Monds is averaging double figures and highly touted point guard Eaton has shown flashes of brilliance (18 assists and 16 steals) but has committed 22 turnovers.

The Cowboys aren’t as young as Kansas, but they might be as inexperienced. Only Curry had ever started a Division I game before this season. Replacing John Lucas, Joey Graham, Ivan McFarlin and Daniel Bobik isn’t going to happen with a snap of Sutton’s fingers, no matter how good of a coach he is. Another trip to the Big Dance, however, is expected.

Schedule:
No shame in the Cowboys’ start: they’ve beaten teams they should beat, looked pretty good doing it, and lost a close game to No. 10 Boston College. A game against Gonzaga in Seattle is the toughest pre-conference tilt left, although home games against UNLV and in Oklahoma City vs. Tennessee won’t be cakewalks. Oklahoma State also gets a relatively easy start to Big 12 play: two home games and contests at Missouri and Baylor.

Post-season Prediction: Lose in first round of NCAA Tournament

7. Colorado Buffaloes (2005-06: 3-1, 2004-05: 14-16, 4-12, 11th)
Coach: Ricardo Patton
Starters:
Senior guard Jayson Obazuaye
Junior guard Marcus Hall
Sophomore guard Richard Roby
Senior forward Chris Copeland
Senior forward Andy Osborn
(Senior center Julius Ashby in second semester)

Outlook:
This is an interesting team. The Buffaloes were supposed to have nothing last season but scrapped together a decent year and were in nearly every game they played. Now, everybody is coming back – and I mean everybody, except two walk-ons – and Colorado should contend. Obazuaye is a speedy point guard who doesn’t take many shots but knows how to play the position. Roby is the most underrated player in the Big 12, and Copeland can score and rebound. Osborn will be a decent substitute in the middle until Ashby comes back from an academic suspension when the fall semester is over.

Then again, Colorado lost to Colorado State in its second game of the season, an 83-82 head-scratcher in which both teams shot better than 52 percent. Still, expect the Buffaloes to get it going, and when Ashby returns, hiccups like that probably will be fewer and farther between.

Schedule:
The Mountain West provides Colorado’s toughest non-conference tests, meaning that the Buffaloes should have a pretty good record come January. Colorado State already sprung an upset, and Utah in Boulder and TCU in Forth Worth will both have a shot, too. Big 12 play will bring a rude awakening, with games at Texas and at home against Kansas to start.

Post-season Prediction: Lose in NIT second round

8. Texas A&M Aggies (2005-06: 3-0, 2004-05: 19-9, 8-8, 7th)
Lost in NIT quarterfinals to St. Joseph’s.
Coach: Billy Gillispie
Starters:
Junior guard Acie Law
Sophomore guard Dominique Kirk
Freshman forward Josh Carter
Junior forward Marlon Pompey
Sophomore center Joseph Jones

Outlook:
If the first three games of the season are any indication, Texas A&M will finish higher than this in the Big 12. The Aggies have decimated Southern, Mississippi Valley State and Tulane. Granted, that’s not exactly Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, but they’ve looked impressive, winning by an average of 33 points. Law is shooting a whopping 66 percent from the field and is averaging 19.3 points a game. Jones, Hoopville’s preseason Big 12 most improved player, is averaging 14 points and five rebounds per game. He also has 11 steals and is shooting 74 percent from the field and 14-of-17 from the free-throw line.

That’s a pretty good start. If Gillispie can get production out of Pompey and super frosh Carter, he’ll have an NCAA Tournament team. But beware of a sophomore slump for the coach: last year’s team had high-flying Antoine Wright (gone to the NBA) and a chemistry that might be hard to duplicate.

Schedule:
It continues to be a pan of cupcakes for the Aggies. Their only halfway decent opponents in non-conference play are Penn State Dec. 3, Auburn Dec. 22 and Pacific Jan. 3, which will be Texas A&M’s first game away from College Station. Three of the first five Big 12 games are on the road, however, and the home games are against Texas Tech and Oklahoma.

Post-season Prediction: Win NIT championship

9. Nebraska Cornhuskers (2005-06: 4-0, 2004-05: 14-14, 7-9, tied 8th)
Coach: Barry Collier
Starters:
Freshman guard Marcus Walker
Sophomore guard Joe McCray
Senior guard Jason Dourisseau
Senior forward Wes Wilkinson
Sophomore center Aleks Maric

Outlook:
Every year, or at least for the past several seasons, it seems like Nebraska is ready to break through. Every year, the Huskers return some good players, seem to have a good nucleus and even get a few nice non-conference wins. But when Big 12 play starts, it’s always a different story. Last year had the makings of something different. Nebraska beat Colorado, took care of business against Kansas State and later took down Texas A&M and shocked Oklahoma State and Iowa State. But sprinkled in between, there were still a few inexplicable losses: two against hapless Missouri (three if you count the Big 12 Tournament) and a 20-point defeat at Kansas State. Those four games cost the Huskers a post-season bid.

Could this year really be different from start to finish? Maybe, but don’t blame fans in Lincoln if they’re not jumping up and down. This year, hope lies in the fact that McCray was one of the Big 12′s top guards last year and Maric can control the boards inside. But the heart and soul of the team, Jake Muhleisen, is gone, as are Mr. Everything Marcus Neal and big man John Turek. Bottom line: Things could change, but wait to see it before you believe it.

Schedule:
Marquette will bring the first challenge of the season Wednesday. After that, circle the Huskers’ two non-conference tilts away from the Devaney Center: at Creighton Dec. 11 and vs. Florida State in Miami on New Year’s Eve. Nebraska has to play Oklahoma to start Big 12 play, but then gets five straight against its North companions. Time to prove yourself, Huskers.

Post-season Prediction: Lose first round NIT

10. Missouri Tigers (2005-06: 2-1, 2004-05: 16-16, 7-9, tied 8th)
Lost in first round of NIT to DePaul.
Coach: Quin Snyder
Starters:
Sophomore guard Jason Horton
Senior guard Jimmy McKinney
Junior guard Thomas Gardner
Sophomore forward Marshall Brown
Senior center Kevin Young

Outlook:
After the nightmare of the past two seasons, it’s tough to see things going right in Columbia. But I guess I can conjure up something. Here’s a best-case scenario: Gardner finds his long-range stroke and continues to pile up 20 points and six boards per game. McKinney becomes the team’s glue. Horton grows up fast, and Young proves that he really can be an inside presence. The Tigers pull a few upsets, don’t let that Sam Houston State thing happen again and sneak into the NCAA Tournament, saving Snyder’s job.

Of course, there’s a flip side: Missouri still can’t attack the zone, shoots way too many three-pointers, loses a couple of more games to schools you’ve never heard of and the Tigers play out the season with no one watching, except those who want to see how players perform when they know their coach is getting the ax.

To which extreme will the Tigers gravitate? The key might be Young, who has had an unproductive and at times pathetic career to this point. He’s the only post player the Tigers can use to draw attention away from their slew of guards. There might still be hope. In Mizzou’s win against Northwestern State, the big Jamaican had 17 points and 13 rebounds. So maybe there’s still hope, though Snyder’s position, with his job perhaps in Young’s bumbling hands, isn’t an enviable one.

Schedule:
Winning at Arkansas and at underrated Davidson will be tough for the Tigers, as will their traditional game with Illinois in St. Louis. And Big 12 play doesn’t figure to have many wins, either.

Post-season Prediction: Job hunting for Snyder’s replacement

11. Kansas State Wildcats (2005-06: 3-0, 2004-05: 17-12, 6-10, 10th)
Coach: Jim Wooldridge
Starters:
Sophomore guard Clent Stewart
Junior guard Akeem Wright

Junior guard Lance Harris
Junior forward Cartier Martin
Senior forward Dramane Diarra

Outlook:
Cartier Martin has the potential to be a beast at the wing. Through three games, which included an impressive 12-point win against New Mexico, he’s averaged 23.3 points and 9.7 rebounds and is shooting 62 percent from the field. The rest of the team, however, is a whole lot of so-so. If the Wildcats can play some defense, which hasn’t been a problem so far, get another scorer – Harris or reserve David Hoskins might be the guy – and develop an inside presence not named Martin, they might move up into the NIT. But that’s a long list.

Schedule:
The toughest tests are at Washington State and at home against Colorado State, and that’s not saying much. The Wildcats could enter Big 12 play undefeated. But what will they do once they get there?

Post-season Prediction: Figuring out what on Earth you can do in Manhattan, Kan.

12. Baylor Bears (2005-06: 0-0, 2004-05: 9-19, 1-15, 12th)
Coach: Scott Drew
Starters:
Sophomore guard Aaron Bruce
Senior guard Kevis Shipman
Junior forward Tim Bush
Freshman forward Jari Vanttaja
Senior center Tommy Swanson

Outlook:
It’s going to be tough. Bruce is one of the league’s best players, and Swanson can be dominant inside. But because of NCAA sanctions, the Bears can’t play any non-conference games. That means that when Baylor takes the floor against Texas Tech Jan. 11, the Bears will not have played a team other than themselves. Tech, and every other opponent after that, will be battle-tested by comparison. Baylor’s going to have to deal with seasoned Big 12 athletes, day in and day out, without getting a chance to gain experience in non-conference play. That’s too bad, because on the court, things are looking up. Maybe next year.

Schedule:
Here’s a joke: Baylor’s athletic department actually sent out a press release with the Bears’ schedule on it. It’s the 16 Big 12 games. Did I really need a press release to figure that out?

Post-season Prediction: Wondering what could have been with a few games under their belt

Big 12 Finale
So there you have it. Things look much like they did last year. The same six teams will reach the NCAA Tournament, but a few changes will occur here and there. Teams like Iowa State, Texas Tech and Colorado look to move up, while Kansas and Missouri might slip a bit. And at the top, it will be the South schools, Texas and Oklahoma. But the fun thing about all of this is that I could be completely wrong. Kansas State could win the Big 12, go dancing and shock everyone. Texas Tech could run on hard times and scrap to make the NIT. Let’s go have some fun.

Oregon State: Jay John Receives Five-Year Extension

Beavers Hand John Extension: According to athletic director Bob De Carolis, Oregon State’s basketball coach Jay John has received a five-year contract extension that will run through the 2009-10 season. Last year, John led the Beavers to a 17-15 record for the team’s first winning season since 1989-90. The Beavers also qualified for the NIT for their first postseason appearance since 1990 but lost to Cal State Fullerton in overtime. So far this season, the Beavers are 2-2 with home wins over UNLV and Prairie View A&M. [12/04/05]

Kentucky: Kentucky Moves Forward Without Morris

Kentucky Moves Forward Without Morris: Kentucky received word last week that the Wildcats must play without Randolph Morris because the NCAA ruled him ineligible. But that does not necessarily mean that Morris’ career is done at Kentucky. School officials must now petition a different NCAA committee to issue a partial-season suspension rather than repealing his college eligibility. If the NCAA decides that Morris should be suspended for violating rules when he entered the NBA Draft, he could face a lengthy suspension. But it would be retroactive, so all the games that Morris has missed so far would count toward fulfilling a suspension. A 10-game suspension or so would be the best-case scenario because the Wildcats would get Morris back by the end of December.

The dispute involves Morris’ relationship with SFX, a sports agency. Although Morris did not sign a contract with the firm, the NCAA decided he had a verbal agreement, which violates the rules. Morris apparently worked out for NBA teams and did not pay for all of his expenses, and SFX issued press releases on his behalf. No NBA teams drafted Morris, and he tried to return to school afterward.
[12/03/05]