Monson Resigns: Minnesota coach Dan Monson announced in a press conference today that he has resigned. Assistant coach Jim Molinari will become the team’s interim coach. The Gophers have lost five of their first seven games this season. Monson has compiled a 118-106 record in seven-plus seasons, but he has led Minnesota to only one NCAA Tournament bid. In addition, waning attendance numbers indicate that fans are losing interest in the program. [11/30/06]
Smith Still Out for Washington: Washington junior guard Joel Smith will be out until January with a second injury to his right foot. Smith had missed the first month of the season with the injury, and he reinjured the foot in practice a week ago. Despite having a redshirt year available, Smith said he wants to come back in January. [11/30/06]
Kansas Ensures Itself Five More Years of First-Round Upsets: Coach Bill Self, whose contract was set to expire in 2008, has signed a deal that will keep him at Kansas until 2011. Terms of the new deal were not yet available, but Self’s old deal paid him $1.1 million a year. Kansas is fresh off an upset win vs. No. 1 Florida. Self is 78-25 at Kansas, but off-court incidents and two upsets in the first round of the NCAA Tournament have dented his armor. [11/30/06]
IUPUI Gives Hunter an Extension: IUPUI coach Ron Hunter has signed a three-year extension that will keep him at the school through the 2012-13 season. Hunter is in his 13th year with the Jaguars and was instrumental in helping the school become a Division I Program in 1998. He holds the school record for winning percentage. [11/30/06]
Ryan Williams To Leave Tulane: Tulane coach Dave Dickerson announced that sophomore guard Ryan Williams will leave the team and the school at the end of the semester. Williams started three of the first four games this season and averages four points, 2.5 rebounds, and three assists per game. [11/30/06]
Friars Win Third Straight, Look Ready to Surprise
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – It took a little while, but Providence broke away from Columbia en route to an 81-55 blowout win on Tuesday night. The win was their third straight after laying an egg against cross-town rival Brown, but more importantly, a sign that this team is really getting it together.
Early on, teams are naturally trying to win games, but equally important is how they play and how they win. The Friars won the first two in this streak mainly by beating up on the opposition inside, and while they won the battle on the glass Tuesday night, it was the guards that took the lead role. While their top three scorers were guards Weyinmi Efejuku (18 points on 7-9 shooting, six steals), Sharaud Curry (16 points, six assists) and Dwain Williams (13 points), the statistics don’t bear out their impact. Williams came into the game in the first half and sparked them, hitting two of his four three-pointers, then Curry and Efejuku combined to score nine straight points early in the second half when they broke the game open for good.
“I like the way, in the second half the last two games, we’ve come out of the locker room and pushed the pedal,” head coach Tim Welsh said after they outscored the Lions 49-30 in the second half. Two nights ago, they took over the game against George Washington in the latter frame as well.
That’s one good sign for the Friars. Another is the different ways they have won games, as well as those who have helped. The team is led by sophomores and has senior Herbert Hill playing a key role up front, especially in Sunday’s game where he had the first 20-point, 20-rebound game by a Friar in 32 years. But freshman big man Ray Hall came up big in the second half against George Washington on Sunday when they took the game over and classmate Williams played a key role on Tuesday night.
“He’s not shy, even though he’s a freshman,” Curry said of Williams. “He was a big lift for us because we were struggling and didn’t have as much energy as we needed to.”
Williams is almost an ideal reserve for this team, as he’s quick and can shoot the ball. He helped with their pressure on the Columbia guards in addition to his offense, and anyone who can shoot can come off the bench and make a difference. The Friars can have a small look when he’s on the floor with Curry, but they don’t lack quickness or scoring ability. Curry has the look of a player en route to a breakout season, as he has scored, shot the ball and run the show. Efejuku, one of the best athletes in the Big East, can combine with him for an excellent backcourt if the consistency is there.
“We’re trying to get him to that point, where he plays at that level. He’s got tremendous talent,” Welsh said.
Efejuku has had nights where he’s the best player on the floor, but also ones where he’s almost nonexistent. The hope for the Friars is that he starts to establish the consistency since he has played very well in two of the three wins.
“We’ve got to keep telling him to bring it every night. If he does, that will make us a better team,” said Curry.
With the guard play, the Friars’ offense is in good shape, while their front line will battle inside with anyone. Geoff McDermott continues to be a warrior inside and owns the glass on some nights, and Hill has really come along over the course of his career. Hall is limited but plays within himself, and his big body is another inside presence that can be a factor. He’s also quickly become a fan favorite with some of his hustle plays and running the floor. Sophomore Jonathan Kale is another big body who looks better each time out and will be a factor in how far this team goes; he helped lead the charge against Boston College last week.
Welsh would like the see the zone improve, as that is the defense he plans to go with. The rebounding advantage they have had of late is one he hopes to take into Big East play, and if they continue to play the zone better, it bodes well. The Friars have a good mix, one that Welsh has liked all along, and though it is a young group, this could be a team that surprises people.
“What’s happening now is that I see we can play a couple of different ways according to the style,” Welsh said.
It means the Friars can match up with anyone. Whether or not they can win is another matter, as Welsh knows since he felt last year that his team could play with others in the Big East but didn’t win. There is a reason why many have picked them in the second division in the Big East, youth being a major contributor. Although it is still early, the returns for this season are promising right now.
What’s So Challenging?: Winning four out of five games on its final night, the ACC won its eighth straight ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Big Ten won only three of 11 games during the event’s three days. Wisconsin, Northwestern and Purdue were the only teams to contribute to the win column. But both conferences are looking forward to exciting games this weekend as Georgetown visits the Blue Devils after an ousting by undefeated Oregon and Illinois will face Arizona in Phoenix.
In Wednesday’s action, Boston College’s Jared Dudley led the Eagles with 30 points and 10 rebounds to defeat Michigan State 65-58. Drew Neitzel, the Spartans’ leading scorer, did not score for the first eight minutes of the game, adding only 12 points in Michigan State’s loss. Iowa’s second-half comeback was not enough for a win at Virginia Tech, losing 69-65 while committing 19 turnovers in a sloppy performance. The Hokies held on despite making only 16 of 32 free throws, led by Zabian Dowdell with 18 points.
In a close game in West Lafayette, Purdue’s Tarrance Crump hit a last second floater against Virginia to give the Boilermakers the only Big Ten win of the night. Clemson took care of Minnesota in a 90-68 rout, keeping the Tigers perfect on the season. Reserves were the key for Clemson, outscoring the Gophers’ bench 40-5. K.C. Rivers led the team with 22 points.
The most anticipated game of the challenge lived up to the hype with No.6 North Carolina upsetting No.1 Ohio State 98-89. With standout freshman Greg Oden on the bench for the Buckeyes, super soph Tyler Hansbrough took over down low for the Tar Heels with 21 points and 14 rebounds. Wayne Ellington added 19 points for the Tar Heels, 17 of them coming in the second half, coincidently on the freshman’s 19th birthday.
[11/30/06]
Former Syracuse Star McNamara Released by Olympiakos: Former Orange standout Gerry McNamara was released by Olympiakos of Greece. McNamara, who had signed a one-year deal with the club worth approximately $200,000, had played less than a minute of his team’s first five games and looked to see even less time on the floor after Olympiakos signed another point guard to fill the spot of injured star Arvydas Macijauskas. McNamara, who left Syracuse as the school’s all-time leader in three-pointers, was selected by the CBA’s Albany Patroons in September. He plans to return to the United States with his fiancée this week, and the NBA remains his ultimate goal. [11/29/06]
Miami Coach Loses Nephew in Shooting: Miami coach Frank Haith’s nephew Sean Bell was shot and killed by an undercover police officer in Queens, N.Y., Nov. 24. Haith found out the following morning but did not disclose his relationship with Bell to anyone until after the team’s game against Lafayette. “We’re all very devastated,” Haith said. “He was just about to start a new chapter in his life. He has two kids. He was getting married. We’re all truly saddened by what happened.”
Bell was to be married the next day, but Haith was not planning on attending because of the team’s schedule. He will attend the funeral Friday in New York, but he will return for the Hurricanes’ game against Georgia Tech Sunday.
Bell and his friends were leaving his bachelor party and allegedly struck an officer and police van. An investigation is under way because of the nature in which the undercover police officers handled the situation. They fired a supposed 50 or more gunshots at Bell and his friends, killing Bell and injuring the other men.
[11/29/06]
Florida’s Brewer Out With Mono: The Florida Gators were without starting forward Corey Brewer Nov. 28 against Southern because he is sick with mononucleosis. Brewer is averaging 11.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game so far this season but will be unable to play for several games. Sophomore Walter Hodge started in his place against the winless Jaguars. [11/29/06]
ACC/Big Ten Challenge Redux: Freshman Greivis Vasquez and teammate Mike Jones combined to score 36 points to lead Maryland in a 72-66 victory at Illinois, ending the Illini’s 51-game streak at home against non-conference opponents. Both teams had entered the game with identical 7-0 records. In Wisconsin, the Badgers handled Florida State. Forward Alando Tucker scored 22 points — 18 after an eye injury — and guard Kammron Taylor added 18 in an 81-66 rout of Florida State. Seminole guard Toney Douglas paced the team with 24 points.
In the night’s premier match up, Duke slipped past Indiana. The Blue Devils beat the Hoosiers 54-51 as both teams struggled offensively. They shot a combined 35 percent from the field. Duke junior guard DeMarcus Nelson led the team with 19 points. Penn State remained surprisingly close to Georgia Tech, but the Yellow Jackets prevailed 77-73. Georgia Tech sophomore guard Lewis Clinch scored 20 points and reserve Anthony Morrow chipped in 15. Morrow made two late free throws to seal the win for the 21st-ranked Yellow Jackets.
Wrapping up Tuesday’s action, Northwestern survived Jack McClinton and the Miami Hurricanes. McClinton erupted for 30 points but missed a potential game-winning three-pointer as the Hurricanes dropped a close 61-59 decision to Northwestern. Northwestern guard Craig Moore led the Wildcats with 24 points while making 7-of-10 three-pointers.
After two nights, the ACC leads the challenge 4-2. The slate for Wednesday includes the event’s best game — Ohio State at North Carolina. The game will feature enough heralded freshmen to form a high school all-star team. In addition to that bout, look for Virginia at Purdue, Michigan State at Boston College, Clemson at Minnesota and Iowa at Virginia Tech.
[11/29/06]
Huskies Blow Out Albany With Defense, Fast Break Points
STORRS, Conn. – The second time around was the way many probably thought the first one would be.
Last March, Albany looked like it was ready to become the first No. 16 seed to win a first round game in the NCAA Tournament. In a well-chronicled game, the Great Danes led by 12 with less than 12 minutes to play before Connecticut took over the game to win by 13. If not for George Mason’s run to the Final Four, that game might have been the one thing most people remembered from the tournament.
Sunday’s game between the two teams had a similar start, but Albany only led during some of the opening minutes. Connecticut pressured the Great Danes into 21 turnovers and scored 35 points off them en route to an 86-55 rout on Sunday.
“They really got up in us, and that bothered us a bit,” Albany head coach Will Brown said.
The Huskies broke the game open with a run of 13 straight points in the first half, aided by the turnovers. They pressured Albany point guard Jamar Wilson, who was arguably the best player on the floor in the meeting last March, into eight turnovers and stifled his penetration to the basket. He over-dribbled and struggled to get teammates involved to the degree he normally does. The Huskies put 6’5″ sophomore Marcus Johnson on him, giving them a size advantage at that position.
What this game showed isn’t that a few months make a real difference; that much is obvious, as both teams had different looks. Albany lost two 1,000-point scorers and their starting big man from last season’s team; Connecticut lost three first round NBA Draft picks. What it showed about the Huskies is that unless they progress with their offense, the path to victory will have to be stifling defense and points off turnovers. While that may sound like a typical Connecticut team – and this team full of athletes is built much like many of those that Jim Calhoun has won with in Storrs – that’s the case with this team more than ever. Simply put, the Huskies weren’t pretty in the halfcourt overall.
“When we aren’t doing well offensively, which was the case tonight, we extend out in the lanes more,” Calhoun said.
For starters, the Huskies had more turnovers than assists – that won’t cut it in the Big East. Take away the breakaway baskets and the overall field goal percentage of over 58 percent for the game isn’t quite as impressive. They had an off-game from long range, making just one of nine three-point shots. Indeed, the best players in the halfcourt on Sunday might have been freshmen Jerome Dyson and Gavin Edwards, although sophomore Jeff Adrien has been reliable thus far (Sunday was his first game without a double-double) and should be the rest of the way.
Dyson was aggressive on offense and created, handing out four assists to go with 12 points. Edwards, a late spring signee who wasn’t recruited by the Huskies until the spring, considered attending prep school this year. He surpassed all of his early career numbers in just this game, scoring 16 points on 6-6 shooting in 19 minutes and grabbing five rebounds.
One thing that is certain is that this is a hungry Huskies team. They’re young and have something to prove after falling short of the Final Four last season with the talent they had. As young as they are, they aren’t lacking talent, and there is ample opportunity to get better all the time.
“Every day is really intense, and it’s a learning tool at the same time,” said Johnson, who scored 14 points. “We’re getting better every day and we’re forcing each other to get better.”
Calhoun’s teams are known for playing good defense, and the tools – from the athleticism at all perimeter positions to the presence in the middle of 7’3″ big man Hasheem Thabeet – are there to do that again. If the offense comes along to where they can consistently score aside from fast break points off turnovers, the Huskies will be right there in the race for the top of the Big East later in the season.
Missouri Valley Conference Notebook
by Neal Heston
The Missouri Valley Conference helped itself to quite a feast during Thanksgiving week: a 2-1 (nearly 3-0) record vs. the Big Ten, three wins over Final Four teams and a 2-0 mark against the nation’s top 10. Wipe out Bradley’s four-point defeat at Illinois, Drake’s upset loss to Troy and Southern Illinois’ overtime defeat at the hands of Arkansas, and the Valley goes 24-0 during the past week. For now, though, 21-3 will do. Two weeks in, and the MVC is still jammed at the top with an unbeaten and five one-loss teams.
Hoopville’s MVC Player of the Week: Zach Andrews, Bradley
The senior forward racked up 15 points and 8.3 rebounds per game this past week as the Braves continue to surprise.
MVC Notes
Bradley (5-1) continues to show that there is still life when four-fifths of the starting roster departs. After defeating Illinois-Chicago, Florida A&M and Rutgers by an average of 23-point margins, the Braves nearly pulled off an upset against Illinois, but fell just short, 75-71. A date at Michigan State on Dec. 3 will give BU another opportunity to prove preseason nay-sayers wrong.
Braves’ player of the week: It’s difficult to pick just one when three players average well into double figures for scoring. The coin flips to Zach Andrews though, who sank 15 points and grabbed 8.3 rebounds per game.
Creighton (2-1) joined the fun with MVC rival Wichita State and handed Final Four participant George Mason its second loss of the season, 58-56. The Bluejays controlled a six-point advantage at the half and held on thanks to two charity shots from Dane Watts to end the contest. Arkansas-Pine Bluff is the only challenge for the 2-1 ‘Jays this week.
Bluejays’ player of the week: Dane Watts led the way with 19 points and five boards against George Mason.
Drake (2-2) rebounded from an 80-75 defeat to Troy at the BP Classic and walloped Waldorf, 104-51. The Bulldogs collected an outrageous 65 rebounds en route to the fifth-largest victory margin in school history. At 2-2, the squad hopes to carry over some of that high-powered offense to Iowa State while facing an old MVC foe, Greg McDermott, and the Cyclones this weekend.
Bulldogs’ player of the week: Aliou Keita earned a double-double against Waldorf with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Klayton Korver’s 13 tallies, eight boards and five assists can’t be looked past either.
A 74-44 whipping of Buffalo helped Evansville (3-2) rebound and get back to .500 on the year. The Aces hosted Southeast Missouri on Monday and will finish the week on the road at Tennessee-Martin and Missouri.
Aces’ player of the week: Matt Webster led the way in this week’s victory with 16 points and four boards.
This weekend’s 78-65 win at St. John’s has the Illinois State (3-2) Redbirds no longer fearing to fly on the road. The road triumph was Illinois State’s first in 16 attempts. Prior to getting the monkey of their back, the Redbirds eased past Cal State Northridge, 66-44.
Redbirds’ player of the week: Four players had large roles in this week’s wins, but Greg Dilligard’s 11.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per contest were the most catching.
The defense of old reappeared in Sycamore nation, as Indiana State (4-1) racked up a pair of victories in surrendering a mere 54 points per game. That included a six-point squeaker past IPFW and a 59-47 victory over Tulane. Middle Tennessee State and Ball State occupy the slate this week – very winnable contests for the 4-1 Sycamores.
Sycamores’ player of the week: Trent Wurtz sank 13.5 points in the contests and almost averaged as many rebounds (10.5).
For the first time this season, Missouri State (4-1) was held below 70 points, but it didn’t matter. The defense stepped up against No. 7 Wisconsin as the Bears pulled off a 66-64 upset. Before that contest, MSU had averaged 81.3 points per game, but the slight setback to the Badgers dropped that number all the way down to 77.5. With the big win on the resume, Missouri State will have the opportunity to improve on its 4-1 record this week against Alabama State and Santa Clara.
Bears’ player of the week: Blake Ahearn was the go-to-guy with 25 points when knocking off Wisconsin.
Quietly making its way to a 4-1 start, Northern Iowa (4-1) has yet to really establish its identity. That will change this week though, as the Panthers face two very big tests against Iowa State and at Bucknell. Former UNI head coach Greg McDermott will make a return trip to the UNI-Dome on Wednesday, as Northern Iowa attempts to avenge last season’s defeat to Iowa State.
Panthers’ player of the week: Grant Stout continues to dominate early, as he averaged 10.8 points, eight rebounds and 2.5 blocks during the last two victories.
A team that definitely has an identity is Southern Illinois (4-1). We’ve learned that SIU isn’t invincible, which seemed so after allowing a mere 74 total points in its two first wins, but the Salukis are still surrendering just 50.4 points per game while storming to a 4-1 record. Defense has been a staple for this team the past several years, but its success thus far this season surely has Valley counterparts preparing for a couple of nightmares this winter.
Salukis’ player of the week: Bryan Mullins isn’t piling up the most points, but he’s been a huge asset. He racked up 6.3 points and 5.8 assists this past week and averaged 3.3 steals in SIU’s last three contests.
The lone ranked MVC team remained unbeaten this week after yet another impressive victory. Wichita State (4-0) rose seven spots to No. 17 in the ranks this week after defeating a second Final Four team on the road in six days. No. 6 LSU was the victim this time, as WSU handed the Tigers a 57-53 loss. The rough schedule continues this week against Missouri-Kansas City on Wednesday and at No. 17 Syracuse on Saturday. However, don’t be surprised to see the defending conference champs begin the season 6-0.
Shockers’ player of the week: P.J. Couisnard scored 11 points and grabbed seven boards, as WSU scored its upset in Baton Rouge.
Eagles Score Much-Needed Win
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Sean Marshall knew Boston College needed Saturday’s game. He knew that the previous two games were quite unacceptable performances by the Eagles, losses where they were completely out-played by Vermont and Providence. That’s why he sent out e-mails to every player on the team – well, all but one.
“I sent out e-mails, except to Sean Williams because I didn’t know his e-mail address, to everybody on the team,” the senior guard said, with a laughing Williams by his side. “If he keeps blocking those shots, I don’t have to send him e-mails.”
Williams, who blocked seven shots and had four steals to go with 13 points, did get Marshall’s text message the night before, though, so he wasn’t left out of the communication.
Marshall didn’t just let e-mails prior to the game do the talking, as he did that with his play as well in leading the Eagles to a sound 86-68 victory over visiting Rhode Island on Saturday in a game where they looked more like the Eagles of old. He took over the game in the latter part of the first half, when the Eagles took the lead and never looked back. Marshall scored 18 of his game-high 23 points, including 11 straight in a nearly three-minute stretch where he was seemingly in on every play at both ends of the floor, and where the Eagles turned a close game into a 17-point lead.
While Marshall has been inconsistent over his career, he has played well against Rhode Island, having scored 21 points in a road win against the Rams last season. He’s had games like he did on Saturday where he has been the best player on the floor, but at times he’s disappeared as well. This game illustrated how good the Eagles can be when he’s on in addition to everyone else.
The Eagles shot the ball well, played a more physical game at both ends of the floor, made plays on defense besides the shot-blocking of Williams, and simply played the kind of game the coaching staff could be happy about. They had a 38-24 edge in points in the paint and a 31-16 edge in points off turnovers. They were getting baskets with a foul, weren’t shying away from contact, and generally executed at the offensive end more like most expected them to in picking them third in the ACC and ranking them near the top 10 of most preseason polls.
“We knew they were coming off two losses, and we knew they were going to try to turn it up at home, and that’s what they did,” Rhode Island forward Will Daniels said.
One player who has been a target early on, sophomore point guard Tyrese Rice, had a better game on Saturday. He went for 19 points on 7-14 shooting, and added five assists. He had five turnovers as well, but generally made better decisions with the ball than he has early on. The Eagles need more of that from him as their floor leader, and that was made clear in a team meeting held the day before the game.
“Everybody just came in and was honest about each other, talking to each other and telling each other what we expect from each other and how we can become a better team,” Marshall said. “A lot was said to Tyrese to be more of a leader for our team, and I think he did a good job today.”
Rice clearly got the message, as Marshall’s e-mail was hanging up in his locker.
Jared Dudley, the other senior co-captain, had a quiet double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, and added five assists – another typical stat line when the Eagles play well.
The Eagles needed to get back on track, and they may have done so just in the nick of time. Michigan State comes to town on Wednesday, and though this is a young Spartans team, they will be a tough matchup for the Eagles. More than anything, the game will be a good barometer of whether or not the Eagles have turned a corner.
Ole Miss Star Cleared to Practice: Mississippi’s All-SEC center Dwayne Curtis returned to practice Nov. 27 for the first time since breaking his foot in the pre-season. The 6-8 junior averaged 13.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game last season for the Rebels and will bring a much-needed inside presence for new coach Andy Kennedy. It is uncertain whether Curtis will be ready to play in the Rebels’ next game against New Orleans Nov. 30. [11/28/06]
Butler Makes Most of Long-Awaited Return to the Garden
by Ray Floriani
NEW YORK – It was well worth the wait.
The last time Butler appeared in Madison Square Garden was March of 1959 in the NIT. That was the ‘old Garden’ 16 blocks uptown. Butler had yet to appear at the current MSG on 33rd street that opened in 1968. A solid mid-major with a credible tradition, the Indiana school went almost half a century without playing in “The World’s Most Famous Arena.”
Butler certainly made up for lost time and re-acquainted itself with local fans. The Bulldogs upset Tennessee and Gonzaga to capture the NIT Season Tip-Off.
On Wednesday in the NIT Season Tip-Off semifinal, Butler showed the New York fans solid fundamental basketball in a 56-44 upset of Tennessee. The Bulldogs entered the contest with two goals: limit turnovers to 15 and hit the boards. They almost accomplished both – the turnover count was 16, but they forced their SEC opposition into 23 miscues of their own. Butler struggled a bit with the Volunteers’ beef up front, as Tennessee enjoyed a 15-7 edge on the offensive boards. But the key factors that helped Butler over the forty minutes were defense and an adherence to their game plan.
Tennessee saw a ten-point lead with five minutes to go in the half slip away. A 10 % (no typo) shooting second half didn’t help. “We had looks,” Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl said. “We didn’t hit anything but credit Butler. They played some aggressive defense out there.”
In the second semifinal North Carolina got out to a 10-0 advantage over the first four minutes. The second-ranked Tar Heels looked like they would cruise into the finals. Gonzaga never hit the panic button and gradually got back in it, taking the lead by halftime. In the second half, they opened a 16-point lead. Carolina tightened the defense and made a serious run, but again, Mark Few’s Bulldogs didn’t rattle, kept the lead and closed out an 82-74 upset.
That set the stage for Friday.
While Black Friday shoppers were going through away their budgets, a number of fans were filing in the Garden for a 4:30 p.m. start. Clad in Carolina blue and Volunteer orange, they were in eager anticipation of an expected matchup. Only thing being, the matchup was planned on being the final, not consolation.
North Carolina took third with a 101-87 win. Tar Heels had just too much size for Tennessee. Down 21 at the half, Tennessee did not quit and actually made a second half run and threatened to get the deficit under double digits about midway through the final half. North Carolina coach Roy Williams was pleased with the win, but not at all with his team’s decisions and execution in the final half.
Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl, not thrilled to exit New York with a two-game losing streak, was content that his team fought back. “We got in at halftime down 21 (points),” Pearl said. “And there wasn’t a guy who couldn’t wait to get back out on the floor.”
Tennesee is a team that will surprise in some contests, disappoint their fans in others. The Vols press and rely a great deal on perimeter shooting. Even their big man, freshman Wayne Chism, is a 6-9 widebody who enjoys roaming outside more rather than battling down on the blocks.
The final, a battle of Bulldogs, saw Butler get out to an early lead and gradually build it. The early margin was crucial in the balance of the contest. Butler is simply not a team you want to trail. They take good care of the ball, play with poise and are deadly from the free throw line, especially in crunch time. Butler was 14 of 16 from the line against Tennessee and made 23 of 26 in the Gonzaga contest. Butler also had great success dribble penetrating. If the penetration was stopped, the ball would be sent out to the perimeter for a (usually open) shot.
Interestingly picked sixth in their Horizon League pre-season poll, Butler is a classic inspiration for programs operating below Fortune 500 status. They epitomize what you can do when a solid, unspectacular group gets together, buys into a good system and executes. My NBA favorites, the Knicks, should be required to watch and study Butler’s game tapes (from any of the NIT contests) to get a read on fundamental unselfish basketball.
Following the semifinal win, Todd Lickliter took a few moments to reflect on the trip to the Garden. “It’s a big thing for our fans,” the Butler coach said. He went on to say that a legendary figure in Indiana basketball once told him, “the two best places to play are Hinkle Fieldhouse (Butler’s home) and Madison Square Garden. The newer places like Conseco Fieldhouse are beautiful,” Lockliter continued. “But when you walk into a place like Madison Square Garden you feel it is special. You feel the history and that’s something you can’t find in those new arenas.”
Players of Note
On The Baseline
Auburn’s Dollard to Return from Suspension: Auburn forward Josh Dollard will return from his nine-and-a-half month suspension in time for the Tigers’ contest against Nicholls State. The 6-7 forward showed promise last season when he averaged 9.1 points per game, including a 29-point outburst against Jacksonville State, before breaking an undisclosed team rule Feb.18. Auburn’s Quan Prowell – also out on suspension – should return Dec. 19. [11/28/06]
Oliver to Replace Appleby in Washington Starting Lineup: Washington coach Lorenzo Romar announced that freshman Adrian Oliver will be replacing junior Ryan Appleby at the shooting guard position in the Huskies’ starting lineup. Oliver, a highly regarded player from Modesto, Calif., is known for his defensive ability and versatility. He averages 7.4 points and nearly five rebounds per game so far this season. With the move, Romar will be starting three freshmen for the first time since the 2002-03 season, his inaugural year at the helm of the Washington program. [11/28/06]
UCLA Atop AP Poll: In another flagrant example of East Coast bias, the me-dia voted UCLA the No. 1 team in the country in this week’s AP poll. The Bruins re-ceived half of all first-place votes. Pittsburgh moved to No. 2, and Ohio State, who is No. 1 in the coaches’ poll, was No. 3. Gonzaga and Virginia also entered the media’s poll for the first time. As in the coaches’ poll, Tennessee And Kentucky dropped out of the poll. [11/27/06]
Ohio State Basketball Joins Football Team at the Top: For a school whose nickname is a type of nut, Ohio State is really good at sports. The Ohio State Buckeyes ascended to No. 1 today in the new USA Today/ESPN Coaches’ poll. The basketball version of the Buckeyes have matched the football team’s No. 1 ranking.
Both teams that had been in front of the Buckeyes in the last poll lost. North Carolina fell to Gonzaga, and Florida lost to Kansas. UCLA is No. 2 in the poll, despite having 13 first place votes to Ohio State’s 11. Butler and Wichita State both entered the polls this week, with the Shockers coming in at No. 22 and Butler entering at No. 18. Two SEC schools, Tennessee and Kentucky, dropped out of the poll this week.
[11/27/06]
Although it wasn’t quite as bad as last season, this was hardly one for the books for Wake Forest. After an 82-60 blowout loss against Maryland on Thursday, the Demon Deacons finished 13-18 overall. That doesn’t seem so bad, and a few teams had worse records, but look deeper and you see a team that, quite simply, was not good.
Ron Hunter is a terrific addition to the Colonial Athletic Association coaching ranks. That could have been said before the season given his track record and the impression he made on Media Day in October, but after the CAA Tournament it bears repeating because it was so obvious.
In theory, the next six days should be quite stressful for Drexel and head coach Bruiser Flint. As the regular season champions of the CAA, they are guaranteed a bid to the NIT, but naturally hope the NCAA Tournament comes calling. Flint doesn’t seem stressed at all about it, however, and his experience is a key factor in that.
Northeastern fought turnovers often this season, and had relatively mixed results with some streaks along the way. The Huskies should be better next season, but there is clear room for improvement and that was evident on Saturday night in the season-ending loss.
With UNCW’s season over, there’s a look toward a brighter future that was helped by this weekend in Richmond. The young Seahawks had some bright spots during the season in trying to rebuild, and capped it off with something else they can take with them.
James Madison came into the season as an interesting team to project. There was not a lack of talent, and it wasn’t a young team, but there were intangibles questions. In the end, injuries were the biggest problem, but the Dukes kept fighting right to the end no matter how demoralizing the injuries were.
Notes on the first round of the CAA Tournament, where the seeds held to form, the first 20-20 game in tournament history occurred and a team that went bowling to help get ready for the opening game of the day came out on top.
We check in with some quick hitters on a couple of America East teams, a contrast of freshmen from an earlier game, Georgia Tech’s defense against Boston College and the Missouri Valley.
The last decisive play in Harvard’s 55-54 loss to Penn on Saturday night will stay in many people’s minds. For the Crimson player who was involved in it, one hopes the college basketball gods have a better ending in store later on.
The stage is set. Saturday night at Lavietes Pavilion will be a potentially epic battle with first place on the line after Friday night’s results. Old rivals Yale and Harvard will battle for the top, with Harvard hoping for a repeat of the result the last time these two teams met.
Last Thursday, Idaho State finally made it’s choice, hiring Montana assistant Bill Evans as it’s head coach. So far, reaction has been mixed by at least one of the couple of forum posts dedicated to the decision as well as the local scribe’s feelings. Here’s the traditional “welcome to town” …
This is what the head honchos wrote on Monday: Big Sky (March 3) Top seed: Montana. The Big Sky regular-season championship came down to the final game, in which the Grizzlies avenged their only loss in Big Sky play by beating Weber State in Missoula. Tournament stakes: Although Weber State …
We take a look at the award winners, from the two-time conference Player of the Year to the Newcomer of the Year, as well as a couple of early tournament games.
Why did the Cleveland State Vikings recently have a five game losing streak? It’s simple–whenever a team loses their most valuable player, they’re going to suffer. The Cleveland State Vikings have had their fair share of above-average talent on the roster over the past few years. Cedric Jackson played briefly …
The Cleveland State Vikings and Detroit Titans squared off on Thursday evening at the Wolstein Center in a matchup with major ramifications for seeding in the Horizon League Tournament. Both the Vikings and the Titans headed into Thursday’s matchup riding drastically different five-game streaks. Picked by many preseason analysts to …
The last week of conference play has arrived in the Horizon League. Over the past few years, the battle for the top seeds in the Horizon League has not been decided until the final game of conference play. This year is no exception, with multiple teams having a legitimate chance …
The Cleveland State Vikings and Drexel Dragons squared off on Saturday morning at the Wolstein Center as part of ESPN’s BracketBusters series. Saturday’s contest marks the second straight year in which the Vikings have participated in the BracketBusters series. Last season, the Vikings dropped a hard-fought contest to Old Dominion …
Although the rivalry between the Cleveland State Vikings and Butler Bulldogs may not be as nationally known as the rivalry between Duke and North Carolina, the intensity that is in the air whenever these two Horizon League rivals square off is just as strong. In fact, the animosity between these …
The Cleveland State Vikings and Valparaiso Crusaders squared off on Thursday night at the Wolstein Center in one of the most important games of the season for both teams. While the Vikings’ season-opening victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores may have been extremely important with regards to quality wins that are …
JUST IN TIME FOR TONIGHT’S GAMES… All the news you ever wanted to know about the Big Sky, the weekly edition. YOUR WEEKLY DAMIAN LILLARD IS A STUD LINK-FEST: A Salt Lake Tribune story on his success. USA Today also jumped in sometime in the last week to talk about …
In a game with major implications for the regular season Horizon League championship and seeding for the Horizon League Tournament, the Cleveland State Vikings dominated the Milwaukee Panthers by a score of 83-57 in a game in which the Panthers never led. The Vikings and Panthers began the day in …
One team stands alone atop the standings for now, with another a little behind them and a logjam near the middle of the pack.
The Cleveland State Vikings started 2012 off on a winning note with a 69-48 victory at home on Saturday afternoon over the visiting Loyola Ramblers. In his pregame radio comments, Vikings coach Gary Waters stated that the Ramblers’ 5-10 record heading into Saturday’s matchup was deceiving and that the Ramblers were …
Opening weekend in the Big Sky Eastern Washington Record: 7-7, 1-1 Weekend: 1-1 Major superlatives: Won by 16, lost by 8; 76.5 ppg for, 72.5 against; plus-4 scoring margin; 52-112 FG; 20-53 3pt; 29-43 FT. Summary: One night, the lead stuck. The other, it didn’t. The Eagles made an early …
The Big Sky is about to dive in to conference play, and so far, the season has unfolded pretty much as expected, with Sacramento State looking like the one surprise.
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