MEAC Preview

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 2008-09 Preview

by Michael T. Lyle, Jr.

Few will argue that Coppin State’s unlikely run to the MEAC championship was the one of the biggest stories in the conference last season.

Perhaps playing a grueling out-of-conference schedule against powerhouse opponents like Ohio State and Missouri provided the Eagles a good tune-up to conference action, or maybe it was the clutch play of star point guard Tywain McKee that helped Coppin get over the hump. His runner in the lane in the closing seconds of the conference tournament championship helped the seventh-seeded Hawks to an upset of top seed Morgan State and a berth in the field of 65. The bucket capped off a stellar night for Tywain, as he finished with a career-high 33 points.

Coppin’s dream season would be short-lived, however, as they struggled to find their rhythm against Northeast Conference champion Mount St. Mary’s in the opening-round game of the NCAA’s. Their nine-point setback ended a run for a team no one picked would qualify for the Big Dance, particularly with the most losses – ever – of any tournament team.

But a new season is here, and for head coach Ron Mitchell, he’ll see most of the 2007-08 championship team returning, including McKee, who led the team in scoring and was sixth in the conference in that category. The early portion of their schedule will once again be brutal, as they face off against a sleuth of college basketball powers in Purdue, Kansas, Dayton, Wisconsin, Syracuse and Oklahoma.

With Coppin’s luck, maybe playing against such stiff competition will be yet another good tune-up to league play and perhaps a repeat of last season’s surprise run to the top of the conference.

Champions of the regular season and tournament runner-ups, Morgan State will be on a mission to get back to the championship game – and beyond. At a recent conference press luncheon in North Carolina, the Bears received 15 first place votes and racked up 443 points to take the league’s top spot. Clinching the regular-season title gave head coach Todd Bozeman’s squad their first-ever postseason appearance in NIT, where they fell to ACC power Virginia Tech in the first round. This season, Bozeman will get back All-MEAC forward Marquise Kately, as well as standout guard Reggie Holmes. Both will be surrounded with a bevy of junior college recruits who are expected to have an immediate impact.

Hampton, picked to finish second, loses top scorer Rashard West, but have junior guard Vincent Simpson returning to a Pirates team that boasts a ton of depth and size at both the forward and center positions. Delaware State, Norfolk State and South Carolina State complete the top five, with the Spartans being another team to watch because with Tony Murphy leading the way, Norfolk found themselves briefly in first place in the conference late last season. Even without him this season, head coach Anthony Evans’ Spartans will remain balanced, with seniors Michael Deloach and Kevin Worsley leading the way.

Rounding out the conference are defending champion Coppin State, followed by Florida A&M, North Carolina A&T, Howard, Bethune-Cookman and Maryland-Eastern Shore.

The season tips on Friday, November 14 with Morgan venturing to the City of Brotherly Love for a matinee at LaSalle. Coppin State begins their title defense the next day against UNC-Wilmington.

All-MEAC First Team (courtesy of MEACSports.com)

G Tywain McKee, Coppin State
G Jason Johnson, South Carolina State
F Marquise Kately, Morgan State
G Lamar Twitty, FAMU, North Carolina A&T
G Corey Lyons, Norfolk State
F John Holmes, Bethune-Cookman

All-MEAC Second Team (courtesy of MEACSports.com)

G Michael Deloach, Norfolk State
G Reggie Holmes, Morgan State
F Michael Freeman, Hampton
G Eugene Myatt, Howard
G Vincent Sampson, Hampton

Preseason Player of the Year: Tywain McKee, Coppin State

Team Outlooks

Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (2007-08: 11-21 overall, 5-11 MEAC, 9th Place)
Projected Starting Five: John Holmes, F; Kevan Creppy, G/F; Tobias Mahone, F; Tyrel Adams, F/C; Dominique Whatley, G

Schedule Highlights:
11/23 – @ Dayton (Chicago Invitational, First-Round)
12/6 – @ Florida A&M
12/22 – @ Jacksonville
3/5 – Florida A&M

Even with four letterwinners returning, the Wildcats were picked to finish a spot below where they ended up last season. Senior and leading scorer John Holmes will carry most of the load, with contributions from fellow seniors Creppy, Mahone and Whatley. Early season tests against Dayton and Auburn should prepare them for league play in January.

Coppin State Eagles (2007-08: 16-21 overall, 7-9 MEAC, 7th Place)
Projected Starting Five: Tywain McKee, PG; Chuka lloegbu, SG; Rigoberto Sargeant, C; Vince Goldsberry, PG; Brian Chesnut, PF

Schedule Highlights:
11/22 – @ Purdue
11/28 – @ Kansas
12/20 – @ Wisconsin
1/3 – @ Oklahoma
3/5 – Morgan State

The defending champions will once again play a grueling non-conference schedule to start the season, and that should serve as some good experience once MEAC play begins in early 2009. McKee and Chesnut are the big two players returning. Sargeant should prove to be a force in the middle with good, solid defensive play.

Delaware State Hornets (2007-08: 14-16 overall, 10-6 MEAC, 4th Place)
Projected Starting Five: Trevor Welcher, G; Donald Johnson, G; Arturo Dubois, F; Jerel Chavis, G; Kris Douse, F.

Schedule Highlights:
11/20 – @ Ohio State
11/22 – vs. Kentucky (Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Invitational)
12/1 – @ UConn
1/19 – @ NCAT

Riding the play of leading scorer and rebounder Roy Bright, the Hornets started last season strong, but struggled down the stretch. Without Bright’s services this season, head coach Greg Jackson looks to his veterans Johnson and Dubois to pick up the pieces. Welcher and Chavis gives Delaware State some good offensive production up front. An early matchup against second-ranked Connecticut highlights the Hornets’ out-of-conference schedule.

Florida A&M Rattlers (2007-08: 15-17 overall, 9-7 MEAC, Tied 5th Place)
Projected Starting Five: Joe Ballard, G; Byron Taylor, G; Lamar Twitty, F; Brandon Bryant, G; Larry Jackson, F.

Schedule Highlights:
12/2 – @ Florida
12/6 – Bethune-Cookman
1/5 – @ Nebraska
2/9 – @ Norfolk State

With the loss of leading scorer Leslie Robinson, second-year coach Eugene Harris gets four letter winners back this season, with Twitty and Ballard expected to lead the Rattler offense. Last season’s improvement also gives FAMU some national TV exposure. They’ll get 2 TV games on ESPNU this year against Hampton and at Norfolk State.

Hampton Pirates (2007-08: 18-12 overall, 11-5 MEAC, Tie 2nd Place)
Projected Starting Five: John Ntoko, G; Michael Freeman, F; Chad Easterling, F; Donte Harrison, F; Vincent Sampson, G

Schedule Highlights:
11/26 – @ Alaska-Anchorage (Great Alaska Shootout)
12/6 – vs. Howard (Big Apple Classic in New York)
2/23 – vs. Morgan State

The loss of leading scorer Rashard West means that Simpson is expected to get the ball more often this season. Mix it up with Freeman and Harrison in the middle, and head coach Kevin Nickelberry’s squad could find themselves near the top of the conference once again. Their out-of-conference schedule doesn’t seem to be difficult to cope with, but their late-season showdown with Morgan State could have tournament seeding implications.

Howard Bison (2007-08: 6-26 overall, 3-13 MEAC, 10th Place)
Projected Starting Five: Eugene Myatt, G; Randy Hampton, F; Calvin Thompson, F; Kandi Mukole, F; Curtis White, G

Schedule Highlights:
11/16 – @ Navy
12/6 – vs. Hampton (Big Apple Classic in New York)
1/26 – vs. Morgan State

The Bison started last season strong, but got bit by the injury bug. However, coach Gil Jackson will see the return of veteran standouts Myatt and Hampton, while a pair of freshmen in Thompson and Chris McHenry should give Howard some solid play at the guard position – and some extra depth. An improvement on last season’s record is possible, that is, if the Bison can simply stay healthy.

Morgan State Bears (2007-08: 22-11 overall, 14-2 MEAC, 1st Place)
Projected Starting Five: Marquise Kately, F; Reggie Holmes, G; Kevin Thompson, F; Jermaine Bolden, G; Troy Smith, G

Schedule Highlights:
11/15 – @ LaSalle
11/22 – vs. Utah (Glen Wilkes Classic)
12/6 – vs. Coppin State
1/24 – vs. Howard

The regular season champions seem determined for a return to the MEAC Tournament Championship game. With several talented JUCO and first-year players coming on-board, Todd Bozeman’s team may prove a force to be reckoned with this year. Virtually every key player from last year’s squad returns for the 08′-’09 campaign, with Kately and Holmes providing a spark. The early part of their schedule features a rematch of the title game against Coppin State. Barring any major collapse, the Bears should find themselves participating in postseason play for the second straight year.

North Carolina A&T Aggies (2007-08: 15-16 overall, 9-7 MEAC, Tie 5th Place)
Projected Starting Five: Ed Jones, F; James Porter, C; Nicholas Wilson, F; Dwane Joshua G; Tavarus Alston, G

Schedule Highlights:
11/24 – @ California
12/28 – @ Georgia
1/10 – @ Morgan State
1/12 – @ Coppin State

Leading scorer Steven Rush is gone, but the Aggies have four seniors returning this year. NCAT should build on their win total from last season, as the veteran leadership will be key for head coach Jerry Eaves’ squad.

Norfolk State Spartans (2007-08: 16-15 overall, 11-5 MEAC, Tie 2nd Place)
Projected Starting Five: Michael Deloach, G; Corey Lyons, G; Kevin Worsley,G/F; Antoine Perry, G; Brandon Monroe, F.

Schedule Highlights:
11/25 – @ Michigan
12/6 – @ North Carolina A&T
1/12 – @ Morgan State

Deloach, Lyons and Worsely are the key components for this year’s Spartans offensive attack. The loss of leading scorer Tony Murphy means that Deloach will have to pick up the load in that area. Worsely and Monroe give Norfolk State a good inside presence below. If all goes as head coach Anthony Evans envisions, the Spartans should find themselves, once again, among the top three in the league.

Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks (2007-08: 4-28 overall, 2-14 MEAC, 11th Place)
Projected Starting Five: Gary Lee, G/F; Aleksandar Popovich, F; Tim Burns, G; Marc Davis, G; Hillary Haley, G

Schedule Highlights:
11/25 – @ Navy
1/3 – @ Nebraska
1/5 – @ Oklahoma
2/7 – @ Howard

The Frankie Allen era begins in Princess Anne, and already the former Howard coach has made his presence felt. With star guard Ed Tyson not returning because he rendered himself academically ineligible, Allen brings in a bevy of JUCO transfers that should give UMES the depth and balance they were missing the last few seasons. Davis and Popovich are the only two returning from last season’s squad, and they’ll provide the leadership needed to give the Eagles some swagger. Allen makes his return to the Nation’s Capital in early February against the Bison in what should be an entertaining matchup and given the storyline involved.

South Carolina State Bulldogs (2007-08: 13-20 overall, 7-9 MEAC, Tie 7th Place)
Projected Starting Five: Jason Johnson G/F, Jessie Burton, G; Julius Carter, F/C; Brandon Smalls, G; Phillip Adams, G

Schedule Highlights:
12/13 – @ Clemson
1/10 – @ Delaware State
1/26 – vs. NCAT

Johnson, last season’s leading scorer, returns to a Bulldog squad that can mix it up on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Head coach Tim Carter’s squad should make strides as their non-conference portion of the season appears winnable and sets them up for a run at the top five in the MEAC standings.

URI Hopes To Take Next Step

Defense Will be the Key For the Rams

by Phil Kasiecki

SOUTH KINGSTON, R.I. – If the 2008-09 season for Rhode Island is to be better than the prior one, “defense” can’t be a dirty word. The Rams realize this, not only from last season, but also from their first exhibition game in which they rolled over Concordia by a score of 123-84.

Last season started out for the Rams much like it did for the conference as a whole. By the time the new year rolled around, there was plenty of talk about the NCAA Tournament and the reality of being nationally ranked. The Rams were 14-1 when they opened conference play at Dayton in January.

But all along, there was one problem: the Rams couldn’t stop anyone. Only two teams in the conference allowed more points, but no one allowed more in Atlantic 10 games than the Rams, as conference opponents scored 79 points per night and shot nearly 46 percent from the field.

The season already looked like one that might fall well short of its early promise, but a late three-game homestand where the Rams lost all three sealed their fate as a team that would only reach the NCAA Tournament with an automatic bid. While a three-game sweep against the likes of Xavier, UMass and Saint Joseph’s was unlikely, a 2-1 showing might have kept them in a position where an at-large bid was possible. And as if that wasn’t enough, the season ended with a heart-breaking loss to Creighton in the NIT.

This season’s team has a similar look in terms of how they will play. The Rams are still going to run, run and run some more, and they certainly have the athletes to do it. This team is built to play at a breakneck pace, and if they create turnovers, they’re sure to get plenty of transition baskets. Add in the three-point shooting of senior Jimmy Baron to athletes like juniors Keith Cothran, Lamonte Ulmer and Delroy James, and you have a dangerous offense.

“We have athleticism that we’ve never had here, we have depth,” said head coach Jim Baron. “We’ve added on to what we started two years ago.”

The key, of course, will be stopping people, and they’re aware of that. Defense has been stressed tremendously since the start of practice, and Baron has had good defensive teams before, so it’s not like he hasn’t built a good defensive team before.

“We know we can score,” said James, “but defense comes first. You can’t win a game without playing defense.”

Said Jim Baron: “We have to defend and we have to stop people to become the basketball team I think we can become by Atlantic 10 play.”

James looks much more comfortable on the floor now and could be primed to break out. The lefty athlete has always had the athleticism and scoring tools to be a star in this system, but academic issues have held him back his first two years. He’s taken care of things better, and can see and feel the difference.

“It’s different,” he reflected. “First year, that was unexpected, and last year, me being an idiot, that happened. But this year, I’m more relaxed, doing what I came here to do – play basketball and get my academics up.”

The point guard spot is a microcosm of the entire team: they have the bodies, but the picture of who plays and how many minutes isn’t clear. Sophomore Marquis Jones is a solid defender whose offense is improved, while freshman Stevie Mejia can score more and keeps working to get better. Jones might appear to have an edge for the starting spot right now, but Mejia will get plenty of minutes.

Inside, there are, again, a few capable bodies but not a clear picture, save for Kaheim Seawright starting at one spot. The senior was second in the conference in rebounding and is a force inside while running the floor better than most power forwards. Alongside him could be Jason Francis, who has a big body but runs well for his size, or they could go smaller with just him and James up front. Sophomore Will Martell has an improved body and should be ready to contribute more, while Connecticut transfer Ben Eaves has a live body.

The aforementioned guards will also get help from freshman Jamal Wilson, a versatile wing who can play bigger and knows how to win. Another freshman, Orion Outerbridge, is long and athletic and should see some minutes up front, although he has to get stronger.

This season, the Atlantic 10 doesn’t look as strong at the top as last season, but it won’t be any less daunting as a whole. The conference appears to have better depth, so there will be more land mines to navigate. While the Rams may arguably have as much talent as anyone and as many pieces, that alone won’t get them into contention. Nor, for that matter, will putting up 90 points regularly, as last season showed that they can’t just out-score teams.

Bob Knight Remembers The NIT

NIT Has Special Meaning for Knight

by Ray Floriani

WEST POINT, N.Y. – One of the highlights of a relatively quiet fall bears recounting. The late Friday afternoon in September is quiet. Across the Hudson a train passes to pierce the silence. Nature has yet to begin her majestic display of colors on the leaves. On this historic campus of the US Military Academy about the only sound is that of cadets finishing their daily run. The group finishes close to Eisenhower Hall, towels off and picks up their textbooks, which tells you what you need to know about this storied institution. Soon visitors make their way into the hall to celebrate the academy’s annual Hall of Fame induction. The calendar says late summer but autumn is a heartbeat away on this evening. And tonight, the proceedings were special as Bobby Knight was among the inductees.

Army AD Kevin Anderson greets the guests coming, and among those assembled for this special event were a number of Knight’s former players such as Jim Crews (the current Army mentor), Steve Downing, Isiah Thomas and Mike Krzyzewski. Younger fans may have forgotten, but the veteran followers remember Knight began his coaching career at this institution.

On introducing Knight to receive the induction, Krzyzewski spoke about his home visit in high school. Knight visited the Krzyzewski family at their home and promised, “there is no better place to get an education than at West Point.” Before his days as “Coach K”, Mike Kryzewski the cadet, student/athlete, was a rock solid guard on some of West Point’s best teams. Knight was particularly fond of telling a story from one of Army’s successful NIT trips.

During the 1969 NIT Army had a second round meeting with a strong South Carolina team that featured John Roche. South Carolina coach Frank McGuire liked to use a 2-3 zone so Knight had an offensive breakdown on attacking it. Point guard Krzyzewski was entrusted with handling the ball and making the key passes against the zone. He was not to shoot. With just under ten minutes to play Army held a comfortable double-digit lead. Krzyzewski found himself at the foul line wide open. He began to go up for a shot and at the last second hit an open teammate. “He (Krzyzewki) followed instructions,” Knight said. “That’s why he is here introducing me tonight,” he humorously added. Over the years Krzyzewski has reached out to Knight for advice, even in preparation for the 2008 Olympics that saw the US take the gold medal.

Knight was appointed head coach at Army at age 24. He spent six seasons (1965-71) at the school and fashioned an impressive 102-50 record. During that time the Black Knights were invited to four NITs and earned two fourth and one third place showing. This was in an era when 32 teams went to the NCAA and 16 to the NIT. Over those years Army was synonymous for valuing the ball and playing tough defense.

Knight spoke a few minutes about a late 60s meeting when the Cadets went up to Syracuse and defeated the Orange on their home floor. The win on the floor was impressive, but an added aura centered around the crowd. It was the height of the Vietnam War era. Anti-war sentiments were high. The Syracuse ROTC building had protesters a few days earlier. Undoubtedly the visitors from the US Military Academy were not greeted with enthusiasm to say the least. On that evening Knight’s club put the off-floor hostilities aside and executed en route to a good win. But it was an evening that former players and Army fans from that game could remember even four decades later.

Steve Downing played on Knight’s first Final Four team at Indiana (1973). He remembers his collegiate mentor with (now) fond memories. “I wanted to transfer,” Downing said regarding Knight’s arrival in Bloomington. “I remember George McGinnis and I were high school students trying to choose a school. We watched Army on TV and saw this guy going crazy on the sidelines. I said I would never play for him.”

Downing signed on at Indiana and his junior year with the Hoosiers he played for a new coach, Bobby Knight. Downing didn’t transfer. He and his teammates wound up in the NCAA semifinal game. They gave eventual champion UCLA a competitive contest. Downing on his part battled Bill Walton gamely.

They all had stories about Knight’s toughness and demands for excellence. They were told a little more lightheartedly but still remembered like yesterday. Kyzyzewski, Crews, Thomas and Downing all went through the same treatment as the players off the bench. There were no favorites. And the influence Knight had on West Point is immeasurable and remembered even today. He instantly brought that same quality to the Big Ten.

“Before coach Knight came the Big and Ten was a fast-break, run and gun conference,” Downing said. “After his arrival defense was a priority. He influenced the entire conference’s style of play.”

Knight won three NCAA championships at Indiana, but his favorite tournament is the nation’s oldest. The Hall of Fame mentor showed the watch he wore to the event that evening. It was an NIT watch – Knight fell in love with the tournament while at West Point. The cadets would make the 50-mile trip to Madison Square Garden to cheer their team on.

Army was very competitive in Knight’s years in the NIT and gained a great deal of exposure due to their exploits. Interestingly, Knight’s NIT title came in 1979 at Indiana, but those memories from the days by the Hudson remain.

“I think the NIT is a great tournament and has done so much for college basketball,” Knight said. “For years the NCAA didn’t do anything for it (NIT). Guys like (the late) Peter Carlesimo and now Jack Powers have done a phenomenal job keeping the NIT as a prominent event.”

Butler Tries To Reload

Butler Tries to Reload

by Jay Pearlman

INDIANAPOLIS – Four of five starters are gone, as well as five of the six Butler players logging 500 minutes, 144 out of 170 starts, two first team all-conference players (including Player of the Year Mike Green), 69 percent of points gone, along with 57 percent of its rebounds. And unlike Duke and North Carolina (which “select” rather than “recruit”), mid-majors rebuild rather than reload, relying on such things as “diamonds in the rough,” transfers, and – can I even speak the words – teaching and player development making average players better. Rarely good enough to go pro – and almost never early – mid-majors hold onto their players for four years – even five – and when the Kents, Vermonts and George Masons of the world play deep into the tournament, most often it’s with 23-year-old seniors playing against more talented 18 and 19-year-old underclassmen.

In my time watching the Colonial, Mason couldn’t reload; Anthony Grant probably won’t be able to reload at VCU when Eric Maynor leaves. John Cheney couldn’t reload at Temple; John Calipari couldn’t reload at Massachusetts (and likely can’t at Memphis, though we’ll see). Gonzaga is the exception that proves the rule, the only school in America outside the BCS conferences to appear in ten straight NCAA tournaments. Perhaps Butler is next.

The coach is second-year man Brad Stevens, who turned 32 barely a week ago. He is one of only six head coaches in history to win 30 games in his first Division I season, and one of only three mid-major coaches to do so (Bill Hodges had Larry Bird at Indiana State in 1978-79, and Stan Heath had all of Gary Waters’ players at Kent in 2001-02). In two glorious seasons the last two years, Butler played that slow deliberate style, relying on long-range shooting late in the shot clock, reminding of Princeton under Pete Carril, Dick Bennett while still at Green Bay. They were first in the conference in scoring defense more by holding the ball and limiting opposition possessions. (Didn’t Gary Walters’ Dartmouth team lead the nation in defense that way? Didn’t Bill Parcells win a Super Bowl over Buffalo much the same way?) Half of their shots were three-pointers last season, and they made 319 of them, 9th most in America, with a higher percentage – 38 percent – than seven of the eight teams ahead of them in total makes (all except Valparaiso).

I certainly didn’t need to go to a November 1st exhibition game against NAIA Division II Marian (well-coached, but no better than an average NCAA Division III team). But something drew me to Indianapolis this night, to venerable Hinkle Fieldhouse, to the “county seat” of the Horizon League, to a gym I’d only seen watching televised Butler games (and on the big screen when Gene Hackman coached there). Hardly Butler-like, they shot a dismal 23 percent from behind the arc (6-26), just 1 for 16 in the first half. Lefty Zach Hahn was 0-4 from long range (and looked like he’d miss forever), and Grant Leiendecker was just 1-3 (his form was better, suggesting that he’ll make a bunch during the season). Star sophomore center Matt Howard began the game with a power move to the goal finishing with his left, later in the first half cupped an offensive board in his right and thunder-dunked in one motion. Last year’s Newcomer of the Year and this year’s preseason all-league selection showed that he’s ready to challenge Josh Mayo and J’Nathan Bullock for conference Player of the Year, barely raising a sweat in scoring 14 (on 4-6 shooting) and grabbing 11 boards in 22 minutes. And then there were the freshman.

Shocking along press row, instead of familiar returnees Stevens started three frosh “guards” along with Howard and undersized 6-3 junior forward Willie Veasley. 6-0 Alabama point guard Ronald Nored (president of Butler’s freshman class) showed athleticism, penetration, and a strong handle in his 18 minutes (to go with a dynamic personality). Hardly the pure shooter Pete Campbell was last year, Lexington’s 6-3 Shelvin Mack showed that he’ll score from inside and out, continue to shoot, and after an 0-5 first half from behind the arc, he was 2-2 in the second half, finishing with 11 points and 5 boards in 25 minutes. And by conference play, these two should be better defensively than anyone was in last year’s backcourt.

Then there is 6-8 Gordon Hayward, the best player on last year’s Indiana 4A champs from Brownsburg. Having never heard his name until he was introduced to start, just one missed shot and thirty seconds of play told me that this young man is special, as special a mid-major freshman as I’ve seen. Told that he grew from 6-1 to 6-8 late in high school, that explains both why he’s a guard rather than a forward, and why – at least in part – the Big Ten missed him (I’m told John Beilen’s Michigan staff made a late run at Hayward after he committed to Butler in June of his junior year, but where was Kelvin Sampson’s IU staff?) Whatever the reasons he’s in the Horizon rather than the Big Ten, Hayward handles the ball like a guard, has tremendous second guard shooting form, tons of range, and terrific quickness and flexibility.

In his first college exhibition game, when he didn’t run basket-to-basket as aggressively as Howard did, I asked Butler SID Jim McGrath which of the two was faster; McGrath later asked the coaches, and reported back that it is indeed Hayward who runs better. In short, it appeared to this writer in the first minute of last night’s game that Hayward has the size, athleticism and skills to be a pro some day, perhaps even an NBA pro (and given his fair complexion, he just might not be done growing). What a great get for Coach Stevens! (Oh, Hayward scored 8 on 2-5 shooting – 2-4 from the arc – grabbed 2 boards, and had 2 assists and no turnovers in 23 minutes of action, but his statistics hardly tell the story).

So if you’re thinking of scheduling a game against Butler, I suggest playing them this year rather than next (yes, it’s undoubtedly too late to adjust this year’s schedule), and if possible play them early (December 4 seems just right for Cleveland State to get Butler in its own gym, but by the time the two teams meet at Hinkle on Saturday February 28, Butler just might be ready). And if you’re a Horizon fan looking for something to focus on during the team’s non-conference season, follow Bulldog freshman Gordon Hayward and decide how good he can be by the primary conference season in January, by this year’s Horizon Tournament, by each of the next three years, and by four years from now, when he could be earning his first paycheck for playing basketball.

Horizon news and notes

• It took half of my life to get there, but what a joy it was attending my first game at Hinkle! Those of you who’ve read my words before know I have a general preference for the way things were in the past to how they are now, and also that my “Mecca of college basketball” is Philadelphia’s Palestra. Well, having spent time in Bloomington, coached in Northwest Ohio, and lived for most of the 90s in Cleveland, how can I justify never before having attended a game in Hinkle? Opened in 1928, imperfectly lit for television, tall and open and airy and steeped in history, well, I just might like it even more than the Palestra, a gym I’ve been in nearly fifty times. For now, let’s call it a dead heat, and as the Governor of California is fond of saying, “I’ll be back.”
• After just a few practices at CSU and a single exhibition game at Butler, I find myself focusing on the new college three-point line, one foot further out than last year’s. First, keep that increased distance in mind as you evaluate players’ and teams’ shooting statistics, as three-point percentages should come down, period. Second, if the Butler exhibition is any indication, those percentages should be down precipitously early this season, as both players’ muscle memories and coaches’ strategies are adjusted to the new distance. Third, I love the new greater distance, as it seems to separate “real outside shooters” from those less real.
• When the Horizon announced the schedule of games included in its ESPN television package (a package including conference telecasts on January and February Friday nights on ESPNU), I wondered why so many Butler games were chosen (particularly relative to those of preseason favorite Cleveland State). Well, at first I suspected it was carryover from recent years’ success (just as I suspect lots of you – particularly males – generally dress each morning based on yesterday’s weather). Then I thought it could be the fact that the conference office is in Indianapolis, subliminally affecting choices made there. And both of those reasons could provide part of the answer. But after watching the new look Butler Bulldogs last night, there is obviously one additional reason to suggest: the folks in the conference office may well have expected Butler to reload – perhaps they even evaluated its freshman class – and decided that this team is going to be good before very long, and interesting even sooner. While I don’t know how the conference will divide up television income from ESPN (even whether or not this package will generate any), selfishly this writer is now very pleased at the heavy Butler representation in this year’s TV package (living in Cleveland I will attend most of the CSU games in person anyway).
• If the rest of life cooperates, I’ll report from an exhibition game at Valparaiso next week.

Atlantic 10 Preview

Atlantic 10 Conference 2008-09 Preview

by Phil Kasiecki

Last season was perhaps one of what could have been for the Atlantic 10. The season started with tremendous promise in non-conference play, as conference teams scored a number of great wins. As January began, there was much discussion that the conference could get four or even five teams in the NCAA Tournament. The end result, however, wasn’t quite what was hoped for: three teams, plus four in the NIT.

The conference looks to follow that up with something better this season, and there is reason to believe it can do that. A look around the conference shows plenty of depth, although there doesn’t appear to be one team that is clearly above the rest like last year. While Xavier may be our pick to win, they aren’t seen as a prohibitive favorite at all. There are plenty of challengers lining up, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Saint Joseph’s, Temple, UMass, Charlotte, La Salle, or a healthy Dayton team were to come out on top.

While seniors carried the conference last season and have thus departed, 2008-09 looks to be far from a wash-out. Though no team returns every starter, the majority of starters return from last season and five schools return four starters. The projected top half of the conference figures to start a total of no more than five freshmen or sophomores, with one of them being a redshirt sophomore. A few schools had banner recruiting years as well, so they will be well-stocked for the future.

In a sign of stability, only one school had a coaching change in the off-season. After taking his name out of consideration for openings at LSU and Providence, former UMass head coach Travis Ford left Amherst to take the head coaching job at Oklahoma State. Replacing him is former Minuteman star Derek Kellogg, who was given a hero’s welcome and is happy to be close to his native Springfield. He was a key component of the teams of the mid-1990s, when the program had national prominence under John Calipari, Kellogg’s former boss at Memphis.

Preseason Awards
Player of the Year: Dionte Christmas, Temple
Top Newcomer: Melquan Bolding, Duquesne
Defensive Player of the Year: Chris Lowe, Massachusetts
Best NBA Prospect: Kenny Frease, Xavier

All-Atlantic 10 Team
Derrick Brown, Jr. F, Xavier
Dionte Christmas, Sr. G, Temple
Rodney Green, Jr. G, La Salle
Chris Lowe, Sr. G, Massachusetts
Ahmad Nivins, Sr. C, Saint Joseph’s

Xavier Musketeers (30-7, 14-2 Atlantic 10)
Projected Starters:
Fr. G Terrell Holloway
Sr. G-F C.J. Anderson (10.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.5 apg)
Sr. G-F B.J. Raymond (9.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
Jr. F Derrick Brown (10.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.7 apg)
Jr. F-C Jason Love (6.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Musketeers’ non-conference schedule is once again a tough one, and it features seven home games. Visiting Cincinnati will be MAC contender Miami, Auburn, and a reloading Butler team. The Musketeers will play Missouri, then could play Virginia Tech, in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, and also travel to play arch-rival Cincinnati, Duke, Virginia and LSU. After opening Atlantic 10 play at home against Saint Louis, three of the next four are on the road before the LSU game and a difficult three-game homestand against Charlotte, UMass and Temple. They will take on Charlotte, Dayton and Fordham twice.
Outlook: The Musketeers lost a lot from last season, as their seniors were a tremendous group that did a lot of winning. In particular, Drew Lavender will be tough to replace since the only point guards are freshmen, but there’s no lack of talent. Anderson, Raymond and Brown lead a balanced attack, with Brown looking every bit the part of a future star and capable of having a breakout season. Love has solidified the inside nicely, and he’ll have more help from freshman Kenny Frease, a steal for the Musketeers, and Tulsa transfer Jamel McLean. It wouldn’t be a shock if Frease starts before long. While sophomore Dante Jackson is likely the first perimeter player off the bench, Holloway looks to be the best of the freshmen guards. But Brad Redford is plenty capable and can shoot it, Mark Lyons is very athletic and Brian Walsh is very versatile and plays so well within the team concept, so all of them should see minutes. Sean Miller continues to do a terrific job leading this program, and there’s no reason to expect them to slip much despite the personnel losses.

Saint Joseph’s Hawks (21-13, 9-7 Atlantic 10)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Darrin Govens (9.8 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.3 spg)
Sr. G Tasheed Carr (10.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 5.6 apg, 1.6 spg)
Jr. G Garrett Williamson (5.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.1 spg)
So. F Idris Hilliard (1.2 ppg, 1.0 rpg)
Sr. C Ahmad Nivins (14.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.2 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Hawks will play all their home games at the Palestra while renovations are ongoing at Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse. Six of them come in non-conference play, with their season opener against Rider coming at the Wachovia Center. They will host Creighton, Ivy League favorite Cornell, MAAC favorite Siena, Drexel and Penn (which may as well be a home game for the Quakers). The Hawks will open with Texas in the EA Sports Maui Invitational, and also travel for road date with arch-rival Villanova. Three of their first four Atlantic 10 games are at home, and near the end of the season they have what could be a crucial three-game homestand that begins with visits from UMass and Xavier. The Hawks will play UMass, Rhode Island and St. Bonaventure twice.
Outlook: The Hawks took a big hit in terms of size with the graduation of Pat Calathes and Rob Ferguson, but look like they will have enough to contend once again. The perimeter is once again the strength of this team, though they took a hit there with D.J. Rivera’s transfer (although he had trouble staying eligible). Carr settled the point guard spot nicely, while Govens can play both guard spots and is a good defender and Williamson’s value is mainly on the defensive end. The reserves aren’t long on experience, as senior Edwin Lashley has played sparingly in his career and Charoy Bentley has potential but didn’t play much as a freshman. Chris Prescott could see a lot of minutes right away and is another who can play both guard spots. Up front, Nivins could be the best post player in the conference, but he has to rebound better given his size and athleticism. Hilliard was a bit player last season but was in every game and has the talent to be a fine complement. There’s not a lot of depth here, so an injury or serious foul trouble could put them in a bind.

Temple Owls (21-13, 11-5 Atlantic 10)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Luis Guzman (3.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.6 apg)
Jr. G Ryan Brooks (8.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.3 apg)
Sr. G Dionte Christmas (19.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.3 spg)
So. F Lavoy Allen (8.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.5 bpg)
Sr. C Sergio Olmos (5.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.4 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Owls will play just three home games in their non-conference schedule, which hasn’t become lighter in the post-John Chaney era. They open the season with three games in the Charleston Classic, and the home games are all tough ones: MAC contenders Miami and Kent State, as well as Tennessee, visit the Liacouras Center. The toughest road games are at Kansas and in the Big Five, including Villanova. After opening Atlantic 10 play at UMass, three of their next four games are at home. The Owls get La Salle, Rhode Island and Saint Joseph’s twice.
Outlook: Four starters return for the Owls, and they have a few others waiting in the wings to support them. It starts with Christmas, who led the conference in scoring last season and could certainly do it again. Brooks could be the player to move into the starting lineup, and if Guzman and reserve Semaj Inge can improve at the point, the Owls will be in good shape on the perimeter despite losing do-everything wing Mark Tyndale. Allen and Olmos lead an unspectacular but improving frontcourt, and redshirt freshman Michael Eric should get some minutes in the middle as well. A key area for improvement is rebounding, as the Owls were out-rebounded last year. Quietly, Fran Dunphy has rebuilt this program quickly, as the Owls had gone seven years between NCAA Tournament appearances before last season. This season, they should keep their new streak going.

Charlotte 49ers (20-14, 9-7 Atlantic 10)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G DiJuan Harris (3.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 3.2 apg)
Jr. G Ian Andersen (5.8 ppg, 1.3 rpg)
Jr. F An’Juan Wilderness (8.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.1 apg)
Sr. F Charlie Coley (8.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.4 bpg, 1.3 spg)
Sr. F Lamont Mack (12.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.4 apg)
Schedule Highlights: The non-conference slate has seven home games and is full of challenges. The 49ers open with two straight at home, including Colonial contender Old Dominion, and later host Clemson, Tulsa and Winthrop. They will play in the loaded 76 Classic in Anaheim, where they first play Arizona State and either Providence or Baylor in their second of three games. Later road games are at Mississippi State, Southern Illinois and Maryland. After they open Atlantic 10 play at Duquesne and host Tulsa, the next five conference games are tough ones: La Salle (home), Saint Joseph’s (road), UMass (home), and trips to Temple and Xavier. The 49ers get George Washington, Richmond and Xavier twice.
Outlook: The 49ers had a quietly good year in 2007-08, defying expectations without much fanfare. While they lose their best player in Leemire Goldwire, they return the other four starters and have a solid core of upperclassmen to lead the way. Harris runs the show capably, but he won’t have the kind of support it looked like he would have since Michael Gerrity abruptly left school. Anderson is the main holdover alongside Harris and should start, although sophomore Charles Dewhurst will be in the mix as well. All three starters in the frontcourt are versatile, and only Wilderness isn’t a threat from long range in addition to inside. Coley should fill the stat sheet once again, and Wilderness could play a few positions. If junior Phil Jones continues to improve his conditioning, the frontcourt will be even better with his big body, and sophomore Gaby Ngoundjo is also in the rotation. The 49ers had the best turnover margin in the conference last year, aided by forcing more than all but one team. That helped them offset having the worst field goal percentage in the conference, something they’ll need to improve on.

Massachusetts Minutemen (25-11, 10-6 Atlantic 10)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Chris Lowe (11.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 6.3 apg, 1.7 spg)
Jr. G Ricky Harris (18.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.6 spg)
So. G Anthony Gurley (transfer from Wake Forest)
Sr. F-C Tony Gaffney (3.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.7 bpg)
Sr. C Luke Bonner (3.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Minutemen have six home games on tap in another challenging non-conference schedule, highlighted by visits from Boston College (the annual Commonwealth Classic) and Vanderbilt. They open the season in the 2K Sports Classic in the Carbondale region, where they could play host Southern Illinois in the second game, and also travel to Memphis, Kansas (in Kansas City) and Houston. In Atlantic 10 play, the Minutemen don’t have consecutive home or away games until two straight at home followed by back-to-back road games to open February. The Minutemen get La Salle, Rhode Island and Saint Joseph’s twice.
Outlook: The Minutemen have a new head coach in former star Derek Kellogg, but should still contend as the offense will be similar and they have a group of players well-suited to it. The backcourt of Lowe and Harris will carry this team, with Harris being one of the most improved players in the country last year and Lowe running like he’s shot out of a cannon in the open floor. Gurley should feel at home right away in this offense, as should top recruit David Gibbs, who should be one of the first guards off the bench. Sophomores Gary Correia and Matt Glass are both capable of shooting, and they could figure into the rotation as well. The frontcourt is where the Minutemen are lacking, though Gaffney has been reborn in the role of energy guy and defensive stopper inside. Bonner isn’t a major presence inside, so newcomers like redshirts Tyrell Lynch and Travon Wilcher and little-used sophomores Matt Hill and Trey Lang will need to improve. The thin frontcourt is especially concerning when one considers the Minutemen were out-rebounded last year.

La Salle Explorers (15-17, 8-8 Atlantic 10)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Rodney Green (13.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.4 spg)
Jr. G Ruben Guillandeaux (7.7 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 2.1 apg)
Jr. F Yves Mekongo Mbala (8.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.5 apg)
Sr. F Paul Johnson (6.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.6 apg)
So. F Jerrell Williams (9.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.3 apg)
Schedule Highlights: After a couple of light years, the Explorers have a challenging non-conference slate that features nine home games. Early on, they host Florida State, then later host Villanova (Big Five), Northeast contender Mount St. Mary’s and Ivy League contender Penn (Big Five). The Explorers will play in the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas, opening with Connecticut, and also have road dates with America East contender Hartford and Ivy League favorite Cornell. Six of their first nine conference games are on the road, including a tough early stretch with games at Charlotte, Xavier and UMass after they host Temple. But starting in mid-February, they have a stretch where five of six are at home and the only road game is just down the street at Temple. The Explorers will play George Washington, UMass and Temple twice.
Outlook: A couple of years ago, the Explorers had a team with a lot of youth and a ways to go. Now, things should start to pay off, and during Atlantic 10 play last season they showed signs of what they will be capable of this season. Juniors Green, Guillandeaux, Mbala and Kimmani Barrett have all played significant minutes since arriving on campus, and they’ll help spearhead this team. Green is ready to become a star, while Guillandeaux can really light it up from long range and Barrett and Mbala are solid role players. Johnson is the team’s only senior and provides a steady presence at one forward spot, and Jerrell Williams had a solid freshman season. Mississippi State transfer Vernon Goodridge could easily grab one of the frontcourt starting spots and should make an instant impact, making this team even deeper. As promising as things look, the Explorers won’t take the next steps if they don’t take better care of the ball after leading the conference in turnovers last season, and it wouldn’t hurt if they improve at the defensive end after opponents shot 46.6 percent from the field against them last season, which was worst in the conference in that category.

Dayton Flyers (23-11, 8-8 Atlantic 10)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G London Warren (4.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.4 spg)
Jr. G Marcus Johnson (10.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg)
So. F Chris Wright (10.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg in 15 games)
Sr. F Charles Little (8.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.3 apg)
Jr. C Kurt Huelsman (5.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: Dayton’s challenging non-conference schedule features ten home games, including two to start the Chicago Invitational Challenge. Among the teams making visits are Marshall, George Mason and Miami (Ohio). The Flyers’ toughest road games are at Auburn, Marquette and Creighton. Three of their first four Atlantic 10 games are on the road, but right after that is a three-game homestand. The Flyers get Duquesne, Saint Louis and Xavier twice.
Outlook: Last season looked like it could be a storybook one for the Flyers when they got off to a great start, before injuries helped derail the effort. They lose star guard Brian Roberts, but the Flyers still have a solid cast returning that includes Wright, who starred early on and whose injury was a major blow to the team. With Wright and Johnson on the wings, the Flyers certainly don’t lack athleticism or scoring punch, and they provide good targets for defensive-minded point guard Warren, who should step into the starting lineup. There’s solid depth on the perimeter if junior college transfer Rob Lowery and freshmen Stephen Thomas, Paul Williams and Chris Johnson contribute right away. Little is solid even if playing as an undersized power forward, and though he would project to start, he’s done so well coming off the bench that they might leave him in that role and start someone else in that spot. Huelsman doesn’t put up huge numbers, but he’s solid defensively and has been a model of stability since arriving on campus as the only player to start every game the past two seasons. With a healthy Wright and taking better care of the ball – only George Washington had a worse assist/turnover ratio in the conference last season – the Flyers could have a chance to contend for the top of the conference.

Richmond Spiders (16-15, 9-7)
Projected Starters:
So. G Kevin Anderson (10.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.8 spg)
Jr. G Ryan Butler (5.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.4 spg)
Jr. G-F David Gonzalvez (11.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.4 spg)
Sr. F Jarhon Giddings (3.9 ppg, 1.7 rpg)
Fr. C Josh Duinker
Schedule Highlights: The Spiders will play seven non-conference home games, a couple of which will be major challenges. They will host Colonial favorite VCU and Wake Forest in consecutive games, and Bucknell comes right after them to close a four-game homestand. The Spiders open the season in the CBE Classic at Syracuse, then play three games in Fort Myers. Later, they travel to take on Colonial contender Old Dominion and Virginia Tech. A notable stretch in conference play comes near the end of January, when they host Saint Joseph’s before traveling to play at Temple and UMass. The Spiders will play Charlotte, George Washington and Saint Louis twice.
Outlook: Last season, the Spiders were better than advertised and looked like they might contend a little earlier than projected. The outlook for this year was excellent, then star forward Dan Geriot tore his ACL in a summer game and will miss the season. But don’t count the Spiders out yet, as they have a lot of good parts and most of the team has good experience in Chris Mooney’s system. Anderson had a solid freshman season and runs the show well, while Butler is a complement to Gonzalvez, who can fill a stat sheet and has plenty of range on his jumper. The frontcourt still has some capable bodies with Geriot gone, though none are quite as good. Duinker appears to be the most likely candidate to move into Geriot’s spot in the starting lineup and could be one of the better freshmen in the conference. Giddings is the lone senior on the roster, while sophomores Kevin Smith and Justin Harper should get good minutes off the bench and contribute more. The Spiders will need to improve on defense after allowing opponents to shoot over 44 percent from the field last season, and they also had the worst rebounding margin in the conference. While they could battle for a top-four spot, more than likely they are a year away.

Rhode Island Rams (21-12, 7-9 Atlantic 10)
Projected Starters:
So. G Marquis Jones (1.7 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 1.7 apg)
Sr. G Jimmy Baron (14.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.9 apg)
Jr. F Delroy James (3.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg)
Sr. F Kaheim Seawright (9.2 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.3 bpg)
Sr. C Jason Francis (2.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Rams have six non-conference home games on tap as part of a challenging slate. Highlighting the home slate are visits from Colonial favorite VCU and America East contender Hartford, the latter as part of the Philly Classic. The Rams will play two games at the Palestra as part of the Philly Classic, first against Penn State and then either Villanova or Towson. The tough road games are at Duke, Colonial contender Northeastern, arch-rival Providence, and against Oklahoma State in the O’Reilly All-College Basketball Classic. Atlantic 10 play starts off tough, with three of the first four games coming at Saint Joseph’s, home against Xavier and at Richmond. The Rams get Fordham, UMass and Temple twice.
Outlook: Last season started off with a lot of promise before defensive struggles led to a 2-9 finish to the regular season and the NIT. The Rams return a veteran team with a lot of capable players, and as Jim Baron continues his “Runnin’ Rams” style, they’ll need all of them. The point guard spot will be a battle between freshman Stevie Mejia and Jones, a defensive specialist whose offense should improve. Jimmy Baron is one of the best shooters in the country and has improved other aspects of his game nicely. The third guard is junior Keith Cothran, who was part of a unit that came off the bench and changed games often with a lot of energy. James has the inside track at small forward, but the Rams could start Cothran to have three guards and freshman Jamal Wilson figures to be in the mix as well. Seawright anchors the front line with solid rebounding, a good feel for the game and no lack of effort, while Francis runs the floor better than his 280-pound body might suggest. Connecticut transfer Ben Eaves is a live body and freshman Orion Outerbridge is a long and athletic big man who needs to gain strength. Defense is undoubtedly being stressed a great deal by the coaching staff, as only two teams in the Atlantic 10 allowed more points than the Rams and opponents shot nearly 46 percent against them in conference play.

Saint Louis Billikens (16-15, 7-9 Atlantic 10)
Projected Starters:
Fr. G Kwamain Mitchell
Sr. G Tommie Liddell (12.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.0 apg)
Sr. G Kevin Lisch (14.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.2 apg)
Sr. F Barry Eberhardt (6.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg)
Fr. C Brett Thompson
Schedule Highlights: The Billikens play nine non-conference home games in brand new Chaifetz Arena, including two in the Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Classic before heading to Las Vegas for two more (against DePaul and either Creighton or Fresno State). Among the teams making visits are Kent State, Boston College and America East contender UMBC. The toughest road games are at Nebraska and Southern Illinois. Early Atlantic 10 games in January make up a tough stretch, as their first six games include Xavier (road), UMass (home), Temple (road), Richmond (home) and Dayton (road). The Billikens play Dayton, Duquesne and Richmond twice.
Outlook: There was no doubt that last year would be a transition year for the Billikens, but it was one of extremes. They had close losses and blowouts where they looked more than over-matched, and they also had a few good wins. Offense was the prime reason for it, as they played an entirely different system than what holdovers like Liddell and Lisch knew. Lisch had a smoother transition since a lot of his game is shooting, while the versatile Liddell was more up and down. Mitchell should solidify the backcourt as one of their top newcomers, and classmates like Femi John and Ruben Cotto are likely to see minutes off the bench. The frontcourt has Eberhardt as its only holdover, but there is good talent as Thompson should start right away and 6’11″ classmate Willie Reed should also play a role. The Billikens will be very young and a tale of polar opposites with three seniors and seven freshmen, so the transition-type results may continue this season.

Duquesne Dukes (17-13, 7-9 Atlantic 10)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Aaron Jackson (9.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.4 spg)
Fr. G Melquan Bolding
Fr. G-F B.J. Monteiro
So. G-F Bill Clark (8.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.4 apg)
So. F Damian Saunders (6.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.3 bpg, 1.5 spg)
Schedule Highlights: The Dukes will play seven home games in non-conference, a slate that has a very difficult stretch starting in late November. The highlight of the non-conference slate is the stretch beginning at Duke, then at Pittsburgh and Big South contender Radford, and home to West Virginia and Colonial contender Old Dominion. They also host MAC sleeper Bowling Green to close out non-conference play. Three of the first four Atlantic 10 games are at home, and in February they will hit a tough stretch of five games: home against Xavier, at Richmond, home against Temple, then at La Salle and UMass. The Dukes will play Dayton, St. Bonaventure and Saint Louis twice.
Outlook: With several key players having departed, the Dukes are at the point one might have expected in Ron Everhart’s first or second season as the roster contains just one senior and no juniors. There’s plenty of talent, and they’re suited to Everhart’s running style, but experience is lacking save for Jackson, who could move between both guard spots to make room at times for heralded freshman point guard Eric Evans. Bolding, who had committed to Louisville, and Monteiro are two more wings that can run, score and shoot, and they complement Clark well as he’s also quite strong. After Saunders, who had a nice freshman season, the frontcourt lacks proven bodies, and there are some questions among the newcomers. Shawntez Patterson needs to gain weight, Rodrigo Peggau had knee surgery and Aleksander Milovic is the wild card in the group. (For good measure, Saunders had surgery in May to repair a torn ligament in his ankle, but should be ready to go before the season opener.) Little-used sophomore David Theis could get more minutes, and as one of the most experienced frontcourt players on the roster he will certainly get the chance.

George Washington Colonials (9-17, 5-11 Atlantic 10)
Projected Starters:
So. G Travis King (redshirt)
So. G Xavier Alexander (4.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.3 apg)
Sr. F Wynton Witherspoon (11.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.2 apg)
Sr. F Rob Diggs (13.9 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.2 bpg)
Jr. F Damien Hollis (9.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.2 apg)
Schedule Highlights: The Colonials will be challenged in a non-conference slate that includes four home games and another in the nation’s capital, a date with Maryland at the Verizon Center in the BB&T Classic. Home games come against America East contenders Binghamton and UMBC, as well as Ivy League contender Harvard and Patriot League favorite American. The Colonials will hit the road for games at America East contender Boston University, Auburn, and three games in the Rainbow Classic. They get no breaks in conference play, as they get Charlotte, La Salle and Richmond twice, and the only games against UMass, Saint Joseph’s and Xavier are on the road.
Outlook: Everyone knew the Colonials would miss Carl Elliott, but just how much wasn’t apparent until last season. King had to miss the season with a knee injury, and Maureece Rice didn’t work out there before he was kicked off the team late in the season. King should be the incumbent, but walk-on Johnny Lee should get some minutes after starting the last eight games last season. Both will be pushed by freshman Tony Taylor, who is also a good scorer. Alexander and senior Noel Wilmore, who improved his stroke to where he hit 42 percent of his three-pointers last season, will get most of the minutes at shooting guard. The frontcourt is where the Colonials have most of their talent, as Witherspoon, Diggs and Hollis are all athletic, with Diggs being a solid inside player as well. Several players will battle for minutes off the bench, ranging from junior Herman Opoku to sophomore big man Joseph Katuka and redshirt freshman Jabari Edwards, and true freshman Aaron Ware could see minutes right away on the wing as well. The Colonials were fine on defense last season, as only Xavier was better in field goal percentage defense. It was on offense, where only two teams turned the ball over more and only one shot it worse, where they ran into trouble. Having King back should help at that end of the floor.

Fordham Rams (12-17, 6-10 Atlantic 10)
Projected Starters:
Fr. G Jio Fontan
Jr. G Brenton Butler (11.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.2 apg)
So. G-F Mike Moore (5.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg)
Sr. F Chris Bethel (3.1 ppg, 1.5 rpg in 11 games)
Sr. C Luke Devine
Schedule Highlights: The Rams have seven home games in a lighter non-conference slate, all of which come in a nine-game stretch before they head to Miami for the FIU Holiday Tournament that includes Ohio Valley contender UT-Martin. They travel to Villanova and MAC sleeper Bowling Green, while hosting MAAC contender Fairfield and America East contender New Hampshire. In conference play, they get Rhode Island, St. Bonaventure and Xavier twice.
Outlook: This team was one of the bigger disappointments last season, as the Rams were a senior-laden team from which much was expected. While it’s back to the drawing board, there is good talent here, and the youthful exuberance might be just what the doctor ordered. Fontan should run the show from day one, as he’s a solid floor leader who has done plenty of winning from his days at powerhouse St. Anthony’s and traveling with the Playaz in the offseason. Butler is the top returning scorer, and there’s experience in junior Herb Tanner and more talent and intangibles in Fontan’s high school teammate, freshman Alberto Estwick, as well as fellow freshman Trey Blue. Moore had a nice freshman season and should be ready for a better season. The Rams might have to play small often because the frontcourt is thin and full of question marks. Bethel is a warrior, but has had trouble staying eligible, so someone else will have to help West Virginia transfer Jacob Green up front once he is eligible in December. There’s plenty of talent on the perimeter, but the lack of bodies inside and experience on the perimeter are reasons why the Rams aren’t likely to contend this season.

St. Bonaventure Bonnies (8-22, 2-14 Atlantic 10)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Ray Blackburn (junior college transfer)
Jr. G Lewis Leonard (junior college transfer)
Sr. F Tyler Benson (5.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.2 apg)
Jr. F Maurice Thomas (transfer from UTEP)
Sr. C D’Lancy Carter (6.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: Six home games are on tap in non-conference play, including the season opener against Mark Schmidt’s former school, Robert Morris, as part of the Garden State Tip-Off that concludes with two games at Rutgers. The Bonnies will also host Mississippi State and MAAC contender Niagara. The toughest road/neutral games look to be at Rutgers against Colonial contender Delaware and the Scarlet Knights, while they also travel to Bucknell. In Atlantic 10 play, the Bonnies will play Duquesne, Fordham and Saint Joseph’s twice.
Outlook: Second-year coach Mark Schmidt continues the rebuilding project with a team that should start three newcomers after the top three scorers departed. The perimeter has more talent now, with a quick floor leader in Blackburn and good wings in Leonard and Jonathan Hall, who could also snag a starting spot after winning a junior college national title last year. Washington State transfer Chris Matthews should also be in the mix. Thomas should join Carter in the frontcourt, which has a lot of unproven bodies after them that include freshmen Da’Quan Cook (redshirt) and Marquis Simmons. Schmidt has improved the talent level, but there’s always an adjustment from junior college to Division I, and there’s also the challenge of blending everyone together.

Conference Outlook

The Atlantic 10 might not have a lot of big names nationally, but there is plenty of talent and the conference could certainly surpass last season’s showing. Most importantly, there is excellent depth; Xavier is not a lock to win, and any of the next four teams could certainly top them. It says something about this conference that La Salle, Dayton and Richmond are picked sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively. The bottom four teams are all rebuilding, but all could be capable of knocking off a contending team come February or being better than advertised, as was the case with La Salle and Richmond last season.

Colonial Preview

Colonial Athletic Association 2008-09 Preview

by Jay Pearlman

CAA fans tighten your belts: with all due respect to Michael Litos’ Cinderella 2005-06, you just may be in for the ride of your lives!

When we last convened in this space, we looked back at a balanced, competitive, but slightly down 2007-08 in the Colonial Athletic Association, focusing on William & Mary’s magical run to the tourney final, an even better coaching job by Jim Larranaga than two years earlier (and his decision to stay at Mason rather than return to Providence), and the value of the new postseason College Basketball Invitational in the development of Old Dominion’s underclassmen. With terrific coaches, lots of strong returnees, and a super crop of recruits (frosh and newly eligible transfers), well, lookout in the MAC, Horizon and even the Atlantic-10, as here comes the CAA!

Some stories to focus on:

1. Will Anthony Grant and his staff make a pro out of Larry Sanders? Just a freshman in 2007-08, skinny, fouling too much, not yet homogenized, but with a body more athletic than Roy Hibbert’s, Sanders showed flashes of being the best forward – perhaps player – since I’ve been around the conference. Long body and longer arms, great vertical leap, and that rare ability to wait until an opponent has left the floor, leap, and catch him in mid-air to block his shot (Orlando Woolridge did that at Notre Dame, Michael did some of that, neither Dr. J nor Patrick Ewing could). Oh, and he can score in more ways than just dunking, defend in more ways than just with blocks. And oh how he can run the floor; with Eric Maynor still in a Ram uniform (doesn’t this seem like Maynor’s 6th year?), Sanders will be hugely rewarded for all that speed every time he runs the floor (defense to offense, and offense to defense). This writer’s prediction: Sanders will challenge Maynor for Player of the Year, and under Grant’s tutelage rather than an agent’s, enter next spring’s NBA draft.
2. Will Coaches Rod Barnes and Pat Kennedy get the most from their four-year transfers? You fans know the risks inherent in bringing in transfers, even transfers dropping down from stronger conferences: you get a player who may have failed before, another coach’s baggage, and not much time to fix it. There are also tremendous potential rewards – witness the impact of Junior Hairston and Josh Thornton at Towson last year, Marc Egerson and Jim Ledsome at Delaware, Nkem Ojougboh at Northeastern, even Abdulai Jalloh at JMU. So now the playing field shifts for these two veteran coaches: you were able to bring in these players; now can you teach, coach and motivate them enough to get more out of them then their previous coaches? The one (or both) of you who can do that will have a shot at both a first round CAA Tournament bye, and a bid to play further into March.
3. Will the coaching change at JMU (Matt Brady for Dean Keener) serve to maximize the potential of Pierre Curtis, Abdulai Jalloh and Juwann James, or confirm that those players’ potential has already been reached? This writer has liked Curtis from the beginning (defending, distributing and scoring), thought former Freshman of the Year James overrated, and wondered about Jalloh’s game when he’s not shooting. Welcome Coach Brady!
4. Will Hofstra be able to win without star shooter/scorer Antoine Agudio? While most will be looking to Tom Pecora’s additions from Florida’s Broward Community (particularly guard Tony Dennison), and the further development of last season’s Freshman of the Year Charles Jenkins, this writer believes the answer may lie more in the maturation of sophomore Nathaniel Lester. The former Canarsie star, of whom more was expected than Jenkins in last year’s freshman class, has the body and skills to be a big star in this conference. If Pecora can just get his maturity to catch up with his body.
5. Will Drexel guard again? When this writer came to the league, it was easy to like Bruiser Flint’s defensive emphasis, and view his team’s defensive play as a reflection of his personality (ok, it helped that Chaz Crawford and Bashir Mason were on that team). With last year’s obvious scoring difficulty, defense at the guard position ultimately broke down, resulting in a number of noncompetitive outings. Now with forwards Frank Elegar and Randy Oveneke gone, it’s all the more necessary for the guards to guard, particularly former defensive stalwart Tramayne Hawthorne, who disappointed last season.
6. Will Delaware be able to replace long-time star Herb Courtney without regressing? Courtney was Delaware’s Mr. Everything two years ago (and the first half of last year), then got transfer help last December. He’d have earned more than his third team all-conference designation if his team had won more. Who will replace him? Well, it’s unfair to put all of the pressure on 6-9 Florida freshman Adam Pegg. More fairly, Monte Ross could move swingman Marc Egerson to forward (perhaps even power forward), and feature the star transfer guard that this writer missed in last season’s wrap-up: Delaware high school all-time leading scorer, 2006 Player of the Year, and Saint Joseph’s transfer Jawan Carter. At 5-11, undersized for the second guard position in the Atlantic 10, Carter will team up with 5-10 point guard Brian Johnson and returning All-Freshman 6-4 Alphonso Dawson to form a formidable backcourt, hopeful of competing with Northeastern’s as the best in the conference. If the backcourt clicks (and Egerson and Ledsome defend and rebound), Delaware could overcome its loss of Courtney.
7. Can Chad Tomko grow as a star at Wilmington with his four fellow starters gone? Long a disciple of Coach McGuire (“cut off the head, and the body dies”), this writer has always loved guards, particularly point-guards; I voted for Tomko as Freshman of the Year last season. So that really poses two questions: first, can Tomko score more yet remain a distributor despite a weaker supporting cast? Second, just how good are the players Benny Moss brought it, who will have to play a ton of minutes? More specifically, how good is Xavier transfer guard 6-3 Johnny Wolf, who will team with Tomko to form another backcourt hoping to match Northeastern’s?
8. Will ODU’s “babies” be ready to win the conference? Coach Blaine Taylor’s freshmen and sophomores really came on in the CBI: forwards Ben Finney, Frank Hassell and ultimately Keyon Carter, and guard Darius James. And with center Gerald Lee still just a junior, two redshirt freshmen and a heralded group of true frosh recruits, ODU should be ready to challenge once conference play starts.
9. Is this Northeastern’s year? Perhaps the most important player in the conference this winter will be sophomore point guard Chaisson Allen. A superior defender (I thought better than Defensive Player of the Year Brandon Johnson), and terrific distributor, in the second half of last year’s conference season Allen began shooting better (and more), using his legs and putting more arc under his treys. Then he played hurt in the conference tournament, so some of you have yet to see the real Chaisse Allen. Paired with junior long-range shooter Matt Janning (who should shine all the more at the new three-point distance), this backcourt has a chance for national prominence next year when they’re a junior and senior. For that to happen, Bill Coen’s backcourt needs to be ready to dominate in conference this year. Now, add to that backcourt the fact that all five starters are back (only conference team returning all five), which will allow Coen to bring along freshman forward Erik Etherly, 6-10 Canadian redshirt freshman Ben Felix is now eligible, and that Cape Verde sophomore forward Vin Lima will benefit from a preseason this time around. Also a slightly more favorable schedule. On that, everyone in America knows that Drexel played monsters on the road two years ago, but fewer realize that Northeastern did in both of Bill Coen’s first two years. Well, gone are five monsters away from home (and a game at URI), replaced by games at Indiana, at Memphis, at South Florida, perhaps at Michigan, and URI at home. And some of those are winnable!
10. Will the conference pass the A-10, and reclaim a spot in America’s strongest ten? Last year the A-10 was loaded with upperclassmen, and with Butler in the top 20 the Horizon League also edged the CAA. Now, the CAA still does not have either the gyms or the budgets of the A-10, Horizon, and MAC, but with this year’s personnel, look for the CAA’s coaches to bring the conference back into America’s top ten, and ahead of all three of these others.

Preseason predictions

My preseason all-conference team (first team) includes Eric Maynor and Larry Sanders of VCU, Leonard Mendez of Georgia State, Matt Janning of Northeastern, and Gerald Lee of ODU. I can’t get Ben Finney of ODU, Danny Sumner of William & Mary, Chad Tomko of Wilmington, Pierre Curtis of JMU, Charles Jenkins of Hofstra, and newly arrived Jawan Carter of Delaware out of my mind, though they missed the cut. Player of the year: the conservative in me says Maynor; the ex-coach in me says Janning. Considering everything (and particularly pure unadulterated talent), and notwithstanding my prejudice for guards, I predict VCU center Larry Sanders will be our league’s Player of the Year.

Obviously the other awards are tougher, particularly rating freshmen I haven’t seen play. I’m not going out on a limb to predict Jim Larranaga’s prize recruit, 5-10 Charlotte guard Andre Cornelius, as Freshman of the Year. I can’t wait to see him match up with Northeastern’s Allen, JMU’s Curtis, Delaware’s Johnson and/or Carter, and Wilmington’s Tomko. If you called it Newcomer of the Year (including all those transfers), I’m thinking about Delaware’s Jawan Carter. Defender of the year will be Larry Sanders, with Northeastern’s Chaisson Allen a close second. With John Rhodes joining his staff after nine years under Tim O’Shea at Ohio, and all his starters back, and after acknowledging that my impartiality could be compromised on this choice, I predict Northeastern’s Bill Coen will be Coach of the Year. Most improved player could be Hofstra’s Nathaniel Lester; if Lester doesn’t reach his potential, it just might be Northeastern’s Allen.

Team summaries (reverse predicted order of finish)

12. Drexel Dragons (12-20, 5-13 CAA, tied for tenth place)
Projected starters:
Tramayne Hawthorne, 5-11 senior guard
Gerald Colds, 5-11 sophomore guard
Scott Rodgers, 6-3 senior guard
Eric Neisler, 6-8 junior forward (former BC transfer)
Kevin Phillip, 6-7 freshman forward (Bishop Loughlin, Brooklyn, New York)
Major nonconference games:
Nov 18: host Penn (10 a.m.)
Nov 22: at Georgetown
Dec 22: at Memphis
Dec 31: host St. Joseph’s (Palestra)
As underwhelming as was Frank Elegar’s senior season, losing him in the middle is a monstrous loss, as was that of much-improved forward Randy Oveneke. For Bruiser Flint’s team to be competitive, they’ll need immediate contributions from freshmen forwards Kevin Phillip and local product Sam Givens, and something from disappointing BC transfer Evan Neisler. And on the subject of disappointing, the Dragons could use contributions from both NYC guards brought in last year, Jamie Harris, and St. Raymonds’ shooter Gerald Colds. That became amplified when another New York guard, promising freshman guard Chris Fouch, suffered a torn ACL in early practice that will sideline him for the season.

11. William & Mary Tribe (17-16, 10-8 CAA, fifth place)
Projected starters:
David Schneider, 6-3 junior guard
Quinn McDowell, 6-4 freshman guard (Archbishop Moeller, Mason, Ohio)
Danny Sumner, 6-7 junior forward
Peter Stein, 6-9 senior forward
Alex Smith, 6-5 junior forward (2007-08 redshirt)
Major nonconference games:
Nov 14: at Penn State
Nov 28-29: Liberty Thanksgiving tournament, Lynchburg, VA, games against South Carolina State and Liberty/Coker.
With Laimis Kisielius and Nathan Mann gone from conference tournament Cinderella, the pressure to build on that run falls squarely on the shoulders of guard David Schneider and forward Danny Sumner. Respectively, the most overachieving and most improved players in the conference last season, these are the two William & Mary players who would benefit from a faster pace. Alas, Tony Shaver’s remaining returnees probably couldn’t keep up. And given the Tribe’s success playing like Princeton, it is unlikely Shaver will change his style. That said, as conference personnel improves, it could be difficult for William & Mary to keep up.

10. James Madison Dukes (13-17, 5-13 CAA, tied for tenth place)
Projected starters:
Pierre Curtis, 6-3 junior guard
Abdulai Jalloh, 6-1 senior guard
Juwann James, 6-6 senior forward
Kyle Swanston, 6-7 senior forward
Dazzmond Thornton, 6-7 senior forward
Major nonconference games:
Nov 17, 18, 24, 28: NIT Season Tip-Off, games against Davidson and Oklahoma/Mississippi Valley State
Nov 30: at Fordham
Dec 22: host Seton Hall
Dec 29, 30: Cable Car Classic at Santa Clara, games against Texas-El Paso and Santa Clara/Belmont
After a strong non-conference schedule, the Dukes appeared to quit on former Coach Dean Keener last season, only some of which can be attributed to Pierre Curtis’ games missed due to injury. Having clearly surpassed Juwann James in productivity, Terrance Carter will be difficult to replace; that production needs to be made up by more from senior Kyle Swanston and junior Dazz Thornton, and a significant contribution from freshman forward Rodrigo Peggau from North Carolina. Like Coach Flint at Drexel, former Marist Coach Matt Brady will be tempted to play a three guard alignment at JMU, moving Curtis to an undersized three position and inserting talented sophomore Heiden Ratner at the point. However, as good a rebounder as Curtis is at the guard position (like Northeastern’s Chaisson Allen), will he be able to rebound enough against forwards?

9. Hofstra Pride (12-18, 8-10 CAA, eighth place)
Projected starters:
Greg Johnson, 5-10 senior guard
Charles Jenkins, 6-3 sophomore guard
Nathaniel Lester, 6-3 sophomore guard
Darren Townes, 6-7 senior forward
Dane Johnson, 6-10 senior center
Major nonconference games:
Nov 14-16, Charleston Classic, games against Clemson, Western Michigan, and TCU
Dec 3: host Fordham
Dec 20: at UMass
Tom Pecora begins his second “post-Three Amigos season” relying on two pairs of former teammates: juniors Miklos Szabo (6-9 250 from Hungary) and Tony Dennison (6-2 from Queens), both form Broward Community, and 6-2 Brooklyn freshman guard Yves Jules, joining former Canarsie High School teammate Nathaniel Lester. Those four will join Freshman of the Year Charles Jenkins and steady senior point guard Greg Johnson in filling the void left by Antoine Agudio. If Lester can grow up and both junior college juniors can produce, there just might be enough talent surrounding Jenkins to make this team competitive by the conference season.

8. UNC-Wilmington Seahawks (20-13, 12-6 CAA, tied for second place)
Projected starters:
Chad Tomko, 5-11 sophomore guard
Johnny Wolf, 6-3 junior guard (transfer from Xavier)
Darryl Felder, 6-3 sophomore guard (medical redshirt 2007-08)
Dominique Lacy, 6-7 sophomore forward
Brad Bald, 6-8 freshman forward (Archbishop Spalding, Severn, MD)
Major nonconference games:
Nov 19: at Wake Forest
Nov 23: at Kent State (part of South Padre Island Invitational)
Nov 25: at Texas A&M (part of South Padre Island Invitational)
Nov 28, 29: at South Padre Island Invitational, games against NC Central and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi/Jackson State
Dec 3: host East Carolina
After leading the nation in additional wins last season (from 7 the previous season to 20), Benny Moss once again rebuilds in 2008-09. For rebounding and scoring at the forward positions, Moss will rely on improvement from sophomore Domnique Lacy and junior Montez Downey, and contributions from freshmen Brad Bald and Will O’Huaregbe (6-7, Fort Union Military). But his most important addition will be Xavier transfer Johnny Wolf. At 6-3, before last winter Wolf projected as a purer point guard than Chad Tomko, and could well move Tomko to an undersized second guard position (defensively, Wolf will guard the taller opponent). If this group can be competitive this season, look for another bounce-back season in 2009-10 for UNCW.

7. George Mason Patriots (23-11, 12-6 CAA, tied for second place, tournament champion)
Projected starters:
Andre Cornelius, 5-10 freshman guard (Victory Christian, Charlotte)
Cam Long, 6-3 sophomore guard
John Vaughan, 6-3 senior guard
Louis Birdsong, 6-6 junior forward
Darryl Monroe, 6-7 senior forward (medical redshirt in 2007-08)
Major nonconference games:
Nov 22: at East Carolina
Nov 29: host Ohio University
If ever a coach and program were entitled to a pressure-free rebuilding year, this year’s GMU squad is. Not coincidentally playing their easiest schedule in a while, even the addition of erstwhile Freshman of the Year Andre Cornelius won’t be enough to keep this Mason team as strong as its predecessors. Of course, that will allow Jim Larranaga to evaluate his three freshman forwards, Ryan Pearson (Christ the King, Queens), Kevin Foster (Kathleen HS, Lakeland, Florida), and Michael Morrison (Lakewood HS, St. Petersburg), and if two of the three can produce in conference play, the Patriots can be dangerous, particularly at home.

6. Towson Tigers (13-18, 7-11 CAA, ninth place)
Projected starters:
Brian Morris, 6-5 sophomore guard (transfer from Richmond)
Josh Thornton, 6-1 junior guard
Rocky Coleman, 6-2 senior guard
Junior Hairston, 6-8 senior forward (inadvertently left off my list of returnees in last spring’s wrap-up)
Jarrel Smith, 6-7 sophomore (transfer from Colorado State)
Major nonconference games:
Nov 14: host Navy
Nov 16: at Niagara (part of Philly Hoop Group Classic)
Nov 24: host NJIT (part of Philly Hoop Group Classic)
Nov 28, 29: Philly Hoop Group Classic (at Palestra): games against Villanova and Penn State/URI
Dec 22: at Bowling Green
Dec 31: at NC State
Last season, Pat Kennedy was able to take a step forward, and without departed shooter Gary Neal. In doing so, Kennedy relied tremendously on now-departed point guard, defensive stalwart, and conference assist/turnover ratio leader C.C. Williams, perhaps the most valuable player in the conference that no one talks about. For that reason, notwithstanding the additions of Jarrel Smith and Calvin Lee (Allegheny, Maryland CC) at forward (joining Junior Hairston and Kevin Durant’s older brother Tony – who really improved late last season), the key addition is 6-5 point guard Brian Morris. If Morris can replace Williams, Towson can jump into the upper echelon of the conference, giving veteran Coach Pat Kennedy the opportunity to return to post-season play for the first time in a long time.

5. Delaware Blue Hens (14-17, 9-9 CAA, tied for sixth place)
Projected starters:
Brian Johnson, 5-10 junior guard
Jawan Carter, 5-11 sophomore guard (transfer from Saint Joseph’s)
Alphonso Dawson, 6-4 sophomore guard
Marc Egerson, 6-5 senior swingman
Jim Ledsome, 6-9 senior center
Major nonconference games:
Nov 16: host Rutgers
Nov 21, 23: Garden State Tipoff Classic at Rutgers, games against St. Bonaventure and Marist
Nov 29: at Seton Hall
Dec 13: host Ohio University
Dec 30: host Toledo
With the eligibility of Saint Joseph’s transfer Jawan Carter, and the strong play of Georgetown transfer Marc Egerson during last year’s conference schedule, Delaware should be able to stay in the middle of the CAA pack- perhaps even improve a bit – despite the loss of Herb Courtney.

4. Georgia State Panthers (9-21, 5-13 CAA, tied for tenth place)
Projected starters:
D.J. Jones, 6-1 sophomore guard
Leonard Mendez, 6-5 senior guard
Rashad Chase, 6-7 senior forward
Kevin Lott, 6-7 junior forward
Chris Echols, 6-6 junior forward (eligible transfer from Arkansas-Ft. Smith JC)
Major nonconference games:
Nov 14-16: NABC Classic at Minneapolis, games against Bowling Green, Concordia-St. Paul, and Minnesota
Dec 13: host Florida State
Dec 17: at Georgia Tech
Dec 27: at Texas-San Antonio
America’s biggest junior class in numbers (and pretty darn big in physical size) should rebound and defend. This writer projects sophomore D.J. Jones to take over the point from junior Trae Goldston, with Goldston, Lefty Driesel’s junior grandson Michael Moynihan, and Wake Forest junior transfer Joe Dukes (eligible in December) all pushing for playing time. If JUCO Chris Echols produces at forward, along with even one of the three SEC transfers (6-10 Xavier Hansbro and 6-7 Trey Hampton from Rod Barnes’ last program Mississippi, and 6-8 Bernard Rimmer from Mississippi State), this could be a big year for the Panthers, with good enough basketball to make the Sports Arena more crowded on game nights.

3. VCU Rams (24-8, 15-3 CAA, first place; eliminated in tournament semi-final by William and Mary)
Projected starters:
Eric Maynor, 6-2 senior guard
Joey Rodriguez, 5-9 sophomore guard
T.J. Gwinn, 6-4 junior forward
Lance Kearse, 6-6 sophomore forward
Larry Sanders, 6-9 sophomore center
Major nonconference games:
Nov 22: at URI
Nov 25: at East Carolina
Nov 29, 30: Cancun Challenge, games against New Mexico and Drake/Vanderbilt
Dec 4: host Western Michigan
Dec 13: at Richmond (Farm Bureau Blue and Black Classic)
Dec 17: host Akron
Dec 20: at Oklahoma
Major conference games:
Jan 17: host Old Dominion
Jan 21: at Georgia State (GSU a tougher test now in its own building)
Jan 28: host Northeastern (only meeting of the year)
Feb 14: at ODU (could be the game of the year in the conference)
Last year’s Player of the Year (Maynor), and my projected Player of the Year for this year (Sanders) on the same team, a point guard and a center, and I’m picking them third?! Either the conference’s best team the last two years is flying under my radar, or Northeastern and ODU are pretty darn good! What a wonderfully strong third-best team VCU would be, and this time, I suspect they won’t burn out for the conference semi-final and NIT, like they did last year.

2. Old Dominion Monarchs (18-16, 11-7 CAA, fourth place)
Projected starters:
Darius James, 6-1 sophomore guard
Marsharee Neely, 6-2 junior guard
Ben Finney, 6-5 sophomore forward
Frank Hassell, 6-8 sophomore forward
Gerald Lee, 6-10 junior center
Major nonconference games:
Nov 16: at UNC-Charlotte
Nov 22: host UAB
Nov 29: at Marshall
Dec 3: host Richmond
Dec 17: at Duquesne
Dec 20: host Winthrop
Major conference games:
Jan 3: at Georgia State
Jam 10: at George Mason (in-state rival, in their gym)
Jan 13: host Georgia State (GSU twice in the first ten days of conference-only play)
Jan 17: at VCU
Jan 24: host Northeastern
Feb 14: host VCU
Feb 28: at Northeastern (expect lots of snow in Boston)
Coach Blaine Taylor had the best recruiting class in the conference, and reserve forward Jonathan Adams is the only senior. Let me be the first to say that ODU will win the conference in 2009-10, and could very well do it this year. Four starters returning from last year’s CBI team, and if you don’t love Marsharee Neely, I count four quality second guards pushing him for the job. Redshirt freshmen guards Etiole Imama from Montreal and Kent Bazemore from North Carolina should merit playing time. And true freshmen guards Marquel Delancey (Mt. Vernon, Alexandria) and Trian Iliadis (Australia) could be just as good, though one would think one or both would redshirt for this season.

1. Northeastern Huskies (14-17, 9-9 CAA, tied for sixth place)
Projected starters:
Chaisson Allen, 6-4 sophomore guard
Matt Janning, 6-4 junior guard
Erik Etherly, 6-7 freshman forward (Annandale, VA)
Nkem Ojougboh, 6-9 junior forward
Manny Adako, 6-8 junior center
Major nonconference games:
Nov 11-12: 2K Sports Classic at Ann Arbor, games against IUPUI and Michigan/Michigan Tech
Nov 15: at Providence
Nov 20-21: possible 2K Sports Classic semifinal and final at Madison Square Garden
Nov 29: at South Florida
Dec 3: host URI
Dec 22: at Indiana
Dec 31: at Memphis
Major conference games:
Jan 7: at Georgia State
Jan 24: at Old Dominion
Jan 27: at Virginia Commonwealth (only match-up of the year with VCU; what a road trip that’ll be!)
Feb 28: host ODU (will the winner get the No. 1 seed?!)
The Huskies have a slightly easier – but still brutal – non-league schedule, also a tiny bit fairer in terms of home games. If athletic Virginia freshman Erik Etherly can handle the three spot by the time conference play begins, that leaves just one obvious hole to be filled. It’s not at forward, where Vin Lima will back up Nkem Ojougboh and Manny Adako at the four and five positions. It’s no longer at the three, where former starter Chris Alvarez and streaky shooter Eugene Spates will combine to back up Etherly. It’s at guard. As good as the Allen-Janning backcourt can be, the only other player on the roster with significant time in the backcourt is diminutive French junior Baptiste Bataille, and he may not overachieve for a second straight season. That moves the focus to athletic but inconsistent sophomore Allen Aragbaye. An athletic 6-4 who can shoot outside, if Aragbaye can provide steady reserve play in the backcourt, this Husky team just might be good enough to win the conference.
Also, could this be the year Northeastern breaks through, and captures a piece of the Boston market? With neither the Celtics nor Boston College playing on Saturday February 28, will the Huskies sell out their 6 p.m. regular season finale against ODU? On the court, with Allen’s scoring up to the level of the rest of his game, the Allen-Janning backcourt could be beautiful to watch. While I am calling it the best in the conference, I wonder if national writers will be watching closely enough.

Concluding comment

So for all you CAA fans; for all you mid-major fans; for all you fans of America’s best college basketball: keep an eye on the improved and still-balanced CAA. Watch all those transfers at Towson and Georgia State (and the ones at Wilmington and Delaware). Watch Maynor and Sanders at VCU, another great mix of old and new at ODU, and that backcourt of Allen and Janning at Northeastern. And watch the CAA pull back into America’s top ten conferences… perhaps even into the top eight!

Preseason note

Occasionally real life intrudes upon one’s passion, and that took place for this writer during the off-season. That intrusion was real life causing me to relocate to Ohio, where I both coached and practiced law in the 90s. That makes the knowledge I gained the last two years covering Northeastern and the CAA no longer quite as useful (think I had packed much of it into short-term memory anyway). I will report from various games during the season and the CAA Tournament in Richmond at season’s end. Thanks for all of the notes you CAA fans sent (and the help); if Horizon fans are as much fun I’m in for a super winter!

Horizon Preview

Horizon League 2008-09 Preview

by Nick Dettmann

Two Horizon League teams solidified their respective coaching situations this offseason.

The first came in April when the Detroit Titans hired Ray McCallum to take over the program.

McCallum replaces Perry Watson, who retired from the post in March, but took a leave of absence in January and didn’t coach the team for the rest of the season.

During the 15 seasons which Watson led the way, Detroit was 261-198 with 10 winning seasons and a regular season league championship in 1994 and 1999, reaching the NCAA tournament in 1998 and 1999. The Titans also reached the NIT semifinals in 2001.

McCallum comes to Detroit after three seasons at Indiana, and three seasons at Oklahoma prior to his stint with the Hoosiers.

McCallum brings more than 20 years of coaching experience to Detroit, including 11 as a head coach. His head coaching stints include Ball State and Houston.

McCallum led the Cardinals to a 126-76 record during his seven seasons (1994-2000) in Muncie, Ind. He was the first coach in school history to have seven consecutive winning seasons, and led the team to the NCAA tournament in 1995 and 2000, and the NIT in 1998. While at BSU, McCallum recruited Bonzi Wells, who became the 11th overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft, and currently plays for the Houston Rockets. During his coaching career, McCallum has coached eight NBA players.

His .624 winning percentage was fourth-best in MAC history when he left in 2000.

At Houston, the Cougars were 44-73 in his four seasons, giving him a 170-149 career coaching record. His best season was the 2001-02 campaign where he led the Cougars to an 18-15 record, reaching the semifinals of the Conference USA tournament. He never reached the NCAAs or NIT while at Houston.

“This is a tremendous day,” McCallum said at his introductory news conference. “UDM has a great basketball tradition and I’m glad to be a part of the next chapter.”

The other coaching move made this offseason was at Wright State. In July, the Raiders gave coach Brad Brownell an extension through the 2013-14 season.

Brownell has averaged 21 victories a season in his six seasons as a Division I coach. He is 44-20 in two seasons thus far at Wright State, including 21-10 a season ago. In 2007, he led the Raiders to a 23-10 record and the school’s first appearance in the NCAA tournament after upsetting Butler in the league tournament championship game. Brownell has beaten nationally-ranked Butler three times.

In his six seasons in Division I, Brownell is 127-60.

“Brad has done an outstanding job in a short period of time,” WSU Athletic Director Bob Grant said in July. “His leadership and commitment to Wright State and our student-athletes have led to unparalleled prosperity on the court as well as in the classroom and in the community.

“His record of success ranks among the top coaches in the nation and I am certainly pleased to have him leading our program and I know our fans feel the same.”

BracketBusters galore
All 10 teams of the Horizon League will compete in this year’s ESPN BracketBuster festivities Feb. 21-22, 2009.

This year, 102 will mid-major teams will be featured with a chance to boost their NCAA tournament resumes. Of the 102 teams, 26 will be nationally televised on the ESPN networks. The matchups will be unveiled Feb. 2.

Loyola, Valparaiso, Wright State, Youngstown State, UW-Milwaukee and Illinois-Chicago will play home games, while Butler, Cleveland State, Detroit and UW-Green Bay will play on the road.

As part of the agreement, teams will play in a home-and-home series with the host team playing at the visiting team in the 2009-10 season.

This year’s field includes last year’s Elite Eight qualifier Davidson, and features 77 appearances in the NCAA tournament, including George Mason (Final Four in 2006) and six Sweet 16 teams (Butler in 2007, Southern Illinois in 2007, Bradley in 2006, Wichita State in 2006, UW-Milwaukee in 2005 and Nevada in 2004).

The Mid-American Conference and Colonial Athletic Association will be represented with 12 teams, while the Horizon League, the Ohio Valley, the Missouri Valley and the Metro Atlantic Athletic will have 10 teams.

Other conferences featured will be the America East, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, MEAC, Northeast, Patriot, Southern, Summit, West Coast and Western Athletic.

Former Penguins coach dies
Dom Rosseelli, who accumulated more than 1,000 career victories in basketball and baseball at Youngstown State, died Oct. 7. He was 93.

He is by far the school’s winningest coach with 589 career victories on the hardwood (1940-1982). The next closest is Dan Peters (1993-99) with 78. His best season on the court was in 1963-64 when the Penguins won a school-record 24 games – a record which still stands today.

In addition to basketball, he coached baseball, and was an assistant for the football team for 21 seasons.

He began the baseball program at YSU in 1948, accumulating 489 career victories.

Horizon League, Detroit will be showcased in April
The 2009 Final Four will be held in Detroit’s Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions, this spring. The Horizon League is no stranger to hosting the Final Four as it hosts the prestigious event on a regular basis in Indianapolis and the RCA Dome.

League, ESPN announce Game-of-the-Week schedule
Seven Horizon League matchups featuring all 10 men’s teams and two women’s will be shown on Fridays in January and February on ESPNU as part of 17 games involving league teams to be shown on ESPN networks this season.

“We are excited to expand our ESPN partnership with our first national basketball game-of-the-week,” said Jon LeCrone, Horizon League commissioner, in a statement. “More fans will now be able to follow our teams on a regular basis during the regular season.

“This is another important step in the growth of the League.”

The first game to be televised as part of the Friday Night Game-of-the-Week will Jan. 9 when UW-Milwaukee hosts intrastate rival UW-Green Bay.

The women’s matchup will be when Wright State plays at Butler on Feb. 6.

ESPN2 will also carry two other matchups – Butler at Illinois Chicago on Jan. 17, and a wild-card game which will be announced in early February.

Detroit will play at Purdue on Nov. 14, and it will be shown on ESPN360.com. And like in previous seasons, ESPNU will carry the Horizon League tournament semifinals and ESPN will carry the tournament championship game.

The ESPN Schedule (all times Eastern):
Friday, Nov. 14 Detroit at Purdue (9 p.m., ESPN360.com)
Thursday, Dec. 4 Butler at Cleveland State (8 p.m., ESPNU)
Saturday, Dec. 20 Valparaiso vs. North Carolina (2 p.m., ESPNU)
Tuesday, Dec. 23 Butler at Xavier (7 p.m., ESPNU)
Friday, Jan. 9 UW-Green Bay at UW-Milwaukee (9 p.m., ESPNU)
Friday, Jan. 16 Wright State at Detroit (9 p.m., ESPNU)
Saturday, Jan. 17 Butler at UIC (2 p.m., ESPN2/ESPN360.com)
Friday, Jan. 23 Cleveland State at Youngstown State (9 p.m., ESPNU)
Friday, Jan. 30 Valparaiso at Butler (7 p.m., ESPNU)
Friday, Feb. 6 Wright State at Butler (women’s) (7 p.m., ESPNU)
Friday, Feb. 13 UIC at Butler (7 p.m., ESPNU)
Friday, Feb. 27 UIC at Loyola (9 p.m., ESPNU)
Saturday, Feb. 28 Wild-card game TBD (Noon, ESPN2/ESPN360.com)
Saturday, March 7 Men’s semifinal (7 and 9 p.m., ESPNU)
Tuesday, March 10 Men’s championship (9 p.m., ESPN/ESPN360.com)
Sunday, March 15 Women’s championship (1 p.m., ESPNU)

Preseason All-League Team
MVP: Josh Mayo, Illinois-Chicago
Newcomer of the Year: Jason Bennett, Detroit

First Team
Josh Mayo, Illinois-Chicago
J’Nathan Bullock, Cleveland State
Cedric Jackson, Cleveland State
Vaughn Duggins, Wright State
Matt Howard, Butler

Honorable Mention
Mike Schachtner, UW-Green Bay
J.R. Blout, Loyola
Urule Igbavboa, Valparaiso
Todd Brown, Wright State
Scott VanderMeer, Illinois-Chicago

Predicted Order of Finish

Cleveland State Vikings (21-13, 12-6, 2nd)
Coach: Gary Waters, third season (31-34)
Projected starters
J’Nathan Bullock, senior
Cedric Jackson, senior
George Tandy, senior
Chris Moore, senior
D’Aundray Brown, sophomore
Key nonconference games
Nov. 18 at Washington
Dec. 6 at West Virginia
Dec. 15 at Syracuse
Feb. 21 at BracketBuster
Key losses: Joe Davis, Breyohn Watson.
What to expect: After being a doormat team in the league for a number of seasons, the Vikings are a power in the league, and enter this season the favorite.

With good reason, too.

They return two of the league’s best – J’Nathan Bullock and Cedric Jackson. They also could potentially start four seniors with significant playing experience. There are 127 starts between them from last year’s 21-win club.

Bullock and Jackson return after leading the team in scoring in 2007-08 (Bullock at 14.8 points per game, Jackson at 13.9).

Watson and Davis were quality players last season, but the Vikings shouldn’t have much trouble filling in their vacancies. Sophomore guard Norris Cole played in all 34 games last season, and will likely see more minutes this season. And guard Eric Schiele, who had a record-setting high school career at Atwater High School in Ohio, will make an impact with a full season to work with.

Schiele played in only four games last year as a freshman, missing the first half of the season waiting to become eligible. He is a terrific 3-point shooter, and could play a big role as the Vikings’ first or second man of the bench, maybe even work his way into the starting lineup.

In high school, Schiele averaged 39.6 points per game in his senior year, shooting 40 percent from the field, 34 percent from 3-point range, and 86 percent at the free-throw line. He had four 50-point games, including a career-high 69 in December 2006.

Wright State Raiders (21-10, 12-6, 2nd)
Coach: Brad Brownell, third season (44-20, 127-60 overall)
Projected starters
Vaughn Duggins, junior
Todd Brown, junior
William Graham, senior
Cooper Land, sophomore
Ronnie Thomas, junior
Key nonconference games
Dec. 14 at Wake Forest
Dec. 20-22 San Juan Shootout, Puerto Rico
Feb. 21 BracketBuster
Key losses: Jordan Pleiman, Scottie Wilson
What to expect: The Raiders are becoming one of the elite programs in the league, winning 44 games in the past two seasons. That shouldn’t change this season with starters back, including Vaughn Duggins and Todd Brown, who are both potentially league MVP candidates.

Both were the leading scorers last season with Duggins averaging 13.8 points per game, and Brown averaging 12.7 points per game.

Another area in the Raiders’ favor is their ability to beat Butler. They’ve done so three times in the past two years.

Also, the Raiders are becoming increasingly difficult to beat at home. In the 18 seasons of the Nutter Center, the Raiders are 188-82 (.696 winning percentage).

The Raiders will need to work on experience in the early stages of the season. Jordan Pleiman and Scottie Wilson started 30 and 31 games last season, respectively, with Duggins, Brown and Graham eating up the rest of the starts. The rest of the roster has just two starts between them (John David Gardner and Gavin Horne have one each).

Illinois-Chicago Flames (18-15, 9-9, 4th)
Coach: Jimmy Collins, 12th season (194-171)
Projected starters
Josh Mayo, senior
Scott Vandermeer, senior
Spencer Stuart, junior
Jeremy Buttell, junior
Robert Kreps, sophomore
Key nonconference games
Nov. 14 at Bradley
Dec. 3 at Vanderbilt
Dec. 14 at Georgia Tech
Feb. 21 BracketBuster
Key losses: Karl White Jr., Robert Bush, Jermaine Dailey
What to expect: The Flames enter the 2008-09 season with Hoopville Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year Josh Mayo.

Mayo, a product of Merrillville (Ind.) High School, averaged a team-leading 17.1 points per game last season – second-best in the league behind Detroit’s Jon Goode’s 19.3.

Also back is ferocious shot-blocker Scott Vandermeer. The 7-foot center out of Lake Central High School in Dyer, Ind., swatted 85 shots a season ago (2.6 per game). He doubled his closest competitor in that category (Cleveland State’s George Tandy, 40 blocks, or 1.2 per game). Vandermeer also led the league last year in rebounding with 7.5 per game.

Having those two back will help the Flames stay in the league title picture, despite losing quality players in White Jr., Bush and Dailey, who combined to start in 57 games last season.

Stuart, Buttell and Kreps all played significant minutes last year and should get into the starting lineup this season. But look for freshman guard Josh Anderson to make an impact off the bench.

Quality basketball players have surrounded Anderson’s life. Anderson’s father, Nick, was an Illinois Mr. Basketball in 1986, was a two-time All-American at Illinois where he played for Collins when he was an assistant at Illinois, and was a 13-year NBA veteran where he was the first player ever taken by the Orlando Magic in 1989.

Josh Anderson was also a high school teammate of Derrick Rose, the 2008 No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls.

As for Collins, the school’s winningest coach is six victories shy of No. 200.

UW-Green Bay (15-15, 9-9, 4th)
Coach: Tod Kowalczyk, seventh season (92-88)
Projected starters
Mike Schachtner, senior
Ryan Tillema, senior
Rahmon Fletcher, sophomore
Randy Berry, junior
Terry Evans, senior
Key nonconference games
Nov. 18 at Utah
Nov. 21-23 at Glenn Wilkes Classic, Daytona Beach, Fla.
Nov. 29 UMass
Dec. 13 at Wisconsin
Feb. 21 at BracketBuster
Key losses: None
What to expect: The Phoenix could easily win 20 games this season with five players back, who made 132 starts between them last season, and three of them averaged at least 10 points per game. In addition, a fourth averaged nine points per game.

To summarize, the Phoenix have their top four scorers back this year, led by Schachtner’s 15.8 points per game, which was third-best in the league. Right behind him are Tillema (12.5), Fletcher (10.1), Evans (9.6) and Berry (7.3).

This is easily Kowalczyk’s most-loaded team during his tenure, and winning 20 games is a definite possibility with not a terribly difficult non-league schedule. But games at Utah and Wisconsin will pose challenges.

The last time the Phoenix won 20 games in a season was the 1998-99 under Mike Heideman (20), and since legendary coach Dick Bennett left following the 1994-95 season, the Phoenix have just two 20-win seasons (1995-96 and 1998-99).

During Bennett’s 10-year tenure, the Phoenix won at least 20 games five times – all in a six-year span.

Cordero Barkley and Bryquis Perine will be the Phoenix’s top two options off the bench. Barkley played in 30 games last season and has played in 92 games with UWGB. Perine played in 29 games last year.

Butler Bulldogs (30-4, 16-2, 1st)
Coach: Brad Stevens, second season (30-4)
Projected starters
Matt Howard, sophomore
Shawn Vanzant, sophomore
Zach Hahn, sophomore
Willie Veasley, junior
Avery Jukes, junior
Key nonconference games
Nov. 15 at Drake
Dec. 10 at Bradley
Dec. 13 at Ohio State
Dec. 23 at Xavier
Feb. 21 at BracketBuster
Key losses: Mike Green, A.J. Graves, Pete Campbell, Drew Streicher
What to expect: Stevens led the Bulldogs to a league-record 30 victories last season. Repeating that performance this season will be difficult.

Three of the Bulldogs’ top scorers from last year are gone (Green, Graves, Campbell). Not only that, they had experience, starting in 77 combined games last season, and comprised half of their scoring. Also gone are Julian Betko, who started in 33 of 34 games last season, and Drew Streicher, who started in all 34 games last season.

Howard is the only one back with any extensive experience, averaging 12.3 points per game last season, starting in 26 games. He will need to have a big season this year to pick up for two more sophomores potentially in the starting lineup, who played sparingly last season.

Vanzant, a sophomore, is a quality player after scoring more than 1,100 points in high school. He is the only player in Wharton High School (Tampa, Fla.) to achieve that mark. Jukes, a transfer from Alabama, will likely make a bigger impact this season after becoming eligible in the second half of the season. He’s a good swingman who can score and pull down rebounds.

The Bulldogs will have six freshmen on the roster this season, and each could see significant playing time.

UW-Milwaukee Panthers (14-16, 9-9, 4th)
Coach: Rob Jeter, third season (45-47)
Projected starters
Deonte Roberts, sophomore
Ricky Franklin, junior
Avery Smith, senior
James Eayers, junior (transfer from North Dakota State College of Science)
Burleigh Porte, junior
Key nonconference games
Nov. 14-16 at World Vision Classic, Ames, Iowa
Nov. 22 at Marquette
Nov. 25 Ball State
Nov. 29 at Wisconsin
Feb. 21 BracketBuster
Key losses: Paige Paulsen, Marcus Skinner, Allan Hanson
What to expect: It was a tumultuous season for the Panthers last season. They started the year 3-7, then won nine of their next 10 games before losing seven of its final nine games of the season.

It was a troubling season off the court as well as the Panthers lost two players during the course of the season, most notably Torre Johnson who was dismissed from the team following an arrest for suspicion of battery after allegedly hitting a woman in the mouth in December. Johnson, a transfer from Oklahoma State, was the team’s leading scorer and rebounder when he was dismissed.

This year, the Panthers will have their work cut out for them after losing Paulsen, the team’s leading scorer and a Second Team All-Horizon League selection last season. He averaged 13.3 points per game.

On a good note, the Panthers return Avery Smith to the roster after sitting all of last season because he was dismissed from the team prior to the season. Smith was reinstated this offseason.

He led the Panthers in scoring in 2006-07, averaging more than 15 points per game. He was a preseason All-Horizon League honoree before being dismissed from the team.

The Panthers also return Ricky Franklin, who started in 26 of 30 games, averaging 9.8 points per game, and Deonte Roberts, who was selected to the league’s All-Newcomer Team a year ago.

There will be growing pains this season with nine of the 18 players on the roster in their first year with the program. But Eayers could make an immediate impact. He’s 6-foot-7, and scored 1,156 points in two years at the North Dakota State College of Science. Last season, he averaged 24 points per game.

Valparaiso Crusaders (22-14, 9-9, 4th)
Coach: Homer Drew, 19th season (324-254 at Valpo, 593-376 overall)
Projected starters
Urule Igbavboa, senior
Jake Diebler, senior
Brandon McPherson, senior
Howard Little, sophomore
Michael Rogers, sophomore
Key nonconference games
Nov. 21-24 U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam
Dec. 20 vs. North Carolina at United Center, Chicago
Dec. 28 at Purdue
Feb. 21 BracketBuster
Key losses: Shawn Huff, Jarryd Loyd
What to expect: Coach Homer Drew enters the season with 593 career victories. Eight other current head coaches have won at least 600 games. Hoping to get him to that historic mark will be Urule Igbavboa, who returns this season as the leading scorer from last year where he averaged 11 points per game, and is a preseason Hoopville honorable mention all-league member.

The Crusaders will have a strong backcourt tandem in Jake Diebler and Brandon McPherson. Both combined to average 15 points per game last season, and have played alongside each other in the past two seasons. McPherson is a good scorer, and Diebler is a solid guard. He had a 2.71 turnover-to-assist ratio last season, second-best in the league.

This is a veteran squad which should improve on its league record from a year ago. A tough nonconference schedule, like usual, will certainly help, including a matchup against North Carolina in December.

A strong recruiting class could provide an immediate impact. One of the gems of the class is De’Andre Haskins, who attended nearby La Lumiere School in La Porte, Ind. Haskins averaged 27.5 points per game as a senior, and 31 as a junior. He is quick, athletic and versatile.

Loyola Ramblers (12-19, 6-12, 8th)
Coach: Jim Whitesell, fifth season (65-58)
Projected starters
J.R. Blount, senior
Andy Polka, junior
Ross Forman, junior
Leon Young, senior
Justin Cerasoli, senior
Key nonconference games
Nov. 17 NIT Season Tip-Off vs. Georgia, West Lafayette, Ind.
Nov. 18 NIT Season Tip-Off vs. Purdue or Eastern Michigan, West Lafayette, Ind.
Feb. 21 BracketBuster
Key loss: Tracy Robinson
What to expect: The Ramblers lost just one starter from last year (Robinson), so experience should be on the Ramblers’ side. Blount is the leading returning scorer after averaging 15 points per game as a junior. He is a Hoopville preseason all-league selection. There is solid depth after Blount, led by Polka, who averaged 8.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game last season, and senior Young, who averaged 10.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.

Cerasoli should play a role this season after averaging more than nine points per game in 2007-08.

Loyola will be a team which will hover around the middle of the conference and should improve on its 8th-place finish in the league standings a year ago. Fifth-year head coach Jim Whitesell has averaged 16 victories during his tenure.

Detroit Titans (7-23, 3-15, 10th)
Coach: Ray McCallum, first season (170-149 career record)
Projected starters
Woody Payne, junior
Eulis Stephens, junior
Jason Bennett, junior
Chris Hayes, senior
Michael Harrington, senior
Key nonconference games
Nov. 14 at Purdue
Nov. 26 at DePaul
Dec. 20 at Illinois
Feb. 21 at BracketBuster
Key loss: Coach Perry Watson
What to expect: In a tough season last year, which ultimately led the retirement of coach Perry Watson, the Titans are looking to retool, and so far they appear to be headed in the right direction. But it’ll likely be the 2009-10 season where the impact will be seen by the league.

First-year head coach Ray McCallum has brought in a strong recruiting class, which will eventually put Detroit back into the league championship discussion.

Former Central Michigan and Detroit Community High School product Chase Simon, former Indiana center Eli Holman, and Tallahassee Community College transfer Jason Bennett lead the catches for McCallum.

Simon is a local product who had a stellar high school career. As a senior, he averaged more than 23 points and seven rebounds per game in leading his team to the state quarterfinals. He was selected as a first-team Class C All-State performer by the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit News, The Associated Press and the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan.

Simon will redshirt this season, and will be eligible for the 2009-10 season in compliance with NCAA transfer rules. He played last season at Central Michigan where he played in 24 games, averaging nearly five points per game.

Holman was a recruit of McCallum’s at IU, and Holman decided to follow him to Detroit while IU goes through an overhaul.

Bennett will likely become one of the best shot blockers in league history. He will be the Titans’ tallest player in school history – 7-foot-3, 275 pounds.

Bennett, a top 50 product out of Arlington Country Day High School in Jacksonville, Fla., played one season at Kansas State before transferring to Tallahassee Community College. While at Kansas State, Bennett blocked a school-record eight shots in a game against Chicago State.

But also look for newcomers Thomas Kennedy and Xavier Keeling to make impacts as well.

Youngstown State Penguins (9-21, 5-13, 9th)
Coach: Jerry Slocum, third season (30-59, 610-384 overall)
Projected starters
Jack Liles, senior
Vytas Sulskis, sophomore
Vance Cooksey, sophomore
Mikko Niemi, senior
Dan Boulder, sophomore
Key nonconference games
Nov. 18 at Maryland
Feb. 21 BracketBuster
Key losses: Byron Davis, John Barber
What to expect: The Penguins will be young with eight first-year players. But the veterans they do have are solid, led by Jack Liles and Vytas Sulskis.

Liles and Sulskis averaged more than nine points per game last season. They will have to pick up the slack for losing Davis and Barber, who combined to average 29 points per game last season. Plus, the Penguins lost five players who played in at least 28 games last season. This season’s starting lineup could potentially have three sophomores in it.

The Penguins return just six letterwinners from last season.

A weak schedule should work in the Penguins’ favor with only the ESPN BracketBuster game and a date at Maryland posing as the only troubles.

Newcomers such as Sirlester Martin, DeAndre Mays and Tom Parks could provide solid impacts.

West Cost Preview

West Coast Conference 2008-09 Preview

by Phil Kasiecki

The 2007-08 season was a historic one for the West Coast Conference, as three teams advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in its 56-year history. On nine other occasions, two teams from the conference received bids, four of them coming since 2000.

When a conference like the WCC has such a season, one naturally wonders if it can at least repeat that the following season. The answer is a resounding yes. Gonzaga, while the team to beat, won’t be the only reason, as they’ll have plenty of competition. But the big reason to think this season should be better is that eight of the ten all-conference selections from a year ago return, which is a WCC record.

One can also expect the conference to have strength at the top, and a familiar look there as well. The top three teams last season return 12 of their 15 starters and all three return at least 77.2 percent of their scoring and 72 percent of their rebounding, meaning the conference will still be strong at the top. It will be tough for any team to break through those three this season, and adding to it is that a few of the bottom teams are in a rebuilding year.

Besides the great achievements the conference had last season, another hot topic was the coaching ranks. All of a sudden, the conference is full of relative newcomers, as only Mark Few (Gonzaga) and Randy Bennett (Saint Mary’s) have been in their current job for more than two seasons. Three programs have new head coaches this season, and the stories surrounding the departures of the prior coaches all had question marks.

After Eddie Sutton served as an interim head coach for the last two months of the season to get his 800th win, San Francisco hired former Florida Atlantic head coach Rex Walters to lead the program. The school essentially fired Jessie Evans during the season, but didn’t say that was what happened. Before the season was over, Vance Walberg resigned from Pepperdine amidst reports about poor treatment of his players, and the school brought back Tom Asbury as their new head man. Asbury once spent 15 years at the school, nine as an assistant and six as the head coach. Loyola Marymount forced out Rodney Tention after just three seasons at the helm, replacing him with former UNLV head coach Bill Bayno.

It’s clear that programs in the WCC feel more of a sense of urgency to compete for the top consistently. While no coach appears to be on the hot seat because only the most secure ones have been in their jobs for very long, it seems no coach is safe now. And if the young talent on some of the teams projected to finish near the bottom of the conference is any indication, winning is only going to get tougher.

Preseason Awards
Player of the Year: Jeremy Pargo, Gonzaga
Top Newcomer: Decensae White, Santa Clara
Top Freshman: LaRon Armstead, Loyola Marymount
Defensive Player of the Year: Diamon Simpson, Saint Mary’s
Best NBA Prospect: Austin Daye, Gonzaga

All-West Coast Team
John Bryant, Sr. C, Santa Clara
Brandon Johnson, Sr. G, San Diego
Patrick Mills, So. G, Saint Mary’s
Jeremy Pargo, Sr. G, Gonzaga
Diamon Simpson, Sr. F, Saint Mary’s

Gonzaga Bulldogs (25-8, 13-1 West Coast)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Jeremy Pargo (12.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 6.0 apg, 1.4 spg)
Jr. G Matt Bouldin (12.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.4 spg)
So. G Steven Gray (8.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.5 apg)
Sr. G-F Micah Downs (7.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.4 apg)
Sr. C Josh Heytvelt (10.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: This year’s non-conference schedule is exactly what we’ve come to expect from the Bulldogs: no shortage of challenges. Six games are at home in addition to playing Connecticut at Key Arena in Seattle, and they include Memphis (Spokane Arena) and Big Sky favorite Portland. They’ll head to Orlando for the Old Spice Classic, where they open with Oklahoma State and follow with either Maryland or Michigan State, then later play Indiana in the Basketball Hall of Fame Challenge, at Washington State, Arizona, Utah and Tennessee. In WCC play, they open with three straight at home, and at the end of January have a key home weekend with Saint Mary’s and San Diego.
Outlook: The Bulldogs are again favorites, but they’ll get stiff competition from Saint Mary’s and San Diego just like last season. There’s still an abundance of talent, especially on the perimeter as Pargo makes the team go, Gray could become one of the best shooters in the nation and Bouldin has a multitude of talents. Freshman Grant Gibbs gives them another solid body there, and classmate Demetri Goodson is likely to see time spelling Pargo. The frontcourt has plenty of talent, but also some questions. Downs has never lived up to his billing coming out of high school, Heytvelt has been slowed by injuries and an arrest over the last couple of seasons and Austin Daye suffered a knee injury in July that might limit him early on. Sophomore Robert Sacre, who will likely miss some early games with an injury, will need to give them more off the bench, and they could look to get more from senior Ira Brown. In light of that, whether they can repeat their conference-best rebounding margin is a question, and as good as the guards are, the Bulldogs only had six more assists than turnovers last season.

Saint Mary’s Gaels (25-7, 12-2 West Coast)
Projected Starters:
So. G Patrick Mills (14.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.8 spg)
Jr. G Wayne Hunter (redshirt)
Sr. F Ian O’Leary (7.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
Sr. F Diamon Simpson (13.4 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 1.8 bpg, 1.2 spg)
Jr. C Omar Samhan (10.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.3 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Gaels will hit the road often in non-conference play, as their tough schedule has just five home games. They will host Fresno State, a BracketBusters game and two games in the Shamrock Office Solutions Classic. Notable games away from home begin with the 76 Classic in Anaheim, where they open with Wake Forest and then get either UTEP or Cal State Fullerton, then likely a high-major opponent in their last game. They also head to Kent State, play San Diego State in the John Wooden Classic, travel to Oregon, and play Southern Illinois in the John Wooden Tradition in Indianapolis. Three of the first four WCC games are at home, and they could easily be 4-0 before heading to San Diego and Gonzaga to begin a three-game road stretch.
Outlook: Hopes are high for the senior-laden Gaels after a banner year last season, and Mills’ performance in the Olympics for his native Australia only adds to that. Mills is one of four starters who return, and Hunter started 24 games in 2006-07 before having to redshirt last season. The frontcourt is anchored by Simpson, an excellent player who might now be a bit overshadowed by Mills but hasn’t become any less effective, especially on defense. Samhan is a fine complement to Simpson and one of the conference’s most underrated players, while O’Leary is the other returning starter. There is better depth up front with Indiana transfer Ben Allen and senior Yusef Smith, as senior Carlin Hughes is the best backup guard. All in all, the Gaels have enough to challenge for the top spot in the conference once again, and they’ll have enough chances in non-conference play to get a couple of quality wins to be in play for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament as well.

San Diego Toreros (22-14, 11-3 West Coast)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Brandon Johnson (16.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.5 apg, 2.2 spg)
So. G Trumaine Johnson (5.7 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 2.7 apg)
Jr. G De’Jon Jackson (7.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.3 apg)
So. F Rob Jones (9.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.3 apg)
Sr. F Gyno Pomare (14.1 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.3 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Toreros’ non-conference schedule is challenging and features eight home games. They open up at UNLV, then host Nevada, and a trip to the Virgin Islands for the Paradise Jam follows. Once they return, notable home games include New Mexico, Boise State, Marshall and a BracketBusters game. Road games of note are at Oregon (at the Rose Garden in Portland) and Mississippi State. In WCC play, they have a three-game homestand in mid-January balanced out by three straight on the road in mid-February.
Outlook: With all five starters back from last season’s team, expectations are naturally high for the Toreros. There’s plenty of experience up and down the roster and no freshmen on the team, but don’t expect much change in the starting lineup. The perimeter of Johnson and Johnson as well as Jackson, who hit the game-winner against Connecticut in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, will be deep and supported well by senior Danny Brown, sophomore Devin Ginty and junior swingman Chris Lewis. Pomare is a solid post player, and the hope is that the one newcomer, junior college transfer Roberto Mafra, will help inside. Jones had a nice freshman season complementing Pomare, and classmates Clinton Houston and Nathan Lozeau should be in the mix as well. One area for improvement is taking care of the ball, as the Toreros had more turnovers than assists on the season but improved in conference play to have more assists. It would help if they continued that trend into this season.

Santa Clara Broncos (15-16, 6-8 West Coast)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Perry Petty (junior college transfer)
Sr. G Calvin Johnson (4.6 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 1.0 apg)
Jr. F Decensae White (transfer from Texas Tech)
So. F Ben Dowdell (8.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.9 apg)
Sr. C John Bryant (18.0 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2.5 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Broncos will play seven home games in non-conference play, including two in the longest-running in-season tournament, the Cable Car Classic, against Belmont and either UTEP or James Madison. Right before that, they host Stanford. The Broncos will also play in the NIT Season Tip-Off against UAB and either Arizona (regional host) or Florida Atlantic, and also hits the road for a game at UNLV and makes a northeast swing to start 2009. The conference schedule starts with a bang: the first three games are at Saint Mary’s, home against San Diego and at Gonzaga.
Outlook: With big personnel losses on the perimeter, the Broncos may take a step back this season, especially with the top three teams all returning most of their starters. The frontcourt doesn’t figure to have issues, although Bryant was stabbed in September but should be ready to go by the beginning of the season. Dowdell and White should complement him well, and redshirt freshman Scott Thompson and sophomore Andrew Zimmerman make this a fine unit. Thompson could one day be a star in this conference. Johnson figures to be one starter, while Petty is the most likely to replace departed Brody Angley. Little-used sophomore Michael Santos is the only other experienced guard on the team, which doesn’t bode well for a team that last season had the worst turnover margin in the conference.

Portland Pilots (9-22, 3-11 West Coast)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Nik Raivio (12.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.1 apg)
Jr. G Taishi Ito (5.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 3.2 apg)
So. F Luke Sikma (6.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.1 apg)
Jr. F Robin Smeulders (9.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg)
So. F-C Kramer Knutson (4.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Pilots will play seven home games in non-conference play, including three straight early on. They open with Washington visiting the Chiles Center, then later host Nevada and Idaho of the WAC. Road dates include Big Sky favorite Portland State, Brigham Young and Oregon, and they will play in the Golden Bear Classic against Air Force and either Dartmouth or California (host). In conference play, the highlight is a three-game homestand starting late in January against the three powers: San Diego, Saint Mary’s and Gonzaga all visit the Chiles Center in that stretch.
Outlook: The Pilots look like a sleeper team with four returning starters, but they also have no seniors, which will make moving up a challenge in this conference. Size will be on their side, as the addition of freshman John Hegarty gives them five players who stand 6’8″ or taller and all three frontcourt starters will be at least 6’8″. Sikma, the son of a former NBA player, had a nice freshman season and should anchor the frontcourt, while Smeulders and Knutson complement him. The big question is in the backcourt, where Raivio can’t shoot like his brother but is their best scorer, and Ito could be pushed by junior college transfer T.J. Campbell. The Pilots had over 100 more turnovers than assists last season, a stat made more problematic by the fact that they forced the fewest turnovers in the conference. The Pilots look to be a year away from making a serious bid at the first division.

San Francisco Dons (10-21, 5-9 West Coast)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Dontae Bryant (junior college transfer)
Sr. G Manny Quezada (13.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.6 apg, 1.5 spg)
Jr. F Blake Wallace (junior college transfer)
Jr. F Dior Lowhorn (20.5 ppg, 7.4 rpg)
Jr. C Hyman Taylor (3.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: Five home games are on tap in non-conference play, including a three-game homestand to close out November. The Dons will head to Hawaii for the Verizon Wireless Tip-Off Classic against the host Rainbows and Texas State, then head to California, USC, Big West contender Pacific, Boise State, and cross the country to close out December with games at Holy Cross and Boston College. The Dons begin WCC play at home, but with tough ones as San Diego and Saint Mary’s visit.
Outlook: The Dons aren’t lacking talent, especially on the offensive end as their inside-outside attack of Lowhorn and Quezada should only be better this season. Not only are both better, but Quezada should be able to move off the ball with the addition of Bryant to run the show. Junior Christian Hernandez is the only other experienced guard on the team. Up front, Lowhorn will be complemented by Taylor and Wallace, the latter of whom played his freshman season at Pepperdine. James Morgan, who is one of two seniors on the team (Quezada is the other) should also be in the mix after starting six games last season. The Dons must improve defensively if they are to move up in the standings, as opponents shot over 47 percent from the field against them last season, and they were out-rebounded as well. The former was more pronounced in conference play, as WCC opponents shot over 48 percent against them.

Loyola Marymount Lions (5-26, 2-12 West Coast)
Projected Starters:
So. G Vernon Teel (junior college transfer)
Sr. G Corey Counts (6.1 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 2.8 apg)
Fr. F Ashley Hamilton
Fr. F Kevin Young
So. F Tim Diederichs (8.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.2 apg)
Schedule Highlights: The Lions managed to get six home games in non-conference play, including a couple of good ones. First, they head on the road for three games in the World Vision Classic at Iowa State. Then they get Notre Dame at home, and later host Wyoming and Tulsa. Notable road games include Arizona, UCLA and New Mexico State. Conference play starts out with the challenge of three straight games on the road, including Saint Mary’s and San Diego.
Outlook: New head coach Bill Bayno has quickly moved to raise the talent level of this team, and while they’ll be young this season, some pieces will be in place to contend before long. Diedrichs and Counts are likely to be the only holdovers to start this season, and LaRon Armstead could push Counts out of the starting lineup at some point this season. Hamilton and Young are promising freshmen in the frontcourt, and Marko Deric is a role player who will be in the mix there as well. Two good transfers are sitting out this season, and the Lions already have two solid commitments for next year, so this year will give fans an idea of what to expect going forward.

Pepperdine Waves (11-21, 4-10 West Coast)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Rico Tucker (10.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 3.2 apg, 2.2 spg)
Sr. G Ryan Holmes (6.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.1 apg)
So. F Mychel Thompson (8.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.6 spg)
Fr. F Taylor Darby
Fr. C Andy Shannon
Schedule Highlights: Eight home games are on tap in non-conference play, a very good number for a school in this conference. They open with three straight at home, ending with Brigham Young, then later host Big West contender Pacific and Georgia Tech. Notable road games are at New Mexico State, Arizona State and USC, and they will also play in the Rainbow Classic. Conference play starts with a bang: after hosting Loyola Marymount, they play at San Diego and Saint Mary’s, then host Gonzaga. A three-game road swing is also in the mix.
Outlook: The Waves are in full rebuilding mode after a coaching change and the roster being gutted by transfers, notably of their top two scorers last season. New head coach Tom Asbury has a tough job in front of him, but will at least have some experience in the backcourt with two seniors starting and a promising sophomore in Thompson to build around. The Waves will be young up front, which isn’t necessarily bad since last season’s team was next-to-last in rebounding margin. There are many areas for improvement, with defense being one of them as opponents shot over 48 percent against the Waves last season. They could also take better care of the ball after giving it away 17 times a game last season.

Conference Outlook

The 2008-09 season figures to be a case of the haves and have-nots in this conference. The top three teams will battle for supremacy right down to the wire, while the other five teams are either rebuilding or a year away from possibly contending. In particular, Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount are basically starting from scratch. The top three could go any which way, and teams four through six could as well. This doesn’t figure to hold for long, as the bottom teams are already taking steps to get better, and the conference as a whole looks like it’s only going up.

Mid-American Preview

Mid-American Conference 2008-09 Preview

by Phil Kasiecki

In the Mid-American Conference, multiple bids to the NCAA Tournament remain elusive. Last season, Kent State looked to have the resume to get an at-large bid, but the Golden Flashes won the conference tournament and were the only team to advance. The conference remained well-represented elsewhere, as Akron advanced to the quarterfinals of the NIT and Miami received a bid to the College Basketball Invitational.

The end result masks the excellent basketball in this conference year in and year out. One might say it’s an innocent victim of the tendency to judge how good a conference is by the number of NCAA Tournament teams it produces, a questionable basis to be sure. The conference consistently has multiple teams that win over 20 games and picks up some good non-conference wins, but it’s rare that one or two teams dominate and pull away from the pack with the kind of resume that looks like that of an NCAA Tournament team.

As was the case last year, the strength appears to be in the East Division. In this case, the strength isn’t noticeable at the top so much as the bottom, as Bowling Green and Buffalo should be significantly improved, while the bottom teams last year in the West are in rebuilding mode. That could change before long, but for this season at least the East should reign supreme once again.

Three schools have new coaches this season, with two coming as a result of a coach leaving for another head coaching job. Kent State promoted Geno Ford to the top job, succeeding Jim Christian after he left to take over at TCU. Ohio hired John Groce to lead the program after Tim O’Shea took the head coaching job at Bryant University. Toledo fired Stan Joplin after the season, replacing him with former Notre Dame assistant Gene Cross.

Preseason Awards
Player of the Year: Al Fisher, Kent State
Top Newcomer: Julian Mavunga, Miami
Defensive Player of the Year: Jonathan Amos, Toledo
Best NBA Prospect: Al Fisher, Kent State

All-MAC Team
Michael Bramos, Sr. G-F, Miami
Al Fisher, Sr. G, Kent State
David Kool, Jr. G, Western Michigan
Carlos Medlock, Sr. G, Eastern Michigan
Jerome Tillman, Sr. F, Ohio

East Division

Kent State Golden Flashes (28-7, 13-3 MAC)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Al Fisher (13.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.3 spg)
Sr. G Jordan Mincy (2.2 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.3 spg)
Jr. G Chris Singletary (10.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.9 spg)
Sr. F Rashad Woods (5.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg)
Jr. F Anthony Simpson (junior college transfer)
Schedule Highlights: Not surprisingly, the Golden Flashes play a challenging non-conference slate, but also include eight home games. Highlighting the home games are Saint Mary’s (return from last year’s BracketBusters) and another BracketBusters game, and they’ll also host UNC Wilmington before traveling south for the remainder of the South Padre Island Invitational. Notable road games include Kansas, Horizon favorite Cleveland State and Temple. In MAC play, they have a stretch where they play five of seven on the road, with Western Michigan by far the toughest game. They get Ball State and Northern Illinois on the road only as inter-division games go.
Outlook: The Golden Flashes may have a new leader in Geno Ford, but this is a solid program and Ford was with the team as an assistant beforehand. Add to that the talent and experience in the backcourt, led by reigning Player of the Year Fisher and mates Mincy and Singletary, and you have the favorite in the conference once again. Woods has never played up to his billing coming out of high school, but has one more chance, and Simpson should anchor the inside. This team isn’t as deep up front with the personnel losses, so repeating their positive rebounding margin may not come easily. But the backcourt experience will help them navigate a tough non-conference schedule and the always challenging conference slate. This is a solid team as part of a solid program, and a coaching change isn’t going to alter that.

Miami RedHawks (17-16, 9-7 MAC)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Kenny Hayes (12.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.8 apg)
Sr. G-F Eric Pollitz (5.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.5 apg)
Sr. G-F Michael Bramos (16.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.5 bpg, 1.3 spg)
Sr. F-C Tyler Dierkers (6.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.2 spg)
Fr. F Julian Mavunga
Schedule Highlights: As is usually the case, the RedHawks’ non-conference schedule features some good challenges. They open in Los Angeles in the 2K Sports Classic with Weber State and could then face UCLA. They also have road games at Pittsburgh, Horizon contender Wright State, Xavier, Temple, West Virginia and Dayton, as well as a BracketBusters game. Only three non-conference games are at home, all in a row: Northwestern State (who they also play on the road), UW-Milwaukee and Valparaiso. Four of their first six MAC games are at home.
Outlook: Although Tim Pollitz is gone, the RedHawks have plenty returning in Charlie Coles’ final season before he calls it a career, and again have recruited well. Bramos will lead the way, with Hayes a good scorer and Eric Pollitz a fine blender as the other guard. Where they’ll miss the elder Pollitz is in the frontcourt, but Dierkers is solid and Mavunga could be the conference’s top freshman. They also have plenty of other bodies up front that are capable, like sophomores Dwight McCombs and Nick Winbush. The frontcourt is the place of most concern since they were out-rebounded last season, while they turned the ball over less than any other MAC team. The RedHawks play good defense and solid basketball, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they are able to close Coles’ career out on a high note.

Bowling Green Falcons (13-17, 7-9 MAC)
Projected Starters:
So. G Joe Jakubowski (7.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.0 apg)
Sr. G-F Darryl Clements (7.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.2 spg)
Sr. F Nate Miller (13.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.5 spg)
So. F Chris Knight (10.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.1 apg)
Jr. C Marc Larson (4.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.2 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Falcons’ non-conference schedule includes six home games, one of which is a BracketBusters game. The most notable of them is against Fordham to close out the non-conference slate. They open with three games in the NABC Classic in Minneapolis, with two tough ones to start in Colonial contender Georgia State and host Minnesota, then later have road dates with Ohio State and Missouri Valley contender Illinois State. Three of the first four MAC games are at home.
Outlook: The Falcons might be the sleeper team in the conference, as Louis Orr has quickly put this team in a position to contend and returns all 10 letterwinners from last season and has a redshirt returning. They are strong up front, with Miller leading a good unit that led the conference in blocked shots last season, led by Larson. Knight had a nice freshman season and looks to be en route to a nice career, and sophomores Otis Polk and Cameron Madlock both have nice potential, especially Madlock as he matures, and they also get back Eric Marschall after he had to redshirt last season. The perimeter is solid and unspectacular, with Jakubowski capably running the show and Clements and senior Brian Moten being the primary scorers on the wing. Moten could start, but had a fine year coming off the bench and thus will likely stay in that role. Though the Falcons led the MAC in blocked shots, they were out-rebounded last season. But their overall defense is good, as they were second in field goal percentage defense. Orr has this program already going in the right direction, and they could be contending as early as this season.

Ohio Bobcats (20-13, 9-7 MAC)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Michael Allen (4.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1.1 spg)
Fr. G Stacey Waters
Sr. F Justin Orr (6.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.4 apg)
Sr. F Jerome Tillman (13.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.1 apg)
Jr. C Kenneth van Kempen (2.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The non-conference slate features five home games and has plenty of challenges. They host Tulsa in early December, then close out the non-conference slate with three straight at home that includes Patriot League stalwarts Holy Cross and Bucknell. Road games include early ones at Ohio Valley contender Austin Peay and George Mason, three games in the Marques Maybin Classic at Louisville, Xavier, Colonial contender Delaware, and rapidly improving Marshall. The Bobcats will also go on the road for a BracketBusters game.
Outlook: After Tim O’Shea left to return to New England, the Bobcats hired John Groce, who had been ticketed for a head coaching job for a few years. He’ll inherit a tem with some good veterans and incoming talent, although a clear complement to Tillman doesn’t exist right away. Tillman will anchor the inside alongside van Kempen, who has shown promise in his first two seasons, and Orr is athletic and could break out to be the primary complement offensively. Allen very capably runs the show, while Waters is a solid shooter with an improved game off the dribble. Freshmen Steven Coleman and Frankie Dobbs could also see minutes there, as could holdover Tommy Freeman. With the departure of Leon Williams, they’ll be hard-pressed to post the second-best rebounding margin in the conference again, so it’ll be up to the guards to improve and grow up fast.

Akron Zips (24-11, 11-5 MAC)
Projected Starters:
So. G Steve McNees (5.1 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 1.8 apg)
So. G Darryl Roberts (3.9 ppg)
Sr. F Nate Linhart (8.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.6 spg)
Jr. F Chris McKnight (6.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
So. C Mike Bardo (1.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Zips play six home games in non-conference play, opening with Canisius and Big South favorite Winthrop. They also host a game in the Legends Classic after opening at Pittsburgh, and later host Dayton. Other highlights of the slate include road games with MAAC contender Niagara, Colonial favorite VCU and Rhode Island, as well as a BracketBusters game. MAC play opens with three of four on the road, but a stretch with three of four at home immediately follows. They also got a break in inter-division games, getting Western Michigan and Central Michigan both at home only.
Outlook: The Zips appear to be in for a rebuilding year, but they have some players to start rebuilding around and a deep class of freshmen that they will have to tap into right away. Linhart is one of just two seniors on this team, and he’ll help lead a team that may start three sophomores. McNees and Roberts are the most experienced guards on the roster and could be pushed by four freshmen, especially point guard Anthony Hitchens. Chris McKnight and brother Brett will see time alongside Linhart, and Bardo will need to contribute more with increased minutes or give way to freshman Steve Swiech. Only two teams turned the ball over less than the Zips last season, something which they would do well to repeat if they want to keep up the good run they have going.

Buffalo Bulls (10-20, 3-13 MAC)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Byron Mulkey (6.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 2.4 apg)
Sr. G Andy Robinson (13.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.8 spg)
Sr. G-F Greg Gamble (8.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.4 spg)
So. F Jawaan Alston (3.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg)
Sr. C Vadim Fedotov (5.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg in 14 games)
Schedule Highlights: All five of the Bulls’ non-conference home games come right in a row at the end of November and start of December. Included are games with MAAC contender Niagara, Temple and Connecticut. The Bulls will hit the road for games at MAAC favorite Siena, a BracketBusters game, and three games in the Rainbow Classic. MAC play starts with four of six on the road, with the two home games being tough ones against Ohio and Kent State.
Outlook: The Bulls have more experience this time around and five starters returning, but still plenty of questions up front. The perimeter is fine, although Robinson was suspended during the off-season after posting a message on social networking site Facebook offering to pay someone to read a book and write a paper on questions that were assigned with it. Gamble is a solid do-everything wing and Mulkey is a capable floor leader. There is good depth, with junior Calvin Betts the first player off the bench and classmates Sean Smiley and Rodney Pierce in the mix as well. Betts could start for some teams in this conference. Alston played well at the end of last season, and the hope is that he carries it into this season. Fedotov will be coming back from a torn ACL and Kambi Laleye has shown some promise, but newcomers Mitchell Watt and Titus Robinson could push both. The Bulls led the conference in scoring last season, but did so while shooting just over 41 percent from the field, worse than all but two MAC teams. That negated the impact of forcing more turnovers than all but one team, although they also gave the ball back often. Improved efficiency at the offensive end will go a long way towards moving up in the standings.

West Division

Western Michigan Broncos (20-12, 12-4 MAC)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G David Kool (16.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.3 apg)
Sr. G Shawntes Gary (8.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg)
Sr. G Michael Redell (4.7 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 3.6 apg)
Fr. F Flenard Whitfield
Jr. C Donald Lawson (2.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: Six home games are on tap in non-conference play, including a BracketBusters game. The Broncos will open the season in the Charleston Classic against TCU, then either Clemson or Hofstra in the second of three games. The toughest road games will be at VCU, UNLV and Southern Illinois. In inter-division MAC games, they get Kent State and Ohio at home only, but will have to travel to Oxford for the lone meeting with Miami.
Outlook: With the departure of Joe Reitz and complement Andrew Hershberger, the Broncos figure to be much more perimeter-oriented this season. That should suit them fine since they return an excellent duo in Kool and Gary, with a good complement in floor leader Redell. There’s good depth as well with Andre Ricks as the main holdover and a couple of freshmen who could get some minutes. Whitfield looks to be the best freshman, and he along with Muhammed Conteh could get a lot of minutes right away. Lawson is the main holdover up front and has a chance to be a good inside presence, which is the main thing they will need with the offense the guards will supply. There is additional size among the newcomers with 6’11″ LaMarcus Lowe and seven-footer Luke Adaline. The Broncos led the conference in field goal percentage defense and rebounding margin last season, and repeating the latter is likely to be a challenge. More importantly, they will need to cut down on turnovers after having 117 more of those than assists last season. The division isn’t very strong, so it should be theirs to lose barring a series of injuries and/or off-court issues this season.

Central Michigan Chippewas (14-17, 8-8 MAC)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Robbie Harman (5.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.2 spg)
So. G Jeremy Allen (7.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.2 spg)
Jr. G Jordan Bitzer (8.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.6 spg)
Sr. F Chris Kellerman (7.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
Fr. F Zach Saylor
Schedule Highlights: The Chippewas have six home games in their non-conference schedule, plus a game against Robert Morris at The Palace in Auburn Hills. The most notable home games are against Horizon contender Wright State, Missouri Valley contender Illinois State, and a BracketBusters game. They also have an unusual exhibition game on January 5 against Northwood. The Chippewas will hit the road to take on Marquette and Kentucky. After opening MAC play at home against Western Michigan, the slate gets very tough: five of the next seven are on the road. They could get off to a tough start to rebound from, even though they have five of the next seven MAC games are at home (the BracketBusters game is mixed in).
Outlook: Expectations were very high for the Chippewas last season, and they never lived up to them. But Ernie Ziegler has the program on a course of improvement, and though Giordan Watson isn’t a small loss, there is some good talent still around. The question on the perimeter is who becomes a floor leader, as Allen and Bitzer can score while Harman was a good reserve that will have to adjust to playing more. Kellerman leads a frontcourt that has a good addition in Saylor, who might now get to start since senior Marcus Van was thrown off the team in late October for a violation of team rules. The Chippewas were one of the worst defensive teams last season despite forcing the most turnovers in the MAC, and they were also out-rebounded.

Eastern Michigan Eagles (14-17, 8-8 MAC)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Carlos Medlock (14.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.1 spg)
Sr. G Tyler Jones (4.2 ppg, 1.9 rpg)
Sr. F Wendale Farrow (3.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
So. F Brandon Bowdry (redshirt)
Jr. F Justin Dobbins (10.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Eagles will play six non-conference home games, highlighted by a visit from Atlantic 10 contender Temple and a BracketBusters game. Early on, they will play two games in Purdue in the NIT Season Tip-Off, starting with the Boilermakers, then later head to Michigan and Illinois. MAC play begins with two at home, but with inter-division games they didn’t get help in having to play Kent State and Ohio on the road only.
Outlook: Although the Eagles return three starters, they may not have enough complementing Medlock to seriously contend. Medlock is one of the conference’s top players, as he carried the team often last year. Dobbins is a fine complement, but after that the pickings get slimmer. Farrow is the only other returning starter and should be a little better after adjusting from junior college. If Jones can’t hold down the other guard spot, freshman Danny Barnes could grab it instead. Some defensive improvement would certainly help, as just three MAC teams forced fewer turnovers and the Eagles also allowed opponents to shoot over 36 percent from long range last season.

Toledo Rockets (11-19, 7-8 MAC)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Jonathan Amos (12.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.3 apg, 2.6 spg)
Sr. G Ridley Johnson (8.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
Sr. G Anthony Byrd (4.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg)
Sr. G-F Tyrone Kent (16.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.8 spg)
So. F Mohamed Lo (1.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Rockets play five home games in their non-conference schedule, highlighted by visits from three Atlantic 10 schools (UMass, Dayton and Rhode Island) and Houston. They open the season at Florida in the CBE Classic, which then takes them to Miami for three more games after a trip to Cincinnati to play Xavier. They’ll also hit the road to take on America East contender UMBC, Horizon contender Wright State and Colonial contender Delaware, as well as a BracketBusters game.
Outlook: New head coach Gene Cross won’t be starting from scratch with this crew, as he inherits a team with four senior starters and all are on the perimeter. Leading the way is Kent, a solid scorer who isn’t selfish, and Amos can run the show and tied for seventh in the nation in steals last season. Johnson is a steady player and always a threat from long range, and Byrd is the complement to the other three. For good measure, their best freshman is a guard in Stephen Albrecht. But where they may need a freshman or two to help is up front, as sophomores Lo and Justin Anyijong didn’t do much last season, although Anyijong mainly needs to gain strength. Zac Taylor and Ian Salter could push both of them, especially since each offers more size. There are several areas for improvement, and a couple won’t come easily as they had the worst rebounding margin and have much of last season’s team back that lacks proven size, and they were also last in field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense.

Ball State Cardinals (6-24, 5-11 MAC)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Brandon Lampley (4.2 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.6 apg)
Sr. G Rob Giles (2.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg)
So. F Malik Perry (6.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg)
Sr. F Anthony Newell (16.9 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.8 apg)
Fr. F Jarrod Jones
Schedule Highlights: Eight home games are on tap in non-conference play, highlighted by visits from Purdue and Saint Joseph’s, as well as a BracketBusters game. The toughest road games will be at Butler and Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and UC Santa Barbara doesn’t figure to be a cakewalk as well. In MAC inter-division games, they get Kent State and Ohio at home only and Miami and Akron on the road.
Outlook: After the bad ending to the Ronny Thompson era, most figured Billy Taylor’s first season in Muncie would be a very difficult one, and the record just about matched expectations. This season won’t be much better, but there are some building blocks in Perry and Jones to start with. It also wouldn’t be a surprise if a couple of newcomers, Maurice Hubbard and Randy Davis, grab a lot of minutes or even start in the backcourt. Newell joins Perry in the frontcourt and should anchor the front line, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he were to lead the conference in scoring or rebounding. Only Toledo shot the ball worse or was out-rebounded by a wider margin than the Cardinals last season, so there are a couple of areas for a lot of improvement. To their credit, the Cardinals turned the ball over less than all but one MAC team last season, and if they do that again they will get plenty of chance to shoot the ball better.

Northern Illinois Huskies (6-22, 3-12 MAC)
Projected Starters:
So. G Michael Patton (6.8 ppg, 1.0 rpg)
So. G Darion Anderson (12.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.6 apg)
Fr. G-F Dominique Johnson
Fr. F Tyler Storm
So. C Sean Kowal (transfer from Colorado)
Schedule Highlights: With just three home games on tap in non-conference play, the Huskies will be on the road often. They open in the 100 Club Classic, hosted by Kennesaw State, then close November in the Great Alaska Shootout. The big game in December is a visit to Air Force. Three of the first five MAC games are at home, and the inter-division games are basically a wash as they get Kent State and Akron at home only and Ohio and Miami only on the road.
Outlook: Ricardo Patton’s second season should bring some improvement, but it probably won’t come quickly since the Huskies figure to play newcomers heavily. Anderson and Patton were thrown into the fire last season, and that should help them now that they have a year under their belts. Johnson and Storm are solid additions, the latter being a nice face-up forward with a good touch from long range that can lead to some matchup problems. Kowal is the team’s tallest player and gives them a much-needed injection of size, as no one else is taller than 6’8″. With so many newcomers slated to play a lot of minutes, it’s tough to figure out how this team will look later in the season and at the end, although it’s not a bad bet that the number of wins will be in single digits once again.

Conference Outlook

Although the conference is sure to be quite competitive as usual, with no clear favorites, there is a pattern emerging. Kent State has become a contender every year, as has Western Michigan in the West Division, and one could also put Miami and Ohio in that category as well. The Golden Flashes and Broncos are favored in their divisions again, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Miami came out on top. Bowling Green is the sleeper, and Akron could surprise if their young talent comes around in time. As has been the case for a while, the East looks to be better than the West, although Central Michigan’s improvement and Toledo hiring Gene Cross, who can recruit the Midwest very well, could have the West challenging the East before long.

D-I Independents Preview

D-I Independents 2008-09 Preview

by Phil Kasiecki

The landscape among Division I independents has been changing constantly, and that’s no different as the 2008-09 season approaches. With conference affiliation the easiest route to having an opportunity to reach the NCAA Tournament, independent schools have plenty of incentive to find a home. That’s not all, considering the scheduling difficulties they go through, especially when January and February roll around.

Part of that changing landscape continues to involve Division I newcomers, of which there are five this year. Joining the ranks are Houston Baptist, North Dakota, Seattle, SIU-Edwardsville and South Dakota.

But another part of that changing landscape involves conference affiliation, and while that comes into play often, this off-season saw it in a big way. On July 10, the Great West Conference announced that it will form a basketball conference beginning in the 2009-10 season. It welcomed Houston Baptist, NJIT, North Dakota, South Dakota, UT-Pan American and Utah Valley as initial basketball schools. On October 22, Chicago State joined those schools in accepting an invitation to the conference, beginning next season.

While the conference name will seem a misnomer with NJIT in it, it will give schools a shot at the NCAA Tournament one day – as early as 2020. In the meantime, it will have a long footprint, but that’s nothing new; the Big East stretches from Providence to as far south as Tampa and as far west as Milwaukee, Conference USA from Huntington, WV and Greenville, NC to El Paso, the Sun Belt from Miami to Denver, and the WAC from Louisiana to Hawaii.

Among schools that are no longer independent, Presbyterian is now a member of the Big South and Winston-Salem State has joined the MEAC.

Top Independent Players
John Cantrell, Sr. G, Chicago State
David Holston, Sr. G, Chicago State
Ryan Toolson, Sr. G, Utah Valley State
Gordon Watt, Sr. F, Houston Baptist
Kirk Williams, Sr. F, Longwood

Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners (8-21)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Terence Johns (13.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
So. G Donovan Bragg (7.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.4 apg)
Jr. G-F Trent Blakley (9.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg)
Jr. F Santwon Latunde (redshirt)
So. C Cory Brown (4.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Roadrunners have 12 home games on tap, headlined by visits from West Coast contenders Saint Mary’s and San Diego. They play Cal Poly, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Northridge and Utah Valley home-and-home. Highlighting the road slate are the season opener at Wyoming, then a trip to Air Force, and a five-game road stretch in December includes a trip to Fresno State. Later, they travel to take on Oregon State, SMU and Stanford.
Outlook: With just two seniors – Johns and little-used forward Donald Lee – this is a team clearly building for the future. The Roadrunners are fine on the perimeter, with Johns, Blakley and Bragg starting and Alex Johnson likely being the first guard off the bench. Latunde’s return from a shoulder injury should boost a frontcourt that isn’t full of proven holdovers, as he averaged 10.6 points and 6.1 rebounds in nine games before the injury. Brown got thrown into the fire last year and gave workman-like efforts in battling an ankle injury for a lot of the season. Junior college transfer Jose Lara should boost the frontcourt and get immediate minutes.

Chicago State Cougars (11-17)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G David Holston (23.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 5.1 apg, 2.1 spg)
Sr. G John Cantrell (15.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.7 spg)
Sr. F Tawrence Walton (6.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg)
So. F Carl Montgomery (7.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg)
So. F Nemanja Stankovic (1.2 ppg, 1.2 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: 14 home games are on tap for the Cougars, highlighted by a five-game homestand to close out January. They play five opponents both at home and away, and they also host the Chicago Invitational Challenge in Hoffman Estates. Road games include trips to Marquette, Illinois and Kansas State, and they will also play in the UCF Holiday Classic.
Outlook: The Cougars had the highest RPI of an independent school last year despite their losing record. This year’s team is again highlighted by one of the best players no one knows about in Holston, who teams with Cantrell in a solid backcourt. The frontcourt isn’t loaded with experience or proven players, so that is an area of concern. Holston is capable of leading this team to some victories, and with the backcourt being where the experience is it’s not out of the realm of possibilities that this team could move a little closer to .500 this season.

Houston Baptist Huskies (13-15)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Baron Sauls (13.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.9 spg)
Sr. G Andrew Puzyk (12.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.1 spg)
Sr. G-F Andy Dillon (4.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg)
Sr. F Gordon Watt (16.4 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.2 spg)
Sr. F Emanuel Willis (11.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.8 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Huskies will play ten home games, including five against schools they will also play on the road, in a very challenging schedule. Highlighting the home slate are visits from Boise State and Sun Belt favorite Middle Tennessee, the latter of whom they also play on the road. Highlighting the away games are trips to Marquette, Villanova, South Alabama, Iowa State, Ohio State and Fresno State. The Huskies will also play three games in the SMU Tip-Off Classic, where they play the hosts and also get Illinois State, as well as three more in the Duel in the Desert to close out 2008.
Outlook: The Huskies’ roster has 11 seniors, and they will be introduced to Division I in a big way with a very difficult schedule. An all-senior starting lineup should be what they feature, and it’s a good group with Watt and Willis leading the frontcourt as both have spent time in Division I before landing in Houston. Sauls and Puzyk form the backcourt, with Dillon likely to split time on the wing with sophomore Fred Hinnenkamp, who showed promise last season. Demetrus Judge will also see minutes in the frontcourt among the seniors. Even with their frontcourt, the Huskies were out-rebounded last season, and they also turned the ball over more than 17 times per contest, so the Huskies may not be instant winners in their inaugural Division I campaign.

Longwood Lancers (9-22)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Ryan Bogan (11.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.4 spg)
Jr. G Kevin Swecker (8.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.0 apg)
Jr. G-F Dana Smith (redshirt)
Sr. F Kirk Williams (16.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.7 spg)
Jr. F-C Beno Jaekel (1.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Lancers will play 15 home games, including five against teams they will also play on the road. In an oddity, two of those opponents have the home and away games back-to-back, with Texas-Pan American and North Carolina Central. A visit from George Washington highlights the home slate for the Lancers, who will play West Virginia and Kentucky as the first two of four games in the Findlay Las Vegas Invitational. Road games of note are at Virginia Tech, Virginia and Florida.
Outlook: If he can stay healthy, Smith’s return strengthens a team that will probably play a lot of four-out, one-in offense with the perimeter players they have. Before his injury last season, he started all ten games and averaged 10.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. Bogan is the top returning guard and may run the show more, with Swecker the most likely to move into the starting lineup full-time. Williams does a little of everything and is the team’s best player, and he’ll be counted on to shoulder a lot of the burden for this team. Cutting down on turnovers would help, as he gave the ball away 3.5 times per outing last year, far and away tops on the team. The Lancers have a lot of unproven bodies inside, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if they get out-rebounded again.

New Jersey Institute of Technology Highlanders (0-29)
Projected Starters:
So. G Tyler Epps (3.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.2 apg)
So. G Justin Garris (7.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.3 spg)
So. G Jheryl Wilson (7.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg)
So. F Paulius Skema (3.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg)
Jr. C Dan Stonkus (4.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.7 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Highlanders will play 14 home games in 2008-09, including a three-game stretch in February and seven against teams they will also play on the road. Early on, they will play in the Philly Classic, with road games against Penn State and Towson before two games in Philadelphia. Notable road games include St. John’s, Rutgers and America East contender Vermont.
Outlook: The Highlanders have nowhere to go but up, and new head coach Jim Engles knows it won’t happen right away. There’s not a lot of talent, although Garris and Wilson have potential and the latter had a good summer. The frontcourt has just two players who stand 6-8 or taller, making improvement on the post difficult. The biggest area for improvement is taking care of the ball, as the Highlanders had more than twice as many turnovers as assists last season. Don’t be surprised if some of the five freshmen get minutes right away and push the holdovers for minutes and starting spots.

North Carolina Central Eagles (4-26)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G J’Mell Walters (4.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.8 apg)
Sr. G Bryan Ayala (13.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.7 spg)
Sr. G Ashton Sauls (7.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg in 14 games)
Jr. F Tremain Holloway (3.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg)
Jr. F Lamar Pittman (junior college transfer)
Schedule Highlights: The Eagles will play ten home games, two coming in the BC Powder Classic that they host in mid-January. Five home games are against teams they also play on the road, including consecutive games against Longwood to close out February. Notable road games in a tough schedule are at Wake Forest, Kent State, Tulsa, Arkansas, Old Dominion, South Carolina, Michigan, Miami and North Carolina State. The Eagles also play in the South Padre Island Invitational and Drake Iowa Realty Invitational.
Outlook: The Eagles had a long season last year and may well be in for another one this season with their lack of size inside and a very difficult schedule. Ayala and Sauls headline the holdovers on the perimeter, while Walters is the other returning starter. Holloway started much of last season, but they need more from him. He could get pushed by junior college transfer Stevy Worak-Ozimo and freshman Nick Chasten. Pittman is a player they are high on, and he should start right away and anchor their inside game.

North Dakota Fighting Sioux (15-15)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Travis Bledsoe (9.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.1 apg)
Sr. G Darius Joseph (5.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.6 apg)
Sr. F O.J. Harrison (6.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
So. F Derek Benter (4.2 ppg, 1.9 rpg)
Jr. C Ben Lehnertz (2.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.2 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Fighting Sioux will play 14 home games in their inaugural season in Division I, along with two more in the UND Independent Tournament that they host on March 7 and 8 with SIU-Edwardsville, Seattle and South Dakota. Highlighting the home slate are a three-game homestand in December and four straight in January. Highlights among road games are trips to Wichita State and Texas A&M, and they will also participate in a tournament at Wisconsin-Parkside as the lone Division I entry. They also play four schools home-and-home.
Outlook: The Fighting Sioux won’t have an easy first season in Division I, as is often the case. Their top two scorers from last season, one of whom also led in rebounding, have departed, but Bledsoe and Joseph are a good backcourt to begin with. Where the questions come in is up front, as there’s enough stability on the perimeter but less experience inside. Benter and Lehnertz should have the first chance to start there, with redshirt freshman Mike Mathison and true freshman Mitch Wilmer possibly seeing minutes as well.

Savannah State Tigers (13-18)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Raye Bailey (5.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.2 apg)
So. G Anthony Jones (8.5 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.2 spg)
Jr. G Patrick Hardy (4.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.0 apg, 1.0 spg)
Sr. F Chris Linton (8.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.1 spg)
So. F Rod Mitchell (3.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Tigers’ schedule features 16 home games, including four in a row to start and four in a row to finish the season. Three are against teams they also play on the road. Highlighting the road games are trips to Clemson, Michigan, Georgetown, Notre Dame, UAB and Oklahoma State.
Outlook: Bailey and Linton are the only seniors on a team with nine freshmen and sophomores, so youth will be served at times this season. Both are good starting points, and they’ll need players like Jones, who has shown some promise, to emerge this season. Last season’s team struggled to score and didn’t have a single double-digit scorer, something they would surely like to change this season. The lone junior college addition, Glen Izevbigie, is their tallest player at 6’10″ and should get a chance at minutes right away. Freshmen Mark St. Fort and Arnold Louis were high school teammates and could also see minutes right away.

Seattle University Redhawks (18-9)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Shaun Burl (6.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.4 spg)
Jr. G Chris Gweth (10.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.7 apg)
Jr. F Mike Boxley (6.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.4 apg)
Sr. F Michael Wright (9.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.4 spg)
Sr. F Leigh Swanson (7.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Redhawks will play nine home games, as well as one against Loyola Marymount at Key Arena. They open the season hosting their own tournament for two games, and they play three of their home opponents on the road as well. The Great Alaska Shootout is one of two in-season tournaments they will be in, as they also close the season in the North Dakota Tournament. Notable road games include trips to Fresno State, Oregon State, and two games in Puerto Rico in mid-January.
Outlook: The Redhawks return two full-time and three part-time starters from last season’s team, so there’s some experience to build on. Burl is a solid floor leader and Gweth can score, so they’re in reasonable shape on the perimeter. Wright anchors the frontcourt, where the Redhawks are small as their only player taller than 6’8″ is 6’11″ San Francisco transfer Jared Casey, who is sitting out this year. Last season, the Redhawks had good rebounding and turnover margins while shooting over 47 percent from the floor, so there’s reason for optimism in this transition season.

SIU-Edwardsville Cougars (17-11)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Barry Wellington (junior college transfer)
Sr. G John Edmison (7.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.0 apg)
Jr. G Stephen Jones (3.4 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.7 apg)
Jr. F Denykco Bowles (junior college transfer)
So. C Nikola Bundalo (6.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: Ten home games are on tap for the Cougars, who open the season in the Charleston Classic and play host College of Charleston in the opener. They play three teams at home and away, and end the season in the North Dakota Tournament. Notable road games are at Wisconsin, Sun Belt favorite Middle Tennessee State, Missouri and Iowa State.
Outlook: It won’t be an easy transition for the Cougars, who have just one senior and six freshmen, and four junior college transfers run the number of newcomers into double digits. Wellington could run the show from the start, with Edmison and Jones the likely other perimeter starters. Bundalo could be pushed by seven-foot freshman Terrance Williams, a local boy who needs to add weight to his 210-pound frame. Only three players stand taller than 6’6″, so there’s not much depth up front. As such, it won’t be a surprise if the Cougars are out-rebound by more than the three per game from last season. If they can keep their positive turnover margin from last season, it would certainly help.

South Dakota Coyotes (22-7)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Jesse Becker (10.9 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 2.2 apg)
Sr. G Mitch Begeman (7.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.4 apg)
Sr. G-F Dylan Grimsley (14.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.1 spg)
Jr. F Tyler Cain (9.3 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2.5 apg, 4.1 bpg, 1.5 spg)
Sr. C Steve Smith (9.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.2 apg)
Schedule Highlights: 15 home games dot the inaugural Division I slate, three of whom they play on the road as well. They open the season at Ivy League favorite Cornell, then head to Cincinnati. Later, they head to Notre Dame. The Coyotes will also play in three in-season tournaments: the Minnesota State Tip-Off Classic, West Texas A&M Tournament, and the Independent Tournament at North Dakota to close the season.
Outlook: The Coyotes bring an experienced bunch into Division I with five seniors, two juniors and just three freshmen. They also don’t lack size or effectiveness in the frontcourt with Cain’s rebounding and shot-blocking along with Smith’s size. Grimsley does a little of everything, and Becker and Begeman give them an experienced and effective backcourt. Less than half of the schedule is against non-Division I schools, so the Coyotes could put together a nice record when it’s all said and done.

Texas-Pan American Broncs (18-13)
Projected Starters:
So. G P.J. Turner (junior college transfer)
So. G Nick Weiermiller (2.4 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 1.2 apg)
So. G Jason Jensen (junior college transfer)
Jr. F Nathan Hawkins (10.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
Sr. F Emmanuel Jones (9.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Broncs have ten home games in 2008-09, including six in a seven-game stretch in February. Five are against teams they play on the road as well, including back-to-back games against Longwood in February. The Broncs will play in four in-season tournaments: Air Force Tournament, Las Vegas Tournament, Drake Iowa Realty Invitational, and one at Southern Miss. Road games of note include trips to UNLV, California, Air Force (separate from the tournament), UTEP and Auburn.
Outlook: The Broncs will play a difficult schedule in a year where they return just one starter from last season’s 18-13 team that earned Tom Schuberth the Independent Coach of the Year award. In particular, the Broncs will be inexperienced on the perimeter, where at least two newcomers will start and Weiermiller is the best holdover and play limited minutes last year. Hawkins and Jones form a frontcourt that has some experience, and junior college transfer Luis Valera should get some minutes as well.

Utah Valley State Wolverines (15-14)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Ryan Toolson (23.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.9 apg)
Sr. G Josh Olsen (7.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.5 spg)
Jr. G Jordan Swarbrick (3.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg)
Jr. F Jourdain Scoubes (junior college transfer)
Sr. C Brett Ravenberg (1.6 ppg, 1.7 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Wolverines will play 16 home games, including seven of their first ten on the season. They will play seven opponents both at home and away, and head to Bozeman, Montana for the 6th Man Club Tournament against Montana State and either Texas-Pan American or Norfolk State.
Outlook: The Wolverines’ final season as a provisional Division I school is one where they will seek to keep alive a streak of winning seasons, as they have not once finished below .500 as a Division I school. The senior backcourt of Toolson and Olsen anchor the team, with Toolson already being the school’s all-time leading scorer. There’s more depth in the backcourt than up front, where there also is little in the way of proven bodies. With a manageable schedule featuring a majority of games at home, another good year may be in store for the Wolverines.

ACC Preview

Atlantic Coast Conference 2008-09 Preview

by Michael Protos

Entering the 2008-09 season, the biggest story is the North Carolina Tar Heels’ potential to dominate the entire country, from the opening game Nov. 15 against Penn to someone at Ford Field and the Final Four in April. The Tar Heels return all five starters and four potential NBA players – including one who comes off the bench. In addition to the returning talent, coach Roy Williams added a solid recruiting class that gives him more firepower in the post and the team’s point guard of the future.

Despite the pre-season hype, Williams will convince his players that they have not earned anything yet – not even the No. 1 ranking the Tar Heels will sport when they open the season. And every team the Tar Heels play will be looking to knock off the pre-season favorite. Within the conference, North Carolina will face several difficult tests. Although the Tar Heels are easily the favorite to win the ACC, they must beware of Wake Forest, Miami, Duke, Clemson, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech. All those teams return at least three starters and promise to compete for NCAA Tournament bids.

Team stability has been one of the major trends of the off-season. No ACC coaches lost their jobs or left for another school. That makes the ACC the only major conference in which no team endured a coaching change. With many healthy programs in place, the ACC once again saw an influx of talented recruits, including one of the best recruiting classes in the country at Wake Forest, headlined by Al-Farouq Aminu.

However, the trend of coaching stability might not last much longer. This season is shaping up to be difficult for fans in College Park, Md. A difficult recruiting season could be a prelude to an unsuccessful basketball season for Maryland. Although Maryland alum Gary Williams has a national championship under his belt, his teams have missed the NCAA Tournament three times in the past four seasons. If disaster strikes and Maryland finishes near the bottom of the ACC, the Terrapins might not forgive recent recruiting and on-court failures.

As always, the 2008-09 season will provide plenty of drama. Fans from Boston to Miami will have plenty to cheer and jeer about from November through April. Read more to find out whether your team will be on the positive or negative side most often this season.

Pre-season All-ACC Awards

Most Valuable Player: Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina
Coach of the Year: Dino Gaudio, Wake Forest
Rookie of the Year: Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest
Defensive Player of the Year: Marcus Ginyard, North Carolina

1st Team All-Conference:
Wayne Ellington, North Carolina
Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina
James Johnson, Wake Forest
Jack McClinton, Miami
Tyrese Rice, Boston College

2nd Team All-Conference:
Jeff Allen, Virginia Tech
Ty Lawson, North Carolina
Greg Paulus, Duke
K.C. Rivers, Clemson
Jeff Teague, Wake Forest

3rd Team All-Conference:
Lewis Clinch, Georgia Tech
James Dews, Miami
Gerald Henderson, Duke
Ishmael Smith, Wake Forest
A.D. Vassallo, Virginia Tech

Most Improved:
Lewis Clinch, Georgia Tech
Malcolm Delaney, Virginia Tech
Jeff Jones, Virginia
Ben McCauley, North Carolina State
Demontez Stitt, Clemson

All-Rookie Team:
Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest
DeQuan Jones, Miami
Sean Mosley, Maryland
Chris Singleton, Florida State
Elliot Williams, Duke

Team Capsules

North Carolina Tar Heels
2007-08: 36-3, 14-2 (1st)

Projected starting five:
Junior guard Wayne Ellington
Senior swingman Marcus Ginyard
Senior forward Tyler Hansbrough
Junior point guard Ty Lawson
Junior forward Deon Thompson

Schedule:
North Carolina will play most of its non-conference games at the comforts of home, with a few notable exceptions. The Tar Heels will face Michigan State in Detroit – the site of the 2009 Final Four – and Nevada in Reno. North Carolina also will travel to Maui for the EA Sports Maui Invitational where the Tar Heels could face two games against the likes of Alabama, Indiana, Notre Dame, Oregon, Saint Joseph’s or Texas. In conference play, North Carolina will get two games against Duke, Maryland, Miami, North Carolina State and Virginia.

Team summary:
With nearly everyone returning from last season’s Final Four team and the No. 11 recruiting class in the country, North Carolina is the overwhelming preseason favorite to win not only the ACC but also the national championship. The Tar Heels return Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington and Ty Lawson, all of whom tested the NBA waters and decided to return to Chapel Hill. Coach Roy Williams has enough talent on this roster that the team could be more dominant than the 2005 championship squad.

Defense was the biggest problem that North Carolina encountered last season, even though the Tar Heels outscored their opponents by an average of more than 16 points. With senior defensive stopper Marcus Ginyard sidelined until mid-December while he recovers from surgery to fix a stress fracture in his foot, North Carolina will need to show it has improved its defensive effort, or else the Tar Heels could drop a game or two to the tough field in Maui. Besides concerns about the team’s defensive toughness, North Carolina has few holes to fill.

Williams has the luxury of managing a talent so loaded with roster it could probably fill two separate starting lineups at nearly any other school. Hansbrough will lead the way and surge into school and conference record books. He averaged 22.6 points and 10.2 rebounds last season and figures to be equally effective this season despite being opponents’ focal point. Ellington and Lawson will form the other two pieces of North Carolina’s trio of superstars. But the supporting cast is equally critical. North Carolina returns senior point guard Bobby Frasor, sophomore swingman Will Graves, junior guard Danny Green and junior forward Deon Thompson, among others. The return of Frasor, who missed most of last season because of an injured knee, will be especially important because he is a steady point guard option who can effectively spell Lawson when the lightning-quick point guard needs a rest.

Despite returning so much talent, Williams found room to add more. The Tar Heels add three McDonald’s All-Americans in power forward Ed Davis, center Tyler Zeller and point guard Larry Drew. Shooting guard Justin Watts rounds out the ACC’s No. 3 recruiting class. Davis and Zeller will likely join Hansbrough and Thompson in the primary frontcourt rotation. The freshmen will help replace the production of Alex Stepheson, who transferred to USC after last season to be closer to his family in California. The only other loss from last season’s team was point guard Quentin Thomas, who graduated.

Prediction: First

Wake Forest Demon Deacons
2007-08: 17-13, 7-9 (8th)

Projected starting five:
Junior point guard Ishmael Smith
Sophomore guard Jeff Teague
Junior guard L.D. Williams
Sophomore forward James Johnson
Junior center Chas McFarland

Schedule:
Wake Forest will play some tough mid-major programs in its non-conference schedule, with games against UNC-Wilmington, Cal State Fullerton, Bucknell and Richmond. On top of those solid opponents, the Demon Deacons will face Indiana, BYU and possibly Arizona State, Baylor or Providence in the 76 Classic in Anaheim. Wake Forest gets two games against Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Georgia Tech and North Carolina State in conference play.

Team summary:
The Demon Deacons had a young lineup last season that relied nearly entirely on sophomores and freshmen. The team’s only loss is forward Cameron Stanley, who graduated after averaging 1.0 points in 6.4 minutes per game last season. With the team’s top nine scorers returning, Wake Forest figures to move up in the standings after finishing 7-9 last season.

Despite entering last season with the emotional baggage of losing coach Skip Prosser, who died suddenly in July 2007 because of a heart attack, Wake Forest exceeded expectations with plenty of inexperienced players making major contributions. A pair of freshmen, James Johnson and Jeff Teague, led the team last year with 14.6 points and 13.9 points per game, respectively. With Teague and Johnson back, coach Dino Gaudio will have the nucleus of his offensive attack in place. Junior point guard Ishmael Smith will lead the attack after averaging nearly five assists per game last season. Smith is possibly the fastest guard in the ACC, and if he plays under greater control, he could turn the Demon Deacons into an offensive juggernaut that reminds fans of the Chris Paul years.

Wake Forest has a combination of veteran experience and future greatness on the bench. Senior point guard Harvey Hale is a capable backup who contributed 8.1 points per game last season. Guard Mike Lepore provides another senior option for Gaudio. Junior forward Jamie Skeen and sophomore guard Gary Clark also can be effective, combining to average 8.2 points per game last season.

But the most talented bench players might be three freshmen – small forward Al-Farouq Aminu and centers Ty Walker and Tony Woods. All three prized recruits are five-star recruits, and Aminu was a McDonald’s All-American. All three of them could crack the starting lineup at some point this season, especially Aminu, who could help make Wake Forest one of the most difficult teams in the conference to stop. Gaudio’s mission for this season will be to get Wake Forest to play enough solid defense to prevent every game turning into a track meet.

Prediction: Second

Miami Hurricanes
2007-08: 23-11, 8-8 (5th)

Projected starting five:
Junior guard James Dews
Senior guard Lance Hurdle
Senior guard Jack McClinton
Senior forward Brian Asbury
Junior forward Dwayne Collins

Schedule:
Miami has an unbalanced non-conference schedule that features several critical games among many games that should be easy, RPI-killing match ups. The Hurricanes’ most appealing games include clashes with Ohio State, Kentucky and possibly Connecticut in the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands. Miami also might get Wisconsin, San Diego, La Salle or Valparaiso in the Virgin Islands. Once Miami reaches conference play, the Hurricanes will play two games against Boston College, Florida State, Maryland, North Carolina and North Carolina State.

Team summary:
Miami surprised the ACC and the country last season with a 23-11 season and trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before the Hurricanes lost a thriller to Texas. The Hurricanes won’t sneak up on anyone this season because they return nearly every major contributor from last season. Senior guard Jack McClinton is an All-American candidate who can light up a scoreboard. He averaged 17.7 points per game last season, shooting better than 42 percent from three-point range. With high expectations for the team and plenty of attention toward McClinton by opponents, Miami will need to adjust to playing when the team is expected to win.

Coach Frank Haith has a veteran squad to handle those expectations and thrive. He loses only forward Anthony King, who graduated, among the team’s major contributors. King averaged 7.1 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Although King was never a potent weapon on offense, he was a defensive star who could shut down opponents. With King gone, Haith will need Brian Asbury, Dwayne Collins, Jimmy Graham and Adrian Thomas to boost their game. All four players averaged between 4.5 points and 8.8 points per game last season.

Although Miami doesn’t get big statistics from its big men, the Hurricanes’ backcourt is difficult to stop. In addition to McClinton, Miami has James Dews and Lance Hurdle to prevent opponents from double teaming McClinton all the time. Dews emerged as a potent scoring threat last season, averaging 10.3 points per game while shooting 37.2 percent from three-point range. Hurdle added 8.0 points per game and was tied with McClinton in leading the team in assists.

With such a talented returning roster, Haith did not need to add many pieces to the puzzle. However, he landed a five-star recruit in small forward DeQuan Jones. A 6-6 swingman, Jones has the athleticism and talent to provide instant production. He adds another weapon to the Hurricanes’ arsenal. Center Reginald Johnson joins Jones as the other freshman recruit to join Haith’s squad. The coach also added redshirt freshman Julian Gamble and junior forward Cyrus McGowan, a transfer from Arkansas who played sparingly for the Razorbacks.

Prediction: Third

Duke Blue Devils
2007-08: 28-6, 13-3 (2nd)

Projected starting five:
Senior point guard Greg Paulus
Junior guard Jon Scheyer
Junior swingman Gerald Henderson
Sophomore forward Kyle Singler
Junior forward Lance Thomas

Schedule:
Duke will play in the 2K Sports Classic in November and could meet UCLA in the championship game if both teams get through the early rounds. The Blue Devils also could face Michigan twice in about two weeks if the Blue Devils and Wolverines reach the 2K Sports Classic final. Duke already is scheduled to play in Ann Arbor Dec. 6. Other non-conference schedule highlights include Georgetown, Xavier and Davidson. In conference play, Duke gets two games against Florida State, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.

Team summary:
Duke bowed out of the NCAA Tournament in the first weekend of play for the second consecutive tournament last season, and the Blue Devils have not moved past the Sweet 16 in the last four seasons. For one of the members of the ACC elite, Duke has recently had mildly disappointing seasons. However, this season has a good opportunity of breaking the trend with nearly every major contributor returning to the team. And with Olympic gold medal-winning coach Mike Krzyzewski at the helm, Duke will remain near the top of the standings.

Entering the 2008-09 season, Krzyzewski will turn to senior point guard Greg Paulus to be the team leader. Paulus averaged 11.3 points and 3.2 assists per game last season, and he worked to improve his three-point shooting to become a 42.3 percent shooter from behind the arc. Paulus will need to be even more efficient in running the offense this season as Duke will not have DeMarcus Nelson, who graduated after leading the team 14.5 points per game and contributing only nine fewer assists than Paulus. Without Nelson, Paulus must be even better in getting Duke into offensive sets and distributing the ball. For Duke to get back to the Elite Eight or Final Four, Paulus must realize his potential as one of the country’s best playmakers.

Assisting Paulus in the starting lineup will be juniors Jon Scheyer, Gerald Henderson and Lance Thomas and sophomore Kyle Singler. All five starters received significant playing time last season and look to build on last year’s body of work. Singler was second on the team in scoring, averaging 13.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. However, Singler was frequently inconsistent last season, disappearing from the offensive attack for long stretches of time. Singler remains the primary post presence for the Blue Devils, who need him to become more forceful at both ends of the court.

Krzyzewski continued to deliver top-notch recruiting classes this season, with shooting guard Elliott Williams and power forwards Olek Czyz and Miles Plumlee joining the roster. The recruits step in to fill the positions vacated by Nelson and Taylor King, who decided to leave Durham to transfer to Villanova. Czyz and Plumlee will join Thomas, Singler and junior center Brian Zoubek in the frontcourt rotation. Duke has talented, experienced guards in the backcourt, and they will drive the team’s offense and pressure defense. However, the frontcourt players will be the difference in Duke’s success this season. The Blue Devils must get more production from those five big men to compete with North Carolina for conference title and advance past the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

Prediction: Fourth

Clemson Tigers
2007-08: 24-10, 10-6 (3rd)

Projected starting five:
Sophomore point guard Demontez Stitt
Senior swingman K.C. Rivers
Junior forward David Potter
Senior forward Raymond Sykes
Junior forward Trevor Booker

Schedule:
Clemson plays in the inaugural Charleston Classic in mid-November to open the season. The Tigers are the clear favorite to win, but they would likely play at least one talented mid-major team, including host College of Charleston, to win the tournament title. The rest of the non-conference lineup is decent but not spectacular, with the highlights including games at Charlotte and Illinois and a home match up with Alabama. In the ACC, the Tigers get two games against Florida State, Georgia Tech, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.

Team summary:
Last season, Clemson’s balanced lineup and pressure defense led the Tigers to a third-place finish in the ACC. The Tigers made the NCAA Tournament as a No. 5 seed but lost to Villanova in the first round. Although the lineup is different, Coach Oliver Purnell will maintain the same philosophy with this year’s team. Through his recruiting, Purnell is quickly building a solid program in Clemson that looks likely to contend in the top half of the conference for years to come.

Purnell’s main duty to start the season is replace the production of Cliff Hammonds. He started preparing for the departure of his steady guard by recruiting Demontez Stitt last season. The point guard duties are Stitt’s now, and he fared well last season, often starting alongside Hammonds. Stitt averaged 8.8 points and 3.0 assists per game, and he figures to boost those numbers. However, Stitt needs to decrease the number of turnovers because he averaged nearly three per game.

In addition to Stitt, Clemson returns starters K.C. Rivers and Trevor Booker. Rivers has the ability to dominate games, and he led the team in scoring with 14.7 points per game while adding 6.3 rebounds per game and shooting 40.2 percent from three-point range. His athleticism presents a match up problem for most opponents. Meanwhile, Booker led the team in rebounding at 7.3 per game and added 11.0 points per game. A pair of juniors, swingman David Potter and forward Raymond Sykes, likely will join Booker, Rivers and Stitt in the starting lineup.

In addition to Cliff Hammonds, Clemson lost James Mays and Sam Perry to graduation. The two big men combined to contribute 13.8 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. Sophomores Jerai Grant and Terrence Oglesby will play a bigger role off the bench. Purnell brought in 7-footer Catalin Baciu, who could help shore up the post for the Tigers. Purnell also added small forward Bryan Narcisse, shooting guard Tanner Smith and point guard Andre Young. The recruits aren’t highly heralded, but Purnell has enough talent already on the roster that he can integrate the freshmen into the lineup whenever they’re ready.

Prediction: Fifth

Virginia Tech Hokies
2007-08: 21-14, 9-7 (4th)

Projected starting five:
Sophomore point guard Malcolm Delaney
Sophomore point guard Hank Thorns
Senior swingman A.D. Vassallo
Sophomore forward Jeff Allen
Senior forward Cheick Diakite

Schedule:
The Hokies have a moderately challenging non-conference schedule, highlighted by games against Wisconsin, Georgia and possibly Xavier, USC or Memphis in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-off. In conference play, the Hokies will get two games against Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Florida State and Virginia.

Team summary:
After a slow start last season, a young Hokies team rallied to play competitively in ACC play, upsetting several teams en route to a 9-7 record. Virginia Tech was particularly tough at home in conference play, losing only two games. The veteran leadership of Deron Washington and A.D. Vassallo helped keep six freshmen focused on playing smart, mistake-free offense and intense, pressuring defense. That combination has become a hallmark of coach Seth Greenberg’s Virginia Tech squads.

Entering this season, Washington is gone after graduating, but Vassallo returns to lead a team filled with sophomores who played significant minutes last season. Vassallo averaged 16.9 points per game to lead the Hokies. In his first season, sophomore forward Jeff Allen proved he is already one of the top 10 big men in the ACC. He averaged 11.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game and figures to be a main component of this season’s offensive attack. With Allen’s post presence and Vassallo’s ability to slash to the hoop or shoot 39.5 percent from three-point range, sophomore point guards Malcolm Delaney and Hank Thorns will have reliable options for running the offense. Both point guards averaged more than three assists per game. Greenberg frequently played the two at the same time, making it difficult for opponents to set up a trap on defense because both Delaney and Thorns have the ball-handling skills needed to beat the pressure.

In addition to Delaney and Thorns, Greenberg will have sophomore guard Dorenzo Hudson and sophomore swingman Terrell Bell. Hudson and Bell played smaller roles last season, averaging 5.3 points per game combined. However, Greenberg needs more production from these two to help make up for the loss of Washington. In the frontcourt, Greenberg has more quality depth, with senior Cheick Diakite, junior Lewis Witcher and sophomore J.T. Thompson. None of the three averaged more than 5.6 points per game, but Greenberg needs all three to play energetic defense and fight for rebounds more than he needs them to average in double figures.

Greenberg did not bring in a lot of talented recruits, mostly because he already had most of last season’s roster returning. Power forward Victor Davila and center Gene Swindle will provide some additional depth, but they likely won’t receive significant playing time.

Prediction: Sixth

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
2007-08: 15-17, 7-9 (7th)

Projected starting five:
Sophomore point guard Maurice Miller
Senior guard Lewis Clinch
Sophomore forward Gani Lawal
Junior forward Zack Peacock
Senior forward Alade Aminu

Schedule:
The Yellow Jackets have a relatively easy non-conference schedule with few big matchups. Most of the challenging games are on the road, though, as Georgia Tech will visit USC and Alabama. The Yellow Jackets also get Vanderbilt and Georgia in Atlanta. When the ACC schedule comes along, Georgia Tech will play two games against Boston College, Clemson, Maryland, North Carolina State and Wake Forest.

Team summary:
Georgia Tech played a brutal schedule last season, including games against Kansas, Vanderbilt, Indiana, Notre Dame and Connecticut. But Georgia Tech whiffed on most of its big games, especially in the ACC. The Yellow Jackets were constantly close, losing eight of nine ACC games by 10 points or less. Contributing to the close calls, Georgia Tech’s defense frequently lapsed when the Yellow Jackets needed a big stop at the end of games. For the Yellow Jackets to meet the potential of their talented lineup, coach Paul Hewitt needs to get his team to improve its defense – the team allowed opponents to score 76.0 points per game last season.

With an experienced lineup and good bench depth, Georgia Tech has a good chance of getting over the hump and winning the close games this season. The Yellow Jackets lost seniors Anthony Morrow, Jeremis Smith and Matt Causey to graduation, and D’Andre Bell will have to redshirt due to spinal stenosis. However, sophomore Maurice Miller, senior Lewis Clinch and junior Zack Peacock are ready to step forward to replace their production. In particular, Clinch has the potential to be an all-conference player who could become Georgia Tech’s go-to player in clutch situations.

Georgia Tech’s biggest concern entering this season is the quality of play at point guard. Causey and Miller platooned at the position last season, but the job will be all Miller’s to start the season with Causey gone. Miller averaged 8.1 points and 3.3 assists per game last season, and he had fewer turnovers than Causey. However, neither Miller nor Causey could keep Georgia Tech’s offense on pace for 40 minutes, which helped allow several opponents to rally for close wins.

With 11 returning players, Hewitt does not have a large recruiting class. The only freshman player on scholarship is point guard Iman Shumpert, a McDonald’s All-American who will back up Miller to start the season. If Shumpert proves capable of handling the point guard duties, Hewitt will likely turn to him if Miller struggles with running the offense. Another noteworthy addition is graduated senior forward Bassirou Dieng, who arrives in Atlanta after averaging 10.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game for St. Francis, Pa.

Prediction: Seventh

Boston College Eagles
2007-08: 14-17, 4-12 (11th)

Projected starting five:
Senior point guard Tyrese Rice
Sophomore guard Biko Paris
Sophomore swingman Rakim Sanders
Junior forward Tyler Roche
Sophomore forward Joe Trapani

Schedule:
The Eagles play a fairly easy non-conference schedule, with all but two games at home. The road games are at Saint Louis and Massachusetts, which are probably the toughest games outside the ACC. In conference, Boston College plays Georgia Tech, Miami, North Carolina State, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest. Twice.

Team summary:
Coach Al Skinner returns the nucleus of a young team that struggled last season, finishing 11th in the ACC. The Eagles return their top two scorers from last season’s team, senior guard Tyrese Rice and sophomore swingman Rakim Sanders. Rice is an All-American candidate who can score at will. He was one of the top scorers in the conference last season, averaging 21.0 points per game.

Boston College’s primary problem last season was offensive balance. Although Rice continued to showcase his talents, the rest of the team rarely provided consistent support. The Eagles return sophomore guard Biko Paris and junior forward Tyler Roche, who will likely join Rice and Sanders in the starting lineup. But Skinner’s best secondary scoring option might be Vermont transfer Joe Trapani. The former Catamount averaged 11.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game two seasons ago.

The primary losses from last season are Tyrelle Blair, John Oates and Shamari Spears. Blair and Oates graduated, leaving a hole in the frontcourt. Although neither player was a scoring machine – they combined to average 9.3 points per game – they provided tough interior defense. Blair averaged more than three blocks per game for the Eagles. Spears decided to leave the program and transferred to Charlotte. He was the Eagles’ third-leading scorer, averaging 9.6 points per game, and added 6.1 rebounds per game.

Two sophomores will bolster the bench. Forward Corey Raji and Josh Southern can provide offense and toughness off the bench. Both players shot at least 55 percent from the field and averaged more than four rebounds per game. Sophomore forward Cortney Dunn plays sparingly. In addition to the trio of sophomores, Skinner brought in three recruits to add depth: small forward Dallas Elmore, shooting guard Reggie Jackson and power forward Evan Ravenel. None of those three is considered an elite recruit, but Skinner consistently gets lightly recruited players to become significant contributors at Chestnut Hill.

Skinner has enjoyed consistent success since the Eagles joined the ACC in 2005. The Eagles won at least 10 games in the ACC in their first two seasons in the conference before last season’s struggles. Boston College figures to be more competitive this season, and an easy schedule in November and December will allow the Eagles to establish a consistent offense before entering ACC play. However, don’t look for Boston College to post 10 conference wins for the third season in the last four, and don’t look for Boston College to return to the NCAA Tournament.

Prediction: Eighth

North Carolina State Wolfpack
2007-08: 15-16, 4-12 (12th)

Projected starting five:
Junior point guard Farnold Degand
Senior swingman Courtney Fells
Junior forward Dennis Horner
Junior forward Brandon Costner
Senior forward Ben McCauley

Schedule:
For the most part, North Carolina State’s non-conference schedule does not include a lot of challenging opponents. The marquis matchups are against Davidson, Marquette and Florida, with the games against the Wildcats and Gators coming on the road. The ACC schedule is filled with tough opponents, including two games against Boston College, Georgia Tech, Miami, North Carolina and Wake Forest.

Team summary:
Last season was a resounding disappointment for North Carolina State, which was predicted to at least compete for a finish among the top teams. After an 11-3 start, the Wolfpack lost 13 of their final 17 games, including a nine-game losing streak entering this season. Inexperience at point guard was a major reason for the team’s struggles, as was the decline of forward Ben McCauley.

For the Wolfpack to turn around this season, coach Sidney Lowe needs junior point guard Farnold Degand to return healthy after a knee injury limited him to 10 games. In his place, Javier Gonzalez was charged with leading the offense, and he frequently struggled as a freshman. Marques Johnson also spent time at point guard, but he decided to transfer in August, moving on to a third school after leaving Tennessee in 2007. In addition to Johnson, Lowe must replace the production of J.J. Hickson and Gavin Grant, the top two scorers on a team that wasn’t prolific on offense. Grant graduated, and Hickson left for the NBA after on season in Raleigh.

Although North Carolina State must replace two key players from a team that often struggled, the Wolfpack have several talented players to rely on. Senior swingman Courtney Fells will become the team leader this season. He averaged 10.6 points per game last season and was the team’s most reliable three-point shooter. McCauley and junior forward Brandon Costner form a potent combination in the post. Costner also is a threat from three-point range. However, both players struggled at times on offense, which was partially caused by the lack of consistent point guard play last season. Both players must average in double figures this season if North Carolina State plans to move up in the standings.

Lowe’s second recruiting class at North Carolina State is not exceptional. He added point guard Julius Mays and small forward C.J. Williams, who figure to work their way into the rotation, especially if the starters fail to establish a consistent offensive rhythm. Lowe also will have redshirt freshman swingman Johnny Thomas on the bench. Thomas was a solid player in high school and missed most of last season with a knee injury.

Prediction: Ninth

Florida State Seminoles
2007-08: 19-15, 7-9 (9th)

Projected starting five:
Senior point guard Toney Douglas
Sophomore guard Derwin Kitchen
Freshman swingman Chris Singleton
Senior forward Uche Echefu
Junior forward Ryan Reid

Schedule:
Florida State plays a fairly tough schedule for a team with a lot of turnover from last season. The Seminoles have Pittsburgh, Western Kentucky, Florida, Cincinnati and potentially UNLV or California on the non-conference slate. The team plays in the Las Vegas Tournament in November, where the Seminoles will likely face the Bearcats and then either the Bruins or Runnin’ Rebels. In ACC play, Florida State has two games apiece against Clemson, Duke, Miami, Virginia and Virginia Tech.

Team summary:
Once again, Florida State narrowly missed the NCAA Tournament last season. The Seminoles flirted with a 20-win season, falling short by a game when the team lost to Akron in Tallahassee in the first round of the NIT. Last season’s team featured one of the most experienced backcourts in the conference, led by returning senior point guard Toney Douglas and Isaiah Swann, Jason Rich and Ralph Mims, who all graduated. Coach Leonard Hamilton brought in the No. 2 recruiting class in the conference, behind only Wake Forest. He will need the newbies to become instantly productive to replace the 37.9 points per game that Florida State’s three graduating senior guards contributed.

Douglas will be the key to keeping this team focused and efficient. Douglas led the team in scoring with 15.4 points per game. He did not have to focus heavily on point guard duties because Florida State played with at least three guards in the lineup for much of the season. However, this season will be different. Douglas needs to be the sparkplug for the offense and increase his 2.9 assists per game and decrease his 2.8 turnovers per game.

After using a guard-heavy rotation, Hamilton will likely switch his emphasis to the frontcourt, where returning senior Uche Echefu and junior Ryan Reid are the next highest returning scorers – and they combined for 15.6 points per game. However, they will be joined by small forward Chris Singleton, a McDonald’s All-American swingman who has the talent to deliver immediate results.

Hamilton will rely heavily on his six-player recruiting class because of the substantial turnover from last season’s roster. In addition to Mims, Rich and Swann, Matt Zitani graduated, Casaan Breeden transferred to the College of Charleston, and Julian Vaughn transferred to Georgetown. Hamilton returns freshman center Solomon Alabi, who sat out last season as a medical redshirt after injuring his leg early in the year. Sophomore forward Jordan DeMercy also returns. He played in nearly every game, averaging 1.4 points in 9.6 minutes per game.

The recruits will form the majority of the team’s depth, meaning that new guards Deividas Dulkys, Pierre Jordan, Derwin Kitchen and Luke Loucks will see plenty of time in the backcourt. A sophomore transfer from Iowa Western Community College, Kitchen will likely start early in the season. Singleton and power forward Xavier Gibson will likely be regular members of the frontcourt rotation.

Prediction: 10th

Virginia Cavaliers
2007-08: 17-16, 5-11 (10th)

Projected starting five:
Sophomore guard Sam Zeglinski
Sophomore guard Jeff Jones
Senior swingman Mamadi Diane
Sophomore forward Mike Scott
Junior forward Jamil Tucker

Schedule:
Virginia plays a mostly soft non-conference schedule that includes three teams from the Big South Conference. The Cavaliers’ best non-conference game are against Syracuse, Minnesota and Xavier, with the Orange and Golden Gophers on the road. In the ACC, the Cavaliers will play two games against Clemson, Florida State, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia Tech.

Team summary:
This season will be about life after Sean Singletary. Virginia’s most dominant player of the past four years is in the NBA after graduating in May. Coach Dave Leitao must find a way to replace Singletary’s 19.2 points and 6.1 assists per game. In addition, Adrian Joseph graduated, Laurynas Mikalauskas left the team in August to pursue a professional career in Lithuania, and Ryan Pettinella graduated. In sum, Virginia is losing more than half of its scoring from last season’s team.

With Singletary and Joseph leaving, Leitao will likely have a more balanced offense. At times last season, the Cavaliers appeared to be joining fans in the stands in watching Singletary dominate opponents. The Cavaliers never had a consistent second or third scoring option, and opponents expended all their effort in stopping Singletary. This season, senior swingman Mamadi Diane will likely be the primary scoring option after he finished second on the team last season with 11.8 points per game. He also improved his long-range shooting to hit 41.4 percent of his three-point attempts.

Besides Diane, Leitao can also turn to sophomores Jeff Jones and Mike Scott and juniors Calvin Baker and Jamil Tucker. All four starters will be asked to contribute more than they did last year. Baker was second on the team in assists and was to battle Sam Zeglinski for the starting point guard spot, but he could miss significant time with a stress fracture. Expect some early struggles as Virginia seeks to find its offensive identity.

In addition to the starters, Leitao has decent depth on the bench, led by freshman shooting guard Sylven Landesberg, who was a McDonald’s All-American. Landesberg might be the next prolific scorer in Charlottesville. He will likely have the opportunity to earn significant playing time early in the season. Junior forward Solomon Tat and senior forward Tunji Soroye have significant playing experience in past seasons and will need to become more productive to help the Cavaliers move up from the ACC’s cellar. Soroye missed nearly all of last season because of injuries. Leitao also has centers John Brandenburg and Assane Sene joining Landesberg in the recruiting class, which is the No. 5 class in the ACC.

Prediction: 11th

Maryland Terrapins
2007-08: 19-15, 8-8 (6th)

Projected starting five:
Junior point guard Greivis Vasquez
Junior guard Eric Hayes
Sophomore forward Cliff Tucker
Junior forward Landon Milbourne
Sophomore forward Braxton Dupree

Schedule:
Not surprisingly, Maryland plays a non-conference schedule filled with lightweight opponents and home games. The Terrapins do not play a true road game until Jan. 14 at Miami. The toughest games will be in Orlando during the Old Spice Classic, which will include Georgetown, Gonzaga, Michigan State, Oklahoma State, Siena, Tennessee and Wichita State. The Terrapins will learn early in the season if they will be in competition for an NCAA Tournament bid. Given the weakness of the rest of the non-conference schedule, Maryland has to win two games in Orlando to put any meaningful wins on its résumé before ACC play. The conference schedule does not give Maryland any favors with two games against Duke, Georgia Tech, Miami, North Carolina and Virginia.

Team summary:
For the third time in four seasons, Maryland missed the NCAA Tournament last season. Although some Terrapin fans would consider the suggestion to be heresy, coach Gary Williams’ job is probably on the line this season. In recent years, Williams has slipped on the recruiting trail, losing top recruits to other ACC teams. In the fertile Washington, D.C., high school basketball season, too many top recruits are signing with other programs without even seriously considering going to College Park.

This season’s recruiting class is no reason to think Williams is ending a trend of inconsistent recruiting. Williams signed shooting guard Sean Mosley, a four-star recruit, in the spring signing period after losing his two star recruits. Signee Gus Gilchrist left the program before he ever really arrived, transferring to South Florida. The recruitment of Tyree Evans was a fiasco. Williams sought to bring in the junior guard, who averaged 21.1 points per game at Motlow State Community College last season, even though Evans had a history of academic and legal problems. Since 2004, Evans has been arrested and charged with statutory rape, marijuana possession and trespassing. The media hounded Evans and Maryland about his criminal record, and he opted to leave the school for Kent State.

In addition to the off-season recruiting turmoil, the Terrapins must find a way to replace the production of James Gist and Bambale Osby in the frontcourt. Maryland returns junior guards Greivis Vasquez and Eric Hayes, who combined to average 26.9 points and 5.7 assists per game last season. They will form the core of this team, which also returns sophomores Adrian Bowie, Jerome Burney, Braxton Dupree, David Pearman and Cliff Tucker. However, none of the sophomores played consistently as freshmen, and Williams often seemed reluctant to turn to his bench even though his starters were often visibly fatigued.

For Maryland to succeed this season, the Terrapins must rally around the passionate play of Vasquez. He is the catalyst for the entire offense and plays with high energy. Although he was among the ACC leaders in assists at 6.8 per game, Vasquez often played out of control, averaging 4.4 turnovers per game. If Williams cannot rein in Vasquez, the Terrapins will continue to lack steady offensive flow, and the team does not have enough consistent offensive firepower to overcome a lot of mistakes.

Prediction: 12th

ACC Summary

As the season begins, the most pressing question that many ACC fans want answered is how many teams will make the NCAA Tournament. Unlike recent years, the conference looks to be in a good position to put seven teams in the NCAA Tournament. And all of them could make some noise.

North Carolina is the clear favorite to win the national championship. Only injuries or a defensive meltdown will prevent the Tar Heels from securing a No. 1 or 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. In addition to North Carolina, Wake Forest, Miami and Duke form the second tier of elite ACC teams that will vie for high NCAA Tournament seeds. Two of those teams will probably earn a No. 4 seed or better, and the odd team out won’t be far behind.

In the third tier, Virginia Tech, Clemson and Georgia Tech will battle for enough conference wins to reach the NCAA Tournament. All three could make it in, and if they perform well during the non-conference slate, there’s no reason why an 8-8 ACC record wouldn’t mean an NCAA Tournament bid.

Although the top seven teams all appear strong, the bottom five might suffer the brunt of their abuse. Boston College, Florida State, Virginia, North Carolina State and Maryland figure to be near the bottom of the standings. Invariably, there’s a surprise team that moves up in the standings despite pre-season tales of gloom and doom. And on the flip side, a highly touted usually falls flat because of injuries or inconsistency. At the end of the day, the ACC will be competitive and could continue last season’s trend of delivering nail-bitingly close games on a nightly basis.