Valparaiso Crusaders 2011-12 Preview

Valparaiso Crusaders (23-13, 12-6)

Projected starting five:

Jr. G/F Ryan Broekhoff
Jr. G Erik Buggs
Jr. G Matt Kenney
Jr. F Richie Edwards
Jr. F Kevin Van Wijk

Important departures:

Brandon Wood: 16.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.1 apg
Cory Johnson: 14.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg
Howard Little: 9.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg
Michael Rogers: 5.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg

The Crusaders lost several key players, including several starters. Cory Johnson, Howard Little and Michael Rogers all graduated. In addition, Brandon Wood, who was an All-Horizon League First Team honoree graduated following his junior season of eligibility and transferred to Michigan State.

% returning scoring and rebounding:

Scoring: 39 percent
Rebounding: 49 percent

Two starters return for the Crusaders: Ryan Broekhoff and Erik Buggs.

Additions:

Will Bogan is a transfer from Ole Miss who is eligible to play immediately for the Crusaders. Bogan will play guard. Ben Boggs is a transfer from Virginia Tech who will join the team in the second half of the season and play guard. Bobby Capobianco is a transfer from Indiana, but he will not play this season because of NCAA transfer regulations. One-star recruit Richie Edwards is a Juco transfer who will play forward for the Crusaders. Vashil Fernandez is a freshman forward from Jamaica who will strengthen the Crusaders’ inside game. The eligibility of Dino Jakolis, a one-star recruit from Croatia, is still uncertain.

Schedule highlights:

Valparaiso’s biggest nonconference matchup is a matchup against Ohio State. In Horizon League play, Valparaiso faces a tough three-game stretch during which they will face Green Bay, Milwaukee and Detroit.

Prediction: The Crusaders will finish sixth. Replacing the amount of talent that departed in the offseason will be difficult, especially if Jakolis is declared ineligible.

Next: Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers

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Milwaukee Panthers 2011-12 Preview

Milwaukee Panthers (19-14, 13-5)

Projected starting five:

Jr. G Ja’Rob McCallum
Sr. G Kaylon Williams
Jr. G Lonnie Boga
Sr. F Tony Meier
Jr. F James Haarsma

Important departures:

Anthony Hill: 15.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.4 apg
Tone Boyle: 12.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.1 apg

The Panthers are losing two starters as Anthony Hill and Tone Boyle have graduated. Hill was an All-Horizon League First Team selection last year. Reserve guard Jerard Ajami (0.6 ppg, 0.5 rpg, 0.6 apg) and reserve center Mitchell Carter (1.2 ppg, 0.5 rpg, 0.1 apg) also graduated.

% returning scoring and rebounding:

Scoring: 58 percent
Rebounding: 69 percent

The Panthers return three starters: Ja’Rob McCallum, Kaylon Williams and Tony Meier.

Additions:

The Panthers will be adding two true freshmen to their squad this fall. Two-star recruit Shaquille Boga is a freshman guard from Missouri. He is the brother of Lonnie Boga, a junior guard for the Panthers. Two-star recruit J.J. Panoske is a freshman forward from Wisconsin who will play forward. In addition, the Panthers will be adding several transfers and redshirt freshmen. Evan Richard redshirted last year, and he will play guard for the Panthers. Paris Gulley is a Juco transfer who will play guard for the Panthers. Demetrius Harris is a Juco transfer who will play forward. James Haarsma is a transfer from Evansville who sat out last season. He will play forward for the Panthers.

Schedule highlights:

The Panthers’ biggest nonconference matchup is against Michigan State. During Horizon League play, the Panthers face a tough three-game stretch against Cleveland State, Butler and Valparaiso.

Prediction: The Panthers will finish fourth but could easily finish third if Detroit is without Eli Holman for an extended period of time.

Next: Wright State Raiders

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Wright State Raiders 2011-12 Preview

Wright State Raiders (19-14, 10-8)

Projected starting five:

So. F Cole Darling
Sr. F Johann Mpondo
So. F A.J. Pacher
So. G Matt Vest
So. G Vance Hall

Important departures:

Vaughn Duggins: 18.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.2 apg
N’gai Evans: 13.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.3 apg
Troy Tabler: 10.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.8 apg
Cooper Land: 8.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.7 apg

The Raiders lost more talent than any other team in the Horizon League. Their main losses include Vaughn Duggins, N’gai Evans, Troy Tabler and Cooper Land.

% returning scoring and rebounding:

Scoring: 28 percent
Rebounding: 54 percent

Two starters return for the Raiders: Cole Darling and Johann Mpondo

Additions:

Brooklyn Bradley is a freshman guard who is a hometown product from Dayton, Ohio. Reggie Arceneaux is a freshman guard from North Carolina who was named to the NC Preps Class 4A All State Team. Jason Cuffee is a freshman guard from West Virginia who was first-team all-state in West Virginia. Stephen Gossard is a freshman forward from Ohio who is not expected to contribute immediately. Kendall Griffin is a freshman guard from Indiana who has been recognized by the Wright State coaching staff for his defense. Alex Pritchett is a freshman forward from Indiana who is a hard-working, physical post player. Tavares Sledge is a freshman forward from Alabama who has been described as having a unique blend of size and athleticism. Ulysses Thomas is a freshman guard and local product from Cincinnati who will play point guard for the Raiders.

Schedule highlights:

The Raiders’ biggest nonconference matchup is their first game of the year against Ohio State. In Horizon League play, the Raiders face a tough three-game patch of Butler, Milwaukee and Valparaiso.

Prediction: The Raiders lost an enormous amount of talent to graduation, and it will take some time for them to return to their previous level. They will finish eighth.

Next: Youngstown State Penguins

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Youngstown State Penguins 2011-12 Preview

Youngstown State Penguins (9-21, 2-16)

Projected starting five:

Sr. F DuShawn Brooks
Jr. G Damien Eargle
Sr. G Ashen Ward
Jr. G Blake Allen
So. G Kendrick Perry

Important departures:

Vytas Sulskis: 13.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.0 apg

Starter Vytas Sulskis graduated. Reserves Tre Brewer (4.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.6 apg) and Sheldon Brogdon (2.4 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.4 apg) are no longer with the team.

% returning scoring and rebounding:

Scoring: 63 percent
Rebounding: 55 percent

The Penguins return four starters: Damien Eargle, Ashen Ward, Blake Allen, and Kendrick Perry.

Additions:

Shawn Amiker Jr. is a freshman guard from Michigan who redshirted last season. D.J. Cole is a freshman guard from Kansas who was a third-team all-state player in Kansas. Cale Zuiker is a freshman forward from Wisconsin who was an all-state player in Wisconsin. Danny Reese is a freshman guard who is a hometown product from Youngstown, Ohio, and was named as an honorable mention all-state player in Ohio. Fletcher Larson is a freshman forward from New York who redshirted last season.

Schedule highlights:

The Penguins’ biggest nonconference match up is against Penn State. In Horizon League play, the Penguins face a tough three-game stretch against Butler, Milwaukee, and Green Bay.

Prediction: Although the Penguins will improve on last season’s performance, they will still struggle to reach the upper echelons of the Horizon League and finish seventh.

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UConn Defeats Louisville for the Big East Title: A Tempo-Free Look

LYNDHURST, NJ – Have netbook will travel. Seriously, a time to assess the Big East Championship game. UCONN made it five wins in five days and one satisfying Big East championship at Madison Square Garden. The Huskies prevailed 69-66 in a game that literally came down to the final shot.

Possessions: UCONN 65 Louisville 65
Offensive Efficiency: UCONN 106 Louisville 102 … Continue Reading

A Tempo-Free Look at the A-10 Championship

LYNDHURST, NJ – Richmond earned their first Atlantic Ten Tournament title with a 67-54 decision over Dayton. The final at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall featured an outstanding defensive effort. The numbers:

Possessions: Dayton 61 Richmond 58
Offensive Efficiency: Dayton 89 Richmond 116 … Continue Reading

Notre Dame Playing As Well As Anyone

NEW YORK – There isn’t anyone playing better than Notre Dame right now. If the fact that they had only lost once since mid-January doesn’t convince you, then perhaps their 89-51 dismantling of Cincinnati in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament will.

Notre Dame won’t leap out at you with big-time talent. There’s a reason many are surprised by how good this team has been, and it isn’t just that they lost the program’s all-time leading scorer in Luke Harangody and a key leader in point guard Tory Jackson. In the past, they’ve had plenty coming back, but this year that didn’t appear to be the case. But this team is much more than just the sum of its individual parts, and while it’s a cliché, it rings so true with this team that it bears mentioning. … Continue Reading

Big East Commissioner on End of Rutgers-St. John’s

NEW YORK – Following St. John’s 65-63 win over Rutgers in the second round of the Big East Tournament, Big East Commissioner John Marinatto released a statement regarding the end of the game. There was controversy over how it ended, with broadcasts showing that St. John’s forward Justin Brownlee stepped out of bounds with time still remaining on the clock. Below is the text of Marinatto’s statement:

“The BIG EAST Conference acknowledges that two separate officiating errors occurred at the conclusion of the St. John’s vs Rutgers game. Both missed violations should have caused the game clock to stop and a change of possession to occur prior to the end of the game. Neither error is reviewable or correctable under NCAA playing rules.”

Calhoun sees Big East Deserving of 11 Bids

NEW YORK – Should the Big east send eleven members to the Big Dance? In the estimation of UConn coach Jim Calhoun, why not ?

“First the field is 68, not 64 anymore,” Calhoun said following the Huskies’ first round win over DePaul. “Look what our teams have done (out of conference). We have beaten the Purdues and the Kentuckys out there.” In conference, the Big East schools just go at it relentlessly. Virtually every night games are one- or two-possession affairs. To Calhoun there is not a “weak sister” among them. … Continue Reading

George Mason and VCU: Now What?

We know Old Dominion will be in the NCAA Tournament. The Monarchs claimed their second straight conference title on Monday night with a win over arch-rival VCU. With that out of the way, what happens for some of the other top teams in the conference? Specifically, will George Mason and VCU make the NCAA Tournament as well?

That question can’t be answered here, but examining both teams’ case is a worthwhile exercise.

Most pundits figure George Mason is in. The Patriots won the regular season in what may be the best year ever for the CAA. They entered Championship Week as the hottest team in the country with 15 straight wins before the CAA Tournament. Their RPI is 27, which historically bodes well, although Missouri State can attest to that not being a sure thing. And the Patriots’ case is perhaps a little more interesting than one might think. … Continue Reading