tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79953627571216858262024-03-05T12:05:39.430-06:00The Back IronA place for college basketball fans to be reminded that their opinions matter, and shouldn't be completely ignored by loud, obnoxious football-driven anarchy.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01506764727355321403noreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7995362757121685826.post-22676157464118915552014-11-24T21:06:00.000-06:002014-11-24T21:06:47.072-06:00Poll Dancing: TBI's College Basketball Top 25 (Nov. 24 Edition)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Not really much time for a witty intro or pretty pictures on this week's Poll Dancing, we're just going to hit up the Faceplants and get on with it. Strap in.<br />
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<b>Faceplants: #17 Colorado, #20 UConn, #25 SMU</b><br />
--Despite the amount of respect I have for what Larry Shyatt's building at Wyoming (and the massive mancrush TBI harbors for Larry Nance Jr.), I can't keep CU in the top 25 after the sheer ineptitude it displayed in Laramie. For UConn, it boils down to the head-to-head. I can't leave the Huskies in and keep West Virginia out...yet. As for SMU, they miss Markus Kennedy quite a bit, but they miss last year's Nic Moore just as much. <br />
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<a name='more'></a><b>Bubbling Under: UCLA, UConn, Colorado</b><br />
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<b>25. West Virginia (5-0, LW NR)</b><br />
--The Mountaineers appear to be playing Bob Huggins defense for the first time in a couple of years. There's the kind of depth on hand that allows that defense to stay aggressive, and there's plenty of athletes on hand to crash the offensive glass. The downside is that the UConn win is about the only chance WVU will get to prove itself against top competition, unless you have a great opinion of LSU or NC State.<br />
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<b>24. Utah (2-1, LW 22)</b><br />
--The Utes' loss to San Diego State was unfortunate, but it's the kind of game that the Aztecs will force a lot of teams into this year. The Utes now have to handle their business against Texas-Pan American, North Dakota and Alabama State while trying not to look forward to Dec. 3 against Wichita State. <br />
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<b>23. Providence (5-0, LW NR)</b><br />
--LaDontae Henton is throwing down in a big way with Darrun Hilliard, D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera and any other candidate for Big East POY. Twice already this season, he's averaged nearly a point per minute, including scoring 38 in a clutch win over Notre Dame. The Friars are absolutely a tournament-caliber team, especially if their freshmen don't tail off late in the season. Rookie wing Jalen Lindsey has racked an absurd 155.4 OR per KenPom.<br />
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<b>22. Florida (2-1, LW 16)</b><br />
--Most of UF's ranking hit has nothing to do with the loss to Miami. Giving away a big lead is a bad look, but Angel Rodriguez had that look of a man who could sink a three-point shot through a Dixie cup in a hurricane. That, and TBI is the ranking unofficial Hurricane cheerleading blog this season. No, the Gators took more damage in barely surviving UL Monroe. This is a struggling bunch that has to rely on Jacob Kurtz way too much and is getting way too little from point guard Kasey Hill. Expect Chris Chiozza to take over the starting role sometime during the Battle 4 Atlantis. Just hope it's not in the seventh-place game, Gator fan.<br />
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<b>21. Illinois (3-0, LW 24)</b><br />
--Like so many teams this early in the season, the Illini have played a succession of cupcakes. While the opener with Georgia Southern was closer than it should have been, Illinois took the lesson well and proceeded to hand Coppin State and Austin Peay their asses by a combined 99 points. No one's scoring on Nnanna Egwu, Leron Black has helped immensely on the glass and seemingly everyone is strokin' like Clarence Carter from the arc. Still, real competition will help. Indiana State on Thanksgiving, Baylor or Memphis the next day and Miami on Dec. 2 will do.<br />
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<b>20. Arkansas (3-0, LW 23)</b><br />
--The Hogs are another squad handling its business against the patsies. Arkansas gets bonus points, however, for at least feasting on a power-conference scrub in Wake Forest. A game at SMU tomorrow night promises to be interesting, while Sunday's game against Iona should be balls-to-the-wall with two teams that like it fast. <br />
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<b>19. San Diego State (3-0, LW 21)</b><br />
--The Aztecs still can't score. That much should be evident from their sub-25% shooting against Bakersfield, of all teams. That defense, tho. BYU will bring plenty of shooters to Maui, and SDSU gets the pleasure of trying to contain them all tonight. The winner should cruise to the final and a likely meeting with Arizona. That's a game that will tell us just how good this Aztec defense is, plus will give ex-Wildcat Angelo Chol a great shot at revenge. <br />
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<b>18. Miami (FL) (5-0, LW NR)</b><br />
--The circumstances
surrounding the Florida win probably couldn't be repeated with a
thousand attempts. Where the Canes really impressed, however, was in
Charleston. Three wins in four days by a total of 67 points over solid
mid-major programs in Drexel, Akron and Charlotte? Sure, I'll buy some
stock in that. Charlotte gets a shot at revenge tomorrow night, but the
first week of December will be the real test, as the Canes host Illinois
and Green Bay.<br />
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<b>17. Michigan (3-0, LW 19)</b><br />
--The Wolverines had to put things together in the second half to escape Detroit, but that's not a major stain on their resume or anything. Detroit should be considered a legitimate favorite in the Horizon League. UM is still humming along with one of the nation's most efficient offenses, no one's hitting the offensive glass (<i>that includes the Wolverines themselves, but whatevs</i>) and Max Bielfeldt is looking various shades of useful. If all these things continue, Michigan is in line for a succession of very impressive wins, starting tonight with Oregon and tomorrow against either Villanova or VCU. <br />
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<b>16. VCU (3-0, LW 18)</b><br />
--Speaking of VCU, that's another team that has everything going right so far. Briante Weber is still playing restraining order defense (<i>meaning you can't dribble within 500 feet of him</i>) and Melvin Johnson is becoming a versatile scoring threat. Wins over Villanova and likely Michigan will certainly set Shaka's crew on a course for the top 10, but we've seen this movie before. How does the new sequel end?<br />
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<b>15. Kansas (2-1, LW 6)</b><br />
--That Kentucky game was ugly by all measures. Most of Kansas' supposed stars curled into the fetal position and cried. A few may have crapped themselves. Herein lies the danger of building your All-American teams off of NBA draft boards, because Kelly Oubre and Cliff Alexander still have a ton to learn about being college players. Shame they won't have time to finish before they go get paid. Look out for Rhode Island on Thanksgiving.<br />
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<b>14. Oklahoma (2-1, LW 12)</b><br />
--Losing to a post-Dougie Creighton team isn't a great look for a team that's supposed to have Final Four ambitions. Still, the Sooners got back on the horse and blitzed Northwestern State to tune up for the Battle 4 Atlantis (Prince's favorite college basketball tournament, no doubt). There are no weak sisters in that field, and the Sooners can validate themselves as a top 10 outfit with a championship. That would likely require rolling through not just UCLA, but North Carolina and possibly Wisconsin or Georgetown.<br />
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<b>13. Villanova (3-0, LW 14)</b><br />
--If Lehigh and Bucknell kept things close against the Wildcats, what can VCU accomplish? The Cats and Rams have both been doing a fine job forcing turnovers, so this game could set offensive basketball back 30 years. Win or lose, another tough matchup comes up the following day, so we're going to get a lot of answers on where Villanova, VCU, Michigan and--to a lesser extent--Oregon fit in the national picture.<br />
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<b>12. Ohio State (3-0, LW 15)</b><br />
--D'Angelo Russell will have the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award on ice by Christmas with a few more 32-point explosions like the one against Sacred Heart. The unfortunate part is that outside of Louisville and North Carolina, the Buckeyes have a skimpy non-conference slate to coast through. We'd like a few more concrete answers about this team before Big Ten play starts. Is Jae'Sean Tate for real? Can Shannon Scott keep making all the right passes against good defenses? Will Sam Thompson eventually get his nuts caught on the rim? The world needs answers, dammit. <br />
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<b>11. Iowa State (2-0, LW 11)</b><br />
--The Cyclones have been MIA since drilling Georgia State last Monday. Games against Alabama and likely Maryland at the CBE Classic will be decent tests, but barring a dominant championship run, look for ISU to drop next week, depending on the Legends Classic winner (Villanova, VCU or Michigan most likely) or Oklahoma's results in Atlantis.<br />
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<b>10. Texas (4-0, LW 13)</b><br />
--Never mind Cameron Ridley or Myles Turner, the meatiest Longhorn so far this season has been senior Jonathan Holmes. His 40 points and 18 rebounds against Iowa and Cal proved who Rick Barnes can rely on against stronger competition. The backcourt is still questionable, even more so with Javan Felix having to work as the primary handler. <br />
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<b>9. Wichita State (3-0, LW 9)</b><br />
--The Shockers keep holding steady because they're winning. Others are simply winning over a better class of competition. Tulsa, Utah, Seton Hall and Alabama still await in the non-conference slate, and dominant wins over those opponents will give WSU a shot to move up. <br />
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<b>8. Louisville (3-0, LW 8)</b><br />
--The Cardinals are now into the cream filling of their cupcake-laden non-ACC schedule. Until the Ohio State and Kentucky games, only absolute eviscerations will allow them to even hold steady. <br />
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<b>7. Gonzaga (4-0, LW 10)</b><br />
--Speaking of eviscerations, the Zags have three wins already by at least 46 points. The narrower SMU win proves a bit more than the other three, but nothing about Gonzaga is in stone until that battle with Arizona on Dec. 6. All the blowouts have done one major thing, however: They've given Domantas Sabonis plenty of playing time to lead the team in both scoring and rebounding. <br />
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<b>6. Virginia (4-0, LW 7)</b><br />
--The Hoos are enjoying the hot early start from junior wing Justin Anderson. Not just a dunker these days, he's ripping the nets from deep, draining 58.8% of his threes through four games. Opponents have sunk only 27.3% of their twos against the pack-line so far, but let's see if Maryland, VCU and Harvard have some better luck than James Madison and Norfolk State. <br />
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<b>5. Arizona (3-0, LW 4)</b><br />
--UC Irvine thought it was in the game against the Wildcats until very late. We're still not 100% sure what we're getting from Arizona with Gabe York as a starter and only six men in the rotation. The Maui Invitational should answer a few more questions. <br />
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<b>4. North Carolina (3-0, LW 3)</b><br />
--What was just said about Arizona, double it for UNC. The Battle 4 Atlantis could be the venue for the Heels to truly prove they can dominate some tournament schools that aren't Robert Morris. Also, TBI POY Marcus Paige needs to get off the schneid, and the Bahamas may be the perfect place for him to pull a Stella. (<i>You know, getting his groove back? ... No? ... Never mind.</i>) <br />
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<b>3. Wisconsin (4-0, LW 5)</b><br />
--The Badgers hurdled both Arizona and North Carolina because they stomped a pair of quality programs in Green Bay and Boise State. Those games should have been much closer than they were, but Frank Kaminsky is absolutely smashing all comers. I take full credit for it, since only being named a second-team TBI All-American is obviously his motivation.<br />
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<b>2. Duke (5-0, LW 2)</b><br />
--It's Quinn Cook, not Jahlil Okafor, that's been the MVP for Duke in the early part of this season. Or is it Justise Winslow? Or is it Tyus Jones? Could Grayson Allen start for 347 other teams in America right now? Does Coach K own an absurd amount of stock in Just For Men? Could this offense break 70 on Kentucky? God willing, we'll get answers to all of these at some point.<br />
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<b>1. Kentucky (4-0, LW 1)</b> <br />
--That defense. Dear God. If this team ever really finds shooters (<i>Devin Booker, you're up, bro</i>), winning by less than 20 would qualify as an upset. One dissenting note: Alex Poythress truly appears to have no role in this offense, which explains why he hasn't seemed to be missed these past two games.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01506764727355321403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7995362757121685826.post-70437104702355575642014-11-17T09:22:00.000-06:002014-11-17T09:22:42.072-06:00Poll Dancing: TBI's College Basketball Top 25 (Nov. 17 Edition)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We're only three days into the 2014-15 college basketball season, so why the hell not throw together a brand new Top 25 full of snap judgments and overreactions?<br />
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None of my Top 25 lost on the opening weekend, thank Buddha, but one did look very shaky against a motivated opponent at home on national TV. Of course, that team was ranked No. 25, so it's been replaced for now, but expect it to be back.<br />
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All in all, there's not much change, and I won't bother explaining the ones that stayed stable. After all, most of these teams were gobbling cupcakes over the weekend. However, I will share the rationale behind the few moves that were made, starting with our inaugural Faceplant of the new season.<br />
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All that after the jump.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><b> </b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey, Coach, please don't stab me with that drumstick.</td></tr>
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<b>Faceplant: No. 25 Michigan State</b><br />
--On Navy's home court, Sparty struggled until the final minute, even though the Midshipmen lost star forward Worth Smith to injury early. Props to MSU for playing a game in such a setting, but there are other teams waiting for their turn on the stage.<br />
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<b>Bubbling Under:</b> Stanford, Kansas State, Iowa, Miami<br />
--None of these four beat any major opponents, but all have very interesting tests in the next week. Stanford takes on UNLV and potentially Duke in Brooklyn. K-State heads to Long Beach State en route to Maui, where Purdue awaits to start. Iowa faces Texas at MSG Thursday and the Canes visit in-state rival Florida tonight. Wins in any of those games will surely punch someone's ticket next week.<br />
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<b>25. SMU (1-0, LW NR)</b><br />
--The 'Stangs were supposed to crush Lamar, and they did. Therefore, they get to join the rankings that they would have figured in prominently if not for Markus Kennedy's suspension.<br />
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<b>24. Illinois (2-0, LW 24)</b><br />
<b>23. Arkansas (1-0, LW 23)</b><br />
<b>22. Utah (1-0, LW 21)</b><br />
<b>21. San Diego State (1-0, LW 22)</b><br />
--SDSU gets the benefit of a little transitive property. The Aztecs stopped Cal State Northridge, which would go on to play a decent game against Arizona. Utah beat Ball State, which...is named after the canning jar people. So it has that going for it, which is nice.<br />
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<b>20. UConn (1-0, LW 20)</b><br />
<b>19. Michigan (1-0, LW 18)</b><br />
<b>18. VCU (1-0, LW 19)</b><br />
--Michigan drops a spot because it didn't even play a D-I school in its opener. VCU beat a power-conference foe--albeit a bad one--decisively. Much more impressive.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I never spanked you as a kid, so I'm doing it now."</td></tr>
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<b>17. Colorado (1-0, LW 17)</b><br />
<b>16. Florida (1-0, LW 16)</b><br />
<b>15. Ohio State (1-0, LW 15)</b><br />
<b>14. Villanova (1-0, LW 14)</b><br />
<b>13. Texas (2-0, LW 13)</b><br />
<b>12. Oklahoma (1-0, LW 12)</b><br />
<b>11. Iowa State (1-0, LW 11)</b><br />
<b>10. Gonzaga (1-0, LW 8)</b><br />
<b>9. Wichita State (1-0, LW 9)</b><br />
<b>8. Louisville (1-0, LW 10)</b><br />
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--Make no mistake, Gonzaga absolutely smote Sacramento State, which could be a major contender in the Big Sky. However, Louisville played a solid game against a very likely tournament team in Minnesota. Wichita State, likewise, stifled a New Mexico State team that's expected to roll the WAC. This area will be in constant flux, especially considering that Louisville doesn't play a very potent non-conference schedule. Even if it keeps winning, it might drop behind other teams that are actually trying to test themselves.<br />
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<b>7. Virginia (2-0, LW 7)</b><br />
<b>6. Kansas (1-0, LW 6)</b><br />
<b>5. Wisconsin (2-0, LW 5)</b><br />
<b>4. Arizona (2-0, LW 3)</b><br />
<b>3. North Carolina (2-0, LW 4)</b><br />
<b>--</b>UNC's first two opponents, NC Central and Robert Morris, could both be in the tournament in March. Arizona beat Mount St. Mary's and Cal State Northridge, which probably won't unless they sweep three or four games in mid-March and earn a fake bid.<b> </b><br />
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<b>2. Duke (2-0, LW 2)</b><br />
<b>1. Kentucky (2-0, LW 1)</b><br />
--Duke put its boot to the throats of Presbyterian and Fairfield immediately and never let up, winning on back-to-back days, no less. Kentucky showed signs of lethargy and overconfidence against Buffalo. (<i>See that video up there? Yeah, nobody even thought about doing that to Jahlil Okafor.) </i>The margin between these two teams is razor-thin in my mind, and we'll get a lot of answers after the Champions Classic tomorrow.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01506764727355321403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7995362757121685826.post-12920958456494163992014-11-16T23:49:00.000-06:002014-11-16T23:49:18.784-06:00TBI's College Basketball Opening Weekend Extravaganza: Preseason Bracketometry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Welcome back to the third post of the series that may represent the most prolific this blog gets in three months, thanks to a lot of other stuff demanding some time. We've already talked about my <a href="http://backiron.blogspot.com/2014/11/tbis-college-basketball-opening-day.html" target="_blank">Top 25 picks</a> and my <a href="http://backiron.blogspot.com/2014/11/tbis-college-basketball-opening-weekend.html" target="_blank">All-American selections</a>, so now it's time to jump to the real important news that will come out in March: the bracket.<br />
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If you read my conference previews (<a href="http://backiron.blogspot.com/2014/10/tbis-conference-calling-2014-15-college_24.html" target="_blank">Part 1 here</a> and <a href="http://backiron.blogspot.com/2014/11/tbis-conference-calling-2014-15-college.html" target="_blank">Part 2 here</a>), you'll remember that I projected the teams that I expected to make the NCAA tournament from each league. This is where we put them all together into a tournament format and determine who exactly I'm tabbing as my Final Four picks. Because unlike all those other chicken-droppings bracketologists, Bracketometry will go the extra mile and project some winners. And not just going according to seed, either (I see you out there, Athlon). There will be upsets.<br />
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Trust me, you'll all disagree with several picks. I absolutely know it. But before we get to who'll be standing on the final weekend, let's look at the other 64 who'll join them at the party after the jump.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>First, let's welcome the star of the show--the bracket itself. <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6QGsdfwVKPUYVNMLU5RSGxOOVE/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Click here</a> for a bigger version, or just read on. Preferably both.<br />
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Bear in mind that these seedings have absolutely nothing to do with my Top 25 rankings, and are more based on gut feelings about schedule and overall performance than anything scientific. The Back Iron Index-powered brackets won't start coming out until New Year's.<br />
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Now, into the games.<br />
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<u><b>MIDWEST REGION:</b></u><br />
<b>#1 Kentucky vs. #16 Alcorn State/Hartford</b>--Do I really need to explain? <b>WINNER: Kentucky</b><br />
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<b>#8 Minnesota vs. #9 Florida State</b>--A Leonard Hamilton team is always about stifling defense. The Gophers rely heavily on their backcourt of Andre Hollins and Dre Mathieu (aka The Two-Dre Minimum), and both can be rattled into very inefficient shooting nights. <b>WINNER: Florida State</b><br />
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<b>#5 Utah vs. #12 Northern Iowa</b>--The Utes are a real dark horse in my world. If UNI gets here, it'll be because they have a fantastic season, but Utah's added size and experience from a team that only needed those two things last year. <b>WINNER: Utah</b><br />
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<b>#4 VCU vs. #13 UC Irvine</b>--VCU would find itself in another absolute dogfight if this matchup came to fruition. Forget trying to drive on UCI monster Mamadou Ndiaye unless you were fully convinced you could get him into foul trouble. Irvine has a pair of solid handlers in the backcourt, who may not be totally rattled by Havoc. Our first upset. <b>WINNER: UC Irvine</b><br />
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<b>#6 SMU vs. #11 Providence</b>--Another fantastic first-round matchup, this one is decided by SMU's defense and the assumption that Markus Kennedy will be back for the Mustangs. But it's tight until the final buzzer because outside of Xavier import Justin Martin, SMU has little experience on this kind of stage. <b>WINNER: SMU</b><br />
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<b>#3 Ohio State vs. #14 New Mexico State</b>--The Buckeyes will have some growing up to do during the season, but by March, they should be well equipped to take on the experienced Aggies. <b>WINNER: Ohio State</b><br />
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<b>#7 Kansas State vs. #10 Georgia State</b>--Tough matchup for a would-be Cinderella in GSU. K-State was one of the nation's best perimeter defenses last season, while the Panthers still need to prove there's help for R.J. Hunter. <b>WINNER: Kansas State</b><br />
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<b>#2 Louisville vs. #15 Oral Roberts</b>--The Cards' supporting cast was a bit shaky in the opener against Minnesota, but Montrezl Harrell showed that his three-point shooting wasn't just playing around at a meaningless scrimmage. Rick Pitino will have it all straightened out enough to dismantle ORU. <b>WINNER: Louisville</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://snyhoops.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/towns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://snyhoops.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/towns.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"AND...JAZZ HANDS!"</td></tr>
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<b>#1 Kentucky vs. #9 Florida State</b>--The Noles are one of the few teams in America that can come close to UK's size, but their 7-foot trio is nowhere near the skill level of Kentucky's bigs. <b>WINNER: Kentucky</b><br />
<br />
<b>#5 Utah vs. #13 UC Irvine</b>--Utah's got the perimeter game to stretch Irvine out. The Utes may be able to minimize the impact of shot-blockers Ndiaye and Will Davis II. <b>WINNER: Utah</b><br />
<br />
<b>#6 SMU vs. #3 Ohio State</b>--The Buckeyes may be done in by a lack of post depth. Kennedy, Yanick Moreira and Cannen Cunningham can overwhelm Amir Williams, who still struggles with fouls and disappears on offense. D'Angelo Russell's scoring could keep it close, but... <b>WINNER: SMU</b><br />
<br />
<b>#7 Kansas State vs. #2 Louisville</b>--Harrell stays in beast mode to crush the likes of Stephen Hurt and Thomas Gipson. Chris Jones and Terry Rozier make life miserable on either end for Marcus Foster. <b>WINNER: Louisville</b><br />
<br />
<b>#1 Kentucky vs. #5 Utah</b>--A rematch of the 1998 national title game. The Utes have big men who can spread the floor, just like Kentucky. Delon Wright and Jordan Loveridge are capable of making life tough for the Harrison twins, but the 5'10" Brandon Taylor would be completely swallowed. <b>WINNER: Kentucky</b><br />
<br />
<b>#6 SMU vs. #2 Louisville</b>--SMU couldn't hang when these two teams were AAC rivals last year. More of the same this season, despite no Russ Smith or Luke Hancock. Another Commonwealth war, just like in the 2012 Final Four. <b>WINNER: Louisville</b><br />
<br />
<b>#1 Kentucky vs. #2 Louisville</b>--Big Blue Nation becomes even more insufferable than usual as UK has an easier time dispatching "Little Brother" than it did against Utah. <b>WINNER: Kentucky</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<u><b>EAST REGION:</b></u><br />
<b>#1 Kansas vs. #16 St. Francis Brooklyn</b>--Yawn. <b>WINNER: Kansas</b><br />
<br />
<b>#8 Dayton vs. #9 Colorado State</b>--Somewhat interesting, but CSU pulls away late behind great rebounding from players like J.J. Avila and Stanton Kidd. <b>WINNER: Colorado State</b><br />
<br />
<b>#5 Florida vs. #12 NC State</b>--Very intriguing backcourt matchup, with UF's Kasey Hill, Michael Frazier and Eli Carter taking on State's Cat Barber and Trevor Lacey. In the end, Frazier gets hot and Chris Walker skies for several blocks on BeeJay Anya. <b>WINNER: Florida</b><br />
<br />
<b>#4 Michigan vs. #13 Memphis/BYU</b>--Gimme Memphis in the play-in, since the Coogs have no answer for Shaq Goodwin or Austin Nichols. Michigan, however, doesn't give a damn how good your bigs are. They'll prey on the Tigers' inexperienced backcourt. <b>WINNER: Michigan</b><br />
<br />
<b>#6 Illinois vs. #11 UNLV</b>--The Rebels' rim protection will have to improve from a rough opener against Morehead State. With Nnanna Egwu holding it down inside, the Illini have no such concerns. Rashad Vaughn vs. Rayvonte Rice would be a superb matchup. <b>WINNER: Illinois</b><br />
<br />
<b>#3 Wichita State vs. #14 Murray State</b>--Wichita State breathes a sigh of relief after barely escaping a Racer team that has its own talented three-headed monster in the backcourt. <b>WINNER: Wichita State</b><br />
<br />
<b>#7 Colorado vs. #10 Tulsa</b>--Tulsa's got some athletic frontcourt players, but there's no answer for Josh Scott. <b>WINNER: Colorado</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/002/631/960/hi-res-159265674-marcus-paige-of-the-north-carolina-tar-heels-sets-the_crop_north.jpg?w=630&h=420&q=75" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/002/631/960/hi-res-159265674-marcus-paige-of-the-north-carolina-tar-heels-sets-the_crop_north.jpg?w=630&h=420&q=75" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The man who closed #DunkCity.</td></tr>
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<b>#2 North Carolina vs. #15 Florida Gulf Coast</b>--Gulf Coast back in as a 15-seed...could they...nah, not this time. TBI POY Marcus Paige will allow no such thing. <b>WINNER: North Carolina</b><br />
<br />
<b>#1 Kansas vs. #9 Colorado State</b>--Where Kidd and Avila played well against Dayton, they struggle against KU's stable of big men. Not just Cliff Alexander and Perry Ellis, but Jamari Traylor and Hunter Mickelson also get into the action. <b>WINNER: Kansas</b><br />
<br />
<b>#5 Florida vs. #4 Michigan</b>--Chris Walker has a major coming-out party, and Jon Horford is motivated to show out against his former team. <b>WINNER: Florida</b><br />
<br />
<b>#6 Illinois vs. #3 Wichita State</b>--The Shockers struggle to keep Egwu and Leron Black off the glass, while Rice torments Ron Baker into a rare off night. <b>WINNER: Illinois</b><br />
<br />
<b>#7 Colorado vs. #2 North Carolina</b>--UNC gets yeoman work from Brice Johnson and Kennedy Meeks to offset Scott. The Heels also get great games from freshman wings Justin Jackson and Theo Pinson, knocking the Buffs out with a superior number of athletes. <b>WINNER: North Carolina</b><br />
<br />
<b>#1 Kansas vs. #5 Florida</b>--Michael Frazier comes close to Jeff Fryer's single-game three-point record, and gets plenty of support from freshman Devin Robinson and senior Eli Carter, both of whom frustrate Wayne Selden to no end. <b>WINNER: Florida</b><br />
<br />
<b>#6 Illinois vs. #2 North Carolina</b>--Finally, someone produces against Egwu, as Meeks and Johnson land him in foul trouble and then eat backups Maverick Morgan and Austin Colbert alive. <b>WINNER: North Carolina</b><br />
<br />
<b>#5 Florida vs. #2 North Carolina</b>--The Heels get great defensive efforts from J.P. Tokoto and Theo Pinson to keep Frazier contained. Meanwhile, Paige schools Hill, but dammit, at least the Gators kept that Elite Eight string alive. <b>WINNER: North Carolina</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<u><b>WEST REGION:</b></u><br />
<b>#1 Duke vs. #16 Delaware State/Coastal Carolina</b>--A 50-point margin is highly possible. <b>WINNER: Duke</b><br />
<br />
<b>#8 Stanford vs. #9 Iowa</b>--Both teams have decent post groups, but Stanford's bunch is just that much more talented. Plus, the Hawkeyes have no answer for Chasson Randle. <b>WINNER: Stanford</b><br />
<br />
<b>#5 UConn vs. #12 George Washington</b>--The Huskies' backcourt depth and Amida Brimah protecting the rim get the title defense off to a fine start over a good GW team. <b>WINNER: UConn</b> <br />
<br />
<b>#4 Gonzaga vs. #13 Toledo</b>--The Rockets have a bunch of talent, and point guard Juice Brown has a solid game against Kevin Pangos, but Nathan Boothe spends the evening getting pummeled by Przemek Karnowski. <b>WINNER: Gonzaga</b><br />
<br />
<b>#6 Michigan State vs. #11 Ole Miss</b>--This pairing doesn't look so hot after Michigan State struggled with Navy on opening night and Ole Miss lost to Charleston Southern. Write Ole Miss' loss up to chemistry issues and expect that they'll get straight. Maybe. Meanwhile, Denzel Valentine torments Jarvis Summers in this game. <b>WINNER: Michigan State</b><br />
<br />
<b>#3 Villanova vs. #14 Stephen F. Austin</b>--Can the Jacks do it again? Eh, maybe not, but it'll be tight until the late going. <b>WINNER: Villanova</b><br />
<br />
<b>#7 Miami vs. #10 Louisiana Tech</b>--Angel Rodriguez commits an uncharacteristic number of turnovers against Speedy Smith while The U's big men have frequent issues against Tech rim protector Michale Kyser. <b>WINNER: Louisiana Tech</b><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://wac.9ebf.edgecastcdn.net/809EBF/ec-origin.iowa.barstoolsports.com/files/2014/03/Niang.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://wac.9ebf.edgecastcdn.net/809EBF/ec-origin.iowa.barstoolsports.com/files/2014/03/Niang.jpeg" height="316" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Gotta win this many more, right?"</td></tr>
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<b>#2 Iowa State vs. #15 American</b>--The Eagles have a good perimeter trio, but if the shots aren't falling, they don't have anyone who can outduel Dustin Hogue and Georges Niang on the glass. <b>WINNER: Iowa State</b><br />
<br />
<b>#1 Duke vs. #8 Stanford</b>--Veteran Stefan Nastic vs. freshman Jahlil Okafor. Who ya got? Meanwhile, Anthony Brown can't guard everyone. <b>WINNER: Duke</b><br />
<br />
<b>#5 UConn vs. #4 Gonzaga</b>--The Huskies' perimeter defenders have a rough time with Byron Wesley and Kyle Wiltjer. Meanwhile, Ryan Boatright finally implodes, trying too hard to go full Kemba. <b>WINNER: Gonzaga</b><br />
<br />
<b>#6 Michigan State vs. #3 Villanova</b>--The Spartans figure out a way to sneak through, as Branden Dawson lands Nova big man Daniel Ochefu in some early foul trouble. Travis Trice hits from deep a lot, and Ryan Arcidiacono struggles to keep Tum Tum Nairn contained. <b>WINNER: Michigan State</b><br />
<br />
<b>#10 Louisiana Tech vs. </b><b>#2 Iowa State</b>--Monte Morris rarely turned the ball over last season, and he's not starting now. Meanwhile, Niang and Hogue do a fine job pulling Kyser out of the post and clearing chances for Jameel McKay and Bryce Dejean-Jones. <b>WINNER: Iowa State</b><br />
<br />
<b>#1 Duke vs. #4 Gonzaga</b>--The biggest upset of the event thus far, Okafor has a few issues with the burly Karnowski and the quicker Domantas Sabonis. Gary Bell plays the best defensive game of his career on Tyus Jones, and Wiltjer keeps Amile Jefferson too far from the glass to control the game with his rebounding skills. <b>WINNER: Gonzaga</b><br />
<br />
<b>#6 Michigan State vs. #2 Iowa State</b>--Niang outduels Dawson, Hogue and McKay crush Matt Costello's will to live, and Morris manages to harass both Trice and Nairn into off nights. The Mayor sits one step away from the Final Four. <b>WINNER: Iowa State</b><br />
<br />
<b>#4 Gonzaga vs. #2 Iowa State</b>--And then Fred Hoiberg gets to take that final step. Niang and Hogue prove capable of stifling Wiltjer while Dejean-Jones plays fellow USC export Wesley to a standstill. Niang's array of post moves put the bulky Karnowski into foul trouble early, neutralizing what size advantage Gonzaga brings. <b>WINNER: Iowa State</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<u><b>SOUTH REGION:</b></u><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://nbccollegebasketballtalk.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/kaminsky-e1396153648860.jpeg?w=249" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://nbccollegebasketballtalk.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/kaminsky-e1396153648860.jpeg?w=249" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Damn, everything IS bigger in Texas, isn't it?"</td></tr>
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<b>#1 Wisconsin vs. #16 Wofford</b>--Wisconsin puts something like seven guys into double figures. <b>WINNER: Wisconsin</b><br />
<br />
<b>#8 Arkansas vs. #9 Georgetown</b>--If Arkansas hasn't figured out the point guard position by now, D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera goes off. <b>WINNER: Georgetown</b><br />
<br />
<b>#5 San Diego State vs. #12 Syracuse/UCLA</b>--Give me Syracuse in the play-in, if only because Bryce Alford will look at that 2-3 zone like it's Chinese calculus. From there, SDSU will win a game whose final score will look like a football game. <b>WINNER: San Diego State</b><br />
<br />
<b>#4 Texas vs. #13 Iona</b>--The Horns' burly front line owns the glass, and Texas' perimeter players play some stifling defense on A.J. English and Isaiah Williams. <b>WINNER: Texas</b><br />
<br />
<b>#6 Oklahoma vs. #11 Green Bay</b>--Sad to see Kiefer Sykes go, but OU's backcourt won't be denied. <b>WINNER: Oklahoma</b><br />
<br />
<b>#3 Virginia vs. #14 Northeastern</b>--Northeastern's Scott Eatherton has a strong game, but there's just not enough perimeter shooting to rattle the UVa pack-line defense. <b>WINNER: Virginia</b><br />
<br />
<b>#7 Harvard vs. #10 Rhode Island</b>--Finally the favorite, Harvard...can't close the deal. The Crimson's lack of perimeter depth is exploited by URI's E.C. Matthews, Jared Terrell, Biggie Minnis, et al. <b>WINNER: Rhode Island</b><br />
<br />
<b>#2 Arizona vs. #15 Eastern Washington</b>--EWU can bomb from deep and make this game extremely interesting. Where Arizona can excel is in getting Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Brandon Ashley and Stanley Johnson to the rim and punishing the Eagles on the glass. <b>WINNER: Arizona</b><br />
<br />
<b>#1 Wisconsin vs. #9 Georgetown</b>--Here, Smith-Rivera is neutralized by Josh Gasser and Traevon Jackson. Georgetown's solid freshman class keeps it interesting, but Wisconsin makes all the plays down the stretch. <b>WINNER: Wisconsin</b><br />
<br />
<b>#5 San Diego State vs. #4 Texas</b>--Too much beef on the Longhorns for Skylar Spencer and Angelo Chol to combat alone. Myles Turner explodes all over the Aztecs. <b>WINNER: Texas</b><br />
<br />
<b>#6 Oklahoma vs. #3 Virginia</b>--Now Oklahoma has enough shooters to disrupt the pack-line. Buddy Hield, Jordan Woodard and Isaiah Cousins are able to get plenty of baskets in transition while Ryan Spangler picks up a big double-double. <b>WINNER: Oklahoma</b><br />
<br />
<b>#10 Rhode Island vs. #2 Arizona</b>--Where Harvard didn't have enough bodies on the perimeter to take down URI, Arizona has enough paint threats to bludgeon the Rams into submission. <b>WINNER: Arizona</b><br />
<br />
<b>#1 Wisconsin vs. #4 Texas</b>--Much like Kentucky in the Final Four last April, Kaminsky gets swallowed up by waves of bulky, athletic big men. Sam Dekker keeps it tight, but a late-game switch of Demarcus Holland onto him results in him disappearing much like Andrew Wiggins did last season in their meeting. <b>WINNER: Texas</b><br />
<br />
<b>#6 Oklahoma vs. #2 Arizona</b>--Hield has himself a very good game, but the Sooner frontcourt isn't able to produce as well as it normally does. Tarczewski and Hollis-Jefferson control the glass and Johnson gets to the tin at will. <b>WINNER: Arizona</b><br />
<br />
<b>#4 Texas vs. #2 Arizona</b>--Finally, Sean Miller reaches the Final Four. UT's lack of shooters comes back to bite it against a team whose front line is more athletic, if not quite as big. <b>WINNER: Arizona</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<u><b>FINAL FOUR</b></u><br />
<b>#1 Kentucky vs. #2 North Carolina</b>--The Wildcats come up just short of history in a regular-season rematch. UNC shuts down UK's already-unreliable perimeter game behind Tokoto, Pinson, Marcus Paige and freshman Joel Berry. Brice Johnson and Isaiah Hicks manage to keep Trey Lyles and Karl Towns from owning the perimeter, while Paige attacks the rim and spends half the game at the foul line. <b>WINNER: North Carolina</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.onset.freedom.com/ocvarsity/mycapture/n46qwj-johnson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://images.onset.freedom.com/ocvarsity/mycapture/n46qwj-johnson.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey, Stan, how about some college hardware?</td></tr>
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<br />
<b>#2 Iowa State vs. #2 Arizona</b>--There's every possibility that this game becomes an Instant Classic, as the two teams duel into the final minutes. Stanley Johnson has a superb game against the veteran Niang, while Hollis-Jefferson completely cuts Hogue out of the game. Dejean-Jones valiantly makes up the slack, but Arizona makes just enough stops to advance to the final. <b>WINNER: Arizona</b><br />
<br />
<b>#2 North Carolina vs. #2 Arizona</b>--Stanley Johnson emerges as the difference, taking Tokoto and Pinson to the basket at will. On the other end, he takes Brice Johnson out of the game. T.J. McConnell can't slow down Paige, but the TBI POY has no visible support. <b>NATIONAL CHAMPION: Arizona</b><br />
<br />
<br />
So there it is. TBI's official Final Four picks are <b>Kentucky, North Carolina, Iowa State and Arizona</b>. Since the tournament is so much about matchups and most analysts pull their picks completely out of their ass, consider this a rare rationalization of impossible predictions. You won't see this from any other basketball reporter on the Internet. As much as you may disagree with the picks, you can't argue that it takes a large pair of Wilsons to put it all out there for observation.<br />
<br />
That's just how TBI rolls. Come back soon.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01506764727355321403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7995362757121685826.post-10946499805476816822014-11-15T12:46:00.000-06:002014-11-15T12:46:10.578-06:00TBI's College Basketball Opening Weekend Extravaganza: The All-Americans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://media2.newsobserver.com/smedia/2013/11/26/20/46/z4iXL.AuSt.156.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media2.newsobserver.com/smedia/2013/11/26/20/46/z4iXL.AuSt.156.jpeg" height="320" width="255" /></a></div>
Most outlets may give you only two teams' worth of All-Americans. Some will give you three. Here at The Back Iron, much like at noted college basketball bible Blue Ribbon, I drop four.<br />
<br />
One thing you don't get here that you get literally everywhere else is the unrelenting hype for incoming freshmen. Writers get their All-American ballots confused with an NBA draft board and throw a bunch of one-and-dones on their teams, ignoring the dangerous precedent that was set when they anointed Harrison Barnes back in 2010. Barnes scuffled through his freshman year, bowed by the weight of the expectations, and was forced to return for a second year to salvage his draft stock.<br />
<br />
Since then, TBI has had a strict no-freshmen policy on its All-American teams. While Jahlil Okafor, Myles Turner and Karl Towns may show up and dominate the game, I prefer to give a little dap to those guys who've proven they can perform at this level.<br />
<br />
You'll surely have some other suggestions, and you're encouraged to supply them below. Rest assured, however, that if I left your team's favorite player off, it's not because I "dont know nothin bout ball" or some other unintelligible rant. The more vituperous you get in your rant, the more assured I am that I've watched more basketball games than you've had hot meals. Be civil or be gone.<br />
<br />
Now, 20 of the game's best--and a few controversial omissions--await after the jump.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.vcuathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2012-13/bios/TreveonGraham-Insidebio.jpg?max_height=458&max_width=250" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.vcuathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2012-13/bios/TreveonGraham-Insidebio.jpg?max_height=458&max_width=250" height="320" width="174" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Does he look mad to you?</td></tr>
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<u><b>THE LEFT BEHIND</b></u><br />
F Treveon Graham, VCU <br />
G Aaron Harrison, Kentucky <br />
F Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Arizona<br />
F Larry Nance Jr., Wyoming <br />
G Kevin Pangos, Gonzaga<br />
G Keifer Sykes, Green Bay<br />
G Joseph Young, Oregon<br />
<br />
--Graham will have some phenomenal games and inherit Juvonte Reddic's mantle as double-double machine in residence, but he'll also have some brutal shooting nights (<i>like Friday, when he went 3-13 against Tennessee</i>).<br />
--BBN will cry for someone to get named to every All-American team, but with that many weapons, will anyone take over on a consistent basis? Just worry about the championship, and the rest will take care of itself.<br />
--Hollis-Jefferson and Pangos, like Harrison, are on loaded teams with multiple potential stars. Besides, have we seen this reported improved jumper that RHJ was working on? Call me when we do.<br />
--Nance has the small matter of finishing his recovery from a torn ACL, and his award candidacy could be done in by a slow start. He'll be right in the mix for Mountain West Player of the Year, though.<br />
--Sykes will show up on SportsCenter and go viral on YouTube multiple times this season. However, he plays in the Horizon League. Games at Wisconsin and Miami, plus a home-and-home against Georgia State, will give him a chance to prove himself against solid comp.<br />
--Young is my pick to lead the nation in scoring. However, the Ducks could be very, very bad, and losing teams typically don't get a guy any A-A support, no matter how much he scores.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tucsoncitizen.com/wildcatreport/files/2013/11/Stanley-Johnson-shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://tucsoncitizen.com/wildcatreport/files/2013/11/Stanley-Johnson-shoes.jpg" height="170" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still undecided: recruiting special or infomercial?</td></tr>
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<u><b>THE ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM (because dammit, these guys have to go somewhere)</b></u><br />
F Stanley Johnson, Arizona<br />
G Tyus Jones, Duke <br />
C Jahlil Okafor, Duke<br />
G D'Angelo Russell, Ohio State <br />
G Rashad Vaughn, UNLV<br />
<br />
--Johnson is as much running back as small forward. Defenders nationwide will decide that standing in his way on drives to the rack simply aren't worth the pain. The Wildcats need him to improve his shooting, but everything else is already dominant. He'll be a more versatile all-around player than the departed Aaron Gordon.<br />
--Jones cracked Duke's starting lineup along with classmates Okafor and Justise Winslow. If Jones' decision-making is as good as it's rumored to be, the Blue Devil offense will absolutely hum this year.<br />
--Okafor will score on nearly anyone. He should probably be expected to crack a double-double any given night until proven otherwise. Look for the matchup against Wisconsin and Frank Kaminsky on Dec. 3.<br />
--Russell is my pick for Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and he'll step into OSU's primary scoring role early. He led the Buckeyes with 16 points in their opener, dishing six assists to boot.<br />
--Vaughn, like Russell, will step in and dominate the ball for his new team. At 6'6", he's a matchup nightmare for most shooting guards.<br />
<br />
<br />
<u><b>FOURTH TEAM</b></u><br />
<a href="http://byucougars.com/files/athletes/haws.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://byucougars.com/files/athletes/haws.jpg" /></a>G Tyler Haws, BYU<br />
G Buddy Hield, Oklahoma <br />
F Brice Johnson, North Carolina<br />
F Bobby Portis, Arkansas<br />
C Josh Scott, Colorado<br />
<br />
--Haws, like Joe Young, could lead the nation in scoring. Unlike Young, he has a little talent around him and a team that could go dancing. As an aside, the largely anonymous Haws could pass The Jimmer for BYU's all-time scoring lead sometime in February. But never mind all of that. Examine the pics on the right and join me in a little game I like to call "Pick the Douchier Hairdo."<br />
<a href="http://byucougars.com/files/athletes/tyler-haws_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://byucougars.com/files/athletes/tyler-haws_0.jpg" /></a>--Hield was one of the nation's most improved shooters last season, and he's always been lightning fast. He's a dangerous defender and, at 6'4", is a solid rebounder as well. He'll make the Sooners a primary challenger to Kansas' throne in the Big 12. <br />
--I've written it here and elsewhere, but Johnson put up absurd per-40 minute numbers over his first two seasons. If he can play defense without hacking folks, he could push a double-double any night. If not, he's still gotta be better than James Michael McAdoo.<br />
--Portis is one of the finest athletes in the SEC, a league teeming with guys that can run and jump. If the Hogs intend to live up to expectations and crash the Big Dance this season, he'll have to rack regular double-doubles.<br />
--Same with Josh Scott. Colorado shouldn't have a ton of difficulty reaching the tournament, but Scott will still have to carry a big load to get them deep. On a front line with Xavier Johnson and Wesley Gordon, rebounds may be hard to come by, so if Scott records more than, say, 15 double-doubles, it'll be a true mark of his dominance.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTYBY2VQNCvIw1--LbWxSKVAc8DGI3thR9PKGCa_-hd_q-jRudnGg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTYBY2VQNCvIw1--LbWxSKVAc8DGI3thR9PKGCa_-hd_q-jRudnGg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">About as close as Ellis ever gets to a smile.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u><b>THIRD TEAM</b></u><br />
F Perry Ellis, Kansas<br />
G R.J. Hunter, Georgia State<br />
G Nic Moore, SMU<br />
G Juwan Staten, West Virginia<br />
G Fred VanVleet, Wichita State<br />
<br />
--Ellis, not hyped freshmen Cliff Alexander or Kelly Oubre, will lead KU in scoring. He'll be prolific and efficient enough to contend for Big 12 POY.<br />
--Three words sum up Hunter's exquisite shooting: Baby. Reggie. Miller. And coming from a born-and-bred Pacers fan, that's some heavy respect. If we don't see Georgia State in the NCAA tournament, then every conference tournament in America should be boycotted from now until infinity. (Or until Adam Sandler does another good movie. But probably infinity comes first.)<br />
--Moore's role as the leader for SMU becomes that much more important
with ace forward Markus Kennedy suspended. He should certainly be among
the favorites for AAC POY.<br />
--Earlier this offseason, we wondered if Staten would have to be a one-man show to get WVU to the tournament. He won't, not with Devin Williams always a threat to go 15/15 like he did against Monmouth last night, but he'll always be capable.<br />
--VanVleet is often placed ahead of backcourt mate Ron Baker in the queue for national respect, but it's quarterback bias. FVV doesn't make mistakes on or off the court and is widely renowned as a nice guy, so he's a critical darling.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/sptusncaabexperts/165113901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/sptusncaabexperts/165113901.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Is this what all the rappers mean by flossin'?"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u><b>SECOND TEAM</b></u><br />
G Ron Baker, Wichita State<br />
G Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia<br />
C Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin<br />
G Caris LeVert, Michigan <br />
G D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Georgetown<br />
<br />
--Of course, everything above about VanVleet also applies to Baker. Plus, he's a better shooter, a more effective defender and a better athlete. If there's justice, Baker will rack better numbers than VanVleet and get a fair shake in the Missouri Valley POY race.<br />
--Brogdon isn't a guy who'll rack up absurd numbers in Tony Bennett's glacial defensive-oriented system. Still, there are shots to be had now that Joe Harris is gone, and Brogdon is another versatile player willing to get his hands dirty on defense. He's another guy who'll get a lot of love from writers unless Virginia craters this season.<br />
--Kaminsky is the closest thing we have to Dirk Nowitzki in the college game today. His handle, shot, rebounding ability and defensive instincts are all on point. The only thing keeping him off the first team is the issue he had with Kentucky in the Final Four. He followed a great game against Arizona, and doing it again vs. UK could have sealed him as a lottery pick. Of course, we're all better for him being back.<br />
--LeVert has several other strong scoring options sharing a backcourt
with him, but his defensive skill and versatility may make him both the
Big Ten's best college player and best NBA prospect.<br />
--Smith-Rivera is the best player in the Big East, and it's not very close. He's had a couple of years to prove himself as a top scoring threat, now he can add point guard to his list of responsibilities. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.247sports.com/Uploads/Assets/886/789/6_789886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://media.247sports.com/Uploads/Assets/886/789/6_789886.jpg" height="165" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 3-monocle has to be an obscene gesture in some country.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u><b>FIRST TEAM</b></u><br />
F Sam Dekker, Wisconsin<br />
F Montrezl Harrell, Louisville<br />
F Georges Niang, Iowa State<br />
G Marcus Paige, North Carolina<br />
G Delon Wright, Utah<br />
<br />
--Dekker's grown two inches in the offseason--now up to 6'9"--and he spent his summer crushing elite competition at LeBron James' summer camp. If he returns to the 37% three-point shooting he flexed as a freshman, he'll be just as hard to guard as Kaminsky.<br />
--Harrell is attempting to add the three-point shot to his arsenal, but even if that experiment fails, he's still one of the nation's most muscular finishers in the post and a fierce rebounder. No big man in America runs the floor better, either.<br />
--Niang lost about 25 pounds in an attempt to improve his ability to get to the rim. He's one of the best late-game scorers in America, and his duties at winning time will only increase now that Melvin Ejim has departed. His foot injury derailed what could have been a Final Four run for the Cyclones, so his continued health will be key. Hopefully he didn't overwork himself at the Nike Big Man camp and LeBron's academy over the summer.<br />
--Paige is TBI's pick for <b>National Player of the Year</b>. He established himself last season as a scorer who could take over the game at will, usually in the second half. This season, expect the Tar Heels to have more options on hand, allowing Paige to play the occasional distributor role. He can lead the ACC in both scoring and assists.<br />
--Wright is the single most versatile player in college basketball. Aside from three-point shooting, there's nothing he doesn't do well on the court. The one thing that could keep his numbers down is the improved depth that the Utes are sporting this year. Of course, the numbers aren't everything if all that new talent helps Utah push for the top 10.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQnCHZkVvXo5Bc7JpU44ueZ6ZRgNErR936iylriarcskcm9MJqClg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQnCHZkVvXo5Bc7JpU44ueZ6ZRgNErR936iylriarcskcm9MJqClg" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Damn, Tre still mad, ain't he?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u><b>THE HYPOTHETICAL</b></u><br />
Because I like to see how dream-team matchups like these might actually come off, I paired up these teams and took them over to WhatIfSports.com. WhatIf's <a href="http://whatifsports.com/DreamTeams/default.asp" target="_blank">Dream Teams feature</a> allows you to draft historical players and pair them off to establish...something, I guess. Mostly, it's mindless fun that stirs some intriguing possibilities.<br />
<br />
The First and Fourth teams were paired up against the Second and Third, with each team adding two randomly selected Left Behind players to form a 12-man roster. Hollis-Jefferson and Nance were added to the 1/4 squad (call them Team Dekker), while Sykes and Young were added to the 2/3 team (call it Team Baker).<br />
<br />
Games between the two teams were simulated seven times to replicate an NBA-style playoff series.<br />
<br />
<b>Game 1: Dekker 91, Baker 82</b><br />
--With 14:42 remaining, the game was tied 52-all on a Kaminsky layup. From there, Team Dekker launched a 24-11 run to salt the game away. Team Baker never got closer than seven the rest of the way, despite great second halves from Ellis and Kaminsky. Frank the Tank got 15 of his team-high 20 in the final 20 minutes, while Ellis chipped in 11 after the break.<br />
<br />
For Team Dekker, Paige (27) and Portis (10) were the only players in double figures, but everyone scored at least four and the team sank 50% from the floor while missing only one of 17 foul shots. Dekker enjoyed a 41-32 rebounding advantage, paced by Portis with seven, Harrell's six and Nance's six. Portis also added three steals, while Dekker and Nance blocked three shots each.<br />
<br />
<b>Game 2: Dekker 93, Baker 87 (2-0 Dekker)</b><br />
--The game came down to the final minute, as Kaminsky gave Team Baker the lead with 1:28 to go. Harrell put Dekker back up with a thunderdunk, then Scott followed a missed layin by Paige to extend the lead to three. Kaminsky struck again with a bank shot from the right side, but Team Baker decided to foul instead of playing for a defensive stop. Their mistake came in fouling the automatic Paige, who sank both ends of a one-and-one. Wright rebounded a missed triple from Smith-Rivera, and Nance knocked down three of four foul shots to seal the game.<br />
<br />
Ellis led all scorers with 19 points, but fouled out on a charge with 2:28 to go. Kaminsky (17) and Sykes (14) joined him in double digits. Paige and Wright paced Team Dekker, combining for 32 points, 12 rebounds, 13 assists and six steals. Harrell added nine points (eight in the second half) and a game-high eight boards.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Game 3: Baker 100, Dekker 94 (2-1 Dekker)</b><br />
--Team Baker got on the board in another see-saw game. Once again, Kaminsky produced in the clutch, putting Team Baker ahead on a pair of free throws with 3:21 left. Baker's team excelled at the line all game long, sinking 27-30 including 10-10 for Kaminsky. 11 of Team Baker's final 16 points came from the line, with the big Badger knocking in eight during that final 3:21.<br />
<br />
Baker's big post duo again couldn't be contained, as Kaminsky led all scorers with 18 and Ellis added the series' first double-double (17 and 10). Six other Baker players put up at least eight. For Team Dekker, five players reached double figures, paced by Paige's 24. Wright and Paige each dropped six dimes, while Hollis-Jefferson led his team with eight rebounds.<br />
<br />
<b>Game 4: Baker 88, Dekker 84 (series tied 2-2)</b><br />
--For the first time in the series, Team Dekker struggled with its shooting and allowed Team Baker to tie the series. It wasn't without a valiant comeback, however. Dekker rallied from a 13-point second-half deficit to take a 70-69 lead with 8:35 to go. A pair of VanVleet assists put Baker back on top, then both teams went cold for more than two minutes. Wright closed the lead to two with a dunk, then Kaminsky and Baker knocked in back-to-back threes to extend it to eight. That lead disappeared quickly, and a pair of freebies from Paige tied the game at 84 with 0:50 to go. LeVert knocked down a long two-pointer, then Scott missed a baseline jumper. Young corralled the rebound with 0:08 left, drew a foul and sank both shots to close the scoring.<br />
<br />
Kaminsky stuffed the boxscore to the tune of a game-high 18 points (including three triples), five boards, four assists, three steals and two blocks. Staten, Ellis and Hunter each joined him in double figures, with Hunter adding a game-high four blocks. For Team Dekker, Nance led with 17 points while Paige and Harrell both contributed double-doubles. Paige put up 14 points and 10 assists, while Harrell added 16 points and 14 boards. Outside of those three, however, the rest of Team Dekker shot a combined 14-39 from the floor and 7-14 from the line.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.247sports.com/Uploads/Assets/969/278/6_1278969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://media.247sports.com/Uploads/Assets/969/278/6_1278969.jpg" height="165" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pictured: BOSS.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Game 5: Dekker 98, Baker 89 (3-2 Dekker)</b><br />
--A slightly less dramatic affair, Game 5 was still a one-possession game until the final 3:00. Hollis-Jefferson made the second of two free throws to push the lead to four, and Team Baker could get no closer the rest of the way. Marcus Paige's heroics were the story, as "Second-Half Marcus" dropped in 23 of his 32 in the final 20 minutes. His three-pointer with 47 seconds left was the final dagger, stretching the lead to 94-87. Aside from his scoring, Paige flirted with a triple-double, adding nine rebounds and eight assists, plus three steals.<br />
<br />
Again, Kaminsky was the story for Baker's bunch, scoring 11 of his 17 points in the second half, but none in the final 12 minutes. Ellis (15), Hunter (12) and Sykes (10) joined him in double figures.<br />
<br />
<b>Game 6: Dekker 109, Baker 104 (Dekker wins series 4-2)</b><br />
--Team Dekker's size advantage finally reared its head, as it dominated the glass by a 49-27 margin and landed Kaminsky in foul trouble to clinch the series. Frank the Tank's fifth foul--picked up with 12:01 to go--left Perry Ellis all alone in the post. Still, Team Baker's shot-makers kept the team in front until Rondae Hollis-Jefferson tipped in a third-chance bucket to make the score 99-98. From there, Team Baker only got one look at the basket on every trip. Threes from Smith-Rivera and Staten kept the game close, but Nance and Scott closed the game out strong on the glass and converted their foul shots to take the series.<br />
<br />
Paige once again dominated with 24/6/6, leading five Team Dekker players in double digits. Harrell produced his second double-double in three games with 12 and 12. Six Team Baker players scored 10 or more, largely out of necessity once Kaminsky--who still led his team with 17 and eight boards--fouled out.<br />
<br />
So, after this show of imaginary dominance, it seems Paige was a fine choice for TBI POY. And maybe I'm slow-playing Kaminsky just a bit. We'll see when the season hits its climax in about four months.<br />
<br />
Stay tuned tomorrow for TBI's completely unscientific attempt at projecting the field of 68. I like to call it Bracketometry. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01506764727355321403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7995362757121685826.post-22916468756200119412014-11-14T13:05:00.000-06:002014-11-14T13:08:41.291-06:00TBI's College Basketball Opening Day Extravaganza: Top 25 Picks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I hate Christmas music, but the sentiment behind this song is valid for today. College basketball's opening day beats the living hell out of Christmas for me because 2 things:<br />
<br />
1) There's a metric ton of hoops to watch;<br />
2) No stressful shopping experiences.<br />
<br />
As we prepare to tip the season off in some style (<i>Texas Southern v. Eastern Washington = two potential conference champions opening the campaign</i>), sit back and observe TBI's up-to-the-minute preseason top 25 and All-American picks after the jump.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><b>25. Michigan State</b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/002/775/995/hi-res-d388e80f2680ab0db59b5cfab759c2b4_crop_north.jpg?w=630&h=420&q=75" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/002/775/995/hi-res-d388e80f2680ab0db59b5cfab759c2b4_crop_north.jpg?w=630&h=420&q=75" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*Not without some of this, though.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
--Dude, it's <b>Tom Izzo</b>. He'll figure things out.* The Spartans' roster doesn't look as hot as it normally does, but there's still a solid core in place with <b>Branden Dawson</b>, <b>Travis Trice</b> and one of my personal favorites for a breakout year in the B1G, <b>Denzel Valentine</b>. Aside from Delon Wright of Utah (more on him later), there's not a man in college hoop I consider more likely to drop a trip-dub on somebody this season. I'm also expecting some sweet shooting from <b>Bryn Forbes</b>, but he did struggle in the few games Cleveland State had against tourney-caliber opposition last season. It's very possible that Izzo's rolling with <b>Tum Tum Nairn</b> and Trice as his starting backcourt by season's end.<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>24. Illinois</b><br />
--I wrote <a href="http://www.btpowerhouse.com/2014/11/13/7186253/illinois-basketball-season-team-preview-2014-2015-groce-ncaa-tournament" target="_blank">the team preview</a> over at BT Powerhouse, and Illinois has my vote for 4th in the Big Ten this season. <b>Ahmad Starks</b> and <b>Aaron Cosby</b> will add much-needed shooting, and once Jaylon Tate takes over at the point (<i>you listening, Coach Groce?</i>), the Illini bench mob of Starks, Cosby and <b>Malcolm Hill</b> will be one of the sweetest-shooting second units in the nation. <b>Rayvonte Rice</b> can still ball, and he doesn't have to be the whole offense this season. <b>Nnanna Egwu</b> got some massive love from Jay Bilas for his defensive skillz, too:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
The Bilastrator's All-Defensive 1st Team: K. Sykes, GB; R. Hollis-Jefferson, UA; T. Cotton, WSU; B. Weber, VCU; N. Egwu, Illinois.<br />
— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) <a href="https://twitter.com/JayBilas/status/526477630439424002">October 26, 2014</a></blockquote>
<b>23. Arkansas</b><br />
--The Hogs have enough athleticism to run
with anyone, but so do several SEC teams. The problem in the SEC is that
while we can't swing a dead cat around without hitting dudes who can
run like the wind and jump out of the building, the only actual skilled
players seem to flock to Lexington and Gainesville. I <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2261537-top-storylines-for-2014-15-ncaa-basketball-season/page/7" target="_blank">wrote here</a> about the league's pervasive shooting woes, an issue that Arkansas didn't help much.<br />
<br />
All
that said, I've got <b>Bobby Portis</b> doing big boy things this season
(<i>perhaps All-American things? Stay tuned</i>), <b>Moses Kingsley</b> growing up a
bit as a sophomore, <b>Ky Madden</b> and <b>Michael Qualls</b> putting in All-SEC
caliber work. Problem is that neither <b>Jabril Durham</b> or <b>Anton Beard</b>
appears to have done enough to free Madden from primary ballhandler
status. I expect someone to step up this season, or this ranking will
look silly.<br />
<b> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sports.cbsimg.net/u/photos/basketball/college/img24457328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://sports.cbsimg.net/u/photos/basketball/college/img24457328.jpg" height="308" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keep yer head on straight, Winston.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b><br />
<b>22. San Diego State</b><br />
--Defense, defense, defense. Those
are the Aztecs' top three strengths yet again. Notice that offense is
kind of a rumor around here. It was the same last year, despite the presence of do-it-all PG Xavier Thames. Without him, it's back to the drawing board in what could be <b>Steve Fisher</b>'s final season. Freshmen <b>Trey Kell</b> and <b>Kevin Zabo</b> are keys to the backcourt operating at peak efficiency, and if they can't get it done, a lot will fall on the shoulders of junior wing <b>Winston Shepard</b>. Shepard was a guy who completely <a href="http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/Jan/30/sdsu-basketball-winston-shepard/" target="_blank">took college for granted</a> two years ago, and if he can handle the extra workload, SDSU will be okay. Not great, perhaps, but okay.<br />
<br />
<b>21. Utah</b><br />
<b>--</b>I listed the Utes as <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2261536-one-team-that-will-surprise-in-each-major-ncaa-basketball-conference-in-2014-15/page/9" target="_blank">a potential "surprise" team</a> over at B/R, and was immediately hit with "duh, so what? Everyone expects Utah to do well this year." Yes, that's true, and it made me realize that I didn't articulate the "surprise" very well. How about Final Four potential? Would that surprise you?<b></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Delon Wright</b> is simply the most versatile player in the game this season, and he's got great perimeter support from <b>Brandon Taylor</b> and <b>Jordan Loveridge</b>. The post was a weak spot last season, but there's plenty of depth now with senior <b>Dallin Bachynski</b>, junior <b>Jeremy Olsen</b>, JUCO banger <b>Chris Reyes</b>, redshirt frosh <b>Kyle Kuzma</b> and true freshmen <b>Brekkott Chapman</b> and <b>Jakob Poeltl</b>. A team that lost seven Pac-12 games by four points or less should be able to manufacture some better luck this season.<br />
<br />
<b>20. UConn</b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDZcKiCnkVF_W-Nf21YQnEU-bF6s0kmv2HNSlMycNaNOc3XwDW_3UShMbI7luoF5TTUKJNfsSq7eWx7W9Qu17CN6qNZTvZ94ePD2X_rizIJXu4DvTPSuh0Fo_NQ_x6rCAQ46mrgITeyg/s1600/15covV14_Promo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDZcKiCnkVF_W-Nf21YQnEU-bF6s0kmv2HNSlMycNaNOc3XwDW_3UShMbI7luoF5TTUKJNfsSq7eWx7W9Qu17CN6qNZTvZ94ePD2X_rizIJXu4DvTPSuh0Fo_NQ_x6rCAQ46mrgITeyg/s1600/15covV14_Promo.jpg" height="320" width="241" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NEWS FLASH: He gone now.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
--I shouldn't even be this nice, considering the massive doses of shit I kept getting handed from UConn fans all offseason for not bowing down to the "champs," a team that was:<br />
<br />
a) a No. 7 seed;<br />
2) one bad bounce from getting bounced by St. Joe's; and<br />
iii) led by several key contributors, most of whom are now gone.<br />
<br />
<b>YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT TEAM NOW, TROLLS. GET OVER YOURSELVES.</b> (<i>Ahem, moving on</i>.) UConn still has plenty of talent and depth, just not a ton of experience. <b>Ryan Boatright</b> scares me, and not in a good way. Will he have too many games of "time to get mine and show these scouts I can dominate," or will he involve his teammates? Can <b>Rodney Purvis</b> shoot efficiently and make people fear him at the foul line? Will <b>Amida Brimah</b> and <b>Kentan Facey</b> become more solid offensive players? Is <b>Daniel Hamilton</b> the do-it-all dynamo he currently resembles? Can <b>Sam Cassell Jr.</b> run a team as effectively as his dad did for so many years? Lots of questions, and it should be totally obvy that I think some of the answers will be positive. Otherwise, UConn would be nowhere near this ballot. Now, get off my ass.<br />
<br />
<b>19. VCU</b><br />
--VCU isn't anywhere close to that Gonzaga level
of missed opportunities, but there's still plenty of disappointment
going around. A loss to Stephen F. Austin wasn't entirely unexpected,
and that's an ominous sign for the Rams. A-10 POY favorite <b>Treveon
Graham</b> is still around, as is defensive boogeyman <b>Briante Weber</b>, who
should break the NCAA career steals record sometime around Valentine's
Day. Freshman <b>Terry Larrier</b> is the first truly touted recruit that <b>Shaka
Smart</b> has landed, and he'll have to prove himself quickly. The Havoc
defense demands quality depth, but there's not a lot of proven talent on the Rams' bench.
<b>Melvin Johnson</b> can be an explosive perimeter shooter, but can he be as
consistently dangerous as Troy Daniels or Rob Brandenberg? And will he
have any help?<br />
<br />
<b>18. Michigan</b><br />
--Centers? <b>John Beilein</b> don't need no stinkin' centers.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.toledoblade.com/image/2013/03/12/300x_b1_a4-3_cCM_z_cT/Mark-Donnal-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.toledoblade.com/image/2013/03/12/300x_b1_a4-3_cCM_z_cT/Mark-Donnal-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thankfully, Donnal recovered from being "en fuego" here.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
That's a bit of a misnomer, since Beilein has redshirt freshman <b>Mark Donnal</b>, who's perfectly capable of playing inside and out. If he eventually grows into the kind of force that Beilein was able to develop Kevin Pittsnogle into at West Virginia, he'll take Michigan to another Final Four soon. The backcourt, as ever, is strong at UM, with <b>Derrick Walton</b>, <b>Caris LeVert</b> and <b>Zak Irvin</b> all capable of earning All-B1G honors. Irvin has the same mandate that Nik Stauskas had after his freshman season: Prove that you can beat people off the dribble and not just spot up in the corner all night. <b>Kam Chatman</b> will battle for an All-Rookie nod as well. He went 9-6-4 against Wayne State, and if he's that kind of versatile against real basketball teams, he'll be more valuable than Glenn Robinson III ever was.<br />
<br />
<b>17. Colorado</b><br />
--The Pac-12 as a whole is being undersold a bit nationally, as the top half is just about as good as anyone's. The bottom half is an albatross, but we're here to talk about good teams. Good teams like Colorado.<br />
<br />
Buffaloes big man <b>Josh Scott</b> is one of the best in America that not many are talking about. It would not be a stretch to see him average 18 and 10 this year. Forwards <b>Xavier Johnson</b> and <b>Wesley Gordon</b> complete a front line that isn't nearly as hyped as that at, say, Texas, but it might be every bit as efficient as a group. Guards <b>Askia Booker</b> and <b>Xavier Talton</b> will allow rookie PG <b>Dominique Collier</b> to come along slowly. Coach <b>Tad Boyle</b> has depth, size and talent, and there's Sweet 16 potential if the Buffs find enough shooting.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://brockway.blogs.gatorsports.com/files/2014/08/TtDdwyBF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://brockway.blogs.gatorsports.com/files/2014/08/TtDdwyBF.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More of this, less violating team rules, Chris.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>16. Florida</b><br />
--This is another coach pick. <b>Billy Donovan</b>
is too good and has too much talent on his hands to see the Gators fall
too terribly far. PG <b>Kasey Hill</b>, wing <b>Dorian Finney-Smith</b> and
unconscious gunner <b>Michael Frazier</b> will carry the offense while rookies <b>
Devin Robinson</b> and <b>Chris Chiozza</b> get their games up to college level and
ex-Rutgers star <b>Eli Carter</b> gets his health all the way right. Robinson
in particular struggled during exhibition play. I'm still a bit
concerned about <b>Chris Walker</b>'s ability to keep his head together all
season, but veteran <b>Jon Horford</b> will play a calming role until Duke
transfer <b>Alex Murphy</b> gets eligible. The loss of four-star SG <b>Brandone Francis</b> for academic reasons really hurts. <br />
<br />
<b>15. Ohio State</b><br />
--The Buckeyes' games were as visually offensive last year as Kathy Bates' nude scene in <i>About Schmidt</i>. (<i>Thankfully, I'll spare you photographic proof. You're welcome.</i>) The Aaron Craft-led outfit didn't let anyone get buckets, but they themselves would have had trouble scoring in a whorehouse on Dollar Day. That should be rectified this season if some touted freshmen are ready to play big-boy Big Ten ball. <b>D'Angelo Russell</b> is my pick for Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and he had a great debut against Walsh, dropping 17-8-6. If his support system--classmate <b>Keita Bates-Diop</b> and redshirt <b>Kam Williams</b>, who both struggled mightily in the exhibition--gets it together, there's still more than enough defense to make beating OSU a miserable task.<br />
<br />
<b>14. Villanova</b><br />
--The Cats are expected to cruise in the Big East, with nearly everyone back. Their biggest question swirls around their biggest player, but center <b>Daniel Ochefu</b> is at least playing like a man possessed in the preseason. He ripped 20 boards to go with 11 points in an exhibition win over Nyack. Guards <b>Darrun Hilliard</b> and <b>Ryan Arcidiacono</b>, along with power forward <b>JayVaughn Pinkston</b>, are rock solid and they'll get plenty of support from junior <b>Dylan Ennis</b> and freshmen <b>Phil Booth</b> and <b>Mikal Bridges</b>. If there's a quibble, it's that there's not much depth in the post behind Pinkston and Ochefu, but the rest of the BE--outside of Top 25 sleeper Providence--isn't exactly swarming with Goliaths either. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxmhoTQjbuAZJ0gYd7H9ca-C-nqEIAWTy2dl75yTgQ-t4EWO1wjNLKMIqeGCKvUpwrKBByvn-naWW5xCIIcIPaqNaFVY_vS3OtdTLnCqyxMb8WB3AJfaRWGsZFgYGUoSPP3qz2Ggx08qb/s1600/Mr+Magoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxmhoTQjbuAZJ0gYd7H9ca-C-nqEIAWTy2dl75yTgQ-t4EWO1wjNLKMIqeGCKvUpwrKBByvn-naWW5xCIIcIPaqNaFVY_vS3OtdTLnCqyxMb8WB3AJfaRWGsZFgYGUoSPP3qz2Ggx08qb/s1600/Mr+Magoo.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shoots about as straight as the Longhorns.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>13. Texas</b><br />
--As alluded to earlier, the Texas front line is hyped, and justifiably so. Reserves <b>Prince Ibeh</b> and <b>Connor Lammert</b> could probably start for 300 or so teams around Division I, but they're still sitting behind <b>Cameron Ridley</b>, <b>Jonathan Holmes</b> and now freshman <b>Myles Turner</b>. There's top-10 talent up front, but a team that couldn't shoot straight last year didn't do much to rectify the problem. In fact, the Horns' most consistent perimeter threat, Martez Walker, done got himself suspended and left school after a domestic violence complaint. If the shooters can hit, there's Final Four potential here. If not, the Horns will once again have to crush the offensive glass. Luckily for them, that shouldn't be hard with this many heads of gigantic cattle. <br />
<br />
<b>12. Oklahoma</b><br />
--This is a provisional ranking, as the NCAA is still struggling to extract its head from its own ass and is allowing Houston transfer <b>TaShawn Thomas</b>' immediate-eligibility waiver decision to drag into the regular season. If Thomas can suit up, the Sooners will have one of the nation's (yes, NATION'S) most complete starting lineups. Guards <b>Buddy Hield</b>, <b>Jordan Woodard</b> and <b>Isaiah Cousins</b> are all potential All-Big 12 performers, and forward <b>Ryan Spangler</b> is capable of a double-double every night. The bench is mostly young, but the top seven (add senior SWAT Team member <b>D.J. Bennett</b> and sophomore gunner <b>Frank Booker</b> to the above five) are as good as just about anyone's. <br />
<br />
<b>11. Iowa State</b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://cdn1.lockerdome.com/uploads/21481b21dd7dcec11914d690dade837022505829f552c3e59a97b09de1ad02ab_large" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://cdn1.lockerdome.com/uploads/21481b21dd7dcec11914d690dade837022505829f552c3e59a97b09de1ad02ab_large" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vin Diesel's stunt double on the right? Just shave the head.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
--<b>Georges Niang</b>'s weight loss is the major story out of Ames this offseason, but of equal importance should be ISU's growing reach with actual high school talent. Rather than relying almost exclusively on transfers to keep the roster stocked (<i>UNLV's <b>Bryce DeJean-Jones</b> may be the only significant D-I import this year</i>), coach <b>Fred Hoiberg</b> got a couple of interesting freshmen into ISU this season. Point guard <b>Clayton Custer</b> might see important minutes alongside sophomore <b>Monte Morris</b>, while 7-foot Greek <b>Giorgios Tsalmpouris</b> will provide some rim protection until JUCO refugee <b>Jameel McKay</b> is eligible in time for Big 12 play. Of course, forward duo Niang and <b>Dustin Hogue</b> will pace the attack, with Morris and junior <b>Naz Long</b> relied on to make shots. There's still plenty on hand for The Mayor. <br />
<br />
<b>10. Louisville</b><br />
--The Cards have All-American (<i>SPOILER ALERT</i>) <b>Montrezl Harrell</b> and a potentially superb--albeit undersized--backcourt in <b>Chris Jones</b> and <b>Terry Rozier</b>. Based on his occasionally dominant play in exhibition season, senior <b>Wayne Blackshear</b> is ready to prove he belongs on a top-10/potential Final Four team. The major concern is integrating a pile of talented freshmen who all have their individual warts. <b>Shaqquan Aaron</b> may not be cleared to play any time soon, considering how glacially slow the NCAA moves to let guys compete (<i>they're Johnny on the spot when it comes to <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/24802118/oklahoma-state-f-michael-cobbins-suspended-for-first-three-games" target="_blank">slamming the door on dudes</a>, though</i>). PG <b>Quentin Snider</b> will have to adapt to the unique pressure of playing a key bench role for his hometown team. Big man <b>Chinanu Onuaku</b> has impressed, and will be off the bench early in relief of Harrell or sophomore <b>Mangok Mathiang</b>. 7-foot Egyptian <b>Anas Mahmoud</b> has tremendous skills, he just needs the bulk to bang inside. If the Cards can get oriented to the ACC quickly, it'll be a great season. Three conferences in three seasons, however, is a lot of scouting.<br />
<br />
<b>9. Wichita State</b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Ron+Baker+fN_8-VLpNy0m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Ron+Baker+fN_8-VLpNy0m.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But he should be the face of something. Boy-band lookin' SOB.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
--The Shockers have a spectacular backcourt, led by potential All-Americans <b>Fred VanVleet</b> and <b>Ron Baker</b> (<i>news flash: Baker's the better player, just not the face of the team</i>), but the frontcourt has to snap into shape quickly before a tough pair of early games against New Mexico State and Memphis. Freshman <b>Rashard Kelly</b> may be the best complement to senior <b>Darius Carter</b> in the post, while 6'10" Estonian <b>Rauno Nurger</b> will test defenses with his shooting range. Expect VanVleet to maximize his impact by getting him the ball in all the right spots. If the Shockers can replace Cleanthony Early's rebounding--scoring shouldn't be a problem with Baker and <b>Tekele Cotton</b> getting more looks--there's every possibility WSU contends for another high ranking and strong tournament seed. <br />
<br />
<b>8. Gonzaga</b><br />
--The Zags have got to put it together and make a tournament run sometime, and if this team can't do it, doubt has to creep in over whether <b>Mark Few</b> can produce such a season. Aside from iconic guards <b>Kevin Pangos</b> and <b>Gary Bell</b>, Gonzaga has sensational perimeter options in USC transfer <b>Byron Wesley</b>, ex-Kentucky stretch-4 <b>Kyle Wiltjer</b>, returning reserve <b>Kyle Dranginis</b> and freshman <b>Josh Perkins</b>. All these guys will need to produce while interior help is found for Polish behemoth <b>Przemek Karnowski</b>. Freshman <b>Domantas Sabonis</b> is a skilled post operator who should find several double-figure scoring games if referees don't allow him to be shoved around like a 210-pound rag doll. There's too much talent here to squander it in the round of 32.<br />
<br />
<b>7. Virginia</b><br />
--Replacing Akil Mitchell's rebounding and defense won't be easy, and issues there could lead to UVa dropping into the 11-20 range at times during ACC play. The Cavs won't fall far, though, thanks to an efficient offense that may not miss Joe Harris as much as expected. <b>Malcolm Brogdon</b> and <b>London Perrantes</b> are probably the best elite backcourt that doesn't get hyped as an elite backcourt. Veterans like <b>Anthony Gill</b>, <b>Mike Tobey</b> and <b>Justin Anderson</b> must assert themselves on both ends, and if freshmen <b>Isaiah Wilkins</b> (<i>the stopper</i>), <b>B.J. Stith</b> (<i>the sniper</i>) and <b>Jack Salt</b> (<i>the bruiser</i>) all play their roles effectively off the bench, Virginia will threaten to defend its dual ACC titles.<br />
<br />
<b>6. Kansas</b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/220/files/2014/04/high-school-basketball-mcdonald2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/220/files/2014/04/high-school-basketball-mcdonald2.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Get away from the basket, or the ball gets it and we all go home."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
--We're used to Kansas having point guard questions. Seems like that's been the case since the Adonis Jordan or Jacque Vaughn days. Still, whether it's <b>Frank Mason</b> or <b>Devonte Graham</b> running the show (<i>I'm #TeamGraham, in case you're wondering</i>), there are more than enough weapons--including a few supplemental ballhandlers--for the Jayhawks to cruise to consecutive Big 12 title No. 11. The key will be the defensive end, an area where KU was exposed late last season when Joel Embiid went down. Reserves <b>Jamari Traylor</b> and <b>Hunter Mickelson</b> will help with rim protection, but hyped rookie <b>Cliff Alexander</b> has to prove he can rebound and play defense without landing himself in foul trouble. He's not always going to be the strongest, burliest bull in the pen like he was in high school. Expect wings <b>Wayne Selden</b> and <b>Kelly Oubre</b>, along with power forward <b>Perry Ellis</b>, to contend for a spot on the Big 12 scoring leaderboard.<br />
<br />
<b>5. Wisconsin</b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://espn.go.com/prod/styles/pagetype/otl/20141105_kaminsky/images/h_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://espn.go.com/prod/styles/pagetype/otl/20141105_kaminsky/images/h_2.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pictured: a large fuzzy Badger. And the mascot.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
--When you have two All-Americans on your roster, you're generally going to be projected highly. That goes double when you have a coach whose system hums along regardless of the parts and return nearly all the talent from a Final Four team. Center <b>Frank Kaminsky</b> and wing <b>Sam Dekker</b> may be the two best players in the Big Ten this year, guards <b>Traevon Jackson</b> and <b>Josh Gasser</b> usually don't beat their own team and sophomores <b>Nigel Hayes</b> and <b>Bronson Koenig</b> both showed flashes against dominant competition, Koenig doing so in the Final Four. If there's a real knock on the Badgers, it could be (<i>COULD BE</i>) backcourt depth. Forwards <b>Duje Dukan</b>, <b>Vitto Brown</b> and <b>Ethan Happ</b> could all be contributors up front, the guard situation is much murkier. Redshirt frosh <b>Riley Dearring</b> should help as a shooter and sophomore <b>Zak Showalter</b> will be an energy guy. Another Final Four is very, very possible.<br />
<br />
<b>4. North Carolina</b><br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQRXzXj4aSaRRBJNH1id1-rhMlphTIihbNdDNGwu__OhXYEWfBF7w" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQRXzXj4aSaRRBJNH1id1-rhMlphTIihbNdDNGwu__OhXYEWfBF7w" /></a>--Provided UNC doesn't get imploded or wiped out by the wrath of a vengeful God--as Duke fans would undoubtedly love to see--in the wake of the scathing Wainstein Report, there's still plenty of talent on the court for Ol' Roy. <b>Marcus Paige</b> is certainly in the running for TBI's National Player of the Year honor, and it's possible that his distributing will be as much a story this year as his scoring. I'm expecting a great season from junior <b>Brice Johnson</b> as long as he's able to keep himself out of foul trouble. This is a dude who put up 21.2-12.4 per 40 over his first two years, for cryin' out loud. Center <b>Kennedy Meeks</b> is looking like a real athlete and not the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man this year. <b>J.P. Tokoto</b> is that guy who'll make your team's best scorer look like a YMCA scrub. Freshmen <b>Justin Jackson</b> and <b>Theo Pinson</b> will make the offense hum in transition, Pinson with the slashes to the hole and Jackson draining the trailer 3. If either <b>Joel James</b> or <b>Desmond Hubert</b> can provide capable relief for Meeks (<i>improved cardio or not, he sure as hell can't play 40</i>), the Heels have a recipe to get back to the Final Four. And then pray that no one here took any classes in African-American Studies. <br />
<br />
<b>3. Arizona</b><br />
--Full disclosure/quasi-SPOILER ALERT: You'll notice Duke just ahead of Arizona in these rankings. However, I'm tabbing the Wildcats, not the Blue Devils, to reach the Final Four. Why? UA's defense will win out early in the year, but I'm mildly intrigued about <b>Sean Miller</b>'s potential decision to redshirt JUCO Player of the Year <b>Kadeem Allen</b>. Perhaps it's to avoid any overlap with <b>Rondae Hollis-Jefferson</b> as the team's resident slashing wing, or maybe it's a major dose of good faith in junior sniper <b>Gabe York</b>. After all, the Cats have everything aside from shooting, and that's York's major. Miller compared Allen to ex-Maryland star Juan Dixon, who likewise redshirted during his career. Either way, if York and sophomore <b>Elliott Pitts</b> can supplement PG <b>T.J. McConnell</b>'s shooting, the Cats will be tough to keep away from Indy this April.<br />
<br />
<b>2. Duke</b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cbssports.com/images/visual/whatshot/100714jahlilokafor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://cbssports.com/images/visual/whatshot/100714jahlilokafor.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Biggest pair you've ever seen, dingleberry."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
--Duke has a loaded lineup, matching Kentucky with nine former McDonald's All-Americans. Freshman <b>Tyus Jones</b> appears to have cemented the starting point guard role alongside center/classmate/good buddy/National POY favorite <b>Jahlil Okafor</b>, and if Jones is all he's cracked up to be, there's a good chance he makes every teammate that much more dangerous. Sophomore <b>Matt Jones</b> surprisingly cracked the starting five in the exhibitions, showing the shot that stayed behind in high school while still playing his usual rugged defense. Backup guards <b>Quinn Cook</b> and <b>Rasheed Sulaimon</b> were last season's starters, and could likewise start for all but about 10-15 teams in the country. Overshadowed freshman <b>Grayson Allen</b> will have his moments, too. If Duke gets good backup minutes from <b>Marshall Plumlee</b> at center and <b>Amile Jefferson</b> finishes establishing himself as the ACC's best pure rebounder, Duke will finally have some steak to go with its usual sizzle, and <b>Mike Krzyzewski</b> can get back to the Final Four again. Oh, and wing <b>Justise Winslow</b> is simply a versatile all-around beast. Did I miss anyone?<br />
<br />
<b>1. Kentucky</b><br />
--Yada yada yada nine Burger Boys yada yada yada great skilled big men yada yada yada <b>Tyler Ulis</b> is lightning in a bottle yada yada yada <b>Willie Cauley-Stein</b> would swat his mama from the last turkey leg at Thanksgiving yada yada yada undefeated yada yada....<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://blacksportsonline.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Kentucky-Pursuit-Of-Perfection-Shirts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://blacksportsonline.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Kentucky-Pursuit-Of-Perfection-Shirts.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So let's all save the T-shirt printing costs, k?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Whoa, hold up. Okay, Kentucky has more talent than any team in the nation (<i>and that probably includes the Philadelphia 76ers right now</i>), but they're not going unbeaten. For that, God bless <b>John Calipari</b>. His non-conference schedule is a thing of beauty, with a great balance between cupcakes and potential NCAA tournament (<i>and I mean DEEP NCAA tournament</i>) opposition like North Carolina, Texas, Kansas and Louisville. There are a lot of games in short time early (<i>the first six in 10 days</i>), then some time to survey what worked before the real meaty games. Cal has a beautiful quandary on his hands trying to mix and match all these moving parts, and it will take time for him to get the recipe right.<br />
<br />
Now, if you're asking me "Will UK go undefeated in the SEC?" I'll tell you absolutely. Barring a jacked crowd at the O-Dome or Bud Walton, no SEC team will have anything close to enough horses to run with this bunch. Complacency and selfishness will be the main enemies for UK, and this time (unlike two years ago) Cal has more than enough depth to staple any offender to the bench and keep him there until he learns respect.<br />
<br />
Not going to the Final Four = failure. For that matter, no national title = failure. There's too much here for anyone not to vote this team on top, unless they're simply trying to be contrary and troll Big Blue Nation. While I'm always up for a good game of Troll the Trolls, any other conclusion to these rankings would be simply ludicrous. Do I expect UK to roll to the title? Not really, but right now, no one has any better case for No. 1.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01506764727355321403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7995362757121685826.post-85220825034908946242014-11-09T13:35:00.000-06:002014-11-09T13:35:25.145-06:00TBI's Conference Calling 2014-15 College Basketball Conference Previews (Part 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://media.mlive.com/spartans_impact/photo/11112968-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media.mlive.com/spartans_impact/photo/11112968-large.jpg" height="258" width="320" /></a></div>
Back for more, eh? Expecting that the new guy over at <a href="http://www.btpowerhouse.com/" target="_blank">BT Powerhouse</a>, SB Nation's finest stop for all your Big Ten basketball needs, will mindlessly anoint his favorite conference as America's best?<br />
<br />
If you expect that a guy who's glossed himself The Professor for the better part of a decade will do anything mindlessly, you obviously haven't passed through here much.<br />
<br />
So let's check out Part 2 of TBI's conference rankings and see if the Big Ten does, in fact, reign supreme once more. (BTW, this is also post No. 100 in the sporadic history of this slightly-above-mediocre college basketball repository. So, yay me, I guess.)<br />
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<b>16. MAAC</b> (18th of 32 in last season's Back Iron Index)<br />
--<b>Iona</b> is always home to one of the nation's most fun offenses, and this year is no exception. Guards <b>A.J. English</b> and <b>Isaiah Williams</b>, along with forward <b>David Laury</b>, should all earn All-MAAC honors at season's end. <b>Manhattan</b> lost a lot from an NCAA team, but should stay firmly in the mix behind veterans like <b>Shane Richards</b> (<i>42% from deep</i>) and <b>Emmy Andujar</b> (<i>13.3 PPG in the postseason</i>). <b>Siena</b> returns nearly everyone from a 20-win team, <b>St. Peter's</b> has a 30-PPG 1-2 punch in forward <b>Marvin Dominique</b> and <b>Desi Washington</b> and <b>Quinnipiac</b> has one of the nation's best rebounders in senior <b>Ousmane Drame</b>. This race could go a lot of different ways.<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> Iona <br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> F/C Ousmane Drame, Quinnipiac <br />
<b>TBI'S GAME CHANGER:</b> F Jermaine Lawrence, Manhattan<br />
--The Cincinnati transfer is a former 5* prospect coming back home to NYC, and he should nicely replace departed big man Rhamel Brown. Lawrence is nowhere near the defensive terror Brown was, but he'll be just as solid a rebounder and a much better scorer.<br />
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<b>15. Big West</b> (20th of 32)<br />
<a href="http://content.draftexpress.com/gallery/AlanWilliams/1383242303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://content.draftexpress.com/gallery/AlanWilliams/1383242303.jpg" height="306" width="320" /></a>--One of the nation's most egregious examples of conferences overvaluing their cash-grab tournaments, the Big West missed out on a chance to market a dangerous <b>UC Irvine</b> team or one of the nation's most under-appreciated players, <b>UCSB</b>'s <b>Alan Williams</b> (<i>21.3 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 2.1 BPG</i>). Sure, Cal Poly won its play-in game, but still. Now a senior, Williams is back for one more run, and he's surrounded by capable backcourt talent. Irvine returns most of its talent from a team that held opponents to 39.2% on two-point shots. While those are the two teams drawing the most attention, <b>Cal State Northridge</b> is a dark horse behind dynamic scoring duo <b>Stephen Maxwell</b> and <b>Stephan Hicks</b> and <b>UC Davis</b> could play the <b>Cal Poly</b> role if it keeps forwards <b>Josh Ritchart</b> and <b>J.T. Adenrele</b> healthy.<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> UC Irvine <br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> F/C Alan Williams, UCSB <br />
<b>TBI'S GAME CHANGER:</b> PG Landon Drew, Cal State Northridge<br />
--CSUN got to the tin as much as anyone last year, but sniper Josh Greene was the only reliable perimeter threat. Drew is a quintessential pass-first point guard, but he's got to add a consistent, aggressive jumper. He knocked down 35.4% from the arc, but that only added up to 23 makes.<br />
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<b>14. Conference USA</b> (14th of 32)<br />
--Exit East Carolina, Tulane and conference tournament champion Tulsa. Enter <b>Western Kentucky</b>. Eh, not a terrible trade. The Toppers have four starters back, including three that earned Sun Belt conference honors. They'll be a factor, but expect <b>UTEP</b> and <b>Louisiana Tech</b> to be the fastest horses in this race. The Miners have an awesome wing duo, but an unproven group of guards. Tech has the league's best backcourt and a great post defender. In the end, Tech's explosive, attacking defense will make it hard for anyone in this league to stop them.<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> Louisiana Tech <br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> F Vince Hunter, UTEP <br />
<b>TBI'S GAME CHANGER:</b> F William Lee, UAB<br />
--Alongside senior C.J. Washington, Lee is very likely to form CUSA's most dominant post duo. Lee averaged an absurd 9.2 BPG as a high school senior to go with his 22.2/12.7. One or the other should threaten for a double-double every night.<br />
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<b>13. Ivy League</b> (17th of 32)<br />
--It's essentially a one-horse race, but <b>Harvard</b> is the Secretariat in residence. Stars like <b>Wesley Saunders</b>, <b>Siyani Chambers</b> and <b>Steve Moundou-Missi</b> would be a strong core even if they were the only bullets in coach <b>Tommy Amaker</b>'s gun. They're not. <b>Yale</b> has a great 1-2 punch, perhaps strong enough to carry off a lengthy NIT run. <b>Columbia</b> had a chance to contend for second place itself before a season-ending injury to forward <b>Alex Rosenberg</b>. <b>Princeton</b> has to iron out its point guard position and make sure the defense is as solid as it was late last season, but the Tigers could also crack a postseason event.<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> Harvard <br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> G/F Wesley Saunders, Harvard <br />
<b>TBI'S GAME CHANGER:</b> G Nick Victor, Yale<br />
--Victor's one of the Ivy's best defenders, frequently tasked with shadowing an opponent's best player. His work against Saunders and Chambers will be key to the Bulldogs pulling essential wins over Harvard.<br />
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<b>12. Horizon League</b> (13th of 32)<br />
--The HL lost a lot of star power, but <b>Green Bay</b> PG <b>Keifer Sykes</b> could keep the league on the map singlehandedly if he keeps blowing up YouTube with stupendous little-man throwdowns like these.<br />
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Sykes has ace defensive stopper <b>Jordan Fouse</b> as his wingman this year as the Phoenix try to wash out the bitter taste of last year's NCAA snub. <b>Cleveland State</b> returns four starters, but sharpshooter Bryn Forbes (<i>now at Michigan State</i>) and a pair of key bench pieces could prove tough to replace. <b>Detroit</b> has an interesting group of transfers set to pick up All-Horizon candidate <b>Juwan Howard Jr.</b> (<i>18.3/5.3 last season</i>). Watch out for 6'10" Penn State transfer <b>Patrick Ackerman</b>.<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> Green Bay <br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> PG Keifer Sykes, Green Bay <br />
<b>TBI'S GAME CHANGER:</b> F/G Paris Bass, Detroit<br />
--Bass stands 6'7" and can play any of the three perimeter positions. After a redshirt season where he routinely asserted himself over the Titans' starters, he should now see a prominent role of his own.<br />
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<b>11. Missouri Valley</b> (11th of 32)<br />
--<b>Wichita State</b> must still be the story as long as <b>Fred VanVleet</b> and <b>Ron Baker</b> are in the Shockers' backcourt and <b>Gregg Marshall</b> is on the sideline. Still, <b>Northern Iowa</b> is respected by knowledgeable observers, especially since the Panthers return all five starters, add Virginia transfer <b>Paul Jesperson</b> and welcome true frosh PG <b>Wyatt Lohaus</b> and redshirt freshman PF <b>Bennett Koch</b>. Koch's brothers Adam and Jake both put in serious work for UNI, so Bennett has quite a legacy to live up to. If <b>Evansville</b> isn't pushing for the league title, it very well could be next season. Junior guard <b>D.J. Balentine</b> is one of the streakiest shooters in America (<a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2237477-ranking-the-10-streakiest-shooters-in-college-basketball-for-2014-15-season/page/4" target="_blank">says so right here</a>) and 6'10" classmate <b>Egidijus Mockevicius</b> may be the best big man in the league--all due respect to UNI star <b>Seth Tuttle</b>.<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> Wichita State <br />
<b>AT-LARGE: </b>Northern Iowa <br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> G Ron Baker, Wichita State <br />
<b>TBI'S GAME CHANGER:</b> F Josh Cunningham, Bradley<br />
--Cunningham is the MVC's only top-100 recruit this season. Athletic though he is, there's too much turnover to expect Bradley to push for the title. A CIT trip, however, could be attainable if everyone gels quickly.<br />
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<b>10. West Coast</b> (9th of 32)<br />
--Much like Wichita State in the MVC, the West Coast's headliner will continue to be <b>Gonzaga</b>, a team that looks like it's papered over most of the cracks left by this year's round of attrition. There's not much post depth behind burly Pole <b>Przemek Karnowski</b>, but aside from that, the Zags are loaded. <b>BYU</b> got great news when swingman <b>Kyle Collinsworth</b> was cleared to compete this week, because stud shooter <b>Tyler Haws</b> needs some help. The Cougars' frontcourt is decimated, but there should be enough shooting to put BYU into a First Four game. Watch out for <b>San Diego</b> and <b>Pepperdine</b>, both of whom are led by All-WCC first-team favorites in USD guard <b>Johnny Dee</b> and Waves forward <b>Stacy Davis</b>.<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> Gonzaga <br />
<b>AT-LARGE:</b> BYU <br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> G Byron Wesley, Gonzaga <br />
<b>TBI'S GAME CHANGER:</b> G Duda Sanadze, San Diego<br />
--I'm not quite deluded enough to call the Toreros' backcourt of Johnny Dee and Chris Anderson the best in the WCC, not while Bell/Pangos still call the shots at Gonzaga. Still, USD should have plenty of weapons alongside their senior guard duo, and Sanadze is first in line. If he tightens up his three-point stroke, he could join Dee as an All-WCC candidate.<br />
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<b>9. Mountain West</b> (10th of 32)<br />
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Winston_Shepard_01.JPG/624px-Winston_Shepard_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Winston_Shepard_01.JPG/624px-Winston_Shepard_01.JPG" height="307" width="320" /></a>--Everybody took some serious losses, leaving the MWC race surprisingly open. It's still hard to bet against <b>San Diego State</b>, but several other teams can do exactly what the Aztecs did and may still struggle to do--score. The Aztecs will hope that their rugged defense stays on point while players like <b>Winston Shepard</b>, <b>Dwayne Polee</b> and freshman <b>Trey Kell</b> try to establish themselves as go-to scorers. <b>Boise State</b> returns dynamic duo <b>Derrick Marks</b> and <b>Anthony Drmic</b>, the latter fully healthy after injuries nagged at him all last season. <b>Colorado State</b> welcomes a raft full of transfers to join established stars <b>Daniel Bejarano</b> and <b>J.J. Avila</b>. The Rams may finally have the depth they need to play a pressure defense and wear opponents out.<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> San Diego State <br />
<b>AT-LARGES:</b> Colorado State, Boise State <br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> F J.J. Avila, Colorado State <br />
<b>TBI'S GAME CHANGER:</b> G Julien Lewis, Fresno State<br />
--The Bulldogs have a lot of productive returnees, but a former Texas starter may hold the key to their postseason hopes. Lewis will have an immediate impact at both ends, especially if he can improve on his 34-percent shooting from the arc as a Longhorn.<br />
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<b>8. American</b> (8th of 32)<br />
--Yes, the AAC produced four NCAA tournament teams, including the national champion. And it was dragged down by a sack of anchors in the bottom half of the league. Now it must sell <b>East Carolina</b>, <b>Tulsa</b> and <b>Tulane</b> as replacements for Louisville. Good luck with that. However, Tulsa still has plenty of talent to make a run at another tourney bid, even with <b>Frank Haith</b> coaching instead of Danny Manning. <b>UConn</b> must still be reckoned with despite the loss of Shabazz Napier. However, the fans' persistent bitching about "lack of respect" reflects a fundamental lack of understanding of how this game works. Very few teams enter a season with the same team that finished the previous one, and UConn wasn't exactly dominant last year, even with the iconic Napier and the other key losses on board. <b>Memphis</b> goes overnight from a loaded backcourt and unproven frontcourt to relying on a pair of stud forwards to prop up inexperienced guards. There's still enough there to get back to the Big Dance, but will UM fans get sick of <b>Josh Pastner</b> only pulling out 8 and 9 seeds? <b>SMU</b> is the team to beat, even without Emmanuel Mudiay's services, but if stud forward <b>Markus Kennedy</b> misses substantial time, that could greatly change.<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> SMU <br />
<b>AT-LARGES:</b> UConn, Memphis, Tulsa <br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> PG Nic Moore, SMU <br />
<b>TBI'S GAME CHANGER:</b> F Devonta Pollard, Houston<br />
--A former top-50 recruit and Alabama signee, Pollard nearly saw his career derailed by legal drama unfolding in his family. Now, he has a chance to rebuild it with a similarly motivated coach in <b>Kelvin Sampson</b>. It would take a miracle for the Cougars to push into the NCAA tournament, but the CBI should be very reachable.<br />
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<b>7. Atlantic 10</b> (7th of 32)<br />
--Six bids probably aren't in the cards again, but the A-10 will boast some of the nation's best coaching jobs. Of particular notice will be <b>Rhode Island</b>'s <b>Dan Hurley</b> taking his team from 14 wins to the tournament and <b>George Washington</b>'s <b>Mike Lonergan</b> keeping his team there despite losing studs like Maurice Creek and Isaiah Armwood. <b>VCU</b> is still the 800-pound gorilla, and one day <b>Shaka Smart</b> may actually win the league's regular-season title. <b>Dayton</b> could have a hard time getting back to the Dance if it can't defend the way it did with solid horses like Devin Oliver and Vee Sanford on hand. There may not be enough scoring on hand to win games in the 80s, unless...(see Game Changer below)<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> VCU <br />
<b>AT-LARGES:</b> Dayton, Rhode Island, George Washington <br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> F/G Treveon Graham, VCU<br />
<b>TBI'S GAME CHANGER:</b> G Darrell Davis, Dayton <br />
--Davis is a 6'4" combo guard who turned down Michigan State to come play for Archie Miller. Look for him to reward Miller for staying with a tremendous rookie season, perhaps culminating in A-10 Freshman of the Year honors. Davis dropped nearly 25 PPG as a high school senior, and he'll immediately step into a prime supporting role for Flyers gunner Jordan Sibert.<br />
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<b>6. Big East</b> (3rd of 32)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>No, Josh, you shoot the ball, not eat it.</b></td></tr>
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--The Back Iron Index had every Big East team save <b>DePaul</b> qualified for some sort of postseason play. Somebody else may very well be DePaul-bad this season, but what looks even more likely is <b>Villanova</b> running away with the title. The Wildcats have only James Bell to replace from a team that lost to no one other than Dougie McBuckets in conference play. Georgetown lost a couple of starters, but combo guard <b>D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera</b> is the best player in the league and he's got some intriguing freshman wingmen coming in. The Hoyas could be a March threat if (A TITANIC-SIZED IF) Titanic-sized center <b>Josh Smith</b> is finally willing and able to play a full season. <b>Providence</b> has a schedule with some potential attention-getting wins and a roster capable of winning them, even without iron man Bryce Cotton. Freshman bigs <b>Ben Bentil </b>and <b>Paschal Chukwu</b> should be instant producers for the Friars, as well as rookie wing <b>Jalen Lindsey</b>. <b>Xavier</b> and <b>St. John's</b> could also threaten for the tournament, but Xavier will be forced to lean on freshmen early, while the Johnnies' roster is still littered with the chronic underachievers who've missed the last three tournaments.<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> Villanova <br />
<b>AT-LARGES:</b> Georgetown, Providence<br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> G D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Georgetown <br />
<b>TBI'S GAME CHANGER:</b> F Angel Delgado, Seton Hall<br />
--All the attention in South Orange is on McDonald's All-American <b>Isaiah Whitehead</b>, but Delgado will be key to the Pirates' ability to track down the shots Whitehead can't convert. He corralled more than 16 RPG as a high school senior, and he'll have plenty of opportunities as a college freshman.<br />
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<b>5. SEC</b> (6th of 32)<br />
--In most years, the SEC is a two-horse race between <b>Kentucky</b> and <b>Florida</b>. This year, it's hard to even put Florida in Kentucky's orbit. The Gators are talented, sure, but there's not a ton of experience there and relying on unproven--and <a href="http://www.alligatorarmy.com/2014/10/15/6983497/chris-walker-suspended-florida-gators-violation-team-rules" target="_blank">seemingly immature</a>--<b>Chris Walker</b> for the inside presence may end badly. Kentucky, in case you haven't heard, has a lot of talent this season. <b>Arkansas</b>, <b>Ole Miss</b>, <b>LSU</b>, <b>Georgia</b> and <b>Auburn</b> all have some intriguing horses, but it's unlikely the SEC rebounds to its six-bid heyday this year. Four bids seems generous, and I'm giving the other two to Arkansas and Ole Miss. The Hogs have a ton of athletes led by All-SEC forward <b>Bobby Portis</b>, while Ole Miss stitched together a highly compelling roster of transfers, both D-I and JUCO.<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> Kentucky <br />
<b>AT-LARGES:</b> Florida, Arkansas, Ole Miss <br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> PG Jarvis Summers, Ole Miss <br />
<b>TBI'S GAME CHANGER:</b> G Matthew Fisher-Davis, Vanderbilt<br />
--If Fisher-Davis proves he can defend SEC ballhandlers, his shooting stroke will swing a few games in the Commodores' favor. Adding Fisher-Davis to <b>Wade Baldwin</b>, <b>Riley LaChance</b> and <b>Shelton Mitchell</b> may give the Commodores the best rookie backcourt in the SEC.<br />
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<b>4. Pac-12</b> (4th of 32)<br />
--There's a steep drop between the top half of the Pac-12 and the bottom half. Of course, there's a steep drop between <b>Arizona</b> and everyone else, but there's at least some depth of star power in this league, unlike the SEC. Like last year, Arizona enters the season in search of perimeter shooting to augment its ferocious defense. If <b>Stanley Johnson</b> and <b>Kadeem Allen</b> can provide some of that shooting to minimize the need for the (<i>relatively</i>) defensively challenged <b>Gabe York</b>, UA is a national championship favorite. <b>Utah</b> may have the conference's best backcourt, <b>Colorado</b> has the league's best big man and <b>Stanford</b> has the Pac-12's No. 2 returning scorer. <b>UCLA</b> should still slide into the tournament, having plenty of talent if not quite enough depth.<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> Arizona <br />
<b>AT-LARGES:</b> Utah, Colorado, Stanford, UCLA <br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> G Delon Wright, Utah <br />
<b>TBI'S GAME CHANGER:</b> G Jordan Mathews, California<br />
--The Golden Bears could contend for a tournament bid if new boss <b>Cuonzo Martin</b> can cultivate something resembling a bench. Mathews will be part of the tremendous starting five, and if he's not forced to play the point, he could be one of the Pac-12's breakout scorers.<br />
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<b>3. Big 12</b> (2nd of 32)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>All you need to know about Texas' perimeter shooting.</b></td></tr>
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--Betting against <b>Kansas</b> in the Big 12 feels like blasphemy. So, I'm not about to violate that commandment just yet. The Jayhawks have largely subsisted without great point guard play since Sherron Collins graduated, so what's different about this year's <b>Devonte Graham</b>/<b>Frank Mason</b> throwdown at the 1? There are still an absurd number of great athletes in Kansas jerseys this year, so they'll be fine. <b>Texas</b> has a ginormous frontcourt, but can those big men score when opponents can pack the lane with impunity? The Horns' shooters are about as reliable as that noted apex predator Elmer Fudd. <b>Iowa State</b> may be KU's primary challenger when it's all written, as <b>Fred Hoiberg</b> simply plugs in another group of transfers and keeps it moving behind All-American candidate <b>Georges Niang</b>. <b>Oklahoma</b> and <b>Kansas State</b> both have plenty of tournament-worthy talent, while 2014 tourney teams <b>Oklahoma State</b> and <b>Baylor</b>--along with <b>West Virginia</b>--have some things left to prove.<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> Kansas <br />
<b>AT-LARGES:</b> Iowa State, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas State <br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> F Georges Niang, Iowa State <br />
<b>TBI'S GAME CHANGER:</b> F Elijah Macon, West Virginia<br />
--The Mountaineers lost a lot of scoring when Eron Harris and Terry Henderson transferred, but there's still plenty of size on hand. Macon, a 6'9" tank, could team with sophomore <b>Devin Williams</b> to dominate the glass and salvage a lot of possessions when a scattershot backcourt comes up empty.<br />
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<b>2. Big Ten</b> (1st of 32)<br />
--The B1G is another league with a projected champion standing on its own cloud well above the field. <b>Wisconsin</b> won't miss Ben Brust much at all if sophomore <b>Bronson Koenig</b> continues to improve and star forward <b>Sam Dekker</b> recaptures the shooting form of his youth. (<i>You know, the good old days of two seasons ago.</i>) <b>Ohio State</b> will miss Aaron Craft on the defensive end, but the loss will be tempered somewhat by the addition of players who can actually score. Freshman <b>D'Angelo Russell</b> should cruise to Freshman of the Year honors. <b>Michigan</b> and <b>Michigan State</b> have coaches that only a fool bets against, even if their rosters look a bit odd. Remember, most of us didn't expect a ton from Michigan last year. <b>Illinois</b> will finally find some shooting from a pair of transfer guards and some interior skill from freshman <b>Leron Black</b>. <b>Minnesota</b>, <b>Iowa</b>, <b>Maryland</b>, <b>Nebraska</b> and <b>Indiana</b> could all be scrapping for bids, but the latter two will fall short thanks to a shortage of frontcourt muscle. Watch out for the Terps if they can play some defense.<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> Wisconsin <br />
<b>AT-LARGES:</b> Ohio State, Michigan, Illinois, Michigan State, Minnesota, Iowa <br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> F Sam Dekker, Wisconsin <br />
<b>TBI'S GAME CHANGER:</b> F/C Michal Cekovsky, Maryland<br />
--A 7-footer who can play inside and out, <a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terps/tracking-the-terps/bal-maryland-freshman-michal-cekovsky-adapting-20141022-story.html" target="_blank">Cekovsky claims</a> that he's patterned his game after Dirk Nowitzki's. If he's capable of being an inside-out scorer and notching the occasional double-double, Maryland could snag the tournament bid as a Big Ten rep that it couldn't as an ACC member last year.<br />
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<b>1. ACC</b> (5th of 32)<br />
--Unlike its Power 5 brethren, the ACC has more than one team in its top tier. <b>Duke</b>, <b>North Carolina</b>, <b>Louisville</b> and <b>Virginia</b> all return strong rosters, although Duke looks the most complete of the four. <b>Jahlil Okafor</b> gives Duke an inside presence it hasn't had in more than a decade (<i>see example above</i>), and he's surrounded by a dangerous fleet of shooters. UNC has <b>Marcus Paige</b>, who's proven he can carry a tremendous load. The hope this year is that junior forward <b>Brice Johnson</b> and freshman <b>Justin Jackson</b> contribute some scoring so Paige won't have to do it all again. Louisville sports its own All-American candidate in <b>Montrezl Harrell</b>, but it's anyone's guess who'll take pressure off of him inside. Virginia has to replace two pillars of the program in Joe Harris and Akil Mitchell, but skilled guards <b>London Perrantes</b> and <b>Malcolm Brogdon</b> are a good place to start.<br />
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Beyond those four, there are a good six or seven other teams who think they can make the Big Dance this year. I'm calling eight bids, with <b>Syracuse</b> squeaking into the field and <b>Pitt</b> and <b>Notre Dame</b> just missing out. Look for <b>Miami</b> to have a surprisingly strong season, albeit nowhere close to the dual titles of 2013.<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> Duke <br />
<b>AT-LARGES:</b> North Carolina, Louisville, Virginia, Miami, Florida State, NC State, Syracuse <br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> PG Marcus Paige, North Carolina <br />
<b>TBI'S GAME CHANGER:</b> G Xavier Rathan-Mayes, Florida State<br />
--Rathan-Mayes is a dangerous scorer, but the Noles will field a potent lineup if he can also play the point. He averaged 7 APG at Huntington Prep in 2012-13, so he's not completely unfamiliar with the responsibilities.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01506764727355321403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7995362757121685826.post-49720350546655962272014-10-24T11:38:00.000-05:002014-10-24T11:38:55.810-05:00TBI's Conference Calling 2014-15 College Basketball Conference Rankings (Part 1)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2PXcKIxVRVGhMMnQWicwsvSj4mMatH7srzo9oeBk2UhbWl-H6uSbTH9Axt_n5ubCh34YxHzmhqszX22PugvUoUZook-X7t35xJPK4gryS60XG56Z2aUbx3BaQcntZrwA-8APsmMxRsQe/s1600/2012-03-10_DMNPVAMUAlcornWBBSWACChamp_McWhorter020blogedit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2PXcKIxVRVGhMMnQWicwsvSj4mMatH7srzo9oeBk2UhbWl-H6uSbTH9Axt_n5ubCh34YxHzmhqszX22PugvUoUZook-X7t35xJPK4gryS60XG56Z2aUbx3BaQcntZrwA-8APsmMxRsQe/s1600/2012-03-10_DMNPVAMUAlcornWBBSWACChamp_McWhorter020blogedit.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
Oh, hai. Been a long time.<br />
<br />
Normally around this time of year, I'm trying furiously to churn out a full-on conference preview for every league in America. And normally by opening day, I haven't even covered more than a dozen of the 32 conferences. If I were Joe Blow Single Guy writing in his underwear with Cheeto stains on his fingertips, I'd have a lot more time to finish these things, but kids and a wife have this annoying habit of asking for a little time with Daddy. And since none of you are paying any of my bills, the writing is usually let to slide.<br />
<br />
Still, I'm always interested in how the conferences stack up at this time of year, which is why TBI is still going to turn out a full set of conference rankings. We all know who the worst league in America is (<i>hint: it's one letter away from being SWAG, something that the conference in question almost totally lacks</i>), and everybody's got their own perspective on who's the best. (<i>Sit down, SEC fan. That ridiculous all-conference <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2014/10/22/all-sec-mens-basketball-preseason-team/17718769/" target="_blank">second-team ballot</a> says it all.</i>)<br />
<br />
But now, here comes The Back Iron to settle it all. Strap in, kids, and prepare to bitch as we unveil the bottom half of the nation's leagues.<br />
<br />
Below, you'll find TBI's picks for conference regular-season (<i>and we'll presume tournament</i>) champions, along with each league's expected Player of the Year and a potential Game Changer selection. The Game Changer may be a newcomer or returnee, but he'll certainly be a player who's not getting the publicity he deserves for his ability to shift the balance of power in his league.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><b> </b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.scouting4u.com/upload/scout2win/players/110325/headshot_2_LeAntwan_Luckett.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.scouting4u.com/upload/scout2win/players/110325/headshot_2_LeAntwan_Luckett.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>If not for good Luckett, Alcorn'd have no Luckett all.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>32. SWAC </b>(32nd of 32 in last season's Back Iron Index)<b></b><br /><b></b><br />
--There's talent in that thar SWAC, but too much of it is concentrated at <b>Alabama State</b>, which is on double-not-very-secret APR punishment, so won't be going to the NCAA tournament. That leaves the door open for others like <b>Alcorn State</b> and <b>Texas Southern</b>, the latter of which is gaining fast in the Transfer U. discussion. If new boys <b>Chris Thomas</b> and <b>Deverell Biggs</b> play nice and keep their stuff together in Houston, coach Mike Davis could be headed to another tournament.<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> Alabama State, but they're banned, so...<br />
<b>NCAA BID:</b> Alcorn State<br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:</b> G LeAntwan Luckett, Alcorn State<br />
<b>TBI's GAME-CHANGER:</b> F JoVaughn Love, Arkansas-Pine Bluff<br />
--Love spent a redshirt season after transferring from a junior college last year. During that time, the high school PG grew to 6'9" without losing his perimeter skills. <br />
<br />
<b>31. America East</b> (27th of 32)<br />
--The AE has a lot of talented sophomores and juniors, so next year could see a mini-renaissance. However, this year's choice is between the perennial bridesmaids at <b>Stony Brook</b> (<i>who lost a lot in last year's senior class</i>) and <b>Hartford</b> (<i>returning almost everyone from a team that rained fiery death from the arc last season, but handled the ball as if it were slathered in pig fat</i>). <b>Albany</b> may very well sleepwalk through the regular season again and get hot enough in mid-March to reach a third straight tournament.<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> Hartford<br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> Jameel Warney, Stony Brook<br />
<b>TBI's GAME CHANGER:</b> F/G Roland Nyama, Stony Brook<br />
--SUNYSB needed a slasher to complement Warney's interior muscle and point guard Carson Puriefoy's perimeter touch. Enter the versatile German, who can compete at either wing position. <br />
<br />
<b>30. Southern</b> (30th of 32)<br />
--Even with Davidson in the league, there wasn't much need to pay attention to the SoCon. Now that the Wildcats are in the Atlantic 10, there's even less reason. <b>Wofford</b> looks equipped to become the league's new bully, but watch for <b>Chattanooga</b> as well. Mocs coach <b>Will Wade</b> has the tools to do something that his former boss Shaka Smart has yet to manage at VCU--win a conference regular-season title.<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> Wofford<br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> G Karl Cochran, Wofford<br />
<b>TBI's GAME CHANGER:</b> F Anthony "Duke" Ethridge, Chattanooga<br />
--The 6'6" Ethridge was a second-team NJCAA All-American after carding 19.8/9.3 for South Georgia Tech last year. If he can keep up with Wade's demanding "Chaos" defense, he'll see time at both forward spots. He's reportedly killed one practice-court rim already. <br />
<br />
<b>29. MEAC</b> (31st of 32)<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcShEjXkTwo9KMRG4mJ_CugrRLi95pCiXqRfsO_XLqIHeD6rbkOW" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcShEjXkTwo9KMRG4mJ_CugrRLi95pCiXqRfsO_XLqIHeD6rbkOW" width="222" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Dude, I'd be pissed my parents named me Nimrod.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
--There are actual signs of life from three MEAC programs, which qualifies this as a banner season. Normally, the league either has one colossus and 12 minnows or sees everyone drown in an equal sea of mediocrity. <b>North Carolina Central</b> is the defending champion, but has to account for the scoring lost when POY Jeremy Ingram graduated. <b>Hampton</b> has a solid backcourt, but it too must replace its top scorer. Finally, <b>Delaware State</b> wobbled to life late last season when interim coach <b>Keith Walker</b> took over. Center <b>Kendall Gray</b> could lead the league in both rebounds and blocks.<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> Delaware State<br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> C Kendall Gray, Delaware State<br />
<b>TBI's GAME CHANGER:</b> G Nimrod Hilliard, NC Central<br />
--The Delaware State pick is highly precarious, and it'll turn into downright lunacy if Hilliard is the kind of scoring and distributing threat he was at Lamar (<i>14.1/3.8/4.9/1.3 last year</i>). <br />
<br />
<b>28. Atlantic Sun</b> (24th of 32)<br />
--Yawn. With Mercer gone to the SoCon, <b>Florida Gulf Coast</b>'s league hegemony is nearly unrivaled. Guards <b>Brett Comer</b> and <b>Bernard Thompson</b>, the final links to FGCU's magical #DunkCity 2013 tournament run, are the two best players in the league, and they're augmented by a burgeoning pipeline of transfers who love the idea of playing their college ball a mile from prime Florida beachfront. <b>Lipscomb</b> and <b>North Florida</b> have solid casts in place, but they'll have to pin their hopes on getting hot in March. A 14-0 conference record is very attainable for Gulf Coast.<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> Florida Gulf Coast<br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> PG Brett Comer, Florida Gulf Coast<br />
<b>TBI's GAME CHANGER:</b> G Chad Jackson, Northern Kentucky<br />
--Jackson missed last season as a redshirt, but he essentially gives the Norse a sixth returning starter who averaged 10.8 PPG in 2012-13. <br />
<br />
<b>27. Southland</b> (29th of 32)<br />
--<b>Stephen F. Austin</b> still has plenty of returning talent to make it the prohibitive favorite. Still, there's reason to hunt down some games, because several teams have superb guards donning their jerseys: <b>Jalan West</b> at <b>Northwestern State</b>, <b>John Jordan</b> at <b>Texas A&M-Corpus Christi</b> and <b>Denzel Livingston</b> at <b>Incarnate Word</b>, just to name a few. <br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> Stephen F. Austin<br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> PG Jalan West, Northwestern State <br />
<b>TBI'S GAME CHANGER:</b> G DeMarcus Gatlin, Sam Houston State<br />
--Like Chad Jackson, Gatlin is a former starter forced out of action last season. He's capable of defending four positions, and he was also a double-digit scorer in 2011-12. <br />
<br />
<b>26. Big South</b> (28th of 32)<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://springbreakguide.com/wp-content/themes/springbreakguide2013/tools/timthumb.php?src=/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/2014-03-20-228472_1839101212181_6399465_n.jpg&h=150&w=170&zc=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://springbreakguide.com/wp-content/themes/springbreakguide2013/tools/timthumb.php?src=/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/2014-03-20-228472_1839101212181_6399465_n.jpg&h=150&w=170&zc=1" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Coastal Carolina's recruiting letter.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
--<b>Coastal Carolina</b>,
much like Florida Gulf Coast, has everything going for it: plenty of
returning talent, home-court advantage for the all-important conference
tournament and a location that promises Spring Break all year 'round. (<i>Yeah, speaking of talent...Ahem.</i>)
Radford likewise has a great group of returnees, led by potential
all-conference picks Javonte Green and R.J. Price. Gardner-Webb has
three very solid returning pieces as well, and High Point has John
Brown, who's still ready to posterize all comers.<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> Coastal Carolina<br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> F John Brown, High Point<br />
<b>TBI'S GAME CHANGER:</b> C Zach Price, Winthrop<br />
--When Price isn't busy getting arrested (<i><a href="http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/24513273/zach-price-arrested-twice-on-same-day-and-suspended-by-missouri" target="_blank">twice in one day</a>, no less</i>), he's busy being tall. The 6'10" vagabond didn't last long at Missouri after coming in from Louisville. If he's granted an eligibility waiver (<i>which would be very advisable, since he seemingly needs as little spare time as possible</i>), the Eagles have a big man to join a potent perimeter crew.<br />
<br />
<b>25. Northeast</b> (25th of 32)<br />
--Perhaps the biggest celebrity in the NEC is <b>Robert Morris</b> coach <b>Andy Toole</b>, who's still worthy of inclusion among the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2166143-ranking-the-10-best-college-basketball-coaches-under-40-years-old/page/7" target="_blank">Best Young Coaches in America</a>, even though he's entering his fifth year. Toole still has, um, tools to work with, including NEC POY candidate <b>Lucky Jones</b> (<i>no, he's not a racehorse</i>). However, there's still conference tourney champion <b>Mount St. Mary's</b> to reckon with. The Mountaineers are huge, suiting up 10 players 6'6" or taller. St. Francis Brooklyn and Central Connecticut also have all-conference stars returning, so expect some shootouts.<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> St. Francis Brooklyn <br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> F Jalen Cannon, St. Francis Brooklyn <br />
<b>TBI'S GAME CHANGER:</b> F Brandon Peel, Central Connecticut State<br />
--Peel should be among the NEC's Defensive POY candidates this season, and he was one of the NEC's top rebounders last season. He'll need to fight his guts out on the glass to show that the Blue Devils aren't just about volume chuckers like Kyle Vinales.<br />
<br />
<b>24. Big Sky</b> (26th of 32)<br />
--The Big Sky race is actually quite wide-open, with four teams entertaining legitimate hopes of a regular-season title. <b>Eastern Washington</b> has plenty returning, including the league's best backcourt in 21.8-PPG man <b>Tyler Harvey</b> and seniors <b>Drew Brandon</b> and <b>Parker Kelly</b>. Sacramento State is right behind with its trio of <b>Mikh McKinney</b>, <b>Dylan Garrity</b> and <b>Cody Demps</b> (<i>combined 37.8/9.7/10.1 last season</i>). <b>Northern Arizona</b> is led by POY candidate <b>Quinton Upshur</b>, while <b>Weber State</b> can never be discounted, especially if it finds a true point guard.<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> Eastern Washington <br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> F/C Joel Bolomboy, Weber State<br />
<b>TBI'S GAME CHANGER:</b> C Brandon Cataldo, Portland State<br />
--Cataldo useta be a contenda. He was highly rated coming out of high school, but a broken leg derailed his conditioning and he's yet to make it back, even in his fifth year of college. Leaving aside the obvious snark about PSU's strength and conditioning coaches, Cataldo was highly productive in limited doses last year. His rebounding percentages: 19.4 offensive/21.6 defensive; those are insane. <br />
<br />
<b>23. WAC</b> (22nd of 32)<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.azcentral.com/i/d/6/5/L169_CIFRdc4ea4960851174b51090dd48524156d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i.azcentral.com/i/d/6/5/L169_CIFRdc4ea4960851174b51090dd48524156d.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Still the most famous man in the WAC.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
--There are definitely several teams worth watching in the WAC, including budding transfer haven <b>Grand Canyon</b> and potential sleeping giant <b>Missouri-Kansas City</b>. GCU in particular could upset the apple cart behind two returning double-digit scorers and D-I transfers <b>DeWayne Russell </b>(Northern Arizona) and <b>Royce Woolridge</b> (Washington State). However, with last season's upset regular-season champ <b>Utah Valley</b> losing several key pieces, <b>New Mexico State</b> still has to be the favorite. The overhyped Sim Bhullar era is past, but defending POY <b>Daniel Mullings</b>, sharpshooter <b>DK Ethridge</b> and actual skilled center <b>Tshilidzi Nephawe</b> form a dangerous big three.<br />
<b>TBI's PICK: </b>New Mexico State <br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> G Daniel Mullings, New Mexico State <br />
<b>TBI'S GAME CHANGER: </b>F Deshaun Sunderhaus, Seattle<br />
--The 6'9", 255-pound junior lost the final 11 games to an ACL tear last season. His 6.2 RPG would have ranked 11th in the conference. If he can clean up on the offensive glass, the RedHawks have a good complement to a trigger-happy trio of guards.<br />
<br />
<b>22. Sun Belt</b> (19th of 32)<br />
--Much like the Atlantic Sun, conference realignment has rendered the Sun Belt a one-horse race. <b>Georgia State</b> could run the table after perennial contender Western Kentucky joined several former brethren in Conference USA. GSU is drawing plenty of Cinderella hype behind backcourt stars <b>R.J. Hunter</b> and <b>Ryan Harrow</b> (<i>36.1/7.2/5.9/3.2 combined last season</i>), along with inside bruiser Curtis Washington. <b>Louisiana-Lafayette</b> could still be a gadfly, especially if Oklahoma State transfer <b>Brian Williams</b> hits the ground running.<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> Georgia State <br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> G R.J. Hunter, Georgia State <br />
<b>TBI'S GAME CHANGER:</b> F Eric Ferguson, Georgia Southern<br />
--GSU returns three former All-SoCon selections with Ferguson in tow. If he's healthy and has his head on straight (<i>and if he's even allowed back on the team after <a href="http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/07/07/report-georgia-southern-forward-eric-ferguson-suspended-indefinitely-following-arrest/" target="_blank">this summer's arrest</a></i>), he'll make a fine frontcourt complement to College of Charleston import Trent Wiedeman.<br />
<br />
<b>21. Patriot League</b> (21st of 32)<br />
--<b>American</b>'s guard trio of <b>John Schoof</b>, <b>Jesse Reed</b> and <b>Pee Wee Gardner</b> are enough to keep the Eagles atop the Patriot, but watch out for <b>Army</b> and <b>Lafayette</b>. Those two teams are led by stars that will duel for the league's POY trophy all season. Army's <b>Kyle Wilson</b> led the league in scoring, while Lafayette's <b>Seth Hinrichs</b> is easily the league's most versatile player when healthy.<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> American <br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> G Kyle Wilson, Army <br />
<b>TBI'S GAME CHANGER:</b> C Dan Trist, Lafayette<br />
--Trist averaged a sensational 23 points and 9.7 boards per 40 last season. Now, if he can avoid the stupid fouls that keep coach Fran O'Hanlon stapling him to the bench in hopes that he learns a lesson, he can finish the job of being an All-Patriot performer and getting his team to the Big Dance.<br />
<br />
<b>20. Summit League</b> (15th of 32)<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thesummitleague.org/sports/mbkb/2014-15/photos/0001/IPFW_Team_Forbes_and_Mascot_rp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.thesummitleague.org/sports/mbkb/2014-15/photos/0001/IPFW_Team_Forbes_and_Mascot_rp.jpg" height="204" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pictured: a large, hairy mastodon. Plus, some guy in an elephant suit.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
--Everybody is the Summit is flawed to some degree, which makes for a wide-open race
that still may not be terribly entertaining. Denver coach Joe Scott is
trying to challenge senior guard Brett Olson to be a star every night.
IPFW center Steve Forbes (6'9", 295) can dominate the league if he stays
out of foul trouble. Oral Roberts gets back stud guard Obi Emegano, but lost All-Southland (<i>yeah, that experiment didn't last long</i>) forward Shawn Glover. And the _____ Dakota State schools both lost a ton of talented seniors. Throw a dart at this one.<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> Oral Roberts <br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY: </b>F Cody Larson, South Dakota State <br />
<b>TBI'S GAME CHANGER: </b>G/F A.J. Jacobson, North Dakota State<br />
--The Bison are a young bunch, so don't be surprised if the redshirt freshman has to get heavily involved. Jacobson grew to 6'7"/215 during his season off, so he can be a very difficult matchup for Summit League defenders. <br />
<br />
<b>19. CAA</b> (16th of 32)<br />
--<b>Northeastern</b>, <b>William & Mary</b> and <b>Hofstra</b> all have electric stars capable of leading their teams to glory. However, Northeastern sports the best supporting cast. All five Husky starters return, plus talented swingman <b>Quincy Ford</b>, who packed it in after two games last season to seek treatment for a nagging back injury. Dark horse <b>Drexel</b> has to have an injury-free season sometime...right?<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> Northeastern <br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> F Scott Eatherton, Northeastern <br />
<b>TBI'S GAME CHANGER:</b> F Rodney Williams, Drexel<br />
--The Dragons are practically holding open auditions for big men, but Williams should be the one constant. He averaged nearly a triple-double per 40 minutes last season, but unfortunately the third category was fouls (6.8). If he's smarter with his aggression, he's a potential all-conference pick.<br />
<br />
<b>18. OVC</b> (23rd of 32)<br />
--<b>Murray State</b> sports three returning double-figure scorers, and all could earn all-conference honors this season. <b>Belmont</b> simply keeps brushing itself off and rolling on after losing OVC superstars. First, it was iconic guard tandem Kerron Johnson and Ian Clark, then it was wing J.J. Mann. Now, senior <b>Reece Chamberlain</b> and junior <b>Craig Bradshaw</b> take over. <b>SEMO</b>, <b>Austin Peay</b>, <b>Eastern Kentucky</b> and <b>Morehead State</b> all have star-quality performers with fair-to-solid supporting casts behind them.<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> Murray State <br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> PG Cameron Payne, Murray State <br />
<b>TBI'S GAME CHANGER:</b> G Khalil Davis, Austin Peay<br />
--Davis and fellow JUCO import Assane Diop could both see immediate time for the Governors. Davis is a vicious slasher who can crash the glass and hit just enough threes to make defenders nervous.<br />
<br />
<b>17. MAC</b> (12th of 32)<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://d193sqwirurshj.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/Rader_CS_06.jpg?itok=XNZqRjlY" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://d193sqwirurshj.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/Rader_CS_06.jpg?itok=XNZqRjlY" height="320" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>"Coach wants me to eat healthy. Hi, healthy."</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
--The MAC lost a ton of talent this offseason, and even the projected top teams didn't survive unscathed. <b>Toledo</b> lost versatile forward Rian Pearson, but still returns enough to not only expect a conference championship, but potential advancement in the NCAA tournament. <b>Akron</b> and <b>Ohio</b> will also contend, showing that there's a lot more basketball in Ohio than just what's happening in Columbus and Cincinnati. <b>Western Michigan</b> has plenty of perimeter pieces, but All-MAC center Shayne Whittington will be missed tremendously.<br />
<b>TBI's PICK:</b> Toledo <br />
<b>TBI's CONFERENCE POY:</b> F Demetrius Treadwell, Akron <br />
<b>TBI'S GAME CHANGER:</b> C Antonio Campbell, Ohio<br />
--At 260 pounds, Campbell is still trying to tighten up his body, but he put in serious work down the stretch last year, averaging 9.6/4.3 while starting the Bobcats' final eight games.<br />
<br />
The top half of the nation, including a listing of TBI's at-large selections, coming in Part 2.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01506764727355321403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7995362757121685826.post-75009708199395312522014-02-24T16:05:00.000-06:002014-02-24T16:05:57.870-06:00Poll Dancing: TBI's Official Top 25 College Basketball Rankings (Feb. 24 Edition)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Jim Boeheim went thermo-f'ing-nuclear. That's about all we need to know about this week.<br />
<br />
The stress of the season is getting to everybody, it seems.<br />
<br />
But seriously, how surprising is it that ANY coach made it as long as Boeheim has without ever being ejected?<br />
<br />
After Boeheim going insane, the top 25 almost seems like an afterthought, but let's take a look at how far the Orange slipped after two losses, one of which is in the running for WTF Moment of the Year.<br />
<br />
<b>Faceplants: No. 20 UConn, No. 21 Arizona State, No. 24 UCLA, No. 25 Memphis</b><br />
--13 teams have made one-week cameos on Poll Dancing, then suffered losses that sent them tumbling right back out again. UConn, ASU and UCLA are the newest members of that club, with the Sun Devils having a particularly rough week. Road losses to Utah and Colorado aren't surprising, but a bit disappointing.<br />
--UCLA can relate to that Utah loss. Meanwhile, a loss at Maples Pavilion isn't a crusher, but it'll remove you from a poll when other candidates post strong victories.<br />
--The Huskies can't solve a bulkier, more athletic SMU team. Keep that in mind when forecasting UConn in your brackets. Connecticut's sweep over Memphis are its only wins against its fellow top-half American sides.<br />
--Speaking of Memphis, they didn't read last week's Poll Dancing, and therefore came in unaware that screwing around against Temple is not good for your national standing. A narrow win at Rutgers + overtime at home against Temple = terrible week. UM joins Gonzaga as our only three-time Faceplants.<br />
<br />
<b>Bubbling Under: All the Usual Suspects</b><br />
--Gonzaga, Memphis, UCLA, VCU, Oklahoma, yada yada yada...they are what they are at this point. All are capable of a good win to break into the ballot and just as capable of a WTF loss to tumble out. It's pretty late in the game to be discovering someone new at this point.<br />
<br />
The top 25 after the jump.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
<b>25. SMU (22-6, LW: NR)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://herogamesworld.com/images/my%20little%20pony%20games.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://herogamesworld.com/images/my%20little%20pony%20games.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Whoops, wrong ponies.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b><br />
--All right, Ponies, we'll try this again. The sweep over UConn makes SMU the first top-half American team with four wins over the others. Now, they just need a win over Louisville in Dallas on Mar. 5 to pull a win over each of the other four. The best news of all: SMU's done with Temple.<br />
<br />
<b>24. UMass (21-5, LW: NR)</b><br />
--The Minutemen have taken four of their last five, but the one loss was a land mine against George Mason. Wins at George Washington and home against VCU are as good as a recovery gets in the A-10, though, and now we await that Mar. 8 collision between UMass and Saint Louis. Watch out for Dayton on Mar. 1, though.<br />
<br />
<b>23. Texas (20-7, LW: 19)</b><br />
--Ouch. The Longhorns got sliced up and grilled at Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday. It's hard to hammer them too severely for losing in Ames and Lawrence. Tricky encounters vs. Baylor and at Oklahoma await.<br />
<br />
<b>22. New Mexico (21-5, LW: NR)</b><br />
--It's easy to sleep on a Mountain West team unless it beats San Diego State. Well, the Lobos did just that, and they didn't just defeat the Aztecs. It was a crushing from halftime on. Cameron Bairstow should have played himself onto everybody's All-American ballot with his 26 points and nine boards. In the big picture, UNM's tied with SDSU at 12-2 in conference after winning nine of its last 10.<br />
<br />
<b>21. Ohio State (22-6, LW: 23)</b><br />
--OSU's starting to figure out how to close games, and it's helped them take six of their last seven. It's still not a potent scoring team and probably never will be, but when the defense is working as hard as it did against Minnesota, everyone's okay with it.<br />
<br />
<b>20. Michigan State (22-6, LW: 11)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cmsimg.freep.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=C4&Date=20130325&Category=SPORTS07&ArtNo=130325056&Ref=AR&MaxW=300&Border=0&michigan-state-basketball-keith-appling-injury" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://cmsimg.freep.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=C4&Date=20130325&Category=SPORTS07&ArtNo=130325056&Ref=AR&MaxW=300&Border=0&michigan-state-basketball-keith-appling-injury" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Last time I made that face, it involved a kick to the nuts.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b><br />
--It's time to stop with the "when they're healthy" spin on the Spartans, because it's becoming obvious that they never will be. Keith Appling appeared to re-injure his wrist on a lob attempt against Michigan and was never the same afterward. If this injury lingers, Tom Izzo will need to weigh whether it's worth keeping his point guard on the floor for 30 minutes a game. If that happens, look for more March minutes for <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1954274-one-potential-breakout-tournament-star-on-each-top-25-ncaa-basketball-team/page/18" target="_blank">Travis Trice</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>19. North Carolina (20-7, LW: NR)</b><br />
--The streak is up to nine in a row, impressive in any conference, let alone the ACC. However, if we can offer one quibble: Duke and Pitt are the only ones of the nine expected to have their names called on Selection Sunday. And Duke is the only expected tournament team left on the schedule, too.<br />
<br />
<b>18. Michigan (19-7, LW: 22)</b><br />
--The win over Michigan State was one where it felt like UM was fully clicking behind its two best players: Nik Stauskas and Caris LeVert. Usually, when LeVert has a big game, it's because everyone else is struggling and he becomes the last resort. When he has support from Stauskas or Glenn Robinson III, Michigan's hard to stop.<br />
<br />
<b>17. Cincinnati (24-4, LW: 15)</b><br />
--Cincy missed a sweep of Louisville by about two seconds, but the game exposed an uncomfortable home truth for the Bearcats: If Sean Kilpatrick's not hitting, there aren't many candidates to take up the offensive slack. UC is the only one of the American's top five (i.e. the good teams) with a win over each of the other four.<br />
<br />
<b>16. Kentucky (21-6, LW: 17)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.kentucky.com/smedia/2013/10/16/18/47/eWxdl.AuSt.79.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://media.kentucky.com/smedia/2013/10/16/18/47/eWxdl.AuSt.79.jpeg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>"You want us to PASS?!?!? BWAHAHAHAHA!!!"</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b><br />
--LSU's Anthony Hickey was one brainfart away from finishing off a Tiger sweep over the Wildcats. UK won't ever really blow out quality opponents until John Calipari can drum it through the Harrison twins' skulls that the offense needs to run through Julius Randle. Randle gets only eight shots in 37 minutes while the twins and James Young take 45? The whole offense gets only five assists on 28 baskets? Yeah, that won't fly in March.<br />
<br />
<b>15. Iowa (19-7, LW: 12)</b><br />
--Iowa can relate to the 4-game, 8-day gauntlet that Duke is finishing up, because the Hawkeyes are about to start a similar run, thanks to the Indiana Hosers' crappy building falling apart. The Wisconsin game isn't a good start, and they still have to travel to The Barn and the decaying remains of Assembly Hall. These are the games Iowa must win to preserve a top-four seed.<br />
<br />
<b>14. Louisville (23-4, LW: 18)</b><br />
--Good to see the Cards finally picking up some of those quality-win things everyone's always on about. Surviving a slugfest against Cincy is tougher than we would have ever thought coming into the season. Don't forget Russtacular (TAFKA Russdiculous) when it's time for All-American voting. He's becoming the complete point guard Peyton Siva never was.<br />
<br />
<b>13. Iowa State (21-5, LW: 16)</b><br />
--Two questions regarding the Cyclones: 1) If ISU wins out and then makes a deep run in the Big 12 tournament...No. 2 seed? b) Is this the only team in America that could boast two All-Americans? Only other ones that leap to mind may be Kansas and Syracuse, and that's if voters haven't quite gotten over their Joel Embiid man-crushes.<br />
<br />
<b>12. Saint Louis (25-2, LW: 14)</b><br />
--The Billikens are only four games away from running the table in the A-10, but the last three are doozies: at VCU, vs. Dayton, at UMass. But if Jordair Jett keeps dropping 18 PPG like he has since conference play started, SLU's chances look pretty good.<br />
<br />
<b>11. Virginia (23-5, LW: 13)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.offairpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/hot-girl-ugly-guy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.offairpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/hot-girl-ugly-guy.jpg" height="230" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Only slightly stranger than UT over UVa.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b><br />
--Only four of UVa's 14 ACC wins have been by single-digit margins. In a related note, the Cavs' offense has only been held below 1.000 PPP once since Jan. 8. In that span, only three opponents (Duke, Boston College, Clemson) have cracked 1.000 against the pack-line defense. Still don't understand how this group got torched by 35 against Tennessee, but such is life.<br />
<br />
<b>10. San Diego State (23-3, LW: 7)</b><br />
--The AP voters hammered State with a seven-spot drop after the loss to New Mexico. Yeah, it was a punishing defeat, but bear in mind that this is the New Mexico team we thought we had at the start of the season. What may be more concerning to those voters (the ones who stay up to watch SDSU play, that is) is that the Aztecs' games are slowing down. Five of the last six have featured fewer than 60 possessions after only one of the first 20 were that slow. Put voters to sleep late at night and they'll make you pay for it if you lose.<br />
<br />
<b>9. Villanova (24-3, LW: 6)</b><br />
--Nova had a two-win week, but both were squeakers over teams that may not get on the NCAA bus. It's the Wildcats' misfortune to get lapped by a team that accomplished the difficult road double over Michigan and Iowa.<br />
<br />
<b>8. Wisconsin (22-5, LW: 10)</b><br />
--The top 10 is a crowded place, otherwise, UW would probably be pushing the top 5 after those two big road wins. Now, I'm not about to go as far off the deep end as Doug Gottlieb goes here...<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
Arizona,Florida,Wisconsin,MSU,Kansas Duke,Cuse, all far more deserving of 1seed than Wichita State it isn't really close<br />
— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/GottliebShow/statuses/437433863782928385">February 23, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
...in that I'm not calling for the Badgers to top a region unless they win the Big Ten Tournament. Still no denying that they've excelled against an insane schedule. <br />
<br />
<b>7. Creighton (23-4, LW: 9)</b><br />
--Hoo boy, a one-point escape against Seton Hall is scary, looking like a complete letdown game after big wins against Villanova and at Marquette. Here's one point of concern, though: Normally a good defensive rebounding club, the Jays have surrendered 30+-percent offensive boards to Big East bottom-feeders DePaul, Butler and Seton Hall in recent games. Get into the tournament against teams with beef who eat offensive glass on the regular, and Creighton's in trouble.<br />
<br />
<b>6. Kansas (21-6, LW: 8)</b><br />
--The Jayhawks barely surviving Texas Tech made fans say, "Uh-oh." The subsequent mauling of Texas made supporters and skeptics alike say, "Whoa." KU's defense was fiercer against UT than it had been in either meeting with TCU. Just sayin'.<br />
<br />
<b>5. Syracuse (25-2, LW: 1)</b><br />
--These sum up the week for the Orange:<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
And there are countless others. Boeheim won't admit that his dyspeptic fit blew any chance his team had to win, but we can all do basic math, Jim. In on-court news, the Orange look like they're running out of gas because C.J. Fair plays 126 minutes per game and that slacker Tyler Ennis only logs about 114. Of our prospective No. 1 seeds, Syracuse is the only one that I absolutely CANNOT pick to reach the Final Four.<br />
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<br />
<b>4. Duke (22-6, LW: 5)</b><br />
--Jabari Parker is averaging almost 19 points and 11 rebounds in his last 11 games. The freshman wall that appears to be pummeling Tyler Ennis these days is officially Parker's bitch. If Duke lands in a bracket that lacks ginormous frontcourts like North Carolina's, Parker's odds of pulling a Melo actually look pretty good.<br />
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<b>3. Arizona (25-2, LW: 4)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dcclubbing.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/grenade-girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.dcclubbing.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/grenade-girls.jpg" height="301" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>I think that's Colorado on the right.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b><br />
--Huh. Who knew that Arizona had this kind of offensive potency in them against a good team in the post-Brandon Ashley era? And on the road, no less? The Cats' 132.6 offensive efficiency in blowing out Colorado was their third-highest of the season, after their wins over...wait for it...Northern Arizona and Fairleigh Dickinson? <br />
<br />
<b>2. Florida (25-2, LW: 2)</b><br />
--Florida had waaaaaay too difficult a time against Auburn and Ole Miss. The Gators have beaten Kentucky and Missouri by 10, but couldn't do the same to Alabama, Auburn or Ole Miss. I like a No. 1 team that goes out and crushes the teams it's supposed to crush. And that segues beautifully into... <br />
<br />
<b>1. Wichita State (29-0, LW: 3)</b><br />
--The last time a team went 29-0 was Illinois in 2005. That Illini club had a dangerous backcourt of Luther Head, Dee Brown and Deron Williams. Wichita's backcourt of Fred VanVleet, Ron Baker and Tekele Cotton may not all be future pros, but they're working together as well as any backcourt in America. Illinois, though, didn't have a Clee Early for those guards to pass to. In essence, Wichita's legit.<br />
<b> </b><br />
If I may indulge in a second paragraph here, let me say this: Games like Florida v. Auburn and Syracuse v. BC are precisely why we need to appreciate what the Shockers are doing. Not only are they chasing an unbeaten season farther than anyone's done it in a long time, but they're carrying a lofty national ranking into games that would make other teams yawn and sleepwalk through. Wichita is the kind of motivated that no other team in the nation has been able to sustain every single night. So why not hand the team that shows up to work every night a No. 1 vote? It doesn't decide how the tournament's set up, and the championship will come out in the wash. It's not Wichita State's fault that no non-conference team of substance save Saint Louis and BYU wanted any part of the Shockers coming off a Final Four.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pictured: every coach that turned down Gregg Marshall's requests for a game.</td></tr>
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<b><br /></b>
<b>MAJOR GAMES TO WATCH:</b><br />
Oklahoma at Kansas, Monday<br />
Iowa at Minnesota, Tuesday<br />
Cal at Arizona, Wednesday<br />
Iowa at Indiana, Thursday<br />
Arkansas at Kentucky, Thursday<br />
Kansas at Oklahoma State, Saturday<br />
Louisville at Memphis, Saturday<br />
Saint Louis at VCU, Saturday<br />
Creighton at Xavier, Saturday<br />
Iowa State at Kansas State, Saturday<br />
Syracuse at Virginia, Saturday<br />
Cincinnati at UConn, Saturday<br />
Texas at Oklahoma, Saturday<br />
UMass at Dayton, Saturday<br />
Stanford at Arizona, Sunday<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01506764727355321403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7995362757121685826.post-16052362565585457292014-02-17T11:59:00.000-06:002014-02-24T10:19:58.596-06:00Poll Dancing: TBI's Official College Basketball Rankings (Feb. 17 Edition)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's a weird season in college basketball, to be sure.<br />
<br />
We all know there's no superteam out there, but did you know that a couple of weeks ago, 16 of the AP's Top 25 teams took a loss?<br />
<br />
This past week was similarly rough, as 12 of the 25 went down at some point during the week, and one (Pitt) likely forfeited any chance of returning to the rankings by missing out on its last potential signature wins.<br />
<br />
The bubble is shaky, and the lower reaches of the Poll Dancing Top 25 aren't exactly stable either. For Exhibit A, check out...<br />
<br />
<b>Faceplants: No. 22 Pitt, No. 24 SMU, No. 25 George Washington</b><br />
--Of Pitt's last five games, only Florida State is projected as a tournament team according to TBI's Bracketometry. A strong ACC tournament run may be the only thing that saves the Panthers from the dreaded 8-9 seed line.<br />
--SMU was riding high with four straight double-digit wins, including decisions over Memphis and Cincinnati. Then it lost to Temple Sunday. And this ain't a John Chaney Temple team, to be sure, still ranking among the 10 worst major-conference teams in America.<br />
--Meanwhile, I gave GW a pass for losing to a solid Dayton team while dealing with a ton of backcourt injuries. The Colonials couldn't survive the VCU-UMass double, however, and may have put themselves back in the bubble conversation.<br />
<br />
<b>Bubbling Under: North Carolina, Gonzaga, New Mexico, SMU</b><br />
--The Heels are on a tear, but their six-game win streak was largely against the ACC's cream-filled center until they beat Pitt. Gonzaga is becoming the old standby, good to slot into the last couple of spots if no one else looks worthy, but incapable of adding any more signature moments of its own. New Mexico can make a return to the ballot if it takes down UNLV and San Diego State this week. And SMU gets shoved back to the waiting room after apparently swallowing too much of its own hype. Seriously? Temple? <br />
<br />
The actual Poll Dancing Top 25 after the jump.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
<b>25. Memphis (19-6, LW 21)</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.thestate.com/smedia/2014/02/15/15/15/214-k4BYJ.AuSt.55.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://media.thestate.com/smedia/2014/02/15/15/15/214-k4BYJ.AuSt.55.jpeg" height="320" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guys, save the Janet Jackson anniversary tribute for halftime.</td></tr>
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--A second loss to UConn hurts, but it's not totally damning. The Tigers hang in because they're still 3-2 against teams ranked by Poll Dancing at game time. They can't get caught looking ahead to March (Louisville/at Cincy/SMU are their last three games) and slip up against the puffs (at Rutgers/Temple/at Houston) the way SMU did. Oh yeah, did you hear SMU lost to Temple?<br />
<br />
<b>24. UCLA (20-5, LW NR)</b><br />
--Yes, this is UCLA's first appearance on Poll Dancing ALL SEASON. What's held the Bruins back is a propensity for head-scratching losses. They dropped games to Utah and Oregon State that are currently tent-poles on those teams' postseason resumes. Both are currently projected as NIT teams by Bracketometry.<br />
<br />
<b>23. Ohio State (20-6, LW 19)</b><br />
--Shannon Scott's been a big deal since he went back to the bench, <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1946349-ohio-state-basketball-is-osu-back-on-track-after-shannon-scotts-move-to-bench" target="_blank">as I wrote about here</a>. What may prove more important down the stretch, however, is how Thad Matta uses his bench. He's always very sparing with minutes for the reserves, but the Marc Loving-Trey McDonald-Amedeo Della Valle troika was the only highlight in a dreary 48-39 win over Illinois.<br />
<br />
<b>22. Michigan (18-7, LW 20)</b> <br />
--<a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1957103-derrick-walton-jr-lifting-michigan-to-new-heights-after-win-over-ohio-state" target="_blank">I also wrote about</a> how Derrick Walton will be important going forward, and that importance showed Sunday. After he took over the second half against Ohio State, Walton was a non-factor against Wisconsin. The typical freshman inconsistency will make Walton and the Wolverines a tough bet in the tournament.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/131217104239-jahii-carson-story-single-image-cut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/131217104239-jahii-carson-story-single-image-cut.jpg" height="195" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Accept Jahiisus as your personal savior today.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>21. Arizona State (19-6, LW NR)</b><br />
--ASU's conquest of arch-rival Arizona is not only the Sun Devils' sixth win in their last seven games, but it's also the fourth win over a potential tournament team in that span. The Devils lost to UCLA, which makes this ranking ahead of the Bruins a violation of one of my cardinal rules. BUT! Unlike UCLA, ASU's other recent losses have been worthy ones, at Arizona and at Stanford.<br />
<br />
<b>20. UConn (20-5, LW NR)</b><br />
--Remember when we thought that the Huskies losing to SMU was cause for grave concern? Since then, UConn has lost only twice in 11 games (to Louisville and Cincinnati) and swept Memphis. On those nights that somebody shows up to support Shabazz Napier, the Huskies are a hella tough out. <br />
<br />
<b>19. Texas (20-5, LW 23)</b><br />
--Remember when Rick Barnes was coaching for his job? Yeah, me neither. Now, he's got to be on every National Coach of the Year shortlist out there. A road double at Iowa State and Kansas this week could put the Longhorns into a top-four tournament seed. Bracketometry currently has them as a high-end No. 7.<br />
<br />
<b>18. Louisville (21-4, LW 17)</b><br />
--The Cards beat Temple and Rutgers by a combined 72 points...and drop? You betcha, and here are two reasons why: 1) It's Temple and Rutgers; and b) Kentucky had to land somewhere, and it damn sure wasn't going to be behind Louisville. Shoulda shown up in December, Cardinals.<br />
<br />
<b>17. Kentucky (19-6, LW 13)</b><br />
--So much clustering in the teens this week that UK drew the short end (although UL fans would disagree). A 10-point loss at home to Florida hurts, but it's not exactly shameful. Here's the problem for the Wildkittens: There's not another tournament team on the schedule until the trip to Gainesville on March 8.<br />
<br />
<b>16. Iowa State (19-5, LW 10)</b><br />
--That loss to West Virginia was ugly in a lot of ways, but ponder this: Iowa State now sits sixth in the Big 12 in both offensive and defensive efficiency. The lack of size and depth is starting to catch up against studly Big 12 opposition (and West Virginia...ha, I keed).<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a57.foxnews.com/global.fncstatic.com/static/managed/img/fn2/feeds/Associated%20Press/2014/02/16/660/371/5c788ce4a2a004064c0f6a7067009665.jpg%3fve=1&tl=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://a57.foxnews.com/global.fncstatic.com/static/managed/img/fn2/feeds/Associated%20Press/2014/02/16/660/371/5c788ce4a2a004064c0f6a7067009665.jpg%3fve=1&tl=1" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larry's beside himself because I'm harping on this so much.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>15. Cincinnati (23-3, LW 14)</b><br />
--Before Bearcat fans line up to rail on me for this one (please do, it would let me know someone's reading), consider that the objective Back Iron Index currently ranks UC No. 19. The American's bottom half is so damn bad that even wins over Houston, UCF, USF, et al. can damage the resume. Although not as bad as a loss. Just ask SMU, who (BREAKING NEWS) lost to Temple.<br />
<br />
<b>14. Saint Louis (23-2, LW 18)</b><br />
--The Billikens needed that win over VCU badly. Because SLU has yet to play UMass or George Washington, it hadn't beaten a likely tournament team until knocking off the Rams. Both of those other contenders (plus the VCU rematch) await St. Loo in its final five games.<br />
<br />
<b>13. Virginia (21-5, LW 16)</b><br />
--Raise your hand if you pegged Virginia v. Syracuse on March 1 as an ACC title fight before the season started. Okay, now everyone else turn to the people with their hands raised and yell "LIAR!" right in their faces at the top of your lungs. Still, Virginia's finally playing the game we thought they'd play at the start of the season, with the defense choking opponents out and the offense doing just enough to win. Only difference is that Malcolm Brogdon's providing the scoring that we expected to see from Joe Harris.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.usatoday.net/communitymanager/_photos/game-on/2012/01/11/mccafferyx-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i.usatoday.net/communitymanager/_photos/game-on/2012/01/11/mccafferyx-large.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry, Fran, just stating facts.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>12. Iowa (19-6, LW 11)</b><br />
--Iowa comes up short against their nearest company, sporting head-to-head losses against both Michigan State and Wisconsin. A win at Penn State is nothing to sneeze at, but it's also not going to prop up the CV. The Hawkeyes should still be in the race for a top-four seed.<br />
<br />
<b>11. Michigan State (21-5, LW 9)</b><br />
--It's going overboard to start fitting Nebraska into the NCAA bubble conversation, but the Huskers are a lot better than you think they are. Them beating Michigan State is a sign of that quality just as much as it is an alarming picture of a vulnerable Sparty team. An unsung downside of lots of injuries is that there are multiple awkward re-integration periods when the injured players come back. Adreian Payne did pretty well in his return, but Keith Appling against the Huskers? Not so much.<br />
<br />
<b>10. Wisconsin (21-5, LW 15)</b><br />
--The Badgers are back on a roll after that ugly 1-5 stretch early in Big Ten play, sandwiching a win over Minnesota in between victories over both Michigan-based teams. We haven't seen the usual impregnable Badger defense recently, but they're getting superb shooting to make up for it. Also, welcome back, Frank Kaminsky.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/002/539/743/hi-res-164327984-grant-gibbs-hugs-doug-mcdermott-of-the-creighton_crop_north.jpg?w=630&h=420&q=75" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/002/539/743/hi-res-164327984-grant-gibbs-hugs-doug-mcdermott-of-the-creighton_crop_north.jpg?w=630&h=420&q=75" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Dude, I missed you so much. I love you, man." #getaroom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>9. Creighton (21-4, LW 12)</b><br />
--In case you thought that first win over Villanova was a fluke, the Bluejays went out and fed the Cats 101 points' worth of Kitty Chow. Doug McDermott's averaging 30.5 PPG since getting ace wingman Grant Gibbs back from injury.<br />
<br />
<b>8. Kansas (19-6, LW 7)</b><br />
--News of a back injury to any Top 25 team's big man, especially one as talented as Joel Embiid, is about as welcome as fire ants in one's underwear drawer. And for big men, those injuries are just as hard to recover from. The Jayhawks didn't need him against TCU, but don't tell Texas Tech they're supposed to roll over and die tomorrow night, Embiid or no Embiid.<br />
<br />
<b>7. San Diego State (22-2, LW 6)</b><br />
--Solid shooting games against Boise State and Nevada were not the new normal, Aztec fans. At this point, Steve Fisher's team is what it is: a vicious defensive outfit that will usually struggle to pull away because it can't shoot. Those aforementioned wins were the Aztecs' first since New Year's Day with an eFG% above 50.<br />
<br />
<b>6. Villanova (22-3, LW 5)</b><br />
--We can't nail the Cats too hard, because they're 22-0 against teams not named Syracuse or Creighton. Nova has had only five games below a 50.0 eFG% since winning the Battle 4 Atlantis in November. Their scattershot three-point shooting has tightened up tremendously in Big East play (40.3%, second only to Creighton), and when the jumpers are falling, the Wildcats are hard to muzzle.<br />
<br />
<b>5. Duke (20-5, LW 8)</b><br />
--In the BII, Duke stands sixth in the nation, creeping up on that elusive No. 1 seed level. A two-point win over Maryland, especially one where the Devils shot terribly (speaking of jumpers), isn't usually grounds for a three-spot jump, but Nova and SDSU were kind enough to step aside.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gambling911.com/files/imagecache/slide_image/publisher/Arizona-Arizona-State-Betting-Line-021314L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.gambling911.com/files/imagecache/slide_image/publisher/Arizona-Arizona-State-Betting-Line-021314L.jpg" height="216" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Dude, WTF is that?" "Nothing, you're hallucinating from playing 97 minutes tonight."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>4. Arizona (23-2, LW 2)</b><br />
--The Wildcats' lack of depth is starting to get alarming. Coach Sean Miller only played his bench a total of 22 minutes in A DOUBLE-OVERTIME GAME. That's only an 8.8 bench minutes percentage. The Cats are unlikely to get away with that in a tournament setting, whether Pac-12 or NCAA. The fact that neither Aaron Gordon or Rondae Hollis-Jefferson can be relied on outside of five feet doesn't help, especially when Miller's forced to play them together. The loss of Brandon Ashley injury will rank right up there with Colorado losing Spencer Dinwiddie as the highest-impact injury in college hoop this season.<br />
<br />
<b>3. Wichita State (27-0, LW 4)</b><br />
--Hard to move WSU up, since it's hard to respect the rest of the Missouri Valley. As the wins mount up, however, the pressure does the same. The rest of the season will be a circus for the Shockers, even if the opposition isn't intimidating.<br />
<br />
<b>2. Florida (23-2, LW 3)</b><br />
--Well, that answers that question. If we were still even slightly doubtful over who was the best team in the weak-sauce SEC, we got the answer Saturday. Scottie Wilbekin proved that he can't be ignored as a scorer when either Casey Prather or Michael Frazier aren't on. UF is still having trouble putting it all together offensively, but the tools are there for at least a fourth straight Elite Eight. <br />
<br />
<b>1. Syracuse (25-0, LW 1)</b><br />
--Let's be blunt: Syracuse has gotten bare-ass lucky in each of its past two games. If not for the basketball gods taking what's got to be the last of Tyler Ennis' happy karma and dumping it on Pitt--not to mention NC State failing to grasp the simple task of holding the ball and getting fouled--the Cuse would now be 23-2 and probably dangling at the tail end of the top five. Still, a team-of-destiny vibe is sometimes good to carry into the postseason. Don't expect the Orange to carry a donut in the loss column when brackets are announced, however. Four of the last six are away from Home Sweet Dome, and they're against Duke, Maryland, Virginia and Florida State. No slouches in that bunch.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cmsimg.detnews.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=C3&Date=20140121&Category=SPORTS0203&ArtNo=301210123&Ref=AR&MaxW=640&Border=0&Tuesday-s-college-basketball-roundup-Shot-buzzer-wins-Texas" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://cmsimg.detnews.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=C3&Date=20140121&Category=SPORTS0203&ArtNo=301210123&Ref=AR&MaxW=640&Border=0&Tuesday-s-college-basketball-roundup-Shot-buzzer-wins-Texas" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whoa. And we thought the Creighton bromance was awkward.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>MAJOR GAMES TO WATCH:</b><br />
Texas at Iowa State, Tuesday<br />
Kansas at Texas Tech, Tuesday<br />
UCLA at Cal, Wednesday<br />
Creighton at Marquette, Wednesday<br />
Arizona State at Colorado, Wednesday<br />
Creighton at Marquette, Wednesday<br />
Duke at North Carolina, Thursday<br />
Syracuse at Duke, Saturday<br />
Louisville at Cincinnati, Saturday<br />
UCLA at Stanford, Saturday<br />
Wisconsin at Iowa, Saturday<br />
San Diego State at New Mexico, Saturday<br />
Texas at Kansas, Saturday<br />
George Washington at Saint Louis, Saturday<br />
Minnesota at Ohio State, Saturday<br />
St. John's at Villanova, Saturday<br />
Michigan State at Michigan, Sunday<br />
SMU at UConn, SundayAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01506764727355321403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7995362757121685826.post-18374455864378026992014-01-27T15:30:00.001-06:002014-01-27T19:01:14.505-06:00Poll Dancing: TBI's Top 25 College Basketball Rankings (Jan. 27 Edition)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images2.layoutsparks.com/1/115676/purple-dragon-flying-fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images2.layoutsparks.com/1/115676/purple-dragon-flying-fire.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Yeah, it's been four weeks since we published an edition of Poll Dancing. It's going to sound mean, but I blame the new baby that arrived the day after Christmas.<br />
<br />
Between radio work, the paid writing gig for Bleacher Report and the new baby, time's at a premium and I've gotten little enough sleep that I've occasionally found myself hallucinating. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must take this upstairs to hide from the angry purple jelly-spitting dragons.<br />
<br />
[...]<br />
<br />
All right, now that I've safely relocated to the upstairs closet, let's talk some ball before I doze...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.getodd.com/raz/tired/sleep2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.getodd.com/raz/tired/sleep2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zzzzzzzzzzz...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
(snort) Eh? What? Oh, hai. Wow, that's embarrassing. Ahem. Where were we?<br />
<br />
I've managed to compile each week's Top 25, just haven't found the time to publish. So, the last week numbers are actually based on where I ranked teams last week, not on Dec. 31. Likewise with our lone Faceplant.<br />
<br />
<b>Faceplants: No. 20 Baylor</b><br />
--Remember when Gary Parrish was <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/24370242/poll-attacks-baylor-shouldnt-be-ranked-this-low-or-behind-uk" target="_blank">reaming people out</a> for slow-rolling Baylor? Yeah, neither does he. Gary wanted evidence as to why observers doubt the abilities of Scott Drew. This 1-5 start in the Big 12 doesn't help the coach's cause, does it? And other than TCU, there aren't any conference games that look like gimmes.<br />
<br />
The Bears have plummeted down the BII, sitting at No. 44 BEFORE the latest loss to Texas. At one time, GP was trying to argue that there was no way the Bears could be ranked behind Kentucky. Now, there's not much of a case to claim Baylor should even reach the NCAA tournament.<br />
<br />
<b>Bubbling Under: UCLA, Gonzaga, Oklahoma, SMU, Texas</b><br />
--The Longhorns are the poster children for the Big 12's mad resurgence this season. A conference that we predicted would send only three teams to the Dance this season is now the No. 2 league in America according to the BII average (and less than a quarter-point behind the Big Ten, to boot). The Big 12 has SEVEN of its 10 teams in the latest Bracketometry tournament, at least until Baylor finishes its collapse.<br />
<br />
Texas has three straight wins over "ranked" teams (again, one is Baylor and the other is the inexplicably overrated Kansas State), with a home game against Kansas looming Saturday. I expect UT will be in today's AP rankings (UPDATE: it is), but I still need to see that win over KU before I pull the trigger.<br />
<br />
Oh, and SMU hosts Memphis Saturday, too. A win there, and I'll gladly rank Larry Brown's collection of mercenaries.<br />
<br />
The top 25 after the jump.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><b>25. George Washington (16-3, LW NR)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1350937!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/court21s-1-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1350937!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/court21s-1-web.jpg" height="184" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>And may I add, this is one sweet court.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b><br />
--The Atlantic 10, for my money, is the most interesting conference race in America right now because the expected contenders are actually legitimate. There aren't any Baylors or Ohio States being exposed as paper tigers (yes, OSU's still ranked this week, but they're skidding toward oblivion quickly).<br />
<br />
For GW's part, they're 4-1 in the league, with the lone blemish being a slugfest at La Salle. The Colonials seek revenge this Wednesday. GW owns neutral wins over Creighton and Maryland and added a win over VCU a couple of weeks ago.<br />
<br />
(Speaking of La Salle, a moment if I may to say RIP to one of the college game's all-time greats, Explorer legend Tom Gola. He <a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/colleges/la_salle/20140127_Philadelphia_basketball_great_Tom_Gola_dies.html" target="_blank">passed away yesterday</a> at the age of 81. In his four seasons, La Salle lost only 19 games, won both an NIT and NCAA title and made another NCAA title game. He's still the NCAA's all-time leading rebounder with 2,201. To break that mark, a player who competes in 140 career games would have to average 15.8 rebounds per game.)<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>24. St. Louis (18-2, LW 25)</b><br />
--The Billikens are alone atop the A-10 at 5-0, but they've ridden the razor's edge early on. A one-point win at Rhode Island and a four-point final-minute win at Duquesne raise some concerns. UMass-killer Richmond awaits Wednesday.<br />
<br />
<b>23. Memphis (15-4, LW 24)</b><br />
--The Tigers' week was successful with a pair of wins, but how much credit can we give for home wins over Houston and South Florida? See, the American currently ranks eighth in the BII's conference averages, and Louisville leaving next season will kill whatever power-conference cred it has. The top of the league is quite legit. The bottom half (which Memphis feasted on last week) is quite bad. Waiting to see that SMU game on Saturday to decide the Tigers' ultimate fate.<br />
<br />
<b>22. Ohio State (16-4, LW 19)</b><br />
--Beating Illinois may have salvaged the Buckeyes' season, as they've plummeted from a Bracketometry 1-seed to a very tenuous 5. At the end of <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1931682-ohio-state-basketball-breaking-down-the-buckeyes-backcourt-struggles" target="_blank">a B/R piece I published</a> last week, I alluded to the looming threat of the NIT. I don't expect OSU falls that far, but nothing can be taken for granted right now. After all, we thought their defense could crush the souls of the Big Ten's minnows just by showing up, but Nebraska stuck a needle in that balloon. Assuming the Buckeyes handle business against Penn State, Purdue and Northwestern at home and Penn State and Illinois on the road, that gives them eight Big Ten wins. Anything less than that and the committee has a serious dilemma on its hands.<br />
<br />
<b>21. Virginia (15-5, LW 22)</b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3860077/duk3.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3860077/duk3.gif" height="215" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
--The Hoos missed all their significant chances in non-conference play, but they've hit the ACC hard. Virginia has won six games by double figures (including a sweep of Florida State). The only blemish involved them getting hosed by some alternate laws of physics that only apply at Cameron Indoor Stadium, watching a Rasheed Sulaimon three take an absurd bounce and drop through with 19 seconds left.<br />
<br />
A November win over SMU--in Texas, no less--is looking better and better each week, and four of the five losses are forgivable. (35 points to Tennessee is still harsh, though.) Watch for Sunday's game against Pitt. Both teams could really use that win.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>20. Pittsburgh (18-2, LW 23)</b><br />
--Speaking of Pitt, they're tied with Virginia at 6-1 in conference. Their only loss was a tense five-pointer to league-leading Syracuse. Still, Stanford is the only team that Pitt's beaten who Bracketometry projects in the tournament...and the Cardinal are the last team in. The good news: Pitt still has games against all four of the ACC's other projected tourney teams (Duke, Virginia, Syracuse, Florida State) and all four are at home with no rematch. Lamar Patterson is on an All-American roll, especially in conference. If Pitt does get stuck with a 5 or 6 seed this March (Bracketometry has them down for a 2), they could screw a lot of people's brackets.<br />
<br />
<b>19. UMass (17-2, LW 12)</b><br />
--This week's biggest nosedive belongs to the Minutemen, but a highly forgivable loss at Richmond could be exactly what UMass needed. There's a feeling of destiny that comes over a team when it survives a series of close games, and that's exactly what UMass did in its first three A-10 wins. The Chaztastics went out and demolished Fordham yesterday, but this week's itinerary (at Saints Bonaventure and Joseph's) will offer a lot more proof of where UMass' collective heads are at. A loss in one of those will put UMass firmly behind in the Atlantic 10 race. <br />
<br />
<b>18. Louisville (17-3, LW 18)</b><br />
--Hard to yawn at a 39-point win on the road, but when it's at South Florida...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://atlantatorch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/falling-asleep-at-your-desk-on-a-sunday-is-never-a-good-thing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://atlantatorch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/falling-asleep-at-your-desk-on-a-sunday-is-never-a-good-thing.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shit, there we go again.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Seriously, USF is the BII's seventh-worst power-conference team...and three of the other six are fellow American members. The Cards can call us when (if) they knock off Cincinnati this Thursday.<br />
<br />
<b>17. Cincinnati (19-2, LW 17)</b><br />
--Bearcat Nation has even more cause to be aggrieved than the Cardinal faithful. Two wins, one on the road, and no upward mobility? WTF, TBI?<br />
<br />
Well, remember those other really, really crappy power conference teams? Here are the 10 worst:<br />
<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 308px;"><colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 3693; mso-width-source: userset; width: 76pt;" width="101"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2230; mso-width-source: userset; width: 46pt;" width="61"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2084; mso-width-source: userset; width: 43pt;" width="57"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 3254; mso-width-source: userset; width: 67pt;" width="89"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl63" height="20" style="height: 15pt; text-align: justify; width: 76pt;" width="101"><b>TEAM</b></td>
<td class="xl63" style="text-align: justify; width: 46pt;" width="61"><b>BII RANK</b></td>
<td class="xl63" style="text-align: justify; width: 43pt;" width="57"><b>BII AVG.</b></td>
<td class="xl63" style="text-align: justify; width: 67pt;" width="89"><b>CONFERENCE</b></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">Rutgers</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">197</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">200.1</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">American</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">UCF</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">186</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">185.1</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">American</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">Boston College</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">185</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">183.2</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">ACC</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">Temple</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">182</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">181.7</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">American</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">Virginia Tech</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">181</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">179.4</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">ACC</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">TCU</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">177</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">177.8</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">Big 12</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">South Florida</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">169</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">168.4</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">American</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">Washington St.</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">160</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">162.7</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">Pac-12</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">Auburn</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">158</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">158.7</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">SEC</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">South Carolina</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">149</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">149</td>
<td style="text-align: justify;">SEC</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And bear in mind, those rankings were last updated Friday, before a weekend that wasn't very kind to most of this bunch. Cincinnati beat UCF and Temple, the latter on the road but by only four points. Again, let's see the proof in Thursday's pudding before someone makes a power move.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab275/sixzero/MGoShirts%202010/2010shirt-smash.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab275/sixzero/MGoShirts%202010/2010shirt-smash.png" height="237" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wolverine fans love when their boys are angry.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>16. Michigan (15-4, LW 21)</b><br />
--The Wolverines have just about figured out their formula, and it involves a lot of Nik Stauskas beasting on people. He smashed top-10 foes Iowa and Michigan State for a sexy 45-7-9 line with 57-percent shooting from the floor (60% from three). And yet, the Wooden Award people left this man off their midseason top 25 watch list. #epicfail<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>15. Wisconsin (17-3, LW 10)</b><br />
--Let's call Saturday's Wisconsin-Ohio State game the "WTF Classic," because that's exactly what most of us have asked about these two teams since Big Ten play started. Still, the Badgers are a team that ran into a tough portion of the schedule and didn't handle it well. We know how they play, and we know they're good. Ohio State, we're just a bit more fuzzy on right now.<br />
<br />
<b>14. Duke (16-4, LW 16)</b><br />
--Impressive wins over Miami and Florida State earn the Devils a two-spot jump. Like so many of our contestants, Duke has a big week ahead of it. At Pitt tonight and at Syracuse Saturday may constitute the toughest back-to-back games any team in America has faced all season. I'll be examining the Duke-Syracuse matchup in a bit more detail this week on B/R, so keep a watch out.<br />
<br />
<b>13. Iowa State (15-3, LW 14)</b><br />
--Speaking of those tough patches of schedule, most of the Big 12 slate now looks like one for the Cyclones. At Kansas Wednesday, host Oklahoma Saturday, and at Oklahoma State next Monday will tell us where ISU really stands in its surprisingly muscular conference.<br />
<br />
<b>12. Kentucky (15-4, LW 13)</b><br />
--UK slapped Georgia with a hefty dose of reality Saturday, in the process affirming for us just how soft the SEC truly is. A Bulldog team that won at Missouri got pounded at both Florida and Kentucky, which is what true tournament teams do. It won't shock me a bit to see UK and UF be the conference's only teams getting called out on Selection Sunday.<br />
<br />
<b>11. Creighton (17-3, LW 15)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/f577e17fe1cc8125b6d36a8b7cbc9a31618e3396/c=0-520-1406-1576&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2014/01/20//1390270236000-USP-NCAA-Basketball-Creighton-at-Villanova-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/f577e17fe1cc8125b6d36a8b7cbc9a31618e3396/c=0-520-1406-1576&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2014/01/20//1390270236000-USP-NCAA-Basketball-Creighton-at-Villanova-001.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ethan Wragge made six more threes while I was writing this.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b><br />
--A 21-triple game is <i>muy</i> impressive, but it's such an outlier that none of us should be expecting many repeats. The Bluejays can bomb on anyone, but to that degree?<br />
<br />
All that said, never mind the rankings, the Jays are in the Big East driver's seat thanks to crushing Villanova. Both teams are sitting in cushy 2-seed spots on the current Bracketometry, and I'm not expecting either to fall very far from that. Just imagine Creighton when Grant Gibbs gets back.<br />
<br />
<b>10. Oklahoma State (16-3, LW 11)</b><br />
--The Pokes survived a major scare against West Virginia, considering that Marcus Smart had one of the worst games of his life before fouling out. Even more alarming, however, is that Kamari Murphy's been a non-factor on the glass the last couple of games, forcing Le'Bryan Nash, Smart and even Markel Brown to handle the rebounding load. Bedlam Round 1 at Oklahoma tonight will be a must-watch affair, then it'll be interesting to see how the physically small Cowboys handle the mentally small Baylor Bears on Saturday.<br />
<br />
<b>9. Iowa (16-4, LW 7)</b><br />
--Except for Minnesota, Iowa's largely smacked around the dregs of society at Carver-Hawkeye Arena this season. That's what makes tomorrow night's battle with Michigan State so important. The Hawkeyes still don't have a signature win over Final Four-caliber opposition, and this is their first chance to get one at home.<br />
<br />
<b>8. Kansas (15-4, LW 9)</b><br />
--We're finally getting a Kansas team as potent as we thought we'd have, but it's been Joel Embiid leading the way more than Andrew Wiggins. KU's already opened up a 1.5-game lead on the rest of the Big 12, and it's beaten all the top contenders except Texas. That game comes up Saturday, but first the Jayhawks have to host a revenge-minded Iowa State side.<br />
<br />
<b>7. San Diego State (18-1, LW 8)</b><br />
--So, I got <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1928273-one-misconception-about-every-top-25-college-basketball-team" target="_blank">trolled pretty hard</a> on B/R (I know, shocker, right?) for articulating my belief that we're all a little too heavy into the Aztecs right now. This is a team that's struggling to make baskets, getting by more on rugged defense and kamikaze drives to the basket that draw foul shots. SDSU had its best offensive game in two weeks, but still needed OT to win at Utah State. The ranking's nice and all, but don't ask me to bet too heavily on this team in March.<br />
<br />
<b>6. Villanova (17-2, LW 4)</b><br />
--Do you consider Nova giving up an unholy three-point barrage to Creighton a function of a weak defense or an offense getting stupidly hot? At this point, I'll offer a little benefit of the doubt, but Nova will greatly need to tighten up from here on. There are a lot more land mines than gold mines left in the Big East schedule. As of Friday, every single Big East school (!!!) was projected into the CBI at least, but only Nova, Creighton, Xavier and Providence (last four in) looked like NCAA teams.<br />
<br />
<b>5. Michigan State (18-2, LW 3)</b><br />
--With both Adreian Payne and Branden Dawson down, Sparty's got a mountain to climb in going on the road against a super-deep (and healthy) Iowa team. It's a matchup of the Big Ten's two highest-scoring teams, but a lot of MSU's production has been keyed by Payne making baskets and Dawson corralling misses. Who gets those points and boards now? Kenny Kaminski and Gavin Schilling? If so, we could still see a great game. If not, look for the Spartans and Hawkeyes to trade rankings next week.<br />
<br />
<b>4. Florida (17-2, LW 6)</b><br />
--The Gators have taken 11 in a row, including absolutely punking a Tennessee squad whose resume was getting healed enough to warrant bubble consideration. Florida's about as whole as it's been all season, with only mystery man Chris Walker still missing. Let's just assume he's not coming, shall we? Even without him, the Gators have just about everything they need to make another Elite Eight run, with only a relative proclivity toward turnovers and iffy defensive rebounding to slow them down. At this point, anyone other than Kentucky beating UF would be considered a massive upset.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.go-explore-trans.org/wp-content/uploads/images/train_hits_car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.go-explore-trans.org/wp-content/uploads/images/train_hits_car.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pictured left: Wichita State. Pictured right: the MVC.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>3. Wichita State (21-0, LW 5)</b><br />
--Speaking of monumental upsets, Wichita State going into the NCAA tournament unbeaten looks more and more plausible all the time. There's simply no one in the MVC to really push them. Even with this run going, though, remember that St. Louis is still the only firm NCAA tournament team that the Shockers have beaten. #justsayin <br />
<br />
<b>2. Syracuse (19-0, LW 2)</b><br />
<b>1. Arizona (20-0, LW 1) </b><br />
--At this point, it's a big staring contest between the Orange and Wildcats. Both have been good enough all season that neither is dropping without losing. Unless, that is, Syracuse puts two whoopings on Duke and gets another win against Pitt. Arizona has no conference challenger as tough as either of those two teams.<br />
<br />
<b>MUST-WATCH GAMES OF THE WEEK:<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/content/dam/fsdigital/RSN/Southwest/2014/01/20/012014-SW-CBK-Marcus-Smart-Flop-PI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://msn.foxsports.com/content/dam/fsdigital/RSN/Southwest/2014/01/20/012014-SW-CBK-Marcus-Smart-Flop-PI.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Don't think this is what Bill Raftery means by "THE KISS!"</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b><br />
Oklahoma State at Oklahoma, Monday<br />
Duke at Pitt, Monday<br />
Michigan State at Iowa, Tuesday<br />
Iowa State at Kansas, Wednesday<br />
Arizona at Stanford, Wednesday<br />
Cincinnati at Louisville, Thursday<br />
Kansas at Texas, Saturday<br />
Duke at Syracuse, Saturday<br />
Ohio State at Wisconsin, Saturday<br />
Arizona at Cal, Saturday<br />
Memphis at SMU, Saturday<br />
George Washington at Dayton, Saturday<br />
Oklahoma at Iowa State, Saturday<br />
<br />
Now, if you'll excuse me, it's time for another feeding. And then more writing. And maybe I'll sleep sometime next Tuesday.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01506764727355321403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7995362757121685826.post-50999047067794082352013-12-31T10:52:00.003-06:002013-12-31T10:52:49.722-06:00Poll Dancing: TBI's Top 25 College Basketball Rankings (Dec. 31 Edition)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://relationshipplaybook.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/lump-of-coal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://relationshipplaybook.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/lump-of-coal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Not much movement on this week's top 25, since we only saw about 150 games all week. Hopefully, everyone got good Christmas presents, because Louisville fans only ended up with lumps of coal.<br />
<br />
Worst week, however, had to go to St. Mary's. A trip to Hawaii seemed like it was set to be a pleasure cruise in which the Gaels would prove themselves top-25 worthy in an expected championship meeting with Iowa State. Three losses later, SMC ends up in last place behind luminaries like Oregon State and South Carolina. Hardly the mark of a team that will crack the rankings again...ever.<br />
<br />
Speaking of teams that weren't expected to make the top 25, let's examine a totally puzzled pair of Faceplants.<br />
<br />
<b>Faceplants: Minnesota (No. 24), Florida State (No. 25)</b><br />
--The Gophers blew out Corpus Christi, and their prior win over Nebraska-Omaha keeps looking better as the Mavericks climb to No. 101 in the new Back Iron Index. However, what did them in was the slow ascent of a team that owns a head-to-head victory over Minnesota. More on them at No. 25.<br />
<br />
And of course, it's hard to rank Florida State just ahead of Minnesota when the Gophers own the head-to-head win.<br />
<br />
<b>Bubbling Under: Pitt, Missouri, Harvard, Gonzaga, Illinois</b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<a name='more'></a><b>25. Arkansas (10-2, LW NR)</b><br />
--The Hogs have two losses to unranked teams, but look at the wins. Joe Casual Fan won't get excited about wins over Louisiana-Lafayette, SMU, Minnesota and Clemson, but all four of those teams are now BII top-100 sides. Expect this ranking to vanish unless Arkansas scores a couple of the big scalps in SEC play. Home games against Florida and Kentucky will be prime proving grounds on Jan. 11 and 14.<br />
<br />
<b>24. LSU (9-2, LW NR)</b><br />
--Like their conference rivals, the Tigers have some underrated wins (St. Joseph's, Butler and the Tar Heel-killers at UAB). What puts them ahead of Arkansas is their two defeats (UMass and Memphis, both top-20 teams). <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://barstoolu.barstoolsports.com/files/2013/12/Screen-Shot-2013-12-30-at-9.49.17-PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://barstoolu.barstoolsports.com/files/2013/12/Screen-Shot-2013-12-30-at-9.49.17-PM.png" width="215" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern needs to eat little fish like this. For shame</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">, Aztecs.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>23. San Diego State (10-1, LW 22)</b><br />
<b></b><br />
<b>22. Iowa (11-2, LW 20)</b><br />
<b><b>21. North Carolina (9-3, LW 23)</b> </b><br />
<b>20. Memphis (9-2, LW 19)</b><br />
<b><b>19. Colorado (11-2, LW 21)</b> </b><br />
<b>18. UMass (11-1, LW 18)</b><br />
--Some minor market corrections here, since this whole group either played scrubs or played no one at all. (Seriously, San Diego State? St. Katherine's? A demerit for not blowing them out 116-12.)<br />
<br />
Colorado's up to four top-100 wins, but that's still child's play compared to UMass' SEVEN.<br />
<br />
<b>17. Louisville (11-2, LW 10)</b><br />
--So, why the hell is Louisville still ahead of a team with that many scalps? Especially after the Cards have stiffed against their only two marquee opponents? Southern Miss, ULL and Missouri State are top-100 teams, but the latter two just get under that wire. <br />
<br />
<b>16. Kansas (9-3, LW 15)</b><br />
--Sorry, Toledo. No massive upset (or undefeated season) for you.<br />
<br />
<b>15. Kentucky (10-3, LW 17)</b><br />
--The major undercurrent from the UK/UL game is the divergent narratives of players showing off for NBA scouts. Half the UK roster is trying to audition for the lottery, while Russ Smith is trying his best to pretend he can be a point guard. The fact that Russdiculous was goose-egged over the final 8:53 of that game says advantage Wildkittens.<br />
<br />
<b>14. Baylor (11-1, LW 16)</b><br />
--BII policy states that if teams are separated by only a spot or two and have played head-to-head, the winner must stay ahead of the loser. Because trust me, a win over Oral Roberts does not carry two ranking spots' worth of weight. Baylor does, at least, have three top-100 wins, and South Carolina is nearly there after a good showing in Hawaii.<br />
<br />
<b>13. Florida (10-2, LW 13)</b><br />
--There are only six teams that are in both Ken Pomeroy's top 20 offenses and defenses. Three of them are ranked ahead of the Gators on this list. The other two are Louisville and Pitt because, dear God, those schedules are fugly.<br />
<br />
<b>12. UConn (11-1, LW 12)</b><br />
--Still need to see the Huskies blow away a decent opponent. Oddly enough, SMU looks like the next candidate, then comes a meeting with Hahvahd. <br />
<br />
<b>11. Iowa State (11-0, LW 14)</b><br />
--The Cyclones are surviving close games against good teams at neutral venues now. As far as the BII goes, ISU is firmly into the 1-seed conversation. To actually finish there, they need to assert control of a surprisingly deep Big 12. Baylor and Kansas both come to Ames in the next two weeks. <br />
<br />
<b>10. Oregon (12-0, LW 11)</b><br />
--The Ducks have five top-100 wins by a combined 51 points. They've moved into the BII top 10, so it's time they make their first appearance in the Poll Dancing top 10. <br />
<br />
<b>9. Wichita State (13-0, LW 9)</b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://matthewpickle.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/shaft1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://matthewpickle.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/shaft1.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wichita fans will call the committee mutha- (SHUT YO MOUTH)s.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
--State's off to a great start, there's no denying that. However, the Shockers still have only three wins over top-100 teams. BYU and Tennessee aren't close to expectations, while St. Louis hasn't really tested itself. Strength of schedule is going to be a big question mark for WSU going forward, and they may get the shaft come Selection Sunday.<br />
<br />
<b>8. Duke (10-2, LW 8)</b><br />
--Yes, Duke's still clinging to a top-10 spot. Barely. Their strong win against UCLA lends a lot of optimism for ACC play, as the Devils did good work against the Bruin zone. Still, UCLA's no Syracuse. Dominant wins in early ACC play are required.<br />
<br />
<b>7. Villanova (11-1, LW 5)</b><br />
--Watching how the tide turned so rapidly in the Nova-Syracuse game made me wonder, "What ever happened to Clubber Lang?" Nova played the role of Clubber early on, landing some heavy blows against the Orange. The only real difference between the Cuse and Rocky was that Syracuse came storming back and blew Nova off the court, rather than Rocky's scratch-and-claw comeback. Still, don't let the loss erase how Nova's started the season. The Cats should still be considered Big East favorites. <br />
<br />
<b>6. Michigan State (11-1, LW 7)</b><br />
--Sparty draws a deceptively tough start to Big Ten play (at Penn State, at Indiana, vs. Ohio State, vs. Minnesota). Take all four of those, and MSU will richly deserve the top-five spot it will finish with. <br />
<br />
<b>5. Wisconsin (13-0, LW 6)</b><br />
--The Badgers' only game in 19 days was against Prairie View. Yawn. They can thank Villanova for the top-five position. <br />
<br />
<b>4. Oklahoma State (12-1, LW 3)</b><br />
--At the start of the season, OSU's start to Big 12 play (at Kansas State, vs. Texas, at West Virginia) looked like a cakewalk, road venues and all. Two months later, those opponents are Nos. 81, 43 and 87, respectively, in the BII. Not as easy as we thought, but a Final Four contender should still sweep with room to spare. Don't get caught looking ahead to Kansas on the 18th.<br />
<br />
<b>3. Ohio State (13-0, LW 2)</b><br />
--While OSU West was playing Bobby Mo and OSU East was playing UL-Monroe, Syracuse smashed Villanova. Game, set, match.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQItAi0bE2dEd1H2yWUQcrSbv2yeovGrbrTCYxXPSS8H27CuyYp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQItAi0bE2dEd1H2yWUQcrSbv2yeovGrbrTCYxXPSS8H27CuyYp" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"And who da hell took my pretzels?"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>2. Syracuse (12-0, LW 4)</b><br />
--Is there an NBA lottery pick on this year's Orange? Doesn't appear that way, unless you really love Jerami Grant. (As an aside, C.J. Fair appears to have crapped in Jonathan Givony's Wheaties, as Draft Express has Fair two picks away from Mr. Irrelevant status in the latest mock.) Still, this just looks like a more cohesive team than last year's. If Trevor Cooney had been able to get it together like this last season, SU would have won the national title. He's the guy that spurred the big run against Nova, and his confidence is soaring after 17 or more points in five of his last seven games.<br />
<br />
<b>1. Arizona (13-0, LW 1)</b><br />
--The Cats beat Southern by 26, and Southern beat some team by 104. Therefore, Arizona would have won that game by 480 bazillion. UA gets to ease into Pac-12 play with the two Washington schools. January 9th at Pauley Pavilion should be must-stay-up TV.<br />
<br />
<b>Major Games to Watch:</b><br />
Villanova at Butler, Tuesday<br />
Michigan State at Penn State, Tuesday<br />
Michigan State at Indiana, Saturday<br />
UConn at SMU, Saturday<br />
Iowa at Wisconsin, Sunday<br />
Oregon at Colorado, Sunday<br />
San Diego State at Kansas, SundayAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01506764727355321403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7995362757121685826.post-42013033102861527492013-12-28T09:40:00.001-06:002013-12-28T09:40:11.095-06:00Poll Dancing: TBI's Official Top 25 College Basketball Rankings (Dec. 23 Edition)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://midlifemakeunder.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/drunkensanta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://midlifemakeunder.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/drunkensanta.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><b>NOTE:</b> The rankings are presented without comment this week, thanks to Christmas, the birth of my second daughter and a couple of days of single parenting of my first daughter. Normal programming should resume next week. Hit me up on Twitter if you have comments or complaints.</i><br />
<br />
It was a really rough week for the bottom end of the Dec. 16 Poll Dancing ballot. This week's Faceplants really earned it, putting up results about as ugly as the picture to the left. (Hey, you know you've wondered what Santa does with himself the other 11 months of the year. Sorry for the disillusionment.)<br />
<br />
Just before I began writing this post, <b>St. Mary's</b> punched their ticket to the gutter by losing an ugly game to South Carolina in Honolulu. The Gaels spent 40 minutes producing the kind of sloppy execution rarely seen unless some schmuck explodes in the electric chair.<br />
<br />
<b>Missouri's</b> loss to Illinois wasn't terribly shameful, but when you're No. 25, there's no margin for error. Someone's always charging up from behind.<br />
<br />
As for <b>Gonzaga</b>, it lost to Kansas State, which lost to Northern Colorado to start the season. If you want to get transitive, that's pretty ugly, even though UNC has been better than expected (No. 154 on this week's BII). GU will perpetually hang around in this grey area all season, winning enough to stay on the radar, but never getting the kind of sexy wins that will move it up and out of harm's way.<br />
<br />
Read on after the jump to see who's replacing these three at our exclusive 25-guest party.<br />
<br />
<b>Bubbling Under: LSU, Harvard, Illinois, Arkansas, Oklahoma</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><b>25. Florida State (LW NR)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>24. Minnesota (LW NR)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>23. North Carolina (LW 20)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>22. San Diego State (LW NR)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>21. Colorado (LW 21)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>20. Iowa (LW 22)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>19. Memphis (LW 18)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>18. UMass (LW 17)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>17. Kentucky (LW 16)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>16. Baylor (LW 19)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>15. Kansas (LW 15)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>14. Iowa State (LW 13)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>13. Florida (LW 14)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>12. UConn (LW 7)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>11. Oregon (LW 12)</b><br />
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<b>10. Louisville (LW 11)</b><br />
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<b>9. Wichita State (LW 10)</b><br />
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<b>8. Duke (LW 9)</b><br />
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<b>7. Michigan State (LW 8)</b><br />
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<b>6. Wisconsin (LW 5)</b><br />
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<b>5. Villanova (LW 6)</b><br />
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<b>4. Syracuse (LW 3)</b><br />
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<b>3. Oklahoma State (LW 4)</b><br />
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<b>2. Ohio State (LW 2)</b><br />
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<b>1. Arizona (LW 1)</b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01506764727355321403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7995362757121685826.post-13549067918706502222013-12-16T22:32:00.002-06:002013-12-16T22:53:02.346-06:00Poll Dancing: TBI's Top 25 College Basketball Rankings (Dec. 16 Edition)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Finals week is always a tough one for college athletes, although it does constitute a bit of a breather for college sportswriters. Only 96 games were played between Dec. 8 and 13, compared to the 202 that are coming between yesterday and this Friday.<br />
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That academia-induced inertia struck a few of TBI's top 25 teams, and it's very rare that taking a whole week off will aid a school's ballot ranking. So, if your favorite team dropped a couple of spots (SPOILER ALERT: UConn/UMass) or stayed stagnant (SPOILER ALERT II: Baylor), blame the coaches for taking a whole week off. <br />
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It's refreshing to see programs taking a pause to make their players take exams, but by week's end, we're a little bored out here. At least schedule a SWAC team, wouldja?<br />
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<b>Faceplants: No. 21 VCU, No. 22 Michigan, No. 24 New Mexico</b><br />
--The first two teams to knock off VCU are at least still in the Back Iron Index Fantasy Bracket, meaning Georgetown and Florida State are among the 68 best teams in America. Northern Iowa? Not so much.<br />
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The Wolverines were hanging on like that kitten over there, needing to pull out a win over Arizona to stay on the ballot. And they damn near got it. However, it's time to consult the Index again, and the fact is that right now, Michigan projects as a low-seeded NIT team, largely due to brutal RPI numbers. There's some rehab that needs to be done here.<br />
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New Mexico could have stayed in with a tight loss to Kansas, but getting blown off the court while Alex Kirk was made to look mortal? Eh, no. Try back later.<br />
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<b>Bubbling Under:</b><br />
<b>San Diego State</b>--Would have cracked the rankings if they'd played someone this week.<br />
<b>UCLA</b>--Meeting with Duke Thursday offers a golden opportunity.<br />
<b>George Washington</b>--May stay here for a couple of weeks until Kansas State and Georgia games around New Year's.<br />
<b>Pittsburgh</b>--Penn State win keeps looking better. Just beat down Cincinnati tomorrow and you're in, Panthers.<br />
<br />
The best of the best after the jump.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><b>25. Missouri (10-0, LW NR)</b><br />
--Is Western Michigan that sexy signature win that Mizzou needed? No. West Virginia, UCLA and even Hawaii were better scores. It's not even all about the four-headed backcourt, which currently stands among the best in the country. The major catalyst may be senior forward Tony Criswell. Since he first saw the court after a two-game benching, there's only been one game in which he, freshman Johnathan Williams or sophomore Ryan Rosburg has failed to score at least eight points. Mizzou needs interior production to support those guards, and if it keeps coming, they're a strong sleeper pick in the SEC.<br />
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<b>24. Gonzaga (10-1, LW NR)</b><br />
<b>23. St. Mary's (8-0, LW NR)</b><br />
--These two arch-rivals each have deceptively solid schedules. GU has beaten Back Iron Index No. 100 Bryant, No. 30 Arkansas, No. 82 New Mexico State and No. 76 West Virginia. SMC's scalps include No. 73 Louisiana Tech, No. 89 Akron, No. 59 North Dakota State, No. 75 Drake and now No. 53 Boise State. St. Mary's gets the nod for still being undefeated, plus the Gaels have pulled into the BII top 15 themselves.<br />
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<b>22. Iowa (10-2, LW 20)</b><br />
--The Hawkeyes waged an epic battle with their in-state rivals from Ames, closing the book on their substantial non-conference games. (Sorry, Arkansas-Pine Bluff...but you can give Iowa a massive black eye if you can pull the upset Sunday.) Their three top-100 wins are okay, but that Iowa State game would have been massive.<br />
<br />
<b>21. Colorado (10-1, LW 23)</b><br />
--The best defensive rebounding team in America and one of the top 10 teams at drawing fouls. The Buffs have a Saturday game in Vegas against Oklahoma State that will serve as a true test for both teams. Look for CU to force-feed Josh Scott, because if he gets Mike Cobbins in foul trouble, the Pokes' post game becomes all Kamari Murphy and Le'Bryan Nash. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/002/611/082/hi-res-164816160-marcus-paige-of-the-north-carolina-tar-heels-shoots-a_crop_north.jpg?w=340&h=234&q=75" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/002/611/082/hi-res-164816160-marcus-paige-of-the-north-carolina-tar-heels-shoots-a_crop_north.jpg?w=340&h=234&q=75" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If he shoots too often, it'll freeze like that, yannow.</td></tr>
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<b>20. North Carolina (7-2, LW 25)</b><br />
--UNC draws plenty of hyped recruits themselves, but the difference between them and Kentucky is that the Heels' studs stay for a minute. Someone aside from Marcus Paige needs to step up on the perimeter, because one man providing more than 80% of a team's three-point baskets is no way to go through life, son. <br />
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<b>19. Baylor (8-1, LW 19)</b><br />
--Take the week off, sit in neutral on the ballot. The Bears won't have another big non-conference game, unless you're a huge fan of Oral Roberts. They're one of America's sloppiest teams with the ball (329th in TO% per Pomeroy) and their defense doesn't go get it back (339th). Gary Parrish has the Bears pumped up into the top seven or eight in America, and they are playing well, but there are some bald spots on this luxurious rug. <br />
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<b>18. Memphis (7-1, LW 18)</b><br />
--Josh Pastner is doing a very good job of dividing minutes between bigs Shaq Goodwin and Austin Nichols. Goodwin in particular has been one of America's most effective post players, scoring in double figures six times out of Memphis' eight games. <br />
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<b>17. UMass (9-0, LW 16)</b><br />
--The tough thing about slowing the Minutemen is that they boast four players taking at least 20% of the shots, plus Maxie Esho cards 19.8% himself. Chaz Williams keeps everybody involved, and there's always someone to pick up the slack. Still, Northern Illinois isn't a win to hang the hat on this week. <br />
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<b>16. Kentucky (8-3, LW 7)</b><br />
--If you had 11 in the "number of games before John Calipari complains about his McDonald's All-Americans playing for themselves and not the team" pool, go collect your winnings. We knew coming in that chemistry was the most dangerous thing for these Wildcats, and it's coming to pass already. There's a lot that's going right, but Louisville may be well-equipped to maximize what's going wrong next week. The Cards make their two-point shots and rebound the ones they don't, which is exactly how Baylor took UK down.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/04/23/article-2313338-19702141000005DC-273_634x435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="219" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/04/23/article-2313338-19702141000005DC-273_634x435.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like these guys, but tall and athletic.</td></tr>
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<b>15. Kansas (7-3, LW 11)</b><br />
--Three losses to top-25 teams by a total of 11 points. Kansas was on the ropes, but came roaring out to pummel New Mexico by 17. In the process, the Jayhawks made All-America dark horse Alex Kirk look like Random Scrubby White Boy #2543545. There appears to be a certain standard of talent that it takes to beat KU. Do Georgetown, Toledo or San Diego State meet that standard?<br />
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<b>14. Florida (7-2, LW 17)</b><br />
--UF vs. Kansas was huge for both teams, as both needed to prove that they could beat Sweet 16-caliber opposition. With Kasey Hill back to join Scottie Wilbekin, the Gators had two defensive sharks to turn loose on Frank Mason and Naadir Tharpe, and the 23 turnovers doomed Kansas. The one piece still missing is Chris Walker, and Billy Donovan is <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/sec/2013/12/16/florida-chris-walker-joins-damontre-harris-off-team/4045673/" target="_blank">still waiting for the NCAA</a> to clear him for action. With Damontre Harris apparently booted from the team, the Gators need another big body in uniform.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://datacenterdude.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/dmv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="194" src="http://datacenterdude.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/dmv.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PICTURED: Only slightly less fun than waiting on the NCAA.</td></tr>
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<b>13. Iowa State (8-0, LW 15)</b><br />
--The Big Ten don't wanna
come back to Ames any time soon, now that the Cyclones have knocked off
both Michigan and Iowa. Still, there's an issue with ISU's lack of size. Iowa blew State off the boards, but then handed the game over in Pucker Time by missing five of six from the line in the final three minutes.<br />
<br />
<b>12. Oregon (9-0, LW 14)</b><br />
--Nothing against the Ducks' win over Illinois, but Iowa State's win over Iowa was just a little bit better. Just wait, though. Right now, Arizona and Colorado appear to be the only Pac-12 teams with defenses stout enough to slow down the Quack attack. The games against Utah Valley and Illinois are the only ones in which Oregon has recorded an offensive efficiency below 120.<br />
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<b>11. Louisville (9-1, LW 12)</b><br />
<b>10. Wichita State (10-0, LW 13)</b><br />
--When it's a step up in competition that you've played two of the top contenders in the Sun Belt, you've played a really terrible schedule. Wichita State at least put its boot on the collective throats of the Tennessee Vols (a preseason top-25 selection, if you'll remember). This would once again be a great game if the Cards and Shockers met up in March. Don't bet the house against it being in the Final Four again, either. <br />
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<b>9. Duke (7-2, LW 8)</b><br />
--The Blue Devils have some warts, to be sure. However, the ACC might not be full of teams that can take advantage of them. For example: Duke's a team that struggles with offensive rebounding. Only seven of the 15 conference teams are better than 71% on the defensive glass, even against primarily weak non-league schedules. Those seven include expected also-rans like Miami, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and Wake Forest. Raise your hand if you expect those teams to contain the explosive Duke offense.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://woelem.wonecks.net/files/2012/03/monkey-raising-hand-1jy2ro4.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://woelem.wonecks.net/files/2012/03/monkey-raising-hand-1jy2ro4.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's one in every crowd.</td></tr>
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<b>8. Michigan State (8-1, LW 6)</b><br />
--We're headed for a second straight year of Gary Harris being hobbled through the entire campaign. If he's not scoring, everything falls on Keith Appling's shoulders. Sparty's struggling against Oakland isn't a terrible surprise, considering the rampant injury bug biting Tom Izzo's crew. Still, it is disconcerting for those who hype MSU as a Final Four favorite (yeah, I picked 'em). Appling's dealing with a wrist problem, Adreian Payne's got plantar fasciitis, and Matt Costello will be out with what's reportedly mononucleosis.<br />
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<b>7. UConn (9-0, LW 5)</b><br />
--Take a week off, take two steps back. <br />
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<b>6. Villanova (10-0, LW 9)</b><br />
--Delaware, Kansas and Iowa are the only teams that have come within 15 points of the Wildcats. Now, the latter two along with USC are the only BII top-100 teams Nova has played. Are we getting ahead of ourselves pumping them up to No. 6? Probably. Still, there's no artificial drama with Nova. They're not beating Oakland by four or Vermont by one. The teams they're supposed to crush, they crush. And there's something to be said for that. <br />
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<b>5. Wisconsin (12-0, LW 10)</b><br />
--The Badgers have seven BII top-100 wins already. And like Villanova, they're winning well. Only Green Bay has finished within six points. That dreary 48-38 smothering of Virginia is the only game in which UW has finished with offensive efficiency below 94. A bigger team who can still prevent the three from falling will have a very good chance of ending Wisconsin's unbeaten streak. (See: Iowa, January 5.) <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/15/f9/51/riding-stables.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/15/f9/51/riding-stables.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheap blog pun alert.</td></tr>
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<b>4. Oklahoma State (9-1, LW 4)</b><br />
--A 77.1 defensive efficiency effort over a top-75 BII team, that being Louisiana Tech, is enough to keep the Pokes stable (heh) for another week. The officials will have a big hand in deciding the OSU-Colorado game on Saturday, as State is among the top 50 in offensive FTR, but the Buffs are among the top 40 in defensive FTR. Whoever's getting the calls should get the win. <br />
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<b>3. Syracuse (10-0, LW 3)</b><br />
--A scare against St. John's is much more forgivable than one against St. Francis. If the Johnnies had drilled more than 1-15 from long range, the Orange wouldn't be undefeated anymore. Syracuse can prey on turnovers, and that'll be a primary focus when it takes on Villanova a week from Saturday.<br />
<br />
<b>2. Ohio State (10-0, LW 2)</b><br />
--North Dakota State came in with an eFG% better than 54. OSU held the Bison to 47%. Doesn't sound like a huge discrepancy, but it's a measure of how strongly that Buckeye defense is shutting opponents down. As for the offense, OSU is over 56% eFG in each of its last five games, which coincides with LaQuinton Ross getting his head out of his backside offensively. Even more important than Ross, however, is the improvement of Amir Williams. His eFG% and TS% are both in the top 20 nationally according to KenPom, and a guy who scored in double figures only once last year already has six games of 10-plus, including two double-doubles. <br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>1. Arizona (11-0, LW 1)</b><br />
--If we had doubts after the wins over San Diego State, Drexel and Duke, they should have been assuaged by a total crushing of New Mexico State and a clutch rally against Michigan. Say what we want about whether Arizona should have fallen that far behind, but Michigan earned that lead. They are the first team to put up a 50+ eFG% against UA this season. Glenn Robinson III finally showed us the Big Puppy that we expected to see all season, scoring 16 in the first half. Pay no mind to the four in the second.<br />
<br />
In the end, UA had too much size and skill up front, especially in a game where Brandon Ashley showed up to play. He's averaging 15 and 6 in his last five games. If you're a Kansas fan who's excited about the improvement Perry Ellis has made this season, just keep in mind that his current season is one of KenPom's top five comparisons to Brandon Ashley.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.kansascity.com/smedia/2013/12/02/21/40/59-1faTid.St.55.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media.kansascity.com/smedia/2013/12/02/21/40/59-1faTid.St.55.jpeg" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wilbekin: "Heckling Napier didn't work, but what about Joe Jackson?"</td></tr>
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<b>Major Games to Watch:</b><br />
Florida vs. Memphis, Tuesday (Madison Square Garden)<br />
Cincinnati vs. Pitt, Tuesday (Madison Square Garden)<br />
Stanford at UConn, Wednesday<br />
Duke vs. UCLA, Thursday (MSG)<br />
UMass vs. Florida State, Saturday (Sunrise, FL)<br />
Oklahoma State vs. Colorado, Saturday (Las Vegas)<br />
Michigan State at Texas, Saturday<br />
Illinois vs. Missouri, Saturday (St. Louis)<br />
BYU at Oregon, SaturdayAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01506764727355321403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7995362757121685826.post-43510595390095198072013-12-09T22:39:00.000-06:002013-12-10T16:53:32.825-06:00Poll Dancing: TBI's Top 25 College Basketball Rankings: Dec. 9 Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Another week, another "WTF?" North Carolina victory. The Tar Heels are the only BII tournament team to lose to Belmont or UAB, but their wins over Louisville and Michigan State remind us just how good we thought they could be.<br />
<br />
And still no sign of P.J. Hairston. At this point, it's getting close to cut-bait time for ol' Roy. Re-introduce Hairston and Les McDonald now, and you risk screwing up what chemistry the team's building.<br />
<br />
In other news, Arizona's really good, Marcus Smart is done throwing up, Tom Crean is a dufus and the scoreboard will be able to take the night off when Ohio State and Wisconsin play this season. <br />
<br />
But first, we must bid adieu to a few temporary friends.<br />
<br />
<b>Faceplants: Virginia, Creighton, Pitt, Dayton</b><br />
--Virginia's learning the same hard lesson Marquette did: Score in the 30s and you're more than likely not Poll Dancing the following week.<br />
<br />
Creighton did nothing wrong this past week, beating Long Beach State and Nebraska. However, the new teams all notched some quality victories that mandated their inclusion.<br />
<br />
Pitt and Dayton benefited last week from a lack of verified candidates in the 25-35 range, but they got no such break this week. Pitt is still undefeated, but against a highly suspect schedule. Dayton's stumble against Illinois State hurt not only them, but the Gonzaga team the Flyers upset in Maui.<br />
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<b>Bubbling Under: Missouri, Pitt, Gonzaga, St. Mary's, San Diego State</b><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><b>25. North Carolina (6-2, LW NR)</b><br />
--The No. 25 spot may as well be called "Probation Row." Not only do you need wins to move up from here, but they should be against opponents of some renown. Iowa was here in the preseason, but didn't have the early quality opponents to cling to the ladder. The Tar Heels are off for finals this week, but they come back on Saturday and Wednesday to Kentucky and Texas. Given UNC's form so far, expect a win over UK and a head-scratching loss to the Horns.<br />
<br />
<b>24. New Mexico (7-1, LW NR)</b><br />
--UNM held Cincinnati to 29% shooting in a win Saturday night. It's a dominant win over a BII top-40 team, so welcome back, Lobos.<br />
<br />
<b>23. Colorado (9-1, LW NR)</b><br />
--Askia Booker gave a brusque kiss-off to the idea of overtime Saturday night against Kansas. He wanted no more part of Andrew Wiggins, so he did this:<br />
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In addition to beating Kansas, the Buffs put a road win at Colorado State on the mantle next to their earlier defeat of Harvard. That's enough quality to crack anyone's top 25. <br />
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<b>22. Michigan (6-3, LW 16)</b><br />
--John Beilein and his charges are too good not to have a quality win in them somewhere. That's why they're still here. Saturday might end this ride, however. Top-ranked (yeah, yeah, SPOILER ALERT) Arizona comes to town. If that game goes as expected, it'll be time to cue up the Boyz II Men.<br />
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<br />
<b>21. VCU (8-2, LW 18)</b><br />
--The Rams are on a four-game tear since losing two of three in Puerto Rico, but surviving an overtime squeaker against Eastern Kentucky is a red flag for a team that aspires to lofty goals. Plus, the last-second win over Virginia is becoming increasingly devalued capital as the Hoos keep losing every important game in their path. Hence, a three-spot drop with little help in sight unless VCU absolutely eats the souls of Virginia Tech and Boston College. And even then...<br />
<br />
<b>20. Iowa (9-1, LW 23)</b><br />
--It was a good week for the Hawkeyes. They dropped 98 on a Notre Dame team that usually prefers its games in the 70s, then smacked around in-state rival Drake, a team that's still closing in on the BII Top 50. Friday's not usually a good basketball night, but this week (Friday the 13th, no less), it's Iowa vs. Iowa State. Be there or...I dunno, eat hair? <br />
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<br />
Aw, hell no. I'm a big fan of licking...you know what, never mind. Let's just move on.<br />
<br />
<b>19. Baylor (8-1, LW NR)</b><br />
--Now, before we get too excited, Bears fans need to remember two things: 1) Your team beat Kentucky last season, and you both ended up in the NIT; and b) Scott Drew is still your coach. The Bears will find some way to lose a game they probably shouldn't, but for now, congratulations on beating another McDonald's All-American trading card collection. <br />
<br />
<b>18. Memphis (6-1, LW 20)</b><br />
--By now, we've all heard the statistic about Josh Pastner never beating an AP top-25 team. The win over Oklahoma State in Orlando got that monkey off his back, but it also put us all on Letdown Watch. The Tigers hung 96 on Northwestern State, which could be an NIT team if it takes the Southland regular season. So, no letdown. Now, we move to Trap Game Watch, as the Tigers play Arkansas-Little Rock Friday and travel to Madison Square Garden for Florida next Tuesday. Can you tell Memphis and Baylor have both burned us a few times?<br />
<br />
<b>17. Florida (6-2, LW 14)</b><br />
--No, the unlucky-bounce loss to UConn does not merit a three-spot drop all on its own. Again, though, the teams coming up behind UF are picking off some good opponents. Only thing the Gators can do about it is start winning big games themselves. BTW, Middle Tennessee and Florida State are starting to count less and less. Florida needs a win tomorrow night over Kansas.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gazettenet.com/csp/mediapool/sites/dt.common.streams.StreamServer.cls?STREAMOID=H3UgXEQQwAGUPu2CWFlf2s$daE2N3K4ZzOUsqbU5sYsf400a1eIJheFf$BFVNcT1WCsjLu883Ygn4B49Lvm9bPe2QeMKQdVeZmXF$9l$4uCZ8QDXhaHEp3rvzXRJFdy0KqPHLoMevcTLo3h8xh70Y6N_U_CryOsw6FTOdKL_jpQ-&CONTENTTYPE=image/jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://www.gazettenet.com/csp/mediapool/sites/dt.common.streams.StreamServer.cls?STREAMOID=H3UgXEQQwAGUPu2CWFlf2s$daE2N3K4ZzOUsqbU5sYsf400a1eIJheFf$BFVNcT1WCsjLu883Ygn4B49Lvm9bPe2QeMKQdVeZmXF$9l$4uCZ8QDXhaHEp3rvzXRJFdy0KqPHLoMevcTLo3h8xh70Y6N_U_CryOsw6FTOdKL_jpQ-&CONTENTTYPE=image/jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Talk to the nipple, Chaz."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>16. UMass (8-0, LW 21)</b><br />
--Chaz Williams should be on your All-American checklist by now. He put down 32 points and 15 dimes against BYU, a pair of figures no one's racked in a regulation D-I game in at least 15 years. The Minutemen are proving legit, and they're not done with the solid schedule yet. A 10-day stretch starting next week sees them visit Ohio, play Florida State in the Orange Bowl Classic, then come home to play Providence. At this point, it's not "Will they make the tournament?" It's more like "Will they get sent to the NYC regional?" <br />
<br />
<b>15. Iowa State (7-0, LW 12)</b><br />
--Yep, still undefeated. Nope, not moving up. While the Cyclones' peers are winning tournaments and making the likes of Virginia look like St. Catherine's School for the Blind, Crippled and Crazy, ISU is barely surviving Northern Iowa in overtime. And so far, this doesn't look like an Ali Farokhmanesh holy-shit-they-just-beat-Kansas Northern Iowa team either. The real in-state grudge match is on tap for Friday, and if the Cyclones lose, they'll pass Iowa on the way down. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.brobible.com/files/uploads/images/sports/college-bball/marshall-henderson-beer-pong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.brobible.com/files/uploads/images/sports/college-bball/marshall-henderson-beer-pong.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oregon can't legalize weed fast enough, eh, Marshall?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>14. Oregon (8-0, LW 13)</b><br />
--Ole Miss is the closest thing the Ducks have seen to a serious opponent since the opening victory over Georgetown. The Drinking Hendersons currently sit 45th in the BII. Still, some other teams didn't just survive, they dominated. Hence Oregon dropping down one. Next week's dates with Illinois, UC Irvine and BYU will help tremendously.<br />
<br />
<b>13. Wichita State (9-0, LW 11)</b><br />
--Nice win over Oral Roberts, Shockers. Still, ORU ain't Virginia or Marquette. Trailing at halftime, though? Villanova crushed its opponents without such issues. Take two steps back. <br />
<br />
<b>12. Louisville (8-1, LW 10)</b><br />
--We'll keep harping on the Cards' schedule until December 28, when they and Kentucky both take the court looking to prove something. Louisiana-Lafayette, starring last summer's Captain America Elfrid Payton, is a BII top-75 team, but so are Virginia and Marquette. Er go, Rick Pitino is eating Bo Ryan's dust. And most Bo Ryan teams don't leave dust.<br />
<br />
<b>11. Kansas (6-2, LW 8)</b><br />
--The Colorado loss is not a bad one by any stretch. What may be even scarier for future KU opponents is that Andrew Wiggins <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1880325-the-10-biggest-takeaways-from-college-basketball-in-week-4/page/11" target="_blank">may be figuring out</a> that he'll have to take over more often. After early foul trouble in Boulder, he played his best game since Duke.<br />
<br />
<b>10. Wisconsin (10-0, LW 17)</b><br />
--Strike a blow in the Big
Ten/ACC Challenge? Check. Cement the in-state bragging rights by
stifling Marquette's backcourt (granted, not that hard a task, but
still)? Check. Still undefeated? Check. To top it off, the Badgers are
up to No. 2 in the BII. Now that's a good week.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://0.tqn.com/d/raleighdurham/1/0/w/C/-/-/A-Villanova-fan-wears-a-gorilla-suit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/raleighdurham/1/0/w/C/-/-/A-Villanova-fan-wears-a-gorilla-suit.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PICTURED: Beast mode.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>9. Villanova (9-0, LW 15)</b><br />
--No letdown from the championship in the Bahamas. Nova smashed Penn early and St. Joe's late to assert its Big 5 primacy. The Cats' defense held Penn to .73 PPP, then the offense hung 1.36 PPP on St. Joseph's. All-around dominant games over decent-if-not-elite opponents will get you a hefty jump.<br />
<br />
<b>8. Duke (7-2, LW 9)</b><br />
--Coach K pulled out all the stops to stifle Michigan, even resorting to a little zone and some box-and-one to keep the ball away from Nik Stauskas. He hasn't won 8046 games for nothing, kids. Expect Duke to drop at least a spot next week, since it doesn't play again until next Monday. <br />
<br />
<b>7. Kentucky (7-2, LW 3)</b><br />
--For all the prattling about how absurdly deep Kentucky is, John Calipari used his bench for all of 21 minutes against Baylor. The game-ending 26-12 run Baylor went on was not accidental. For a six-minute span in the middle of the second half, UK attempted only three shots (good for three points), committed five turnovers and was whistled for three fouls. That's no way to go through the second half, son.<br />
<br />
<b>6. Michigan State (7-1, LW 1)</b><br />
--The Spartans had to feel they were okay with 11:54 left against North Carolina. Game was tied at 49 and Keith Appling had just hit a three that surely heralded him getting hot after a rough night. Five minutes later, Marcus Paige hit a three to cap a 14-3 run that left all of East Lansing wondering wha'hoppen. Contrary to what all the trolls were screaming at me preseason, Michigan State is not a deep team. Gary Harris' lingering ankle injury appears to be one he'll fight all season and Adreian Payne is falling more and more in love with the three-ball. The sky's not falling yet, but Sparty fans need to get their heads out of the green Kool-Aid and admit that I might have known what I was talking about. Direct all apologies to <a class="g-profile" href="http://twitter.com/4QuartersRadio" target="_blank">@4QuartersRadio</a> on Twitter.<br />
<br />
<b>5. UConn (9-0, LW 6)</b><br />
--Yes, UConn's four power-conference victims have fallen by a TOTAL of five points. But think of it this way: When the stuff hits the fan in March and games get tight, would you rather be a team that's never played a close finish and has no clue how to react? Not only do the Huskies have a tendency to win the close ones, they have a go-to guy who's proven able to make plays even when everyone knows what's coming. Take the jumper and run, Bazz.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
<b>4. Oklahoma State (8-1, LW 5)</b><br />
--After the loss to Memphis, South Carolina came to Stillwater and was forced to pay penance. 10 minutes in, that game was 22-5 Pokes. Marcus Smart was no longer puking in a bucket, but the Cocks were certainly puking on their shoes.<br />
<br />
<b>3. Syracuse (9-0, LW 7)</b><br />
--Indiana coach Tom Crean needs to be checked for Alzheimer's. Having just seen Syracuse's 2-3 zone last March, he walked face-first into it again last Tuesday. The roster's mostly new, but the coach was there and should have learned something. Right? In other news, Orange guards Tyler Ennis and Trevor Cooney might not be NBA lottery picks like The Hyphen, but they are playing fantastic ball to support C.J. Fair. Another Final Four trip is not a ludicrous suggestion.<br />
<br />
<b>2. Ohio State (8-0, LW 4)</b><br />
--The Buckeyes aren't playing a deadly schedule, but right now it doesn't matter. They're simply stifling anyone in their path. Ohio is the only opponent to average a point per possession against OSU this season. Ohio State is forcing a turnover on one of every four possessions, allowing 22% three-point shooting and giving opponents only 0.27 FTA/FGA. Best defense in America right now.<br />
<br />
<b>1. Arizona (9-0, LW 2)</b><br />
--Wins over Texas Tech and UNLV do not a great week make, but this is still one of the most complete teams in the country. The Cats are 29th in America with 55.3% effective shooting and allow their opponents only 40.9%, fourth in the nation. They're top-11 nationally in both offensive and defensive rebounding. If they could only hit a free throw (66.2%, 268th), we could engrave U of A on a No. 1 seed line now.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://theclassical.org/sites/default/files/SimSimmah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="209" src="http://theclassical.org/sites/default/files/SimSimmah.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The fish was this big." Good luck, Arizona.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Major Games to Watch:</b><br />
Kansas at Florida, Tuesday<br />
Boise State at Kentucky, Tuesday<br />
New Mexico State at Arizona, Wednesday<br />
Iowa at Iowa State, Friday<br />
Arizona at Michigan, Saturday<br />
Kentucky at North Carolina, Saturday<br />
New Mexico vs. Kansas, Saturday (Kansas City)<br />
Illinois vs. Oregon, Saturday (Portland)<br />
Tennessee at Wichita State, Saturday<br />
Syracuse at St. John's, SundayAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01506764727355321403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7995362757121685826.post-15678507693769299892013-12-02T12:47:00.002-06:002013-12-02T12:47:50.529-06:00Poll Dancing: TBI's College Basketball Top 25 Rankings (Dec. 2 Edition)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://apoledancer.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/sonia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://apoledancer.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/sonia.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Thanksgiving weekend is always a watershed part of the college basketball season, because we get a horde of matchups with the kind of quality that turns SEC football coaches' hair white.<br />
<br />
A group of people who deify Nick Saban for scheduling Chattanooga in the penultimate game of his season won't understand the beauty of Memphis-Oklahoma State or Arizona-Duke. Being undefeated in football is all that matters, at least in the BCS era. Maybe the selection committee approach will change that in football, maybe not. Still, basketball gives us the games we're dying to see, even if sometimes the tournaments don't fall right and give us more of a "what-if" feel.<br />
<br />
(USC-UTEP would have skipped overtime in favor of Enfield v. Floyd in the Octagon. A rack on Floyd in the third round by rear naked choke. He's a vet and he fights dirty. Just ask USC fans.)<br />
<br />
Those sexy tournament matchups gave us a little fluctuation in the Poll Dancing rankings, but not as much as might be expected for those who lost to the quality opposition.<br />
<br />
As always, let's start by spit-roasting those who nosedove completely off the ballot.<br />
<br />
<b>Faceplants: No. 19 North Carolina, No. 23 Gonzaga, No. 24 Tennessee, No. 25 BYU</b><br />
--Marcus Paige has been a revelation for UNC, but big men Kennedy Meeks, Joel James and Isaiah Hicks are averaging a total of 12 points and 12 boards per game. If none of them becomes "The Man" by season's end, UNC's going to bob along and end up in an 8-9 game. Again.<br />
<br />
BYU has hunted some big game, but the results have varied. Stanford and Utah State to the good, Iowa State and Wichita State to the bad. And it still has UMass and Oregon to come. Respect, but No. 25 leaves no room to slip.<br />
<br />
Gonzaga would still be hanging in if not for the fact that Dayton was already on the come-up when it beat the Zags in Maui. <br />
<br />
As for Tennessee...<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
haven't heard much from <a href="https://twitter.com/4QuartersRadio">@4QuartersRadio</a> after UT demolished Wake Forest and UTEP almost beat Kansas.<br />
— Joseph Anthony (@thejoe_youknow) <a href="https://twitter.com/thejoe_youknow/statuses/407108503963041793">December 1, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
When you're trying to gloat about a win over Wake Forest, you're obviously bringing a slingshot to a nuclear war. Right now, Wake's clinging to one of the last four spots in my NIT bracket, with USC being its best win. UTEP's one of the last four into the CBI. Someone from UT needs to prove he can shoot straight before the Vols start winning those games. If not, it's another NIT and possibly a pink slip for Cuonzo. And that would make me a sad panda.<br />
<br />
<b>Bubbling Under: UCLA, Baylor, St. Mary's, San Diego State </b><br />
<br />
The actual top 25 after the jump.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><b>25. Dayton (6-1, LW NR)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/45e609448ad3bb065183b5340d23e9a4ddd6cb5a/c=65-28-2239-1663&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/USATODAY/test/2013/11/26//1385525207000-USATSI-7580718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/45e609448ad3bb065183b5340d23e9a4ddd6cb5a/c=65-28-2239-1663&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/USATODAY/test/2013/11/26//1385525207000-USATSI-7580718.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>PICTURED: A grown-ass man who goes by "Scoochie."</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b><br />
--The Flyers were one point out of the Maui title game against Syracuse. That after a game where it owned Gonzaga on the glass and stopped the threes from falling. Now, here's the problem: Iona and Ole Miss are the only solid opponents left on UD's non-con schedule. Expect to see Dayton slide off and on the ballot at least once between now and the Atlantic 10 schedule.<br />
<br />
<b>24. Pittsburgh (7-0, LW NR)</b><br />
--Pitt's up to fourth in this week's BII, with not much to its credit outside of a win over Stanford. If UCLA fans are aggrieved that their win over Drexel doesn't hold more water than Pitt's Stanford win...eh, you're probably right. But Steve Alford's a douche, and that's about the biggest decider I got. Sometimes we have to split hairs in Poll Dancing. (And that sentence sounds just a bit gross when said out loud.)<br />
<br />
<b>23. Iowa (7-1, LW NR)</b><br />
--The Hawkeyes' pre-Atlantis schedule was pure dreck. Nebraska-Omaha was their best win. Then, Iowa survives in overtime over Xavier while never leading in regulation, swallows UTEP whole and hangs in for 44 minutes against Jayhawk-killers Villanova. A much more legitimate idea of what we're looking at in Iowa City. Now, on to Notre Dame and in-state rivals Drake and Iowa State.<br />
<br />
<b>22. Creighton (5-2, LW 18)</b><br />
--The Bluejays' defense isn't as terrible as we're being told. It can't be if they're slowing down Jahiisus the way they did in the win over Arizona State. The losses to San Diego State and George Washington tell us more about those two teams' quality than about any lack thereof from Creighton. The one disturbing point is GW proving that slowing Dougie McBuckets renders the Jays impotent. <br />
<br />
<b>21. UMass (6-0, LW 21)</b><br />
--The Minutemen took the whole week off. Well-deserved, considering the start they've already had. Right now, their victims are in TBI Bracketometry's first NCAA play-in game (Clemson/LSU), the No. 1 seed in our NIT (New Mexico) and the last team out of our CBI (Boston College). Quality. Still to come: BYU, at Ohio, Florida State and Providence. <br />
<br />
<b>20. Virginia (7-1, LW 17)</b><br />
--The SMU win was decent, but there's still not a lot of separation between the Hoos and VCU. And VCU won head-to-head. UVa can make the major statement Wednesday against Wisconsin.<br />
<br />
<b>19. VCU (6-2, LW 16)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQAjr6QxA6jrAVj9W3OJ2ccXxRdy1tqdQmMY39cTluarYeivenS6A" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQAjr6QxA6jrAVj9W3OJ2ccXxRdy1tqdQmMY39cTluarYeivenS6A" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Yeah, we want you, too, Uncle Ram...to beat more decent teams.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b><br />
--Winning at Belmont looks hard to do, primarily because no top programs are willing to take the chance to play there. VCU went, saw and conquered by forcing turnovers and making free throws. The A-10, though, is looking much more potent than we thought last month. The Rams will have to earn a title there.<br />
<br />
<b>18. Memphis (5-1, LW 22)</b><br />
--Credit to Josh Pastner for figuring out that his Tigers couldn't run with Oklahoma State. The veteran guards who were so lost in Stillwater showed up and showed out in the rematch. Memphis has never been able to win games like this under Pastner, and they're the kind that will crop up in March. The non-league schedule doesn't afford many more chances to follow up, but the American schedule will say a lot. UConn, Cincinnati and Louisville are a far cry from Marshall, UTEP and UAB.<br />
<br />
<b>17. Wisconsin (8-0, LW 20)</b><br />
--Sorry, Virginia teams, but UW's win over Saint Louis > Virginia over SMU or VCU over Belmont. Unless you're a big team that can beat the Badgers on the glass (Marquette?), UW's got all the answers so far.<br />
<br />
<b>16. Michigan (5-2, LW 14)</b><br />
--Beating Coppin State won't keep your ranking if there are any other worthy candidates. UM-Duke may be the biggest glamour game of the entire ACC-Big Ten Challenge. (Speaking of things college football programs don't have the stones to implement...) <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ridethepine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Screen-Shot-2012-10-06-at-2.34.46-PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="176" src="http://www.ridethepine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Screen-Shot-2012-10-06-at-2.34.46-PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>But you can see a man whip his Cock out on national TV.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>15. Villanova (7-0, LW NR)</b><br />
--Nobody had a better Thanksgiving weekend than the Wildcats, knocking off Kansas and Iowa. Even in lineups with five perimeter players on the court, VU still beat both bigger teams on the glass (36.2 combined OR%) and forced a total of 33 turnovers. While the KU win may say more about Kansas' growing pains than Villanova's true talent level, the Iowa win was a sheer gut-check. <br />
<br />
<b>14. Florida (6-1, LW 15)</b><br />
--A win over Florida State was exactly what the Gators needed. It wasn't terribly convincing, but it was a win over a good team. It is a win, however, that may lose some luster once the Seminoles start the ACC schedule. As for UF, it's time to nut up, as the next two weeks throw UConn, Kansas and Memphis into the Gators' path. Lose all three, and there's no way UF remains in anyone's Top 25.<br />
<br />
<b>13. Oregon (7-0, LW 12)</b><br />
--The Ducks have coasted on the glory from beating Georgetown in South Korea. To their credit, they've handled the cupcakes with ease. A 3-1 or 4-0 record between now and Christmas (at Ole Miss, Illinois, UC Irvine, BYU) would legitimize Oregon as a Top-10 team. <br />
<br />
<b>12. Iowa State (5-0, LW 11)</b><br />
--Follow up Michigan and BYU with UMKC and tonight's game against Auburn? Yawn. Take a step back, Cyclones.<br />
<br />
<b>11. Wichita State (8-0, LW 13)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cmsimg.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=B2&Date=20130328&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=303280107&Ref=AR&MaxW=640&Border=0&Big-Show-tracks-Big-Dance-Wrestler-rooting-Wichita-State" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://cmsimg.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=B2&Date=20130328&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=303280107&Ref=AR&MaxW=640&Border=0&Big-Show-tracks-Big-Dance-Wrestler-rooting-Wichita-State" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Big Show (ex-Shocker center) approves this ranking.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b><br />
--Beating BYU and St. Louis gives Wichita the best week of the week, non-Villanova division. WSU held the Cougars to 32% shooting and beat the Billikens on an evening honoring the late Rick Majerus. The Shockers have the guts to win just about anywhere. The rest of the MVC isn't looking so hot right now, so the question isn't whether Wichita will win the league, more like by how much. <br />
<br />
<b>10. Louisville (6-1, LW 9)</b><br />
--The Cards choked out Southern Miss, but the Golden Eagles are kind of like those other ones who play in Milwaukee: Neither one is much known for its offense. There won't be much else to say about UL until the Kentucky game in four weeks.<br />
<br />
<b>9. Duke (6-2, LW 6)</b><br />
--Coach K is scrambling right now. Starting Tyler Thornton and Josh Hairston smacks of desperation to find a lineup that can play defense. The question becomes: Is he selling out what will really win games for this team (scoring and lots of it) for something that simply may not exist on the current roster (a cohesive defensive unit that can stop opponents everywhere, including the paint)? Translation: free Sulaimon, Dawkins and Jones and channel some inner Loyola Marymount.<br />
<br />
<b>8. Kansas (6-1, LW 3)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://carryoutsports.com/speed/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/AndrewWiggins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="187" src="http://carryoutsports.com/speed/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/AndrewWiggins.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>"Can I blame it on the water?" "Naw, man, this ain't Mexico."</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b><br />
--The question is shifting for KU. We've wondered if the Jayhawks are actually the best team in the Big 12, and if Oklahoma State had taken a second win over Memphis, there would be no question. Now, we need to wonder if the Jayhawks are the best team in their own state. Jesus Wiggins only put up 11 PPG in the Bahamas, but we'll see how he does with the rest of that loaded non-conference schedule. <br />
<br />
<b>7. Syracuse (7-0, LW 10)</b><br />
--Minnesota + Cal + Baylor = a hellacious run through Maui. There are still flaws in the Orange, but the cracks in Duke, Virginia and Pitt are just as apparent. The ACC won't be the dominant conference we thought it would be, but it'll still be a fantastic race. Syracuse vs. Indiana is a major ACC/Big Ten Challenge swing game Tuesday.<br />
<br />
<b>6. UConn (7-0, LW 8)</b><br />
--We're still not 100% sure what we've got in the Huskies. Their three power-conference wins have come by a total of four points. Tonight's game against Florida will need to be convincing, because UConn's only other game in the next 18 days comes Friday against Maine.<br />
<br />
<b>5. Oklahoma State (7-1, LW 3)</b><br />
--Remember, Memphis was a preseason Top-10 team. OSU had a rough time overall in Orlando, nearly spitting the bit against Purdue and surviving Butler by two before that loss. Don't expect too many rough nights like the Memphis rematch (4-13, five turnovers) from Marcus Smart this season. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cbsnewyork.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/amir-williams.jpg?w=300" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://cbsnewyork.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/amir-williams.jpg?w=300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This week's sign the Apocalypse is upon us: Amir Williams ballin'.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>4. Ohio State (6-0, LW 7)</b><br />
--OSU's not even trying to outscore anyone, focusing more on choking opponents out. Ideally, LaQuinton Ross has more games like the one against North Florida (17 points, eight boards in 24 minutes) and Amir Williams keeps putting up double figures (four of six games so far). <br />
<br />
<b>3. Kentucky (7-1, LW 4)</b><br />
--Willie. Cauley. Stein. Beasted. A 15-point, eight-rebound, nine-block game last night against Providence should cement his primary role on that team from here on. In addition, Aaron Harrison demonstrated the ability to play either backcourt spot, subbing for his foul-ridden brother. Freshmen should look a lot different in March than they do in November, and if UK's rookies actually get better over the next three months, look out. <br />
<br />
<b>2. Arizona (7-0, LW 2)</b><br />
--Five Arizona players scored in double figures against Duke. This will not be the last time that happens. I would have had no qualms about elevating the Cats if Michigan State had struggled with Mt. St. Mary's. All that said, watch for the game against New Mexico State on the 11th. The Aggies have the size to keep UA out of the lane and make the Cats hit threes.<br />
<br />
<b>1. Michigan State (7-0, LW 1)</b><br />
--If Belmont and UAB can take out North Carolina, Michigan State should too. Gary Harris' ankle kept him out of the Mt. St. Mary's game because, yeah, it was Mt. St. Mary's. Still, Tom Izzo is <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20131202/SPORTS07/312020071/michigan-state-basketball-gary-harris-injury" target="_blank">"99% sure"</a> that Harris will play against UNC. Will he be Gary Harris? <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thebullgator.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Patric-Young-Florida-Gators2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://thebullgator.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Patric-Young-Florida-Gators2.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Patric Young: Better bodybuilder than scorer.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Major Games This Week:</b><br />
Florida at UConn, Monday<br />
Michigan at Duke, Tuesday<br />
Notre Dame at Iowa, Tuesday<br />
Wisconsin at Virginia, Wednesday<br />
North Carolina at Michigan State, Wednesday<br />
Maryland at Ohio State, Wednesday<br />
Kentucky vs. Baylor (Dallas), Friday<br />
Kansas at Colorado, Saturday<br />
BYU vs. UMass (Springfield), Saturday<br />
Marquette at Wisconsin, SaturdayAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01506764727355321403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7995362757121685826.post-70014979744631241492013-11-25T15:06:00.000-06:002013-11-25T15:06:39.703-06:00Poll Dancing: TBI's College Basketball Top 25 Rankings (Nov. 25 edition)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://everythinggirlslove.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/pole_dance1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://everythinggirlslove.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/pole_dance1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
Every now and then, people surprise you with a depth of knowledge and insight that simply blows your mind. Those who agree with what I write often fall into this category. There should be more of these people.<br />
<br />
The other 97.7% of the population acts like total cretins, and sometimes that includes people that you know should know better.<br />
<br />
Last week's edition of Poll Dancing became more like Troll Dancing, with some complaints lodged on Facebook (er go by someone I know and actually like; and trust me, there aren't many such people) about one team's precipitous drop after a loss.<br />
<br />
Well, guess what? Another team took a major dive this week, and it makes last week's big plummet look like stepping off a Manhattan curb.<br />
<br />
Let's start with the ones who fell completely off the ballot. Those usually hurt the most.<br />
<br />
<b>Faceplants: No. 22 New Mexico, No. 23 Harvard</b><br />
--We had a deal, Hahvahd. You were here on the condition that you actually win the few big games you saw fit to schedule. Colorado's a far cry from the MIT's and Bryants of the world, and the loss means you're not likely to get past this velvet rope again unless you run the table the rest of the year, including Boston College and UConn. Best of luck, but I don't get the feeling we'll be on speaking terms again until March.<br />
<br />
As for New Mexico, they took too long (double OT) to finish off UAB in Charleston, and it bit the Lobos in the ass against a pushy tempo team like UMass. Alex Kirk was the only guy prepped to get off the bus against the Minutemen, putting up a 32-11 game with five blocks. He needed 26 shots to get the 32 points, though, and that's a bad look. So, not only did UMass eat UNM's lunch in the final minutes, but it also took New Mexico's top 25 spot. Not to worry, though, the Lobos have a great run in December that can earn them a lot of ground back.<br />
<br />
<b>Bubbling Under: St. Louis, Iowa, St. Mary's, Baylor, Arizona State</b> <br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><b>25. BYU (4-1, LW 19)</b><br />
--The Scorin' Mormons hang in by a whisker because Iowa State is looking like the truth. (More on them in a bit.) Tyler Haws didn't have many games last season as bad as his 6-19 vs. ISU, and appropriately enough, one was against ISU. Meanwhile, it appears Eric Mika will be fine after DeAndre Kane went all Ric Flair ("The Dirtiest Player in the Game") with the eye-gouging. Thankfully, Kane refrained from busting out the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRFFvT9MxME" target="_blank">Nature Boy Strut</a> afterwards.<br />
<br />
<b>24. Tennessee (3-1, LW 24)</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://www.gloriousmind.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ie-troll-meme-generator-trolling-its-why-the-united-states-made-the-internet-03e08a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.gloriousmind.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ie-troll-meme-generator-trolling-its-why-the-united-states-made-the-internet-03e08a.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div>
<br />
--The comment read, and I quote, "you moved Tennessee down 4 spots?! I had to stop reading there." What hurt was that it came from one of my original 4 Quarters co-hosts, a man who understands that I'm a strict accountability guy. A loss to a shorthanded Xavier and 30 minutes of epic struggle with USC Upstate don't create a big air of confidence. I'd expect this kind of heckling from a Bleacher Report troll, and they'd even tack on a "these rankings lose all credibility." For shame, Joseph. For shame.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, UT's wins over The Citadel and Tennessee State can be summed up in one word: Yawn.<br />
<br />
<b>23. Gonzaga (4-0, LW 25)</b><br />
--According to the Back Iron Index, which is set to make its official season debut in December, Gonzaga's a top-five team. Of course, it was last season too before Wichita State told us all where GU could stick its No. 1 seed. I'm not going that high with the Zags just yet, but I will give credit for bombing all over Washington State (66.9 eFG% = hawt), which is surprisingly not the Pac-12's worst team so far. <br />
<br />
<b>22. Memphis (2-1, LW 9)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110127030512/villains/images/4/45/Hoffmanscars1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110127030512/villains/images/4/45/Hoffmanscars1.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Dude, you should get that looked at.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b><br />
--By now we've all read the stat about Josh Pastner owning only one win over a Top 25 team during his tenure as Tiger boss. The question for you, Memphis fan, is: at what point does this become troubling? Oklahoma State didn't just shove a boot up Memphis' figurative ass, it also pulled it out and made the Tigers lick it. There was enough carnage there to make the crew of a "Saw" flick cringe.<br />
<br />
<b>21. UMass (6-0, LW NR)</b><br />
--The Minutemen should probably be higher than this, because all six of their wins are sneaky quality. Derek Kellogg's crew has already beaten a potential tourney team from the SEC (LSU), a used-to-be potential tourney team from the ACC (Boston College), another ACC team with a better BII ranking than North Carolina or Virginia (that would be Clemson), Mountain West favorite New Mexico and Big Ten gadfly Nebraska. The other win is over Youngstown State, which may be a favorite in the Horizon League. UMass' RPI will be sparkling come March as long as it keeps winning. Looking ahead: BYU Dec. 7, Florida State Dec. 21 and Providence Dec. 28.<br />
<br />
In honor of the Minutemen, the Minutemen. If only UMass had won in Puerto Rico or Cancun, this would be so much funnier.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/jGFsOqB60Rw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>20. Wisconsin (6-0, LW 20)</b><br />
--The Badgers stay stable with a couple of expected-but-reasonable wins over North Dakota and Oral Roberts. Tomorrow's proving time, though, as UW draws Saint Louis in the first round of the Cancun Challenge. The Badgers' second game in Mexico will draw them up with West Virginia or Old Dominion, both of which offer a lot more potential harm than good. <br />
<br />
<b>19. North Carolina (4-1, LW 21)</b><br />
--In this space last week, I predicted that Louisville could beat UNC by 25. Six days later, Marcus Paige (32 points on 87.5% effective shooting) out-Russdiculoused Russ Smith, Kennedy Meeks flirted with a trip-dub and the Cardinals had no answer for UNC's battalion of bigs. We'll see if this was an aberration in December, when games at UAB and Michigan State start the month and Kentucky comes to the Dean Dome on the 14th.<br />
<br />
<b>18. Creighton (4-0, LW 18)</b><br />
--The Bluejays knocked off Tulsa in their only action of the week, but led by only one at the half with Austin Chatman, not Dougie McBuckets, taking control. James Woodard and Shaquille Harrison are a decent backcourt and all, but they're no Jahii Carson. On Thanksgiving night, Arizona State's giant pitchfork might be used to help carve up some birds if Creighton's D isn't on point. <br />
<br />
<b>17. Virginia (4-1, LW 16)</b><br />
--The Cavs actually dropped a spot despite handling business against Navy and Liberty. The Pack Line held the two opponents to a combined 36% from the floor, which is as it should be. Joe Harris' form, however, remains inconsistent with a 7-of-8 night against Navy and 3-for-9 against the Flames. Anthony Gill, however, is crushing kids off the bench.<br />
<br />
<b>16. VCU (4-2, LW 11)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/timesdispatch.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/00/0004b52c-4414-5585-9b63-b3e9f1b064f4/52450b2c30335.preview-300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/timesdispatch.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/00/0004b52c-4414-5585-9b63-b3e9f1b064f4/52450b2c30335.preview-300.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>"Whaddaya mean Josh Smith ate our lunch?"</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b><br />
--Speaking of Florida State, their
handling of VCU creates the same old concerns about the Rams' Havoc
defense. Even when it's forcing turnovers (51 combined vs. FSU and
Georgetown), all the gambling leaves openings for really good shots (60%
combined eFG). The Georgetown loss can at least be rationalized with
"Well, when are they ever going to shoot 32-37 from the line again?" FSU
not so much, because the Noles simply crushed VCU on the boards. The
good news is that rebounding might not be that big a problem again
until...what, George Washington in January?<br />
<br />
Unless, of course, Georgetown-killer Northeastern can make the Rams' lives difficult on Friday.<br />
<br />
<b>15. Florida (4-1, LW 17)</b><br />
--UF hops both Virginia schools because it beat a quality opponent in Middle Tennessee, and did so with no point guard. In Billy Donovan's system, that's like going bear hunting with a spatula, so it deserves a little dap. Coincidentally (ahem), Scottie Wilbekin will be back tonight against Jacksonville. Then, Florida State comes to Gainesville on Friday. <br />
<br />
<b>14. Michigan (4-2, LW 13)</b><br />
--The Wolverines got heaping doses of close-game pressure this week. Beating Florida State looks like good capital right now, and a last-second loss to Charlotte isn't a crippler. Big December tests at Duke and home against Arizona still lurk, though, and UM may or may not be ready by then. <br />
<br />
<b>13. Wichita State (5-0, LW 15)</b><br />
--Like former Missouri Valley foe Creighton, Wichita only played Tulsa this week and handled business. Also like Creighton, the Shockers bumbled through a tough first half against the Golden Hurricane. DePaul might not be able to make WSU pay for a slow start, but Texas possibly can and BYU certainly can. Thankfully for State, the CBE Hall of Fame classic is practically a home event in Kansas City.<br />
<br />
<b>12. Oregon (4-0, LW 14)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://poutperfection.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/the-not-so-pretty-pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://poutperfection.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/the-not-so-pretty-pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Cal Poly's on the right.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b><br />
--The Ducks are still coasting off the good will from the opening win against Georgetown, and it looks a little better after the Hoyas topped VCU. Pacific, Cal Poly and North Dakota aren't an awe-inspiring cast for the "Global Sports Hardwood Challenge," although UotP is in the BII top 75. Oregon still has to wait until the December run that sends it to Ole Miss, then home for Illinois, UC Irvine and BYU to pick up more strong victories. <br />
<br />
<b>11. Iowa State (4-0, LW NR)</b><br />
--While Joseph was complaining about Tennessee's drop, apparently his girlfriend was upset with me for "hating on ISU" after the Cyclones beat Michigan. Big wins like that are problematic when they come from a team I don't expect much from in the preseason. I needed to see another one, so Iowa State marched into Provo and beat BYU despite: 1) Melvin Ejim fouling out; and b) DeAndre Kane getting tossed. In the process, ISU gave me a middle finger bigger than <a href="http://gamedayr.com/sports/iowa-state-melvin-ejim-middle-finger-byu-89550/" target="_blank">the one Ejim threw</a> at the Cougars' student section. Point proven, Fighting Hoibergs. Enjoy the top 11. <br />
<br />
<b>10. Syracuse (4-0, LW 8)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18gp5waxw2ti6jpg/k-bigpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18gp5waxw2ti6jpg/k-bigpic.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Or something else.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b><br />
--The Orange play on the hard (i.e. non-Chaminade) side of a loaded Maui Invitational, starting tonight against Minnesota. The tumble this week is a slap on the wrist for 39 minutes and 20 seconds of life-or-death struggle against St. Francis of Brooklyn. May as well have been St. Francis of Assisi, for how befuddled C.J. Fair looked all night. Nobody in Maui will let 35% shooting go, so the Orange need to be on high alert from the moment the plane touches down. Otherwise, Jim Boeheim's gonna start pulling his hair out. <br />
<br />
<b>9. Louisville (5-1, LW 4)</b><br />
--The Cardinals' non-conference schedule is pretty ugly for a defending national champion. Friday's game against Southern Miss is as good as it gets until the Cards travel to Lexington. That Kentucky game takes on even greater importance now, as there aren't many big resume builders even once the Cards hit their schedule in the Real American. Except...<br />
<br />
<b>8. UConn (6-0, LW 12)</b><br />
--...these guys. And right now, UL don't want no part of UConn. Shabazz Napier is leading his team in nearly every major category except nose hair, putting up all-around games comparable to any player in the country. The Huskies' rebounding is the issue we thought it would be (obviously, if the point guard is the team leader), but Amida Brimah's becoming the rim protector Louisville still wishes it had. The wins over Boston College and Indiana were close, but they were high-pressure neutral-site wins over quality opponents. Not quite March, but it'll do for now.<br />
<br />
<b>7. Ohio State (4-0, LW 7)</b><br />
--16 points and seven rebounds has been a decent month for Amir Williams since he arrived in Columbus. He did that in one night against American. (I know, it's American, but still...) So far, the Buckeye offense has been the committee approach we thought it would be, with not much going right for LaQuinton Ross and Aaron Craft still unable to produce much outside of 15 feet. The defense is the best in America right now, though. A shame it doesn't get really tested until Notre Dame in early December. <br />
<br />
<b>6. Duke (5-1, LW 6)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media2.newsobserver.com/smedia/2013/11/24/22/00/155bhk.AuSt.156.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://media2.newsobserver.com/smedia/2013/11/24/22/00/155bhk.AuSt.156.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Coach K's so angry, he needs a quick feel to cheer up.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b><br />
--Duke Fan, you should be cringing over allowing 90 points to Vermont. The Catamounts aren't a big team and they're not a fast team, but they'll take what the defense gives them. Duke's defense gave them 1.38 PPP, only the second time Vermont's been over a 1.0 this season. The other was its lone win over Siena. The Devils might be able to outgun Alabama Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. If Arizona waits in the NIT Season Tip-Off final, we may see multiple posterizations from big finishers like Aaron Gordon and Brandon Ashley.<br />
<br />
<b>5. Kentucky (4-1, LW 5)</b><br />
--Yeah, BBN, you got jumped. Playing Texas-Arlington will do that. Try not to choke on Cleveland State and Eastern Michigan while waiting for another real game (Providence, Dec. 1, Brooklyn). <br />
<br />
<b>4. Oklahoma State (4-0, LW 10)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://socaltrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/161912-Grave-Digger_view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://socaltrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/161912-Grave-Digger_view.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Marcus Smart (top) vs. Memphis.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b><br />
--The Pokes' defeat of
Memphis was...thorough. One of the nation's most hyped backcourts came
to Stillwater and dribbled down its own figurative leg. One
game--against Austin Peay, no less--was no preparation for Marcus Smart
staking his claim for every National Player of the Year award on the
market. It's not like OSU had run a gauntlet either, but three games
>>> one. South Florida should go pull the sprinklers and warp
the court now. The weekend's Old Spice Classic field (you know: Memphis,
LSU, Purdue, Butler, et al.) doesn't look nearly so loaded now.<br />
<br />
<b>3. Kansas (4-0, LW 3)</b><br />
--Speaking of thorough, Kansas' wins over Iona and Towson aren't big scalps for a team on KU's level, but they ain't Grambling or Incarnate Word, either. (Speaking of UIW, they FINALLY play a D-I opponent--kind of--when they travel to North Texas Tuesday night. Set the DVR now.) Kansas simply smashed them both. Wake Forest shouldn't be a huge impediment this week, but then the real fun starts in December. <br />
<br />
<b>2. Arizona (5-0, LW 2)</b><br />
--Overlooking Drexel would not be smart, but the Cats are almost certainly pondering a potential date with Duke. It's like the guys in The Girl Next Door trying to concentrate on their prom dates when some schmucks walk in with a gaggle of porn stars.<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/xqrx19" width="480"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xqrx19_the-girl-next-door-clip-your-prom-dates_shortfilms" target="_blank">The Girl Next Door - Clip - Your Prom Dates</a> <i>by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/MyMovies_International" target="_blank">MyMovies_International</a></i>
<br />
<br />
(Heh, he said gaggle.)<br />
<br />
<b>1. Michigan State (6-0, LW 1)</b><br />
--For Sparty, it's been The Year of Living Dangerously, but the Coaches vs. Cancer win over Oklahoma was solid. The big three of Harris, Payne and Appling are all playing like stars, Payne's off night against the Sooners notwithstanding. Mount St. Mary's comes to the Breslin for MSU's only action this week. So, if Michigan State doesn't hold on to this spot next Monday, it means one of two things: a) Arizona absolutely stuffed Duke's dignity in the carry-on bin for the flight back to Tucson; or 2) Sparty coughed up a Kansas-vs.-TCU-caliber hairball.<br />
<br />
<b>Major Games This Week:</b><br />
Minnesota vs. Syracuse, Monday (Maui Invitational)<br />
St. Louis vs. Wisconsin, Tuesday (Cancun Challenge)<br />
Creighton vs. Arizona State, Wednesday (Wooden Legacy)<br />
Xavier vs. Iowa, Wednesday (Battle 4 Atlantis)<br />
Florida State at Florida, Friday<br />
Utah State vs. BYU, Saturday in Salt Lake City<br />
Kentucky vs. Providence, Sunday in Brooklyn<br />
Wichita State at St. Louis, Sunday <br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01506764727355321403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7995362757121685826.post-31287304981188189452013-11-18T10:10:00.000-06:002013-11-18T11:11:05.939-06:00Poll Dancing: TBI's College Basketball Top 25 Rankings (Nov. 18 edition)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://poledancingclasspro.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Pole-Dancing-Nashville.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://poledancingclasspro.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Pole-Dancing-Nashville.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
The headline pretty much says it all, eh? I didn't bust out a new Top 25 last Monday because seriously, how do we re-evaluate from preseason expectations based on (mostly) one game? Not even Kansas State losing to Northern Colorado moved the needle that much, since I fully expect Kansas State to continue sucking buttermilk all season long.<br />
<br />
Thanks to teams actually understanding what Tim Miles and Jamie Dixon <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/luke_winn/09/27/schedule-strength/index.html" target="_blank">figured out years ago</a>, we saw some very good early matchups. Schools are scheduling to try and play the RPI like Charlie Daniels plays the fiddle, and to get there, they need to take some risk from time to time.<br />
<br />
Unless, of course, you're Louisville, who'll simply begin the Cupcakes Across America tour with visitors from the Northeast and welcome the Midwest in later. Southern Miss, Louisiana and Western Kentucky are the closest things to hardcore challenges the Cardinals will face before having to go to Rupp Arena Dec. 28. If U of L isn't undefeated going in against UK, it won't be in the top 10.<br />
<br />
So, let's take a look at this week's TBI ballot, starting before the jump with the Faceplants (those who dropped out from the preseason rankings):<br />
<br />
<b>Faceplants: No. 18 Marquette, No. 25 Iowa</b><br />
--Marquette couldn't even shoot 20% from the floor against Ohio State. That would be grounds for immediate NCAA ineligibility if I were Tournament Czar. Iowa munched its cupcakes hard, but it simply got pipped by teams knocking out quality opponents. More on them after the jump.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><b>25. Gonzaga (3-0, LW NR)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1211/cbb-best-shooters/images/gary-bell-jr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1211/cbb-best-shooters/images/gary-bell-jr.jpg" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>SPOILER ALERT: Swish.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b><br />
--The Zags have re-invented themselves quite well as a bomb-happy guard-oriented outfit. One concern, though: Oakland racked up a 61.1 eFG% on Sunday. The sub-40% performance allowed to Colorado State wasn't realistic to expect every night, but the defense must stay consistent against the lower-profile opponents. One would think after Wichita State last March, that lesson would have sunk in.<br />
<br />
<b>24. Tennessee (1-1, LW 20)</b><br />
--Seven of 19 from the foul line? Are you joking? Losing to a full-strength Xavier team at the Cintas is a game with no shame. A hobbled Xavier team can still pull something out as long as Semaj Christon is vertical. But when you leave 12 points on the table in a four-point loss, that's a problem that tends to linger. Plus, Jarnell Stokes and Jeronne Maymon aren't quite out of each other's way yet.<br />
<br />
<b>23. Harvard (3-0, LW 22)</b><br />
--I like me some Holy Cross, and Dave Dudzinski is one of the best big men middle America hasn't heard of. Still, the Crusaders were winning that game with five minutes left. Call me when you knock out Colorado or Denver.<br />
<br />
<b>22. New Mexico (2-0, LW 23)</b><br />
--A couple of relative cupcake wins, although the Lobos showed they could score with anyone in a 109-93 win over a good Charleston Southern team. There will be a few more games in which Cameron Bairstow and Alex Kirk each break 20.<br />
<br />
<b>21. North Carolina (2-1, LW 12)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://binaryapi.ap.org/8c2658da410542e88d2ebca3de10cdbd/940x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://binaryapi.ap.org/8c2658da410542e88d2ebca3de10cdbd/940x.jpg" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>PICTURED: J.P. Tokoto's max range.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<br />
--No P.J. Hairston, no Leslie McDonald, no perimeter game at all. 5-17 from three against Holy Cross and Belmont. Holy Cross should have won at the Dean Dome and Belmont did. Meanwhile, J.P. Tokoto should have been made to scrub out the team laundry with his toothbrush after a 4-16 from the line against the Bruins. Zombie Wilt Chamberlain erupted from his grave just to point and laugh at you, J.P. Louisville could beat UNC by 25 next weekend.<br />
<br />
<b>20. Wisconsin (3-0, LW NR)</b><br />
--When will I learn? Bo Ryan is the Evil Wizard and we must all bow before his black sorcery. St. John's in South Dakota, Florida at home and at Green Bay are all quality wins, believe it or not. By season's end, the Johnnies could look like the ultimate teases and Florida might stagger to a mid-level NCAA seed, but for now these are strong. Now comes the rest period against various one-bid leagues before St. Louis arrives next Tuesday.<br />
<br />
<b>19. BYU (4-0, LW 24)</b><br />
--The Coogs have yet to be held below 80. Twice, they've broken 108. If the new rules were designed to get more points on the board, behold your poster boys. Wednesday, Iowa State comes to Provo with Melvin Ejim back and fresh off a win over Michigan. There will be points. BTW, <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1832473-br-expert-predictions-for-2013-14-ncaa-basketball-all-american-teams/page/4" target="_blank">TBI first-team All-American</a> Tyler Haws is averaging 30 and 10 so far. <br />
<br />
<b>18. Creighton (3-0, LW 21)</b><br />
--Doug McDermott "only" put in 20 points and the Jays still beat a decent St. Joseph's team in its own house. Feel free to stamp this bunch as a one-man team until it stones your team. The upcoming schedule definitely has Arizona State and Cal. It could have San Diego State and Marquette if results fall right at the Wooden Legacy. Moral of the story: watch Creighton whenever they're on.<br />
<br />
<b>17. Florida (2-1, LW 14)</b><br />
--There's no shame in losing to the Evil Wizard at the <strike>Fortress of Blood</strike> Kohl Center, especially in one's second game. Everyone does it. However, there nearly was shame in losing to North Florida, a game that got saved by 84% foul shooting. That gonna happen again? Not often. Patric Young is still sleepwalking and Damontre Harris is "off the team," according to Billy Donovan. Depth will stay an issue.<br />
<br />
<b>16. Virginia (2-1, LW 16)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/8531827/20130212_mjm_sb4_010.0_standard_352.0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/8531827/20130212_mjm_sb4_010.0_standard_352.0.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Only two of these so far. There will be more.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b><br />
--The Hoos lost on a last-second bomb against VCU, then held Davidson to 30% shooting. That's the definition of a push week. Joe Harris should get his stroke back against Navy, Liberty and Hampton next week before games against SMU, Wisconsin and at Green Bay for the Tony Bennett Hero's Welcome Homecoming Game.<br />
<br />
<b>15. Wichita State (4-0, LW 19)</b><br />
--The one wart to be found on the Shockers' performance so far is that Cleanthony Early keeps bricking threes (22%). Of course, they won't be seriously tested until December 1 against St. Louis.<br />
<br />
<b>14. Oregon (2-0, LW 17)</b><br />
--Joseph Young is averaging 30 PPG because he's made 27-28 from the line. Kids, take notes. The Ducks' defense wasn't so hot in the first half against Western Carolina, but the win over Georgetown was strong front to back. That is, except for the struggles to contain Moby Smith.<br />
<br />
<b>13. Michigan (2-1, LW 9)</b><br />
--Melvin Ejim had a bigger impact on Iowa State's fortunes Sunday than Mitch McGary had on Michigan's. Nik Stauskas is off to another hot shooting start, but Caris LeVert fell off the table with a thud against the Cyclones. Let's see how UM does in Puerto Rico this week, starting with Long Beach State on Thursday. VCU, Florida State or Georgetown could await.<br />
<br />
<b>12. UConn (4-0, LW 15)</b><br />
--Shabazz Napier is close to a triple-double average (13.5/9.8/7.5) through four games. Right now, there aren't many--if any--guards playing his kind of all-around ball. Surviving that opening game against Maryland looked a lot better before the Terps got stiffed against Oregon State. Still, there's a great chance to make statements at Madison Square Garden this week, with Boston College and either Indiana or Washington on tap.<br />
<br />
<b>11. VCU (3-0, LW 13)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2013/1112/ncb_a_graham_gb1_400x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2013/1112/ncb_a_graham_gb1_400x600.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Dagger.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b><br />
--The Rams are getting a ton of chances from the foul line, but they'll be done in at some point if Juvonte Reddic and Terrance Shannon don't start hitting better than their current 28% combined. Shannon gets to take on his old Florida State team in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off.<br />
<br />
<b>10. Oklahoma State (3-0, LW 10)</b><br />
--Props to the Pokes for making the games that should have been yawners into yawners. Memphis shows up in Stillwater tomorrow night, and this'll be a big referendum on OSU. The Tigers have the size that Okie State lacks, and of course both teams have plenty of ballers in the backcourt.<br />
<br />
<b>9. Memphis (1-0, LW 8)</b><br />
--One game against Austin Peay isn't moving the needle yet. By the time the Tigers go to Orlando for the Old Spice, they'll have only played three games in 20 days. Your granny's nursing-home shuffleboard team has a more grueling schedule.<br />
<br />
<b>8. Syracuse (3-0, LW 7)</b><br />
--C.J. Fair's living up to his ACC POY/potential All-American hype so far, but he's not quite sure who his support will be from night to night. Trevor Cooney's missed eight of nine from deep after that opening-night blitz against Cornell. The 49.5 eFG% and 60.2 FT% probably won't be an issue against St. Francis Brooklyn, but what about against a loaded Maui field next week? <br />
<br />
<b>7. Ohio State (3-0, LW 11)</b><br />
--Saturday's defensive performance would have been impressive against Morgan State, let alone Marquette. Of course, it's not like the Buckeyes were scorching the nets themselves. 1-11 from the line by anyone not named Slam Thompson is bad news. Getting crushed 50-35 on the boards is bad news.<br />
<br />
<b>6. Duke (2-1, LW 6)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.nbcchicago.com/images/620*349/Jabari+Parker+Duke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://media.nbcchicago.com/images/620*349/Jabari+Parker+Duke.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Boards, handles, shot...Parker's all but driving the bus.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b><br />
--Duke is third in the nation in both 2FG% and 3FG%. That's the good news. The bad news: bottom 20 in OR% and giving up 52% inside the arc. We knew there wasn't much inside presence, and Jabari Parker's been the only one hitting the glass. Still, all of that shouldn't be a problem until Michigan comes to town on Dec. 3. Even then, I might be talked into taking Parker over McGary. <br />
<br />
<b>5. Kentucky (3-1, LW 2)</b><br />
--UK did a fantastic job keeping its boot on the throat of Bobby Mo, hopefully exorcising the demons from the NIT tanking. The Kittens have three more cakes at Rupp before a nice six-game run that will tell us how hard they roll. Providence in Brooklyn, Baylor in Dallas, Boise State, at North Carolina, Belmont and Louisville will all learn something from Michigan State's blueprint. <br />
<br />
<b>4. Louisville (3-0, LW 4)</b><br />
--Man, Chane Behanan got back in line quickly, didn't he? Might have had something to do with that ugly first 33 against Charleston. As alluded to earlier, there aren't many real threats in U of L's non-con slate, possibly excepting Southern Miss and a potential match against North Carolina in the Hall of Fame Tipoff. Behanan could have sat out until Christmas and probably wouldn't have been missed.<br />
<br />
<b>3. Kansas (2-0, LW 5)</b><br />
--See, Cardinals, this is what aggressive scheduling gets you. KU put a good game together against Duke, and the rest of the non-league slate will be stiff, too. Even the weaker opponents are potential NCAA teams like Towson and Toledo. The Jayhawks will have a very legit No. 1 case if they get to Big 12 play unbeaten. <br />
<br />
<b>2. Arizona (3-0, LW 3)</b><br />
--U of A walked into Viejas Arena and took one away from San Diego State, holding hyped transfer Josh Davis to two points. Was it more a case of Arizona playing great defense or SDSU being overrated as a Mountain West contender? Right now, I lean to the latter. Arizona's only other real chances to show and prove come at home with New Mexico State and at Michigan. <br />
<br />
<b>1. Michigan State (3-0, LW 1)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://binaryapi.ap.org/1a8fb5d59cd94d3094a8b05f3b00b65e/940x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="259" src="http://binaryapi.ap.org/1a8fb5d59cd94d3094a8b05f3b00b65e/940x.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>"The hell you mean, we're No. 1? You watch this @%%# game?"</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b><br />
--A nine-point home win over Columbia looks like a bad case of hangover following that hyped win over Kentucky. If not for the Izzone giving false reports of expiring shot clocks, MSU could have been doing the Kansas State Walk of Shame back to its locker room. North Carolina is the only kinda, sorta half-assed test left on Sparty's non-con slate except for a potential meeting with Oklahoma in Brooklyn. Tom Izzo may get his wish for Kansas to lap his team by actually playing a potent group of opponents.<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Major Games This Week:</b><br />
Memphis at Oklahoma State, Tuesday<br />
Iowa State at BYU, Wednesday <br />
Middle Tennessee at Florida, Thursday (Don't sleep.)<br />
Florida State vs. VCU, Thursday in Puerto Rico<br />
UConn vs. Boston College, Thursday in NYC<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01506764727355321403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7995362757121685826.post-51980804867830839132013-11-14T12:35:00.000-06:002013-11-14T12:37:04.018-06:00Winners and Losers from College Basketball's Tip-Off Marathon<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_article_large/public/2012/04/19/264982-the-oldest-runner-in-the-london-marathon-93-year-old-fauja-singh-poses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_article_large/public/2012/04/19/264982-the-oldest-runner-in-the-london-marathon-93-year-old-fauja-singh-poses.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He was 18 when MSU-UK tipped off.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If you stayed up for all 29 or so hours of ESPN's College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon (aka Starbucks and Red Bull's Christmahanukwanzakah), I have two things to say to you:<br />
<br />
1) You are a sick, maladjusted, misanthropic person who will die alone unless you adopt 18 cats; and<br />
<br />
b) I so wish I could match that stamina and lack of daytime gainful employment/small people waking up before dawn.<br />
<br />
Some teams had a great time tipping it off at ungodly hours, while others played like they'd already had their warm milk and binky, merely needing their favorite blankets to nod off like a toddler.<br />
<br />
Let's look back over the two days in which we were all contemplating doing rails of
coke off a hooker's ass if it would keep us awake through the second
half of West Virginia/Virginia Tech.<br />
<br />
Check after the jump for some of those who absorbed should-be-illegal benefits and some who took must-be-pitied damage for even being in the vicinity of the Marathon.<br />
<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i5.minus.com/i3DUYLA0i8InV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://i5.minus.com/i3DUYLA0i8InV.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She played strip H-O-R-S-E with Tyler Haws.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>WINNERS: People Who Like Scoring</b><br />
--BYU and Stanford combined for 215 points. Relative to the era we're trying to leave behind, these teams made Loyola Marymount look like Princeton.<br />
<br />
Marquette was 239th in the nation in tempo last season, but found time to score 114 against Grambling. Yes, it's Grambling, but still. That kind of output is usually a good week for the Golden Eagles.<br />
<br />
New Mexico State tipped off at 3 AM Mountain time and still managed to score 95 points on 58% shooting.<br />
<br />
Through the first six days of the season, scoring was up to about 74 PPG from last season's 68 at the same point. (h/t <a href="http://kpisports.wordpress.com/kpibasketball/" target="_blank">KPI Sports</a>) Post players with a physical advantage over their opponents are operating with a lot more impunity. Georgetown's Josh Smith scored 25 points in his Hoya debut, and he's loving life.<br />
<br />
“You can check a guy once, then you have to back off,” Smith said
Tuesday <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/georgetown-basketball-adjusting-to-ncaas-whistle-heavy-rule-changes/2013/11/12/983486e6-4bf4-11e3-9890-a1e0997fb0c0_story.html" target="_blank">to the Washington Post</a>.
“I love it because the rule is, in the post they can’t arm-bar anymore.
They can’t put two hands on you. As a post player, I have no problem
with it.”<br />
<br />
Smith's coach, on the other hand...<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>LOSERS: People Who Bitch About #AlloftheFouls</b><br />
--Hoyas coach John Thompson III told the Post, "They want to get scoring up, which is fine, so you penalize guys for
touching on defense. If you look at college basketball the last couple
of years, I don’t think the games have been less exciting. If you want
to say scoring is down, that may be true. But some people get excitement
off of defensive stops, as much as scoring.”<br />
<br />
To judge from all the pissing and moaning all over Twitter, the season's first six days has seen approximately 92,472 fouls called leading to 341,567 free throws that extended the average game to nearly five hours and three minutes. Give or take.<br />
<br />
One of my favorite people on the Internet is Travis Miller, the poobah of Purdue's SB Nation blog <a href="http://www.hammerandrails.com/" target="_blank">Hammer and Rails</a>. Much as I respect him and his work, he's a pretty strident overreactor to this point of the season:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
I really wish they hadn't outlawed defense because of these ticky-tack fouls that are supposed to be called now.<br />
— Travis Miller (@HammerAndRails) <a href="https://twitter.com/HammerAndRails/statuses/400460175875641344">November 13, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
Here is the one thing I'll say for now: if every one of your team's games is being extended to unbearable lateness by a procession to the foul line, it means only one thing, and I'll emphasize it so it stands out:<br />
<br />
<u><i><b>YOUR TEAM PLAYS SHITTY DEFENSE AND YOU NEED TO FIND ANOTHER SCHOOL TO SUPPORT. </b></i></u><br />
<br />
There is no conspiracy, the referees are not paid off by the opponent and there's no taxi-style meter in their whistles toting up bonuses by the blow. Your team is simply struggling to grasp the concept of moving feet on defense instead of smacking people upside your head, say oops upside your head.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
Dig, if you will, the unfortunate case of the Southern University Jaguars. (They didn't play as part of the Marathon, but dig them anyway.) Over three games, the Jags have committed 34, 36 and 28 fouls resulting in 53, 55 and 40 free throws. Those games ended up losses to some decent programs: Marquette, Middle Tennessee and Tulane--by a combined margin of 16 points. Seriously, Marquette scored all of THREE FIELD GOALS IN THE SECOND HALF and still slithered out with a win. Maybe they needed Jameel McKay more than Anonymous Eagle wants to think they did.<br />
<br />
Cut 10 fouls out of each game, and SU is 3-0 with some serious resume wins. There may be more lenient whistles in the SWAC, but coach Roman Banks has to push the defense to get better, especially when Texas Southern comes in looking to hammer away with big man Aaric Murray.<br />
<br />
Gonzaga needed only 11 made foul shots to score 93. Texas held South Alabama (and its stud big man Augustine Rubit) to 42% shooting while committing only 14 fouls. KPI Sports tells us in the same post linked earlier that fouls are up 15%, or 2.7 per team per game. We're seeing five extra fouls per night on average.<br />
<br />
Let's stop pissing and moaning because Seton Hall and Niagara (102 FTAs, remember) can't play defense. The sky isn't falling.<br />
<br />
<b>WINNER: Indiana</b><br />
--IU wasn't a part of the Marathon, and holy damn, are they glad they weren't. The Hosers did NOT want their titanic struggle with LIU Brooklyn broadcast on the Worldwide Leader.<br />
<br />
The Blackbirds laid out a blueprint for the rest of Indiana's opponents to follow: Play zone and make Indiana pop threes all night. At one point, the Loosiers bricked 15 threes in a row. All of this was going on while the hoop world was firmly focused on Michigan State and Kentucky. <br />
<br />
<b>LOSER: UNLV<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sports.cbsimg.net/u/photos/basketball/college/img16300567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="http://sports.cbsimg.net/u/photos/basketball/college/img16300567.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>"Don't teabag me, bro."</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b> <br />
--UNLV was also in action while the Champions Classic was in full swing. Unfortunately for the Rebels, losing a game you should have no business losing tends to linger like a fart in church. Scrutiny arrives eventually, more so than squeaking out a win the way Indiana did.<br />
<br />
Much like LIU did to Indiana, UC Santa Barbara threw a zone at Vegas and dared it to pop jumpers. UNLV didn't need any prompting to hoist from outside last year, and it certainly didn't on Tuesday night, either. The Brickin' Rebels carded a 42.9 eFG% while ignoring the other end, allowing UCSB a flaming 64.4 eFG.<br />
<br />
And each team committed all of 20 fouls. Stuff it, whiners.<br />
<br />
<b>WINNER: West Coast Conference</b><br />
--The WCC's Big Three all worked Monday night into Tuesday morning, and they didn't have easy jobs. Gonzaga faced off with Colorado State, BYU went into Stanford's house and St. Mary's took on Akron.<br />
<br />
Combined score: West Coast 290, The Other Guys 227.<br />
<br />
Gonzaga made it rain like Pacman Jones at the "scrip" club, hoisting 31 of its 59 shots outside the arc. Still, the Zags also hit 20-of-28 from two-point range. Considering that Gonzaga's replacing some studs, it underscores just how tough a rebuild Larry Eustachy might be in for this year.<br />
<br />
Stanford gets to the NCAA tournament, or Johnny Dawkins gets the ax. There didn't seem to be a ton of extra motivation, as BYU ran the Cardinal out of their own house. 145 shots went up, or one every 16.6 seconds. In the era where coaches fancy themselves chess masters, painstakingly orchestrating every possession, the game was a welcome dose of up-and-down frenzy.<br />
<br />
Akron will miss point guard Alex Abreu (gone from the university after a <a href="http://www.ohio.com/news/local/police-records-shed-light-on-ua-standout-alex-abreu-s-arrest-1.419318" target="_blank">drug trafficking arrest</a>) a lot more than it will miss 7-footer Zeke Marshall. Abreu's replacement, Carmelo Betancourt, was largely a non-factor against St. Mary's, a team breaking in a new PG itself in former wing Stephen Holt. Holt looked like a stud with 14 points, seven dimes and no giveaways.<br />
<br />
<b>LOSER: SEC</b><br />
--Perhaps this could be a push, because no one at an SEC school outside of Lexington, Ky. even knows basketball is going on already. Still, seven SEC teams laced 'em up on Tuesday, and all the ones faced with major competition lost. Missouri beat Southern Illinois and Vanderbilt had to rally to get past Georgia State.<br />
<br />
Granted, the latter is a decent win in TBI's book, since we're picking G-State to win the Sun Belt in its first go-round. That doesn't change the fact that Joe Vandy Fan would puke in his latte if his team lost to a Sun Belt team.<br />
<br />
Most damning may have been Tennessee falling to Xavier. X doesn't lose in the Cintas Center, but it was also missing two primary pieces in Justin Martin and Dee Davis. Jarnell Stokes and Jeronne Maymon didn't get Josh Smith's memo about post players being helped by the Byzantine rule changes, as the two combined for 11 points, seven turnovers and nine fouls.<br />
<br />
Florida lost to Wisconsin with a highly depleted roster, but the chemistry and discipline on that team look troubling no matter who's sick, injured or suspended. <br />
<br />
<b>WINNER: The Cult of the Freshman</b><br />
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<br />
--Jabari Parker, Andrew Wiggins and Julius Randle made Twitter NBA tanking slogans a cottage industry Tuesday night. From "Riggin' for Wiggins" to "Scandal for Randle" to "Hari-Kari for Jabari," we ended up back at the start when Wiggins finished what Parker started in their head-to-head matchup.<br />
<br />
Randle clearly established himself as a guy who needs only work on a new post move when opponents get film on his spin. Coach Cal likely already has Hakeem Olajuwon on the first thing smokin' headed for Lex. Even he, though, had difficulties early on. In the first six-plus minutes of the game, Randle didn't score despite getting 27 touches according to STATS LLC.<br />
<br />
The larger issue with UK, however, will be the Harrison twins. Andrew carded four turnovers and four fouls, but only three assists. Aaron clanged all five of his three-point attempts. Most tellingly, both had moments where their offensive struggles bled onto the defensive end.<br />
<br />
Wiggins took on Parker face-to-face during the second half, and he slowed the roll on his equally hyped classmate. After being mostly a spectator in the first 20, Canadian Jesus went to work in the second. And work was the operative word. He didn't light the highlight reels on fire, no matter how much Dickie V wanted to scream to the heavens on a pedestrian dunk. Dude simply made plays. If he does that all season, the SportsCenter junkies will dub him a bust because mid-range jumpers and steals don't give them dunkrections. But Kansas will win. A lot.<br />
<br />
Parker scored every which way but doggy during the first half, ripping twine on threes and pounding home alley-oops that DID set SportsCenter ablaze, justifiably so. He did become obviously timid on defense with foul trouble late before fouling out on Wiggins' final slam. Still, there's every bit of evidence that Jabari is every bit the player Wiggins is, and possibly better.<br />
<br />
I don't rate freshmen on my preseason All-America teams, but damn if I didn't come very close to breaking the rule for these three guys and Aaron Gordon.<br />
<br />
<b>LOSER: College Football Fans</b><br />
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<br />
--Look, cup-sniffers, here's the major problem your sport has compared to mine. Great basketball teams get to go play other great basketball teams, and it doesn't completely torpedo their seasons.<br />
<br />
Your coaches would rather piss on a space heater than book a national title competitor in September. Ours put it on the line just to see how damn good their team really is. Say what we want about Calipari, he's not ducking people this fall. Self and Krzyzewski don't either.<br />
<br />
Enjoy Alabama vs. Chattanooga, kids.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01506764727355321403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7995362757121685826.post-58210607761882892942013-11-09T00:53:00.000-06:002013-11-09T00:53:57.777-06:00Final Five, Nov. 8: Takeaways from College Basketball's Opening Night<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/x/referee-blowing-whistle-8041237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/x/referee-blowing-whistle-8041237.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<u><b>1. Somebody Get These Referees Some Chapstick</b></u><br />
--We've discussed the impact of the new hand-checking and impediment rules all offseason, and we've feared that games will become mindless death marches from one foul line to the other. It happened in several places on opening night.<br />
<br />
Indiana made (MADE) 45 free throws in routing Chicago State.<br />
<br />
Marquette survived against Southern because the Eagles outshot the Jaguars 53-13 from the line. Davante Gardner made 15 by himself.<br />
<br />
Oklahoma State and Mississippi Valley State combined for 60 fouls and 79 FTA.<br />
<br />
So some, but not all, referees did more blowing than <a href="http://www.therichest.com/rich-list/most-popular/the-top-10-most-popular-current-female-porn-stars/7" target="_blank">Alexis Texas</a> in these first real games. This trend will continue, but just wait it out. By January, the bigger leagues with the better athletes and better coaches will improve their defensive technique or get blown out on the regular. The other conferences won't be heard from until Championship Week.<br />
<br />
The new rules will help open up driving lanes, but what will really help college scoring is when high school and AAU players learn how to friggin' shoot. But that's a rant for another time.<br />
<br />
<br />
Four more takeaways after the jump.<br />
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<br />
<a name='more'></a><u><b>2. Major-Conference Players Can Be Scoring Kings, Too</b></u><br />
--Before Erick Green of Virginia Tech led the nation in scoring last season, no power-conference player had worn the national crown since Glenn Robinson back in 1994. If opening day is any indication, there are a few big-league gunners who could threaten for the title.<br />
<br />
T.J. Warren will always be the first option for NC State, and occasionally he'll be the second option too. He put up 27 in the Wolfpack's curtain-jerker, but it came against Appalachian State.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His name's Cotton, but he ain't soft.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Now, D'Angelo Harrison of St. John's and Bryce Cotton of Providence need no such disclaimers. Harrison hung 27 on Wisconsin, but the Badgers showed that they're not a boring walk-it-up team in an 86-75 win. Cotton paced the Friars with 28 points--seven in overtime--as PC outlasted Boston College in a battle of two unheralded teams who are NCAA equipped this year.<br />
<br />
Cotton may be most likely to keep putting up those numbers if the officials keep it tight, as PC bruiser Kadeem Batts only managed eight points before fouling out. He may be even more likely to lead the nation if PC struggles the way VT did with Green last year. A bad team tends to throw caution to the wind and let their primary gunner fire.<br />
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<u><b>3. It Ain't the Rapture, But It's a Win<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENnAA3VrtofumGfPkFOndxkWc8pY3TStiIybIg7MnVcSYlNoiRNltLVzWq3hyphenhypheneEvgwZTmLCb0QgjgZgjReS3xINe99kw_u5EcX9NGxzuymgZtsZkMGLA8leKlnM83WWFF2TZy7JIO/s640/1382375513672_andrew-wiggins-gq-magazine-november-2013-sports-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENnAA3VrtofumGfPkFOndxkWc8pY3TStiIybIg7MnVcSYlNoiRNltLVzWq3hyphenhypheneEvgwZTmLCb0QgjgZgjReS3xINe99kw_u5EcX9NGxzuymgZtsZkMGLA8leKlnM83WWFF2TZy7JIO/s320/1382375513672_andrew-wiggins-gq-magazine-november-2013-sports-01.jpg" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Alex Rodriguez has a poster of himself just like this.</b></td></tr>
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</b></u><br />
--Andrew Wiggins dropped in 16 to lead Kansas to a win over UL-Monroe. Wait, that's it?<br />
<br />
Yeah, but none of the Jayhawks should have had to overextend themselves for a win over ULM. It was an ugly game with 58 fouls and 72 free throws.<br />
<br />
Wiggins only made five baskets, but two of them were threes, a positive sign. He turned down several open looks that an alpha scorer takes, and that's a negative sign.<br />
<br />
For all the droolers who claim that Wiggins is the next Jordan, the first place he needs to improve in is the attitude. Jordan took every look, gesture and comment from an opponent as a slight worthy of disembowelment. Wiggins may show up hard in the games against Oklahoma State after Marcus Smart's (entirely correct) comments about Wiggins not earning the hype, but what other games will get him that fired up?<br />
<br />
Expect a more aggressive game against Jabari Parker and Duke on Tuesday. Don't expect him to give a blind man back his sight or turn the concession stand soda into wine.<br />
<br />
<u><b>4. The Rest of the Big 12 Just Might Suuuuuuuuuck</b></u><br />
--Kansas rolled an opponent it should roll. Oklahoma State crushed a SWAC team and sent it home with cabfare. Baylor went to Dallas and convincingly took down an expected Pac-12 contender in Colorado.<br />
<br />
For the rest of the conference, not much to get excited about. Oklahoma's win over Alabama is a nice one that could stand as a positive by March. But, Texas beating Mercer by three at home? Mercer should wage a fierce battle with #DunkCity in the Atlantic Sun, but this is not the kind of win that's going to get the Texas Exes off Rick Barnes' ass.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hope you saved the jacket, Bruce. Some real estate company might use it.</td></tr>
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Northern Colorado beating Kansas State in the Octagon of Doom? More like the Octagon of Pleasant Conversation and Light, Airy Tea Cookies. K-State simply doesn't look like it has the scorers to contend in the conference this season.<br />
<br />
We've yet to see Iowa State in action, but if DeAndre Kane isn't an All-Big 12 first-teamer, this conference could very easily send only three teams to the Dance.<br />
<br />
<b><u>5. Oregon's Backcourt Will Be One of the Three Best in America</u></b><br />
--Even without the suspended Dominic Artis (nine games for selling a pair of shoes FTL), Oregon traveled halfway around the world and stuffed Georgetown in South Korea.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.eatinglv.com/wordpress/wp-content/gallery/jasmine-peking-duck/jasmine-peking-duck-020-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.eatinglv.com/wordpress/wp-content/gallery/jasmine-peking-duck/jasmine-peking-duck-020-large.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pictured: Waverly Austin.</td></tr>
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<br />
While the Ducks frontcourt looked like actual mallards swimming out of the path of the USS <i>Abraham Lincoln</i> whenever they tried to guard Josh Smith (25 points but, oddly, no defensive rebounds), Oregon's guards likewise got whatever they wanted.<br />
<br />
Transfers Joseph Young and Jason Calliste combined for 40 points, draining all 23 of their FTAs. Artis' replacement, Jonathan Loyd, merely put up nine points and seven assists with nary a turnover. Damyean Dotson struggled through a 1-8 shooting night, but he did pull eight rebounds and helped hold Hoya guard D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera to only 2-10 from the floor.<br />
<br />
When Artis is back, this is a serious five-deep backcourt rotation. Perhaps the Ducks' only equals in both talent and depth may be UConn and Memphis. Duke and Louisville would also have a case.<br />
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<u><b>Bonus Coverage of TBI's Schools<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSAzjTb3x_tiUY6B4_OlaGhCtXuyVFSqlWZfXflBvPz2g3jrEDq" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSAzjTb3x_tiUY6B4_OlaGhCtXuyVFSqlWZfXflBvPz2g3jrEDq" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Matt Painter's death glare = 0.6 on the Martin scale.</b></td></tr>
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</b></u><br />
--Purdue nearly took a total gaspipe against Northern Kentucky, surviving for a one-point win on a pair of free throws with :13 left. It would have been the Boilers' second straight season-opening loss, but there was no shame in losing to Bucknell last year.<br />
<br />
This one would have hurt badly. NKU's not even full D-I for three more years. The Norse brought their shooting shoes to Mackey Arena, splashing 13-26 from deep. Encouraging signs for Purdue were 7-11 shooting from Ronnie Johnson and 80% foul shooting as a team. The Boilers made 65.3% from the line last year, 11th in the Big Ten.<br />
<br />
Middle Tennessee doesn't open its season until Sunday, and hopefully the Blue Raiders are already cutting up the scouting film of Southern from tonight. As alluded to earlier, the Jaguars gave away a lot of careless fouls, were outscored 33-6 at the stripe and still only lost by seven to TBI's preseason No. 20 team.<br />
<br />
A large portion of the nucleus that scared the balls off Gonzaga (seriously, they still didn't find them in time to play Wichita State two days later) is back, and MTSU doesn't have a low-post workhorse like Davante Gardner. Middle needs to show up and show out, otherwise the SWAC will rack a respected mid-major scalp.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01506764727355321403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7995362757121685826.post-51748724448242368502013-11-06T01:20:00.000-06:002013-11-06T01:20:26.140-06:00TBI's Preseason College Basketball Top 25We're screaming headlong into real basketball games coming this Friday, starting with Eastern Michigan taking on Albion College at noon Eastern time. With exhibitions winding down and some major programs producing head-scratching nights (take a bow, UNLV, Ole Miss and Alabama), we're as close as we're going to get to a true preseason evaluation of the nation's top teams.<br />
<br />
Since other sites have abandoned the poll-style vote for one privileged writer's "power rankings," the rest of us have to put our ballots wherever we can. Here's the best top 25 you'll read today.<br />
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<br />
<a name='more'></a><b>THE NEXT FIVE: UCLA, Georgetown, Indiana, Gonzaga, Wisconsin</b><br />
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<b>25. Iowa</b><br />
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<b><a href="http://smartshopbuy.com/images/Sportsproducts/iowa-hawkeyes-basketball-rug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://smartshopbuy.com/images/Sportsproducts/iowa-hawkeyes-basketball-rug.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></div>
<br />
--The Hawkeyes have absolutely <a href="http://qctimes.com/sports/basketball/college/big-10/iowa/doxsie/if-the-iowa-basketball-team-had-a-depth-chart/article_464a3cc6-351b-11e3-a115-001a4bcf887a.html" target="_blank">ridiculous versatility and flexibility</a> on their roster, which could go as far as 13 deep. Fran McCaffery may be able to tinker and mix and match all the way into January, which could cause the occasional non-conference loss. If he finds a groove when the calendar turns, though, Iowa could run a 12-win Big Ten season and be a tough out in the NCAA tournament.<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>24. BYU</b><br />
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<br />
--The trolls have already hit me with a charge of being a "Gonzaga hater" because I had the audacity to <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1835597-10-bold-predictions-for-the-2013-14-college-basketball-season/page/9" target="_blank">predict something</a> other than GU winning the West Coast by five games this season. BYU has everything it needs to take the Zags down if freshman center Eric Mika is everything he's expected to be. In addition, there needs to be a sense of urgency, because Mika has <a href="http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsbyusports/57025671-65/mika-guys-think-byu.html.csp" target="_blank">already said</a> he'll take his LDS mission after this season. Tyler Haws will be gone by the time he's back. <br />
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cb/New_Mexico_Lobos_Primary_Mark.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cb/New_Mexico_Lobos_Primary_Mark.png" width="161" /></a></div>
<b>23. New Mexico</b><br />
--Craig Neal will win more games than any other new coach in America this season. There's a reason I listed him No. 1 among the nearly 50 new hires. The Mountain West was a minefield last year, but it looks more like a two-horse race between the Lobos and Boise State. Maybe three, if Josh Davis beasts out for San Diego State. Still, the Lobos are the pick. When in doubt, I'll go with the team that has a scoring guard AND a pair of talented big men. Remember, AND > OR.<br />
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<br />
<b>22. Harvard</b><br />
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<a href="http://ofa.fas.harvard.edu/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Harvard-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ofa.fas.harvard.edu/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Harvard-logo.jpg" width="169" /></a></div>
--Every knowledgeable pundit is plumping for the Crimson to win the Ivy League this season...except <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbGoYNJoIoBsPauEwU0DU7AQZDarKxRF9WMJd7K1CiiNDw62OwDkdK5KiOTmcIRAlOjLv2V0UvmNJs6irlee9blm9YqzouKp2DtRinD3kI-aUzkkmwta7bWJ0gc6v8JzHwN8PLvGjhtY/s1600/Sporting+News+Preview+2013+2014.jpg" target="_blank">the Sporting News</a>, for reasons that have still yet to be pinned down. There are other talented teams in the Ancient Eight, to be sure, but Harvard has a guard trio that could start in the Mountain West, if not the Pac-12. Just ask New Mexico about Wesley Saunders and Laurent Rivard. The Brandyn Curry-Siyani Chambers point guard duo looks like the only potential stumbling block if coach Tommy Amaker can't quite get the minutes and roles right.<br />
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<br />
<br />
<b>21. Creighton</b><br />
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<b><a href="http://gamedayr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/new-creighton-bluejays-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://gamedayr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/new-creighton-bluejays-logo.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></div>
<b><span id="goog_1933118175"></span><span id="goog_1933118176"></span></b><br />
--Doug McDermott could end the season as <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1835597-10-bold-predictions-for-the-2013-14-college-basketball-season/page/6" target="_blank">the No. 5 scorer</a> in NCAA history. Grant Gibbs is one of the nation's best passers at any position, never mind from the wing. Those two are known commodities. The great unknown lies in the low post, where Will Artino has first dibs on replacing center Greg Echenique. Over Artino's last eight games, he carded 6.2/3.8 in less than 12 MPG. Over a full 40, that's 21 and 13. He's big and skilled and ready to put in work.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>20. Marquette</b><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.sportssystems.com/clients/Marquette/logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://www.sportssystems.com/clients/Marquette/logo.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></div>
<br />
--Marquette fans don't like me much, and neither do their bloggers.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
The Nashville/Bleacher Report POV, apparently... <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23mubb&src=hash">#mubb</a> RT <a href="https://twitter.com/4QuartersRadio">@4QuartersRadio</a>: Jameel McKay was supposed to be Marquette's savior this season.<br />
— Anonymous Eagle (@AnonymousEagle) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnonymousEagle/statuses/390912883942760448">October 17, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
We'll forgive them for being another segment of the Internet that flies way too low to detect sarcasm (and reflexively fire off the "LOL, Bleacher Report" lines like SB Nation is New York Times-caliber journalism). All jokes aside, Marquette does have a fantastic frontcourt and a coach who turns green grapes into red wine better than anyone in the country, except for his in-state rival.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.elevenwarriors.com/sites/default/files/images/users/cajunbuckeye/bo%20ryan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.elevenwarriors.com/sites/default/files/images/users/cajunbuckeye/bo%20ryan.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wait, are we sure that's wine?</td></tr>
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The backcourt is where issues arise. Derrick Wilson and his career 29.5 FG% look like the bet to start at point guard and freshman JaJuan Johnson needs to score quickly to take heat off the forwards. If both are productive players, this ranking will be way low.<br /> <br />
<b>19. Wichita State</b><br />
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<br />
--The closest any Wichita State player came to household-name status after last season's Final Four run was guard Nick Wiggins, whose brother did some damn thing somewhere. Cleanthony Early might get some dark horse All-American love, but the biggest piece the Shockers need to replace is tough guy Carl Hall. Kadeem Coleby got off to a good start in WSU's exhibition opener, putting up 12 points, six boards and three blocks in 19 minutes. The bigs will need to work hard to preserve coach Gregg Marshall's trademark rebounding aggression. If Coleby and Chadrack Lufile play up to their size, the rest of the Missouri Valley is well and truly screwed.<br />
<br />
<b>18. Tennessee</b><br />
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpY6bj-8bxH6OdUsNwNcylaxoiyarNxiSzIUQpFuwXIKrlw5Wx4P4KKLrG9ywi1l-iDOTcp7eidvlDvF4Ctyc80uS-cgF9U9FKL-O6zukbF7uTOTl7RFLbhI4heOFe4VzUin_KRK_Yt2tR/s400/DU_Tennessee_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpY6bj-8bxH6OdUsNwNcylaxoiyarNxiSzIUQpFuwXIKrlw5Wx4P4KKLrG9ywi1l-iDOTcp7eidvlDvF4Ctyc80uS-cgF9U9FKL-O6zukbF7uTOTl7RFLbhI4heOFe4VzUin_KRK_Yt2tR/s200/DU_Tennessee_logo.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></div>
<br />
--There may not be a better post duo in America than Jarnell Stokes and Jeronne Maymon. Or, there may be a ton of them. We're not totally sure yet, since the two have only played 17 games together, none in 19 months. Even if Maymon's only a decoy, his presence could free Stokes up to dominate after the relentless double-teaming he saw last season. Robert Hubbs and Jordan McRae will be a dangerous pair in transition, but the questions still surround the point guard spot. If either Antonio Barton or Darius Thompson produces 12 points and four assists per game with a 107 offensive rating, that player will be toasted loudly on Rocky Top. Never mind that those numbers were exactly what Trae Golden put up last season, and no one shed a bucketful of tears to see Golden go.<br />
<br />
<b>17. Oregon</b><br />
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<br />
--Last season, the notoriety in Eugene swirled around the frontcourt. Rebounding machine Arsalan Kazemi and top scorers E.J. Singler and Carlos Emory are now gone, so the young backcourt of Dominic Artis and Damyean Dotson have to step up. Transfers Joseph Young (Houston) and Jason Calliste (Detroit) will be major contributors immediately, especially now that Artis and fellow sophomore Ben Carter have <a href="http://oregon.247sports.com/Article/Dominic-Artis-and-Ben-Carter-receive-suspensions--158896" target="_blank">drawn indefinite suspensions</a> for selling team-issued shoes. Jonathan Loyd will likely draw the starting assignment, with Calliste in reserve. One of the top 20 rebounding percentage teams in America last year, the Ducks will need a lot of work from former UNLV star Mike Moser and senior Waverly Austin to keep drawing all the extra possessions. There's no vacuum like Kazemi to clean up all the misses this season.<br />
<br />
<b>16. Virginia</b><br />
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--Coach Tony Bennett hopes that "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNyKv76ERSk" target="_blank">The Best is Yet to Come</a>" after a season ruined by crushing losses to Delaware and Old Dominion. For all the ballyhoo over expansion of the NCAA tournament, it still invites less than 20% of the teams in Division I. The Cavs are living proof that some of those overlooked non-conference games can be backbreakers by season's end. Guard Joe Harris is the beneficiary of an offense designed to find him shots, since he struggles to get his own. Point guard Malcolm Brogdon is in charge of orchestrating that attack, and he'll have plenty to work with. Forward Akil Mitchell is one of the nation's <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1733924-ranking-college-basketballs-10-best-returning-big-men-in-2013-14-season/page/11" target="_blank">best unsung big men</a>, and that should change as UVa climbs the rankings. Bennett does need to find a couple of extra shooters outside of Harris and sophomore Evan Nolte.<br />
<br />
<b>15. UConn</b><br />
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--Huskies coach Kevin Ollie could finally exhale when he got the news that freshman forward Kentan Facey was <a href="http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9878078/kentan-facey-uconn-huskies-cleared-ncaa" target="_blank">declared eligible</a> to play this season. Without Facey, Ollie's post options were limited to senior Tyler Olander (who's battled discipline problems of late), sophomore Phil Nolan and another freshman, Amida Brimah. The depth will help the frontcourt keep up with one of the nation's best backcourts. All-American candidate Shabazz Napier finally gets to lead an NCAA tournament-eligible team without a Kemba Walker or Jeremy Lamb to hog the spotlight. Unless, of course, someone like forward DeAndre Daniels or backcourt mate Ryan Boatright has a renaissance season. A team that won 20 games with no postseason to play for should have no problem finding motivation when it looks like a potential Final Four threat.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>14. Florida</b><br />
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<br />
--Some rankings have put Florida closer to 5th than 15th, but I'm not really seeing it. Discipline issues swirl around not only the longtime starting point guard, but <a href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college/gators/os-three-florida-gators-basketball-players-suspended-indefinitely-20131031,0,768503.post" target="_blank">a pair of transfers</a> who are expected to be major contributors. A McDonald's All-American freshman will miss the first semester for academic reasons. A stalwart defensive forward missed a chunk of last season with a knee problem, then had an additional procedure in May. The star center has been a decent producer throughout his career, but nothing befitting his top billing or former Burger Boy status. A transfer from Rutgers is being brought along slowly as he recovers from a broken leg. If these Gators play even up to this level, Billy Donovan should be up for every national Coach of the Year award in existence.<br />
<br />
<b>13. Michigan</b><br />
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--Mitch
McGary still drew some All-American love from some of my B/R
colleagues, but I can't pull that trigger. Not while he's rocking a suit
and tie on the bench, down with a lower back condition. No one knows
when he'll be back, even though <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20131102/SPORTS06/311020050/michigan-basketball-mitch-mcgary-duke" target="_blank">he's insisting</a>
that the Duke game on Dec. 3 will start with him in uniform. Back and
leg injuries are no joke in guys McGary's size. The only guy with a
bigger load on his back is point guard Derrick Walton, who has to be The
Guy Who Follows The Guy. He's not Trey Burke, but knee-jerk comparisons
will dog him all year. Glenn Robinson III and Nik Stauskas both possess
All-American potential, but they might struggle if there's no cohesion
at the point or production from the post. Look for breakouts from sophomore Caris LeVert and freshman Zak Irvin, especially if Robinson has to slide back into a forward role.<br />
<br />
<b>12. North Carolina</b><br />
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<br />
--What, Tar Heel fans worry? P.J. Hairston had the offseason from hell and will miss time with a resultant suspension. Leslie McDonald is at risk of missing time thanks to <a href="http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/21/north-carolina-tells-iceberg-guards-not-to-use-leslie-mcdonald-to-promote-product/" target="_blank">a mouthguard company</a> using him to promote its product. There's only a pair of dinky point guards and the offensively remedial J.P. Tokoto left in the backcourt, but there's a helluva frontcourt trying to balance things out. That is, if James Michael McAdoo ever does anything to make all the "OMG, he's an NBA lottery pick" evangelists look like they have a clue what they're talking about. McAdoo's rebounding percentages are shaky for a guy his size, his shooting is disappointing for a guy with no three-point game, and he's terrible at the foul line. But damn if he doesn't look good getting off the bus. The good news for all the suspensions and ineligibility issues? Lots of time to look at freshmen Nate Britt, Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks, as well as settle on a big man rotation involving Joel James, Desmond Hubert, Meeks, McAdoo and Brice Johnson.<br />
<br />
<b>11. VCU</b><br />
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--I'm now on record with <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1835597-10-bold-predictions-for-the-2013-14-college-basketball-season/page/11" target="_blank">a pick of VCU</a> to crash the Final Four.
The major obstacles the Rams will face every night will be wearing
striped shirts. Coach Shaka Smart's HAVOC defense often gives up good
shots if it can't get turnovers, and the increased emphasis on
hand-checking makes getting those turnovers touchier work. The even
bigger key, though, may be the offense. Point guard Briante Weber is a
poison pill for opponents when he's playing defense, but he may be a
juicy morsel for opposing defenders to chew on if he can't run a
halfcourt offense nearly as well as predecessor Darius Theus. If he can,
though, there are more than enough weapons for him to work with.
Double-figure scorers Treveon Graham, Juvonte Reddic and Rob Brandenberg
return, and Reddic should be freed to look for more shots by the
addition of Florida State transfer Terrance Shannon. Redshirt freshman
Jordan Burgess is TBI's pick for Atlantic 10 Newcomer of the Year.<br />
<br />
<b>10. Ohio State</b><br />
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<br />
--How will a more democratic scoring approach play in Columbus after the Deshaun Thomas dictatorship? OSU will go a long way just on defensive buzzsaw point guards Aaron Craft and Shannon Scott, but neither is a fearsome scorer. LaQuinton Ross busted out in the NCAA tournament, but can he sustain a groove for a full season? Lenzelle Smith Jr. has shown only occasional flashes of ability to take over a game. Sam Thompson will show up on SportsCenter at least once a week, but how often will he stuff the box score? There's plenty of athleticism and scoring ability on the team, but is there consistency? Will Amir Williams ever look like a serviceable Big Ten center, never mind a former McDonald's AA? Coach Thad Matta's got a lot of questions, but he's one that almost always finds the answers. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://media.ticketmaster.com/tm/en-us/dbimages/45315a.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="http://media.ticketmaster.com/tm/en-us/dbimages/45315a.gif" width="200" /></a><b>9. Oklahoma State</b><br />
--Marcus Smart is drawing tons of votes for National Player of the Year, and for good reason. He's a dangerous defender and superb passer who's addicted to winning. Markel Brown is a dunker so thunderous that <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h4u7wGM630" target="_blank">officials eject him</a> to protect opponents' fragile psyches. Swingman Brian Williams may be the best on-ball defender in the Big 12 if he's fully healthy. Le'Bryan Nash improved when he had someone like Smart around to pull the spotlight off of him. The million-dollar question is: Can anyone around here shoot? As a team, the Cowboys shot less than 32% from three last year. They went 2-18 against Emporia State in last Friday's exhibition win. If anybody becomes a 40% long-range shooter, OSU could be making a short trip to Arlington in April. Post depth behind ace rebounder Mike Cobbins will be essential, too.<br />
<br />
<b>8. Memphis</b><br />
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<br />
--If you haven't seen Memphis pull in elite recruiting classes and then watch those players underachieve, you haven't been paying attention. This season's crew, however, don't have to carry the load immediately. A freshman class heavy on guards and wings gets to learn from arguably the most loaded backcourt in America. Joe Jackson, Chris Crawford, Geron Johnson and Michael Dixon will form a small lineup, but one that packs impressive quickness and scoring ability. Big men Shaq Goodwin and Austin Nichols--the latter one of those impressive freshmen--will be key as they try to track down the guards' inevitable misses. If both establish themselves as forceful glass-eaters, Josh Pastner might finally get some March wins to solidify his position as leader of one of the nation's premier basketball programs.<br />
<br />
<b>7. Syracuse</b><br />
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<br />
--Similar to North Carolina, the Orange need somebody to step up and become a three-point threat. Duke transfer Michael Gbinije and ex-Indiana commit Ron Patterson will be key in that area. There's still plenty of length in the frontcourt to make the 2-3 zone dangerous, including a three-headed monster at center. Up top, though, 6'2" freshman Tyler Ennis is not the 6'6" Michael Carter-Williams. He may not be as big a matchup problem as MCW, but Ennis should still be every bit as capable of leading the Syracuse offense. His health and conditioning will be important, since there's no other true point guard on the roster. Oh, and there's also C.J. Fair, who's already been named the preseason ACC Player of the Year. We named him a consensus second-team All-American over at B/R.<br />
<br />
<b>6. Duke</b><br />
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<br />
--Mike Krzyzewski's been down this road before, entering a season with no truly dominant post presence. Hell, in the late '80s, 6'5" Robert Brickey spent some time down low. Compared to that, 6'9", 210-pound Amile Jefferson looks like Hakeem Olajuwon. When there's this much wing talent, however, a traditional big man can simply be a drag. Forwards Jabari Parker and Rodney Hood can play at least three positions. Guards Quinn Cook, Tyler Thornton and Rasheed Sulaimon all have big-shot capability. Swingmen Andre Dawkins and Matt Jones can hit jumpers from the moment they leave the locker room. The bottom line is that this team needs to be able to run. An athlete like Jefferson may be the best inside option that Coach K could ask for.<br />
<br />
<b>5. Kansas</b><br />
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<br />
--If we ask the Internet, Andrew Wiggins should be our new lord and savior. Still, there's a lot else to like on this team. I've held firm on a belief that fellow freshman Wayne Selden, not Wiggins, will lead the team in scoring. Sophomore big man Perry Ellis could get some of that action himself. I've also been vocal in expecting Wiggins to lead the team in assists, but early reviews on point guard Naadir Tharpe have been mostly positive. It won't help that he'll be missing the season opener with a suspension for playing a Chicago summer league game, however. Game #2 is against Duke, and guys like Wiggins, Selden and center Joel Embiid could use the extra time to work with Tharpe before taking on a team as athletic as Duke. <br />
<br />
<b>4. Louisville</b><br />
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<br />
--The Cardinals are trying to become only the third team in the past 22 years to repeat as national champions, but they don't quite have the continuity of those Duke and Florida teams. Duke brought back four starters, including icons Christian Laettner, Grant Hill and Bobby Hurley. Florida brought back all five, including three still-active NBA players. Louisville brings back only two: junior Wayne Blackshear and All-American Russ Smith. Of course, the Cards won the title because their reserves have plenty of star quality. Montrezl Harrell has drawn All-American votes and Luke Hancock will be counted on for the same kind of big shots he hit at the Final Four. The biggest questions: 1) Can Stephan Van Treese, Harrell and Mangok Mathiang hold down the post if Chane Behanan's suspension lasts a long time; and b) how will high-scoring juco PG Chris Jones co-exist with high-scoring SG-who-needs-to-play-PG-to-make-the-NBA Smith?<br />
<br />
<b>3. Arizona</b><br />
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<br />
--Arizona's got big guys, but it needs shooters. The only truly proven three-point threats are point guard T.J. McConnell and SG Nick Johnson. Jordin Mayes was lights-out as a freshman, but he's struggled since. Sophomore Gabe York was used very sparingly last season. If all four become feared gunners, frontcourt returnees Kaleb Tarczewski and Brandon Ashley, along with freshmen Aaron Gordon and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, will run wild inside.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>2. Kentucky</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://mephistos.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Wildcat.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="http://mephistos.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Wildcat.gif" width="200" /></a></div>
--Yeah, yeah, we've never seen anything like UK's recruiting class. The Fab Five didn't bring in six McDonald's All-Americans, for obvious mathematical reasons. The Wildcats' two-deep looks like an NBA mock draft. Julius Randle's been voted to nearly every All-American team in existence, and Andrew Harrison has drawn a few votes himself. There's plentiful size, athletic ability and a couple of less heralded grinders like Derek Willis and Jon Hood to keep the studs honest. If there's a question about this team, it's chemistry concerns that--for me at least--center around the Harrison twins. Bring in two guys who are used to dominating the ball and have a much deeper chemistry than with anyone else on the team, and it's natural that they'll be most comfortable working together in crunch time. Of course, John Calipari's the one guy who was able to rein in DeMarcus Cousins' baser bonehead instincts, so he shouldn't have that much trouble with the Harrisons. Final question, though: How do these guys handle five months of insane pressure from a fanbase that will treat any loss as apocalyptic?<br />
<br />
<b>1. Michigan State</b><br />
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<br />
<b>--</b>While I've had discussions with B/R commenters who think Sparty's a much deeper team than I do, there's no denying that there's plenty of talent on hand. Adreian Payne and Gary Harris both made my All-American ballot. Branden Dawson can play anywhere from the 2 to the 4. Denzel Valentine is a similar three-position talent, capable of being a pro-caliber PG if he can hang on to the ball. Sophomore Matt Costello can be a stud Big Ten center by his senior season. The biggest factor in MSU's national title hopes, however, is Keith Appling's shot selection. There is absolutely no reason that Appling should lead the Spartans in FGA again. It's incumbent on him to become the distributor that can allow Payne and Harris to be superstars, being just a little more Mateen Cleaves and a little less Kalin Lucas.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br />FINAL FOUR PICKS: Michigan State, Kentucky, Arizona, VCU</b><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01506764727355321403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7995362757121685826.post-58582236353288423782013-11-02T20:33:00.000-05:002013-11-02T20:33:01.169-05:00Conference Calling's 2013-14 College Basketball Previews: #19 Summit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Denver Pioneers leaped from a sinking ship in the offseason. The WAC was taking on water, and just two years after agreeing to join, DU was eager for a place to land.<br />
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The Summit League became that place. Now, the major question becomes whether Denver has landed in the warm tropical waters of a conference where it can immediately earn its first-ever NCAA tournament bid or the cold arctic seas of also-ran status.<br />
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TBI will give you a small hint before the jump: the water's a bit chilly, but the Pioneers have built themselves one totally diesel raft.<br />
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More on the Pioneers' future--and the rest of their new leaguemates'--after the jump.<br />
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<i>(All stats and rankings per StatSheet.com unless otherwise noted.)</i><br />
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<a name='more'></a><u><b>PROJECTED ORDER OF FINISH:</b></u><br />
<b>1. North Dakota State</b><br />
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--The Bison return nine of the top 10 rotation players from a team that ranked a solid 73rd in last season's final Back Iron Index. While its tempo (61.4 poss/40) won't get anyone's heart rate up, NDSU plays a solid, efficient brand of ball that will make purists swoon at times this season.<br />
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All-conference selections Marshall Bjorklund, Taylor Braun and Lawrence Alexander return, but each will need to improve certain areas to hold off a hard-charging Denver outfit. Braun took a step back as a shooter in his junior year of eligibility, but part of that stemmed from a late slump as he returned from a broken bone in his foot. Still, he fell two boards short of a trip-dub against Western Michigan in a CBI first-round loss. Bjorklund was strong on the offensive glass (11.9%), but at 6'8" and 250, he should be hard enough to move that his 15.5% on the defensive end takes an uptick. (Yep, we're nitpicking. Just go with it.)<br />
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For Alexander, two words: shot selection. He took the second-most shots on the roster, and his three-point attempts ballooned as his free throw rate declined. There should be no reason the point guard takes more shots than Braun or Bjorklund, especially if said PG is going to be the only man on the roster with an eFG% below 50.<br />
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Senior forward TrayVonn Wright can guard nearly any position on the court defensively, but could be one of the Summit's top scorers if he diversified a bit more on offense. He sank 55% of his 2P shots, but almost half of his overall attempts were threes. He was also an 88% foul shooter, but took only 32 attempts. Sophomore swingman Kory Brown does just about everything except score.<br />
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The bench has shooting, with career 40% three-point sniper Mike Felt. There's size in senior Jordan Aaberg and redshirt freshman Dexter Werner. There's even the next versatile Summit League stud in true frosh A.J. Jacobson. The 6'6" Fargo product put up a sick 26/13/5/3/3 line as a senior, but coach Saul Phillips would love to be able to redshirt him.<br />
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<b>2. Denver</b><br />
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--Had forward Royce O'Neale not transferred to Baylor, DU would be the pick in its new league this season. Coach Joe Scott's patient offense (60 poss/40, second-slowest in the nation) is like ND State's taken to the nth degree. The Pioneers take good shots (4th nationally in eFG%), move the ball around (69.8 team A%, second in the nation) and avoid turnovers (opponents' S% 16th-lowest in the country). In a nutshell, they don't beat themselves, and that's why they ranked 59th in the BII last season--only seven spots out of the Bracketometry tournament.<br />
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Forward Chris Udofia wants to rack up his third straight all-conference selection, and he'd likely be the first player in history to do it in three different leagues. His all-around game (13.3/4.5/3.3/1.5/2.3 last season) would give the mainstream analysts a collective chubby if he scored more points (see Wolters, Nate). As it is, this may as well be his theme song...<br />
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DU lives and dies by the three, and may miss departed 39% gunner Chase Hallam. Or, Scott may get more solid shooting from Brett Olson (43%), Jalen Love (37%) and Nate Engesser (41%) and not look back for a moment. At 6'5", Olson has superb size to take opposing guards to the rack and a 95% FT stroke to make them pay for a hack, but so far hasn't taken that tack. (Okay, leaving the rhyming to the pros now.)<br />
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Junior Cam Griffin finished second in the WAC (to Hallam) with a 4.5 S%. He'll ignite the break with a few thefts. <i>(Seriously, it needs to be underscored. The fact that that tempo contains a handful of quick layups from a 15.0 team S% tells us exactly how patient that offense is in the halfcourt. It takes a hoop education to appreciate that attack, while Joe Casual Fan will flip the channel after three minutes. His loss.) </i><br />
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Xavier transfer Griffin McKenzie will lead Denver's contingent of big men, none of whom have a ton of game experience. McKenzie played 2.5 MPG over two seasons, sophomore Marcus Byrd played 8.2 MPG last year, Croatian sophomore Dom Samac played 20 minutes total and a pair of freshmen also join the mix.<br />
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DU's big weakness was on the glass, where it ranked fourth from the bottom in TR% and second-lowest in OR%. While the misses aren't common, they do come and someone needs to fight for a few extra possessions. Even a 27-28 OR% would make DU that much more likely to contend for that first NCAA bid.<br />
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<b>3. South Dakota State</b><br />
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--The Jackrabbits won 71 games over the past three seasons, led by star point guard Nate Wolters. Now that he's gone, is there anyone for the analysts to get the vapors over? <i>(Really, sometimes <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/21070640/the-next-cult-hero-how-nate-wolters-put-himself-and-south-dakota-sate-on-the-map" target="_blank">Matt</a> <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/26283066/33972388" target="_blank">Norlander's</a> <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/21664820/night-court-nate-wolters-gives-cbb-most-points-in-a-game-since-09" target="_blank">man-crush</a> got <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/20605237/college-basketball-previews-nate-wolters-ready-to-lead-jackrabbits-to-summit-league-title-" target="_blank">a bit awkward</a> the past two seasons.)</i><br />
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While there's no 25-PPG man on the new roster, don't be surprised if coach Scott Nagy has three guys dropping 12-15 every night. Seniors Jordan Dykstra, Brayden Carlson and Chad White have spent their whole careers playing Maroon 5 to Nate the Great's Adam Levine. <i>(Seriously, name another dude in that group without using Google.)</i> The trio combined for 31 points and almost 16 rebounds last season, so don't think they can't play. Any of the bunch can become an all-league performer, and the 6'8", 235-pound Dykstra could be a POY dark horse if he can perform up to his size inside.<br />
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Junior Cody Larson, a transfer from Florida, is eligible and could immediately lead the team in rebounding if he finds enough minutes and stays out of trouble.<br />
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The key position is the point, where Carlson can find occasional minutes if 6'4" sophomore Jake Bittle can't handle the role. Having to guard Wolters in practice every day had to either make Bittle a vicious defender or reduce him to a quivering puddle of jelly. If it was the latter, Nagy wouldn't still be talking about starting him.<br />
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Freshmen Anders Broman and Lane Severyn could see some backcourt time. Broman dropped 5K in his high school career, averaging 40 per game in each of his last two seasons. Severyn is 6'5"/200 and can provide some tremendous versatility from the wing.<br />
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<b>4. South Dakota</b><br />
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--Beyond that top three, Summit League projections are best done with a dartboard. South Dakota's largest issues last season centered around perimeter defense, as the Coyotes ranked in the bottom 40 nationally in opponent 3P% and 10th from last in oTO%. The hope is that a little more size in the backcourt can help those lines, as well as a bottom-10 OR%.<br />
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North Texas transfer Trey Norris (6'0", 170) won't help size-wise, but he should be an active PG. His speed will let new coach Joey James unleash the hounds in transition. 6'1" returnees Brandon Bos and Casey Kasperbauer provide shooting, as both were around 42% from the arc. The perimeter size comes from 6'5" Utah State transfer Adam Thoseby and 6'3" juco Tyler Larson. Larson can play multiple positions, including the point if needed, and Thoseby is a solid athlete who chose to spend much of his time camped out for threes.<br />
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The boss up front is 6'10" senior Trevor Gruis, and he needs to play as such to drag the Yotes this far up the table. He's barely improved since a strong freshman season, and has even regressed on the glass. The Coyotes need all the steel they can get in the rebounding game, especially pulling extra possessions on the offensive end. Sophomore Tyler Flack led the team in blocks and pulled better rebounding percentages than Gruis, so look for him to get substantial caddy minutes. Senior Karim Rowson can be another solid rebounder and make the occasional big play on defense.<br />
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<b>5. Western Illinois</b><br />
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--The Leathernecks lose two All-Summit performers, but coming off 40 wins in the past two seasons, life is still okay in Macomb. Starting forward Adam Link and part-time guard Remy Roberts-Burnett return, along with reserve center Michael Ochereobia. All three need to play major roles for WIU to contend.<br />
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Departed stars Terell Parks and Ceola Clark were already gone when WIU tipped off against Purdue in the CBI, leaving Roberts-Burnett and Ochereobia to pick up the slack. Both responded well, combining for 27 points, five rebounds, five assists and no turnovers. Roberts-Burnett does a little bit of everything well except hit his threes. Ochereobia crunched glass to the tune of 12.5/25.7 splits last season. Link should fill Parks' role as top scorer after putting up 9.9 per game in his first year after a juco transfer.<br />
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WIU's deliberate offense has been the butt of jokes, occasionally from its own coach. Jim Molinari, however, is beginning to make some noise about moving faster with sophomore Jordan Foster or freshman Jabari Sandifer in charge. Foster struggled as both a shooter and a playmaker last season, but being a true point guard was still alien to him. Sandifer has no such problems, but Foster may still clinch the starting spot with aggressive defense.<br />
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Jucos Tate Stensgaard and Mohamed Conde should be the candidates to play alongside Link and Ochereobia up front. Sophomore guard Jason Hawthorne provides a needed shooter off the bench.<br />
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<b>6. IPFW</b><br />
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--Lose a 20-PPG scorer at Kentucky or Kansas and you recruit two or three more. Lose one at Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne and you hold a wake. The Mastodons won't have any one man on the roster who can replace all-time scoring leader Frank Gaines, but a group effort could make them at least competitive.<br />
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Forward Luis Jacobo, a 52% effective shooter in his first year after a juco transfer, should inherit the scoring load. He cracked double figures in eight of his final 11 games. He should get some support from sophomore swingman Joe Edwards, who scored at least seven points in 17 of Fort Wayne's 20 games after Christmas. He was a 56% effective shooter.<br />
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Point guard candidates Pierre Bland and Isaiah McCray may frequently play together. Bland is a bit more secure with the ball, while McCray tries harder to make the big play on either end. Guard Kevin Harden is still fighting his way back from a torn ACL suffered last season against Notre Dame. He was averaging six points and five boards per game before the injury, and he'll provide some grit on the wing if healthy.<br />
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Senior forward Mike Kibiloski provides some shooting (36% from deep), while sophomore Joe Reed needs to prove he can do the same (71% of his shots at the rim). Buffet-crushers Steve Forbes (300 pounds) and Brent Calhoun (280) should provide a lot of bulk on the glass. Calhoun's a rim protector, while Forbes is better known for his offense.<br />
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<b>7. Nebraska-Omaha</b><br />
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--UNO's offense proved able to compete, but its defense was regularly crushed like a styrofoam cup under a truck tire. Five of the top six scorers return, so coach Derrin Hansen may need to up the ante to get the defensive message through.<br />
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Senior guard Justin Simmons is the league's top returning scorer after carding a 55% true shooting mark last year, but he's taking more interest in cutting down his 19.2 TO%. His fellow guards C.J. Carter, Alex Phillips, Marcus Tyus and Caleb Steffensmeier combined for about 27 points, 10 boards and seven assists per game, all carding eFG%'s better than 48. As a group, this is a very solid offensive backcourt.<br />
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Again, though, who plays defense? The Mavericks averaged 250 threes, 10th-most in America, and a 39% success rate that ranked similarly. Redshirt freshman Jalen Bradley, a two-time Nebraska state scoring champion, could see some time if he can become a defensive pest.<br />
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Lest we think the frontcourt escapes blame, rebounding was also weak. Both ends ranked near the bottom 10 nationally. Senior forward Matt Hagerbaumer (9.6/20.6) was the only Mav to record decent rebounding splits. He should start next to 12-PPG center John Karhoff. Look for juco forward Mike Rostampour to fight tooth and nail for boards whenever he's on the court, but foul trouble may follow him around, too.<br />
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<b>8. IUPUI</b><br />
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--The Jaguars were every bit as bad as Omaha defensively, minus the competitive offense. Injuries took a major bite, but can IUPUI compete even with everyone back?<br />
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Guard Ian Chiles was an all-conference player two years ago, but foot injuries crushed him last season. He should be much closer to the 52% effective shooter of 2011-12 than the 29% shooter of last year. 6'5" sophomore Marcellus Barksdale can play four positions, and may even see time at the point. Redshirt freshman Cortell Busby, a lockdown defender, should have something to say about that PG spot, however.<br />
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Among guys who actually played last season, either one of forwards Mitchell Patton and Donovan Gibbs could push for all-conference honors. Asking for both is just greedy, Jag fans. Patton converted 58% from the floor as a junior, mostly in the paint. Gibbs can step out past the arc on occasion, but makes most of his bones in the mid-range.<br />
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More outside shooting may come from senior P.J. Hubert (40% career from deep) and Milwaukee transfer Ja'Rob McCallum (37% career). Coach Todd Howard is banking on juco transfer Khufu Najee to force some turnovers and freshmen Josh James and Justus Stanback to help on the glass.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dude, seriously, he looks hungry.</td></tr>
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<u><b>MARQUEE MATCHUPS:</b></u><br />
<b>Denver:</b> Nov. 17 vs. Stanford<br />
--The Cardinal have a size advantage, but DU has the altitude. Potential resume game for the Pioneers.<br />
<b>IPFW:</b> Dec. 29 vs. Eastern Kentucky<br />
--EKU is the team to beat in the OVC this season. Yes, the Hairy Prehistoric Elephants play at Illinois, but control the optimism. EKU = much more realistic win.<br />
<b>IUPUI:</b> Dec. 14 at Marquette<br />
--Fox Sports 1 in the house. Enjoy Wisconsin in December, lads. And try not to get eaten alive by Davante Gardner.<br />
<b>Nebraska-Omaha:</b> Nov. 10 at Iowa<br />
--Only nationally televised game announced thus far. It's either this or a trip to Vegas.<br />
<b>North Dakota State:</b> Dec. 14 at Ohio State<br />
--Bjorklund should be able to make Amir "No, Seriously, I Was a McDonald's All-American...Hey, Why Are You Guys Laughing?" Williams look sorry, but will Aaron Craft and Shannon Scott do the same to Alexander?<br />
<b>South Dakota:</b> Dec. 14 vs. Green Bay<br />
--Trevor Gruis vs. Alec Brown makes a good battle of the cattle.<br />
<b>South Dakota State:</b> Dec. 14 vs. Belmont<br />
--Two mid-major darlings who have to reconfigure following major departures. Should give us a good indication of where both are at.<br />
<b>Western Illinois:</b> Nov. 12 at Nebraska<br />
--This schedule is a bit of a yawnfest, aside from tournaments in El Paso and Logan, Utah. Maybe Nebraska fans will still be turnt up for their new arena.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Occasionally, he becomes UFOdofia.</b></td></tr>
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<u><b>ALL-SUMMIT FIRST TEAM:</b></u><br />
Taylor Braun, ND State<br />
Jordan Dykstra, SD State <br />
Brett Olson, Denver<br />
Justin Simmons, Nebraska-Omaha <br />
Chris Udofia, Denver<br />
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<u><b>ALL-SUMMIT SECOND TEAM:</b></u><br />
Marshall Bjorklund, ND State <br />
Trevor Gruis, South Dakota<br />
Mitchell Patton, IUPUI<br />
Chad White, SD State <br />
TrayVonn Wright, ND State<br />
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<b>PLAYER OF THE YEAR:</b> Chris Udofia, Denver<br />
--If there's a man in this conference likely to bust a trip-dub on some fools' heads, it's Udofia.<br />
<b>COACH OF THE YEAR:</b> Joey James, South Dakota<br />
--Take over a team in September and don't slump to last place. Harder than it sounds.<br />
<b>NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR:</b> Ja'Rob McCallum, IUPUI<br />
--Most of the good teams have veterans returning. IUPUI also has veterans, but some of them are not good. Hence, McCallum gets hardware.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01506764727355321403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7995362757121685826.post-62630386986802808682013-11-02T00:53:00.000-05:002013-11-02T00:53:02.024-05:00Conference Calling's 2013-14 College Basketball Previews: #20 Patriot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Patriot League itself is surely pleased with how it fared in the college basketball realignment domino game. New additions Boston University and Loyola (Md.) are strong programs that boast rising young coaches.<br />
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The membership, however, might be exasperated for the same reasons. Just when it seemed that the Lehigh/Bucknell stronghold was breaking with the departure of Lehigh's C.J. McCollum and Bucknell's Mike Muscala, here come a pair of teams fully equipped to win the race on their first lap.<br />
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Those two new members should, however, help the previous eight in one major regard: the RPI rating. Loyola and BU would have ranked third and fourth in the PL's Back Iron Index standings. The two faced off in the first round of the CIT, with Loyola's win propelling it to the quarterfinals.<br />
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Stronger league opposition creates a tide that raises all boats come Selection Sunday. When a victory is harder to come by, the computers give greater credit, making the selection committee take greater notice.<br />
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So forgive the other eight PL members if they don't roll out the red carpet for BU and Loyola, but know that whoever takes the NCAA bid will be glad the league was stronger for the additions.<br />
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Most likely to take that bid? Read on after the jump.<br />
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EDITOR'S NOTE: We're going into Super-Condensed Team Capsule Mode in an effort to cover each conference before opening night. Apologies to our top 20's fans, but I want to get the series finished this year.<br />
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<i>(All stats and rankings via StatSheet.com unless otherwise noted.)</i><br />
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<a name='more'></a><u><b>PROJECTED ORDER OF FINISH:</b></u><br />
<b>1. Boston University</b><br />
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--Nearly every projection has BU running its brand-new league like a boss, and for good reason. All seven of coach Joe Jones' rotation players return, and a couple of newcomers could hit the ground fast.<br />
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Backcourt trio D.J. Irving, Maurice Watson and John Papale combined for nearly 35 points, nine boards and 10 assists per game. Watson was among the nation's top 20 in A%, and should be a cinch for All-Patriot if he can cut down his three turnovers per game. All Irving did was take All-America East honors after averaging 14 points and 3.6 dimes in his own right. Freshman guard Cedric Hankerson averaged 23 and 11 as a senior at Coral Reef (Miami) HS. He should provide a little offense from the bench before replacing top scorer Irving, who graduates after this season.<br />
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Up front, 240-pound banger Dom Morris is the closest thing the Terriers have to great inside presence, but he's only 6'7". Still, he should be more than competitive in the Patriot, and matching last season's 11.6/6.3 averages is easily attainable. Junior swingman Malik Thomas, senior Nathan Robinson and sophomore Nathan Dieudonne provide good wing shooting and depth. Either sophomore Justin Alston or 7-foot freshman Dylan Haines could give BU a true center, which is one of the few things the Terriers currently lack.<br />
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Backcourt injuries may be the one thing that can slow BU this season, since past the three starters and Hankerson, there's not much production or experience. Good health will keep the Terriers going 10-deep, and none of their new leaguemates can boast a roster this skilled.<br />
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<b>2. Lafayette</b><br />
--The key to the Leopards living up to this prediction is the point guard position. Graduated star Tony Johnson was only the PL's most efficient offensive player, and his potential replacements were...not. Senior Les Smith and sophomore Zach Rufer shot a combined 26% last season. Smith's a strong perimeter defender, but not an offensive threat. Freshman Nick Lindner should get a ton of minutes, if not win the starting job outright. Sophomore off-guard Bryce Scott could be an option as well. Scott shot 43% from deep last season and carded a better A/T ratio than any of the other candidates.<br />
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Four of LC's starters should be set in stone, with Scott, junior sniper Joey Ptasinski and junior forwards Seth Hinrichs and Dan Trist all having varying measures of all-conference potential. The 6'7" Hinrichs is a deadly three-point shooter, canning almost 46% through his first two seasons. Trist does his damage in the mid-range area and can be a dangerous scorer, but will need to improve his rebounding.<br />
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For that matter, ANYBODY picking up some slack on the glass would be welcome. Junior Alan Flannigan was the best board man by percentage last year. Sophomores Ben Freeland, Billy Murphy and Nathaniel Musters all stand 6'9" or taller, but none were major producers as freshmen. If the Leopards can only pull 67% on the defensive glass this year, finishing in the top half could be a major task, never mind winning the title.<br />
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<b>3. Army</b><br />
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--Like Lafayette, Army is prepared to shrug off the loss of an All-PL star and keep it moving. Ella Ellis was a 17-PPG man, and his production is unlikely to be replaced easily, but the Black Knights got fantastic work from last season's freshman class. Five of them return after averaging at least 7.7 MPG.<br />
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Point guard Dylan Cox was a 55% effective shooter who took limited looks, because he was more concerned with setting up others. He may take a few more shots with Ellis gone, but he's still got plenty of potential assists on the roster. Swingman Kyle Wilson actually took two more shots than Ellis last season, making 41% from deep, and he should be expected to seamlessly take over as the primary option. 6'10" center Kevin Ferguson and 6'6" forward Larry Toomey can become strong complementary options if they maintain starters' minutes. Ferguson put up 10.3/18.1 rebounding splits and blocked 10% of opponents' available shots.<br />
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The team's lone senior, guard Josh Herbeck, missed most of last season with injury, but the career 39% three-point shooter should provide one more floor spacer for coach Zach Spiker's offense. The Knights will need some bulk to step up behind Ferguson, though. Sophomores Kyle Weldon, Tanner Plomb and Travis Rollo can provide some rebounding prowess. 6'10" freshman Kieffer Jordan, a high school swimmer, should be more than capable of going hard for occasional minutes.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They don't look much different today, eh?</td></tr>
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Turnovers were Army's only real stumbling block last season. The Knights forced an 18.8 TO% while committing errors on nearly 21% of their own possession. With a year's experience, look for Cox to tighten up his handle.<br />
<br />
Army made a little history last season, carding its first winning season since 1985. Doing so again would be a feat that hasn't been accomplished since 1979, when West Point's sideline was roamed by an ambitious young whippersnapper named...<br />
<br />
...Mike Krzyzewski. (Yeah, it's been a while.)<br />
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<b>4. Holy Cross</b><br />
--Crusaders coach Milan Brown wants to run. In his fourth year, he may have recruited the kind of athletes who can do that more often. The big problem will come if HC can't find the depth to afford greater defensive aggressiveness. Only nine teams in America forced a lower TO% than Holy Cross.<br />
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Point guard Justin Burrell will flip the switch on both ends. He improved markedly as a shooter last season and ranked third in the PL in A%. He does need to cut the turnovers, however, since he put up only 1.3 dimes for each giveaway. Of course, as long as he keeps pumping into the lane to All-PL big man Dave Dudzinski, the assists will come. Double D can score inside and out, making 18 threes last year. He may need to shoulder a bigger rebounding load than last season's 6.6, and his 9.9/17.3 splits suggest he's very capable of doing so.<br />
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Athletic forwards Malcolm Miller and Christopher Morgan can both get to the rim at will, but must produce from some sort of range to be positive factors in the halfcourt offense. Junior Taylor Abt and sophomore Cullen Hamilton must also provide some shooting to spread things out. Sophomore guard Eric Green could be the pickpocket Brown needs to start some breaks. It won't be a surprise if he pips Hamilton for a starting role. Also, look for freshman Anthony Thompson to provide quality relief for Burrell, allowing him to play more aggressively on defense.<br />
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<b>5. Colgate</b><br />
--Murphy Burnatowski balled so hard for Colgate last season, finishing third in the Patriot at 17.4 PPG on 50% effective shooting. Now, how about a little help here?<br />
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Supporting pieces John Brandenburg and Brandon James graduated, so if the Raiders are going to keep doing great work on the defensive glass, some unproven pieces have to put in work. Senior Clayton Graham is the only experienced big man, and he put up 10/15 rebounding splits in his 10 MPG last season. Ohio transfer Ethan Jacobs played next to no minutes in Athens, freshman Wyatt Hagerty just went through a major growth spurt, and Cali freshman John Fenton put up 18 and 18 per game as a senior. A good passer, Fenton should push his way into the starting five by season's end.<br />
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The backcourt has a lot of complementary pieces, but no true stars. Junior Luke Roh does just about everything (6.6 RPG, 3.5 APG) except shoot. Even at only 6'4", more than half his shots came at the rim. The defense is free to ignore him when he's at the arc to help on true shooters like Pat Moore (40.7%). Monmouth transfer Austin Tillotson is a capable shooter and passer who should let Roh roam more often.<br />
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Much like Holy Cross, Colgate needs to get in ballhandlers' shorts more often and swipe some balls. (Wait, that didn't...eh, never mind, we'll go with it.) Burnatowski was the only Raider with a S% above 2.0 last season, which makes Tillotson (2.6% as a freshman two seasons ago) all the more important.<br />
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<b>6. Lehigh</b><br />
--Nearly 60 PPG walked out the door with the departed C.J. McCollum, Holden Greiner, Gabe Knutson and B.J. Bailey. Now, Lehigh coach Brett Reed has to rebuild around senior Mackey McKnight and throw a host of freshmen into the fire immediately.<br />
<br />
McKnight's been a top-five Patriot assist man all three of his seasons, winning the crown last season, but without McCollum to cover for him, his occasional taking of plays off will be harder to stomach. Players like senior Anthony D'Orazio and juniors Corey Schaefer and Stefan "Triple Word Score" Cvrkalj must replace the shooting lost with McCollum and Bailey. D'Orazio is a dangerous thief, tying McKnight for the team lead in steals despite playing 10 fewer MPG.<br />
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Up front, sophomore Justin Goldsborough should be a reliable presence on the glass and as a shot blocker. Junior Conroy Baltimore is a solid rebounder if he shows up to play every night. Sophomore Jesse Chuku should make an auspicious debut after running into NCAA red tape regarding his move from England, while freshman Tim Kempton may start from day one.<br />
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<b>7. Bucknell</b><br />
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--It appears the Lehigh-Bucknell stranglehold is well and truly over. Like the Hawks, the Bison lost an NBA draft pick and most of his top supporting players. One guard returns to lead them, but Bucknell's Cameron Ayers is worthy of a bit more faith than Mackey McKnight. The son of former Ohio State coach Randy Ayers is a skilled, intelligent player, but can he possibly be a 55% effective shooter again with what little returns to help him out?<br />
<br />
There is not another returnee who averaged more than 2.8 PPG last season. Guards Ryan Hill and Steven Kaspar will join Ayers in the backcourt, and neither is a great shooter to this point in his career. Both could make some plays on drives and kicks. Sophomore Ryan Frazier should provide pesky perimeter defense.<br />
<br />
There's more experience up front, at least in terms of letters won. Senior Brian Fitzpatrick, sophomore Dom Hoffman, junior Cory Starkey and senior Ben Brackney are all capable role players, but can any of them be a consistent leader? Brackney (52% from deep the past two seasons) may be the top shooter on the team, including Ayers. Freshman Ben Oberfeld, a Minnesota product like graduated stud Mike Muscala, should contribute quickly as a rebounder and interior defender.<br />
<br />
The Bison can't possibly get away with being last nationally in S% again, and it seems unlikely that the offense will only commit turnovers on 15% of its possessions again. Like it or not, the Bison will be the poster children for "regression to the mean" this season.<br />
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<b>8. Loyola (Md.)</b><br />
--Starting to sense a pattern here. A team that absorbed heavy losses after a good season returns one talented guard who was one of his league's top producers. Unlike Lehigh and Bucknell, however, Loyola's Dylon Cormier put in his work in the MAAC, not the Patriot. The Greyhounds have to adapt to a new coach and a new league, and that's a lot of change for a bunch of guys who'll also have to adapt to actual playing time.<br />
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Cormier struck for better than 16 PPG last season, but on only 44.4% effective shooting. He's not a tremendous three-point shooter, preferring to get more than half his shots at the rim. Point guard R.J. Williams can be a decent shooter, but he just doesn't hoist many (9.6 shot % last season). He needs to prove that he's grown up after sitting out half the season suspended for the always-enlightening "violation of team rules." Loyola (Ill.) transfer Denzel Brito and sophomore Tyler Hubbard will provide some scoring off the bench.<br />
<br />
Watch for sophomore wing Jarred Jones, whose tempo-neutral rates were solid last season in only 11 MPG last season. He could come close to tripling that average this year. At 6'7", he can work inside or out. Senior Jordan Latham is the only other returnee with starting experience. While he's a strong shot blocker, he struggled to compete on the glass last season. If he can't come close to doubling last season's 5.5/10.1 rebounding splits, the Hounds will get routinely crushed inside.<br />
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<b>9. American</b><br />
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--One starter returns for an Eagles team that slumped to a 20-loss season, only its fourth in 30 years. Center Tony Wroblicky was one of the Patriot's top offensive rebounders for the second straight year, and he should pull even harder on the glass without conference glass-eating king Stephen Lumpkins taking all the caroms. Not bad for a guy who wasn't supposed to be a starter as the season began.<br />
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Swingman John Schoof went from shooting 28% from deep as a freshman to 50% as a sophomore. Expect his true level to be somewhere in the middle, but his career 91% at the foul line tells us he can find his groove very easily. He should lead AU in scoring this season.<br />
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Junior point guard Darius "Pee Wee" Gardner may be the biggest key player of all for AU. He was a solid ballhandler (1.8 A/T ratio) and defender (two seasons with S% above 3.0) for Stephen F. Austin before transferring. Swingman Jesse Reed produced when he got time last season, averaging 7.7 PPG when he played 24 minutes or more. Look for him to crack the starting five and get easily that many this season. Nigerian forward Yilret Yiljep, in addition to having one of the best names in all of ball, should be a strong, springy presence on defense and the glass.<br />
<br />
If both Reed and Schoof shoot up to their potential, Gardner's hand is steady on the till and another big man steps up to complement Wroblicky, the Eagles could push for a precious top-six place (top six get byes in the new PL tournament). That's a lot of ifs, though.<br />
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<b>10. Navy</b><br />
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--Navy could very easily get out of the cellar, considering that there are two potential all-conference performers on the roster. Junior forward Worth Smith slumped a bit on the boards as a sophomore, but he kept his shooting percentages stable with increased usage, and that's not always easy. Defensively, he finished third in the PL in blocks and fifth in steals, and all this was done with a bum shoulder.<br />
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Point guard Tilman Dunbar ranked ninth in America with a 41.5 A%, and his 152 dimes were a Patriot freshman record. The Midshipmen may be better off, however, if he never shoots. He was a 38% effective shooter last year. Juniors Brandon Venturini and Kevin Alter and sophomore Kendall Knorr (combined 34.5% from deep) can provide the scoring threat Dunbar can't. If the returnees aren't careful, freshman shooter Tim Abruzzo could steal minutes. He drained 193 threes in his high school career.<br />
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Sophomore forward Will Kelly cracked the starting lineup late and made the most of the chance. Over the final 10 games, he averaged 5.1/5.5, including a dub-dub against Lehigh and a 13-board game against American. The 6'9" 225-pounder should start from day one and could form a great forward duo with Smith. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Possible 20-10 man bringing ball up. Good luck, Navy.</td></tr>
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<u><b>MARQUEE MATCHUPS:</b></u><br />
<b>American:</b> Nov. 8 at George Mason<br />
--Mason's entering its new A-10 era. Might be too much to ask for the Eagles to hope the Pats are looking ahead in the season opener. <br />
<b>Army:</b> Dec. 22 at Rutgers<br />
--Do you like your Knights Scarlet or Black? Army could just take down a program full of guys still trying to get to know each other, even near Christmas.<br />
<b>Boston University:</b> Dec. 7 vs. Harvard<br />
--Every non-Ivy opponent should have Harvard circled this season, with the Crimson seeing so much Top 25 love.<br />
<b>Bucknell:</b> Nov. 13 at Penn State<br />
--PSU's always a threat for the non-con upset, and Bucknell nearly got them last season. But again, that was a much better Bucknell team and State was missing Tim Frazier.<br />
<b>Colgate:</b> Dec. 7 at Georgetown<br />
--Don't hold yer breath waiting for a win, but just hope for a competitive effort on Fox Sports 1.<br />
<b>Holy Cross:</b> Dec. 28 at Michigan<br />
--Unlikely to get a win, but Dudzinski could put himself on the national radar if he plays well against All-America candidate Mitch McGary.<br />
<b>Lafayette:</b> Nov. 8 at Villanova<br />
--When you're still trying to figure out who your point guard is, why not throw the candidates in against a pest like Ryan Arcidiacono and see who sinks or swims?<br />
<b>Lehigh:</b> Nov. 8 at Minnesota<br />
--Always an interesting game when you catch a power-conference also-ran in a new coach's debut.<br />
<b>Loyola (Md.):</b> Dec. 30 at Miami<br />
--Over Christmas break is the perfect time to play a game in Miami. Take an extra day, perv on chicks at the beach, take the L and head home.<br />
<b>Navy:</b> Nov. 8 at Towson<br />
--I named Jerrelle Benimon a third-team All-American <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1832473-br-expert-predictions-for-2013-14-ncaa-basketball-all-american-teams/page/4" target="_blank">over at B/R</a>. If Smith and Kelly can neutralize him, it makes that pick look really bad. Strangely, I'm not all that worried.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More like STUDzinski, amirite?</td></tr>
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<br />
<u><b>ALL-PL FIRST TEAM:</b></u><br />
Cameron Ayers, Bucknell <br />
Murphy Burnatowski, Colgate <br />
Dave Dudzinski, Holy Cross <br />
Seth Hinrichs, Lafayette <br />
D.J. Irving, Boston University<br />
<br />
<u><b>ALL-PL SECOND TEAM:</b></u><br />
Dylon Cormier, Loyola (Md.)<br />
Mackey McKnight, Lehigh<br />
Worth Smith, Navy<br />
Maurice Watson, Boston University <br />
Kyle Wilson, Army <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>PLAYER OF THE YEAR: </b>Dave Dudzinski, Holy Cross<br />
--If Brown can put the tempo up a notch, Dudzinski will crunch some numbers with the extra possessions. A double-double average may be too much to ask, but he can come real close.<br />
<b>COACH OF THE YEAR: </b>Zach Spiker, Army<br />
--Continuing to win without Ella Ellis will be seen as a major accomplishment. <br />
<b>NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR:</b> Tim Kempton, Lehigh<br />
--Low-post scorer, has range out to about 15 feet; he could be the top supporting scorer behind McKnight. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01506764727355321403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7995362757121685826.post-53058398779333791932013-10-26T20:20:00.000-05:002013-10-26T20:20:19.022-05:00Conference Calling's 2013-14 College Basketball Previews: #21 Northeast<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Martin making faces at me back there?"</td></tr>
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Last season, three new coaches joined the Northeast Conference and made a quick mark.<br />
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LIU Brooklyn stormed to its third straight NCAA tournament under former assistant Jack Perri. Ex-Mount St. Mary's guard Jamion Christian took over at his alma mater and and won 18 games before losing to LIU in the NEC title game. Finally, Wagner hired 28-year-old Bashir Mason and watched him take the Seahawks to 19 wins.<br />
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All three inherited some decent talent, which may be more than one of this season's noobs can say. The other only has the unenviable task of replacing his program's all-time Division I scoring leader.<br />
<br />
Lest anyone get the impression that this coaching stuff is easy, especially in the NEC, the conference might deliver two of its bench bosses a cold, hard dose of reality.<br />
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Who finishes where? How bad is the outlook for the NEC's cellar-dwellers? Why do bananas turn brown before you get them home from the market?<br />
<br />
The answers to some of these questions will be found after the jump. For the others, Google is your homeboy. (Homesite?)<br />
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<i>(All stats and rankings via StatSheet.com unless otherwise noted.)</i><br />
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<a name='more'></a><u><b>PROJECTED ORDER OF FINISH:</b></u><br />
<b>1. Wagner</b><br />
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--The Seahawks aren't a big team, but they are athletic as all hell and more equipped than most to replace a major departure. In Wagner's case, swingman Jonathon Williams' graduation takes more than 15 points and six rebounds out of the lineup. It may take a committee approach to fill the void, but there are plenty of candidates.<br />
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The eligibility of Valparaiso transfer Jay Harris gives coach Bashir Mason five guards who can be strong NEC producers. Over Harris' two seasons at Valpo, he was good for seven PPG in 21 minutes a night. A deadly foul shooter, he might be able to attack the rim more often in the NEC than he could in the Horizon League.<br />
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Point guard Kenny Ortiz likes to get inside, but he's also frequently careless with the ball. Cutting down his 27% turnover rate could make him an All-NEC selection, especially if he once again puts up a national top-60 assist percentage. Backcourt mate Latif Rivers scored a career-low 13 PPG last season, a sentence that's still impressive to say about a senior in the NEC. If he's fully healthy and free of the injuries that nagged him last season, look for him to lead the team (conference?) in scoring.<br />
<br />
Marcus Burton and Dwaun Anderson could be the starting backcourt for other Northeast schools, but they provide tremendous support for the top three. Burton coughed the ball up on only 13% of his possessions, and he'll occasionally play on the ball right next to Ortiz.<br />
<br />
Up front, there's not a lot of experienced size, but the big men that are there are effective. Seniors Orlando Parker and Naofall Folahan join junior Mario Moody in a group that combined for 13 boards and 3.5 blocks. The three will keep splitting minutes while Mason tries his best to get as much of the backcourt talent on the floor as possible.<br />
<br />
Folahan's block percentage has ranked in the nation's top 40 in all three of his prior seasons, and he's the essential last line of the Seahawks' defense. Moody was a 15% offensive rebounder, and Mason would love to see him be more aggressive with the ball in his hands.<br />
<br />
Mason added a pair of freshman bigs, New Yorker Greg Senat and Connecticut product Nolan Long. Both could be solid rebounders on the collegiate level.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>2. Robert Morris</b><br />
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<br />
--Bobby Mo will forever be an epithet to hurl at obnoxious, arrogant Kentucky fans (as if there's any other kind, amirite?) after the NIT upset in Moon Township. NEC opponents may also be cursing the Colonials this season, thanks to a steady defensive approach that flies in the face of so many up-tempo offenses. With six new faces, though, how quickly will RMU get it together?<br />
<br />
Stud defenders Velton Jones and Russell Johnson will be missed, and Jones' steady hand on the offense will also prove hard to replace. Senior Anthony Myers-Pate is a veteran who filled in capably when Jones battled injuries, but he regressed badly as a shooter. He'll need to recapture the 50% eFG performance of his sophomore season.<br />
<br />
The rest of the Morris backcourt will be dangerous offensively, led by the NEC's best three-point threat in senior Karvel Anderson. Anderson had the game of anyone's life with a 10-10, 28-point effort against Ohio last December, and he's the same guy who disappeared from the Kentucky win. Still, he shot 44% from three on the season while dealing with a broken wrist for six weeks.<br />
<br />
Junior David Appolon can be a lockdown defender, and he'll have to be to get minutes ahead of a sea of new guards. Jucos Desjuan Newton and Charles Oliver, along with freshmen Britton Lee and Kavon Stewart, are all dueling for minutes. Oliver averaged 19 PPG in his stopover between Rider and RMU. Lee ripped 2.5 SPG as a high school senior, and he may also swipe the backup role behind Myers-Pate.<br />
<br />
Up front, Lucky Jones will assume the team leadership mantle after putting up a strong 11.6/6.0 season as a sophomore. He's also the returning steals leader, so we can't assume all the defensive skill left with V. Jones and Johnson. Senior Mike McFadden and sophomore Stephan Hawkins are the only experienced big men. Hawkins can be a fearsome rebounder and rim protector, while McFadden is a capable post scorer.<br />
<br />
Freshman Jeremiah Worthem drew 3* ratings from Scout and Rivals, and could steal a starting spot if Hawkins isn't ready for big minutes or McFadden's ever-present injury problems recur.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>3. Bryant</b><br />
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<br />
--The four schools joining D-I this season could look to Bryant for a textbook example of how to handle the transition. The Bulldogs stormed through a 19-win season one year after slumping to only two victories. The question for this season lies in how well the team performs with higher expectations and opponents not looking past them to bigger games.<br />
<br />
Shooting guard Dyami Starks exploded into the NEC after transferring from Columbia. He finished fourth in the conference in scoring and 3P%. Dartmouth was the only opponent to hold him empty from the arc. More typically, Starks torched opponents like Lehigh and Robert Morris, against whom he drained 11 triples in back-to-back games at New Year's.<br />
<br />
Forward Alex Francis gave Bryant two of the league's top five scorers, ranking just behind Starks. Another season like last year will put Francis over 2,000 points and close to 1,000 rebounds for his career.<br />
<br />
Depth was a problem last season, with only six players averaging more than two points per game. Of the six, four return including Starks and Francis. Australian Corey Maynard and coach Tim O'Shea's nephew Joe provided solid minutes last season, but Joe O'Shea needs to work on avoiding foul trouble. He was whistled more than five times per 40 minutes and fouled out of five games.<br />
<br />
The point guard and center positions still need to be solidified. Sophomore Shane McLaughlin will get first crack at the point, but his ball security needs drastic improvement. He turned the ball over on more than 40% of his possessions. Keep an eye on Texan Justin Brickman, whose brother Jason is the star floor general at LIU Brooklyn. <br />
<br />
Senior Claybrin McMath represents the only experienced size on the roster, although he averaged only five MPG last season. Freshman Ellis Williams and redshirt Andrew Scocca will need to adapt quickly to the college game.<br />
<br />
Don't expect the Bulldogs to rank among the most efficient offenses in the country again this season, but they certainly have the tools to contend in the NEC once again. Their non-conference schedule is the stuff of a team that expects great things, and they won't fall too far with two of the league's five best players on the roster.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>4. Central Connecticut State</b><br />
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<br />
--It all still starts in the backcourt for CCSU, whose fans breathed a sigh of relief when NEC scoring champ Kyle Vinales decided not to transfer. He sought out programs that would help him get to the NCAA tournament, but schools like LSU and Memphis would have sought to make the 6'1" junior play point guard. While he led the Blue Devils in assists last season, Vinales likes scoring better. He's less than 800 points away from CCSU's all-time record.<br />
<br />
Senior Matt Hunter and junior Malcolm McMillan both had solid all-around seasons in 2012-13. Hunter ranked seventh in the NEC in both scoring and rebounding while leading the league in steals. He even averaged nearly one block per game. The personal highlight had to be dropping 40 on Indiana at Assembly Hall. Now, about that 39% shooting from the floor...<br />
<br />
McMillan put up a very solid line of 8.2/4.3/3.5/1.5 and was the team's top three-point shooter at 38%, albeit in a much smaller sample size than Vinales or Hunter. The three guards never left the floor for Howie Dickenman's club, as McMillan ranked third on the team in minutes at 36.4. Developing depth must become a priority, especially for the tempo the Devils played last year. <br />
<br />
Forwards Brandon Peel and Terrell Allen can both be capable rebounders and shot blockers with full-time minutes, and they should get that kind of time this season. New faces will need to play well early up front. Jucos Faronte Drakeford and Juwan Newman have solid credentials, with Drakeford snagging third-team All-American honors last season.<br />
<br />
For the Blue Devils to climb this high, they'll need some backbone on the glass and on the defensive end. Both their overall rebounding percentage and defensive efficiency ranked in the 300s last year. Vinales and Hunter are both volume shooters who took more than half of CCSU's shots and converted only 40% combined.<br />
<br />
Someone else needs to assert himself as a scorer and Dickenman needs to convince his stud scorers to share the rock more. Of course, it could be a catch-22. If Vinales doesn't get to lead the NEC in scoring again, he may just go ahead and follow through with that transfer threat.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>5. Mount St. Mary's</b><br />
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<br />
--As is appropriate for a man whose
previous job was under Shaka Smart at VCU, Mount coach Jamion Christian
employs an aggressive, hyperkinetic defense that either gets turnovers
or folds like a cheap card table. The Mount's "Mayhem" system was one of
the best in America (23rd, TBE) at making opponents hock up the ball,
but it surrendered an unsightly 55.7 eFG% as well. That was third-worst
in the country.<br />
<br />
It would help if the four returning
starters were supplemented by experienced backups, but nearly all of the
bench veterans bailed in the offseason. Guards Rashad Whack, Sam
Prescott and Julian Norfleet combined for a 36/10/6/4 line and form
easily the NEC's most talented backcourt trio. However, they'll miss
fourth wheel Shivaughn Wiggins, the NEC Rookie of the Year who left for
Coastal Carolina. Wiggins was the most efficient scoring threat of the
four, if the least prolific.<br />
<br />
Whack and Prescott were
both 36-percent three-point shooters last season, and Whack finished
second in the conference at 2.1 SPG. Norfleet was a secure floor
general, posting a 1.8 A/T ratio and a TO% hovering around a very
respectable 16. He's made a vast improvement from simply being a spot-up
shooter when he arrived at the Mount.<br />
<br />
In the
frontcourt, there's no experience outside of senior Kristijan Krajina
and sophomores Taylor Danaher and Gregory Graves. Hoop-Math.com lists
Krajina and Danaher as 69% and 65% shooters at the rim, respectively, so
they can both be decent scoring threats if the bomb squad slows down on
the ill-advised threes. The two could also stand to stay out of foul
trouble, especially Krajina. Krajina was busted nearly seven times per
40 minutes, Danaher 5.2. Graves was a 28% defensive rebounder in his
sporadic minutes last year.<br />
<br />
6'6" Texan Will Miller
is the only new face in the frontcourt, but he's more known as a
shooting threat. Pennsylvania guard Khalid Nwandu should see immediate
minutes, and perhaps a starting spot as Wiggins' replacement. The 6'3"
freshman put up a 17/7/5/4 average line as a high school junior and
boasts an impressive 6'9" wingspan. Fellow rookie Byron Ashe is another
shooter who averaged 20 PPG as a senior.<br />
<br />
The new faces
will be the key to MSM's success in 2013-14. No system even remotely
similar to VCU's Havoc will work with a 5-, 6-, or 7-man rotation, so
all these players need to be fully dedicated to defense. Scoring is
great, but if you can't get stops, how often can you build a lead? The
Mount plays with similar aggression to Wagner, but simply doesn't have
the bodies to sustain the pressure all season.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>6. LIU Brooklyn</b><br />
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<br />
--It may be folly to spot the Blackbirds this low, but over its run of three straight NCAA tournament bids, the Long Island program hasn't faced down the sort of adversity it now does. The school's all-time scoring leader, Jamal Olasewere, is gone. Other reliable pieces like C.J. Garner, Booker Hucks and Brandon Thompson have also graduated. To top it off, high-scoring wing Julian Boyd has re-injured the ACL that cost him most of last season. January is projected as an optimistic time frame for his return, and even that quick a comeback would have a Wolverine-ish quality. Oh, and touted freshman Nura Zanna broke his wrist while blocking a shot against the backboard in a pickup game.<br />
<br />
In summary: Karma seems to officially have a foot up LIU's collective ass. So what's left for second-year coach Jack Perri to turn into another competitive squad?<br />
<br />
First off, LIU's not out of a game as long as point guard Jason Brickman is running the show. Last season's national assist king, Brickman may be called upon to get points himself more often this year. And don't think he isn't capable, because he drained 46% from long range and 80% from the foul line as a junior.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQMlAjNDtX9XzKRzaLTrPx5I8N9aE0AU1XTeZ3EJ7EhZG70onPK" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQMlAjNDtX9XzKRzaLTrPx5I8N9aE0AU1XTeZ3EJ7EhZG70onPK" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"7.3 fouls per 40 is no way to get through a season, son."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Brickman's favorite target in Boyd's absence is likely to be sophomore E.J. Reed. Reed shot 50% from the floor, including 39% from long range, in his rookie season. 10 of his 11 double-figure scoring games came in NEC play, including a 25-point effort against Mount St. Mary's. He needs to learn to dial down the defensive aggro, though. His 121 fouls and eight disqualifications both ranked among the nation's top 10.<br />
<br />
Juniors Troy Joseph and Gerrell Martin played well in reserve roles last year, and how they adapt to starter's minutes will be a key for Perri's club. Both are deadly shooters, which is essentially a prerequisite to get a scholarship to LIU. Juco forwards Chris Carter and Landon Atterberry will see immediate minutes up front, while the backcourt should be bolstered by freshmen Joel Hernandez and Iverson Fleming.<br />
<br />
A lot of "if"s dominate the outlook for LIU. If Boyd is back in January. If Reed is ready to be a leading scorer. If Brickman can stay as efficient a shooter without studs on both wings. If Joseph and Martin can step up and be leaders. If the new guys play like the Blackbirds we've seen the past three seasons. If most of those things occur, Brooklyn is still in the house. If not, the NEC is sending some new blood to the Big Dance.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>7. St. Francis (NY)</b><br />
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<br />
--The Terriers have a potential all-league performer in Jalen Cannon and a shooting threat in Ben Mockford, but the most important piece may be junior PG Brent Jones. Jones had the team's highest usage rate last season, but most of those possessions were as nutritionally empty as Twinkies. Jones was a 42% true shooter and turned the ball over 30% of the time. SFC's offense can be much more efficient if Jones cuts down his mistakes.<br />
<br />
Cannon ranked among the NEC's top 10 in scoring, rebounding and FG%. He's averaged 8.8 RPG and shot 55.6% from the floor in each of his first two seasons. Another consistent season will make him an All-NEC candidate once again. Mockford knocked in 40% of his threes last season, ranking as one of the NEC's top snipers, but has shown little else to his game.<br />
<br />
Versatile wing Kevin Douglas was a major factor early in the season, but a broken arm effectively shut him down in early January. He can score and defend at multiple levels, making him a key factor on both ends.<br />
<br />
Normally a tough, athletic man-to-man defensive team, the Terriers had to resort to a zone last season due to injuries and the limitations of what players were left. Athletic newcomers like juco Amdy Fall and freshman Wayne Martin will aid the team's depth. Fall blocked a ludicrous 8.6 shots per game as a high school senior. Matt Milk is the only experienced big man, and he'll need to provide some quality work in the low post to help keep Cannon out of foul trouble.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>8. Sacred Heart</b><br />
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<br />
--New coach Anthony Latina inherits a team that's tough to read. All-time scoring leader Shane Gibson is gone, but solid pieces return in point guard Phil Gaetano and forward Louis Montes. Gaetano ranked second in the nation at 7.9 assists per game, trailing only NEC rival Jason Brickman. Montes had a good run as Gibson's sidekick, averaging 14.4 and 6.2 last season. Now, how will he handle being the lead horse pulling the Pioneers' wagon?<br />
<br />
Veteran performers Evan Kelley and Chris Evans return from injuries that cost them all of last season. Both guards were at least part-time starters before the injury bug bit, combining for 15 points, six rebounds and five assists per game in 2011-12. <br />
<br />
Junior Steve Glowiak isn't the penetrating threat that Gibson was, but he'll open up lanes for others with his shooting ability (37% from deep in 2012-13). Forwards Tevin Falzon and Mostafa Abdel Latif were the team's top offensive rebounders by percentage and could prove valuable this season.<br />
<br />
SHU will have better balance this season, to be sure. If Montes is ready to be a star and Kelley and Evans bounce back strong from their injuries, the Pioneers could push for a top half finish. Still, defensive rebounding and all-around defensive efficiency will need to improve for Sacred Heart to compete night in and night out.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>9. St. Francis (PA)</b><br />
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<br />
--Before he ever coached a game, Rob Krimmel had to answer questions about his hire being nepotistic, seeing as how his father Bob is the AD at St. Francis. After a five-win debut season, not much was answered and it's hard to see a lot of progress being made in 2013-14.<br />
<br />
Point guard Umar Shannon's departure for Quinnipiac leaves a lot of unanticipated questions, but the one known quantity should be junior forward Earl Brown. Brown averaged 10 points and eight boards last season, and his 25.9 DR% ranked 14th in the nation. At one point last season, he ripped off seven straight double-doubles, including crushing CCSU for 16 and 25. He'll pair with NEC All-Rookie forward Stephon Mosley in the frontcourt. Mosley put up 8.3/4.6 last season and was an 11% offensive rebounder.<br />
<br />
Shannon is the only one of the Red Flash's top nine minute men who does not return, but that still leaves St. Fran as a small team likely to get smoked on the glass and the defensive end. Shooters like Ollie Jackson (32% from three), Dominique Major (38%) and Ben Millaud-Meunier (48%) give SF a chance to outscore some of its truly barren opponents, but unless someone steps up to fill that point guard spot, the offense will be as stuck in the mud as the defense.<br />
<br />
Greek import Georgios Angelou and Queens product Malik Harmon are the leading candidates to take over at the 1. Harmon led Christ the King to city and state titles as a senior, being named to the All-Queens, all-NYC and all-state teams himself.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>10. Fairleigh Dickinson</b><br />
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<br />
--This may seem harsh, but hell with it, we'll say it anyway: New FDU coach Greg Herenda may have left a better job at new D-I member UMass-Lowell. Over the past three seasons, the Knights have won five, three and seven games total. Or, only four more than Robert Morris won in conference play last season. And there's nothing on hand to suggest anything's getting better overnight.<br />
<br />
Herenda inherits five returning rotation players who combined for about 23 PPG last season. Senior forward Mathias Seilund may be the most dangerous scorer on the team after he carded a 51.9 eFG% last season. That included 41% from beyond the arc.<br />
<br />
Sophomore Xavier Harris is the top returning rebounder left from a team that was routinely crushed on the glass (second-worst TR% in the nation). 250-pound redshirt freshman Myles Mann, Niagara transfer Scooter Gillette and 6'9" true frosh Mike Owona will be counted on to help Harris fight for rebounds. Gillette averaged 3.5/2.4 in about 14 MPG during his time at Niagara.<br />
<br />
The backcourt is led by senior PG Sidney Sanders Jr. and junior SG Mustafaa Jones, the latter of whom was little more than a spot-up shooter last season. Herenda does have some good size among the incoming class, with 6'5" Chicago guard Scott Kingsley, 6'5" Matt MacDonald of Buffalo and 6'2" Montreal PG Jayde Dawson.<br />
<br />
Somebody needs to learn to rebound and play defense before Dickinson can even entertain the possibility of getting out of the NEC basement. Will anyone be surprised if Herenda's old school wins more games than his new one this year?<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/pU1483Q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://i.imgur.com/pU1483Q.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Because trolling BBN will never...EVER...get old.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<u><b>MARQUEE MATCHUPS:</b></u><br />
<b>Bryant:</b> Nov. 9 at Gonzaga<br />
--The Zags are still a top-25 team, but they have a couple more question marks than usual. Bryant will try to catch them while they're still searching for answers.<br />
<b>Central Connecticut State:</b> Dec. 7 at Ohio State<br />
--Can Hunter torch another Big Ten team?<br />
<b>Fairleigh Dickinson:</b> Dec. 1 at Seton Hall<br />
--One of only two times FDU's expected to be on national TV this season. This game's on Fox Sports 1 and it's more likely to be competitive than the Arizona curb-stomping on ESPNU.<br />
<b>LIU Brooklyn:</b> Dec. 21 vs. Temple (at Barclays Center, Brooklyn)<br />
--The more LIU can use the Barclays as a de facto home gym/recruiting tool, the better. And Temple's personnel is in as much flux as the Blackbirds', so a win here is not totally unthinkable.<br />
<b>Mount St. Mary's:</b> Dec. 22 at Penn State<br />
--There are bigger fish on the schedule, but PSU's backcourt of Tim Frazier and D.J. Newbill will pose a major test for the Mount's skilled trio. This one could be winnable.<br />
<b>Robert Morris:</b> Nov. 17 at Kentucky<br />
--Self-explanatory. Big Blue Nation will be looking to exorcise a demon, so don't expect Coach Cal to show any mercy.<br />
<b>Sacred Heart:</b> Nov. 26 at Boston College<br />
--BC is expected to be seriously improved this year, but can still occasionally play down to their competition. (See <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/gametracker/recap/NCAAB_20121125_BRYANT@BC" target="_blank">Bryant 56, BC 54</a>.)<br />
<b>St. Francis (NY):</b> Dec. 1 at Stony Brook<br />
--The Seawolves are <a href="http://backiron.blogspot.com/2013/10/conference-callings-2013-14-college_19.html" target="_blank">expected to contend</a> in the America East, and this is a better barometer for St. Francis' chances this season than games like Syracuse or Miami. <br />
St. Francis (PA): <br />
<b>Wagner:</b> Nov. 15 at St. John's<br />
--Like Mason, Johnnies coach Steve Lavin will be trying to assemble a full-time rotation this early in the season. Shots will have to fall, since there ain't no one on Wagner's squad that can drive on Chris Obekpa.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7029/6813407049_4982c0afab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7029/6813407049_4982c0afab.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Yeah, yeah. Brick Man. Ha."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<u><b>ALL-NEC FIRST TEAM:</b></u><br />
Jason Brickman, LIU Brooklyn<br />
Jalen Cannon, St. Francis (NY) <br />
Alex Francis, Bryant <br />
Dyami Starks, Bryant<br />
Kyle Vinales, Central Connecticut State <br />
<br />
<u><b>ALL-NEC SECOND TEAM:</b></u><br />
Matt Hunter, Central Connecticut State<br />
Lucky Jones, Robert Morris <br />
Julian Norfleet, Mount St. Mary's<br />
E.J. Reed, LIU Brooklyn<br />
Latif Rivers, Wagner<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>PLAYER OF THE YEAR:</b> Jason Brickman, LIU Brooklyn<br />
--If Brickman played in the ACC, he'd be getting All-America love. Blackbird Nation gets to enjoy him for one more year.<br />
<b>COACH OF THE YEAR:</b> Andy Toole, Robert Morris<br />
--Toole's approach runs so counter to the typical fast-breaking NEC approach, and he's doing very well with it so far.<br />
<b>NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR:</b> Jay Harris, Wagner<br />
--Should be a very capable NEC scorer after some decent work in the Horizon League.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01506764727355321403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7995362757121685826.post-58157480795117635122013-10-21T21:38:00.001-05:002013-10-26T20:23:19.895-05:00Conference Calling's 2013-14 College Basketball Previews: #22 Atlantic Sun<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ghostinthemachine.net/matrixreload0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.ghostinthemachine.net/matrixreload0.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey, Neo, Elektra wants her sai AND dress back.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our last post was all about movies, and the Atlantic Sun Conference has its own movie-related issues this season. After all, the A-Sun just had its masterpiece moment, its <i>Citizen Kane</i> or <i>The Godfather</i>, when Florida Gulf Coast stormed through the conference tournament and all the way to the Sweet 16.<br />
<br />
After a great movie in the modern film industry, there's always the pressure to deliver with a sequel. <i>The Godfather</i> pulled it off (once), but most franchises stumble. Looking at you here, <i>Matrix</i>.<br />
<br />
It's unreasonable to expect a reprise of last season, but no one ever accuses sports fans of being rational beings. While FGCU or any other A-Sun team once again making the Big Dance's second weekend would still be a bet that the adventurous gambler could retire on, we know somebody from this conference is going to the tournament.<br />
<br />
Who's most likely? Read on after the jump.<br />
<br />
(<i>All stats and rankings via StatSheet.com unless otherwise noted.)</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><u><b>PROJECTED ORDER OF FINISH:</b></u><br />
<b>1. Florida Gulf Coast</b><br />
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<br />
--The team that told Georgetown and San Diego State to get bent returns largely intact, not just for this season but next as well. Star guard Sherwood Brown and reserve forward Eddie Murray were last season's only seniors and forward Chase Fieler is the only one this year. In the meantime, ex-Kansas assistant/East Carolina head coach Joe Dooley has a bright, shiny brand of basketball to sell to prospective recruits. Oh, and a campus close enough to the beach that the sound of high tide probably distracts from sociology midterms. Rough life.<br />
<br />
One player who sums up FGCU's entire 2013-14 campaign is point guard Brett Comer. Comer will be a SportsCenter fixture this season as he flings up alley-oops with reckless abandon, "reckless" being the key word. While he finished second in America with a 44.9 A%, he also coughed up turnovers on 30% of his possessions. Dial back the crazy lobs just a bit, and he's a lock for every mid-major All-American selection out there.<br />
<br />
The other three returning starters--guard Bernard Thompson, forward Eric McKnight and Fieler--combined for 33 points and 14 rebounds per game last season. Expect both numbers to rise this season as Thompson and Fieler divvy up the 449 shots that Brown took as a senior. McKnight will likely split post minutes with 6'10" Georgia Tech transfer Nate Hicks, and the two should combine for very respectable numbers.<br />
<br />
Comer and Thompson will have to keep balling hard, because Marquette transfer Jamail Jones is it as far as backcourt depth goes. Jones had a pair of double-figure scoring games in a pair of years at Marquette, but he should get plenty of opportunities in his new, warmer home.<br />
<br />
Lost in all the hype about the #DunkCity offense was the fact that Gulf Coast also packed one of the A-Sun's most effective defenses (2nd in defensive efficiency, 2nd in dFG% and first against the three). If that end doesn't suffer in the search for dunks, Gulf Coast has what it needs to take the regular-season title rather than trying to sneak up on everyone. Good luck with that now.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>2. Mercer</b><br />
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<br />
--Attrition ate some conferences for breakfast, but not so much the A-Sun. Only two of Mercer's top 11 players from last season have departed, leaving behind a core that's loaded with grit even while it lacks star power.<br />
<br />
Point guard Langston Hall is the closest thing the Bears have to a big name. He's the top returning scorer at 11.3 PPG and posted a 35.9 A% that ranked 30th in America. Hall made substantial improvements as a scorer last season, upping his eFG% by five points and his TS% by six. With prolific gunner Travis Smith gone, Hall may have to ratchet his attempts back up.<br />
<br />
Forwards Jakob Gollon and Bud Thomas like to drag opponents out to the arc and let it fly themselves. The pair combined to make 80 threes last season. Thomas is a more consistent scorer who could double last season's seven PPG if he takes over for Smith as the primary shooter.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luckily, the idea for new Mercer unis was rejected.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Frontcourt grunt work comes from the upperclass trio of Daniel Coursey, Monty Brown and T.J. Hallice, who measure 6'10", 6'11" and 6'9" respectively. The three split time pretty evenly last season, combining for nearly 15 points and nine rebounds per game. Coursey blocked nearly one of every 10 available shots, accounting for 1.3 swats per game. That ranked fourth in the A-Sun despite his limited minutes. The 250-pound Brown (not to be confused with the former Buffalo Bills LB/pro wrestler seen at left) is also a dangerous rim protector and strong offensive rebounder.<br />
<br />
Senior Anthony White and sophomore Jibri Bryan will get a shot at running alongside Hall. Both were dangerous from the arc last season, shooting 35 and 45% respectively, but they were also terrible two-point scorers (combined 26-76 for 34%).<br />
<br />
The Bears were the best defensive team in the A-Sun last season. With so much experience coming back, a repeat could easily be in the cards. If they replace Smith's shooting, it's easy to see Mercer getting revenge on the high-flying Eagles and reaching its first NCAA tournament since 1985.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>3. USC Upstate</b><br />
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<br />
--Upstate returns seven of its top nine
rotation players, but the main attraction remains former/possible future
A-Sun Player of the Year Torrey Craig. The 6'6" swingman averaged 14.4
points as a freshman and has steadily increased his output since,
winning the league's last two scoring titles. The scary part for the
rest of the conference is that Craig has steadily improved at shooting
the three, drawing fouls and hitting the resulting free throws. One more
season of increased accuracy could put Craig into 20-PPG territory.<br />
<br />
Fellow
seniors Ricardo Glenn and Jodd Maxey provide great support in the
frontcourt. Glenn is one of America's best offensive rebounders, ranking
30th, third and 11th nationally in OR% over his career. Thanks to all
the putbacks, his 58% FG shooting led the conference last season.
Maxey's not a consistent scorer (only eight double-figure games last
year), but he's ranked third and first in the A-Sun in blocks the past
two years. Fifth in steals as a sophomore, too. He crushed Lipscomb for
26 points, 13 boards and six swats last January.<br />
<br />
The
backcourt is led by junior Ty Greene, who's a defensive pest (eight
three-plus steal games last year) and a dangerous shooter (36% from
deep, down from 40% as a freshman). Only Glenn had a higher offensive
rating than Greene's 108.2. Juniors Fred Miller and Mario Blessing will
battle for the other starting spot, with the 6'4" Miller having a size
advantage. Miller also led the team in A% and S% last year, averaging a
steal in only 16 MPG. That's 2.5 over the course of a full game.<br />
<br />
Senior
Babatunde Olumuwiya, a solid rim protector, is the only reserve with
major experience. The Spartans may be undone by a lack of size and depth
unless some untested players come out strong. Watch for 6'11",
250-pound redshirt freshman Michael Buchanan.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>4. Jacksonville</b><br />
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<br />
--Once we get past the top three in the A-Sun, the rest of the group is pretty muddled. The Jacksonville Dolphins sum it all up: a team that lost five conference games by five points or less and won six by three or less or in overtime. A basket here and there and JU's either your conference champion or fighting the rats for space in the basement.<br />
<br />
Three starters are back, hopefully hardened by all the close games last season. Senior Keith McDougald led the team with 13.1 PPG and a 36% mark from three-point range. Sophomores Kordario Fleming and Jarvis Haywood both had solid all-around freshman seasons, with Haywood earning conference all-freshman honors with his 11 points and four boards per game.<br />
<br />
260-pound part-time starter Javon Dawson is the team's best returning rebounder by percentage, but is unlikely to be a major scoring threat. At only 6'6", he's not as equipped to shoot over opposing bigs as that weight might indicate. Sophomore center Tyler Alderman should step into a starting spot if he can stay out of foul trouble (nearly eight whistles per 40 minutes). If not, look for Alderman to split minutes with South Carolina grad transfer R.J. Slawson. A more experienced version of Alderman, Slawson also shares his tendency toward fouls (8.5 per 40 last year).<br />
<br />
Five freshmen also join the Dolphins this season. Anyone who can help keep the perimeter defense solid and make some shots himself (32% from deep last season) will see minutes.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>5. North Florida</b><br />
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<br />
--Finally, we come to the first A-Sun squad that had graduation and transfers take a chunk out of its hide. UNF returns two starters, one valuable reserve and one occasionally valuable reserve, none of whom will be likely to help with the Ospreys' major weaknesses.<br />
<br />
UNF was one of the worst defensive rebounding teams in the nation last season, giving opponents extra looks at the basket a whopping 38% of the time. On this season's roster, only two players are listed taller than 6'7", with one of those being guard Beau Beech.<br />
<br />
Beech is a decent shooter (35% from the arc), but didn't really concern himself with rebounding as a freshman. Supposedly, that was senior forward Travis Wallace's job. Wallace's rebounding percentages took a dive last season, resulting in him pulling 0.1 fewer board per game in four more minutes per game compared to his sophomore year. Great, he blocked a few more shots, but at 6'6", he's not going to be Jeff Withey any time soon. Wallace is a solid scorer (14.4 PPG on 58% effective shooting), but on the defensive end, he'll need to rededicate himself to crashing the glass.<br />
<br />
Forwards Charles McRoy and Demarco "BaeBae" Daniels return, and both are solid offensive boardsmen. Daniels in particular could become a scoring threat after last season's 53.6 eFG%.<br />
<br />
The backcourt could be terrible unless jucos Jalen Nesbitt and Devin Wilson rise up quickly. Both are surprising rebounders for their sizes. Nesbitt stands 6'4", Wilson's 5'11" and both averaged better than five boards per game. Both were also 40% three-point shooters, so that will help ease the pain of sharpshooter Parker Smith's graduation.<br />
<br />
Freshman forward Chris Davenport, 6'7" with a 7' wingspan, and 6'11" center Romelo Banks will be counted on to help on the glass. Perhaps Banks can help get some of those swats and let Wallace stay focused on the boards once in a while.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>6. East Tennessee State</b><br />
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<br />
--Five of ETSU's top seven players return from a team that surrendered 1.08 PPP, one of the 30 worst figures in the country. So, the experience falls under the heading of "for what it's worth." Still, the Buccaneers want to make their final season in the A-Sun a notable one before they head for the SoCon next year.<br />
<br />
There's still not much height on the team, but bulk is on hand. Forwards Hunter Harris, Lukas Poderis, Kinard Gadsden-Gilliard and Ron Giplaye all stand 6'6" or 6'7", but each weighs in at 235 pounds or more. Harris, Poderis and Giplaye have all shown the ability to crash the glass, especially on the offensive end, but Poderis (foot) and Giplaye (heart surgery) have to get back to form after health concerns. Giplaye is currently sidelined indefinitely following his procedure.<br />
<br />
Sophomores Lester Wilson and Petey McClain will figure in the backcourt rotation along with junior Rashawn Rembert. Wilson and Rembert are both dangerous shooters, combining for 38% accuracy from deep. McClain's a good distributor, but if he turns the ball over on 36% of his possessions again in full-time minutes, he shouldn't be getting full-time minutes.<br />
<br />
Newcomers have shots at starting jobs if they prove they can contribute to coach Murry Bartow's zone defense. Swingman A.J. Merriweather and forward Isaac Banks have impressive length that will help disrupt passing lanes. 6'4" freshman point guard Devin Harris could take McClain's job if he shows the ability to hang onto the ball.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>7. Stetson</b><br />
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<br />
--New Stetson boss Corey Williams brings experience as an NBA player, but none as a head coach. He comes from Florida State, a program whose defensively-oriented strategy was diametrically opposed to Stetson's up-and-down offensive style. How he adapts his style to fit his roster will determine the Hatters' success this season, since adapting the roster to fit the style is hard to do in the short term.<br />
<br />
Sixth man Aaron Graham is the top returning scorer, but his efficiency has dropped as his usage increases. As the likely top option this season, he needs to come somewhere close to 40% from the floor and 36% from deep if not better. Fellow seniors Hunter Miller and Willie Green made 54 of 62 possible starts. Green handles most of the post duties at 6'6" and 210. He came top-10 in the A-Sun in FG%, eFG%, TS%, rebounds and blocks. Miller rarely shot, but he was reasonably accurate when he did (41% from the arc).<br />
<br />
Bigger post help is on the way in the form of 6'8" juco Kentwan Smith, 7'0" Oakland transfer Kyle Sikora and 6'11" freshman Andrew Zelis. Louisiana transfer Raymone Andrews should take over at the point. As a junior in 2011-12, Andrews averaged 6.3 points and 2.2 assists, draining 35% of his threes.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>8. Lipscomb</b><br />
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<br />
--A subplot to the 2013-14 A-Sun season centers around new Lipscomb coach Casey Alexander and whether he can take the Bisons farther than his former program, Stetson. If he can, it will be a Coach of the Year performance. LU will sorely miss conference Freshman of the Year Stephen Hurt, who has headed for a junior college and will play for Kansas State in 2014.<br />
<br />
Lipscomb has routinely been a running team, which will fit well with Alexander's style. The dissonance will come from Alexander's preference for three-point shooting over penetration. Last season, the Bisons ranked 15th in America in FT rate, putting up 44.6 FTA per 100 FGA. Alexander's Stetson team ranked in the 200s at less than 35.<br />
<br />
Returning rotation players Khion Sankey, Martin Smith, Malcolm Smith and Carter Sanderson combined for sub-30% accuracy from the arc, making Alexander's shooting style an ill fit in the short term. If the shooters do get a green light, however, Sankey could be a dark horse double-double candidate. He put up 8.3/7.0 last season at only 6'5".<br />
<br />
Expect the Smith twins to push double-digit scoring again this season. They combined for 22.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game as sophomores. Redshirt freshman Charles Smith and true frosh Brett Wishon are the only men on the roster taller than 6'6", so one or both could see big minutes immediately. Sophomore J.J. Butler is the likely point guard after leading the team with a 1.3 A/T ratio. <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>9. Kennesaw State</b><br />
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--The Owls had an ugly season in 2012-13. I mean Kathy Bates-naked-in-a-hot-tub-with-Jack-Nicholson-in-<i>About-Schmidt</i> ugly. See below.<br />
<br />
KSU won all of three games, and that was with Markeith Cummings, one of the greatest scorers in A-Sun history. He and top rebounder Aaron Anderson are both gone now, so what's left?<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.celebritymoviearchive.com/members/thumbs/b/bM1528-KathyBates@AboutSchmidt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="169" src="http://images.celebritymoviearchive.com/members/thumbs/b/bM1528-KathyBates@AboutSchmidt.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Direct complaints to @3HL4LIFE on Twitter.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Junior guard Delbert Love has put up 12 PPG in each of his first two seasons, and he'll need to score at a Cummings level to keep the Owls above water. Problem is, his eFG% dropped by nearly 10 points as a sophomore.<br />
<br />
Aside from Cummings and Anderson, six of the next eight rotation guys return, but again...three wins. Newcomers need to step up big.<br />
<br />
Likely candidates include forward Orlando Coleman, rated one of the top 100 juco recruits in America by JucoRecruiting.com. He put up 18.7/11.6 for Alabama Southern Community College. A pair of Ivory Coast natives, 6'8" Bernard Morena and 6'10" Willy Kouassi, come in from Auburn. Kouassi averaged 10 rebounds per 40 minutes during his limited time as a Tiger, while Morena redshirted before transferring. Morena averaged 3.5 SPG in his final prep season.<br />
<br />
Five Owls stand 6'8" or taller, so size is plentiful. Unfortunately, right now it doesn't look like talent is in large enough supply to get the Owls in the hunt.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>10. Northern Kentucky</b><br />
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<br />
--NKU stunned the world by pulling a .500 conference record in its inaugural D-I season. Then, all but one starter messed around and graduated. (The nerve of some people.)<br />
<br />
Lone returning starter Chad Jackson is a strong scorer at the rack despite measuring only 6'4". He took nearly 70% of his shots in the lane and made more than 63% according to Hoop-Math.com. He's not a three-point threat, but look for him to score from nearly everywhere else. Able support should come from sophomore Jalen Billups, who missed all but seven games last year. In that limited sample, he converted 61% from the floor, put up 14.2/23.0 rebounding splits and blocked nearly 10 percent of opponents' shots. If he's fully healthy and in similar form, the Norse are much closer to that .500 team from last year.<br />
<br />
It's anyone's guess who plays in the backcourt. Sophomore Tyler White, a 32% three-point shooter, may hold down one spot, but newcomers could figure prominently. Juco guard Jordan Jackson was nearly a six-APG man for his team last year.<br />
<br />
<br />
<u><b>MARQUEE MATCHUPS:</b></u><br />
<b>East Tennessee State:</b> Nov. 16 at Western Kentucky<br />
--Two straight NCAA tourney bids make Western a good-sized fish for a team like ETSU.<br />
<b>Florida Gulf Coast:</b> Dec. 1 vs. Iona<br />
--These two teams like to get up and down so fast, the crowd will think they're at a tennis match.<br />
<b>Jacksonville:</b> Nov. 8 at Florida State<br />
--FSU dropped one to South Alabama early last season, and JU wants to expose the Seminoles for the second year in a row.<br />
<b>Kennesaw State:</b> Dec. 22 at Indiana<br />
--Have fun freezing your nuts off in an Indiana winter, fellas.<br />
<b>Lipscomb:</b> Nov. 8 vs. Belmont<br />
--Battle of the Boulevard Round 1 gets the season started in some style. Biggest question: will Rick Byrd show any mercy to his former player?<br />
<b>Mercer:</b> Nov. 8 at Texas<br />
--The Longhorn program is on shaky ground, with longtime coach Rick Barnes feeling some pressure. A home loss to an A-Sun program would put it into full-on crisis mode.<br />
<b>North Florida:</b> Nov. 16 vs. Southern<br />
--Try out the new guys at home against an NCAA team you can actually beat. (i.e. Not Florida, Ohio State, Michigan State or Indiana)<br />
<b>Northern Kentucky:</b> Nov. 10 at Kentucky<br />
--Hide the women and children, and not because the Norse are coming to rape and pillage.<br />
<b>Stetson:</b> Nov. 30 vs. Davidson<br />
--Davidson looks like it's on the ropes entering this season, but is the program down that far? At least the Hatters have this one at home.<br />
<b>USC Upstate:</b> Nov. 16 at Tennessee<br />
--Upstate wears green, but UT will be seeing red in facing another A-Sun team. Remember, the Vols tanked in the first round of the NIT against Mercer.<br />
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<br />
<u><b>ALL-ASUN FIRST TEAM:</b></u><br />
Brett Comer, Florida Gulf Coast<br />
Torrey Craig, USC Upstate <br />
Chase Fieler, Florida Gulf Coast<br />
Ricardo Glenn, USC Upstate <br />
Langston Hall, Mercer<br />
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<u><b>ALL-ASUN SECOND TEAM:</b></u><br />
Ty Greene, USC Upstate<br />
Khion Sankey, Lipscomb <br />
Bernard Thompson, Florida Gulf Coast<br />
Lester Wilson, East Tennessee State<br />
Travis Wallace, North Florida<br />
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<b>PLAYER OF THE YEAR:</b> Torrey Craig, USC Upstate<br />
--This would be Craig's second trophy, and he'll have to earn it over the budding rock stars in Fort Myers.<br />
<b>COACH OF THE YEAR:</b> Joe Dooley, Florida Gulf Coast<br />
--Managing the hype and continuing to win is a lot harder than it looks these days.<br />
<b>NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR:</b> Devin Wilson, North Florida<br />
--With all the returning veterans, impact newbies are thin on the ground. The Ospreys could have a strong impact backcourt if Wilson and Nesbitt are ready to play quickly.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01506764727355321403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7995362757121685826.post-83008019729537546082013-10-19T19:34:00.000-05:002013-10-19T19:34:28.500-05:00Conference Calling's 2013-14 College Basketball Previews: #23 America East<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>(Warning: this post contains some teen-movie sex scenes and the occasional bared breast. If you're watching/reading at work, I'd recommend headphones and another window to click to when the boss walks by.) </i><br />
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A full 55.6% of the America East's current membership has never made a trip to the NCAA tournament. Six of last season's members' 16 all-time bids bolted when Boston University left for the Patriot League.<br />
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Puts the league in dire straits, right? Eh, maybe not so much.<br />
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There's a very good possibility that one of the AE's schools pops the cherry this season, and not just because those odds are so good. <i>(Seriously, five of nine. As a comparison, the only SWAC school with no bids is Grambling.)</i><br />
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One of the AE's V-club has to replace one of the conference's top players, but still has the weapons to contend. Then, there's the school that returns a nearly all-junior starting lineup led by a serious Player of the Year candidate.<br />
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Finally, there's the contender that lost its NCAA virginity 10 years ago and has since turned into a raging slut, going back five times since 2003. Makes one wonder how those whores at Kentucky and Kansas have any self-respect left.<br />
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Okay, that whole metaphor made absolutely no sense, and was actually somewhat disturbing. With all apologies, let's move on before we start quantifying how many tournament wins equal a dirty Sanchez. <i>(Answer: a lot fewer than UCLA has. They're seriously depraved in Cali.)</i><br />
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<i>(All stats and rankings via StatSheet.com unless otherwise noted.)</i><br />
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<a name='more'></a><u><b>PROJECTED ORDER OF FINISH:</b></u><br />
<b>1. Hartford</b><br />
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--The Hawks have long been the girl in the teen movies who says "I'm not ready yet." Even when the school was producing a <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bakervi01.html" target="_blank">top-10 NBA draft pick</a>, it still never got past holding hands (a .500 season).<br />
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Congrats, Hartford fans, you've been cheering for early Reese Witherspoon all these years. Remember, in <i>Cruel Intentions</i>, she was a first-round talent herself. (Never mind that she co-starred in this film with one of my personal first-ballot Hall of Famers, the lovely Ms. Gellar. Damn, I miss her as a brunette.)<br />
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#droooooool<br />
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Sorry, where were we?<br />
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Ah, yes, Hartford basketball. So what's different with the Hawks this year? We'll start with the continued development of All-AE forward Mark Nwakamma. He took well to first-option status last season, putting up nearly 15 PPG along with 5.5 rebounds, shooting 47% from the floor. Even with no other double-figure scorers on the team, Nwakamma also put up a team-leading 20.2 A%. His 21.7 TO% could use some improvement, though. If the team had shot better than 40% around him, Nwakamma could have stuffed a box score just as well as do-everything performers like Tommy Brenton of Stony Brook and Brian Voelkel of Vermont, except as a better scorer.<br />
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Speaking of the complementary scorers, junior guard Yolonzo Moore improved as a shooter from his first season on campus, classmate Wes Cole stayed steady (which is not to say good, but potential is there) and sophomore Evan Cooper debuted with a 49.1 eFG%, just fractions of a point behind Nwakamma.<br />
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The biggest struggler was 6'7", 235-pound forward Nate Sikma. The son of ex-Milwaukee Buck Jack Sikma looked like a potential stud in his freshman year, but he backslid to 35.9% from the floor and 29.5% from three as a sophomore. A better stroke from him will make this group a good top five this year and downright dangerous in 2014-15. All except Cooper are juniors this season.<br />
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The Hawks badly needed size last year, and they may have some now. Australian freshman Dougal Weir (6'9", 250) should see spot minutes at least. East Carolina transfer Yasin Kolo (6'10", 245) is still waiting on <a href="http://articles.courant.com/2013-10-09/sports/hc-state-college-notebook-1010-20131009_1_ladarius-drew-jay-fabien-wesleyan/2" target="_blank">a medical waiver</a> to allow him to play immediately. Nearly 500 pounds of upperclassman also returns in the form of senior Oren Faulk (5.1 B%) and junior Jamie Schneck (3.1/2.0 in 14 MPG). Faulk is the only scholarship senior on the roster.<br />
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Two more Aussies, junior Corban Wroe and sophomore Taylor Dyson, will also contribute. Defensive pest Wroe started all 31 games last year.<br />
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It sounds like a big task, improving both offensive efficiency and offensive rebounding, both of which ranked in the bottom 40 nationally last year. Still, with the infusion of size and better shooting from the backcourt, the Hawks have the ability to win this conference next year, if not this one.<br />
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<b>2. Vermont</b><br />
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--Okay, so perhaps the intro was fairly harsh. The Vermont Catamounts, with their five NCAA tournament bids in 10 years and two victories, may not be complete sluts in the AE's teen movie. Perhaps the Cats are simply the misunderstood, worldly chick who always has advice for everyone else. Think Natasha Lyonne in American Pie.<br />
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On the court, Vermont is now where Hartford hopes to be next season: sporting a roster with a ton of seniors and a couple of underclassmen with upside. Of last season's 165 possible games started, 120 of those were made by this year's senior class.<br />
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Forward Brian Voelkel is this year's Tommy Brenton, a multi-talented Swiss Army knife of a player who seems indifferent to scoring, but loves to do everything else on the court. Voelkel put up a superb all-around line of 8.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game, but added only six PPG himself. He took only 132 shots all year. That equals an average week for the Russ Smiths and Marshall Hendersons of the world. (<i>Unlike Henderson, though, Voelkel's usually sober enough three hours later to remember there was even a game...as far as we know, at least.</i>)<br />
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The others around Voelkel take care of the scoring so he doesn't have to. Clancy Rugg led the team in scoring, replacing the injured Luke Apfeld at midseason and never giving the spot back. In Rugg's 18 starts, he rattled off 15 double-figure scoring nights and three double-doubles. He and Voelkel are both strong All-AE candidates this year. The aforementioned Apfeld was expected to be an all-conference player <a href="http://backiron.blogspot.com/2012/10/conference-callings-31-in-31-2012-13_11.html" target="_blank">in this space last year</a>, and might have been so if not for the ankle injury in January. He's had three ACL surgeries in his career, so his minutes may be limited. Expect him to provide the punch off the bench.<br />
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Guards Candon Rusin and Sandro Carissimo will be counted on for the long ball. Rusin was a freshman sniper for Marist in 2009-10 (58.1 eFG%), but has regressed ever since. How he recaptures that form will determine a lot about the effectiveness of the Vermont offense. Carissimo is the nominal point guard, but he put up less than half the assists Voelkel did last year. He's the most prolific returning three-point shooter, though.<br />
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Sophomore Ethan O'Day started 30 games, and if Voelkel's not going to get interior buckets, O'Day may have to. O'Day's 51.8 eFG% was tops on the team. The other option--at least come January--is 6'10" Northeastern transfer Ryan Pierson, who put up 7.5/3.7 with 81% foul shooting as a freshman in 2010-11. Pierson broke a leg in July and is expected to be back at the start of the conference season.<br />
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It seems odd to say, but UV's offense is almost too balanced. Whether it's Rugg, Apfeld, Rusin or whoever, someone needs to become the reliable go-to option.<br />
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<b>3. Stony Brook</b><br />
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--Okay, so who's the teen-movie doppelganger for the Stony Brook Seawolves? A program that has everything it needs to reach the Big Dance except to actually win that one game during Championship Week? This one would be a girl with everything you want: smokin' hot, biting sense of humor and a take-no-shit attitude wrapped around a heart of gold, one whose lack of action is absolutely inexplicable.<br />
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When I need all that, I call only one woman: Emma Stone.<br />
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The Seawolves are becoming one of the AE's flagship programs under coach Steve Pikiell. They've won at least 22 games and a regular-season title in three of the past four seasons after Pikiell only managed 20 wins in his first three seasons COMBINED.<br />
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Tommy Brenton's been mentioned multiple times already, but for good reason. Dude was only the AE Player of the Year last season. He ranked top-three in rebounding all four of his years and top-10 in assists in the past three, all without scoring more than 8.4 PPG in any campaign. Replacing that will be highly problematic.<br />
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SBU gets to build around the man who may keep the POY trophy in the Brook, however. Sophomore Jameel Warney led the AE in eFG%, was sixth in RPG, second in OR% and first in B%. He took the third-most shots on his team, though, a situation that will likely change without Brenton chipping away here and there.<br />
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Guards Dave Coley and Anthony Jackson combined for 40 points in SBU's first-ever postseason win, a first-round NIT game against UMass. Former PG Jackson will likely come off the ball in favor of sophomore Carson Puriefoy, who made things happen when he got enough minutes. He averaged 13 PPG in his six conference games of 20 minutes or more.<br />
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Four other players 6'7" or taller will team with Warney to give the Wolves major flexibility inside, led by senior Eric McAlister and junior Anthony Mayo. 6'10" sophomore Scott King (23-59, 39% from three) will stretch defenses. Backcourt depth will have to come from three redshirt freshmen.<br />
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<b>4. Albany</b><br />
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--Last season, the Great Danes beat Washington to get on the map in December. Three months later, they staggered home with a 9-7 record in the AE, good for fifth place. That essentially made them the awkward, ungainly schmuck in the teen films who scores with the hot chick when no one's really sure why or how. As Exhibit A, we present the 1984 film <i>Mischief</i>, starring a young (and still hot) Kelly Preston:<br />
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A couple more thrusts and she'd have been eligible to join the NFL's concussion lawsuit. But, I digress.<br />
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Albany has to replace its top two scorers and four members of the 10-man rotation. Instead of building around the backcourt scoring of Mike Black and Jacob Iati, coach Will Brown may need to look inside.<br />
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Junior forward Sam Rowley and senior center John Puk were last season's top two rebounders. Rowley was particularly efficient, ranking fourth in the AE in OR%, second in DR% and, what the hell, throwing in a top-10 eFG% and TS% to boot. In February, he carded 19 and 15 with four dimes and five steals, but the Danes still lost to Maine. More lines like that will hopefully not lead to similar results this year.<br />
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More than 80% of UA's three-point makes are gone, so the onus falls on sophomore guard Peter Hooley, 5'9" senior D.J. Evans and juco product Anders Haas to replicate that production. Hooley had a nice six-game, 12-PPG run in late January and early February. For the season, he flashed some good versatility, carding a line of 8.0/3.4/3.1 over 26 MPG. He should be an All-AE dark horse pick.<br />
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Haas made 46% from deep at State College of Florida after coming over from Denmark. Yes, he's literally a Dane. Don't make a big thing out of it. Slasher Anthony Odunsi started his career at Utah, making four starts as a Ute. He took 69 field goals and 48 free throws, showing that he can certainly get to the rack. <br />
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Freshman Mike Rowley, Sam's little brother, averaged 23/11/6 for Knox Grammar School in Sydney, Australia last season. He may be the next best option for frontcourt scoring, since senior Luke Devlin can't be trusted to stay fully healthy. Devlin has steadily lost minutes since being a 7-and-7 man as a freshman.<br />
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<b>5. New Hampshire</b><br />
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--Coach Bill Herrion's Wildcats have never been to the big-T Tournament, but they do have some decent experience returning. A trip to the dance would be a substantial surprise, but it could be done with just a little bit of help. Help like Emmanuelle Chriqui kindly offers this shmoe in <i>100 Girls</i> before they both get some ink (and we ain't talkin' tats, either):<br />
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Last season, the Cats loved to pop threes, but were sadly quite terrible at making them (30.8%). Their top threat, senior Patrick Konan, returns, but as a 32% shooter himself, he needs help.<br />
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6'4" guard Matt Miller drained 45% of his deep looks for Division II Seton Hill (no, not Hall) two seasons ago, and he's now eligible to suit up for UNH. He's versatile enough to play either backcourt spot, depending on whether or not senior Jordon Bronner (3.9 PPG) involves himself in the offense.<br />
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Up front, look for improvement out of former Iona center Chris Pelcher. The 6'10" senior put up 9.1/6.3 last year in his first season at UNH, despite fighting with a shoulder injury for most of the conference schedule. If he's a primary option, he has an outside shot at All-AE honors.<br />
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Senior Scott Morris had three double-figure games in New Hampshire's final seven, but two goose eggs also came up in that span. If he's a consistent threat (59.0 eFG% last season), the Cats have a little bench scoring that they sorely needed last year. Freshman bigs Jacoby Armstrong (11 RPG in his senior season) and Williams Gabriel (winningest player in the history of Huntington Prep, even beyond Andrew Wiggins) should see immediate minutes alongside Pelcher or in relief.<br />
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<b>6. Binghamton</b><br />
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--The Bearcats won 23 games in 2008-09 en route to reaching their only NCAA tournament. They've won a total of 26 in the four years since. That is one of the definitions of doing it wrong.<br />
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Another would be this scene from <i>Wet Hot American Summer</i> where Chris Meloni <i>(aka bad-ass cop Elliott Stabler on Law and Order: SVU, here channeling his inner Randy "Macho Man" Savage)</i> does some things to a refrigerator that will definitely get you thrown out of Sears. <i>(Or so I've heard. From a friend. Yeah.)</i><br />
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Yes, that is a 6 instead of a 9 next to Binghamton, and yes, this is a program that has treaded water about as well as a man tied to an anchor (13-79 the last three years). What it returns, however, is an interesting pair of 6'4" Philly products who should help an anemic offense.<br />
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Junior Robert Mansell redshirted with a torn ACL last season, but he was a 14-PPG man in 2011-12. In his absence, Jordan Reed stepped up and took control of the offense in his freshman season, finishing second in the league with 16.6 PPG and leading it with 9.5 RPG. Yes, he's 6'4".<br />
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Reed was a shameless volume shooter, getting his points in a much less efficient fashion than Mansell had (39.9 eFG% to Mansell's 43.5). It's not like Reed had a lot of help, though, so if Mansell's back in form, it'll help out both men greatly.<br />
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Senior guard Rayner Moquete and forwards Roland Brown and Alex Ogundadegbe are the only other halfway productive returnees. All three will, however, have to hold off hard-charging freshmen for their starting spots. 6'9" forward Nick Madray canned 53% of his threes at Findlay Prep, where he played alongside studs like Brandon Ashley of Arizona and NBA No. 1 draft pick Anthony Bennett. Both the <i>Sporting News</i> and <i>Lindy's</i> tabbed Madray as conference Newcomer of the Year. 6'7" Magnus Richards could also see minutes at the 4. Point guards Marlon Beck and Yosef Yacob will put major pressure on Moquete.<br />
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Last season's Bearcat offense ranked south of 300 in just about every shooting metric devised by modern man. Coach Tommy Dempsey needs to find some way for his players to become more efficient on offense. The good news is, shooting as bad as last year's is like the sex life of a man who humps a refrigerator: How much worse can it get?<br />
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<b>7. UMBC</b><br />
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--The Retrievers have tracked down one tournament bid in their 27 Division I seasons. In that trip, they lost by 19 to Georgetown, a regional rival of a slightly larger profile.<br />
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Almost as large as the nubian queen who makes DJ Qualls a man in <i>Road Trip.</i><br />
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Much like UMBC, our skinny pal DJ seems a bit overmatched here.<br />
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County coach Aki Thomas had to work fast to assemble any sort of solid team, considering he took over the job less than a month before the season began. A couple of key injuries didn't do him any favors, but things could have been much worse.<br />
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Forward Brett Roseboro was one of those injuries, missing 12 games with a broken cheekbone. The 6'10" senior fell one basket short of 10 PPG and put up four dub-dubs in his abbreviated season. Frontcourt mate Chase Plummer regressed in his junior year, losing four PPG and four points off his FG%. It's tempting to blame the difficulties on Roseboro's absence, but Plummer actually shot 41% after Roseboro went down, compared to 37% for the season.<br />
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Shooting guard Joey Getz was a 50% shooter both overall and from three last year, and he started to find a groove over the season's final month. At the point, senior Quentin Jones and sophomore Aaron Morgan are both quick players with good passing touches, but neither is a shooting threat and both are turnover-prone.<br />
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Look for juco forward Davarick Houston to make some plays off the bench. The 6'7" 190-pounder ran a 12.8/8.4 at Chattahoochee Tech last season while blocking nearly three shots per game. Four freshmen, all from the DMV region, could all see time as well.<br />
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<b>8. Maine</b><br />
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--<i>The First Turn-On</i> is a Troma flick, which tells us there's terrible acting and pretty miserable production values. Those qualities make it a perfect representation of Maine basketball, a program that has been part of D-I for 69 years (heh heh) with only three 20-win seasons and no stories about tournament action. At least this dipstick and the motley assortment of other losers stuck in the cave have something to talk about, even if the stories may be a bit trumped up:<br />
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Fun fact: Madonna auditioned for this movie and was turned down. Those who've seen <i>Swept Away</i>--all six of them--understand perfectly.<br />
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Much like the goobers in that eminently forgettable film, Maine has players who struggle to score. AE points-per-game champ Justin Edwards bolted to Kansas State and the team's second-leading scorer left with a year of eligibility remaining for a pro career in Germany. What's left is a group that could surprise us, but hasn't had much chance to impress so far.<br />
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Junior point guard Xavier Pollard is the only starter returning. A quick floor general whose range stops short of the three-point arc, Pollard nevertheless ranked third in the America East in A% and did well getting to the rim. If he can make deep shots on a consistent basis, he's a potential All-AE performer. If not, he needs the self-awareness to stop taking them.<br />
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Perimeter specialist Zarko Valjarevic took only 17 two-point shots all year, but he made 2.2 threes per game. His 34% accuracy could stand to improve, but he makes a fine kickout option for Pollard's drives. Swingman Dimitry Akanda-Coronel showed flashes--including a season-high 11 points against Florida State--but never found a consistent groove after missing preseason practice courtesy of the NCAA Clearinghouse.<br />
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The only other returning rotation players are forward Till Gloger and lanky guard Shaun Lawton. The 6'8" Gloger is the team's best returning rebounding presence, which is not saying much. Lawton, like Pollard, is a slashing playmaker who hasn't proven very effective away from the basket.<br />
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Freshmen will have to grow up fast if the Black Bears are going anywhere. Big men Christian Ejiga and Erik Nissen are both tremendous athletes who played three sports in high school. Swingman Garet Beal is a two-time Gatorade State Player of the Year in Maine who posted a sick 22.3/8.7/3.6/3.8/1.6 line as a senior. Coach Ted Woodward needs him to make a thunderous splash the way the departed Edwards did as a rookie two years ago.<br />
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<b>9. UMass-Lowell</b><br />
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--The RiverHawks are walking into the AE from Division II, which means they have the typical four-year waiting period to even sniff the postseason. That's exactly like the doofs in this bathroom from <i>Sixteen Candles</i>, who may or may not have been allowed to catch a sniff for an extra 10-spot.<br />
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Double-figure scorers Akeem Williams (19.9) and Chad Holley (11.2) return, but the third member of the Hawks' potent backcourt, Antonio Bivins, will be gone for the season with an ACL tear. Besides coming second with 15.5 PPG, Bivins also led the team in steals, blocks and rebounds, pulling down 100 boards more than the nearest teammate.<br />
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Sophomore forward Kennedy Chukwuocha was that closest teammate, averaging 3.8 rebounds per game, and he could join with Williams and Holley to provide a potent perimeter attack. All three shot better than 40% from deep last season.<br />
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Coach Pat Duquette will have pieces on hand for next season, with Holley a junior and Bivins expected to redshirt and come back in 2014. Reserves Kerry Weldon (injury redshirt last season) and Parris Massey are the only other seniors aside from Akeem Williams. There may be an upset here or there, but Lowell will play out this "just happy to be here" season, develop the underclassmen and try to impress future recruits as best they can.<br />
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<u><b>MARQUEE MATCHUPS:</b></u><br />
<b>Albany:</b> Dec. 31 at Pittsburgh<br />
--Hoping to catch Pitt looking ahead to its ACC debut.<br />
<b>Binghamton:</b> Dec. 7 at Syracuse<br />
--Obviously, there's not much entertainment value elsewhere on the schedule. If there was, we wouldn't be praying for a Spinal Tap "get lost on the way to the court" moment in this one. <i>(Dude, the Carrier Dome's a pretty big place. What can we say?)</i><br />
<b>Hartford:</b> Nov. 12 at Florida Gulf Coast<br />
--Part of the Tip-Off Marathon, this mother's going up at 7:00 AM on ESPN2. A Hawks win would pop the #DunkCity balloon with extreme prejudice.<br />
<b>Maine:</b> Dec. 6 at UConn<br />
--Maine's only real strength is its backcourt. UConn only possesses one of the best in America. Like taking on an army of Terminators with a slingshot.<br />
<b>UMBC:</b> Nov. 26 at Towson<br />
--Roseboro's one of the better big men in the AE, but can he contain the hurricane named Jerrelle Benimon?<br />
<b>UMass Lowell:</b> Nov. 8 at Michigan<br />
--Welcome to D-I, boys. After this, you'll want to go back.<br />
<b>New Hampshire:</b> Nov. 21 vs. Bryant<br />
--Bryant's a potential champion in the Northeast Conference, making it a great home test for UNH.<br />
<b>Stony Brook:</b> Dec. 7 vs. La Salle (MSG Holiday Festival at Madison Square Garden)<br />
--Warney nearly put up a dub-dub against UConn and scored 17 against Maryland. He ain't scurred.<br />
<b>Vermont:</b> Dec. 21 at Harvard<br />
--One of those games that will test whether a Crimson team getting top-25 love is getting full of itself near midseason.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Tell me how my shoe taste."</td></tr>
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<u><b>ALL-AE FIRST TEAM:</b></u><br />
Mark Nwakamma, Hartford<br />
Jordan Reed, Binghamton <br />
Sam Rowley, Albany <br />
Brian Voelkel, Vermont<br />
Jameel Warney, Stony Brook <br />
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<u><b>ALL-AE SECOND TEAM:</b></u><br />
Dave Coley, Stony Brook <br />
Evan Cooper, Hartford<br />
Anthony Jackson, Stony Brook<br />
Brett Roseboro, UMBC <br />
Clancy Rugg, Vermont<br />
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<b>PLAYER OF THE YEAR:</b> Jameel Warney, Stony Brook<br />
--Only thing holding Nwakamma back is his tendency to foul. This is big faith that Warney will thrive as the primary option.<br />
<b>COACH OF THE YEAR:</b> John Gallagher, Hartford<br />
--Even Hawks legend Vin Baker might want to come buy Gallagher a drink if Hartford wins the title. Would likely just be an Arnold Palmer, though.<br />
<b>NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR:</b> Nick Madray, Binghamton<br />
--Dempsey's gotta find shooting somewhere, and we know Madray can stroke it. (And yes, I'm closing a teen-sex-movie-laden post with a masturbation pun. Fitting climax. Okay, I'll stop now.)<br />
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