Top 144 Previews

2008-09 Mississippi State Basketball Preview: #96

Joel Welser — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 02:32:18 -0700

Mississippi State Bulldogs

Overall Rank: #96

Conference Rank: #9 SEC

2007-08: 23-11, 12-4, 1^st West

2007-08 postseason: NCAA

Mississippi State only had six players that averaged over ten minutes per game last year. Coach Rick Stansbury had few opportunities to bring in his younger players to give them experience. And now three of those six guys are gone. Whether the lack of playing time for the youngsters says a lot about the six veterans or says very little about the freshmen, the Bulldogs have some rebuilding to do.

Who’s Out:

It could have been much better. Jamont Gordon left early for the NBA after averaging 17.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists. His versatility held the team together. To make matters worse Ben Hansbrough transferred to Notre Dame. The younger Hansbrough was the team’s most prolific long range shooter and ended the campaign averaging 10.5 points per game. As big of losses as those two are, especially Gordon, the absence of Charles Rhodes might hurt the most. Rhodes tallied 17.4 points and 7.8 rebounds during his senior campaign, but he was also a great floor leader by the end of the year and always a threat to compile a double-double. Seldom used Billy Begley and Joseph Lupe have also wrapped up their playing careers in Starkville.

Who’s In:

Last year’s newcomers might not have made an immediate impact, but this group will get more of an opportunity. Point guard Twany Beckham can fill multiple holes in the backcourt. The 6-5 guard originally out of Louisville, Kentucky can handle the ball, has the scoring touch to play the two and the size to play the three. For a team that could use some depth, that is a great thing. However, it is Dee Bost who is expected to play a big role as a freshman. Bost who can also play multiple positions, could be the starting point guard right away. No matter where he plays, Bost can handle the ball and score a bunch of points in a hurry. Walk-on Christopher Gay, who was a team manager for the Bulldogs last season, will add some emergency depth. Up front, Jacquiese Holcombe and Romero Osby will compete for playing time. Holcombe, a 6-6 small forward, was a second-team All-American at the junior college level last year. He is a decent scorer around the basket and will at least provide some experience and rebounding. Osby is the most highly touted recruit of the class. The 6-8, 230 pound power forward tallied a double-double in every prep game during his senior year except one. He made up for missing that one with a triple-double. He will need some time to adjust to the level of competition, but Osby could work his way into the regular rotation as a freshman. Walk-on freshman Taylor Luczak will give the team another big body who can eat up a few fouls if necessary.

Who to Watch:

Jarvis Varnado, Barry Stewart and Phil Turner are the three experienced players. Varnado, a 6-9 center, is a superb shot blocker and led the nation with 4.6 blocks per game. When Varnado is in the game the opposition has to change their offensive game plan. He is also a solid rebounder and a capable scorer around the basket. He will not score like Rhodes, but Varnado can still put up a decent amount of points. Stewart was forced to play nearly 36 minutes per game as a sophomore. With some more options emerging, that number should go down, but Stewart could still match his 11.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game output of a year ago. Stewart can run the point, but Bost could take that job from him. If that is the case, Stewart will play at the two guard spot much of the time. That would likely leave Phil Turner coming in off the bench. Turner started 11 games as a redshirt freshman and could be a solid scorer if he can find his stroke.

Final Projection:

Those experienced players will need to be the new leaders, but Mississippi State needs last year’s freshmen like Ravern Johnson, Riley Benock, Elgin Bailey and Kodi Augustus to step up into more prominent roles. Senior big man Brian Johnson will be on that list as well. If those players can handle a larger role after playing very few minutes last year, Mississippi State will compete for another postseason berth of some sort. If not, it will be a long year.

Projected Post-season Tournament: none

Projected Starting Five:

Barry Stewart, Junior, Guard, 11.5 points per game

Phil Turner, Sophomore, Guard, 4.0 points per game

Ravern Johnson Sophomore, Guard, 2.5 points per game

Brian Johnson, Senior, Forward, 2.3 points per game

Jarvis Varnado, Junior, Center, 7.9 points per game

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2008-09 Western Michgan Basketball Preview

Joel Welser — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 01:29:49 -0700

Western Michigan Broncos

Overall Rank: #97

Conference Rank: #3 MAC

2007-08: 20-12, 12-4, 1^st West

2007-08 postseason: none

Western Michigan and Coach Steve Hawkins have a nice mixture of veterans and talented youngsters. Despite dominating the West division of the Mid-American Conference last year, the Broncos were considered inferior to the most of the teams in the East. WMU should win the west again, but they have some work to do to be considered among the top teams in the conference.

Who’s Out:

And most of that work needs to be done up front where the Broncos lost a ton of experience, including Joe Reitz. The 6-7 center tallied 15.0 points and 7.9 rebounds per contest during his senior campaign. His leadership and toughness will be missed just as much as his production. To prove how tough Reitz really is, he continued the tradition of MAC basketball players heading to the NFL and spent his summer at the Baltimore Ravens camp. Part-time starter Andrew Hershberger rarely put up big numbers, but he did the dirty work under the basket. Dan Hess only saw action in four games before heading out of the program last year. Derek Fracalossi did not really play under the basket, but he was a 6-5 wing who could handle a multitude of positions. Guard Silver Laku has also wrapped up his collegiate career after seeing limited action in 2007-2008.

Who’s In:

At the least the newcomers will have to provide a majority of the depth in the frontcourt. Flenard Whitfield, Muhammed Conteh, LaMarcus Lowe, Luke Adaline and Juston Hairston will provide Coach Hawkins plenty of options. The 6-7, 220 pound Whitfield is a solid athlete who can give the team a tenacious rebounder and a decent shot blocker. Conteh, also 6-7, has a huge wingspan and enough toughness to help replace Reitz under the basket. Lowe has more size, or at 6-11 and 215 pounds, more height, and should at least be able to help out on the glass right away. However, Lowe’s basketball experience is quite limited and he might need some time before he is ready to contribute. Normally Hairston would not be mentioned with the big guys, but the 6-5 forward can play power forward in the MAC if necessary. And it might be necessary. Hairston, who redshirted last year, has enough toughness to battle under the basket, but his future will be getting to the basket from the wing. Demetrius Ward, Mike Douglas and Troy Peter will join the backcourt. Ward is arguably the best player of this group. The 6-2 combo guard can put points up in a hurry and it will be difficult to keep him on the bench. Point guard Mike Douglas will learn the ropes off the bench this year, but he is expected to be starting in 2009-2010.

Who to Watch:

If it was not for all the experience already in the backcourt, Ward and Douglas could be starting. They could be starting later this season anyway, but for now they will push the returning players. David Kool’s starting job is safe. The 6-3 junior averaged 16.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists last year. Now as an upperclassman, this is Kool’s team. His gang on the perimeter consists of Andre Ricks, Shawntes Gary, Michael Redell and Derek Drews. Gary is expected to emerge as a prolific scorer after averaging 8.8 points per game last year. He is a superb rebounder from the wing. Redell will be the guy who gets the scorers the ball. The senior point guard is not much of a scorer, but he is a decent ballhandler and floor leader. If Douglas shows up on campus ready to play, Redell’s minutes are not safe. Ideally, Drews is a small forward. He is only 6-5 and lacks the interior play to be extremely effective at the four spot. What he does, and he does it very well, is shoot the three-pointer. Since he does have some size and is such a dangerous, albeit streaky, scoring threat, he will see plenty of time at the four spot.

Final Projection:

If Drews or any of the newcomers struggle at the power forward spot, it will be a difficult situation for the Broncos. Martelle McLemore has some experience, but not much. Neither does center Donald Lawson who must replace Reitz under the basket. Lawson is a good shotblocker, which immediately makes him a much, much different type of player than Reitz, but somebody still has to score around the basket or Western Michigan’s talented guards will not have any space to operate.

Projected Post-season Tournament: none

Projected Starting Five:

Michael Redell, Senior, Guard, 4.7 points per game

David Kool, Junior, Guard, 16.3 points per game

Shawntes Gary, Senior, Guard, 8.8 points per game

Derek Drews, Senior, Forward, 6.3 points per game

Donald Lawson, Junior, Center, 2.3 points per game

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2008-09 Kansas State Basketball Preview: #98

Joel Welser — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:59:11 -0700

Kansas State Wildcats

Overall Rank: #98

Conference Rank: #10 Big 12

2007-08: 21-12, 10-6, 3^rd

2007-08 postseason: NCAA

Kansas State enjoyed a successful season, including their first NCAA Tournament win since 1988. But, at least for a while, that is as good as it is going to get. Six players started over a dozen games during the 2007-2008 campaign and five of them are gone. Coach Frank Martin is bringing in some talent, but the youth and inexperience will keep this group from another NCAA Tournament for now.

Who’s Out:

Obviously the biggest loss is Michael Beasley. After scoring 26.2 points and 12.4 rebounds as a freshman, Beasley was the second overall pick in the NBA Draft. The Wildcats will not have a player like Beasley again in a long, long time. Bill Walker added 16.1 points and 6.3 rebounds, ranking second on the team in both categories. Clent Stewart and Blake Young were not always consistent, but they were experienced guards who could handle the ball. Andre Gilbert and James Franklin have also wrapped up their careers in Manhattan.

Who’s In:

Obviously there are a lot of holes to fill and the newcomers will have to do their part. Guard Denis Clemente, a transfer from Miami, averaged 9.8 points and 3.3 assists two years ago with the Hurricanes and could immediately step into a starting role. Bushi Awaji scored over 1,000 points during his two years at Citrus College in California and will bring that scoring prowess to Kansas State. He is a decent shooter from beyond the arc and his experience will at least move him into an important role off the bench right away. Jordan Henriquez, Jamar Samuels and Abdul Herrera will add depth up front. Herrera, who spent a year redshirting at Cincinnati before playing at USC-Aiken in South Carolina and Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, is a decent scorer around the basket and he uses his 6-11, 255 pound frame quite well on the glass.

Who to Watch:

The returning forwards have some big shoes to fill. Dominique Sutton missed the first few games of his freshman campaign for academic reasons, but his inauspicious beginning had a happy ending. By the end of the season Sutton was starting and showing off his potential. He should be starting all year this time around and he will be given the opportunity to be much more than a roleplayer. Ron Anderson’s freshman campaign worked the other way. The 6-8, 245 pound forward started six of the team’s first eight games before being relegated to the bench. He still ranked behind just Beasley and Walker in rebounding despite his limited minutes. If he can add a little more offense to go along with his rebounding, Anderson can fend off Herrera as the starter at the five spot. Luis Colon and Darren Kent are upperclassmen who could play a bigger role this year.

Final Projection:

Jacob Pullen is the team’s top returning scorer after averaging 9.7 points per game as a freshman. He also led the squad with 3.2 assists per contest. His shooting was inconsistent at best during the 2007-2008 season, but the 6-1 guard has the ability to hit the outside shot. A year in the program should help. Pullen’s ability to score and handle the ball will be very important this year and he should split time between the point and off-guard positions. Fred Brown’s freshman campaign was not as solid as Pullen’s, but the 6-3 guard did hit 37.7 percent of his shots from beyond the arc. Only Beasley shot better than that and Brown could emerge as a dangerous scoring threat off the bench this year. Yet, the backcourt better get help from Clemente and Awaji or there will be a serious lack of depth on the perimeter and the young Wildcats will not even get close to repeating last year’s success.

Projected Post-season Tournament: none

Projected Starting Five:

Denis Clemente, Junior, Guard, DNP last season

Jacob Pullen, Sophomore, Guard, 9.7 points per game

Dominique Sutton, Sophomore, Forward, 3.3 points per game

Jamar Samuels, Freshman, Forward, DNP last season

Ron Anderson, Sophomore, Forward, 3.3 points per game

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2008-09 Pacific Basketball Preview: #99

Joel Welser — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:54:31 -0700

Pacific Tigers

Overall Rank: #99

Conference Rank: #1 Big West

2007-08: 21-10, 11-5, 4^th

2007-08 postseason: none

Heading into the off-season, Pacific appeared to be the clear favorites to win the Big West Conference. That clarity has since become murky. Some off-court issues have resulted in a couple starters being removed from the team and that leaves space for teams like Cal State Northridge and UCSB to make a run at a title. The Tigers of Pacific and Coach Bob Thomason still have plenty of talent around to do plenty of damage.

Who’s Out:

It will not be easy without point guard Steffan Johnson and forward Michael Nunnally. Both were starters last year and both are off the team for at least this season. Johnson led the team with 14.5 points and 4.9 assists per game and his unexpected departure leaves a gapping hole. Nunnally was a decent scorer around the basket and was the team’s most prolific, which is not saying much, shot blocker. DaAngelo Garrett and Solomon Horsechief are not suiting up for the Tigers this year after playing in only a handful of contests during the 2007-2008 campaign.

Who’s In:

With the unexpected departures of Johnson and Nunnally, and the suspension of Michael Kirby who will sit out at least the fall semester, the newcomers will play a bigger role than most had thought. Junior college transfers Lavar Neufville and Royal Edwards will carry the bulk of the load. Neufville is a fine scorer and could start at the point guard spot and provide valuable depth at shooting guard. Like Neufville, Edwards will have to fight off some returning players if he wants a starting gig, but the 6-6 small forward can score in a variety of ways. The rest of the newcomers are freshmen. Brandon Hawkins is the point guard of the future and Reed Kamler, Nick Peterson and Taylor Shipley could all provide emergency depth in the backcourt. Small forward Tony Cates finds himself at the deepest position on the team and will likely spend a year or two behind more experienced players before he is given much of an opportunity.

Who to Watch:

Despite the absence of Johnson, the backcourt still has some weapons. Chad Troyer is the most proven commodity. The 6-4 senior hit 2.7 three-pointers per game at a 44.3 percent clip last season. Troyer will not score too much around the basket, so it will be very important for the new point guard to get to the basket to free up Troyer. C.J. Morgan will get the first crack at being that guy. Morgan’s experience gives him the leg up over the newcomers for the time being, but he only averaged 10.7 minutes per game during the 2007-2008 campaign as a sophomore. He does not have much experience handling the ball, but he should be a capable replacement. If not, Neufville or Hawkins can handle the job. Sophomore Terrell Smith and senior James Doran have not seen much playing time during their careers in Stockton, but it would be beneficial for one or both of them to develop into a consistent scorer. Smith has the most potential and his athleticism could earn him a starting job. It will be even more important for Smith and Doran to have quality campaigns if Joe Ford’s knee injury keeps him on the sidelines more often than not. Ford started 25 games last year, but it remains to be seen if he can effectively shake off his injury and be a contributor on this team.

Final Projection:

There is not much depth up front without Nunnally, but the frontcourt should still be the strength of Pacific. Anthony Brown, a 6-7 forward, is ready for a big senior season. He tallied 10.7 points and 7.2 rebounds last year and has the ability to dominate the paint. With 6-8 center Casey Neimeyer by his side, the Tigers have a formidable duo. Neimeyer has been quite productive when he has been on the floor and his minutes, and likely his production, will skyrocket this season. Bryan LeDuc and Sam Willard, at 6-8 and 6-9 respectively, are decent big men capable of filling in off the bench. Yet, if foul trouble or injuries strike, the lack of depth up front will be a big problem….a problem big enough to knock Pacific out of a conference championship.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

C.J. Morgan, Junior, Guard, 2.9 points per game

Chad Troyer, Senior, Guard, 12.8 points per game

Terrell Smith, Sophomore, Guard, 1.9 points per game

Anthony Brown, Senior, Forward, 10.7 points per game

Casey Neimeyer, Junior, Center, 4.1 points per game

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2008-09 Seton Hall Basketball Preview: #100

Joel Welser — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:33:13 -0700

Seton Hall Pirates

Overall Rank: #100

Conference Rank: #11 Big East

2007-08: 17-15, 7-11, 11^th

2007-08 postseason: none

Seton Hall and Coach Bobby Gonzalez slipped into the Big East Tournament at the end of last season. That is a good building block, but there are some key pieces to replace and another trip to the Big East’s postseason is an obtainable goal. Eventually the Pirates will have to reach a little higher, but it might take a few more years before that is realized.

Who’s Out:

Wing Brian Laing led the team with 18.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game during his senior season. In an offense that struggled at times, Laing was the lone consistent scorer. Somebody will have to step into that role. The obvious candidate would have been the clutch Jamar Nutter, but he has run out of eligibility as well. Add Larry Davis to the list and Seton Hall has a whole lot of rebuilding to do on the perimeter.

Who’s In:

Replacing some of that lost production in the backcourt was high on the list of things to do during the offseason. Point guard Jordan Theodore will do a little bit of everything and should be a fine backup point guard for a couple of years. Shooting guard Jamel Jackson, a Junior College Division I Third Team All-American, should immediately help replace the outside shooting left behind by Nutter. At 6-11 and 340 pounds, center Melvyn Oliver will clog the lanes in the Big East for the next four years. Oliver came on strong towards the end of his high school career and is expected to be ready to make an impact as a freshman. However, the biggest impact from the newcomers will come from Robert Mitchell. If that unexceptional name sounds familiar, it should. Mitchell earned Rookie of the Year honors in the Atlantic 10 while playing for Duquesne two years ago. The 6-6 forward averaged 16.4 points per game during his freshman campaign and should make nearly as big of an impact his first season in New Jersey.

Who to Watch:

Despite the losses on the perimeter, the Pirates have a trio of talented players ready to fill in. Eugene Harvey will run the point once again and, while he is inconsistent, Harvey certainly is talented. The 3.7 turnovers per contest are a problem, but when he goes on his scoring spurts, Seton Hall enjoys his presence. If the junior starts playing more like an upperclassman, the Pirates could be a surprise team in the Big East. Jeremy Hazell had a decent freshman season averaging 12.8 points per game. He will take a whole lot of three-pointers, but once he develops a game inside the arc, Hazell will be very dangerous. Paul Gause’s junior year did not go as planned while suffering through injury problems. He only played in 16 games last year, but he can be a consistent double-digit scorer if he can stay healthy.

Final Projection:

Coach Gonzalez pretty much ran a four guard offense most of last year. As a result, the team got outrebounded by over four boards per game. John Garcia will definitely be in the frontcourt after averaging 6.9 points and 7.0 rebounds. The development of Mike Davis and Augustine Okosun could go a long way in determining the success of the Pirates. If successful, Davis and Okosun could end up in the starting lineup next to Garcia and that should put an end to the rebounding problems, but it will squeeze out an outside shooter from the starting five.

Projected Post-season Tournament: none

Projected Starting Five:

Eugene Harvey, Junior, Guard, 13.3 points per game

Paul Gause, Senior Guard, 7.6 points per game

Jeremy Hazell, Sophomore, Guard, 12.8 points per game

Robert Mitchell, Junior, Forward, DNP last season

John Garcia, Junior, Forward, 6.9 points per game

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2008-09 Niagara Basketball Preview: #101

Joel Welser — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:24:08 -0700

Niagara Purple Eagles

Overall Rank: #101

Conference Rank: #2 Metro Atlantic

2007-08: 19-10, 12-6, 3^rd

2007-08 postseason: none

Quick, which player led the nation in scoring last year? Tyler Hansbrough? Stephen Curry? Michael Beasley? Some guy from VMI? Not quite. The answer is Charron Fisher of Niagara who tallied 27.8 points per game last year. The 6-4 wing has now graduated and the question for the Purple Eagles is whether or not they can continue their success without Fisher.

Who’s Out:

Fisher was not just a scorer. He also grabbed 9.5 rebounds a game and could pass and play a little defense too. The questions on the perimeter continue with the departure of Stanley Hodge. Hodge did not take as many attempts from long range as Fisher and some others, but he did knock down 1.7 three-pointers per game and led the team shooting 36.2 percent from beyond the arc. Hodge also ranked third on the team in rebounds and second in assists. Another guard, Andrew Patterson, has transferred and will not be suiting up for the Purple Eagles this season.

Who’s In:

Niagara and Coach Joe Mihalich will not need any of the newcomers to be Fisher or Hodge right away, but a few of them should play a major role this season. Big East transfers Bilal Benn and Rob Garrison have the most experience. Benn, who played two years at Villanova, is a strong wing who can help out on the glass. At 6-5, he is a little undersized to play the four spot, but Niagara is lacking in experienced size and Benn is strong enough to handle most opposing power forwards in the MAAC. Like Benn, Garrison saw limited playing time during his two years in the Big East. Garrison, who returns to Niagara after a stint in Storrs, Connecticut, showed promise as a freshman, but only played in 12 games as a sophomore. The 6-2 guard can handle the ball and will provide an outside shooter, something this group could really use. Austin Cooley is not too bad at hitting the long balls either, but the 6-4 incoming freshman is better known for getting to the basket. Cooley, much like Hodge who he will help replace, can fill up the stat sheet. How much he can do as a freshman remains to be seen, but Cooley certainly has the potential to make a big impact off the bench. Redshirt freshman Kashief Edwards will add more depth at the small forward spot and incoming freshmen Eric Williams and Dutchman Luuk Kortekaas are both intriguing prospects for the frontcourt.

Who to Watch:

Despite losing Fisher and Hodge, the group on the perimeter still has a couple dangerous weapons. Tyrone Lewis managed to average 16.1 points per game and that was with Fisher taking over 22 shots a game. Now this is Lewis’ team and his scoring could stretch a little closer to Fisher-type numbers. Yet, what Lewis lacks is size. At 5-11, Lewis is just not that effective finishing around the basket. He will still be very aggressive with the ball and get to the charity stripe quite often, but the size does cause some problems once he is there. Anthony Nelson started all 29 games as a freshman and dished out an impressive 5.1 assists per game. On a team that likes to score, and could run more this year, Nelson did a decent job committing just 2.7 turnovers per contest. As a sophomore that number should get better.

Final Projection:

It is possible that Cooley and Benn will be on the floor, or even starting, at the same time. That would be a pretty small team, but it would probably put the five most talented players on the floor. The big man in the middle would be Benson Egemonye. After averaging less than eight minutes a game two years ago, the 6-10 center emerged as a quality big man in 2007. For his senior season, Egemonye hopes to improve on his 9.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. He will need to stay out of foul trouble if he wants to see more minutes, but Egemonye can certainly score. He shot an amazing 62.6 percent from the floor…now he just has to take more shots. Demetrius Williamson could see plenty of time if the team wants to go a little bigger and Kamau Gordon will battle the newcomers for minutes off the bench. As long as the power forward spot can be effective, the Purple Eagles have enough talent to stick around the top of the conference race. If not, Fisher and Hodge will not be around to mask the team’s weaknesses.

Projected Post-season Tournament: none

Projected Starting Five:

Anthony Nelson, Sophomore, Guard, 5.7 points per game

Tyrone Lewis, Junior, Guard, 16.1 points per game

Austin Cooley, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season

Bilal Benn, Junior, Guard, DNP last season

Benson Egemonye, Senior, Center, 9.0 points per game

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2008-09 George Mason Basketball Preview: #102

Joel Welser — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:53:09 -0700

George Mason Patriots

Overall Rank: #102

Conference Rank: #4 Colonial

2007-08: 23-11, 12-6, 2^nd

2007-08 postseason: NCAA

George Mason’s experience led them to a run in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament which took the team back to the NCAA Tournament. But now their senior leaders and the last of the holdovers of the Final Four team are gone. Is the new group of seniors ready to become the leaders or will this be the year the Patriots magical 2006 becomes a distant memory?

Who’s Out:

Forward Will Thomas and wing Folarin Campbell made this team tick. Thomas averaged a double-double, tallying 16.1 points and 10.4 rebounds per contest. Campbell added 15.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.1 steals during his senior campaign. Nobody else on the team averaged over four rebounds, 2.1 assists or one steal last season. Certainly there are players who can step up and fill some of that production, but the leadership and importance of Thomas and Campbell cannot be overstated. Guard Jordan Carter, who started 11 games in 2007-2008, has also run out of eligibility.

Who’s In:

George Mason continues to build off the Final Four appearance as far as recruiting is concerned. However, for this year at least, the return of Darryl Monroe is more important than any of the newcomers. Monroe missed last year with an injury after starting 19 games and averaging 6.1 points and 3.9 rebounds during the 2006-2007 campaign. At 6-7 and 260 pounds, Monroe is a big body who will battle in the paint and hit the glass effectively. Kevin Foster, Michael Morrison and Ryan Pearson will add depth up front. That group provides a ton of versatility as all of them are solid athletes who can run the floor and score inside and out. In the long run, point guard Andre Cornelius might be the best of the bunch. The 5-10 (which is probably a little generous) point guard has plenty of speed. He will work his way through traffic and find his teammates or get to the basket. He has a surprising knack for scoring and can put up big numbers in a hurry.

Who to Watch:

For now, Cornelius will be asked to play a pretty big role off the bench. The Patriots will not depend on him to contribute too much, but the more he can, the better. John Vaughn and Dre Smith will be starting in the backcourt and both could develop into solid senior leaders. At 6-3, Vaughn can use his size and strength to get to the basket. Smith will hang out on the perimeter more. Smith made headlines last year with his 10-for-10 shooting from beyond the arc in a single game, but he ended the year in a huge slump. If Smith cannot find his stroke, Vaughn is the only other proven long range shooter on the team…and he only hit 33.6 percent of his attempts last year. The Patriots know what they will get for the most part from Vaughn and Smith, but how will Cam Long perform if he ends up in a starting role? Long has the unenviable job of taking over Campbell’s old spot. Nobody expects Long to replace Campbell, at least they better not, but the team needs production out the position. The 6-4 Long is a solid all-around player. He will work hard on the glass, he can pass the ball and he can knock down the outside shot. He sounds a lot like Campbell in that regard, but he has a long way to go.

Final Projection:

The return of Monroe helps, but Louis Birdsong carries much of the burden of the frontcourt. The 6-6 junior averaged 6.1 points and 3.9 rebounds in a starting role last year and the team will look to him to become more of a leader now that he is an upperclassman. Vlad Moldoveanu and Chris Fleming will battle with the newcomers for minutes off the bench. The frontcourt simply cannot be as dominating as it was with Thomas and that was what gave the opposition in the CAA fits. With an above average, but not dominating frontcourt, the Patriots weaknesses will be easier to expose and it will take another miraculous run for George Mason to even get back to the NCAA Tournament.

Projected Post-season Tournament: none

Projected Starting Five:

John Vaughan, Senior, Guard, 12.3 points per game

Dre Smith, Senior, Guard, 8.4 points per game

Cam Long, Sophomore, Guard, 4.1 points per game

Louis Birdsong, Junior, Forward, 6.1 points per game

Darryl Monroe, Senior, Forward, DNP last season

2008-09 NC State Basketball Preview: #103

Joel Welser — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:59:15 -0700

North Carolina State Wolfpack

Overall Rank: #103

Conference Rank: #10 ACC

2007-08: 15-16, 4-12, 11^th

2007-08 postseason: none

North Carolina State might as well just throw away the 2007-2008 season and move on. The Wolfpack lost their last nine games and the momentum is going way down for a team that had such high expectations heading into the campaign. But it is a new year and Coach Sidney Lowe has some talent to work with. Things could be just as bad as they were last season, but this is also a group that could put together a solid season and win 20 games.

Who’s Out:

The early departure of J.J. Hickson to the NBA does not make matters any better. Hickson led the team with 14.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. Forward Gavin Grant tallied 13.1 points and 4.5 rebounds during his senior campaign. Hickson’s and Grant’s numbers are not really replaceable, but the Wolfpack have a couple of experienced forwards who could have great years if they are mentally ready to become team leaders again.

Who’s In:

This is not the greatest group of newcomers ever to head into Raleigh, but they should fill some holes and have the possibility of developing into major contributors in the coming years. Point guard Julius Mays should spend this year on the bench, but if what happened last year happens again this year, he will be needed. Mays is more of a shooting guard than a point guard, but his 6-2 size will likely make his future at the point. C.J. Williams and Johnny Thomas will add depth on the wings. And that is where this team really needs depth, not to mention a starter. Williams played some point guard during his prep career and it is never a bad thing to have another ballhandler on the wing. Williams needs to get stronger and develop more consistency on his jumper, but he has the tools to be successful; as does Thomas…as long as he can stay healthy.

Who to Watch:

Just how much the newcomers need to play will depend a little bit on who starts where. Fernald Degand will almost certainly start at the point guard spot again. The speedster averaged 2.9 assists per game before going out with an injury ten games into the 2007-2008 season. While the Wolfpack season was falling apart without Degand, Javier Gonzalez was earning some valuable experience. He did not look very comfortable bringing the ball up the court at times, but Gonzalez can do more than he did last year since the pressure will be off with Degand on the floor. The question becomes whether those two will play side by side much, or at all. Courtney Fells has the versatility to play at the two and three spot. Fells is a great scorer and the team’s most prolific outside shooter, but he will need to hit the glass more effectively if he is going to be playing the three spot. The other option is sliding Trevor Ferguson into the two spot. Ferguson is a good shooter, but he will have to do more than shoot if he wants to find a starting job.

Final Projection:

While there are major questions in the backcourt, the frontcourt is what has everybody talking. Two years ago Ben McCauley and Brandon Costner combined to average 31.2 points and 14.2 rebounds. Last year those numbers were 14.6 and 7.0, respectively. The addition of Hickson certainly had something to do with it, but still that is a huge, huge drop in production. If McCauley and Costner are back to their old forms, especially now that Hickson is gone, the Wolfpack frontcourt will be just as productive as it was last year. If it is more of the same as it was in 2007-2008 for McCauley and Costner, it will be more of the same for the entire team.

Projected Post-season Tournament: none

Projected Starting Five:

Farnold Degand, Junior, Guard, 6.9 points per game

Trevor Ferguson, Junior, Guard, 3.6 points per game

Courtney Fells, Senior, Guard, 10.6 points per game

Brandon Costner, Junior, Forward, 8.5 points per game

Ben McCauley, Senior, Forward, 6.1 points per game

Complete Top 144 Ranking | 2008-09 Preview & Awards | Coach Interviews | Discuss the Preview

2008-09 UNC Asheville Preview: #104

Joel Welser — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 07:33:37 -0700

UNC Asheville Bulldogs

Overall Rank: #104

Conference Rank: #1 Big South

2007-08: 23-10, 10-4, 1^st

2007-08 postseason: NIT

Kenny George needs help. Four starters are gone (George was not a starter) off of a UNC Asheville team that won the Big South regular season title. While the pieces fill in around him, George will have to lead the way. The 7-7 center averaged 12.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per contest last year. When he is on the floor, the game is not the same as it was before. On his own, George forces opponents to stay out of the paint and he can back down anybody on the other side of the floor.

Who’s Out:

The biggest losses are on the perimeter where Bryan Smithson and K.J. Garland must be replaced. The team’s top two scorers, Smithson and Garland combined to average 29.7 points, 10.1 assists, 8.3 rebounds and 3.2 steals during their senior seasons. George will be far less effective if nobody can get him the ball and shoot from the perimeter. Forwards Vincent James and Garrett Moles started all 33 contests. James was a good scorer and Moles did the dirty work around the basket, but only averaged 16.5 minutes per game despite his starting status.

Who’s In:

Ten newcomers will look for important minutes right from the get go. None will be more important than point guard Donovan Jones. Jones played two years ago for the Bulldogs and garnered a couple starts during his rookie campaign. After redshirting last season, Jones has the experience with the team to turn into a leader. Incoming freshmen J.P. Primm, Matt Dickey and Madison Davis can all provide depth at the point. Primm is the likely candidate to emerge from that group and see quality minutes backing up Jones. Chris Stephenson is probably the most talented of the bunch. The 6-4 wing is a great athlete who can shoot like a guard and post up like a forward. The names keep coming as forwards Jeremy Harn, Sean Hobbs, Quinard Jackson, Matt Kittrell and Terrence Turner will battle for minutes off the bench in the frontcourt. At 7-2 Hobbs has size, Kittrell has the most experience and Turner is the most talented. It will be interesting, and very important, to see who can emerge and provide the much, much needed depth in the paint. Outside of finding a new point guard, the development of the reserves up front will be the most important thing to keep an eye on.

Who to Watch:

Fortunately, none of the newcomers have to be ready to start in the frontcourt. Small forward Reid Augst is the only returning starter. After averaging 10.6 points and 4.9 rebounds, the 6-6 senior will become a leader on the floor. Augst can knock down the three-pointer relatively well and he has the versatility to play the two, three or four spot. But he will spend most of his time at the three while John Williams works his way into the starting lineup. Williams is smaller than Augst, but he is a solid rebounder and has the potential to develop into a decent scorer both inside and out. With George starting at the center spot, all the depth will have to come from the newcomers and Jason Ridenhour and Eric Stubbs. Those two averaged less than four minutes per game last year, but Stubbs has the potential to have a breakout sophomore year and be a decent substitute for George.

Final Projection:

Not all of the minutes on the perimeter will be eaten up by the new guys. By default Sean Smith is the best shooter on the team. The 6-6 Swede garnered four starts a year ago and could be in for a huge season now that he will be given every opportunity to turn into the main scoring threat in the backcourt. Rashad Gill hardly saw any playing time as a freshman, but he is another big and versatile guard. The backcourt needs to come around quickly if the Bulldogs want another conference title. The talent is there for the unit to be successful, but if the guards cannot hold their own, it will not matter how talented the big guys are.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Donovan Jones, Sophomore, Guard, DNP last season

Sean Smith, Junior, Guard, 5.0 points per game

Reid Augst, Senior, Forward, 10.6 points per game

John Williams, Sophomore, Forward, 6.4 points per game

Kenny George, Senior, Center, 12.4 points per game