Big 12

Big 12 Basketball: 5-Year Ranking

Shawn Siegel — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:14:50 -0500

BIG 12 FIVE-YEAR STANDINGS

CHN's annual 5-year ranking answers a simple question is in a simple manner: Who has been the best team in the Big 12 over the last five years?

Teams get points for league wins, making the postseason (NIT or NCAA) and winning games in the Big Dance. NIT wins are meaningless here, as are non-conference wins. Also, league tournaments wins are not taken into account. (An original trial-scoring system included points for conference tourney wins. But the flukish nature of these tourney's did more harm than hurt: ie, 2008 Georgia, 2006 Syracuse, and 2004 Maryland ended up getting too much credit despite the reality that they were mediocre to sub-par teams.)

100 total points is set up to be the equivalent of batting .300 in baseball.. anything above and beyond is all-world stuff. 50 points is mediocre and you only start to get bad below 40 points.

Pos.	Was	Team	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	Wins	Gms.	Points

1	1	Kansas	12	13	14	13	14	66	80	83	Win %
			1st Round	1st Round	Elite 8	Champs	Sweet 16			30	Post Pts.
										113

2	2	Texas	9	13	12	13	9	56	80	70	Win %
			1st Round	Elite 8	2nd Round	Elite 8	2nd Round			26	Post Pts.
										96

3	5	Oklahoma	12	11	6	9	13	51	80	64	Win %
			2nd Round	1st Round	X	2nd Round	Elite 8			18	Post Pts.
										82

4	6	Texas A&M	8	10	13	8	9	48	80	60	Win %
			NIT	2nd Round	Sweet 16	2nd Round	2nd Round			19	Post Pts.
										79

5	3	Okla. State	11	6	6	7	9	39	80	49	Win %
			Sweet 16	NIT	NIT	NIT	2nd Round			13	Post Pts.
										62

6	7	Kansas St	6	6	10	10	9	41	80	51	Win %
			X	X	Nit	2nd Round	NIT			6	Post Pts.
										57

7	4	Texas Tech	10	6	9	7	3	35	80	44	Win %
			Sweet 16	2nd Round	1st Round	X	X			12	Post Pts.
										56

8	8	Missouri	7	5	7	6	12	37	80	46	Win %
			NIT	X	X	X	Elite 8			9	Post Pts.
										55

9	10	Nebraska	7	7	6	7	8	35	80	44	Win %
			X	NIT	X	NIT	NIT			3	Post Pts.
										47

10	9	Iowa St	9	6	6	4	4	29	80	36	Win %
			2nd Round	X	X	X	X			4	Post Pts.
										40

11	12	Baylor	1	4	4	9	5	23	80	29	Win %
			X	X	X	1st Round	NIT			3	Post Pts.
										32

12	11	Colorado	4	9	3	3	1	20	80	25	Win %
			X	NIT	X	X	X			1	Post Pts.
										26

Was = Last year's rankig

-Ties are broken by favoring conference winning %

Big 12 Thoughts

- Texas Tech continues to tumble down the ranking after a weak 3-win season.

- Texas A&M is comfortably in 4th. They've made the 2nd round of the tourney 4 years in a row, something that only Texas can also claim.

- Kansas has won 83% of Big 12 games, one of the best rates of any BCS team.

Postseason Points

NIT = 1

NCAA 1st Round = 2

NCAA 2nd Round = 4

Sweet = 6

Elite 8 = 8

Final Four = 10

Final = 11

Champs = 12

Other 5-Year Rankings

ACC

Poll: Best Conference in 2009-10?

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:07:04 -0500

Poll: Who Will Win the Big 12?

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:01:48 -0400

Big 12 Basketball: Fantasy Preview

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:48:34 -0400

This is the 2nd of six fantasy stats projections of BCS conference starters. One of my favorite series of the year, and a helpful guide when drafting for fantasy college basketball leagues. For an idea of whether I know what I'm talking about, check out last year's Big 12 Stats Projection. As always, some teams were nailed better then others.. Baylor & Texas A&M were rock solid, Kansas though was particularly weak (underestimated both Collins & Aldrich.)

Keep in mind stats are highly dependent on minutes, and freshmen are obviously the hardest to predict. I try to note places below where other starters not listed may emerge. Stats are listed by ppg, rpg, and then apg.

BIG 12

BAYLOR

G Tweety Carter - 13, 4, 4
G LaceDarius Dunn - 17, 5, 1

G Nolan Dennis - 10, 3, 2
F Quincy Acy - 11, 6, 1

F Ekpe Udoh - 10, 7, 1

Notes: I don't expect Dunn's ppg to rise that much as Baylor should be a more well-rounded team this year. Udoh never averaged more than 6 ppg at Michigan, but should do better than that.

COLORADO

G Cory Higgins - 19, 6, 4
G Nate Tomlinson - 8, 4, 4
G Dwight Thorne II - 12, 4, 3
F Austin Dufault - 12, 5, 1
C Shane Harris-Tunks - 9, 7, 1

Notes: Higgins quietly put up big time numbers last year and could be one of the Big 12's top fantasy guys. Expect Dufault's game to take a step forward.

IOWA STATE

G Diante Garrett - 10, 3, 6
G Lucca Staiger - 12, 3, 3
F Craig Brackins - 19, 11, 1

F Marquis Gilstrap - 13, 6, 2
F Jamie Vanderbeken - 9, 5, 1

Notes: Brackins put up 20 ppg last year, but I expect his scoring to come down a bit as his surrounding cast improves. Gilstrap, a Juco transfer, could put up some of the best numbers from any newcomer.

KANSAS
G Sherron Collins - 18, 4, 7

G Tyshawn Taylor - 11, 3, 3
G Xavier Henry - 14, 5, 3
F Marcus Morris - 9, 6, 1
F Cole Aldrich - 17, 10, 1

Notes: Xavier Henry is the big-time recruit who should help take the pressure off of Collins to score. Markieff Morris should also put up worthwhile numbers off the bench.

KANSAS STATE

G Jacob Pullen - 15, 3, 4
G Denis Clemente - 16, 3, 5

F Dominque Sutton - 9, 6, 1
F Jamar Samuels - 12, 6, 1
F Wally Judge - 9, 6, 1

Notes: Samuels could be the team's most improved fantasy performer from last year. Judge is a heralded freshman, but don't expect him to blow up the stat sheet.

MISSOURI

G Zaire Taylor - 10, 4, 5

G Kim English - 13, 3, 2
G JT Tiller - 11, 3, 4
F Keith Ramsey - 7, 5, 1
F Justin Safford - 9, 6, 2

Notes: English's production could double now that he moves into the starting 5. Safford showed off his range in the post-season, but he'll certainly have his off nights.

NEBRASKA

G Lance Jeter - 7, 4, 3
G Sek Henry - 9, 3, 3
G Ryan Anderson - 11, 4, 3
G Toney McCray - 9, 4, 2
F Christopher Niemann - 11, 6, 1

Notes: Anderson's scoring has actually dropped each year, but I expect a bounce-back senior campaign. Niemann is a newcomer who sat out last season, but will be expected to contribute from day one.

OKLAHOMA

G Tommy Mason-Griffin - 10, 3, 7

G Willie Warren - 17, 4, 4
G Tony Crocker - 12, 4, 2
F Keith Gallon - 10, 7, 2
F Orlando Allen - 7, 5, 1

Notes: Warren should be helped by the addition of Mason-Griffin, a pg who can distribute the ball. "Tiny" Gallon has huge potential, but might not hit his statistical stide until next season.

OKLAHOMA STATE

G Ryan Penn - 7, 2, 4
G James Anderson - 20, 6, 3
G Obi Muonelo - 15, 8, 2
F - Marshall Moses - 10, 7, 1

F - Matt Pilgrim - 8, 5, 1

Notes: Eaton's departure leaves a big hole at PG. Penn is not a lock starter, as he'll face competition for those minutes. Without many other options, Anderson could be the Big 12's scoring leader.

TEXAS

G Avery Bradley - 12, 3, 3
G Jai Lucas - 9, 4, 4
F Damion James - 17, 10, 2
F Gary Johnson - 12, 8, 1
C Dexter Pittman - 13, 9, 1

Notes: Justin Mason, who started last year, could return to the starting lineup, relegating Johnson to the 6th man role. Texas has another viable fantasy option off the bench in Jordan Hamilton, a wing who can really score the ball.

TEXAS A&M

G Donald Sloan - 14, 4, 5
G Derrick Roland - 8, 3, 3
G BJ Holmes - 10, 3, 2

F David Loubeau - 10, 7, 1
F Bryan Davis - 13, 8, 1

Notes: Loubeau only played 14 mpg last year, but should see double the time now that Elonu moves on. Davis' numbers should be right there with just about every big-man in the league besides Aldrich.

TEXAS TECH

G John Roberson - 16, 4, 6
G Nick Okorie - 10, 3, 2
F Mike Singletary - 14, 7, 2
F Brad Reese - 11, 4, 2
F Robert Lewandowski - 10, 6, 1

Notes: Reese is a Juco newcomer known for scoring the ball. Despite a lack of notoriety, Roberson's numbers are some of the best you'll find in the backcourt.

Projected Big 12 Leaders

Top PPG
1) James Anderson (20)
2) Craig Brackins (19)
3) Cory Higgins (19)

Top RPG
1) Craig Brackins (11)
2) Cole Aldrich (10)

3) Damion James (10)

Top APG
1) Sherron Collins (7)
2) Tommy Mason-Griffin (7)

3) Diante Garrett/John Roberson (6)

Fantasy Stats Preview Archive

- ACC

Saturday Football Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 01:53:10 -0400

12:00 PM ET No. 12 Georgia Tech at Virginia
This should be a more interesting game than many would think at first glance. Al Groh has actually done well against the Yellow Jackets, most recently taking care of Paul Johnson's option attack in Atlanta last season. As effective as the option can be, Tech sometimes succeeds in keeping both teams in games due to their tendency to put the ball on the ground. If Josh Nesbitt and Jonathan Dwyer can produce while keeping the fumbles to a minimum Georgia Tech should win. But the Cavaliers haven't been a conventional team this season.

A brutal start resulted in calls for Coach Groh's head, and all they've done is win three straight games and take over the top spot in the ACC Coastal. Does that end on Saturday? No, and the Wahoos will likely credit the "Curse of Scott Sisson" for a win streak against the Jackets in Charlottesville that dates all the way back to 1990 (when Sisson's 37-yard field goal gave Georgia Tech the 41-38 victory). Not sure how they go about doing it, but look for Virginia to find a way to win.

12:00 PM ET Minnesota at No. 19 Ohio State
Terrelle Pryor has been the focus of a lot of criticism in the days following the bad loss at Purdue. Some think he should be benched, others think he should be switched to wide receiver, and there's even an element that blames Jim Tressel for the sophomore's struggles. Pryor's high school coach came out and blamed the play calling, suggesting that Ohio State run more zone read plays. Personally, I'd take a look at the combination of decision-making and throwing mechanics.

There were some throws last weekend that a winning quarterback (or one hoping to be one) simply cannot make. Throwing into coverage is bad enough, but to compound that with very poor mechanics is asking for trouble. The thought here is that while Pryor and the Ohio State offense has some issues moving the ball they'll do enough to beat the Golden Gophers. Penn State did a good job of keeping WR Eric Decker under wraps and they shut out Minnesota. The Buckeyes have good enough corners to avoid being lit up by the senior.

12:00 PM ET USF at No. 20 Pittsburgh
Was last week's loss to Cincinnati the beginning of the "annual" October swoon for the Bulls? Or can they rebound to knock of the Panthers, thus placing themselves back in the middle of the Big East race? B.J. Daniels struggled against the Bearcats, completing less than half his pass attempts and throwing a pair of interceptions. If the Bulls are to rebound the offensive line will need to keep Daniels upright; they're going up against one of the nation's best teams when it comes to sacking the quarterback.

Pittsburgh also has the Big East's most productive running back in freshman Dion Lewis, and if QB Bill Stull is on his game look for receivers Jonathan Baldwin and Dorin Dickerson to have solid afternoons. But USF is also good at getting to the quarterback, most notably junior DE Jason Pierre-Paul, and they may be able to force the Panthers into some mistakes. In a game that likely won't be decided until late, look for USF to head back to Tampa with the win.

12:00 PM ET Connecticut at No. 23 West Virginia
To say the least it's going to be a tough afternoon in Morgantown, with this being the first game the Huskies play following the tragic passing of CB Jasper Howard. Tributes have been planned for the occasion, and while both teams will attempt to get back a sense of "normalcy" once the ball is placed on the tee is there really such a thing? Truth is we really don't know what to expect here. In terms of the all-time series it hasn't been much of a contest; the Mountaineers have won the previous five meetings by a combined score of 210-77.

Two of the Big East's best rushing attacks will be on display, with Connecticut relying upon the tandem of Andre Dixon and Jordan Todman while WVU will lean upon Noel Devine. How this game goes will depend largely upon the Huskies' state of mind; that's something that cannot be predicted one way or the other until the ball is snapped. Also of note is West Virginia's tendency to put the ball of the ground; they've fumbled sixteen times this season, losing eleven. Go with the Mountaineers, but look for the Huskies to keep things competitive.

12:00 PM ET Indiana at Northwestern
Indiana got back on the winning track last weekend, taking care of a reeling Illinois team in Bloomington. Now they face a Northwestern team that's played in quite a few nail biters thus far. Go with the home team for this one despite the presence of defensive stalwarts Greg Middleton and Jammie Kirlew.

12:00 PM ET Central Michigan at Bowling Green
The Chippewas have shown themselves to be the class of the MAC to this point in the season, and despite the improvements made by Dave Clawson at Bowling Green it would be a surprise if the Falcons knocked off Dan LeFevour and company.

12:00 PM ET UAB at Marshall
The Thundering Herd struggled offensively against in-state rival West Virginia last week, but look for RB Darius Marshall to be his productive self in front of the home folks in Huntington. UAB's Joe Webb is one of the more dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks that few people know about and he will get his share of yards on Saturday. But it won't be enough to pick up the road win.

12:00 PM ET Illinois at Purdue
There's no way to tiptoe around this: Illinois is a bad football team. Period. There's definitely some individual talent but nothing has gone right for Ron Zook's team this year. Boilers build on the momentum gained in their upset of Ohio State last week.

12:21 PM ET Arkansas at Mississippi
The pick this week is Arkansas, who let one get away at Florida last weekend (of course that personal foul call didn't help matters). Jevan Snead hasn't looked comfortable this season and the Rebels have also failed to get playmaker Dexter McCluster the ball at times for lengthy stretches. Look for a good day from Ryan Mallett, who will face a defense that isn't on the same level of the unit he ran into last weekend.

12:30 PM ET No. 15 Oklahoma State at Baylor
The presence of Robert Griffin III would have given the Bears a puncher's chance against the team most likely to be Texas' main challenger in the Big 12 South. But with Griffin done for the year with a torn ACL it's hard to pick Baylor, even if the Cowboys get caught looking ahead to their game in Stillwater against the Longhorns next weekend.

12:30 PM ET Iowa State at Nebraska
A mere 24 hours after being given back their Blackshirts the Nebraska defense had all sorts of trouble slowing down Steven Sheffield and the Texas Tech offense, going down by the final score of 31-10. Iowa State's offense isn't as good as the Red Raiders' attack, and this should lend itself to a big day from DT Ndamukong Suh. It also remains to be seen whether or not Bo Pelini sticks with Zac Lee under center; it's reportedly a game-time decision between Lee and freshman Cody Green. Whoever gets the nod would be well-served to hand the ball off to RB Roy Helu Jr. in what should be a Nebraska victory.

12:30 PM ET Colorado at Kansas State
Both teams posted surprising wins last weekend; the Buffaloes beat Kansas in Boulder and K-State hung 62 points on Texas A&M just one week after giving up 66 to Texas Tech. The question here is how well Colorado travels, especially QB Tyler Hansen, who took over for an inconsistent Cody Hawkins. Hansen, who was originally supposed to redshirt, did a good job of leading the offense last week. The pick here is that it was the Wildcats' performance that was the anomaly last week; Buffs win.

1:00 PM ET Northern Illinois at Miami (OH)
Truth be told first-year head coach Mike Haywood walked into one of the toughest rebuilding jobs at the FBS level. Northern Illinois doesn't have the kind of offense that can hang fifty on you, but they should do enough defensively to handle the Redhawks.

1:00 PM ET Ball State at Eastern Michigan
Wow. That's all you can really say about a game in which the two teams "boast" a combined record of 0-13. And looking at the upcoming schedules for both teams, a win would be huge since both could approach ten losses on the year before they sniff a victory. My pick: Ball State. They've got RB Miquale Lewis.

1:30 PM ET Maryland at Duke
Maryland's been pretty bad this season outside of a home win over Clemson. That's not a good thing when you're going up against one of the best quarterbacks in the ACC in Thaddeus Lewis. Duke just looks like the more stable football team and program, something that will be quite evident in the final score.

2:00 PM ET Kent State at Ohio
This is a big matchup in the MAC East; the Golden Flashes sit a game behind the undefeated (in league play) Bobcats in the standings. This should be a league race that goes down to the final weekend of the regular season but if Kent State wants to be a factor they need to pick up the road victory. But the Bobcats have been hot of late, winning their last three and holding their last two opponents to seven points apiece. That's not good news for Kent State's freshman QB Spencer Keith, who's been solid but still leads one of the less productive offenses in the MAC. Look for Theo Scott to lead Ohio to the win.

2:00 PM ET Buffalo at Western Michigan
Sandwiched in between losses to Northern Illinois and Central Michigan for the Broncos was an impressive win over Toledo, but that 1-2 stretch essentially ensures WMU that they won't win the MAC West this season. The Bulls are hanging on by a thread in the East, but it's not a good sign that their league win came at the expense of a bad Akron team by four points. It's hard to see them being able to go on the road and beat a WMU team that still has QB Tim Hiller and a few solid options at the skill positions. Broncos win.

3:00 PM ET Louisiana Tech at Utah State
This could be an upset opportunity for the Aggies; Diondre Borel can move the football on offense and the Bulldogs haven't exactly been unstoppable offensively this season. But it's tough to see Derek Dooley's team falling in Logan; they will be tested but ultimately escape with the win.

3:30 PM ET Tennessee at No. 2 Alabama
Greg McElroy has struggled in recent weeks, and it's going to be tough to get back on the right track personally when going up against a stout Tennessee defense led by defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin. But there's also the matter of the Vols finding a way to slow down RB Mark Ingram, who practically carried the Crimson Tide to a win over South Carolina last weekend. He is essentially the difference in this heated rivalry on Saturday; Tennessee doesn't have an offensive player of that caliber to make plays against a tough defense led by LB Rolando McClain. Roll Tide.

3:30 PM ET Louisville at No. 5 Cincinnati
Even with the status of QB Tony Pike (forearm) unknown this will likely go the way of the Bearcats. Backup QB Zach Collaros has more than enough weapons at his disposal, and the time working with the first team this week should do wonders for his timing. The Cardinals will put up a fight, but they're lacking compared to the Bearcats when it comes to the talent level.

3:30 PM ET Clemson at No. 10 Miami (FL)
Another tribute to the late Jasper Howard will take place in this game, with Clemson DB Chris Chancellor switching his number from 38 to 6 in honor of his friend and high school teammate. As for the game itself, the quality likely depends upon which Tigers show up at Land Shark Stadium. They manhandled Wake Forest last weekend, but this is also a team that went on the road and lost at Maryland. The Hurricanes have played well since the loss to Virginia Tech, and they seem to find new options at the skill positions on a weekly basis. That, along with their discipline, will prove to be too much for Dabo Swinney's team.

3:30 PM ET No. 11 Oregon at Washington
Oregon's quarterback will be a game-time decision due to the health of starter Jeremiah Masoli, but it shouldn't matter much who runs the show provided they take care of the football. Defensively they'll need to contain QB Jake Locker, which is what they'll be able to do on the road. Ducks win.

3:30 PM ET No. 13 Penn State at Michigan
Is Penn State a true contender for the Big Ten title? If you look at their record yes, but all they've done is handle the teams they're supposed to and lost in their one test (Penn State) thus far. The Wolverines have been tested against the likes of Notre Dame, Michigan State and Iowa, so they won't be intimidated at all by the Nittany Lions. Add to this the motivation of being soundly whipped in Happy Valley last season and you've got the makings of an upset in the Big House. Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson combine to take out Penn State.

3:30 PM ET Oklahoma at No. 25 Kansas
For all the attention being paid to Sam Bradford, who won't even play this weekend, a lot of people don't realize that there will still be a pretty good quarterback on the field in Lawrence. Senior Todd Reesing has practically rewritten the Kansas record book, and with wide receivers Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier he's got enough weapons to stretch the vaunted Sooner defense. But the question for the Jayhawks will be the performance of the defense, which didn't fare too well last week in the upset loss at Colorado. And it isn't as if Landry Jones hasn't experienced being the starting quarterback. If Oklahoma's offensive line keeps the redshirt freshman upright they should win a hotly-contested game.

3:30 PM ET Boston College at Notre Dame
The Eagles, who tend to play this game with a chip on their shoulder every year, have won the last six meetings in the series. Last year's game was a disaster for Jimmy Clausen and company with their offense rendered inept by a tough BC defense in the 17-0 shutout at The Heights. Things should be different this time around with Clausen and the passing game vastly improved, and the Eagles' offense hasn't always gotten on the plane when hitting the road.

The key in this meeting will be the play of QB Dave Shinskie. When he plays well things open up on the ground for Montel Harris, with last week's whipping of NC State being a prime example. With this game immediately following USC on the schedule we'll find out just how much beating Boston College truly means to the Irish. Their intensity level hasn't matched that of BC's in recent meetings, but that changes this weekend.

3:30 PM ET Akron at Syracuse
For all the snickers and jokes directed towards the Orange for picking up Greg Paulus, at least they didn't have to advertise their quarterback needs in the school paper. 2009 was likely doomed from the get-go for J.D. Brookhart and company, with returning starter Chris Jacquemain being suspended for the year. And don't think that Syracuse forgot about their embarrassing loss at the hands of the Zips last season. It's payback time.

3:30 PM ET UCF at Rice
This may be one of Rice's best opportunities to pick up a win this season; more than a few pundits expected a drop given who they lost but 0-7? Definitely not in the cards, so look for the Knights to pick up a hard-fought road victory.

3:30 PM ET Western Kentucky at Middle Tennessee State
Can the Hilltoppers contain the versatile Dwight Dasher? Not too confident that they do, but Western Kentucky has played better football in recent weeks. Look for this game to be closer than many expect it to be.

3:30 PM ET Wake Forest at Navy
Wake Forest is another one of those ACC Atlantic teams that's extremely hard to define on a weekly basis. One week they look like they can beat anyone, only to go out the following week and have their heads handed to them. The familiarity with Navy (this is their third meeting in the last two seasons) could help Jim Grobe's team but there's no Aaron Curry or Stanley Arnoux on that defense this year. But with Ricky Dobbs out with a knee injury, the pick switches to Wake.

3:30 PM ET North Texas at Troy
The Mean Green can definitely pose a challenge for the reigning Sun Belt champs but if Riley Dodge is either hindered or can't go due to the injury he suffered last week it's tough to see them winning on the road. Look for the Trojans to remain undefeated in conference play.

4:00 PM ET Air Force at No. 18 Utah
If the Falcons can get their ground game rolling this is a possible upset in the making. But given their meager output against Wyoming last weekend (10 points, but they did win 10-0) it's tough to see them running wild on the Utes. Add to this the number of weapons that Utah has on offense, even with RB Matt Asiata out for the year, and it's likely that the Utes defend their home turf.

4:00 PM ET San Diego State at Colorado State
After starting the season 3-0 things have gone downhill for the Rams, who have lost their last four games. San Diego State is a much improved team over the outfit that went 2-10 a season ago, so look for Brady Hoke's team to hang around. But if Grant Stucker can avoid the costly interception CSU will win this game.

4:05 PM ET Idaho at Nevada
It's been a great run for the Vandals, who hope to continue doling out beatings to those who took advantage of their misfortune in prior meetings. Next up is a tough Nevada team that seems to be hitting its stride at just the right time; Idaho will have their hands full in trying to slow down Colin Kaepernick and company. Robb Akey's team has found a way to win football games but that all comes to an end in Reno. Nevada wins by two scores.

4:30 PM ET Washington State at California
Not to say that there's no way in which the Golden Bears lose to the Cougars, but it would be an absolute stunner if they did. Jahvid Best goes off in a blowout win.

5:00 PM ET Florida Atlantic at UL Lafayette
The Owls finally picked up their first win of the season last week, but blowing a big lead in the process at North Texas isn't the best way to go about cementing one's status as a player in the Sun Belt race. Ricky Bustle's team is currently undefeated in league play and they've got the ability to continue on that path whether or not starting QB Trey Revell is able to play this week. Not sure if the Ragin' Cajuns have enough firepower to win the conference, but they've shown the ability to find ways in which to win. That happens again Saturday afternoon.

6:30 PM ET UCLA at No. 22 Arizona
The nation's leading quarterback when it comes to completion percentage is...Arizona's Nick Foles, and his insertion into the starting lineup has coincided with the rapid improvement of the Wildcat offense. If Arizona can get consistent production out of Nic Grigsby and Greg Nwoko on the ground this can be one of the most explosive offenses on the West Coast. And it should help matters that the defense will be dealing with a UCLA offense that has struggled to consistently move the football against solid competition. Arizona wins.

7:00 PM ET No. 6 Iowa at Michigan State
This is a dangerous game for the Hawkeyes, but while they're the favorites to win this Big Ten tilt there are more than enough naysayers out there to allow Kirk Ferentz to sell his team on their being disrespected by the nation. As was the case last season, when Ricky Stanzi is efficient Iowa more times than not wins the game, but they've gotten away with a few close shaves in 2009. The Spartans, on the other hand, have experienced almost a rebirth following their struggles in non-conference play and a win here would put them right in the thick of the race to Pasadena.

The Michigan State offense has been more productive of late due to the improved play of QB Kirk Cousins combined with a more consistent rushing attack. It would shock no one if the Spartans were to win this game, but that's not the pick here. The Hawkeyes simply find ways to win football games, and thanks to intangibles combined with a very good defense they'll do just that on the road.

7:00 PM ET Vanderbilt at No. 24 South Carolina
The Commodores were supposed to continue progress following a season that saw them go to their first bowl game since 1984. So much for that thought; Vanderbilt is right back at the bottom of the SEC and they'll likely remain winless in conference play due in large part to the South Carolina defense. LB Eric Norwood is one of the best defenders in the nation yet people seem to ignore the senior's body of work, and QB Stephen Garcia should be able to rebound from an off night in Tuscaloosa last weekend. Gamecocks win, but as they're wont to do they'll make it a little more interesting than it needs to be.

7:00 PM ET UL Monroe at Kentucky
While the Wildcats have struggled in conference play, key players such as Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke should find better lanes in which to make plays against the Warhawks. Charle Weatherbie's team will be a tough out but at the end of the evening Kentucky's skill position players will be a little too much to handle.

7:00 PM ET Florida International at Arkansas State
The Red Wolves had the perfect chance to show the nation that they were indeed a threat to win the Sun Belt last Tuesday night, but they fell behind 16-0 at UL Lafayette and fell short in their comeback attempt. If they're to have anything to say about who wins the conference they can afford no more stubs of the toe, most certainly against a winless FIU squad. Mario Cristobal has improved the level of talent at FIU but it hasn't clicked thus far. That remains the case in Jonesboro.

7:00 PM ET Tulane at Southern Miss
The Green Wave have a hard enough time winning at home so it's extremely difficult to see them knocking off Southern Miss in Hattiesburg. Look for Martevious Young to hit DeAndre Brown for a pair of scores in a solid Golden Eagles victory.

7:00 PM ET Texas A&M at Texas Tech
Last week the Red Raiders went to Nebraska and beat the Cornhuskers 31-10, and QB Steven Sheffield looked pretty good in leading the offense. Meanwhile, the Aggies gave up sixty-two points in an embarrassing defeat at the hands of Kansas State. For the second consecutive weekend Mike Sherman's team will be on the receiving end of a serious beating, and this one will be over by halftime.

7:00 PM ET Temple at Toledo
The Owls currently lead the MAC East with an unblemished (3-0) conference mark. QB Vaughn Charlton has played better in recent weeks and the defense has more than held up its end of the bargain. But they'll be tested on the road by Aaron Opelt and company, and to this point in the season it hasn't been difficult to see that the true power in this conference resides in the West. Rockets win at the Glass Bowl.

7:30 PM ET No. 1 Florida at Mississippi State
Some are selling this as the opportunity for Dan Mullen to pick up the first signature win of his tenure, citing his familiarity with the Florida system and its personnel. Yup, and that's exactly what people said about USF defensive coordinator Bob Diaco going up against Cincinnati last Thursday night. The point is, while you can draw up every formation and play your old team is going to run it eventually comes down to skill level and how well your players execute. The Gators have superior athletes right now, and that will be the difference in Starkville.

7:30 PM ET No. 8 TCU at No. 16 Brigham Young
The game of the day is the first of three games that will likely decide who wins the Mountain West, and if there's anything the Cougars can take away from last year's 32-7 loss in Fort Worth it's that they need to block TCU DE Jerry Hughes. Hughes, who already has eight sacks this season, was a man possessed in the last meeting and BYU didn't take care of the football either. If Max Hall has to worry too much about staying upright he's going to be in trouble. If given time the senior can hook up with TE Dennis Pitta and RB Harvey Unga, and as a result the Cougars will put points on the board.

As for TCU's offense, senior Andy Dalton is a winner that can hurt you with either his arm or his legs. Four Horned Frogs have rushed for at least 200 yards this season, led by senior Joseph Turner's 399 yards and seven touchdowns. It will be interesting to see how Bronco Mendenhall's defense deals with slot receiver Jeremy Kerley; if you want him to run wild just try to cover him with a linebacker. Kerley is also a threat in the return game, but the number of options that TCU has could ultimately be the difference. Look for TCU to win the turnover battle and escape Provo with a three-point victory.

7:30 PM ET Auburn at No. 9 LSU
No, Auburn hasn't looked good in losses to Arkansas and Kentucky, but this is a game they can win. Why? Because LSU hasn't exactly hit its stride offensively this season, especially QB Jordan Jefferson. Without consistency in the passing game it's been tough for backs Charles Scott and Keiland Williams to consistently find holes as a result. I get the feeling that this will be a high-scoring game, and in that case look for Chris Todd to make enough plays to wrap up the upset.

7:30 PM ET SMU at No. 17 Houston
This could be the highest-scoring game in the country on Saturday. June Jones has turned around the Mustangs in good fashion to this point in the season; he's extremely successful in the second year of his tenure no matter where he's been. But they will be tested by Case Keenum and company, and Houston can ill-afford another league loss with UTEP sitting there with one league loss (and the head-to-head tiebreaker). Bo Levi Mitchell has progressed nicely for SMU, but the pick here is Houston because their defense looks more capable of getting that one stop that could determine the outcome.

8:00 PM ET No. 3 Texas at Missouri
Blaine Gabbert looked very good in replacing Chase Daniel in the early stages of the season. But he learned quickly that there's a definite difference when you get to conference play, struggling in losses to Nebraska and Oklahoma State. Now he's got to deal with Texas, whose defensive line proved last weekend that they can get after the quarterback. Add to that the presence of Colt McCoy and you've got a Longhorn victory. The score will be close but in the end Texas wins by a touchdown.

8:00 PM ET Oregon State at No. 7 USC
The last two times USC has visited Corvallis they've lost, but at least their players were alive (and can likely remember) for a successful trip north. Oregon State, on the other hand, hasn't won at USC since 1969 and if the Beavers have any players who were alive for that meeting then he shouldn't be playing. Jacquizz Rodgers is beginning to get back into his comfort zone following a mediocre stretch that coincided with a two-game losing streak. Can Sean Canfield and company move the ball consistently on the vaunted Trojan defense? Can Oregon State slow down Matt Barkley and the USC passing attack? This one doesn't get out of hand but look for USC to be more than motivated for this rematch. Trojans win by a comfortable margin.

8:00 PM ET UNLV at New Mexico
The loser of this game will likely be considered, without a doubt, the worst team in the Mountain West. The Lobos have more punches landed by a head coach (1) than they do wins (0) at this point in the season, and Mike Sanford is likely in serious danger of losing his job due to UNLV's recent nosedive. This game likely comes down to a "take your pick" involving the quarterbacks, and I'd take Omar Clayton over Donovan Porterie. Not by much, but just enough to give UNLV a much-needed victory.

10:15 PM ET Fresno State at New Mexico State
The Aggies have been a pleasant surprise under DeWayne Walker, playing solid defense while remaining competitive offensively. But they don't have the firepower to match what the Bulldogs bring to the table, most notably RB Ryan Mathews. NMSU will hang around for much of the game but in the end Pat Hill's team is a bit too strong.

10:25 PM ET Arizona State at Stanford
The problem for the Sun Devils, even in victory, hasn't been the defense. With freshman phenom Vontaze Burfict on the prowl this is a unit that can make plays. They'll have their hands full with Toby Gerhart and Andrew Luck, but the bigger issue is how well QB Danny Sullivan will play. He wasn't great against Washington last week but made the play that won the game in the final seconds. If he has issues with the Stanford defense it will be hard for the Sun Devils to pick up the win. And with these two teams likely being in the middle of the Pac-10 standings come season's end this result could go a long way in determining bowl assignments. Stanford by a touchdown.

11:05 PM ET No. 4 Boise State at Hawaii
No disrespect to Bryant Moniz but the Warriors have a far better chance of winning if Greg Alexander weren't out for the year with a torn ACL. Chris Petersen's squad continues on their march towards a second consecutive WAC title.

Kansas State Basketball Preview: #25

Joel Welser — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:09:56 -0400

Overall Rank: #25

Conference Rank: #3 Big 12 Conference

2008-09: 22-12, 9-7

2008-09 postseason: NIT

Coach: Frank Martin (43-24 at Kansas State, 43-24 overall)

Once again Coach Frank Martin led Kansas State to a 20 win season, but unlike his first season with the Wildcats, the 2008-2009 team failed to reach the NCAA Tournament. With four starters returning and a very talented group of newcomers, another 20 win season is on the horizon, but KSU will need some newcomers to step up and contribute if those 20 wins are going to result in a trip to the big dance.

Key Losses: F Ron Anderson, G Buchi Awaji, G Fred Brown, F Darren Kent

Key Newcomers:

The incoming freshmen are a good group, but Curtis Kelly, a transfer from Connecticut, might make the biggest impact this season. Kelly never saw too much playing time with the Huskies, but he is a very talented athlete who is still full of potential. Of the incoming freshmen it is power forward Wally Judge who will make the biggest impact. Judge is one of the most highly touted big men in the nation and he will push the returning starters for minutes and even a starting job. Seven-footer Jordan Henriquez-Roberts will need some time to adjust to life in the Big 12, but the frontcourt now has plenty of depth. Wing Rodney McGruder highlights the group on the perimeter which includes point guards Martavious Irving and Nick Russell.

Backcourt:

The newcomers will provide some depth, but the starters on the perimeter are set with the return of Denis Clemente and Jacob Pullen. Clemente exploded onto the national scene last year with some high scoring games, but he was quite inconsistent. Still he averaged 15.0 points per game and led the squad with 3.5 assists. Pullen was right behind Clemente in both categories, tallying 13.9 points and 3.2 assists. Both are quality, albeit streaky, outside shooters who can also use their size to get to the basket. With a couple of experienced scorers who can handle the ball leading the way, the backcourt will be very strong even if it takes the newcomers a little time to come around.

Frontcourt:

Replacing Ron Anderson and Darren Kent should not be much of a problem thanks to Kelly and Judge. However, those two might start the season on the bench in favor of Dominique Sutton, Jamar Samuels and Luis Colon. Sutton started 32 games during the 2008-2009 campaign and should return to his starting job at the small forward position. Sutton is only 6-5, but he is a quality rebounder and that is why this team will remain strong on the glass. Samuels was often left out of the starting lineup as a freshman, but he played about as many minutes as any of the other forwards and has the potential to turn into a dominating scorer and the team’s best shot blocker. The big man under the basket is Luis Colon. Colon is not much of a scorer, but he is a big body who can eat up space and grab some boards.

Who to Watch:

The transfer of Fred Brown could end up being the undoing of the Wildcats. Brown provided a spark off the bench and was easily the team’s most consistent outside shooter. Now that job will likely fall to McGruder or Russell and relying on the freshmen to play that role, not to mention a large majority of the backup minutes for Clemente and Pullen, could turn into a big problem.

Final Projection:

Coach Martin has done a great job during his two years at KSU. Last season the team just lacked consistency and ended on a bad stretch. Part of the problem is a lack of a true point guard and just some plain bad luck. Clemente and Pullen are experienced enough to lead this team through the tough times and back to the NCAA Tournament.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Jacob Pullen, Junior, Guard, 13.9 points per game

Denis Clemente, Senior, Guard, 15.0 points per game

Dominique Sutton, Junior, Forward, 7.5 points per game

Jamar Samuels, Sophomore, Forward, 8.3 points per game

Wally Judge, Freshman, Forward, DNP last season

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Texas A&M Basketball Preview: #28

Joel Welser — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:24:33 -0400

Overall Rank: #28

Conference Rank: #4 Big 12 Conference

2008-09: 24-10, 9-7

2008-09 postseason: NCAA

Coach: Mark Turgeon (49-21 at Texas A&M, 202-140 overall)

If Chinemelu Elonu stayed in school for the 2009-2010 campaign, this could have been a very, very special season for Texas A&M. Without him, the Aggies will have to rely on some youngsters to fill the void and nobody is going to replace him any time soon on either end of the floor. What it leaves is another Aggie team that will be good and should reach the NCAA Tournament, but not good enough to make a deep tournament run.

Key Losses: G Josh Carter, C Chinemelu Elonu

Key Newcomers:

Coach Mark Turgeon has brought in yet another solid recruiting class. Wings Naji Hibbert and Jeremy Adams will push the returning players for minutes. Hibbert is a fine shooter and will use his 6-6 frame to finish around the basket. Small forward Khris Middleton is a great shooter who can immediately provide an offensive spark off the bench. Power forwards Ray Turner and Kourtney Roberson are both capable of making an impact right away and both will be given every opportunity to contribute.

Backcourt:

The perimeter returns everybody except do-it-all wing Josh Carter. However, this was not the most consistent group a year ago. Derrick Roland struggled to find his shot most of last season, but he still started 30 games. Donald Sloan is the scorer of the bunch and the main ball handler. After averaging 11.8 points per game and having a two-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio last season, big things are expected from Sloan for his senior campaign. B.J. Holmes had a great sophomore campaign, averaging 8.8 points and 1.4 assists. He can handle the ball and is also an extremely consistent outside shooter. Dash Harris proved to be yet another capable point guard during his freshman campaign and should play a bigger role as a sophomore.

Frontcourt:

It is in the frontcourt where things get a little more disconcerting. David Loubeau and Nathan Walkup both averaged less than 14 minutes per game last year and they will both be asked to carry a much bigger load this time around. Loubeau is a solid rebounder, especially on the offensive end. He is not the most dynamic scorer around, but he might be the best option at power forward just because of his ability to hit the glass. Walkup is the other returning option. Unlike Loubeau, Walkup can stretch out the defense with his outside shooting ability. No matter who ends up starting, Loubeau and Walkup both need to step up their games and fight for a starting job with Turner and Roberson.

Who to Watch:

While those four fight it out for a starting job, Bryan Davis will be the go-to-guy under the basket. The 6-9 senior averaged 10.8 points and 6.5 rebounds last season and should get a lot more opportunities to put up big numbers now that Elonu is gone. At 6-9 and 240 pounds, Davis is a bruiser under the basket and a solid defender. Even when he is not blocking shots, he will use his large frame to make it difficult for anybody to score around the basket.

Final Projection:

Sloan and Davis are a good duo to build around and Holmes should be a player who will score in bunches this year, but there are questions. If Roland’s shot is not falling it will force a freshman into the lineup. While that might help in the rebounding department and add some size to the perimeter, this team needs Roland’s defense and experience. The other obvious issue is in the frontcourt where somebody needs to try and replace Elonu. In the end, Texas A&M will win some big games and make it to the NCAA Tournament, but their expectations should end there.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Donald Sloan, Senior, Guard, 11.8 points per game

B.J. Holmes, Junior, Guard, 8.8 points per game

Derrick Roland, Senior, Guard, 6.3 points per game

David Loubeau, Sophomore, Forward, 4.6 points per game

Bryan Davis, Senior, Forward, 10.8 points per game

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Oklahoma State Basketball Preview: #35

Joel Welser — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:53:37 -0400

Overall Rank: #35

Conference Rank: #5 Big 12 Conference

2008-09: 23-12, 9-7

2008-09 postseason: NCAA

Coach: Travis Ford (23-12 at Oklahoma State, 213-186 overall)

Coach Travis Ford led Oklahoma State to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and was rewarded with a contract extension. The Cowboys do lose quite a few talented players, but Coach Ford is also bringing in a very good recruiting class that should be able to fill in the holes.

Key Losses: F Anthony Brown, G Byron Eaton, G Terrel Harris, F Malcoln Kirkland

Key Newcomers:

The most important newcomers could prove to be point guard Ray Penn and transfer Matt Pilgrim. Penn is only 5-9, but he is a good scorer and has little trouble weaving his way through the big men in the paint to finish around the basket or find one of his teammates. Penn might not start from day one, but he probably will be sooner or later. Pilgrim, a transfer from Hampton who spent last year sitting on the bench at Kentucky, will be eligible to play this season for OSU. Pilgrim is not the greatest scorer or rebounder around, but he is a very versatile player who can give this team some size and still fit in the run and gun system. Five freshmen will battle for playing time including guards Reger Dowell and Fred Gulley and centers Jarred Shaw and Torin Walker. However, it is small forward Roger Franklin is who is capable of contributing right away.

Backcourt:

Most of the backcourt was forced to play out of position last year since there were times when five guards would be on the floor at the same time. It will not be quite so drastic this time around, but replacing Byron Eaton is a concern. Keiton Page earned 12 starts last year and at least has some experience, but he will be pushed by Penn. At the least, Page needs to emerge as a leader to the young group on the perimeter. Obi Muonelo should spend more time at the shooting guard this season. The 6-5 senior is a prolific outside shooter, but he should turn into a more dynamic scorer if he can use his size against opposing shooting guards. His ability to hit the glass saved the team on many occasions last season and OSU could turn into a great rebounding team if the frontcourt can find a contributor or two.

Frontcourt:

By the end of the 2008-2009 campaign, the Cowboys found Marshall Moses. The 6-7 junior is undersized for a traditional five man, but he was the size on this team last year. Oklahoma State did not need him to score much, but he managed to average 7.0 points per game and added 6.1 rebounds per contest. And his best games were at the end of the season. If Moses can move to the power forward position and Pilgrim can use his experience and versatility to play the center spot, this is a team that will not get pushed around by anybody under the basket.

Who to Watch:

Muonelo was not the only player who had to play out of position last season. James Anderson spent some time at the four spot and did a pretty good job of it since he is 6-6. However, Anderson, like Muonelo, belongs on the wing. Anderson emerged as the superstar of the team last year, averaging 18.2 points and 5.7 rebounds. He shot over 40 percent from long range, but he can also use his size and speed to get to the basket. Anderson will be the guy taking all the big shots for OSU and if they keep falling like they did last year he could average over 20 points per game.

Final Projection:

It will be interesting to see how Coach Ford manages his new team. Only five players are back who played any significant minutes, but now this team does not have to play five guards most of the time. If Pilgrim is really ready to contribute 15 to 20 minutes a game, this team can still run and have the size to compete against teams in the Big 12.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Ray Penn, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season

Obi Muonelo, Senior, Guard, 12.7 points per game

James Anderson, Junior, Guard, 18.2 points per game

Marshall Moses, Junior, Forward, 7.0 points per game

Matt Pilgrim, Junior, Forward, DNP last season

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College Basketball: Preseason Conference Ranking

CHN — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:43:04 -0400

After finishing 1st in the RPI the last two years, the ACC should fall back slightly thanks to the big-name departures at UNC & Wake Forest. This should allow one of the Big 12, Big Ten, or even SEC a shot at being #1. The Pac-10 is weak enough that a high-major like the A-10, MVC, or MWC could surpass it.

Chime in with your thoughts below if you agree or disagree with CHN's preseason conference ranking.

2009-10 Conference Ranking

*08-09 is last year's conference RPI. Commentary by Shawn Siegel, ranking by CHN.

	Conference	08-09*
1	Big Ten 9 of 11 teams go into season with ncaa hopes, and as many as 7 may reach that goal	2
2	Big 12 ku is the clear title contender. the bottom few teams are weak though and the middle-tier is hit or miss	3
3	ACC no dominant team like last year, but solid as always.	1
4	SEC rise of uk brings league back to prominence after down year..	6
5	Big East lose tons of big name players, and still held down by likes of depual, rutgers, etc	4
6	Pac-10 conceivable the pac-10 only receives 3 tourney bids.	5
7	Atlantic 10 should get at least 2 invites to the ncaa tournament	8
8	MVC with improvement expected from usual leaders creighton & siu, mvc should be solid all-around	9
9	MWC just about every top team loses a top player, but mwc should be one of the more entertaining leagues	7
10	Conference USA though memphis takes step back, rest of league is better than usual.	10
11	WAC after some down years, wac will once again be compeititve league	11
12	Horizon butler has top 10 hopes, but squads like csu and green bay lose key seniors.	12
13	Colonial while still 1 bid league, likes of odu, n'eastern, gmu, and vcu are all quality	14
14	Sun Belt more then just wku, the entire east division is solid	17
15	MAAC siena, niagara, and rider all have postseason hopes	13
16	WCC gonzaga and smc both worse then season ago	15
17	MAC #'s should be better than last year, but west division still a struggle	21
18	Big West led by up-and-coming long beach state. always finish around this #.	18
19	Summit darling ndsu loses a lot, so usual contenders like oru and oakland should be at forefront again	26
20	Big Sky with exception of sacramento st, this is a solid league top to bottom.	24
21	Southland underrated league always good for some non-conference upsets	19
22	Ivy cornell will be the best the ivy has offered in quite some years	29
23	Southern steph curry's departure opens up door for charleston	20
24	America East decimation of binghamton will hurt league #'s	16
25	Atlantic Sun the league's upper half is as solid as it's been for a few years	27
26	Patriot could use a rebound from former top gun bucknell.	22
27	OVC morehead st continues its improbable rise..	23
28	Big South outside of radford, not much to get excited about here..	25
29	NEC nec hasn't had much going for it in recent years	28
30	MEAC as usual, will battle swac for title of country's worst	30
31	SWAC solid jackson st gives swac hope of surpassing meac	31

College Basketball Preview - 144 Teams in 144 Days - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

Oklahoma Basketball Preview: #37

Joel Welser — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:54:13 -0400

Overall Rank: #37

Conference Rank: #6 Big 12 Conference

2008-09: 30-6, 13-3

2008-09 postseason: NCAA

Coach: Jeff Capel (69-33 at Oklahoma, 148-74 overall)

Coach Jeff Capel is good enough to make the transition from a frontcourt orientated team to a backcourt orientated team. And without Blake and Taylor Griffin he will not have much of a choice. The frontcourt returns very few experienced players and the Sooners will have to rely on a talented class of incoming freshmen.

Key Losses: F Blake Griffin, F Taylor Griffin, G Austin Johnson, G Omar Leary

Key Newcomers:

Obviously the most important players are going to be the big guys and OU got one of the best in this class in Tiny Gallon. Despite the obvious flaw of a 6-8, 300 pound man being named Tiny, Gallon should at least clog up the lane and use his size to get some easy buckets. Gallon is even a decent passer and surprisingly nimble for a man of his size, but he still needs to slim down a bit before his nimbleness will do him any good in the Big 12. Andrew Fitzgerald and Kyle Hardrick are also highly touted centers and both will be fighting for a starting job. The star recruit on the perimeter is point guard Tommy Mason-Griffin. He, like shooting guard Steven Pledger, will have some time to develop his game before being asked to do too much, but Mason-Griffin should be playing some important minutes as a freshman.

Backcourt:

The backcourt has a pretty solid starting three. Of course it all starts with Willie Warren. Warren had a great freshman campaign, tallying 14.6 points and 3.1 assists per game. His outside shooting may have been a little erratic at times and his turnovers could be a little high, but remember this was as a freshman. His positives sizably outweigh his negatives and Warren is ready to become the leader of this team. Having Tony Crocker back on the wing will help. Crocker is a capable outside shooter who can also use his 6-6 frame to finish around the basket. Cade Davis will likely go from the sixth man to a starter this year. He has good size for a shooting guard and could emerge as a surprisingly decent scorer if he attacks the basket more often.

Frontcourt:

Juan Pattillo only played in 19 games last year, but he was supposed to be the next in line behind the Griffins to take over the frontcourt. But now he is gone. That leaves Ryan Wright, who averaged just 8.1 minutes per game last year, as the most experienced forward on the roster. Wright, a transfer from UCLA, is a quality player who might be starting early in the year while the newcomers get their bearings, but whether he starts or not, Wright will have to increase his productivity. The other option is 6-10 junior Orlando Allen. Allen played even more sparingly than Wright last season and will have to be ready to fight off the freshmen for playing time.

Who to Watch:

Warren is a superstar and the backcourt is in good shape, especially if Mason-Griffin lives up to his hype and can find a starting job beside Warren. However, it is the new players in the frontcourt that will make the difference for this team. Griffin, and not just Blake, left some big shoes to fill and it remains to be seen if Gallon, Fitzgerald and Hardrick are up for the challenge. If they are not, it could be a long year in Norman.

Final Projection:

The backcourt alone has enough talent to take this team back to the NCAA Tournament, but a serious lack of experience in the frontcourt will plague this team all season long. Warren can only carry the team so far, so come March Oklahoma might be playing for their tournament lives, but Warren has enough talent to win that battle and at least get this team into the big dance.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Willie Warren, Sophomore, Guard, 14.6 points per game

Tommy Mason-Griffin, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season

Tony Crocker, Senior, Guard, 9.6 points per game

Tiny Gallon, Freshman, Forward, DNP last season

Orlando Allen, Junior, Center, 1.8 points per game

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