Alabama St

Monday Recap: Woodall Leads Pitt Past West Virginia

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:16:12 -0800

It wasn't that long ago that many left the Pittsburgh Panthers for dead, as they were in the midst of what would eventually become an eight-game losing streak. A key factor in the struggles that Jamie Dixon's team experienced was the absence of point guard Tray Woodall, who was out with abdominal and groin injuries. Woodall's back now and he looks to be healthy as well, as he led Pittsburgh to a 72-66 win over rival West Virginia in Morgantown with 24 points, four rebounds and three assists on the night. Woodall scored 16 of his 24 in the first half, proving too difficult for the Mountaineers to stop regardless of who they put on him.

Ashton Gibbs added 15 points for Pittsburgh, who didn't shoot well from three (3-for-10) but did make 21 of their 26 free throws. Also of importance in the win was the fact that Pitt outscored West Virginia 36-26 in the paint, a surprising stat given how much the Mountaineers call on forwards Kevin Jones (21 points, 13 rebounds) and Deniz Kilicli (12 points, nine rebounds). Neither team shot well from the perimeter, making the hustle plays even more of a factor in the outcome. And more times than not it was a Panther who came up with the big play.

"They out-toughed us. We blocked three shots in the first half, and they pick it up and get three-point plays out of it," remarked WVU head coach Bob Huggins when asked what the difference was. "We just don't get to the ball. Four balls went out of bounds and they save it back inbounds and we have a guy here and a guy here and they have a guy behind our two guys and he runs in and catches it and shoots a lay-up and our two guys still have yet to move. We just didn't get to the ball."

Pitt got off to a good start to the second half and they received the added boost of a technical foul assessed to Huggins despite the fact that he was yelling at Truck Bryant for missing a defensive rotation. Given what happened at Syracuse on Saturday another missed call could have been used as an excuse for the Mountaineers to self-destruct but they didn't, eventually cutting the Pitt lead to two points with 8:14 remaining.

This would be as close as the Mountaineers would get as a Panther team that's playing with a great deal of confidence hung on down the stretch. It's been known that this team has a great deal of pride, and players such as Gibbs, Woodall and Nasir Robinson won't allow them to lie down. Can Pittsburgh do enough to work their way back into the NCAA Tournament conversation? Don't rule that out, especially with Woodall back and playing the way he has of late.

"Obviously, I'm very happy for our guys and what they have done and how they have battled and what they have become," said Dixon following the game. "As you coach, you want to talk about what you can become and what you want to be and this is an example of a team that continued to battle and do the work."

Other Notable Happenings

1. Sears BracketBusters pairings announced, and quite a few fan bases aren't pleased with the results.
Monday was a big day in college basketball as the pairings for the upcoming Sears BracketBusters event were announced, and in the end it was tough to find many please fan bases outside of Saint Mary's and Murray State, who will play each other in Murray on February 18th. The Gaels are currently undefeated in the WCC and with a 21-2 record Randy Bennett's team will provide a major test for a Murray State team that's the nation's lone undefeated squad.

Long Beach State, who has taken on all comers in their non-conference schedule, will visit a Creighton team that leads the Missouri Valley and boasts an 8-2 record against RPI Top 100 teams. The 49ers are 2-5 against such teams and their two wins (Xavier and Pittsburgh) lost some luster due to the struggles of those teams, which sparked anger on the part of the Bluejay fan base.

Another fan base that was none too thrilled with their draw was that of Wichita State (3-4 vs. RPI Top 100), who will visit a Davidson (1-3 vs. RPI Top 100) team that owns a win over Kansas (in Kansas City) but has also played nine games (8-1 record) against teams ranked 201st or worse in the NCAA's RPI rankings. George Mason, currently first in the CAA, didn't even merit a televised game (non-televised match ups) in the eyes of the schedule-makers. But a slate that features 19 games against teams ranked 101 or worse in the RPI (17-2 record) may have had something to do with that.

Oral Roberts is another team that has a beef with the process as they drew an Akron team whose profile won't do a whole lot to boost that of the Golden Eagles. Clearly not everyone's going to be thrilled with the match ups, but at this point teams have a couple of weeks to improve their own resumes beforehand. How useful is BracketBusters? You'll likely get different answers based on who you ask, but the formula for getting to the NCAA Tournament hasn't changed with or without the event: win.

2. Michael Dixon Jr's driving bucket pushes Missouri past Texas in Austin.
Following a Kim English three-pointer with 4:44 remaining Frank Haith's Tigers led 63-53 and looked to be a safe bet to close out Texas despite being on the road and getting out-rebounded by a 38-26 margin at game's end. But the Tigers would go nearly three minutes without a made field goal, leaving the door open for a Longhorn team that at times couldn't stay out of its own way on the offensive end.

Texas took advantage and eventually took the lead on a four-point possession triggered by a flagrant 1 foul on Michael Dixon Jr. Dixon Jr. made up for his foul 25 seconds after, scoring on a left-handed shot off glass to give Missouri the 67-66 win. Texas had 27 seconds to find a shot, and while Myck Kabongo did get a look the Longhorns looked too confused to be allowed to play the possession out as they had a timeout remaining.

"We had two things ready: one for man and one for zone," said Texas head coach Rick Barnes. "And the one for the zone, we didn't move or cut the way we needed to. But we knew. During the timeout, we said, 'You've got to be ready for a zone.' And what we wanted to do, we didn't do as hard and effective as we had to do it."

Dixon Jr. scored 21 points off the bench while Phil Pressey and Ricardo Ratliffe scored 13 apiece for the Tigers, who remained tied for first place in the Big 12 ahead of a huge battle with rival Kansas this coming weekend. Even with the rebounding and free throw (16-8 Texas edge in points) numbers working against them Missouri found a way to win, and that's what good teams do.

3. While Mississippi Valley State has a sold grip on first place in the SWAC, the race for the two-seed became much more intriguing.
The Delta Devils are now 9-0 in conference play following their 77-59 win over Grambling, and while Southern is 7-2 the Jaguars are ineligible for postseason play so they can't wrestle away the top seed for the conference tournament. Texas Southern is eligible, but their 66-59 overtime loss at Alabama State despite leading by as many as 18 points dropped them to 6-3 in SWAC play and they're now just a game ahead of the Hornets and Prairie View A&M at the halfway point.

Neither team shot well from the field but it was Alabama State who took better advantage of their own misses, grabbing 21 offensive rebounds (OR%: 47.7%) and out-rebounding the Tigers 47-36 on the night. Ivory White led the way for the victors with 21 points and nine rebounds, Phillip Crawford added 17 and Ryan Watts scored 15 points off the bench. Texas Southern's reserves outscored Alabama State's 40-19 (Fred Sturdivant scored 16 of the 40) but that didn't matter much due to the extra opportunities they gave up on the glass and the fact that the starters combined to shoot 8-for-25 from the field.

Next up for Texas Southern is a trip to Prairie View, which means that the race for the two-seed could become even more entertaining should the Tigers lose. Up 48-30 with 9:04 remaining the odds of Tony Harvey's team closing the game out looked to be good, but when you make just one field goal and turn the ball over seven times down the stretch that can come back to burn you. That's exactly what happened to Texas Southern, and as a result they now find themselves in a situation they could have easily avoided.

Quick Hitters

1. Clemson will be without the services of junior forward Milton Jennings at Virginia on Tuesday night as he's suspended due to a failure to comply with the team's academic standards. Jennings is averaging 8.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game for the Tigers, who are currently 11-9 overall and 3-3 in the ACC.

2. The strangest game of the night took place in Norfolk as Coppin State handed Norfolk State their first MEAC loss by the final score of 87-82. Fang Mitchell's team led 35-13 at the half, only to survive a staggering 69-point second half from the Spartans to move to 6-3 in the MEAC. Kyle O'Quinn, who can make a serious claim for being the nation's most underrated player, led NSU with 27 points and 18 rebounds.

3. Belmont and Mercer both took care of business, with the Bruins beating North Florida 83-69 in Nashville while Mercer won 75-66 at Florida Gulf Coast. Kerron Johnson led four Belmont players in double figures with 16 points and Blake Jenkins added 15 and seven rebounds, while Langston Hall's 20 points and six assists led Mercer to their win. USC Upstate is a game back in the loss column but after them the rest of the A-Sun is three games back.

4. Southeast Missouri State moved to 7-2 in the OVC with a 74-53 win at Eastern Illinois, and they remain in second place (two games behind Murray State) as a result. Marland Smith scored 19 points and Tyler Stone added 18 and ten boards for the Redhawks, who have won eight of their last ten games.

5. With head coach Bobby Cremins taking a leave of absence from the team due to an undisclosed health issue, it was good to see Charleston pick up a win. The Cougars won 68-52 at Samford as Antwaine Wiggins scored 25 points to lead the way.

Three Notable Performances

1. G Kevin Murphy (Tennessee Tech)
Murphy went off in the Golden Eagles' 98-80 win over SIU-Edwardsville, scoring 50 points (16-21 FG) and dishing out seven assists.

2. F/C Kyle O'Quinn (Norfolk State)
27 points and 18 rebounds in the Spartans' 87-82 loss to Coppin State.

3. G Tray Woodall (Pittsburgh)
24 points (8-12 FG), four rebounds and three assists in the Panthers' 72-66 win at West Virginia.

Jon Teitel's "Forgotten Legends" Series: Alabama State's Kevin Loder

Jon Teitel — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 10:43:57 -0700

In the most recent installment in his "Forgotten Legends" interview series CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with Alabama State great Kevin Loder. Loder, who began his collegiate career at Kentucky State, averaged 24.6 points per game in the Hornets' run to the 1980 NAIA title game. Loder now runs his own consulting firm.

Jon Teitel: At Ross Beatty (MI) HS you were a third team all-state split end, a standout baseball player, and a top-seeded tennis player. Which sport were you best at, and which 1 did you enjoy the most?

Kevin Loder: I like all sports, but have always enjoyed basketball the most. Basketball was my love, but ironically I had better D-I scholarship offers related to football.

JT: In 1977 you began your college career at Kentucky State. Why did you choose to go there?

KL: There was a young lady from my hometown of Cassopolis, Michigan who went to Kentucky State and became an All-American. Her mother ended up acting as a PR agent for both me and my best friend, as she convinced Coach James Oliver to come recruit us.

JT: After your freshman year you decided to transfer to Alabama State. Why did you decide to transfer, and why did they not have a team the previous season?

KL: Coach Oliver got a job at his alma mater of Alabama State, so me and a few other guys followed him there. There were some incidents that brought some sanctions and basically shut down the program. However, it was a great opportunity for us to rebuild the tradition and start a new legacy, and within two years we were ranked #1 in the nation.

JT: In 1979 your team went 23-3 but had a one-point loss to Birmingham Southern in the NAIA district playoffs. How close did you come to winning that game, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterwards?

KL: It was a real exciting game. We were down double-digits with under a minute to go, and I scored seven of our team's next nine points to close it to one, but we could not pull out the win. It was a precursor of what was to come the following year, even though we lost a couple of seniors. It was an exciting time on campus. We probably had as many people listening to our games outside our gym as coming inside to watch because we did not have enough seating to go around.

JT: In 1980 your team went 32-2 and made it to the NAIA title game before a seven-point loss to Cameron and tournament MVP LeRoy Jackson (Loder scored a tournament-best 24.6 PPG in five games). Did you consider your run in the tourney to be a success (due to making it to the title game) or a failure (due to getting so close but not winning it all)?

KL: We brought some national/international recognition to the program and accomplished a lot of our goals, including a 100% graduation rate for those who stayed four years. We obviously wanted to be the champs, but what transpired that year for everyone from the players to the community made us feel like we were champions. We were disappointed after losing, but that season is a point of reference for our program that people still talk about to this day. It is kind of like the Kennedy assassination. It was a sad event, but everyone remembers where they were when it happened.

JT: In 1981 you went 19-9 and had a 10-point loss to Alabama-Huntsville in the NAIA district playoffs. How disappointing was it to go from the title game in 1980 to a first round loss the following year?

KL: It was disappointing for me because I had been approached by a couple of NBA teams the previous season to leave early as a "hardship" case, but I chose to stay in school and get my degree. Having a season that took me out of the national spotlight was not fun, but UAH played well in that game so they deserved to win.

JT: You were a two-time Division II All-American. What did it mean to you to win such outstanding individual honors?

KL: It was tremendous, as it was recognition of all the hard work that I had put in. I was the very first recipient of the John McLendon Award as the small-college basketball POY, which was an honor because he is considered to be one of the fathers of college basketball.

JT: In the summer of 1981 you were drafted 17th overall by Kansas City (three spots ahead of Larry Nance). Did you see that as a validation of your college career or the realization of a lifelong dream of reaching the NBA?

KL: I was blessed by God, but I guess it was both a validation and a realization. There are hundreds of thousands of boys who play HS basketball each year, but only about 100 NBA jobs that open up each year. I am grateful for the opportunity and the people who helped me make that dream become a reality.

JT: You currently work for BTBB Consulting Group. What do you do in that job, and what do you hope to do in the future?

KL: It is my own company. We consult with small businesses/organizations to help them grow. I also do medical case management with the Gulf Coast Center and serve on a few boards in the community. I am also VP of the Houston chapter for the NBA Retired Players Association, which includes several Hall of Famers. My wife and I do a lot of community outreach for our local church, and I am the father of six and the grandfather of 17, so my schedule is a little full!

JT: When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most?

KL: I want to be remembered as a guy who achieved some success, was always fair with people, and carried himself with integrity and character. I hope people would want to model their kids after me, although God is still perfecting that story.

Loder is also on Jon's list of best pro players in SWAC history.

Alabama A&M: NO ALUMNI IN ABA/NBA
Alabama State: Kevin Loder (1982)
Alcorn State: Larry Smith (1981)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff: Charles Hentz (1971)
Grambling State: Willis Reed (1965)
Jackson State: Purvis Short (1979)
Mississippi Valley State: Alphonso Ford (1994)
Prairie View A&M: Zelmo Beaty (1963)
Southern: Bob Love (1967)
Texas Southern: Woody Sauldsberry (1958)

East Region Final Thoughts: What's in Store for 2011-12?

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 11:06:01 -0700

With the NCAA Tournament now over and many resting up for a couple days before hitting the spring recruiting circuit (the Nike EYBL Boo Williams Invitational is this weekend), why not take a look at all 68 teams in this year's field and their early prospects for next season? With the NBA Draft deadline (May 8th) still a month away, here's a look at each of the teams in the East Region and what they'll likely have in 2011-12.

(1) Ohio State: lost in Sweet 16 to Kentucky
2011 ended in rough fashion for the Buckeyes, who were knocked out on a Brandon Knight shot in the final seconds of their regional semifinal battle in Newark. But moving forward it's easy to see Thad Matta's team ranking among the nation's best once again. While they do lose Jon Diebler, Dallas Lauderdale and David Lighty the cupboard will not be bare in Columbus. William Buford, Aaron Craft and Jared Sullinger are three of the returnees, and they once again bring in a highly-touted recruiting class ranked 4th by ESPN and led by point guard Shannon Scott and center Amir Williams. If the five freshmen can contribute (in addition to Deshaun Thomas) Ohio State will likely have more bodies to call on next season.

(2) North Carolina: lost in Elite 8 to Kentucky
The Tar Heels, who made their charge once Kendall Marshall earned the starting job at the point, are in the position of waiting for a key player to make an important decisions with regards to the NBA Draft. Harrison Barnes is projected to be a first round pick, but if he returns Roy Williams has one of the best teams in the country. John Henson and Tyler Zeller both announced today that they will be returning for the 2011-12 season, a big boost for the frontcourt. Marshall and Reggie Bullock (who missed the final month due to injury) will be back, along with a recruiting class led by P.J. Hairston and James McAdoo. If the Heels lose more than one player to the draft they'll still be very good, it just may take a little longer for them to reach their full potential.

(3) Syracuse Orange: lost to Marquette in the third round
Syracuse went the way of their guards this season, and when Scoop Jardine and Brandon Triche were quiet so was the rest of the team. Jim Boeheim will have to replace a warrior in Rick Jackson, but the progression of Fab Melo late in the season was an encouraging sign. Kris Joseph may have a decision to make in regards to the draft but most expect him to return. Add to this nucleus a rising sophomore class led by C.J. Fair and Dion Waiters and a very good recruiting class led by Michael Carter-Williams and Rakeem Christmas, and the Orange may very well be the preseason favorite in the Big East.

(4) Kentucky: lost in national semifinals to Connecticut
John Calipari's team reached heights few expected them to before the season began, getting all the way to the Final Four before having their worst offensive outing of the season in a loss to eventual champ UConn. Now comes the time when the Wildcats wait to see who will return to school. Terrence Jones, Brandon Knight and DeAndre Liggins all have decisions to make with regards to the NBA Draft, and if they all return to school UK could be one of the candidates for preseason number one. Add in the nation's top recruiting class boasting forwards Anthony Davis, Michael Gilchrist and Kyle Wiltjer along with point guard Marquis Teague and the Wildcats will definitely be heard from early and often. Look for Kentucky to be at the very least the favorite to win the SEC.

(5) West Virginia: lost to Kentucky in the third round
The Mountaineers had a solid season in 2010-11, winning 21 games (11 in the Big East) but they dropped two of their last three games. The good news for West Virginia is that they've got some key contributors slated to return, most notably guard Truck Bryant, wing Kevin Jones and big man Deniz Kilicli. They will need to step up leadership-wise as well with John Flowers and Joe Mazzulla out of eligibility, and it remains to be seen if Dalton Pepper can defend consistently enough to be a part of the rotation night in and night out. WVU also brings in a large recruiting class led by point guard Jabarie Hinds and forwards Tommie McCune and Keaton Miles. Bob Huggins will not lack for options next season.

(6) Xavier: lost to Marquette in the second round
The season came to a disappointing end for the Musketeers, who were bounced in the Atlantic 10 quarterfinals and then fell to Marquette in their first NCAA Tournament game. But the good news is that they lose just two seniors of note (guard Dante Jackson and forward Jamel McLean), and the backcourt tandem of Tu Holloway and Mark Lyons will be the best in the A-10. Jeff Robinson had a promising sophomore campaign and will pair up with Kenny Frease in the frontcourt. And sharpshooter Brad Redford returns after missing all of this season with a torn ACL. Chris Mack welcomes a solid recruiting class led by 6-4 wing Dezmine Wells, with guard Dee Davis and power forward Jalen Reynolds completing the class.

(7) Washington: lost to North Carolina in the third round
For the second consecutive season the Huskies rebounded from an inconsistent regular season to grab the Pac-10's automatic bid, winning the Pac-10 Tournament on an Isaiah Thomas jumper as time expired. They hung on to beat Georgia but had some moments of brain lock late in their close loss to North Carolina. Now Lorenzo Romar needs to replace four key contributors: Thomas, who entered the NBA Draft and will hire an agent, along with seniors Matthew Bryan-Amaning, Justin Holiday and Venoy Overton. Abdul Gaddy (torn ACL) and C.J. Wilcox return in the backcourt and the frontcourt shouldn't lack for depth either. Add in a recruiting class led by guards Hikeem Stewart and Tony Wroten Jr. and the Huskies should be a factor in the league race.

(8) George Mason: lost to Ohio State in the third round
While VCU grabbed the headlines in the NCAA Tournament it must be noted that Jim Larranaga's team won the CAA regular season title by two games. The Patriots lose just one starter (leading scorer as well) in Cam Long, and valuable reserve Isaiah Tate also graduates. But forwards Luke Hancock and Ryan Pearson along with guard Andre Cornelius all return. The key for the Patriots will be how many reserves step up. Bryon Allen, Paris Bennett and Vertail Vaughns are just three of the options for George Mason, and they have a pair of recruits from the New York metropolitan area slated to be on campus as well in guard Corey Edwards and wing Vaughn Gray. Look for George Mason to be one of the teams expected to contend in the CAA.

(9) Villanova: lost to George Mason in the second round
For the second straight year Jay Wright's Wildcats embarked on a steady decline down the stretch, losing six straight and eight of their last ten games. Villanova does lose three seniors from their rotation (Corey Fisher, Antonio Pena and Corey Stokes), but there will be talent returning to campus. Maalik Wayns will be back (some thought he was declaring himself eligible for the NBA Draft but he won't), as will Mouphtaou Yarou, and Isaiah Armwood, James Bell and Dominic Cheek should also figure into the rotation. Add in a very good recruiting class led by guard Tyrone Johnson and center Markus Kennedy and the Wildcats have a shot at being very good in 2011-12. But the chemistry needs to be there, something that's seemed to be off since their Final Four run in 2009.

(10) Georgia: lost to Washington in the second round
Mark Fox's team found a way to squeak into the NCAA Tournament, where they came back in the second half before falling to Washington in the second round. Now they've got to go about replacing some key cogs in the attack, with Travis Leslie (no agent) and Trey Thompkins (will hire an agent) both declaring themselves eligible for the draft. Also leaving are forwards Chris Barnes and Jeremy Price, meaning that newcomers such as Nemanja Djurisic and John Florveus will need to show themselves ready for the SEC sooner rather than later. On the perimeter Gerald Robinson Jr. and Dustin Ware will be back, and the task of replacing Leslie may be made easier by the addition of McDonald's All-America Kentavious Caldwell. NCAA Tournament trips could become a common occurrence in Athens.

(11) Marquette: lost to North Carolina in the Sweet 16
Buzz Williams' team found a way to get into the NCAA Tournament, winning 22 games and getting to the Sweet 16 where they were overmatched against a bigger North Carolina team. But the Golden Eagles play hard for 40 minutes, something that keeps them in nearly every game they play in. Jimmy Butler, Dwight Buycks and Joseph Fulce all graduate so there will be some holes to fill, but there are a number of contributors slated to return. Vander Blue, Junior Cadougan and Darius Johnson-Odom will handle things on the perimeter, and Oregon transfer Jamil Wilson along will Jamail Jones add more attacking wings to a frontcourt led by Jae Crowder. Davante Gardner played well in March as did Chris Otule, and their incoming recruits aren't slouches either. Juan Anderson could be a Big East All-Rookie Team candidate while guards Todd Mayo and Derrick Wilson could contribute as well.

(12) Clemson: lost to West Virginia in the second round
In Brad Brownell's first season the Tigers were able to get into the NCAA Tournament, beating UAB before falling to West Virginia with a small bit of blame going towards the bad decision to have Clemson play at noon just two days after playing the late game in Dayton. Forward Jerai Grant and guard Demontez Stitt both graduate but they'll have talent returning, led by guard Andre Young and forwards Devin Booker and Milton Jennings. Bryan Narcisse and Tanner Smith also played important roles this season for the Tigers, who will also welcome in a soild recruiting class. Point guard Daniel Sapp and power forward Bernard Sullivan are two of the key players arriving on campus, and wing Kevin McDaniels also has the opportunity to crack the rotation. Another NCAA berth is more than possible in 2011-12.

(12) UAB: lost to Clemson in the First Four
There were more than a few vocal critics of the Blazers' inclusion in the field of 68, and they certainly didn't help matters by being whipped soundly by Clemson in Dayton. But Mike Davis' team did win the Conference USA regular season crown thanks in large part to the leadership of senior point guard Aaron Johnson. Johnson and leading scorer Jamarr Sanders both graduate, adding more to the workload for leading returnees Cameron Moore and Ovie Soko. There may not be as much depth in Birmingham next season (and as of right now they've got just two players in their 2011 recruiting class) but the Blazers could be a factor in C-USA. Tough to see them being an NCAA Tournament team as of right now, however.

(13) Princeton: lost to Kentucky in the second round
The Tigers were able to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004 and very nearly knocked off the Wildcats, losing on a Brandon Knight basket in the final seconds. Now, a team that loses Dan Mavraides and Kareem Maddox will also have to find a new head coach as Sydney Johnson moved on to take the job at Fairfield. Rising seniors Doug Davis and Patrick Saunders are two key cogs expected to be back next season, and with the right coaching hire the Tigers could once again be a factor in the Ivy League, but many will pick Harvard to win the Ancient Eight come October.

(14) Indiana State: lost to Syracuse in the second round
Greg Lansing did an outstanding job with the Sycamores this season, leading them to their best regular season finish in the MVC in more than a decade and their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2001. ISU will lose three seniors (Aaron Carter, Jake Kelly and Isiah Martin) but they've got more than enough slated to return to campus, led by point guard Jake Odum, wings Dwayne Lathan and Carl Richard, and forward Myles Walker. Slender forward Justin Gant is the lone member of their incoming class right now but even with the lean recruiting haul look for the Sycamores to once again be a player in the MVC.

(15) Long Island: lost to North Carolina in the second round
The Blackbirds had an outstanding season, winning 27 games overall in addition to the NEC regular season and tournament titles. Forwards Julian Boyd and Jamal Olasewere were key figures, as were wings David Hicks and Kyle Johnson. Point guard Jason Brickman and C.J. Garner brought different skill sets to the table and that's what made the Blackbirds such a tough team to deal with throughout the course of the season. But with Hicks and Johnson graduating they'll need a couple wings to step up next season, led by Michael Culpo. LIU has just one incoming recruit (guard Gerrell Martin) as of right now but they've got more than enough experience to make another run at the NEC crown. Luckily for LIU head coach Jim Ferry turned down the Manhattan job, allowing the program to build on 2010-11 with the same man in charge.

(16) Alabama State: lost to UTSA in the First Four
The Hornets, who were the four-seed in the SWAC Tournament, knocked off top seed Texas Southern in the semis before taking care of Grambling State in the title game to get to the Big Dance. Lewis Jackson's team featured balanced scoring with five players averaging at least six points per game and two in double figures (Tramaine Butler and Tramayne Moorer). Moorer, who only played in 16 games due to NCAA issues, is the lone senior who was a major contributor this season meaning that the Hornets will be expected to finish higher than fourth in the SWAC next season. Look for Chris Duncan and Kenderek Washington to be two key factors alongside Butler in 2011-12.

(16) Texas-San Antonio: lost to Ohio State in the second round
Despite going 9-7 in Southland play the Roadrunners were able to get hot at just the right time, winning five straight games going into their First Four matchup with Alabama State. Melvin Johnson III went off in the first half of that contest and UTSA held on to earn a matchup with top overall seed Ohio State. Brooks Thompson earned his first NCAA bid as a head coach but the question now is whether or not UTSA can make a return trip next season. Johnson III will be a junior and leading scorer Devin Gibson is the only key departure for this group, with Jeromie Hill ranking third on the team in scoring as a freshman. So the answer is yes, although the Roadrunners will not have an easy time getting through the Southland.

First Round Wednesday: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:49:09 -0700

6:40 PM Texas-San Antonio vs. Alabama State (TruTV)
The winner of the matchup between the Roadrunners and Hornets won't have to travel very far for their second round game, remaining in the state of Ohio, but it's what awaits them in Cleveland (top overall seed Ohio State) that could be a concern. The Buckeyes don't matter at this point with the two teams playing tonight needing a win to get there. Neither UTSA nor Alabama State won their league's regular season titles but they both played well in grabbing the automatic bids. Brooks Thompson's Roadrunners enter the game as the better offensive team, shooting 43% from the field and scoring nearly 71 points per game. But they have their issues on the glass, something that Alabama State will look to exploit.

UTSA allows 12 offensive rebounds per game, and with Alabama State grabbing 13 to make up for their 39.7% field goal percentage this could be the perfect storm for the Hornets. Tremayne Moorer (12.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg) and Tramaine Butler (10.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg) lead the way offensively for Alabama State, who as a team has five players averaging more than 1.6 offensive rebounds per game. Their ability to hit the boards (they rebound nearly 36% of their misses) is why the 17-17 Hornets were able to make their way through the SWAC Tournament, and in their last 12 games they've failed to grab at least 11 offensive boards once (11-1 over the last 12).

UTSA has a trio of guards leading the way offensively with senior Devin Gibson averaging 17.0 points and 5.6 assists per game. Freshman Jeromie Hill and sophomore Melvin Johnson III are the other two members of the three-headed attack, and while they don't get much in the way of scoring from their big men the Roadrunners do need them to chip in on the boards. Hill and Gibson are their leading rebounders as well, and when you're being out-rebounded by 1.5 boards per game you can get into trouble. Rebounding will determine the outcome, especially if UTSA isn't able to knock down shots at their usual rate.

9:00 PM USC vs. VCU (TruTV)
The nightcap matches a pair of 11-seeds with the winner moving on to face Georgetown in Chicago on Friday (Southwest region). Both the Trojans and Rams have their fair share of critics but such is life for teams on the bubble. USC brings to the table the mixed bag of very good wins and some bad losses, but they've also got a good frontcourt in Alex Stepheson and Nikola Vucevic. Vucevic was a First Team All-Pac 10 selection, averaging 17.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, and Stepheson averages nearly 10 points and just over nine rebounds per game. USC averages 66.8 points per game but they out-rebound opponents by a small margin, also shooting 44.5% from the field.

The Trojans aren't a great rebounding team by any stretch of the imagination but they've been better than VCU, and USC also has the size to give a Jamie Skeen problems inside. Skeen leads VCU in both points and rebounds, shooting 52.9% from the field and 37.9% from three. VCU only plays an average of two more possessions per game than USC but they'll need a quicker tempo tonight; when USC is able to pound away on both ends in the half-court they're at their best. Point guard Joey Rodriguez runs the show for the experienced Rams, who as a team average 14 assists per game. VCU is the more efficient team offensively but their floor and effective field goal percentages are nearly identical to USC's, and they also shoot a lower percentage from the field.

Kevin O'Neill's team can lock up on the perimeter as well, allowing an efficiency of just 97.0 and a field goal percentage of 41.2% on the season. Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Simmons is a big reason why, and VCU will need Bradford Burgess to crack the "Simmons code" if the Rams are to be successful. Guards Jio Fontan, Maurice Jones and Donte Smith all average around 10 points per game, and despite the overall lack of size the Trojans can get to the basket. They'll need to attack VCU on this end of the floor if they're to advance, and given some of the guards they've run into this season USC should be able to do so.

Postseason NIT Games
7:00 PM (5) Nebraska at (4) Wichita State (ESPN2)
7:30 PM (7) Florida Atlantic at (2) Miami (FL) (ESPN3)
8:00 PM (5) Milwaukee at (4) Northwestern (ESPN3)
8:00 PM (8) Bethune-Cookman at (1) Virginia Tech (ESPNU)
9:00 PM (5) Mississippi at (4) California (ESPN2)
9:00 PM (8) Texas Southern at (1) Colorado (ESPN3)
10:00 PM (7) Long Beach State at (2) Washington State (ESPNU)

College Basketball Invitational Games
7:00 PM Miami (OH) at Rhode Island
8:00 PM St. Bonaventure at UCF
9:00 PM Duquesne at Montana
10:00 PM Weber State at Oregon

CollegeInsider.com Tournament Games
7:00 PM Tennessee Tech at Western Michigan
8:00 PM Oral Roberts at SMU
8:00 PM Iona at Valparaiso
10:00 PM Idaho at San Francisco

HOOPS TALK LIVE TODAY 6-7PM EST

Ohio St vs UTSA/Alabama St: Preview & Prediction

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:37:20 -0700

(1) Ohio State vs. (16) Texas-San Antonio/Alabama State

East Region - Cleveland

March 18 - 4:40 TNT

While other teams may have been more spectacular at times, there was arguably no more consistent team than Big Ten champion Ohio State, who was rewarded with the top overall seed in the bracket. They've lost just twice with both defeats coming on the road to ranked opponents (Purdue and Wisconsin), and their rotation may lack numbers but it doesn't lack versatility. Freshman Jared Sullinger has been outstanding inside, and he's surrounded by a number of players who can make plays from about anywhere on the floor. But the road to Houston will not be without its road blocks, as either George Mason or Villanova will be a challenge in the 2nd Round. As for UTSA and Alabama State, it's tough to give a 16-seed even a puncher's chance of beating a #1 when it's never happened before.

Stars to Watch:

F Jared Sullinger (Ohio St)

G Devin Gibson (UTSA)

F Tramayne Moorer (Alabama St)

CHN Team Capsules (w/ stats, records, and rankings):

Ohio St

UTSA

Alabama St

Vegas Odds:

UTSA -5 (vs Alabama St. No line for subsequent game vs Ohio St)

Prediction:

Ohio St by 22

Faces Winner Of: George Mason vs. Villanova

"Big Dance" Interviews: Alabama State head coach Lewis Jackson

Jon Teitel — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:27:15 -0700

Recently CHN writer Jon Teitel caught up with Alabama State head coach Lewis Jackson, whose Hornets take on Texas-San Antonio in a "First Four" matchup on Wednesday night with the winner getting East top seed Ohio State on Friday in Cleveland. In addition to his accomplishments as head coach, Jackson is one of the greatest players in the history of Alabama State basketball.

Jon Teitel: You are the fourth all-time leading scorer in Alabama State history with 2,203 points and your #33 is retired. How good a player were you back in the day, and how has being so good on the court made you so good on the sideline?

Lewis Jackson: I like to think that I was a good all-around player. I was a junior when we moved up to Division I. I also worked hard on defense, which is an issue I push along to my current players.

JT: You were inducted into the SWAC Hall of Fame in 1999. What did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor, and what does it mean to you to represent the SWAC in the NCAA Tournament?

LJ: It was a great honor for the SWAC to think that much of me. It is very rewarding and very exciting to represent the SWAC, and we will go out and play as best we can.

JT: Your wife Freda is the Alabama State women's basketball head coach. What is the best part of having a wife who coaches the same sport at the same school as you, and what is the...not-best part?

LJ: The best part is having someone who can give you a fair assessment of what you are doing, as we usually get to watch each other's teams play right before or after our own games. She continues to coach once she gets home...but that is good as well!

JT: Your two leading scorers are Tramayne Moorer (2011 SWAC Tournament MVP) and Tramaine Butler. Is it a logistical nightmare when you try to shout out instructions to two guys with the same name?

LJ: Pretty much everyone on the team has a nickname. Moorer is "Scoop" and Butler is "Butter", and it has worked out pretty well for us.

JT: You have a play-in game on Wednesday in the "First Four" against UTSA. How big of an advantage is it to get the extra day to prepare (rather than having to play on Tuesday), and what the heck are you going to do if you win and have to play #1-seed Ohio State on 2 days notice?!

LJ: In the 2009 NCAA Tournament we were in the play-in game on Tuesday night, which was very hectic for us because we had to fly out there at 5AM on Monday after winning our conference tourney earlier that weekend. The extra day has worked out well for us so far. It would take a couple of weeks to prepare for the Buckeyes, but if we face them then we will just try our best.

East Region Overview: Tough Draw for the Buckeyes?

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 02:37:30 -0700

Cleveland (March 18)
(1) Ohio State vs. (16) Texas-San Antonio/Alabama State
(8) George Mason vs. (9) Villanova

While other teams may have been more spectacular at times in terms of making dramatic impressions there was arguably no more consistent team on the one line than the Big Ten champion Ohio State Buckeyes, who were rewarded with the top overall seed in the bracket. They've lost just twice with both defeats coming on the road to ranked opponents (Purdue and Wisconsin), and their rotation may lack numbers but it doesn't lack versatility. Freshman Jared Sullinger has been outstanding inside, and he surrounded by a number of players who can make plays from about anywhere on the floor. But the road to Houston will not be without its road blocks, likely beginning with a second round matchup with either George Mason or Villanova.

Many have rushed to write off the struggling Wildcats, who have lost seven of their last nine games. But in the history of the NCAA Tournament no program has won more games as a lower seed and Jay Wright has won his last three first round games. Villanova has talent but with players such as Corey Stokes and Mouphtaou Yarou banged up will they have the health? They will be tested by an experienced George Mason squad that ran away with the CAA regular season title, winning the conference by two games. Jim Larranaga's been down this road before with many still having the 2006 Final Four team on their minds, and players such as Cam Long and Ryan Pearson are more than capable of winning in the tournament. As for UTSA and Alabama State it's tough to give a 16-seed even a puncher's chance of beating a one when it's never happened before.

Tampa (March 17)
(5) West Virginia vs. (12) UAB/Clemson
(4) Kentucky vs. (13) Princeton

Play in this grouping begins on Tuesday with UAB and Clemson meeting in Dayton as part of the "First Four" in Dayton. The Blazers have been raked over the coals when it comes to their inclusion in the field, but it's pretty obvious that the selection committee gave them credit for rising above the ruckus to win the regular season title in Conference USA. Senior point guard Aaron Johnson is among the national leaders in assists per game. Clemson's "finishing kick", which included wins over both Boston College and Virginia Tech, likely got them in. Their opponent will be West Virginia, who finished in the top half of the wildly competitive Big East. The Mountaineers have dealt with their share of issues, from Dan Jennings leaving the team to Casey Mitchell being suspended. But they've found a way to win games with the tough trio of Truck Bryant, Kevin Jones and Joe Mazzulla leading the way.

As for Kentucky, they enter the NCAA Tournament with a high level of confidence, closing the regular season with a win at Tennessee then winning the SEC Tournament. With all the talk about their freshmen it's been upperclassmen such as DeAndre Liggins and Darius Miller who have raised their play of late, and John Calipari is a tournament-tested coach who knows how to win in March. Their opponents will be the Princeton Tigers, who make their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2004. The Tigers are experienced in regards to years, and a senior class that started their careers with a six-win season gets their ultimate reward for all of the hard work. Douglas Davis' shot delivered the automatic berth, and with Ian Hummer, Kareem Maddox and Dan Mavraides Princeton has a nucleus that's seen a lot of what college basketball has to offer.

All Top-Half Team
G Brandon Knight (Kentucky)
G Jon Diebler (Ohio State)
F Terrence Jones (Kentucky)
F Kevin Jones (West Virginia)
F Jared Sullinger (Ohio State)

Top Half All-Rookie Team
G Aaron Craft (Ohio State)
G Doron Lamb (Kentucky)
G Knight
F Jones
F Sullinger

Top Half All-Lower Seed Team
G Corey Fisher (Villanova)
G Demontez Stitt (Clemson)
G Aaron Johnson (UAB)
F Kareem Maddox (Princeton)
F Jerai Grant (Clemson)

Cleveland (March 18)
(6) Xavier vs. (11) Marquette
(3) Syracuse vs. (14) Indiana State

All four games in Cleveland are part of the East region, allowing teams to get a look at who they may possibly run into in Newark in the Elite 8. Syracuse has their active 2-3 zone that can give teams unfamiliar with its nuances fits, and the Orange will begin their run with Missouri Valley tournament champion Indiana State. Point guard Scoop Jardine needs to make sound decisions with the basketball because when their other weapons are neglected the Orange can struggle offensively. ISU beat the top two seeds on consecutive days to grab the automatic bid. The Sycamores did achieve their best finish in the MVC in over a decade but do they have the shooting required to deal with Syracuse's zone.

While there is the possibility of the Orange running into a familiar face in conference foe Marquette, it won't be expected as Xavier has one of the best backcourts in the region(Tu Holloway and Mark Lyons). Chris Mack's Musketeers emerged as the class of the Atlantic 10 in the regular season, only to fall to rival Dayton in the conference tournament. Marquette will have their hands full with the Musketeers but Buzz Williams' team plays as hard as any team in the country. Jimmy Butler and Darius Johnson-Odom are the leading scorers for Marquette, who needs other guys to step up in order to prolong their stay. Whether or not they play well enough to advance, because their effort will be there, remains to be seen.

Charlotte (March 18)
(7) Washington vs. (10) Georgia
(2) North Carolina vs. (15) Long Island

North Carolina, regular season ACC champions, will get to share their subregional site with rival Duke but the Tar Heels traditionally enjoy the fan edge in the Queen City. Roy Williams' freshmen (Harrison Barnes and Kendall Marshall) have figured out what they're required to do in their roles and its shown on the floor. But they got off to slow starts in all three ACC Tournament games, and a similar beginning could keep the NEC champion LIU around longer than they're expected to be. But the Blackbirds, who are making their first NCAA appearance in more than a decade, are blessed with depth that isn't seen in most 15-seeds especially in the frontcourt with Julian Boyd and Jamal Olasewere leading the way. .

The 7/10 matchup is where the region's "Cinderella" may come from, although it's tough to peg the Pac-10 tournament champs with such a label. Point guard Isaiah Thomas put forth a virtuoso performance this past weekend, capping it all with a jumper at the buzzer to beat Arizona in overtime. While Georgia has an athletic perimeter rotation led by Travis Leslie the Huskies enjoy a clear advantage when it comes to decision-making. Obviously with their 10-seed it would be easy to assume Mark Fox's team was in the field, but their late-game decisions in the loss to Alabama in the SEC quarterfinals very nearly earned them an NIT berth.

All-Bottom Half Team
G Tu Holloway (Xavier)
G Isaiah Thomas (Washington)
G Darius Johnson-Odom (Marquette)
F Harrison Barnes (North Carolina)
F Rick Jackson (Syracuse)

Bottom Half All-Rookie Team
G Kendall Marshall (North Carolina)
G C.J. Wilcox (Washington)
G Jake Odum (Indiana State)
F Barnes
F C.J. Fair (Syracuse)

Bottom Half All-Lower Seed Team
G Johnson-Odom
G Travis Leslie (Georgia)
F Butler
F Julian Boyd (Long Island)
F Trey Thompkins (Georgia)

Region Winner: Ohio State

Alabama St: 2011 NCAA Tournament

Shawn Siegel — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 00:51:51 -0800

Alabama St Hornets: 2011 NCAA Capsule

Conference: SWAC
Conference RPI: 31st (of 31)

RPI: #263
Record: 17-17
Conference Record: 11-7 (4th)

Key Games

Top 100 Results: 0-2
Best Non-Conference Win: #320 Kennesaw St

Worst Loss: vs #344 Southern 52-64 at home
Promising Loss: #52 Belmont 53-66

Players

Leading Scorer: Tramayne Moorer 12.5
Leading Rebounder: Tramayne Moorer 5.7
Leading Passer: Jeffery Middlebroosk 2.8
X-Factor: Tramaine Butler

Team Stats

Tempo: Slow - 252nd
Offensive Efficiency: 307th
Quality Offensive Stat: Offensive Rebounds - 29th

Defensive Efficiency: 241st
Quality Defensive Stat: Blocks - 28th

Tournament History

Record: 0-3
Last: 2009
Last Win: never
Final Fours: 0

Links

ESPN Clubhouse
KenPom Stats & Analysis
RealTime RPI Schedule Breakdown

Poll: Who Will Win the SWAC?

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:15:26 -0700

Opening Round Preview: Alabama St vs Morehead St

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 03:47:02 -0700

Start: Mar 17 2009 - 7:30pm

Opening Round Game Preview
Winner takes on top seed Louisville Friday

The reward for either Alabama State (22-9, 16-2 SWAC) or Morehead State (19-15, 12-6 Ohio Valley) is a shot at the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament field, the Louisville Cardinals. But in order to get to that point they need to win the opening round game that will be played in Dayton Tuesday night (7:30 PM on ESPN). Both made their way into the field of sixty-five in different ways; the Hornets won the regular season title outright and beat second-place Jackson State in the SWAC Tournament final. Morehead State, on the other hand, limped into the postseason on a four-game losing streak. But three wins later, beating the top two teams in the OVC (UT Martin and Austin Peay) in Nashville, Donnie Tyndall's Eagles are in the Big Dance for the first time since 1974.

Alabama State will get a lot of attention for the name of SWAC Defensive Player of the Year Chief Kickingstallionsims (2.8 blocks per game), but he's not the main man for head coach Lewis Jackson. Guard Brandon Brooks (13.8 ppg, 6.8 apg) was named SWAC Player of the Year and has four games of at least ten assists and just six games in which he's failed to score double figures. Brooks averaged just 7.5 points per game in the Hornets' final two SWAC Tournament games but he also averaged six assists per game and had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2-to-1. He's that important to the fortunes of the Hornets because outside of reserves Tramaine White and Ivory Butler Alabama State struggles to take care of the basketball.

The Hornets break even in assist-to-turnover ratio, a number that leads the SWAC. But Morehead State's assist-to-turnover ratio of 0.9 isn't far behind and that number ranks ninth in the Ohio Valley Conference. The good thing for Alabama State is that even though they lack the best turnover margin (-0.81, 6th in the SWAC), the Eagles have been much worse this season (-2.53, 9th in the OVC). Like most small schools guard play is paramount for Alabama State, with Chief averaging just over twenty minutes per game. At 7-foot-1 the senior big man makes for a tough matchup within the SWAC, but junior Wesley Jones (9.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg) is more important to the Hornets on the inside. Roland Fitch is the only frontcourt reserve that Coach Jackson turns to on a consistent basis, so avoiding foul trouble is a must.

Morehead State has an imposing figure on the interior as well, and despite standing just 6-foot-8 sophomore Kenneth Faried (13.9 ppg, 12.8 rpg) can get the job done in a variety of ways. Like Chief the Newark native was named conference Defensive Player of the Year, averaging a little less than two steals and two blocks per game. On the season Faried has twenty-three double doubles, including a 27-point, 24-rebound effort in a November loss to Florida A&M. Due to his activity and skill the Hornets may have to look elsewhere when it comes to guarding Faried; Kickingstallionsims lacks the overall skill level needed to slow the sophomore down.

But Coach Tyndall's got two other forwards who will command the attention of Alabama State in leading scorer Leon Buchanan (15.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and junior Maze Stallworth (12.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg). All three average over twenty-nine minutes per game, and along with guards Demonte Harper (10.8 ppg, 3.4 apg) and Brandon Shingles (3.9 apg) make up the core of this championship team that got hot at just the right time. Morehead State led the OVC in field goal percentage defense (41.8%) but their calling card is rebounding. Thanks primarily to Faried the Eagles have a rebounding margin of +8.0. Alabama State enjoys a margin of just +1.2, a number that still ranked fourth in the SWAC. The main focus for the Hornets in their scouting report should be the Eagles' rebounding prowess, a skill that makes up for shooting percentages that ranked seventh in the OVC (44.1% FG, 33.4% 3PT).

The key for Morehead State: take care of the basketball. On the season the Eagles averaged 15.2 turnovers per game, a key factor in their four-game skid to end the regular season. But in the OVC Tournament Morehead State averaged eleven turnovers per game, and without that improvement Morehead State is done for the season. Man for man the Eagles are the better team but miscues could render that point moot should they ignore the important lesson learned during Championship Week. Brandon Brooks can keep Alabama State in this game in a fashion similar to what Coppin State's Tywain McKee did in last year's Opening Round Game. But just like McKee, he'll be going up against an opponent with more weapons.

Winner: Morehead State Margin: 7-11 pts.