Davidson

Non-BCS Top 25: Davidson In, Wyoming Out

Shawn Siegel — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 21:05:29 -0800

The Non-BCS Top 25 is a CollegeHoops.net original, copied by multiple major outlets. As a weekly companion to our popular CHN Top 50 ranking, it takes an in-depth look into the underrated universe of teams outside of the big six. The original Non-BCS ranking.

Non-BCS Top 25: February 18th

by Shawn Siegel: Collegehoops.net Editor

	Team	Record	Last
1	Gonzaga	27-2	1
2	New Mexico	23-4	2
3	Memphis	24-3	7
4	Wichita St	24-5	6
5	VCU	22-6*	3
6	Butler	22-6*	4
7	Colorado St	21-6**	5
8	MTSU	25-4	10
9	UNLV	21-7	11
10	San Diego St	20-7	8
11	Saint Louis	21-5	12
12	St. Mary's	24-5	13
13	Creighton	22-7*	9
14	Belmont	22-6	14
15	Temple	19-8	15
16	Akron	22-4	18
17	Bucknell	23-5	17
18	La Salle	19-7*	16

Not in CHN Top 50 Ranking

	Team	Record	Last
19	Louisiana Tech	24-3	19
20	Boise St	18-8	20
21	Stephen F Austin	23-3	24
22	BYU	20-9*	22
23	Southern Miss	21-7*	23
24	Davidson	21-7	NA
25	Ohio	20-7*	25

last = last week's ranking

* = Losses this week

Next 5: Stony Brook (21-6), Valparaiso (22-7), Charlotte (18-8*), Wyoming (18-9**), Denver (18-8)

Further 5: Xavier (15-11*), Weber St (20-5), Air Force (15-10*), Northern Iowa (17-12), Indiana St (17-11*),

Out of Top 25: Wyoming

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Check out last week's Non-BCS Top 25 Ranking

Non-BCS Top 25: Air Force, Davidson Making Moves

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 08:56:18 -0800

Non-BCS Top 25: February 18th

by Shawn Siegel: Collegehoops.net Editor

	Team	Record	Last
1	Gonzaga	25-2	1
2	New Mexico	22-4	2
3	VCU	21-5	5
4	Butler	21-5*	3
5	Colorado St	21-4	7
6	Wichita St	22-5	8
7	Memphis	22-3	9
8	San Diego St	18-7**	4
9	Creighton	21-6*	6
10	MTSU	23-4	11
11	UNLV	19-7*	10
12	Saint Louis	19-5	16
13	St. Mary's	22-5*	13
14	Belmont	20-6*	12
15	Temple	17-8*	15
16	La Salle	18-6	19
17	Bucknell	21-5*	14

Not in CHN Top 50 Ranking

	Team	Record	Last
18	Akron	21-4	21
19	Louisiana Tech	23-3	22
20	Boise St	16-8*	17
21	Wyoming	18-7	24
22	BYU	19-8	23
23	Southern Miss	20-6	25
24	Stephen F Austin	21-3*	20
25	Ohio	19-6	NA

last = last week's ranking

* = Losses this week

Next 5: Charlotte (18-7*), Stony Brook (19-6), Davidson (19-7), Air Force (15-9), Lehigh (18-6*)

Further 5: Xavier (14-10*), Indiana St (16-10**), Valparaiso (20-7*), South Dakota St (21-7), Montana (19-5*)

Out of Top 25: Indiana St

Agree/Disagree? Post your thoughts below or join us @collegehoopsnet

Check out last week's Non-BCS Top 25 Ranking

NCAA Tournament Preview: Frontcourts to Watch

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 20:27:34 -0700

While you definitely need guards to win a national title big men are very important in their own right. Whether a team has projected lottery picks or guys who have been solid throughout their careers, a team has to be able to hold their own in the paint. If not a tournament experience that can last two or three weeks gets derailed far sooner. Here are some front courts you'll need to know this week.

South Region

1. Kentucky
This one's pretty simple. The Wildcats have the nation's best freshman in Anthony Davis (who may also be the best player in the country regardless of class) and a wing in Michael Kidd-Gilchrist who is one of the best leaders as well as a very talented player. Terrence Jones has played well of late, and while the effort may still wane on occasion he's extremely talented. This group is a big reason why the Wildcats are the overwhelming favorite to win it all.

2. Baylor
The Bears aren't that far behind Kentucky as they can go five deep with a few lottery-caliber talents mixed in. The two lottery guys are Perry Jones III and Quincy Miller, with the former needing to remain engaged in the action consistently if the Bears are to make a deep run. Quincy Acy is the toughest of the bunch, a guy likely to enjoy a long pro career based on his effort and rebounding ability alone, with Cory Jefferson and Anthony Jones rounding out the group.

3. Connecticut
The Huskies may not win the vote in the South for best front court but it's a safe bet that they'd win for most frustrating. Andre Drummond and Alex Oriakhi get the most minutes while Tyler Olander and Roscoe Smith will also rotate in. If they all play consistently the Huskies can do some damage this week. If not, Iowa State's Royce White will put on a show in Louisville.

Biggest question mark: Ryan Kelly's foot (Duke)
Kelly missed the ACC tournament due to his foot injury, and the Blue Devils have been preparing for Lehigh as if they won't have him. Kelly's absence changes things offensively, as he's able to play on the perimeter. That opens things up for their guards, and without him Duke has two guys inside (Mason and Miles Plumlee) instead of one.

Guys you'll love: UNLV's Mike Moser and Wichita State's Garrett Stutz
Moser can play both inside and out for the Runnin' Rebels, and the UCLA transfer was instantly one of the best players in the Mountain West. As for Stutz, he played well enough to earn first team All-MVC honors, and the seven-footer is a tough matchup in the paint for most teams.

The difference-maker: Cody Zeller (Indiana)
Other than the improvement of their returning players a big reason for Indiana's return to the national stage was the play of Zeller, who with Michigan's Trey Burke was the best freshman in the Big Ten. He opens things up for the Hoosiers' capable shooters, and he'll need to be at his best against a New Mexico State team that can hit the boards.

West Region

1. Michigan State
Two words, one man: Draymond Green. The Big Ten player of the year is the biggest reason why the Spartans won a share of the Big Ten regular season crown and followed that up with the Big Ten tournament title. But with Branden Dawson done for the year with a torn ACL the play of Derrick Nix and Adriean Payne has become even more important. They've done well to to this point, and if they can do so four more times a trip to New Orleans is more than possible.

2. Davidson
Surprised, huh? Don't be. De'Mon Brooks is one of the best players in the country who isn't a staple on "SportsCenter", winning SoCon Player of the Year as well as MVP of the conference tournament. Alongside him is Jake Cohen, whose game has progressed a great deal due in part to a stint with the Israeli national team over the summer. If the Wildcats beat Louisville it's a safe bet that these two are a big reason why.

3. BYU
Whether or not the Cougars reach the main field remains to be seen, but in all honesty their two big men are far better than what you'd generally find on a 14-seed. Noah Hartsock is effective either inside or out, and Brandon Davies is a handful in the paint. The key for BYU is to make sure they get the ball consistently, which can be an issue on occasion.

The X-factor: Tarik Black and foul trouble (Memphis)
This was a serious problem for the Tigers earlier this season, and there's no coincidence that as he's remained on the floor the Tigers have played their best basketball. Ferrakhon Hall helps but when Black gets the ball around the rim he's tough to stop. Keep him on the floor and Memphis can win multiple games in the tournament.

Guys you'll love: Drew Gordon (New Mexico) and Mike Scott (Virginia)
Both guys are familiar names by this point, which means that the choices could have been Julian Boyd (LIU Brooklyn) and T.J. Robinson (Long Beach State). But both Gordon and Scott had very good cases to win Player of the Year honors in their respective conferences but neither did. Virginia needs Scott to be the best player on the floor against Florida as they're low on numbers, and Gordon't the kind of interior presence that can lead a team to the Sweet 16 and beyond.

The difference-maker: Patric Young (Florida)
Young is a player talented enough to merit comparisons to Dwight Howard as a McDonald's All-American, and with his physical strength it's easy to see why. The key for Young: getting enough touches. That means no wild shot attempts from the Florida guards.

East Region

1. Ohio State
With Syracuse losing their most important piece Ohio State is now the favorite to win the East Region in the eyes of most people. Jared Sullinger and Deshaun Thomas are both tough to slow down, but Thomas will need to exercise good shot selection on a consistent basis. On the wing there's Lenzelle Smith Jr., a player most tend to underestimate offensively, and Evan Ravenel gives them solid defense off the bench.

2. Florida State
The Seminoles may not have an All-America candidate along the lines of Sullinger but they do have athleticism and depth, two factors that helped them win the ACC tournament. Bernard James and Xavier Gibson are the starters while Jon Kreft and Okaro White provide depth off the bench. FSU is one of the biggest teams in the country and all of these guys can move as well.

3. Kansas State
The Wildcat front court is the big reason why many are picking them to go to the Sweet 16, as they hit the offensive boards with the best of them and top-seed Syracuse is a subpar defensive rebounding team. Jamar Samuels was a big reason why they swept the season series with Missouri, and both Thomas Gipson and Jordan Henriquez-Roberts have improved as the season's worn on.

Biggest question mark: Syracuse without Fab Melo
The Orange have plenty of front court talent without the sophomore from Brazil (and would have a very good argument to be on the above list), but on a team blessed with so much depth Melo was the closest to being indispensable. Without him both Rakeem Christmas and Baye Keita will have to pick up the torch in the middle of their 2-3 zone.

Guys you'll love: Andrew Nicholson (St. Bonaventure) and Keith Wright (Harvard)
Vanderbilt's Jeffery Taylor deserves some mention here as well, but we'll go with the A-10 Player of the Year and one of the big reasons why Harvard's back in the Dance for the first time since 1946 instead. Nicholson finished two blocks short of a triple-double in the A-10 tournament final and his name will be called in June. Wright is the man the Crimson run their offense through and he's been extremely productive as a result.

The workhorse: Kevin Jones (West Virginia)
There are few players in America more valuable than Jones. Without him the Mountaineers most likely aren't playing in any tournament much less the Big Dance. The senior from Mount Vernon, NY led the Big East in both scoring and rebounding this season. "Money earnin'" indeed (that's the nickname for Mount Vernon).

Midwest Region

1. North Carolina
The expectation is that John Henson's left wrist is ready to go this week, and his presence on the court beside ACC Player of the Year Tyler Zeller makes UNC a much better defensive team. Henson's averaging more than three blocked shots per game, and when that's missing the Carolina perimeter defenders can get exposed some. James Michael McAdoo and Justin Watts will also see some time, with the undersized Watts more than willing to fill in wherever needed.

2. Kansas
If Anthony Davis doesn't win a particular National Player of the Year award it should go to Robinson. That's how much those two have separated themselves from the rest of the country. Robinson is essentially an automatic double-double for the Jayhawks, who also need Jeff Withey to show on the big stage that his improved play throughout the conference slate wasn't a mirage. It's highly likely that he will, although their battle with Detroit will provide a good test.

3. Creighton
The Bluejays have one of the best players in the country in sophomore Doug McDermott, who can score both inside and out for the Missouri Valley tournament champs. But there's also banger Gregory Echenique to account for, and those two have the ability to lead Creighton on a special run. The key for them will be defense, especially with a matchup with North Carolina awaiting them should the Bluejays take care of Alabama.

Most Improved: Henry Sims (Georgetown)
For three seasons Sims was essentially an afterthought for the Hoyas. Now he's an essential figure, leading the team in assists while also proving to be a capable scorer out to about 15 feet or so. If he's playing well the Hoyas offensively will prosper as a whole.

Guys you'll love: Rob Jones (Saint Mary's) and C.J. Leslie (NC State)
Jones has been a double-double machine this season for the Gaels, and while he's undersized at the four the senior can put opposing teams at a disadvantage regardless of his height. As for Leslie it would have been difficult to imagine him being in this spot a season ago, but that only displays how much he's improved. And he can finish well above the rim as well.

One last hurrah: Robbie Hummel (Purdue)
Hummel's absence last season due to a torn ACL was a major reason why the Boilermakers were bounced by VCU (but by no means should that take away from how well the Rams played). No JaJuan Johnson or E'Twaun Moore but the fifth-year senior can still get it done, and he'll have to if the Boilers are to get past Saint Mary's.

Louisville vs Davidson: Prediction

Greg Mengelt — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 20:49:33 -0700

(4) Louisville vs. (13) Davidson: West Region

Records

Louisville 26-9, 10-8 Big East (Conference Tourney Champions)

Davidson 25-7, 16-2 SoCon (Regular-season and Conference Tourney Champions)

Time: 1:40 p.m. Thursday

TV: TBS

Location: Rose Garden in Portland, Ore.

Winner will face: (5) New Mexico or (12) Long Beach State, Saturday

Rankings

Louisville No. 17 AP; No. 18 ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll

RPI Ratings

Louisville 13

Davidson 65

Line: Louisville -6 (O/U 138½)

Players to Watch

Louisville: G Peyton Siva, 6-0 Jr. (9.1 ppg, 5.5 apg, 1.8 spg); C Gorgui Dieng, 6-11 So. (9.4 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 3.2 bpg); F Chane Behanan, 6-6 Fr. (9 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 49.4% FG). Siva was named the Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player after 55 points, 25 rebounds, 23 assists and 11 steals during the Cardinals’ 4-game run.

Davidson: F Jake Cohen, 6-10 Jr. (14 ppg, 6 rpg, 1.7 bpg); F De”Mon Brooks, 6-7 So. (16 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 53.7% FG); G Nik Cochran, 6-3 Jr. (11 ppg, 3.7 apg, 1 spg). Cochran averaged 10 points, four assists and three rebounds during the Wildcats’ SoCon Tournament championship run.

Why Each Team is Dangerous

Louisville: The Cardinals should be exceptionally confidence after dispatching Seton Hall, Marquette, Notre Dame and Cincinnati to win the Big East Tournament title. U of L plays suffocating defense, holding opponents to 42.2 percent from the floor and 30.8 from the 3-point line this season. The Cardinals have an exceptional floor leader in Siva, who has made better decisions late in his junior season. Dieng protects the rim and could cause Davidson’s big trouble.

Davidson: The Wildcats, who average 78.4 points per game, are an exceptional shooting team. They made 251 3-pointers this season. What makes them hard to defend is that everyone on the court can score for Davidson. All five starters average double-figures and all five shoot at least 34.2 percent from the 3-point line. Davidson can also score effectively in the paint and it made 76.6 percent of its foul shots, which is eighth-best in America.

Why Each Team is Vulnerable

Louisville: Louisville’s offense really struggles to score at times. The Cardinals broke the 65-point mark in one of their last nine games (an 84-71 win over No. 9 Marquette in the Big East quarterfinals). The Cardinals really struggle from the outside, hitting just 31.1 percent of the 3-point line. While Siva is a clutch playmaker, the Cardinals lack a go-to scorer – something that’s always key in tournament runs. Louisville lost to Morehead State, 62-61, in a first-round game of last year’s NCAA Tournament.

Davidson: Davidson allowed its opponents to shoot 46 percent from the floor and 36.4 from the 3-point line. The Wildcat defense has been pretty good at times, but Western Carolina, which was an average offensive team, scored 78 in regular and 91 after two extra sessions in the SoCon Tournament championship. The Wildcats are an average rebounding team and were out-boarded by 1.4 per game this season. Louisville is capable of dominating them on the boards.

The Bottom Line: This is one that could go either way, and a 6-point spread is way too big. Louisville’s defense is very good, but Davidson can score against anyone. Can Louisville do the same? I doubt it.

The Pick: Davidson 74, Louisville 69

Greg Against the Spread This Season: 198-148-6 (Through Sunday, March 11)

NCAA Tournament: 10 Potential First Round Upsets

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 10:04:11 -0700

Top 10 Most Likely Upsets

March is no time to play it safe. When you fill in your brackets over the next few days, here are the 10 most likely First Round upsets to focus on:

10 #14 South Dakota St over #3 Baylor

Led by Nate Wolters, South Dakota St had a rock-solid season with only one bad loss. In games against power conference teams, they've been very competitive (including a shock 19 point win at Washington.) This is not the best match-up for the Jackrabbits though as Baylor's size will be hard for them to handle.

9 #12 VCU over #5 Wichita St

VCU arguably deserved a 10 or 11 seed, instead of getting unlucky going against a Wichita St team that arguably was a 4 seed. Although their not as good as last year's Final Four team, the Rams play solid D which keeps them in most games.

9 #15 Detroit over #2 Kansas

While no 16 seed has ever won a first round game, 15 seeds pull off an upset about once a decade. Will this be that time? Detroit is hot, having come out of the solid Horizon League, and they have a big-time player in Ray McCallum. And don't forget, Kansas lost a home game to Davidson earlier in the year, so they're vulnerable. Don't bet the house on this one, but if you're feeling uber-risky, maybe this is your play.

7 #13 New Mexico St over #4 Indiana

The Aggies have hit their stride over the last month, and face Indiana feeling quite confident. As good as Indiana was this year, they still were shaky on the road, losing to the likes of Iowa and Nebraska.

6 #11 Colorado St over #6 Murray St

According to the RPI, Colorado St is barely any worse than Murray St, with the 26th best ranking vs 22nd for Murray. In a sense, this is like a 6 seed vs 7 seed game by the RPI. The spread is only 2.5 points right now which shows you how close Vegas thinks this game is.

5 #12 Long Beach St over #5 New Mexico

According to most ratings (including the RPI and KenPom), Long Beach St is a top 40 team. They played an extremely hard non-conference schedule, but always seemed to come just short of the big upset. Is this the time they finally break through?

4 #12 Harvard over #5 Vanderbilt

While Vandy is appropriately seeded as a 5, Harvard arguably deserves to be a 9 or 10 seed. The Crimson beat the likes of Florida St and St. Joseph's earlier, and although they didn't dominate the Ivy League like many expected, the Ivy League was also better than most realize. So long as Harvard can keep the game at a slow pace, this should be a game until the final minutes.

3 #14 Saint Bonaventure over #3 Florida St

Florida St is a hard team to figure out. They've had great results against Duke and North Carolina, but yet lost to Boston College, Princeton, and Clemson. With Andrew Nicholson, the Bonnies have a player more talented than anyone on FSU.

2 #13 Ohio over #4 Michigan

Led by do-everything PG DJ Cooper, Ohio is a feared 13 seed. The Bobcats beat 7 top 100 teams, and MAC squads tend to fare well in the Tournament. Michigan was great at home this year, but no so great on the road. If the Wolverines aren't hitting threes, Ohio could pull off the upset.

1 #13 Davidson over #4 Louisville

Although Louisville won the Big East tournament, they seem very vulnerable here. Davidson not only beat Kansas on the road earlier in the year, but they only lost to 5 seed Vanderbilt by 4 points as well. Louisville wins by playing tight D, but because they struggle to score, they fail to crush weaker opponents and keep them in the game. This one could be interesting.

More Bracket Tips

Tournament Poll: Most Likely 13 vs 4 Upset?

Shawn Siegel — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 20:25:18 -0700

Eight NCAA Tournament Sleepers

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 09:31:40 -0700

One of the tricky aspects of filling out a bracket is figuring out which team(s) can jump up and spring a surprise or two. Last season two teams from non-Power 6 leagues (Butler and VCU) reached Houston, and throughout the history of the 64/65/68-team era there have been teams who have made runs. Below are eight teams who can make surprising runs in the bracket, some to win a game or two and a couple others capable of getting to New Orleans.

Davidson: Bob McKillop's Wildcats may not have a shooter along the lines of Stephen Curry or a distributor the caliber of Jason Richards, but that doesn't mean that Davidson won't bring some talented pieces to the Dance. Forwards Jake Cohen and De'Mon Brooks have played very well this season, and guards Nike Cochran and J.P. Kuhlman were two of the best perimeter players in the SoCon. Going eight deep with five players in double figures can be tough for opponents who aren't familiar with Davidson, who is more than capable of pulling off an upset.

Detroit: The Titans finished third in the Horizon League during the regular season, but they played very well in grabbing the conference's automatic bid. And Ray McCallum Sr. doesn't lack for talent, beginning with his point guard (and son) Ray McCallum Jr. McCallum Jr. has improved as the season's worn on, doing a better job of picking his spots when it comes to running the show. Big men Eli Holman and LaMarcus Lowe are athletic interior players you don't always see in a conference like the Horizon. Depending on the two-seed, it wouldn't be a surprise if the Titans were to give their opponent fits.

Harvard: Not sure if the Crimson count as a true sleeper given the amount of attention on Tommy Amaker's program this season, but in favor of the argument they are making Harvard's first NCAA appearance since 1944. Forwards Kyle Casey and Keith Wright are one of the best front court tandems that doesn't get enough press, and Oliver McNally and Laurent Rivard lead the way on the perimeter. Harvard certainly didn't duck anyone in the non-conference portion of their schedule, doing so with this time of the year in mind.

Lehigh: Brett Reed has one of the best players in the country in guard C.J. McCollum, who leads the Mountain Hawks in points and rebounding while ranking second on the team in assists. But it's not just McCollum that teams should be worried about, as forwards Holden Grenier and Gabe Knutson are both averaging double figures. Lehigh's problem is that their strength of schedule could land them a seed lower than anticipated. But unlike last season's Patriot League representative (Bucknell), Lehigh has a guard in McCollum who can make plays on his own. If they can stay above the 16 line, the Mountain Hawks will have a shot at getting a win.

Memphis: The Conference USA champions took some swings at big non-conference wins early in the season and missed, with the conclusion of many being that they're too immature to turn things around. Well, Josh Pastner's team is playing their best basketball of the season at the right time. Knock them due to their conference if you like, but that shouldn't erase the fact that according to Ken Pomeroy's numbers this is a team in the Top 25 in both adjusted offensive and adjusted defensive efficiency. Will Barton's played like an All-America for much of the season and the emergence of Chris Crawford has relieved some of the pressure on Joe Jackson to run the offense.

Montana: Wayne Tinkle's Grizzlies are experienced (and most everyone will be back next season) and led by a pair of guards who can cause fits in Will Cherry and Kareem Jamar. Cherry was named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year and it one of the nation's leaders in steals, and the versatile Jamar was named Big Sky tournament MVP. Add in two quality frontcourt players in Derek Selvig and Mathias Ward and you've got a team capable of winning in the Big Dance. Montana's hot as well as they've won 14 straight games, and according to Ken Pomeroy's numbers they had the best adjusted defensive efficiency in the Big Sky (41st nationally).

Saint Louis: Rick Majerus' Billikens have been the second-best team in the Atlantic 10 this season, but to be fair they may have flown under the radar nationally thanks to the presence of Temple and Xavier. But there shouldn't be any doubt as to whether or not SLU can play, with the tough Brian Conklin being the anchor inside and Kwamain Mitchell leading the way on the perimeter. Before their loss to Xavier in the A-10 semis the Billikens won nine of ten games, and in Majerus they've got one of the best game coaches in the country.

South Dakota State: Nate Wolters didn't play his best game of the season in the Jackrabbits' win over Western Illinois to win the Summit League, but he's been enough of a constant to where what he did against WIU shouldn't matter much. Scott Nagy's got an experienced team who helped grow the program this season, their first as a full Division I member. Griffan Callahan and Jordan Dykstra are both averaging double figures, and their presence has helped to improve the performance of both Wolters and the team as the season's worn on.

NCAA Tournament Interviews: Davidson's Jake Cohen and J.P. Kuhlman

Jon Teitel — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 17:35:50 -0800

Just days after their win in the SoCon tournament final, CHN writer Jon Teitel was able to catch up with Davidson forward Jake Cohen and guard JP Kulhman. Along with De'Mon Brooks these two have been integral parts of Bob McKillop's team, which also won the SoCon regular season title.

Jon Teitel: You brother Josh played football at Dartmouth. Who is the best athlete in the family?

Jake Cohen: That is a tough question. Josh is good at almost every sport he plays, so I guess he is the best.

JT: Your team returned seven of its top eight scorers from last year. What were the expectations going into the season?

JC: We had pretty high expectations and a lot of confidence in our guys after we had worked hard all summer.

JT: The SoCon tourney semifinals in Asheville, NC included four in-state teams (Western Carolina, Davidson, Elon, and UNCG). What was the atmosphere like in the final two rounds?

JC: It was exciting. The stadium got pretty loud pretty quick.

JT: You have gotten valuable contributions from foreign teammates like Nik Cochran (Canada) and Chris Czerapowicz (Sweden). Is there any difference in playing with a guy from another country versus a guy from the US?

JC: You can see it in some of the minor things, but at this point they have played in the US for so long that they are accustomed to the American game.

JT: You have lost to a pair of ranked teams this season (Duke and Wichita State). What did you learn from those two losses that will help you in March?

JC: We learned a lot about consistency. We played a good first half against Duke and a good first 30 minutes against Wichita State before we let each game get away from us.

JT: Coach Bob McKillop is the winningest coach in conference history and was recently named SoCon Coach of the Year for the eighth time. What makes him such a great coach, and what is the most important thing you ever learned from him?

JC: His attention to detail and intensity is amazing. He holds us accountable and makes sure that all of us are focused and ready to go.

JT: You had 17 points and seven blocked shots before fouling out in a two-point double overtime win over Western Carolina in SoCon tournament final. How were you able to hang on for the win, and what was the reaction like when you got back to campus?

JC: Coming back to campus was great, as a bunch of fans came out to welcome us. The win showed our team's resilience, as the Western Carolina guys made a bunch of tough shots at the end, but things worked out well for us.

JT: De'Mon Brooks was named both SoCon Player of the Year and conference tournament MVP. What makes him such a great player?

JC: He is outstanding due to his versatility both inside and outside. If you take away one aspect of his game, he still has two or three other aspects he can go to.

JT: You are the only player in the country with 1.5+ BPG and 85+ FT%. What is your secret for shot-blocking, and how does a 6'10" guy shoot free throws so well?

JC: Timing and anticipation are both key. I am not going to win any high-jump competitions! Another big help is that our guards are so tough on defense that it allow me to come in from the weak side because the other team is using so much effort just to get in the lane. I have been working on my foul shooting for a long time. I only shot 71% as a freshman, and I did not think that was good enough.

JT: What seed do you think you deserve, and what kind of team would you matchup against the best?

JC: I have not really kept up with all the seeding stuff. No matter who we get we have the confidence to play with them due to our non-conference schedule, and we will not be intimidated by anyone.

Guard JP Kuhlman

JT: Your father and two brothers played college basketball. Who is the best athlete in the family?

JP Kuhlman: I would actually say my little sister Maria, who as a 7th grader is the leading scorer on her 8th grade team. I also have a third brother who is a freshman at Belmont Abbey.

JT: Your team returned seven of its top eight scorers from last year. What were the expectations going into the season?

JK: We had high expectations and our goal was to win a conference title, so the hard work paid off.

JT: The SoCon tournament semifinals in Asheville, NC included four in-state teams (Western Carolina, Davidson, Elon, and UNCG). What was the atmosphere like in the final two rounds?

JK: It was great. Western Carolina probably had the biggest fan base as they are only 30 minutes away from Asheville.

JK: Not too much. The accent might take some adjustment, as we always joke around about that, but a great player is great in any language.

JT: You have lost to a pair of ranked teams this season (Duke and Wichita State). What did you learn from those two losses that will help you in March?

JK: Going to each game expecting to win and playing with a high level of confidence (such as leading Duke by one at halftime).

JK: I learned how much he cares about us as players every day in practice. It is "tough love", but it is for our own good and the good of the team.

JT: You scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a two-point double overtime win over Western Carolina in SoCon tournament final. How were you able to hang on for the win, and what was the reaction like when you got back to campus?

JK: We were up by 12 with two minutes left in regulation so it was tough to stay in the right mindset when they came all the way back to send it into overtime, but Coach kept us motivated. Having our fans greet us when we got back was fun, and it will be great this weekend as many of them return from spring break on Sunday.

JT: De'Mon Brooks was named both SoCon Player of the Year and conference tournament MVP. What makes him such a great player?

JK: He is just a determined player who will often get his own rebound and put it back in. He is relentless on the offensive end.

JT: You were recently named an Academic All-American. How do you balance your work in the classroom (3.8 GPA) with your work on the court?

JK: It takes a lot of focus on time management. The coaches and professors do a great job giving us the right amount of time for what we need to do.

JT: What seed do you think you deserve, and what kind of team would you matchup against the best?

JK: From what I hear we might get anywhere from a 13-15 seed, so a 12-13 seed would be great. A team like Michigan has a similar style to us, so I think that would be a fun game for us to play.

Saint Mary's Makes History: Monday's Quick Hitters

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 00:52:35 -0800

VCU jumped out to a big lead in the first half, holding on to beat Drexel for the CAA title.

1. Saint Mary's rebounds from a Gonzaga rally to force overtime, beating the Zags to win the WCC crown.
Both late title games featured wild comebacks to force overtime, but ultimately the team that could have been too crushed to rebound ended up winning. Elias Harris scored the final five points of regulation for Gonzaga, including a three-pointer in the final seconds to send the WCC title game into overtime, but his efforts wouldn't be enough as Saint Mary's won 78-74. Randy Bennett's team made history with the win, as it marks the first time in school history that the Gaels have won the regular season title outright and won the conference tournament in the same season.

Matthew Dellavedova scored 22 points and dished out four assists to lead the Gaels and Rob Jones added 18 and nine boards, but Jorden Page was just as important. Page scored 16 points on a night that saw Gonzaga's guards, most notably Kevin Pangos (3-for-18 FG), struggle while their big men played well. Harris finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds, and both Robert Sacre' (17 points) and Sam Dower (14 points) reached double figures. Saint Mary's out-rebounded the Bulldogs by four and outscored them by five at the foul line, but ultimately it was Gonzaga's three-point shooting (5-for-22) that caught up with them. Both teams will dance, and Saint Mary's likely improved their seeding with the result as they can now claim two wins over the Bulldogs this season.

2. Davidson finds away to survive Western Carolina despite some poor late-game execution.
Saint Mary's issues late in regulation had nothing on Davidson's, as the Wildcats looked nothing like the team that ran through the SoCon during the regular season. There were turnovers as well as silly fouls of jump shooters, but thanks to the efforts of De'Mon Brooks, Jake Cohen and JP Kulhman the Wildcats survived 93-91 in double overtime. Brooks and Kuhlman scored 19 points apiece while Cohen and Nik Cochran added 17 and 16 respectively, and Clint Mann added ten points off the bench. WCU, who entered the game having won seven straight games, had three players score 20 points or more but it wouldn't be enough to get them into the NCAA tournament.

Keaton Cole led the Catamounts with 21 points, and Tawaski King (ten rebounds) and Harouna Mutombo (seven rebounds, four assists and three steals) scored 20 apiece. Davidson shot 52.9% from the field but got themselves in trouble with the turnovers (15 total) and 5-for-21 night from beyond the arc. But it would be wise to not write off the Wildcats due to this performance, as Bob McKillop's team plays under control in most instances. Just so happened that they ran into a team that could speed up their thought process and force things to happen, and it very nearly got Davidson beat.

3. Loyola (MD) completes a long journey, going from 1-27 to an NCAA tournament berth.
In Scott Hicks' final season in charge the Loyola Greyhounds went an embarrassing 1-27, a clear indication that change is needed. Jimmy Patsos was hired and from there he began to rebuild the program, and the goal of getting to the NCAA tournament was final achieved on Monday night. Loyola ramped things up defensively in the second half, pressuring full-court on made basket, which negated the Stags' advantage inside. The Greyhounds went on to win 48-44 due to both their defense and the versatility of tournament MVP Erik Etherly, who finished with ten points, seven rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals.

Ryan Olander and Rakim Sanders both reached double figures but they combined to shoot just 6-for-25 from the field, and point guard Desmond Wade wasn't a whole lot better as he shot 1-for-5. Loyola limited the Stags to just 28.8% shooting for the game and 14 second-half points. While Patsos tends to be the center of attention from a media standpoint when the Greyhounds are playing, it's also important to recognize that there's a good team at Patsos' disposal as well. If Loyola can get the right matchup with a 14 or 15-seed, they've got the ability to throw a scare into someone.

Quick Hitters

1. The top four seeds in the Sun Belt are all gone before the final, with three-seed Denver being the last to go. Western Kentucky knocked off the Pioneers 67-63 in the second semifinal in Hot Springs, setting up a date with North Texas for the title. The Mean Green beat Arkansas State in the first semifinal.

2. There was also an upset in the Summit League semis as top-seed Oral Roberts lost to Western Illinois 54-53. Dominique Morrison led the Golden Eagles with 23 points, but his teammates shot just 11-for-36 from the field. Terell Parks led the Leathernecks with 14 points and eight rebounds, and Ceola Clark III added 11 points. WIU will take on two-seed South Dakota State in Tuesday's title game, as the Jackrabbits beat Southern Utah 63-47.

3. Two of the four road teams in the first round of the MAC tournament found a way to win, with Northern Illinois knocking off Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan upsetting Bowling Green. The first half between NIU and EMU featured just 29 points (18-11 NIU) and 17 combined turnovers. As for CMU, a Derek Jackson three with 1:40 remaining put the Chippewas up for good and Austin McBroom scored a team-high 20 points.

4. It was a busy day on the coaching carousel as Winthrop decided not the bring back Randy Peele, and Miami (OH) head coach Charlie Coles retired following the Redhawks' 60-53 loss at Toledo in a MAC tournament first round game. One name that has already been mentioned in regards to the Miami (OH) job is Arizona associate head coach James Whitford, as he spent 11 years on Coles' staff with eight of those being as the top assistant.

5. Two other coaching moves that didn't surprise many were Brown deciding not to renew Jesse Agel's contract, and UNCG removed Wes Miller's interim tag. Miller's the youngest head coach in college basketball, but his promotion sparked the Spartans run to the North Division title in the SoCon.

Predictions: CAA, MAAC, Southern, WCC Finals

Greg Mengelt — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:22:41 -0800

Our g ame prediction guru Greg Mengelt has been on fire this year. He'll be picking every conference tournament game over the next week, including tonight's four key championship games. Read more about Championship Week at CollegeHoops.net.

CAA CHAMPIONSHIP: AT RICHMOND, VA.

(1) Drexel (27-5, 16-2) vs. (2) Virginia Commonwealth (27-6, 15-3)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. TV: ESPN. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 8 – Drexel 64-58. RPI: Drexel 65, VCU 66. Analysis: With 35 wins in their last 36 games combined, the Dragons and Rams should both be in the NCAA Tournament. However, neither will want to leave that up to the Selection Committee. Line: VCU -2. Pick: Virginia Commonwealth 57, Drexel 53.

MAAC CHAMPIONSHIP: AT SPRINGFIELD, MASS.

(2) Loyola (Md.) (23-8, 13-5) vs. (4) Fairfield (19-13, 12-6)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. TV: ESPN2. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 13 – Loyola 66-63*; Feb. 12 – Fairfield 68-51. RPI: Loyola 84, Fairfield 111. Analysis: The Stags are finally playing like they were expected to all season, but Loyola has been the more consistent team through the season. Line: Fairfield -2. Pick: Loyola 68, Fairfield 64.

SOUTHERN CHAMPIONSHIP: AT ASHEVILLE, N.C.

(1S) Davidson (24-7, 16-2) vs. (3N) Western Carolina (17-17, 8-10)

Tipoff: 9 p.m. TV: ESPN2. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 12 – Davidson 88-67. RPI: Davidson 68, Western Carolina 216. Analysis: Aside from Davidson, the SoCon was really bad this year. This won’t be close. Line: Davidson -12½. Pick: Davidson 85, Western Carolina 64.

WCC CHAMPIONSHIP: AT LAS VEGAS

(1) Saint Mary’s (26-5, 14-2) vs. (2) Gonzaga (25-5, 13-3)

Tipoff: 9 p.m. TV: ESPN. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 12 – Saint Mary’s 83-62; Feb. 9 – Gonzaga 73-59. RPI: Saint Mary’s 33, Gonzaga 23. Analysis: Saint Mary’s just isn’t the same team with Stephen Holt – and the Bulldogs are playing really well. Line: Gonzaga -1½. Pick: Gonzaga 80, Saint Mary’s 72.

SUMMIT LEAGUE SEMIFINALS: AT SIOUX FALLS, S.D.

(1) Oral Roberts (27-5, 17-1) vs. (5) Western Illinois (17-13, 9-9)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. TV: Midco Sports Network/Fox College Sports. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 12 – Oral Roberts 71-70 (2OT)*; Feb. 11 – Oral Roberts 61-51. RPI: Oral Roberts 41, Western Illinois 188. Analysis: Oral Roberts should be a lock for the NCAA Tournament, but the Eagles will play like their lives are on the line. Line: Oral Roberts -8. Pick: Oral Roberts 67, Western Illinois 56.

(2) South Dakota State (25-7, 15-3) vs. (6) Southern Utah (14-16, 8-10)

Tipoff: 9:30 p.m. TV: Midco Sports Network/Fox College Sports. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 5 – South Dakota State 75-68*; Feb. 4 – South Dakota State 66-56. RPI: South Dakota State 58, Southern Utah 244. Analysis: Nice comeback win for the Thunderbirds against Oakland on Sunday, but that’s as far as it goes. Line: South Dakota State -12. Pick: South Dakota State 70, Southern Utah 54.

SUN BELT SEMIFINALS: AT HOT SPRINGS, ARK.

(9) Arkansas State (13-19, 6-10) vs. (5) North Texas (16-13, 9-7)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. TV: Sun Belt Network. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 7 – Arkansas State 75-72; Jan. 28 – North Texas 76-64. RPI: North Texas 200, Arkansas State 243. Analysis: Arkansas State used the second-day advantage to knock off the top seed, but playing a third straight day is exponentially tougher. Line: North Texas -1. Pick: North Texas 71, Arkansas State 63.

(3) Denver (21-8, 11-5) vs. (7) Western Kentucky (12-18, 7-9)

Tipoff: 9:30 p.m. TV: Sun Belt Network. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 15 – Denver 78-65. RPI: Denver 84, Western Kentucky 214. Analysis: Denver’s last six wins have been by double-figures. This game will be no different. Line: Denver -8½. Pick: Denver 69, Western Kentucky 57.

Greg Against the Spread This Season: 128-94-3