Georgia

Thursday First Round Predictions: ACC, Big Ten, SEC

Greg Mengelt — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 08:02:51 -0800

Our g ame prediction guru Greg Mengelt has been on fire this year. He'll be picking (just about) every conference tournament game over the next week, including tonight's three key championship games. Games listed in order with later rounds on top and earlier rounds at the bottom. Read more about Championship Week at CollegeHoops.net.

ACC FIRST ROUND: AT ATLANTA

(8) Maryland (16-14, 6-10) vs. (9) Wake Forest (13-17, 4-12)

Tipoff: Noon. TV: ESPNU. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 11 – Maryland 70-64. RPI: Maryland 111, Wake Forest 169. Analysis: The ACC Tourney starts with an upset. Line: Maryland -3½. Pick: Wake Forest 60, Maryland 55.

(5) North Carolina State (20-11, 9-7) vs. (12) Boston College (9-21, 4-12)

Tipoff: 2 p.m. TV: ESPNU. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 19 – N.C. State 76-62; Feb. 1 – N.C. State 56-51. RPI: N.C. State 52, BC 236. Analysis: The Wolfpack will pull away early for an easy win. Line: N.C. State -12. Pick: North Carolina State 73, Boston College 52.

(7) Clemson (16-14, 8-8) vs. (10) Virginia Tech (15-16, 4-12)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. TV: ESPNU. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 4 – Virginia Tech 67-65; March 1 – Clemson 58-56. RPI: Clemson 138, Virginia Tech 119. Analysis: Remember when being .500 in the ACC meant a lock for the NCAA Tourney? Line: Clemson -2½. Pick: Clemson 64, Virginia Tech 62.

(6) Miami (18-11, 9-7) vs. (11) Georgia Tech (11-19, 4-12)

Tipoff: 9 p.m. TV: ESPNU. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 24 – Miami 64-49*. RPI: Miami 50, Georgia Tech 183. Analysis: Strange line. Makes me think Vegas knows something the rest of us don’t. Oh, well. The Hurricanes are significantly better. Line: Miami -4. Pick: Miami 67, Georgia Tech 57.

BIG TEN FIRST ROUND: AT INDIANAPOLIS

(8) Iowa (16-15, 8-10) vs. (9) Illinois (17-14, 6-12)

Tipoff: 11:30 a.m. TV: Big Ten Network. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 26 – Illinois 65-54. RPI: Iowa 131, Illinois 77. Analysis: Not sure the Illinois players are interested in playing another game. Line: Illinois -2½. Pick: Iowa 60, Illinois 55.

(5) Indiana (24-7, 11-7) vs. (12) Penn State (12-19, 4-14)

Tipoff: 2 p.m. TV: Big Ten Network. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 8 – Indiana 88-82*; Jan. 22 – Indiana 73-54. RPI: Indiana 11, Penn State 156. Analysis: The Hoosiers are playing as well as anyone in the Big Ten – if not the nation. Line: Indiana -11½. Pick: Indiana 81, Penn State 67.

(7) Northwestern (18-12, 8-10) vs. (10) Minnesota (18-13, 6-12)

Tipoff: 5:30 p.m. TV: ESPN2. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 22 – Minnesota 75-52; Feb. 18 – Northwestern 64-53. RPI: Northwestern 41, Minnesota 89. Analysis: John Shurna and Drew Crawford will not let the Wildcats lose this game. Line: Northwestern -2½. Pick: Northwestern 68, Minnesota 62.

(6) Purdue (20-11, 10-8) vs. (11) Nebraska (12-17, 4-14)

Tipoff: 8 p.m. TV: ESPN2. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 22 – Purdue 83-65. RPI: Purdue 41, Nebraska 140. Analysis: Purdue has won 3-of-4 and even in the loss at Indiana, the Boilermakers played pretty well for most of the game. Line: Purdue -8. Pick: Purdue 79, Nebraska 64.

SEC FIRST ROUND: AT NEW ORLEANS

(8) LSU (17-13, 7-9) vs. (9) Arkansas (18-13, 6-10)

Tipoff: 1 p.m. TV: SEC Network. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 14 – Arkansas 69-60; Feb. 4 – LSU 71-65. RPI: LSU 84, Arkansas 92. Analysis: A strange season comes to an Arkansas. Things should start to improve next season under Mike Anderson. Line: LSU -1. Pick: LSU 73, Arkansas 68.

(5) Alabama (20-10, 9-7) vs. (12) South Carolina (10-20, 2-14)

Tipoff: 3:30 p.m. TV: SEC Network. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 25 – South Carolina 56-54. RPI: Alabama 32, USC 185. Analysis: This game could just go a lot of different ways, depending on how interested the Tide are, but eight points is too big of a line for what should be a low-scoring game. Line: Alabama -8. Pick: Alabama 58, South Carolina 52.

(7) Mississippi (18-12, 8-8) vs. (10) Auburn (15-15, 5-11)

Tipoff: 7:30 p.m. TV: SEC Network. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 14 – Auburn 69-68 (2OT); Feb. 11 – Ole Miss 61-54. RPI: Ole Miss 51, Auburn 136. Analysis: The Rebels are back on the bubble after three straight wins, but Auburn will end the dream. Line: Ole Miss -2½. Pick: Auburn 66, Mississippi 63.

(6) Mississippi State (21-10, 8-8) vs. (11) Georgia (14-16, 5-11)

Tipoff: 10 p.m. TV: SEC Network. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 11 – Georgia 70-68 (OT)*. RPI: MSU 64, Georgia 107. Analysis: Both teams are so unpredictable that it’s hard to tell how this one’s going to go. The Bulldogs are physically superior, though. Line: MSU -5. Pick: Mississippi State 71, Georgia 65.

*Road win

Greg Against the Spread This Season: 143-108-3

Tuesday Recap: Pittsburgh Has Some Issues to Address

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 06:31:36 -0800

Outside of Xavier it's difficult to think of many two-game losing streaks this season that have sparked as much concern nationally as the one Pittsburgh is currently going through. A team that looked preoccupied with their Christmas break plans on Friday in a 59-54 home loss to Wagner dropped another game on Tuesday, 72-59 at Notre Dame. The second half was a serious departure from what the Panthers do on both ends of the court, with Notre Dame being able to accomplish just about whatever they wanted to offensively. Mike Brey's team shot a staggering 72% in the second half and scored 42 points, and Alex Dragicevic scored a career-high 22 points to lead the way.

"He was 2-for-6 in the first half. Then in the second half the three-pointers and the some lay-ups got him going," said Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon of Dragicevic. "That's where it really got started and then their three-pointers broke it open. Give them credit they were patient we had some breakdowns that were pretty hard to recover from."

Point guard Tray Woodall returned to the rotation for Pittsburgh after being out since the Duquesne game with groin and abdominal injuries, and it's safe to say that the redshirt junior wasn't 100% on Tuesday. Woodall played 18 minutes and did not score, tallying two assists and two turnovers off the bench. Talib Zanna led the way for the Panthers with 13 points and 12 rebounds off the bench, but that wasn't enough to make up for Pitt making just one of fourteen shots from beyond the arc and being outscored 21-3 on three-pointers. But the biggest concern for Pittsburgh going forward has to be the defensive breakdows, as the Fighting Irish were able to find a number of open looks in the second half as they ran away with the game.

"Second half the defense just let down for us," said Dixon. "They executed - converted lay-ups that they turned into open jump shots and they started making those. We need to play better, we will play better and that's what we have to work on."

In addition to Dragicevich, Eric Atkins and Jerian Grant scored 15 points apiece for Notre Dame, who has now beaten the Panthers in each of their last four meetings. The Irish scored 1.24 points per possession and finished with an efficiency of 124.1, the highest number Pitt has allowed since their loss to Long Beach State in the third game of the season. Challenging cutters and playing tough defense has been one of the trademarks of the Pitt program going back to the Ben Howland years, but that wasn't on display Tuesday night. With talented players such as Woodall, Ashton Gibbs and Nasir Robinson the potential to turn things around is defintely there. Whether or not the Panthers act on that potential is entirely up to them.

Other Notable Happenings

1. After a quick start, Nebraska gets a rude introduction to Big Ten basketball from Wisconsin.
While there's no doubt that Nebraska was coming from a very tough basketball conference in the Big 12, their first taste of Big Ten basketball was going to be an interesting experience for Doc Sadler's program. Things were going very well for the Huskers to begin their game against Wisconsin as they jumped out to a 7-0 lead. But the Badgers stayed the course and did what they do: execute on both ends of the floor at their tempo. What resulted was a thorough beating of Nebraska in Lincoln, with Wisconsin holding the home team to 14 second-half points in the 64-40 win.

Ryan Evans scored a game-high 22 points and grabbed six rebounds and Wisconsin made 11 of 21 shots from beyond the arc on the night. Jordan Taylor finished with 15 points, five assists, three rebounds and three steals with just one turnover, and the Badgers picked apart the Nebraska defense to shoot 51% from the field while holding the Huskers to 31% shooting. Nebraska will encounter different styles of play in their first run through the Big Ten, but they found out that playing Bo Ryan's team is an experience unlike any other.

2. Moe Harkless puts up a performance for the ages in a St. John's blowout of Providence.
The question for St. John's was a simple one entering Big East play: even with the arrival of Amir Garrett would the Red Storm have enough depth to navigate the conference slate? Hard to glean a concrete conclusion from one game, but to say the least the Big East opener for the Johnnies. Moe Harkless put up a performance for the ages with 32 points and 13 rebounds while D'Angelo Harrison added 25 points and seven rebounds in the 91-67 win over Providence. This was a stunning outcome considering the Friars' 11-2 start under first-year head coach Ed Cooley, not to mention the struggles of the home team. And that "performance for the ages" line isn't hyperbole, it's fact.

Harkless' point total replaced the 30 points scored by Troy Murphy and Allen Iverson in their Big East debuts as the highest point total in conference history. Think about all the great freshmen who have played in the Big East through the years, and that makes Harkless' achievement all the more noteworthy. St. John's shot 56.5% from the field and forced 20 Providence turnovers, converting those miscues into 34 points. For the talk of Providence feeling a bit disrespected due to the game being played at Carnesecca Arena instead of MSG they sure didn't look like a team that deserved that stage on Tuesday, and that's a credit to how well St. John's played.

3. Illinois needs double overtime to beat Minnesota in Champaign.
The end of game execution for both teams left much to be desired with Illinois becoming stagnant offensively and Minnesota not fouling when down six with less than a minute in double overtime, but that shouldn't take away from how entertaining the Big Ten opener was. Brandon Paul led the Fighting Illini to the 81-72 win with 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists while Meyers Leonard added 20 points, 11 rebounds and five blocked shots. Illinois turned the ball over 21 times but ended up winning by limiting the Golden Gophers to 37.7% shooting, and Minnesota could only manage 16 points off of those turnovers.

By comparison Illinois scored 19 points off of 14 Minnesota turnovers, as a result helping to minimize the impact of their mistakes. Ralph Sampson III led Minnesota with 22 points and nine rebound but the Gophers had just two players score in double figures while Illinois finished with five, and that's not going to get it done for Tubby Smith's team down the line if they want to be an NCAA Tournament team. Illinois will need to cut down on their turnovers but it should be seen as an encouraging sign that Bruce Weber's team was able to make up for the discrepancy in other areas to pull out the win.

Quick Hitters

1. Georgia needed overtime to beat Winthrop at home 82-76, but the question is whether or not the game should have gone to overtime to begin with. With the Eagles leading 76-74 in the final seconds, Georgia's Gerald Robinson junior got away with a blatant travel and scored the game-tying basket.

2. Rhode Island head coach Jim Baron made the decision on Tuesday to dismiss leading scorer Jamal Wilson (16.4 ppg) for a violation of team rules. To say the least this is the last thing the Rams, who are 1-11 on the season. Mid-year transfers Andre Malone and Billy Baron should have every opportunity to take over as the primary scoring options as a result of this move.

3. Also on Tuesday, Illinois guard Crandall Head announced his decision to leave the school. Head, whose older brother is Illinois great Luther Head, averaged just 6.4 minutes per game this season.

Three Notable Performances

1. F Moe Harkless and G D'Angelo Harrison (St. John's)
Harkless finished with 32 points, 13 rebounds and four assists while Harrison added 25, seven assists and three steals in the Red Storm's 91-67 win over Providence.

2. G Andre Jones (Winthrop)
33 points (10-15 FG) and three rebounds in the Eagles' 82-76 overtime loss at Georgia.

3. F Ryan Evans (Wisconsin)
22 points (9-11 FG), six rebounds and two assists in the Badgers' 64-40 win over Nebraska.

Wednesday Preview: Arizona at #12 Florida

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:26:16 -0800

Another day brings about another opportunity for a Pac-12 team to strike a blow for the conference, with Arizona (6-2) traveling across the country to take on #12 Florida (5-2). Sean Miller's team left an important piece of "cargo" back in Tucson as well, as freshman guard Josiah Turner was suspended for reportedly missing practice. The point guard from Sacramento will not play in a game due to a coach's decision for the second time this season, and with the departure of Sidiki Johnson (who barely got off the bench following their first exhibition game) half of the Wildcats' highly-touted recruting trouble has run afoul of the rules.

This latest development makes the task of winning in the "O-Dome" that much tougher for the Wildcats, who really don't have a marquee victory to their credit thus far. But the Wildcats do bring some talented perimeter players with them, with senior Kyle Fogg (11.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg) and freshman Nick Johnson (10.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.4 apg) being two of the key cogs. Sophomore point guard Jordin Mayes becomes even more important with Turner out, but both Fogg and Johnson have run the point either at some point this season or at another point in spot duty in case Mayes needs a rest of isn't effective.

Even with the experience that's not the best way to go into a game with one of the nation's deepest backcourts. Returning starters Kenny Boynton (19.0 ppg, 3.1 apg) and Erving Walker (14.1 ppg, 5.3 apg) are Florida's top two assist men but it's freshman Bradley Beal (15.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg) who leads the team in minutes per game. Beal's versatility and athleticism make him a tough matchup for just about any guard, but with Johnson also known as an athletic guard who's also one of the top defenders in the 2011 class this should be a fun individual battle. Billy Donovan can also call on Rutgers transfer Mike Rosario when needing points off the bench, but the truth is that Rosario needs to improve defensively (Scottie Wilbekin is the better reserve defender)if he's to see solid minutes on a consistent basis.

Arizona turns the ball over at a slightly higher rate than Florida, with the inexperience at the point being one of the contributing factors. But they do assist on 59%of their made baskets, with Florida's assist rate being a couple points below that. The Gators have more perimeter players who can force the issue offensively, and they've played considerably faster than Arizona this season with an average of nearly seven more possessions per game. The Gators have the better offensive efficiency not only because of their perimeter weapons but also because they rebound 40% of their misses. Will Yeguete, who moved into the starting lineup in place of the injured Erik Murphy, is grabbing an average of 3.7 offensive rebounds per game while Patric Young adds another 2.4.

Inside for the Wildcats senior Jesse Perry (10.5 ppg, 9.1 rpg) has been their most consistent player with junior wing Solomon Hill (12.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.1 apg) not too far behind. Kevin Parrom is another versatile wing, but the junior is still working towards full health after being shot before the season began. The two key players on the road for the Wildcats: sophomore Kyryl Natyazhko and freshman Angelo Chol. Arizona may be able to get away with quiet nights from these two against lesser competition, but in order to not only have a shot to pull off the upset but also remain one of the Pac-12 favorites these two need to step up. Senior center Alex Jacobson, the final holdover from the Lute Olson era, doesn't play much and the likely tempo might not be the best for him.

Whatever they do, Arizona cannot afford to get drawn into a shootout as that would play right into the hands of the Florida guards. Boynton and Walker can be mistake-prone, but a faster tempo means more possessions which would in turn mean some of those mistakes may not be as costly as they can be in a slower game. If Arizona can capitalize on those errors while keeping theirs to a minimum they'll hang around. But that's a big if, especially on the road.

Overall there's a good slate of games on tap for Wednesday, with a pair of games out west standing out in particular. Joe Scott's Denver Pioneers have gotten off to a very good start, but they're going to face a serious test at home as the Iona Gaels visit. The arrival of Mike Glover should be a good measuring stick for DU's Chris Udofia, a young player with the athletic ability to be an All-Sun Belt caliber player in the very near future. The Gaels also boast the nation's leading assist man in Scott Machado, but the question is whether or not Tim Cluess' team can play as fast as they want in the high altitude.

There's also Weber State, led by guards Damian Lillard and Scott Bamforth, visiting a BYU team that's loaded inside. Noah Hartsock and Brandon Davies are two of the options for Dave Rose, and the gruesome injury suffered by forward Kyle Bullinger in the Wildcats' win over San Jose State leaves Weber shorthanded inside. It could take quite the performance from Lillard, who scored 41 points against SJSU, to beat the Cougars at the Marriott Center.

Like watching good big men face off? Then check out St. Bonaventure's trip to Illinois, with senior Andrew Nicholson being a good test for Illinois sophomore Meyers Leonard. Xavier visits Butler, and those two teams tend to play most of if not all of their meetings close, and Dayton looks to bounce back from their whipping at the hands of Murray State with Alabama rolling into town.

Georgia Tech and Georgia will play for bragging rights in Athens and Colorado State visits Duke for a contest that could be tougher for the Blue Devils than many anticipate. Wes Eikmeier and Dorian Green have been solid for Tim Miles' club, but do they have anyone capable of keeping in front of Austin Rivers? Look for some surprises to come about, with many teams dealing with finals this week in addition to games.

Top 25 Games
7:00 PM IUPUI at (4) Louisville (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Colorado State at (5) Duke (ESPN2)
9:00 PM (8) Xavier at Butler (ESPN)
7:00 PM Arizona at (12) Florida (ESPN)
7:00 PM (15) Alabama at Dayton
8:00 PM Green Bay at (16) Wisconsin (ESPN3)
9:00 PM St. Bonaventure at (22) Illinois (ESPN2)
8:00 PM Sam Houston State at (25) Texas A&M (FSN SW)

NCAA Division I Games
7:00 PM Loyola (MD) at George Washington (MASN)
7:00 PM Georgia Tech at Georgia (ESPN3)
7:00 PM La Salle at Towson
7:00 PM Central Connecticut State at Michigan State (ESPNU)
7:00 PM Malone College at Bowling Green
7:00 PM Lafayette at Penn State (BTN.com)
7:00 PM Delaware at Pennsylvania
7:00 PM Virginia Tech at Rhode Island
7:00 PM Buffalo at Niagara
7:00 PM Colgate at Albany
7:00 PM Vanderbilt at Davidson (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Wake Forest at High Point
7:00 PM Fordham at Manhattan
7:00 PM Army at Marist
7:00 PM Illinois State at Morehead State
7:00 PM Ohio at Oakland
7:00 PM Boston University at Saint Joseph's
7:00 PM Fairleigh Dickinson at Stony Brook
7:00 PM Temple at Toledo
7:00 PM Valparaiso at IPFW
7:30 PM Bryant University at Yale
7:30 PM Hampton at American University
7:30 PM Princeton at Rutgers
7:30 PM New Hampshire at Brown
7:30 PM Saint Francis (PA) at Lehigh
7:30 PM Western Carolina at Purdue (BTN)
8:00 PM Middle Tennessee at UAB
8:00 PM Mount St. Mary's at Maryland (ESPN3)
8:00 PM Vermont at Saint Louis
8:00 PM Florida Gulf Coast at Nebraska
8:00 PM Wichita State at Tulsa
8:00 PM Henderson State at Central Arkansas
8:00 PM Oakland City at Eastern Illinois
8:00 PM DePaul at Loyola (IL) (ESPN3)
8:00 PM Mercer at Samford
8:05 PM Southern Miss at South Alabama
8:05 PM Western Kentucky at Southern Illinois (FCS)
8:05 PM North Dakota at UMKC
8:30 PM Nevada at Arizona State
8:30 PM East Tennessee State at Tennessee Tech
8:35 PM Pepperdine at Northern Arizona (FSN AZ)
9:00 PM Fresno State at Colorado
9:00 PM Portland at Boise State
9:00 PM Willamette at Montana State
9:00 PM Montana Tech at Montana
9:00 PM Weber State at BYU (BYU TV)
9:00 PM Cal State Fullerton at Utah
9:00 PM Wright State at Air Force
9:00 PM Iona at Denver (Root)
9:00 PM Oklahoma State at Missouri State (ESPNU)
10:00 PM San Diego State at San Diego
10:00 PM Cal State San Marcos at UNLV
10:00 PM Sacramento State at Cal State Bakersfield
10:05 PM Washington State at Idaho
10:30 PM San Jose State at California

College Hoops Monday: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 18:58:54 -0800

With the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on deck for Tuesday and Wednesday, it would be easy to think that the only matchups between ranked teams early in the week can be found on Tuesday and Wednesday. Not so thanks to the matchup between #12 Xavier (4-0) and #22 Vanderbilt (5-1)in Nashville, but while Memorial Gym is always a tough place to play the Commodores have already lost at home once this season (Cleveland State). Two of the best guards in the country will be on display as well, but while both Tu Holloway (Xavier) and John Jenkins (Vanderbilt) can light up the scoreboard they get the job done in drastically different ways.

Holloway (15.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg) is the floor general for Chris Mack's Musketeers, entrusted with the task of not only scoring himself but also setting up his teammates. The senior has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.4 thus far, a big improvement over his ratio (1.6) of a season ago. Joining Holloway in the Xavier backcourt is Mark Lyons (17.8 ppg, 3.8 apg), the team's leading scorer and every bit as attack-minded as Holloway. Another key figure on the perimeter is freshman Dezmine Wells, and the combination of he and Vandy's Jeffery Taylor could deliver some serious above-the-rim highlights.

As for the prolific Jenkins (20.2 ppg, 42.6% 3PT), the key for Xavier will be to make him have to create off the dribble. If the junior is allowed a number of "catch and shoot" opportunities it's going to be a long night for the visitors. Kevin Stallings' team is about more than just Jenkins on offense however, as Taylor and Brad Tinsley both average double figures and forward Lance Goulbourne is just under ten points per game with an average of 9.8. There's no mistaking the fact that the Commodores miss big man Festus Ezeli inside, and they've had to adjust with his knee injury sidelining him until sometime next month.

Goulbourne, Taylor and Steve Tchiengang have been the main contributors on the glass, with Vanderbilt owning a rebounding margin of plus-4.1 on the season. They'll need to get the job done by committee against a team that rebounds in a similar fashion. Lyons, Wells, Kenny Frease (10.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and Travis Taylor (6.8 rpg) are the team's top four rebounders and Vanderbilt transfer Andre Walker grabs four caroms per contest, and as a team the Musketeers have a rebounding margin of plus-4.3. The difference between the two teams in offensive rebounding rate is about two percentage points in Vanderbilt's favor, so this may be a negligible stat on Monday night.

Two stats to keep an eye on: percentage of points scored from beyond the arc (Vanderbilt gets 32.5% of their points off of threes) and assist percentage (Xavier assists on 60.9% of their passes). Xavier will look to take away the three, something they have to do in order to keep the crowd out of the game. And if Vandy can make the Musketeers go one-on-one for the majority of their baskets (even with Holloway and Lyons), that will raise their defensive efficiency. Look for the Musketeers and Commodores to go right down to the wire.

Also of note is Long Beach State looking to rebound from their loss at Montana with a win at Louisville, with the Cardinals surviving a challenge from Ohio on Friday night. Peyton Siva looked to be fine on his sprained ankle against Ohio, but how he performs against Casper Ware will be something to keep an eye on just a couple days after dealing with the Bobcats' D.J. Cooper. The 49ers tandem of Larry Anderson and T.J. Robinson could prove to be a handful for the Cardinals but in freshman Chane Behanan, Louisville has one of the best freshmen in the Big East.

Akron's trip to West Virginia should also be interesting, especially with Keith Dambrot suspending starting point guard Alex Abreu last week. Quincy Diggs got the start at the point in the Zips' win over Detroit, but this move also required more of players such as Brett McClanahan. Kent State has already won in Morgantown, and it isn't far-fetched to think that WVU could drop to 0-2 at home against the MAC this season. But Bob Huggins' team is back to the old trick that helped the 2010 team get to the Final Four: dominating the offensive boards. West Virginia has rebounded 47% of their misses thus far, with senior Kevin Jones grabbing 5.5 offensive rebounds per game.

LIU's trip to Iona sets up to be a good game despite the Blackbirds' 2-3 start, with the frontcourt battle between Julian Boyd (LIU) and Mike Glover (Iona) being one that viewers should focus on. And Georgia visits Colorado in a matchup of teams still looking to define roles after incurring some heavy personnel losses following last season.

Top 25 Games
7:00 PM Long Beach State at (7) Louisville (ESPNU)
8:00 PM Jackson State at (8) Memphis (SportSouth)
7:00 PM Stetson vs. (9) Florida* (ESPN3)
7:00 PM (12) Xavier at (22) Vanderbilt (ESPN2)
8:00 PM Jacksonville at (17) Marquette
10:30 PM McNeese State at (18) California

NCAA Division I Games
7:00 PM IUPUI at Georgetown (MASN)
7:00 PM Swarthmore at Columbia
7:00 PM Akron at West Virginia (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Long Island at Iona
7:00 PM Louisiana-Lafayette at Kent State
7:00 PM Quinnipiac at Lehigh
7:00 PM North Carolina A&T at UNC Greensboro
7:00 PM Niagara at Saint Francis (PA)
7:30 PM UMBC at Rutgers (RVision)
7:30 PM Austin Peay at Lipscomb
7:30 PM Louisiana-Monroe at Nicholls State
8:00 PM Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Auburn
8:00 PM Texas-Pan American at Texas-Arlington
8:00 PM Trevecca Nazarene at Belmont
8:30 PM Georgia at Colorado (Root)
8:30 PM Tabor College at South Dakota
9:00 PM Tennessee at Oakland (ESPNU)
9:05 PM Northern Illinois at Utah Valley
10:00 PM Montana State at San Jose State
10:00 PM Pacific at Stanford
10:00 PM Evergreen State at Seattle
11:00 PM Pepperdine at UCLA (FS PT)

SEC Basketball: 5-Year Ranking

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 08:54:28 -0800

As part of our 5-Year Ranking series, here's how the SEC teams stack up according to conference wins. Unlike most leagues, there hasn't been one dominant team over the last handful of years. Florida and Kentucky have had some great years, but also some very mediocre ones mixed in. At the bottom of the league, LSU and South Carolina are close to forming a bottom rung of their own.

First Tier

1 - Kentucky - 53 wins - Freshman U will battle with Florida for the league title

2 - Tennessee - 53 - The Vols seems destined to fall out of the lead pack, but Martin was a good hire

3 - Florida - 52 - Only a few years removed from their national championship era

Second Tier

4 - Vanderbilt - 49 - Haven't won a tourney game since 2007. Will they live up to this year's hype?

5 - Mississippi St - 47 - Have held steady at 9-7 over the last 3 seasons

Wannabees

6 - Ole Miss - 38 - Rebels basketball exemplifies mediocrity. Never awful, never good

7 - Alabama - 37 - Have been competitive in league play, but no tourney trips in this period

Also-Rans

8 - Arkansas - 32 - With a good recruiting class and a new coach, Hogs are back on track

9 - Auburn - 31 - Auburn still seems no closer to breaking out of this bottom pack

10 - South Carolina - 30 - These are bleak years for the Gamecocks, and it might get worse

11 - Georgia - 29 - After last year's tourney bid, its clear Georgia is on the move

12 - LSU - 29 - The tournament trip in 2009 seems like a distant memory at this point

All 5-Year Rankings.

Jon Teitel's "Coaching Greats" Series: Florida State and Georgia's Hugh Durham

Jon Teitel — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:27:30 -0700

In the latest installment in his "Coaching Greats" interview series CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with Hugh Durham. During his time as a college coach Durham led two programs (Florida State and Georgia) to their first (and to this date only) Final Four appearances, with Florida State losing to UCLA in the 1972 NCAA title game.

Jon Teitel: You were a highly-recruited athlete coming out of Eastern (KY) HS (all-state QB and all-region in basketball), and as a basketball player at Florida State your 18.9 career PPG is still top 10 in school history. Which sport were you better at, and what is the secret to being a great scorer?

Hugh Durham: I enjoyed basketball the most: even though I signed with Kentucky to play football back in the 1950s, I wanted to play basketball. Bear Bryant had been there a few years before I got there. Kentucky did not need good basketball players. They wanted great basketball players.

JT: In 1957 you scored 43 points in a win over Stetson (which remains the second-best mark in school history). Was it just one of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were "in the zone"?

HD: I had some other high-scoring games during my career. I remember the Stetson game, but not everything that happened that night. I remember getting my last few points by driving to the basket and getting fouled.

JT: You served as Coach Bud Kennedy's assistant for seven seasons at Florida State before taking over for him in 1966 after he passed away. What made him such a great coach, and was it hard to replace him?

HD: He had developed cancer in March of 1966 and passed away a few months later. Vaughn Mancha was the AD who hired me. I was a young guy with no head coaching experience, but he made the decision to go with me. Coach Kennedy always gave you an opportunity to use your abilities. He gave me a lot of responsibility and would give me a lot of credit when our team performed well, which I think is one of the unique things that made him so special.

JT: In your first season you signed Lenny Hall (the first African-American basketball player at FSU), but he twisted his knee a few minutes into his very 1st game and ended up missing the rest of the season. How big a deal was it at the time to have an African-American player, and how bad did he feel after getting injured right at the start of the season?

HD: Lenny got hurt only a couple of minutes into his first game after putting up a lot of stats in a short amount of time. He was going up to block a shot and came down on top of the opposing player and tore his knee up. The medical profession was not as advanced in that era, so he was out for a long time. He was a great fit to be our first African-American player because of his personality. Everyone on the team respected him as both a player and a person. They honored Lenny at a reunion a couple of years ago and thanked him by offering to give his grandkids a scholarship to Florida State.

1972 NCAA Tournament

JT: Future baseball Hall of Famer Dave Winfield scored eight points and grabbed eight reboudns for Minnesota in defeat. How good an athlete was Winfield back then?

HD: We knew he was a great athlete, and he was a premier player on their team. Looking back on it I think he made the right decision to go into baseball!

JT: Ron King scored 22 points in a win over Kentucky. How does it feel to know that you were the last coach to ever beat Adolph Rupp?

HD: I was recently asked about the most significant games I ever coached and I said the Kentucky game was right at the top. I grew up in Kentucky and was a fan of all their teams. Coach Rupp was one of the best coaches in the country. I got to know him over the years, and I would have been pulling for him if he had been playing against anyone else in the country. It was a meaningful win for us but it was also bittersweet to have a legend go out like that.

JT: Reggie Royals had 18 points and 10 rebounds in a four-point win over North Carolina (Bob McAdoo: 24 points and 15 rebounds). Could you tell at the time that McAdoo was going to become a star?

HD: We were up by a lot after McAdoo fouled out but they almost came back to beat us. I knew that he was a great player even dating back to his JC career, so we were fortunate that he got into foul trouble.

JT: Tournament MOP Bill Walton had 24 points and 20 rebounds in a five-point UCLA win in the title game (UCLA's closest title game during their run of 10 NCAA titles under John Wooden). Was Walton just unstoppable that night, and how close did you come to breaking the Bruins' record streak?

HD: We played them really strong until our big guys got in foul trouble late in the first half. Swen Nater came in for Walton after he got in foul trouble to finish us off. Walton lived up to all his hype. He was a talented player and loved to play as part of a team. I may have been the only coach in the history of the sport to play Kentucky with Coach Rupp, North Carolina with Coach Smith, and UCLA with Coach Wooden back-to-back-to-back. Nobody in their right mind would schedule them all in a row, so you know it could only have happened in the NCAA Tournament!

JT: What are your memories of the 1978 NCAA Tournament (Mickey Dillard scored 21 points in a nine-point loss to eventual champion Kentucky)?

HD: We had lost to Louisville right before the tourney, which hurt our seeding as we ended up playing #1-seed Kentucky. We were up by seven points at halftime and Coach Joe Hall started the second half by benching some of his best players like Rick Robey and Jack Givens. He put in two freshman forwards who were able to keep it close, and then he put his starters back in who helped lead them to the win. I later told Joe that he probably would have been fired if that strategy had not worked!

JT: What are your memories of the 1982 NIT Final Four as head coach at Georgia (Georgia beat Temple, Maryland and Virginia Tech, then Dominique Wilkins scored 15 points in a one-point loss to eventual runner-up Purdue)?

HD: We had several high school All-Americans like Wilkins and Vern Fleming, so we had a very talented team. Wilkins got hurt at the end of the Virginia Tech game with a sprained ankle and Purdue hit a shot from the corner in the final seconds to win it. However, that gave us the confidence/experience to perform on a bigger stage.

1983 NCAA Tournament

JT: After your team held the ball for the final 80 seconds of the game, Lamar Heard made his only shot of the game with two seconds to clinch a two-point win over VCU. Was the play designed for Heard?

HD: No. Lamar made the tip-in after James Banks missed the shot.

JT: Banks scored 20 points in a five-point win over North Carolina (Michael Jordan: 26 points). How does it feel to know that you and Bob Knight were the only coaches to ever beat Jordan in the NCAA Tournament?

HD: They also had Sam Perkins and Matt Doherty, so they were a good team. We were not a big team but had good overall size, so we could use different players all over the floor.

JT: Thurl Bailey and Dereck Whittenburg each scored 20 points in a seven-point win by eventual champion NC State. Did you get the sense that the Wolfpack were just a team of destiny that season?

HD: The difference in this game was that we did not shoot the ball well against a zone defense. We had shot very well against North Carolina's zone in the previous round. NC State must have been a team of destiny as they won a lot of close games against a lot of good teams. Everyone thought the Louisville-Houston semifinal winner was going to win it all, but it turned out not to be true. Nobody will ever forget the final upset over Houston.

JT: In 1985 Joe Ward scored 18 points (8-12 FG) in a two-points win over Kentucky in Lexington (the school's first win in Lexington since 1923). How big a deal was it to win in Rupp Arena, and what was the reaction like when you got back to campus?

HD: It was a Sunday afternoon game on TV so it was pretty big. We fell behind by double-digits and came all the way back to win it. Anytime you are a Kentucky fan growing up and can come out of Rupp Arena with a win it is meaningful. We were only able to get about 100 tickets for our fans, while entuckyY had about 24,000 cheering for them!

JT: What are your memories of the 1987 NCAA Tournament (Willie Anderson scored 35 points in a three-point overtime loss to Kansas State, as Mitch Richmond had 34 points and 11 rebounds [5-5 3PT])?

HD: Lon Kruger was coaching Kansas State. We later became good friends and I thought he was an outstanding coach. It was a heck of a game with two players living up to their expectations.

JT: What are your memories of the 1990 NCAA Tournament (Alec Kessler had 33 points and 17 rebounds in a loss to Texas as Travis Mays scored 44 points [23-27 FT])?

HD: We did not have anyone who could stop Mays. Alec had a big game but we did not do a good job on defense that night. I first met Texas coach Tom Penders when he was coaching in Connecticut, but he did not ease up on me that night.

JT: In 1997 at age 60 you came out of retirement to become head coach at Jacksonville, and in 2000 you were also named athletic director. Why did you decide to come back, and how did you like being AD?

HD: I was asked that question when I took the job, so I asked the reporter if he knew when the "Walker, Texas Ranger" TV show came on. He said he did not know, and I told him that it came on at 10PM on Saturday nights. When I knew that start time by heart, I realized that it was time to do something else! I never saw myself as an AD. I was a coach who had been asked to be AD. I enjoy all sports so I liked the interaction with the different coaches, but with all the legislation in intercollegiate athletics it is next to impossible to do both jobs well. Barry Alvarez and Vince Dooley were two of the few who were pretty good at both. I enjoyed coaching more than being in the administration.

JT: You were a 4-time SEC and one-time Metro Conference Ccoach of the Year. What did it mean to you to win such outstanding individual honors?

HD: Anytime you win an award like that it is because a group of people contributed to your success and you won more games than people thought you would. The only reason that Coach Wooden never won awards like that is because people always expected him to win. Of course coaches like to win awards, but it just helps you point out that everyone came together to get the job done.

JT: You are the only coach in Division I history who is the all-time winningest coach at three different schools (FSU, Georgia and Jacksonville). How were you able to be so successful at so many different programs?

HD: I had the highest W/L% at Florida State, and at Georgia I won more games than anyone else. I do not try to promote that stat. It is just a result of having good players who worked hard and a good staff who scouted and recruited. It sounds trite, but it is the truth.

JT: You coached over 1000 games (top 20 in NCAA history) and retired in 2005 with well over 600 wins. What was the key to your longevity, and do you consider yourself to be one of the best coaches in NCAA history?

HD: I consider myself to be a good coach, but I aspire to be a great coach. When I hear the term "great coach" I think about guys like Hank Iba, Rupp, Dean Smith, Coach K, Bobby Knight, Lute Olson, Jim Calhoun, and Jim Boeheim. I got to coach against most of them but did not have the same level of success that they did. I am proud of the record I have, but I am realistic and respect the job that others have done.

Durham is also on Jon's list of best coaches in both ACC and SEC history.

ACC
Boston College: Al Skinner (1997-2010) 232-149, 7 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, 1-time national COY, 2-time conference COY
Clemson: Cliff Ellis (1984-1994) 177-128, 3 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title, 2-time conference COY
Duke: Mike Krzyzewski (1980-present) 900-284, 27 NCAA tourneys, 13 conference titles, 4 NCAA titles, 5-time conference COY, 6-time national COY
Florida State: Hugh Durham (1966-1978) 230-95, 3 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title
Georgia Tech: Bobby Cremins (1981-2000) 354-237, 10 NCAA tourneys, 2 conference titles, 3-time conference COY, 1-time national COY
Maryland: Gary Williams (1989-2011) 461-252, 14 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, 1 NCAA title, 2-time conference COY
Miami (FL): Bruce Hale (1954-1967) 220-112, 1 NCAA tourney
North Carolina: Dean Smith (1961-1997) 879-254, 27 NCAA tourneys, 17 conference titles, 2 NCAA titles, 1 NIT title, 8-time conference COY, 3-time national COY
NC State: Everett Case (1946-1965) 377-134, 6 NCAA tourneys, 9 conference titles, 6-time conference COY
Virginia: Terry Holland (1974-1990) 326-173, 9 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, 1 NIT title, 2-time conference COY
Virginia Tech: Charles Moir (1976-1987) 213-119, 4 NCAA tourneys
Wake Forest: Dave Odom (1989-2001) 240-132, 8 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title, 1 NIT title, 3-time conference COY, 1-time national COY

SEC
Alabama: Wimp Sanderson (1980-1992) 265-118, 10 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title, 3-time conference COY
Arkansas: Nolan Richardson (1985-2002) 389-169, 13 NCAA tourneys, 7 conference titles, 1 NCAA title, 1-time national COY, 4-time conference COY
Auburn: Cliff Ellis (1994-2004) 186-125, 3 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title, 1-time national COY, 2-time conference COY
Florida: Billy Donovan (1996-present) 360-147, 11 NCAA tourneys, 4 conference titles, 2 NCAA titles, 1-time conference COY
Georgia: Hugh Durham (1978-1995) 297-215, 5 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title, 4-time conference COY
Kentucky: Adolph Rupp (1930-1972) 876-190, 20 NCAA tourneys, 28 conference titles, 4 NCAA titles, 1 NIT title, 4-time national COY, 7-time conference COY
LSU: Dale Brown (1972-1997) 448-301, 13 NCAA tourneys, 4 conference titles, 2-time national COY, 4-time conference COY
Mississippi: Rod Barnes (1998-2006) 141-109, 3 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title, 1-time national COY, 1-time conference COY
Mississippi State: Rick Stansbury (1998-present) 272-154, 6 NCAA tourneys, 5 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
South Carolina: Frank McGuire (1964-1980) 283-142, 4 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title, 1-time conference COY
Tennessee: Ray Mears (1962-1977) 278-112, 3 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, 2-time conference COY
Vanderbilt: Roy Skinner (1958-1976) 278-135, 2 NCAA tourneys, 2 conference titles, 3-time conference COY

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.

Second Round Friday: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 09:07:13 -0700

East Region
Cleveland, OH
2:10 PM (8) George Mason vs. (9) Villanova (TNT)
With most of the fans in attendance for the afternoon session likely showing up to support the top overall seed in Ohio State, that won't be a game full of suspense (apologies to UTSA). The first game of the day at the Q should be however, with CAA regular season champion George Mason taking on a reeling Villanova. The Wildcats have lost seven of their last nine games, and their being banged up both mentally and physically is not the best way to enter the Big Dance. How healthy is forward Mouphtaou Yarou, who injured his right shoulder in a nasty fall against USF in last week's Big East Championship? Corey Stokes has been dealing with turf toe for weeks, but the biggest issues for Villanova are their bruised psyche and the fact that they haven't shot particularly well from the field.

George Mason is very solid when it comes to defending the three, allowing opponents to shoot 31.3% for the year. Corey Fisher and Maalik Wayns will need to not just find shots but find quality shots if the Wildcats are to win. Jim Larranaga's Patriots are an experienced group that doesn't lack for talent, led by senior Cam Long and junior Ryan Pearson. But just as tough a matchup for Villanova could be forward Luke Hancock, whose versatility makes him a point forward for the Patriots. Hancock leads George Mason in assists while also being a good scoring option, and if he's allowed to make things happen under little pressure the Patriots more than likely win the game.

4:40 PM (1) Ohio State vs. (16) Texas-San Antonio (TNT)

Charlotte, NC
7:15 PM (2) North Carolina vs. (15) Long Island (CBS)
9:45 PM (7) Washington vs. (10) Georgia (CBS)
The final game of the night in Charlotte could end up being the first game of another run to the Sweet 16 for the Huskies, who also have guard Venoy Overton back in the fold after being suspended for the Pac-10 Tournament. All that Washington did in LA las weekend was win the tournament, marking the second consecutive season in which Lorenzo Romar's team bounced back from a disappointing regular season to make a run come tournament time. The main reason why: point guard Isaiah Thomas, who took over the tournament last week and could have a similar impact this weekend. Georgia's had their issues in the backcourt because despite their athletic ability there isn't a great decision maker in the group. Dustin Ware won't be their best player on the floor (Travis Leslie and Trey Thompkins) but he could be their most important. If the Bulldogs can't keep Thomas under wraps and Matthew Bryan-Amaning plays well up front for the Huskies, Georgia's going home.

Cleveland
7:27 PM (6) Xavier vs. (11) Marquette (TruTV)
Xavier and Marquette could be the most entertaining game of the day for the simple fact that both teams will fight you for 40 minutes and even longer if required. Chris Mack has one of the best backcourts around, and while the lion's share of the attention is given to Tu Holloway sidekick Mark Lyons can play as well. Marquette's gotten consistent production from Darius Johnson-Odom but they need another perimeter player to step up alongside DJO and Jimmy Butler in order to advance. The frontcourt will provide an interesting contrast as well, with Xavier having the edge in size with Kenny Frease and Jamel McLean but guys such as Butler and Jae Crowder will force these two to be more mobile on the perimeter. Xavier's been the better defensive team throughout the course of the season, something that could pay dividends down the stretch.

9:57 PM (3) Syracuse vs. (14) Indiana State (TruTV)

Southwest Region
Chicago
1:40 PM (2) Notre Dame vs. (15) Akron ((TBS)
4:10 PM (7) Texas A&M vs. (10) Florida State (TBS)
Florida State may regain the services of their best player (Chris Singleton) for this one, which would make an outstanding defense (36.4% FG defense) even better. The Aggies aren't too shabby on the defensive end either, and just like the Seminoles they have their issues on the offensive end. Khris Middleton's been the leading scorer for A&M and fellow forward David Lobeau also averages double figures on the season. The key for both teams will be the shot-making ability of their guards, something that's been an issue for much of the season. B.J. Holmes is averaging nearly 10 points per game for A&M while Florida State's Derwin Kitchen averages about the same for the Seminoles. One of these two players could determine the outcome, with 65 points being the watermark for the winner.

Tulsa, OK
6:50 PM (1) Kansas vs. (16) Boston University (TBS)
9:20 PM (8) UNLV vs. (9) Illinois (TBS)
Yet another team with high-level talent but disappointing results will be on display with Illinois taking on UNLV in the final game of the day in Tulsa. The Fighting Illini stumbled into the NCAA Tournament, and if they learned anything from Michigan State last night it's that the sense of relief that comes with simply making the tournament can get you in trouble. UNLV will defend Illinois the entire 94 feet, meaning that how committed Demetri McCamey and company are to competing will be apparent from the opening tip. UNLV forces 16 turnovers per game and they're also a slightly better rebounding team than Illinois. Anthony Marshall, Chace Stanback and Tre'Von Willis are just three of the players Lon Kruger will look to for points on the perimeter, and while the Illini are bigger inside with Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale toughness has been an issue for some time. If UNLV can impose their will on the game look out; Illinois hasn't shown themselves to be a truly assertive team in this area for some time.

Chicago
7:20 PM (3) Purdue vs. (14) Saint Peter's (TNT)
9:50 PM (6) Georgetown vs. (11) VCU (TNT)
How big will the return of point guard Chris Wright be for the Hoyas? He went through practice without any kind of brace or padding on his previously broken left hand, and the return of the senior couldn't come soon enough for Georgetown. John Thompson III's team has struggled offensively in Wright's absence, and his return should free things up for Jason Clark and Austin Freeman. But the Rams are also good on the perimeter, led by senior point guard Joey Rodriguez and wing Bradford Burgess. Unlike Clemson, VCU was given a reasonable time slot after playing in the "First Four" in Dayton, something that should help keep the fatigue away as the game wears on. Georgetown is the better field goal percentage defense team of the two but the Rams force an average of nearly 14 turnovers per game. We'll find out early just how healthy Wright is, with the game being decided one way or another as a result.

West Region
Tulsa
12:15 PM (4) Texas vs. (13) Oakland (CBS)
2:45 PM (5) Arizona vs. (12) Memphis (CBS)
The games in Tulsa may provide the best doubleheader in the afternoon window, beginning with Texas taking on Oakland. But the second game will be fun for a variety of reasons, notably the fact that Memphis head coach Josh Pastner takes on his alma mater. The young Tigers had their share of issues during the season, due in large part to their youth, but they won the conference tournament by beating UTEP on their home floor in the final. If freshman Joe Jackson plays well at the point the Tigers have a shot, because for as much as the Arizona guards have improved as sophomores consistency can be an issue at times. But the Wildcats, who won the Pac-10 regular season crown, also have one of the best players in America in forward Derrick Williams. Tarik Black, Will Coleman and the rest of the Memphis frontcourt will have their work cut out for them this afternoon, and if Williams is able to go off look for the Wildcats to advance.

Charlotte
12:40 PM (8) Michigan vs. (9) Tennessee (TruTV)
Yes Kyrie Irving's return is important with regards to the path that the entire NCAA Tournament takes, but there's practically no way that Hampton wins that game. So the focus here is on the 8/9 matchup, featuring a Michigan team that's grown up as the season's worn on and a Tennessee program that's struggled with issues regarding focus all season long. Bruce Pearl's job status has been discussed this week, and one gets the feeling that on-court results will mean nothing when the time for a review comes up. How focused can a team that's made a habit of playing to the level of its competition be given the swirling rumors? Tobias Harris and Scotty Hopson are two very good players who can score in a variety of ways, but Michigan will counter with Darius Morris. Tim Hardaway Jr. has improved his play throughout his freshman campaign, and while the Volunteers may have more highly regarded individual talents that may not be enough to get them through to the next round. And given John Beilein's coaching ability it would come as no surprise if the Wolverines were to win.

3:10 PM (1) Duke vs. (16) Hampton (TruTV)

Washington vs Georgia: Preview & Predictions

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 19:01:52 -0700

(7) Washington vs. (10) Georgia

East Region - Charlotte

March 18 - 9:45 CBS

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.

Stars to Watch:

G Isaiah Thomas (Washington)

G Travis Leslie (Georgia)

Stars to Watch:

G Isaiah Thomas (Washington)

G Travis Leslie (Georgia)

Vegas Odds:

Washington -5

Predictions:

RealTimeRPI: Washington 77 - Georgia 70

KenPom: Washington 75 - Georgia 69

CollegeHoops.net Betting Pick: Georgia

Faces Winner Of: North Carolina vs LIU

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. .

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