Houston

Jon Teitel's "Coaching Greats": Lamar and Houston's Pat Foster

Jon Teitel — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 14:54:24 -0700

In the latest installment in his "Coaching Greats" series CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with Pat Foster, who went 134-39 in six seasons at Lamar. From there Foster went on to Houston, where he led the Cougars to multiple NCAA tournament appearances. Before becoming a head coach Foster was an assistant at his alma mater (Arkansas) under Eddie Sutton, and the Razorbacks reached the Final Four in 1978.

Jon Teitel: You were an All-SWC basketball player at Arkansas and played first base on the baseball team. Which sport did you like more, and which one were you better at?

Pat Foster: I liked basketball better because I was more successful at it, but I like baseball as well and have been a baseball fan ever since.

JT: You spent eight years as an assistant to coach Eddie Sutton with fellow assistant Gene Keady at your alma mater, where you helped recruit guys like Sidney Moncrief. How were you able to convince Moncrief to come to Arkansas?

PF: Moncrief, Marvin Delph and Ron Brewer came here because every time one of the assistants went into a meeting that is what we focused on. A lot of times the person who gets credit for recruiting a player is not the person who actually makes it happen. I introduced Sidney and Ron to the program, and Marvin's high school coach and I were friends. I used some contacts that I had in Little Rock who helped convince Moncrief to come here. There are many factors that go into recruiting so I cannot take all the credit.

JT: One of your former players at Arkansas was Houston Nutt, who later became a successful Division I football coach. What was he like as a basketball player, and did you ever imagine that he could become an SEC football coach?

PF: I could see it. I really liked him and I knew his dad. He was a really quick basketball player and could handle the ball. He was fancy before fancy was popular: no-look passes, behind-the-back dribbles, etc. He was not a great shooter and got caught behind a perimeter that was well-stacked. He did not play a lot but was easy to coach, as his dad was a coach as well.

JT: What are your memories of the 1977 NCAA tournament (after finishing the regular season at 26-1, Arkansas suffered a six-point loss to Wake Forest thanks to 26 points [10-17 FG] from Rod Griffin, and Sutton was so upset by that loss that he allegedly refused to speak to any of the players over the following summer)?

PF: That story about Sutton is not true. I had a lot of tough losses but that one is still in the Top 5 for me, even though I was just an assistant. It was a sad time for us because we led by 14 in the second half. It was a brutal situation but Eddie did not take it out on his players.

1978 NCAA tournament

JT: Delph had 23 points and ten rebounds while playing all 40 minutes in a four-point win over UCLA. What was the mood of the team before facing the legendary Bruins, and what did you learn from the 1977 tournament that helped you in 1978?

PF: Experience calms a player down and also gives them confidence. I feel that the 1977 loss helped us win in 1978. We were not cocky at all but were supremely confident...and damn good! The five starters fit together very well even though none of them were alike as basketball players. Jimmy Counce and Moncrief were the two best leaders I was ever around as players. Moncrief made himself a great player: he was only a 6-4 post player in high school. Sutton coached the game based on tough defense. If they drove to the basket then we would pop them.

JT: Regional MVP Brewer hit a 25-foot shot with just over one minute left to clinch a three-point win over Fullerton, during which NBC broadcaster Al McGuire labeled Brewer, Delph and Moncrief the "Triplets". How good a shooter was Brewer, and how did the guys like the nickname?

PF: They liked the nickname just fine. They had supreme respect for authority. Brewer's shot was more like a 17-20 footer. Fullerton came back down the floor and Brewer made a great defensive play to knock the ball loose.

JT: Tourney MOP Jack Givens had 23 points and nine rebounds in a five-point win by eventual champion Kentucky. How devastating was that loss, and where does that Kentucky team rank among the best you have ever seen?

PF: Any loss is a bad loss but it was not a devastating, hang-your-head loss because they were better than we were. Eddie instilled in his players that they had to play to the best of their ability for as long as they could. We really did all that we could do against Kentucky.

JT: Coach Sutton called for a "Brewer Special", so Brewer backed down Bill Hanzlik and made a turnaround jumper at the buzzer in a two-point win over Notre Dame in the third-place game to finish the season 32-4 and tie the then-NCAA record for most wins in a season. Where does Brewer's shot rank among the most clutch you have ever seen, and what was the reaction like when it went in?

PF: At that point in our development as a program it was a real big shot. I do not say this a lot but Brewer might be the most talented player I was ever around. He was a great jump shooter but could also take it to the rim over a bigger player.

1979 NCAA tournament

JT: Steve Schall had 18 points (9-9 FG) and eight rebounds in a win over Weber State after you had beaten them in the first round of the 1978 tournament. Was Schall just "in the zone" that night, and do you think Weber was getting sick of playing you every year in the tourney?

PF: Probably. Current UCLA coach Ben Howland played for Weber State that year. That was probably Schall's best game.

JT: Moncrief had 27 points and 12 rebounds while playing all 40 minutes in a win over a Louisville team that won the NCAA title the following year. What made Moncrief such a great player, and could you tell at the time that Denny Crum had the pieces in place to make a long run in the tournament the following season?

PF: After Louisville won the title in 1980 Crum told me that he used Moncrief as an example of a guy who could score against anybody. "Possessed" is the best word I could use to describe Moncrief in big games. He just refused to let us lose. He was not the kind of guy who would talk in the huddle, he just led by doing it. Our lanky freshman Scott Hastings dunked a ball in the Louisville game that goes down in my memory as one of the biggest plays I have ever seen.

JT: Larry Bird had 31 points and ten rebounds while playing all 40 minutes in a two-point win by eventual runner-up Indiana State. Was Bird as unstoppable as he seemed, and was he the best opponent you ever faced?

PF: He was the best I ever faced and the most outstanding college basketball player I have ever seen in person. He was like Pistol Pete but under control. God he was great!

JT: What are your memories of the 1981 NCAA tournament in your first year as head coach at Lamar (Lamar beat Missouri by four, but Rudy Macklin scored 31 points in a win by 1-seed LSU)?

PF: We did as well as we could. LSU ended up making it all the way to the Final Four. Missouri had some great players like Jon Sundvold and Steve Stipanovich, but they had a bad game while we shot the lights out. We were the closest thing toGonzaga at that time in terms of a mid-major who could win games in the tournament.

JT: What are your memories of the 1983 NCAA tournament (Lamar beat Alabama then fell to Villanova by two)?

PF: The Alabama game was one of the best games that we ever played. Alabama had won the SEC title but before they knew it we had beat them. The conference tournaments have given the mid-majors a better shot of pulling an upset.

JT: The following season you had a three-point loss to Karl Malone's Louisiana Tech team which snapped Lamar's 80-game home court winning streak at the Beaumont Civic Center (which was the longest in the nation). How close did you come to winning that game, and what was the reaction like after the streak ended?

PF: It was a last-second deal. We had a 6-9 guy named James Gulley who could take it inside and score on Malone, but one great player will beat three good ones every time. Several years later Malone saw me in the airport, walked up to me and said, "Have you talked to Gulley lately?!"

JT: After previously withdrawing your name from consideration as a replacement for the retiring legendary head coach Guy Lewis at Houston, you changed your mind and accepted their offer. Why did you withdraw your name at first, and what made you later change your mind?

PF: I withdrew because they would not make a decision as to whether they wanted me or not. They later came back to me with an offer that I could not refuse. Guy Lewis is one of the nicest coaches I have ever met and was nothing but professional.

JT: What are your memories of the 1990 NCAA tournament (Carl Herrera scored 19 points in a four-point loss to UCSB)?

PF: That is one of my Top 5 worst and is probably equal to the Wake Forest loss. It hurt me really bad. A lot of the Houston fans switched their allegiance from the Cougars to the Rockets once Hakeem Olajuwon left the former for the latter.

JT: In 1992 you were named Southwest Conference Coach of the Year. What did it mean to you to win such an outstanding individual honor?

PF: I did not remember that. I guess it is better than not getting it! I took every game as an Arkansas assistant coach as personally as if I was the head coach because all of my friends were there. When you win a game or an award you just worry about what you will do next to keep it going, and that pressure is what eventually breaks coaches down.

JT: What are your memories of the 1992 NCAA tournament (Jon Barry scored 17 points in a five-point Georgia Tech victory)?

PF: Bobby Cremins beat me. We had them beat even though they had a few future pros on that team (including Travis Best and Matt Geiger), but could not hang on for the win. They hit an amazing three-pointer towards the end. If you coach long enough you will win games you are not supposed to win...but then it will turn on you!

JT: You had three players who were in the 1992 Olympics: Carl Herrera (Venezuela), Rolando Ferreira (Brazil), and David Diaz (Venezuela). How were you able to recruit so many foreign players, and what impact do you think foreign players will continue to have on college basketball in the 21st century?

PF: A lot, I hope. Many of those guys are throwbacks to the 1970s in terms of fundamentals because the foreign coaches have learned a lot after decades of clinics run by American coaches. Recruiting is the dark side of sports and has ruined a lot of good players, but foreign players were not scarred by that at all. I have always had a great feeling for foreign players and like to see them get the opportunity to come here and play. It is impossible to judge eligibility because some of them get money for playing on club teams. The system is different.

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

PF: I have thought about this more than you think. I have some regrets that I did not really do as much for my players as I should have. Winning becomes everything and the pressure to keep winning and supporting the program caused me to worry. Instead of chewing a kid's rear end out I should have had more compassion for the pressure that they were under. After he went to the NBA, Moncrief said that it would be great if coaches could remember how hard it is to play and if players could remember how hard it is to coach.

Foster is also on Jon's list of best coaches in Southland history.

Central Arkansas: Don Dyer (1979-1993) 285-145, 3 conference titles, 3-time conference COY
Lamar: Pat Foster (1980-1986) 134-49, 2 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles
McNeese State: Ralph Ward (1952-1971) 282-194, 6 conference titles, 1 NAIA title
Nicholls State: Rickey Broussard (1990-2002) 150-183, 2 NCAA tourneys, 2 conference titles, 3-time conference COY
Northwestern State: Mike McConathy (1999-present) 200-204, 2 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, 2-time conference COY
SE Louisiana: Billy Kennedy (1999-2005) 80-92, 1 NCAA tourney, 2 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
Sam Houston State: Bob Marlin (1998-2010) 225-131, 2 NCAA tourneys, 4 conference titles, 3-time conference COY
Stephen F. Austin: Danny Kaspar (2000-present) 219-136, 1 NCAA tourney, 2 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
Texas A&M CC: Ronnie Arrow (1999-2007) 134-91, 1 NCAA tourney, 1 conference title, 1-time conference COY
Texas State: Mike Miller (1994-2000) 87-79, 1 NCAA tourney, 2 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
UT Arlington: Eddie McCarter (1992-2006) 179-211, 1 conference title
UTSA: Tim Carter (1995-2006) 160-152, 2 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title, 1-time conference COY

Poll: How Many CUSA Teams Will Make the Tournament?

Shawn Siegel — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 08:47:30 -0800

College Hoops Friday Recap: Bulldogs Win 2K Sports Classic

Raphielle Johnson — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 02:11:12 -0800

Just over a week ago there were many questions about the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the aftermath of their loss to defending MAC Tournament champion Akron, one that featured listless play from their big men and uneven play from their guards. But just as Rick Stansbury's team can be a bit maddening in one week they can be just as productive the next, which is what happened in New York this week. Led by 2K Sports Classic MVP Arnett Moultrie (19 points, 10 rebounds) the Bulldogs never trailed as they beat Arizona 67-57 in the championship game.

Defensively the Bulldogs performed well, limiting Arizona to 40.4% shooting from the field and finishing a plus-4 on the glass. Offensively it wasn't a pretty game for either team, with Jesse Perry (11 points, 10 rebounds) and Solomon Hill (12 points, nine rebounds) leading the way for the Wildcats, but when it came time for the "tough" plays to be made more times than not it was a Bulldog getting it done.

"This game was about effort and toughness," said Stansbury. "If you look at the stat sheet, you see who the tougher team was on that floor tonight. We hustled, played hard and made all of the effort plays you need to make to win a championship."

Point guard Dee Bost didn't have his best shooting performance as he made just three of twelve shots from the field, but he did dish out six assists and grab five rebounds to make up for the lack of scoring. Renardo Sidney, who still has a way to go from a stamina standpoint, scored eight points hand had his moments during his 20 minutes on the floor.

While Perry is a frontcourt player who can score inside as well as step out to 15 feet and beyond, Arizona doesn't have another interior scoring threat and that cost them against Mississippi State. Kyle Fogg and Jordin Mayes were quiet offensively and outside of a few flashes freshmen Nick Johnson and Josiah Turner didn't provide much more off the bench.

These games were good tests for both teams, but it can be argued that the Bulldogs needed the title a little more given their start to the season. The question now is whether or not Mississippi State can use the title as a springboard to bigger and better things. They have the potential to, but whether or not the job is done depends entirely on them.

Other Notable Happenings

1. Rough day for the CAA as both Drexel and VCU fall.
The Colonial Athletic Association has done a very good job in recent years of earning at-large bids, with league contenders getting the job done in non-conference play and then going on to stage a riveting league race. And while that may still happen, losses by Drexel and VCU on Friday won't help matters. VCU's loss to Georgia Tech, with Glen Rice Jr.'s second half shooting sparking a Yellow Jacket rally, isn't one that will boggle the mind. Shaka Smart's team is trying to adjust to new roles and that will be a work in progress.

But for Drexel to follow up their impressive performance at Rider with a loss in the Paradise Jam to Norfolk State isn't what was expected of Bruiser Flint's team. After being nearly unstoppable on Tuesday, Samme Givens scored just seven points and point guard Frantz Massenat finished with seven turnovers. As a result of these defeats VCU finds themselves needing a win on Sunday to avoid an 0-3 Charleston Classic and Drexel somewhat lucks out with a game against Virginia. Both teams will need to be better offensively if they're to be successful.

2. Houston scores 52 points in the second half and beats Arkansas in Little Rock.
This wasn't a true home game for Mike Anderson's Razorbacks, so that may have taken a little away from the vigor of the crowd. But to give up 52 points in a half has to be something that the Hogs' head coach will focus on in their next practice. Kirk Van Slyke scored 19 points off the bench to lead five Houston players in double figures in an 87-78 win over Arkansas on Friday night as James Dickey's team moved to 3-0 on the season.

Houston shot 52.5% from the field, and while their offensive efficiency (114.5) was lower than their season average (118.8) the Cougars were able to execute at a similar level against stiffer competition. However, Houston needs to improve on their ball security if they're to make a push in Conference USA as they turned the ball over 23 times. If Coach Dickey's team can shore things up in that regard, it may not take waiting for their very good 2012 recruiting class to arrive in order to have an impact.

3. Kendall Williams rebounds from a brutal performance to help lead New Mexico to a win at Arizona State.
After going a combined 0-for-13 from the field in the Lobos' loss to New Mexico State earlier this week usual starters Kendall Williams and Drew Gordon came off the bench on Friday. And both bounced back, with Williams scoing 16 points while also grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out seven assists while Gordon accounted for 13 points and nine rebounds in a 76-71 win at Arizona State.

Four Lobos finished in double figures, and the play of freshman guard Hugh Greenwood was also something to take note of. Greenwood made just two of ten shots from the field but he dished out five assists without a turnover, and the season wears on the Australian will most likely get the bulk of the minutes at the point. Steve Alford's team needed a positive result heading into next week's 76 Classic, and they got one.

Quick Hitters

1. Robbie Hummel will be the focal point for Purdue but senior point guard Lewis Jackson will be just as important. Jackson scored a game-high 26 points to go along with three assists in the Boilermakers' 85-77 win over Temple in a Puerto Rico Tipoff semifinal.

2. Virginia put forth a poor performance in their 57-55 loss to TCU at the Paradise Jam, with Joe Harris' game-winning three pointer falling just short as time expired. Not the best way for Tony Bennett's team to go about showing that they could be the fourth-best team in the ACC.

3. To say the least it's going to be a tough year for Boston College, but this was expected given their personnel losses combined with the need to rely on their young players. But to loss 86-64 to Holy Cross isn't the best way to go about that.

4. Gary Waters' defense was at it again as Cleveland State beat St. Bonaventure 67-64 due in large part to the 23 turnovers they forced. Trevon Harmon led three CSU starters in double figures with 20 points while D'Aundray Brown and Jeremy Montgomery scored 12 apiece.

5. Keith Dambrot's Akron team fell to Valparaiso 62-59 with Kevin Van Wijk scoring 21 points and grabbing ten rebounds on the night, with the foul line proving to be the deciding factor. Valpo attempted 38 free throws to Akron's seven.

Three Notable Performances

1. G Scott Machado (Iona)
17 points and 15 assists in Iona's 94-88 win over Western Michigan in a consolation bracket game in the Puerto Rico Tipoff

2. G Carl Jones (Saint Joseph's)
38 points (a tournament record), four rebounds, four assists and three steals in the Hawks' 78-70 loss to Seton Hall in a Charleston Classic semifinal.

3. G T.J. McConnell (Duquesne)
15 points, 11 assists and ten rebounds in the Dukes' 97-81 win over District of Columbia.

College Basketball Coaching Changes 2010

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 11:20:06 -0700

We'll track coaching changes as they occur. If there's any missing on here, or if you have contract info to add (including salaries), please mention it in the comments section.

Latest 8/20: UIC tabs Wisconsin assistant to replace Collins

BCS Conferences

Auburn
Was: Jeff Lebo
Is: Tony Barbee (UTEP)

Boston College
Was: Al Skinner
Is: Steve Donahue (Cornell)

Clemson
Was: Oliver Purnell
Is: Brad Brownell (Wright State)

Colorado
Was: Jeff Bzdelik
Is: Tad Boyle (Northern Colorado)

DePaul
Was: Jerry Wainwright
Interim: Tracy Webster
Is: Oliver Purnell

Iowa
Was: Todd Lickliter
Is: Fran McCaffery (Siena)

Iowa State
Was: Greg McDermott
Is: Fred Hoiberg (VP of Basketball Operations, Minnesota Timberwolves)

Oregon
Was: Ernie Kent
Is: Dana Altman (Creighton)

Rutgers
Was: Fred Hill Jr.
Is: Mike Rice (Robert Morris)

Seton Hall
Was: Bobby Gonzalez
Is: Kevin Willard (Iona)

St. John's
Was: Norm Roberts
Is: Steve Lavin (not coaching)

Wake Forest
Was: Dino Gaudio
Is: Jeff Bzdelik (Colorado)

High-Majors

Boise St
Was: Greg Graham
Is: Leon Rice (Gonzaga Asst)

Central Florida
Was: Kirk Speraw
Is: Donnie Jones (Marshall)

Charlotte
Was: Bobby Lutz
Is: Alan Major (Ohio State Asst)

Creighton
Was: Dana Altman
Is: Greg McDermott (Iowa State)

East Carolina
Was: Mark McCarthy
Is: Jeff Lebo (Auburn)

Fordham
Was: Dereck Whittenburg
Interim: Jared Grasso (Interim)
Is: Tom Pecora (Hofstra)

Hawaii
Was: Bob Nash
Is: Gib Arnold (USC Asst)

Hofstra
Was: Tom Pecora
Was: Tim Welsh
Is:Mo Cassara (Hofstra Asst)

Houston
Was: Tom Penders
Is: James Dickey (not coaching)

Indiana State
Was: Kevin McKenna (Oregon assistant)
Is: Greg Lansing (Indiana State assistant)

Marshall
Was: Donnie Jones
Is: Bill Herrion (Pittsburgh Asst)

Tulane
Was: Dave Dickerson
Is: Ed Conroy (Citadel)

UNCW
Was: Benny Moss
Interim: Brooks Lee
Is: Buzz Peterson (Appalachian State)

UTEP
Was: Tony Barbee
Is: Tim Floyd (not coaching)

Mid-Majors

Columbia
Was: Joe Jones
Is: Kyle Smith (Saint Mary's assistant)

Cornell
Was: Steve Donahue
Is: Bill Courtney (Virginia Tech Assistant)

Dartmouth
Was: Terry Dunn
Interim: Mark Gaupe (Interim)
Is: Paul Cormier (scout; Golden State Warriors)

Illinois-Chicago
Was: Jimmy Collins (retiring effective August 31st)
Is: Howard Moore (Wisconsin assistant)

Iona
Was: Kevin Willard
Is: Tim Cluess (CW Post)

Louisiana-Lafayette
Was: Robert Lee
Is: Bob Marlin (Sam Houston St)

Louisiana-Monroe
Was: Orlando Early
Is: Keith Richard (LSU assistant)

Penn
Was: Glen Miller
Interim: Jerome Allen
In: Jerome Allen (Interim)

Siena
Was: Fran McCaffery
Is: Mitch Buonaguro (Siena Asst)

Toledo
Was: Gene Cross
Is: Tod Kowalczyk (UWGB)

UC-Irvine
Was: Pat Douglass
Is: Russell Turner (Golden State Warriors assistant)

UWGB
Was: Tod Kowalczyk
Is: Brian Wardle (UWGB Asst)

Wright State
Was: Brad Brownell
Is: Billy Donlon (Wright State Associate head coach)

Low-Majors

Appalachian State
Was: Buzz Peterson
Is: Jason Capel (Appalachian State assistant)

Central Arkansas
Was: Rand Chappell
Is: Corlis Williamson (Arkansas Baptist)

Chicago State
Was: Benjy Taylor
Is: Tracy Dildy (UIC assistant)

Citadel
Was: Ed Conroy
Is: Chuck Driesell (Maryland assistant)

Gardner-Webb
Was: Ricky Scruggs
Is: Chris Holtmann (Ohio Asst)

Hartford
Was: Dan Leibovitz
Is: Joe Gallagher (Boston College Asst)

Holy Cross
Was: Sean Kearney
Is: Milan Brown (Mount St. Mary's)

Howard
Was: Gil Jackson
Is: Kevin Nickleberry (DePaul assistant)

Mount St. Mary's
Was: Milan Brown
Is: Robert Burke (American assistant)

Northern Colorado
Was: Tad Boyle
Is: B.J. Hill (Northern Colorado assistant)

Robert Morris
Was: Mike Rice
Is: Andrew Toole (Robert Morris assistant)

Sam Houson St
Was: Bob Marlin
Is: James Hooten (Asst)

St. Francis (NY)
Was: Brian Nash
Is: Glenn Braica (St. John's assistant)

Wagner
Was: Mike Deane
Is: Danny Hurley (St. Benedict's HS)

Midwest Region Preview & Predictions

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:59:20 -0700

It’s come to be expected that when a team is named the top overall seed for the NCAA Tournament they’ll receive a favorable draw in regards to the other seeds in their region. No such luck for the Big 12 Champion Kansas Jayhawks, who will begin their run at a second national title in three years against Lehigh. At least Bill Self’s team was taken care of in regards to travel; should open in Oklahoma City, and would head to St Louis should they reach the Sweet Sixteen.

But due to seeding issues the S-curve wasn’t truly followed, meaning that next in the Midwest are the Big Ten champion (Ohio St) and the Big East Tournament runner-up (Georgetown) that boasts a Top 10 RPI and one of the nation’s best schedules in regards to strength. Both teams have significant question marks going into the Tournament; the Buckeyes go no more than six players deep in their rotation, meaning that early foul trouble or an injury could be a concern. But they do feature super-star Evan Turne, named CollegeHoops.net's National Player of the Year. As for Georgetown, their concern will be having a consistent scorer to supplement the trio of Greg Monroe, Chris Wright and Austin Freeman. Jason Clark could have a lot to say about their tourney hopes, as he did in their conference tournament run.

The region also includes a pair of conference tournament champions who needed the automatic bids in order to get in, and they’ve both got the ability to wreak havoc now that they’re in the Field of 65. New Mexico St has been working towards the WAC Tournament since they regained the services of Troy Gillenwater in early February; the ability to bring a player of his caliber and size off the bench (14 ppg & 6 rpg) is something that many teams can’t match. They face perennial power Michigan St in the 5-12 game, a team that's reached the Sweet Sixteen 8 times in the last 12 years.

And San Diego St, who would have been a close shave to say the least without the Mountain West’s automatic bid, has a talented nucleus that will test Tennessee in the first round. D.J. Gay at the point can more than hold his own with Bobby Maze (if not win that individual battle) and the frontcourt is stocked with the likes of Billy White, Malcolm Thomas and freshman Kawhi Leonard just to name three contributors.

This is a very good region and don’t be surprised if there are a few “upsets” in regards to seeding. Houston, led by scoring-machine Aubrey Coleman could be a tough out for Greivis Vasquez and 4th seed Maryland. Other potential seed upsets could include the aforementioned Aztecs of SDSU and ACC finalist Georgia Tech playing against Oklahoma St. That game features multiple NBA prospects including Big 12 Player of the Year James Anderson and Tech's Gani Lawal & Derrick Favors.

Kansas will be the prohibitive favorite to get to Indianapolis (they're also CollegeHoops.net's official National Champion pick) but they certainly aren’t going to simply roll through the region.

Predictions

Midwest Region Champ: Kansas

Sweet 16: Michigan State, Georgetown and Ohio State

Best 1st Round Game: #9 Northern Iowa vs. #8 UNLV

1st Round Upset Possibility: #11 San Diego State vs. #6 Tennessee

Scary Underachiever: #10 Georgia Tech

Sweet 16 “Crasher”: Georgia Tech

Players who can shoot their team to an upset:

G Aubrey Coleman (Houston), G Armon Bassett (Ohio), G Kwadzo Ahelegbe (Northern Iowa), G Tre’Von Willis (UNLV)

All-Midwest “Team”:

G Sherron Collins (Kansas), G Greivis Vasquez (Maryland), G/F Evan Turner (Ohio State), F Wayne Chism (Tennessee), C Greg Monroe (Georgetown)

Poll: Most Likely 13 or Below Upset?

Shawn Siegel — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 23:23:25 -0700

Houston 2010 NCAA Tournament Capsule

Joel Welser — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 08:25:04 -0700

Houston Cougars

Conference USA (19-15, 7-9)

Big Wins: 2/24 Memphis (92-75), 3/11 vs Memphis (66-65), 3/13 vs UTEP (81-73)

Bad Losses: 11/27 vs San Diego (65-72), 2/27 at SMU (83-94), 3/6 at Tulane (76-79)

Last NCAA Appearance: 1992, First Round loss to Georgia Tech

Coach: Tom Penders (12-10 in 10 NCAA appearance)

Why They Can Surprise:

Houston wins games by taking care of the ball and most of that credit goes to a trio of great starting guards. Desmond Wade runs the show and dishes out about five assists per game. Wade is not much of a scorer, but he can keep the defense honest with his outside shooting. More importantly, Wade keeps this team under control while they run up and down the floor. Kelvin Lewis does not handle the ball too often, but he does create turnovers with his stellar defense. Lewis is also a superb outside shooter and can score 20 points on any given day.

Yet, it is Aubrey Coleman who is the star of this team. Averaging nearly 26 points per game, Coleman is one of the most dynamic scorers in the nation. Not only can he knock down the long ball with consistency, but he does an amazing job using his 6-4 frame to attack the basket. Coleman gets to the free-throw line nine times per game and that is a huge number for a guard. You can bet when Houston needs a big bucket, Coleman will be taking the shot.

Why They Can Disappoint:

Coleman and Lewis are forced to do their part on the glass due to lack of other options. Maurice McNeil, Kendrick Washington and Sean Coleman have all started in the frontcourt, but this is one of the worst rebounding teams in the nation. McNeil has turned into a relatively consistent interior scorer and is easily the frontcourt’s best rebounder. Yet, he has not even been starting late in the year. That has put a lot of pressure on Washington and Sean Coleman. Washington is just a freshman and his best days are yet to come. Sean Coleman is more of a shooter than a true forward and he does not even average two rebounds per game.

Who To Watch:

As long as the Cougars create turnovers and do not turn the ball over themselves, they can overcome their awful rebounding margin and win games. It has worked all season long, or at least for four games in March. That means Coach Tom Penders’ squad needs to score in bunches if they hope to pull off another upset in the NCAA Tournament and bench players Adam Brown and Zamal Nixon will have to play a big role. Brown is the shooter off the bench and can provide a nice offensive spark. Nixon is a solid backup point guard and will spell Wade, or even join him on occasion if the team feels they need yet another ball handler on the floor.

Probable Starters:

Desmond Wade, Sophomore, Guard, 5.9 ppg, 4.9 apg

Aubrey Coleman, Senior, Guard, 25.6 ppg, 2.6 apg, 7.4 rpg

Kelvin Lewis, Senior, Guard, 15.3 ppg, 1.2 apg, 4.0 rpg

Kendrick Washington, Freshman, Forward, 4.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg

Sean Coleman, Senior, Forward, 3.9 ppg, 1.8 rpg

Key Roleplayers:

Adam Brown, Junior, Guard, 7.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg

Maurice McNeil, Junior, Forward, 8.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.2 bpg

Zamal Nixon, Junior, Guard, 5.8 ppg, 1.8 apg

By the Numbers:

Scoring Offense: 78.7 (20^th in nation, 2^nd in conference)

Scoring Defense: 75.0 (305, 12)

Field-Goal Percentage: 41.9 (245, 10)

Field-Goal Defense: 46.1 (304, 12)

Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 8.2 (23, 2)

Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 35.3 (112, 4)

Free-Throw Percentage: 71.1 (102, 2)

Rebound Margin: -8.7 (331, 12)

Assists Per Game: 12.4 (215, 6)

Turnovers Per Game: 9.4 (2, 1)

Follow Joel Welser's Postseason Capsules & College Basketball Previews on Twitter @Joel_Welser and on his Facebook page. Joel will be back in June for his annual Top 144 Teams in 144 Days preview on CollegeHoops.net

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College Hoops Saturday Recap: Houston and New Mexico State Steal Bids

Raphielle Johnson — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:48:29 -0800

It's the worry of nearly every team on the bubble this time of the year: the bid thief. The team that had little or no chance of getting into the NCAA Tournament makes a run in its conference tournament, grabbing the automatic bid and possibly snatching a chair at the table from another team in college basketball's answer to "musical chairs". Houston (Conference USA) and New Mexico State (WAC) were the two teams to do that on Saturday, and the question now is which at-large candidates will be headed to the NIT as a result of these outcomes.

Tom Penders' Cougars completed a run of four wins in four days in Tulsa with an 81-73 victory over regular season champ UTEP, who's no shoo-in when it comes to an at-large berth, and that was with the nation's leading scorer struggling from the field. Aubrey Coleman, who averages 26.0 points per game, shot 4-for-20 from the field and scored thirteen points to go along with nine rebounds. But Kelvin Lewis more than made up for it, making eleven of his fifteen field goal attempts in scoring a game-high 28 points. Now 19-15 on the season, the Cougars were nowhere near the bubble before this weekend and there was talk that this would be Penders' last go-round at UH. But that's all on the backburner for the newly-crowned champs, and with the combo of Coleman and Lewis this is a team that could shoot its way to an upset next week.

As for the New Mexico State Aggies, they took out Utah State 69-63 in Reno to win the WAC Tournament title. Jared Quayle led Utah State with 25 points but it wasn't enough to make up for two starters (Tyler Newbold and Pooh Williams) going scoreless and Tai Wesley shooting 5-for-13 from the field. Jahmar Young led New Mexico State with 19 points while Troy Gillenwater, a player who rejoined the team in early February and was thought to be a key cog in their stretch run, added 15 off the bench. Utah State, which had its' 17-game win streak snapped, should be an at-large team but there's no better feeling than to know that you're definitely in. They'll join the likes of UTEP, Illinois and Virginia Tech (among many others) in sweating out these final hours.

Three Key Happenings

1. Washington wins the Pac-10 title; what does this do to Cal? Neither team playing in the Pac-10 final was a shoo-in to go dancing without the league's automatic bid, and the team that was in worse shape going into the game ended up with the crown. Washington won 79-75 in Los Angeles, sealing the game on a pair of Venoy Overton free throws with 2.1 seconds remaining. Winners of their second consecutive conference tournament title, the Huskies can look forward to their seeding and who they could play (as well as where) next week. The wait isn't so easy for the Golden Bears, who have the misfortune of winning their first regular season title in 50 years in a year that's been historically bad for the Pac-10.

They've got the top non-conference strength of schedule ranking in America but they also lost all of their toughest games than built that ranking. Theo Robertson was out for much of the non-conference slate due to injury, but while that helps explain losses to the likes of Syracuse, Ohio State and Kansas it doesn't explain how they lost five Pac-10 games with him in the lineup. They're the one team on the bubble that could be hurt the most by the perception of their league; the Pac-10's taken an absolute beating all year long and that likely won' t change on Selection Sunday. Will they get in? This will make for an interesting case.

2. Minnesota whips Purdue and can now win the Big Ten title. Tubby Smith's Golden Gophers took one more step towards an NCAA Tournament bid by taking full advantage of a brutal offensive performance by Purdue, winning 69-42 in the Big Ten semis. Up next for Minnesota is Ohio State and depending upon who you ask they may have done enough to get into the Big Dance without a win on Sunday. But you never know, meaning that they'd be best served to win that game and earn the automatic bid. Ralph Sampson III led the Golden Gophers with 13 points and Minnesota won the rebounding battle 45-20 as Purdue shot 27.6% from the field.

What helps Minnesota in regards to their resume is four RPI Top 50 wins; the non-conference strength of schedule ranking of 61st isn't bad either. But you can never be sure, especially when you're a team that was barely on the radar as recently as two weeks ago. E'Twaun Moore shot 1-for-14 from the field for Purdue, who hasn't looked good in either of their two biggest games since losing Robbie Hummel to a torn ACL (Michigan State, Minnesota). The loss could drop them at least a full seed line (if not two) on the bracket and you have to wonder about their Final Four hopes if they can't find a third scorer to pick up the slack if Moore or Ja'Juan Johnson goes cold.

3. Kansas beats Kansas State for the third time this season. There was talk going into the Big 12 title game that Frank Martin's Wildcats could make a run at a one-seed with a win over the Jayhawks in Kansas City. No such luck as they fell to Kansas for the third time this season, this one by the final of 72-64. Marcus Morris led all scorers (and four Jayhawks in double figures) with 18 points while also grabbing eight rebounds, and the Jayhawks made up for shooting 44.2% from the field by attempting thirty-one foul shots (making 24) on the night. Denis Clemente and Jacob Puller combined to score 30 points but the other three Wildcat starters scored eleven and that was essentially the difference. Bill Self's team likely locked up the top overall seed while K-State likely finds itself on the two line (or possibly the three) depending upon what happens with Ohio State and Duke on Sunday.

Big East Title Game Recap

Top Three Games

1. West Virginia 60, Georgetown 58 (Big East final) Under ten seconds...Da'Sean Butler...you should know the rest. If not, check the Big East final recap link above.

2. Ohio State 88, Illinois 81 (2OT) (Big Ten semifinal) This one went back and forth in Indianapolis, but late-game execution cost the Illini at the both the end of regulation and the first overtime. And now they have to worry as to whether or not those issues cost them an at-large bid as well. Evan Turner finished with 31 points, 10 rebounds and six assists while Demetri McCamey led the Illini with 22 points and five assists.

3. Richmond 89, Xavier 85 (OT) (Atlantic 10 semifinal) Kevin Anderson and David Gonzalvez combined to score 63 points as the Spiders advanced to a meeting with Temple for the Atlantic 10 Tournament title.

Three Notable Performances

1. F Marqus Blakely (Vermont) 24 points, 18 rebounds, five assists and an absolutely filthy dunk in the Catamounts' 83-70 win over Boston University to win the America East Tournament title.

2. G/F Evan Turner (Ohio State) 31 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in the Buckeyes' 88-81 double-overtime win over Illinois.

3. G Kelvin Lewis (Houston) On a day in which leading scorer Aubrey Coleman struggled from the field the senior came up big, scoring 28 points on 11-for-15 shooting to lead the Cougars to an 81-73 win over UTEP to win the Conference USA Tournament title.

2010 CollegeHoops.net High-Major All-Americans

CHN — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:42:20 -0800

Talk about making an impact. Darington Hobson's first season of D1 basketball was certainly a memorable one. The CollegeHoops.net High-Major Player of the Year led New Mexico to an MWC title by averaging 16.2 ppg, 9.3 rpg, and 4.5 apg. He's joined on the High-Major First Team by guards Jordan Crawford, Jimmer Fredette, and Randy Culpepper, as well as WAC Player of the Year Luke Babbitt.

There are very few seniors on this year's High-Major All-America teams, meaning we should be in for a treat next year. Teams with multiple All-Americans include Gonzaga (Matt Bouldin & Elias Harris), New Mexico (Hobson & Roman Martinez), and UTEP (Culpepper & Derrick Caracter.)

CollegeHoops.net High-Major Player of the Year:

Darington Hobson, New Mexico, Jr

CollegeHoops.net First-Team High-Major All-America
G Jordan Crawford, Xavier, So
G Jimmer Fredette, BYU, Jr

G Randy Culpepper, UTEP, Jr
F Darington Hobson, New Mexico, Jr
F Luke Babbitt, Nevada, So

Second-Team High-Major All-America
G Matt Bouldin, Gonzaga, Sr
G Elliot Williams, Memphis, So
G Kevin Anderson, Richmond, Jr
F Aubrey Coleman, Houston, Sr

F Omar Samhan, Saint Mary's, Sr

Third-Team High-Major All-America
G Juan Fernandez, Temple, So
G Tre'von Willis, UNLV, Jr
G Jahmar Young, NMSU, Jr
F Derrick Caracter, UTEP, Jr
F Chris Wright, Dayton, Jr

Fourth-Team High-Major All-America
G Adrian Oliver, San Jose St, Jr
G Roman Martinez, New Mexico, Sr
F Elias Harris, Gonzaga, Fr
F Tai Wesley, Utah St, Jr

F Hassan Whiteside, Marshall, Fr

Honorable Mention

TJ Campbell, Portland
Osiris Eldridge, Illinois St
Jackson Emery, BYU
Dairese Gary, New Mexico

Paul George, Fresno St

Kyle Gibson, Louisiana Tech
David Gonzalvez, Richmond
Rodney Green, La Salle
Adam Koch, Northern Iowa

Jerome Jordan, Tulsa
Kawhi Leonard, San Diego St

Dior Lowhorn, San Francisco

Mickey McConnell, Saint Mary's

Elijah Millsap, UAB
Dinma Odiakosa, Illinois St

Jared Quayle, Utah St
Damian Saunders, Duquesne

Ben Uzoh, Tulsa

Check back tomorrow for our Mid-Major All-America Teams.

Also: National All-Americans

Poll: Who Will Win the CUSA Tournament?

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:26:28 -0800