Lipscomb

Jon Teitel's "Forgotten Legends": Lipscomb Great John Pierce

Jon Teitel — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 13:57:04 -0400

In the lastest installment in his "Forgotten Legends" interview series, CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with Lipscomb great John Pierce. During his four seasons in Nashville, Pierce lit up scoreboards to the tune of 4,230 points, a college record that stands to this day. After a five-year career in Australia and Japan, Pierce returned to Nashville where he's now a teach and coach at Franklin Road Academy.

Jon Teitel: In 1990 you came to Lipscomb and were roommates with Philip Hutcheson, who finished his career as college basketball's all-time leading scorer (4106 PTS). What was he like as a roommate, and did you feel pressure to fill his large shoes after he graduated?

John Pierce: Living with Philip was a great way for me to start my time at Lipscomb. Not only was he a great basketball player, but he was also a great friend. At that time coach Don Meyer tried to room seniors with incoming players, so I was able to learn not just about how the basketball team worked but also all about the school. I could not have asked for a better roommate. He never seemed upset to have a freshman rooming with him, but instead he included me throughout the campus in different activities.

It would have probably been good if he had washed his sheets at least once every semester, but that is a different story! I did not feel like I had to fill his shoes after he graduated because at that time we were playing different positions. As a redshirt I was learning behind our power forward Darren Henrie (a two-time All-American), so I was much more focused on Darren and how I could possibly try to play like him and fill his shoes.

JT: You had 22 points and nine rebounds in 21 minutes in your Lipscomb debut. How were you able to come in and contribute from the start?

JP: Being able to have a redshirt year really helped me grow physically, as I went from 6-5, 185 pounds as a high school senior to 6-7, 235 pounds in my first year on the court for Lipscomb. I was also able to learn about the system that Coach Meyer used so I was ready mentally. I was also fortunate to get to play center in a system whose main focus was to get the ball inside, which meant that I was always going to get opportunities to score.

JT: In 1992 you scored 54 points to break Bruce Bowers' school record. Was it just one of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were "in the zone", and did Bowers (who was in the stands that night) say anything to you after the game?

JP: I never talked to Bowers (which is sort of ironic because he was in the stands that night), but it was not that strange for former players to be at games. It was a very tight community and we are all extremely proud to have played for the Bisons and Coach Meyer. There is a level of understanding that we all have for each other as far as what we went through in our time at Lipscomb.

That particular night was like most games as far as our focus as a team, to get the ball inside first and take perimeter openings from there. I guess the team we were playing was not as focused on stopping the post game that night! Usually teams would focus on doubling the post or slowing the post down if we got rolling in there, and then the perimeter would open up.

JT: On February 24, 1994 you made a bank shot against Cumberland to break Hutcheson's record and become college basketball's all-time leading scorer. What do you remember about that night, and how did it feel to break the record?

JP: I remember several things. I remember the excitement in McQuiddy Gym that night: it was sold out and there were news crews there to cover the story, as well as many of my family members from out of town and friends from all over. I felt a lot of pressure to get the record that night because of the amount of people that were there to see it. I remember that Cumberland really tried to stop the ball from coming inside to me so my teammate Andy McQueen (who had a college basketball record 515 career three-pointers) made a school-record 11 threes that night. I remember I shot a lot of free throws I think the referees wanted to see the record broken as well. I remember getting the game ball after breaking the record and throwing it to my father who was sitting in my parents' usual seats on the rail of the second level.

JT: Your 4,230 career points is still the most ever scored by a college basketball player. Do you think anyone will ever break your record, and how proud are you of that achievement?

JP: I really do not think much about it: it is really more of a testament to the program that I played for. I have great pride to have played for Lipscomb and Coach Meyer. I am sure the record will be broken one day: that is what records are for. It is obvious to me that it would only be broken by someone who played all four years for a small school. Anyone at a Division I school who was averaging 30 points per game as an underclassman would opt to play in the NBA before graduating.

JT: You also hold the school record with 1,497 career rebounds. How were you able to get so many rebounds while making so many shots?

JP: We got a lot of shots up because we had a lot of possessions. I was never a very good rebounder or defender. I liked scoring too much so I focused too much on that. However, because we had so many possessions there were a lot of rebounds to be had in our games.

JT: You were named All-American during each of your four seasons, and you were named NAIA National Player of the Year in both 1993 and 1994. Were you just better than everyone else on the court, and why did you decide to go to Lipscomb instead of to a Division I basketball power?

JP: I chose Lipscomb for a couple of reasons. I really wanted to go to Vanderbilt but they did not want me. As I was a 6-5, 185-pound post player coming out of high school I was sort of an in-between guy, so my choice of Division I colleges was pretty limited. I really wanted to go to a program where I had a chance to win a championship and the Division I schools that offered me a scholarship did not have championship-caliber teams at that time. I also had a lot of respect for Coach Meyer and felt that he would improve my game and improve me as a person more than most of the other coaches who recruited me.

My best friend from high school Mark Campbell (who has won four NAIA titles since 2005 as coach of the Union University Lady Bulldogs) had already signed with Lipscomb, which I knew would make the transition to a new place easier for me. The Lipscomb players also did a very good job of recruiting me when I was in high school. I remember Philip Hutcheson coming to many of my high school games during my senior year. He even came to some of my soccer games in the spring after basketball season was over!

JT: After graduating you played five years in Australia and Japan. What did you learn from the experience, and how did it compare to college basketball?

JP: My time in Australia and Japan was fantastic. I was able to take my wife with me for the last three years overseas, and it was a chance for us to almost have an extended honeymoon. We were able to see things we would never had a chance to see and spend so much time together getting to know each other. We moved back to Nashville when she got pregnant with our first child.

Basketball overseas was good but more of a business, and I missed the camaraderie of my college teams. I made some very good friends in my travels around the world (some who I still talk with regularly), and got to visit places that I never would have gone to otherwise. Overall, basketball has given me many opportunities that I am extremely thankful for.

JT: You currently are a teacher and coach at Franklin Road Academy in Nashville. Which job do you enjoy the most, and what do you hope to do in the future?

JP: I do not see a lot of difference in my roles as a teacher and coach, but I do enjoy the coaching more than the teaching. There are more opportunities for kids to learn some life lessons when you are on the court than when you are in the classroom. As a coach, the best part of being a coach is when you can get a kid to totally invest in the idea of "team" over the idea of "self", and that opportunity presents itself many more times on a basketball team than in a classroom. I think I will always be coaching in some form or fashion for the rest of my life.

Pierce is also on Jon's list of best fantasy player in Atlantic Sun history.

East Tennessee State: Keith Jennings (1991) 1,988 PTS (#4), 983 AST (#1), 334 STL (#1), 223 3PM (#2), 49.3 3P% (#1), 86.1 FT% (#2), All-American, 2-time conference POY
Florida Gulf Coast: Bryan Crislip (2005) 985 PTS (#3), 373 REB (#2), 606 AST (#1), 194 STL (#1)
Jacksonville: Ben Smith (2010) 1,971 PTS (#2), 515 AST (#1), 230 STL (#1), 220 3PM (#2)
Kennesaw State: Ronell Wooten (2008) 1,633 PTS (#2), 615 REB (#5), 262 3PM (#1)
Lipscomb: John Pierce (1994) 4,230 PTS (#1), 1,497 REB (#1), 4-time All-American, 2-time national POY
Mercer: James Florence (2010) 2,287 PTS (#1), 436 AST (#2), 222 STL (#1), 242 3PM (#1)
North Florida: Donny Lotz (2005) 1,412 PTS (#2), 660 REB (#2), 77 BLK (#2), 105 STL (#4)
Northern Kentucky: Craig Sanders (2002) 2,007 PTS (#1), 356 3PM (#1)
Stetson: Kerry Blackshear (1996) 1,826 PTS (#1), conference POY
USC Upstate: Ulysses Hackett (1992) 2,688 PTS (#1), 908 REB (#2), 227 STL (#3), 67.1 FG% (#1), 3-time All-American, 2-time conference POY

Monday's Recap: Technical Sparks UConn Rally

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 03:29:58 -0500

On the heels of losses at Seton Hall and Rutgers, with the leadership capabilities of the team being questioned both within and outside of the locker room, Connecticut needed a win over West Virginia in a big way. But the Huskies didn't play with that sense of urgency out of the gates, as the Mountaineers grabbed eight offensive rebounds to UConn's zero on their way to a 33-28 lead. If the rebounding wasn't bad enough the turnovers were, as the Huskies turned the ball over nine times leading to 15 Mountaineer points.

Things weren't much better for Jim Calhoun's team at the start of the second half either, eventually trailing 46-36 with just under 12 minutes to go following a technical foul on Calhoun (Truck Bryant made one of two free throws) followed by a Deniz Kilicli jumper. But that technical provided the spark that UConn needed as they went on a 17-3 run to take control of the game. The end result: a 64-57 win with Jeremy Lamb scoring 25 points and Andre Drummond adding 20 to go along with 11 rebounds and three blocks.

After [the free throws] we got a stop, [and then] we got a score," said Lamb, who bounced back from a quiet eight point performance against Rutgers. "It got real loud and just pushed us through that time."

West Virginia attempted 18 more shots but couldn't take advantage, shooting just 32.3% from the field on the night. Drummond was just as important in defending Kevin Jones as the early favorite for Big East Player of the Year accounted for 22 points but grabbed just five rebounds, well below his conference-leading average of 11.5 caroms per game. Truck Bryant's offensive struggles didn't help the visitors either, as he scored eight points by made just two of thirteen field goal attempts.

The problem for West Virginia was their lack of patience in finding quality looks. While Jones and (when on) Bryant are both capable scorers, they have to rely on each other in order to be successful offensively. That got them in trouble during UConn's run, and it's something that will need to improve as the Mountaineers get deeper into Big East play.

As for UConn, while there's still plenty to be improved upon Monday's win was a step in the right direction. Alex Oriakhi played better while Shabazz Napier made up for missing all six shots by dishing out eight assists. UConn was punched in the mouth and thanks to their coach they responded, something that didn't happen in New Jersey.

Other Notable Happenings

1. Cincinnati picks up a much-needed victory for their resume at Georgetown.
Somewhat lost in the midst of Cincinnati's seven-game win streak, which was ended by St. John's on Saturday, was the fact that the opposition for Mick Cronin's team didn't do a whole lot for their resume. Cincinnati entered Monday night's game at Georgetown with a strength of schedule of 258 according to realtimerpi.com, and they still hadn't picked up a win that would qualify as a suitable counter for the home loss to Presbyterian. But Sean Kilpatrick scored a career-high 27 points and Dion Dixon added 22 as the Bearcats beat the 11th-ranked Hoyas 68-64 at the Verizon Center. With Cashmere Wright struggling, scoring just two points and missing all six shots from the field, the Bearcats needed Kilpatrick and Dixon to step up and they did.

Late in the game Cincinnati spread out the Hoyas, using their two leading scorers to take advantage of defensive mismatches to attack the rim. As for Georgetown, as strange as it may seem to say their relatively equal shot selection may have done them in. Hollis Thompson made all five of his shots in the first half, only to attempt one (which he missed) in the second. Four starters scored in double figures with a high of 14 points (Thompson and Jason Clark), but neither got the number of shots they could have commanded. Cincinnati played the hot hands, and the end result was a much-needed road win.

2. Oklahoma fails to bounce back from Saturday's loss, falling in Stillwater to the rival Cowboys.
Few expected Lon Kruger's team to beat Kansas at home on Saturday, so there wasn't much made of their defeat. But despite the fact that Monday's matchup with Oklahoma State was a rivalry game, it was one the Sooners had to have. But OU couldn't hit anything from the field until it was too late, making 32.4% of their shots in the 72-65 loss to the Cowboys. Travis Ford's team didn't shoot much better from the floor, making just 38.6% of their field goals, but they made up for it by getting to the foul line.

Oklahoma State finished 23-for-30 from the charity stripe while the Sooners made 13 of 20, and the ten-point edge gave OSU the cushion they needed to move to 2-1 in league play. Le'Bryan Nash led the way with 21 points and seven rebounds and Keiton Page added 18 for the victors, while OU's Steven Pledger made just three of thirteen shots from the field. Now 0-3 in league play, Oklahoma finds themselves in a position where they likely need to sweep their two-game home stand against Kansas State and Texas Tech.

3. Saint Mary's takes care of business, but the bigger issue is the defensive woes of their opponent.
Randy Bennett's Gaels did what they had to do in order to remain tied with Gonzaga atop the WCC standings. Matthew Dellavedova scored 27 points, Rob Jones 18 and Stephen Holt added 11 and ten rebounds, but it isn't ad if the visiting Dons did a great job of making things difficult on the Gaels. Saint Mary's shot 67.3% from the field and 11-for-19 from beyond the arc in the 87-72 win, dropping San Francisco to 0-4 in WCC play.

Defense has been the problem for Rex Walters' team, as they've allowed three of their four league opponents to shoot 52% or better from the field. The one exception was Loyola Marymount, who beat the Dons by a point on New Year's Eve. The talent and athletic ability are definitely there, with the likes of Angelo Caloiaro and Perris Blackwell leading four players averaging double figures, but if the desire to defend isn't there as well more results like this will occur. Once thought to be a team in the middle of the WCC who could give the three favorites fits, San Francisco finds themselves in desperate need of a league win.

Quick Hitters

1. There were two mid-year transfer decisions announced on Monday, one of which being former Pittsburgh forward Khem Birch deciding to transfer to UNLV. Birch, who was a McDonald's All-American out of high school, is a big pickup for Dave Rice's program. Could this help the Runnin' Rebels with marquee 2012 recruits Shabazz Muhammad and Anthony Bennett? That remains to be seen, but at the very least to get a player of Birch's caliber into the program is an important get for UNLV.

2. The other announcement came from former Texas A&M guard Jamal Branch, who has decided to transfer to St. John's. Branch's addition adds some depth to the Red Storm backcourt, and with Steve Lavin essentially using this season to recruit while recuperating from prostate cancer treatment he needed a commitment to spark things on the trail. Maybe this is it.

3. Morgan State played without suspended head coach Todd Bozeman and dropped a close one 57-55 at Savannah State. Rashad Hassan's dunk with 1:12 remaining proved to be the difference as the Tigers moved to 3-1 in MEAC play, and the Bears dropped to 1-1 and 3-10 overall. Norfolk State leads the conference with a 4-0 record.

4. Also in the MEAC North Carolina Central handed Bethune-Cookman their first league loss, winning 69-64 in Durham. Ray Willis scored 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds in leading the Eagles while Dominique Sutton added 11 and ten rebounds. Talent-wise, Levelle Moton's team can hang with any team in the conference.

5. While Lipscomb's win over Belmont on Friday opened things up in the Atlantic Sun, Monday's results showed just how wide open the league could be. Six teams sit one game behind the first-place Bruins in the loss column, and it's anyone's guess who the best option to challenge Belmont may end up being. One option: Mercer, who boasts a 4-2 league record (12-7 overall) after winning 73-66 at USC Upstate. Justin Cecil, who finished with a game-high 26 points, sparked a 14-1 second half run that helped the Bears take control of the action.

6. It's pretty much a lock at this point in the season that the automatic qualifier out of the SWAC will be playing in one of the four first-round games, but that doesn't mean that the race will lack intrigue. Texas Southern and Mississippi Valley State lead the league with matching 3-0 marks as the Delta Devils won 81-69 at Alabama A&M. Falando Holmes led five MVSU players in double figures with 18 points, and the Delta Devils scored 45 second half points.

Three Notable Performances

1. G Sean Kilpatrick (Cincinnati)
Career-high 27 points (10-16 FG) and four steals in the Bearcats' 68-64 win at #11 Georgetown.

2. G Matthew Dellavedova (Saint Mary's)
27 points (9-13 FG), six rebounds and four assists in the Gaels' 87-72 win over San Francisco.

3. C Andre Drummond (Connecticut)
20 points (9-11 FG), 11 rebounds and three blocks in the Huskies' 64-57 win over West Virginia.

College Hoops "Roundtable": Favorite Games This Season

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 13:18:07 -0500

The first three questions in this five-part series involved legal matters that have effected college basketball, from conference realignment to the new recruiting guidelines and finally the updated scholarship model. Now comes the fun part: discussing the action that will take place on the floor. This question focuses on games that the panel is looking forward to, removing the December 3rd showdown between North Carolina and Kentucky (who isn't looking forward to that one?).

Question: Removing North Carolina/Kentucky, what's one game (conference or non-conference) that you're looking forward to watching this season?

Peter Robert Casey (Five-Star Basketball)
UConn at Syracuse on February 11th. 'Cuse is on its way out [of the Big East]. Both teams are expected to be inside the Top 10 nationally, and the Huskies and Orange always serve up a great treat. They'll be jockeying for a top-standing in the Big East, and the Dome will be rocking. It's already circled on my calendar.

Rob Dauster (Ballin' is a Habit)
Kentucky-Louisville on New Year's Day is going to be awesome. I'm personally hoping that when Duke and North Carolina play on the last day of the regular season, the ACC title will be on the line. Syracuse-UConn will be awesome as well. I'll be able to attend the Battle of the Boulevard this year -- the rivalry game between Lipscomb and Belmont. Can that count?

Brian Ewart (VUHoops.com)
I really can't wait to see UNC vs. Michigan State in the Carrier Classic. The whole concept is amazing and while Michigan State is coming into the game unranked, I still think it could end up being a very good game.

In the Big East, I'm pretty excited to see UConn and Syracuse go at it. Both are expected to be great teams this year and those two games could have a big effect on the conference title. It will also be interesting to see how UConn fans react to having Syracuse, a team on its way out the conference door, in their house.

Troy Machir (Ballin' is a Habit)
There might not be that many games that we can look to from this far away and already hype up, with UNC/Kentucky being the obvious exception. That being said, I think there are a bunch of games down the road that, if things pan out, could make for fantastic match-ups. I am really looking forward to this season's Maui Invitational, which features the most-loaded field in the tournament's history. I also am looking forward to the annual Crosstown Shootout between Xavier and Cincinnati. The Bearcats have made improvements every year since Mic Cronin took over, and this very well could be the year they reap the rewards of hard work. Likewise, Xavier is one of the deepest teams in the country, and features one of the most exciting guards in the county, Tu Holloway. Plus, I mean, it's a non-conference cross-town rivalry. Both these teams could suck and this game would still be entertaining.

Ray Mernagh (NBE Sports)
There's a lot of games I'm looking forward to, just like the rest of us I'll be that guy that watches a countless number of them over the next five months. One game I'll be at that I'm looking forward to is New Year's Day when Cincinnati comes to Pittsburgh. Cincinnati is getting a lot of love but they need a big win on the road to make me a believer. They will be a veteran group with a gaudy record but how they perform on New Years Day will tell us a lot about how "real" they are.

Jon Pence (SCACCHoops.com)
If you're taking away the UNC/UK game, then I'll go with a matchup that sees Duke go play a true road game at Ohio State in late November. The Blue Devils rarely play true road games, but Duke will get a tough matchup with Ohio State. The fun thing to watch will be Jared Sullinger against Duke's duo of Mason and Miles Plumlee. How will Austin Rivers fare in his first road game? This should be a fun one.

Jon Teitel (CollegeHoops.net)
I will do one of each. Conference game(s) of the year: it is hard to improve upon a buzzer-beater in a one-game playoff to decide who goes to the NCAA Tournament, but after last spring's Harvard-Princeton classic I recommend scanning your satellite to see them play twice in a two-week span (February 11th/24th). Non-conference game of the year: since most non-conference games happen early in the season before teams have a chance to form an identity and share some time together on the court, I am pretty psyched for the late-season Xavier-Memphis match-up (February 4th). Senior Tu Holloway will try to show the NBA scouts that he is better than his 1-8 FG/5 TO performance in last year's NCAA Tournament loss to Marquette, while hometown super-frosh Adonis Thomas should have 20 games under his belt by then.

Ben Weixlmann (Heard This Blog)
What a loaded question. Just because I imagine several folks will pick more obvious answers, I'll try to go outside the box. Because I cover the Atlantic 10, I'm really excited to see Xavier-Memphis. The Musketeers are loaded yet again, and head coach Chris Mack has done an incredible job with his talent in Cincinnati. Memphis head man Josh Pastner is no slouch, either, and his squad figures to be a dark horse Final Four contender. Can't wait for that one on Feb. 4.

My Thoughts
There are some very attractive games on the schedule of both varieties, but if I had to pick one matchup I'm going with either of the two battles between Fairfield and Iona in the MAAC (January 27th and February 24th). The Gaels are have the nation's second-best assist man from last season (Scott Machado) back along with a number of key returnees including "Optimus Prime" (Mike Glover). Add in some talented newcomers in Rashad James and Arizona transfer Lamont "MoMo" Jones and Tim Cluess won't lack for options.

But the same goes for Fairfield under first-year head coach Sydney Johnson, with Derek Needham anchoring the backcourt and transfers Rakim Sanders (Boston College) and Desmond Wade (Houston) ready to go. These two are expected to be the class of the MAAC, meaning that the stakes should be high as well.

Next question: Outside of the generally accepted top four (UNC/UK/Ohio State/UConn) who do think can win the national title?

College Hoops Tuesday Recap: Buckeyes Dominate Purdue

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 03:35:45 -0500

If you were upset that the game between Florida and Georgia wouldn't end in time for the tip between Purdue and Ohio State that's understandable. Because by the time ESPN switched its coverage from Athens to Columbus the Buckeyes had just about ended the game, going on a 17-1 run following a Purdue basket to make the score 6-4 with 17:27 remaining. From that point forward the top-ranked Buckeyes would lead by no fewer than 13 and by as many as 31 in their 87-64 pasting of a good Purdue team, serving notice not only to the rest of the Big Ten but to America as well that they're going to be around for awhile. Jared Sullinger led six Buckeyes in double figures with 17 points, and while JaJuan Johnson led all scorers with 22 points Ohio State did a good job of limiting his teammates' scoring opportunities.

"We were all about defense at this point," said Sullinger after the game. "We knew E'Twaun (Moore) and JaJuan Johnson would get their shots. We just wanted to limit everyone else from getting good shots."

And that they did. Johnson shot a respectable 9-for-17 from the field, but Moore (4-for-13) and the rest of the Boilermakers (combined 11-for-33) struggled in both making shots and finding quality looks. Ohio State also controlled the boards, out-rebounding Purdue 42-28 with Jon Diebler's eight caroms leading the way. The Buckeyes had eight second-chance points to Purdue's zero in the first half, making it near impossible for the Boilermakers to hang around. Offensively Ohio State surpassed their efficiency percentage average of 119.3, finishing with a 126.1 thanks to 55.2% shooting from the field and 20 assists on 32 made baskets. Had Purdue not been able to score 15 points off of 12 turnovers, with 11 of those points coming in the second half, the margin of victory would have been closer to that highest-lead mark of 31. The Buckeyes were scary good at points on Tuesday night, and given the amount of experience on this team along with their unselfishness this group doesn't look like the type that will rest on their accolades.

"I think it's a big message to send, I think Jared is a great player but we have to put people around him that can make plays," remarked Aaron Craft, who finished with 11 points and six assists. "I think that's a big part of our team, that everyone can make baskets."

Where does this leave the Big Ten race? The race may be for second instead of first as the Buckeyes tightened their grip on the top spot with this victory. But Purdue should definitely be a part of the conversation for second if not the favorites to finish in that position. Minnesota lost guard Al Nolen to a foot injury and Michigan State announced Monday night that backup point guard Korie Lucious was suspended for the remainder of the season due to a violation of team rules. When a game of this magnitude results in a blowout the immediate impulse is to ask "what's wrong" with the defeated party. But while Purdue didn't show much in the way of toughness on the boards (along with their offensive issues) this one was more about what the Buckeyes did right. (quotes courtesy of Ohio State Athletics)

Other Notable Happenings

1. Syracuse may be in more trouble than many thought after last week.
Tuesday night proved to be a bad one for the Orange, who now have some issues that may have more to them instead of the fact that they were playing a pair of Top 10 teams last week. Jeremy Hazell announced his return to old form with 28 points on 10-for-17 shooting and as a team Seton Hall shot 54% from the field in an impressive 90-68 whipping of the home team at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse made a change to their starting lineup, shifting Rick Jackson into the middle of their 2-3 zone and starting James Southerland instead of freshman Fab Melo. But that didn't help much as Southerland was quiet for many of his 19 minutes, and Seton Hall continued to make perimeter shots (10-17 3PT). Surprisingly the Pirates also out-rebounded the Orange by a margin of 43-38, breaking even in points in the paint (36 apiece) and outscoring Syracuse 23-17 in fast break points. But while the Pirates deserve credit for playing as impressively as they did, the question of what's wrong with Syracuse must be asked.

Scoop Jardine, who was one of the best players during their undefeated start, has struggled in each of the last three games. And the freshman center platoon of Melo and Baye Moussa Keita hasn't become increasingly ineffective as the level of competition has elevated. Southerland hasn't produced in his expanded role of late, meaning that it may be time to give C.J. Fair a shot at more minutes. For Syracuse to never lead in a game against a team they took care of couple weeks ago is a serious red flag at this stage in the season. There's no doubt that Jim Boeheim and his staff can find the answers, but what about the players? They're the ones who need to not only find the solutions but put them to work.

2. Lipscomb adds some intrigue to the Atlantic Sun race.
After their win at East Tennessee State on Sunday night the Belmont Bruins were one win away from finishing a three-game road swing undefeated and essentially putting the first nail in the coffin in regards to the Atlantic Sun regular season race. But city rival Lipscomb, a team they'd blown out 88-52 just 13 days prior, had other ideas. Adnan Hodzic scored 26 points while Brandon Brown added 17 and 10 rebounds, and Jordan Burgason knocked down some crucial shots late in the second half to hand the Bruins their first league loss by the final score of 73-64. The problem for Belmont was that they went cold in the second half, shooting just 25.8% from the field and being outscored 42-24 by the Bisons. For the game Belmont shot just 39.7% from the field and made nine of thirty-one three pointers, and when you're not hitting shots you can't pressure the opposition or make up for 16 turnovers. What does Lipscomb's win mean to the A-Sun race? Besides giving ETSU a "second life" (the Bucs visit Belmont on February 17th) there really isn't a lot to hang onto. Belmont wasn't invincible, something that all involved knew going into the game. They'll be fine, and maybe the win could be a catalyst of sorts for a Lipscomb club that hasn't lived up to preseason favorite status thus far.

3. Virginia Tech loses the kind of game they can ill-afford to drop if they're to make the Big Dance.
As the college basketball season gets closer to its climax the focus becomes the resume, especially when discussing teams that aren't necessarily locks to make the NCAA Tournament. And while quality wins get the bulk of the attention bad losses are also part of the equation, and while Georgia Tech has played better basketball recently losing 72-57 to the Yellow Jackets would constitute a "bad loss" from a resume standpoint for Virginia Tech. Iman Shumpert posted the first triple-double in Georgia Tech history since Kenny Anderson did it in December of 1989 and Brian Oliver scored 28 points in the win. But it was their defense (or the Hokies' inability to make shots) that truly carried the night.

Virginia Tech shot 39.3% from the field and 1-for-11 from beyond the arc and with Malcolm Delaney scoring just eight points (eight turnovers as well) Seth Greenberg's club was in trouble. Jeff Allen (18 points, 11 rebounds) and Victor Davila (13 and seven) did the majority of the scoring, but the Hokies aren't winning games when Delaney and Erick Green combine to shoot 6-for-26 from the field. Losing games like this puts undue pressure on a team, especially one that's looking to grab that elusive NCAA bid. And with the ACC being what it is this season, Virginia Tech isn't going to have as many chances at standout wins as say a Marquette or St. John's in the Big East. With Miami and NC State next up the Hokies need to go 2-0 heading into their visit to Boston College on February 5th.

Top Three Games

1. (23) Florida 104, Georgia 91 (2OT)
An Erving Walker three pointer from about 30 feet out sent the game into a second overtime and Florida's offense eventually proved to be too much in Athens. The Gators scored the first nine points of the second overtime on their way to a deceptive 13-point victory. Walker and Kenny Boynton scored 24 points apiece while Vernon Macklin added 23 for the victors while Travis Leslie led the Bulldogs with 21. Trey Thompkins' follow just before the horn sent the game into overtime tied at 73.

2. Florida Gulf Coast 111, Stetson 103 (3OT)
It took fifteen extra minutes to do so but the extra work was worth it to Florida Gulf Coast, who won their second consecutive road game after winning just one of their prior eight road contests. Christophe Varidel led the victors with 29 points and Anthony Banks added 14 while Joel Naburgs and Tyshawn Patterson led the Hatters with 20 points apiece.

3. (6) Kansas 82, Colorado 78 The Jayhawks were able to hang on in Boulder despite heavy hearts, and rebounding was the key despite the absence of forward Thomas Robinson. Kansas out-rebounded Colorado 37-23 for the game, scoring 21 second-chance points to the Buffaloes' two. Josh Selby led four double-figure scorers for Kansas with 17 points while Colorado's Alec Burks led all scorers with 25.

Three Notable Performances

1. G Iman Shumpert (Georgia Tech) 22 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists in the Yellow Jackets' 72-57 win over Virginia Tech in Atlanta.

2. G Jeremy Hazell (Seton Hall) 28 points, nine rebounds and four assists in the Pirates' 90-68 whipping of (10) Syracuse at the Carrier Dome.

3. F Troy Barnies (Maine) 20 points and 14 rebounds in the Black Bears' 64-50 win over New Hampshire. Maine is now 7-1 in America East play.

HOOPS TALK LIVE WEDNESDAY 6-7 PM EST

College Hoops Tuesday: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 18:03:04 -0500

No mistaking what the biggest game of the night is, especially when considering the conference title implications involved. Top-ranked Ohio State (20-0, 7-0) host #12 Purdue (17-3, 6-1) in a matchup of the top two teams in the Big Ten and a win over the Boilermakers would put Thad Matta's team on the fast track towards another conference championship. But this game also provides one of the best individual matchups of the season to date, one that will have the attention of both NBA scouts and college fans. Freshman Jared Sullinger (17.9 ppg, 10.2 rpg) has been an absolute beast on the block for the Buckeyes, most recently going for 27 points and 16 rebounds in Saturday's win at Illinois. Soft hands, nimble feet and a level of body control rarely seen in young big men make him essentially a lock for the NBA Draft lottery whenever he decides to leave Columbus.

The opposition will be senior JaJuan Johnson (20.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg), who may not have the muscle of Sullinger but is more than capable of doing damage inside. Johnson can also step out and knock down the mid-range jumper, something that could lead to the Boilermakers using him in a few more pick and pop situations in order to get the freshman away from the rim. But Sullinger's done a good job of avoiding foul trouble, fouling out of just one game and picking up four fouls in two others. And Sullinger isn't the only interior player that Purdue has to worry about tonight. Dallas Lauderdale is one of the most physical players in the country, and in some regards his role is similar to that of "security" guard to the star freshman. He doesn't score much and only grabs 4.2 rebounds per game in 18 minutes of action but the senior understands his role and plays within it. Add in freshman Deshaun Thomas, who has played better in wins over Iowa and Illinois, and you've got three players inside who can give the Boilers fits.

Purdue has other interior contributors who can play for a few minutes if needed, but Matt Painter's club relies on its perimeter players to help out Johnson on the boards. E'Twaun Moore (18.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg) has played extremely well for Purdue, and his ability to not only make shots but also defend and rebound helps make up some of the production lost with Robbie Hummel sitting out. Even point guard Lewis Jackson averages three rebounds per game and Kelsey Barlow and D.J. Byrd can also grab a few boards from their perimeter positions. And with a rebound margin below a plus-4 it will indeed need to be "all hands on deck" in dealing with an Ohio State frontcourt that holds an overall size advantage. For the Buckeyes wings William Buford and David Lighty grab four rebounds per contest and with both possessing a variety of skills they're tough covers for anyone.

But the one player who has played well all season for Ohio State despite the many questions before the season began is Aaron Craft. Naysayers wondered how the Buckeyes would come close to replicating last year's success without a ball-handler like an Evan Turner much less an experienced point guard but the freshman has delivered. Craft averages 4.9 assists while turning the ball over just two times per contest, and in Saturday's win over Illinois he played very well defensively against Demetri McCamey. Add in the passing skills of Buford, Lighty and Jon Diebler (who can also shoot with the best of them from the perimeter) and you've got an unselfish club that doesn't care who gets the headlines. Purdue is also fortunate to have a rotation that not only understands but accepts their roles, a quality that will make them a factor come NCAA Tournament time. As for the Big Ten race, that verdict likely comes tonight.

Other games to keep an eye on include a Kansas team that may be emotionally spent as they visit Colorado. Thomas Robinson, who lost his mother on Friday, is back in Washington, D.C. after playing in Saturday's loss to Texas and you have to imagine that his teammates will step onto the floor ready to go with him in mind as opposed to dwelling on the end of their 69-game home win streak. But in Colorado the Jayhawks face a talented team led by Alec Burks and Cory Higgins, but the Buffs went on the road and dropped games at both Nebraska and Oklahoma last week. With a resume that lacks a major non-conference victory tonight's game could be a difference-maker for Colorado in regards to an NCAA Tournament resume. Connecticut visits Marquette with the Golden Eagles in a similar position to that of Colorado after a close loss at Notre Dame on Saturday night, and Syracuse looks to rebound from losses to Pittsburgh and Villanova at home with Seton Hall visiting.

And there's a nice rivalry game in Nashville with first-place Belmont visiting Lipscomb. Rick Byrd's Bruins are 10-0 in Atlantic Sun play following a 10-point win at second-place East Tennessee State on Sunday, and with their balance an undefeated run isn't out of the realm of possibility. The first meeting between these two got out of hand quickly 12 days ago, with Belmont jumping out to a 43-21 halftime lead on their way to an 88-52 win. Mick Hedgepeth and Drew Hanlen are just two of the eleven players that Coach Byrd can count on, and defensively Belmont limited Adnan Hodzic to seven points in 30 minutes of action in that game. Just like Purdue in the Big Ten, the rest of the Atlantic Sun may be rooting for the Bisons to win in order to keep hope of winning the regular season title alive.

Top 25
9:00 PM (12) Purdue at (1) Ohio State (ESPN)
9:00 PM (5) Connecticut at Marquette (ESPN3)
8:00 PM (6) Kansas at Colorado (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Seton Hall at (10) Syracuse (ESPN3)
7:00 PM (23) Florida at Georgia (ESPN)

NCAA Division I Games
7:00 PM Florida Gulf Coast at Stetson
7:00 PM North Carolina State at Clemson
7:00 PM Hartford at Vermont
7:00 PM New Hampshire at Maine
7:00 PM Richmond at Dayton (ESPNU)
7:00 PM USC Upstate at East Tennessee State
7:00 PM Campbell at Longwood
7:00 PM Buffalo at Western Michigan
7:30 PM Mercer at Kennesaw State
7:30 PM Bowling Green at Toledo (ESPN3)
8:00 PM Belmont at Lipscomb (ESPN3)
8:05 PM Missouri State at Drake (ESPN3)
9:00 PM Auburn at Arkansas (ESPNU)
9:00 PM Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech
10:00 PM UNLV at Wyoming (The Mtn.)
10:00 PM Cal State Fullerton at Cal State Bakersfield

College Hoops Thursday: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 12:44:53 -0500

There should be little doubt as to what the game of the day is on Thursday with a Big 5 battle on the docket. Temple (9-2, 0-0 Big 5) makes the short trip to Villanova (10-1, 3-0 Big 5) with hopes of picking up their second win over a ranked Big East team this season, and they've got the horses to do so. Head coach Fran Dunphy, who understands the meaning of the Big 5 as much as anyone in the city (having played at La Salle and coached at Penn before making the move to Temple), has led his team through a tough non-conference schedule with just two losses and has six players averaging at least seven points per game. When talking Temple most jump immediately to guard Juan Fernandez and forward Lavoy Allen and with good reason. Allen's the preseason Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and Fernandez has a game that reminds some of fellow countryman (Argentina) and former Temple great Pepe Sanchez. But despite the offensive gifts of both neither leads this team in scoring. That distinction belongs to Ramone Moore, who lit up Georgetown for 30 points in that 68-65 victory.

Moore's averaging 14.9 points per game and shooting 44% from the field and 33% from three, and has the ability to beat you via the jumper or drive to the basket. Micheal Eric, Rahlir Jefferson and Scootie Randall are all within the 7-8 points per game range but their biggest contributions tend to come on the boards and defensively. Temple's frontcourt could be an issue for Villanova but the Wildcats do match up well from a depth standpoint along with skill (although none of the Nova bigs are asked to score like Allen). Mouphtaou Yarou and senior Antonio Pena lead the way with a combined average of 19.0 points and 15.6 rebounds per game while Isaiah Armwood and Maurice Sutton provide insurance off the bench. Head coach Jay Wright also has the ability to go small and use four guards but more often than not the Wildcats have gone with two bigs on the floor. And if you're going to talk Villanova Basketball you have to talk guard play, something that's been a staple for years in this program.

The combo of Corey Fisher and Malik Wayns has been solid for most of the season while sharpshooter Corey Stokes has been one of the best shooters in the Big East and leads the team in scoring. Stokes (15.7 ppg) is making 46% of his shots from the field and 41% from beyond the arc, and 80 of his 119 field goal attempts have come from deep. Within 30 feet of the basket the senior from New Jersey can fire away with accuracy, meaning that Temple will need to identify where he is almost immediately. Wayns and Fisher both have assist to turnover ratios near 2-to-1 on the season but neither is shooting as well as hoped from the field (Fisher 37.9%, Wayns 38.8%). They'll need to get going soon, beginning with tonight, if this squad is to reach its full potential and contend for a Big East title. Some have wondered if they're attacking at the same level that Villanova guards have throughout the Wright era but even if there has been a drop-off it only takes one moment for any of these guards to go off.

Villanova's done a better job on the boards with a rebounding margin of plus-9 on the season but overall they haven't played the schedule that Temple has (SOS: 29 to Nova's 190). The Wildcats also do a better job of getting to the foul line, having made more free throws (205) than their opponents have taken (190). Both teams have capable shooters but an all-out shootout from the perimeter would do more harm than good for the Owls (66.2% of their points come from two, meaning that would be a severe departure from who they are offensively), who need a solid night from Allen on the block if they're to leave The Pavilion with a win. Defensively the Owls have done a better job of turning opponents over (20% turnover rate) but the Wildcats limit shooters to 36.6% from the field and 27% from three. Look for this to be your typical Big 5 battle, with every inch and point to be fought for until the final buzzer.

In other action tonight the two ranked teams from Conference USA could both be pushed to the limit tonight as they host preseason favorites from the Ivy League and Atlantic Sun. UCF, who is still undefeated with a record of 12-0, hosts Princeton in a game that will test the Knights' defensive discipline. But for Sydney Johnson's Tigers to win the game they'll need big nights from forwards Ian Hummer and Kareem Maddox in dealing with Keith Clanton, who has been arguably the best frontcourt player in C-USA to date. And Memphis hosts one of the top teams in the Atlantic Sun, Lipscomb, who also boasts one of the best forwards few people talk about in Adnan Hodzic. The preseason A-Sun Player of the Year averages 20.2 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, and if the young Tigers aren't ready to go this game could be an upset possibility. Add in Old Dominion's trip west to take on Missouri and Oakland going to Oral Roberts in a crucial Summit League contest and you've got plenty of viewing options today.

Top 25
7:00 PM (25) Temple at (8) Villanova (ESPN2)
8:00 PM Old Dominion at (10) Missouri (ESPN3)
7:00 PM (16) Brigham Young at Buffalo
7:30 PM Princeton at (21) UCF
8:00 PM Lipscomb at (22) Memphis

NCAA Division I Games
1:30 PM Miami (OH) at Belmont
2:00 PM USC Upstate at Virginia Tech
2:00 PM Charlotte at Mercer
4:30 PM Texas A&M-CC vs. Montreat College*
5:00 PM Northeastern vs. Furman*
5:00 PM Cornell vs. Wofford*
5:30 PM Mississippi Valley State vs. Southeastern Louisiana*
6:00 PM Pepperdine at Miami (FL)
6:00 PM Colorado State vs. Dominican (Cal)*
7:00 PM Western Illinois at IUPUI
7:00 PM Texas-San Antonio at Bowling Green
7:00 PM Norfolk State at Ohio
7:00 PM Georgia State at Chattanooga
7:00 PM Rogers State at Houston
7:00 PM Columbia at Maine
7:00 PM Loyola (IL) at Cleveland State
7:00 PM Toledo at UNC Wilmington
7:00 PM Albany State (GA) at Alabama State
7:00 PM Milligan at Appalachian State
7:00 PM Dartmouth at Bucknell
7:00 PM St. Joseph's (ME) at Davidson
7:00 PM Green Bay at Detroit
7:00 PM Campbell at East Tennessee State
7:00 PM Niagara at UMBC
7:00 PM Binghamton at Morehead State
7:00 PM Robert Morris at Morgan State
7:00 PM Long Island at Navy
7:00 PM NJIT at St. Francis (NY)
7:00 PM Albany at Wagner
7:00 PM Milwaukee at Wright State
7:05 PM Illinois-Chicago at Youngstown State
7:15 PM Bethune-Cookman at Jacksonville
7:30 PM New Hampshire at VCU
8:00 PM Alcorn State at Mississippi (ESPN3)
8:00 PM South Dakota School of Mines at North Dakota
8:00 PM Central Arkansas at Oklahoma (ESPN3)
8:00 PM TCU at Tulsa
8:00 PM Doane at South Dakota
8:00 PM Arkansas-Little Rock at North Texas
8:00 PM Iowa State at Virginia
8:00 PM IPFW at Centenary
8:00 PM Savannah State at Southern Miss
8:00 PM Crowley's Ridge College at Tennessee Tech
8:00 PM Lamar at Tulane
8:05 PM South Dakota State at UMKC
8:05 PM Oakland at Oral Roberts (ESPN3)
8:30 PM SIU-Edwardsville at Murray State
9:00 PM North Dakota State at Southern Utah
9:00 PM Louisiana-Lafayette at Denver
9:00 PM Fordham at Santa Clara
9:05 PM South Alabama at Arkansas State
10:00 PM Long Beach State at Cal Poly
10:00 PM Loyola Marymount at UC Irvine
10:00 PM Central Michigan at UNLV
10:00 PM Arizona at Oregon (FSN)
10:00 PM Hampton at San Francisco
10:05 PM Pacific at Cal State Fullerton
10:05 PM UC Davis at Cal State Northridge
10:30 PM Arizona State at Oregon State
11:15 PM American University at Delaware

Hoops Talk Live 6-7 PM EST

Jon Teitel's Coaches Interview Series: Former Northern State Head Coach Don Meyer

Jon Teitel — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 21:11:56 -0400

In the latest installment of his coaches interview series CHN writer Jon Teitel spent time with college coaching legend Don Meyer, who made his mark at both Lipscomb and Northern State. Now retired from coaching, Coach Meyer still teaches at Northern State in addition to running an online coaching academy.

Jon Teitel: At Northern Colorado you had a career pitching record of 22-2 and were named All-American on the basketball court. Which sport did you enjoy the most, and which one were you better at?

Don Meyer: It is easier to be better at baseball than basketball, as it does not take as much athletic ability. I wanted to go as far as I could with baseball, but I could not throw hard enough.

JT: At the start of your career at Lipscomb you used a slow-down fundamental style, but later adopted an explosive offense. How were you able to change from one to the other, and how quick were you able to accomplish this?

DM: We did not change our fundamentals; we just played faster, especially after the 3-PT shot came into the game. However, you cannot play faster on offense unless you play faster defensively. We had All-American post players for 10 straight years, but the thing that really keyed our offense was our defense.

JT: In 1986 you won the NAIA title. What did it mean to you to win a title, and what was the reaction like when you got back to campus?

DM: My first reaction was that if we did not start recruiting, we would not get anything done the following year. We ended up recruiting four kids who helped us win a ton of games. We played in a tourney in Japan against their Olympic team but when we came back to campus it was a big deal. However, the brother of one of our players died of cancer during the tourney, so that put a damper on everything.

JT: In 1990 your team set a college basketball record with 41 wins. How did you even play 41 games in a season and do you think your record will ever be broken?

DM: We played in two separate three-game tourneys, and our district and league tourneys were each three games, and we played four games in the NAIA tourney, but they have since reduced the number of games you can play. Those extra tourneys made the difference, so I do not think our record will be broken unless they change the legislation.

JT: You were named national Coach of the Year in 1989 and 1990, and were later selected to the NAIA Hall of Fame. What did it mean to you to win such outstanding individual honors?

DM: It does not really mean a whole lot because you are always thinking about your team. I did not even realize we were #1 in the country until I looked up and saw the banners. It is sad to say, but it is hard to enjoy it until after you get out of coaching.

JT: Your motion offense helped lead the nation in scoring for several years, as you often averaged over 100 points per game. How were your teams able to score so many points, and did you focus on recruiting shooters or athletes or all-around players?

DM: We were not going to get the best athletes, so we just tried to get the best skill players. Our style was so fast that it was really hard for people to defend us. When we played against teams that wanted to play slow, we just had to make adjustments.

JT: You coached both of the top-two leading scorers in NCAA history (John Pierce and Philip Hutcheson). Which of the two was a better player, and do you think their records will ever be broken?

DM: They were different players. Hutch was fundamentally sound and one of the smartest people I have ever been around (4.0 GPA, MBA, and he is now the AD at Lipscomb). John was more athletic and talented. They were both very consistent, and always scored in double-figures.

JT: You wrote a book called "Becoming a Great Shooter". How does one become a great shooter, and what is the most important part of shooting?

DM: I think the key is a willingness to learn and accept instruction. It is all about having great hands and wrists, and then you can work on footwork and quickness. The difference between a shooter and a scorer is footwork. There are no secrets: you just need to have quality repetitions at game speed. If you practice at half-speed, you will not be able to get your shot off during a game.

JT: Your son Jerry broke college basketball's career assist record. How proud are you of him, and what is he doing now?

DM: He does all the evaluations for rivals.com on their recruiting list. He probably has the best basketball mind of anyone I have ever been around. He was a great player, and one of the best guards I ever coached. He knew how to manipulate a game without taking a single shot.

JT: Marcus Bodie holds the single-season and career record for steals in college basketball, while Andy McQueen holds the career record for three pointers made. How much of your success was based on defense, and how much was based on long-range shots?

DM: We have always been a defensive team. It helped when we started getting guys who could shoot, but you still have to play defense.

JT: In September you were involved in a life-threatening car accident while taking your players to a team retreat, and while getting surgery to recover part of your left leg it was discovered that you had cancer.

DM: How close did you come to dying, and how on earth were you able to get back on the sideline? I should have been dead, but I think God had a reason for me living, and now I get to speak all over the country and reach out to others. We had a doctor diverted to the small road I was on in South Dakota, which was very fortunate. I would not have found out about the cancer if I had not been in the accident.

JT: You have won over 900 games, the most in NCAA history. What is your key to winning games, and how were you able to maintain your success for so many decades?

DM: We had great players who won their fair share of games in the NAIA, where we play more games than they do in Division I. I thought I would coach forever, but it became hard to deal with the stress of coaching, recruiting, practicing, fundraising, teaching, etc. After a while I realized that I would kill myself if I kept putting in 16-hour days.

JT: You recently changed from an on-campus coaching academy to an online coaching academy. Why did you make the switch, and how is it working out so far?

DM: We are getting a lot of interest. The big reason for the switch is that I do not have a team to work with anymore, so we shot some new videos of practices and I give comments throughout. I think it is a great tool to see what it takes to have the edge to be on top.

JT: In February you announced your retirement from coaching at Northern State, but you remain a professor. Why did you decide to retire, and why did you decide to stick with teaching?

DM: I kept teaching because I would go crazy if I did not have anything to do. Retirement from coaching allows me to speak all over the country, and I get to help raise money when it is feasible.
When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most? Everyone would like to be remembered as a teacher, but your legacy is what the players you touched did with their lives.

ATLANTIC SUN

Belmont: Rick Byrd (1986-present): 488-273, 3 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, one-time national COY, one-time conference COY

Campbell: Billy Lee (1985-2003): 216-286, 1 NCAA tourney, three-time conference COY

East Tennessee State: Murry Bartow (2003-present): 138-86, 3 NCAA tourneys, 2 conference titles, one-time conference COY

Florida Gulf Coast: Dave Balza (2001-present): 143-101, 1 NCAA tourney

Jacksonville: Joe Williams (1964-1970): 92-61, 1 NCAA tourney

Kennesaw State: Tony Ingle (2000-present): 170-142, 1 Division II national title, one-time national COY, 1-time conference COY

Lipscomb: Don Meyer (1975-1999): 663-181, 1 NAIA title, two-time national COY

Mercer: Bill Bibb (1974-1989): 222-194, 2 NCAA tourneys, two-time conference COY

North Florida: NO COACH HAS BEEN THERE FOR 5 YEARS

South Carolina Upstate: Eddie Payne (2002-present): 115-121, 2 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title, one-time conference COY

Stetson: Glenn Wilkes (1957-1993): 552-435

Poll: Who Will Win the Atlantic Sun?

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:02:18 -0400

Atlantic Sun Tournament: Preview & Prediction

Evan Dorey — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:04:36 -0500

This is one in a series of conference tournament previews, in which I run down all the teams involved, give a brief statistical review and present the log5 projections, using in-conference offensive and defensive efficiency. The basic log5 methodology comes from Bill James, and this is an area Ken Pomeroy has looked at in the past as well. I claim nothing new in the application, but obviously with slightly different methodologies, these numbers may differ from others you find. I don’t claim to be an expert on any particular conference, and I’m sure there are some mis-characterizations on some players I’ve seen sparingly at best, so please add your thoughts in the comments. Anyway, with no further ado, the preview follows below:

Atlantic Sun Tournament

The A-Sun Tournament features the 7 eligible teams in the conference, with regular season champions Jacksonville earning a first round bye, and 4^th placed Lipscomb hosting the event.

Tournament Odds

#	Team	SF	F	W
1	Jacksonville	100.00%	69.64%	45.79%
2	East Tennessee St.	84.10%	52.47%	23.47%
3	Belmont	76.41%	37.58%	14.45%
4	Lipscomb	74.62%	26.38%	13.64%
5	Campbell	25.38%	3.98%	1.10%
6	Mercer	23.59%	5.87%	0.98%
7	Stetson	15.90%	4.07%	0.57%

Jacksonville’s first round bye is a big bonus, giving them a leg up, but Lipscomb’s home court advantage makes them one of a group of serious threats to the Dolphins’ chances.

#1 – Jacksonville Dolphins (17-12, 15-5); Efficiency Margin: +0.161

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1986 (1^st Round)

Jacksonville finished atop the standings by just one game, but dominated the EM standings, and is a clear tournament favorite. The reason for this domination is the conference’s best offense: the Dolphins make 47% from the field, and are great on the offensive glass, getting a lot of high-percentage second-chance shots. They also get to the free-throw line often, where an average percentage nets them a good number of points. Jacksonville is also pretty solid defensively, despite struggling to defend the outside shot. It leads the conference in forcing turnovers and is near the top on the defensive glass, so an opponents’ good shooting percentages don’t necessarily hurt.

Players to watch:

5-10 JR Ben Smith, 16.7 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 4.0 APG, 2.3 SPG, 51.1 eFG% - Smith averages more minutes than anyone else in the A-Sun, and is a critical player in the Dolphins’ success. He’s a pretty good shooter, but really shines by leading the team in assists and steals, and gets to the free throw line a lot, where he shoots 80%.

6-5 SO Ayron Hardy, 10.1 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 64.3 eFG% - If Ayron Hardy took more shots, but maintained his percentages, he’d probably be the most efficient player in the conference, as his 60% from the field, combined with a nice three-point touch, allow him to maximize his relatively small role in the offense. He’s also a strong offensive rebounder, and does well defensively, putting up good block and steal rates.

#2 – East Tennessee St. Buccaneers (20-10, 14-6); Efficiency Margin: +0.118

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2004 (1^st Round)

A bad five-game stretch in mid-February that saw the Bucs go 1-4 cost them a conference title, but they are still the clear second favorites to claim the NCAA Tourney bid. This is mostly due to ETSU’s defense, which is the conference’s best, though the Bucs’ high pace of play masks this at first glance. They force a lot of turnovers, as you’d expect, and their defensive style means that opponents put up a lot of threes, which ETSU defends well. They are somewhat weak inside, but don’t give opponents a lot of chances there. Offensively, they don’t make a lot of turnovers, and get most of their chances inside the arc, where they shoot 51%.

Players to watch:

6-4 SR Kevin Tiggs, 21.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.2 SPG, 57.7 eFG% - Tiggs is the conference’s leading scorer, but his point totals are indicative of more than just the Bucs pace; he’s an incredibly efficient shooter. He’s 53% from the floor, which includes a good percentage from three, and gets to the line a lot, where 78% shooting can often add a lot to his point totals. He also leads the team in steals.

6-6 JR Mike Smith, 15.1 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 51.6 eFG% - Smith is the clear third offensive option (behind Tiggs and Courtney Pigram), but has thrived in this role, another player who augments a good inside shooting percentage with a nice touch from behind the arc and at the line. His real strength is on the glass, the team’s leading rebounder and the only Buc to record more than two double-doubles on the season.

#3 – Belmont Bruins (18-11, 14-6); Efficiency Margin: +0.097

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2008 (1^st Round)

After giving Duke a major challenge in last year’s NCAA Tournament, the Bruins came very close to repeating as conference champions, with a couple of losses to Jacksonville by a combined three points the difference in the title chase. Belmont features the conference’s most three-heavy offense, and when you make 36% of attempts, taking a lot tends to work out pretty well. When Belmont does go inside, it’s with great success, leading the A-Sun in two-point percentage. Still, it makes sense for them to be an outside-oriented team, as they get a lot of shots blocked, and are terrible interior defenders. Good perimeter play keeps them in it on the defensive end as well, as they hold opponents to just 32% on threes and force a lot of turnovers.

Players to watch:

6-2 SR Alex Renfroe, 16.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 4.9 APG, 2.2 SPG, 60.7 eFG% - Renfroe is probably the conference’s best all-around player, and Belmont’s Mr. Everything, leading the team in scoring, rebounding and assists. His two-point percentage is excellent for a 6-2 player, well over 60%, and his ability to assert himself inside his further demonstrated by his solid rebounding rates. He does have problems with turnovers at times, but has one of the country’s best assist rates, somewhat making up for it.

6-2 SR Andy Wicke, 11.6 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 3.4 APG, 2.3 SPG, 54.4 eFG% - On a team with a lot of three-point shooters, Wicke is both the most prolific and the best, hitting over 38% of attempts. He also leads the conference in steals, and is a great complimentary scoring option who receives a good chunk of Renfroe’s assists.

#4 – Lipscomb Bison (16-13, 12-8); Efficiency Margin: +0.107

Last NCAA Tournament bid: None

The hottest team in the conference, Lipscomb enter the tournament on an eight-game winning streak, and won’t pose an easy challenge for anyone in their way, leading the conference in both making and defending shots. Despite this, the Bison don’t lead the conference in either offense or defense, as they have some serious problems in other areas. On both ends of the court, they struggle with turnovers, committing too many and forcing too few. They get to the free throw line a lot, but leave a good number of points on the floor with one of the conference’s weaker shooting percentages. Defensively, they are somewhat vulnerable inside, despite holding opponents to a low FG% overall. This is a team that looks like it might be little better than EM would indicate, and should be considered a serious threat to cause an upset on its home floor.

Players to watch:

6-9, SO Adnan Hodzic, 17.9 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 59.6 eFG% - The Bosnian big man leads the Bison in both points and rebounds, and is the key to the team’s success, averaging nearly 20-and-9 during the 8 game win streak. He’s a 60% shooter from the field who will cause opponents a lot of headaches in the paint.

6-3, SR Michael Lusk, 8.8 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.6 APG, 60.8 eFG% - Like Hodzic, Lusk has been hot of late, including coming just one assist short of a triple-double in the Bison’s last game of the year. He doesn’t take a lot of shots, but when he does, he’s usually pretty effective, 46% from behind the arc. He’s also got a good assist rate, though like much of the team he struggles with turnovers.

#5 – Campbell Fighting Camels (14-15, 11-9); Efficiency Margin: +0.011

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1992 (1^st Round)

Campbell is another team that enters the tournament on a roll, having won its last four, including two against teams seeded above them, but it’s hard to see them extending that winning streak at all, let alone pulling off a big surprise to get the bid. When looking at the efficiency stats, there is a clear seperation between Campbell and the teams above it, as the Camels’ offense, well under a point per possession, is much weaker than that of the contenders. Campbell’s problem is its two-point shooting, which is under 45%, a number that makes it pretty hard to avoid wasting possessions. The same problem extends to the defensive end, where the Camels get pretty badly beaten inside, though they manage to make up for it by forcing a lot of turnovers and doing a good job on the defensive glass.

Players to watch:

6-5 JR Jonathan Rodriguez, 16.0 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 51.4 eFG% - Rodriguez is basically the lone offensive bright spot for Campbell, though his play has tapered off a little in recent weeks. He has a good outside shot, but does his best work inside the arc, where he makes over 50% of his attempts and sits third in the conference in rebounding.

6-1 FR Lorne Merthie, 9.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 49.1 eFG% - The freshman is the Camels’ most frequent long-distance shooter, and at 41% he’s the most effective as well. His mid-30s percentage shooting from two means that he should stay behind the arc, though.

#6 – Mercer Bears (17-14, 11-9); Efficiency Margin: -0.006

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1985 (1^st Round)

Mercer is likely to have a tough time in the tournament, as the Bears have the worst defense of any of the teams headed to Nashville. They are the conference’s worst perimeter defenders, forcing few turnovers and allowing opponents to shoot 38% from behind the arc. They are a little better defending inside, but have a lot of trouble on the defensive glass. Offensively, Mercer is in the middle of the pack, good offensive rebounders who hold onto the ball, but isn’t a good enough shooting team to really take advantage of its possessions.

Players to watch:

6-8 JR Daniel Emerson, 14.0 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 50.8 eFG% - Emerson is the only player in the A-Sun to average a double-double, and is the Bears’ most efficient offensive player. Beyond his conference best rebounding, Emerson is a solid inside scorer, and has the ability to step out and hit a three-pointer. He also gets to the line a lot, where he shoots 70%.

6-1 JR James Florence, 20.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.7 APG, 2.3 SPG, 47.8 eFG% - Florence is the conference’s second leading scorer, but can often waste a lot of shots, especially from three, where he shoots less than 30%. When he’s hitting his threes, he’s an excellent player, generating steals and assists in addition to a lot of good chances inside, but when the threes don’t fall, he’ll probably cause more harm than good.

#7 – Stetson Hatters (13-16, 9-11); Efficiency Margin: -0.024

Last NCAA Tournament bid: None

The Hatters’ quest for their first NCAA bid looks like quite a long-shot; they’re the only below .500 conference team in the tournament, and enter it on a four game losing streak. They’re decent defenders, but have the tournament’s worst offense, and are one of the poorest shooting teams in the A-Sun. They hold onto the ball well, and get back a lot of their own misses, but when a team shoots under 40% from the field, it doesn’t really matter. Defensively, they’re right around the conference average, but are vulnerable to inside play, allowing opponents a high percentage from two.

Players to watch:

6-5 SR Garfield Blair, 17.5 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 48.7 eFG% - Blair leads the Hatters in both scoring and rebounding, and has come into the tournament on a roll, averaging more than 20 points in his last six games. His offensive game is much more perimeter oriented than you might expect from his rebounding numbers, he’s a 37% three-point shooter whose offensive problems come when he shoots inside, where his numbers are less than impressive.

6-0 JR A.J. Smith, 12.2 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 3.6 APG, 44.2 eFG% - Smith is one of those players who undoes a lot of the good work he does with mistakes, giving the ball up a lot and shooting under 40% on two-point shots. Beyond that, he’s an effective guard, a solid three-point shooter and leading the team in assists.

My statistical all-Atlantic Sun team:

Jacksonville JR G Ben Smith, 16.7 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 4.0 APG, 2.3 SPG, 51.1 eFG%

East Tennessee St. SR G Kevin Tiggs, 21.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.2 SPG, 57.7 eFG%

Belmont SR G Alex Renfroe, 16.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 4.9 APG, 2.2 SPG, 60.7 eFG%

Mercer JR F Daniel Emerson, 14.0 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 50.8 eFG%

South Carolina Upstate SR F Bobby Davis, 14.6 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 54.0 eFG%

Atlantic Sun Basketball Preview: 08-09

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:11:25 -0500

Conference Rank: 28th

10 year average: 25th

Conference Page

All-ATLANTIC SUN Team
Pos.	Player	Team	Yr.

G	James Florence	Mercer	Jr
G	Courntey Pigram	ETSU	Sr
G/F	Shane Dansby	Belmont	Sr
F	Marcus Allen	Jacksonville	Sr
F	Jonathan Rodriguez	Campbell	Jr
CHN Award Winners		Returning Leaders
Mid-Major All-Americans Courtney Pigram Jonathan Rodriguez		Points: Jonathan Rodriguez 20.9 Rebounds: Jonathan Rodriguez 10.1 Assists: Rob Quaintaince (FGCU) 5.3

ATLANTIC SUN Standings
Nat'l	Team	League	Tourney

109	Belmont* **	Asun	1	NCAA
156	Stetson	Asun	2
176	Jacksonville	Asun	3
227	East Tennessee	Asun	4
248	Lipscomb	Asun	5
275	Mercer	Asun	6
296	Kennesaw St	Asun	7
302	Campbell	Asun	8
313	Florida Gulf Coast	Asun	9
320	USC Upstate	Asun	10
344	North Florida	Asun	11

*Click on links for full Top 144 team preview

** returning conference champion

Poll: Who Do You Think Will Win the Atlantic Sun?

Other ATLANTIC SUN Content

Conference Media Poll

Belmont Favored in A-Sun Media Poll

Interviews

Rick Byrd: Belmont Head Coach

Other

Rise & Fall: A-Sun