damian lillard

Montana Wins Big Sky Title: Wednesday's Quick Hitters

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 23:50:31 -0800

UConn and USF were the big winners on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden, while West Virginia and Seton Hall now await their NCAA tournament fate.

1. Montana pulls away in the second half to beat Weber State and win the Big Sky's automatic bid.
The Big Sky title game was one of two championship game rubber matches on Wednesday night, and even though the home team won each meeting by double digits the expectation was that the Wildcats and Grizzlies would be close throughout. That was true for about 33 minutes, as from the 6:41 mark on Montana outscored Weber State 27-14 on their way to the 85-66 victory. Damian Lillard played very well for Weber State, finishing with 29 points, ten rebounds and seven assists, but on this night he likely would have needed to score in upwards of 40 points to give Randy Rahe's team a shot at winning.

Why? Because while Montana didn't receive one point from their bench all five starters reached double figures, with Kareem Jamar and Mathias Ward scored 23 points apiece to lead the way. In addition to those two the Grizzlies can also call on guard Will Cherry and Derek Selvig, which could make them a tough matchup for someone next week. Both teams will return some key pieces next season, meaning that Weber State and Montana could very well meet with another NCAA berth on the line in 2013.

2. C.J. McCollum and Gabe Knutson prove to be too much for Bucknell in the Patriot League final.
Patriot League Player of the Year McCollum did what he's done all season long in scoring 29 points to lead Lehigh offensively, but the fact that the Mountain Hawks had a second scorer while the Bison did not proved to be the difference. Gabe Knutson added 23 points and seven rebounds, five of them being offensive, in the Mountain Hawks' 82-77 win at Bucknell to take the automatic bid. Mike Muscala was outstanding for the Bison as he finished with 30 points and 14 rebounds, but the next scorer for Bucknell finished with just 11 points (Bryson Johnson, who made two of his three field goals in the final minute).

Lehigh did a better job of executing offensively as they found quality looks and shot 50% from the field, finishing with an efficiency of 113.9. According to statsheet.com a Bucknell opponent hadn't approached that number since Loyola (MD) posted a 116.1 back in December. Lehigh proved to be too much for Bucknell offensively, especially when factoring in the fact that Muscala didn't receive consistent scoring help on the other end.

3. LIU Brooklyn takes care of Robert Morris to win their second consecutive NEC tournament crown.
For the second straight season the Colonials and Blackbirds met with a trip to the NCAA tournament on the line, and just like last season it was the home team that emerged victorious. All five starters reached double figures for the Blackbirds, who pulled away in the second half to win 90-73. C.J. Garner led the way with 21 points and backcourt partner Jason Brickman added 18 and 11 assists, while forward Julian Boyd finished with 18 and ten rebounds.

Andy Toole's Colonials suffered a pair of unfortunate blows during the game as both Velton Jones and Mike McFadden suffered injuries, but the game was more about what Brickman was able to do at the point in running the LIU attack. The Blackbirds also outscored the Colonials 31-14 from the foul line, and their sheer ability to score helped make up for Robert Morris grabbing 21 offensive rebounds. Rebounding's been an issue for much of the season for LIU, and if they want to improve their chances of winning a game Boyd, Jamal Olasewere and Kenny Onyechi will need to lead the way towards improvement.

Quick Hitters

1. After winning the MEAC regular season crown in their first year as a full member of the league, Savannah State fell 59-46 to Hampton in a MEAC tournament quarterfinal. Horace Broadnax's team shot 27.1% from the field and 5-for-22 from beyond the arc, and their 20 turnovers didn't help matters either. The regular season title does guarantee the Tigers an NIT berth, but obviously they would rather not have to use that automatic bid.

2. Two disciplinary actions taken on Wednesday did a better job of summing up what this season has been like for the Pac-12 than any stat that's been thrown out there. Arizona suspended starting point guard Josiah Turner indefinitely due to a violation of team rules, and he won't be playing at all this weekend. And UCLA head coach Ben Howland sat big man Joshua Smith for the first half of their 55-40 win over USC due to his being late for the team bus to the arena.

3. Compared to how they were playing in for most of conference play, these last couple of weeks have been a bit of a struggle for Sean Woods' Mississippi Valley State team. The Delta Devils survived their SWAC quarterfinal on Wednesday, beating Jackson State 63-60 to advance to the semis. Cor-J Cox provided a spark off the bench with 12 points, six rebounds and five steals, but if MVSU is to back up their regular season title with a tournament crown they can't afford to shoot 3-for-17 from three as they did against Jackson State.

4. The top four seeds in the Southland all advanced to the semifinals, with the top seeds making short work of their respective opponents. Regular season champ UT Arlington beat Nicholls State 96-48 as Bo Ingram led four Mavericks in double figures with 21 points to go along with seven rebounds. Two-seed Stephen F. Austin beat Sam Houston State 68-46, shooting 55.6% from the field and 24-for-30 from the foul line. Also advancing were Lamar and McNeese State.

5. On a day that saw three of the four higher-seeded teams advance at the Conference USA tournament the one winner that should stand out is Marshall, who beat SMU 74-56. DeAndre Kane led the way with 18 points and Dennis Tinnon grabbed 15 rebounds for the Thundering Heard, who have the talent necessary to make a run through the tournament.

6. Chalk ruled the two matchups in the MAC on Wednesday as Western Michigan and Toledo advanced to the quarterfinals. The Rockets led Northern Illinois by 11 with just over four minutes remaining, only to see the Huskies nearly come back and grab the win. Rian Pearson led Toledo with 20 points and 15 rebounds.

7. While the CBI has taken teams with losing records in the past, Oklahoma's season may be finished thanks to their 62-53 loss to Texas A&M in the first round of the Big 12 tournament. David Lobeau and Khris Middleton led the Aggies with 15 points apiece, combing for 30 points and 16 rebounds on the night. Also advancing was Oklahoma State, who beat Texas Tech 76-60.

2012 All Mid-Major Team: CollegeHoops.net

CHN — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 22:34:23 -0800

Player of the Year Isaiah Canaan of Murray State highlights CollegeHoops.net's 2012 All Mid-Major Team. Canaan, a junior guard, led Murray State to an impressive 30-1 season.

Canaan is joined on the First Team by fellow guards Scott Machado of Iona and Damian Lillard of Weber St. A pair of senior forwards round out the squad in Dominique Morrison of Oral Roberts and Ryan Pearson of George Mason.

CollegeHoops.net All High-Major Teams were voted on by staffers Shawn Siegel, Raphielle Johnson, Greg Mengelt, and Jon Teitel.

Last year's winner was Morehead St's Kenneth Faried.

Mid-Major Player of the Year: G Isaiah Canaan, Murray St, Jr

First Team Mid-Major

G Isaiah Canaan, Murray St, Jr
G Scott Machado, Iona, Sr
G Damian Lillard, Weber St, Jr
F Dominique Morrison, Oral Roberts, Sr
F Ryan Pearson, George Mason, Sr

Second Team Mid-Major

G Casper Ware, Long Beach St, Sr
G Zack Rosen, Penn, Sr
G Nate Wolters, South Dakota St, Jr
F Ryan Broekhoff, Valparaiso, Jr
F Mike Glover, Iona, Sr

Third Team Mid-Major

G CJ McCollum, Lehigh, Jr
G Kerron Johnson, Belmont, Jr
G Reggie Hamilton, Oakland, Sr
F Orlando Johnson, UCSB, Sr
F Mike Muscala, Bucknell, Jr

Fourth Team Mid-Major

G Matt Dickey, UNC-Asheville, Sr
G Lamarcus Reed, Texas-Arlington, Sr
F TJ Robinson, Long Beach St, Sr
F Jake Cohen, Davidson, Jr
F Mitchell Watt, Buffalo, Sr

Honorable Mention

G Nick Barbour, High Point, Sr
F Julian Boyd, LIU Brooklyn, Jr
F De'Mon Brook Davidson, So
G Will Cherry, Montana, Jr
G DJ Cooper, Ohio, Jr
F LaRon Dendy, Midd Tennessee, Sr
G Shane Gibson, Sacred Heart, Jr
F Ken Horton, Central Connecticut St, Sr
F Greg Mangano, Yale, Sr
G Ray McCallum, Detroit, So
G Charles Odum, Portland St, Sr
F Kyle O'Quinn, Norfolk St, Sr
G Jesse Sanders, Liberty, G
F Keith Wright, Harvard, Sr
G Alex Young, IUPUI, Sr

Montana vs. Weber State: Tuesday's Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 01:02:24 -0800

Horizon League First Round Preview

Conference tournament play in the Big Sky is just days away (Saturday) but there's some very important business to attend to before the six-team field is complete: decide the regular season champion. Montana (22-6, 14-1) and Weber State (23-4, 14-1) have been the class of the league, as expected, from start to finish and that should make for an entertaining affair in Missoula. Damian Lillard (24.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 4.1 apg) and company held serve on their home floor, and a win Tuesday night would not only give them the regular season title but also guarantee hosting the semifinals and title game of the Big Sky tournament.

Accomplishing that task will be far easier said than done for the preseason favorite to win the Big Sky, as Wayne Tinkle's Grizzlies are 13-2 at home this season. Montana may not have the nation's leading scorer but in senior Will Cherry (15.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.4 apg) they have one of the best perimeter defenders in the conference. Lillard and Cherry will receive a great deal of attention given their skill sets and experience, but it would be wise to take a look at their respective partners in crime as well.

Alongside Lillard, who also does a good job of setting up his teammates for quality looks, is Scott Bamforth and he's averaging 15.2 points per game and shooting 44.1% from the field. Bamforth is one of the primary beneficiaries when Lillard is able to penetrate gaps in the defense, knocking down three-pointers at a 41.2% clip. Freshman Gelaun Wheelwright has improved his play as the season's worn on and received more minutes as a result while guard Jordan Richardson and forward Byron Fulton are also capable of knocking down open shots.

For Montana there's sophomore Kareem Jamar, whose versatility allows Cherry to do a variety of things on the offensive end of the floor. In addition to averaging 13.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, Jamar leads the Grizzlies in assists with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.81. Undersized forward Art Steward is shooting 41% from three and averaging 9.5 points per game while guard Shawn Stockton is called upon more for perimeter depth and defense than his scoring prowess.

The winner could ultimately be decided in the front court despite the quality guards, and this was where Weber State was able to distance themselves in the first meeting. Frank Otis, who would be lost for an extended period of time in the Wildcats' next game, scored seven points in his return from a knee injury and Darin Mahoney accounted for eight points and nine rebounds. Adding those numbers to the 12 and six rebounds put up by Kyle Tresnak ended up being too much for the Grizzlies to deal with as no players besides Cherry and Jamar reached double figures.

Mahoney may not be much of a scorer but the senior has no problem mixing it up on the glass, as he leads Weber State with an average of 6.2 rebounds per game. Neither team is a great rebounding team, and it would be fair to say that the Grizzles could be in trouble in this department. Montana grabs 1.1 fewer rebounds per game than their opponents and they allow 10.9 offensive rebounds per game (rate of 31.3%). If Derek Selvig and the other Montana big men don't take care of business on the glass Weber State, who is average as an offensive rebounding team, could end up with a few more possessions than expected.

Cherry and Jamar do a solid job of helping out Selvig and Steward on the boards, as Jamar ranks second on the team in rebounds per game. Weber State's been the better offensive team while Montana's been better on the defensive end in spite of their rebounding woes, which will make for a fun contest to watch. While the other four teams in the Big Sky tournament have the ability to knock either team off there's no reason to believe that the Wildcats and Grizzlies won't meet again with an NCAA berth on the line. The only question is where that game will take place, and we'll get the answer on Tuesday night.

Outside of the big game in the Big Sky and the beginning of the Horizon League tournament it's all about the bubble on Tuesday night, with Xavier's trip to Saint Louis being the contest that stands out. Few (if any) thought that the Musketeers would find themselves in their current spot before the season began but for whatever reason Chris Mack's team is in desperate need of wins. Saint Louis is in better position at this stage but the Billikens can ill-afford to rest on their laurels.

Rick Majerus' team has been solid defensively with Brian Conklin leading the way inside, and Kenny Frease has to hold his own with the senior of Xavier is to win. Tu Holloway and Mark Lyons are definitely talented but who steps up to provide the intangibles that have been missing all season long? Whether or not the Musketeers get an answer will ultimately determine whether or not they make the Big Dance.

Connecticut fell just short of a win over Syracuse on Saturday night, and they'd better be prepared both mentally and physically for their trip to Providence. The Friars may lack depth and they've had a tough first season under Ed Cooley, but the Vincent Council-led bunch can be dangerous especially in front of a raucous home crowd. Add in one of the Big East's best freshmen in LaDontae Henton and the Huskies stand the chance of getting picked off if they sleepwalk into The Dunk. Also of importance to the bubble is UCF's trip to Memphis, and with the Tigers looking like a lock to dance this a good opportunity for Donnie Jones' Knights.

Florida can lock up second place in the SEC with a win at Vanderbilt, but given the Gators' showing at Georgia on Saturday who knows which team will show up at Memorial Gymnasium. The Commodores put forth a good fight at Kentucky before falling, and this is a good opportunity for Kevin Stallings' team to pick up a quality win before the conference tournament. And in the Big Ten, Michigan State looks to seal the outright Big Ten title with a win at Indiana. Minnesota may have won at IU but that's the Hoosiers' lone home loss this season so we'll see what happens.

Top 25 Games
9:00 PM (3) Duke at Wake Forest (ESPNU)
7:00 PM (5) Michigan State at (20) Indiana (ESPN)
9:00 PM (13) Florida at Vanderbilt (ESPN)
8:00 PM Minnesota at (15) Wisconsin (BTN)

NCAA Division I Games
7:00 PM Ole Miss at Arkansas (ESPNU)
7:00 PM Kansas State at Texas A&M (ESPN3)
7:00 PM DePaul at West Virginia (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Wright State at Butler
7:00 PM Loyola (IL) at Detroit
7:00 PM Connecticut at Providence (ESPN3)
7:05 PM Green Bay at Youngstown State
8:00 PM Illinois-Chicago at Milwaukee
9:00 PM Xavier at Saint Louis
9:00 PM Weber State at Montana (Altitude)
9:00 PM UCF at Memphis
9:05 PM Idaho State at Eastern Washington
9:30 PM TCU at Wyoming (The Mtn.)
10:05 PM Northern Colorado at Portland State

Underrated NBA Prospects: The College Basketball List

Greg Mengelt — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:03:08 -0800

Each week, CollegeHoops.net's Greg Mengelt presents a different College Basketball List. This week, Greg takes a look at 10 underrated players who won't be lottery picks, but will still have lengthy NBA careers.

Note: The NBA comparisons are a vague approximation of skill-sets & physicality, not a projection that the prospect will ever reach the NBA player's success.

1. Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt Sr. SF: Taylor can shoot, slash, defend and run. He’s also smooth and athletic. Why Taylor is in the second round of some NBA mock drafts is a complete mystery. Outside of guys like Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist -- both of Kentucky -- no one has more star potential than Taylor does. NBA Comparison: Gerald Wallace.

2. Kendall Marshall, North Carolina So. PG: Marshall’s shooting limitations are far surpassed by his passing, his vision and his ability to get into the lane. And he makes everyone around him better. If his mid-range shot improves, Marshall could be an All-Star down the road. NBA Comparison: Rajon Rondo.

3. Tony Wroten, Washington Fr. PG: Wroten can handle and shoot and run the break, but what makes him special is his ability to get into the lane at will. He could probably use another year at UW, though. NBA Comparison: Raymond Felton.

4. Kevin Jones, West Virginia Sr. PF: Jones has proven he can score and rebound against some of college basketball’s best frontlines. He’ll never been an explosive player, but Jones will be a valuable asset to an NBA team next season. NBA Comparison: J.J. Hickson.

5. Tyler Zeller, North Carolina Sr. PF: Zeller is athletic for a 6-11 forward and runs the floor as well as most big men who are already in the NBA. His defensive instincts, his effort and his high basketball IQ will also serve him well at the next level. NBA Comparison: Serge Ibaka.

6. John Jenkins, Vanderbilt Jr. G: With Jenkins’ long-range shooting ability, he’ll find a spot on an NBA roster. Whether he becomes a serious contributor will depend upon his ability to handle and defend. NBA Comparison: Mike Bibby.

7. Damian Lillard, Weber State Jr. G: In order to be a success in the NBA, Lillard will have to transition to a playmaker from a pure scorer, but there's no doubt he can score from anywhere on the court and that he'll do what it takes to develop into a solid pro. NBA Comparison: Stephen Curry.

8. Henry Sims, Georgetown Sr. PF/C: The former McDonald's All-American is one of the best passing big men college basketball has seen in a long time. If he can develop some post moves, Sims has the potential to be a nice NBA player. NBA Comparison: Joakim Noah.

9. Scott Machado, Iona Sr. PG: Machado has outstanding vision and runs the break as well as anyone in college basketball. He’s also an underrated scorer. He has some athletic limitations and Iona's competition hasn't been stellar, but those things aren't enough to keep him off of an NBA roster. NBA Comparison: Jose Calderon.

10. Robbie Hummel, Purdue Sr. SF: Hummel has a ton of NBA skills: shooting, rebounding, instincts and the ability to find ways to put the ball in the basket. The only question about Hummel is whether his knee and back will hinder him from becoming a solid player at the next level. NBA Comparison: Luol Deng.

College Basketball Weekly Awards: Lillard, ORU, Fordham

Greg Mengelt — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:09:39 -0800

A review of the week that was in college basketball focusing on the best (and worst) performances. Check in every Monday morning for our weekly awards.

COLLEGEHOOPS.NET PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Damian Lillard, Weber State Junior Guard: Lillard led the Wildcats to a pair of Big Sky Conference victories by scoring a combined 68 points last week.

On Thursday, the junior scored 30 points, grabbed seven rebounds, dished out five assists and blocked a shot in a 76-69 win over Eastern Washington.

He came back with a 38-point, 5-rebound, 5-assist performance in Saturday’s 88-81 triumph over Portland State.

For the season, Lillard is leading the country at 26.3 points per game. He’s shooting 48.9 percent from the field, 47.4 from the 3-point line and 90.9 at the charity stripe. Lillard is also averaging 5.9 boards and 3.6 assists for the Wildcats, who are 12-3 overall and 4-0 in the Big Sky.

Last week's Players of the Week were BYU's Brandon Davies and Lehigh's CJ McCollum.

COLLEEGHOOPS.NET TEAM OF THE WEEK

Oral Roberts: The Golden Eagles took on their top three Summit League challengers and defeated them all last week.

ORU opened the week with 89-80 wins at Oakland and at home against North Dakota State on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively.

The Eagles then improved to 6-0 in the league with Saturday’s 97-75 win over South Dakota State, which was also 5-0 in the Summit heading into the showdown. Dominique Morrison had a career-high 38 points in the win over the Jackrabbits.

Oral Roberts is 14-4 overall.

SINGLE-GAME PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

Tony Mitchell, North Texas Freshman Forward: In only the seventh game of his career, Mitchell scored 32 points – on 11-of-14 from the field, including sinking all three of his 3-pointers, and 9-of-11 from the foul line – in the Mean Green’s 78-73 Sun Belt victory over South Alabama. Mitchell, who scored in double-figures in his first four career outings, also had 16 boards, two assists and two steals in the win.

Mitchell’s point-rebound total was the third-best in school history and the most since Jesse Ratliff had 38 points and 16 rebounds against South Alabama in 1992.

UPSET OF THE WEEK

Fordham 60, Harvard 54: The Rams outscored Harvard 36-27 in the second half to steal a victory from the 21^st-ranked Crimson.

Fordham shot 48.8 percent from the field and held Harvard, which led 29-24 early in the second half before a 20-5 Ram run, to 36.4 percent.

“Congratulations, Fordham,” Harvard coach Tommy Amaker told the AP. “They played inspired basketball. Give them credit. They did a tremendous job.”

Fordham is 7-8 overall, while the Crimson bounced back with a 63-47 win over Dartmouth in their Ivy League opener to improve to 13-2 overall.

WIN OF THE WEEK

Kansas State 75, Missouri 59: Kansas State not only knocked off one of four remaining unbeatens, it made it clear that it is a likely NCAA team itself with Saturday’s blowout victory.

The Wildcats beat up Missouri and held the Tigers to 33 percent from the field, 29 percent from the 3-point line and to 27 points below their season average.

“I felt like Missouri hadn’t seen a team like us, a team that can really get up and pressure you on defense,” Kansas State sophomore guard Will Spradling told the AP.

Missouri leading scorer Marcus Denmon concurred with Spradling.

“We weren’t able to make our cuts freely, so we couldn’t get guys open,” Denmon said.

The Wildcats are now 12-2 overall and 1-1 in the Big 12. Missouri suffered its first defeat after 14 straight victories to open the season.

LOSS OF THE WEEK

Iowa State 74, Texas A&M 50: It isn’t just that the Aggies lost to an improving Cyclone squad Saturday, it’s how it happened.

Texas A&M – in its fourth loss in five games – was outscored 42-23 in the first half at home, falling behind 36-16 in the first 17 minutes.

They also allowed Iowa State sophomore Royce White to dominate the contest. White finished with 10 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists.

“Obviously, we struggled scoring in the first five minutes of the game,” Aggie coach Billy Kennedy said. “You have to give them credit. They’re very difficult to guard with Royce White handling and passing the ball, but we have to compete at a higher level.”

At this point – after opening the season ranked 20^th in the nation – A&M looks like a longshot to reach the NCAA Tournament. Iowa State, on the other hand, is 12-3 overall and 2-0 in the Big 12 after also beating Texas on Wednesday.

PLAY OF THE WEEK

Moe Harkless’ tip-in to beat Cincinnati, 57-55: Harkless was the hero for St. John’s for the second time in two weeks when he put back a missed DeAngelo Harrison floater and put it back as the horn sounded Saturday.

The upset win snapped the Bearcats’ 7-game win streak and put St. John’s back above .500 at 8-7 and at 2-2 in the Big East after back-to-back losses to Connecticut and Louisville.

“This group doesn’t get down,” Red Storm interim coach Mike Dunlap said. “We’re going to be up-and-down all year long, but we have to ride it with them and continue to teach.”

Harkless finished with 14 points and 14 boards in the triumph. The freshman now has four career double-doubles. Harrison, who is also a freshman, added 18 points and seven boards.

THE COLLEGE BASKETBALL LIST

NATION’S BEST SHARPSHOOTERS

When these players put a shot up, you’re almost certain it’s going in:

1. Marcus Denmon, Missouri (Sr.): After lighting it up early, Denmon has struggled a bit of late. There’s still no player in America you’d rather have shooting a big 3 late in the game. Denmon leads the 14-1 Tigers at 18.7 points per game and is shooting 44.7 percent from deep.

2. Jordan Hulls, Indiana (Jr.): Hulls has the purest stroke in America and is shooting 58.2 percent from the 3-point line, 54.5 percent from the field and 86.7 from the foul line. He’s averaging 12.3 points and, oh yeah, he’s a point guard. Hulls has helped revitalize the 15-1 and 12th-ranked Hoosiers.

3. Doug McDermott, Creighton (So.): After his incredible freshman year, McDermott’s scoring surge hasn’t been a surprise, but his 58.2 percent clip from the 3-point line is astounding. He’s also shooting 63.2 percent from the field and is second in the nation at 25.2 point per contest, leading the Blue Jays to a 13-2 start.

4. Scott Wood, North Carolina State (Sr.): Wood is the 12-4 Wolfpack’s 3-point specialist, who has connected on 46.1 percent of his 3-pointers and 49.2 percent of all of his shots. He’s also 37-for-37 from the foul line after making 92.3 percent a year ago.

5. Ryne Smith, Purdue (Sr.): Over 80 percent of Smith’s shots and points come from the 3-point line. He’s making 45.3 percent from the 3-point line and averaging a career-best 10.2 points per game for the 13-4 Boilermakers.