Navy

Wednesday'sTournament Predictions: Atlantic Sun, Big South, Patriot

Greg Mengelt — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:18:38 -0800

Our g ame prediction guru Greg Mengelt has been on fire this year. He'll be picking almost conference tournament game over the next 2 weeks.

BIG SOUTH TOURNAMENT AT ASHEVILLE, N.C.

(2) Coastal Carolina (19-10, 12-6) vs. (7) Virginia Military (15-15, 8-10)

Tipoff: Noon. TV: Big South Network. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 1 – Coastal Carolina 87-78; Feb. 25 – Coastal Carolina 81-64*. RPI: Coastal Carolina 179; VMI 287. Analysis: The Chanticleers struggled late in the regular season. With a game under its belt, VMI should be able to keep this game close. Line: Coastal Carolina -6. Pick: Coastal Carolina 73, VMI 64.

(3) Campbell (17-14, 11-7) vs. (6) Winthrop (11-19, 8-10)

Tipoff: 2 p.m. TV: Big South Network. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 17 – Campbell, 54-51*; Feb. 9 – Campbell, 67-58. RPI: Campbell 201; Winthrop 274. Analysis: Campbell really faded down the stretch. This could be the first conference tournament upset. Line: Campbell -1½. Pick: Campbell 61, Winthrop 60.

(1) UNC-Asheville (21-9, 16-2) vs. (8) High Point (11-19, 6-12)

Tipoff: 6 p.m. TV: Big South Network. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 14 – Asheville, 86-79*; Jan. 26 – Asheville, 90-70. RPI: Asheville 123; High Point 276. Analysis: High Point has more talent than its record indicates and has a chance to keep this game close. Line: Asheville -8½. Pick: Asheville 80, High Point 73.

(4) Charleston Southern (18-11, 11-7) vs. (5) Liberty (14-17, 9-9)

Tipoff: 8 p.m. TV: Big South Network. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 31 – Charleston Southern, 81-76*; Feb. 9 – Liberty 75-74*. RPI: Charleston Southern 178; Liberty 282. Analysis: CSU is the higher seed and has the better record, but Liberty is playing better behind do-everything Jesse Sanders. Line: Charleston Southern -3½. Pick: Liberty 72, Charleston Southern 65.

PATRIOT LEAGUE AT CAMPUS SITES

(8) Navy (3-25, 0-14) at (1) Bucknell (22-8, 12-2)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 28 – Bucknell 66-51*; Feb. 25 – Bucknell 64-55. RPI: Bucknell 83, Navy 328. Analysis: It would take the return of David Robinson for Navy to stay in this game. Line: Bucknell -21½. Pick: Bucknell 80, Navy 51.

(7) Colgate (8-21, 2-12) at (2) Lehigh (23-7, 11-3)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 24 – Lehigh 78-56*; Feb. 11 – Lehigh 89-69. RPI: Lehigh 109, Colgate 300. Analysis: The Hawks will roll into the title game. Line: Lehigh -21½. Pick: Lehigh 75, Colgate 53.

(5) Lafayette (12-17, 7-7) at (4) Holy Cross (15-13, 9-5)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 19 – Lafayette 54-43*; Feb. 22 – Holy Cross 70-63*. RPI: Holy Cross 165, Lafayette 210. Analysis: The Crusaders win the rubber match with their seventh straight win. Line: Holy Cross -6½. Pick: Holy Cross 60, Lafayette 55.

(3) American (19-10, 10-4) at (6) Army (12-17, 5-9)

Tipoff: 7:30 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 21 – American 67-55; American 74-50*. RPI: American 152, Army 300. Analysis: American has won 6 of 8 and the hot play with continue Wednesday. Line: American -13. Pick: American 73, Army 52.

ATLANTIC SUN TOURNAMENT AT MACON, GA.

(1) Belmont (24-7, 16-2) vs. (8) Jacksonville (8-21, 6-12)

Tipoff: 2:30 p.m. TV: ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 4 – Belmont 75-63*; Jan. 28 – Belmont 85-51. RPI: Belmont 61, Jacksonville 263. Analysis: Belmont’s explosive offense has led the Bruins to 11 straight wins. Make it 12. Line: Belmont -16. Pick: Belmont 90, Jacksonville 64.

(2) Mercer (21-10, 13-5) vs. (7) Lipscomb (13-17, 8-10)

Tipoff: 8:30 p.m. TV: ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 1 – Mercer 79-72*; Feb. 23 – Mercer 63-54. RPI: Mercer 125, Lipscomb 219. Analysis: Mercer has had a nice season, but the Bears aren’t playing well late in the season. Line: Mercer -10. Pick: Mercer 68, Lipscomb 62.

*Road win

Company/Product Review: Retro College Cuts

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:24:21 -0800

Just a few years ago the demand for throwback jerseys was impossible to ignore, with many flocking to stores in search of that item that would allow them to relive their "glory days" as a fan. But the wearing of tops has faded away somewhat, and the words of one Sean Carter in his song "What More Can I Say" may sum up why for many people.

"And I don't wear jerseys I'm 30-plus..."

So what's a college basketball fan to do if they want to travel back in time without the throwback jersey? The founders of the company Retro College Cuts have just the answer: throwback shorts. Founded in 2011 by a pair of former college basketball players, Retro College Cuts specializes in the selling of replicas of game shorts worn by some of the more famous teams in college basketball history.

According to one of the founders the NCAA merchandising market grosses anywhere from $4-$4.5 billion, but the shorts market only makes up about $50 million of that amount. But while there's certainly a market for replica game shorts, this business isn't solely about making money.

"It started with my own crazy interest and passion for college basketball," he noted in a phone conversation earlier this week when asked about the reason for beginning the company. "I'm a former college basketball player and my dad was a Division III coach."

That devotion and knowledge of college basketball is noticeable from the moment you visit the site, as a highlight montage featuring some of the top players and teams of yesteryear plays. Each of the fourteen shorts in the first "class" has a story, with a paragraph of information on that specific team accompanying the page where customers can buy the shorts of their choice. There's also a link to a YouTube video for each team, which helps bring back memories of the "glory days" that each short is made to represent.

One may ask why there are only fourteen teams represented at this point, and this was a question posed to the founder during our chat. There are three different governing bodies when it comes to applying for the rights to sell officially licensed collegiate apparel, and they need to be negotiated with separately. Retro College Cuts was able to procure those rights with two of them and are currently negotiating with the third, which will open up the possibility of additions being made to the "catalog" later this year.

Retro College Cuts isn't just about shorts either as they also sell select retro T-shirts. They also offer a "combo" deal where customers can purchase a shirt and a pair of shorts for $99, a price that includes membership in their VIP program (which gives a 10% off discount for life) and free shipping (a perk that normally isn't given unless $75 or more is spent in a transaction). And $1 of every purchase is donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, which is another positive.

But what about the quality of the short? Made in the USA, the shorts are made of a fabric blend that replicates the weight and quality of an actual game short. The shorts are comfortable and with a 22" outseam there's no concern of replicating the size of those old-school shorts (which is good from a personal pride standpoint). The graphics are digitally printed and as an officially licensed product there's isn't a concern of being duped into buying something that isn't legit. From personal experience I can tell you that the shorts, which run large, fit well and look good.

Retro College Cuts also has a few promotions running that you should take advantage of in addition to checking out the gear. Twitter is utilized on both Tuesdays and Thursdays, with the "TIXonTUESDAY" promotion giving Twitter followers the chance to win a pair of college basketball tickets. The possible reward for "ThrowbackThursday" is either a retro t-shirt or a pair of replica game shorts. The "cost" of entry: just a simple follow of their Twitter account and a retweet of the message that they send out.

Lastly there's the contest that the founders are running, which closes on February 24th with a prize that the college hoops fan would definitely appreciate: an all-expenses paid trip for two (the winner and a guest of their choice) to Las Vegas for the first weekend of the NCAA tournament. The prize includes a three-day stay at The Hotel boutique and round-trip airfare, and with Vegas being what it is on that weekend the experience would be a phenomenal one.

Retro College Cuts is a new company that should meet the demand of college basketball fans hoping for a way to relive some of their favorite moments from back in the day in a fashion beyond searching the web for grainy video footage. The shorts certainly won't turn you into a Mark Jackson, Larry Johnson or Xavier McDaniel (our phone chat included the founder saying that the Wichita State design was his favorite) once you put them on, but they'll allow you to think back on their exploits and smile.

Cheerleader of the Day: Navy

Shawn Siegel — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:51:42 -0800

Each day (just about), CollegeHoops.net features a Cheerleader (or Dancer) of the Day. Today's picture is courtesy of Icon Sports Media. Check out the archive for more

-- NAVY

More Cheerleaders!
>>		>>		>>			..All

- Check out past Cheerleaders of the Day!

- Also check out the Picture of the Day!

- Watch all of CHN's favorite College Basketball Videos!

The Ultimate Schedule: Independents

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:02:18 -0700

To be frank, there are no rules when it comes to making up the ultimate schedule for the Independents. But instead of the requisite twelve games the schedule will have thirteen thanks to Navy’s trip to Hawaii. Look for an awful lot of Navy and Notre Dame since both are expected to have bowl-worthy campaigns.

Week 1: Navy @ Ohio State (September 5^th)

Navy has a tough task in the season opener: shut down Terrelle Pryor. The sophomore quarterback is firmly entrenched as the starter in Columbus and thus more comfortable in the position of team leader. Despite the loss of skill position players such as Beanie Wells, Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline, the Buckeye offense could become more dangerous due to this development. Look for head coach Jim Tressel’s version of the “Pistol” offense, and a hard-nosed defense that physically could be up to the challenge that Navy’s option offense brings. Whether or not they can shut it down from a strategic point of view remains to be seen; this can be a more dangerous contest than many expect.

Week 2: Notre Dame @ Michigan (September 12^th)

Both teams are under pressure to produce better results in 2009. The Irish went just 7-6, leaving some to wonder whether or not anything less than eight wins would keep Charlie Weis in South Bend. The Wolverines went through some serious growing pains in the first year of the Rich Rodriguez era, going 3-9 due in large part to an offense in which the tools didn’t match the machine. The hope in Ann Arbor is that freshman Tate Forcier is ready to take control of the position, and the deep running back position can make some plays in the spread option system. The Irish are expected to be much better this season, maybe even BCS bowl good. Last year’s meeting was a blowout; don’t expect the same in 2009.

Week 3: Navy @ Pittsburgh (September 19^th)

An upset in the Steel City is possible since the one man that killed the Midshipmen last season is now in the NFL. LeSean McCoy was the catalyst for last year’s Panther victory, rushing for 156 yards and three touchdowns. The Panthers will now rely on a stable of running backs, and it’s a young group with first-years players leading the way. Meanwhile, the Pitt defense is expected to be solid despite the loss of leading tackler and overall leader Scott McKillop. Navy watched the Panthers show offensive balance in racking up 499 yards of offense (255 passing, 244 rushing), but due to the youth at running back look for Pitt to look to their talented wide receivers (Jonathan Baldwin being one) for more big plays.

Week 4: Bye Week (September 26^th)

Army does make a trip to Iowa State this weekend, but outside of that there isn’t much to look forward to on the final Saturday of September. Take the week off and get ready for the first game in the series for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy.

Week 5: Air Force @ Navy (October 3^rd)

The Midshipmen have held the aforementioned rivalry trophy for six consecutive seasons, and the run has coincided with their win streak over the Falcons. Air Force dominated the yardage department (411-244) and both teams finished with two turnovers apiece. The difference in Navy’s 33-27 win was special teams, more specifically two blocked punts that were returned for touchdowns by the Middies. Expect Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun to spend a lot of time in the practices leading up to the rematch working on the kicking game. Any game between the service academies promises to feature sixty minutes of competition, and with Army not winning the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy since 1996 this matchup will likely decide who holds the trophy.

Week 6: Vanderbilt @ Army (October 10^th)

The Black Knights host the Commodores, who went from perennial SEC doormat to bowl game winner in 2008. Bobby Johnson’s team has the ability to get back to a bowl game, and besides Florida there really isn’t an invincible team in the SEC East. It’ll be interesting to see how well the new double-eagle flex defensive scheme does with Rich Ellerson taking over at West Point, especially in facing a team with eight starters returning on offense.

Mackenzi Adams and Larry Smith will fight it out for the starting quarterback job, and with five starters back on the offensive line they could have enough experience to deal with the Army defense. Vandy also returns nine starters to their defense, with the only two losses coming in the secondary. At the very least, this is a good time to take in one of college football’s best sights: Michie Stadium, which has a beautiful view of the nearby Hudson River.

Week 7: USC @ Notre Dame (October 17^th)

According to many of the pundits the Irish essentially have a one-game season: beat the Trojans and not only does Notre Dame enter the BCS conversation but they also become part of the national title talk. That’s not the opinion here, but make no mistake about it when measuring the importance of this game. The Irish haven’t even been close to the Trojans in recent meetings since the infamous “Bush Push” in 2005, a period that has coincided with Notre Dame’s loss in national respect. With the Trojans breaking in a new quarterback and replacing some key contributors on defense could this be the year that Notre Dame beats the Trojans? Not sure about that, but at the least the Irish should be able to keep this one close.

Week 8: Boston College @ Notre Dame (October 24^th)

The Eagles and Fighting Irish have quite a history; unfortunately for Notre Dame they’ve been on the short end of the stick recently. Boston College has won six straight in the series, including a 17-0 win at The Heights last year. But things have changed for the Eagles, with Frank Spaziani the new head coach and nary a quarterback who has taken a live snap at the collegiate level. On paper the Irish will be a prohibitive favorite but things could become tight should Jimmy Clausen throw four interceptions as he did last year. But the role of underdog won’t be anything new for Boston College, which seems to come into this game with a chip on its shoulder every year. No one picked the Eagles to beat Notre Dame in 1993, and we all know what happened there.

Week 9: Temple @ Navy (October 31^st)

Al Golden’s Owls should be pretty good this season; the MAC media picked them to finish second in the MAC East behind defending league champion Buffalo. Temple returns seventeen starters but one of them is not QB Adam DiMichele, who lit up the Middies for 340 yards and three touchdowns in last year’s meeting. Temple actually led 27-7 in the fourth quarter before falling victim to a heartbreaking comeback. Navy tied the game on a fumble return by Clint Sovie with less than a minute to go and then won it in overtime (33-27) on a Ricky Dobbs 1-yard run. The ending wasn’t as bad as Baylor’s to UNLV a decade ago but it sure was close for Temple. Will lightning strike twice?

Week 10: Navy @ Notre Dame (November 7^th)

The Irish had won forty-three straight before the Midshipmen stunned them in South Bend two seasons ago. Now they return to the scene, this time encountering a far better product on the opposite side of the field. Notre Dame won last season’s meeting in Baltimore despite turning the ball over five times. How they won was on the ground, rushing for 230 yards. Outrushing the team that’s led the country in rush offense the past four years was an unexpected development, something the Irish can build on in this meeting due to the progress made in the passing game. The last two meetings have been close; a departure from the one-sided nature of the series, and hopefully this remains close as well.

Week 11: Notre Dame @ Pittsburgh (November 14^th)

Notre Dame hits the road to take on a Panther team that knocked them off in overtime a season ago. LeSean McCoy ran for 169 yards and a score in the 36-33 triumph, a game that the Irish probably left thinking they should have won. Pat Bostick was picked off three times and the Irish got one of the best games of the season from Jimmy Clausen. Bill Stull is now the starter at Pittsburgh, and the hope is that he can consistently get the ball to his numerous options in the passing game. Notre Dame’s secondary will be tested early and often due to the youth of the Pitt backfield; if they’re up to the task more interceptions could be the end result.

Week 12: Connecticut @ Notre Dame (November 21^st)

Yes more Notre Dame, this time for the first-ever meeting on the gridiron between the Huskies and Fighting Irish. Connecticut will unveil a new no-huddle look under new offensive coordinator Joe Moorehead, and Zach Frazer is the starter at quarterback thanks to a solid spring under center. Running backs Andre Dixon and Jordan Todman have the unenviable task of replacing the departed Donald Brown, and given the shaky nature of the passing game in the post-Dan Orlovsky era they’d better be ready to make some plays on the ground. This is a game that’s been handed to Notre Dame by the experts before a snap has been taken; they’d better be careful not to underestimate a team that consistently ranks at or near the top of the Big East in most defensive categories. Notre Dame could be two wins away from a BCS invite; both UConn and Stanford will be dangerous opponents.

Week 13: Navy @ Hawaii (November 28^th)

Opposites attract on the islands, with Navy visiting a Hawaii squad that aims to put the ball in the air on just about every down. The key stat will be time of possession. Both offenses are most effective when they control this area of the game. How Navy’s pass defense and Hawaii’s run defense hold up will ultimately determine who wins; neither offense is good enough in their “weakness” to pose a serious risk in those respective departments. Don’t expect the Midshipmen to get caught looking past the Warriors, but there’s a far bigger game looming on the horizon for them.

Week 14: Army vs. Navy (December 5^th in Philadelphia)

Unfortunately many have overlooked this game, putting it on the backburner in favor of conference championship games and other “big” contests played on the first Saturday of December. But this is one of the game’s best rivalries, as much for the sportsmanship on display throughout as for the hard-nosed play for sixty minutes. Navy has won the last seven games in the series, with none of those wins coming by fewer than twelve points.

No matter how bad the year may be going for the Black Knights, a win over Navy would dramatically change how the story of 2009 is to be told in the future.

Army could get nothing going in last year’s 34-0 loss, racking up just seven first downs and 154 yards of offense. Navy on the other hand rushed for 368 yards on the day, leaving no doubt in clinching their sixth straight Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. Expect the Black Knights to be prohibitive underdogs once again; just don’t expect them to simply lie down. And the playing of each alma mater at game’s end is one of the more emotional moments in college football, especially for seniors who now know they’ll be a part of a bigger team in the coming months and years.

Independents Football Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:53:52 -0700

Notre Dame wants a BCS bowl game

By Raphielle Johnson

Is Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis sitting on a hot seat? Some may say so while others will state that he’s got more time to get the Irish back to being “Notre Dame”. But there is no argument when it comes to how important a big year would be for he and his program. After ending 2008 on an upswing thanks to a blowout of Hawaii in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, Notre Dame is expected by many to win at least nine games due to a schedule littered with winnable games. And Notre Dame has the talent back needed to accomplish such a feat, as well as grab a BCS at-large bid.

QB Jimmy Clausen took ownership of the offense in the offseason, hosting a few of the wide receivers at his home in California in order to build on-field chemistry. In 2008 Clausen completed 60.9% of his passes, throwing for 3,172 yards and twenty-five touchdowns. But the number the offensive coaches want cut down on his interceptions, which totaled seventeen. Luckily for Clausen, every key receiver from last season outside of David Grimes is back on campus.

Golden Tate, Michael Floyd, Duval Kamara and tight end Kyle Rudolph make up a quartet of receivers that can give opponents fits all season long. And in talking about the passing game one must not discount RB Armando Allen, who finished second on the team with fifty receptions in 2008. Allen was part of a three-back platoon in the run game, with Allen, Robert Hughes and James Aldridge all rushing for at least three hundred yards apiece. Jonas Gray also saw action and stands to add depth to the position. Up front the Irish return four starters with seniors Sam Young and Chris Stewart leading the way.

Defensively, Notre Dame will need to return more than a few contributors to the 2008 edition. Six starters return, but the Irish will have to replace defensive mainstays David Bruton and Maurice Crum Jr. Leading tackler Kyle McCarthy, who finished 2008 with 110 tackles and two interceptions, is back as is fellow safety Harrison Smith. Linebacker is a position where youngsters could make the biggest impact, with Brian Smith being the lone returning starter at the position. Senior Toryan Smith has a wealth of experience, and he’ll now start in the middle.

Strongside linebacker will be an interesting competition to watch, with senior Scott Smith looking to hold off challenges from sophomores Darius Fleming and Steve Filer. Other youngsters expected to earn snaps this season include sophomores David Posluszny and Anthony McDonald, and highly touted freshman Manti Te’o. The secondary may be in the best shape of any unit despite the graduation of Bruton.

The aforementioned McCarthy and Harrison Smith are back, as is corner Raeshon McNeil. McNeil finished 2008 with two interceptions, tying McCarthy in that category for the returnees. The special teams will also be solid thanks to the abilities of kicker Brandon Walker and punter Eric Maust. Both will be challenged by freshmen in the form of kicker Nick Tausch and punter Ben Turk and the Irish will also look to duplicate 2008’s kick return unit, which led the nation by allowing just 16.5 yards per kickoff return.

The pieces are there for a run back to the BCS, especially considering the personnel losses that hit many of their opponents on the 2009 schedule. But has Notre Dame matured enough to handle the heightened expectations? That’s a question that will have to be answered in time.

Army

West Point will welcome a new head coach in 2009, with Rich Ellerson arriving by way of Cal Poly with the hope of kick-starting one of the game’s storied programs. Ellerson is one of college football’s leading experts on the triple option offense and had much success at the FCS level with the Mustangs. After failed attempts to “modernize” the offensive system the Black Knights have decided that they need to get back to their “roots”, and the hiring of Ellerson is a great move in that direction.

Due to the difference in talent pools that they can recruit from, the service academies have leaned upon option offenses for years. The objective of the coaching staff in the spring was to make sure they had players in the positions where they’d be most effective within the triple option system. That’s why you’ll see 6-foot-10 Ali Villanueva, who started spring drills by moving from tackle to guard, now on the field as…a starter at wide receiver. Damion Hunter and Davyd Brooks are more established at the position and will also see plenty of snaps.

But the key positions in the triple option are the spots in the backfield. Chip Bowden and Max Williams entered fall camp in a tight battle for the starting spot, and senior Carson Williams and sophomore Jimmy Reiter will also work in hopes of garnering a look under center. There were also changes on the line with Coach Ellerson favoring slimmer linemen that can move their feet, thus making the triple option a true threat to defenses. If your linemen can’t move with fluidity you’re going to have a hard time springing the option attack loose.

CeDarius Williams will look to replace the departed Collin Mooney at fullback, and that will not be an easy task. Mooney rushed for 1,339 yards in 2008, breaking the school’s single-season yardage record (considering that Army also produced Glenn Davis and Felix “Doc” Blanchard, “Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside”, that’s an amazing feat). Slotbacks Patrick Mealy, Jameson Carter, Ian Smith and George Fletcher are all in the running to see playing time as well; everyone will be given a fair chance to go out and earn snaps.

The lines are in a state of change, with the offensive line looking to get quicker and the defensive line getting acquainted with the “Double Eagle Flex” system that Coach Ellerson actually helped devise. The work of he and others on that Arizona coaching staff resulted in “Desert Swarm”, a defense that took the Arizona program from national unknown to household name in the mid-90s. Co-defensive coordinators Chris Smeland and Payaam Saadat spent all spring going over this system, one that can be a hit with players due to its attacking nature. If Mike Gann can stay healthy after missing most of 2008 he’ll be a very good fit for the defense at defensive tackle. He and Victor Ugenyi will be counted on to shore up the middle, while ends Josh McNary, Milton Holmes and Carson Homme will all have ample opportunities to make plays.

At linebacker Stephen Anderson is the lone returning starter, leading the Black Knights with eighty-two tackles in 2008. Due to a hamstring injury during the spring other players (notably Bill Prosko and Andre Shinda) got an opportunity to compete at middle linebacker in Anderson’s stead. Steve Erzinger is the likely starter at rover, and Andrew Rodriguez had an impressive spring at the whip linebacker position. It will take some time for the defense to take shape, but the Black Knights will attack.

The secondary has a lot of experience, with Mario Hill and Jordan Trimble being the leading candidates to start at corner. Safeties Donovan Travis and Desmond Lamb are just two players with game experience who should fit into the new system quite well. Matt Campbell performed well as the placekicker in 2008, but there is a question to be answered in regards to the punting job. It may be a bit too much to expect huge strides in the won-lost record for Army, but if they can improve upon last season’s win total (3) it would be a good start to the Ellerson era.

Navy

Head coach Ken Niumatalolo had a tough task in front of him in taking over for the departed Paul Johnson in 2008. But there wasn’t drop in Annapolis with the Midshipmen winning eight games and the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. The Midshipmen have now won the trophy symbolic of the series between Air Force, Army and Navy for six consecutive seasons, and they’ve beaten their two biggest rivals a combined thirteen consecutive times. Also to Navy’s credit are four straight seasons leading the nation in rushing offense, averaging 292.4 yards per game.

Navy has a number of experienced players back on campus, with quarterback Ricky Dobbs looking to lead the Midshipmen back to a bowl game. Dobbs played in eight games last season despite the presence of Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada and Jarod Bryant, rushing for more than 500 yards on the season. But the question will be in the backfield, with leading rushers Shun White and Eric Kettani both graduating. Alexander Teich has the inside track on the fullback position while Bobby Doyle and Marcus Curry left spring on top of the depth chart at the slotback positions.

Navy also enjoys the comforts of having some experience at wide receiver as well as on the offensive line. Mario Washington and Mike Schnupp are the likely starters and they’ll have a lot to do in replacing 2008 leading receiver Tyree Barnes. On the offensive line LG Osei Asante leads a group that features two seniors and two juniors heading into 2009. Sophomore Brady DeMell is the lone underclassman starting on the offensive line this season.

Defensively the Midshipmen return a number of experienced options on all three levels. Jabaree Tuani, who was named ECAC Rookie of the Year last season, is back on the defensive line as are seniors Michael Walsh, Matt Nechak and Jordan Stephens. But for as much experience as there is up front, the linebackers may make up the best group within the defense. Ross Pospisil, Clint Sovie and Ram Vela are all back for one more rodeo, as are inside linebacker Tony Haberer and outside linebacker Craig Schaefer. In a 3-4 scheme you’re only as good as your linebackers, and the Midshipmen have some very good answers at the position.

The secondary has just one senior starter in corner Blake Carter, and he’s also the secondary’s leading returning interceptor with just one pick. Players such as Carter, free safety Kwesi Mitchell and rover Wyatt Middleton will have their work cut out for them in replacing standouts such as Rashawn King and Ketric Buffin, both of whom tallied three interceptions in 2008. If the secondary can make strides in fall camp Navy would essentially be a lock to go bowling once again.

However, the kicking game will be an area to watch as well. Punter Kyle Delahooke is back after averaging 41.6 yards per punt in 2008, but how will Coach Niumatalolo go about replacing the reliable Matt Harmon? Sophomore Jon Teague led the kicking battle heading into fall camp, but he’s yet to attempt a field goal at the collegiate level.

Also working against the Midshipmen in regards to answering questions about the secondary and kicking game are the first three games of the season: at Ohio State, Louisiana Tech and at Pittsburgh. That could put their streak of six straight seasons with eight wins or more in jeopardy.

Storyline: Can Notre Dame take advantage of a manageable schedule and get back into BCS bowl contention?

Players of the Year: Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen and Notre Dame SS Kyle McCarthy

How they’ll finish

Notre Dame 9-3

Navy 7-6

Army 3-9

Next: Independents Ultimate Schedule

Patriot League Tournament: Preview & Prediction

Evan Dorey — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:09:29 -0800

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:

Patriot League Championship

The Patriot League Tournament features all league teams, with all games being hosted at the higher seed.

Tournament Odds

#	Team	SF	F	W
1	American	99.07%	97.22%	86.03%
2	Holy Cross	93.81%	80.21%	12.37%
3	Navy	85.31%	17.26%	1.28%
4	Army	66.79%	1.75%	0.16%
5	Lehigh	33.21%	0.83%	0.08%
6	Colgate	14.69%	1.39%	0.04%
7	Bucknell	6.19%	1.14%	0.03%
8	Lafayette	0.93%	0.19%	0.01%

Between their domination of the league and the home court advantage, American is the single most dominant favorite in any conference tournament of the season. Holy Cross seem to have the only serious chance of stopping the Eagles’ run.

#1 – American Eagles (21-7, 13-1) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.219

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

After earning its first NCAA Tournament berth last season, American doesn’t seem like it’ll take long to get its second, having lost just once since late December, and entering the tournament on a 10-game winning streak. It might be easier to list what American doesn’t do better than anyone else in the league, it’s so dominant. The Eagles are excellent shooters, 47% overall and at nearly 40% from behind the arc. They take a lot of threes, and play a slow, deliberate offense that focuses on ball control. They are also the best at defending shots in the PL, allowing opponents the same percentage from two that they shoot from three themselves. The Eagles also dominate the defensive glass, so opponents have a lot of one-miss-and-out possessions.

Players to watch:

5-11 SR Garrison Carr, 17.6 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 50.7 eFG% - Carr leads the Eagles in scoring, and is basically the only guy who takes threes on the team, his 251 attempts about the same as the rest of the team combined. He’s made nearly 38% of them, nearly as good a percentage as his two-point attempts. He’s a typical sort of high-usage player, providing solid efficiency over a large number of possessions, and freeing up other players into smaller, more effective roles.

6-8 SR Brian Gilmore, 11.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 60.7 eFG% - Gilmore is the main option for American inside, a very good inside scorer with a great touch from outside as well. He leads the team in rebounding, but his rates on the boards aren’t particularly good. While he doesn’t often put up a big number, he chips in with effective shooting down low.

#2 – Holy Cross Crusaders (16-13, 11-3) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.114

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2007 (1^st Round)

Holy Cross had a poor non-conference season, picking up a number of bad losses (including three against the Ivy), but turned it on when Patriot play started, and were the only team to beat American. The Crusaders dominated the rest of the league as well, and have the second best offense and defense, behind only the Eagles. Holy Cross depends on getting the ball inside to score, and going 50% on two-point shots makes up for struggles with long-distance shots and free-throws. It’s a good offensive rebounding team, and distributes the ball well, but turns the ball over too often to be really efficient. Defensively, the word is possessions. The Crusaders are decent at stopping shots, but really shine at denying opponents chances with turnovers and rebounds.

Players to watch:

6-9 SO Andrew Keister, 9.0 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 59.6 eFG% - Keister may not be the Crusaders’ first option, but he’s the most efficient offensive player by a wide margin. That tends to happen when you lead the team in rebounding and shoot a better percentage from the field (60%) than from the stripe (56%).

6-4 SR Colin Cunningham, 8.6 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.8 SPG, 47.1 eFG% - If Cunningham were a half-decent three point shooter, he’d be an excellent player. However, his 29% mark from beyond the arc really drags him down. Beyond that, he’s a good ball distribution guard who leads the league in steals.

#3 – Navy Midshipmen (19-10, 8-6) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.030

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1998 (1^st Round)

Navy first came to my attention when it shot 71% from the field in beating Texas San Antonio, but it couldn’t keep that level of play when conference play came around, and ended up hanging just above .500 the whole season. The Midshipmen are a step down from the two leading teams on the offensive end, but are still clearly better than the teams below them. They play a fairly quick style that depends on avoiding turnovers, where they are best in the conference, and making long-distance shots, where they are only average. Navy is a pretty good team at defending the perimeter, but get beaten out inside, and are only an average league defense.

Players to watch:

6-4 SR Kaleo Kina, 17.9 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.4 SPG, 44.4 eFG% - Kina leads the Midshipmen in scoring, rebounds, assists and steals, and when his shooting touch is on, he’s as dangerous a scorer as there is in the league. The problem comes when his shots aren’t falling, as he is capable of some frightening lines, especially from three, where he shoots just 25%.

6-2 JR Chris Harris, 15.7 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 48.3 eFG% - Harris is the team’s second leading scorer, and takes the majority of his shots from behind the arc, where he makes a better percentage than he shoots inside.

#4 – Army Black Knights (10-18, 6-8) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.052

Last NCAA Tournament bid: None

Army has had one of the nation’s worst offenses, and the worst in the Patriot League, so its 6-8 final record is a testament to its ability to defend. The Black Knights are decent shooters, 41 % overall, but struggle inside, and lose so many possessions with poor rebounding and turnovers that that their shooting doesn’t really matter. Army defends shots well, and forces a lot of turnovers, good enough for the Patriot’s third-best defense, but not good enough to keep up with the conference leaders.

Players to watch:

6-3 JR Cleveland Richard, 11.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 53.9 eFG% - Richard is the Black Knights’ main threat from behind the arc, and the team’s leading scorer. The team is quite deep, using a lot of players, but Richards’ shooting ability clearly sets him apart.

5-11 JR Josh Miller, 9.2 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 3.4 APG, 45.5 eFG% - The team’s best ball distribution guard, Miller doesn’t score much, and his two point shooting is a weakness at just 43%.

#5 – Lehigh Mountain Hawks (15-13, 5-9) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.057

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2004 (Play-In)

There’s not much separating the teams in slots 4-7, and the Mountain Hawks’ trip to Army to open the tournament should be a good one, if the triple overtime game the two played in the regular season is any indication. Lehigh’s in-conference inconsistency can be blamed, for a large part, on their shooting, which is among the worst in the nation, and easily the worst in the PL. It especially struggles from two, where it takes the majority of its shots, and even good rebounding and interior defense weren’t enough to get it to the .500 mark.

Players to watch:

5-11 JR Marquis Hall, 14.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.7 SPG, 44.7 eFG% - Hall is the first part of Lehigh’s inside-outside duo, and is a good guard in every area but his shot. He’s a decent rebounder, and has a very good assist rate, but his shooting inside the arc is quite weak, and is the major failing in his game.

6-7 JR Zahir Carrington, 14.0 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 44.2 eFG% - The conference’s leading rebounder, Carrington’s 44% from the floor is pretty disappointing, and really reduces his effectiveness as an offensive option. He does get a good number of points at the free throw line, where he makes fairly frequent appearances.

#6 – Colgate Red Raiders (9-19, 5-9) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.060

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1996 (1^st Round)

Colgate sat at 5-5 with two-and-a-half weeks left in the season, but a disastrous end to the season that included a tough series of road games saw them slump into the bottom portion of the conference. The Red Raiders are an average offensive team, though their slow pace makes them seem less potent then they are. They sit fifth in FG% and turnovers, so the middle-of-the pack overall efficiency fits with a balanced, mediocre unit. Defensively, they manage to hold opponents to a reasonable percentage, but have trouble stopping opponents from getting a possession advantage, with their rebounding a major culprit.

Players to watch:

6-6 JR Ben Jonson, 10.2 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 49.7 eFG% - The junior forward is Colgate’s best option inside, and has really upped his level of play while taking on a larger role. He’s a solid rebounder, and is a good scorer from the floor who puts up a lot of points at the free throw line.

6-1 SO Mike Venezia, 10.6 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 44.5 eFG% - Venezia leads the Red Raiders in scoring, but his shot needs a lot of work, especially with his 41% inside. Considering that he doesn’t contribute many steals or assists, he’s a very inefficient player when his shots aren’t falling, which is fairly often.

#7 – Bucknell Bison (7-22, 4-10) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.055

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2006 (2^nd Round)

Just three years removed from the second of their pair of memorable NCAA runs, the Bison have shown just how fleeting success can be, slipping to a spot just above the Patriot League cellar. The Bison are good shooters, and don’t turn the ball over much, but are woefully outclassed inside, putting up one of the nation’s worst two-point percentages. Likewise, they defend the three well, but allow opponents to score with relative ease inside. A couple of things don’t quite fit with this profile; Bucknell forces very few turnovers, but is excellent at defensive rebounding, despite playing at a fairly high pace.

Players to watch:

6-8 JR Patrick Behan, 13.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 45.8 eFG% - Behan fits with what we’ve seen from several Patriot League forwards, a good rebounder who takes a lot of his team’s shots, but doesn’t shoot a particularly good percentage.

6-1 SR Justin Castleberry, 11.5 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 44.5 eFG% - Castleberry has a good scoring average, but not much else; he put up a good steal rate, and he’s a decent three-point shooter, but his sub-40% shooting from two means he’s a pretty inefficient player.

#8 – Lafayette Leopards (8-21, 4-10) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.117

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2000 (1^st Round)

When I’ve been describing some of the teams above as relatively poor defensively, this has been within the context of the Patriot League, where the average team has scored well below a point-per-possession. Lafayette is the only team that allows more than that, and have been easily the worst team in the conference. The Leopards’ opponents shoot 47% from the field, and manage to score inside and outside with equal impunity. Lafayette also commits a lot of fouls, giving opponents even more high-percentage chances. Offensively, Lafayette are about average in the conference, a three-heavy offense that doesn’t shoot a great long distance percentage, but is effective inside and at the line.

Players to watch:

6-2 SR Jeff Kari, 10.6 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.7 APG, 48.2 eFG% - Kari is 2^nd on the team in scoring, but he’s not a particularly effective guard, having an even assist/turnover ratio and a below average shot inside and outside.

5-11 SR Andrew Brown, 13.6 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 3.1 APG, 43.6 eFG% - Lafayette’s leading scorer and assist man, Brown is another player who’s struggled to make shots, below 30% from three and under 35% overall.

My statistical all-Patriot League team:

American SR G Garrison Carr, 17.6 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 50.7 eFG%

Navy SR G Kaleo Kina, 17.9 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.4 SPG, 44.4 eFG

Navy JR G Chris Harris, 15.7 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 48.3 eFG%

Army JR G Cleveland Richard, 11.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 53.9 eFG%

American SR F Brian Gilmore, 11.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 60.7 eFG%

Patroit League Tournament: Quarterfinals Preview

Press Release — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 07:28:21 -0800

Center Valley, Pa. - The quest for the 2009 Patriot League Men's Basketball Championship begins with the quarterfinal round on Wednesday, with defending champion American playing as the No. 1 seed and hosting No. 8 Lafayette. No. 2 Holy Cross hosts No. 7 Bucknell, No. 3 Navy takes on No. 6 Colgate and No. 4 Army hosts No. 5 Lehigh in the other three contests.

Patriot League Quarterfinal Preview

It's win or go home time in Patriot League men's basketball, as the League Tournament tips off with the quarterfinal round on Wednesday. The evening's action begins at 7 p.m. with No. 7 seed Bucknell at No. 2 Holy Cross, No. 6 Colgate at No. 3 Navy and No. 5 Lehigh at No. 4 Army. The No. 1 seeded American Eagles begin defense of their League title at 7:30 p.m. at Bender Arena against No. 8 Lafayette. The winner of the Lehigh/Army game plays the winner of Lafayette/American in the semifinals on Sunday, with the winners on the other side of the bracket also facing off that day. All Patriot League Tournament games are played at the site of the higher seed, with the Championship on March 13

The Eagles won the Patriot League with a 13-1 mark in the regular season, claiming the top seed in the Tournament for the second year in a row. They are led by senior guards Derrick Mercer and Garrison Carr. Mercer was named Patriot League Player of the Year on Monday, while Carr earned his second consecutive First-Team All-League award. The Eagles are tied for third in the nation with a 10-game winning streak, and have victories in 16 of their last 17 games. Lafayette is led by senior guard Andrew Brown, who averages 13.6 points per game.

The Mountain Hawks and Black Knights play in the quarterfinals for the third year in a row. Lehigh is led by First-Team All-League selection Marquis Hall and Second-Team All-League choice Zahir Carrington. Army places 34th in the country in scoring defense, and has Patriot League Defensive Player of the year Marcus Nelson and Second-Team All-League pick Cleveland Richard on its side.

Bucknell and Holy Cross are meeting in the Patriot Leaguue Tournament for a record 12th time, with the Bison holding a 6-5 edge thus far. Bucknell is led by Second-Team All-League choice Patrick Behan, who has five consecutive 20-point games. Holy Cross boasts First-Team All-League pick Andrew Keister and Patriot League Rookie of the Year R.J. Evans for a team that went 11-3 in Patriot League action.

Colgate and Navy face off in Annapolis after just playing on Saturday in a game won by the Mids. The Raiders have lost five consecutive games coming into action, but do have three players scoring around 10 points per contest. Navy boasts First-Team All-Patriot League choice Kaleo Kina and Second-Team All-League pick Chris Harris, who each finished in the top three in overall and League only scoring in 2008-09.

Patriot League Notebook

American Enters Exclusive Company in League Annals

By clinching the No. 1 seed in the Patriot League Tournament, American become the first team since Lafayette in 1998-00 to earn the top seed in consecutive seasons. The Leopards are the only program to earn three straight No. 1 seeds, with Colgate (1995-96)?and Fordham (1990-91) the others to do it in consecutive years. American is also the first team in League annals to earn sole possession of the regular-season title for two straight seasons. The Eagles will play as the No. 1 seed in the Tournament for the third time in eight years as a League member, with the other instance in 2002. American has captured a top four seed in each of its League seasons.

No. 1 Usually Ends Up No. 1

If history rings true, American has to like its chances as the No. 1 seed with home court throughout the Patriot League Tournament. The top seed has won 14 of the 18 League Tournaments, and has advanced to the title game every season. American continued that trend by winning the Championship as the No. 1 seed last year.

Repeat Is No Unusual Feat

Also in the Eagles' favor is the history of repeat champions in the Patriot League. There have already been six repeat champions in League annals, with just four champions earning only a single crown. Lehigh is the only Patriot League program to win one title but never repeat as a champion, a distinction the Eagles will try to avoid joining this season.

-- From PatriotLeague.org

College Basketball: 5 Things We Learned This Week

Kevin McNeill — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:30:11 -0800

Kevin McNeill's weekly 5 Things column breaks down what's important in the world of college basketball.

This week, we learned that...

1) Virginia Tech once again whiffed in the recruiting department

Coach Seth Greenberg has taken his share of heat for missing out on Stephen Curry three years ago. After all, Curry is the nation’s leading scorer, and may well end up as the national player of the year. The Hokies, meanwhile, currently sit at 10-5, and in need of a lot of help to get into the NCAA Tournament at this point.

In fairness, Greenberg was hardly alone. Despite the fact that Curry was his high school’s all-time leading scorer in Charlotte, no major conference program – even in the ACC, with four schools in North Carolina – gave him a second look. The only schools to offer the (then) too-skinny 5’11 guard a scholarship were Winthrop, William & Mary, Wofford, High Point, Virginia Commonwealth, and of course, Davidson.

But what Coach Greenberg has had to live down is that Stephen Curry is the son of Dell Curry, one of the greatest basketball players to ever come through Blacksburg and the school’s all-time leading scorer. His mother, Sonya, was also an outstanding volleyball player for the Hokies. The school was Stephen’s first choice from the beginning, and Greenberg only offered Curry a chance to play – if he walked on. The ‘offer’ has haunted him ever since.

But life is full of second chances. And lost opportunities.

Last year, Stephen’s younger brother, Seth, committed to Liberty, over offers from William & Mary and the opportunity to follow his brother to Davidson. Once again, no major program seriously recruited a kid who was thought to be too easily pushed around on the college level. Once again, Virginia Tech was one of the local programs that missed out.

This time, Coach Greenberg did in fact offer Curry a scholarship, but with the provision that he redshirt as a freshman. Curry - who wanted to play right away - was none too impressed, telling the Roanoke Times, “they (the Hokies) said they were going to offer, but they kept pushing it back. It's their decision what they want to do and what players they want to bring in. I thought I could have played there."

Instead, Seth Curry is playing for the Flames under Coach Ritchie McKay, who recruited him hard from the get-go. He is currently leading the nation in scoring among freshmen, averaging over 20 points a game. In fact, he’s the only freshman in the country in the top 50 nationally in points per game (he’s currently 24^th). He shoots better than 40% from three – shooting better than 45% overall, and even averages a little less than four boards a game (although the team does start five guards). On Saturday, he scored 27 points on 11-18 shooting in a win over Charleston Southern.

Stephen Curry actually said that his younger brother could be even better than him in a couple years. And, in case you are wondering, no, Dell does not have another son in high school.

2) Defense may win championships, but you still have to score

Watching the first 30 minutes of Saturday’s Duke – Florida State ACC matchup might have been the longest 30 minutes the Seminoles have endured all season.

The score was 43-19 with a little more than 13 minutes to go in the second half. While Florida State eventually found some rhythm and pulled within 10 a couple times, the game was never really in doubt after that. Overall, the Seminoles shot just 31% from the floor in the loss.

The team is shooting just 42% for the season so far, and averaging 16 turnovers a game. But it has been much worse when Florida State plays higher caliber competition.

The Seminoles scored just 48 against Pitt, shooting under 30% for the game and committing 18 turnovers - 6 of them by one-man-show Toney Douglas. They lost the game despite holding the now-top ranked team in the country to a miserable 33% shooting night.

During their early December loss at Northwestern, the Seminoles committed 21 turnovers, and shot 41% in a 59 point effort. Granted, the Wildcats are surprisingly second in the Big 10 right now in points allowed, but this is still a team that has now lost their first three Big 10 games. Even in the Seminoles’ victory over then-21 ranked Gators, Florida State could only muster 57 points on 31% shooting.

They have one player – Douglas – averaging double digits in scoring. In fact, in their first six games against fellow Big 6 conference foes, they broke the 60 point barrier just once – a 80-77 win over Cal in the Global Sports Classic in Las Vegas back in November. That had better improve quickly, or it’s going to be a long season in the ACC.

3) Arizona State has a chance to show that they are true contenders in the Pac 10 this week

The 16^th ranked Sun Devils begin a tough road trip this week starting Thursday at USC, followed by a marquee matchup Saturday against # 7 UCLA, and ending next Wednesday at their arch-rival Arizona.

This week is the toughest on their schedule, and it carries even more weight as they try to bounce back after a loss against resurgent # 22 Cal. However, the matchup with the Bruins is obviously the most intriguing. Are the young UCLA Bruins really the seventh best team in the nation, despite losing Kevin Love, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, and Russell Westbrook to the NBA last year? Is ASU, who has never before been to the Final Four, ready to unseat a team that has been to the last three? We’ll soon find out, and it should be a great game.

Coach Herb Sendek’s journey from 8-22 in his first season in the desert, to a 21-win campaign last year (when they were shockingly on the outside looking in to the NCAA Tournament on Selection Sunday) to nationally ranked power today is further proof that ASU scored a coup in landing Sendek from NC State three years ago. With player of the year candidate James Harden leading this team there is no telling how far they could go from here.

4) The feel good 16 seed of 2009?

The Navy Midshipmen defeated Bucknell on Saturday behind 25 points from Kaleo Kina, and now sit at 12-4 and in first place in the Patriot League. There is still a long ways to go, they’ve only played one conference game after all, but Coach Billy Lange could be on his way to leading his team back to the NCAA Tournament with the League’s automatic berth for the first time in 11 seasons.

It hasn’t been an easy road back to respectability. Prior to Lange’s arrival, the Midshipmen won a total of 23 games in three seasons, and never finished higher than seventh place in the conference. In fact, Navy has not advanced past the first round of the Patriot League Tournament since 2001.

But in his fourth season, Coach Lange had finally rebuilt his team to achieve a winning record, and came within the last game of the season of clinching the Patriot League regular season title. They ended up losing a thrilling, triple overtime game to Bucknell in the Patriot League Tournament on a 40-foot prayer at the buzzer – making Saturday’s rematch victory that much sweeter.

Navy lost its best player since David Robinson with the graduation of Greg Sprink, leading to the Midshipmen being picked to finish sixth in the League in the preseason. But so far they haven’t missed a beat. They are riding a four game winning streak, while playing Virginia Tech and Villanova very tight, the latter Lange’s old team.

The difficulty in recruiting to military academies, with sky-high academic standards and military service commitments, should never be underestimated; explaining why the academies often have such a difficult time holding onto head coaches once they see success (see: Air Force). But for now, Coach Lange is proving to be the right man for the job in Annapolis.

5) Either the ACC or the Big East will dominate come March

In the latest AP and Coaches’ polls, every team in the top 5, as well as 10 of the top 15, resides in either the Big East or ACC conference.

In the last two NCAA Tournaments, the Final Four participants all hailed from different conferences. However, every one of the previous eight Final Fours sported two teams from the same conference (the SEC in 2006, the Big 10 in 2005, 2000 and 1999, the ACC in 2004 and 2001, and the Big 12 in 2002 and 2003).

It’s a fairly safe bet that that trend will re-emerge this time around, something to keep in mind when filling out your office bracket come March.

Mid-Major Player of the Week: Ben Woodside

Joey Whelan — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 20:56:16 -0800

Player of the Week

Ben Woodside - North Dakota State
2 Games: 45.5 ppg, 5 rpg, 9 apg, 1 spg

If someone comes up with a better two game performance this season than Woodside had this past week, it will have to go down as one of the greatest offensive displays of the past decade. All the senior guard did was drop 91 points in back-to-back games, including a mind boggling 60 points against Stephen F. Austin on Friday. It's hard to really pick what was more impressive in the midst of Woodside's scoring spree, the fact that he went 41-47 from the free throw line or that he managed to dish out 18 assists while torching the nets.

Finalists

Stephen Curry - Davidson
2 Games: 34 ppg, 4 rpg, 8 apg, 2.5 spg

Believe it or not, this is Curry's first time making the list this season. Let's be honest, on a run down of the best performers by non-BCS players each week, Curry might as well have a permanent spot; for the sake of the other players on the fringe, I'll try to keep his appearances to a minimum unless completely warranted. This week was one of those weeks. The junior came to play on basketball's biggest stage at Madison Square Garden, dropping 27 points and dolling out 8 assists versus West Virginia in the Jimmy V Classic.

Kaleo Kina - Navy
2 Games: 22 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 5 apg, 1.5 spg

The Midshipmen's do everything senior had an impressive week, coming within a few assists of recording a triple-double in a loss to Virginia Tech at the BB&T Classic. Kina may have struggled shooting the ball from beyond the arc but he continued to show a great ability to rebound the basketball for a smaller perimeter player.

Ken Horton - Central Connecticut State
2 Games: 22 ppg, 9 rpg, 2 apg, 1 spg, 1 bpg

Almost a month into the season Horton has looked to be the most impressive player in the NEC so far. In all, the second year man had a very efficient week, connecting on 50% of his field goal attempts and 40% of his shots from beyond the arc. He was a handful for URI, posting 23 and 8, but the Blue Devils came up short, losing 77-69.

Worth Taking Note

Michael Bramos - Miami (OH)
2 Games: 27 ppg, 3 rpg, 12-17 3P FG

Bramos already made a name for himself earlier in the season with a big showing against UCLA, but his numbers this week were too good to deny some recognition. The sharpshooter continued his torrid perimeter shooting, upping his season percentage to 53% from beyond the arc in wins over Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Valparaiso.

Note: Dionte Christmas was CHN's National Player of the Week and was not eligible for this award.

College Football: Western Michigan @ #15 Ball State Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:44:41 -0800

The undefeated Ball State Cardinals still have a bit of business to take care of in their regular season finale. Brady Hoke's team still hasn't clinched a spot in the MAC Championship Game, which would come with a victory over Western Michigan tonight in Muncie (7 PM ESPN2). The winner heads to Detroit on December 5th, while the loser would be at the mercy of the powers that be in regards to team selection for bowl games. QB Nate Davis has been explosive in leading one of the nation's best passing attacks, and the Broncos will most certainly have their hands full on defense. But Bill Cubit has an outstanding quarterback of his own in Tim Hiller, who a few weeks back lit up Illinois in Detroit to knock off the Illini. Both signal-callers will put up solid numbers, but Coach Hoke has the better team and will clinch the championship game berth.

Navy @ Northern Illinois 7 PM on ESPN Classic

While this game amounts to both an opportunity for a seventh win and a tune-up heading into their battle with rival Army next weekend for Navy, the objective for the Huskies is far more simple: a seventh win gives them a shot at a bowl berth. With NIU in a division with Ball State, Central Michigan and Western Michigan it'll be a tough proposition anyway, but with just six wins they'd essentially have no argument at all in regards to a bowl berth. Jerry Kill's team has struggled on offense, but thanks to the top defense in the MAC they still have six wins on the year. And that unit will have to be at its best to slow down the Midshipmen's high-powered rushing attack, led currently by RB Shun White and QB Ricky Dobbs. In last season's 35-24 win in Annapolis Navy ran for 360 yards. Expect more of the same in a close Midshipmen victory.

Coaching Changes

The following schools have relieved head coaches of their duties in the past few days:

Eastern Michigan (Jeff Genyk), San Diego State (Chuck Long), Utah State (Brent Guy) and Wyoming (Joe Glenn). Bill Snyder will return to Kansas State to replace the recently dismissed Ron Prince.