Texas - San Antonio

Wednesday Recap: Lineup Changes Spark Nothing As UConn Falls

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:56:20 -0800

Connecticut head coach Jim Calhoun knew heading into Wednesday's game that his struggling team, losers of three straight, needed some kind of spark to get things going. That meant shuffling the lineup, with Shabazz Napier and Alex Oriakhi being replaced as starters by Ryan Boatright and Roscoe Smith, and for a short time on Wednesday night the move paid off. UConn got out to a 13-7 lead at the first media timeout and generally played better basketball on the offensive end, which was likely the desired effect of the move.

But Georgetown went to their 2-3 zone defense, and against zones UConn has shown neither the confidence nor the basketball IQ needed to solve such a riddle. It didn't help matters that Boatright, who did a good job of facilitating the offense, picked up his second foul with just over ten minutes left in the half and the Huskies leading 15-14. It was essentially all downhill from there as the Hoyas woud outscore the Huskies 17-6 the remainder of the half, going on to beat UConn 58-44 and lead many to ask whether or not the defending national champs had what it took to turn things around.

"We come back from six [down] and somebody went for a steal, next thing you know we took a bad shot and now were down ten," remarked Calhoun of his team's struggles. "And you can't keep running up the hill for only so long and so that's where we picked up our fourth straight loss and should have lost all four games."

So how did the four players involved in the lineup changes respond? Not well, with Boatright having his performance short-circuited by foul trouble (zero points, four assists) being the biggest blow given how the flow of the contest changed when he had to sit. Napier, who earlier in the season lamented the lack of a response to his attempts to be a leader, shot 0-for-9 from the field and scored just one point while Oriakhi went scoreless. And Smith opened the scoring 33 seconds into the game...only to not score again.

Last year's team struggled in conference play, but the difference is that (in addition to having Kemba Walker) they were a lot tougher mentally than this group. Who steps up to change the path that this season is currently travelling? Jeremy Lamb's not the vocal type and while he scored 14 points it took 18 shots to do so (making four), and while Andre Drummond (18 points, seven rebounds) was UConn's best player on the floor it's tough to ask a freshman to become the team leader.

The truth of the matter is that Napier and Oriakhi should be the leaders for this team, and yet neither has shown the ability to do so. The teams that leave a mark in March will fight for everything in the face of adversity, pulling together to accomplish the common goal. That hasn't been a trait of this current edition of Huskies, as they either fail to respond or the "fight back" dissolves into guys trying to close the gap all by themselves.

Georgetown, a team picked to finish tenth in the Big East in the preseason, should be the story here given the play of Hollis Thompson (18 points, nine rebounds) and Jason Clark (11 points, five rebounds), and they're likely to improve even more as the season approaches it's defining month. Can the same be said for UConn? That's a tough question to answer at this point, but with a game against a Seton Hall team that's also struggling a lot will be learned about the toughness of both teams on Saturday.

Other Notable Happenings

1. Michigan jumps out to a big lead and holds off Indiana's second half rally to remain undefeated at home.
There's no doubt that Tom Crean's Hoosiers can win big games at home, with the energy provided by the Assembly Hall crowd providing a needed boost to a program that's definitely improved. But what about on the road, where teams have to manufacture their own energy in the face of a hostile crowd? That question remains unanswered thanks to Indiana's slow start in Ann Arbor, as they trailed Michigan by as many as 20 points in the first half on the way to a 68-56 defeat. Indiana was able to get as close as two points (52-50) with less than four minutes remaining but they couldn't overtake the Wolverines, who were led offensively by Trey Burke (18 points, four assists), Zack Novak (13 points) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (13 points).

Indiana shot a respectable 42.9% from the field in the first half but they turned the ball over eight times to just one for Michigan, and the Wolverines converted those miscues into eleven points (led 33-22 at the half). Michigan's now 13-0 at home this season while Indiana remains with just one conference road victory (Penn State) this season. While the Hoosiers are in a dogfight to remain in the top half of the league standings Michigan's bounce back from the loss at Ohio State shows that they remain a serious contender for the Big Ten crown.

2. UT-Arlington opens their new arena with a win over UTSA, increasing their lead in the Southland.
Wednesday night was a special night in the history of UT-Arlington, with the Mavericks playing in the new College Park Center for the first time. And they picked a good matchup for the debut, as defending Southland tournament champ UTSA was in town looking to move into a tie for first place with the Mavericks. But despite turning the ball over 23 times on the night UT-Arlington found a way to win, beating the Roadrunners 67-66 to expand their lead to two games. A pair of Kevin Butler free throws with 13.7 seconds remaining proved to be the points the Mavs needed to remain on track for the regular season crown in their final campaign before they head to the WAC in July.

LaMarcus Reed III scored 24 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the way while Butler added 21 and eight, and these two are a big reason why the Mavs were able to make up for their turnovers by out-rebounding the Roadrunners 46-33 and score 16 second-chance points to just seven for UTSA. Kannon Burrage led the Roadrunners with 21 points off the bench and Melvin Johnson III added 14, but with Michael Hale III and Stephen Franklin combining to shoot 2-for-18 UTSA wasn't able to take full advantage of their turnover margin edge. With these two meeting in the regular season finale UTSA essentially has to win out while hoping for some help, and with UT-Arlington having won 12 straight that strategy may not bear fruit.

3. Pierre Jackson and Quincy Acy make big plays late to lead Baylor past Texas A&M.
Scott Drew's Bears seemed to try their best to give Texas A&M the game in the second half as they shot 31% from the field while the Aggies made half their field goals. But thanks to big plays down the stretch from Pierre Jackson (14 points, five assists) and Quincy Acy (11 points, four rebounds) Baylor escaped College Station with a 63-60 win in what could be the last regular season meeting in the "Battle of the Brazos" for a long time. A Jackson three with 17 seconds remaining proved to be the push Baylor needed to get to the finish line, and his two free throws with just over a second remaining sealed it.

Those two free throws came as a result of a hustle play by Acy, whose quick move to tip Jackson's missed free throw out (which Jackson was able to chase down), gave the junior college transfer a second chance at increasing the Bears' lead and he cashed in. After a Ray Turner basket gave A&M a 49-44 lead it was Acy who scored six of Baylor's nine points in a 9-0 run that put them up 53-49 with 6:13 to go. While the lottery picks (Perry Jones III and Quincy Miller) will enjoy the majority of the attention the contributions of a player like Acy cannot be ignored. In fact, that may be what allows Baylor to go deep into the NCAA tournament.

Quick Hitters

1. While the Atlantic 10 has enough quality teams to warrant four bids to the NCAA tournament, the chances of that happening become slimmer when teams at the top of the conference don't take care of business as they should. Wednesday's results of note were UMass losing 81-78 in overtime at Rhode Island and Dayton losing 83-73 at home to Duquesne. Xavier nearly joined those two teams but Tu Holloway's layup with 30 seconds remaining capped a good night for him (21 points, seven assists, six rebounds) and pushed the Musketeers past George Washington 59-58.

2. In a battle for sole possession of first place in Conference USA, Southern Miss finally got over the hump as they beat Memphis 75-72 to snap an 18-game losing streak in the series. Darnell Dodson and Neil Watson combined to score 40 points off the bench for the Golden Eagles, who are now 7-1 in conference play.

3. Center Garrett Stutz has been outstanding in road games for Wichita State this season and that trend continued in the Shockers' 74-67 win at Missouri State as he scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds on the night. Ben Smith added 21 for Wichita State, who remains a game behind first-place Creighton (102-74 win over Illinois State) as a result of the victory.

4. With seven freshmen and three sophomores on the roster many expected the first year of Mountain West play to be a tough one for Boise State and it has been. But they've also shown signs of growth, and if not for a missed Thomas Bropleh three as time expired the Broncos would have left San Diego State with a win. Leon Rice's team has the ability to scare some teams in the MWC, and with the likes of Bropleh and Anthony Drmic the future looks to be bright for Boise State.

5. There's now a three-way tie for first place in the CAA as Delaware beat George Mason 65-60 in Newark. Kyle Anderson shot 8-for-11 from the field and scored 21 points to lead the way for the Blue Hens, and as a team Delaware shot 7-for-14 from deep (Mason finished 3-for-16). Drexel and VCU both picked up victories on Wednesday, and with the league's profile being poorer than in seasons past the fight for the CAA crown should be even fiercer than it's been of late.

6. Huge news in the recruiting world was broken by ESPN's Dave Telep, who reported that Tilton School big man Nerlens Noel move back to the 2012 class. Noel, who counts Kentucky and Syracuse among his most vigorous suitors, returns to his original class and is now right there with Shabazz Muhammad for the honor of being the best player in the class.

7. Vermont held off a Boston University rally to beat the Terriers 68-67 in Boston to take over sole possession of second place in America East. Luke Apfeld scored 16 points and grabbed six rebounds for the Catamounts, who swept the season series as a result of the win.

Three Notable Performances

1. F Julian Mavunga (Miami (OH))
19 points, 19 rebounds and eight assists in the RedHawks' 62-57 overtime win over Eastern Michigan.

2. F Thomas Robinson (Kansas)
20 points, 17 rebounds and four assists in the Jayhawks' 84-62 win over Oklahoma.

3. F Orion Outerbridge (Rhode Island)
29 points and 11 rebounds in the Rams' 81-78 overtime win over Massachusetts.

Thirty-Two Regular Season Champions, Part Four

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 01:52:56 -0700

With the college basketball season finally on the horizon, the game that's been overlooked by many in conference realignment will once again have the center stage. Perennial contenders will once again make a run at a national title while some new faces will pop up as well. The first four-part preview will focus on the conferences, and more specifically who will win each of the 32 leagues. In the final part of this series, the final eight conference champions are selected.

SEC: Kentucky
The removal of divisions in the standings (they will still be used in scheduling) could give the top of the SEC a distinctly eastern feel this season, and despite heavy roster turnover Kentucky could head the list. It's become par for the course for John Calipari and his staff: bring in a recruiting class filled with first round draft picks, and after seeing them off welcome in another. Sophomores Terrence Jones (15.7 ppg, 8.8 rpg) and Doron Lamb (12.3 ppg) and senior Darius Miller (10.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg) are the three returning starters (Lamb and DeAndre Liggins shared time as the 5th starter), and they'll be joined by one of the best incoming classes in America.

Forwards Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and guard Marquis Teague have received the most acclaim, but there's also forward Kyle Wiltjer and Mississippi State transfer Twany Beckham. Eloy Vargas will need to step up his production inside to help out the newcomers, but the Wildcats have all the pieces needed to fight off the likes of Alabama, Florida and Vanderbilt.

Southern: Chattanooga
The strength in the SoCon has been in the South in recent seasons, but that may change with John Shulman's Mocs returning four starters from a team that finished tied for first place in the North last season. Omar Wattad (14.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg), Ricky Taylor (13.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg) and Keegan Bell (9.7 ppg, 5.7 apg) lead the way on the perimeter while forward Chris Early (9.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg) was Chattanooga's leading rebounder last year. The key for Chattanooga will be how they revamp a frontcourt that lost multiple contributors from last season.

Georgia transfer Drazen Zlovaric and Ole Miss football transfer Z. Mason are two of the players expected to help out Early with senior Jahmal Burroughs also chipping in. Freshmen Lance Stokes, Ronrico White and Trey Brown will be called upon on the perimeter to spell the veterans. Competition will be fierce with the likes of Appalachian State in the North and Charleston and Davidson in the South, but the Mocs should be prepared.

Southland: Texas-San Antonio
The Roadrunners finished in a tie for third place in their division last season, only to go on a run in the conference tournament and grab the Southland's automatic bid. With four returning starters Brooks Thompson's team could enjoy an "easier" route to the Big Dance, and junior guard Melvin Johnson III (14.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg) will lead the way. The question for UTSA is how junior college transfer Michael Hale II performs at the point. Jeromie Hill (13.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg) is the most productive returnee in the frontcourt, but there are a number of role players from last season back and hoping to use the summer trip to Australia as a springboard to bigger things. And look for another JUCO transfer, Kannon Burrage, to be called upon for perimeter scoring.

SWAC: Mississippi Valley State
Former Kentucky point guard Sean Woods has done a good job of building the Delta Devils into a team that can challenge for a SWAC title, and with four starters back from a team that finished in a tie for second place last season the top spot is within reach. D'Angelo Jackson was the team's leading scorer and he's gone, but there are experienced options back who can help pick up the slack. Guards Terrence Joyner (10.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg) and Kevin Burwell (6.4 ppg, 2.8 apg) return as do wing Falando Jones (8.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg) and forwards Jason Holmes (6.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg) and Paul Crosby (12.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg).

The Delta Devils will also welcome back Amos Sturdivant, who missed last season due to injuries but was an All-SWAC selection in 2009-10. Freshman Brent Arrington is arguably their best newcomer, but the key for MVSU (as it tends to be for many of the HBCU schools) is not getting too beat up during their early-season run of guarantee games. If the Delta Devils can do this and build on the experiences, look out.

Summit: Oral Roberts
All five of Scott Sutton's starters from a season ago return, with the goal being to take one step up from their second-place finish a season ago. Dominique Morrison (19.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg) was a CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major All-America selection, and forward Steven Roundtree (12.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg) was the Mid-Major Freshman of the Year. Add in Warren Niles and Damen Bell-Holter and you've got four starters who averaged double figure scoring last season, not to mention Summit League Newcomer of the Year Michael Craion off the bench. The amount of experience that Oral Roberts returns will place limited pressure on the shoulders of their four-member recruiting class, which will give them time to grow on the floor. And a non-conference schedule that includes games at West Virginia, Gonzaga and Xavier should not only prepare them for league play, but also the chance to knock someone off.

Sun Belt: Florida Atlantic
Mike Jarvis' Owls won 21 games last year and won the East Division by three games. But they were unable to win what turned out to be a wild Sun Belt Tournament, which should be more than enough motivation for a team that returns four starters. The backcourt is deep and returns a great deal of talent, led by juniors Raymond Taylor (14.0 ppg, 3.9 apg) and Greg Gantt (14.0, 3.9 rpg) and senior Alex Tucker (7.4 ppg, 4.3 apg). Kore White leads the way in the frontcourt, but that group will need to count more on newcomers than the guards. UC Davis transfer Jelani Floyd and freshman Kelvin Penn are two players likely to make their way into the rotation, and if the forwards can supplement what the backcourt will provide FAU can win another regular season crown.

WCC: Saint Mary's
Randy Bennett's Gaels will have to account for the loss of guard Mickey McConnell, but four starters return for a team that tied for the WCC regular season crown in 2010-11. But the Gaels were left to play in the NIT despite winning 25 games, so there will be plenty of motivation this winter. Guards Matthew Dellavedova (13.4 ppg, 5.3 apg) and Stephen Holt (6.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg) will be expected to lead the way on the perimeter while Jorden Page, Clint Steindl and SMU transfer Paul McCoy will also chip in. Inside forward Rob Jones (13.8 ppg, 7.7 rpg) was an All-WCC selection last season while Tim Williams and Kenton Walker II have also seen playing time. Northwestern transfer Kyle Rowley gives Saint Mary's a legit seven-footer and redshirt freshman Brad Waldow is more than capable of earning minutes as well. Competition will be fierce for the top spot with newcomer BYU joining Gonzaga, Santa Clara and San Francisco as likely contenders, but the Gaels have the tools needed to finish on top.

WAC: Nevada
Utah State has won the last three WAC regular season titles outright and shared the top spot in 2007-08, so it feels a little weird to not have Stew Morrill's team in this spot. But Nevada isn't far removed from outstanding play in the conference, and the hope of head coach David Carter is that returning all five starters will get the Wolf Pack back to the top of the WAC. Sophomore guard Deonte Burton (13.7 ppg, 3.5 apg) was second on the team in scoring in all games but averaged just under 16 points per game in WAC play, with leading scorer Malik Story (14.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg) averaging just under 14 a contest. Forwards Dario Hunt (12.4 ppg, 9.7 rpg) and Olek Czyz (12.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg) also return for the Wolf Pack, who will need the reserves to step up if they're to hold off the likes of Utah State and New Mexico State (Hawaii could also figure into things). But when you return a tandem like Burton and Story, there's no telling how good Nevada can be.

Part One: America East through Big Ten
Part Two: Big 12 through MAAC
Part Three: MAC through Patriot

East Region Final Thoughts: What's in Store for 2011-12?

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 11:06:01 -0700

With the NCAA Tournament now over and many resting up for a couple days before hitting the spring recruiting circuit (the Nike EYBL Boo Williams Invitational is this weekend), why not take a look at all 68 teams in this year's field and their early prospects for next season? With the NBA Draft deadline (May 8th) still a month away, here's a look at each of the teams in the East Region and what they'll likely have in 2011-12.

(1) Ohio State: lost in Sweet 16 to Kentucky
2011 ended in rough fashion for the Buckeyes, who were knocked out on a Brandon Knight shot in the final seconds of their regional semifinal battle in Newark. But moving forward it's easy to see Thad Matta's team ranking among the nation's best once again. While they do lose Jon Diebler, Dallas Lauderdale and David Lighty the cupboard will not be bare in Columbus. William Buford, Aaron Craft and Jared Sullinger are three of the returnees, and they once again bring in a highly-touted recruiting class ranked 4th by ESPN and led by point guard Shannon Scott and center Amir Williams. If the five freshmen can contribute (in addition to Deshaun Thomas) Ohio State will likely have more bodies to call on next season.

(2) North Carolina: lost in Elite 8 to Kentucky
The Tar Heels, who made their charge once Kendall Marshall earned the starting job at the point, are in the position of waiting for a key player to make an important decisions with regards to the NBA Draft. Harrison Barnes is projected to be a first round pick, but if he returns Roy Williams has one of the best teams in the country. John Henson and Tyler Zeller both announced today that they will be returning for the 2011-12 season, a big boost for the frontcourt. Marshall and Reggie Bullock (who missed the final month due to injury) will be back, along with a recruiting class led by P.J. Hairston and James McAdoo. If the Heels lose more than one player to the draft they'll still be very good, it just may take a little longer for them to reach their full potential.

(3) Syracuse Orange: lost to Marquette in the third round
Syracuse went the way of their guards this season, and when Scoop Jardine and Brandon Triche were quiet so was the rest of the team. Jim Boeheim will have to replace a warrior in Rick Jackson, but the progression of Fab Melo late in the season was an encouraging sign. Kris Joseph may have a decision to make in regards to the draft but most expect him to return. Add to this nucleus a rising sophomore class led by C.J. Fair and Dion Waiters and a very good recruiting class led by Michael Carter-Williams and Rakeem Christmas, and the Orange may very well be the preseason favorite in the Big East.

(4) Kentucky: lost in national semifinals to Connecticut
John Calipari's team reached heights few expected them to before the season began, getting all the way to the Final Four before having their worst offensive outing of the season in a loss to eventual champ UConn. Now comes the time when the Wildcats wait to see who will return to school. Terrence Jones, Brandon Knight and DeAndre Liggins all have decisions to make with regards to the NBA Draft, and if they all return to school UK could be one of the candidates for preseason number one. Add in the nation's top recruiting class boasting forwards Anthony Davis, Michael Gilchrist and Kyle Wiltjer along with point guard Marquis Teague and the Wildcats will definitely be heard from early and often. Look for Kentucky to be at the very least the favorite to win the SEC.

(5) West Virginia: lost to Kentucky in the third round
The Mountaineers had a solid season in 2010-11, winning 21 games (11 in the Big East) but they dropped two of their last three games. The good news for West Virginia is that they've got some key contributors slated to return, most notably guard Truck Bryant, wing Kevin Jones and big man Deniz Kilicli. They will need to step up leadership-wise as well with John Flowers and Joe Mazzulla out of eligibility, and it remains to be seen if Dalton Pepper can defend consistently enough to be a part of the rotation night in and night out. WVU also brings in a large recruiting class led by point guard Jabarie Hinds and forwards Tommie McCune and Keaton Miles. Bob Huggins will not lack for options next season.

(6) Xavier: lost to Marquette in the second round
The season came to a disappointing end for the Musketeers, who were bounced in the Atlantic 10 quarterfinals and then fell to Marquette in their first NCAA Tournament game. But the good news is that they lose just two seniors of note (guard Dante Jackson and forward Jamel McLean), and the backcourt tandem of Tu Holloway and Mark Lyons will be the best in the A-10. Jeff Robinson had a promising sophomore campaign and will pair up with Kenny Frease in the frontcourt. And sharpshooter Brad Redford returns after missing all of this season with a torn ACL. Chris Mack welcomes a solid recruiting class led by 6-4 wing Dezmine Wells, with guard Dee Davis and power forward Jalen Reynolds completing the class.

(7) Washington: lost to North Carolina in the third round
For the second consecutive season the Huskies rebounded from an inconsistent regular season to grab the Pac-10's automatic bid, winning the Pac-10 Tournament on an Isaiah Thomas jumper as time expired. They hung on to beat Georgia but had some moments of brain lock late in their close loss to North Carolina. Now Lorenzo Romar needs to replace four key contributors: Thomas, who entered the NBA Draft and will hire an agent, along with seniors Matthew Bryan-Amaning, Justin Holiday and Venoy Overton. Abdul Gaddy (torn ACL) and C.J. Wilcox return in the backcourt and the frontcourt shouldn't lack for depth either. Add in a recruiting class led by guards Hikeem Stewart and Tony Wroten Jr. and the Huskies should be a factor in the league race.

(8) George Mason: lost to Ohio State in the third round
While VCU grabbed the headlines in the NCAA Tournament it must be noted that Jim Larranaga's team won the CAA regular season title by two games. The Patriots lose just one starter (leading scorer as well) in Cam Long, and valuable reserve Isaiah Tate also graduates. But forwards Luke Hancock and Ryan Pearson along with guard Andre Cornelius all return. The key for the Patriots will be how many reserves step up. Bryon Allen, Paris Bennett and Vertail Vaughns are just three of the options for George Mason, and they have a pair of recruits from the New York metropolitan area slated to be on campus as well in guard Corey Edwards and wing Vaughn Gray. Look for George Mason to be one of the teams expected to contend in the CAA.

(9) Villanova: lost to George Mason in the second round
For the second straight year Jay Wright's Wildcats embarked on a steady decline down the stretch, losing six straight and eight of their last ten games. Villanova does lose three seniors from their rotation (Corey Fisher, Antonio Pena and Corey Stokes), but there will be talent returning to campus. Maalik Wayns will be back (some thought he was declaring himself eligible for the NBA Draft but he won't), as will Mouphtaou Yarou, and Isaiah Armwood, James Bell and Dominic Cheek should also figure into the rotation. Add in a very good recruiting class led by guard Tyrone Johnson and center Markus Kennedy and the Wildcats have a shot at being very good in 2011-12. But the chemistry needs to be there, something that's seemed to be off since their Final Four run in 2009.

(10) Georgia: lost to Washington in the second round
Mark Fox's team found a way to squeak into the NCAA Tournament, where they came back in the second half before falling to Washington in the second round. Now they've got to go about replacing some key cogs in the attack, with Travis Leslie (no agent) and Trey Thompkins (will hire an agent) both declaring themselves eligible for the draft. Also leaving are forwards Chris Barnes and Jeremy Price, meaning that newcomers such as Nemanja Djurisic and John Florveus will need to show themselves ready for the SEC sooner rather than later. On the perimeter Gerald Robinson Jr. and Dustin Ware will be back, and the task of replacing Leslie may be made easier by the addition of McDonald's All-America Kentavious Caldwell. NCAA Tournament trips could become a common occurrence in Athens.

(11) Marquette: lost to North Carolina in the Sweet 16
Buzz Williams' team found a way to get into the NCAA Tournament, winning 22 games and getting to the Sweet 16 where they were overmatched against a bigger North Carolina team. But the Golden Eagles play hard for 40 minutes, something that keeps them in nearly every game they play in. Jimmy Butler, Dwight Buycks and Joseph Fulce all graduate so there will be some holes to fill, but there are a number of contributors slated to return. Vander Blue, Junior Cadougan and Darius Johnson-Odom will handle things on the perimeter, and Oregon transfer Jamil Wilson along will Jamail Jones add more attacking wings to a frontcourt led by Jae Crowder. Davante Gardner played well in March as did Chris Otule, and their incoming recruits aren't slouches either. Juan Anderson could be a Big East All-Rookie Team candidate while guards Todd Mayo and Derrick Wilson could contribute as well.

(12) Clemson: lost to West Virginia in the second round
In Brad Brownell's first season the Tigers were able to get into the NCAA Tournament, beating UAB before falling to West Virginia with a small bit of blame going towards the bad decision to have Clemson play at noon just two days after playing the late game in Dayton. Forward Jerai Grant and guard Demontez Stitt both graduate but they'll have talent returning, led by guard Andre Young and forwards Devin Booker and Milton Jennings. Bryan Narcisse and Tanner Smith also played important roles this season for the Tigers, who will also welcome in a soild recruiting class. Point guard Daniel Sapp and power forward Bernard Sullivan are two of the key players arriving on campus, and wing Kevin McDaniels also has the opportunity to crack the rotation. Another NCAA berth is more than possible in 2011-12.

(12) UAB: lost to Clemson in the First Four
There were more than a few vocal critics of the Blazers' inclusion in the field of 68, and they certainly didn't help matters by being whipped soundly by Clemson in Dayton. But Mike Davis' team did win the Conference USA regular season crown thanks in large part to the leadership of senior point guard Aaron Johnson. Johnson and leading scorer Jamarr Sanders both graduate, adding more to the workload for leading returnees Cameron Moore and Ovie Soko. There may not be as much depth in Birmingham next season (and as of right now they've got just two players in their 2011 recruiting class) but the Blazers could be a factor in C-USA. Tough to see them being an NCAA Tournament team as of right now, however.

(13) Princeton: lost to Kentucky in the second round
The Tigers were able to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004 and very nearly knocked off the Wildcats, losing on a Brandon Knight basket in the final seconds. Now, a team that loses Dan Mavraides and Kareem Maddox will also have to find a new head coach as Sydney Johnson moved on to take the job at Fairfield. Rising seniors Doug Davis and Patrick Saunders are two key cogs expected to be back next season, and with the right coaching hire the Tigers could once again be a factor in the Ivy League, but many will pick Harvard to win the Ancient Eight come October.

(14) Indiana State: lost to Syracuse in the second round
Greg Lansing did an outstanding job with the Sycamores this season, leading them to their best regular season finish in the MVC in more than a decade and their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2001. ISU will lose three seniors (Aaron Carter, Jake Kelly and Isiah Martin) but they've got more than enough slated to return to campus, led by point guard Jake Odum, wings Dwayne Lathan and Carl Richard, and forward Myles Walker. Slender forward Justin Gant is the lone member of their incoming class right now but even with the lean recruiting haul look for the Sycamores to once again be a player in the MVC.

(15) Long Island: lost to North Carolina in the second round
The Blackbirds had an outstanding season, winning 27 games overall in addition to the NEC regular season and tournament titles. Forwards Julian Boyd and Jamal Olasewere were key figures, as were wings David Hicks and Kyle Johnson. Point guard Jason Brickman and C.J. Garner brought different skill sets to the table and that's what made the Blackbirds such a tough team to deal with throughout the course of the season. But with Hicks and Johnson graduating they'll need a couple wings to step up next season, led by Michael Culpo. LIU has just one incoming recruit (guard Gerrell Martin) as of right now but they've got more than enough experience to make another run at the NEC crown. Luckily for LIU head coach Jim Ferry turned down the Manhattan job, allowing the program to build on 2010-11 with the same man in charge.

(16) Alabama State: lost to UTSA in the First Four
The Hornets, who were the four-seed in the SWAC Tournament, knocked off top seed Texas Southern in the semis before taking care of Grambling State in the title game to get to the Big Dance. Lewis Jackson's team featured balanced scoring with five players averaging at least six points per game and two in double figures (Tramaine Butler and Tramayne Moorer). Moorer, who only played in 16 games due to NCAA issues, is the lone senior who was a major contributor this season meaning that the Hornets will be expected to finish higher than fourth in the SWAC next season. Look for Chris Duncan and Kenderek Washington to be two key factors alongside Butler in 2011-12.

(16) Texas-San Antonio: lost to Ohio State in the second round
Despite going 9-7 in Southland play the Roadrunners were able to get hot at just the right time, winning five straight games going into their First Four matchup with Alabama State. Melvin Johnson III went off in the first half of that contest and UTSA held on to earn a matchup with top overall seed Ohio State. Brooks Thompson earned his first NCAA bid as a head coach but the question now is whether or not UTSA can make a return trip next season. Johnson III will be a junior and leading scorer Devin Gibson is the only key departure for this group, with Jeromie Hill ranking third on the team in scoring as a freshman. So the answer is yes, although the Roadrunners will not have an easy time getting through the Southland.

First Round Wednesday: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:49:09 -0700

6:40 PM Texas-San Antonio vs. Alabama State (TruTV)
The winner of the matchup between the Roadrunners and Hornets won't have to travel very far for their second round game, remaining in the state of Ohio, but it's what awaits them in Cleveland (top overall seed Ohio State) that could be a concern. The Buckeyes don't matter at this point with the two teams playing tonight needing a win to get there. Neither UTSA nor Alabama State won their league's regular season titles but they both played well in grabbing the automatic bids. Brooks Thompson's Roadrunners enter the game as the better offensive team, shooting 43% from the field and scoring nearly 71 points per game. But they have their issues on the glass, something that Alabama State will look to exploit.

UTSA allows 12 offensive rebounds per game, and with Alabama State grabbing 13 to make up for their 39.7% field goal percentage this could be the perfect storm for the Hornets. Tremayne Moorer (12.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg) and Tramaine Butler (10.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg) lead the way offensively for Alabama State, who as a team has five players averaging more than 1.6 offensive rebounds per game. Their ability to hit the boards (they rebound nearly 36% of their misses) is why the 17-17 Hornets were able to make their way through the SWAC Tournament, and in their last 12 games they've failed to grab at least 11 offensive boards once (11-1 over the last 12).

UTSA has a trio of guards leading the way offensively with senior Devin Gibson averaging 17.0 points and 5.6 assists per game. Freshman Jeromie Hill and sophomore Melvin Johnson III are the other two members of the three-headed attack, and while they don't get much in the way of scoring from their big men the Roadrunners do need them to chip in on the boards. Hill and Gibson are their leading rebounders as well, and when you're being out-rebounded by 1.5 boards per game you can get into trouble. Rebounding will determine the outcome, especially if UTSA isn't able to knock down shots at their usual rate.

9:00 PM USC vs. VCU (TruTV)
The nightcap matches a pair of 11-seeds with the winner moving on to face Georgetown in Chicago on Friday (Southwest region). Both the Trojans and Rams have their fair share of critics but such is life for teams on the bubble. USC brings to the table the mixed bag of very good wins and some bad losses, but they've also got a good frontcourt in Alex Stepheson and Nikola Vucevic. Vucevic was a First Team All-Pac 10 selection, averaging 17.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, and Stepheson averages nearly 10 points and just over nine rebounds per game. USC averages 66.8 points per game but they out-rebound opponents by a small margin, also shooting 44.5% from the field.

The Trojans aren't a great rebounding team by any stretch of the imagination but they've been better than VCU, and USC also has the size to give a Jamie Skeen problems inside. Skeen leads VCU in both points and rebounds, shooting 52.9% from the field and 37.9% from three. VCU only plays an average of two more possessions per game than USC but they'll need a quicker tempo tonight; when USC is able to pound away on both ends in the half-court they're at their best. Point guard Joey Rodriguez runs the show for the experienced Rams, who as a team average 14 assists per game. VCU is the more efficient team offensively but their floor and effective field goal percentages are nearly identical to USC's, and they also shoot a lower percentage from the field.

Kevin O'Neill's team can lock up on the perimeter as well, allowing an efficiency of just 97.0 and a field goal percentage of 41.2% on the season. Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Simmons is a big reason why, and VCU will need Bradford Burgess to crack the "Simmons code" if the Rams are to be successful. Guards Jio Fontan, Maurice Jones and Donte Smith all average around 10 points per game, and despite the overall lack of size the Trojans can get to the basket. They'll need to attack VCU on this end of the floor if they're to advance, and given some of the guards they've run into this season USC should be able to do so.

Postseason NIT Games
7:00 PM (5) Nebraska at (4) Wichita State (ESPN2)
7:30 PM (7) Florida Atlantic at (2) Miami (FL) (ESPN3)
8:00 PM (5) Milwaukee at (4) Northwestern (ESPN3)
8:00 PM (8) Bethune-Cookman at (1) Virginia Tech (ESPNU)
9:00 PM (5) Mississippi at (4) California (ESPN2)
9:00 PM (8) Texas Southern at (1) Colorado (ESPN3)
10:00 PM (7) Long Beach State at (2) Washington State (ESPNU)

College Basketball Invitational Games
7:00 PM Miami (OH) at Rhode Island
8:00 PM St. Bonaventure at UCF
9:00 PM Duquesne at Montana
10:00 PM Weber State at Oregon

CollegeInsider.com Tournament Games
7:00 PM Tennessee Tech at Western Michigan
8:00 PM Oral Roberts at SMU
8:00 PM Iona at Valparaiso
10:00 PM Idaho at San Francisco

HOOPS TALK LIVE TODAY 6-7PM EST

Ohio St vs UTSA/Alabama St: Preview & Prediction

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:37:20 -0700

(1) Ohio State vs. (16) Texas-San Antonio/Alabama State

East Region - Cleveland

March 18 - 4:40 TNT

While other teams may have been more spectacular at times, there was arguably no more consistent team than Big Ten champion Ohio State, who was rewarded with the top overall seed in the bracket. They've lost just twice with both defeats coming on the road to ranked opponents (Purdue and Wisconsin), and their rotation may lack numbers but it doesn't lack versatility. Freshman Jared Sullinger has been outstanding inside, and he's surrounded by a number of players who can make plays from about anywhere on the floor. But the road to Houston will not be without its road blocks, as either George Mason or Villanova will be a challenge in the 2nd Round. As for UTSA and Alabama State, it's tough to give a 16-seed even a puncher's chance of beating a #1 when it's never happened before.

Stars to Watch:

F Jared Sullinger (Ohio St)

G Devin Gibson (UTSA)

F Tramayne Moorer (Alabama St)

CHN Team Capsules (w/ stats, records, and rankings):

Ohio St

UTSA

Alabama St

Vegas Odds:

UTSA -5 (vs Alabama St. No line for subsequent game vs Ohio St)

Prediction:

Ohio St by 22

Faces Winner Of: George Mason vs. Villanova

"Big Dance" Interviews: Texas-San Antonio head coach Brooks Thompson

Jon Teitel — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:58:20 -0700

As part of his "Big Dance" interview series CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with Texas-San Antonio head coach Brooks Thompson, whose Roadrunners will make their first NCAA appearance since 2004 when they lost to top-seeded Stanford in the first round. UTSA takes on Alabama State on Wednesday night in the "First Four", with the winner advancing to take on East top-seed Ohio State on Friday in Cleveland.

Jon Teitel: You started your college career at Texas A&M before transferring to Oklahoma State, where you later became a grad assistant under Eddie Sutton. What made Coach Sutton such a great coach and what is the most important thing you ever learned from him?

Brooks Thompson: When you think of Coach Sutton the word that comes to mind is "discipline" but in a very positive way. He was a perfectionist when it came to Xs and Os. I learned even more when I worked for him, to see how much he cared about his players behind the scenes.

JT: You were a first round pick in the 1994 NBA Draft, where you played for five teams in four years. Why did you decide to get into coaching, and who was the best NBA coach you ever had?

BT: I had a bunch of good NBA coaches, but Jeff Van Gundy was my all-time favorite. I remember when Bill Self was recruiting me to go to Oklahoma State and I thought that was pretty cool, so I am getting to live my dream now.

JT: Devin Gibson began his career by being named 2008 Southland Rookie of the Year, and he is finishing his career in the NCAA Tournament after being named Southland Tournament MVP. How proud are you of everything that Devin has accomplished throughout his career?

BT: Devin had a vision when we started this program, and he trusted what we were doing and has been very loyal to us for four years. I was so happy for him when we clinched the title that I went over and gave him a big hug and told him how proud I was of him.

JT: You have guys on your roster from Australia, Greece, and Yugoslavia. How are you able to recruit internationally as a mid-major school, and what is the biggest difference in coaching foreign players vs. American players?

BT: It is just a lot of hard work and hard travel...although you cannot complain about having to go to Australia! The other guys were over here in America already: one at a junior college and one at a prep school. None of them had played the AAU circuit before so some of the basketball terminology was a little confusing to them, but their English is fine.

JT: You have a play-in game on Wednesday in the "First Four" against Alabama State. How big of an advantage is it to get the extra day to prepare (rather than having to play on Tuesday), and what the heck are you going to do if you win and have to play one-seed Ohio State on two days notice?!

BT: We just have to worry about AL ST right now. It helps to get some rest and have an extra travel day. Our coaching staff has had a chance to watch some more film, and then we can teach our guys what we know about Alabama State.

East Region Overview: Tough Draw for the Buckeyes?

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 02:37:30 -0700

Cleveland (March 18)
(1) Ohio State vs. (16) Texas-San Antonio/Alabama State
(8) George Mason vs. (9) Villanova

While other teams may have been more spectacular at times in terms of making dramatic impressions there was arguably no more consistent team on the one line than the Big Ten champion Ohio State Buckeyes, who were rewarded with the top overall seed in the bracket. They've lost just twice with both defeats coming on the road to ranked opponents (Purdue and Wisconsin), and their rotation may lack numbers but it doesn't lack versatility. Freshman Jared Sullinger has been outstanding inside, and he surrounded by a number of players who can make plays from about anywhere on the floor. But the road to Houston will not be without its road blocks, likely beginning with a second round matchup with either George Mason or Villanova.

Many have rushed to write off the struggling Wildcats, who have lost seven of their last nine games. But in the history of the NCAA Tournament no program has won more games as a lower seed and Jay Wright has won his last three first round games. Villanova has talent but with players such as Corey Stokes and Mouphtaou Yarou banged up will they have the health? They will be tested by an experienced George Mason squad that ran away with the CAA regular season title, winning the conference by two games. Jim Larranaga's been down this road before with many still having the 2006 Final Four team on their minds, and players such as Cam Long and Ryan Pearson are more than capable of winning in the tournament. As for UTSA and Alabama State it's tough to give a 16-seed even a puncher's chance of beating a one when it's never happened before.

Tampa (March 17)
(5) West Virginia vs. (12) UAB/Clemson
(4) Kentucky vs. (13) Princeton

Play in this grouping begins on Tuesday with UAB and Clemson meeting in Dayton as part of the "First Four" in Dayton. The Blazers have been raked over the coals when it comes to their inclusion in the field, but it's pretty obvious that the selection committee gave them credit for rising above the ruckus to win the regular season title in Conference USA. Senior point guard Aaron Johnson is among the national leaders in assists per game. Clemson's "finishing kick", which included wins over both Boston College and Virginia Tech, likely got them in. Their opponent will be West Virginia, who finished in the top half of the wildly competitive Big East. The Mountaineers have dealt with their share of issues, from Dan Jennings leaving the team to Casey Mitchell being suspended. But they've found a way to win games with the tough trio of Truck Bryant, Kevin Jones and Joe Mazzulla leading the way.

As for Kentucky, they enter the NCAA Tournament with a high level of confidence, closing the regular season with a win at Tennessee then winning the SEC Tournament. With all the talk about their freshmen it's been upperclassmen such as DeAndre Liggins and Darius Miller who have raised their play of late, and John Calipari is a tournament-tested coach who knows how to win in March. Their opponents will be the Princeton Tigers, who make their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2004. The Tigers are experienced in regards to years, and a senior class that started their careers with a six-win season gets their ultimate reward for all of the hard work. Douglas Davis' shot delivered the automatic berth, and with Ian Hummer, Kareem Maddox and Dan Mavraides Princeton has a nucleus that's seen a lot of what college basketball has to offer.

All Top-Half Team
G Brandon Knight (Kentucky)
G Jon Diebler (Ohio State)
F Terrence Jones (Kentucky)
F Kevin Jones (West Virginia)
F Jared Sullinger (Ohio State)

Top Half All-Rookie Team
G Aaron Craft (Ohio State)
G Doron Lamb (Kentucky)
G Knight
F Jones
F Sullinger

Top Half All-Lower Seed Team
G Corey Fisher (Villanova)
G Demontez Stitt (Clemson)
G Aaron Johnson (UAB)
F Kareem Maddox (Princeton)
F Jerai Grant (Clemson)

Cleveland (March 18)
(6) Xavier vs. (11) Marquette
(3) Syracuse vs. (14) Indiana State

All four games in Cleveland are part of the East region, allowing teams to get a look at who they may possibly run into in Newark in the Elite 8. Syracuse has their active 2-3 zone that can give teams unfamiliar with its nuances fits, and the Orange will begin their run with Missouri Valley tournament champion Indiana State. Point guard Scoop Jardine needs to make sound decisions with the basketball because when their other weapons are neglected the Orange can struggle offensively. ISU beat the top two seeds on consecutive days to grab the automatic bid. The Sycamores did achieve their best finish in the MVC in over a decade but do they have the shooting required to deal with Syracuse's zone.

While there is the possibility of the Orange running into a familiar face in conference foe Marquette, it won't be expected as Xavier has one of the best backcourts in the region(Tu Holloway and Mark Lyons). Chris Mack's Musketeers emerged as the class of the Atlantic 10 in the regular season, only to fall to rival Dayton in the conference tournament. Marquette will have their hands full with the Musketeers but Buzz Williams' team plays as hard as any team in the country. Jimmy Butler and Darius Johnson-Odom are the leading scorers for Marquette, who needs other guys to step up in order to prolong their stay. Whether or not they play well enough to advance, because their effort will be there, remains to be seen.

Charlotte (March 18)
(7) Washington vs. (10) Georgia
(2) North Carolina vs. (15) Long Island

North Carolina, regular season ACC champions, will get to share their subregional site with rival Duke but the Tar Heels traditionally enjoy the fan edge in the Queen City. Roy Williams' freshmen (Harrison Barnes and Kendall Marshall) have figured out what they're required to do in their roles and its shown on the floor. But they got off to slow starts in all three ACC Tournament games, and a similar beginning could keep the NEC champion LIU around longer than they're expected to be. But the Blackbirds, who are making their first NCAA appearance in more than a decade, are blessed with depth that isn't seen in most 15-seeds especially in the frontcourt with Julian Boyd and Jamal Olasewere leading the way. .

The 7/10 matchup is where the region's "Cinderella" may come from, although it's tough to peg the Pac-10 tournament champs with such a label. Point guard Isaiah Thomas put forth a virtuoso performance this past weekend, capping it all with a jumper at the buzzer to beat Arizona in overtime. While Georgia has an athletic perimeter rotation led by Travis Leslie the Huskies enjoy a clear advantage when it comes to decision-making. Obviously with their 10-seed it would be easy to assume Mark Fox's team was in the field, but their late-game decisions in the loss to Alabama in the SEC quarterfinals very nearly earned them an NIT berth.

All-Bottom Half Team
G Tu Holloway (Xavier)
G Isaiah Thomas (Washington)
G Darius Johnson-Odom (Marquette)
F Harrison Barnes (North Carolina)
F Rick Jackson (Syracuse)

Bottom Half All-Rookie Team
G Kendall Marshall (North Carolina)
G C.J. Wilcox (Washington)
G Jake Odum (Indiana State)
F Barnes
F C.J. Fair (Syracuse)

Bottom Half All-Lower Seed Team
G Johnson-Odom
G Travis Leslie (Georgia)
F Butler
F Julian Boyd (Long Island)
F Trey Thompkins (Georgia)

Region Winner: Ohio State

UTSA: 2011 NCAA Tournament

Shawn Siegel — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 08:16:13 -0700

UTSA Roadrunners: 2011 NCAA Capsule

Conference: Southland
Conference RPI: 29th (of 31)

RPI: #193
Record: 19-13
Conference Record: 9-7 (5th - Tie)

Key Games

Top 100 Results: 0-2
Best Non-Conference Win: at #239 Houston

Worst Loss: #229 Stephen F Austin at home
Promising Loss: at #61 Oklahoma St 63-79

Players

Leading Scorer: Devin Gibson 17.0
Leading Rebounder: Jeromie Hill 6.6
Leading Passer: Devin Gibson 5.6
X-Factor: Melvin Johnson

Team Stats

Tempo: Above Average - 109th
Offensive Efficiency: 185th
Quality Offensive Stat: Getting to Line - 78th

Defensive Efficiency: 252nd
Quality Defensive Stat: Steals 124th

Tournament History

Record: 0-3
Last: 2004
Last Win: never
Final Fours: 0

Links

ESPN Clubhouse
KenPom Stats & Analysis
RealTime RPI Schedule Breakdown

Poll: Who Will Win the Southland?

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:12:17 -0700

Daily Conference Poll: Who Will Win the Southland?

Shawn Siegel — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 08:25:58 -0800