Winthrop

Saint Mary's Makes History: Monday's Quick Hitters

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 00:52:35 -0800

VCU jumped out to a big lead in the first half, holding on to beat Drexel for the CAA title.

1. Saint Mary's rebounds from a Gonzaga rally to force overtime, beating the Zags to win the WCC crown.
Both late title games featured wild comebacks to force overtime, but ultimately the team that could have been too crushed to rebound ended up winning. Elias Harris scored the final five points of regulation for Gonzaga, including a three-pointer in the final seconds to send the WCC title game into overtime, but his efforts wouldn't be enough as Saint Mary's won 78-74. Randy Bennett's team made history with the win, as it marks the first time in school history that the Gaels have won the regular season title outright and won the conference tournament in the same season.

Matthew Dellavedova scored 22 points and dished out four assists to lead the Gaels and Rob Jones added 18 and nine boards, but Jorden Page was just as important. Page scored 16 points on a night that saw Gonzaga's guards, most notably Kevin Pangos (3-for-18 FG), struggle while their big men played well. Harris finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds, and both Robert Sacre' (17 points) and Sam Dower (14 points) reached double figures. Saint Mary's out-rebounded the Bulldogs by four and outscored them by five at the foul line, but ultimately it was Gonzaga's three-point shooting (5-for-22) that caught up with them. Both teams will dance, and Saint Mary's likely improved their seeding with the result as they can now claim two wins over the Bulldogs this season.

2. Davidson finds away to survive Western Carolina despite some poor late-game execution.
Saint Mary's issues late in regulation had nothing on Davidson's, as the Wildcats looked nothing like the team that ran through the SoCon during the regular season. There were turnovers as well as silly fouls of jump shooters, but thanks to the efforts of De'Mon Brooks, Jake Cohen and JP Kulhman the Wildcats survived 93-91 in double overtime. Brooks and Kuhlman scored 19 points apiece while Cohen and Nik Cochran added 17 and 16 respectively, and Clint Mann added ten points off the bench. WCU, who entered the game having won seven straight games, had three players score 20 points or more but it wouldn't be enough to get them into the NCAA tournament.

Keaton Cole led the Catamounts with 21 points, and Tawaski King (ten rebounds) and Harouna Mutombo (seven rebounds, four assists and three steals) scored 20 apiece. Davidson shot 52.9% from the field but got themselves in trouble with the turnovers (15 total) and 5-for-21 night from beyond the arc. But it would be wise to not write off the Wildcats due to this performance, as Bob McKillop's team plays under control in most instances. Just so happened that they ran into a team that could speed up their thought process and force things to happen, and it very nearly got Davidson beat.

3. Loyola (MD) completes a long journey, going from 1-27 to an NCAA tournament berth.
In Scott Hicks' final season in charge the Loyola Greyhounds went an embarrassing 1-27, a clear indication that change is needed. Jimmy Patsos was hired and from there he began to rebuild the program, and the goal of getting to the NCAA tournament was final achieved on Monday night. Loyola ramped things up defensively in the second half, pressuring full-court on made basket, which negated the Stags' advantage inside. The Greyhounds went on to win 48-44 due to both their defense and the versatility of tournament MVP Erik Etherly, who finished with ten points, seven rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals.

Ryan Olander and Rakim Sanders both reached double figures but they combined to shoot just 6-for-25 from the field, and point guard Desmond Wade wasn't a whole lot better as he shot 1-for-5. Loyola limited the Stags to just 28.8% shooting for the game and 14 second-half points. While Patsos tends to be the center of attention from a media standpoint when the Greyhounds are playing, it's also important to recognize that there's a good team at Patsos' disposal as well. If Loyola can get the right matchup with a 14 or 15-seed, they've got the ability to throw a scare into someone.

Quick Hitters

1. The top four seeds in the Sun Belt are all gone before the final, with three-seed Denver being the last to go. Western Kentucky knocked off the Pioneers 67-63 in the second semifinal in Hot Springs, setting up a date with North Texas for the title. The Mean Green beat Arkansas State in the first semifinal.

2. There was also an upset in the Summit League semis as top-seed Oral Roberts lost to Western Illinois 54-53. Dominique Morrison led the Golden Eagles with 23 points, but his teammates shot just 11-for-36 from the field. Terell Parks led the Leathernecks with 14 points and eight rebounds, and Ceola Clark III added 11 points. WIU will take on two-seed South Dakota State in Tuesday's title game, as the Jackrabbits beat Southern Utah 63-47.

3. Two of the four road teams in the first round of the MAC tournament found a way to win, with Northern Illinois knocking off Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan upsetting Bowling Green. The first half between NIU and EMU featured just 29 points (18-11 NIU) and 17 combined turnovers. As for CMU, a Derek Jackson three with 1:40 remaining put the Chippewas up for good and Austin McBroom scored a team-high 20 points.

4. It was a busy day on the coaching carousel as Winthrop decided not the bring back Randy Peele, and Miami (OH) head coach Charlie Coles retired following the Redhawks' 60-53 loss at Toledo in a MAC tournament first round game. One name that has already been mentioned in regards to the Miami (OH) job is Arizona associate head coach James Whitford, as he spent 11 years on Coles' staff with eight of those being as the top assistant.

5. Two other coaching moves that didn't surprise many were Brown deciding not to renew Jesse Agel's contract, and UNCG removed Wes Miller's interim tag. Miller's the youngest head coach in college basketball, but his promotion sparked the Spartans run to the North Division title in the SoCon.

Thursday Tournament Predictions: A-Sun, Big South, NEC, OVC

Greg Mengelt — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:26:26 -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 SEMIFINALS: AT ASHEVILLE

(7) VMI (16-15, 8-10) vs. (6) Winthrop (12-19, 8-10)

Tipoff: 6 p.m. TV: ESPNU. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 7 – Winthrop 91-84; Feb. 4 – VMI 86-79. RPI: VMI 275, Winthrop 264. Analysis: The Keydets have won 4 of 5 and don’t appear to be a fluke after Wednesday’s blowout win over 2-seed Coastal Carolina. Pick: VMI 85, Winthrop 80.

(1) UNC-Asheville (22-9, 16-2) vs. (4) Charleston Southern (19-11, 11-7)

Tipoff: 8 p.m. TV: ESPNU. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 19 – Charleston Southern 93-88*. RPI: Asheville 122, Charleston Southern 178. Analysis: This appears to be the Big South championship, for all intents and purposes. Hard to imagine either side wins by more than five or six. Pick: Asheville 83, Charleston Southern 79.

ATLANTIC SUN QUARTERFINALS: AT MACON, GA.

(4) East Tennessee State (16-13, 10-8) vs. (5) North Florida (16-15, 10-8)

Tipoff: 2:30 p.m. TV: ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 16 – ETSU 64-63*; Feb. 11 – ETSU 65-50. RPI: East Tennessee 191, North Florida 168. Analysis: Both teams have won three straight and are playing as well as anyone in the league except Belmont. This one could go either way. Line: East Tennessee State -2. Pick: North Florida 69, East Tennessee State 66.

(3) USC-Upstate (20-11, 13-5) vs. (6) Florida Gulf Coast (13-16, 8-10)

Tipoff: 8:30 p.m. TV: ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Dec.19 – Upstate 80-75*; Feb. 23 – Upstate 87-74. RPI: Upstate 134, Florida Gulf Coast 237. Analysis: It may be tough to beat a team three times in a season, but not when you’re the significantly better team. Line: Upstate -8. Pick: USC-Upstate 79, Florida Gulf Coast 62.

OHIO VALLEY QUARTERFINALS: AT NASHVILLE

(4) Tennessee Tech (18-12, 9-7) vs. (5) Southeast Missouri State (15-15, 9-7)

Tipoff: 6 p.m. TV: OVCSports.TV. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 21 – Tennessee Tech 77-62. RPI: Tennessee Tech 159, Southeast Missouri State 255. Analysis: Tech is the better team, but with a game under its belt in the tournament, the Redhawks will keep it competitive. Pick: Tennessee Tech 70, Southeast Missouri State 68.

(3) Morehead State (17-14, 10-6) vs. (7) Jacksonville State (14-17, 8-8)

Tipoff: 8 p.m. TV: OVCSports.TV. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 5 – Morehead State 63-55*; Feb. 8 – Jacksonville State 69-55*. RPI: Morehead State 175, 228. Analysis: The Gamecocks are playing very well. This would be a good time to take an underdog straight up. Pick: Jacksonville State 66, Morehead State 62.

NORTHEAST QUARTERFINALS: AT CAMPUS SITES

(8) Sacred Heart (14-17, 8-10) at (1) Long Island (22-8, 16-2)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 5 – Long Island 87-81*; Feb. 16 – Long Island 103-91 (OT). RPI: Sacred Heart 239, Long Island 100. Analysis: Long Island will run its way to a runaway. Line: Long Island -9. Pick: Long Island 91, Sacred Heart 72.

(7) Central Connecticut State (13-15, 10-8) at (2) Wagner (24-5, 15-3)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 14 – Wagner 67-58; Feb. 25 – Central Connecticut 78-61. RPI: Wagner 89, Central Connecticut 225. Analysis: Ignore the records. These teams have similar talent and this one will be close. Line: Wagner -10. Pick: Wagner 74, Central Connecticut 72.

(6) Monmouth (12-19, 10-8) at (3) Robert Morris (22-9, 13-5)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 3 – Robert Morris 69-51; Jan. 21 – Robert Morris 81-73 (OT). RPI: Robert Morris 121, Monmouth 235. Analysis: RMU is poised to make a deep run in this tourney. Line: Robert Morris -10. Pick: Robert Morris 76, Monmouth 59.

(5) Quinnipiac (17-12, 10-8) at (4) St. Francis (NY) (15-14, 12-6)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 5 – St. Francis 73-72; Feb. 16 – St. Francis 64-56*. RPI: St. Francis 203, Quinnipiac 169. Analysis: St. Francis got the better of the regular-season matchups, but the Bobcats should move on in the post-season. Line: Quinnipiac -2½. Pick: Quinnipiac 67, St. Francis 64.

*Road win

Greg Against the Spread This Season: 89-59

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

Jon Teitel's "Forgotten Legends" Series: Winthrop's Charles Brunson

Jon Teitel — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 20:18:42 -0800

In the latest installment in his "Forgotten Legends" interview series CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with Charles Brunson, the all-time leading scorer and rebounder in the history of Winthrop basketball. Brunson was a two-time NAIA All-American at the school and also ranks second in school history in field goal percentage.

Jon Teitel: You started your college career at Gardner-Webb before transferring to Winthrop after two years. Why did you decide to attend Gardner-Webb?

Charles Brunson: Gardner-Webb had a top-ranked program at the time and Coach Eddie Holbrook was good at making you into the best basketball player you could be. It was a challenging program and a good school, but very demanding. The school president was a good person and I fell in love with the campus.

JT: Winthrop's very first season of basketball was in 1978. How did it feel to go to a school that was creating a program from scratch, and was it important to you to help start a tradition there?

CB: Winthrop had an up-and-coming program, but had to wait one year after developing the program and at the time I just wanted to play. I transferred in 1979 and was coming off of a serious knee reconstruction after ACL surgery. The Winthrop trainer really helped me get back in shape and be able to play. In that era an ACL tear usually limited your effectiveness, but I was very blessed. When I first signed with Winthrop I could not even bend my leg! Winthrop was also closer to home (only 45 miles from where I grew up) so I had some friends there as well. Winthrop had recruited some of the best talent in the nation during that first year, and I felt that my personality and goals were a great fit with the players (Ronnie/Donnie Creamer, Tim Raxter, Rick Riese, and Bennie Bennett). That is the #1 reason that I transferred to Winthrop.

JT: You played all of your home games at a junior hight school gym. What did it feel like to play a college game in a high school gym?

CB: The team did not move into the Winthrop Coliseum until the year after I graduated. The high school gym was a close environment. At a big coliseum you lose the connection with your fans. One of the building blocks for the program was the gym itself: when you ran out of bounds you had people standing there to push you back in! It was a very nice gym. I think Duke is a perfect example of tradition that does not want to change one bit. I used to go watch the Hornets when they were in Charlotte, and when I sit up high I would need binoculars.

JT: In 1981 you became only the third college team in the history of the state to win 30+ games in a single season. Was that the best team you have ever been on, and what was the reaction like on campus?

CB: The campus atmosphere was great, as the student body (from fraternities to athletes in other sports) were all supportive of each other. The closeness with the administration and faculty is also very unique. I went back last winter because our entire team was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame. To be honest, what I remember the most are not the games but the faculty who was so involved with us both inside and outside the classroom. If I was not in class the professors knew it!

JT: You won the Open Division of the 1981 Southern Textile Tournament while playing with Zam Fredrick Sr., who led the nation in scoring that season at South Carolina. How good a player was Zam Sr. back in the day, and did you ever think you would see his son Zam Jr. follow in his footsteps by becoming a great player for the Gamecocks?

CB: Zam Sr. is a good person and a great coach, and he has passed off his wisdom/knowledge to his son in addition to his players. I played against Zam Sr. in the 1977 state HS All-Star game and drew four charges on him! To see Zam Jr. do what he did was just like a flashback to his father.

JT: You were a two-time NAIA All-American. What did it mean to you to win such outstanding individual honors?

CB: Being named an All-American was a great individual honor, but more importantly it reflected the spirit, excitement and closeness we had as a team, including the university, faculty and community of Rock Hill and the state of South Carolina. I never went out and tried to win such awards and never dreamed of being an All-American. Coach Nield Gordon taught us a lot about the game and was a great mentor to me after having a great playing career himself. He taught us that if we worked hard and did our job we did not have to worry about the scorebook. I was shocked to be named All-American. I never thought about it because basketball is such a team sport. You cannot succeed unless your teammates make sacrifices. It is a great honor that I can share with my teammates because I did not do it by myself. If we had not won 30+ games, I doubt that I would have been named All-American.

JT: You remain the all-time leading scorer and rebounder in school history despite starting only 81 games in your career. Do you think anyone will ever break your records, and what is the secret to being a great scorer and rebounder?

CB: I hope somebody breaks my records. That is what they are there for, and I do not mind spotting them a year and a half! There are tricks in every sport, including basketball. How to step on someone's toes at the right time, how to hook someone without being called for a foul, etc. Much of the game is played below the rim, which most people do not realize. Once the light bulb went off I just did repetition after repetition. I never really kept track of my stats. The scoreboard told me everything I needed to know.

JT: Your 61.3 FG% is second all-time in school history. What is the secret to being a great shooter?

CB: The guy who holds the record (Eddie Gay) was a great player, but he only took about half as many shots as I did. I cannot really explain any trick to shooting: sometimes it is just about the state of mind you have, as well as knowing what shot you are going to take before you get the ball.

JT: You currently work as Executive Vice President of Operations at Evatran. How do you like the job, and what do you hope to do in the future?

CB: I really enjoy my role as Executive VP of Operations for Evatran. It is much like starting a new basketball program (as we did at Winthrop), but in the business environment. We are developing a one-of-a-kind electric proximity charging system for the Electric Vehicle industry, and it is exciting to be a part of developing new technology that will provide a tremendous benefit to the world and generations to come. The staff and CEO (Tom Hough) has a love, passion, and drive to make a difference in the world, which are the same characteristics I found in my coaches. It is a joy to be a part of such a great team that once again will make history.

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

CB: One thing that is not often printed in newspapers is what kind of person a player was. I would rather be known as a Christian man of character, honesty and integrity than by any of my stats or awards, as a man's values are the things that really last.

Brunson is also on Jon's list of best fantasy players in Big South history.

Campbell: Joe Spinks (1994) 1711 PTS (#4), 954 REB (#2), 220 STL (#2), 155 BLK (#2), conference POY
Charleston Southern: Ben Hinson (1987) 2295 PTS (#1), 45.7 3P% (#2), All-American, conference POY
Coastal Carolina: Tony Dunkin (1993) 2151 PTS (#1), 721 REB (#4), 52.1 FG% (#4), All-American, 4-time conference POY
Gardner-Webb: George Adams (1972) 2404 PTS (#1), 1113 REB (#1), 60.3 FG% (#1)
High Point: Arizona Reid (2008) 2069 PTS (#2), 1013 REB (#4), 2-time All-American, 2-time conference POY
Liberty: Karl Hess (1980) 2373 PTS (#1), 648 AST (#1), 89.8 FT% (#1)
UNC Asheville: Josh Pittman (1998) 1549 PTS (#4), 175 STL (#2), 2-time conference POY
Presbyterian: Dave Thompson (1956) 2195 PTS (#1)
Radford: Doug Day (1993) 2027 PTS (#1), 401 3PM (#1)
VMI: Reggie Williams (2008) 2556 PTS (#1), 820 REB (#4), 196 3PM (#4)
Winthrop: Charles Brunson (1982) 1850 PTS (#1), 913 REB (#1), 61.3 FG% (#2), 2-time All-American?

College Hoops Monday: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 21:29:56 -0800

Finals week kicked off last week with Louisville and Tennessee picking up big wins on Saturday as the Cardinals beat UNLV while the Vols handled Pittsburgh. And what did both teams do in their next act? They lost games many expected them to win to Drexel and Oakland respectively. A key trait of teams who tend to reach high levels come March is the ability to maintain focus and take care of business regardless of the opponent, and that's why the matinee between Jacksonville (6-3) and Florida (8-2) is a game to keep an eye on. Billy Donovan's Gators are coming off of an impressive defensive performance against Kansas State, limiting the Wildcats to 22.2% shooting from the field (and 0-10 from three) in the second half of the 57-44 victory. Their play defensively helped make up for eighteen turnovers, and Kenny Boynton led three Gators in double figures with 15.

Florida goes into Monday's game with the nation's best strength of schedule and sits second in the RPI, but while those numbers may take a hit in playing Cliff Warren's Dolphins this could be a tough contest if they don't show up ready to go. Senior forward Ayron Hardy leads JU in scoring (12.6 ppg), rebounding (7.0 rpg) and assists (3.7 apg), but this is a balanced club that offensively has six other players who average at least seven points per game and four others who grab at least four rebounds. This is a balanced outfit that will win games this season due to the sum of the parts as opposed to one exemplary player. But the Dolphins are up against history as they've beaten Florida just once since 1980 (68-64 win in 1994) and the average margin of defeat is fifteen points.

Another issue for Jacksonville, who has dropped their last two games to Winthrop and Saint Louis, is their lack of size when compared to Florida. Forwards Delwan Graham and Shamile Jeffers are the tallest players in the Jacksonville rotation and they're both 6'7". Compared to the size and strength of players such as Vernon Macklin, Alex Tyus and Patric Young the Dolphins will be at a disadvantage on paper. But numbers don't account for the intangibles, meaning that they've got a chance provided they keep Florida off of the offensive boards (offensive rebound percentage of 39.5%). Add in the tough matchup of versatile wing Chandler Parsons and to say the least the Dolphins will have their work cut out for them. But with the tip being an afternoon game during the week, and with the students on holiday break, Jacksonville could put a scare into the Gators if Billy Donovan's team isn't focused on the task at hand. And as Louisville and Tennessee showed last week, doing such could result in an unexpected outcome.

Four other ranked teams are in action on Monday, including an inexperienced Memphis squad that's struggled with seemingly inferior competition this season (Arkansas State and Austin Peay have both taken the Tigers to overtime). Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is only 4-6 on the young season but they've played the 11th-toughest schedule in the nation thus far, including road games at Texas A&M, Oklahoma State and Kansas, and the Islanders are coming off of a win over Houston. If any of the ranked teams in action could be susceptible to a pre-Christmas letdown it could be the Tigers, who are dealing with the loss of Wesley Witherspoon while also trying to figure out the roles of their talented youngsters. Winthrop's trip to Dayton could prove profitable for the Big South team given the Flyers' struggles at times, and Brian Gregory's team has proven to play only as well as PG Juwan Staten does running the show. And the Aeropostale Holiday Festival tips off in New York, with Northwestern and St. John's looking to move into Tuesday's title game with wins over St. Francis (NY) and Davidson respectively.

Top 25
7:00 PM Elon at (1) Duke (FS South)
7:00 PM Coppin State at (4) Connecticut (ESPNU)
7:00 PM Morgan State at (5) Syracuse (ESPN3)
8:00 PM Texas A&M-CC at (19) Memphis
1:00 PM Jacksonville at (24) Florida (ESPN3)

NCAA Division I Games
5:00 PM Valparaiso vs. Eastern Michigan*
7:00 PM American University at Mount St. Mary's
7:00 PM Bucknell at Cornell
7:00 PM Norfolk State at Virginia
7:00 PM Thomas More at Coastal Carolina
7:00 PM Illinois State at North Carolina-Wilmington
7:00 PM Belmont at Alabama State
7:00 PM South Dakota State at Central Michigan
7:00 PM Winthrop at Dayton (FS Cincinnati)
7:00 PM Towson at Hampton
7:00 PM Northwestern vs. St. Francis (NY)* (MSG)
7:30 PM Vermont at Fairfield
7:30 PM Rochester Coll at Oakland
8:00 PM Eastern Washington at South Dakota
8:00 PM Xavier LA at Southern University
8:00 PM North Dakota at Green Bay
8:05 PM Jackson State at Bradley
8:05 PM Western Illinois at Creighton
8:05 PM Savannah State at Arkansas State
9:00 PM Northern Colorado at Colorado State
9:00 PM Samford at Texas-San Antonio
9:00 PM Centenary at Wyoming
9:00 PM Mayville State at Utah Valley
9:30 PM Davidson at St. John's (MSG)
10:30 PM Portland State at Nevada
10:30 PM Stephen F. Austin at UTEP

#112 Winthrop: 2010-11 Basketball Preview

Joel Welser — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:08:44 -0700

Overall Rank: #112

Conference Rank: #1 Big South Conference

2009-10: 19-14, 12-6

2009-10 postseason: NCAA

Coach: Randy Peele (52-45 at Winthrop, 98-114 overall)

There were times last season, like in their opening round NCAA Tournament loss to Arkansas Pine Bluff, when Winthrop could not hit a shot. The overall team shooting numbers do not look like that of a team that reached the NCAA Tournament, but with defense and hustle, Coach Randy Peele led his Eagles to yet another tournament bid.

Key Losses: C Andy Buechert, F Mantoris Robinson

Key Newcomers:

The guards who generally shot so poorly are all back, so this recruiting class does not address that issue too much. However, Derrick Scott was added to address those outside shooting woes. Scott does not look like a shooter, at 6-9 and 195 pounds, but he sure shoots like one. It may be asking a bit too much to rely on the freshman, instead of working on returning players shooting, but if Scott really can come in and start knocking down three’s, he will see plenty of playing time. The three new big guys will have to battle for playing time off the bench as well. Joey Jerome, Martaveous Smith and Julius Francis will need to help fill the void left behind by the departing Andy Buechert and Mantoris Robinson.

Backcourt:

Robbie Dreher shot 20.6 percent from beyond the arc last season and Andre Jones 21.7 percent. Gideon Gamble connected on a mere 26.1 percent of his attempts and Justin Burton hit a dismal 15.6 percent. Those are some awful numbers. To be fair, most of the team recognized their lack of shooting ability and did not take too many shots, but having somebody who can stretch out the defense would be nice. Also, to be fair, each of those four players brings something else to the table. Dreher does a good job finishing around the basket, while Andre Jones is a decent ballhandler. Gamble was just a freshman last year and should only get better with time and Burton is the backup point guard who does not need to make shots to have a good outing.

Frontcourt:

The shooting is not going to come from the frontcourt either. However, Matt Morgan is a good interior scorer who has the potential to stretch out the defense with his outside shooting ability; although he would be wise to stay inside the arc. Without the top team rebounders from the 2009-2010 campaign, Morgan will be asked to help out more on the glass, especially on the defensive end. He is already a superb offensive rebounder. For now George Valentine will join Morgan in the starting lineup. Valentine only saw action in seven games last year before going down for the season with an injury. The 6-8 junior is not much of a scoring threat, but he could be the leading rebounder on this team. Charles Corbin would likely be the starter if he could stay out of trouble. Corbin will be suspended for the first semester and the team will certainly miss his 6.7 points and 5.1 rebounds. More importantly, they will miss having another experienced big body in the paint and the newcomers will be forced into action.

Who to Watch:

The Eagles did have one player who shot over 30 percent from three-point range. Reggie Middleton turned into the star of the team and led the way with 10.1 points and 2.8 assists. The 6-1 junior was playing pretty good basketball by the end of the season and he is the player who can turn an ugly offense into a decent offense. That will be his duty this season, whether he does it himself or finds open teammates for easy buckets.

Final Projection:

The offense simply cannot be as bad as it was last year. At times it was ugly and that is why Winthrop ended up third in the conference pecking order. They got hot at the right time and made it to the big tournament, but then got cold at the wrong time. That sort of inconsistency is not going to win a conference championship. But a year older and a year wiser, the Winthrop offense should be good enough for another NCAA appearance.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Reggie Middleton, Junior, Guard, 10.1 ppg

Andre Jones, Junior, Guard, 5.9 ppg

Gideon Gamble, Sophomore, Guard, 3.5 ppg

George Valentine, Junior, Forward, 4.0 ppg

Matt Morgan, Junior, Center, 9.6 ppg

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College Basketball Preview - 144 Teams in 144 Days - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

Jon Teitel's Interview Series: Wichita State's Gregg Marshall

Jon Teitel — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 20:07:43 -0700

Next up in CHN writer Jon Teitel's greatest coaches series is current Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall, who is considered by many to be the greatest coach in the history of Winthrop Basketball. Before leaving for the Missouri Valley Conference, Marshall established the Eagles as the standard in the Big South, making seven NCAA Tournament appearances and winning six Big South regular season titles.

Jon Teitel: You spent eight years working under John Kresse at the College of Charleston. How did you like working with him and what made him such a great coach?

Gregg Marshall: He just knows how to coach basketball; he can recruit, manage people, do all the Xs & Os, etc.

JT: What are your memories of the 1994 NCAA Tournament (you received an at-large bid as a 12-seed but 17-year old freshman Tim Duncan had 16 points, 13 rebounds and eight blocks in a ten-point win for Wake Forest)?

GM: I took the Charleston assistant job in 1988 when we were an NAIA school and we had to wait eight years to receive an automatic bid to the tourney due to winning a conference title. We had a tremendous freshman of our own named Thad Delaney, and we went 24-3 that year against Division I competition. We were ahead for 37 minutes but Wake Forest made three three-point shots in the final three minutes to pull away. The game was much closer than a ten-point spread. Once Charleston became eligible for an automatic bid, they started making the tourney a lot.

JT: You coached at Winthrop for nine seasons and made seven NCAA Tournament appearances. How were you able to remain so dominant over such a long period of time?

GM: It is not easy; you have to recruit players who can make you better. Our administration helped make it a better job by improving everything from the facilities to the weight room to the office.

JT: In 1999 your team won its first Big South title and made its first-ever NCAA Tournament before losing to one-seed Auburn. How big a deal was it for the school to make the tournament, and was it just a case of Auburn being a more talented team?

GM: That Auburn team was unbelievable, as they were beating SEC schools by forty to fifty points thanks to guys like Bryant Smith and Chris Porter. Our team made a statement that we were going to compete for a championship every year. They were invested and wanted to win. I think someone calculated that an NCAA tourney appearance that year was worth about $2.5 million in publicity/revenue.

JT: What are your memories of the 2006 NCAA Tournament (Chris Lofton made a fade-away jumper with three seconds left to give two-seed Tennessee a two-point win)?

GM: He got the ball, took three steps, and the ball went in. We had every opportunity to win the game, but missed a few jumpers down the stretch. Lofton was a great player...but he traveled.

JT: In 2007 you became the first coach in Big South history to go undefeated in conference play. How were you able to keep your team focused every single game, and where does that accomplishment rank among your career highlights?

GM: We had a special group of guys who wanted to achieve great things. It was a veteran group that had previously been very close to advancing in the tourney, but they wanted to win, not just get there. We needed a good seed, as our highest in the past had been a 14-seed. We had no guarantees that we would get in as an at-large if we did not win our conference tourney. We played a bunch of great non-conference teams that year: North Carolina, Maryland, Wisconsin, etc.

JT: What are your memories of the 2007 NCAA tourney (Torrell Martin scored 20 points and had 11 rebounds as you became the first Big South coach to win a first round tourney game by beating Notre Dame, then lost to Oregon thanks to 22 points from Aaron Brooks)?

GM: Martin might be the best guy I ever coached at Winthrop but Craig Bradshaw outplayed Luke Harangody in that game as a senior from New Zealand. We also got a great performance from backup guard DeAndre Adams, which ended up being the last two college games he ever played due to his tragic death that summer.

JT: Soon after the tourney you decided to take the head coaching position at Wichita State. Why did you take the job, and what was the biggest difference between the two basketball programs?

GM: It was a tremendous opportunity for me and my family. It is a program where there are no excuses, as we have everything we need to compete and win. It is a great combination of "fiscal and physical", a team with a great history that is part of a great league.

JT: You had to overcome dual tragedies in the summer of 2007 as Wichita State recruit Guy Alang-Ntang collapsed and died during a pickup game you were at and Winthrop player DeAndre Adams died as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident. How were you able to deal with these devastating events, and what impact did this have on your role as a coach?

GM: During my second day on the job, my first official act was to go watch Guy play in a game. I had six scholarships and I wanted him to be one of my six, as it is hard to get a lot of good recruits in the month of April. I met him earlier that day; we shook hands and he was going to be a Shocker...then 45 minutes into the game he collapsed and died. I had never seen anyone take their last breath, so it was one of the most devastating things I have ever witnessed. On Mother's Day weekend, I heard that DeAndre had some brain trauma after running off the road, and he succumbed to his injuries one week later. I also lost my last grandparent that spring, as well as a next-door neighbor in South Carolina, so it was a very difficult summer.

JT: Your team plays a "50 Gap Defense", which is based on forcing tough shots and eliminating easy baskets. What is the secret to your defense, and how did you come up with that style of defense?

GM: This past year we played a little more in the passing lanes, but we do both. The guy guarding the ball is left on an island, but it helps eliminate penetration. I was having a hard time recruiting guards who could keep the ball in front of them, which is why I decided to use the same type of defensive philosophy that is used by guys like Dick Bennett and Tubby Smith.

The best coaches in Big South history:

Charleston Southern: Gary Edwards (1987-1996): 115-139, two-time conference Coach of the Year

Coastal Carolina: Russ Bergman (1985-1994): 149-112, two NCAA Tournament, four conference titles, three-time conference Coach of theYear

Gardner-Webb: Rick Scruggs (2002-2010): 87-122, one conference title, one-time conference Coach of the Year

High Point: Bart Lundy (2003-2009): 96-87

Liberty: Jeff Meyer (1988-1997): 134-127, one NCAA Tournament, one conference title

UNC Asheville: Eddie Biedenbach (1996-present): 181-202, one NCAA Tournament, four conference titles, three-time conference Coach of the Year

Presbyterian: Gregg Nibert (1989-present): 349-274, two conference titles, two-time conference Coach of the Year

Radford: Ron Bradley (1991-2002): 192-125, one NCAA Tournament, three conference titles, one-time conference Coach of the Year

Virginia Military: Charlie Schmaus (1976-1982): 75-90, one NCAA Tournament, one conference title, one-time conference Coach of the Year

Winthrop: Gregg Marshall (1998-2007): 194-83, seven NCAA Tournament appearances, six conference titles, four-time conference Coach of the Year

Opening Round Game Preview: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:56:49 -0700

Winthrop (19-13, 12-6 Big South) vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (17-15, 14-4 SWAC)
Location and Time: Dayton, OH (University of Dayton Arena); 7:30 PM
TV: ESPN

The NCAA Tournament begins on Tuesday night in Dayton with the annual opening round game, this time matching the champions of the Big South and Southwestern Athletic conferences. Neither team will light up the scoreboard but with both being solid defensive squads this has the makings of a low-scoring contest when you figure in both teams having just one full day of preparation. The key in a game like this: knowing who you are and what you need to do in order to win. A team can digest only so much in a scouting report about a team that in most cases you haven't seen much of outside of Championship Week.

Randy Peele's Eagles accomplished one of the tougher things to do in a conference tournament, winning on the home floor of the regular season champions (Coastal Carolina) to get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2008. Winthrop is not a good shooting team, shooting 38% from the field on the season. But Coach Peele's team is among the best defensive squads in the nation as their opponents shoot 39% and turn the ball over more than fifteen times per game. Frontcourt players Mantoris Robinson, Matt Morgan and Andy Buechert combine to average nearly seventeen rebounds per game and Reggie Middleton leads the team in scoring.

They took on some challenges in the non-conference schedule but they've got nothing on what George Ivory's team went through. A lot of teams that are HBCUs take on the role almost equivalent to that of a barnstorming outfit in November and December, taking on just about any opponent that offers a hefty paycheck in exchange for a game that the visitors are unlikely to win. The Golden Lions started the season 0-11, not winning a game until they beat Mississippi Valley State on January 4th. In that stretch they played four straight tournament teams (Oklahoma State, Georgia Tech, Missouri and Kansas State) and maybe there's something to be said for none of those games having a margin of more than eighteen points.

Guards Terrance Calvin and Savalace Townsend lead five UAPB players averaging at least eight points per game and Coach Ivory essentially sticks to his seven-man rotation. That's about the same number of players that Winthrop will play, although it will be interesting to see if either (or both) team extends their rotation in light of the hurried travel of having one day in between finding out the opponent and gameday. Calvin and Lebaron Weathers lead the way on the boards, and as a team UAPB out-rebounds their opponents by almost seven rebounds per game. The Golden Lions have a defensive rebounding percentage of 73.6% this season and that's a solid number.

The outcome will likely be determined by turnovers and which team can best capitalize on their opponent's mistakes. UAPB has a turnover rate of 24.5%; Winthrop is well below that at 18.2%. But that doesn't mean that the Eagles rely upon assisted baskets for the majority of their offense. Winthrop assists on 47.4% of their baskets, a far cry from Pine Bluff's 58.0% number. The players that Coach Peele relies upon to make things happen do a good job of not turning the ball over when they go to work and that could be the difference on Tuesday.

The winner gets Duke in Jacksonville on Friday, and the team heading to the Sunshine State will be Winthrop. Their ability to control tempo and defend while also not turning the ball over on offense will be the deciding factors in a six-point victory for the Eagles.

Winthrop 2010 NCAA Tournament Capsule

Joel Welser — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:05:18 -0800

Winthrop Eagles

Big South Conference (19-13, 12-6)

Big Wins: 1/30 Coastal Carolina (67-64), 2/23 UNC Asheville (68-65), 3/4 vs Radford (61-46)

Bad Losses: 1/4 at Charleston Southern (54-57), 1/21 at UNC Asheville (53-66), 2/25 at High Point (66-71)

Last NCAA Appearance: 2008, First Round loss to Washington

Coach: Randy Peele (0-1 in 1NCAA appearance)

Why They Can Surprise:

Winthrop’s size has been a superb advantage during play in the Big South Conference. Coach Randy Peele usually starts Matt Morgan and Andy Buechert. Morgan is a 6-9, 235 pound sophomore and is a good interior scorer and a decent rebounder. He needs to gain a little more strength before he can battle on the boards, but his agility is helpful scoring around the basket. Buechert is 6-10 and the shot blocking threat on the team. He is not as effective of an interior scorer as Morgan, but the senior is a good rebounder and a steady leader.

Mantoris Robinson does not have a lot of size at 6-5, but the small forward is a great rebounder. He is not a bad slasher either and ended the season averaging 8.2 points and 6.2 rebounds. Robinson will also use his athleticism to block some shots and that makes him a very dangerous player on both ends of the floor. Charles Corbin will usually come in off the bench, but the 6-7 junior will play about 20 minutes per game and will do his fair share of scoring and rebounding.

Why They Can Disappoint:

What this team lacks is a shooter. Reggie Middleton is a good scorer and a fine passer, but he hits less than one three-pointer per game on average. And, believe it or not, he is the best shooter on the team. Not only does he make the most three-pointers of anybody on the Eagles team, his 33 percent shooting percentage from beyond the arc is also a team high. Middleton makes up for it with his solid defense and his ability to create opportunities for his teammates. He is also the team’s best scorer and will take all the big shots when Winthrop needs a bucket. The lack of outside shooting is a problem, but this is a team that will create a ton of turnovers and they can get easy buckets that way. However, they will fall behind in the NCAA Tournament and somebody better start hitting some outside shots when Winthrop needs points in a hurry.

Who To Watch:

A lot of pressure has been put on freshman Robbie Dreher to be the shooter on this team. He has responded by hoisting up a team high 3.1 three-pointers per game. Unfortunately, he has only connected on 21.4 percent of those attempts. Dreher has had some good games, but most of those were in the middle of the season and he has only reached double figures in two games since January 23^rd. The other option is sophomore Andre Jones. Jones has a little more experience, but he is just as bad of a shooter and has not been a very effective scorer in any form for most of the season.

Probable Starters:

Reggie Middleton, Sophomore, Guard, 10.2 ppg, 2.9 apg

Robbie Dreher, Freshman, Guard, 6.1 ppg, 1.1 apg

Mantoris Robinson, Senior, Forward, 8.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg

Matt Morgan, Sophomore, Center, 9.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg

Andy Buechert, Senior, Center, 5.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg

Key Roleplayers:

Justin Burton, Junior, Guard, 4.1 ppg, 1.4 apg

Charles Corbin, Junior, Forward, 6.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg

Gideon Gamble, Freshman, Guard, 3.6 ppg, 1.5 rpg

Andre Jones, Sophomore, Guard, 6.0 ppg, 1.8 apg

By the Numbers:

Scoring Offense: 62.4 (295^th in nation, 9^th in conference)

Scoring Defense: 61.4 (31, 2)

Field-Goal Percentage: 38.3 (326, 9)

Field-Goal Defense: 39.8 (32, 3)

Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 3.8 (329, 9)

Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: na

Free-Throw Percentage: 64.6 (290, 6)

Rebound Margin: 1.7 (130, 4)

Assists Per Game: 10.7 (307, 9)

Turnovers Per Game: 12.3 (63, 1)

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

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College Hoops Saturday Recap: Three More Tickets Punched

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 06:24:52 -0800

Cornell got things started on Friday night with their third consecutive NCAA Tournament berth and three more guaranteed themselves spots in the Field of 65 on Saturday. In the most anticipated of the three finals it was Murray State picking up their 30th win of the season, dethroning defending Ohio Valley champ Morehead State 62-51 in Nashville. Isaiah Canaan scored 16 points off the bench to lead the way for Billy Kennedy's team, who will represent the OVC in the Big Dance for the first time since 2006. And true to the team's balance all five starters scored between seven and nine points while Morehead State struggled mightily on offense outside of Demonte Harper (20 points). Murray played solid defense and was able to pull away in the second half once they knocked down a few shots.

"I thought we played hard defensively the whole time and when you start making shots and scoring your defense gets even that much better," said Coach Kennedy, who also described the win as a relief (quote courtesy of the Ohio Valley Conference). That's the sad truth for a few teams in one-bid leagues: the pressure to "validate" a season's excellence their year comes down to a weekend that can play out like a crapshoot. The Racers are a dangerous team due to their depth and balance; they'll likely end up with a fourteen seed and scare the you-know-what out of someone in the first round. And as for conference tournaments being a roll of the dice look no further than the Atlantic Sun, which saw three of its top four seeds bounced in the quarters.

But when that tournament ended it was East Tennessee State that won, picking up their second consecutive A-Sun title with a 72-66 win over Mercer on the Bears' home court. Justin Tubbs led the Bucs with 18 points while tournament MVP Micah Williams added 13 points and nine rebounds. Five ETSU players reached double figures while E.J. Kusnyer led Mercer with 16 points. Leading scorer James Florence struggled from the field (2-11, 9 points) and Kusnyer scored just four points after halftime but it was turnovers (16) that did in the Bears in the end. Those two were considered to be longshots to even reach the final while Coastal Carolina rolled into the Big South final with a 28-5 record and the title game on their home court.

But that didn't matter to Randy Peele's Winthrop Eagles, who used a 13-3 second half run and some stifling defense to knock off the regular season champs 64-53. Mantoris Robinson led three Eagles in double figures with 14 points and more importantly Winthrop limited CCU to 36.5% shooting and forced 14 turnovers. Similar to their win over Radford on Friday night Coach Peele's team defending the three extremely well as the Chanticleers made just three of eighteen attempts. Winthrop and ETSU are both teams that look to be headed towards a fifteen or sixteen in regards to tournament seeding.

Three Key Happenings

1. Kyle Kuric helps Louisville close out Freedom Hall in style. On what was a special day in the history of Louisville basketball a player who'd scored six points all February went on a special run. Kyle Kuric came off the bench to score 22 second-half points in leading the Cardinals to a 78-68 win over top-ranked Syracuse, their second win of the season over the Orange. The win should push the Cardinals into "lock" status for the NCAA Tournament and gives them a good push into Big East Tournament play. Kuric made nine of eleven shots from the field (4-6 3PT), entering the game when Reginald Delk left due to a cramp.

"He may be their best shooter, we just don't know because he doesn't play that much," said Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim. "I've never seen anyone come off the bench and do that (quote courtesy of Louisville Athletics)." And as a team the previously cold Cardinals shot 58.1% from the field in the second half and outscored the Orange 48-33. Scoop Jardine scored 20 points off the bench while Wes Johnson added 18 for Syracuse but it wasn't enough to make up for quiet afternoons from Andy Rautins (1-9, 4 points) and Kris Joseph (1-4, 2 points). And it wasn't enough to account for the hot-shooting Kuric either.

2. Overall, the Atlantic 10's bubble teams had a rough day. The one good result for the conference was Saint Louis' 70-60 win at...Dayton. That should sum up the carnage that took place within the Atlantic 10, which starts on Tuesday a conference tournament that many BCS conference bubblers will observe with high interest. Richmond, Temple and Xavier are all locks at this point but who will (if any) join them? The young Billikens took advantage of a backloaded conference schedule to pick up wins over the Flyers (twice) and Rhode Island while taking Xavier to the brink before falling. But the other three teams limp across the finish line, with Charlotte, Dayton and Rhode Island all taking on "water" that more than likely will sink them come Selection Sunday.

The Rams dropped a 69-67 decision at UMass on Saturday, with Ricky Harris' shot in traffic giving the Minutemen the win and a berth in the conference tournament. Jim Baron's team has lost five of their last seven and host St. Joseph's in the first round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament on Tuesday night. They're going to have to get to Atlantic City and do some serious damage if they're to earn a bid. And the same goes for Charlotte, who lost 89-84 at home to Richmond in overtime. The 49ers went 1-6 in their last seven games and will host UMass on Tuesday; they may have to win the conference tournament and the same goes for Dayton. What once looked to be a six-bid conference could be down to no more than four.

3. Baylor grabs a first-round bye in the Big 12 Tournament. With multiple NBA scouts in attendance Baylor forward Quincy Acy picked the right time to put together one of his best performances of the season. The forward had ten dunks on his way to a career-high 24 points in leading the Bears to the 92-77 win over Texas to wrap up a first-round bye in the Big 12 Tournament and the program's winningest regular season in 64 years. LaceDarius Dunn scored 30 to lead all scorers but Acy's dunks and blocked shots were the talk of the game. Gary Johnson led Texas with 25 points off the bench but outside of Damion James (18 points) Rick Barnes received very little from his starters. What sets Baylor apart is how willing guys are to share the basketball; 23 of their 36 baskets were assisted and this team is a far cry from teams in seasons past that would shoot first and ask questions later. Rest assured this is a team with the ability to make a run in the NCAA Tournament.

Top Three Games

1. Arizona 86, USC 84 (2OT) It was only fitting that Nic Wise would be the one to hit the game-winner for the Wildcats on Senior Day. His shot gave Arizona the victory but if not for Kyle Fogg hitting three free throws with two-tenths of a second remaining in regulation things never get to that point.

2. Notre Dame 63, Marquette 60 (OT) Carleton Scott came up big for the Irish at the end of regulation, knocking down a three off of a scramble situation just as time expired. That allowed Notre Dame to win in the extra session and lock up a first round bye in the Big East Tournament, as well as give them a solid win for NCAA Tournament purposes.

3. West Virginia 68, Villanova 66 (OT) Da'Sean Butler's shot with 5.8 seconds left in overtime gave the Mountaineers an important road win going into the Big East Tournament. Butler led all scorers with 24 points while also grabbing ten rebounds.

Three Notable Performances

1. C Patrick Sullivan (Southeast Louisiana St) Sullivan ended his regular season in grand fashion, scoring 24 points while also grabbing 17 rebounds and blocking five shots in the Lions' 86-77 win over Northwestern State.

2. F Gilberto Clavell (Sam Houston St) Clavell scored 35 points and grabbed ten rebounds in the Bearkats' 101-97 overtime loss to Texas State.

3. G David Gonzalvez (Richmond) The senior helped lead the Spiders to the 89-84 overtime win at Charlotte with 29 points and 10 rebounds.