Wofford

Quarterfinals Predictions: AE, Big Sky, CAA, MAAC, SoCo, Summit

Greg Mengelt — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 10:12:45 -0800

Our g ame prediction guru Greg Mengelt has been on fire this year. He'll be picking every conference tournament game over the next 2 weeks. Read more about Championship Week at CollegeHoops.net.

AMERICA EAST QUARTERFINALS: AT WEST HARTFORD, CONN.

(1) Stony Brook (20-8, 14-2) vs. (8) Maryland-Baltimore County (4-26, 3-13)

Tipoff: 12:05 p.m. TV: AE All-Access Live Video. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 11 – Stony Brook 89-49*, Feb. 9 – Stony Brook 80-68. RPI: Stony Brook 151, Maryland-Baltimore County 334. Analysis: It will be hard for Stony Brook to cover because its starters could be resting by halftime. Line: Stony Brook -3. Pick: Stony Brook 73, Maryland-Baltimore County 56.

(4) Albany (18-13, 9-7) vs. (5) New Hampshire (13-15, 7-9)

Tipoff: 2:15 p.m. TV: AE All-Access Live Video. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 11 – Albany 86-63; Feb. 9 – New Hampshire 69-64. RPI: Albany 232, New Hampshire 303. Analysis: New Hampshire has nice balance, but Albany has a solid go-to scorer in Gerardo Suero for the stretch run. Line: Albany -3. Pick: Albany 71, New Hampshire 64.

(2) Vermont (20-11, 13-3) vs. (7) Maine (12-16, 6-10)

Tipoff: 6:05 p.m. TV: AE All-Access Live Video. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 16 – Vermont 79-65; Feb. 6 – Vermont 73-63. RPI: Vermont 161, Maine 281. Analysis: Vermont is a serious contender to win this tournament and secure an NCAA bid. Line: Vermont -9. Pick: Vermont 75, Maine 63.

(3) Boston U. (16-15, 12-4) vs. (6) Hartford (8-21, 7-9)

Tipoff: 8:15 p.m. TV: AE All-Access Live Video. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 22 – Boston U. 65-46*; Feb. 25 – Boston U. 64-55. RPI: Boston U. 188, Hartford 308. Analysis: Curious line after the Terriers whipped Hartford twice. It’s concerning, but you still have to go with BU. Line: Boston U. -3. Pick: Boston U. 66, Hartford 55.

BIG SKY QUARTERFINALS: AT CAMPUS SITES

(5) Idaho State (9-20, 7-9) at (4) Eastern Washington (14-16, 8-8)

Tipoff: 5 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 23 – Eastern Washington 85-78*; Feb. 28 – Eastern Washington 77-64. RPI: Idaho State 280, Eastern Washington 211. Analysis: If familiarity breeds contempt, this one should be contention. It’s the third time the two sides have played in two weeks. Line: Eastern Washington -7½. Pick: Eastern Washington 72, Idaho State 65.

(6) Montana State (12-16, 7-9) at (3) Portland State (16-13, 10-6)

Tipoff: 10 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 30 – Montana State 86-73; Jan. 26 – Montana State 70-65*. RPI: Montana State 277, Portland State 176. Analysis: The Bobcats gave Portland State two of its six losses, but the Vikings will find a way to get it done in a close one in Portland. Line: Portland State -7½. Pick: Portland State 76, Montana State 70.

COLONIAL ATHLETIC QUARTERFINALS: AT RICHMOND, VA.

(1) Drexel (25-5, 16-2) vs. (9) UNC-Wilmington (10-20, 5-13)

Tipoff: Noon. TV: CSN. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 14 – Drexel 79-57*. RPI: Drexel 63, Wilmington 213. Analysis: Wilmington took advantage of a beat up James Madison squad on Friday. No such luck today. Line: Drexel -12½. Pick: Drexel 73, Wilmington 53.

(4) Old Dominion (19-12, 13-5) vs. (5) Delaware (18-12, 12-6)

Tipoff: Approx. 2:30 p.m. TV: CSN. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 11 – Old Dominion 68-66 (OT)*. RPI: Old Dominion 115, Delaware 143. Analysis: ODU is the better team – but not by a whole lot. Line: Old Dominion -6. Pick: Old Dominion 60, Delaware 56.

(2) Virginia Commonwealth (25-6, 15-3) vs. (9) Northeastern (13-16, 9-9)

Tipoff: 6 p.m. TV: CSN. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 4 – VCU 59-56. RPI: VCU 61, Northeastern 179. Analysis: The Rams defense will give Delaware fits and force double-digit turnovers and convert them into points. Line: VCU -12. Pick: VCU 69, Northeastern 56.

(3) George Mason (23-8, 14-4) vs. (6) Georgia State/Hofstra (20-10, 11-7)

Tipoff: Approx. 8:30 p.m. TV: CSN. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 7 – George Mason 61-58. RPI: George Mason 84, Georgia State 147. Analysis: This is one of the strangest lines I’ve ever seen, but GMU is the better team – and the Patriots are desperate for a win. Line: Georgia State -1. Pick: George Mason 71, Georgia State 58.

METRO ATLANTIC QUARTERFINALS: AT SPRINGFIELD, MASS.

(4) Fairfield (17-13, 12-6) vs. (5) Rider (13-18, 10-8)

Tipoff: 2 p.m. TV: ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 16 – Fairfield 61-52; Feb. 26 – Rider 65-62. RPI: Fairfield 128, Rider 198. Analysis: The Stags have lost 3 of 4, but they have enough talent to win the MAAC’s NCAA bid. Line: Fairfield -8. Pick: Fairfield 61, Rider 51.

(1) Iona (24-6, 15-3) vs. (8) Marist (14-17, 7-11)

Tipoff: 4:30 p.m. TV: ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 8 – Iona 100-76*; Feb. 12 – Iona 83-74. RPI: Iona 44, Marist 225. Analysis: The Red Foxes were a different team in the second half of the season, but do they have enough to stay close against Iona’s high-powered offense? Probably not. Line: Iona -15½. Pick: Iona 90, Marist 74.

(2) Loyola (Md.) (21-8, 13-5) vs. (7) Niagara (14-18, 8-10)

Tipoff: 7:30 p.m. TV: ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 2 – Niagara 66-61*; Jan. 27 – Loyola 69-57*. RPI: Loyola 86, Niagara 206. Analysis: With the advantage of already having played a tourney game, Niagara can keep it fairly close. Line: Loyola -7. Pick: Loyola 67, Niagara 62.

(3) Manhattan (20-11, 12-6) vs. (6) Siena (13-16, 8-10)

Tipoff: 9:30 p.m. TV: ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 14 – Manhattan 72-53; Feb. 14 – Siena 70-64. RPI: Manhattan 142, Siena 239. Analysis: Expect the Jaspers to be a serious player in this tournament. Line: Manhattan -7. Pick: Manhattan 67, Siena 54.

SOUTHERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS: AT ASHEVILLE, N.C.

(1N) UNC-Greensboro (12-18, 10-8) vs. (5N) Appalachian State (13-17, 7-11)

Tipoff: Noon. TV: ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 1 – Appalachian State 78-64; Jan. 26 – Greensboro 77-73 (OT). RPI: Greensboro 227, Appalachian State 252. Analysis: If the Mountaineers are good enough to beat Charleston by 12 points, they’re good enough to beat Greensboro. Line: Greensboro -7. Pick: Appalachian State 77, UNC-Greensboro 66.

(2S) Wofford (19-12, 12-6) vs. (3N) Western Carolina (15-17, 8-10)

Tipoff: 2:30 p.m. TV: ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 7 – Western Carolina 67-57; Jan. 30 – Wofford 82-56. RPI: Wofford 170, Western Carolina 241. Analysis: Wofford has won 4-of-5 since a 3-game losing streak in early February and the Terriers should do it again. Line: Wofford -5. Pick: Wofford 73, Western Carolina 66.

(1S) Davidson (16-2, 22-7) vs. (5S) Furman (15-15, 8-10)

Tipoff: 6 p.m. TV: ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 3 – Davidson 86-65; Feb. 1 – Davidson 71-53*. RPI: Davidson 67, Furman 245. Analysis: The Wildcats are ready to roll through this tournament. Line: Davidson -11½. Pick: Davidson 84, Furman 65.

(2N) Elon (14-15, 9-9) vs. (3S) Georgia Southern (15-14, 12-6)

Tipoff: 8:30 p.m. TV: ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 5 – Georgia Southern 69-63*. RPI: Elon 243, Georgia Southern 194. Analysis: Tough one to call, but Southern may have found itself in the second half of Friday’s win over Chattanooga. Line: Georgia Southern -1. Pick: Georgia Southern 67, Elon 58.

SUMMIT LEAGUE QUARTERFINALS: AT SIOUX FALLS, S.D.

(1) Oral Roberts (26-5, 17-1) vs. (8) IPFW (11-18, 5-13)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. TV: Midco Sports Net/Fox College Sports. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 19 – Oral Roberts 65-54; Feb. 15 – Oral Roberts 75-71*. RPI: Oral Roberts 43, IPFW 279. Analysis: ORU played a lot of tough games down the stretch and this one will be no different. Line: Oral Roberts -13½. Pick: Oral Roberts 66, IPFW 57.

(2) South Dakota State (24-7, 15-3) vs. (7) IUPUI (14-17, 7-11)

Tipoff: 9:30 p.m. TV: Midco Sports Net/Fox College Sports. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 1 – South Dakota State 97-93 (OT)*; Feb. 25 – South Dakota State 75-64. RPI: South Dakota State 57, IUPUI 202. Analysis: The Jackrabbits should have a bit of a home crowd advantage in Sioux Falls, but talented Jaguar star Alex Young won’t let it get out of hand. Line: South Dakota State -8½. Pick: South Dakota State 79, IUPUI 68.

Greg Against the Spread This Season: 100-69-2

#25 Louisville vs. Connecticut: Monday's Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:52:53 -0800

On the heels of their decisive win over Seton Hall, Connecticut (15-7, 5-5) will look to keep things going as they visit #25 Louisville (18-5, 6-4) in a critical Big East matchup. For all the issues that UConn's dealt with recently they're just a game out of fourth, and with that being the final double-bye slot in the Big East Championship this is a game both teams need.

The Huskies are being coached by George Blaney due to Jim Calhoun's indefinite leave of absence, but the biggest development from their win on Saturday was the fact that the guys on the floor finally took the reins and showed leadership. If they can build on that aspect of their win, UConn could be in line to go on a run despite a tough week that also features a trip to Syracuse.

Wing Jeremy Lamb (17.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg) is the primary offensive option for UConn, with his smooth game invoking memories of Richard Hamilton among many involved with the program. But part of the problem during the Huskies' skid was the fact that neither Lamb, Shabazz Napier (13.3 ppg, 5.7 apg, 4.0 rpg) nor Alex Oriakhi (6.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg) seemed capable of leading the way.

Napier and Oriakhi were moved to the bench in hopes of providing a spark to an offense that's been stagnant, especially against zone defenses, and freshman Ryan Boatright has been that guy. Boatright (9.8 ppg, 3.5 apg) scored 19 points and dished out five assists against Seton Hall and the offense looked a bit crisper with him running the show.

Louisville is going to come at UConn with their full-court pressure, which could be an issue for a team that's averaging 13.4 turnovers per game. But it would have been an even bigger problem without Boatright, and if anything the Huskies may be more concerned about Louisville's 2-3 zone than anything.

The Cardinals allow opponents to shoot just 37% from the field and 33.3% from three, and it isn't as if all 16 of the turnovers that Rick Pitino's team forces comes by way of the press. The Cardinals need to be careful with the basketball themselves as they average 15 turnovers per game, and the run-out opportunities that could result may give UConn the boost they need.

Peyton Siva (8.5 ppg, 5.6 apg) is a highly athletic guard who runs the show for the Cardinals, but he's also averaging 3.5 turnovers per game. Both he and sixth man Russ Smith (12.4 ppg, 2.2 apg) need to make smart decisions while not losing their aggressive nature, a task that's proven easier said than done at times.

Louisville is the deeper team on the perimeter, with the likes of Chris Smith and the versatile Kyle Kuric also playing integral roles in the Cardinal attack. What happens on the perimeter will be key to the outcome but the play inside will be just as important for both, especially for a UConn team that needs its big men to be productive offensively.

Freshman Andre Drummond (10.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.7 bpg) can at times look to be a man among boys on the court, and that's what happened on Saturday as the Pirates were without Herb Pope. But he's going to run into some resistance in the form of the much-improved Gorgui Dieng (10.2 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 3.5 bpg), the Big East's leader in blocked shots.

Dieng (sprained his right ankle in Saturday's win ) has become more confident offensively, and even with him the Cardinals can also call on a Chane Behanan as well. This is where Oriakhi, Tyler Olander and Roscoe Smith come into play; they need to be productive if the Huskies are to win on the road. The Huskies have been a slightly better rebounding team but both can hit the offensive glass, and with the shooting being what it can be second-chance points should be right up there in regards to importance.

Also of note on Monday is the first of two meetings this season between Texas and Texas A&M, made even more important by the fact that both teams are in desperate need of wins from an NCAA tournament resume standpoint. The Aggies have been without both Khris Middleton and Dash Harris of late due to injury, meaning that Elston Turner will need to be even more effective as a scorer. If he can get some help from Naji Hibbert A&M will have an even better chance of defending their home floor.

Mercer has the opportunity to take over sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Sun as they host East Tennessee State in what's also a key game for the Bucs as they jostle for seeding in the upcoming conference tournament. Belmont, who's tied with the Bears atop the A-Sun, takes on Austin Peay in a non-conference matchup (this will be a league game next year as the Bruins will join the OVC) and Wofford visits Davidson in a SoCon battle in hopes of moving one step closer to locking down that other conference tournament bye out of the South Division.

Davidson's three games up with four to go, and a win would clinch at least a tie for the division crown. Lastly, Missouri looks to build on their win over Kansas as they visit an Oklahoma team that's hanging on to hopes of earning an at-large bid. Steven Pledger has been one of the most improved players in the Big 12, and he's going to need to play extremely well if the Sooners are to pull off the upset.

Top 25 Games
7:00 PM (4) Missouri at Oklahoma (ESPNU)
9:00 PM (15) Marquette at DePaul (ESPNU)
7:00 PM Connecticut at (25) Louisville (ESPN)

NCAA Division I Games
7:00 PM Stony Brook at New Hampshire (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Stetson at Jacksonville
7:00 PM Vermont at Maine
7:00 PM USC Upstate at Kennesaw State (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Boston University at Albany
7:00 PM Wofford at Davidson
7:00 PM Appalachian State at Elon
7:00 PM East Tennessee State at Mercer
7:00 PM Florida Gulf Coast at North Florida
7:30 PM North Carolina A&T at Florida A&M
7:30 PM Furman at Georgia Southern
7:30 PM North Carolina Central at Bethune-Cookman
7:30 PM Hampton at Delaware State
7:30 PM Norfolk State at Maryland-Eastern Shore
7:30 PM Howard at Morgan State
7:30 PM Longwood at South Carolina State
8:00 PM Austin Peay at Belmont
8:00 PM Texas A&M-CC at Savannah State
8:30 PM Alabama State at Arkansas-Pine Bluff
8:30 PM Southern University at Jackson State
8:30 PM Alabama A&M at Mississippi Valley State
9:00 PM Idaho State at Montana
9:00 PM Texas at Texas A&M (ESPN)
9:00 PM Alcorn State at Grambling State

Thursday Recap: Can Pittsburgh or Villanova Turn Things Around?

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:35:10 -0800

To understand the funk that Pittsburgh and Villanova are currently mired in, it may take this fact about the two teams they lost to on Thursday night. This is the first time as members of the Big East (since 2005-06 for both) that DePaul and USF have won conference games on the same night. Yes, allowing that to sink in underlines the gravity of the situation for both the Panthers and Wildcats, as both teams are in need of some answers at this point in time.

Pittsburgh, once again playing without point guard Tray Woodall, had their biggest issues show up on the defensive end in their 84-81 loss to the Blue Demons. DePaul scored 53 points and shot 59.4% from the floor in the second half to make their comeback, and point guard Brandon Young was near unstoppable with 26 points, six assists, five steals and four rebounds with just one turnover. Pittsburgh held a 50-32 edge on the boards, but when a team makes 10 of 22 from beyond the arc as DePaul did, winning on the road becomes that much tougher.

Even with all five starters scoring in double figures (Talib Zanna led the way with 16), the Panthers were in trouble for much of the night due to the issues defensively to go along with some bad decisions late. Ashton Gibbs' decision to give the foul on Young as the sophomore was attempting what would be the game-winning layup with 17.2 seconds remaining may be the most glaring mistake, but there were issues in terms of shot selection and some costly turnovers as well.

As for Villanova the situation may be even worse, as Jay Wright's team is extremely young in key areas. And youth doesn't always have to be measured by years; lack of familiarity with a new role can be just as damning for a team and that could be the case for Maalik Wayns and Dominic Cheek.

Cheek now has to be a feature option for the Wildcats offensively, and while he had a key role last season Wayns is being entrusted with the task of running the show without a Corey Fisher alongside him. Other than these two and Mouphtaou Yarou, Villanova is relying a lot on their youngsters, and the 74-57 loss to USF further exposed the fact that they're not ready for the Big East yet.

While Villanova was expected to be a bubble team this season, the expectations were much higher for Pittsburgh. If anything the impact of the loss of players such as Fisher and Corey Stokes (Villanova), and Brad Wanamaker, Gary McGhee and Gilbert Brown (Pittsburgh) was underestimated by those outside of the respective programs.

While many are quick to point out the fact that leagues can eat their young in conference play, it can also expose older players as well. There's still time for both teams to turn things around, but Pittsburgh and Villanova both understand that they need to do so quickly.

Other Notable Happenings

1. Indiana hangs on to beat Michigan and remain undefeated at home.
The battle between the Hoosiers and Wolverines lived up to the pregame expectations, but at the end of the contest Indiana's starting frontcourt and Victor Oladipo's defense made the difference in the 73-71 win. Christian Watford was a matchup nightmare for Michigan, scoring 25 points to go along with seven rebounds and four assists, and Cody Zeller added 18, four rebounds and two blocks. By comparison, the Michigan starting frontcourt of Jordan Morgan (12 points, nine rebounds) and Evan Smotrycz (eight points) was solid but didn't have a similar impact.

As a team the Hoosiers shot 55.1% from the field and finished with an effective field goal percentage of 62.2%, well above what Michigan allowed entering the game (47.1%). Another area in which Indiana held their own was three-point shooting. Michigan did make ten, with Stu Douglass making three, but they needed twenty-four attempts to do so while Indiana made seven of their eleven attempts.

But back to Oladipo, who was given the responsibility of defending Tim Hardaway Jr. for much of the night. Hardaway Jr. led Michigan with 19 points, but he needed 19 shot attempts to do so (0-for-7 3PT). Oladipo didn't shoot well himself (2-for-10, five points) but that didn't stop him from taking care of business on the other end. There's also the matter of what Indiana's backcourt was able to do with Michigan freshman Trey Burke, who scored ten points on 4-for-15 shooting. Indiana's offense will get the headlines in many circles, but don't ignore their effort defensively.

2. Good luck making any sense of the Pac-12 this season.
Two happenings on Thursday sum up the conference: Utah won, and so did Arizona State with just six scholarship players after having to suspend three. Yeah, it's going to be a wacky year in the Pac-12, and that's not a good thing for a league that put together a 1-24 record against RPI Top 50 teams in non-conference play. My question on Twitter was a simple one, but one without a clear answer at this point in time. With so many meager non-conference resumes it may take at least 12 league wins to be a seriously discussed at-large candidate, but who can accomplish that in this conference?

The quick responses would likely yield Arizona, California and maybe Washington, but all three went on the road and lost on Thursday. Stanford? They fell at Oregon, who owns one of the two wins for road teams in the first week-plus of conference play (at Washington State last week). Oregon State, who went 0-2 against the Washington schools last week, could also be an option given their talent. But the fact that there are so many question marks is a bad thing for the Pac-12 in terms of their prospects come Selection Sunday.

Just one team remains undefeated in conference play: Colorado, who whipped the Huskies 87-69 in Boulder. But given the way things have played out thus far, the Buffaloes will likely fall against Washington State. One-bid league? Never thought it would be a serious possibility, but that could very well be the reality if a couple of teams don't rise above the rest of the conference.

3. Penn State hands Purdue a 20-point loss for their first Big Ten win of the season.
Patrick Chambers' Nittany Lions have taken their lumps, which was expected to happen given the major personnel losses from last season's NCAA Tournament team. But they gave a serious lump to Purdue on Thursday night, leading from start to finish in a 65-45 romp in Happy Valley. As a team the Boilermakers shot just 31.9% for the game, and outside of Robbie Hummel (14 points, five rebounds) Purdue starters shot 5-for-22 on the night. Tim Frazier played well for Penn State, finishing with 15 points, nine assists and five rebounds, but he wasn't the star as Billy Oliver knocked down seven of eleven three-pointers to score a game-high 21 points.

The 6'8" forward shoots 37% from beyond the arc, but this was quite the explosion for a player who had made three or more from deep in just three games this season. Purdue entered the contest with every opportunity to take care of business as a team hoping to contend for a conference title would, and they came out flat. Sometimes it takes getting drilled to remember that you can't get away with such starts.

Quick Hitters

1. No sequence summed up the night better than Louisiana-Lafayette playing the final seconds of overtime against Western Kentucky with six players on the floor. Yes, six. After nearly turning the ball over Elfrid Payton scored a layup that gave the Ragin' Cajuns a 72-70 win. According to the rules there was no way for the officials, who missed the error coming out of the timeout, to review the play and assess a technical foul (which should have been the call to begin with). There's also no way for the Sun Belt to go back and replay the final seconds, meaning that the Hilltoppers are out of luck.

2. Also in the Sun Belt, keep an eye on North Texas especially with Tony Mitchell now in the fold. Mitchell led the Mean Green to a 78-73 overtime win at South Alabama with 34 points and 16 rebounds, and if this is a harbinger of things to come this is a team that can contend to win the conference.

3. Manhattan was just seconds away from their third MAAC win, but a Dylon Cormier three from the corner gave Loyola (MD) the 61-60 win in Baltimore. Cormier was one of three Greyhounds to score 11 points while Erik Etherly added eight points, seven assists and six rebounds. George Beamon led the Jaspers with 18 points, six rebounds and four blocked shots.

4. Glen Braica's St. Francis (NY) Terriers moved to 2-1 in NEC play, beating Quinnipiac 73-72 in Brooklyn. The Terriers, who were led by Stefan Perunicic (21 points), likely won't be a contender for the league title but games like this make the difference between hosting and going on the road in the quarterfinals of the NEC Tournament. Good win for the Terriers.

5. Congratulations are in order for the Hartford Hawks, who picked up their first win of the season. Andres Torres scored 27 points and grabbed six rebounds as the Hawks beat New Hampshire 56-49 in West Hartford.

6. Wofford may not be one of the teams discussed as a contender in the SoCon, but the defending champs aren't in the business of conceding anything. Karl Cochran led four starters in double figures with 21 points as the Terriers beat College of Charleston 75-58 to move to 2-1 in league play. The Cougars made just 34.4% of their two-point shots on the night as Wofford did a good job of limiting their quality looks.

7. In the Big West, UCSB sent a message to Cal-State Fullerton in the form of a 77-64 win in their first home game since November 30th. Orlando Johnson scored 23 points and James Nunnally 18 as the Gauchos remained undefeated in league play while handing the Titans their first Big West loss. Fullerton will still be a factor in the race, but until further notice it's safe to say that UCSB and Long Beach State are the best bets to win the league.

Three Notable Performances

1. F Tony Mitchell (North Texas)
34 points and 16 rebounds in the Mean Green's 78-73 overtime win at South Alabama.

2. F Jamal Olasewere (Long Island)
29 points and 12 rebounds in the Blackbirds' 87-81 win at Sacred Heart.

3. F Rob Jones (Saint Mary's)
31 points, 12 rebounds and three steals in the Gaels' 78-72 win at San Diego.

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

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 00:26:20 -0700

Next up is the Southeast region, which contributed to the craziness of the NCAA Tournament beginning with Butler knocking off top-seed Pittsburgh in the third round. The question now is what's next for the entire region beginning with the Panthers, who welcome a solid recruiting class while also waiting to see what Ashton Gibbs' decision in regards to staying in the NBA Draft will be.

(1) Pittsburgh: lost to Butler in the third round
The Big East regular season champs had their season end in painful fashion, falling to eventual national runner-up Butler by a point in the third round. The Panthers will have some key figures to replace in Gilbert Brown, Gary McGhee and Brad Wanamaker, but there's enough talent at Jamie Dixon's disposal to make another run at a Big East title even if Ashton Gibbs remains in the NBA Draft. Travon Woodall was due to take over at the point regardless, and incoming freshmen Durand Johnson and John Johnson (no relation) have the ability to earn spots in the rotation. Lamar Patterson, Nasir Robinson (one of the most improved players in the Big East), Dante Taylor and Talib Zanna all return, and the addition of two of the best centers in the 2011 class (Khem Birch and Malcolm Gilbert) means that Pitt should once again be a major player in the Big East.

(2) Florida: lost to Butler in the regional final
Billy Donovan's team lived up to the preseason expectations, winning the SEC regular season title before losing in the conference tournament title game to Tennessee. Then came the NCAA Tournament, where they were knocked off in overtime by Butler, marking the end for three important frontcourt players. Vernon Macklin, Chandler Parsons and Alex Tyus all graduate, meaning that Erik Murphy, Will Yeguete and Patric Young will all need to be ready to go (Walter Pitchford could figure into the rotation too). The backcourt will be loaded with Kenny Boynton, Erving Walker and Scottie Wilbekin back, not to mention Mike Rosario (Rutgers transfer) and McDonald's All-America Bradley Beal joining the rotation. The Gators will be smaller, but if all parties involved manage to share the ball look out.

(3) BYU: lost to Florida in the Sweet 16
One of the greatest careers in the history of BYU comes to an end as All-America (and winner of multiple national Player of the Year awards) Jimmer Fredette departs. But the Cougars also have to replace Jackson Emery, whose career has come to an end as well. There's also the move to the West Coast Conference, where top contenders include Gonzaga, Saint Mary's and Santa Clara (the Broncos have nearly everyone back on a team that won the CollegeInsider.com Tournament). That simply means that more will be expected of forwards Charles Abouo and Noah Hartsock, especially with freshman Kyle Collinsworth going on his LDS mission. DeMarcus Harrison and UCLA transfer Matt Carlino will have a lot on their plates to start in the backcourt (can either play the point?) and Nate Austin leads three frontcourt players in their first season in Provo.

(4) Wisconsin: lost to Butler in the Sweet 16
The Badgers were a trendy pick by some to be a second round upset victim, which likely had more to do with who they were playing (Belmont) than anything else. But Bo Ryan's team took care of business, beating both the Bruins and Kansas State before falling to Butler in the Sweet 16. Going into next season there are two big frontcourt losses to address with Jon Leuer and Keaton Nankivil graduating, but Jordan Taylor and Josh Gasser return in the backcourt in addition to Mike Bruesewitz and Ryan Evans on the wing. Of their incoming recruits look for big men Jarrod Uthoff and Frank Kaminsky to be the most likely to crack the rotation, although guards Traevon Jackson and George Marshall aren't exactly chopped liver themselves (just may be tougher to crack the rotation on the perimeter). Every year people write off Coach Ryan's team when it comes to contending in the Big Ten, yet the find a way to do so regardless.

(5) Kansas State: lost to Wisconsin in the third round
2010-11 was a somewhat tumultuous year for Frank Martin's program, with the Wildcats dealing with a disappointing start, suspensions and defections by the time late January rolled around. But led by guard Jacob Pullen, K-State turned things around and won an NCAA Tournament game before falling to Wisconsin. Now they have to move on without Pullen, along with Curtis Kelly, and the biggest question is who steps up in a leadership role for next year's team. Jamar Samuels could be a logical choice in that area, and on the perimeter Rodney McGruder, Shane Southwell and Will Spradling will all need to step up as well. Jordan Henriquez-Roberts became an important part of the rotation as forwards left the team, and two solid frontcourt players arrive in Manhattan this summer as well (Thomas Gipson and Adrian Diaz). Point guard Angel Rodriguez should also compete for minutes, as will St. John's transfer Omari Lawrence.

(6) St. John's: lost to Gonzaga in the third round
Steve Lavin and his staff rejuvenated the city from a college basketball standpoint, giving ten seniors motivated to leave Queens with at least one notable accomplishment the direction needed to get back to the Big Dance. Their chances of winning in the NCAA Tournament went downhill when D.J. Kennedy tore his ACL in the first half of their Big East quarterfinal loss to Syracuse, and the absence of his versatility was painfully obvious in the loss to Gonzaga. Now he, Dwight Hardy and the rest of that class moves on, and replacing them is one of the nation's best recruiting classes. Nine players deep, this group is led by four very good small forwards (Amir Garrett, Maurice Harkless, Sir'Dominic Pointer and Jakarr Sampson) in addition to quality players at nearly every position on the floor. Add this group to Dwayne Polee Jr. and there will be growing pains, but at the very least the Red Storm are a significant conversation piece in the Big East again, and they'll be talented too.

(7) UCLA: lost to Florida in the third round
Despite questions at the point Ben Howland's team won 23 games and finished second in the Pac-10, and without a senior on this year's roster the future looks good for UCLA. However, Tyler Honeycutt will not be back as he'll hire an agent and remain in the NBA Draft, and Malcolm Lee also entered his name although he won't retain an agent. Once again the question for the Bruins will be at the point, where Lazeric Jones had moments where he looked more than capable of handling the job but struggled while dealing with injuries. Another year for he and Jerime Anderson should pay off, while up front Reeves Nelson and Joshua Smith have the ability to be the best frontcourt tandem in the conference. There are other contributors returning, and incoming freshman Norman Powell can be one of the best freshmen in the Pac-10. And don't forget about the Wear twins, who are eligible after transferring in from North Carolina. Look for UCLA to be the preseason favorite in the Pac-10 (defending champ Arizona will also have a case).

(8) Butler: lost to Connecticut in the national title game
Once again Brad Stevens' Bulldogs went on a run few envisioned before the NCAA Tournament began, beating three of the top four seeds in their region before ultimately putting forth their worst offensive performance of the season (and the worst in NCAA title game history) at the worst possible time. Three key seniors graduate, most notably forward Matt Howard (Zach Hahn and Shwan Vanzant are the others), and junior guard Shelvin Mack could have a decision to make in regards to the NBA Draft. Butler returns solid contributors such as guard Ronald Nored and forwards Khyle Marshall and Andrew Smith, and players such as Chrishawn Hopkins and Chase Stigall will also have opportunities to increase their contributions. And the incoming class is solid as well, led by Australian point guard Jackson Aldridge and wing Roosevelt Jones. Butler will once again be a favorite in the Horizon League.

(9) Old Dominion: lost to Butler in the second round
The CAA Tournament champions were led by a deep frontcourt and one of the best perimeter defenders few speak of in Kent Bazemore, but they fell at the buzzer to Butler in their first game. Luckily for Blaine Taylor, Bazemore will be back, but he's got to replace three of those key frontcourt players as Keyon Carter, Ben Finney and Frank Hassell all depart. Four of their top five scorers in total move on, meaning that Chris Cooper, Marquel De Lancey and Trian Iliadis all need to step up and help out Bazemore. Is a player such as Nick Wright capable of stepping up with more minutes? To say the least this will be a critical offseason for the returning forwards, who didn't see much time this season. Freshman Jason Pimentel from out of Montverde Academy stands to earn minutes next season, and the same likely goes for point guard Breon Key. Don't look for the Monarchs to be picked too high in the CAA but they'll likely be a factor in some form.

(10) Michigan State: lost to UCLA in the second round
It's safe to say that fans aren't too used to seeing a Tom Izzo-coached team finish its season with a 19-15 record, but that's exactly what happened in a disappointing campaign for the Spartans. Kalin Lucas played well late in the season but he moves on along with Durrell Summers and Mike Kebler, and sophomore center Garrick Sherman has decided to transfer. But there's still talent in East Lansing, led by do-it-all forward Draymond Green and guard Keith Appling. Derrick Nix, Adreian Payne and Delvon Roe are three of the bodies Izzo will look to inside next season, and things should be rejuvenated by a good recruiting class. Branden Dawson is the active player on the wing that seemed missing at times this season, and guards Dwaun Anderson and Brandan Kearney are two Michigan natives who can earn minutes as well. Don't expect this group to lose 15 games in 2011-12; they'll be pretty good.

(11) Gonzaga: lost to BYU in the third round
There were questions throughout the course of the season as to whether or not Mark Few's team would be good enough to earn an at-large bid, but the Bulldogs rendered that question moot as they won the WCC's automatic bid. And with just one senior departing, albeit an important senior (Steven Gray), there's a strong likelihood that Gonzaga is a better team next year. Sam Dower, Elias Harris, Kelly Olynyk and Robert Sacre all return in the frontcourt and the backcourt won't be bad either with Marquise Carter, Demetri Goodson and David Stockton returning as well. Add in a recruiting class that's strong in the backcourt (Gary Bell Jr. and Kevin Pangos lead the way) and look for the Bulldogs to be the preseason favorite in the WCC despite the arrival of BYU. The Cougars lose enough that it's easy to see Santa Clara being Gonzaga's biggest competition, but the Zags could be the unanimous choice in October.

(12) Utah State: lost to Kansas State in the second round
Just like Gonzaga the Aggies made sure to take care of business in their conference tournament, but a 30-win campaign ended in their first NCAA Tournament game. The key now for Stew Morrill is to replace six seniors who accomplished quite a bit in Logan, led by forward Tai Wesley and guard Pooh Williams. But the Aggies will still have some talented players to turn to next season, led by guard Brockeith Pane and forwards Morgan Grim and Brady Jardine. Utah State also addressed the frontcourt losses on the recruiting trail, adding centers Igor Premasunac and Jordan Stone in addition to power forward Kyisean Reed. Premasunac and Reed are both junior college transfers, and like Pane coming into this season they'll be expected to contribute early and often. Look for the Aggies to remain one of the favorites in the WAC.

(13) Belmont: lost to Wisconsin in the second round
Rick Byrd's Bruins were a trendy pick by many to pull off an upset in the NCAA Tournament, but much to their detriment Belmont drew the wrong matchup for them in the second round. The good news for the Bruins is that they return nearly everyone and were thought to be "one year away" at the start of 2010-11 anyway. Jordan Campbell and Jon House are the two seniors moving on but with so many players getting playing time this season (11 played at least 10 minutes/game) the Bruins should be able to account for those losses. Forwards Mick Hedgepeth and Scott Saunders form a very good tandem inside and guards Ian Clark and Kerron Johnson are two of the key cogs on the perimeter. With a better matchup in the NCAA tournament Belmont could very well win a game if not more next season.

(14) Wofford: lost to BYU in the second round
Despite the scoring of Charleston's Andrew Goudelock throughout the season it was Wofford who grabbed the Southern Conference's automatic bid, earning their second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. Noah Dahlmann led the way but he was one of five seniors that head coach Mike Young relied on, meaning that there's some rebuilding to be done as the Terriers approach 2011-12. Five of Wofford's top seven scorers were seniors, including Cameron Rundles and Jamar Diggs. Kevin Giltner and Brad Loesing will be the leading returning scorers, and there will be plenty of minutes up for grabs come October. Much will be expected of forward Drew Crowell, in addition to an incoming class that has two guards in Lucas Brown and Karl Cochran. A lot of work will need to be done if the Terriers are to return to the Big Dance.

(15) UC Santa Barbara: lost to Florida in the second round
Bob Williams' team had its issues in the regular season but the Gauchos got hot at just the right time, knocking off Big West regular season champion Long Beach State in the conference tournament final to earn an NCAA bid. Orlando Johnson (declared for NBA Draft but did not hire an agent) and James Nunnally led the way offensively as one of the most productive backcourt tandems in the nation, and both are due to return as seniors next season. Also expected back is the team's third-leading scorer in forward Jaime Serna, and the three seniors being lost combined for just over 13 points per game. The frontcourt will likely be bolstered by the addition of forwards Taran Brown and John Green, and point guard T.J. Taylor may be the best member of the incoming class. UCSB will once again be a favorite in the Big West.

(16) Arkansas-Little Rock: lost to UNC Asheville in the First Four
The Trojans found a way to survive the wild Sun Belt Tournament, with guard Solomon Bozeman knocking down the game-winning three pointer in the final seconds of the title game against North Texas. But now comes the hard part for Steve Shields and his staff, as he has to go about replacing the top three scorers from this team. Bozeman, Alex Garcia-Mendoza and Matt Mouzy all graduate, meaning that guards Daylon Guy and D'Andre Williams need to be ready to shoulder the offensive load. Courtney Jackson and Eric Kibi will be the leading returning rebounders for UALR, but it needs to be remembered that the Trojans were 7-9 in league play. A return trip could be a tall task for this team in 2011-12, and they're going to need contributions from incoming freshmen Michael Javes and James White.

(16) UNC Asheville: lost to Pittsburgh in the second round
Eddie Biedenbach's club was able to pick up a win in the First Four, coming back to force overtime before beating UALR in double overtime. The perimeter tandem of Matt Dickey and J.P. Primm led the way in that contest along with their run through the Big South Tournament, and those two will likely make the Bulldogs a favorite in the conference next year. John Williams, one of college basketball's best dunkers, is the lone major loss for UNC Asheville and the roster sets up to the point where the Bulldogs could go on a run over the next couple of seasons. Add in a recruiting class led by guards Keith Hornsby and Corey Littlejohn in addition to center Jaleel Roberts and the freshmen have the ability to make a difference as well. Not only can UNC Asheville get back to the tournament but they can also avoid the First Four.

BYU vs Wofford: NCAA Preview & Prediction

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 19:30:11 -0700

(3) BYU vs. (14) Wofford

Southeast Region - Denver

March 17 - 7:15 CBS

BYU has been somewhat exposed in the paint due to the loss of leading rebounder Brandon Davies. A simple redistribution of his six-plus rebounds per game is much easier said than done when factoring in the loss of size as well. The Cougars had problems with New Mexico and against San Diego State in Saturday's MWC title game, and the lack of Davis could limit their potential in the Big Dance. Wofford has an outstanding frontcourt player in senior Noah Dahlman and Tim Johnson leads the team with more than eight rebounds per game. Wofford's been the better rebounding team of the two this season but do they have the ability to slow down Jimmer Fredette? Fredette can shoot the Cougars past Wofford but it will be tougher in later rounds to make up for the rebounding issue as the level of competition increases.

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

BYU

Wofford

Stars to Watch:

G Jimmer Fredette (BYU)

F Noah Dahlman (Wofford)

Vegas Odds:

BYU -8

Predictions:

RealTimeRPI: BYU 79 - Wofford 66

KenPom: BYU 83 - Wofford 70

CollegeHoops.net Betting Pick: BYU

Faces Winner Of: St. John's vs Gonzaga

Southeast Region Overview: Can Pitt Reach the Final Four?

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 03:08:07 -0700

Washington, D.C. (March 17)
(1) Pittsburgh vs. (16) UNC Asheville/Arkansas-Little Rock
(8) Butler vs. (9) Old Dominion

The last time Pittsburgh made the Final Four was all the way back in 1941, and this group has the ability to end the drought. Guards Ashton Gibbs and Brad Wanamaker have led the way, with Gibbs leading the team in scoring and Wanamaker doing a variety of things on both ends of the floor. Their five losses have been by a combined 17 points, and defensively the Panthers are a very tough group to crack. And despite the questions about them offensively, Pitt is among the most efficient teams in the nation. They'll get the winner of Tuesday's game between UNC Asheville, who win the Big South title on regular season champ Coastal Carolina's home floor, and Sun Belt tournament champ UALR. The Panthers should be somewhat familiar with UALR guard Solomon Bozeman, who began his collegiate career at USF before transferring.

The 8/9 game will be intriguing, especially if you're a fan of defense. Butler made their run all the way to the national title game a season ago, and even though it took some time to figure out how to get on without Gordon Hayward (Avery Jukes and Willie Veasley as well) Brad Stevens' Bulldogs figured it out and win the Horizon League tournament title. Old Dominion is back as well, winning the CAA Tournament behind guard Kent Bazemore and forward Frank Hassell. The matchups of Bazemore/ Shelvin Mack and Hassell/ Matt Howard will be entertaining, with an important contribution from one of the other players in either rotation being the difference.

Tucson (March 17)
(5) Kansas St. vs. (12) Utah State
(4) Wisconsin vs. (13) Belmont

Remember when there were questions as to whether or not Kansas State, who went to the Elite 8 last year, would even make the tournament? That seems like a long time ago for Frank Martin's team, who got tougher and with Jacob Pullen leading the way have the ability to make some noise in the next couple of weeks. How far the Wildcats go will depend on the frontcourt, and they've got a tough test on their hands in Utah State. Tai Wesley leads a deep frontcourt and on the perimeter there's point guard Brockeith Pane and senior Pooh Williams. The Aggies are a tough team to scout given the number of sets that head coach Stew Morrill will run, and their offensive execution can burn opponents who don't remain disciplined defensively. Get through this one and Kansas State can make a run, but beating Utah State is by no means a sure thing.

Belmont has been the trendy upset pick by many and that began even before the brackets were announced. Rick Byrd's Bruins go 11 deep and seven average at least five points per game. Forwards Mick Hedgepeth and Scott Saunders play well off of each other and when Belmont succeeds at speeding teams up turnovers tend to follow. But Wisconsin is a tough matchup for Belmont: the Badgers have an experienced point guard in Jordan Taylor who ranks among the nation's best, they don't turn the ball over and they've played more than 60 possessions in a game just eight times this season (65+ just once). Good luck speeding up Wisconsin, who also has forwards Jon Leuer and Keaton Nankivil to count on for scoring. The meeting between the Bruins and Badgers is a great contrast in styles, but Belmont will have to execute in the half-court if they're to pull off the upset.

All-Top Half Team
G Jordan Taylor (Wisconsin)
G Jacob Pullen (Kansas State)
G Brad Wanamaker (Pittsburgh)
F Jon Leuer (Wisconsin)
F Matt Howard (Butler)

Top Half All-Rookie Team
G Will Spradling (Kansas State)
G Josh Gasser (Wisconsin)
G Daylon Guy (Arkansas-Little Rock)
G/F J/.J. Mann (Belmont)
F Khyle Marshall (Butler)

Top Half All-Lower Seed Team
G Solomon Bozeman (Arkansas-Little Rock)
G Kent Bazemore (Old Dominion)
G Ian Clark (Belmont)
F Tai Wesley (Utah State)
F Frank Hassell (Old Dominion)

Denver (March 17)
(6) St. John's vs. (11) Gonzaga
(3) BYU vs. (14) Wofford

It's been a little too long between NCAA Tournament appearances for St. John's but the Red Storm are back in the first year of the Steve Lavin era. Dwight Hardy took off beginning in mid-January, and the move to point guard has paid off for the senior. But they'll be without their most versatile player in wing D.J. Kennedy, who tore his ACL in the Big East Championship last week. But it won't be one guy who replaces his contributions; instead it will have to be a number of players simply doing a little bit more as it's near impossible to simply replace a player of Kennedy's caliber. And if that isn't enough of a challenge how about traveling all the way out to Denver to take on Gonzaga? The Bulldogs improved in the latter stages of the season and with weapons such as Steven Gray, Elias Harris and Robert Sacre, head coach Mark Few won't lack for scoring options. They may be an 11-seed but Gonzaga getting to the Sweet 16 should not be considered a surprise if it were to happen.

As for BYU, they've been exposed some inside due to the loss of leading rebounder Brandon Davies. A simple redistribution of his six-plus rebounds per game is much easier said than done when factoring in the loss of size as well. The Cougars had problems with New Mexico in Provo and against San Diego State in Saturday's Mountain West title game, and such an issue could limit their potential in the Big Dance. Wofford has an outstanding frontcourt player in senior Noah Dahlman and Tim Johnson leads the team with more than eight rebounds per game. Wofford's been the better rebounding team of the two this season but do they have the ability to slow down Jimmer Fredette? Fredette can shoot the Cougars past Wofford but it will be tougher down the line to make up for the rebounding issue as the level of competition increases.

Tampa (March 17)
(7) UCLA vs. (10) Michigan State
(2) Florida vs. (15) UC Santa Barbara

Now that Michigan State is safely in the field, something that was in doubt down the stretch, the focus can be on how successful Tom Izzo-coached teams have been in the Big Dance. Six Final Four appearances and a national title for the Spartans during his tenure, but this is a different team than the ones that accomplished those feats. Kalin Lucas has increased his scoring but his teammates have struggled, especially Durrell Summers. With the talent that UCLA has, especially sophomore Tyler Honeycutt on the wing, Michigan State needs Summers to break out this week. Draymond Green is a versatile forward but he's got a tough matchup of his own with Reeves Nelson. Pac-10 teams tend to struggle when going from west all the way to the east coast so maybe the Spartans have that working for them.

Florida may have been over-seeded as a two but it doesn't matter now, and Billy Donovan's team took on a variety of challenges during non-conference play in addition to winning the SEC outright. SEC Player of the Year Chandler Parsons may not be a lights-out scorer but he's extremely versatile, giving the Gators whatever they need every night out. The frontcourt is deep but it will be guards Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker who determine their fate. They can be a bit erratic and that gets Florida in trouble, so if Boynton and Walker are under control they stand a much better chance of at the very least performing to their seed. Bob Williams' Gauchos won the Big West Tournament after finishing 5th during the regular season, and the backcourt of Orlando Johnson and James Nunnally can be a handful for opponents. But UCSB struggles on the boards, an issue that likely has them headed back home after Thursday.

All-Bottom Half Team
G Jimmer Fredette (BYU)
G Dwight Hardy (St. John's)
F Chandler Parsons (Florida)
F Tyler Honeycutt (UCLA)
F Noah Dahlman (Wofford)

Bottom Half All-Rookie Team
G Keith Appling (Michigan State)
G David Stockton (Gonzaga)
F Dwayne Polee Jr. (St. John's)
F Sam Dower (Gonzaga)
C Joshua Smith (UCLA)

Bottom Half All-Lower Seed Team
G Kalin Lucas (Michigan State)
G Gray
G Orlando Johnson (UCSB)
F Dahlman
F Draymond Green (Michigan State)

Region Winner: Pittsburgh

Wofford: 2011 NCAA Tournament

Shawn Siegel — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 11:43:30 -0700

Wofford Terriers: 2011 NCAA Capsule

Conference: Southern
Conference RPI: 19th (of 31)

RPI: #109
Record: 21-12
Conference Record: 14-4 (1st - tied)

Key Games

Top 100 Results: 2-7
Best Non-Conference Win: vs #25 George Mason 82-79

Worst Loss: vs #210 Cornell 80-86
Promising Loss: at #22 Xavier 90-94

Players

Leading Scorer: Noah Dahlman 20.0
Leading Rebounder: Tim Johnson 8.4
Leading Passer: Jamar Diggs & Brad Loesing 3.2
X-Factor: Cameron Rundles

Team Stats

Tempo: Slow - 270th
Offensive Efficiency: 40th
Quality Offensive Stat: Three Point FG% - 5th

Defensive Efficiency: 192nd
Quality Defensive Stat: Steals - 99th

Tournament History

Record: 0-1
Last: 2010
Last Win: never
Final Fours: 0

Links

ESPN Clubhouse
KenPom Stats & Analysis
RealTime RPI Schedule Breakdown

College Hoops Monday Recap: Four More Tickets Punched

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 07:14:14 -0800

The NCAA Tournament field is now up to seven confirmed members thanks to Monday's results. The two games with the bigger impact on who fills out the field from an at-large standpoint were the CAA and West Coast title games. Out in Las Vegas, Gonzaga regained the crown by beating Saint Mary's behind a balanced effort that saw four players score in double figures. Steven Gray, who had to leave the game in the first half to receive stitches for a cut above his left eye, scored 15 and Robert Sacre added 12 points and eight rebounds (knocking down some crucial free throws late as well).

Mickey McConnell (24 points) and Matthew Dellavedova (21) led the way for the Gaels, but the inability of the supporting cast to provide at least one more solid scoring effort combined with foul trouble in the frontcourt did them in. The Gaels will now have to sit and watch other teams play their games throughout the week, and despite the hope being that other bubble teams falter who really knows what Randy Bennett's team needs to happen.

The CAA final offered up suspense as well, with Old Dominion imposing their will early only to have to hang on for dear life late in beating VCU 70-65 in Richmond. Tournament MOP Frank Hassell scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the Monarchs won their second straight CAA Tournament title. Leading by as many as 18 points early in the second half, Blaine Taylor's team was in complete control of the game and looked to be a solid bet to win by a comfortable margin.

Then the sometimes chaotic nature of VCU's pressure took hold, turning the Monarchs over and closing to within one on a Bradford Burgess three-pointer with 4:27 left in the game. But that would be as close as the Rams would get, as ODU scored on consecutive possessions with offensive rebounds to keep their edge. Kent Bazemore added 14 points and six assists, but the Monarchs' 10 turnovers in the second half very nearly did them in.

So where does this leave VCU? By many accounts the Rams needed to win due in large part to a non-conference strength of schedule of 110 according to rpiforecast.com. How much will the SOS matter, and would playing in a league that ranks eighth in the RPI help their case? Saint Mary's, according to some, is in a better position at this stage but the lesson here is a simple one. Win. That's the best way for any team on the bubble to seal their fate, because all control is forfeited upon losing. So for all the bubble teams out there rejoicing that VCU didn't win the CAA, no one will show pity if you fail to take care of business this week.

Other Notable Happenings

1. John Dunne and his seniors complete an amazing turnaround at Saint Peter's.
When John Dunne took over in Jersey City there wasn't much left in the cupboard following the Peacocks' run to the 2006 MAAC title game. All-time leading scorer Keydren Clark was gone, and outside of Raul Orta and Todd Sowell the Peacocks were looking like a team destined to linger at the bottom of the league standings. But Coach Dunne and his staff brought in a freshman class that believed in the vision. Ryan Bacon, Jeron Belin, Wesley Jenkins and Nick Leon took their lumps, as they learned not only what it took to win but what it took to make Dunne's system work. If you defend you've got a good chance to win, and as they improved so did the win total. It all came to a head on Monday night as they cooled down a red-hot Iona team 62-57 in Bridgeport to grab their first NCAA Tournament bid since 1995. Belin scored 17 points off the bench, Jenkins and Leon combined to score 29 points and Bacon grabbed nine rebounds to go with eight points . They had to survive some hairy moments due to the many turnovers late, but they got it done.

2. The "Minnesota Mafia" leads Wofford back to the NCAA Tournament.
Mike Young's Wofford Terriers were the hottest team in the Southern Conference going into the conference tournament in Chattanooga, but more than a few people expected regular season champion Charleston to grab the automatic bid regardless. Andrew Goudelock scored 25 points but his having to leave the game due to foul trouble in the second half opened the door for the Terriers, and they took full advantage of the situation. Cameron Rundles scored a team-best 21 points and Noah Dahlman added 20 to go along with nine rebounds in the 77-67 victory. Dahlman, Rundles and Jamar Diggs make up the "Minnesota Mafia" with all three hailing from the state and it would be an understatement to say the recruiting haul has paid dividends. Next up is the NCAA Tournament, and the hope is that the Terriers get a better draw than Wisconsin a season ago. If it happens, Wofford is more than capable of sending someone home.

3. Chalk prevails in the Summit while the Sun Belt continues down the unpredictable path.
If there's a conference tournament that symbolizes the chaos that fans love come March it would be the Sun Belt, where it's been anything but chalk in Hot Springs. The two teams who will face off in tonight's final: North Texas and Arkansas-Little Rock, the four and five seeds out of the West Division. Just one of the four teams who received a first round bye (Middle Tennessee) won their first game, and UALR sent them home by the final score of 65-56 last night. Tristan Thompson led North Texas in an 81-62 whipping of Western Kentucky to grab their spot in the title game, and Johnny Jones' team is rounding into form at just the right time.

The Summit League tournament's gone according to form outside of South Dakota State beating IPFW, resulting in a final matching the top two seeds in the field (Oakland and Oral Roberts). The Golden Grizzlies whipped South Dakota State 110-90 in the first semifinal, shooting 57.7% from the field and all five scorers reaching double figures for Greg Kampe's team. Oral Roberts beat IUPUI 83-77 behind 26 points from Dominique Morrison and 20 from Warren Niles. The biggest stat for the Golden Eagles: 33 free throw attempts, and despite making just 63.6% of those shots the sheer volume was enough to seal their trip to the title game. Oakland's been the class of the league all season long and with Keith Benson leading the way they've got a good chance to get to the NCAA Tournament, but they'll have quite the challenge on their hands tonight.

Top Three Games

1. Old Dominion 70, VCU 65

2. Gonzaga 75, Saint Mary's 63

3. Saint Peter's 62, Iona 57

Three Notable Performances

1. G Tristan Thompson (North Texas)
There's more than one important Tristan Thompson plying his trade in the Lone Star State. The Mean Green's version scored 28 points and grabbed four rebounds in their 81-62 win over Western Kentucky to clinch a spot in the Sun Belt title game.

2. F Drew Valentine (Oakland)
Valentine scored 24 points (10-13 FG) and grabbed 11 rebounds in the Golden Grizzlies' 110-90 win over South Dakota State in a Summit League semifinal.

3. F Mike Glover (Iona)
Glover scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the Gaels' 62-57 loss to Saint Peter's in the MAAC title game.

College Hoops Monday: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 06:15:03 -0800

After Indiana State became the fourth team to punch its ticket to the NCAA Tournament with a 60-56 win over Missouri State in the MVC final, the pace begins to pick up with four more bids on the line tonight. The two biggest games with regards to the field of 68 are likely the CAA and WCC finals, with the possibility of a bid "thief" lurking in the former and a little confusion in terms of whether or not the two finalists have done enough to merit at-large bids in the latter. Old Dominion has the profile of a solid at-large choice and so does regular season champion George Mason, who VCU knocked out in Sunday's semifinals. But what about Shaka Smart's Rams? They need to grab the automatic bid because despite the impressive nature of their run to the Preseason NIT semifinals in November there really weren't any wins that stand out.

Their win over George Mason featured a 21-3 run late in the first half to take control of the game, quite the turnaround from two weeks ago when the Patriots blew them out in Richmond. Jamie Skeen scored 21 points to lead the way and Bradford Burgess added 16 and 13 rebounds. When the Rams are running effectively, as they did in assisting on 17 of their 24 made baskets against George Mason, they're a tough team to knock off. The challenge for VCU is to impose their style upon Blaine Taylor's Monarchs, something they were unable to do on February 12th in a 70-59 ODU win. VCU turned the ball over just nine times in that loss but ODU rendered them ineffective offensively by challenging every shot (37.3%) and out-rebounding the Rams 40-21.

ODU has won eight straight games, knocking off Hofstra on Sunday by shooting 57.1% and limiting CAA Player of the Year Charles Jenkins to 6-for-16 shooting and 16 points. The Monarchs aren't particularly adept defensively at turning opponents over but their half court defense can lock down, making it particularly difficult to find good looks. Guard Kent Bazemore is a very good perimeter defender and forwards Keyon Carter, Ben Finney and Frank Hassell are all good rebounders who can also defend and score. Three bids for the CAA? A VCU win would make that a near certainty.

As for the West Coast Conference, how many bids the league gets (one or two) varies based on who's offering the opinion. So it would be wise for both Gonzaga and Saint Mary's to win tonight's final in Las Vegas, because while both have solid records their resumes could leave either one up to debate should either need an at-large bid. This will be the third straight season these two have met in the title game, and just like the two regular season meetings the Bulldogs and Gaels have split the meetings. Gonzaga was able to hold on late last night thanks in large part to a technical foul assessed to San Francisco for calling a timeout they didn't have. Foul trouble made things interesting for the Bulldogs, and Mark Few will need his guys to avoid silly fouls tonight against Saint Mary's (a poor whistle on both sides didn't help matters).

Randy Bennett will lean on WCC Player of the Year Mickey McConnell and sophomore Matthew Dellavedova on the perimeter to get things going offensively, but the more important players could end up being forwards Rob Jones and Mitchell Young. If they have issues keeping Sam Dower, Robert Sacre and company off of the boards it could be a long night for the Gaels. Steven Gray and Elias Harris lead the way offensively for Gonzaga, and David Stockton has come into his own in recent weeks. The winner will sleep well until Selection Sunday while the loser may have to root for other bubblers to falter in the days that lie ahead, a situation no one wants to be in this time of the year.

The other two title games are in one-bid leagues, and the most dangerous team should they get to next week could be Iona in the Metro Atlantic. Tim Cluess' team has been on fire of late with nine straight wins, seven of which have been by double figures. Mike Glover has been outstanding inside and with the many other offensive options at Iona's disposal the presence of a point guard Scott Machado makes the Gaels an extremely difficult team to slow down. That's the task for Saint Peter's, who took out top-seed Fairfield on Sunday. John Dunne's team has the ability to lock down on opponents defensively and Monday will mark the ultimate moment for a senior class that's grown with the program. But they've also lost to the Gaels by double figures in both meetings, and the Gaels' firepower isn't the best matchup for the Peacocks.

The Southern Conference final matches the defending champion (Wofford) and this year's regular season champ in Charleston, as the Cougars also boast the Player of the Year in senior guard Andrew Goudelock. Goudelock can knock down any shot on the floor but still shoots at a solid percentage for a player entrusted with so much responsibility. The Terriers counter with forward Noah Dahlman, who was last season's Player of the Year in their run to the NCAA Tournament. If Wofford can slow down Goudelock and forward Antwaine Wiggins (Charleston has other solid offensive options to go along with these two) they're more than capable of making a return to the NCAA Tournament. Semifinals in the Summit and Sun Belt are also on tap tonight, with the latter providing a bracket that's seen three of the four teams with first round byes leave Hot Springs after their first game.

CAA Final (Richmond, VA)
7:00 PM VCU vs. Old Dominion (ESPN)

MAAC Final (Bridgeport, CT)
7:00 PM Saint Peter's vs. Iona (ESPN2)

Southern Final (Chattanooga, TN)
9:00 PM Wofford vs. Charleston (ESPN2)

Summit Semifinals (Sioux Falls, SD)
7:00 PM South Dakota State vs. Oakland
9:30 PM IUPUI vs. Oral Roberts

Sun Belt Semifinals (Hot Springs, AR)
7:00 PM North Texas vs. Western Kentucky
9:30 PM Arkansas-Little Rock vs. Middle Tennessee

West Coast Final (Las Vegas)
9:00 PM Gonzaga vs. Saint Mary's (ESPN)

College Hoops Thursday Recap: Washington Falls in Corvallis

Raphielle Johnson — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 13:27:11 -0800

The crazy nature of the Pac-10 is highlighted by this simple fact: Oregon State, a team who has lost to the likes of Seattle, Texas Southern and Utah Valley this season, is the lone conference team to own wins over both Arizona and Washington. The second of those Pac-10 victories came on Thursday night as the Beavers outscored Washington 36-24 in the second half of the 68-56 victory. Jared Cunningham scored a team-high 19 points and Calvin Haynes added 11 off the bench, but it was the foul and three-point lines that made the difference in Corvallis. Neither team was that great from beyond the arc but it was Oregon State who realized what wasn't working. Washington attempted 29 three-pointers but made only seven, a far cry from Oregon State's 2-for-7 night. Instead the Beavers made their way to the foul line, where they finished 24-for-38 while the Huskies made just 9 of 19. The charity stripe allowed Oregon State to make up that 15-point difference from three, and their overall proficiency made the difference.

"Why we missed so many chippies, especially in the Stanford game, was we were worried about the contact," remarked head coach Craig Robinson. "You can't worry about the contact. So we had basically the same game plan trying to get stuff around the basket except don't worry about contact and see if we can score this time. And what happened is that we got fouled and we weren't worried about the contact." (quote courtesy of Oregon State Athletics)

Scott Suggs led Washington with 18 points and Matthew Bryan-Amaning added 12 and 10 rebounds but a cold night from Isaiah Thomas (2-for-11, 9 points) proved to be too much to overcome in the second half. As a team Washington shot 32.3% from the field, making 8 of 26 shots in the second half. OSU attacked the inside of the Washington defense, outscoring the Huskies 34-22 in the paint, and defensively their 2-3 zone did a good job of keeping Washington out of the paint for much of the night. The win puts Arizona, who won at Stanford, atop the conference standings in what may be a return to normalcy given the head-scratching events of Thursday. Washington State gets blown out at Oregon, the Huskies fall in Corvallis...just another day in the hard-to-figure Pac-10.

Other Notable Happenings

1. Larry Drew II leaves North Carolina.
This was actually news of Friday morning as the father of Larry Drew II notified Roy Williams that his son would be leaving the program. Thought to be on board with the switch to freshman Kendall Marshall as the starter at the point, Drew departs the program after the start of the spring semester and thus cannot play for another school until the fall of 2012. He seemed to be playing well in his new role, being honored twice by the coaching staff for his defensive performance over the last four games. But for some it's tough to deal with the move from starter to reserve, something that may have been missed given that many involved considered the move to be a surprise. The departure puts more on the shoulders of freshman Kendall Marshall, who has improved defensively as the season's worn on but needs to get even better with more minutes likely to come his way. But what does UNC do when Marshall needs a break? Dexter Strickland as a stopgap for a few minutes? The point may be the one position where the Heels lack depth so it will be interesting to see how they navigate the personnel move. But for a team that's been rolling the last thing it needs is a distraction, and Drew's decision may ultimately have more of an impact in that regard than on the numbers.

2. Charleston routs Wofford to move into first place in the SoCon South Division.
This was expected by many to be a close contest but the Cougars made it anything but in the second half, outscoring Wofford 47-20 and going on to win 79-54 at home. The win moves Charleston into sole possession of first place in the South Division with a 9-2 record, with the Terriers and Furman both a half-game back with 9-3 records. Andrew Goudelock did what he normally does with a game-high 25 points but it was the defense and rebounding that buried Wofford. Wofford shot just 29.2% in the second half and was out-rebounded 38-26 on the night, with no other Terrier reaching double figures to supplement Noah Dahlman's 22. Offensively it was a tale of two halves with Wofford shooting well over 50% but they only led by two at the break. From there it was all Charleston, who improved their efficiency on offense while clamping down on the other end of the floor. Any one of the three teams in the South can win the division, with the top two getting first round byes in the Southern Conference Tournament. But there's also the matter of Chattanooga in the North, who has a comfortable lead in that division with a 9-2 record. Add in the fact that the Mocs host the conference tournament and it should make for a fun finish to the Southern Conference season.

3. Youngstown State scores the final 10 points to knock off Butler at home.
Ultimately this could be the result that's seen as the final nail in the coffin should Butler not get back to the NCAA Tournament. Up 57-47 with 5:27 left in the game, Butler went cold from the field and was subsequently outscored 12-3 the rest of the way in a rough loss in Youngstown. The Penguins picked up their second Horizon League win of the season, dropping the Bulldogs to 6-5 and a tie for fifth in the standings. Shelvin Mack led Butler with 18 points, eight rebounds and three assists, but as a team Butler shot 39.7% from the field and it's tough to win on the road when that happens. Butler's issues in league play underline two things: how much they miss Gordon Hayward, Avery Jukes and Willie Veasley, and the fact that the Horizon League is a better conference than many outsiders give it credit for. It was assumed that in October Butler would roll to the crown with Detroit, featuring Eli Holman and freshman Ray McCallum Jr., being the chief challenger. As of today Butler's 6-5 and Detroit 6-6, with Cleveland State (10-2), Valparaiso (8-3) and Wright State (8-4) running the show. The race for home court in the quarters and semis of the conference tournament will be fun to watch, but the fact that Butler likely won't be a part of it means that they'll need to improve as a road team in the final weeks of the season (next: at Cleveland State on Saturday).

Top Three Games

1. FIU 81, Troy 80 A DeJuan Wright layup with seven seconds left in overtime gave the Golden Panthers the road victory. Phil Gary led the way for FIU with 21 points while Troy's Vernon Gray led all scorers with 23.

2. San Jose State 92, Idaho 89 (2OT) Keith Shamburger accounted for the final three points of the game with a made free throw and an assist on a breakaway dunk, making the difference in the Spartans' road victory. SJSU's Justin Graham led all scorers with 28 points while Adrian Oliver (23 and 10 rebounds) and Wil Carter (17 and 14) both posted double-doubles for the victors. Luiz Toledo scored a season-high 19 to lead Idaho.

3. Houston Baptist 97, Chicago State 94 (OT) Andrew Gonzalez scored five of his 36 points in overtime to lead the Huskies to the how win. Carl Montgomery led the Cougars with 35 and 16 rebounds.

Three Notable Performances

1. F Carl Montgomery (Chicago State) 35 points and 16 rebounds off the bench in the Cougars' overtime loss at Houston Baptist.

2. F Troy Gillenwater (New Mexico State) 33 points and eight rebounds in the Aggies' 88-83 overtime loss at Fresno State.

3. F Andrew Gonzalez (Houston Baptist) 36 points, four rebounds and two steals in the Huskies' win over Chicago State.

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