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Friday Tournament Predictions: Horizon, OVC, MVC, WCC

Greg Mengelt — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 07:55:14 -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.

ATLANTIC SUN SEMIFINALS: AT MACON, GA.

Belmont (25-7, 16-2) vs. East Tennessee State (17-13, 10-8)

Tipoff: 6 p.m. TV: Comcast Sports. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 23 – Belmont 82-70; Feb. 18 – Belmont 80-58. RPI: Belmont 63, East Tennessee State 180. Analysis: Belmont beat the Buccaneers by a combined 34 points in two meetings this year. Can’t find a reason why the Bruins won’t blow them out again. Line: Belmont -12. Pick: Belmont 88, East Tennessee State 66.

Mercer (22-10, 13-5) vs. Florida Gulf Coast (14-16, 8-10)

Tipoff: Approx. 8:30 p.m. TV: Comcast Sports. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 2 – Mercer 76-54; Feb. 20 – Mercer 75-66. RPI: Mercer 126, Florida Gulf Coast 238. Analysis: Mercer looked better in its win over Lipscomb, but the Bears probably aren’t playing well enough yet to take them against the spread. Line: Mercer -9.5. Pick: Mercer 71, Florida Gulf Coast 67.

HORIZON LEAGUE QUARETRFINALS: AT VALPARAISO, IND.

(3) Detroit (19-13, 11-7) vs. (6) Youngstown State (16-14, 10-8)

Tipoff: 6 p.m. TV: Horizon League Network/ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 1 – Youngstown 64-61*; Feb. 25 – Detroit 76-74*. RPI: Detroit 158, Youngstown State 166. Analysis: Detroit’s underachieving roller coaster season comes to an end. Line: Detroit -6. Pick: Youngstown State 68, Detroit 65.

(4) Milwaukee (20-12, 11-7) vs. (5) Butler (19-13, 11-7)

Tipoff: Approx. 8:30 p.m. TV: Horizon League Network/ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 31 – Butler 54-50; Jan. 26 – Milwaukee 53-42. RPI: Milwaukee 124, Butler 112. Analysis: The Butler magic lives on – for one more day. Line: Butler -1. Pick: Butler 66, Milwaukee 61.

MISSOURI VALLEY QUARTERFINALS: AT ST. LOUIS

(1) Wichita State (26-4, 16-2) vs. (8) Indiana State (17-13, 8-10)

Tipoff: 1 p.m. TV: MVC TV. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 15 – Wichita State 75-65*; Feb. 4 – Wichita State 71-66. RPI: Wichita State 12, Indiana State 130. Analysis: This isn’t a typical 1/8 matchup with the Sycamores finishing a game behind third place. Indiana State is closer to the team that won last year’s tournament than to the one that struggled during the middle of this season. Line: Wichita St -10. Pick: Wichita State 70, Indiana State 62.

(4) Illinois State (18-12, 9-9) vs. (5) Northern Iowa (19-12, 9-9)

Tipoff: Approx. 3:30 p.m. TV: MVC TV. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 29 – Illinois State 65-61; Feb. 11 – Northern Iowa 78-63. RPI: Illinois State 125, Northern Iowa 62. Analysis: This game could go either way, so take the team with more post-season experience. Line: Northern Iowa -2. Line: Northern Iowa -2. Pick: Northern Iowa 70, Illinois State 67.

(2) Creighton (25-5, 14-4) vs. (7) Drake (16-14, 9-9)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. TV: MVC TV. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 3 – Creighton 76-59; Jan. 25 – Creighton 77-69. RPI: Creighton 25, Drake 127. Analysis: Except for a late push against Long Beach State, the Blue Jays just aren’t playing as well as they were earlier this season. It would be tough to take them by more than a handful of points. Line: Creighton -8. Pick: Creighton 69, Drake 65.

(3) Evansville (15-14, 9-9) vs. (6) Missouri State (16-15, 9-9)

Tipoff: Approx. 9:30 p.m. TV: MVC TV. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 15 – Evansville 87-82 (OT)*; Feb. 25 – Evansville 75-70 (OT). RPI: Evansville 138, Missouri State 108. Analysis: Missouri State senior Kyle Weems will find a way to shine in his final week, and the Bear defense will clamp down on Ace star Colt Ryan. Line: Missouri State -2. Pick: Missouri State 77, Evansville 70.

OHIO VALLEY SEMIFINALS: AT NASHVILLE

(1) Murray State (28-1, 15-1) vs. (4) Tennessee Tech (19-12, 9-7)

Tipoff: 6 p.m. TV: ESPNU. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 14 – Murray State 82-74; Feb. 25 – Murray State 69-64*. RPI: Murray State 31, Tennessee Tech 151. Analysis: Tennessee Tech found a way to keep both regular-season meetings close, and Kevin Murphy and the Eagles will push the Racers again. Line: Murray St -8. Pick: Murray State 70, Tennessee Tech 64.

(2) Tennessee State (19-11, 11-5) vs. (3) Morehead State (18-14, 10-6)

Tipoff: Approx. 8 p.m. TV: ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 11 – Tennessee State 77-72. RPI: Tennessee State 131, Morehead State 173. Analysis: With an extra day of rest, Tennessee State will pull away from the Eagles early in the second half. Line: Tennessee St -4. Pick: Tennessee State 81, Morehead State 69.

WCC QUARTERFINALS: AT LAS VEGAS

(4) Loyola Marymount (19-11, 11-5) vs. (5) San Francisco (19-12, 8-8)

Tipoff: 9 p.m. TV: ESPNU. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 31 – Loyola Marymount 77-76 (OT)*; Feb. 4 – Loyola Marymount 90-88. RPI: Loyola Marymount 119, San Francisco 147. Analysis: Vegas is begging you to take LMU, don't fall for it. Line: San Francisco -1.5. Pick: Loyola Marymount 78, San Francisco 75.

(3) BYU (24-7, 12-4) vs. (6) San Diego (12-17, 9-7)

Tipoff: Approx. 11 p.m. TV: ESPNU. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 31 – BYU 88-52; Jan. 16 – BYU 82-63*. RPI: BYU 50, San Diego 193. Analysis: BYU will control the boards and its defensive end en route to an easy win. Line: BYU -13. Pick: BYU 78, San Diego 55.

*Road win

Greg Against the Spread This Season: 95-62-2

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

#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

Cncinnati vs. #4 Syracuse: Monday's Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:51:59 -0800

While tonight's game between #4 Syracuse (20-1, 7-1) and Cincinnati (15-5, 5-2) may have lost a little luster from a national standpoint with both teams falling on the road Saturday, that shouldn't take away from the importance of Monday to Mick Cronin's Bearcats. The computer numbers are still a bit low although the Bearcats would most likely be a tournament team if the season ended today, so a win over a Top 5 opponent would be a nice line to add to the resume. While the absence of Syracuse center Fab Melo won't make things easier for Cincinnati it does change the dynamic in the paint.

Without Melo on Saturday at Notre Dame the Orange were out-rebounded by 13 (38-25), and the extra possessions that came as a result of the Fighting Irish's work on the offensive glass put Syracuse in a hole they couldn't climb out of. Yancy Gates (12.2 ppg, 9.4 rpg) leads the way for the Bearcats with an average of 3.1 offensive rebounds per game and they've got some guards who have also been good in this area, meaning that Cincinnati has the tools to take advantage of Syracuse allowing opponents to corral 38% of their missed shots.

C.J. Fair (8.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg), who moved into the starting lineup as a result of Melo's absence, is one of Syracuse's best reserves but he didn't have his best game on Saturday. But the same can be said of senior wing Kris Joseph (13.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg), and these two have to chip in on the glass with the Orange relying on the slender Rakeem Christmas and Baye Keita in the middle for the time being. As mentioned earlier the Bearcats have guards who do a good job on the offensive boards, including one in Jaquon Parker (9.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg) who was thrust into the power forward position due to the loss of two key bigs (Gates and Cheikh Mbodj) following the Xavier game.

Those guards can also score, with Sean Kilpatrick (16.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and Dion Dixon (13.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg) leading the way while Cashmere Wright (10.8 ppg, 4.8 apg) runs the show. Add in Parker and freshman Jeremiah Davis and there's a good reason why the Bearcats now score 34% of their points from beyond the arc, as the suspensions resulted in Cronin and his staff giving the perimeter guys more freedom to make things happen. Gates has fit in well since his return despite the drop in post touches, and defensive stalwart Justin Jackson has also been valuable in his role.

Syracuse's guards have played well for much of the season but starters Scoop Jardine (8.3 ppg, 4.9 apg) and Brandon Triche (9.8 ppg, 2.9 apg) can still have those moments where they struggle with decision-making (Jardine) or drift out of the action (Triche). That happened on Saturday in South Bend and was one reason why Notre Dame was able to lead by as many as 18 points in the first half. Dion Waiters (13.0 ppg, 2.7 apg) has been one of the Big East's best players this season, and he's a tough matchup due to both his athleticism and improved skill set. How Syracuse controls their defensive glass will go a long way in determining the outcome, but the guard play won't be far behind.

Also of note tonight is Texas A&M making what is likely their final trip to Phog Allen Fieldhouse for a long time to take on #5 Kansas, and with Khris Middleton banged up this could get out of hand. Thomas Robinson is one of the best players in the country and Tyshawn Taylor has played well of late at the point, giving the Jayhawks a decided advantage in that area as well. Keep an eye on Belmont's trip to East Tennessee State as the Bruins are now tied for first in the A-Sun with Belmont and the Bucs are one of three teams just a game back (the other two teams, Lipscomb and USC Upstate, meet tonight). And in the SWAC the top two teams meet as Mississippi Valley State visits Texas Southern in a game that features MVSU center Paul Crosby and Texas Southern guard Omar Strong.

Top 25 Games
7:00 PM (4) Syracuse at Cincinnati (ESPN)
9:00 PM Texas A&M at (5) Kansas (ESPN)

NCAA Division I Games
7:00 PM Towson at Delaware (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Citadel at Georgia Southern
7:00 PM Northeastern at Old Dominion (ESPN3)
7:00 PM North Florida at Kennesaw State
7:00 PM North Carolina A&T at Coppin State (ESPNU)
7:00 PM Belmont at East Tennessee State
7:00 PM James Madison at Georgia State
7:00 PM Jacksonville at Mercer
7:00 PM Stetson at Savannah State
7:00 PM Iona at Siena (TWC)
7:00 PM Hofstra at VCU (TCN)
7:00 PM Drexel at William & Mary
7:00 PM Brown at Bryant
7:00 PM Lipscomb at USC Upstate
7:30 PM Florida A&M at Delaware State
7:30 PM Bethune-Cookman at Maryland-Eastern Shore
7:30 PM North Carolina Central at Morgan State
8:00 PM Alabama A&M at Alcorn State
8:30 PM Alabama State at Southern
9:00 PM UNC Wilmington at George Mason (MASN)
9:00 PM Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Prairie View A&M (ESPNU)
9:00 PM Mississippi Valley State at Texas Southern
10:00 PM Cal State Bakersfield at San Jose State
10:00 PM Loyola Marymount at Santa Clara

Thirty-Two Impact Freshmen, Part One

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:26:54 -0700

After going over the teams expected to win their regular season titles, we move on to talking about the top freshmen in each conference. Will all automatically take over and become the stars of their respective teams and leagues? It's tough to say at this point in the season, but that doesn't mean that we can't discuss it. Below are the picks for each of the 32 conferences.

America East: James Kennedy (Boston University)
With Jake O'Brien lost for another season due to injury first-year head coach Joe Jones may need to call on the 6'6" forward for important minutes. The Boston native helped lead Cushing Academy to a 21-7 record last year.

Atlantic 10: Dezmine Wells (Xavier)
While many expect Kenny Frease to be back with the team at some point in the near future, Xavier can make up for the height they lack in the frontcourt with sheer talent. Wells is one reason why, as the 6'5" small forward can flat-out make things happen on the floor.

ACC: Austin Rivers (Duke)
Not sure if there's much that hasn't been said about the Winter Park, Florida native. Duke needs to account for the loss of Nolan Smith in the backcourt, and while there are some experienced options returning to Durham they aren's as explosive as Austin. He should also benefit from the team's summer trip to China and Dubai, as Duke gained 10 practices to prepare for the journey.

Atlantic Sun: Rashawn Rembert (East Tennessee State)
ETSU lost three starters, and not only were they all guards but they were also the top three leading scorers. That means plenty will be needed from a shooting guard like Rembert, who averaged more than 20 points and seven rebounds per game at Sickles High in Tampa.

Big East: Andre Drummond (Connecticut)
Remember when Drummond was slated to spend a year at Wilbraham & Monson with friend and Connecticut Basketball Club teammate Kris Dunn (Providence commit)? That all changed in August as the 6'11", 275-pound Drummond decided this was the right time to join the UConn program. Joining forces with Alex Oriakhi and Tyler Olander will give the Huskies one of the country's best frontcourts.

Big Sky: Gelaun Wheelwright (Weber State)
The team that most people expect to win the Big Sky does have seven players returning from last year's team, not to mention a healthy Damian Lillard. But there's always room for someone else to step up, and that player could be the Centennial (CA) High product. Wheelwright averaged 18.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game as a senior.

Big South: John Brown (High Point)
Scott Cherry landed a good on in Brown, who was named 1A Player of the Yeah in the State of Florida. Brown averaged 17.9 points, 12.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game as a senior, and the Jacksonville native has the ability to be the conference's best freshman.

Big Ten: Cody Zeller (Indiana)
The 2011 class is the first of two recruiting classes that many expect Indiana head coach Tom Crean to use as a springboard back to where many expect IU to be on the college landscape. One key cog is forward Cody Zeller, who averaged 24.6 ppg, 13.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game for a Washington (IN) High team that won the 3A state title.

Big 12: Le'Bryan Nash (Oklahoma State)
When's the last time a recruit of this caliber has shown up in Stillwater? It's safe to say that a player the quality of Le'Bryan Nash doesn't come around every day, and his arrival could make the Pokes a factor in the Big 12 race. Nash was a McDonald's All-American last year and to say the least has an NBA-ready build (and skill set) right now.

Big West: Reese Morgan (Cal Poly)
The Mustangs ranked 338th nationally in scoring with an average of 59.3 points per game, so to say the least they could use a boost in the scoring column. Enter Reese Morgan, who scored more than 2,400 hundred points in his high school career at Peninsula High in San Pedro, California. Morgan averaged 27.3 points per game as a senior.

CAA: Erik Copes (George Mason)
The freshman forward/center from Philadelphia pairs up with senior Ryan Pearson, and it isn't far-fetched to think that this duo could rank among the best frontcourts in the CAA. Copes was a player Paul Hewitt was able to get in the summer, a near steal for a senior of his caliber.

Conference USA: Adonis Thomas (Memphis)
In addition to their roster full of returnees Memphis should have a good feeling about this season due to the arrival of Memphis native Adonis Thomas. The Melrose High product ranked among the top players in the country in the 2011 class, and his ability to run the floor and finish above the rim will make Memphis even better.

Great West: Shane Benton (North Dakota)
The Fighting Sioux welcome back a host of contributors from a team that won the first Great West conference tournament as well as a game in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament, but Benton has the ability to crack the rotation. The 6'3" guard is a product of Linn-Mar High school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he was a teammate of North Carolina commit (2012) Marcus Paige.

Horizon: Roosevelt Jones (Butler)
With Matt Howard and Shelvin Mack both moving on the Bulldogs need players to step up as offensive options. One of those possibilities could be Jones, a small forward from O'Fallon, Illinois who can do a variety of things on the floor. As a senior Jones averaged 17.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.

Ivy: Wesley Saunders (Harvard)
Tommy Amaker and his staff have brought in a very good recruiting class for this season, but the question is just how much the preseason Ivy League favorites will need to call on them. One option to play may be the 6'5" Saunders, who averaged a double-double as a senior at Windward High in Los Angeles. He's a very good athlete who also played volleyball in high school.

MAAC: Juan'ya Green (Niagara)
The MAAC will have some good freshmen entering the league (a crop that would have been bolstered by Siena's Imoh Silas and Lionel Gomis if cleared by the NCAA), but one who will have to step up from the start is Philadelphia native Juan'ya Green. The Purple Eagles like to attack teams with their guards, and as a scorer who can also handle the ball Green fits the system.

Next: MAC through WAC

#134 East Tennessee St: 2010-11 Basketball Preview

Joel Welser — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 16:37:59 -0700

Overall Rank: #134

Conference Rank: #2 Atlantic Sun Conference

2009-10: 20-15, 13-7

2009-10 postseason: NCAA

Coach: Murry Bartow (138-87 at East Tennessee State, 241-160 overall)

East Tennessee State started the 2009-2010 season amid tragedy and injury. Add to that the loss of a few key players, and the expectations for the Buccaneers were very low. Now Mike Smith is back after playing in just four games last year before going down with a season ending injury and a majority of his teammates who stepped up their game to reach the NCAA Tournament are back as well.

Key Losses: G Jocolby Davis

Key Newcomers:

Coach Murry Bartow did an amazing job last season and his good work continued through the offseason. Anthony Johnson and Curtis Wilkinson are a couple of junior college transfers who are expected to make an immediate impact. Johnson, a 6-7 power forward, and Wilkinson, a 6-8 power forward, will both compete for a starting job. At the least, one of them needs to play a big role off the bench and eat up some minutes at the five spot. This team also needed to find a future point guard and Ryan Woumn fits the bill perfectly.

Backcourt:

The amount of talent in the backcourt is staggering. Micah Williams and Justin Tubbs turned into the stars of the perimeter after Smith went down with his injury. Williams, a 6-4 wing, averaged 12.7 points and 3.3 rebounds. Williams is a capable outside shooter, but also will use his size and speed to attack the basket with relative ease. Tubbs is more of a shooter, although he shot just 32.5 percent from beyond the arc last season. Sheldon Cooley, Adam Sollazzo and Jarvis Jones all averaged at least ten minutes per game last season and will give the group on the perimeter plenty of depth. Cooley is the best ballhandler of the bunch, while Sollazzo adds a balanced scoring attack and Jones is a decent shooter off of the bench.

Frontcourt:

The depth in the frontcourt is quite impressive too. Tommy Hubbard is the star of the unit and the team. After averaging 13.9 points and 8.2 rebounds a year ago, big things are expected for his senior season. Hubbard is certainly undersized for a traditional power forward, but he makes up for it with his toughness on both ends of the floor. Ideally, Hubbard would play at small forward and Isiah Brown would move from the five spot to power forward, but that would leave a logjam of talent on the bench on the perimeter. Brown has proven that he can play either position after averaging 7.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks during his sophomore campaign. J.C. Ward and Lukas Poderis showed plenty of potential last year, but they will have to battle it out with the newcomers for minutes off the bench.

Who to Watch:

When Smith got hurt ETSU suddenly turned into an average team…at least for a while. During the 2008-2009 season, the 6-6 Vandalia, Missouri product averaged an impressive 15.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists. Smith will score in every way imaginable and can do it on the ball or off the ball. With him back in the mix, the Buccaneers have their leader.

Final Projection:

It is important to note that it took ETSU some time to come together last year. That is not surprising considering the circumstances, but this team finished fifth in the conference and got hot at the right time. Most of the conference was not paying too much attention to the Buccaneers until they started making their run late in the season. Now the target is on their back and Coach Bartow needs to do another great coaching feat. For starters he needs to keep everybody happy on a very deep roster and than he needs to keep his team prepared for everybody’s best shot in conference play.

Projected Post-season Tournament: none

Projected Starting Five:

Mike Smith, Senior, Guard, 9.2 ppg

Justin Tubbs, Senior, Guard, 12.1 ppg

Micah Williams, Senior, Guard, 12.7 ppg

Tommy Hubbard, Senior, Forward, 13.9 ppg

Isiah Brown, Junior, Forward, 7.8 ppg

Next Top 144 Teams
135		136		137		138		..All

Jon Teitel's Interview Series: ETSU Legend Keith "Mister" Jennings

Jon Teitel — Sun, 09 May 2010 22:26:13 -0700

Recently, CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with East Tennessee State legend Keith "Mister" Jennings, one of the greatest players in school history. Jennings still ranks in the top four in six major statistical categories and nearly led the Bucs to an improbable upset of top seed Oklahoma in the first round of the 1989 NCAA Tournament. In the first of three straight trips to the Big Dance, the Bucs fell 72-71, one of only a handful of one-point losses for sixteen seeds.

Jon Teitel: How did you get the nickname "Mister", and do you like it?

Keith "Mister" Jennings: My dad started calling me that around age 6, and it just stuck, so everyone in my hometown calls me that. My teammates were going to call me Keith when I joined the team, because they did not want to call a freshman "Mister", but they came around after a week or so.

JT: Why did you decide to go to ETSU?

KJ: They were they only program that really offered me a full scholarship. VMI showed some interest, but I was not into the military. I am a competitor, so I wanted to display my skills against the best, which was D-1.

JT: You were named an All-American despite being only 5'7". How were you able to succeed despite being at such a height disadvantage on the court?

KJ: I always felt that I played bigger than I was: I always said I was 5'8", but people said it sounded better if I was listed as 5'7"! I did not feel like the smallest guy on the court. I always played against my brothers growing up who were similar in height to me. I never looked at it as a disadvantage: I actually felt it was easier for me to play against bigger guys, because I played inside and did not mind trying to battle for a rebound.

JT: What are your memories of the 1989 NCAA Tourney (you scored eight points and had seven assists but fouled out in a one-point loss to Oklahoma in Nashville, which almost became the 1st-ever upset by a #16-seed over a #1-seed; Stacey King had 28 points and 10 rebounds)?

KJ: When I look back on all my defeats that one sticks with me more than any other loss. I assume that most of the other players you talk to remember their losses more than their wins. We were a young team that did not fully understand how to win, but we gave it our all. We won our conference tourney, which was really special. It was the 1st time that I ever got a ring, after watching guys on TV get rings and cut down the nets, so that was important to me.

JT: What are your memories of the 1990 NCAA tourney (you scored a team-high 17 points and made a tourney-school record 5 three points in a loss to Georgia Tech. Dennis Scott had 36 points on 14-22 FG)?

KJ: It seemed like Scott had at least 20 points in the 1st half. We felt that we were seeded badly. Mid-major teams now are getting higher rankings, but even though we had a record of 27-6, we felt kind of shafted because we ended up as a #13-seed. We felt we had a good chance playing in Knoxville, but the ACC was a great conference, and Georgia Tech was stacked (Kenny Anderson, Brian Oliver, etc.). We could not run with them but we were the type of team that kept on fighting. We felt that the following year would be our best chance to make a splash.

JT: In 1991 you scored a career-high 37 points vs. Marshall. Was it just one of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were "in the zone"?

KJ: Our other main shooters that night were something like a combined 2-for-22 from three-point range so I just tried to take over. We were ranked in the top-20 at the time, and just tried to keep moving up the list. It was a high-scoring game; the ball felt good when it left my hand and I had a lot of steals that led to easy lay-ups.

JT: What are your memories of the 1991 NCAA tourney (you scored 11 points and had a school tournament record 13 assists in a three-point loss to Iowa. Acie Earl had 18 points)?

KJ: That was one of the toughest losses for me, as it was my last game as a senior. We were 28-4, but got screwed as a ten-seed and got shipped out to Minneapolis. I had plenty of opportunities and did not make any turnovers, but I shot 4-of-13 from the field. I remember that we were missing two of our best players at the time; we never went into the tourney full-blast with a healthy team except in 1989.

JT: In 1991 you set a school and conference record with 301 assists in a single season. How were you able to balance your scoring and defense with your passing abilities?

KJ: I do not think a lot of people realized that I was a high-percentage shooter: I always tried to shoot 50% or above. When you play with other guys who can hit threes or catch alley-oops, then it is just a matter of "pick your poison". We had great chemistry, so nobody cared who got the press; we were a real unselfish team in a great situation who put winning above everything else. It was just a fun time: when I go back to campus, there are lots of people who still talk about that team as one of the best.

JT: In 1991 you also led all of Division I in three-point percentage by shooting 59% from behind the arc. How big a weapon was the three-point shot in your offensive arsenal, and what is your secret for three-point shooting?

KJ: There is no big secret: it is just a matter of repetition, hard work, etc. We did not have a three-point line in high school (it came into existence soon after I graduated). I would just wake up every morning and go shoot while my younger brother rebounded for me. Obviously, you also need to have good balance, a lot of confidence, etc. I never felt like I struggled with my shot, but I also did not take a lot of bad shots. If you want your team to win, you have to make shots. When you shoot a wide-open shot, it is very different than shooting with a hand in your face.

JT: You still rank fourth on the all-time list for career assists with 983. Do you feel that you were one of the best point guards in NCAA history?

KJ: When I look at the numbers I put up I think I have to be one of the best point guards who ever played, if you are looking for a complete point guard and going by the numbers. We won conference championships, and I like how my numbers stack up with anyone's.

JT: From 1992-1995 you played three years for Golden State, averaging 6 ppg and 3.7 apg. How satisfied are you with your career, and how do you want people to remember you on the court?

KJ: I cannot say that I was real satisfied, but it was a dream that came true. People always said I was too small, from high school through college and the pros. I actually got cut the first time I tried out for the NBA but God blessed me with a 2nd opportunity. Playing behind Tim Hardaway was a blessing but you do not get a chance to make a mistake with Tim on the bench. I also learned a lot from Coach Don Nelson. I felt that I could have been an NBA journeyman, but I just wanted to play, and did not get a lot of opportunities in the NBA.

JT: In 1995 you were picked by Toronto in the expansion draft but you never played for them. Why did they take you if they did not want you to play for them?

KJ: Things just did not work out contract-wise. Toronto GM Isiah Thomas called me right before the expansion draft to say that they would take me with the 4th pick. I was an All-American coming out of college so I was surprised to not get drafted originally. When Toronto took Damon Stoudamire in the real draft, they also took BJ Tyler in the expansion draft so I was stuck behind 2 other point guards.

JT: You spent the next decade playing professionally overseas. What did you learn from this experience and how did it compare to the NBA?

KJ: I just love getting on the court and showing my skills and helping my team try to beat your team. I was making good money and playing 35 minutes a game overseas, so I was pretty happy. My first year in Germany after I was cut by the Pacers was huge, because I got paid to do something I loved and I was an All-Star. I took it seriously because I wanted another chance in the NBA. We took a 2-week tour to play teams in California, and Golden State invited me in for a tryout. After getting cut by Toronto I had an opportunity to play in Spain and I was an All-Star and won a couple of three-point contests. The Spanish guys were not ready for a small/quick guy who could shoot the ball. It was nice to see the world by playing basketball. I was always a pass-first point guard, but European teams required their point guards to score; I just wish the NBA had been like that.

JT: From 2004-2007 you coached a boys' varsity basketball team at a private school in Virginia but said the job left you unfulfilled because your players were not motivated because they had an easy life. When trying to be a successful athlete, how does motivation compare to skill, effort, genetics, other?

KJ: I did not see the hunger from those high school kids that I had in myself growing up. When I go out now and recruit kids I look for 2 things: the hunger to be the best student/athlete you can be, and the toughness to win the test of wills. I do not care if you are 5-feet tall or 7-feet tall; you just have to try and stop your opponent without being scared.

JT: You currently are an assistant coach for the basketball team at Bluefield College. What is the main difference you have found in coaching high school players vs. college players and what do you hope to end up doing in the future?

KJ: I think college kids are getting more realistic about their chances of making it to the NBA from a small school, while high school kids are already thinking about the NBA. The college kids are not in awe of my status as an NBA veteran, but they respect me because they know I made it to the NBA. I want to be a head coach and run a program. Every coach I ever played for called me a coach out on the floor, and I got the most out of my teammates because I know how to talk to people.

ATLANTIC SUN "Fantasy Picks"

Belmont: Joe Behling (1990) 2,823 PTS (#1), 947 REB (#4), 142 BLK (#2), 3-time All-American, national POY

Campbell: Joe Spinks (1994) 1,711 PTS (#4), 954 REB (#2), 220 STL (#2), 155 BLK (#2), conference POY

East Tennessee State: Keith Jennings (1991) 1,988 PTS (#4), 983 AST (#1), 334 STL (#1), 223 3PM (#2), 49.3 3P% (#1), 86.1 FT% (#2), All-American, 2-time conference POY

Florida Gulf Coast: Bryan Crislip (2005) 985 PTS (#3), 373 REB (#2), 606 AST (#1), 194 STL (#1)

Jacksonville: Ben Smith (2010) 1,971 PTS (#2), 515 AST (#1), 230 STL (#1), 220 3PM (#2)

Kennesaw State: Ronell Wooten (2008) 1,633 PTS (#2), 615 REB (#5), 262 3PM (#1)

Lipscomb: John Pierce (1994) 4,230 PTS (#1), 1,497 REB (#1), 4-time All-American, 2-time national POY

Mercer: James Florence (2010) 2,287 PTS (#1), 436 AST (#2), 222 STL (#1), 242 3PM (#1)

North Florida: Donny Lotz (2005) 1,412 PTS (#2), 660 REB (#2), 77 BLK (#2), 105 STL (#4)

South Carolina Upstate: Ulysses Hackett (1992) 2,688 PTS (#1), 908 REB (#2), 227 STL (#3), 67.1 FG% (#1), 3-time All-American, 2-time conference POY

Stetson: Kerry Blackshear (1996) 1,826 PTS (#1), conference POY

Q&A w/ ETSU's Tommy Hubbard & Micah Williams

Jon Teitel — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:14:26 -0700

As part of his 2010 NCAA Tournament Q&A series, Jon Teitel spoke with the ETSU Bucs two leading scorers. They talk about what it will be like going up against #1 seed Kentucky amongst other things:

ETSU SF Tommy Hubbard - 14 ppg, 8 rpg

JT: Your top-returning scorer Mike Smith has only played 4 games all year after injuring his knee. Any chance he will be back for the NCAA tourney?

TH: Mike is out for the year, but we just put in a lot of time and effort and hard work in his absence.

JT: How has your team dealt with the loss of forward Seth Coy after he died in a car accident over the summer?

TH: He was an important part of our team. It was very sad when he passed away, but when we are down or not playing well, we realize how fortunate we are to be here and use his memory as motivation.

JT: After losing twice to Mercer during the regular season, you scored 14 points and played all 40 minutes in a win over Mercer in the conference tourney title game. How did that win feel?

TH: We had a lot of momentum entering the conference tourney, and just took every game 1 by 1. We came into the tourney final pretty confident, and were just determined not to lose to Mercer 3 times in a row. The feeling in the locker room was great.

JT: You are making your 2nd straight tourney appearance. What did you learn from last year's game against Pitt?

TH: Experience: just being a part of that last year and being able to carry it over to this year, and knowing what our abilities are.

JT: How do you like your chances against Kentucky?

TH: I know that a #16 seed has never won a tourney game, but we will try to exploit some of their weaknesses. It is fortunate that we do not have to play them in a 7-game series: we just have to play them once, and we will try to get a win.

ETSU SG Micah Williams - 13 ppg, 3 rpg

JT: How has your team picked up the slack without Mike Smith?

MW: It took a total team effort to replace a guy like Mike. We had a lot of guys step up, and a lot of good play off the bench. It shows you how much of a team game it is when you lose a guy like Mike.

JT: How did you guys deal with the passing of forward Seth Coy?

MW: Anytime something like that happens it is difficult to deal with. I think it really brought us together as a team off the court, and we became close, which showed in our play on the court.

JT: You were named conference tourney MVP by scoring 22 PPG. How were you able to play your best when it mattered the most?

MW: I just happened to be playing well during the tourney. Coach Bartow has been on me about being aggressive with my open looks. I was just making my shots, and my team was playing well, so we came out on top. A lot of people doubted us once Mike went out with his injury, so we had a lot to prove. We are excited about our chance to go back to the tourney, even though we are a pretty young team.

JT: Do you think last year's tournament appearance will help you this year?

MW: I think it comes down to just taking it possession by possession. We need to keep our composure: it is a game of runs, and KY is a great team, but we just have to limit their runs. I think the experience our returning guys got last year will help us this year.

JT: What's your main goal for the tournament?

MW: We are going in trying to win the game: we are not satisfied just going to the tourney. We want to make history as the 1st #16-seed to win a game. Our coaching staff has us very prepared, and our players have all bought into the system.

Other 2010 NCAA Tournament Interviews:

Montana G Anthony Johnson

Notre Dame F Tim Abromaitis

Siena G Ronald Moore

Lehigh Coach Brett Reed

UCSB Coach Bob Williams

ETSU 2010 NCAA Tournament Capsule

Joel Welser — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:16:21 -0800

East Tennessee State Buccaneers

Atlantic Sun Conference (20-14, 13-7)

Big Wins: 11/14 Appalachian State (62-58), 11/25 Charleston (77-71), 2/27 at Jacksonville (64-62)

Bad Losses: 11/17 at Chattanooga (76-85), 1/14 Stetson (52-54), 2/14 Mercer (77-82)

Last NCAA Appearance: 2009, First Round loss to Pittsburgh

Coach: Murry Bartow (0-3 in 3 NCAA appearances)

Why They Can Surprise:

East Tennessee State willed their way into the NCAA Tournament for a second straight year due to their tenacious defense, but it takes some offense to win games too and the Bucaneers have a trio of guards who have emerged as a dynamic scoring threat. Tommy Hubbard, a 6-4 junior, is the team’s best scorer. He is not much of an outside shooter, but he will use his size to attack the basket and he does that quite well. He is also the team’s best rebounder and averages an incredible 8.3 rebounds per game. That is not bad at all for a guard.

Micah Williams and Justin Tubbs are the other two scorers on the perimeter. Tubbs is mostly a three-point shooter and he takes 6.6 long balls per game. That is a majority of his shots, but Tubbs can be a decent mid-range player. Williams is a mixture of Tubbs and Hubbard. He is a better outside shooter than Hubbard and will also attack the basket quite effectively. Add subs Sheldon Cooley and Jarvis Jones to the mix and ETSU has a lot of talent on the perimeter.

Why They Can Disappoint:

But that is the problem. This is a very perimeter orientated team. While Hubbard is a great rebounder and has turned the Buccaneers into a solid team on the glass, he is only 6-4 and is forced to spend quite a bit of time at the power forward position. Some opposing power forwards can simply back him down or face him up and shoot over him. Isiah Brown is the lone starter who is really a forward. The 6-8 sophomore has done an admirable job on both ends of the floor. He has developed into a decent interior scorer, rebounder and shot blocker. J.C. Ward is only 6-6, but he is a good rebounder and will spell Brown when he needs a break. The only other major contributor with any size is Adam Sollazzo and he is a guard. While the 6-6 Sollazzo does a good job on the defensive end against taller opponents, he is not much of a scorer or rebounder.

Who To Watch:

It is Jocolby Davis’ job to serve up all the talented guards. Davis does not have eye popping numbers. In fact, his numbers are only eye popping in a negative way. He is not a shooter or a scorer. His assists-to-turnover ratio is barely in the black, but he does the things that do not show up on a stat sheet. Davis plays great defense and is the steadying force behind the offense. Coach Murry Bartow relies on his senior to be a leader on the floor and keep the team moving at a relatively slow pace and that is exactly what Davis has done all year long.

Probable Starters:

Jocolby Davis, Senior, Guard, 2.8 ppg, 2.4 apg

Micah Williams, Junior, Guard, 12.5 ppg, 1.0 apg

Justin Tubbs, Junior, Guard, 12.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg

Tommy Hubbard, Junior, Guard, 14.1 ppg, 8.3 rpg

Isiah Brown, Sophomore, Forward, 7.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.5 bpg

Key Roleplayers:

Sheldon Cooley, Freshman, Guard, 6.9 ppg, 1.8 apg

Jarvis Jones, Sophomore, Guard, 4.1 ppg, 1.1 rpg

Adam Sollazzo, Sophomore, Guard, 3.7 ppg, 1.7 apg

J.C. Ward, Freshman, Forward, 2.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg

By the Numbers:

Scoring Offense: 69.2 (169^th in nation, 5^th in conference)

Scoring Defense: 66.5 (133, 3)

Field-Goal Percentage: 43.5 (178, 5)

Field-Goal Defense: 41.5 (91, 2)

Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 5.1 (272, 8)

Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 31.0 (256, 7)

Free-Throw Percentage: 66.3 (252, 7)

Rebound Margin: 0.9 (161, 5)

Assists Per Game: 10.9 (299, 9)

Turnovers Per Game: 14.9 (257, 7)

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.