Top 144 Countdown

[MADXSTER]

http://www.collegehoopsnet.com/preview/2008/

1 North Carolina Tarheels
2 Texas Longhorns
3 UConn Huskies
4 UCLA Bruins
5 Duke Blue Devils 12/20 at MSG
6 Louisville Cardinals
7 Michigan State Spartans
8 Memphis Tigers may see in Puerto Rico
9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
10 Tennessee Vols
11 Pittsburgh Panthers
12 Oklahomo Sooners
13 Gonzaga Bulldogs
14 Wake Forest Demon Deacons
15 Arizona State Sun Devils
16 Marquette Golden Eagles
17 Baylor Bears
18 Wisconsin Badgers
19 Florida Gators
20 Purdue Boiler Makers
21 USC Trojans (the pee towel boys)
22 Syracuse Orange and I hate Syracuse
23 Clemson Tigers
24 Creighton Bluejays
25 Kentucky Wildcats
26 Miami Hurricanes
27 Temple Owls Home game Feb 5th
28 UNLV Runnin' Rebels
29 Arizona Wildcats
30 Villanova Wildcats
31 Kansas Jayhawks
32 XAVIER MUSKETEERS
33 Georgetown Hoyas
34 Ohio State Buckeyes
35 Saint Mary's Gaels
36 BYU Cougars
37 Alabama Crimson Tide
38 Washington Huskies
39 Virginia Tech Hokies maybe our 2nd game at Puerto Rico on 11/21/08
40 Davidson Wildcats
41 Kent State Golden Flashes
42 Dayton Flyers at Dayton 2/11/09 at Cintas, last home game on 3/5/09
43 Southern Illinois Salukis
44 West Virginia Mountaineers
45 Siena Saints
46 Ole Miss Rebels
47 UAB Blazers
48 VCU Rams
49 Oklahomo State Cowboys
50 LSU Tigers Last OOC game till the NCAA at LSU 1/24/09
51 New mexico Lobos
52 Minnesota Gophers
53 Cleveland State Vikings
54 Missouri Tigers 1st game of Puerto Rico Shootout 11/20/08
55 San Diego State Aztecs
56 Drake Bulldogs
57 UMass Minutemen Noon game at Cintas 1/31/08
58 Oregon Ducks
59 Nevada Wolfpack
60 Wright State Raiders
61 San Diego Toreros
62 Charlotte 49ers
63 Texas A&M
64 Bradley Braves
65 Butler Bulldogs 6th home game at Cintas 12/23/08
66 Illinois Fighting Illini
67 Maryland Terrapins
68 Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles
69 Northeastern Huskies
70 Richmond Spiders Last game of the season at Richmond 3/8/09
71 Texas Tech Raiders
72 Michigan Wolverines
73 Miami Redhawks 1st game after Puerto Rico Shootout 11/29/08
74 Vanderbilt Commodores
75 Utep Miners
76 Washington State Cougars
77 New Mexico State Aggies
78 Florida State Seminoles
79 South Alabama Jaguars
80 South Carolina Gamecocks
81 Saint Louis Billikens A10 opener at Cintas 1/8/09
82 Illinois State Redbirds
83 Old Dominion Monarchs
84 Stephen F Austin Lumberjacks
85 Nebraska Cornhuskers
86 American Eagles
87 Valparaiso Crusaders
88 Utah Utes
89 Cornell Big Red
90 Boston College Eagles
91 St. Joseph's Hawks at St. Joes 2/26/09
92 Penn State Nittany Lions
93 Providence Friars
94 Stanford Cardinal
95 Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders
96 Mississippi State Bulldogs
97 Western Michigan Broncos
98 Kansas State Wildcats
99 Pacific Tigers
100 Seton Hall Pirates
101 Niagara Purple Eagles
102 George Mason Patriots
103 North Carolina State
104 UNC Asheville Bulldogs
105 Belmont Bruins
106 Tulsa Golden Hurricane
107 Murray State Racers
108 Arkansas Razorbacks
109 Cincinnati Bearcats The shootout is at UC this year 12/13/08
110 Indiana State Sycamores
111 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
112 Montana Grizzlies
113 George Washington Colonials 2nd last home game 2/22/09
114 Hartford Hawks
115 Northridge Matadors
116 Appalachian State Mountaineers
117 Green Bay Phoenix
118 North Dakota State Bison
119 Marshall Thundering Herd
120 Rider Broncs
121 La Salle Explorers 2nd home A10 game 1/18/09
122 Central Michigan Chippewas
123 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
124 Utah State Aggies
125 Georgia Bulldogs
126 Morgan State Bears
127 California Bears
128 Northwestern Wildcats
129 Ohio Bobcats 5th home game at Cintas 12/10/08
130 Virginia Cavaliers 2nd away game not counting PR 1/3/09
131 Central Florida Knights
132 Rutgers Scarlet Knights
133 Lamar Cardinals
134 Witcha State Shockers
135 Mount St Mary's Mountaineers
136 Oakland Grizzlies
137 Houston Cougars
138 UCSB Gauchos
139 Winthrop Eagles
140 Fairfield Stags Maybe our 2nd game at Puerto Rico on 11/21/08
141 Charleston Cougars
142 St John's Red Storm
143 Alabama A&M
144 Colorado Buffaloes

[XU '11]

#143 seems high for a team from the SWAC. That conference is horrendous.

[X-band '01]

Just the California Bears? Did Jack Nicklaus object to their use of Golden Bears as their mascot?

[Juice]

Remember when St Johns used to be good?

[XU05and07]

Georgia had a nice run last year (one that we ended)...but have fallen to #125 on this list

[MADXSTER]

122 days left till the season starts I presume.

Last year in the 144 countdown, Xavier was ranked 25th.

[MADXSTER]

C Michigan at 122

[MADXSTER]

July 25th, 2008 by Joel Welser

La Salle Explorers

Overall Rank: #121

Conference Rank: #10 Atlantic 10

2007-08: 15-17, 8-8, 7th

2007-08 postseason: none

Is this the year La Salle becomes a factor in the race for the Atlantic 10 championship? If so, the team will have to be much more consistent than they were last season. Besides a nice five, four if you do not want to count New Jersey Institute of Technology, game winning streak in February, the 2007-2008 season was marred with mediocrity. If point guard Ruben Guillandeaux is consistent, the rest of the team will follow. Guillandeaux is good scorer and shooter and improved late in the season, but his decision making needs to improve now that he is an upperclassman.

Who’s Out:

The good news is the team was very young and should be more consistent with another year of experience, but the bad news is Darnell Harris is gone. Harris hit nearly 48 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc and knocked down almost four per contest. He ended his collegiate career as the conference’s all-time leader in made threes. Nobody is going to come close to replacing Harris’ long range shooting skills this year or any time soon. Forward Sherman Diaz is the other departure. His numbers were never overly impressive coming off the bench, but Diaz was a decent shot blocker.

Who’s In:

Depth up front was one of the needs of this recruiting class and it was pretty much the only one addressed. The biggest name is Vernon Goodridge, a transfer from Mississippi State. A 6-9 forward, Goodridge averaged less than ten minutes per game with the Bulldogs two years ago, but he is a solid rebounder and shotblocker and should make a much bigger impact with more playing time. David Baroum and Devon White, as well as walk-on transfer Steve Weingarten, will give the team plenty of depth in the paint.

Who to Watch:

A majority of the scoring left behind by Harris will fall to Rodney Green, Yves Mekongo Mbala and Kimmani Barrett on the wings. Green is the star of the future and the future is now for the junior. He will not hit too many outside shots, but the 6-5 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania product does a great job getting to the basket. With the 6-7 Mekongo Mbala by his side and 6-5 Guillandeaux running the point, the Explorers have size in the backcourt that few teams in the Atlantic 10 can match. Even Barrett is 6-6. However, most of the players on the perimeter are not shooters. Everybody can hit the long ball, but Green, Mekongo Mbala and Barrett are slashers first and shooters second. If somebody does not start taking more outside shots, the opposing defense will have an easier time collapsing in the lane and stopping the La Salle offense.

Final Projection:

What propelled the Explorers to a .500 conference record last year was the rebounding. Jerrell Williams led the way averaging 6.4 boards per contest. His production slipped as the season went on, but Williams is also a solid scorer who should tally plenty of double-doubles before his collegiate career is through. Add Paul Johnson to the mix, who started 32 games last year but likely lose his starting gig to Goodridge, and the team has plenty of depth, experience and rebounders in the frontcourt. Besides the youth and inexperience excuse, last year’s mediocrity can almost exclusively be blamed on poor defense. Another year will fix some of those problems, as would utilizing the team’s length by running more zone, but there is a long way to go between giving up 76.2 points per game and competing for a conference championship.

Projected Post-season Tournament: none

Projected Starting Five:

Ruben Guillandeaux, Junior, Guard, 7.7 points per game

Rodney Green, Junior, Guard, 13.4 points per game

Yves Mekongo Mbala, Junior, Forward, 8.3 points per game

Jerrell Williams, Sophomore, Forward, 9.1 points per game

Vernon Goodridge, Junior, Forward, DNP last season

[Juice]

a decent Lasalle team? There has not been one since Steve Smith (no, not that Steve Smith) was there.

[American X]

La Salle is as useful as a tit on a boar.

[MADXSTER]

La Salle is as useful as a tit on a boar.

http://www.geckoandfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/big_hog_hogzilla_pig_hunting_biggest.jpg

[American X]

Just the California Bears?

http://thisdistractedglobe.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/Bad%20News%20Bears%201976%20pic.jpg

Wait, what are we talking about? I thought Walter Mathau did a great job portraying Snipe.

[MADXSTER]

http://thisdistractedglobe.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/Bad%20News%20Bears%201976%20pic.jpg

Wait, what are we talking about? I thought Walter Mathau did a great job portraying Snipe.

I thought he was portraying Kahns Krazy.

[American X]

I thought he was portraying Kahns Krazy.

You're right. I think those are the Most Valuable Kids:

http://unsportsmanlikecomment.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/bad-news-bears-cap2.jpg

[waggy]

La Salle is as useful as a tit on a boar.

Yet if you believe ESPNs recent program ranking, more useful than Dayton.

I think the CHN ranking is pretty accurate, and that La Salle is going to be decent this year. I hope they show it in the OOC sched for a change...

[MADXSTER]

George Washington Colonials
Overall Rank: #113
Conference Rank: #9 Atlantic 10

2007-08: 9-17, 5-11, 13th
2007-08 postseason: none


By George Washington standards, or pretty much anybody’s standards, the 2007-2008 season was horrible. Now the question is whether the 9-17 record is a sign of things to come or will the Colonials quickly revert back to their successful ways of the recent past? There are plenty of excuses as to why the team took such a huge step back, most notably the injury to Travis King and the distraction of anointed star Maureece Rice, but are they ready to jump back into the race for an A-10 championship? Probably not yet, but they are a lot closer to becoming a serious contender than their record would indicate.


Who’s Out:

Two years ago Rice averaged nearly 16 points per game and big things were expected from him in the future. Last year he was a distraction and ended up being dismissed from the team after a few suspensions. He still averaged 9.2 points per game in the 22 contests he played in, but all the hoopla was not worth any on-court production. Dominic Green and Keri Gonsalves were the only two seniors on the roster by the end of the year, but neither played a big role on the team. The bigger losses were the off-season dismissals of Cheyenne Moore and Miles Beatty. Moore had the potential to develop into a solid scorer around the basket and Beatty never really got the opportunity to show his stuff playing in just 14 games as a freshman.


Who’s In:

The most important addition, if you will, is the return of Travis King. King averaged 5.7 points and 2.4 assists two years ago as a freshman and was expected to take over the point guard duties from Carl Elliott last season. Instead, he busted his knee in August and was out for the year. King is expected to be fully healthy by the time the season starts, but it has been a while since he has played competitive basketball. The Colonials will not be stuck without a point guard again this year as incoming freshman Tony Taylor will add some much, much needed depth to the position. Matt Allbritton will likely need some time to adjust to the level of play, but he has good size for a shooting guard and can hit the outside shot with consistency. Add athletic wings Aaron Ware and Dwayne Smith to the bunch and the team will have no problem finding quality depth in the backcourt and some good starters in the years to come.


Who to Watch:

In the meantime, it will be the frontcourt that carries the hopes of the Colonials. Rob Diggs will once again lead the way after averaging 13.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks last year. The 6-8 senior has slowly improved during his time in the nation’s capital and that should not change this year. With Wynton Witherspoon and Damian Hollis joining him in the frontcourt, Coach Karl Hobbs has a very dangerous and versatile group. Witherspoon is a solid slasher and the only other player to average double figures in scoring during the debacle that was the 2007-2008 season. Witherspoon can hit the outside shot, but he should not take as many as he does. The moving back of the three-point line should fix that little issue pretty quick. Hollis is no stranger to the deep side of the arc either. But, like Witherspoon, Hollis’ strength is using his quickness and size to get to the basket. If he can improve his defense, Hollis will be a great all-around player.


Final Projection:

With Witherspoon and Hollis, the team has its slashers. Diggs provides the presence in the paint and King should be able to effectively run the show. That leaves GW missing just one thing…a shooter. Noel Wilmore fits the bill. As a junior last year Wilmore averaged 6.0 points per game and nearly all those points came from beyond the arc. It would be nice if Wilmore could mix in the threat of scoring in other ways, but at least he fills the teams’ need on the perimeter. Sophomore Xavier Alexander started 14 games last year, but he is more in the mold of Witherspoon and has yet to prove that he can consistently knock down the outside shot. As long as one of the newcomers can be a shooter off the bench this year, George Washington will have enough weapons to make things interesting. An NCAA berth would still be a stretch, but a postseason tournament of another kind would not be.

Projected Post-season Tournament: none


Projected Starting Five:

Travis King, Sophomore, Guard, DNP last season

Noel Wilmore, Senior, Guard, 6.9 points per game

Damian Hollis, Junior, Forward, 9.1 points per game

Wynton Witherspoon, Senior, Forward, 11.0 points per game

Rob Diggs, Senior, Forward, 13.9 points per game

[waggy]

Good move by Hobbs getting rid of that Cheyenne Moore clown.

[MADXSTER]

Cincinnati Bearcats
Overall Rank: #109
Conference Rank: #12 Big East
2007-08: 13-19, 8-10, 10th
2007-08 postseason: CBI


The level of talent in Cincinnati is increasing, but the experience is decreasing. That is the way it goes sometimes, but last year’s more experienced team was up and down all year long and ended the season with a seven game losing streak. The team would lose to St. John’s one day and beat Syracuse and Villanova the following week. What the group needs is consistency and a lack of experience usually leads to inconsistency.

Who’s Out:

And losing the point guard will not help matters. On a team with more scorers, Jamual Warren would have been considered a pretty good point guard. Warren is not much of a scorer himself, but he did do a solid job finding the scorers and handling the ball. Guard Marvin Gentry and center Adam Hrycaniuk were not great scorers either, but were at least senior leaders and could occasionally put up some big numbers and play defense. Gentry started 15 games and Hrycaniuk started every game the Bearcats played last season. Marcus Sikes only played 15.6 minutes per game, but the 6-8 forward often provided a big spark off the bench. The biggest loss of them all is forward John Williamson. Williamson, who averaged 11.6 points per game and a team high 6.2 rebounds per contest, was the only consistent scoring threat in the paint.

Who’s In:

With the absence of four players who started at least 15 games, many of the newcomers will not just be looking for playing time, but also for starting jobs. Transfers Mike Williams, Nick Aldridge and incoming freshman Yancey Gates will be in the mix in the frontcourt. Williams, who was eligible last year but missed the season after rupturing his Achilles tendon, never really made a huge impact during his two years at Texas, but he is big and strong and can do plenty of scoring above the rim. Aldridge was a prolific scorer during his time at Western Carolina and the 6-7 forward should provide a spark off the bench once he is eligible in the middle of the season. Gates is one of the best power forward recruits in this year’s class. Gates could be starting right away, or at least at some point during this season. He is a physical player and will immediately help the team on the glass. Once he becomes comfortable in his new surroundings, Gates will be a solid scorer around the basket. Fellow incoming freshman Steven Toyloy will also add depth in the paint. There are fewer new faces on the perimeter, but Cashmere Wright and Dion Dixon will still play an important role. For now, Wright is probably the most important player on the team. The 6-0 point guard will pretty much be given the starting job by default. He is a solid shooter and can create something out of nothing, which will be very important while the Bearcats continue to struggle with their offense.

Who to Watch:

The only proven offensive threat on the team is Deonta Vaughn. He hit three long balls per game as a sophomore and averaged 17.3 points. Vaughn is certainly a great scorer, but it would not be a bad thing for the team if he did not have to score that often. At times last year Vaughn was the only threat to score and he had no choice but to take a lot of shots. If Coach Mick Cronin’s team can find a couple more scorers to compliment Vaughn, the team will be much better off than having to depend on Vaughn to score 20 points per game. Larry Davis will not likely be the answer, but he had a decent freshman campaign and should play a big role off the bench.


Final Projection:

Rashad Bishop started 20 games last year and could be starting at the small forward spot again. However, with Williams and Gates, there is an influx of talent at power forward. The problem is both of those guys are really power forwards. Neither are quick enough to defend the three spot in most situations and neither are really centers, although Gates could play the five if he accepts that role. That leaves Bishop at the three and Anthony McClain at the five. McClain is a solid rebounder and defender under the basket, but will not be one of the scorers the team is looking for.

Projected Post-season Tournament: none

Projected Starting Five:
Cashmere Wright, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season
Deonta Vaughn, Junior, Guard, 17.3 points per game
Rashad Bishop, Sophomore, Forward, 5.4 points per game
Mike Williams, Junior, Forward, DNP last season
Anthony McClain, Sophomore, Center, 2.7 points per game

[XU05and07]

Cincinnati Bearcats
Overall Rank: #109
Conference Rank: #12 Big East
2007-08: 13-19, 8-10, 10th
2007-08 postseason: CBI

Projected Post-season Tournament: none

Projected Starting Five:
Cashmere Wright, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season
Deonta Vaughn, Junior, Guard, 17.3 points per game
Rashad Bishop, Sophomore, Forward, 5.4 points per game
Mike Williams, Junior, Forward, DNP last season
Anthony McClain, Sophomore, Center, 2.7 points per game


That's a solid 25.4 points they have coming back...Another long season over in Clifton, with it ending early without a postseason

[bearcat65]

That's a solid 25.4 points they have coming back...Another long season over in Clifton, with it ending early without a postseason

Actually it could go either way. Depends on how much improvement last years freshmen make and what kind of impact Gates and Williams have. UC will be deeper and more talented in the post especially if Riek is able to play come December. They will probably struggle early on but I look for them to be pretty good as they gain experience.

[MADXSTER]

St. Joseph’s Hawks

Overall Rank: #91
Conference Rank: #8 Atlantic 10
2007-08: 21-13, 9-7, 4th
2007-08 postseason: NCAA

Once again there will be a very thin line between success and failure in the Atlantic 10 Conference and that might be bad news for St. Joseph’s. The Hawks slipped into the NCAA Tournament last year, mostly thanks to two victories over top ten ranked Xavier in the last ten days of the regular season. There is potential to do it again, but it will be very difficult with a couple key starters gone.

Who’s Out:

The biggest loss is Pat Calathes and it is not just because of his 17.5 points per game. The 6-10 guard was a great outside shooter and, with his height, created a ton of mismatches on the offensive side of the floor. He was second on the team with 2.7 assists and led the squad with 7.5 boards per contest. The rebounding might be the biggest issue now that Rob Ferguson and Arvydas Lidzius have also run out of eligibility. Ferguson stretched out the defense with outside shooting as well and tallied 11.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Lidzius saw far fewer minutes, but he was at least another big body who could come in and grab some rebounds and the team will be in desperate need of players like that this season. Guard D.J. Rivera left the team after playing 13 games during the 2007-2008 campaign.


Who’s In:

The obvious need is for some depth at the forward positions and Temidayo Adebayo fits the bill. The 6-10 native of Nigeria might need a little time to adjust to playing at this level, but he should be able to contribute in some areas as a freshman. Small forwards Bryant Irwin and A.J. Rogers will battle for playing time as well. Irwin, at 6-8, has the size to man the four spot for the Hawks and eventually he could develop into a great replacement for Ferguson. Rogers is a little smaller at 6-5, but he does great work on the glass and will give the team a rebounding threat on the wing. He will not put up numbers on the glass like Calathes any time soon, but the Hawks can use all the help they can get in the rebounding department. Chris Prescott, a 6-3 shooting guard, might be the next in a long line of great St. Joe guards. He can get to the basket with ease and has a decent jumper. For now, he will likely play a role off the bench. Adding more depth to the backcourt is Michael Auriemma, the son of Connecticut’s women’s coach Geno.

Who to Watch:

Ahmad Nivins is the only player left on the roster who averaged over four rebounds per game last season. Nivins is a superb scorer under the basket and will always work hard, but he needs some help now that Calathes and Ferguson are gone. There are very few candidates and Idris Hilliard is the only option with any experience. The 6-6 Hilliard lacks the shooting range to be an effective small forward, but he should do fine as an undersized four. He does not lack in toughness and will create space for Nivins under the basket. After averaging a mere 5.7 minutes per game as a freshman, Hilliard needs to be ready to see that number increase drastically.

Final Projection:

While the frontcourt readjusts, the backcourt will be winning some games for the Hawks. Tasheed Carr averaged 5.6 assists per game and did a fine job keeping the turnovers to a minimum. It will be his job to get all the new players involved in the offense and find a new scoring threat or two. Much of the scoring could be done by shooting guard Darrin Govens. The junior never really found his shooting touch as an underclassman, but this could be the year he becomes a leader of the team and puts up much better numbers. The same could be said for former sixth man Garrett Williamson, who will likely find a starting job this time around. Williamson will not do it with his outside shot, but he does get to the basket effectively and, at 6-5, can be the rebounder on the wing the team needs.

Projected Post-season Tournament: none

Projected Starting Five:
Tasheed Carr, Senior, Guard, 10.8 points per game
Darrin Govens, Junior, Guard, 9.8 points per game
Garrett Williamson, Junior, Guard, 5.3 points per game
Idris Hilliard, Sophomore, Forward, 1.2 points per game
Ahmad Nivins, Senior, Forward, 14.4 points per game

[XU05and07]

St. Joe's amazingly got a new coach...on the front page, they have Providence's headline under St. Joe's


#91: St. Joseph's Hawks

Is Keno Davis the man to take PC to the heights that Tim Welsh couldn't?

[XU05and07]

Right now...clicking on St. Joe's takes you to Providence...thanks for posting their breakdown here

[XUglow]

Just the California Bears? Did Jack Nicklaus object to their use of Golden Bears as their mascot?

As a Cal grad, I can assure you that "Bears" is just fine. We say, "Cal Bears" 99% of the time.

[PMI]

St. Joseph’s Hawks

Overall Rank: #91
Conference Rank: #8 Atlantic 10
2007-08: 21-13, 9-7, 4th
2007-08 postseason: NCAA

Once again there will be a very thin line between success and failure in the Atlantic 10 Conference and that might be bad news for St. Joseph’s. The Hawks slipped into the NCAA Tournament last year, mostly thanks to two victories over top ten ranked Xavier in the last ten days of the regular season. There is potential to do it again, but it will be very difficult with a couple key starters gone.

Who’s Out:

The biggest loss is Pat Calathes and it is not just because of his 17.5 points per game. The 6-10 guard was a great outside shooter and, with his height, created a ton of mismatches on the offensive side of the floor. He was second on the team with 2.7 assists and led the squad with 7.5 boards per contest. The rebounding might be the biggest issue now that Rob Ferguson and Arvydas Lidzius have also run out of eligibility. Ferguson stretched out the defense with outside shooting as well and tallied 11.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Lidzius saw far fewer minutes, but he was at least another big body who could come in and grab some rebounds and the team will be in desperate need of players like that this season. Guard D.J. Rivera left the team after playing 13 games during the 2007-2008 campaign.


Who’s In:

The obvious need is for some depth at the forward positions and Temidayo Adebayo fits the bill. The 6-10 native of Nigeria might need a little time to adjust to playing at this level, but he should be able to contribute in some areas as a freshman. Small forwards Bryant Irwin and A.J. Rogers will battle for playing time as well. Irwin, at 6-8, has the size to man the four spot for the Hawks and eventually he could develop into a great replacement for Ferguson. Rogers is a little smaller at 6-5, but he does great work on the glass and will give the team a rebounding threat on the wing. He will not put up numbers on the glass like Calathes any time soon, but the Hawks can use all the help they can get in the rebounding department. Chris Prescott, a 6-3 shooting guard, might be the next in a long line of great St. Joe guards. He can get to the basket with ease and has a decent jumper. For now, he will likely play a role off the bench. Adding more depth to the backcourt is Michael Auriemma, the son of Connecticut’s women’s coach Geno.

Who to Watch:

Ahmad Nivins is the only player left on the roster who averaged over four rebounds per game last season. Nivins is a superb scorer under the basket and will always work hard, but he needs some help now that Calathes and Ferguson are gone. There are very few candidates and Idris Hilliard is the only option with any experience. The 6-6 Hilliard lacks the shooting range to be an effective small forward, but he should do fine as an undersized four. He does not lack in toughness and will create space for Nivins under the basket. After averaging a mere 5.7 minutes per game as a freshman, Hilliard needs to be ready to see that number increase drastically.

Final Projection:

While the frontcourt readjusts, the backcourt will be winning some games for the Hawks. Tasheed Carr averaged 5.6 assists per game and did a fine job keeping the turnovers to a minimum. It will be his job to get all the new players involved in the offense and find a new scoring threat or two. Much of the scoring could be done by shooting guard Darrin Govens. The junior never really found his shooting touch as an underclassman, but this could be the year he becomes a leader of the team and puts up much better numbers. The same could be said for former sixth man Garrett Williamson, who will likely find a starting job this time around. Williamson will not do it with his outside shot, but he does get to the basket effectively and, at 6-5, can be the rebounder on the wing the team needs.

Projected Post-season Tournament: none

Projected Starting Five:
Tasheed Carr, Senior, Guard, 10.8 points per game
Darrin Govens, Junior, Guard, 9.8 points per game
Garrett Williamson, Junior, Guard, 5.3 points per game
Idris Hilliard, Sophomore, Forward, 1.2 points per game
Ahmad Nivins, Senior, Forward, 14.4 points per game

This is no doubt the profile of an Atlantic 10 championship team, so long as this new Providence coach they have knows to continuously feed the ball to their double-teamed power forward.

[XU05and07]

How does this work...#90 is released today...there are definitely under 90 days until the start of the season

[DoubleD86]

Boston College

Boston College Eagles



Overall Rank: #90

Conference Rank: #9 ACC



2007-08: 14-17, 4-12, 11th

2007-08 postseason: none



Boston College has their team leader in Tyrese Rice. As a junior last year the point guard averaged 21.0 points, 5.0 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. With Rice’s leadership, the Eagles and Coach Al Skinner can surpass their expectations, but Rice needs some help. Even when Rice dropped 42 points on North Carolina or 28 on Duke and Virginia, the team still lost. Are there enough weapons on this team to compliment Rice? There were not last year.



Who’s Out:

And of the few scoring threats outside of Rice, one of them is leaving. Shamari Spears has opted to transfer after averaging 9.6 points and a team high 6.1 rebounds a year ago. The 6-6 forward’s ability to score around the basket will not be easily replaced with this group. Making matters worse for the frontcourt is the graduations of Tyrelle Blair and John Oates. Neither were prolific scorers, but Blair was a superb shot blocker and Oates would do the dirty work in the paint. Littlle used guards Brennan Bennett and Daye Kaba have wrapped up their playing careers at Boston College.



Who’s In:

The frontcourt needs help and Joe Trapani will provide it. As a freshman at Vermont two years ago, the 6-8 forward averaged 11.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per contest. Those numbers were even better before Trapani went down with an injury and missed seven games right in the heart of the conference schedule. Trapani is not going to be a great rebounder in the ACC, but he will stretch out the defense with his outside shooting ability. Incoming freshman forwards Dallas Elmore and Evan Ravenel will need to provide some depth at the forward spots. Elmore, a 6-5 small forward, is at his best on a fast paced team. BC does not really have the personnel to pull that off this year, but Elmore will be an exciting player to watch over the next few years. More important right now is Ravenel. The 6-8, 260 pound big man is really the team’s only option to back up the five spot. As long as he can play a little defense and grab some rebounds, the Eagles should be happy. If he can do more, they will not complain. Rounding out the class is shooting guard Reggie Jackson. Jackson, an AAU teammate of Elmore, is a great scorer and slasher and could be the next in line of under-recruited players who turn into stars on Chestnut Hill.



Who to Watch:

The other scorer besides Rice is Rakim Sanders. The 6-5 wing is the most consistent long range shooter on the team and will use his size to help out on the glass. His size is also an asset for getting to the basket and finishing above the rim. Biko Paris had a good enough freshman campaign to step into a starting role this year, but that would push Sanders to the two guard spot and leave the team in trouble on the glass, especially with Trapani coming into the power forward spot. Therefore, Paris will likely be the first guard off the bench and lose the starting job to Corey Raji. Raji, a 6-6 sophomore, is not much of a shooter, but he will get to the basket with ease and should be a consistent double-digit scorer after tallying 8.3 points per game as a freshman.



Final Projection:

The group on the perimeter could use some more depth, but at least there are plenty of experienced options. The same cannot be said about the frontcourt. Center Josh Southern has plenty of potential and has shown that he can be a quality scorer around the basket, but his minutes were limited last year. Now he will have to step into a starting role and learn how to stay out of foul trouble. Tyler Roche, a 6-7 forward, is the only other returning player who can man the frontcourt. Southern, Ravenel and Trapani will have to handle a majority of the minutes in the frontcourt. If they struggle, the talent on the perimeter will not be enough to get the Eagles into the postseason.



Projected Post-season Tournament: none



Projected Starting Five:

Tyrese Rice, Senior, Guard, 21.0 points per game

Rakim Sanders, Sophomore, Guard, 11.3 points per game

Corey Raji, Sophomore, Forward, 8.3 points per game

Joe Trapani, Sophomore, Forward, DNP last season

Josh Southern, Sophomore, Center, 5.6 points per game

[MADXSTER]

It's pretty screwy, three days will go by and nothing. Then they put out 2 or 3 the next day. I keep watching and update as we go along. When a team of interest comes along I'll post.

[MADXSTER]

Saint Louis Billikens
Overall Rank: #81
Conference Rank: #7 Atlantic 10
2007-08: 16-16, 7-9, 9th
2007-08 postseason: none


Many expected Coach Rick Majerus to work miracles overnight. That has not happened quite yet, but St. Louis is bringing in plenty of talent and the excitement has not waned. The 2007-2008 season was marred by inconsistency. The 20 point effort against George Washington was memorable for a bad reason, but there were some decent victories against teams like Rhode Island, St. Joseph’s and Massachusetts. With just four players returning, the consistency issues will not likely be addressed by this group of youngsters, but the talent level continues to improve. And with Coach Majerus on their side, that could be enough for the Billikens to make a surprising run in the A-10.

Who’s Out:

This is a big group of graduates and transfers. Despite the talent lost, St. Louis hopes the influx of Coach Majerus’ players will yield better results. The most productive player lost is Luke Meyer. The forward was third on the team in scoring and led the squad in rebounds last year. Fellow frontcourt players Bryce Husak, Adam Knollmeyer, Anthony Mitchell and Marcus Relphorde have also wrapped up their careers with the Billikens. Sixth man sharpshooter Danny Brown will be missed out of the backcourt. He did not take too many shots, but he did knock down 49 percent of his attempts from long range. Dwayne Polk started 30 games during his senior campaign and Peyton Jacks and Mike Jones have left the program.

Who’s In:

With nine newcomers who could see action, the battles for playing time will be fierce. At the point guard spot, Ruben Cotto and Kwamain Mitchell hope to find some minutes. Cotto is a tough and quick player who can score and find his teammates. Mitchell is the more highly touted recruit of the two and could step into a leadership role immediately on this young team. Kyle Cassity, Femi John, Daniel Lisch and Dustin Maguire give the Bills plenty of options on the wings. At 6-5, Cassity has plenty of size, and he will use that size to get to the basket and make plays. Yet, he is not just a scorer and Cassity can, and will, pass the ball and make his teammates better. Once he gains some strength, he should be a solid scoring threat. The most talent might be in the paint where Brian Conklin, Willie Reed and Brett Thompson join the fray. Reed is a little raw, but the 6-9 center is a good athlete who can run the floor and block some shots. If his game can come together quickly, Reed could make a big impact as a freshman. Yet, it is Thompson who seems to be better equipped to manage significant playing time right away. Thompson uses his body extremely well on the offensive side of the floor. And once he backs down his opponent, he can score with either hand. His outside shooting is not too bad either and Thompson has the potential to become a dominating center in the conference before all is said and done.

Who to Watch:

Saint Louis will not have to field an entire team with newcomers. Four players are back, including the team’s top two scorers in Kevin Lisch and Tommie Liddell. Both are excellent scorers and combined to average 26.9 points per game a year ago. On a team that did not score a lot, 26.9 points is a significant percentage of their overall scoring output. Lisch is a good outside shooter and Liddell does most of his damage getting to the basket. Paul Eckerle also returns after averaging 18.1 minutes per game last year as a freshman. He is a decent shooter and could emerge as a solid third scoring option.


Final Projection:

The concern is in the paint where senior Barry Eberhardt is the lone returning player. If the newcomers can fill the void, St. Louis can have a decent year behind their talented guards, but if the newcomers in the frontcourt and Eberhardt cannot handle the load, the Billikens will be in for another long season.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NIT

Projected Starting Five:

Kevin Lisch, Senior, Guard, 14.6 points per game
Paul Eckerle, Sophomore, Guard, 3.8 points per game
Tommie Liddell, Senior, Guard, 12.3 points per game
Barry Eberhardt, Senior, Forward, 6.0 points per game
Brett Thompson, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season

[MADXSTER]

Miami (Ohio) RedHawks
Overall Rank: #73
Conference Rank: #2 MAC
2007-08: 17-16, 9-7, 3rd East
2007-08 postseason: CBI


Like many teams in the Mid-American Conference, Miami University has to replace a quality frontcourt player. Coach Charlie Coles has been in this situation many, many times before and he knows how to adjust his team to play to their strengths. The question is whether or not the RedHawks can find some more scorers this time around. Last year the team had three decent scorers and no other legitimate threats behind them.

Who’s Out:

And now Tim Pollitz, who averaged 15.5 points per game, is gone. The 6-5 forward was not just a scorer, he also led the team with 7.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists. It will take three players to pick up that slack. Alex Moosmann, who started 23 games as a sophomore, has opted to transfer after averaging 3.0 points per game during the 2007-2008 campaign.


Who’s In:

Julian Mavunga is a versatile power forward who should immediately make an impact in Oxford. At 6-8 and 255 pounds, Mavunga has the size and the length to dominate the paint in the MAC. He can score with his back to the basket, grab plenty of rebounds and even block a few shots, yet he will need to continue to work on his offense while facing the basket before he will become a major scoring threat. Redshirt freshman Adam Thomas and incoming freshman Vince Legarza will add emergency depth in the paint. The lone newcomer on the perimeter is Kramer Soderberg. The 6-0 point guard will spend this year learning the ropes off the bench and could step into a starting position as soon as 2009-2010.


Who to Watch:

Few teams in the MAC have the experience, talent and size in their backcourt that the RedHawks will have this season. It all starts with Michael Bramos. The 6-5 wing does everything you can imagine. He hits the outside shot consistently, gets to the basket, grabs rebounds, passes the ball and even is fourth on Miami’s all-time blocked shots list. With Bramos leading the way, the RedHawks can win the conference. There is help on the wings. Eric Pollitz, brother of the departed Tim, is a good shooter and the likely candidate to step into the shooting guard role. Now a senior, Pollitz could fill a larger role on the team and start taking a few more shots. Sophomores Nick Winbush, Rodney Haddix and Antonio Ballard, who is back after only playing in one game last year due to an injury, have the potential to make some noise this year on the wings. So do Carl Richburg and Isiah Carson who, like the group of sophomores, averaged less than ten minutes per game last year. Despite all the options at the shooting guard and small forward spots, it is up to Kenny Hayes to run the point. He will get some help from Soderberg and Richburg, but Miami needs Hayes to have a good year if they want to make a run at an NCAA Tournament berth. Hayes is a good scorer, but he has yet to prove that he can be a solid ballhandler and floor leader day in and day out.


Final Projection:

Tyler Dierkers is not a flashy big man, but the 6-8 center gets the job done. He averaged 6.1 points and 6.4 rebounds as the starting center last year. Without Tim Pollitz by his side, the pressure will be on Dierkers to pick up the slack. Adam Fletcher and Dwight McCombs are the only other experienced frontcourt players on the team. Yet, it is hard to call Fletcher and McCombs experienced. They both averaged under nine minutes per game. In fact, the RedHawks only had six players who averaged over ten minutes per contest last year. And with two of those six gone, it does not take a mathematician to know that one player is going to have to go from the bench to a starting role and at least one more will have to see a drastic increase in playing time.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NIT


Projected Starting Five:

Kenny Hayes, Senior, Guard, 12.1 points per game
Eric Pollitz, Senior, Guard, 5.5 points per game
Michael Bramos, Senior, Forward, 16.2 points per game
Julian Mavunga, Freshman, Forward, DNP last season
Tyler Dierkers, Senior, Center, 6.1 points per game

[MADXSTER]

Richmond Spiders

Overall Rank: #70*
Conference Rank: #6 Atlantic 10
2007-08: 16-15, 9-7, 4th
2007-08 postseason: CBI


Everything was looking good for Richmond. The team had a winning record through a tough schedule and ended up in fourth place in the Atlantic 10 at the end of the 2007-2008 campaign. And with four starters returning the expectations were quickly growing. Then center Dan Geriot hurt his knee and will likely be out for the season. That will force the Spiders and Coach Chris Mooney to play smaller and faster. While the points will come without Geriot, the team will have to quickly adjust to not having the 6-9 big man under the basket.


Who’s Out:

The loss of Geriot, who led the team with 14.3 points and 5.5 rebounds last year, is big no matter what, but also losing Gaston Moliva and Oumar Sylla to graduation makes the situation a little worse. Moliva was the shot blocking presence in the paint and Sylla could do some scoring inside and out. Without those three, the frontcourt will have major problems on the defensive end and struggle to find a leader.


Who’s In:

The obvious need is finding some new faces in the frontcourt. Josh Duinker and Darrius Garrett should do. Duinker, who was on campus for part of last season and took a redshirt, has a nice shooting touch from outside, but it is the Australian’s 6-11, 220 pound frame that will push him into a pivotal role as a freshman. Garrett will bang in the paint a little more and should immediately help out on the glass and the defensive end…something the Spiders desperately need. Conor Smith and Francis Cedric Martel could slide inside if necessary as well. Smith will spend most of his time beyond the three-point line, but at 6-9 and 210 pounds, he certainly has the size to at least guard the opponent’s power forward. Liam Billings, Zak Estes and Mark McGonigal, who returns after missing all of last season with an injury, will add some depth on the perimeter.


Who to Watch:

It is in the backcourt where the Spiders have their experienced weapons. Point guard Kevin Anderson had a solid freshman campaign. His turnover numbers were a little high and probably will be again this year as Richmond pushes the ball up the floor more often, but Anderson can score effectively around the basket. Once his outside shot starts falling a little more consistently, the 6-0 point guard will be an extremely dangerous scorer. David Gonzalvez will take the big shots. He is the best long range shooter on the team and his ability to consistently knock down outside shots will help free up space for the inexperienced frontcourt. Ryan Butler and Kevin Smith will share minutes at the small forward spot. Butler is the better shooter of the two, but Smith can finish around the basket. More importantly, both are decent rebounders who will help out the frontcourt in that department.


Final Projection:

The frontcourt might have a lot of questions, but it might have a couple answers in the form of Justin Harper and Jarhon Giddings. Harper, a 6-10 sophomore, averaged less than nine minutes per game last year. Yet, if the team’s off-season trip to Spain is any indication, he is ready to play a much, much bigger role this time around. Harper can score in a hurry, but can he be productive on the other end of the floor? Despite his size and strength, he is not a great rebounder or defender. If the Spiders do indeed want to run and gun most of the time, Harper will fit in nicely, but there will be plenty of moments when the team needs a rebounder and defender under the basket. And that man could be Giddings…if he can stay healthy. The 6-9 senior only averaged 10.7 minutes per game last year, but he is an experienced player who should be able to handle the increase in minutes. Even if Giddings eventually loses his starting job to Duinker, he will still have to play a vital role off the bench. This is a pretty young team without Geriot, but there is talent. As long as the team can effectively adjust to playing without their star, the Spiders will be in the mix for a postseason berth and make plenty of noise in the A-10.


Projected Post-season Tournament: NIT

Projected Starting Five:
Kevin Anderson, Sophomore, Guard, 10.7 points per game
David Gonzalvez, Junior, Guard, 11.7 points per game
Kevin Smith, Sophomore, Forward, 4.6 points per game
Justin Harper, Sophomore, Forward, 3.3 points per game
Jarhon Giddings, Senior, Forward, 3.9 points per game


** -* Ed:* Richmond's ranking was set prior to Dan Geriot's injury.* This would have lowered their position somewhat, but its hard to speculate how much.

[MADXSTER]

Butler Bulldogs
Overall Rank: #65
Conference Rank: #3 Horizon
2007-08: 30-4, 16-2, 1st
2007-08 postseason: NCAA

Butler pretty much ran a seven man rotation during their magical 2007-2008 campaign. Five of those guys are now gone and this year’s Bulldog team has some work to do to live up to the recent success. Yet, Butler is never about the players as much as it is about the system. Coach Brad Stevens knows how to win and the Bulldogs will not slip as much as it would appear. But Butler does not have any seniors on their roster either and for a team that usually depends on experience and leadership, the lack of seniors will keep the Bulldogs on the outside of the Horizon League championship race for now.

Who’s Out:

Mike Green, A.J. Graves, Drew Streicher, Julian Betko and Pete Campbell were the heart and soul of the Bulldogs. Green led the team with 14.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists during his senior year. Nobody is going to replace all of that production any time soon. Graves and Campbell were both extremely prolific outside shooters. In fact, the departed players accounted for approximately 92 percent of the team’s total three-point shooting. Even Ben Slaton, a three year walk-on who only played in five games last year, is not returning to the team. Slaton would have been the only senior on the roster.

Who’s In:

The future of Butler basketball is in good hands with another solid recruiting class. Point guard Ronald Nored could take over the starting duties as a freshman. At the least, he will play an important role off the bench. Chase Stigall and Shelvin Mack will give the team more options in the backcourt. It is Mack who is expected to make a huge impact right away. The 6-3 guard is like Green in the sense that he can fill up the stat sheet in just about every category. Mack is also a superb shooter who can help fill the void left behind by Graves and Campbell. If Mack is not starting from day one, it will be a surprise. On most teams Garrett Butcher and Gordon Hayward would be playing on the wing. At Butler, they will likely spend some time at the four spot as well. Hayward has the outside shooting ability to fit into the Bulldogs scheme, but he will need to add some more weight before he can play defense in the paint against most opponents.

Who to Watch:

The alternative to Hayward at the four spot is Avery Jukes. The 6-8 junior will not put up huge numbers, but he is a good scorer and a capable rebounder. The frontcourt will depend on the only returning starter, Matt Howard, to do most of the damage around the basket. Howard averaged 12.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks as a freshman. Now that he is the main threat on the team, Howard should have a huge sophomore campaign. What makes Howard different than most Butler players is the fact that he is not a three-point shooter. His ability to open up space for the shooters on the outside is very important.


Final Projection:

Now the team just needs to find a few more shooters. Zach Hahn is the most prolific shooter returning and he averaged less than ten minutes per game last year. Like Hahn, Shawn Vanzant showed some potential during his limited action as a freshman. Those two will have to play a big role in the backcourt. If they struggle, so will Butler. Willie Veasley was in the regular rotation as a sophomore and averaged 4.5 points per game and is the most experienced player on the team. The 6-3 wing might not replace the scoring of Green and Graves, but he will have to help replace their leadership.


Projected Post-season Tournament: NIT

Projected Starting Five:
Shawn Vanzant, Sophomore, Guard, 1.0 points per game
Shelvin Mack, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season
Willie Veasley, Junior, Guard, 4.5 points per game
Avery Jukes, Junior, Forward, 3.2 points per game
Matt Howard, Sophomore, Forward, 12.3 points per game

[MADXSTER]

Ohio is our 3rd home game after the Puerto Rico Tip-Off

Ohio Bobcats
Overall Rank: #129
Conference Rank: #5 MAC
2007-08: 20-13, 9-7, 3rd East
2007-08 postseason: CBI

No matter what the reasons, it is not good when your coach leaves in late June to go to Bryant University. Former coach Tim O’Shea’s time at Ohio was limited and likely to end after this season anyway, so in the long run it is not a bad thing. In fact, since the Bobcats made a great hire in former Ohio State assistant John Groce, Ohio’s expectations are rising right away.


Who’s Out:

Yet, there will need to be a little rebuilding this year. Three of the top four scorers are gone, including forward Leon Williams who averaged 16.4 points and 9.8 rebounds during his senior campaign. Bubba Walther added 12.3 points and 3.7 assists per contest and fellow guard Bert Whittington was the other long range threat besides Walther. Guard Allen Hester earned a handful of starts and occasionally played an important role off the bench. Walk-on guard Andrew Vroman only saw action in six games his final year with the Bobcats.


Who’s In:

Besides the loss of Williams, it is not as bad as it looks. Walther’s production is replaceable and Whittington fits squarely in the ‘addition by subtraction’ category. Stacy Waters will carry some of the burden on the perimeter. The shooting guard can consistently knock down the three-pointer and that is what Ohio needs the most this year. In a backcourt that returns very few experienced players, Waters could be starting from day one and point guard Frankie Dobbs and shooting guard Steven Coleman will be given the opportunity to see quality minutes. Mike Harris was Iona’s second leading scorer as a freshman two years ago before transferring to Athens. Harris’ ability to hit the long ball, and his experience, will make him a valuable asset, either in the starting lineup or off the bench. Big men Maurice Pearson and Zach Nagtzaam both redshirted last year. The frontcourt certainly has a lack of depth, so the more minutes those two can eat up as freshmen, the better.


Who to Watch:

Jerome Tillman ranked second on the team last year in points, rebounds and blocks. The 6-6 power forward had a great year next to Williams, who ranked first in all those categories, but what will happen now that Williams is gone? Will Tillman emerge as a big threat under the basket or will he struggle as the opposing defense keys in on him? The problem is there is nobody ready to take over the center spot. Kenneth van Kempen has some experience, but he will not do anything close to what Williams did over his four year career. The small forward spot returns Justin Orr. Orr is a decent slasher and can occasionally hit the outside shot. Tillman and Orr will have to carry the team for a while and if they cannot find a center to clog the lane, the frontcourt will struggle.


Final Projection:

The backcourt does have some players returning. Point guard Michael Allen had a decent year after spending a couple seasons at Cloud Community College and Daytona Beach Community College. He is not much of a scorer, but Allen did dish out four assists per contest. As long as he can keep the turnovers down, the backcourt will have a steadying force leading the way. Tommy Freeman will likely find more playing time this year after averaging under ten minutes per game as a freshman. At 6-5, Freeman has the size to give the team a much needed rebounder on the wing.


Projected Post-season Tournament: none

Projected Starting Five:
Michael Allen, Senior, Guard, 4.8 points per game
Mike Harris, Sophomore, Guard, DNP last season
Justin Orr, Senior, Forward, 6.8 points per game
Jerome Tillman, Senior, Forward, 13.3 points per game
Kenneth van Kempen, Junior, Center, 2.3 points per game

[MADXSTER]

We play at Virginia 1/3/09

Virginia Cavaliers

Overall Rank: #130
Conference Rank: #12 ACC
2007-08: 17-16, 5-11, 10th
2007-08 postseason: CBI


And so begins life without Sean Singletary. And things were not even that great with him during the 2007-2008 campaign. Calvin Baker and Jeff Jones will have to carry the backcourt…at least for now. Baker, who averaged 8.6 points and 2.4 assists his first year in Charlottesville after transferring from William & Mary, is a decent shooter but it remains to be seen if he can effectively run the point without having a ton of turnover problems. Jones gained some valuable experience as a freshman, yet failed to live up to his high scoring expectations. If he fails to score again, the Cavaliers will be in trouble.


Who’s Out:

It can be argued that youngsters like Jones did not get the opportunity to score much because Singletary was taking all their shots. Singletary was the obvious dynamic player on the team averaging 19.8 points and 6.1 assists during his senior season. The question is whether or not anybody is ready to take over that large chunk of scoring left behind by Singletary. A couple big guys who started a majority of the games last season are also gone. Adrian Joseph led the squad with 5.7 rebounds per contest and added 9.9 points per game. Ryan Pettinella rarely put up big numbers, but he was a presence under the basket.


Who’s In:

There are problems to address, most notably at the point guard spot. Sammy Zeglinski played in eight games last year before getting hurt and receiving a medical hardship. He did not play much in those eight appearances, but he did show that he can handle the ball. If Baker does not work out at the point, it is Zeglinski’s job. One of the other issues is finding another scorer to help replace Singletary. Sylven Landesberg is a decent option. He is a good shooter, but it is when he uses his 6-6 frame that Landesberg begins to be impressive. He can get to the basket off the dribble and finish with ease. He might look like a three, but he handles himself like a point guard. And it would not be a big surprise if Landesberg was at least given the opportunity to run the point at some time during his career. Depth up front should not be a problem with the addition of John Brandenburg and Assane Sene. They will not be asked to do as much of the newcomers on the perimeter, but it would be helpful if the duo can at least grab some rebounds as freshmen.


Who to Watch:

Wing Mamadi Diane was the only other player on the team to average double figures in scoring besides Singletary during the 2007-2008 campaign. He was also the most prolific and consistent long range shooter. A large part of the lost scoring should go through him. However, Jamil Tucker has plenty of offensive potential as well and could even steal away Diane’s starting spot on the wing. Tucker’s body should place him at the power forward spot, but he has a nice offensive game that works well on the wing. It is defending most opposing wings that will be the deciding factor on whether or not Tucker can handle a lot of minutes at the three spot.


Final Projection:

Coming off a freshman campaign where he averaged 5.7 points and 5.2 rebounds, big things are expected from Mike Scott. The 6-8, 233 pound forward should be more consistent this year and that could lead to quite a few double-doubles. The effort guy up front is Laurynas Mikalauskas. When he was healthy enough to play, the Lithuanian brought some much need heart and hustle to the team. If he can continue to do that and stay healthy, the Virginia frontcourt could be the strength of the team.


Projected Post-season Tournament: none

Projected Starting Five:
Calvin Baker, Junior, Guard, 8.6 points per game
Jeff Jones, Sophomore, Guard, 4.8 points per game
Mamadi Diane, Senior, Guard, 11.8 points per game
Mike Scott, Sophomore, Forward, 5.7 points per game
Laurynas Mikalauskas, Senior, Forward, 7.0 points per game

[MADXSTER]

Charlotte 49ers

Overall Rank: #62
Conference Rank: #5 Atlantic 10
2007-08: 20-14, 9-7, 4th
2007-08 postseason: NIT


Charlotte returns four starters, but the one player they do not get back is Leemire Goldwire. Whether or not the 49ers can find a consistent replacement for the team’s leading scorer could be the difference between a good year and a great year. Ian Andersen can replace some of the three-point shooting, but can he do more than shoot the long ball? Michael Gerrity is a great passer and playmaker and showed his potential to be a great scorer during his two years playing at Pepperdine. Charles Dewhurst has the most potential after averaging 4.4 points per game as a freshman by slashing to the basket, yet he is not a great shooter at this point in his career. The three of them should be able to help fill the void, but replacing Goldwire will be an issue that lingers for quite some time.


Who’s Out:

And that is because Goldwire averaged 18.6 points per game during his senior campaign. Goldwire’s specialty was knocking down three-pointers, which he hit 3.8 of per contest, yet he could also do some damage around the basket. Whoever steps into the starting spot will have to take care of some of the shooting lost by Goldwire, but it will take a team effort to replace all that scoring. Forward Sean Phaler saw limited action for the 49ers last season and is not returning this year.


Who’s In:

Coach Bobby Lutz certainly addressed the issue of replacing Goldwire with his recruiting class. All three newcomers are shooting guards and will be given the opportunity to compete for quality minutes. Rashad Coleman is a good athlete who can also hit the outside shot. A junior, Coleman is also an experienced option who should be ready to step in and immediately make his presence known. Shamarr Bowden might need a little more time to adjust to the level of play, but he certainly has the talent to contribute as a freshman. Javarris Barnett redshirted last season and will add his name to the long list of players looking to help replace Goldwire’s numbers.


Who to Watch:

While the Goldwire situation sorts itself out, Charlotte will depend on its frontcourt to carry the load. And relying on this talented and versatile group is not a bad thing whatsoever. An’Juan Wilderness had a superb freshman campaign, tallying 8.1 points and 4.9 rebounds. The pushed back three-point line will probably keep the 6-6 forward inside the arc, but he can hit the mid-range jumper effectively. It is Lamont Mack who will stretch out the defense with his shooting ability. The 6-7 senior hit nearly two long balls per contest, but he does more than just shoot the ball. Mack can score around the basket as well and is a solid rebounder. Charlie Coley hangs out in the paint more and led the team with 6.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots per game. That trio, while lacking size, is a nice mix of players who should emerge as even more dominating this time around. When the team needs size, 6-10 Phil Jones is an experienced option off of the bench.


Final Projection:

All four returning starters were first year players with the program last season. That means they needed time to grow and should be more comfortable and able this time around. One of those starters is junior DiJuan Harris. The point guard led the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio, but his starting job is not safe now that Gerrity will be on the team for a full season. Either way, the 49ers have two extremely capable ballhandlers who will find all the scoring threats. The only question that remains is whether one of the point guards can get a new shooting guard involved.


Projected Post-season Tournament: NIT

Projected Starting Five:
DiJuan Harris, Junior, Guard, 3.5 points per game
Ian Andersen, Junior, Guard, 5.8 points per game
An’Juan Wilderness, Sophomore, Forward, 8.1 points per game
Lamont Mack, Senior, Forward, 12.8 points per game
Charlie Coley, Senior, Forward, 8.7 points per game

[MADXSTER]

Gerrity has transferred out of Charlotte.

Also, I think that Charlotte will be better without Goldwire this year. It became Goldwire or nothing. Too one dimensional.

[MADXSTER]

Wright State Raiders

Overall Rank: #60
Conference Rank: #2 Horizon
2007-08: 21-10, 12-6, 2nd
2007-08 postseason: none

You can have a small team and still be successful in the Horizon League, but Wright State might be taking that concept a little too far. Sophomore Cooper Land is the most experienced forward on the roster and he only averaged 12.8 minutes per game last season. Senior Gavin Horne and junior Ronnie Thomas played even less last year. Coach Brad Brownell will certainly utilize a four guard lineup at times, but that just does not work against every team.


Who’s Out:

The size concern is due to the graduations of Jordan Pleiman and Scott Wilson, last year’s starters in the frontcourt. The duo combined to average 17.9 points and 13.3 rebounds per contest. Neither were great shotblockers, but they were decent on the defensive end and at least made things slightly more difficult for the opposition in the paint.


Who’s In:

The Raiders did all they could to address the issue with their newcomers, but it remains to be seen how well they can adapt to the system. The one true newcomer is a junior college transfer and has plenty of size. Cory Cooperwood, at 6-7 and 215 pounds, will be asked to play quality minutes right away. If he cannot, the frontcourt will be in a world of hurt. Kyle Pressley is an unproven redshirt freshman who will get an opportunity this year. Scott Grote, a transfer from Duquesne, is only 6-6 and is more of a wing than a forward, but he might find himself starting at the four spot. After averaging 9.9 points and 4.1 rebounds as a freshman with the Dukes, Grote can make a big impact for the Raiders.


Who to Watch:

If the frontcourt can surprise, the backcourt will lead this team to a conference championship. Will Graham and John David Gardner are both experienced point guards and Vaughn Duggins and Todd Brown will do plenty of scoring from the wings. Duggins, who led the team with 13.8 points per game, will get to the basket and hit the long range shot with consistency. Brown added an average of 12.7 points per game, but Wright State will have to find another scorer…whether it comes from the backcourt or the frontcourt.


Final Projection:

Copperwood could be the guy who not only becomes the third scoring option, but also gives the team some much needed presence in the paint. After dominating the junior college ranks for the last two years at Wallace State Community College in Alabama, Copperwood could do the same thing in the Horizon League. The two-time junior college All-American can do some work around the basket on the offensive end, but his ability to rebound could put him in the starting lineup from day one. And if Copperwood can live up to his hype, Wright State will have a great year. The guards are very experienced and talented, so it is just up to the frontcourt to find one guy who can score and a few guys who can grab some rebounds and play some defense.


Projected Post-season Tournament: NIT

Projected Starting Five:

Will Graham, Senior, Guard, 5.9 points per game
Vaughn Duggins, Junior, Guard, 13.8 points per game
Todd Brown, Junior, Guard, 12.7 points per game
Scott Grote, Sophomore, Forward, DNP last season
Cory Copperwood, Junior, Forward, DNP last season

[XU05and07]

With Wright State being selected to finish 2nd in the Horizon, that leaves Cleveland State as their #1 preseason favorite. CSU to the NCAA!

[MADXSTER]

Massachusetts Minutemen

Overall Rank: #57
Conference Rank: #4 Atlantic 10
2007-08: 25-11, 10-6, 3rd
2007-08 postseason: NIT


Coach Travis Ford left Massachusetts for Oklahoma State, but it did not take long for the Minutemen to find a replacement. Former Umass star Derek Kellogg, who was learning underneath John Calipari at Memphis, is taking over the reigns. What Coach Kellogg brings with him is a new offense. The Tigers version of the ‘dribble-drive motion’ offense has obviously been successful and the folks in Amherst hope that success can find its way to Massachusetts.


Who’s Out:

The new offense will take some getting used to, but so will life without Gary Forbes, Etienne Brower and Dante Milligan. Forbes was never a consistent shooter, but he was a consistent scorer…and then some. Forbes led the team with 19.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per contest and added 3.0 assists and 1.1 steals. Brower was a decent scorer and rebounder as well. The forward spent most of his time on the offensive end knocking down three-pointers, but that does not mean he did do his part on the glass. Milligan was the more traditional big man and developed into a solid scorer and rebounder. Matt Pennie and Nana Ampim have wrapped up their collegiate careers after seeing virtually no playing time as seniors. Papa Lo, Trey Lang and Max Groebe all had the potential to play a bigger role on this year’s team, but the trio opted to transfer after their freshmen campaigns.


Who’s In:

There are not a lot of newcomers heading in, but the three they have will make an impact. Tyrell Lynch, a 6-9 power forward, redshirted last season. Lynch is a good athlete for his size and should fit well in the new system and due to a lack of frontcourt depth, Lynch is expected to play quite a few minutes. Two years ago at Wake Forest Anthony Gurley averaged 6.4 points per game. Most of those points came from beyond the arc and Gurley will do a fine job adding another shooter to the roster. David Gibbs is the lone incoming freshman. The 6-4 guard can handle the ball, play solid defense and score a bunch of points in a hurry. Gibbs is also extremely quick and knows how to use his speed to his advantage. For now he will likely provide a spark off the bench, but Gibbs has the potential to do much more sooner or later.


Who to Watch:

Even without Forbes, the Minutemen have a dynamic, high scoring backcourt. Chris Lowe is more than just a steady point guard who dished out 6.3 assists per game last season, he also is a great scorer. Lowe will not simply hoist up long balls like some other point guards, but he does a great job finishing around the basket. But the new top scorer on the team will be Ricky Harris. As a sophomore, Harris was second to only Forbes with 18.2 points per game. Harris will do a majority of the long range shooting for Umass, but he will score around the basket as well. Now that he is an upperclassman, Harris will also join Lowe as a leader of the team. Gary Correia and Matt Glass did not play too much as freshmen, but will be in the mix with Gibbs for minutes off the bench.


Final Projection:

The group on the perimeter will fit well into Coach Kellogg’s system, but the same might not be able to be said about the frontcourt. Tony Gaffney is a versatile player who can run the floor and hit the mid-range jumper, but Luke Bonner, a 7-1 center, does not have the athleticism that this style of play usually warrants. Bonner is still an experienced player, a good shooter and a big body who can battle in the paint; however, it remains to be seen if he will flourish under the new coach. Umass will need a little time to get things going and the frontcourt is certainly a concern, but there is too much talent for this team not to make another run at the postseason.


Projected Post-season Tournament: NIT


Projected Starting Five:

Chris Lowe, Senior, Guard, 11.8 points per game
Ricky Harris, Junior, Guard, 18.2 points per game
Anthony Gurley, Sophomore, Guard, DNP last season
Tony Gaffney, Senior, Forward, 3.2 points per game
Luke Bonner, Senior, Center, 3.5 points per game

[MADXSTER]

54 Missouri Tigers 1st game of Puerto Rico Shootout 11/20/08

Overall Rank: #54
Conference Rank: #6 Big 12
2007-08: 16-16, 6-10, 10th ***
2007-08 postseason: none


Missouri has to replace some quality players, but Coach Mike Anderson is finally getting close to having the athletes and the depth he needs to run his fast pace offense and pressure defense. He has done more with less at UAB, but the Tigers have to get the off-court problems behind them if they want to play up to their potential and reach the NCAA Tournament.


Who’s Out:

Stefhon Hannah was leading the team with 14.6 points and 5.2 assists per game when he was kicked off the team. Most of the time the Tigers struggled to score without him, but with more time to adjust to his absence will be a good thing. Adjusting to the loss of Keon Lawrence might be more of an issue. The guard started 20 games last year and averaged 11.0 points per contest. He opted to transfer to Seton Hall to be closer to home. Jason Horton picked up the slack at point after Hannah was gone and did a decent job during his senior campaign. The final loss to the backcourt is little used Nick Berardini. The news up front is a little better, but Marshall Brown, Vaidotas Volkus and Darryl Butterfield were all contributors.


Who’s In:

The most important issue is finding a starting point guard. Miguel Paul and Zaire Taylor are solid choices. Paul, an incoming freshman, is quick and can always push the tempo. The 6-1 Lakeland, Florida product does a great job finding his teammates, but he can score as well and that is a good thing for a team that could use another scorer in the backcourt. Taylor is the more interesting prospect. The transfer from Delaware has a couple years of division I college experience, but he is also 6-4 and has long arms. If he can effectively run the point, his length will provide something on the defensive end that Paul cannot. Taylor is also a decent scorer and could see minutes at the two or three spots. In a pinch, Marcus Denmon could run the show, but he is better suited to play off the ball and do a ton of scoring. At 6-6, Kim English will bring size to the perimeter and the more size the better in Coach Anderson’s defensive schemes. Laurence Bowers and Steve Moore will provide some depth to the frontcourt, but it is Keith Ramsey who is expected to make a big impact. The junior college transfer is a perfect fit for the system and can handle the ball and pass effectively. His outside shooting will take him out towards the three-point line, but his best asset is beating opposing big men off the dribble. At 6-9 and 210 pounds, the lefty is big enough to battle in the paint, but the opposition will have trouble matching his foot speed.


Who to Watch:

If Missouri did not already have a great frontcourt, Ramsey would be starting. But on a team that employs pressure defense, having quality depth is very, very important. Now DeMarre Carroll and Leo Lyons can play aggressively without having to worry as much about foul trouble. Carroll had a great year in 2007-2008 after transferring in from Vanderbilt. He averaged 13.0 points and a team high 6.7 rebounds per contest and should be even better as a senior. Lyons emerged as a big threat during his junior campaign and got better as the season progressed. On the year he averaged 13.1 points and 5.7 rebounds and, if he continues to improve, Lyons will be the leader of the pack.


Final Projection:

Even with all the talented newcomers, J.T. Tiller and Matt Lawrence should hold onto their starting roles on the wing. Tiller is the slasher and had some great games once he became a starter. The Tigers will need him to be more consistent this year. Speaking of consistency, that is what Lawrence lacked as well. Two years ago Lawrence hit 44.3 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc. Last season that number plummeted to 34.8 percent. Without Hannah, it will be up to Lawrence to be the main long range shooting threat and he has to get closer to his 44.3 percent this time around or the Tigers offense will struggle.


Projected Post-season Tournament: NIT

Projected Starting Five:
Miguel Paul, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season
J.T. Tiller, Junior, Guard, 6.8 points per game
Matt Lawrence, Senior, Guard, 8.8 points per game
DeMarre Carroll, Senior, Forward, 13.0 points per game
Leo Lyons, Senior, Forward, 13.1 points per game

[XU05and07]

Cleveland State @ #53...that's never happened before.

NCAA tournament is a possibility...frontrunners in the Horizon

[XU05and07]

The countdown is great and all...but when they don't update it for 3 days when its supposed to be 144 teams in 144 days, it gets really annoying.

The writer has the whole thing done...how hard is it to cut and paste day to day

[MADXSTER]

He usually updates around 1pm, give or take an hour. If it's not updated by 3pm, forget it.

[MADXSTER]

LSU Tigers

Overall Rank: #50
Conference Rank: #6 SEC
2007-08: 13-18, 6-10, 4th West
2007-08 postseason: none

LSU returns enough talent to win the struggling SEC West, but they did last year as well and ended up with a disappointing 6-10 record. However, a year of experience and a new coach could quickly turn the Tigers back into winners. Five players who started at least 14 games are back and Coach Trent Johnson, who is coming from Stanford, brings a new found hope to Baton Rogue after a couple of awful seasons.


Who's Out:

Anthony Randolph left after just one season with LSU. The forward averaged 15.6 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots for the Tigers before being selected 14th overall in the NBA Draft. Having Randolph around would be nice, but there are plenty of other options available. Dameon Mason was the only senior on the roster last season and he played in just seven contests.


Who's In:

Four incoming freshmen will provide the Tigers with depth that they have not had in quite some time. Point guard Chris Bass, the brother of former LSU star Brandon, is the true point guard that the team needs. His playing time this year will depend on how quickly he can adjust to the level of play and the system, but Bass should be called upon any time Coach Johnson needs a true point guard on the floor. Delwan Graham and Storm Warren are both good athletes who will give the Tigers some scoring threats on the wing. Dennis Harris plays like a small forward as well but, at 6-10, he has the height of a power forward. He is not nearly strong enough to battle in the paint in the SEC, but with some depth concerns in the frontcourt, Harris could see some playing time at the four spot.


Who to Watch:

Even with the loss of Randolph, the frontcourt has a couple experienced weapons. Chris Johnson, a 6-11 center, quietly averaged 11.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. The only reason that was quiet was because Randolph overshadowed Johnson. That will not be the case this time and Johnson will finally get more recognition. Two years ago Tasmin Mitchell scored 14.5 points per game. Last year he only made it through three games before suffering a stress fracture in his leg which sidelined him for the rest of the season. If Mitchell can get back to his earlier form, the Tigers frontcourt will be in very good hands. The main problem in the paint is the depth. Garrett Green and Quintin Thornton are experienced and, at 6-10 and 6-9 respectively, have good size, but neither will do much scoring or bring that much to the table defensively.


Final Projection:

Garrett Temple, Marcus Thornton and Terry Martin form a solid starting backcourt trio. Temple, the point guard, like just about everybody else on the team, is not a great shooter, but he can get to the basket and find his teammates. Thornton hit nearly three long balls per contest. His 37.7 percent was easily the best on the team, but the group as a whole needs to develop into better shooters in order to create a more dynamic offense. Martin uses his 6-6 frame to create havoc when he is playing defense, but his offense took a big step back last season. If his offense continues to falter, Martin's starting job could be in jeopardy. Bo Spencer and Alex Farrer will not put up great numbers in the scoring column, but both are experienced guards who are able to make significant contributions off of the bench. In the end, the success or failure of LSU will depend on Coach Johnson more than anybody else. This is an experienced group that has Sweet Sixteen level talent, but they have gotten accustomed to losing. If the new staff can turn around that mentality, LSU can have a great year.


Projected Post-season Tournament: NIT

Projected Starting Five:
Garrett Temple, Senior, Guard, 6.4 points per game
Marcus Thornton, Senior, Guard, 19.6 points per game
Terry Martin, Senior, Guard, 8.3 points per game
Tasmin Mitchell, Junior, Forward, 7.3 points per game
Chris Johnson, Senior, Center, 11.6 points per game

[MADXSTER]

West Virginia comes in at #44

[XU05and07]

Dayton Flyers

Overall Rank: #42
Conference Rank: #3 Atlantic 10

2007-08: 23-11, 8-8, 7th
2007-08 postseason: NIT


Dayton’s season can be summed up in a couple numbers…13-2. That was the Flyers record when Chris Wright was playing. In the nine games leading up to the initial injury on December 19th, Wright averaged 13.2 points and 7.1 rebounds. He played a few more games until he fractured his ankle, but was used sparingly. Also keep in mind that these were Wright’s first nine games as a collegiate player. He would have gotten better and he will get better. Despite some major losses elsewhere on the court, Dayton has plenty to look forward to with a healthy Wright on the floor.




Who’s Out:

Even with Wright, can the Flyers overcome the loss of Brian Roberts? Roberts led the team with 18.4 points and 3.4 assists per game. Despite hitting nearly three long balls per game, Roberts was more than just a shooter. He could drive the lane and either find his teammate for the open look or finish himself. The absence of fellow starter Andres Sandoval raises even more questions on the perimeter. The concerns are not limited to the backcourt. Jimmy Binnie and Thiago Cordeiro are also gone. Binnie was the team’s second best three-point shooter and could stretch out the defense with his shooting ability. Cordeiro never put up big numbers or played that often, but a team can never have too much depth in the paint. Without Roberts and Binnie, and Sandoval for that matter, the Flyers have no long range shooting threats returning.



Who’s In:

Hopefully one of the newcomers can fill that role. Paul Williams is the likely candidate. The 6-4 shooting guard can hit the outside shot, but his best asset is his defense. Chris Johnson and Luke Fabrizius will add more depth. Johnson is a versatile athlete who can shoot. Ideally he is a small forward, but he could see some time at the four spot and play a similar role as Binnie did last year, but with fewer minutes. Fabrizius is pretty much a shooter at this point in his career, but at 6-9 he has a lot more size than one would expect from a shooter. Once he fills out the rest of his game, Fabrizius will be very difficult to defend. Power forward Josh Benson is long and athletic. He uses those skills to block shots and grab rebounds quite effectively and should be a good back-up forward when Coach Brian Gregory needs somebody who can hit the glass and battle in the paint more than Fabrizius can. All those players can fill a role this year, most likely off the bench, but Rob Lowery could crack the starting line-up sooner or later. The junior college transfer can break down his opponents off the dribble and hit the open jumper. He is versatile enough to play any position on the perimeter, but his ability to handle the ball, and score, has the Flyer faithful excited. Even if he is not starting, Lowery should see significant playing time at the point.



Who to Watch:

In the meantime London Warren will be handling the point guard duties. Warren is not a scorer like Lowery, but as long as he can keep the turnovers down and create for his teammates, he will be doing his job. Yet, with the lack of shooters on the team, if Lowery can hit the outside shot and do nearly as good of a job running the show as Warren, this will be Lowery’s team by the end of the year. The guy who will take over a majority of the scoring is Marcus Johnson. His shooting got better during his sophomore campaign, but Johnson will still do most of his damage by getting to the basket. For a 6-3 guard he is also a tremendous rebounder and ranked second to only Wright on the team with 5.1 boards per contest. Mickey Perry and Stephen Thomas did not play much last year, but both have the potential to see more minutes this year and provide experienced depth to the backcourt. They will get their chance while the newcomers are still adjusting to life at the this level.



Final Projection:

Kurt Huelsman will rarely make the highlight reel, but he is a steady and consistent big man. At 6-10 and 245 pounds he will clog the lane quite effectively and can occasionally be an offensive threat. Charles Little is the better scorer around the basket. Last year he never tallied a start despite ranking fourth on the team with 8.0 points per game. Devin Searcy and the newcomers will have to step up quickly and provide depth in the frontcourt, but the team should not have much of a problem replacing Binnie. It is replacing Roberts and his outside shooting abilities that will be the difference between the NIT and the NCAA.


Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA


Projected Starting Five:

London Warren, Junior, Guard, 4.3 points per game
Marcus Johnson, Junior, Guard, 10.1 points per game
Chris Wright, Sophomore, Forward, 10.4 points per game
Charles Little, Senior, Forward, 8.0 points per game
Kurt Huelsman, Junior, Center, 5.9 points per game

[BBC 08]

This is a joke, right? Binnie being talked about in a positive manner? I thought he was just a traffic cone.

[XU05and07]

I think this invalidates this guys opinion (unless of course he puts X in the top 20)

[XU05and07]

Kent State has passed UD as a program...this guy re-established his good standing

[_LH]

Kent State has passed UD as a program...this guy re-established his good standing

I don't understand the above statement. Is that proper English?

[ballyhoohoo]

I have no qualms abotu rooting for Kent, good program, kid from my high school played there

[MADXSTER]

Possibly our second game at the Puerto Rico Shootout

Virginia Tech Hokies

Overall Rank: #39
Conference Rank: #6 ACC
2007-08: 21-14, 9-7, 4th *
2007-08 postseason: NIT

The Hokies of Virginia Tech had a surprisingly good season last year. The team was full of freshmen who stepped up big time. Jeff Allen, a 6-7 forward, had the most impressive freshman campaign, averaging 11.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 1.2 blocks. Fellow forward J.T. Thompson earned five starts and proved to be a capable scorer and rebounder. The youngsters in the backcourt were just as impressive. Malcolm Delaney emerged as a consistent shooter and knocked down over 40 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc. Delaney also dished out 3.1 assists per game and gives the team a scorer who can handle the ball. When they do not need a scoring point guard, the Hokies will look to yet another sophomore, Hank Thorns. The 5-9 Las Vegas, Nevada product will not do much scoring, but he is the best ball handler on the team and does a great job finding all the scorers on the team. *

Who’s Out:

But Virginia Tech will have one less scoring threat with the departure of Deron Washington. Washington was a great athlete who averaged 13.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. His numbers and athleticism are replaceable, but his leadership might not be so easy to exchange. Besides Washington, there were very few upperclassmen on this team who played significant minutes and Washington deserves more credit than he gets for keeping the young players together during a season that had many ups and downs. The only other departure for VT is little used guard Marcus Travis.


Who’s In:

One can never have too many big men, especially if the 6-7 Allen and the 6-6 Thompson are the starting four and five. At 6-11 and 260 pounds, Gene Swindle will easily be the biggest player on the roster. Swindle is still raw and could benefit by spending some time on the bench learning the ropes, but he is a wide body who can definitely eat up a lot of space in the paint. Usually post players are not ready to step into the ACC and battle in the paint as freshmen; however, Victor Davila has the strength to do it. And he will even get stronger before his time in Blacksburg is over. He is long, athletic and will be the likely candidate to earn playing time this year amongst the newcomers.


Who to Watch:

As long as A.D. Vassallo can take over the leadership role left behind by Washington, there is no reason for the Hokies not to make the NCAA Tournament. Vassallo led the team with 16.9 points per game last year, but he has a very different game than that of Washington. Vassallo will do most of his damage from beyond the arc where he hit 39.5 percent of his attempts. Vassallo, as well as Delaney, will get to the basket, but nobody will be as effective around the rim as Washington was during his collegiate career. There are couple other upperclassmen on the team who will play a role. Lewis Witcher and Cheick Diakite, both 6-9 forwards, will battle with Thompson and Allen for minutes in the paint. What those two have that the sophomores do not is size and any time Coach Seth Greenberg needs a taller player on the floor to go up against some of the best centers in the conference, he will call upon his experienced upperclassmen.

Final Projection:

Believe it or not, there are even more sophomores on this team who will play a role after decent freshmen seasons. Dorenzo Hudson and Terrell Bell were not as impressive as their fellow newcomers during the 2007-2008 campaign, but both are capable scorers who will give the backcourt plenty of depth. Anything but an NCAA Tournament berth would be disappointing, but the best is yet to come for the Hokies. For now they can pull off some upsets, but in a couple years they could be among the favorites to win the ACC.


Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:
Hank Thorns, Sophomore, Guard, 4.6 points per game
Malcolm Delaney, Sophomore, Guard, 9.6 points per game
A.D. Vassallo, Senior, Guard, 16.9 points per game
J.T. Thompson, Sophomore, Forward, 5.6 points per game
Jeff Allen, Sophomore, Forward, 11.8 points per game

[MADXSTER]

Xavier is in CHN's the top 35

[XU05and07]

Ohio State Buckeyes

Overall Rank: #34
Conference Rank: #4 Big Ten
2007-08: 24-13, 10-8, 5th
2007-08 postseason: NIT

Once again Ohio State has some huge losses, but once again the recruiting class should fill the void. Last season Ohio State missed out on the NCAA Tournament, but did manage to at least win the NIT. In a Big Ten conference that lacks a lot of firepower, Ohio State should have an easier time making the postseason tournament they prefer.


Who’s Out:

There are a ton of losses in Columbus, but Jamar Butler will prove to be the most important. The point guard not only dished out 5.9 assists per game, but also led the team in scoring. On a young team, it was Butler who was the leader on and off the floor. The good news is, besides little used Eric Wallace, Butler is the only loss on the perimeter. Kosta Koufos spent one year replacing Greg Oden and did a decent job, averaging 14.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. Unlike Oden, Koufos could stretch out the defense with his outside shooting. The other starter in the frontcourt was Othello Hunter who nearly matched Koufos’ numbers in most major categories. Unlike Koufos, Hunter was the bruiser under the basket. When Koufos or Hunter needed a rest last season, senior Matt Terwilliger was the first big man off the bench.


Who’s In:

Coach Thad Matta needs a new one-and-done big man and B.J. Mullens could be the guy. The 7-0 center was one of the most highly touted recruits in the nation. Despite his size, Mullens will run the floor and finish around the basket. Mullens is a superb scorer in the paint and will even step outside and hit the mid-range jumper consistently. Just like with Oden and Koufos, the Buckeyes offense will run through Mullens this year. Nikola Kecman, a junior college transfer who has three years of eligibility remaining, will add some depth up front. Like most European big men, the 6-8 power forward can play on the perimeter and hit the three-point shot. The talent continues in the backcourt where Jeremie Simmons, Anthony Crater, William Buford and Walter Offutt will play an important role this year. Simmons and Crater will have the job of replacing Butler. Simmons, a combo guard, spent a couple years at Mott Community College in Michigan where he earned the 2008 Junior College Division II Player of the Year award. He handles the ball very well and will create shots for his teammates. But Simmons is such a good scorer that even if Crater wins the starting job at point, Simmons could be starting at the two guard spot. Buford is another great scorer to add to the roster. His outside shot will help replace Butler, but he can also get to the basket and play solid defense.


Who to Watch:

The newcomers are really good, but there is plenty of returning talent too…especially in the backcourt. David Lighty is prepared to become a leader after starting all 37 games a year ago. Lighty is also the team’s leading returning scorer after averaging 9.0 points per game as a sophomore. Evan Turner is a big wing who showed plenty of promise during his freshman campaign and Jon Diebler should emerge as a three-point specialist. A year ago Diebler only shot 28.9 percent from beyond the arc and 30.4 percent overall, but he is a much, much better shooter than those numbers indicate. Those guys are still young, but they all have at least one year of quality experience under their belt.

Final Projection:

The frontcourt has a few more questions. Mullens and Kecman are ready to play major minutes during their first year in the program, but there is virtually no experience on the roster. Dallas Lauderdale, a 6-8, 255 pound sophomore, only averaged 6.9 minutes per game last year. However, it is important to remember that he was stuck behind Koufos and Hunter on the depth chart. If Lauderdale can live up to his potential, the frontcourt will be good…maybe not as good as the last two years, yet still good enough to finish in the top four in the Big Ten and reach the NCAA Tournament.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA


Projected Starting Five:

Jeremie Simmons, Junior, Guard, DNP last season
David Lighty, Junior, Guard, 9.0 points per game
Evan Turner, Sophomore, Guard, 8.5 points per game
Dallas Lauderdale, Sophomore, Forward, 0.9 points per game
B.J. Mullens, Freshman, Center, DNP last season

[MADXSTER]

Of the teams that did not make the NCAA's last year, Ohio State is considered one of the top teams that could make it to the sweet sixteen.

From this ranking, Xavier is obviously ranked higher, thus meaning that we have just as good of a shot this year to make it to the sweet sixteen.

[MADXSTER]

A10 teams that have not been posted thus far are.....

Xavier
Temple
Rhode Island
Duquesne
St. Bonaventure
Forham

[BBC 08]

The A10 with 6 top 32 teams? Wow, the A10 must have really improved over the last year.

[BBC 08]

Scratch that. More than likely only URI, Temple and X are going to be in the top 32. That's still a great showing.

[XU05and07]

Scratch that. More than likely only URI, Temple and X are going to be in the top 32. That's still a great showing.

They have UD as #3 in conference...so only 2 teams ahead for the A10 I suspect

[PMI]

Yea, Temple will likely be one of the next couple mentioned and we should be mentioned shortly after. I'd say Temple is 31 and we're 28 or something like that.

[waggy]

It's good to see Temple coming back for the overall good of the A10. Don't really know much about Dunphy, but if teams take on the personality of their coach my impression is that would be just fine.

[MADXSTER]

Xavier Musketeers
Overall Rank: #32
Conference Rank: #2 Atlantic 10
2007-08: 30-7, 14-2, 1st *
2007-08 postseason: NCAA


It seems like every year Xavier has some key players to replace, but every year they continue to be extremely competitive in the Atlantic 10. The 2008-2009 campaign will be no different. The Musketeers lose three of the six players who averaged at least 9.7 points per game last year, but there is plenty of talent ready to step in and fill the void. That is what a few years of quality recruiting classes will do a program.


Who’s Out:

The backcourt takes the biggest hit with the departures of Drew Lavender, Stanley Burrell and Adrion Graves. Lavender, the starting point guard, dished out 4.5 assists per game and only averaged 1.7 turnovers. Those numbers are going to be nearly impossible to replace. And it is not like Lavender was just a passer; he averaged 10.8 points per game and shot over 40 percent from beyond the arc. Burrell was no slouch in the scoring department either and was one of two players to start all 37 games a year ago. The frontcourt has some guys to replace as well with the graduation of Josh Duncan and Charles Bronson. Duncan, who led Xavier with 12.4 points per game, was a big guy who could stretch out the defense with his outside shooting ability.

Who’s In:

The obvious need is in the backcourt, more specifically at the point. Terrell Holloway, Mark Lyons and Brad Redford will battle for minutes and will not have much help from any returning players. Holloway is the guy who should step into the starting role. The 6-0 freshman has the vision and leadership skills to handle the job. Lyons is another quick option, but he is a more explosive scorer than Holloway. Speaking of explosive scorers, Redford averaged 36.7 points per game at Frankenmuth High School and was rewarded with Michigan’s ‘Mr. Basketball’ honors during his senior season. The competition in Frankenmuth is not that great and it will take some time for him to adjust to life in Cincinnati, Ohio, where it is not Christmas every day, but Redford can flat out shoot. Brian Walsh, a versatile 6-4 wing, will give Coach Sean Miller even more options. The solid group of newcomers continues in the frontcourt. In the long run, Kenny Frease should be the best of the bunch. The 7-0 center has a surprising amount of skills for a freshman his size. He can pass, he can shoot and he can play great defense. Jamel McLean is eligible to play this season after transferring from Tulsa. During his one year with the Golden Hurricane in 2006-2007, the 6-8 forward averaged 6.0 points and 4.8 rebounds. Andrew Taylor will also put on the game jersey this year after transferring from Division II Hillsdale College in Michigan.


Who to Watch:

Without Lavender and Burrell, the pressure will fall on C.J. Anderson and B.J. Raymond to be the consistent scorers and leaders on the perimeter. Anderson does a superb job getting to, and finishing around, the basket. The 6-6 senior averaged 10.7 points per game as a junior and should be a consistent double figure scorer this year. So should Raymond. Mostly coming off the bench, Raymond tallied 9.9 points per game as a junior. Raymond is pretty much an outside shooter but, at 6-6, he can shoot over most defenders in the A-10. Sophomore Dante’ Jackson will compete with the newcomers for minutes off the bench on the wing.


Final Projection:

Finding a new point is the top priority, but getting some consistent production out of the frontcourt is a close second. Coach Miller knows what he will get from power forward Derrick Brown. The high flying junior led the team in rebounds, tied for the lead in blocked shots and ranked second in scoring. The lefty is already a known commodity in the A-10, but this could be the year he emerges as a superstar on a national level. But the team needs more production out of center Jason Love. He started 21 games last year and had decent numbers, but somebody has to pick up the scoring left behind by Duncan. If Love is not the answer, Frease could be. Either way, there is a nice blend of talent and experience all over the court and Xavier’s mini three year NCAA Tournament streak will not end any time soon.


Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Terrell Holloway, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season
B.J. Raymond, Senior, Guard, 9.9 points per game
C.J. Anderson, Senior, Guard, 10.7 points per game
Derrick Brown, Junior, Forward, 10.9 points per game
Jason Love, Junior, Center, 6.0 points per game

[XUFinale]

Hmm..this is the first ranking that has Temple in front of Xavier, weird. I guess its not out of the question Christmas and company will give us a solid run for our money.

[MADXSTER]

I thought the same thing.

Temple has a very solid recruiting class coming in next year.

[muskienick]

I believe a big key to XU having another successful season this year will be CJ's free throw shooting. If he can continue the year-to-year improvement in his FT% that he's had over his 3-year college career, he'll get over the 70% level. With his talent for going to the basket and either converting or getting to the line, a better FT% by CJ will often provide the Muskies the edge they'll need in the close games.

[XU05and07]

Overall Rank: #27
Conference Rank: #1 Atlantic 10
2007-08: 21-13, 11-5, 2nd
2007-08 postseason: NCAA


The years of suffering for the once proud Temple program came to an end last year. Picked to finish, at best, in the middle of the pack, the Owls came out of nowhere to post an 11-5 conference record and win the A-10 tournament to earn an automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament. Once there, they did not hang around very long, losing to Michigan State in the first round, but make no mistake, Temple is back and ready to build off last year’s success.


Who’s Out:

But Coach Fran Dunphy’s squad will have to do it without Mark Tyndale. The 6-5 wing led the team with 7.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists per contest. He also added 15.9 points per game. The Owls will have to find a scorer who can consistently reach double figures to help replace Tyndale’s scoring prowess. Chris Clark, one of two shooters off the bench, has also run out of eligibility. The diminutive guard was a great shooter and averaged 7.5 points during his senior campaign. The only other departure is little used forward Orlando Miller.


Who’s In:

Coach Dunphy does need not much production out of his newcomers, but Ramone Moore and T.J. DiLeo will give the backcourt a couple more options. DiLeo has the outside shooting ability to be a quality three-point marksman right away and Moore could emerge as a solid contributor sooner or later. In the frontcourt, Andrew Randall and Michael Eric will provide depth. Randall is a talented 6-5 forward who can do a little bit of everything and Eric, a Lagos, Nigeria native, is surprisingly quick for a 6-9 forward and should at least be able to block some shots as a freshman.


Who to Watch:

Dionte Christmas has led the A-10 in scoring each of the last two seasons. As a junior he put up 19.7 points per game. Christmas spends a lot of time beyond the three-point line, but he can use his 6-5, 205 pound frame to get to the basket. Without Tyndale, this is Christmas’ team and his ability to hit the glass from the wing will be very important for this team. Ryan Brooks is the likely candidate to step into the starting role vacated by Tyndale. Brooks was third on the team in scoring last year despite never starting a game. Occasionally Brooks was more than just a three-pointer shooter, but he will need to show that he can score in other ways more consistently if he wants to be the other scorer on the team. Semaj Inge will not be that scorer either, but he does give the team a versatile and experienced option off the bench and will battle with Luis Guzman for minutes at the point. It will be Guzman’s job, again, to get Christmas the ball. The 6-3 junior made too many mistakes, but with a year of significant playing time under his belt, Guzman should emerge as a better floor general.


Final Projection:

The player who could improve the most heading into the 2008-2009 season is Lavoy Allen. The 6-9 sophomore had a tremendous freshman campaign, averaging 8.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. His solid defense in the paint was not a surprise, but he turned into a pretty good scorer as well. If Allen can give the team a scoring threat under the basket, the opposition will not be able to key in on Christmas. And if they do try and stop Christmas, Allen and Brooks will make them pay. Sergio Olmos is also back in the frontcourt after starting last season. Olmos, a seven-footer, will never put up great numbers, but he has gotten better every season. The key for this Owls squad is finding more scorers. If the opposition can just concentrate on stopping Christmas it will be a disappointing season in Philadelphia. If Brooks, Allen or others can step up and score 12 to 15 points per game, the Owls will be back in the NCAA Tournament.


Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA


Projected Starting Five:

Luis Guzman, Junior, Guard, 3.9 points per game
Ryan Brooks, Junior, Guard, 8.6 points per game
Dionte Christmas, Senior, Guard, 19.7 points per game
Lavoy Allen, Sophomore, Forward, 8.1 points per game
Sergio Olmos, Senior, Center, 5.8 points per game

[MADXSTER]

Creighton ahead of Xavier.....I don't think so.....Not this year.

[MADXSTER]

Oliver Purnell getting it done at Clemson.

I still hate Syracuse.

[XU05and07]

Syracuse will not make the tournament...again

Eat that, Billy Packer

[MADXSTER]

We have made it to our Top Ten.

Thoughts.

[Cincypunk.org]

Not one mention of D Brown in the preview?

Weird.

[Pluto]

http://www.collegehoopsnet.com/preview/2008/

12 Oklahomo Sooners



Freudian Slip?

[MADXSTER]

No Freud involved.

There's only two things that come from Oklahoma. Steers and Queers. And I don't see any horns on you boy!

[MADXSTER]

Go to about the 2:45 mark

No horns on you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xe7yaDd2go

[MADXSTER]

We are down to our final four.

Duke comes in at #5
Louisville at #6
Mich St #7
Memphis #8
Notre Dame #9
Tenn #10