Wednesday, August 5, 2009

The Field is set for five of the Pre-season Tournaments

Last year's Old Spice Classic was stacked, as it included Gonzaga, Maryland, Tennessee, Michigan State, Oklahoma State, Siena, and Georgetown (bonus points if you can name which team didn't make the tourney).

None of the fields of the six tournaments released Tuesday are that stacked, but there are still a number of excellent games:

CHARLESTON CLASSIC (Charleston, SC) 1st round Nov. 19th:

Bracket:

  • Tulane vs. Miami winner against UNC Wilmington vs. Penn State winner
  • South Florida vs. Davidson winner against La Salle vs. South Carolina winner
Best 1st round match-up: Led by Rodney Green, who averaged 17.8 ppg and 3.4 apg as a junior last year, La Salle has been pegged as a sleeper in the A-10. The Explorers get South Carolina, who lucked out with Devan Downey and Dominique Archie returning to school, in the first round.

Best potential match-up: As much as we love Penn State's Talor Battle here at BIAH, the two best teams in Charleston will be Miami and South Carolina. Both teams have talented guards (Devan Downey for USC, Durand Scott for the U) and pro prospects on the wing (Archie, DeQuan Jones), and Dwayne Collins should be ready for a breakout year for the 'Canes.

Intriguing Storylines:
  • South Carolina should get a couple good, early-season tests. Bringing back Downey and Archie made them a potential tourney team, but the SEC East is going to be loaded this season.
  • Can Davidson survive as the SoCon powerhouse with out Stephen Curry?
  • This tournament is loaded with talented back court players: Devan Downey (USC), Durand Scott (Miami), Talor Battle (Penn State), Rodney Green (La Salle), Dominique Jones (South Florida).
BIAH Prediction: Miami wins and gets 25 and 15 from Collins as he over powers the Gamecocks inside.

PUERTO RICO TIP-OFF (San Juan, Puerto Rico) 1st round Nov. 19th:

Bracket:
  • Dayton vs. Georgia Tech winner against George Mason vs. Villanova winner
  • Indiana vs. Ole Miss winner against Boston U. vs. Kansas State winner
Best 1st round match-up: With Xavier expected to have a bit of a down year, Dayton is the pre-season favorite to win the A-10 and will probably crack some top 25 lists thanks to their combination of athleticism and tough defense. Georgia Tech caught a break when Gani Lawal decided to return to school. Lawal and stud freshman Derrick Favors should provide the Yellow Jackets with as good of a front line as you will find, and combined with sophomore guard Iman Shumpert, Tech will be capable of putting up points in a hurry.

Best possible match-up: As much fun as it would be to see Chris Warren of Ole Miss match quicks with Kansas State's Denis Clemente, the idea of seeing Villanova play Georgia Tech, and thus Derrick Favors going toe-to-toe with fellow freshman phenom Mouphtaou Yarou, would be too much to pass up.

Intriguing Storylines:
  • After a roller coaster season that saw three players blow out a knee, a coach get arrested for fighting and yelling racial epithets at a cab driver, and losing their top scorer to pro ball in Puerto Rico, Ole Miss looks to be a sleeper in the SEC West with a healthy Chris Warren and the surprising Terrico White in the back court.
  • Indiana starts on the road back to respectability as they add a talented freshman class and Georgetown transfer Jeremiah Rivers.
  • Villanova got Scottie Reynolds back from the draft, added a stellar recruiting class, and looks to not only be the favorite to win the Big East, but Jay Wright's squad has a very good chance to make a second straight Final Four.
BIAH Prediction: Villanova rolls through Tech and Ole Miss to the title.

MAUI INVITATIONAL (Maui, Hawaii) 1st round Nov. 23rd:

Bracket:
  • Maryland vs. Chaminade winner against Cincinnati vs. Vanderbilt winner
  • Colorado vs. Gonzaga winner against Arizona vs. Wisconsin winner
Best 1st round match-up: While this year's Maui field is much weaker than past seasons, there are still two excellent first round games. The best, however, will be between Cinci and Vandy. The Bearcats have one of the best back courts in the country with Lance Stephenson, Deonta Vaughn, and Cashmere Wright. But Vandy returns everyone, including Aussie big man AJ Ogilvy.

Best potential match-up: Maybe it is just me, but I would love to see Wisconsin play Cinci simply because of the contrasting styles.

Intriguing Storylines:
  • Can Lance Stephenson survive A) with another big time scorer in the back court or B) in college?
  • Greivis Vazquez was a potential first rounder for this summer's NBA Draft, but he returned to school to improve his draft stock. Can he lead Maryland to the tournament?
  • Sean Miller was expected to have a Indiana-like rebuilding process, but after landing recruit after recruit, the Wildcats, led by Nic Wise, are a sleeper in a watered down Pac-10.
  • Last year, Gonzaga had arguably their most talented team to date, but after losing almost everyone, will Matt Bouldin be enough to keep the Zags relevant?
BIAH Prediction: I'm going out on a limb here - Greivis Vazquez goes nuts for three games, and the Terps bring home the Maui title.

OLD SPICE CLASSIC (Orlando, FL) 1st round Nov. 26th:

Bracket:
  • Creighton vs. Michigan winner against Xavier vs. Marquette winner
  • Alabama vs. Baylor winner against Florida State vs. Iona winner
Best 1st round match-up: Michigan comes into this season with hype surrounding their basketball program for the first time since C-Webb rocked the maize and blue. The combination of Manny Harris, DeShawn Sims, and John Beilein's system has the Wolverines in the top 25 of most pre-season polls. Creighton, led by the talented P'Allen Stinnet, is once again expected to be at the top of the Valley.

Best potential match-up: Xavier, Marquette, and Baylor are both expected to be a bit down this year, which means that Florida State and Michigan are the only top 25 teams in this field (and in basketball, not in football - go figure). Watching to long and athletic Seminoles battle the shorter, jump-shooting Wolverines should be entertaining.

Intriguing Storylines:
  • Xavier starts a new era under Chris Mack, while Jordan Crawford, an Indiana transfer, tries to prove he is more than just a dunk on LeBron.
  • Anthony Grant takes over at Alabama with former Mickey D's all-american JaMychal Green ready for break out season.
  • Both Baylor and Marquette lost loaded back courts to graduation. Can they bounce back?
  • Toney Douglas was one of the most underrated guards in college basketball last season. Florida State has another one on their roster now (center Solomon Alibi), as well as a ton of size and length, but will freshman Michael Snaer and veteran Derwin Kitchen be able to fill the void Douglas left?
BIAH Prediction: Michael Snaer provides the 'Noles with enough of a scoring punch as FSU knocks off 'Bama and Michigan en route to the championship.

76 CLASSIC (Anaheim, CA) 1st round Nov. 26th:

Bracket:
  • West Virginia vs. Long Beach State winner against Texas A&M vs. Clemson winner
  • Minnesota vs. Butler winner against Portland vs. UCLA winner
Best 1st round match-up: This is easy - Butler and Minnesota. With Gordon Hayward, Shelvin Mack, and Matt Howard returning, the Bulldogs are going to be top 10 in a lot of pre-season polls. But Tubby Smith is making some strides in Minnesota as he returns basically his entire roster from last season's tournament team.

Best potential match-up: Both Butler and West Virginia are potential top 10 teams. While Butler had their players do all the right things over the summer (Mack and Howard competed with Team USA's college aged team), the Mountaineers lost both of their point guards. Both Truck Bryant and Joe Mazzulla are currently suspended indefinitely.

Intriguing Storylines:
  • With their three big guns returning, Butler is once again looking like a top 10 team, this time with a completely changed over roster from the one wit AJ Graves and Mike Green. Has Butler replaced Gonzaga and the best mid-major program?
  • Da'Sean Butler and Devin Ebanks are as talented a 1-2 punch as you will find in the country, but unless WVU finds someone to play the point, they are going to struggle offensively.
  • For the first time in four yeas, UCLA will be starting a season without Darren Collison and Josh Shipp manning the backcourt.
BIAH Prediction: Butler wins what is the most talented tournament field released.

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