2009 - 2010 College Basketball Season Preview: Preseason Tournaments Presser

It's not that easy to keep up with the beginning of the college basketball season.

Why you ask? Well, because the first few weeks consist of nothing but tournament play in random venues across the country with nothing really at stake. Well, although the tournament trophies won't be as sought after as net twine in March, a solid performance in preseason tournaments can lead to a fast start.

Name: Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament
Date: Nov. 9-13 (Campus Sites), Nov. 19-20 (New York City)
Teams: California, UNC, Ohio State, Syracuse, Albany, Alcorn State, Detroit, Florida Intl., James Madison, Murray State, North Carlina Central, Robert Morris

Breakdown: The top four teams (Cal, 'Cuse, UNC and OSU) automatically qualify for the semifinals, but that doesn't mean an underdog can't spring an upset. In fact, after watching the first seven games of the season, Ohio State and Syracuse, the two lower seeded teams, seem to be farther along than Cal and UNC. This tourney features some key players to watch for: Cal's Patrick Christopher, Syracuse's Wesley Johnson, Ohio State's Evan Turner, and UNC's Ed Davis.

BIAH's Pick: Syracuse over Ohio State as Wes Johnson and company slow down Evan Turner.


Name: CBE Classic
Date: Nov. 15-18 (Campus Sites), Nov. 23-24 (Kansas City)
Teams: Iowa, Pittsburgh, Texas, Wichita State, Binghamton, Arkansas-Monticello, Duquesne, Eastern Kentucky, Farleigh Dickinsion, UT-San Antonio, UC-Irvine, Western Carolina

Breakdown: Wichita State, Texas, Pitt, and Iowa all advance to the semifinals in Kansas City as this is another one of the Gazelle Group's "tournaments". Texas should have no problem rolling through this tournament as not one of the other three semi-finalists have anywhere near the size to handle them inside. Don't count out Pitt, however, as Ashton Gibbs, Dante Taylor, and company will surprise some people this year.

BIAH's Pick: Texas. Too much size.


Name: N.I.T Season Tip-Off
Date: Nov. 16-17 (Campus Sites), Nov. 25-26 (New York City)
Teams: Duke, UConn, Arizona State, LSU, TCU, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Colgate, Cal State-Northridge, Elon, Hofstra, Indiana State, Texas State, UW-Milwaukee, Western Kentucky, Yale

Breakdown: I've always been a big fan of the preseason N.I.T. It is one of the few 16 teams tournaments that is actually set up as a tournament. This year's edition is set up for a finals tilt between UConn and Duke, a match up between legendary coaches and programs taking place at the most legendary arena in the world. But the other two hosts - Arizona State and LSU - may not make it to NYC. Specifically, keep an eye on Western Kentucky, with potential Sun Belt POY AJ Slaughter, knocking off the Tigers.

BIAH's Pick: In an excellent battle of styles, UConn knocks off Duke as the Blue Devils have trouble with UConn's athleticism.


Name: Cancun Challenge
Date: Nov. 18-25
Teams: Kentucky, Stanford, Virginia, Cleveland State, Florida A&M, Oral Roberts, Rider, Sam Houston State

Breakdown: For student-athletes, having to play basketball in Cancun must be torture. Hopefully Kentucky has their heads screwed on tightly. If so, they should be able to run through what is essentially a four team tournament - Stanford, Virginia, Cleveland State, and Kentucky. I'm now officially on the Cleveland State bandwagon, and Virginia's Sylvan Landesburg is a scoring machine, but Kentucky is easily the star attraction during this week in paradise.

BIAH's Pick: Take a guess.


Name: Legends Classic
Date: Nov. 18-22 (Campus Sites), Nov. 27-28 (Atlantic City, NJ)
Teams: Florida, Massachussetts, Michigan State, Rutgers, Arkansas-Forth Smith, Cornell, Valparasio, Drexel, Vermont, Toledo, Troy, Georgia Southern

Breakdown: Another Gazelle Group event. Not exactly sure why, but tournament organizers decided that Florida and Michigan State would be the smart match-up in the first round of the four-team play-off. The Gators lost Nick Calathes, but adding Kenny Boynton to a group loaded with potential gives Florida a shot to be good this year. But asking an unproved team to take on Michigan State so early is a tall task. Beware of Rutgers, however, as Mike Rosario and Gregory Echinique look to take this team out of the Big East gutter.

BIAH's Pick: Michigan State is just too good for this group.


Name: Charleston Classic
Date: Nov. 19-22
Teams: Miami, La Salle, Tulane, South Florida, Davidson, Penn State, South Carolina, UNC-Wilmington

Breakdown: Its a shame that the arguably the two best teams in this field - La Salle and South Carolina - will be going head-to-head in the first round. Don't sleep on Miami, who should more than make up for the loss of Jack McClinton with the addition of Malcolm Grant and Durand Scott. South Florida, who will add Ohio State transfer Anthony Crater to a talented duo of Dominique Jones and Gus Gilchrist, and Penn State, led by PG Talor Battle, could also make a run.

BIAH's Pick: South Carolina over Penn State as Battle and Downey both go for 25.


Name: Puerto Rico Tip-Off
Date: Nov. 19-22
Teams: Villanova, Georgia Tech, Dayton, Indiana, Ole Miss, Boston U., Kansas State, George Mason

Breakdown: Puerto Rico will play host to what is the deepest of this year's tournaments. Villanova, Georgia Tech, Dayton, Ole Miss, and K-State could all earn an at-large bid, while few would be surprised George Mason or BU made a run through their respective league tournaments. While Villanova should be considered the favorite, they are going to have their hands full in the second round (if they make it there) as both Dayton and Georgia Tech are huge inside. Speaking of which, Dayton-Ga Tech may be the best first round match-up of all the tournaments. Also watch for a second round match-up of dynamic point guards with Chris Warren and Denis Clemente going toe-to-toe.

BIAH's Pick: I'm going with Dayton knocking off Tech, Nova, and K-State to bring home the chip as Gani Lawal and Derrick Favors average a combined 40 and 20.


Name: Paradise Jam
Date: Nov. 20-23 (US Virgin Islands)
Teams: Boston College, Purdue, Tennessee, Northern Iowa, DePaul, East Carolina, South Dakota State, Saint Joseph's

Breakdown: Purdue heads a solid field in the Virgin Islands. Tennessee, Northern Iowa, and Boston College are all probably headed to the dance as well. Nothing too special in the first rounds here, but potential second round match-ups of Tennessee-No. Iowa and BC-Purdue are quite intriguing. Everyone should be pulling for a Tennessee-Purdue final, as the contrast of styles should be a pleasure to watch with two excellent coaches at the helm.

BIAH's Pick: I think Northern Iowa knocks off Tennessee before falling to Purdue in the finals in a game that barely reaches the 50's.


Name: Maui Invitational
Date: Nov. 23-25
Teams: Chaminade, Gonzaga, Maryland, Arizona, Cincinnati, Wisconsin, Colorado, Vanderbilt

Breakdown: One of the premiere preseason tournaments, the Maui field this year will be just as stacked as ever. The Silver Swords of host school Chaminade will be the fan-favorite and consensus underdog. The guard play in this field is unparalleled - Greivis Vasquez, Matt Bouldin, Lance Stephenson, Nic Wise, and Cory Higgins. The best first round match-up is between Cincinnati and Vanderbilt, who are the two best teams in this field.

BIAH's Pick: I like Cinci winning this thing, taking down Gonzaga in the finals.


Name: 76 Classic
Date: Nov. 26-29 (Anaheim, CA)
Teams: West Virginia, Butler, Clemson, Texas A&M, UCLA, Minnesota, Long Beach State, Portland

Breakdown: Butler is loaded this season, but with West Virginia, Minnesota, and Clemson in this field, this field is wide open. Minnesota and Butler in the first round should be a classic, but Clemson and Texas A&M is also a great match-up. The match-up everyone is hoping for is to see West Virginia and Butler take on each other in the finals, but with the depth of this tournament, don't be surprised to see one of these two teams go down early.

BIAH's Pick: We don't expect that too happen, and our guess is that the Mountaineers take down the Bulldogs in the final as Devin Ebanks gives Gordon Hayward fits with his length.


Name: Old Spice Classic
Date: Nov. 26-29 (Orlando, FL)
Teams: Marquette, Xavier, Michigan, Alabama, Baylor, Creighton, Florida State, Iona

Breakdown: This has to be my favorite tournament out there. The reason? The tourney is played at "the Milk House". There's a good chance that you won't be able to find an arena across the entire country with a better name than "the Milk House". Last season, the Old Spice was the fall's best tournament, but this season the theme is rebuilding. Alabama, Creighton, Baylor, FSU, Xavier, and Marquette all lost important pieces in the off-season. If a favorite has was to be picked, it would have to be Michigan. But with a path that includes Creighton and likely Xavier, the Wolverines will have a difficult road to the title.

BIAH's Pick: With an easy road to the finals, I think Florida State's athleticism and length wins out over Michigan in the finals.