2010-2011 Season Preview Top 50 Countdown: Nos. 50-46

Over the coming weeks, we will be counting down our Top 50 teams in the country. Teams 26-50 will be posted in groups of five, while we will count backwards from No. 25 to the No. 1 team in the country.

For a complete listing of our season previews, click here.

To browse through the rest of our Top 50 Countdown, click here.


50. Northwestern

• Last Season: 20-14, 7-11 (Big Ten)


• Head Coach: Bill Carmody


• Key Losses: Kevin Coble, Jeremy Nash


• New Additions: JerShon Cobb


• Projected Lineup:


• G: Michael Thompson, Sr.
• G: Alex Marcotullio, So.
  
• F: Drew Crawford, So.
  
• F: John Shurna, Jr.
  
• C: Luka Mirkovic, Jr.
• Bench: JerShon Cobb, Fr.; David Curletti, Jr.
  

• Outlook: The Wildcats caught a bad break when Kevin Coble decided he wasn't going to return for his final season with Northwestern. But that doesn't mean that the Wildcats are dead in the water. Northwestern brings back five of their top six scorers from a team that won 20 games and was in bubble consideration until the end of February. One of those five is John Shurna, a combo-forward that averaged 18 and 6 in Coble's stead. They also bring back Michael Thompson, one of the most underrated guards in the conference. Drew Crawford was selected as the Big Ten freshman of the year. Luka Mirkovic and Alex Marcotullio also return, while freshman JerShon Cobb, a top 100 recruit, should be able to fill in Jeremy Nash's shoes. This is the same Northwestern team, just a year older. Why can't they compete this year? Northwestern has never made an NCAA Tournament. Could that change this season?

49. Loyola Marymount

• Last Season: 18-16, 7-7 (WCC)
  


• Head Coach: Max Good
  


• Key Losses: Kevin Young, Given Kalipende
  


• New Additions: Anthony Ireland, Godwin Okonji, Ayodeji Egbeyemi


• Projected Lineup:


• G: Vernon Teel, Sr.
• G: Jarred DuBois, Jr.
  
• F: Drew Viney, Jr.
  
• F: Ashley Hamilton, So.
  
• C: Edgar Garibay, So.
• Bench: Anthony Ireland, Fr.; Larry Davis, Jr.; Tim Diederichs, Jr.; LaRon Armstead, Jr.
  

• Outlook: Just two years ago, this Loyola Marymount program was in shambles. Prior to the 2009-2010 season, they had won just eight games the previous two seasons. But thanks to the addition of some talented transfers and the development of a couple of their own players, the Lions won 18 games and went 7-7 in the league. Those two records could have been much better had Loyola not been battling injuries all season. The best news? Essentially everyone is back (the notable exception is 6'8" Kevin Young, who transferred). Loyola may be one of the few teams in the WCC that can actually match up with Gonzaga inside. 6'8" Oregon transfer Drew Viney, who averaged 16.7 ppg and 7.1 rpg, is back. His perimeter ability makes Viney a tough matchup in the WCC, and he also is a solid defender. Edgar Garibay, who was granted a medical redshirt due to a torn acl he suffered, is a 6'10" center that started four games before his injury. All-freshman team member Ashley Hamilton, an athletic 6'7" forward that averaged 8.6 ppg and 4.5 rpg, will also return and could turn into a real threat inside. On the perimeter, the Lions are led by all-conference performer Vernon Teel, a stat-sheet stuffing combo-guard (he averaged 15 points, 5 boards, 5 assists, 2 steals, and shot 40% from three) that could blossom into one of the best players on the west coast this season. Jared DuBois, who is a solid spot-up shooter, will be a nice complement to Teel on the perimeter, while Larry Davis, a Seton Hall transfer that has been plagued by injuries (he didn't travel with the team to Europe this summer), will provide a shot of athleticism on the perimeter when healthy. Also expect point guard Anthony Ireland to see some time in the back court as well. This is a very good basketball team, the question will be whether or not they can handle being marked this season. The Lions won't be sneaking up on anybody.

48. Murray State

• Last Season: 31-5, 17-1 (OVC)


• Head Coach: Bill Kennedy


• Key Losses: Danero Thomas, Tony Easely


• New Additions: Chris Griffin, Shawn Jackson


• Projected Lineup:


• G: Isaiah Canaan, So.
• G: BJ Jenkins, Sr.
  
• G: Isacc Miles, Sr.
  
• F: Jeffery McClain, Sr.
  
• F: Ivan Aska, Jr.
• Bench: Jewaun Long, Jr.; Donte Poole, Jr.; Shawn Jackson, Fr.; Edward Daniel, So.
  

• Outlook: Everything about this Murray State team screams balance. They had ten players average at least ten minutes last season. They had six guys averaging between 9.7 ppg and 10.6 ppg. They not only were the best offensive team in the OVC last year, they were hands down the best defensive team as well. This is a unit that works very well together, and while they are losing two key pieces in Danero Thomas and Tony Easley, there is more than enough on this roster to make up for it. The back court of Isaiah Canaan, BJ Jenkins, and Isacc Miles is as good as anyone. They put tremendous pressure on the ball defensively and can all knock down a jumper or create off the dribble. Donte Poole, a 6'3" junior, is other guy that will see time on the perimeter. Up front, it will be tough to replace a guy like Easley, but there are pieces here. Ivan Aska is a solid front court presence, while guys like Jeffery McClain, Edward Daniel, and the three newcomers will be looking to make a name for themselves and earn some playing time. Is wasn't a fluke that Murray State won 31 games last season or that they came a few possessions from knocking off Butler in the second round. This is a well-coached, balanced, and talented basketball team that will throw a scare into any of the big boys they face this season.

47. Texas A&M

• Last Season: 24-10, 11-5 (Big XII)


• Head Coach: Mark Turgeon


• Key Losses: Brian Davis, Derrick Roland, Donald Sloan


• New Additions: Kourtney Roberson, Daniel Alexander, Keith Davis


• Projected Lineup:


• G: BJ Holmes, Sr.
• G: Dash Harris, Jr.
  
• F: Naji Hibbert, So.
  
• F: Nathan Walkup, Sr.
  
• C: David Loubeau, Jr.
• Bench: Daniel Alexander, Fr.; Keith Davis, Fr.; Khris Middleton, So.; Ray Turner, So.
  

• Outlook: It was a rough year to be an Aggie, between Derrick Roland's leg, Tobi Oyedeji's unfortunate passing, and the graduation of Brian Davis and Donald Sloan. The cupboard is far from bare, however. BJ Holmes and Dash Harris both looked like they could develop into above-average players in the Big XII, especially with the amount of minutes opening up in the Aggie back court. Expect sophomore Naji Hibbert to see an increased role on the perimeter as well. Up front, A&M has a fairly solid rotation. David Loubeau may be primed for a break out season, as he looked very impressive last year at time. With Khris Middleton, Ray Turner, and Nathan Walkup returning and three freshman coming into the program at 6'8" or taller, the Aggies once again look like they are going to be a physical defensive team. Mark Turgeon's clubs have never been flashy. They grind you out and win games through execution and defense. This team is not loaded with offensive firepower, but if a couple of guys develop and this group continues to play the way Turgeon wants them to, this group should be, at the least, in the bubble conversation come February.

46. Richmond

• Last Season: 26-9, 13-3 (A-10)


• Head Coach: Chris Mooney


• Key Losses: David Gonzalvez, Ryan Butler


• New Additions: Cedrick Lindsay, Derrick Williams, Wayne Sparrow


• Projected Lineup:


• G: Kevin Anderson, Sr.
• G: Kevin Smith, Sr.
  
• F: Frances Cedric-Martel, Jr.
  
• F: Justin Harper, Sr.
  
• C: Dan Geriot, Sr.
• Bench: Cedrick Lindsay, Fr.; Darrius Garrett, Jr.; Josh Duinker, Jr; Darien Brothers, So.
  

• Outlook: While the Spiders lose David Gonzalvez to graduation, the good news is that reigning A-10 player of the year Kevin Anderson returns. A 17.8 ppg scorer last season, Anderson is a lightening quick 6' guard that can get into the paint against just about anyone. Shouldering more of the load this season without Gonzalvez, he could very well become a 20 ppg scorer. The question is going to be who steps up in the back court to replace Gonzalvez. The best answer may one of Chris Mooney's two freshmen guards, Cedrick Lindsay and Wayne Sparrow. Junior Frances-Cedric Martel and senior Kevin Smith may end up starting as a result of their experience, while Darien Brothers should see some minutes as well. Richmond's achilles heel last season was in the paint, as evidenced by the pounding they took from Omar Samhan in the NCAA Tournament. And, by and large, this will be the same group as last season. Much will be expected of Justin Harper, a 6'10" forward with a nice perimeter touch. He averaged 10.6 ppg last season, but with his excellent play down the stretch, he will be counted on to pick up some of the scoring slack. Also returning is Dan Geriot, who is already a 1,000 point scorer, but struggled to regain the form of his sophomore year (when he averaged 14 and 7) after tearing his acl and missing the 2008-2009 season. Darius Garrett also returns, a slender 6'9" forward. You know what you are going to get out of Anderson, and if some of his teammates can pick up the slack and make up for the loss of Gonzalvez's production, this is a team that will compete for a tournament berth.