2010-2011 Season Preview Top 50 Countdown: Nos. 40-36

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.


40. Old Dominion

• Last Season: 27-9, 15-3 (CAA)
  


• Head Coach: Blaine Taylor
  


• Key Losses: Gerald Lee, Marsharee Neely
  


• New Additions: Dimitri Batten, Richard Ross
  


• Projected Lineup:


• G: Darius James, Sr.
  
• G: Kent Bazemore, Jr.
  
• F: Ben Finney, Sr.
  
• F: Keyon Carter, Sr.
  
• C: Frank Hassell, Sr.
  
• Bench: Trian Iliadis, Jr.; Dimitri Batten, Fr.; Richard Ross, Fr.; Chris Cooper, Jr.; Marquel de Lancey, Jr.
  

• Outlook: You knew what you were going to get when you played the Monarchs last year -- a big, physical team that wins by beating you up defensively and on the glass. With six of their eight rotational players returning, its tough to envision ODU being much different this season. Obviously, the big change is going to be on the offensive end, where they won't be able to rely on the talents of Gerald Lee. While his presence in the post will obviously be missed, ODU brings back five guys that averaged between 7.0 ppg and 9.2 ppg. On a team that is built around teamwork and executing sets, I don't envision this being a huge problem. Up front, 6'5" Ben Finney and 6'9" Frank Hassell, the team's two most rugged players, are both back. Keyon Carter, a part-time starter last season, should slide into the starting spot vacated by Lee, while Chris Cooper, Nick Wright, and freshmen Richard Ross and Anton Larsen should provide more than enough depth. The back court could be the key to how good this team ends up being. Junior Kent Bazemore could be primed for a break out season. A versatile 6'5" wing, Bazemore led the team in steals and assists while averaging 8.4 ppg. He was also the team's shut down defender. Senior Darius James looks capable of becoming a reliable starting point guard, while freshman Dimitri Batten was a three-star recruit and should have an immediate impact. ODU will once against bang and scrap their way to the top of the CAA, and could even compete for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
  

39. Marquette

• Last Season: 22-12, 11-7 (Big East)
  


• Head Coach: Buzz Williams
  


• Key Losses: Lazar Hayward, David Cubillan, Mo Acker
  


• New Additions: Vander Blue, Reggie Smith, Jamail Jones, Jae Crowder, Davante Gardner
  


• Projected Lineup:


• G: Junior Cadougan, So.
  
• G: Darius Johnson-Odon, Jr.
  
• G: Vander Blue, Fr.
  
• F: Jae Crowder, Jr.
  
• F: Jimmy Butler, Sr.
  
• Bench: Chris Otule, So.; Joseph Fulce, Sr.; Jamail Jones, Fr.; Dwight Buycks, Sr.; Reggie Smith, Fr.

• Outlook: Don't be surprised if you see predictions that the Golden Eagles will be down next season. Yes, they lost Lazar Hayward. Yes, Mo Acker and David Cubillan graduated. But, as we should come to expect from the Golden Eagles these days, Marquette may just have the best back court in the conference come season's end. Darius Johnson-Odom is one of the best shooters in the country, and this season will have more of an opportunity to showcase his all-around game. I'm one of many expecting a big year out of DJO. Joining him will be Junior Cadougan, a bulldog at the point and should be much improved now that he is healthy, and Vander Blue, a consensus top 40 recruit that is athletic, attacks the rim, and plays a tough, aggressive brand of basketball. Marquette's backcourt also returns the streaky Dwight Buycks and adds freshman Reggie Smith. The Golden Eagles are going to be thin up front again as well. Jimmy Butler should continue to develop and become one of the better forwards in the Big East. If he can improve his perimeter stroke, he should be able to fill in the void left by Lazar Hayward. Jae Crowder, the national JuCo player of the year, is another guy cut from that same cloth that should be an immediate impact player for Buzz Williams. Freshman Jamail Smith, who is more of a wing, will see some time at the forward spot as well. Chris Otule, who is back from a broken foot, and Joseph Fulce round out the front court rotation. Marquette isn't loaded with upperclassmen, but this is a team with a lot of experience, especially when it comes to close games. They didn't lose by double figures until the semis of the Big East Tournament, and should once again personify the scrappiness of their head coach.
  

38. Arizona

• Last Season: 16-15, 10-8
  


• Head Coach: Sean Miller
  


• Key Losses: Nic Wise
  


• New Additions: Daniel Bejarano, Jordin Mayes, Jesse Perry
  


• Projected Lineup:


• G: MoMo Jones, So.
  
• G: Kyle Fogg, Jr.
  
• F: Solomon Hill, So.
  
• F: Jamelle Horne, Sr.
  
• F: Derrick Williams, So.
  
• Bench: Brendan Lavender, Jr.; Kevin Parrom, So.; Kryrl Natyazhko, So.; Daniel Bejarano, Fr.; Jordin Mayes, Fr.
  

• Outlook: In a wide open Pac-10, the Wildcats certainly have the talent necessary to make a run at the league title even with the loss of Nic Wise. The problem is that the majority of that talent is going to be freshmen and sophomores. Derrick Williams should be one of the best sophomores in the country, and will be even more productive as his post game develops. Senior Jamelle Horne isn't the brightest, but he does have some talent and his ability to spread the floor will help create space for Williams inside. Solomon Hill, Kryrl Natyazhko, and Kevin Parrom are all sophomores, and their development this season will go a long way towards determining how good Arizona will be this season. Perhaps the most pressure, however, is going to fall on Lamont "MoMo" Jones. Arizona is known as Point Guard U for good reason, and MoMo is the one that will be taking the reins this season. MoMo showed some promise as a scorer last season, but he will be counted on to be a leader and a distributor this year. Joining him in the back court will be junior Kyle Fogg, who has proven to be a solid scorer and shooter, along with junior Brandon Lavender and freshmen Daniel Bejarano and Jordin Mayes. The Pac-10 is difficult to predict, Arizona even more so with their youth. This team could put it all together and make a run to the league title, or they could suffer from inexperience and finish below .500 in the league. Neither would surprise me, but the former seems much more likely than the latter.
  

37. UNLV

• Last Season: 25-9, 11-5 (MWC)
  


• Head Coach: Lon Kruger
  


• Key Losses: Darris Santee, Matt Shaw
  


• New Additions: Carlos Lopez, Quintrell Thomas, Karam Mashour
  


• Projected Lineup:


• G: Oscar Bellfield, Jr.
  
• G: Tre'Von Willis, Sr.
  
• G: Chace Stanback, Jr.
  
• F: Derrick Jasper, Jr.
  
• F: Quintrell Thomas, So.
  
• Bench: Anthony Marshall, So.; Justin Hawkins, So.; Brice Massamba, Jr.; Karam Mashour, Fr.; Carlos Lopez, Fr.
  

• Outlook:UNLV's season was seemingly in jeopardy over the summer when Tre'Von Willis was accused of assaulting and choking a woman at an off-campus apartment. But last month, Willis plead out to reduced charges and got handed a one (non-exhibition) game suspension, meaning that UNLV's leading scorer -- and the most dangerous offensive weapon in the MWC not named Jimmer -- will play for Lon Kruger this season. Willis was far and away the best scorer on the UNLV roster last season, but that doesn't mean there isn't talent here. Chace Stanback should be counted on to develop a more predominant scoring role, while point guard Oscar Bellfield and wing Derrick Jasper -- who should be fully healthy -- are both talented enough to improve on their numbers from a year ago. Don't be surprised if sophomore Anthony Marshall has a big year, while freshman Karam Mashour should also see some minutes. With the notable exception of Kendall Wallace, who tore his acl, the Rebel's entire back court returns. The issue for UNLV will be in the front court. Darris Santee graduates and Matt Shaw was kicked out of the program. Brice Massamba does return, and redshirt freshman Carlos Lopez will be eligible. The key, however, may end up being Kansas transfer Quintrell Thomas, who gets eligible this year. Thomas was a top 100 power forward out of St. Patrick in New Jersey, and should provide the Rebels with some much needed muscle inside. Even without Willis, this is a team that plays a similar style to last season, spreading the floor and allowing their talented perimeter players to make things happen.

36. Mississippi State

• Last Season: 24-12, 9-7 (SEC)
  


• Head Coach: Rick Stansbury
  


• Key Losses: Jarvis Varnado, Phil Turner, Barry Stewart, Romero Osby
  


• New Additions: Renardo Sidney, Shaun Smith, Jalen Steele, Brian Bryant
  


• Projected Lineup:


• G: Dee Bost, Jr.
  
• G: Riley Benock, Sr.
  
• F: Ravern Johnson, Sr.
• F: Kodi Augustus, Jr.
  
• C: Renardo Sidney, Fr.
  
• Bench: Shaun Smith, Fr.; Wendell Lewis, So.; John Riek, So.; Twany Beckham, So.
  

• Outlook: The Bulldogs have a real chance at being a tournament team this year, as the 2010-2011 roster listed on their is talented. The problem? There are major question marks regarding three valuable pieces. Point guard Dee Bost will not be eligible until the start of SEC play (although its an easy argument that Rick Stansbury caught a huge break with Bost even being allowed to play this season). Renardo Sidney has already sat out an entire season, and still has nine games to sit out this season, which is not a good thing for someone that has struggled with weight problems in the past. John Riek was, at one time, considered the best recruit in the country, but after numerous knee surgeries he is a shell of his former self. Having said all that, Bost is one of the most talented point guards in the SEC, and if he can improve decision-making he is an all-conference caliber player. Word out of Starkville is that Sidney has, in fact, dedicated himself to getting in shape, and if so he will be a serious weapon for the Bulldogs. There some help as well. Ravern Johnson is a lanky, 6'7" wing with a deadly jump shot. Kodi Augustus is a live-bodied power forward that can be a weapon when his head is in the game. Rick Stansbury is going to have to develop a bench, which is easier said than done, but playing nine games without Sidney and the entirety of the non-conference schedule without Bost will force some of Stansbury's inexperienced guys to play a larger role. And when you consider the massive road trip this team takes in December -- Virginia Tech in the Bahamas on the 18th, the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu the 22nd-25th, and St. Mary's in Vegas the 29th -- this team should be tested come SEC play. The NCAA Tournament is a very real possibility.