2011-2012 Season Preview: What's the opposite of a "sleeper"?

Last week, we gave you a list of teams that we believed are primed to have a season that will be better than we expect. But for every team that exceeds expectations, there is a team that fails to live up to the hype. Every season there is at least one team in each conference that underwhelms, disappoints, implodes or regresses. We are here to take a look at the teams we think will do just that this season.

But first, please note that we aren't hating on any of the teams here. We are simply trying to project a teams lack of success based on conference strength, lack of experience, lack of roster depth and so on. We are just trying to do our jobs. After all, not every team can go undefeated, and we aren't here to hand out "participation trophies" to all 346 teams.

Atlantic Coast Conference: Florida State
Preseason Ranking: 3rd Place
Where we ranked them: 3rd Place
Why we think they won't do as well as expected:
The only thing working for this team is that the ACC is very thin outside of Tobacco Road. True, they do have Michael Snaer, and talented wing who has flown under the radar for a long time. But who else will step up? Who do they have to replace Chris Singleton? Okaro White should see an increase in production, but who do they have after that? Their back court is weak and their front court is thin. There really isn't anything about this team that makes me think they will be better than nine other teams.


Atlantic-10: Richmond
Preseason Ranking: 5th Place
Where we ranked them: 8th Place
Why we think they won't do as well as expected:
After Xavier and Temple, the rest of the A-10 is a jumbled mess. So it is hard to picked a team that will underwhelm this year. But based on all the losses to the Chris Mooney's program, it is hard to see this team being too successful. Outside of Darien Brothers and Darius Garrett, this team doesn't have a terrible amount of talent. With teams like Saint Louis, St. Bonaventure's and George Washington set to breakout this season, Richmond looks like a team that will regress.


Big East: West Virginia
Preseason Ranking: 7th Place
Where we ranked them: 10th Place
Why we think they won't do as well as expected:
This one is pretty easy. 1) They play is a 16-team mega-super-conference. 2) They return only three players from last years squad. 3) Eight freshman will suit up this season. 4) They lost their first exhibition game of the season, to Northern Kentucky (DII). West Virginia is going to be good eventually, just not right now. But the thing is, they could be even worse than expected.


Big-Ten: Purdue
Preseason Ranking: The Big-Ten does not release a preseason poll
Where we ranked them: 6th Place
Why we think they won't do as well as expected:
What exactly do we know about Purdue? Sure, they have Robbie Hummel, but it's been a long time since he's played competitive basketball. Outside of Hummel, Purdue is full of question-marks. Who is going to be their front-court presence? Will Lewis Jackson finally start to produce? What about their depth? Luckily for the Boilermakers, the bottom of the Big-Ten is pretty dreadful, so a 6th-8th place finish is probably a reasonable expectation;.


Big-XII: Kansas
Preseason Ranking: 1st Place (Tie)
Where we ranked them: 2nd Place
Why we think they won't do as well as expected:
If Kansas finishes anywhere in the top three in the conference, Bill Self should win Big-XII Coach of the Year honors. This team has almost no depth whatsoever, and the guys who were supposed to be leaders, Elijah Johnson and Tyshawn Taylor, got suspended by coach Self two weeks ago for violating team rules. If teams can properly game plan to shutdown Thomas Robinson, it will be very difficult for the Jayhawks to win a lot of games.


Colonial Athletic Association: James Madison
Preseason Ranking: 5th Place
Where we ranked them: 4th Place
Why we think they won't do as well as expected:
It's not like JMU is expected to do great things this season, but due to Denzel Bowles' graduation and Devon Moore's eligibility issue, the Dukes could be in for a long season. They do have Rayshawn Goins and Julius Wells up front, but the CAA should feature a handful of teams with talented front courts. The lack of a solid back court is going to hurt the Dukes.


Conference-USA: Central Florida
Preseason Ranking: C-USA does not conduct a preseason poll
Where we ranked them: 4th Place
Why we think they won't do as well as expected:
This team should be good, I think. At least I want to think that they will be. But then I remember about last season's epic collapse, and the fact that they're, well, Central Florida. This team is like a drug addiction. The highs are great, and the lows are absolutely miserable. That's how the 2011-2012 season will play out. Plus, @DanWolken won't stop chirping about UCF, and he's rarely wrong. I think.


Horizon League: Detroit
Preseason Ranking: 2nd Place
Where we ranked them: 2nd Place
Why we think they won't do as well as expected:
When Eli Holman left the program two months ago, it was a huge blow to the Detroit program. He was the guy that would put them over the edge this year. Ray McCallum may be the team's star, but Holman was their top front court producer, averaging nearly a double-double per game. In a mid-major conference like the Horizon League, having an elite big-man can put a team over the edge. The Titans won't be terrible this season, they'll be somewhere around the top four or five. But without Holman up front, they will struggle to assert themselves as legitimate contenders for the Horizon League crown


Missouri Valley Conference: Creighton
Preseason Ranking: 1st Place
Where we ranked them: 1st Place
Why we think they won't do as well as expected:
OK, OK, just hear me out. I don't doubt that this team is the best in the MVC, but, like, who is going to play defense this year? Last season they ranked 187th in the conutry in defensive efficiency. Sure, they have more talent than any other team in the conference, but with the expectations that are being placed on them this season, anything less than a perfect conference record would have to be considered a disappointment.


Mountain West Conference: UNLV
Preseason Ranking: 2nd
Where we ranked them: 2nd
Why we think they won't do as well as expected:
The Mountain West is going to stink this season, and since UNLV will be good, but not nearly as good as New Mexico, I have to list the Runnin' Rebels here. Teams like SDSU and Colorado State aren't expected to do anything special, so it's impossible for them to fail. UNLV doesn't have anything to gain, other than winning a really sub-par conference.


Pac-12: Arizona
Preseason Ranking: 3rd Place
Where we ranked them: 1st Place
Why we think they won't do as well as expected:
Unless you're John Calipari, it's rather difficult to ask freshman to carry the bulk of the workload for a top-level BCS-conference program, and that's exactly what Sean Miller is going to have to do this season. With Derrick Williams gone to the NBA Lockout, MoMo Jones gone to Iona, and Kevin Parrom still recovering from bullet wounds, the Wildcats are going to need a lot of production from their standout freshman class. But the Pac-12 will be much better than in recent seasons, and it just seems like a tall order for this squad. Plus, they lost an exhibition game to Seattle-Pacific. That doesn't exactly help their cause.


Southeastern Conference: Vanderbilt
Preseason Ranking: 2nd Place
Where we ranked them: 2nd Place
Why we think they won't do as well as expected:
The Commodores lack that killer instinct that great teams need to possess. Last season, they were 1-5 in games decided by three points or less and and seven losses were by four points or less or in overtime. Factor in the back-to-back first round exits in the NCAA Tournament, and the injury to Festus Ezeli, and you have a team primed to disappoint. This team has serious talent, and have a bunch of experienced players. But the problem is that none of these experienced players have any experience winning close games. You kinda have to be able to do that if you want to keep playing games late into March.


Western Athletic Conference: Utah State
Preseason Ranking: 3rd Place
Where we ranked them: 3rd Place
Why we think they won't do as well as expected:
The Aggies have had a stranglehold on the WAC for the last couple of seasons, but their grip could start to loosen this season. While they do return Brockeith Payne, one of the conference's top players, Utah State lost a lot of veteran leadership and front court production. Gone is Taj Wesley, their All-Conference center, Brian Green, their crafty distributor and key contributors like Nate Bendall, Tyler Newbold and Pooh Williams. Even with guys like Payne and forward Brady Jardine, this team has to find out what they have rather quickly.


West Coast Conference: BYU
Preseason Ranking: 3rd Place
Where we ranked them: 3rd Place
Why we think they won't do as well as expected:
They don't have Jimmer Fredette anymore, do they? Jimmer put this team over the top. Sure, they have a solid crop of experienced players in Brandon Davies, Noah Hartsock, Chris Collinsworth and Charles Abouo, but without Jimmer, this team simply wont be the same. This season could turn out to be a huge wake-up call for the Cougars.


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Conference Media Day Recap: 31-in-all

The college hoops is so close, I can smell it. We've given you our conference previews and have broken down our preseason top-25. As of this week, all the conferences have had their media days and released their preseason polls and All-Conference teams.

Below you will find all the results. But be warned, there is a lot of different information, and as usual, each conference marches to the beat of their own drum. That's why you end up with things like the Atlantic Sun's 12 member all-conference first team. Before we get to the analysis, use the following paragraphs as a disclaimer.

Conferences differ in their preseason voting styles. Some conferences chose to have only coaches vote, some have a mixture of coaches, athletic directors, sports information directors and other media-type vote. A few conferences have separate polls for the coaches and the media.

In each conference poll, teams are ordered by the number of votes they received, with first place votes being in parentheses. Not all conferences choose Preseason Rookie of the Year or Newcomer of the year. Some conferences chose a Preseason All-Defensive Team or a Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and some do not. Not all the conferences released the outcome of voting, so numbers will only appear for conferences that released them to the public.


America East Conference

For the fifth consecutive year, America East coaches tabbed Boston University as the favorites to win the conference. If the Terriers are to repeat as A-East champs, they must do it without John Holland, last season's A-East Player of the Year. The Sea Wolves of Stony Brook got three first place votes, and will be led by senior guard Bryan Dougher, and member of the Preseason All-Conference team.

Coaches Poll:
Botston (6), Stony Brook (3), Vermont, Albany, New Hampshire, Maine, Hartford, UMBC, Binghamton

All-Conference Team:
Darryl Partin - Guard, Sr., Boston
Gerald McLemore - Guard, Sr., Maine
Chris De La Rosa - Guard, Sr., UMBC
Bryan Dougher - Guard, Sr., Stony Brook
Brian Voelkel - Forward, Soph., Vermont



Atlantic Coast Conference

There may be no better starting quad (group of 4) in the country than the UNC Tar Heels. They return standout sophomore point guard Kendall Marshall, along with three preseason first team All-ACC members in John Henson, Tyler Zeller and Harrison Barnes, who was named Preseason PoY. But the Tar Heels aren't just limited to their starters. Their bench is loaded with freshman talent and experienced shooters like James Michael McAdoo, P.J. Hairston, Justin Watts and Reggie Bullock. But don't count out the Duke Blue Devils just yet. They return a lot of size up front, and will feature one of the most entertaining back courts in the country, led by freshman Austin Rivers and junior Seth Curry. While Duke may not have as much raw talent as North Carolina, they certainly have a much deeper bench. It would not be surprising to see Mike Krzyzewski go 11-deep in a handful of games this season.

Coaches/Media Poll:
North Carolina (57), Duke (2), Florida State, Virginia, Miami, Virginia Tech, Clemson, North Carolina State, Maryland, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Boston College

All-Conference Team:
Harrison Barnes - Forward, Soph., North Carolina
John Henson - Forward/Center, Jr., North Carolina
Tyler Zeller - Forward/Center, Sr., North Carolina
Malcolm Grant - Guard, Sr., Miami
Seth Curry - Guard, R-Jr., Duke
Mike Scott - Forward, R-Sr., Virginia

Player of the Year:
Harrison Barnes - Forward, Soph., North Carolina

Rookie of the Year:
Austin Rivers - Guard, Fr., Duke



Atlantic Sun Conference
(NOTE: The Atlantic Sun places 12 players on the preseason All-Conference Team)

The Belmont Bruins, playing their final season in the Atlantic Sun before bolting for the Ohio Valley Conference, were the unanimous favorites to win the conference. The squad, led by a bevy of upperclassmen won 30 games last season and lost just one game in the conference. Markieth Cummings a combo guard from Kennesaw State, was tabbed as Preseason PoY.

Coaches Poll:
Belmont (8), East Tennessee State (2), North Florida, Jacksonville, Mercer, Lipscomb, Kennesaw State, Florida-Gulf Coast, South Carolina-Upstate, Stetson

Media Poll:
Belmont (28), East Tennessee State (1), Jacksonville, North Florida, Mercer, Lipscomb, Kennesaw State, Florida-Gulf Coast, South Carolina-Upstate, Stetson

All-Conference Team:
Markeith Cummings - Guard/Forward, Jr., Kennesaw State
Torrey Craig - Forward, Soph., South Carolina-Upstate
Ian Clark - Guard, Jr., Belmont
Mick Hedgepeth - Center, Sr., Belmont
Isiah Brown - Forward, Sr., East Tennessee State
Tommy Hubbard - Guard, Sr., East Tennessee State
Jerron Granberry - Guard/Forward, Jr., North Florida
Andy Diaz - Forward, Jr., North Florida
Scott Saunders - Forward/Center, Sr., Belmont
Delwan Graham - Forward, Sr., Jacksonville
Jordan Burgason - Guard, Sr., Lipscomb

Player of the Year:
Markeith Cummings - Guard/Forward, Jr., Kennesaw State



Atlantic-10 Conference

For what feels like the ninth year in-a-row, the Xavier Musketeers are the preseason favorites to win the Atlantic-10 Conference. Led by Preseason All-American Tu Holloway and a cast of solid role players, Xavier and head coach Chris Mack should be able to clean out the conference relatively easily. Temple posses the most legitimate threat to Xavier's title chances. Saint Louis and St. Bonaventure's, picked to finish third and fourth, will showcase their best rosters in close to a decade.

Coaches/Media Poll:
Xavier (18), Temple (4), Saint Louis, St. Bonaventure, Richmond, Dayton, St. Joseph's, George Washington, Duquesne, Rhode Island, Charlotte, Massachusetts, La Salle, Fordham

All-Conference Team:
Tu Holloway - Guard, Sr., Xavier
Andrew Nicholson - Forward, Sr., St. Bonaventure
Ramone Moore - Guard, Sr., Temple
Juan Fernandez - Guard, Sr., Temple
Tony Taylor - Guard, Sr., George Washington

All-Defensive Team
C.J. Aiken - Forward, Soph., St. Joseph's
Tu Holloway - Guard, Sr., Xavier
Andrew Nicholson - Forward, Sr., St. Bonaventure
T.J. McConnell - Guard, Soph., Duquesne
Darrius Garrett - Forward/Center, Sr., Richmond

All-Freshman Team
Dezmine Wells - Guard/Forward, Fr., Xavier
Jerrell Wright - Forward, Fr., La Salle
Justin Martin - Forward, R-Fr., Xavier
Cady LaLanne - Forward, Fr., UMass
Alonzo Nelson-Odada - Forward, Fr., Richmond
Anthony Lee - Forward, R-Fr., Temple

Player of the Year:
Tu Holloway - Guard, Sr., Xavier



Big East Conference

Last season's National Champions, the UConn Huskies, we picked as co-favorites to win the Big East in 2011-2012 along with Syracuse. While the Huskies did receive more first-place votes, the teams drew the same number of points in the poll. UConn, Syracuse and Louisville have easily the deepest, most talent-rich squads in the conference, but each team features a decent amount of unproven talent. Look for established teams like Cincinnati and Marquette to sneak up toward the top of the standings.

Coaches Poll:
Connecticut (7), Syracuse (5), Louisville (3), Pittsburgh (1), Cincinnati, Marquette, West Virginia, Villanova, Notre Dame, Georgetown, Rutgers, St. John's, Seton Hall, South Florida, Providence, DePaul

All-Conference Team:
Ashton Gibbs - Guard, Sr., Pittsburgh
Jeremy Lamb - Guard/Forward, So., Connecticut
Darius Johnson-Odom - Guard, Sr., Marquette
Tim Abromaitis - Forward, Sr., Notre Dame
Kris Joseph - Forward, Sr., Syracuse
Kevin Jones - Forward, Sr., West Virginia

Player of the Year:
Ashton Gibbs - Guard, Sr., Pittsburgh

Rookie of the Year:
Andre Drummond, Forward/Center, Fr., UConn



Big Sky Conference
(NOTE: The Big Sky Conference does not released a preseason All-Conference Team)

For the fourth consecutive season, the Weber State Wildcats were a unanimous pick by both the coaches and the media to win the Big Sky Conference. The Wildcats will be led by the Conference's best player, Damian Lillard, who missed all of last season with a broken foot. Lillard is an electrifying scorer who should be able to carry this team through a conference riddled with transition. Northern Colorado, last season's Big Sky champs, graduated their two best players, Montana State has a tremendous amount of turnover, and Eastern Washington features a new coach and a new identity. The only real threat should come from Montana, a team who finished 21-11 last season and held victories over both UCLA and Oregon State.

Coaches Poll:
Weber State (8), Montana (1), Eastern Washington, Northern Colorado, Portland State, Northern Arizona, Montana State, Sacramento State, Idaho State

Media Poll:
Weber State (19), Montana (4), Northern Colorado (1), Northern Arizona, Portland State, Eastern Washington, Montana State, Sacramento State, Idaho State



Big South Conference

The Bulldogs of UNC-Asheville are heavy favorites to win the Big South in 2011-2012. Led by the stellar backcourt duo of J.P. Primm and Matt Dickey, the Big South Preseason PoY, the Bulldogs enter the season as the conference favorites for first time since the 2002-2003 season. Coastal Carolina was picked second, but a heavy dose of roster turnover could hurt the Chanticleers production this season. High Point was picked to finish sixth, but received a first place vote. Don't be surprised if you see the Panthers, led by back court stars Nick Barbour and Shay Shine, near the top of the standings come March.

Coaches/Media Poll:
UNC-Asheville (18), Coastal Carolina (5), VMI (1), Liberty, Winthrop, High Point (1), Presbyterian, Charleston Southern, Campbell, Gardner-Webb, Radford

All-Conference Team:
Matt Dickey - Guard, Sr., UNC Asheville
Jesse Sanders - Guard, Sr., Liberty
Al'Lonzo Coleman - Forward, R-Sr., Presbyterian
Nick Barbour - Guard, Sr., High Point
J.P. Primm - Guard, Sr., UNC Asheville

Player of the Year:
Matt Dickey - Guard, Sr., UNC-Asheville



Big-Ten Conference
(NOTE: The Big-Ten only lists the top three teams that receive votes. None of the voting results were released)

Led by powerhouse-sophomore Jared Sullinger, the Ohio State Buckeyes were selected as favorites to win the Big Ten Conference in 2011-2012. Sullinger was named Preseason PoY and head coach Thad Matta will be looking for his eighth-consecutive 20-win season. Michigan State has has a rough two years, but with some much-needed roster turnover, don't be surprised if Tom Izzo and crew are competing for the Big-Ten title late in the season.

Coaches/Media Poll:
Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan State

All-Conference Team:
Draymond Green - Forward, Sr., Michigan State
Trevor Mbakwe - Forward, Sr., Minnesota
Jared Sullinger - Forward, Soph., Ohio State
Robbie Hummel - Guard, R-Sr., Purdue
Jordan Taylor - Guard, Sr., Wisconsin

Player of the Year:
Jared Sullinger - Forward, Soph., Ohio State



Big-XII Conference

In only the second time in league history, the Big-XII coaches chose co-favorites atop the conference. Despite earning more first-place votes, Kansas received the same amount of points as Texas A&M. The Jayhawks have won the Big-XII conference seven out of the last nine years, and the last time preseason co-favorites were chosen, Kansas shared the top-spot with Oklahoma State. The Jayhawks would go own to claim sole ownership of the conference championship that season.

Coaches Poll:
Kansas (5), Texas A&M (2), Baylor (2), Missouri (1), Texas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Texas Tech

All-Conference Team:
Perry Jones III - Forward, Soph., Baylor
Thomas Robinson - Forward, Jr., Kansas
Marcus Denmon - Guard, Sr., Missouri
J'Covan Brown - Guard, Jr., Texas
Khris Middleton - Forward, Jr., Texas A&M

Player of the Year:
Perry Jones III - Forward, Soph., Baylor

Newcomer of the Year:
Royce White, Forward, R-Soph., Iowa State (Minnesota)

Rookie of the Year:
LeBryan Nash - Guard/Forward, Fr., Oklahoma State



Big West Conference

Long Beach State returns four starters from last year's 20-11 team that won the Big West regular season title before getting stunned in the conference tournament title game against UC-Santa Barbara. But Senior guard Casper Ware, the first individual in Big West history to earn Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors in the same season, will lead a strong 49er's team with revenge on their mind. The Gauchos of UCSB, the team that represented the Big West in last season's NCAA tournament, received four first place votes, and should pose a decent threat to the championship aspirations of LBSU.

Media Poll:
Long Beach State (20), UC-Santa Barbara (4), Cal-Poly, Cal State-Fullerton, UC-Riverside, Pacific, UC-Davis, Cal State-Northridge, UC-Irvine

All-Conference Team:
Larry Anderson - Guard, Sr., Long Beach State
David Hanson - Forward, Sr., Cal-Poly
Orlando Johnson - Guard Sr., UC-Santa Barbara
James Nunnally - Guard, Sr., UC-Santa Barbara
T.J. Robinson - Forward, Sr., Long Beach State
Casper Ware - Guard, Sr., Long Beach State



Colonial Athletic Association
(NOTE: The CAA did not release the voting results of the coaches/media poll, just the predicted order of finish)

The Drexel Dragons return six of their top seven scorers from a year ago, and was picked by league coaches and media members as favorites to win the CAA in 2011-2012. Of the Dragons returning core, four of them received postseason accolades last year, led by Senior forward Sammy Givens. George Mason, led by forward Ryan Pearson and new head coach Paul Hewitt were picked to finish second, and VCU, last season's surprise final Four contestant, was picked third.

Coaches/Media Poll:
Drexel, George Mason, Virginia Commonwealth, Old Dominion, James Madison, William & Mary, Delaware, Hofstra, Northeastern, UNC-Wilmington, Georgia Southern, Towson

All-Conference Team:
Kent Bazemore - Guard, Sr., Old Dominion
Bradford Burgess - Guard/Forward, Sr., Virginia Commonwealth
Sammy Givens - Forward, Sr., Drexel
Quinn McDowell - Guard/Forward, Sr., William & Mary
Ryan Pearson - Forward, Sr., George Mason

Player of the Year:
Kent Bazemore - Guard, Sr., Old Dominion



Conference-USA
(NOTE: The C-USA does not have have a preseason coaches poll)

Despite not releasing a preseason conference poll, one has to assume that the Memphis Tigers will once again be the favorites to win the C-USA. The tigers return a solid core of talented young players, led by Joe Jackson and Tarik Black. But teams like Marshall and UAB should not be overlooked this season. Marshall's DeAndre Kane and UAB's Cameron Moore are players you should definitely keep an eye out for in 2011-2012.

All-Conference Team:
DeAndre Kane - Guard, Soph., Marshall
Will Barton - Guard, Soph., Memphis
Arsalan Kazemi - Forward, Jr., Rice
Kendall Timmons - Guard/Forward, Jr., Tulane
Cameron Moore - Forward, Sr., Alabama-Birmingham
Keith Clanton - Forward, Jr., Central Florida

Player of the Year:
Cameron Moore - Forward, Sr., Alabama-Birmingham



The Horizon League

It should come as no surprise that the Butler Bulldogs are the favorites to win the Horizon League. Brad Stevens' crew is coming off yet another National Championship game loss, but should remain as the cream-of-the-crop in the League. Detroit could be a viable threat to Butler's throne, but with the preseason departure of Eli Holman, it may be an up-hill struggle for the Titans.

Coaches/Media Poll:
Butler (28), Detroit (19), Cleveland State (2), Milwaukee (1), Valparaiso, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Youngstown State, Wright State, Loyola (IL), Illinois-Chicago

All-Conference Team:
Ray McCallum – Guard, Soph., Detroit
Trevon Harmon – Guard, Sr., Cleveland State
Eli Holman - Forward/Center, Sr., Detroit
Chase Simon – Guard, Sr., Detroit
Kaylon Williams – Guard, Sr., Milwaukee

Player of the Year:
Ray McCallum – Guard, Soph., Detroit



The Ivy League
(Note: The Ivy League does not select preseason All-Conference Teams or Player of the Year)

The Harvard Crimson are the heavy favorites to win the Ivy League this season, and the is the first in school history. Tommy Amaker's squad returns 12 players from last year's team, and is led by reigning Conference Player of the Year Keith Wright. Yale and Princeton were picked to finish tied for second place.

Media Poll:
Harvard (16), Yale (1), Princeton, Penn, Brown, Cornell, Columbia, Dartmouth



Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

Led by Mike "Optimus Prime" Glover and Scott Machado, the Iona Gaels are slated to come out of the MAAC as champions. With the edition of former-Arizona guard LaMont "MoMo" Jones, the Gaels should be the prohibitive favorites, but F airfield is a team that should not be overlooked. Despite the departure of head coach Ed Cooley the Stags return standout guard Derek Needham and replaced Cooley with former-Princeton coach Sidney Johnson.

Coaches Poll:
Iona (8), Fairfield (2), Loyola, Rider, Saint Peter's, Siena, Niagara, Manhattan, Canisius, Marist

All-Conference Team:
Derek Needham - Guard, Jr., Fairfield
Ryan Olander - Center, Sr., Fairfield
Mike Glover - Forward, Sr., Iona
Scott Machado - Guard, Sr., Iona
Novar Gadson - Guard/Forward, Sr., Rider

Player of the Year:
Mike Glover - Forward, Sr., Iona



Mid-American Conference

New Kent State head coach Rob Senderoff will field a team with ten returning letter-winners, including four starters from last season's regular season MAC champs. The Flashes were picked as the unanimous favorites to win the East Division and the Conference Tournament in 2012. The Golden Flashes were stunned by Akron in last season's MAC Tournament championship, and the Zips will look to challenge Kent State again in 2012. The Western Division is led by Western Michigan and forward Flenard Whitfield.


East Division Media Poll:
Kent State (16), Akron (8), Ohio, Miami (OH), Buffalo, Bowling Green

West Division Media Poll:
Western Michigan (14), Ball State (9), Central Michigan (1), Toledo, Northern Illinois, Eastern Michigan

Tournament Championship Media Prediction:
Kent State (12), Akron (6), Ball State (3), Western Michigan (2), Central Michigan (1)

East Division All-Conference Team:
D.J. Cooper - Guard, Jr., Ohio
Justin Greene - Forward, Sr., Kent State
Zeke Marshall - Center, Jr., Akron
Julian Mavunga - Forward, Sr., Miami
Javon McCrea - Forward, Soph., Buffalo

West Division All-Conference Team:
Randy Davis - Guard, Sr., Ball State
Jarrod Jones - Forward, Sr., Ball State
Demetrius Ward - Forward, Sr., Western Michigan
Flenard Whitfield - Forward, Sr., Western Michigan
Trey Zeigler - Guard, Soph., Central Michigan



Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

The Morgan State Bears, conference champions in 2009 and 2010, were picked to bounce back from a disappointing 2011 season and win the MEAC in 2012, which would be their fourth conference title in five years. But despite garnering the most voting points, it was Hampton, last season;s conference tournament champions who received the most first-place votes. This should make for an interesting season in the MEAC.

Coaches/Media Poll:
Morgan State (8), Hampton (16), Coppin State (1), Norfolk State, North Carolina Central, Delaware State, North Carolina A&T, Bethune-Cookman, Howard, South Carolina State, Savannah State, Maryland-Eastern Shore, Florida A&M

All-Conference Team:
Kevin Thompson - Forward, Sr., Morgan State
Darrion Pellum - Guard, Sr., Hampton
Kyle O'Quinn - Center, Sr., Norfolk State
Landon Clement - Guard, Sr., North Carolina Central
DeWayne Jackson - Guard/Forward, Jr., Morgan State

Player of the Year:
Kyle O'Quinn - Center, Sr., Norfolk State



Missouri Valley Conference

The Creighton Blue Jays are once again the favorites to win the Missouri Valley Conference. The team returns three starters from last year's squad that finished fourth place in the league, including freshman-of-the-year Doug McDermott. The Blue Jays are one of only nine programs in the country that have reached the postseason in 14-consecutive seasons. Look for that streak to continue in 2012.

Coaches/Media Poll:
Creighton (29), Wichita State (7), Indiana State (4), Northern Iowa, Evansville, Missouri State, Drake, Illinois State, Southern Illinois, Bradley

All-Conference Team:
Jake Odum - Guard, Soph., Indiana State
Doug McDermott - forward, Soph., Creighton
Toure’ Murry - Guard, Sr., Wichita State
Colt Ryan - Guard/Forward, Jr., Evansville
Kyle Weems - Forward, Sr., Missouri State

Player of the Year:
Kyle Weems - Forward, Sr., Missouri State



Mountain West Conference

The new Mexico Lobos, led by Preseason PoY Drew Gordon, are the heavy favorites to win the Mountain West Conference in 2012. The MWC went through a lot of changes in the off season. Lon Kruger left UNLV for Oklahoma, San Diego State lost their two best players and BYU jumped to the West Coast Conference. All that movement should help the Lobos run through the conference with little competition.

Media Poll:
New Mexico (22), UNLV (4), San Diego State, Colorado State, Air Force, Wyoming, TCU, Boise State

All-Conference Team:
Oscar Bellfield - Guard, Sr., UNLV
Drew Gordon - Forward, Sr., New Mexico
Chace Stanback - Guard/Forward, Sr., UNLV
Hank Thorns - Guard, Sr., TCU
Kendall Williams - Guard, Soph., New Mexico

Player of the Year:
Drew Gordon - Forward, Sr., New Mexico

Newcomer of the Year:
Xavier Thames - Guard, Soph., San Diego State

Freshman of the Year:
Hugh Greenwood - Guard, Fr., New Mexico



Northeast Conference

Following a dominant journey to claim the 2011 NEC Championship, head coaches have picked Long Island to repeat as NEC champion in 2012. Led by Juniors Julian Boyd and Jamal Olasewere, the Black Birds are poised to be one of the better teams in the NYC-area. But being tabbed as preseason favorites in the NEC does come with some baggage. NEC coaches have failed to correctly forecast the eventual league champion since selecting Mount St. Mary’s to win it all in 1999, and have missed on their predictions 22 out of the last 24 times. If this trend is to continue, don't be surprised if the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils, led by reigning NEC PoY Ken Horton, grab the automatic bid to the Big Dance in 2012.

Coaches/Media Poll:
Long Island (10), Robert Morris (2), Central Connecticut State, Wagner, Quinnipiac, Mount St. Mary's, Bryant, Sacred Heart, St. Francis (PA), Monmouth, St. Francis (NY), Fairleigh Dickinson

All-Conference Team:
Julian Boyd - Forward, Jr., Long Island
Ken Horton - Forward, Sr., Central Connecticut State
James Johnson - Guard, Sr., Quinnipiac
Tyler Murray - Guard, Sr., Wagner
Jamal Olasewere - Forward, Jr., Long Island



Ohio Valley Conference
(NOTE: The OVC chooses to list all the potential candidates for end-of-the-year OVC All-Conference First Team)

The Governors of Austin Peay were selected as the favorites to win the Ohio Valley Conference in 2011-2012, as voted on by coaches and sports information directors. The race for first place should be close, as Tennessee Tech, led by Preseason PoY Kevin Murphy, received just four points less than Austin Peay and only two first-place votes less. Despite losing Kenny Faried to graduation, Morehead State received one first-place vote.

Coaches/Media Poll:
Austin Peay (10), Tennessee Tech (8), Murray State (3), Tennessee State, Morehead State (1), Southeast Missouri, Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee-Martin, Eastern Illinois, Jacksonville State, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville

All-Conference Team:
Ivan Aska - Forward, Sr., Murray State
Anthony Campbell - Guard/Forward, Sr., Austin Peay
Isaiah Canaan - Guard, Jr., Murray State
Robert Covington - Forward, Jr., Tennessee State
TyShwan Edmondson - Guard, Sr., Austin Peay
Jeremy Granger - Guard, Sr., Eastern Illinois
Kenny Moore - Forward, Sr., Tennessee State
Kevin Murphy - Guard, Sr., Tennessee Tech
Leon Powell - Forward , R-Jr., Southeast Missouri
Zac Swansey - Guard, Sr., Tennessee Tech

Player of the Year:
Kevin Murphy - Guard, Sr., Tennessee Tech



Pac-12 Conference
(NOTE: The Pac-10 does not select preseason All-Conference Teams or Player of the Year)

The UCLA Bruins have been picked to win the inaugural Pac-12 Championship in 2012. The Bruins feature the deepest roster in the conference and return a three starters from a year ago. The Cal Bears were picked second, and have arguably the best trio in the conference, guards Allen Crabbe and Jorge Gutierrez, along with big-man Harper Kamp. Arizona lost Derrick Williams to the NBA draft, but returns a solid nucleus of talent, and should be a top contender for the title. The Pac-12 should be one of the more entertaining conferences to watch this season, which is a big compliment considering just two years ago it was the laughing-stock of the Power-6 conferences.

Media Poll:
UCLA (14), California (13), Arizona (11), Washington, Oregon, Stanford, Southern California, Oregon State, Arizona State, Colorado, Washington State, Utah



The Patriot League

Led by reigning League PoY Mike Muscala, the Bucknell Bison were chosen as the prohibitive favorites to repeat as Patriot League champions. The Bison received all 14 first-place votes, and should be significantly better than Holy Cross, who was picked to finish second. Lehigh's C.J McCollum was named Preseason PoY for the second year in a row, becoming only the third player in league history to do so.

Coaches/Media Poll:
Bucknell (14), Holy Cross, Lafayette, American, Colgate, Navy, Army

All-Conference Team:
Devin Brown - Guard, Sr., Holy Cross
Tony Johnson - Guard, Jr., Lafayette
CJ McCollum - Guard, Jr., Lehigh
Mike Muscala - Forward/Center, Jr., Bucknell
Jordan Sugars - Guard, Sr., Navy

Player of the Year:
CJ McCollum - Guard, Jr., Lehigh



Southeastern Conference

Coming off a Final-Four appearance last season, the Kentucky Wildcats have been chosen as the favorites to win the SEC in 2011-2012. The Wildcats return sophomore forward Terrence Jones, the media's choice as Preseason PoY, and bring in yet another star-studded freshman class including Anthony Davis, arguably the top freshman in the country. Despite their second straight first-round exit in the NCAA tournament, Vanderbilt was chosen to pick second. The Commodores return all the key players from last year, including NBA prospects John Jenkins and Jeffery Taylor. Florida received one first-place vote despite losing much of their front court to graduation.

Media Poll:
Kentucky (18), Vanderbilt (4), Florida (1), Alabama, Mississippi State, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Georgia, LSU, Auburn, Tennessee, South Carolina

All-Conference Team:
JaMychal Green - Forward, Sr., Alabama
Terrence Jones - Forward, Soph., Kentucky
Dee Bost - Guard, Sr., Mississippi State
John Jenkins - Guard, Jr., Vanderbilt
Jeffery Taylor - Guard/Forward, Sr., Vanderbilt

Player of the Year:
Terrence Jones - Forward, Soph., Kentucky



Southern Conference
(NOTE: The SoCon only provides one All-Conference Team for the preseason, featuring the ten best players in the conference)

Chattanooga and Davidson were chosen as the favorites to win their respective division in the 2011-2012 Southern Conference. Davidson won three consecutive conference championships from 2007 to 2009, but finished 18-15 last year and 16-15 in 2010. The Mocs of Chattanooga return four starters from last year's squad and will be looking to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2009. Wofford, last season's conference champions, were picked to finish third in the South, despite getting one first-place vote. College of Charleston could be a team to watch out for, due to the addition of highly-touted recruit Adjehi Baru, arguably the most-talented freshman in the league.

North Division Media Poll:
Chattanooga (24), Appalachian State (3), Western Carolina (2), UNC-Greensboro (1), Elon, Samford

South Division Media Poll:
Davidson (18), College of Charleston (10), Wofford (1), Furman, Georgia Southern (1), Citadel

All-Conference Team:
Keegan Bell - Guard, R-Sr., Chattanooga
Omar Carter - Guard, R-Sr., Appalachian State
Jake Cohen - Forward, Jr., Davidson
JP Kuhlman - Guard, Jr., Davidson
Willie Powers III - Guard, Sr., Georgia Southern
Drew Spradlin - Guard, Sr., Elon
Trey Sumler - Guard, R-Soph., Western Carolina
Omar Wattad - Forward, Sr., Chattanooga
Trent Wiedeman - Forward, Soph., College of Charleston
Antwaine Wiggins - Forward, R-Sr., College of Charleston

Player of the Year:
Omar Carter - Guard, R-Sr., Appalachian State


Southlands Conference

The coaches and media could not agree on anything other than Texas-San Antonio being the favorites to win the West Division in the Southland Conference. The jury is still out on who the true favorites are in the East division, with Northwestern State, McNeese State and Lamar in contention.

East Division Coaches Poll:
Northwestern State (4), McNeese State (3), Lamar (3), Southeastern Louisiana (2), Central Arkansas, Nicholls State

East Division Media Poll:
McNeese State (7), Lamar (2), Northwestern State (2), Southeastern Louisiana (1), Nicholls State, Central Arkansas

West Division Coaches Poll:
Texas-San Antonio (8), Texas State (2), Texas-Arlington (1), Stephen F. Austin (1), Sam Houston State, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

West Division Media Poll:
Texas-San Antonio (6), Stephen F. Austin (3), Texas-Arlington (1), Texas State (1), Sam Houston State (1), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

All-Conference Team:
Patrick Richard - Guard, Sr., McNeese State
Jereal Scott - Center, Sr., Stephen F. Austin
William Mosley - Center, Sr., Northwestern State
Brandon Fortenberry - Guard, Sr., Southeastern Louisiana
Jeromie Hill - Forward, Soph., Texas-San Antonio



Southwestern Athletic Conference

Defending tournament champions Alabama State is predicted to lead the way during the upcoming season, but is closely followed by Mississippi Valley State and Jackson State, the favorites last season to with the SWAC. Five of the teams in the conference received at least one first-place vote, and defending regular season champion Texas Southern was picked fourth.

Coaches Poll:
Alabama State (3), Mississippi Valley State (3), Jackson State (2), Texas Southern, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Alabama A&M (1), Prairie View A&M (1), Grambling, Alcorn State, Southern

All-Conference Team:
Jenirro Bush - Guard, Sr., Jackson State
Lawrence Johnson-Danner - Guard, Jr., Texas Southern
Paul Crosby - Forward, Jr., Mississippi Valley State
Ivory White - Forward, Sr., Alabama State
Peter Roberson - Center, R-Jr., Grambling

Player of the Year:
Jenirro Bush - Guard, Sr., Jackson State

Defensive Player of the Year:
Ivory White - Forward, Sr., Alabama State



The Summit League

It was recently announced that Oral Roberts will be leaving the Summit League next summer in order to join the Southland Conference. So it is fitting that in the Golden Eagles final season, they are picked to win the Summit League Championship. Two-time defending champion Oakland received four first-place votes and finished second in the polls, but graduated Keith Benson, arguably the best player in Oakland history. IUPUI was picked to finish fourth and features Preseason PoY Alex Young, despite losing their head coach Ron Hunter, who departed to take the head coaching position at Georgia State.

Coaches/Media Poll:
Oral Roberts (27), Oakland (4), South Dakota State (1), IUPUI, North Dakota State, IPFW, UMKC, Southern Utah, Western Illinois, South Dakota

All-Conference Team:
Michael Craion - Forward, Sr., Oral Roberts
Frank Gaines - Guard, Jr., IPFW
Reggie Hamilton - Guard, R-Sr., Oakland
Dominique Morrison - Forward, Sr., Oral Roberts
Nate Wolters - Guard, Jr., South Dakota State
Alex Young - Forward, Sr., IUPUI

Player of the Year:
Alex Young - Forward, Sr., IUPUI



Sun Belt Conference

Florida Atlantic and Arkansas State are the favorites to win the Sun Belt Conference in 2011-2012 according to head coaches in the league. The Owls of FAU were the regular season champions a year ago, but were bounced in the conference tournament by upstart-Arkansas-Little Rock. The Owls, led by former St. John's/George Washington head coach Mike Jarvis, should be the odds-on favorite to carry the league banner in 2012.

West Division Coaches Poll:
Arkansas State (8), Louisiana-Lafayette (2), North Texas (1), Denver (1), Arkansas-Little Rock, Louisiana-Monroe

East Division Coaches Poll:
Florida Atlantic (11), Middle Tennessee (1), Western Kentucky, South Alabama, Florida International, Troy

All-Conference Team:
Martavius Adams - Forward, Sr., Arkansas State
Raymond Taylor - Guard, Jr., Florida Atlantic
Greg Gantt - Guard, Jr., Florida Atlantic
J.J. Thomas - Forward, Soph., Louisiana-Lafayette
Augustine Rubit - Forward, Soph., South Alabama

Player of the Year:
Augustine Rubit - Forward, Soph., South Alabama



West Coast Conference
(NOTE: The WCC does not chose a first team and section team. Instead they list the candidates for the postseason WCC All-Conference Team)

The Gonzaga Bulldogs have won a share of the last 11 WCC regular season championships, and are poised to win their 12th in 2012. The Bulldogs received seven first place votes and 63 of 64 possible points in the poll, and are one of three teams to have multiple selections on the
Preseason All-WCC Team, along with Saint Mary's and San Francisco

Coaches/Media Poll:
Gonzaga (7), Saint Mary's (1), BYU (1), San Francisco, Santa Clara, Loyola Marymount, Portland, Pepperdine, San Diego

All-Conference Team:
Brandon Davies - Forward, Jr., BYU
Matthew Dellavedova - Guard, Jr., Saint Maryʼs
Kevin Foster - Guard, Jr., Santa Clara
Rashad Green - Guard, Sr., San Francisco
Elias Harris - Forward, Jr., Gonzaga
Rob Jones - Forward, Sr., Saint Maryʼs
Nemanja Mitrovic - Guard, Sr., Portland
Robert Sacre - Center, R-Sr., Gonzaga
Drew Viney - Forward, R-Sr., Loyola Marymount
Michael Williams - Guard, Jr., San Francisco



Western Athletic Conference

The coaches and media member could not decide on a overwhelming favorite to win the WAC in 2011-2012. Nevada was picked first by the coaches and second by the media. Utah State was picked first by the media and third by the coaches, and New Mexico State was picked second by the coaches and third by the media. But only Nevada and Utah State received first-place votes from the coaches. The Aggies of Utah State have held a share of the WAC championship in each of the past three seasons, and should contend for a share of the crown in 2012. Look for Hawaii to make some noise in the WAC as well. The Warriors return a solid core of starters, and add the play of Shaquille Stokes selected by the media as the Preseason Rookie of the Year.

Coaches Poll:
Nevada (5), New Mexico State, Utah State (3), Hawaii, Idaho, Fresno State, San Jose State, Louisiana Tech

Media Poll:
Utah State (13), Nevada (5), New Mexico State (3), Hawaii (3), Idaho, San Jose State, Fresno State, Louisiana Tech

Coaches All-Conference Team:
Deonte Burton - Guard, Soph., Nevada
Zane Johnson - Guard, Sr., Hawaii
Wendell McKines - Forward, Sr., New Mexico State
Brockeith Pane - Guard, Sr., Utah State
Vander Joaquim - Center, Jr., Hawaii

Media All-Conference Team:
Deonte Burton - Guard, Soph., Nevada
Zane Johnson - Guard, Sr., Hawaii
Wendell McKines - Forward, Sr., New Mexico State
Brockeith Pane - Guard, Sr., Utah State
Dario Hunt - Forward, Sr., Nevada

Coaches Player of the Year:
Deonte Burton - Guard, Soph., Nevada

Media Player of the Year:
Brockeith Pane - Guard, Sr., Utah State

Media Newcomer of the Year:
Shaquille Stokes - Guard, Fr., Hawaii


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2011-2012 Season Preview: One Sleeper (in each conference) to rule them all

Yeah, that's a loaded title. But think about it. Every year there is a team in each conference who performs better than expected. Every year there is a team that catches us off guard and makes us feel like morons for not expecting better of them.  Every year, there is a "darkhorse", a "sexy pick", or a "sleeper" team in each conference. Call it what you will, but there isn't reason to believe that this will be any different in 2011-2012.

The teams listed below are poised to better than people think. Maybe it's because they are in a conference with a lot of question marks. Maybe it's because they can't possibly get any worse than they were last season, and maybe it's because it's just time for the program to have a breakout season.

Atlantic Coast Conference: Virginia Tech
Preseason Ranking: 6th Place
Where We Ranked Them: 5th Place
Why they will do better than expected:
With this team's crippling addiction to "the bubble", the Hokies could be picked dead last in the ACC, and we should still expect to talk about them on Selection Sunday. Sure Malcolm Delaney is gone, and sure this team continues to be plagued by injuries, but other than North Carolina and Duke, the conference is wide open. VaTech returns more experienced talent than any of the non-Tobacco Road ACC teams. With guys like Dorenzo Hudson, Victor Davilla and Cadarian Raines, the Hokies definitely have a shot at finishing in the top half of the ACC. The only teams that should be able to finish above the Hokies are Virginia, Miami and North Carolina State, and each of those teams have just as many, if not more, question marks than Tech.


Atlantic-Ten: George Washington
Preseason Ranking: 8th Place
Where We Ranked Them: 4th Place
Why they will do better than expected:
Like the ACC, the Atlantic-10 features a huge drop between the top two teams and the "also-rans". Xaiver and Temple are by far the top teams in the A10, but the jury is still out on the remaining 12 teams. George Washington has an experienced back-court in Tony Taylor and Lasan Kromah, and new head coach Mike Lonergan should be able to infuse some new life into a struggling Colonials program. To be honest, I think it's kinda-shocking to see the Colonials picked so low in the preseason polls. The rest of the conference could be in for a rude awakening this season. Look for George Washington to contend with Saint Louis for the top "also-ran" position in the A-10.


Big East: Georgetown
Preseason Ranking: 10th Place
Where We Ranked Them: 9th Place
Why they will do better than expected:
There are a handful of questions that the Hoyas need to answer this season. Can Markel Starks have a breakout sophomore season as the starting point guard? Can Jason Clark be more than just a spot-up 3-point shooter? Can the Hoyas rely on a inexperienced, freshman-heavy front-court? I'm not sure of any of these answers, but the Hoyas have been known to exceed expectations early in the season. If they can get accelerated play from at least two of their freshman forwards, this team could creep up in the standings. Plus, the Big East has a gaping hole in the middle. On top of that, Georgetown's Big East home-and-home draw is very weak. They play Marquette twice, Providence twice and St. John's twice, and their only two difficult road games will be at Syracuse and at Pittsburgh.

Big-Ten: Minnesota
Preseason Ranking: Big-Ten does not have a preseason poll
Where We Ranked Them: 8th Place
Why they will do better than expected:
Despite losing Royce White, Devoe Joseph and Colton Iverson to other schools, the Gophers still return a lot of front-court production in Trevor Mbakwe and Ralph Sampson III. Along with athletic junior Rodney Williams, the Gophers feature one of the better front-courts in the conference. The Big-10 features one really good team (Ohio State), two good teams (Wisconsin and Michigan State), and a bunch of teams trying to figure themselves out. I mean, is this REALLY the year Northwestern finally makes it to the tournament? Probably not. Illinois lost just about everybody, we still aren't certain about what Michigan brings to the table and Purdue has to rely solely on Robbie Hummel and we know what to expect from Indiana, Iowa and Nebraska. Sure, the Gophers won't finish ahead of Michigan State, Wisconsin or Ohio State, but is a fourth or fifth place finish really that unrealistic?


Big-XII: Iowa State
Preseason Ranking: 8th Place
Where We Ranked Them: 6th Place
Why they will do better than expected:
Why will they be better than expected? Have you seen how many all-conference-caliber transfers they got this off-season? Fred "The Mayor" Hoiberg did wonderful things in his first year at his Alma Mater, and with guys like Royce White, Chris Babb, Chris Allen, and Will Clyburn in his lineup, the Cyclones could be headed towards big things. ISU returns Scott Christopherson, one of the best pure shooters in the conference, and sophomore forward Melvin Ejim. I mean, the fact that I can rifle-off the name of 4-7 Cyclone players should be proof enough that big things could be on the horizon. If ISU can get freshman Naz Long cleared, don't be surprised if this team is competing for an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.


Colonial Athletic Association: Delaware
Preseason Ranking: 7th Place
Where We Ranked Them: 7th Place
Why they will do better than expected:
The Blue Hens had a promising season in 2010-2011 season, and they bring in a solid crop of young talent. The CAA is always competitive, and there doesn't seem to be one team that is far-and-away better than everybody else. Look for Devon Saddler to take command of this team. The reigning CAA Freshman of the Year is poised for a sensational sophomore season. The teams in the CAA will beat each to a pulp, and because of this, expect to see a few teams finish out of place in the final standings, including Delaware about the No. 7 spot.


Conference-USA: Alabama-Birmingham
Preseason Ranking: C-USA does not have a preseason poll
Where We Ranked Them: 5th Place
Why they will do better than expected:
This team is coached by Mike Davis, right? This team has C-USA preseason PoY Cameron Moore right? No chance the blazers finish in fifth place. In Mike Davis' five season at UAB, only once has his team not won at least 20 games. Sure, they won't be as good as Memphis but they aren't that far behind Marshall, Tulsa or Central Florida. We never know what we are going to get from this conference, so it's very possible that UAB finishes higher in the standings than we expect.


Horizon League: UW-Green Bay
Preseason Ranking: 6th Place
Where We Ranked Them: 6th Place
Why they will do better than expected:
Why? Because after Butler, this conference is up for grabs. Detroit is not going to be as good as people think, Cleveland State is without Norris Cole, and Milwaukee is still searching for conference stability. Alec Brown, the Phoenix's 7-foot sophomore center will face little competition on the interior during Horizon League play. Green Bay might not finish in the top-three, but don't be too surprised if they do.


Missouri Valley Conference: Evansville
Preseason Ranking: 5th Place
Where We Ranked Them: 4th Place
Why they will do better than expected:
Evansville has seemed to improve in each of the past three seasons. Last season the Aces beat a ranked-Butler team and knocked off Missouri State and Northern Iowa when both teams were fighting for conference supremacy. I'm not sure what is it about this team, but they always seem to beat good teams. Now if they can only learn to not lose to the bad teams. Like the CAA, Missouri Valley Conference teams love to beat each other up. This means that the Aces may be able to finish above teams that are better than them.


Mountain West Conference: Wyoming
Preseason Ranking: 6th Place
Where We Ranked Them: 7th Place
Why they will be better than expected:
Why? because this conference is pretty dreadful with the exception of New Mexico. The Cowboys three best players, Afam Muojeke, JayDee Luster and USC-transfer Leonard Washington should be able to match-up with any non-New Mexico trio in the conference. This team won just four conference games last season and fired their coach in the middle of the year. Look for Larry Shyatt to keep his job the entire season and look for the Cowboys to win more than four conference games.


Pac-12: Oregon
Preseason Ranking: 5th Place
Where We Ranked Them: 5th Place
Why they will do better than expected:
Like Iowa State, this team is chalk-full of transfers. The Ducks showed a lot of promise late in the season, which included a championship in the CBI. The Pac-12 is going to be much better than in recent years, but so will Oregon. The Ducks will have a solid starting-five, and if they can get production from their bench, we could see this team hover somewhere on the outskirts of the top-25. E.J. Singler is going to have a huge year, Olu Ashaolu, Devoe Joseph and Tony Woods are all going to be instant impact transfers. Oregon starts the year off against Vanderbilt, a team with a ton of pressure to succeed this season and a big hole up front due to the suspension/injury to Festus Ezeli. The Ducks can open a lot of eyes with a season-opening victory over the Commodores.


Southeastern Conference: Mississippi State
Preseason Ranking: 5th Place
Where We Ranked Them: 5th Place
Why they will do better than expected:
We have to assume that Vanderbilt won't be handle all the pressure that comes with such lofty expectations. We know Kentucky is going to be really good, but, like, Florida has literally no front-court and Alabama has literally no back-court. That all sets up nicely for Mississippi State to have a solid SEC season. Of course, all of this hinges on the performance of Renardo Sidney, and he's anything but a sure thing right now. But if Sidney, Dee Bost and Arnett Moultrie can put it all together, Mississippi State will be much better than the 5th best team in the SEC.


Western Athletic Conference: Hawaii
Preseason Ranking: 4th Place
Where We Ranked Them: 4th Place
Why they will be better than expected:
When Hawaii wins the WAC this season, remember that you read it here first. The Warriors feature two preseason All-WAC first-teamers, Arizona-transfer Zane Johnson and center Vander Joaquim. They also bring in the conference's best freshman, Harlem-native Shaquille Stokes. Plus, head coach Gib Arnold is one of the most underrated coaches in the country. Did I mention that the WAC is rather weak this season? Utah State doesn't have the horses they did last year, and while Nevada does have the best trio in the conference (Dario Hunt, Deonte Burton and Malik Story), no team has the size that Hawaii does. this is the best team Hawaii has fielded in a while and this is the weakest the WAC has been in a while as well.


West Coast Conference: Portland
Preseason Ranking: 7th Place
Where We Ranked Them: 7th Place
Why they will be better than expected:
The top-three spots in the WCC are a near-lock. So look for Portland to improve and finish atop the other WCC "also-rans". The Pilots have shown improvement in each of the past three seasons, and have stolen a big non-con game every now and then. This season, Portland will be forced to deal with the graduation of quite a bit of talent. Nemanja Mitrovic, Eric Waterford and Luke van der Mars are going to have to do most of the heavy-lifting, but this team capable of finishing above at least two teams this season.



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The Only Conference Preview You Need To Read: Big East

Over the next month and a half, we will be rolling out all of our 2011-2012 Season Preview posts. You can find a full schedule of all the preview posts here. If you want to browse through the rest of the conference previews, click here.

AWARDS

Player of the Year: Ashton Gibbs, Sr., Pitt

Gibbs deserves all the love he is going to get this preseason, as he is quite possibly the best all-around shooter in the country. What makes him so dangerous is his incredible ability to get open by using screens off-the-ball. He's Pitt's go-to player and really the only guy on the team that can create their own shot, but he does it in such a unique way. There are few guards in the country that are better at reading a defender and using a screen to get space for himself. Gibbs is the model of efficiency, but there is room for improvement in his game. As defenses continue to key on his jump shot, developing his mid-range game and his ability to attack a close-out will help. Regardless, Gibbs is a big time shot-maker that is a huge reason Pitt will once again be a top ten team and compete for the Big East title.


And a close second goes to...: Darius Johnson-Odom, Sr., Marquette

Admittedly, I'm a little biased on this pick, as DJO is one of my favorite players in the country to watch. A 6'2" lefty, DJO is an explosive athlete and one of the best perimeter scorers in the conference. He's at his best when he is slashing to the basket, where he is a crafty finisher with the ability to throw down monster dunks upon occasion. He's good at drawing fouls and doesn't turn the ball over. The most interesting aspect of DJO's game is how much his jump shot fell off last season. He went from being a 47.4% three-point shooter as a sophomore to a 36.3% shooter as a junior, while also struggling in the mid-range. Despite that, he still managed to up his scoring from 13.0 ppg to 15.8 ppg. He's the clear-cut go-to guy on the offensive end for a Marquette that is expected to finish in the top six in the Big East this season.

Breakout Star: Maalik Wayns and Mouphtaou Yarou, Jrs, Villanova

The obvious pick here is Jeremy Lamb of UConn. The trendy pick is Sean Kilpatrick of Cincinnati. So in order to buck that trend, I'll go with Villanova's two elder statesmen. The Wildcats have almost no hype heading into this season. Having flamed out in the postseason the past two years and losing four key pieces from that team, you wouldn't be wrong to ignore Villanova heading into the year. But I like the makeup of this team. I think they have similar pieces at the two, three and four to the group that made the Final Four run in 2009, but I also think that with the opportunity to take over the role of the star, both Wayns and Yarou will shine. Both players are impressive talents that were forced to play third and fourth fiddle to the two Coreys last season. If Wayns has gotten his jumper more consistent and Yarou has become a better low-post scorer, I think those two will carry a Villanova team that will rely more heavily on the defensive end of the floor than we are used to.


All-Conference First-Team:

- POY: Ashton Gibbs, Sr., Pitt
- G: Scoop Jardine, Sr., Syracuse
- G: Darius Johnson-Odom, Sr., Marquette
- F: Jeremy Lamb, So., UConn
- F: Tim Abromaitis, Sr., Notre Dame
- C: Yancy Gates, Sr., Cincinnati

All-Conference Second-Team:

- G: Peyton Siva, Jr., Louisville
- G: Jason Clark, Sr., Georgetown
- F: Kris Joseph, Sr., Syraucse
- F: Kevin Jones, Sr., West Virginia
- C: Alex Oriakhi, Jr., UConn

Newcomer of the Year: Andre Drummond, UConn

There shouldn't be much argument when I say that Drummond is the most talented freshman in the Big East, because its quite possible that he is the most talented freshman in the country. Drummond is, simply put, a physical specimen. He's 6'11" and 270 lb with the ability to score in the post and while facing up, he's got the mobility and the handle to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim, he's a high IQ player, a terrific passer and has a 41" vertical. The issue with Drummond in high school was getting him to display his ability every time he stepped onto the court. Against the competition in the Big East, if he doesn't have the desire to give 100% effort, Jim Calhoun won't be playing him.

All-Freshmen Team:

- G: Myles Mack, Rutgers
- G: Jabarie Hinds, West Virginia
- F: Sir'Dominic Pointer, St. John's
- F: Moe Harkless, St. John's
- C: Andre Drummond, UConn



Five summer storylines

- Conference realignment: The tragedy and instability of conference realignment began as an issue that the Big 12 had to deal with, but with the decision of two members schools to hop to the ACC, the Big East became the league sitting squarely on the chopping block. Pitt and Syracuse, two of the best programs in the Big East when it comes to both football and basketball, accepted offers from the ACC to become members. Making matters worse was UConn all but begging the ACC to allow them to join along with, well, any other team the ACC wanted. That seems unlikely, however, as Boston College, who is still pissed about UConn's comments when they left for the ACC six years ago, is prepared to squash any attempt the Huskies make at switching leagues.

The most recent move was the Big 12's decision to add TCU, which not only made their league much sturdier, it kicked out one of the legs the Big East was standing on. Once Pitt and Syracuse leave, the Big East will be left with just six football teams, which is not enough to earn an automatic BCS bid.

- Andre Drummond heads to UConn: Andre Drummond did a terrific job of keeping his intentions out of earshot of the media. After officially graduating high school and putting himself in a position to enter the collegiate ranks back in May, Drummond -- who had been a member of the Class of 2012 -- kept the recruiting world at bay throughout the summer as he consider his intentions for next season. Eventually, he announced that he would be attending Wilbraham & Monson along with his good friend Kris Dunn, the top point guard in the Class of 2012. But after Dunn announced he was committing to Providence and returning to New London High School, Drummond shocked everyone at 7:30 pm on a Friday night when he suddenly announced his decision to become a Husky, immediately making UConn a favorite to win the national title.

- Fab Melo's run-ins with the law: Melo was the most disappointing freshman in the country in 2010-2011. The seven-footer was out of shape, didn't give consistent effort throughout the year and was extremely uncoachable. It all amounted to an embarrassing season in which Melo would start only to be pulled from the game two minutes in, never to return to the court again. He was also suspended during the year, which became an issue after Melo was arrested over the summer as the result of an ugly altercation with his girlfriend. This apparently wasn't the first time something like this happened, as there were reports over the summer that a similar incident was the reason for Melo's midseason suspension.


- The Georgetown Brawl: During a trip to China to play a series of exhibitions, the Hoyas found themselves in an incredibly scary situation. Late in the second half of a physical contest, Jason Clark of Georgetown gets jumped by four Chinese players, setting off one of the most insane in-game brawls I've ever seen. Punches are thrown, chair are swung and bottles come flying at the Hoyas from the crowd. Luckily, no one was hurt in the incident. I'd even go so far as to argue that the fight was a good thing for Georgetown. There has been a disconnect somewhere within this program the past three or four years. Part of it was a lack of cohesion within the team. This is a new, younger group. What better way to bring this team together than to have them go through a potentially dangerous situation like this?

- Steve Lavin has prostate cancer: The St. John's head coach was diagnosed over the summer. He had surgery earlier this month, and while it may cost him some exhibition games, the surgery was deemed a success.

Five storylines to follow this season

- Even more realignment talk: While the Big 12 was able to add TCU to replace Texas A&M, they are still in danger of losing Missouri to the SEC, a move that looks more and more likely by the day. If they do, most people expect the Big 12 to look east, bringing in Louisville, West Virginia or both, a move that could essentially kill the Big East as we know it. In an effort to replace the teams that they lost, the Big East will be reeling in powerhouses like SMU, Houston and Central Florida. That's less than ideal for the basketball side of things.

So is this the last Big East Tournament? There's a very good chance that this season will end up being the last Big East Tournament as we know it and love it. Syracuse and Pitt cannot leave the conference until 2014 unless the Big East opts to allow them out. If they are allowed out early and the Big East adds who they have been rumored to be courting, this conference could end up with as many as 18 teams in it, fewer than half of which probably should be playing in the Big East. Everything changes in college sports with team. The Big East Tournament, as amazing as it was and still is, is a requirement for every college hoops fan.


- Can UConn repeat?: There is no question that the Huskies have the talent to do so. With stars-in-the-making like Jeremy Lamb and Shabazz Napier in the back court and a front court with some absurd size and athleticism, it would be disingenuous to say this group doesn't have the tools to win the whole thing. The question is will they have the opportunity. The NCAA is trying to push a rule into existence that would make UConn ineligible for the 2012 postseason tournament based on their atrocious APR scores.

- Will Syracuse and Pitt handle playing the role of the villain?: Regardless of who you root for in the Big East, the villain this season will be Syracuse and Pitt. Why? Because they are the programs that set the fate of the Big East in motion. Not that their move wasn't understandable -- if they didn't take the offer, someone else would have given the relative stability of the ACC -- but it was a preemptive strike. Both the Orange and the Panthers have a number of veterans on their roster, especially in the back court, and should be impervious to the taunts of rival fan bases. Its nothing they haven't heard before.

- Louisville-first: That's the motto of Rick Pitino's program this season, and its the team's biggest ex-factor heading into the year. You see, the Cardinals legitimately have 16 players on their roster capable of playing in any rotation in the Big East; 16 guys that could make a case to start this season at Louisville. The team unity is so impressive that two of the club's starters opted to take redshirts heading into the season -- Kyle Kuric and Chris Smith -- while a third -- Elisha Justice -- didn't exactly have a decision to make. Will that level of unselfishness carry throughout the year, or will some of the players that aren't getting minutes or touches create chemistry issues?


- How many teams make the tournament this season?: Last year, the Big East sent 11, which seems virtually impossible to repeat this season. Why? Because there are six Big East teams that are currently in -- or still in? -- full-blown rebuilding mode. The top ten, however, all have a very real chance at earning an at-large bid. I'll set the over-under at eight. Whaddya you got?

Power Rankings

1. UConn: Everyone in the country knows the story about UConn last season. Predicted to finish 10th in the Big East in the preseason, the Huskies were carried by Kemba Walker throughout the regular season, finishing an up and down year right about were they were predicted -- 9th in the league standings. But something clicked in March, as UConn went on a sensational five-day run through the Big East Tournament before carrying that momentum into the NCAA Tournament. When it was all said and done, Kemba was the most popular person in the state of Connecticut and Jim Calhoun had his third title in the past 12 years.

Believe it or not, the reigning national champs will actually be a better team next season, as they will be significantly more balanced than last year. All those freshmen that developed into consistent contributors during March? They will be starters and, potentially, stars this year. We'll start with the back court, where sophomores Shabazz Napier and Jeremy Lamb will start. The lanky, 6'6" Lamb is going to be a guy that shows up on a lot of breakout players lists. He really came on in March, playing the sidekick that made it impossible for teams to double Kemba. Lamb, whose at his best when he's a slasher that scores in the mid-range, should become a star this year. Napier didn't start as a freshman, but he played starters minutes, running the team while allowing Kemba to work off-the-ball as a scorer. He's a solid creator with three-point range that can get out in transition, but he's a bit too aggressive at times and has a tendency to make some bad decisions. Freshman Ryan Boatright will push for minutes at the point as well. If UConn does have a weaknes this season, its their perimeter depth and their outside shooting. The Huskies don't really have a sniper, and Lamb is essentially their only shooting guard.

UConn's front court will look like the Huskies of old. They are big, they are long and they are athletic. It starts with Alex Oriakhi, who is the anchor of the Husky interior. A burly, 6'9" power forward, Oriakhi blocks a lot of shots and is a terror to try and box out. His back-to-the-basket game was improved last year and he should be to the point that he can be a threat on the block. He'll be joined by freshman phenom Andre Drummond, who is biding his time in Storrs before he heads off to the NBA Draft's lottery. Drummond has the total package -- he's a 6'11", 270 lb post with a face-up game, the ability to handle the ball on the perimeter and a 41" vertical. The question with Drummond is simply how good does he want to be? Roscoe Smith, an athletic combo-forward, and Tyler Olander, a Storrs-native that plays a blue-collar style, will provide depth. The small forward spot will be handled by DeAndre Daniels and Niels Giffey. I'd expect Daniels, a talented-but-enigmatic freshman who had a wild recruitment, to start, but Giffey is an athlete and a defender that can hit threes. UConn was a top ten team before Drummond committed. With him in the fold, the Huskies will be a favorite to win the Big East and make a run to the Final Four.


2. Syracuse: The 2010-2011 season was a bit of a disappointment for Syracuse fans. After winning their first 18 games of the season and climbing as high as No. 3 in the rankings, the Orange lost four straight and six of eight, ending the year tied for third in the league standings. And while that is far from what you would consider a bad season, considering the amount of talent of the Syracuse roster, a second round exit in the NCAA Tournament is not what the die hards of upstate New York were hoping for. The good news, however, is that Syracuse returns the majority of their roster, giving Jim Boeheim what is arguably his most talented team since the group that won the 2003 national title.

Much will be expected out of this Syracuse team, who will likely be the Big East favorites along with UConn. What they lack in star power, the Orange make up for in depth and balance. Their back court will be as experienced as any in the country. Scoop Jardine will be a popular pick for first team all-conference. Jardine is a big-time playmaker that finished second in the conference in assists last season. The knock on Jardine is consistency and decision-making, but when he plays well he is one of the best point guards in the country. He'll be joined by junior Brandon Triche, who can be a steadying influence in the back court. Triche is more of a natural point guard than an off-guard, giving Boeheim two playmakers in his back court. Kris Joseph will once again start at the small forward spot. An ultra-athletic, 6'7" wing, much was expected out of Joseph last season, to the point that his junior season -- 14.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.5 spg -- was a bit of a disappointment. The bench may actually be more talented than the Cuse starters. Sophomore Dion Waiters was thought to be destined to transfer this season, but he opted to return to school and should provide a big-time scoring boost off the bench. Freshmen Michael Carter-Williams is another talented scorer coming off the bench. He became more of a playmaker throughout his high school career. Trevor Cooney will also see minutes as a sharp-shooter off the bench.

Up front, the key for Syracuse will be finding a way to replace the toughness, the rebounding and the shot-blocking of Rick Jackson. The guy that everyone will have their eye on is Fab Melo. Melo was one of the premiere recruits nationally last season, but he struggled with his focus and his conditioning. While he started a majority of the time, far too often he would head to the bench and never make it back into the game. Melo will be pushed for the starting center spot by Rakeem Christmas, another lauded freshman that is known for his ability to block shots and rebound the ball. The x-factor up front will be CJ Fair. Fair was the least touted of the Syracuse freshmen last season, but he had the biggest impact. He came on strong late in the season, and the athletic combo-forward will push for the starting power forward spot this year. James Southerland, who had a couple of big games in the middle of the year, is a perfect fit for Boeheim's system given his size, length and ability to shoot the ball. All the pieces are in place for the Orange to have a big year in 2011-2012. They'll have a very real shot at not only winning the Big East title, but making a run to the Final Four as well.


3. Louisville: There might not be a program in the country that is more team-oriented than Louisville. The Cardinals barely have a star on their roster, unless you consider Peyton Siva a star. Two of their senior starters -- Kyle Kuric and Chris Smith -- are walk-ons by choice. Rick Pitino's team is one of the few in the nation that can legitimately claim that every single player in the program is talented enough to be a rotation player. The key lies in the recruiting for Pitino -- he brings in players that he knows will fit his system. That system? Defensively, they run pressuring, aggressive 2-3 zone designed to force turnovers. Louisville loves to push the ball in transition, spreading the floor and looking to locate a mismatch on the perimeter, allowing the ability of the team's perimeter players to shine through. It worked last season, as Louisville surprised everyone and finished third in the Big East standings.

We'll start in the back court with Louisville, where Pitino won't even feel the loss of the ineligible Kevin Ware. Peyton Siva will get to start at the point. Siva is one of the most explosive players in the country, a lightening bolt from end-to-end that can finish well-above the rim despite being 5'11". He's by far the best shot-creator on the Cardinals and was a huge reason for their surprise finish last year. He's joined by Kyle Kuric and Chris Smith in the back court. Kuric is the better shooter while Smith is better creating off the dribble, but as a duo they compliment Siva very well on the perimeter. It will be important for one of them to step up and become the kind of on-ball defender Preston Knowles was last season. Talented freshman Wayne Blackshear will be an x-factor for this group, as he can really fill it up when he's healthy. Russ Smith and Elisha Justice will provide depth at the point, while Mike Marra, Mark Jackson Jr. and Angel Nunez will fill out the rotation on the perimeter.

Terrence Jennings decision to leave school early will leave Louisville with a lack of experience up front, but the Cardinals will certainly be loaded with talent. Gorgui Dieng is a guy to keep an eye on at the center position. The 6'11" native of Senegal is an excellent shot-blocker that had some impressive performances as a freshman. At the power forward spot, both Jared Swopshire and Rakeem Buckles are coming off of seasons where they were banged up. Swopshire battled through a potentially career-ending injury where the groin muscle pulled away from his bone while Buckles dealt with a severely broken finger and a torn acl. Both should be healthy this year. Sophomore Stephen Van Treese started 10 games last season, but his minutes may be cut into by talented freshmen Zach Price and Chane Behanan. Louisville is the deepest team in the Big East, and they needed that depth last season as they fought through a rash of injuries. The biggest key for Pitino this season will be managing egos. Will a guy like Wayne Blackshear have a problem with being the third guard off the bench?


4. Pitt: The Panthers are the Big East's standard-bearer when it comes to running a successful basketball program. Because under Jamie Dixon they are, quite literally, a program. Every year that Dixon has been the head coach of the Panthers, they have won 20 games and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. In eight seasons he was won three Big East titles (two regular season, one conference tournament) and the only time his team has finished worse than second in the Big East the past five years, they won the Big East Tournament. And Dixon has accomplished all of that without ending a player to the first round of the NBA Draft. Its incredible the job he has done with the Panthers. Pitt will once again head into the year with the target on their backs, not only because they are the reigning Big East champs, but because they made the decision to jump to the ACC alongside Syracuse. The Panthers should be equipped to handle it, however.

It starts with Ashton Gibbs, one of the favorites to win the Big East player of the year award. Gibbs is quite possibly the best all-around shooter in the country. He's sensational coming off of screens, to the point that Pitt uses him as their go-to guy through off-the-ball screening. Gibbs is the best in the country at what he does. He'll be joined in the back court by Travon Woodall, a talented playmaker that was second in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio last season. Woodall will be taking over full-time for Brad Wanamaker, and while he's not as big or as good of an all-around player, he should be able to provide more defensive pressure and a more dangerous penetrator. Beyond Woodall and Gibbs, however, Pitt is going to have an inexperienced back court. Three freshmen -- Cameron Wright, Isaiah Epps, and John Johnson -- will provide the depth. It will be interesting to see who ends up replacing Gilbert Brown and starting at the small forward spot for Pitt as there are a number of candidates. The most likely seems to be Lamar Patterson, a versatile, 6'5" sophomore that can play any position, shooting guard to power forward. He's the best defender of the group, although he's not nearly the athlete or the shooter that Brown was. Freshman Durand Johnson, a 6'6" native of Baltimore, is, but he's also a freshman, which makes it seems unlikely that he'll start immediately. JJ Moore, another sophomore small forward, will also see time at that position.

Up front, Pitt is once again going to be loaded. Other than Gibbs, the only other starter that returns is Nasir Robinson, an undersized power forward that does all the little things for the Panthers. He'll be out early in the season as he deals with a minor knee surgery, opening the door for the rest of the Panther bigs to earn some playing time. I expect Dante Taylor to start at center, filling in admirably for the graduated Gary McGhee. Taylor was a top 20 recruit when he left high school and should finally begin to live up to that hype this season. In Robinson's absence, expect sophomore Talib Zanna to get minutes as a starter. Zanna started when Robinson was injured last season and did an excellent job. Freshman Khem Birch, who is one of the top ten recruits in the country, and Malcolm Gilbert will also see quite a bit of time. For Pitt, their front court is less about the name on the back of the jersey as it is about the fact that there are four or five 6'10" players capable of attacking the glass and blocking shots. The performance as a unit is the reason the Panthers are consistently in the top five in offensive rebounding percentage.


5. Cincinnati: Its safe to say that Mick Cronin has finally gotten the Cincinnati program to return to national relevancy after leading this group to a six seed in the NCAA Tournament last season, their first trip since 2005, and taking them to the second round. It took a while for the masses to be convinced, however. The Bearcats played one of the weakest non-conference schedules in the country, and while they did manage to head into Big East play undefeated, the only win that had more sustenance than Fluffernutter was a 20 point shellacking of Crosstown Shootout rival Xavier. There were many doubters, and those doubters remained pretty much up until Cincinnati won five of their last six games, which included wins over Louisville, Marquette and Georgetown twice.

The biggest catalyst for change on Cincinnati's team was Yancy Gates, who responded well to a mid-season benching. After being kept home from a trip to Pittsburgh stemming from a verbal altercation with a coach in practice, Gates completely changed his attitude and his effort level. He averaged 15.0 ppg, 7.9 rpg and 1.3 bpg over the final 10 games of the season, and that renewed effort he showed late in the year has continued into the offseason. He's lost 20 pounds, he's taken conditioning and weightlifting workouts seriously, and by all accounts Gates finally appears to have matured enough mentally to be able to reach his full potential as a player. With his size, strength, athleticism and skill set, Gates is the most influential player in the Big East this season. If he lives up to his potential, Cincinnati is going to be a top six team in the Big East. Part of the reason Gates is so important is that the rest of the Bearcat front line is young and unproven. JuCo transfer Cheikh Mbodj is expected to start along side Gates. Sophomore Justin Jackson, a blue-collar energy guy that will rebound and defend, will likely be the first guy off the bench while freshmen Kelvin Gaines and Octavius Ellis will provide depth.

The perimeter will be strong for Cronin next season. Cashmere Wright, a junior point guard, has proven to be a capable playmaker and a solid facilitator. Dion Dixon will join Wright in the back court. Dixon is a do-it-all senior, a guy that can get you 15-20 points when you need it but is also the team's best defender. The x-factor will be sophomore Sean Kilpatrick, a guy most people are predicting to have a big season. Playing the role of sparkplug off the bench, Kilpatrick was the team's third-leading scorer, a high-volume/high-efficiency guard that was able to put up points in a hurry. He shoots the ball well from deep, he doesn't turn it over and he can get to the foul line, all the qualities that will make a player adored by the stat-heads. It will be interesting to see how he handles becoming a go-to guy this year. Cronin will be counting on junior JaQuan Parker to regain his confidence. After a solid freshman year, Parker shot a dreadful 18.4% from the floor and losing his spot in the rotation by the time Big East play rolled around. Freshmen Jeremiah Davis, Ge'Lawn Guyn and Jermaine Sanders round out the rotation. The Bearcats have some question marks and players assuming new roles this year, but if Gates and Kilpatrick both develop the way folks are predicting they will, Cincinnati has a chance at competing for the top four in the Big East.


6. Marquette: The Big East sent 11 teams to the NCAA Tournament in 2011, but only two made it past the first weekend. One was UConn, who went on to win the national title. The other? Marquette. And while the Golden Eagles saw their season end in demoralizing fashion when North Carolina obliterated them in the Sweet 16, the tournament success masked what was a very up-and-down season. Marquette lost a number of close games throughout the year -- most notably, when they blew an 18-point lead to Louisville in the final 6:15 -- and needed two wins in the Big East Tournament just to get themselves an at-large bid despite the bubble being as weak as it has been in recent memory.

The biggest victory of the year for the Golden Eagles didn't come until after their season had ended, when Marquette was able to convince their head coach Buzz Williams to resign with their program instead of jumping to one of the Big 12 jobs that opened up during the spring. And Williams will, once again, have a roster that is capable of winning a couple games in the NCAA Tournament. It starts with Darius Johnson-Odom, an athletic left-handed scoring guard that will likely end up as a first team all-Big East performer. DJO is a very capable perimeter shooter, but he is at his best when he uses his ability to slash to the basket to set up that jumper. He'll be joined in the back court by Junior Cadougan, a talented playmaker at the point. He's not as good of a shooter as Dwight Buycks, who graduated, but he protects the ball better. Sophomore Vander Blue should be able to contribute on the perimeter, especially if his offensive game comes around this season. He'll be competing for a starting spot with Oregon transfer Jamil Wilson. Expect freshman Derrick Wilson to back-up Cadougan at the point and Todd Mayo (OJ's little brother) to contribute on the perimeter as well.

What's interesting about this Marquette team is that they actually have some solid threats in their front court. Jae Crowder, who is one of the most underrated players in the country, is the next in the line of talented combo-forwards for the Golden Eagles. Crowder should, theoretically, be able to thrive next season simply because he does some many things well. He defends, he attacks the glass, he'll knock down a three if you give him space, he'll put the ball on the floor if you crowd him and he doesn't turn the ball over. Juan Anderson and Jamail Jones will also see minutes at forward. Marquette also has a couple of legitimate low-post threats this year. Chris Otule started last season and appears to finally be healthy heading into his junior year. Otule, who was born with one eye, has trouble catching quick, dump-off passes, but that's really the only issue he has with his vision. He's a bid-body inside that takes up space and will block a couple of shots. Davante Garnder will end up being an x-factor for Marquette. The 6'9" sophomore has some terrific moves around the rim, which is why he was so productive last season in the limited minutes that he played. It appears he has bought into the idea of getting into shape -- he was pushing 300 lb last year -- and being a 20 mpg player, which should finally give Buzz Williams a low-post threat. The Golden Eagles should have their most balanced attack to date. Expect them to compete for a top four finish in the league.


7. Villanova: Villanova is slowly becoming synonymous with late-season collapses, and 2010-2011 was no different. After starting out the year 18-1 and 4-0 in the Big East, the Wildcats lost 11 of their last 16 games, including their final six. If it wasn't for a three point win over South Florida and an overtime win over DePaul, Nova would have lost their final 10 games. They were knocked out in the first round of the Big East Tournament by USF and lost to George Mason in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Making matters worse (or better, depending on your view of the leadership provided by the two Coreys) is that Villanova will lose three of their starters from last season's team. With Isaiah Armwood making the decision to transfer to George Washington, the Wildcats will be left with exactly half of their rotation from a year ago.

This Villanova team will be young and, hopefully, intact for two full seasons as there isn't a scholarship senior anywhere on the roster. Maalik Wayns will likely be the guy that carries the torch as the standout in the Villanova back court. A talented penetrator and creator, Wayns made strides with his ability as a passer last season, but there is still room for him to cut down on his turnovers. Villanova will need a go-to scorer this year, and Wayns should be primed to take over that role. His effectiveness will end up being determined by how well he improved his shooting; he can finish in the lane well for someone his size, but defense don't exactly make it a priority to take away his jump shot. Joining Wayns on the perimeter this year will be Dominic Cheek, an athletic wing who will finally have a chance to start after two years of coming off the bench. Cheek was a highly-touted kid coming out of high school, but he has yet to find any consistency at the college level. Beyond that, there are plenty of minutes available on the perimeter. Sophomore James Bell will probably get first crack at the shooting guard spot, but freshmen Tyrone Johnson, Achraf Yacoubou and Darrun Hilliard will all make a push for playing time.

The front court will be anchored by Mouphtaou Yarou, a physical center that has already made a mark as a rebounder and a defender in the lane. It will be interesting to see if Yarou can develop as a scorer on the block. He has had a fairly significant amount of hype heading into this, his junior, year and it will be interesting to see if he can live up to it. Maurice Sutton, a 6'11" center, will have a shot to play significant minutes this year, but he'll need to prove that he is deserving of those minutes. Freshman JayVaughn Pinkston, who sat out last season due to legal issues, should be able to make an impact as a combo-forward. He's a burly, 6'6" kid that has an impressive face-up game. Another freshman, Markus Kennedy, should see time as well. This Villanova team is intriguing. What made the 2009 Wildcats, their Final Four team, so good is the versatility they had defensively with players like Shane Clark, Dwayne Anderson and Reggie Redding. Can Pinkston, Bell and Cheek embrace those roles? If so, having them bookended with talents like Wayns and Yarou could make the Wildcats a sleeper in the Big East.


8. Notre Dame: The Fighting surprised a lot of people last season. After losing Luke Harangody to graduation, Notre Dame got better. Ben Hansbrough turned into a certified star, Carleton Scott and Scott Martin became dangerous weapons at the forward spot, and the Irish won 10 of their last 11 conference games to finished 14-4 in league play, which put them all alone in second place in the conference. But the Irish are going to have quite a bit to replace this year. They lose three starters from a team that only went seven deep last season, and that includes the graduation of Hansbrough, who won the Big East player of the year award over Kemba Walker last season.

The good news for the Irish is that they return Big East player of the year candidate Tim Abromaitis. Abro is a lights-out shooter who, at 6'8", is able to play multiple positions. The fifth-year senior, who will have to sit out for the first four games of the year stemming from a couple of exhibitions games he played during his redshirt season, has become more than just a jump-shooter during his time in South Bend. He's able to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim when defenders close out too hard, and he's also become a solid rebounder on the defensive end of the floor. Abro will be joined by Scott Martin, who is a similar player. Martin is more a front-court player than Abro, but he also is a dangerous three-point shooter with the ability to create off the dribble. Throw in Jack Cooley, a big, 6'10" center that is tough on the glass and has a soft-touch around the basket, and the Irish have a solid front line. Junior Tom Knight, who saw limited minutes last season, will have to boost his production this year, particularly if Eric Katenda is unable to play due to the eye injury he suffered over the summer.

The back court will be anchored by sophomore point guard Eric Atkins. Atkins has a chance to be a breakout performer as the primary ball-handler on the roster this season. In a complimentary and facilitatory role as a freshman, Atkins still managed to average 3.2 apg and lead the Big East in assist-to-turnover ratio. He'll be one of, if not the only player on the Irish capable of creating his own shot. The off-guard spot will be a battle between redshirt-freshman Jerian Grant and true freshman Pat Connaughton. Connaughton is a knock-down shooter that is able to create off the dribble. He's just 6'4", but his length (6'10") and sneaky athleticism make him an ideal candidate to play alongside Abro and Atkins. Grant is more of an athletic slasher who will likely be the best defender on the Notre Dame perimeter. Joey Brooks and Alex Dragicevich will also see time on the perimeter for Notre Dame. The Irish should have no problem scoring the basketball next season, their issue is going to be defensive and rebounding the basketball. This is not a team with an over-abundance of toughness and physicality. They'll likely finish somewhere in the middle of the league, but an NCAA Tournament berth is not out of the question.


9. Georgetown: Austin Freeman and Chris Wright will graduate Georgetown as two of the greatest guards to set foot on the DC campus. But as impressive as the numbers were that they put up, the lasting legacy of their recruiting class will be the inability to get the Hoyas past the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Under the leadership of Freeman and Wright, Georgetown seemingly was never quite able to put it all together. Whether that was the result of running into Stephen Curry, Chris Wright's broken hand or the inability to compete in a top-heavy Big East, the Hoyas always seemed to be missing something come March. 2010-2011 was no different, as Georgetown lost four of their last five Big East games before being bounced in the first round of both the Big East Tournament and the NCAA Tournament.

This year's Hoya team is going to look quite different, as there will be a changing of the guard in the back court. With Wright and Freeman gone, look for Markel Starks to step into the starting lineup and Jason Clark to take on a much more significant role as a scorer. Starks will officially be the point guard -- Clark is much better suited to being a score-first player -- but they are both going to have to carry the burden of running the Hoyas offense. When Georgetown struggled last season, it was because they lost their threat to create at the end of a clock (Wright's injury). The Hoyas will get their open shots and they back door cuts running JT III's system, but the ability of Starks and Clark to create when the offense stagnates will be critical. Junior Hollis Thompson will also be forced into a much bigger role this year. He was forced to play out of position at times last season, but he's a dangerous shooter with impressive length and athleticism that can really get to the glass. I'm expecting him to have a big year. Two freshmen -- Jabril Trawick and Aaron Bowen -- will provide the perimeter depth.

Up front, the Hoyas are going to be quite young, but also quite talented. Henry Sims will be the veteran leader for this group. Sims was a joke amongst Big East fans for the first two years of his career, but he slowly became a relevant factor as a passer at the high post for the Hoyas last season. This year, he'll need to take on some of the rebounding and interior defense Georgetown loses with Julian Vaughn's graduation. After that, the Hoyas will have loads of unproved and youthful talent. Nate Lubick moved into the starting lineup by the end of last season, but he'll need to develop more as a rebounder and a scorer. Georgetown's quartet of freshmen bigs will be counted on to make an impact as well. 6'9" combo-forward Otto Porter is the most-hyped of the group, but Mikael Hopkins, Tyler Adams and Greg Whittington are going to be counted on to produce as well. I think Georgetown could end up being a sleeper in the league this season, particularly if they are able to come together based on what happened in China this summer. Worst case scenario is that this group is a year away, but the future is promising.


10. West Virginia: Bob Huggins had a trying year in 2010-2011. Between the inconsistency of Casey Mitchell, the issues with his players learning his sets and the disappearance of their freshmen class, West Virginia went through numerous starting lineups and different rotations. As a testament to the program he is running at West Virginia, that group was still able to make the NCAA Tournament and win a game. This year promises to be more difficult for Huggy Bear, as he graduates threes starters and a key bench player while also losing two important pieces to transfer.

The strength of this year's team will be on their front line. It starts with Kevin Jones, a senior that had a bit of a disappointing junior season after playing such an important role as a sophomore. Jones thrived as Da'Sean Butler's sidekick, but when he was asked to play more of a central role in the offense, he struggled. Jones couldn't find the same consistency with his perimeter stroke. His rebounding numbers remained fairly consistent, however, and that's where his strength is. Jones needs to build off the end of the season, as he played his best basketball of the year down the stretch. He'll be joined up front by Deniz Kilicli, a burly, 6'9" Turk with a surprisingly soft touch in the lane. When Kilicli gets into a rhythm, his lefty jump hook is unstoppable, but he needs to improve his rebounding. There has been talk that Jones could end up starting at the three this season, making room for redshirt freshman Kevin Noreen to slide into the starting lineup. Noreen played seven games last year before being sidelined with a knee injury. He's another big man with a nice outside touch, but he'll be asked to get more physical in the paint. Four newcomers -- freshmen Tommie McCune, Pat Forsythe and Keaton Miles and JuCo transfer Dominic Rutledge -- will provide depth.

The back court will be anchored by Truck Bryant, who will likely spend the majority of his time playing off the ball this season. Bryant is a four-year starter in the program and will be the team's best perimeter shooter. He's at his best when he is able to set his feet and be a spot-up shooter, and by moving him to the off-guard Huggins hopes to get him to improve on that 32.3% three point shooting. Bryant gets into trouble when he puts the ball on the floor and forces the issue. With Bryant, you want to see selective aggressiveness. He needs to know when to pick his spots. The point guard spot will be a battle between freshmen Jabarie Hinds and Gary Browne. Hinds is probably the most highly-regarded member of this recruiting class. Another freshman, Aaron Brown, should also see time on the perimeter. West Virginia does have some talented pieces, but it is never easy to rely heavily on freshmen, especially in the Big East. The Mountaineers should be in the mix for an NCAA Tournament berth, but a lot of that will depend on how well this team can hit the defensive glass and what kind of play they get out of the point guard spot.


11. Seton Hall: Last season was supposed to be a big year for new head coach Kevin Willard, but due to a pair of life-threatening issues beyond his control -- Jeremy Hazell was shot was while recovering from a broken hand and Herb Pope nearly died last summer when his heart stopped after a workout -- SHU battled through yet another disappointing season. They finished the year 13-18 overall and 7-11 in the Big East, bowing out of the conference tournament in the first round to in-state rival Rutgers. Making matters more difficult, Seton Hall loses six players from last season's rotation, including their two best scorers in Hazell and Jeremy Robinson.

This year's team will be based around the front court, as Willard has a number of pieces at his disposal. It starts with Herb Pope, 6'8" boulder of a power forward. Pope struggled last season as he fought to get back into shape after having his heart stop during a workout the previous summer. By the end of the year, he was starting to round back into form. It will be interesting to see what Pope can produce this season, as he averaged a double-double as a sophomore and will be asked to anchor a front line with a couple of talented youngsters on it. Freshman Kevin Johnson, a California native, is expected to compete for a spot in the starting lineup if he is cleared by the NCAA, although that is looking less and less likely. If he's not, sophomore Patrick Auda showed some promise last season, as did classmate Aaron Geramipoor. Freshman Brandon Mobley will get minutes as well.

The back court will be headlined by Jordan Theodore, who has been one of the most underrated point guards in the conference throughout his career. Theodore is at his best when he is penetrating and creating, which will be all the more important for the Pirates this season. Seton Hall is a very good defensive team, but they struggled to score the ball last season and, as we mentioned, will be losing their top two scorers from that team. Theodore will have to become the go-to guy this season. Sophomore Fuquan Edwin will likely get to start in the back court again. He's a solid defender with some size that will slot in nicely at the small forward spot. The rest of the perimeter rotation will be stocked with freshmen. Aaron Cosby and Haralds Karlis seem to have the upper hand in terms of earning the last starting spot on the perimeter. Both players were on campus all summer long. Freddie Wilson and Sean Grennan will also see time. Seton Hall has a young group supporting Pope and Theodore. This will be a rebuilding year for them, but Willard has a solid base for which to build on.


12. Rutgers: Mike Rice certainly has the Scarlet Knights pointed in the right direction. After Fred Hill's ugly tenure came to a conclusion at the end of the 2009-2010, Rutgers opted to hire the fiery Robert Morris head coach, and it paid off. Rutgers, despite having a roster with a number of seniors on it, completely changed the feel of their program. While they were on the short-end of the talent stick seemingly every night in league play, this group competed. They defended, they battled on the glass and they earned quite a bit of respect from a number of folks around the league. It paid off in small doses as well, as RU took Syracuse to overtime on the road, knocked off Villanova on one of the most memorable plays of the season and then went on to beat rival Seton Hall in the first round of the Big East Tournament before losing to St. John's in semi-controversial fashion.

Rutgers does graduate three starters from last year's team, however, which will make the rebuilding process take just that much longer. The good news? Both Dane Miller and Gil Biruta are back. Biruta is a tough, physical 6'8" post presence that can score and get on the glass. He was named newcomer of the year in the Big East last season and is the perfect player for a Mike Rice-coached team. The only issue he has is foul trouble. He was limited to just 22 mpg last season because he couldn't stay on the floor. If he can solve those fouling issues, expect a big year from the Lithuanian. Miller should have won the Big East newcomer of the year award in 2010. He struggled a bit on the offensive end of the floor as a sophomore, but that Miller's best attribute is his ability to defend. The 6'6" small forward can make things happen defensively. Junior Austin Johnson is another big body that Rice can trot out there, but his front court depth took a major hit when Kadeem Jack, a freshman that was expected to start this season, broke his foot. He should be back by the middle of Big East play. A couple of other freshmen -- Derrick Randall and Greg Lewis will provide Rice with front court depth.

The back court will be a bit more of an issue for Rutgers. Sophomores Mike Poole and Austin Carroll are the only two players that saw significant playing time that return. Carroll is one of the best perimeter shooters that Rice will have at his disposal while Poole, like Miller, is a small forward known more for his ability to defend than his ability to score. Rice does have quite a bit of talent entering the program, however. It starts with Myles Mack, a 5'9" point guard out of St. Patrick's that will have a chance to start immediately. He's not the only newcomer that Rice will have in the back court, either, as freshmen Jerome Seagears, Malick Kone and Eli Carter both enter the program along with Texas Tech transfer Tyree Graham. The Scarlet Knights are on their way up as a program, but they are a couple of years away from truly competing in the league.


13. St. John's: It didn't take long for Steve Lavin to get the Johnnies back to the NCAA Tournament. Coaching a team that was made up of virtually all seniors, Lavin's team put together one of the most impressive runs in the Big East last year. After a couple of embarrassing non-conference losses -- to St. Bonaventure and Fordham -- and a 1-5 stretch at the start Big East play, St. John's used a blowout win over Duke at the Garden to spark a seven game Big East winning streak. It was enough to earn the Johnnies an at-large bid to the tournament. They lost their opening game, but that was partly due to DJ Kennedy blowing out his knee in the Big East Tournament.

The problem? St. John's literally loses their entire team. Nine seniors graduated from last year's team and Dwayne Polee transferred out of the program and into San Diego State. And while Lavin brought in one of the deepest and most talented recruiting classes in the country, he lost three of those freshmen -- Amir Garrett, JaKarr Sampson, and Norvel Pelle -- when they couldn't get through the NCAA's Clearinghouse. What that means is that St. John's is left with a roster that consists of just eight scholarship players, only one of whom was a member of last season's team.

There is some talent on the roster, however. Junior returner Malik Stith will team with high-scoring JuCo transfer Nurideen Lindsay to share the ball-handling duties while D'Angelo Harrison and Phil Greene will share minutes at the shooting guard spot. Sir'Dominic Pointer and Moe Harkless, who are probably the two most talented recruits that Lavin brought in, will man the forward spots while God's Gift Achiuwa will be the team's interior presence. With that much inexperience on the roster, its difficult to expect much out of St. John's this year. But how much could we have expected out of this group if all nine newcomers were eligible? This was going to be a rebuilding year for St. John's regardless of who is on the roster. The guys that did get cleared will be gaining experience while Lavin continues to flex his muscles on the recruiting trail. The future is still bright in Queens even if the chances of making noise this season are significantly slimmer.


14. South Florida: Once again, South Florida struggled to a disappointing finish in the Big East. Coming off of a year where the Bulls finished .500 in the league and made a run at earning an at-large bid, USF won just 10 games last season and went 3-15 in Big East play. They lost to Florida Atlantic and James Madison in non-conference play. Their only Big East wins? Against DePaul and Providence. Any progress that Stan Heath's club made in 2010 completely went out the window last season.

This season, if the Bulls have any chance at competing in the Big East, its going to be the result of their front line playing well. Gus Gilchrist is one of the most talented big men in the league with the talent to be a major force in the league, the issue is whether or not he buys into the team concept. He was suspended for portions of last season due to "philosophical differences" with Heath. He won't be alone on the front line, either. Kansas State transfer Ron Anderson, Arizona State transfer Victor Rudd and junior Toarlyn Fitzpatrick will all see minutes up front. There is also some talent on the perimeter. Shaun Noriega is one of the better shooters in the conference when he gets hot, Hugh Robertson had a couple big games last season and should fill in well until Jawanza Poland, the uber-athletic junior scoring guard, returns from a back injury that will keep him sidelined until December. The point guard spot will be a major question mark, however, as Juco transfer Blake Nash and freshman Anthony Collins will be competing for the starting spot. USF has some pieces this season, but they are the same pieces that struggled all year a season ago. If Gilchrist doesn't correct his attitude and Poland doesn't get back to 100%, it will be another long year in Tampa.


15. Providence: Keno Davis has a disastrous tenure with the Friars. On the court, his product stunk. His team scored points by the bucketful, but they couldn't stop anyone defensively. When you're playing in the powerhouse Big East, you have to be able to get stops when you need them. Off the court, the Friars may have been even worse. Davis couldn't keep his players out of the police blotter, and the boosters and athletic department quickly soured on Davis. Just three years after being the hottest young coach in america, Davis lost his job at Providence. In steps Ed Cooley, who spent the last five years running the Fairfield program. Cooley, a Providence native, is tasked with rebuilding a school that doesn't have 1-A football into the powerhouse they were during his high school days in the late 80's.

That won't be an easy, or a quick, task. Cooley will be completely remodeling a team that went 4-14 last season and loses a first round pick to the NBA Draft. There are some pieces at his disposal, however. Vincent Council can hang with any point guard in the conference, and his back-up -- freshman Kiwi Gardner -- is tiny but will be one of the most exciting players in the league. Sophomores Gerald Coleman and Bryce Cotton both had promising freshman campaigns, as did big man Kadeem Betts. He'll join junior Bilal Dixon on the Friar frontline. This is an extremely young group -- two junior, seven sophomores, three freshmen -- that will have to learn a completely different system this year. Davis preached the run-and-gun; Cooley loves defense stalwarts. It will take a while for him to ingrain that mindset into a team that finished 150th in defensive efficiency last year. But with the youth on the roster, and with a loaded recruiting class on the way in 2012, the future is bright in Rhode Island. But that future may come at the expense of success this year.


16. DePaul: The Blue Demons struggled mightily during the 2010-2011 season, but that is no different than what we have come to expect out of the once-powerful DePaul program. The Blue Demons struggled mightily under head coach Jerry Wainwright, so its no surprise that those struggles continued under new head coach Oliver Purnell. Playing Purnell's typical, full court style, DePaul showed some flashes of potential, battling with some of the better teams in the Big East -- taking Villanova to overtime, losing by four at Louisville, losing by two to West Virginia. But its clear that Purnell's team still has a way to go.

The good news is that he has built the foundation for a promising future. Sophomore Cleveland Melvin and Brandon Young, both Baltimore natives, led the team in scoring and were named to the league's all-freshmen team. With point guard Jeremiah Kelly and big man Krys Faber both returning as well, there was reason for optimism heading into this season. But that was until DePaul started losing players by the handful. First, Shane Larkin decided not to enroll at DePaul and instead headed to Miami. Then freshman Macari Brooks was ruled ineligible for this season because he couldn't get through the NCAA's Clearinghouse. He'll be available next year and have four seasons of eligibility. Tony Freeland, who started at small forward last year, will miss the year after undergoing surgery on his balky right shoulder and Montray Clemons suffered a patella injury while warming up for Midnight Madness. Purnell now will struggle to have enough bodies to go 5-on-5 in practice. Miami transfer Donnavan Kirk will provide a boost when he gets eligible in December, and freshmen Charles McKinney and Derrell Robertson will have an impact, but its going to be another long year for the Blue Demons. The good news? There was hope. And there still is for the future. Its just not happening this year.
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