The Ivy had a great year, but it is still the Ivy

With Cornell's run to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, and Jeremy Lin's performance in the Summer League and subsequent contract with the Golden State Warriors, the question that is going to start being asked is whether or not the Ivy can consistently produce NCAA tournament winners and NBA players.

In other words, does this boost in profile make the league more attractive to recruits?

As they say, there is no such thing as bad publicity.

Jeremy Lin went from Harvard to the NBA.
(photo credit: ESPN)

Cornell became the darling on the NCAA Tournament, putting together some of the most impressive offensive basketball I've ever seen in their two wins during the first weekend. And while that team had plenty of talent -- Ryan Wittman, Louis Dale, and Jeff Foote probably all could have started at BCS programs by their senior seasons -- their success was as much about coaching and the ability of that team to play together as much as it was individual talent.

In other words, that team was a fluke team. Steve Donahue landed three guys that could have gone to bigger schools, surrounded them with solid role players, and developed a system that allowed each of those three players to maximize their ability. It was a perfect storm and a testament to the job Donahue did. That's why he got the head coaching job at Boston College.

As for Lin, he was just a guy that the bigger schools missed on. It happens -- ask the Curry brothers or Adam Morrison. Maybe it was because he was too slow, or couldn't jump high enough, or didn't have perfect form on his jumper, or his height, or his ethinicity. Whatever it was, Lin slipped through the cracks to become one of the best guards in the country last season while playing for a school known for brain power, not athletics. Lin, like the group at Cornell, was a fluke.

Look, I don't mean to discredit what the Ivy League did last season. It was impressive. It was fun to watch. But that doesn't change the fact that it is the Ivy League. There is a much smaller pool of prospects for schools in the Ivy League. They need players that not only can afford to pay for school (not always the case, as financial aid can be given to athletes), but can hold their own in the classroom as well.

That is what an Ivy League coach needs to sell recruits on. "Come here, play a lower level of D1 basketball in a league that doesn't have a conference tournament at a school where you will need to work as hard, if not harder, in the classroom than you do on the court."

That is a tough sales-pitch to a BCS-level kid. Its also why a coach like Steve Donahue, who was able to successfully make that sales pitch to three potential high-major players, gets scooped up by a school like Boston College.

The Ivy is like any other low- or mid-major conference. It goes in cycles. They've have been very successful the last year.

But one year, one Sweet 16 trip, and one undrafted free agent earning a contract is not going to make anyone forget that this is, in fact, still the Ivy League.

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Kentucky's D leads them to a win

There were three things Cornell had to do to win this game.

The first was controlling the tempo. The Big Red simply didn't have the horses to run with Big Blue. And despite the Wildcats getting a couple run outs towards the end of the first half, Cornell did a fairly good job of keeping the pace of the game at a level they could compete. A 62 possession game is far from a track meet.

The second was defending Kentucky and finishing possessions. In other words, Cornell had to keep guys like John Wall and Eric Bledsoe from penetrating, try and slow down DeMarcus Cousins, hope that Kentucky missed from the perimeter, and then go and get the rebound. And, well, they did that. Wall and Bledsoe combined for just 20 points on 6-16 shooting, Cousins was allowed just eight shots, and Cornell grabbed 20 defensive rebounds to Kentucky's 10 offensive boards. As a team, Kentucky finished just 2-16 from three.

Kentucky beat Cornell thanks to an incredible defensive performance.
(photo credit: FOXSports)

If you worship at the altar of Kenpom like we do, then you'll appreciate that tonight was easily Cornell's best defensive performance of the tournament, the only time their defensive efficiency was below 100.

The third, and theoretically the easiest, thing that Cornell had to do was to make shots. I mean, we are talking about the best three point shooting team in the country, a team that systemically sliced two vaunted defenses in their first two games.

Tonight, the Big Red simply could not get comfortable offensively. In fact, just four days after their best offensive performance of the season, Cornell had their worst. By far.

The sweet-shooting Big Red shot just 33% from the field and 5-21 from three. They turned the ball over 15 times. They scored only 45 points. And if you believe in tempo-free numbers, Cornell's offensive efficiency was just 71.7, exactly half of what it was in their win over Wisconsin. Kentucky's defensive performance is all the more impressive when you consider that Cornell was up 10-2 five minutes into the game. Over the next 35 minutes, the Big Red mustered a mighty 35 points.

Kentucky's athleticism was the difference.

Jeff Foote was ineffective against the Wildcat bigs. Louis Dale was hounded by the likes of DeAndre Liggins, Eric Bledsoe, and even John Wall. Every time Ryan Wittman looked to shoot, he had a hand or three in his face.

John Calipari deserves to be praised for the defensive effort he got out of his players tonight.

It was that defensive effort that sent Big Blue nation into the Elite 8.

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Cornell is playing with a full "passion bucket"

I don't watch/listen to the Dan Patrick Show.

To be perfectly honest, I didn't know he had a show.

Apparently, his show has coined the phrase "passion bucket". And apparently, Cornell thinks the term is pretty funny.



Jeff Foote's reaction is the best part.
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Cornell's performance was better than you think

There have been quite a few impressive performances thus far in the tournament. Ohio dominated third-seeded Georgetown en route to a 14 point upset. Butler and St. Mary's both used dominating second halves to beat UTEP and Richmond, respectively, and advance to the second round.

But the most impressive performance of the first round may end up being Cornell's domination of the Temple Owls.

No, I'm not an idiot. While its true that I didn't pick Cornell to win this game, its not because I didn't Cornell was good. Its because I thought Temple was that much better.

The numbers don't lie. According to Kenpom, Temple is the third best team in the country in terms of defensive efficiency and first in the country in defense effective FG percentage. (For those that are new to tempo-free stats, defensive efficiency is the number of points a team allows per possession, while effective FG percentage factors in that going 2-6 from three is equivalent to shooting 3-6 from inside the arc.)

In other words, there is a good argument to be made that Temple is the best defensive team in the country.

And Cornell carved up the Owl's defense with the surgical precision of Dexter Morgan.

Seriously, I don't think you understand how impressive this performance was by Cornell. The Big Red shot 68.4% in the first half, and were still over 60% late in the second half. They hit nine threes.

It gets better.

Coming into the game, the Owls had only allowed an opponent to average more than a point per possession (an efficiency over 100) six times on the season, and only once was that number above 111 -- when Temple was manhandled 84-52 by a Kansas team that would have beaten the Nets that day. Cornell finished the game with an offensive efficiency of 135.4, the fourth best performance by the Big Red on the season. They were only better against Dartmouth, Brown, and Yale. Not exactly a murderer's row.

Cornell's eFG% was 65.4%, which was their fifth best performance of the year and the second-worst given up by Temple on the season.

Tempo-free numbers are what they are: numbers.

Anyone watching this game knows that Cornell thoroughly dominated this game.

But looking at those tempo-free stats should tell you just how impressive the Cornell performance was.

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2010 NCAA Tournament Bracket Breakdown: Five teams that may disappoint

Baylor: The Bears have all of a sudden become a trendy pick to make the Final Four. I get it. I like them too. Heck, I'm probably picking this team to get to the Final Four, there's a lot to like about them. Tweety Carter and Lace Dunn form an excellent back court. Ekpe Udoh and Quincy Acy anchor a long and athletic front line. Baylor attacks the offensive glass and they shoot the three well. But what worries me about Baylor is their defense. They block a lot of shots, but they also give up too much penetration, allow too many open shots, and don't force many turnovers. That doesn't mean this team can't make a run, but trendy picks aren't always as good as we build them up to be.


Cornell:

Again, Cornell is a team I like. They are an experienced group that executes beautifully offensively. They have size, shooting, a standout point guard, and a big time scorer. Anyone that saw them hang tough with Kansas at Kansas will agree - Cornell is going to give someone problems this year. But just how much? Remember, we're basing out assumptions of this team based on wins at Alabama and UMass and a close loss to Kansas. This team also lost to Seton Hall at home and to Penn. They are not athletic, and they drew two tough match-ups -- Temple and potentially Wisconsin, both disciplined defensive teams -- in the first two rounds. I'm not saying Cornell can't win a game this season, but let's be realistic with out expectations (Jay Bilas had Cornell in the Elite 8).


Siena:

The Saints seem to almost be a given to win their first round game, almost to the point that they could actually be the favored team. It makes sense. Purdue struggled without Robbie Hummel, and Siena is a talented and balanced team that has been here before. I'm not knocking Siena here, but don't count out Purdue. This is a veteran club that no doubt hears the talk -- Duke got a gift with them in their draw, Siena's going to win the first round. This is a team that plays defense with a lot of toughness and pride and still has E'Twuan Moore and JaJuan Johnson.


Kentucky:

The Wildcats have as much talent as any team in recent memory. But as we all know, this team is full of youthful exuberance that, at times, can manifest itself as immaturity and poor decision making. Now that we know what Kentucky's matchups are, it gets a little more tricky. Texas has people that can defend DeMarcus Cousins (Dexter Pittman) and John Wall (Avery Bradley/Justin Mason). Temple and Wisconsin slow down the game and play a frustrating style. West Virginia will beat up the Wildcats. Its a tough draw for the young Wildcats, and anything short of a Final Four for this team is a disappointment.


Pitt:

I'm not sold on the Panthers. I look at them as a poor mans Wisconsin. They can play defense and hang in a slugfest, but where are they going to get their scoring from? Ashton Gibbs can shoot, but he isn't a point guard. Gilbert Brown can dunk on you, but how consistent is his perimeter shot? Brad Wanamaker and Jermaine Dixon are inconsistent. This team had a great start to Big East play, but faded late. Maybe teams have figured out how to beat the Panthers. I don't see them getting past Xavier.
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Cornell makes it three straight

Cornell won the Ivy for the third straight time with a 95-76 over triumph at Brown on Friday night. No surprise there. Cornell was the best team in the league all season long.

But this is they Ivy.

So the question becomes can this Cornell team do something when it really matters: in March.

Well, for Ivy teams, the trend hasn't been good, as they have lost their first round games in the last 11 years. Its been Cornell that has lost that first round game each of the last two years.

Cornell is the first member of the 2010 NCAA Tournment.
(photo credit: Cornell Basketball Blog)

Its not just NCAA Tournament games, either. Cornell has yet to beat one of the big boys. Sure, wins over UMass and Alabama and St. John's are nice and all, but those aren't NCAA Tournament teams. They aren't even on the bubble, and this is one of the weakest bubbles in recent memory.

But the Big Red are getting closer. We all remember the scare they put into Kansas at the Phog earlier this year. This is a team with a high-major caliber center, an former Ivy-POY at the point, and a great scorer on the wing. And they are all seniors.

Now think about this: last night, Cornell took 30 three pointers. They hit 20 of them.

I'll say it again. Cornell hit 20 of their 30 threes last night.

How does the saying go? The three pointer is the great equalizer?

Look, I don't know if Cornell is going to be able win a game this year. So much of that depends on who they get matched up with. Cornell is not a good defensive team this year, which makes me believe they will struggle against teams that can slow them down offensively and execute efficiently against their defense. Cornell looks to be tracking as somewhere around an 11 or 12 seed. If the Big Red ends up with someone like Georgetown, or Wisconsin, or Temple in the first round, I think they could struggle.

But say they get a match-up against a team like Baylor, who plays zone, or a team like Tennessee, who is not all that good on the offensive end?

Whoever they get matched up with better make sure they get their hands up on shooters.

20-30 from three. Wow. There are teams that would be happy with that performance from the foul line.
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Conference Tournament Preview: Six teams that can win a game in the NCAA's

Everyone loves the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Four straight days jam-packed with 12 hours of do-or-die college hoops is more than most people can handle.

But for junkies like us, the next 13 days are just as good, for it is when the true Madness takes place. Over the course of these two weeks, we whittle some 347 teams down to 30 conference champions (the Ivy doesn't have a tournament). Auto-bids will be won. Bubbles will be burst. Buzzers will be beaten. And most importantly, a 65 team bracket will be made.

To kick off our preview of the conference tournaments, lets take a look at six teams that aren't going to be getting an at-large berth, but are capable of winning a game in March.


Siena Saints: 24-6, 17-1 MAAC

We've written this before, but Siena reminds me a lot of the Davidson team from 2008 that made that miraculous run to the Elite 8. After winning a game in each of the last two NCAA Tournaments, Siena had quite a bit of expectation coming into this season. But like Davidson in 2008, Siena lost all of their marquee games this season. Their best win? Northeastern, who finished in second place in the CAA. But rest assured, which ever four or five seed draws the Saints in the first round of the NCAA's will know what they are in for.

Ronald Moore doesn't score a lot, but he is probably Siena's MVP.
(photo credit: Albany Times-Union)

There are quite a few things to like about this Siena team. With Ryan Rossiter and Edwin Ubiles, they have the size and athleticism that many low- and mid-major teams lack, while Alex Franklin is your prototypical mid-major post -- undersized, but scrappy and productive. Throw Clarence Jackson in the mix, and they have four guys that are capable of going for 20 on a given night. They have arguably the most underrated point guard in the country in Ronald Moore. But most of all, this is a team that has already experienced wins in the tournament. They aren't going to be fazed by the bright lights of March.


Murray State Racers: 27-4, 17-1 OVC

Murray State rolled through OVC play, winning their first 16 games before losing to preseason favorite Morehead State on the road. Of their 17 league wins, 12 came by double digits. You would be hard-pressed to find a more balanced team in the country than the Racers. Ten players average at least 10 mpg, with no one playing more than 26.5 mpg. In one of the oddest statistics that you will see, Murray State has five players that average between 10.2 and 10.7 ppg. Murray State pressures the ball, forcing turnovers and bad shots as well as any team in the country. On the offensive end of the floor, they take smart shots and hit the offensive glass. Murray State has a number of talented players that can beat you in a variety of ways.


Portland Pilots: 19-9, 10-4 WCC

Portland made a lot of noise early in the season as they beat both Minnesota and UCLA en route to the finals of the 76 Classic back in November. They even managed to work their way into the top 25 for a week. That ranking went by the wayside as the Pilots proceeded to lose three straight and five of seven after beating the Gophers. As a result, the college basketball-watching public essentially forgot about the Pilots. But this is a team built for an upset. They are experienced -- their top seven scorers are all juniors or seniors. Luke Sikma and Robin Smuelders give them size and a couple scoring threats in the paint. They have an experienced and talented point guard in TJ Campbell that can beat you as a scorer or a playmaker. They are fourth in the country at shooting threes, led by the deadly Jared Stohl. It would be an upset for Portland to actually make the tournament, especially when you consider leading scorer Nik Raivio will be out for the WCC tourney, but if they can get there this is a team that may be able to shoot their way into the second round.


Cornell Big Red: 25-4, 11-1 Ivy

Cornell is all but a lock to make the tournament, so long as they can beat either Brown or Yale this weekend. When they do get there, don't expect Cornell to be much more than a 13 or 14 seed. That said, this is a team that can play with anyone in the country. Just ask Kansas, who trailed for most of the second half against Cornell playing in the Phog.

There are not many guys out there that can shoot it better than Ryan Wittman.
(photo credit: Syracuse.com)

There are three guys that make this team go -- point guard Louis Dale, sharp-shooter Ryan Wittman, and aptly named seven-foot center Jeff Foote. The Big Red are not a very athletic team and will struggle to defend against high-majors, but they execute with precision on the offensive end, shoot the heck out of the ball from three, and don't take many bad shots. If they get hot, look out.


Oakland Grizzlies: 23-8, 17-1 Summit

Oakland got smoked early on in the season. Wisconsin, Kansas, Memphis, Michigan State, and Syracuse all had their way with the Grizzlies before the conference regular season started. But since Summit League play began, all Oakland has done is win. It hasn't always been pretty. In fact, of Oakland's 17 wins in the Summit League, only two were blowouts of more than 14 points. This is a team that has been tested during the regular season, and as you know, "winning" is a learned skill. The Grizzlies have as good of a 1-2 punch as you are going to find at this level. 6'11" Keith Benson is an NBA prospect. Benson does not have a great back-to-the-basket game yet, he is capable on the block. But his best attribute is his ability to knock down shots from the perimeter. By forcing an opponent's center to guard him, it opens up space for Johnanthon Jones. Jones' number are a bit down from last season, when he was the nation's leader in assists, but the 5'11" point guard is still a nightmare to keep in front and one of the best playmakers in the country.


Radford Highlanders: 19-11, 13-5 Big South

Radford didn't even win their conference regular season title. With 11 losses on the season and a second place finish in a low-major league, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that the Highlanders are going to be getting a pretty low seed if they do happen to make it to the dance. That said, I still think Radford could spring an upset thanks to their presence in the paint. Artsiom Parakhouski, a 6'11 Belarusian that averages 21 ppg and 13 rpg, is a load to handle no matter what level of basketball you are playing. He's joined up front by two 6'8" forwards in Lazar Trifunovic and Joey Lynch-Flohr, who both also average double figures. Radford is good defensively and excellent on the glass, which you probably would expect with that front line. Combined with a couple of talented wings and point guard Amir Johnson (a 5'9" senior that averaged 13 ppg as a sophomore, but has since taken over role of playmaker), the Highlanders will put a scare into a first round opponent if they can get there.
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Cornell and Siena losing completes Friday's craziness

The Pitt-West Virginia game wasn't the only bit of craziness from Friday night.

You see, Cornell lost their first game of the year in the Ivy League.

By 15 points.

To Penn.

That's right, Penn. The team that came into the game with three wins on the season. The team that fired their coach midway through December. The team that didn't pick up a win in the 2009-2010 season until it was actually 2010.

Penn got 24 points from Sam Eggleston and 22 from Zach Rosen as they used a 15-0 run to open up the second half. Cornell, who looked frustrated throughout most of the game, never was able to recover from that deficit.

This is a huge loss for Cornell. They are now in second place in the Ivy and half to face league leader Princeton on the road today. In fact, five of their last seven games in conference play are on the road, which includes a trip up to Harvard. Big Red fans shouldn't be so sure about their teams chances of making the tournament. As we all know, the Ivy doesn't have a tournament; their auto-bid goes to the regular season champ.

But that isn't all.

Siena had their 15 game winning streak, the longest in the nation, and their perfect 14-0 record in the MAAC snapped on the road at Niagara last night as well. The Purple Eagles forced 16 turnovers, and used a 21-3 run midway through the second half to pull away.

Siena has already clinched their league title, but this loss is significant because now the Saints have no margin for error when it comes to earning a trip to the dance. They whiffed against all their major out of conference opponents, meaning that the only way they had a chance at an at-large bid was if they went unbeaten through the league.

That didn't happen thanks to Niagara.

Which means Siena is probably going to have to win the MAAC tournament if they want to make the big dance.

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Cornell will never get an at-large bid

If my google reader had a trending topics section a la twitter, Cornell's near upset of would be at the top of that list.

One point that has been discussed is whether or not Cornell deserves an at-large bid to the tournament.

In a word: no.

Cornell plays in the Ivy League. The Ivy League is the only conference in the country that gives their automatic bid to the champion of the regular season because they don't have a conference tournament.

The Big Red hung tough with Kansas last night.
(photo credit: LJ World)

If today was Selection Sunday, Cornell would almost assuredly be dancing. They've won at St. John's, at Alabama, and at La Salle. They are 11-3, with their only losses coming at home to Seton Hall, at Syracuse, and at Kansas last night, in a game they very well could have won. They have an RPI of 35 (before last night's game), but with just one top 50 win (and that may not be top 50 for too much longer, as St. John's is currently 50th in the RPI) and are 2-3 against the top 100.

Seeing as their non-conference slate is done, Cornell's profile has no where to go but down playing an Ivy League conference slate. Yes, they have two games left against Harvard, who is 25th in the RPI, but the only other team in the conference with an RPI better that 239 is Princeton, who is 139th.

There are not many teams playing in low-major conferences that are going to be considered for an at-large berth, which means that Cornell will be competing for one of those 31 spots with teams that are going to have numerous chances at knocking off the best in the country during conference play.

Cornell won't.

The only way that they can can be eligible for an at-large berth is if they lose the Ivy's regular season title. Assuming an absolute best case scenario, that means they go 13-1 in league play, with their only loss coming to Harvard. If Harvard also goes 13-1, it would set up a one game playoff for the automatic bid, which Cornell would then lose.

Assuming the computer numbers stay where they are, that would mean Cornell would have just two top 50 wins and would be 3-5 against the top 100. Is the committee going to give an at-large bid to a team whose marquee win is against Harvard?

Not likely.

If Cornell was to sweep Harvard during the regular season, it would mean that the Big Red would have to drop three games to Ivy opponents to hear their name on Selection Sunday. Call me crazy, but I don't see a three loss Ivy League team making the tournament.

The argument for Cornell getting an at-large bid would have merit if the Ivy League had a conference tournament. Say Cornell goes undefeated during the regular season, but loses a close game to Harvard in the tournament final.

Then the Big Red would have an legitimate gripe if they are sent to the NIT.

Yes, Harvard is a good team. Yes, Jeremy Lin is a great player. But if Cornell can't win the Ivy League, then they don't deserve to go dancing.
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Holiday Festival Day 2

We had the opportunity to go to Madison Square Garden four times already this season - for the Preseason NIT, the SEC/Big East Invitational, and the Jimmy V Classic. While the experience was great and the games even better, what most don't realize is that for bloggers like ourselves, events like this are a great opportunity to network.

One of the people we got a chance to meet there was Ray Floriani, a columnist at College Chalk Talk and a fellow member of Rush the Court's army of correspondents. Ray was able to battle the snow and made it to the Garden on Sunday for the first round of the Holiday Festival and was kind enough to do a write-up for us.

Ray will be popping up from time-to-time here at BIAH.

By Ray Floriani

NEW YORK CITY - Cornell’s last trip to the Holiday Festival was 1970. It was billed the ECAC Holiday Festival and had a power packed field. Back then nationally ranked South Carolina and Western Kentucky (remember Jim McDaniels?) met in the final with Frank McGuire’s Gamecocks earning an 86-84 victory. Cornell went 1-2 in the eight team field, losing to South Carolina the first round, defeating Manhattan then dropping a fifth place game to Holy Cross.

Suffice to say the Big Red’s return trip, almost four decades later, was much more enjoyable and memorable as they claimed the championship defeating St.John’s in the final 71-66.

Cornell's cheerleader wishing everyone a happy holiday after the Big Red's title.

The championship was an outside shooting affair at the onset with both teams lighting it up beyond the arc. The numbers bear this out.

• Cornell: 58 possessions, offensive efficiency of 122, effective FG 70%
• St. John's: 59 possessions, offensive efficiency of 112, effective FG 52%
  

Offensive efficiency is points per possession multiplied by 100. Cornell registered 1.22 points per possession. Both Teams had above average offensive efficiency marks. Cornell, as noted, bordered on the superlative.

EFG percentage takes into account three point shots. The formula is

EFG = FGM + (.5 * 3pt FGM)/FGA.

The Big Red’s 11 of 18 mark from beyond the arc was a major reason for the very high EFG mark.

In the first half both teams shot well (an identical 7 of 11 from three). St. John’s took a 36-31 lead into halftime. In the second half St. John’s cooled off and Cornell gradually caught the Red Storm and took a lead. St. John’s coach Norm Roberts felt Cornell denied the paint and gave the three. On the other side Cornell mentor Steve Donahue believed the percentages would catch St. John’s, not known as a proficient three point club. They did.

Davidson defeated Hofstra 61-52 in the consolation. It was a tough game emotionally for both coaches. Bob McKillop of Davidson is a Hofstra grad and Tome Pecora of Hofstra is a good friend who once coached with McKillop (at Long Island Lutheran High school 1984-87). "I just tried to look at the scoreboard and see home and visitors," McKillop said.

Final notes...

'Spahn and Sain and pray for rain'. The old Boston Braves baseball slogan can apply to Hofstra. They have two good guards in junior Charles Jenkins and freshman Chaz Williams. The Pride needs someone, preferably an upperclassman, to step up and contribute on a regular basis. Hofstra has to rebound better as they were beaten on the boards both nights.

Davidson is still under .500 at 5-8. They are getting better. Part of the process was former role players now having new duties and being asked to step up with the Stephen Curry era over. The Wildcats also had a tough non-league schedule with the likes of Butler, Rhode Island and Gonzaga before the trip here. Suffice to say they are coming together and had two fine outings in the Big Apple.

Davidson and Cornell are two throw back teams with their ball movement, precision cutting and mid to long range shooting. For the two games Cornell had 39 assists to just 24 turnovers. The Big Red assisted on 68% of their field goals.

MVP Jeff Foote was very impressive. The seven foot Cornell senior center doesn’t force the issue, is a good passer and has nice inside moves. Foote also has something you rarely see on any level from big men today, a soft jump hook. Foote scored 19 points and had a game high 11 boards in the championship game.

Have to love the MSG scoreboard. You get virtually every college score men and women. Case in point. I exited MSG knowing the Sacramento State Women’s team defeated the Academy of Art 92-70.

All Tournament:

Chaz Williams, Hofstra - Two good games, led Hofstra with 14 points in the consolation.

Jake Cohen, Davidson- Scored 18 both games, a 6-10 freshman and the Wildcats’ leading scorer.

Dwight Hardy, St. John’s- An all tourney selection who came off the bnch and was a factor both nights. Led the Storm with 19 points aginst Cornell.

D.J. Kennedy, St. John’s- A solid scorer and rebounded the 6-5 senior swingman has to be guarded outside and can get to the rim.

Ryan Wittman, Cornell - Hit the shot that sent Cornell to the final. Scored 10 in the final but had 29 in that big semifinal victory.

MSG Lou Carnesecca Holiday Festival MVP - Jeff Foote, Cornell: Foote’s exploits were noted previously. He can also be credited with great humilty as he said after the game "the only other MVP I got was in a high school tournament. To get it here on this stage at Madison Square Garden is really exciting."

To all.. A Happy Holiday!
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The best ten days of the pre-March college hoops season starts tonight

For anyone that stayed up to watch all 24 plus hours of the 2009 Tip-Off Marathon, kudos. You are probably just as tired as I am right now.

But don't think, not for a second, that we are done with this season's non-conference craziness.

You see, today kicks off the best ten day stretch of the college basketball season that doesn't involve the terms "March" or "Madness". In early November, most teams are playing cupcakes, ironing out the kinks in their rotations, their offense, and their defense, and trying to find an identity. When December rolls around and finals hit, most schools tone down their scheduling. Flying cross-country the day before a exam is not the best way to keep up a GPA.

That leaves the end of November. And while much of the country will spend Turkey week watching football, if you get sick of watching the Lions or this weekend's meaningless college football schedule, you can rest assured that there will be plenty of hoops to be seen.

So without further ado, here are the 10 questions we hope will be answered by the end of Feast Week (for a full breakdown of the preseason tournaments, go here)

How will UNC play against real competition?

North Carolina is 3-0 early in the season, but they haven't exactly played the meat of the ACC schedule. They also haven't looked all that impressive in wins over FIU, North Carolina Central, and Valpo. There are two major issues for the Heels - perimeter shooting and the play of their younger guys. In their first three wins, UNC won, for the most part, because Deon Thompson, Ed Davis, and Tyler Zeller were just too strong inside. Playing against teams with similar strength inside, will the back court be capable of winning games? Larry Drew has been solid, but unspectacular, in his first three games starting at the point. Marcus Ginyard and Will Graves are smart veteran players and good defenders, but they aren't exactly Wayne Ellington offensively. Dexter Strickland, Leslie McDonald, and John Henson have been disappointing thus far. If the Heels don't find a perimeter shooter and their young back court kids don't develop in a hurry, Roy Williams may regret his team's difficult early schedule.


Will UCLA's defense pick up?

Did you watch the UCLA-Cal St. Fullerton game? The Bruins lost a double overtime snoozefest to the Titans in one of the ugliest games I have seen in a long time. Why? UCLA doesn't have a go-to guy offensively. Malcolm Lee was expected to be that guy, and while he had his moments, against CSF he showed he still has a long way to go. PG Jerime Anderson looked nervous and played without confidence throughout the game, and Drew Gordon is without an effective offensive game. Michael Roll and Nikola Dragovic, when he finds he jumper, are effective complimentary scorers, but they aren't the guys you want to rely upon for a big basket. With their injuries in the pre-season, these struggles were somewhat expected. UCLA's struggles defensively weren't. Don't be fooled by the numbers, the Bruins allowed the Titans to penetrate at will, and if CSF had been able to finish at the rim (the Titans must have missed 15 lay-ups), UCLA would have lost by 20. UCLA will get a talented Portland team in the opening round of the 76 Classic, followed by a tough match-up with either Butler or Minnesota. Their defense will be tested.


Is Gonzaga's front line really as good as they played against Michigan State?

Everyone knew about Gonzaga's back court coming into the season. Matt Bouldin, Demetri Goodson, and Steven Gray (ED. Note: Until he cuts his hair, I propose the nickname of Geico for Steven Gray. He looks just like one of the cavemen.) are as talented as any three in the back court. The question was in the front court, and Robert Sacre and Elias Harris more than proved themselves. Sacre has 17 points on an impressive variety of post moves, while Harris used his strength and athleticism to bully his way to 17 and 9. The question is was that a result of a young and depleted Spartan front line, or are Sacre and Harris really that good? With Colorado and the winner of Arizona/Wisconsin in the first two rounds of the Maui Invitational, Sacre and Harris will get a chance to prove this wasn't a fluke performance.


Will Greivis Vasquez break out of this shooting slump?

Greivis Vasquez has struggled through the first two games of the season. He is just 6-25 from the floor, 2-7 from three, and averaging a paltry 8.0 ppg. How is this possible? Everyone knows that he is one of the most talented players in the country, and by far the best player on the Maryland team.

Therein lies the problem. If the fans know it and the writers and bloggers know it, then shouldn't you expect opposing coaches to know it as well? When you are as good as Vasquez is, team's are going to key in on you. And that is precisely what has happened. The shooting numbers for Vasquez are going to come around. It is only a matter of time, and as anyone that has played basketball knows, all it takes is for one to go down and a player is right back on track. The good news is that the rest of Vasquez's game hasn't suffered. As he is drawing more attention on the offensive end, he has been great at distributing the ball. Through two games, he has 19 assists and just six turnovers. Hopefully, he can find his stroke against Chaminade in the Maui Invitational, because the Terps are going to need him against Cincinnati or Vanderbilt in the second round.


Can Cincinnati play an effective brand of basketball with Lance Stephenson and Deonta Vaughn on the court at the same time?

Two games in, and the Lance Stephenson experiment isn't exactly going perfectly. In the opener, the Bearcats struggled to run their offense against an extremely out-talented Prairie View A&M. Lance Stephenson struggled, finishing 2-10 from the floor for 7 points, while Deonta Vaughn played so poorly that he was benched for the start of the second half. Then against Toledo, the Bearcats allowed a team that starts three freshman to hang around, cutting the lead to 57-49 with 14 minutes left, and while shooting 48% from the floor for the game. Clearly, this is not a team that is firing on all cylinders right now. There seem to be two issues at hand - Stephenson is a bit too anxious early in the season (Cronin went so far as too call him a nervous wreck in the opener), and Vaughn seems to lack the leadership qualities that Cronin is looking for. Will they figure it out by the time they play Vanderbilt out in Maui?


Are Kansas State's post players good enough for the Wildcats to compete in the Big XII? Is Georgia Tech's back court good enough to make them relevant in the ACC?

Kansas State and Georgia Tech are in similar situations. The Wildcats have one of the most talented back courts in the country in Denis Clemente, Jacob Pullen, and Rodney MscGruder. But their front court, which is full of potential, is largely an unknown commodity. Is Curtis Kelly the Curtis Kelly that scored 22 in their opener, or is he the kid that couldn't get any minutes at UConn? How good will Wally Judge and Jamar Samuels end up being? We find out starting tonight as K-State takes on Boston U.

Georgia Tech is the other way around. With Zach Peacock, Gani Lawal, and Derrick Favors, the Jackets have one of the best front courts around. But will their perimeter play be enough to carry them to the top of a wide open ACC? Iman Shumpert was good at times last season, but all erratic and inconsistent. Mfon Udofia, Glen Rice Jr, and Moe Miller are talented, but unproven. The return of DeAndre Bell from a back injury should help provide leadership, but this group of youngsters has their work cut out for them. We should learn a lot from their match-up with the tough Dayton Flyers today.


Is UConn going to live up to their lofty expectations this year?

UConn is 3-0 on the season, but with the exception of the second half against Colgate, UConn has been far from impressive this season. William & Mary was down seven with the ball in the final four minutes, Colgate was down one at halftime (and outplayed the Huskies in the first half), and Hofstra was up by nine with nine minutes left before Jerome Dyson took over. The problem the Huskies have had is on the offensive end - they can't score in the half court. Where they are most effective defensively is in their 2-2-1 press, but UConn can only set up that press after a made basket. The press not only creates turnovers and offense, it takes the opposition out of there rhythm. Unless UConn can find a shooter or two (Jamal Coombs-McDaniel has been their best thus far, but Dyson can shoot with time as well), teams are going to pack in their defense, forcing the Huskies into tough drives at the rim. While Dyson and Kemba Walker excel at slashing to the basket, its a much tougher task going against a sagging 2-3 zone than a close-out in a man-to-man situation.


Can Evan Turner continue to impress playing against quality competition?

Sure, Evan Turner has great numbers right now. Can anyone really argue with 19 ppg, 17 rpg, 7 apg, and 2 spg? No, they can't. But Turner posted those numbers against less than stellar competition. His triple-double came against Alcorn State, who shut down Rotnei Clarke to the tune of 51 points later that week. The 24 point, 17 rebound performance in his second game came against James Madison, a middle of the pack team from the CAA that lost three of their top four scorers. On Thursday and Friday, Turner will be going up against North Carolina and either Syracuse or Cal. Will he continue to dominate playing the point guard spot, or were these first two games a fluke? Personally, I think his domination continues. Turner is an all-american and arguably the most versatile, well-rounded player in the country. His numbers may drop (I don't see him getting 17 boards against UNC), but that should be expected. Don't expect his value to the Buckeyes success to diminish at all, however.


Are Rider and Cornell for real?

Rider has wins on the road against Mississippi State and Lehigh. Cornell has won games at Alabama and UMass. This should have been expected from Cornell. They are a talented and experienced group that has won back-to-back Ivy League crowns. Louis Dale, the '07-'08 Ivy player of the year, is one of the best point guards you have never seen player. Two-time Ivy first-teamer Ryan Wittman is on the short list for best shooter in the country. 7'0" center Jeff Foote is the reigning defensive player of the year, and has added some offense to his game this season, averaging 13.5 ppg. Cornell has a great point guard, a big center, shooters on the wing, and a solid group of experienced role players. Isn't that the ideal situation for a mid-major?

Rider, on the other hand, was not a team a lot of people were talking about in the pre-season. They play in the MAAC, which is a conference headlined by Siena and Niagara. There is not a lot of space at the top. But what people forget is that Rider won 19 games last season, 12 in the MAAC including splits with Siena and Niagara, and returned their top five scorers, including Ryan Thompson. Rider, however, may not be able to carry this momentum like Cornell. They rely a little too much on the three ball (their top four perimeter players are a combined 25-35 from deep in two games, that's 71%), and when those stop dropping at that rate, the Broncs may come back down to earth.


How will Purdue react to the loss of Lewis Jackson?

As we talked about yesterday, this will be a big change for Purdue. Without Jackson, they do not have a true point guard on their roster. The Boilermakers were fine with Keaton Grant and E'Twaun Moore sharing point guard duties two years ago when they reached the NCAA Tournament, and given the team-oriented offense that Purdue likes to run, the Boilermakers should have enough on their roster to survive. But after spending an off-season preparing for running an offense through Jackson, it will be an adjustment getting used to Grant and Moore running the show.

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11/16 - College Hoops Week in Review

What we learned this week: There really isn't all that much to take from the games during the first week of the season. Team's are still trying to figure out their identity, players are trying to learn their new roles and how to play alongside their new teammates, and coaches are trying to figure out their rotation.

All told, the first week usually consists of major conference teams smacking around some low-majors, with the occasional upset and intriguing match-up sprinkled in.

We did learn a couple things, however. UNC, UConn, and Cal may not be as good as advertised. UNC and UConn are still trying to find an identity for their team (and some outside shooting), while Cal is dealing with the burden of playing with expectations. Syracuse, Ohio State, and Kansas State, on the other hand, look like they will be better than expected. Evan Turner of Ohio State is the real deal and a legit player of the year candidate. The Syracuse Orange proved that they are going to be a terror to deal with on the offensive end, while Kansas State showed that their front line is going to be long and athletic this season.

As the preseason tournaments really start to kick off this week, we will begin to learn much more about the best teams in the country.


GAME OF THE WEEK: Harvard 87, William & Mary 85 3OT

With just 14 seconds left in the third overtime, Harvard missed a pair of free throws that would have given them a three point lead. Instead, the Tribe's Sean McCurdy went the length of the floor and finished a lay-up to give William & Mary an 85-84 lead with four seconds left. Harvard's Jeremy Lin responded by, well, the video here explains it all.

Jeremy Lin reacts after hitting a game winner against William & Mary.
(photo credit: harvard.edu)

William & Mary was down by as much as 13 in the second half, but an off-balance three by Danny Sumner sent the game into the first overtime. Both the first and the second overtimes were tied in the last minutes after a player was fouled shooting a three and hit all three free throws. Lin, who hit the game winner, finished with 19 points, 9 assists, and 5 boards to lead the Crimson

Also good this week:

• Seton Hall 53, St. Peter's 51: A 35 footer by Eugene Harvey at the buzzer saved Seton Hall from an upset at the hands of the Peacocks.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Evan Turner, Ohio State

This was a tougher choice than I expected midway through the week, but Turner's two games this week were too much to pass up. Turner, a 6'7" point forward, notched just the second triple double in Ohio State history as he posted 14 points, 17 boards, and 10 assists in a 100-60 win over Alcorn State (remember those guys). Against James Madison on Thursday, Turner was equally impressive, posting 24 points, 17 boards, and 4 assists in another blowout win for the Buckeyes. All told, Turner finished the week with ridiculous averages of 19.0 ppg, 17.0 rpg, 7.0 apg, and 2.0 spg while committing just four turnovers and shooting 55% from the floor.

Evan Turner looked like the best player in the country this week.
(photo credit: examiner)

I've beaten the point to death by now, but what makes Turner so valuable this season is that he can grab a defensive rebound and lead the break without needing an outlet pass. Turner has also shown an excellent ability to make long lead passes, finding streaking teammates for easy buckets. Turner is far and away the early season MVP in college hoops.

Also good this week:

• Rotnei Clarke, Arkansas: Arkansas beat Alcorn State (did you remember?) 130-68, and Clarke was clearly their best player on the floor. He went for 51 points, knocking down 13 of 17 triples along the way.
• Manny Harris, Michigan: Turner wasn't the only Big Ten member to record a triple-double, as Harris went for 18 points, 13 boards, and 10 assists against DII Northern Michigan.
• Quincy Pondexter, Washington: With all the talk about Isaiah Thomas and Abdul Gaddy running the show for the Huskies, Pondexter quietly was their best player this weekend. In three games, he averaged 22.0 ppg, 11.0 rpg, shot 64% from the floor, missed just one of 19 free throws, and had eight assists to just three turnovers.
  

TEAM OF THE WEEK: Rider Broncs, Cornell Big Red

Both Rider and Cornell went down south this week to play a road game against an SEC team, and both came back a winner. Rider played an efficient, fundamental basketball game, especially in the second half. The Broncs were 10-16 from three during the game, and did not commit a turnover in the second half. It may have been their defense that won the game, however. The scored 18 points off of 10 MSU turnovers, and held the Bulldogs to just 10 second half field goals. Mike Ringold and Novar Gadson both went for 21 in the win, while Ryan Thompson and Justin Robinson added 16 and 15, respectively. The Broncs will face Lehigh at home before traveling to UVA and Kentucky before Thanksgiving.

Cornell used a 9-0 run to start the second half to open up a 35-20 lead over the Crimson Tide. Bama used their pressure to get the lead down to 53-52, but a Louis Dale three pushed it back to four, and the Tide never got that close again. Ryan Wittman had 23 to lead Cornell, while Dale finished with 13 points, 4 boards, and 5 assists.


Also good this week:

• Syracuse Orange: The Orange's defense looked absolutely suffocating as they forced 60 turnovers in two blowout wins.
  
• Oregon Ducks: Ernie Kent always seems to pull out a good season when he is on the hot seat, and his seat may have never been hotter than it was coming into this year. But with Tajuan Porter hot (he's averaged 24.5 ppg over his last two), the Ducks have started 3-0 and could make noise in a weak Pac 10.
  

MATCH-UPS OF THE WEEK:

• 11/16 - 5:30 pm: Milwaukee @ Western Kentucky
• 11/17 - 7:30 pm: Arkansas @ Louisville
  
• 11/17 - 8 pm: Gonzaga @ Michigan State
• 11/17 - 10 pm: Memphis @ Kansas
• 11/18 - 7:30 pm: Cornell @ UMass
• 11/18 - 8 pm: Butler @ Northwestern
• 11/18 - 8 pm: Utah State @ Utah
• 11/18 - 10:30 pm: Nevada @ UNLV
  
• 11/19 - 11:30 am: Georgia Tech vs. Dayton
• 11/19 - 7:00 pm: Syracuse vs. Cal
• 11/19 - 9:00 pm: UNC vs. Syracuse
• 11/19 - 9:30 pm: La Salle vs. South Carolina

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We Have Our First Auto Bid

The Cornell Big Red got 25 points from Ryan Wittman as they clinched their second straight Ivy League regular season title. The Ivy League is the only league that doesn't have a conference tournament.

It will be the second straight season that Cornell is dancing, and just the fourth time in the program's 110-year history. Cornell came into this season with a bunch of injury questions, as reigning Ivy POY Louis Dale missed a good chunk of the season and Adam Gore, another starter, tore his acl during the offseason and is still not back to where he was.

Cornell fans stormed the floor after their auto-bid clinching win versus Penn.
(photo credit: Kevin Rivoli/AP)

But Ryan Wittman has had a great year for the school in Ithaca, NY, averaging 18.5 ppg, and Dale, once he returned, was as good as advertised.

Long story short, Cornell back in the dance. We can officially start slotting in auto bids with the Big Red. Continue reading...

Teams to Watch

We at BIAH have already talked about some of the mid-majors expected to garner national attention this year - St. Mary's, Davidson, and Kent State to name a few. But there are a lot other schools out there beyond the scope of the national media that are talented and could ruin quite a few brackets come tournament time. Here's a quick look at six of those schools.

Vermont: The Catamounts had a bit of a down year in '07-'08, going just 16-15 and 9-7 in America East play, but they return their top two players, 2nd team all-AE Mike Trimboli and AE player of the year Marqus Blakely. Trimboli, a senior, is a crafty play maker at the point that can score (17.6 ppg) and create shots for teammates (4.5 apg). He has really improved his decision making, as he has cut his turnovers and upped his FG% every year in Burlington, but he still has a habit of forcing shots and trying to make tough passes. Marqus Blakely (if you read this blog, you may remember him) is one of the most fun players in the country to watch. He is only 6'5", but he posted averages of 11.0 rpg and 2.7 bpg to go along with his 19.0 ppg. He is able to get by playing inside because of his incredible athleticism and length. The inside-outside combo of Trimboli and Blakely is one of the most underrated in the country. UVM adds Michigan State transfers Maurice Joseph, a 6'4" wing that should give the Cats three all-conference caliber players. The Cats also have a solid core of role players, including forwards Evan Fjeld and Colin McIntosh, that should make them the immediate favorite in the AE.

RPI Boosters:

• 11/15 - George Mason
• 11/21 - @Maryland
• 12/6 - @Pitt
• 12/27-12/30 - Rainbow classic in Hawaii
  

Siena: Last season, the Saints went 23-11 and earned the MAAC's automatic bid to the NCAA tourney where they exploded onto the national scene with an 83-62 drubbing of Vanderbilt (yeah, they beat Stanford, but they were without Brook Lopez and it was early in the season, so no one cared). This year's Saints team will be very similar, as they lose just two guys from their rotation and return their top four scorers. The best player on the Saints is Kenny Hasbrouck, the MAAC's preseason player of the year. Hasbrouck was the second leading scorer for Siena, averaging 16.1 ppg, but was also one of their best perimeter defenders. Hasbrouck, a senior, is so effective because he can score in a variety of ways, best exemplified by the 30 points he put on Vandy - he was 9-14 from the floor, 2-5 from deep, and 10-10 from the line. Edwin Ubiles was the Saints leading scorer last season at 17.1 ppg. He is a tremendous athlete with a quick first step, and at 6'6" he is long enough to get his shot off against basically anyone in the MAAC. PG Ronald Moore (8.6 ppg, 5.3 apg) and PF Alex Franklin (14.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg) are both excellent players, and the Saints have a deep bench and a great supporting cast. This team has already proved they can beat the big boys (Stanford, Vandy), so expect more of the same this season.

RPI Boosters:

• 11/27-11/30 - Old Spice Classic: 1st game against Tennessee
• 12/17 - @Pitt
• 1/6 - @Kansas
• 2/21 - BracketBusters

American: American gave Tennessee all it could handle in the first round of last year's NCAA's, and bring back basically the same team. The strength of the Eagles will once again be their back court, with senior Garrison Carr leading the way. Carr is one of the best shooters in the country (hitting 135-299 3's, good for a ridiculous 45%), and once he gets it going he is tough to slow down. Senior PG Derrick Mercer also returns. Mercer, who is just 5'9", is very good at getting into the lane and finding shooters around him, but he can also score (he averaged 12.4 ppg last year, second on the team). Bryce Simon and Brian Gilmore, two senior forwards, are both solid contributors as well. This is the year for the Eagles if they want to win a couple games in the tournament, as their four best players are all seniors.

RPI Boosters:

• 11/14 - @Oklahoma
• 12/6 - @Georgetown
• 12/17 - @George Washington
• 12/22 - @Maryland

Wright State: The Raiders play in the Horizon League, better known as "that conference Butler is in", but WSU is just a year removed from the conference regular season and tournament crowns. While they had a bit of a down year last season (is 21-10 really a down year?), the Raiders look like they are ready to return to form. Wright State hung their hat on their defensive prowess last season, holding opponent's to just 60.4 ppg. They return their entire starting back court with juniors Vaughn Duggins (1st team all HL, 13.8 ppg) and Todd Brown (12.7 ppg) and fifth year point guard Will Graham (5.9 ppg, 3.5 apg). Inside, Ronnie Thomas, Cooper Lande, and Gavin Horne should battle it out for the two starting spots, and newcomers Scott Grote (a transfer from Duquense) and Cory Cooperwood (a two-time JuCo all-american) should provide the Raiders with quality depth.

RPI Boosters:

• 12/14 - @Wake Forest
• 12/20-12/22 - San Juan shootout - Oral Roberts, South Florida, Murray State
• 2/21 - BracketBusters

Murray State: While the Racers have not yet returned to level they were at when they dominated the Ohio Valley conference in the '90's (9 titles in 10 years), they will put a very talented squad on the court this year. While they lose leading scorer Bruce Carter, Murray State still returns four starters. Danero Thomas is a 6'4" forward who is the Racers best perimeter defender, but he can also put the ball in the basket (12.4 ppg). 6'2" SG Tyler Holloway is the best shooter on the team, hitting at a 46% clip last season. Kevin Thomas, a senior point guard, is a quality play maker that doesn't turn the ball over (136 assists vs. 69 turnovers). Tony Easley, a 6'9" forward, is the Racers best inside presence, posting 9.3 ppg and 5.2 rpg averages. Also added to the mix are Florida's 4A-5A-6A player of the year Ivan Iska, a 6'7", 230 lb beast, and Isaac Miles, a sophomore who transferred from Creighton after a freshman season that landed him on the all-rookie team.

RPI Boosters:

• 12/13 - @Missouri
• 12/20-12/22 - @San Juan shootout - South Florida, Oral Roberts, and Wright State
• 2/21 - BracketBusters

Cornell: Cornell is coming off of one of their best seasons in history, going 22-6 and 14-0 in the Ivy. The Big Red return four starters from that team, including their top three scorers. Louis Dale, the reigning Ivy League player of the year, is one of the all around points guards you will see this year. He averaged 13.8 ppg, 5.0 apg, and 4.4 rpg while racking up 34 steals. Ryan Wittman, a 1st team all-Ivy pick in '07-'08, is a 6'6" forward with a deadly jump shot that. Adam Gore, another potential all-league player, tore his ACL in September, and is expected back sometime in January. Alex Tyler is a good forward, and 7'0" Jeff Foote should slide into the starting line-up and provide the Big Red with some good size inside.

RPI Boosters:

• 11/17 - St. John's in preseason NIT
• 11/30 - @Indiana
• 12/3 - @Syracuse
• 12/6 - @Minnesota
• 12/20 - LaSalle
• 12/22 - @St. Joe's

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