Its tough not to root for Da'Sean Butler

In the week leading up to the Final Four, Da'Sean Butler made headlines as he surprised a 74 year old West Virginia fan/heart attack victim with a visit in the hospital. Heartwarming, right?

Well, Butler's back at it again:

There was Butler last weekend, hobbling around on a set of crutches and throwing out the ceremonial first pitch for a youth baseball league in Bridgeport. It wasn't just any group of kids, though, but rather the participants in the Challenger League for kids with handicaps.

"Yeah, me just hobbling out there was pretty funny," Butler said. "But I'm just a guy who has to use crutches for a while. That's nothing compared to doing what some of those kids do their whole lives."

Bob Huggins consoling Da'Sean Butler was one of the lasting images of the NCAA Tournament.
(photo credit: NY Post)

That's a pretty good attitude to have, considering Butler is just a month removed from a devastating knee injury, as he tore his acl and sprained his mcl at the end of West Virginia's Final Four loss to Duke.

That knee injury did a lot more than just cost Butler the last eight minutes of his college career.

It may have cost him a spot in the NBA Draft. No one ever said that Butler was a lock for the first round, but after the performances he had down the stretch of the season, it is safe to say that Butler was rising on NBA Draft boards. A couple impressive workouts and a quality performance at the NBA pre-draft camp could have pushed Butler from the second round into a guaranteed contract.

Now, instead of working out for NBA teams, Butler will be rehabbing his shredded knee, hoping to strengthen it enough that he can get a shot to prove himself in the D-League or overseas.

That's a pretty drastic change in mentality, but it doesn't seem to bother Butler all that much.

"There's always maybe one or two days every two weeks where rehab gets so bad that I'll just sit down and think, 'Man, I hate this,'" Butler told the West Virginia Gazette. "But you have to keep your faith and understand that everything happens for a reason. It's going to be painful, but you have to go with it and just roll with the punches.

"I have my days when I think, 'OK, I don't want to play basketball anymore. It's time to start thinking about coaching so I can get this ice off my knee.' But if I stick it out it's going to make me a tougher person and a player. But I'll look back on it one day and know that if I can take it, I mean anybody can take it.

"You can't help but look at the reality of the situation, which in my case was that I had worked myself into something and then I lost it. But I always look at the positives of everything. No, I'm not going to get guaranteed money right off the bat, but even if I just go and get a one-year contract and work hard and they keep me, then I get guaranteed money the next year. It's all up to me."

Injury or not, with that kind of attitude, mindset, and work ethic, its tough to bet against Da'Sean Butler one day cashing an NBA paycheck.

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How clutch is Da'Sean Butler? Well, take a look

I think that it is safe to say that Da'Sean Butler is the best clutch player in college basketball.

Or at least he's playing like it.

Georgetown knew what was coming tonight. They knew Da'Sean Butler was getting the ball. Hell, they knew the play that was coming.

"We ran the same play that we set up for the Cincinnati game," Butler said after the game.

I'll let him describe the final play.

"They kind of overplayed one side and went the other way. I came up to the top of the key, and I had to come get the ball and they kind of switched. I think Monroe was on me. And I think he had a feeling I was going to shoot a three. I had a little hesitation, went around him and Freeman stepped up, and had a little hop step and scooped the lay-up off the glass, and it fell."

John Thompson didn't call a time out, allowing Chris Wright to try and go coast-to-coast for a game-tying bucket. It almost worked, as Wright got all the way to the rim, but his lay-up attempt fell short of the rim as West Virginia won their first ever Big East tournament.

You can give the credit, or place the blame, for this result wherever you like, but for this writer it all comes back to Butler. He was the best player in the tournament, and has been West Virginia's best player all season long.

And when it comes to hitting big shots, Butler is the best in the business.

I've mentioned that he has hit six game-winners this season. Well, here's the proof:

3/13 vs. Georgetown in the Big East finals:




3/11 vs. Cincinnati in the Big East quarters:




3/6 vs. Villanova:




1/30 vs. Louisville:




12/29 vs. Marquette:




12/19 vs. Cleveland State:


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Which buzzer beater was better?

I'm not going to lie, I was getting ready to criticize Evan Turner.

I was getting ready to write about how he allowed Michigan to comeback from a 13 point deficit with just 10 minutes left. I was getting ready to write about how he had just three free throws as Michigan made their comeback. I was getting ready to write about the runner he missed with 47 seconds left with the game tied. I was getting ready to write up how Manny Harris sliced through Ohio State twice for go ahead jumpers in the final minute.

The thought crossed my mind that while Evan Turner was easily the national player of the year, he may not be the guy you want running your team in a tight game down the stretch. It was almost fair to say he choked down the stretch against Michigan.

And boy, did he change that line of thinking.



Yeah.

That's something else, huh?

Turner's 40 footer gave Ohio State a 69-68 win over the Wolverines in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament. It may not have even been the best buzzer beater of championship week.

The Big East conference player of the year essentially came down to two players: Scottie Reynolds and Wes Johnson. Johnson won it, much to the chagrin of the legions of Villanova supporters.

My choice for Big East player of the year was different. My choice was Da'Sean Butler.

My argument?

Butler's numbers are impressive -- 17.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 3.4 apg. He's as important to his team as either Reynolds or Johnson. But what pushed him over the top was his ability in clutch.

I don't know if there is anyone in the country that I would want taking a big shot over Da'Sean Butler. He had game-winners against Cleveland State, Marquette, Louisville, and Villanova heading into last night's Big East quarterfinal against Cincinnati.

And then he did this:



In addition to hitting a ridiculous shot like that, Lance Stephenson told reporters at the press conference Butler called bank when he released the shot.

If that doesn't make you love the kid, I don't know what will.

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Trends in the West Virginia game

West Virginia came out slow and lethargic at Madison Square Garden yesterday, and as a result allowed St. John's to jump out to a 33-19 lead at the break. The Johnnies pushed that lead to as much as 16 during the second half, but West Virginia came back.

The 'Neers, down 45-32 with 14:16 left in the game, would go on a 16-0 run to take the lead and outscored St. John's 47-15 during the rest of the game.

You shouldn't be surprised. No lead is safe in the Big East this season. Take a look at some of these comebacks:

• This isn't the first one for West Virginia. The Mountaineers were down 10 to Louisville with five minutes left before making a 17-4 run to close out the game.
  
• Villanova found themselves down 38-21 in Freedom Hall against Louisville, but they were able to cut the lead to seven by the half and took control in the second half, winning 92-84.
  
• Louisville also lost a 68-63 lead over Pitt with 34 seconds left, eventually losing in overtime. Its been a rough year for Rick Pitino.
  
• West Virginia also scored the final six points to overcome a 62-57 lead with just 62 seconds left against Marquette.
  
• Marquette was down 22 points to Villanova in the second half of their second meeting this season, but rallied and had the ball with 30 seconds left and down just two points.
  
• Georgetown was down 40-21 to UConn at the end of the first half before coming back to win 72-69 on Jan. 9th.
• Those very same Hoyas scored the first 14 points against Syracuse in the Carrier Dome, but found themselves down 34-29 at the half before losing by 17.
  
• And on Wednesday, Georgetown had a 13 point first half lead on Dominique Jones and South Florida before losing at home.
• That wasn't South Florida's only come back during their current four game winning streak. They were also down 13 with two minutes left against Providence before forcing overtime and eventually picking up the win.
• Seton Hall had a similar comeback, making up a ten point deficit in 50 seconds against WVU before eventually succumbing in overtime.
  
• DePaul was up 33-15 on Syracuse with 8:53 left in the first half, but the Orange would throw on a full court press, holding the Blue Demons to just 24 points the rest of the way to pick up a 59-57 win.
  

I'm sure there are a few that I missed as well (it doesn't even include the 12 point lead WVU overcame against Ohio State).

So as you can see, you never turn off a Big East game until the final whistle sounds.

This game also highlighted another trend we've seen this season.

Namely, Da'Sean Butler hitting big shots. In this one, Butler hit four threes and scored a three-point play as West Virginia made their game changing push in the second half. This came a week after he hit a game-winning 15 footer against Louisville, which was his third game-winner of the season (he scored on a layup to beat Cleveland State early in the season and knocked down a turnaround 18 footer to beat Marquette). Do I even need to mention the number of big shots he hit against Ohio State down the stretch?

There are a number of games that have established reputations for being big time clutch performers this season (Scottie Reynolds, Devan Downey, Nic Wise, Sherron Collins, Chandler Parsons), but no one has hit as many big shots as Butler has this year.
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11/30 - College Hoops Week in Review: Feast Week Rehashed

Maybe it is just us, but Feast Week is easily our favorite week of the season outside the month of March.

Meaningful games and twelve straight hours of basketball in November? For an entire week? Can we make this a holiday tradition? Does anyone else like the idea of gift week in mid-December?

All kidding aside, beyond the fact that this week gives us sports fans something to watch when the Lions are getting blown out on Thanksgiving day, college hoops junkies get a chance to see a number of teams that are going to be a factor come March.

(photo credit: ESPN)

Without Feast Week, would you know that Iona has the horses to compete in the competitive MAAC this season? Or that the Gaels have a seven footer named Jonathon Huffman that is a lights out three point shooter? Or that Portland will beat some good teams with their shooting, but will struggle against athletic teams that pressure on the perimeter and crash the glass?

Probably not.

Hit the jump for a recap of all the Feast Week tournaments.

Feast Week MOP: Klay Thompson, Washington State

Thompson has certified himself as the early favorite for Pac-10 player of the year. In three games in the Great Alaska Shootout, Thompson averaged 29.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.7 apg, and 2.0 apg while shooting 56.9% from the floor and going 14-24 from deep. He also spent a lot of time defending the best perimeter player on the floor and was a big reason the Cougars were able to hold San Diego's dynamic point guard Brandon Johnson to just 13 points (on 4-12 shooting) and 2 assists. What is most impressive is that Thompson is doing this while team's know that he is the only guy that is a real threat offensively in the half court. There may not be a more dangerous play in the country coming off of a screen than Thompson, who proved that fact on Saturday night. He set a Great Alaska Shootout record with 43 points against San Diego.

Klay Thompson was on fire throughout the four day tournament.
(photo credit: AP)

First Team All-Feast Week:

• Manny Harris, Michigan: Michigan lost their last two games in the Old Spice Classic, but it wasn't because Manny Harris didn't show up. In the three games in Orlando, Harris averaged 22.7 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 5.7 apg, and 2.7 spg. Evan Turner may have a challenger for most complete player in the Big Ten.
• John Shurna, Northwestern: Everyone thought Northwestern's season was a lost cause when they lost Kevin Coble, but this John Shurna kid looks pretty good. He only outplayed Luke Harangody and Craig Brackins while averaging 24 ppg, 7.5 rpg, and 4.0 apg in leading Northwestern to a title in the Chicago Invitational. Not a bad introduction to the nation.
• DJ Kennedy, St. John's: Are the Johnnies back? They won the Hoop Group Classic in Philly this weekend, beating Siena and Temple (in what was basically a road game) en route to the title. Kennedy was the best player on the floor for St. John's as he averaged 19 ppg, 5.5 rpg, and 3.5 apg.
• Lazar Hayward, Marquette: Hayward, along with his front court counterpart Jimmy Butler, was a huge reason that Marquette was able to make a run to the finals of the Old Spice Classic. In three games in Orlando, Hayward 22.7 ppg and 7.3 rpg, but more importantly created match-up problems all over the court.
  
• Da'Sean Butler, West Virginia: The Mountaineers won the 76 Classic in Anaheim, and Butler was the biggest reason why. Butler averaged 18.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, and 3.3 apg, which included a 15 point second half that carried WVU to a win against Texas A&M, while earning MVP honors.

Second Team All-Feast Week

• Matt Bouldin, Gonzaga: Bouldin didn't put up the greatest numbers out in Maui, but he consistently made the big plays that helped the Zags bring their first title back to Spokane. He averaged 15 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 4.3 apg, and 2.0 spg.
• Malcolm Delaney, Virginia Tech: Delaney was borderline unstoppable during the Philly Hoop Group Classic, as he averaged 28.0 ppg in two games. That included a 32 point outburst against Temple in a game where the Hokies managed just 50 as a team.
• Jon Scheyer, Duke: Scheyer is never going to put up the best numbers playing the point for Duke, but, as Coach K said after the UConn game, Scheyer is the most important player on the Blue Devils roster. He proved it in two games in MSG this week, averaging 17.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, and 5.0 apg while committing just his first three turnovers of the season. If you include the two first round games from two weeks ago, Scheyer averaged 16.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, and 5.0 apg with a 6.7:1 assist:turnover ratio.
• Chris Singleton, Florida State: Singleton won the MVP of the Old Spice Classic as he went for 18 points and 10 boards in the final against Marquette. Not only did he give FSU a huge lift in the second half, he was a big reason that Lazar Hayward struggled to find a rhythm in the final. For the tournament, he averaged 15.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg, and 3.0 spg.
• Keion Bell, Pepperdine: Bell earned a national reputation in the fall for being a dunker, but through seven games he has shown he is much more than just his vertical. In three games during the World Vision Basketball Challenge, Bell averaged 26.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, and 4.7 apg while winning tournament MVP.

TOURNAMENT RECAPS

76 Classic

• Champ: West Virginia over Portland
• MVP: Da'Sean Butler
• Three Key Storylines:
  
  - UCLA's struggles continue as they lost three games in this tournament to mid-majors - Butler, Long Beach State, and Portland by 27.
  
  - Portland, a team some think may be the third best WCC, reaches the finals as they knocked off UCLA and Minnesota, a win that will look very good come Selection Sunday. The same can be said for Texas A&M, who knocked off Clemson and Minnesota.
  
  - West Virginia finally got Devin Ebanks back into uniform, and he didn't disappoint, scoring 14 points and 9 boards in his debut on Friday.

CBE Classic

• Champ: Texas over Pitt
• MVP: Damion James
• Three Key Storylines:
  
  - Pitt may be without Jermaine Dixon and Gilbert Brown, and they sure are going to miss the four starters that are gone, but the Panthers are going to be able to compete with anyone simply because they play defense and they play hard.
  
  - Texas lost guard Varez Ward for the season with a torn quad muscle he suffered in warmups. Ward was much improved this season, and was a starter for Rick Barnes. The Longhorns are deep in the back court, but losing Ward could still hurt this team.
  
  - How much longer is Todd Lickliter going to be allowed to try and rebuild Iowa?
  

Chicago Invitational Challenge

• Champ: Northwestern over Iowa State
• MVP: John Shurna
• Three Key Storylines:
  
  - A lot of people thought Northwestern had a chance to make to NCAA Tournament for the first time ever before Kevin Coble got hurt. With John Shurna out playing Craig Brackins and Luke Harangody, they may still have a chance.
  
  - We know about Craig Brackins, but with Lucca Staiger and Marquis Gilstrap developing into solid offensive threats, the Cyclones may be end up being able to compete in the Big XII.
  
  - Along those same lines, we know what Ben Hansbrough can provide, but will Tim Abromaitis continue to play at this level as the competition increases.
  

Great Alaska Shootout

• Champ: Washington State over San Diego
• MVP: Klay Thompson
• Three Key Storylines:
  
  - Klay Thompson averaged 29.7 ppg in three games. If he can keep producing anywhere near that well, Wazzu has a shot of getting a bid to the dance.
  
  - Oklahoma lost their first two games in this tournament, and won their third despite Willie Warren being held out by Jeff Capel.
  
  - San Diego picked up two wins in the tournament, including one over Oklahoma. Brandon Johnson looks like he can really play. Can the Toreros win enough games to make the tournament?
  

Legends Classic

• Champ: Florida over Rutgers
  
• MVP: Erving Walker
• Three Key Storylines:
  
  - After beating Florida State and Michigan State in the span of a week, Florida should be getting the hype that Syracuse got after their run through the CvC. They won't. They won on HDNet. Syracuse won on ESPN.
  
  - How good is Mike Rosario? He scored 20 in the first half of Rutgers opener against UMass, but he scored just 16 over the rest of the two day tournament.
  
  - Against Florida, Michigan State committed 23 turnovers and made a number of silly, costly fouls down the stretch. Is this really a team coached by Tom Izzo?
  

Maui Invitational

• Champ: Gonzaga over Cincinnati
  
• MVP: Matt Bouldin and Steven Gray
• Three Key Storylines:
  
  - Cincinnati has the talent, the toughness, and the size to make a run at a top three spot in the Big East. But will they be enough of a team?
  
  - Apparently, Gonzaga has some strength on the interior this season, as Robert Sacre and Elias Harris were able to hold their own against a very big Cincinnati team.
  
  - Greivis Vasquez still has yet to find his stride. He is shooting just 32.9% from the floor and 26.1% from deep on the season, and in the three games this week, he was just 13-37 from the field and 4-15 from deep. He had 11 assists and 11 turnovers.
  

NIT Season Tip-Off

• Champ: Duke over UConn
  
• MVP: Jon Scheyer
• Three Key Storylines:
  
  - If Derek Glasser and Eric Boateng can perform like they against LSU, the Sun Devils may just be good enough to make the NCAA Tournament.
  
  - UConn is athletic. UConn can block shots. But UConn is not strong inside, and not a good rebounding team this season.
  
  - Duke is for real this season, as their back court is playing some great basketball right now and their front court seems to be living up to the potential.
  

Old Spice Classic

• Champ: Florida State over Marquette
• MVP: Chris Singleton
• Three Key Storylines:
  
  - Manny Harris, who averaged 22.7 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 5.7 apg, and 2.7 spg, looks like he may be having a good enough season to make a run at the Big 10 player of the year award.
  
  - Siena and Niagara may not be the runaway favorites in the MAAC. Iona gave Florida State all they could hand in the opener, took Baylor to OT in the second round, and yesterday knocked off Creighton.
  
  - Xavier goes as Jordan Crawford goes. In the win, he had 22 points on 8-12 from the field and 4-5 from three. In the two losses, Crawford was a combined 10-39 from the floor while averaging 12.5 ppg.
  

Match-ups of the week:

• 12/2 - 7:00 pm: Siena @ Georgia Tech
• 12/2 - 7:00 pm: Pitt @ Duquesne
• 12/2 - 8:00 pm: Northern Iowa @ Iowa State
• 12/2 - 8:00 pm: Arkansas @ Oklahoma
• 12/2 - 8:00 pm: Oklahoma State @ Tulsa
• 12/2 - 9:00 pm: UNLV @ Arizona
• 12/2 - 9:00 pm: Washington State @ Gonzaga
  
• 12/2 - 9:30 pm: Missouri @ Vanderbilt
• 12/3 - 7:00 pm: Washington @ Texas Tech
• 12/3 - 10:30 pm: Baylor @ Arizona State
• 12/5 - 12:30 pm: UNC @ Kentucky
• 12/5 - 3:30 pm: St. John's @ Duke
• 12/5 - 5:30 pm: Wake Forest @ Gonzaga
• 12/5 - 9:00 pm: Washington State @ Kansas State
  
• 12/5 - 11:00 pm: Iowa State @ Cal
• 12/6 - 1:00 pm: South Carolina @ Clemson
• 12/6 - 5:30 pm: Kansas @ UCLA
• 12/6 - 7:30 pm: Villanova @ Maryland
  

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Monday's Shootaround: UNC struggles again, Texas cruises, Devin Ebanks sits out, and a Harvard buzzer beater

UNC 88, Valpo 77: Sunday offered further proof that UNC is a long way from being a team that can compete for the ACC crown and a trip to the Final Four. Yes, the Heels won by 11, but they allowed to Crusaders to slowly chip away at a 24 point second half lead. If it wasn't lazy passes, it was lazy defense or lackadaisical effort on the glass. At a certain point, you have got to believe that this was a result of being unprepared to play. Reading some quotes from the post game press conference, the theme seemed to be that the Heels weren't focused; that maybe they didn't get up for a Sunday game against Valpo.

Right now, I think the biggest issue for UNC is a lack of leadership. Guys like Marcus Ginyard and Deon Thompson, veterans who have been through the battles, need to get their teammates ready to play. Do you think Tyler Hansbrough would have let UNC come out flat in a game? Ever? Moreover, the Heels need somebody to step-up as a go-to scorer. They need someone they can give the ball when an opponent makes a run, knowing they will get a basket to take the momentum back.


Texas 89, UC Irvine 42: Damion James and Dexter Pittman combined to go for 42 points and 22 rebounds on 17-20 shooting to lead Texas in a game that was never really close. But we knew the 'Horns were big inside this year. The question marks were on the perimeter. Rick Barnes started three guards, with Varez Ward, Justin Mason, and J'Covan Brown joining Pittman and James. Brown was, according to Barnes, incredibly amped for this game, and it showed early on as Barnes twice had to pull Brown due to back-to-back turnovers. But Brown looked like an excellent scoring option last night. He finished with 13 points, and knocked down 3-6 threes. We'll give Brown the benefit of the doubt in this one, as he sat on the bench all last season waiting to get eligible.

Ward and Dogus Balbay also looked solid at the point for Texas, combining for 10 assists without a turnover. But neither looked good scoring the ball, as they were a combined 2-10 from the floor. Perhaps the most promising sign was the debuts of the stud freshman class. Avery Bradley and Jordan Hamilton both looked like promising scorers, as they slashed their way to 10 and 12 points, respectively. Shawn Williams, the third frosh in that group, did not score but grabbed six boards in 13 minutes. All in all, its tough to learn anything about a team in a 47 point win, but the Horns definitely had promising signs.


West Virginia 83, Loyola MD 60: Playing without Devin Ebanks and Joe Mazzulla, the Mountaineers started the game slowly. They weren't playing with energy, they struggled shooting the ball (they had seven airballs in the first half) and they weren't getting it done defensively. But WVU got a huge boost from freshman big man Danny Jennings off the bench, as he came in and sparked a run in each half. Jennings finished with 9 points and 12 boards (4 offensive).

After a sluggish start, you really got what you expected out of this WVU team. They forced 18 turnovers, won the rebounding battle 40-29, and grabbed 20 offensive boards. Da'Sean Butler had 26 points, Truck Bryant added 15 and 5 assists (and 3-6 from three), Kevin Jones had 14 points and 7 boards starting for Ebanks, and JuCo transfer Casey Mitchell added 13. If WVU can cut down on the number of three pointers they take (they were just 9-29 last night), this team is going to be as tough as expected.

Onto Ebanks - Bob Huggins said after the game that Devin Ebanks was held out as he "had some personal issues to work through." Not sure what that means, and Huggins did not set a time table for his return. While WVU has more than enough depth up front, playing without Ebanks will hurt as he is the best of the bunch on the front line. Mazzulla was held out due to the same shoulder that was injured last year. Only a precautionar measure. John Flowers did roll his ankle, but x-rays were negative.


Other notable scores:

• Harvard 87, William & Mary 85 3OT: We already have a game of the year and a shot of the year nominee courtesy of the Crimson.
• Wake Forest 89, East Carolina 58: Al-Farouq Aminu had 23 and 9 while Tony Woods and Ish Smith added 12 and 14 points, respectively, but the story of the game was the Demon Deacon's defense - they forced 22 turnovers and held the Pirates to 24.8% shooting.
  
• Washington 111, Portland State 55: Quincy Pondexter has looked like an all-american here in the early part of the season. After going for 25 on Saturday, Pondexter had 29 points and 13 boards last night against the Vikings.
• Tulsa 81, FIU 49: The story of this game was an interesting interaction between Isiah Thomas and Tulsa coach Doug Wojcik. Midway through the second half, Thomas, with his team down 63-25 and on the wrong end of a 27-5 run to start the half, motioned and then verbally asked Wojcik to pull his starters from the floor. Wojcik didn't, in large part due to limited numbers - he only had eight scholarship players available.
• Illinois State 82, SIU-Edwardsville 60: Osiris Eldridge led the Redbirds with 19 points as they cruised in their season opener.
• Florida 74, Stetson 46: Freshman Kenny Boynton never really found his stroke (0-4 from three), but he did finish with 12 points as Florida went up big early. Georgetown transfer Vernon Macklin had 13 points and 8 boards.
• Virginia Tech 69, Brown 55: Malcolm Delaney had 21 points, and the Hokies used a 16-5 run at the end of the first half to open up the game.
• Kansas State 82, Western Illinois 50: We knew that K-State had a good back court with Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente, but with an athletic front line of Curtis Kelly, Wally Judge, and Jamar Samuels playing like they did yesterday (39 points, 20 boards, 5 blocks, 14-25 from the floor, 59 minutes), this Wildcat team is going to sneak up on a lot of people.
• Arizona 87, Northern Arizona 70: The Sean Miller era starts out well for Arizona. Playing without freshman Kevin Parrom and with a beat-up Nic Wise (tweaked an ankle in practice last week), the Wildcats were in control for most of the game. Freshman Solomon Hill went for 17 points and 8 boards while Jamelle Horne added 14 points and 11 boards. Overall, Zona's crop of freshmen looked solid enough that the Wildcats may actually be able to compete for a NCAA tourney bid this year.
• Wisconsin 75, IPFW 46: Jon Leuer led the Badgers with 19 points and 4 blocks as Wisconsin held the Mastadons to just 34% shooting.
• Iowa State 72, Chicago State 50: Craig Brackins (7 points, 8 boards) and Marcus Gilstrap (11 points, 15 boards) were both off, but the Cyclones defense was good enough to hold on for the win.
• Oregon 68, Colorado State 55: Tajuan Porter had 23 points as the Ducks improved to 3-0.
  

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2009-2010 College Basketball Season Preview: Small Forwards

The season is fast approaching. The first games are on Nov. 9th, and the BIAH live blog during ESPN's season kickoff is just two weeks away. So with just a week until actual games are played, we figured the best way to finish up our 2008-2009 season previews is to give you our Top 10 players at each position. You know how much we love a good Top 10 list here.

A few caveats. First, we're talking about how good these guys are as college players, not how well they project as a pro. Second, while it may be too much power for me, I am making the executive decision on what "position" a player is (and it may not necessarily be what he is listed as on a roster). Third, I am not putting the freshman in the list. As much as I've read about these guys and as many Youtube clips as I have watched, I have yet to see many of them play a real game (the all-star games don't count), and I don't think that I could give an accurate assessment until I see them play. Lastly, I love me a good argument, so if you think someone is too low or too high or the wrong position, leave a comment and let me hear about it.

Here are the point guards.
Here are the shooting guards.
These are the small forwards.

Best Freshman

• Jordan Hamilton, Texas
• Jamal Coombs-McDaniel, UConn
• Noel Johnson, Clemson
  

Best of the Rest

• Tasmin Mitchell, LSU
• Edwin Ubiles, Siena
• Quincy Pondexter, Washington
• Patrick Christopher, Cal
• Klay Thompson, Washington State
• Marcus Ginyard, UNC
• Wesley Witherspoon, Memphis
  

Top 10

• 10. Raymar Morgan, Michigan State: As a junior, Raymar Morgan battled mono all season, and thus had the least productive year of his career. Morgan has great size and strength for a wing, which is only complemented by his athleticism. He is still a bit of an enigma offensively. He is not a great shooter and looks out of control at times when he penetrates, but he is excellent around the rim, whether it is off of a drive, a break, a post-up, or an offensive rebound. With a disappointing season culminating in a loss in the title game, expect Morgan to come out hungry this year.
  


• 9. Chris Wright, Dayton: Wright, who has earned the nickname "Top Flyght", may be the best athlete in the country. At 6'8" with a near-40" vertical, he soars around the rim. The problem is, he is still very much just a dunker and a rebounder. To his credit, however, the rest of his game has been coming along. Wright has a decent mid-range game and has improved his handle to the point that he can get to the rim from the wing. Where Wright excels, however, is his ability to make plays defensively, on the offensive glass, and in transition. A potential A-10 player of the year, Wright will be one of the most exciting players in the country to watch.
  

You'll see a lot of this out of Chris Wright this year.
(photo credit: Dayton.edu)

• 8. Da'Sean Butler, West Virginia: Butler is one of the best kept secrets in the country, and will be the most important player for a West Virginia team with Final Four aspirations. With Alex Ruoff graduating, Butler is really the lone offensive threat on the Mountaineers. And he is quite a threat, averaging 17.1 ppg last season. Butler's offensive game starts with his shooting ability, where he is very dangerous when he has a chance to get his feet set and his shoulders squared. He's not an overwhelming athlete, but he is long and strong. At 6'7", he is a good finisher around the rim and has a decent post game. If he can improve his ability to create his own shot using the dribble, he will likely be a first team all-conference selection.
  


• 7. Tyler Smith, Tennessee: Smith is one of the most versatile players in the country. He is built like a power forward, but he has the skills and athletic ability of a small forward. Smith is at his best when he is attacking the basket. Not only is he an excellent passer (and probably the best creator on the Vols), but he can get to the rim and finish or draw a foul. A capable shooter, the key for Smith is to avoid falling in love with the three-ball.
  


• 6. Robbie Hummel, Purdue: Hummel had a disappointing sophomore season as he spent the year battling a painful stress fracture in his spine. Now that he is back healthy, expect Hummel to return to his freshman year form. Hummel is first and foremost a shooter, as he knocked down 45% of his threes in his injury-free freshman season. Hummel is also excellent moving without the ball, whether it is coming off of a screen or cutting to the basket. He does struggle a bit when he is forced to put the ball on the floor, but given the system that Purdue runs, Hummel will not be asked to drive to the basket all that often.
  


• 5. Wesley Johnson, Syracuse: Johnson is still a bit of an enigma at this point in his career. He had an outstanding freshman season for Iowa State, but transferred after an injury plagued sophomore year. He sat out this past season, but given his tools and his skill set, Johnson should fit in perfectly with the Orange. Johnson is a long, 6'7", athletic wing. His offensive game is based on his outside shot, but his athletic ability makes him dangerous in the passing lanes and on the glass. He has drawn quite a few comparisons to Shawn Marion, which is a fair assessment. If he stays healthy this season, Johnson will be one of the best scorers in the Big East.
  

Wesley Johnson shouldn't sneak up on anyone this season.
(photo credit: syracuse.com)

• 4. Manny Harris, Michigan: Out of everyone on this list, Harris is the only guy that could be considered a two guard. But given his ability to affect the game in a multitude of ways, I decided to slide him over to the three. Harris is first and foremost a scorer. A slender 6'5", he uses a quick first step and long strides to get to the rim. Harris is a natural scorer, meaning he just seems to know how to get buckets, but it really is just a nice way of saying "the kid relies too much on athleticism, and not enough on advanced skill, to score." That's true for Harris. He is still a bit toolsy. If he can improve his jumper and his handle, he has the ability to average 20. One place where Harris made significant strides last season, and hopefully will continue to make strides this season, is his efficiency. He forced some shots and some passes last season, but as he continues to get more comfortable in his third season playing for John Beilein, that should become less of an issue.
  


• 3. Kyle Singler, Duke: With Duke lacking in perimeter players and deep in the front court (especially when it comes to perimeter oriented fours), Singler is moving to the three spot this season. What makes Singler so good is that there really isn't anything that he can't do on a basketball court. If a smaller guy is guarding him, he can score in the post. If a bigger guy is, he can step out to the perimeter and knock down a jumper or put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. He can rebound. He can pass. He can defend. He hustles. Add to that the combination of Singler being immensley talented and 6'8", 230 lb, and what you get is one of the best players in the country.
  


• 2. Gordon Hayward, Butler: Just a sophomore, Hayward doesn't get the recognition he deserves nationally as he is a huge reason the Butler Bulldogs will be in and around the top ten this season. Hayward's game starts with his jump shot, which is as pure as it gets. Standing 6'8", there aren't many people that Hayward can't shoot over. He also proved to be adept at slashing to the basket last season. Not blessed with greeat athleticism, Hayward is able to penetrate from perimeter due to his craftiness - he knows how to get a defender off balance using an array of fakes, jabs, and hesitation moves.
  

Evan Turner is such a well-rounded player.
(photo credit: SI)

• 1. Evan Turner, Ohio State: Turner may be the most complete player in the country - he was one of two guys to average 17 ppg, 7 rpg, and 4 apg last season. Standing 6'7", Turner is going to play a point forward role this season for the Buckeyes. Why? Because he is such a good play maker and passer. He isn't the greatest athlete in the world, but he is smart and fundamental, especially with the ball in his hands. He makes good decisions - shooting when he's open, passing when he's not - and rarely forces the issue. If improved his stroke from the perimeter (he shot 44% from deep last year, but only attempted 25 threes) over the summer, Turner will be near unstoppable.
  

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No. 9: 2009-2010 Team Preview: West Virginia Mountaineers

2008-2009 Record: 23-12, 10-8 Big East (t-7th)

Key Losses: Alex Ruoff (15.7 ppg, 3.3 apg)

Key Returners: Da'Sean Butler (17.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg), Devin Ebanks (10.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg), Truck Bryant (9.8 ppg, 2.9 apg), Joe Mazzulla (5.6 ppg, 3.7 apg)

Newcomers: Dalton Pepper, Danny Jennings, Deniz Kilicli

Da'Sean Butler might be the best player in the country you never hear about.
(photo credit: ESPN)

It didn't take long for Bobby Huggins to mold West Virginia into his kind of team. In his third season at the helm, Huggy Bear is at the helm of the best Mountaineer team in recent memory.

Last season, West Virginia was a team known for their toughness on the defensive end and their ability to hit the glass, especially on the offensive end. Not much will change this season, as the Mountaineers return their entire front line. The best of the bunch is 6'9" Devin Ebanks. Ebanks developed into one of the most productive freshman in the country by the end of last season, especially in the Big East Tournament (he twice set career highs of 20 and 22 points, and set his career high in rebounding with 18). Still quite raw, where Ebanks excels is using his exceptional tools. He is long, active, athletic, and very tough. Most of his offense last season came in transition, on the offensive glass, or off of assists. Where he really struggled was with his perimeter jumper, to the point that he stopped shooting threes all together. He also needs to improve his handle to effectively transition to the three full time, but if he put in the work this summer, Ebanks has all the potential in the world to be a big time player for WVU.

Joining Ebanks up front is a slew of guys standing about 6'8". Senior Wellington Smith started at center last season, and there is no reason to expect that to change. A tough rebounder (especially at the offensive end as he grabbed more offensive rebounds than defensive) and with a fantastic leaping ability, Smith is probably the Mountaineers best interior defender. He can also step out and knock down a perimeter jumper if he is left open. A lot is going to be expected out of sophomore Kevin Jones after he had a productive freshman season off the bench. Jones is not the best athlete in the group, but he might be the strongest and plays as hard as anyone in the country. Junior Cam Thoroughman played sporadically throughout the season, but he is a tenacious offensive rebounder that will play defense hard. Junior John Flowers is not as strong as the other three, but is more of an athlete and can defend on the perimeter as well. Freshman Danny Jennings, a top 100 recruit out of St. Thomas More, will also provide some quality minutes up front. Another freshman, Deniz Kilicli, may see some time at the end of the season, but was recently suspended for the first 20 games but the NCAA for playing on a team in Europe with a professional.

In fewer words, the West Virginia front line is going to be deep, they are going to be tough, and they are going to be athletic. These six guys are essentially interchangeable, which means that minutes are going to be difficult to come by. Playing for Huggins, these kids are going to be asked for defense, physicality, and rebounding out of this group. Whoever provides that, on what may become a game-to-game basis, is going to be who plays. These guys are going to work hard every minute they are on the floor, so if you don't box out against WVU, they are going to kill you on the glass.

Where WVU struggled last season was in the half court. Losing second leading scorer Alex Ruoff is going to hurt them offensively, but the Mountaineers did catch a couple breaks this off-season as both Truck Bryant and Joe Mazzulla will be returning to the team (both players were suspended indefinitely over the summer for off-the-court issues). Mazzulla was a key player for West Virginia in 2007-2008 when the Mountaineers upset Duke en route to a Sweet 16 appearance. Mazzulla is a perfect glue guy at the lead guard spot. He defends, he rebounds, but most importantly he was able to get into the paint a create opportunities for others. He missed most of last season with a shoulder injury, but he should be healthy to start out this year.

Bryant, a sophomore, proved to be a worthy replacement last season. Also a tough defender, Bryant is a better scorer than Mazzulla, but not quite as good of a creator. Bryant struggled with his decision-making at times, but it was nothing you wouldn't expect from a freshman forced to start in last season's rugged Big East. I'd expect these two to share the back court quite a bit this season, as it would provide Huggins with two guards capable of getting points on the board in a half court set.

The guy that is going to carry the load for the Mountaineers will be Da'Sean Butler. Butler is one of the best kept secrets in the country, leading the Mountaineers with 17.1 ppg last season. He is an above average jump shooter, especially when he gets time to get his feet set. This will be all the more important for WVU with Ruoff's graduation, as Butler is really the only shooter they are going to have on the floor much of the time. While he is 6'7", long, and mobile, he is not the most explosive player and struggles at times when putting the ball on the floor. When he does get into the paint, he is able to finish, either by going up strong or by using a floater. Butler does excel around the rim, however, as he is a good offensive rebounder from the wing and has shown a decent post game. If Butler can improve his ability to create shots for himself form the perimeter using the dribble, he might be the most dangerous wing scorer in the Big East.

Freshman Dalton Pepper is another guy that will see some time on the perimeter. Pepper is a similar player to Butler. More of a small forward than a two guard, Pepper has three point range, but is not a shooter. At 6'5", he has shown the ability to score on the offensive end, but is known more for his ability to defend, his smarts, and his potential to be a system guy.

Outlook: West Virginia is going to play a lot of low scoring games this season. This team is built around toughness on the defensive end and on the glass. With the athletes on their team, they can use so many potential line-ups. They can go small by sliding Butler to the three, or even the four with Ebanks inside, and playing two point guards. Or they can also go big by putting him at the two and allowing Ebanks to play the wing. Whatever Huggins decides to do, when you play West Virginia you better be read for a physical battle.
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