2/1 - College Hoops Week in Review: Devan Downey and Charlotte take home the honors

What we learned this week

Big XII: Kansas knocked off Kansas State in dramatic fashion on Saturday night, giving them a two game lead in the Big XII standings and setting the Jayhawks apart as the clear favorite to win the conference's regular season title. What's unclear is how the Big XII is going to shake out behind them. Consensus seems to be that Texas is the second best team, but the Longhorns were beaten by both Baylor and Kansas State.

Baylor finally got a big win in beating Texas.
(photo credit: Houston Chronicle)

Baylor has looked like they could possibly slide into that second spot, beating Texas on Saturday and dropping nail-biters to Kansas and Kansas State, but the Bears also have a loss to Colorado this season. After watching K-State beat Texas at home, Baylor on the road, and take the Jayhawks to overtime, an argument could be made for the Wildcats as the second best team, but they have lost games to OK State and Missouri as well.

Speaking of OK State and Mizzou, the Tigers drubbed the Cowboys despite 31 points from James Anderson while forcing 24 turnovers and hitting 17 threes. But the game was played in Columbia, MO, where the Tigers are as good as anyone in the country. Once they collect a more impressive road win than Texas Tech in the league, I think we can start to consider them a real contender. They probably won't get that chance until Feb. 13th at Baylor.


Big Ten: Michigan State knocked off Northwestern, improving to 9-0 in the Big Ten and taking a three game lead with just nine games left in league play. The loss drops Northwestern to 3-6 in the Big Ten, good for ninth place in the league. But keep in mind, only one of the Wildcat's six league losses has come to a team outside of the top five (at Minnesota), and they also have beaten Purdue and Illinois. In their last nine games, only one comes against a top five team (Wisconsin). Don't count the Wildcats out of the dance just yet.

It may be time to count out Minnesota, however. The Gophers were drubbed at Ohio State, dropping them to 4-5 in the league, and are currently playing without three guys expected to provide big minutes - Al Nolen, Royce White, and Trevor Mbakwe.

Like the Big XII, the excitement in the Big Ten is going to come from the race for second place, where there is currently a four-way tie at 6-3 between Purdue, Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Illinois, who survived Indiana at home with a Demetri McCamey buzzer beater, has the toughest schedule down the stretch, as they get Ohio State and Wisconsin twice, have to go to Purdue, and get Michigan State at home. The Illini will have their work cut out for them if they want to get to second place, but the bright side is that it will give them plenty of opportunities to boost their tournament profile. Ohio State probably has the easiest road, as they only play Illinois twice, get Purdue at home, and head to East Lansing while also playing Penn State twice and Iowa once.


ACC: The ACC is a full-blown disaster right now. No team has fewer than two losses. UNC is 2-4 in league play. Duke, who sits atop the league at 5-2, just got drilled by Georgetown on Saturday, only two weeks after they were embarrassed by NC State on the road. The two teams in second place at Maryland and Virginia. Virginia smacked UNC in Chapel Hill on Sunday night while Maryland, who had been playing as well as any team on the east coast, committed 26 turnovers and gave up 20 offensive rebounds in a loss at Clemson.

Clemson may actually be a team that belongs in the conversation for the ACC title, but they have been playing without the services of Demontez Stitt, their starting point guard, and have suffered, losing three straight before rebounding to beat Maryland. The same could be said for Georgia Tech, who's frontline (Derrick Favors, Gani Lawal, Zach Peacock) is as scary as any in the country. But that is contingent on the ability of Iman Shumpert to develop a modicum of consistency. Tech also needs to pick up a win on the road. Beating UNC in Chapel Hill isn't that impressive right now.

Could the answer be Wake or Florida State? The Seminoles went into BC and picked up a win on Saturday, something that Clemson wasn't able to do on Tuesday. Wake, on the other hand, was drilled by Duke and Georgia Tech on the road and lost to Miami in Miami. Like I said with Tech, beating UNC on the road isn't that impressive. Win a league game away from home, and you can become a contender.


Big East: West Virginia and Syracuse both picked up comeback wins on Saturday, as the Mountaineers beat Louisville and the Orange knocked off DePaul despite trailing by 18 points. The Cuse are still half a game back of Villanova in the Big East standings, but the Wildcats will have a treacherous month of February, as they travel to Pitt, Georgetown, Syracuse, and West Virginia this month.

Pitt has seemingly come back down to earth after a phenomenal start to the Big East season. On Sunday, they lost to South Florida on the road, the third time in four games they've lost. They Panthers have a tough couple of weeks, playing West Virginia twice before heading to Marquette and hosting Villanova, but they end with four games against the bottom of the league. Given what they have already done in conference, the Panthers should be able to earn a bid as long as they don't collapse down the stretch and beat the teams they are supposed to beat. That said, winning a game or two against Villanova and West Virginia could really help where the Panthers end up being seeded.

Dominique Jones has been unreal the last two weeks.
(photo credit: WaPo)

Georgetown embarrassed Duke on Saturday, and as good as the looked, keep in mind that they made Syracuse look just as good in blowing a 14-0 lead on Monday night. The Hoyas aren't as good as they were on Saturday, but they sure aren't as bad as they were on Monday night.

Louisville, UConn, and Marquette are all in a bit of the same situation. None of the three has an impressive record, and none of the three has won many impressive games. That said, all three teams have a number of very close losses. Louisville has had the worst luck of late, blowing a 10 point lead before getting jobbed by the refs on Saturday, just a week after tough calls helped decide games against Seton Hall and Pitt. Marquette's win over UConn on Saturday was as important as any outcome over the weekend. Marquette has been the biggest hard luck loser of the year. Of their eight losses, five are by one or two points, and only one is by more than five, a nine point losses at Wisconsin. At some point, it has to be about confidence for this team, and beating UConn is a close game (especially after the Huskies came back from down 10, taking the lead on a late three) has to be a confidence booster.

One last Big East note - I've been saying all season watch out for South Florida and Dominique Jones. Over his last three games, Jones is averaging 37.0 ppg in three Bulls wins, including a 37 point performance in a win over Pitt. USF plays their next three on the road, starting with Georgetown on Wednesday, and I doubt anyone wants to play this team right now.


SEC: Kentucky reasserted their dominance on Saturday with a beat down of Vanderbilt, putting the Wildcats and the Commodores in a tie for first place in the SEC East. As much publicity as John Wall has gotten all season, the best player for the Wildcats right now is DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins is unstoppable in the paint, and as long as UK is able to get him touches early and often, the Wildcats are going to win a lot of games.

Vanderbilt shouldn't hang their heads, however. This is a good basketball team that had just knocked off Tennessee in Knoxville (they are the only team all season to have to travel to Knoxville and Lexington back to back) and ran into Kentucky at the worst possible time.

Tennessee bounced back in a big way with a nice win over Florida at home. The Vols had lost two straight, and needed to pick up this win in order to stay within a game of first place in the league. Scotty Hopson is developing into one heckuva player for Bruce Pearl. Florida, on the other hand, looked very good again. Prior to this game, they had won four straight. Keep in mind during the tournament, there may be no one int he country that hits more big shots than Chandler Parsons. He tied the game with a minute left with a bucket, then after two free throws gave Florida the lead again with a three with 30 seconds left. Speaking of clutch, Devan Downey hit a layup with 50 seconds left to cap a comeback win over Georgia for South Carolina. He finished with 33 points, including 12 of the final 24 for the Gamecocks. More on him later.

Just like with South Florida, I've been saying all season that Arkansas is going to be a pain for teams in the SEC. They proved it this week, as they knocked off both Ole Miss on Saturday and Mississippi State on Tuesday. Few will forget Courtney Fortson's 33 point second half on Tuesday against Ole Miss. All of a sudden, the Razorbacks are 3-3 in the SEC.


Pac-10: Don't look now, but Sean Miller's Wildcats are maturing all of a sudden. They've won four straight games, including a 76-72 win over Cal on Sunday to give the Wildcats a share of first place in the Pac-10. Zona is almost assuredly going to need to win the Pac-10 tourney to keep their streak of trips to the NCAA's alive, but is that really all that far-fetched? Nic Wise has been Devan Downey east, as he scored 30 including the final four points against Cal to clinch the win. Zona goes to Washington and Washington State next.

Cal, despite the loss to Arizona, still may be in line to earn an at-large bid if they can play their way to 13-5 or 14-4 in the league. They played a tough non-conference schedule, and did so playing without two key contributors, one of whom is back - Theo Robertson, who scored 27 points against Arizona.

Arizona State, who beat Stanford on Saturday to snap a two game losing skid, and UCLA, who lost as Oregon in OT before beating Oregon State on Saturday, are both a game back in the league standings.


Other conferences

• Charlotte's win over Temple on Wednesday set up a logjam atop the A-10 standings. Xavier is in first at 7-1, while Temple and Charlotte are sitting at 6-1 with Richmond and Rhode Island a game back and Dayton only two behind.


• C-USA looks like it is going to be a three-team race between UAB, UTEP, and Tulsa, all of whom at 6-1 in the league. Memphis lost to SMU on Saturday, dropping them to 5-2 in the league. UTEP beat UAB in 2OT on Saturday as well in a huge game that kept the C-USA race tight.


• Gonzaga lost an overtime matchup with lowly San Francisco on Saturday night, which dropped the Zags into a first place tie with St. Mary's. The Zags have a tough stretch coming up, playing Portland at home before flying to Memphis to take on the Tigers. They then come back for their second matchup with St. Mary's, which will be an enormous game. Not only may it decide the WCC champ, but it could determine whether or not St. Mary's makes the dance with an at-large bid.


• BYU, New Mexico, and San Diego State all won this weekend, while UNLV doesn't play until Wednesday. The Cougars still hold half game lead over UNM, a full game of UNLV, and two games over SDSU. That said, there is still a lot of movement to be made in the MWC, as we are about to start the second time through the league.
  


• George Mason's win at James Madison, coupled with Northeastern's win over Old Dominion on Saturday, means that the Patriots are now in sole possession of first in the CAA. Northeastern and ODU are just a game back.
  


• Northern Iowa hung on to beat Missouri State on the road on Saturday, keeping them two games ahead in the MVC race. Their only league loss came to Wichita State, who they get at home on Wednesday.


• Louisiana Tech lost to New Mexico State, setting up a three-way tie atop the WAC between LT, NMSU, and Utah State. Nevada is just a game out of first place as well.
  


• Cornell smacked Harvard by 36 points. I think its safe to say the Big Red are the favorites in the Ivy.
  

CO-GAMES OF THE WEEK: Tennessee 61, Florida 60; Kansas 81, Kansas State 79 OT

Tennessee ending Florida's four game winning streak was a wildly entertaining game, no doubt about it. But there were plenty of wildly entertaining games this week. Why the love?

Two words: Gus. Johnson. Just listen:




Kansas beat Kansas State in one of the best games I have seen in a long time. I doubt that any team in the country will be faced with a tougher place to play on the road than what Kansas had to deal with in beating the Wildcats. I don't even know where to start talking about it. So many big shots were hit, so many greats plays were made, but the one thing that stands out in my mind is the play of Sherron Collins. Collins was dealing with back spasms all night long, even having to be helped off the floor late in regulation when his back locked up. And while he managed just a pedestrian (for him) 16 points and 4 assists, the number of big shots he hit was mind-boggling. None was bigger, however, than the driving layup he hit with 13 seconds left on the clock in overtime, drawing the foul as well. That bucket opened up a 79-76 lead, and after Kansas rebounded his missed free throw, the game was all but wrapped up.




PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Devan Downey, South Carolina

I feel like I shouldn't have to explain to you why Downey gets the nod as the player of the week. His performance on Tuesday alone probably would have been good enough. For those that don't remember that far back, Downey went for 30 against then No. 1 Kentucky, hitting a number of tough, clutch buckets down the stretch as the Gamecocks landed a memorable upset of the Wildcats.

Devan Downey beat Georgia and Kentucky this week.
(photo credit: WaPo)

But that wasn't all Downey did this week. On Saturday afternoon, the diminutive point guard scored a cool 33 points as South Carolina came from behind to beat Georgia at home. Down 63-54 with 9:32 left on the clock, Downey would score 12 of South Carolina's final 24 points (and nine of the last 11), including a layup with 50 seconds left that gave the Gamecocks a 78-77 lead and the win.

All told, in the two game last week, Downey averaged 31.5 ppg, 3.0 apg, 2.0 spg, and had just three turnovers in 74 minutes. But to be fair, that shouldn't be considered all that impressive. Why? Because in seven SEC games, Downey is averaging 31.6 ppg, 2.8 apg, and 3.2 spg. Now that is impressive.

They were good too:

• Dominique Jones, South Florida: Believe it or not, the Bulls are on a three game winning streak in the Big East, and Jones in the biggest reason why. USF knocked off Seton Hall and Pitt this week, and in the two games Jones avraged 32.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, and 3.0 apg. He may have take POY honors if his 46 points, 10 rebound, 8 assist performance against Providence counted towards this week.
• Derrio Green, Charlotte: Green was monumental in a potential season-defining week for the 49ers. He scored 26 points to lead a comeback win over Temple on Wednesday, before going for 34 as Charlotte took out UMass on the road on Saturday.
  
• Jimmer Fredette, BYU: The Cougars may have only gone 1-1 this week, but Fredette was beyond fantastic. He had 27 points and 7 assists in a close loss at New Mexico before pouring in 36 points in a win over rival Utah.
• Da'Sean Butler, West Virginia: Butler averaged just 20.5 ppg for the week, but it was his 27-point performance, including the eventual game-winning jumper, against Louisville on Saturday that got him the recognition.
  
• Quincy Pondexter, Washington: In two games this week, both wins, Pondexter averaged 28.0 ppg, 11.5 rpg, and shot 19-29 from the floor.
• Vlad Moldoveanu, American: I'll throw some love to the Patriot League. American has won seven games this year, but they are currently on a three game winning streak. Last week, Moldoveanue averaged 29.0 ppg and 7.5 rpg, including a 37 point, 9 board performance in a win over Navy.

TEAM OF THE WEEK: Charlotte 49ers

The 49ers threw themselves, and everyone else in the A-10, a bone when they took down Temple on Wednesday night. It was an impressive win for Charlotte, as they trailed for most of the game before putting together a late 13-2 run to gain the lead. As we mentioned above, Derrio Green scored 26 points in the win.

Derrio Green was fantastic as Charlotte moved into contention for the A-10 title.
(photo credit: Charlotte Observer)

Charlotte would also go on to beat UMass on the road on Saturday afternoon, setting up a logjam at the top of the league. Xavier is sitting as 7-1 with Charlotte and Temple right behind them at 6-1. Richmond and Rhode Island are both a game behind that at 5-2, while Dayton is still in the mix at 4-3. If Charlotte proved anything against Temple, its that they are without a doubt a player in this league race.

They were good too

• Kansas: The Jayhawks knocked off Missouri at home before going into Manhattan and picking up a win against a tough Kansas State team. Combine that with a Texas loss to Baylor, and the Jayhawks are sitting pretty with a two-game lead in the Big XII.
• Rhode Island: Rhody beat Dayton before picking up a nice win over GW to remain in the hunt for the A-10 crown.
• New Mexico: The Lobos stayed within a game of first place in the MWC by knocking off BYU and ending their 15 games winning streak. UNM kept the momentum going by beating TCU on Saturday.
• South Florida: Three wins for the Bulls? They knocked off Seton Hall in OT and Pitt at home this week.
• Arizona: We mentioned it earleir, but the Wildcats are now 6-3 and in first place in the Pac-10 as they have now won four straight, including a blowout of Stanford and a thrilling win over Cal this week.
• Arkansas: The Razorbacks knocked off the two favorites in the SEC West with wins over Mississippi State and Ole Miss.
• UTEP: How about the Miners. After beating Tulane on Wednesday, UTEP picked up a huge 2OT win over UAB on the strength of 20 points and 13 boards from Derrick Caracter.

MATCHUPS OF THE WEEK

• 2/2 - 7:00 pm: Ole Miss @ Kentucky
• 2/2 - 9:00 pm: Michigan State @ Wisconsin
• 2/3 - 7:00 pm: Pitt @ West Virginia
• 2/3 - 7:00 pm: William & Mary @ ODU
• 2/3 - 8:00 pm: Memphis @ UAB
• 2/3 - 8:00 pm: Mississippi State @ Vanderbilt
  
• 2/3 - 8:05 pm: Wichita State @ Northern Iowa
• 2/4 - 7:00 pm: Georgia Tech @ Duke
• 2/4 - 9:00 pm: Maryland @ Florida State
  
• 2/4 - 11:00 pm: Portland @ Gonzaga
• 2/6 - 12:00 pm: Villanova @ Georgetown
• 2/6 - 12:00 pm: Xavier @ Dayton
• 2/6 - 1:30 pm: Mississippi State @ Florida
• 2/6 - 2:00 pm: Temple @ Richmond
• 2/6 - 4:00 pm: Wisconsin @ Michigan
• 2/6 - 4:00 pm: Texas @ Oklahoma
• 2/6 - 4:00 pm: Gonzaga @ Memphis
• 2/6 - 4:00 pm: Texas A&M @ Baylor
• 2/6 - 4:00 pm: Clemson @ Virginia Tech
• 2/6 - 4:00 pm: BYU @ UNLV
• 2/6 - 4:00 pm: ODU @ VCU
• 2/6 - 4:00 pm: Cal @ UCLA
• 2/6 - 6:00 pm: SDSU @ New Mexico
• 2/6 - 9:00 pm: Michigan State @ Illinois
• 2/6 - 10:00 pm: UTEP @ Tulsa
  
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Devan Downey's gunning a necessity

By now, everyone has seen them.

An and-one, 15 footer off of an inbounds play with two seconds left on the shot clock as someone was taking out his legs. A tough, lefty drive, beating two help defenders before hitting a runner off the glass. Spinning away from a ball-screen, driving right before coming back left, splitting two defenders with a little hop-step to find space in the paint for an eight-foot floater.

Given the time (three straight possessions in the final four minutes), score (South Carolina clinging to a slim lead), and opponent (No. 1 and then-undefeated Kentucky), those three buckets from Devan Downey are as tough, as gutty, and as clutch as any that you will see this season.

In fact, if you look back at Downey's night, just about all of the nine shots that he hit could have made Sportscenter.

The issue that a lot of people are going to have isn't with the shots he made.

It will be with the 20 shots he missed on the night.

Its true that Downey hit three of the biggest shots of his life down the stretch last night. Its also true that those three shots were instrumental in the Gamecock's win.

But the question that a lot of people have asked is whether or not South Carolina would have been in a position to need those three shots if Downey had been more selective earlier in the game.

The answer too that question?

No, they wouldn't have.

Because Kentucky would have been blowing out South Carolina.

For those that haven't followed the Gamecocks very closely this season, they have lost two starters, both double digit scorers. 6'7" small forward Dominique Archie was an NBA prospect and the best defender on South Carolina, in not in the SEC, before suffering a season-ending knee injury. 6'7" power forward Mike Holmes was averaging 11 points and 5 boards before being dismissed from the team.

What's left?

Some good role players. Some athletic bigs. A lot of young guys with potential. But not much scoring.

That's why Downey shoots so much. Because if he doesn't, where are the points going to come from? Brandis Raley-Ross is a good spot-up shooter, but that's about it. Sam Muldrow is an active, athletic big man, but his offense consists of dunks and putbacks. Lakeem Jackson has some potential as a slasher, but he's a freshman. Johndre Jefferson and Austin Steed are both capable big men, but are far from what one would call a scoring threat.

The bottom line?

Devan Downey is good enough that a tough, low-percentage shot going 1-on-2 or 1-on-3 is a better shot than asking the Gamecocks role players to create their own looks.

So while that 9-29 is an eyesore, and 30 points on 29 shots is not going to put you on Gasaway's or Pomeroy's all-efficiency teams, keep in mind that without Downey playing this way, South Carolina would not have beaten Kentucky.

Sometimes efficiency takes a backseat to winning.

I'm sure Gasaway and Pomeroy would both agree.

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2009-2010 College Basketball Season Preview: Point Guards

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.

Best Freshman:

• John Wall, Kentucky
• Abdul Gaddy, Washington
• Maalik Wayns, Villanova

Best of the Rest:

• Charles Jenkins, Hofstra
• Chris Warren, Ole Miss
• Courtney Fortson, Arkansas
• Jimmer Fredette, BYU
• Trevon Hughes, Wisconsin
• Mac Hobson, Idaho
• Corey Fisher, Villanova

Top 10:

• 10. Talor Battle, Penn State: Talor Battle was the major reason that Penn State was relevant down the stretch last season. Battle's offensive game is based on his ability to shoot, where he is excellent, especially in the clutch as he knocked down a couple game-winners last year. When he puts the ball on the floor, Battle is good at getting into the paint and is a solid finisher in the lane despite lacking outstanding explosiveness. If he improves his ability to create for his teammates (he averaged 5.0 apg last season, but a lot of that was simply the result of moving the ball around the perimeter), this ranking may end up being too low by the end of the year.


• 9. Shelvin Mack, Butler: Mack is one of the more underrated point guards in the country. Playing on a team with Gordon Hayward and Matt Howard in the Horizon League will do that to you. But don't doubt his ability. Mack is an effective scorer, capable of carrying the Bulldogs if Hayward and/or Howard happen to be struggling. A big, strong kid (6'3", 215 lb), Mack is an excellent defender and a good rebounder from the guard spot. He needs to improve on his quickness getting into the lane, as well as add some consistency to his perimeter jumper, but the bottom-line is that Mack is the guy that runs the shows for Butler, who most believe will be a top 10 or 15 team this season.

Shelvin Mack is one of the most underrated point guards in the country.
(photo credit: Horizon League)

• 8. Nic Wise, Arizona: Arizona caught a huge break when Nic Wise decided to return to school. With all the turnover in the Arizona program, Wise declared for the 2009 NBA Draft and expected to end up playing overseas this season. But when Sean Miller was able to sign five top 100 recruits this summer, Wise decided that the Wildcats just might have enough talent to be a factor this year. Arizona is going to go as far as Wise carries them. After slimming down before his junior season, Wise had an exceptional junior campaign, at times carrying a Wildcat team with two NBA draft picks on it. While he is capable of creating opportunities for others, Wise is going to be asked to shoulder much more of a scoring load this year as the young Wildcats adjust to the college game.


• 7. Scottie Reynolds, Villanova: Reynolds doesn't get the national credit that he deserves. He's not a guy that is going to be a great pro, as his athletic limitations will limit his effectiveness at the next level. But at the collegiate level, his smarts allow him to get by. Reynolds is a deadly three-point shooter, but when he is playing his best, he is putting the ball on the floor and going to the rim. Despite an underwhelming vertical, he finishes well in the paint because he is able to use his body to shield his man. He has had his play-making duties reduced with the emergence on Corey Fisher along side him. Where Reynolds is at his best in the clutch. He is the guy that Jay Wright is going to go to when he needs a basket.


• 6. Jerome Randle, Cal: I've said it before and I'll say it again - Jerome Randle might be my favorite player in the country to watch. The catalyst for Cal's resurgence last season, Randle should once again carry the team that was picked to win the Pac-10. Randle is the perfect fit for the spread system that Mike Montgomery is running in Berkeley. Very solid with the ball in his hands, Randle is adept at beating his man off the dribble thanks to his fantastic ability to change speeds. But you cannot lay off of him as he is one of the best shooters in the country. If Cal is going to win the Pac-10, it will be Randle's play that will carry them there.

Despite his small stature, Jerome Randle is one of the best scorers in the country.
(photo credit: DailyCal)

• 5. Devan Downey, South Carolina: Downey is small, even for a point guard, but he is unbelievably quick. Downey can flat out score. He is at his best when he is attacking the rim, where an effective floater and an impressive ability to create space through contact with the defender allows him to finish inside. Downey tends to settle for threes, but when he is on he can hit four or five in a row from deep. Downey is a high-risk, high-reward kind of guy. He takes a lot of tough shots, but makes a good number of them. He tries quite a few risky passes and gambles for steals on the defensive end, but again, he is successful enough of the time that it isn't a huge issue. Expect big numbers once again from Downey, as his speed and ability to create in the open court will be instrumental in Darrin Horn's uptempo, pressuring style of play.


• 4. Kemba Walker, UConn: Walker came into UConn as a much-herald recruit out of NYC's Rice High, but was stifled a bit last season by UConn's slower tempo and the presence of all-american AJ Price. With UConn being a smaller, more athletic team this season, expect Jim Calhoun to play a much faster pace with Walker being the catalyst. He is an absolute menace on the defensive end as he may be the quickest player in the country. Offensively, he is near impossible to stay in front of. Despite his small size, Walker can finish at the rim, but he is at his best when he collapses a defense and finds an open man - be it a big at the rim or a shooter on the perimeter. While his jump shot could still use some improvement, Walker is going to be the motor that makes the Huskies engine run this season.


• 3. Greivis Vasquez, Maryland: Simply put, Vasquez will be the most exciting player in the ACC this season. While his time in College Park has been maddeningly inconsistent, Vasquez improved his decision making last year. He didn't force as many tough shots and more often settled for the smart, easy pass as opposed to the highlight reel play. When he is playing well, Vasquez can completely take a game over, even against a much more talented team (see his triple-double is MD's win over UNC last year). He still will need to focus on making the smart play this year, but in terms of pure talent, Vasquez is good enough to carry an undermanned Terp team to a second straight NCAA tournament.


• 2. Kalin Lucas, Michigan State: Lucas is the perfect fit for the team-oriented offense that Tom Izzo likes to run. He can play on the ball or off, and is excellent at picking his spots to attack. Not the quickest player in the world, he is excellent at changing speed and direction when putting the ball on the floor. Lucas is going to be instrumental for the Spartans this season as Izzo is going to look to play a quicker pace than he did last year. Lucas is valuable for a talented MSU team because he can run a team and keep an offense moving without dominating the ball, but if the shot clock is winding down, he is more than capable of creating a good shot, either for himself or for a teammate.

Sherron Collins and Kalin Lucas are the two best point guards in the country.
(photo credit: daylife)

• 1. Sherron Collins, Kansas: Collins is an easy pick atop these rankings. First team pre-season all-american and the star player and leader for the consensus best team in the country. Collins is a great scorer at this level. He is strong enough to get to the rim on just about anyone, but he has three-point range well beyond NBA line. What makes Collins so good is he really developed into a point guard last season. While he had to shoulder a bulk of the scoring load for a young Jayhawk team, he was a good decision maker. He knew when he should pass and he knew when he needed to shoot. But the biggest difference between Collins and anyone on this list is his ability to make a big play when you really need it. If you are down one with 15 seconds left on the clock, is there anyone in the country you would rather have with the ball in their hands?

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2009-2010 College Basketball Season Preview: Overlooked Stars

Utah State's Gary Wilkinson averaged 17 and 7 for the Aggies as they won 30 games last season and came a couple possessions away from upsetting Marquette in the NCAA tourney's first round.

Had you ever heard of him?

Dionte Christmas was one of the most explosive scorers in the country as a senior, averaging 19.5 ppg in leading Temple to the Big Dance with a season's worth of performance's like this.

But was he on anyone's all-american lists?

Craig Brackins averaged close to 20 and 10 for Iowa State as a sophomore last season, but I'm willing to bet the first time you will see Brackins play is when the Cyclones play Duke on ESPN2 in January.

Every season, the college basketball landscape is littered with talented kids that, for whatever reason, never make it into the national consciousness. Who will be this season's Overlooked Stars?

Evan Turner, Ohio State: I debated whether or not to put Turner on this list, as most pundits will have Turner somewhere on their all-american teams. I eventually decided to keep him here because, well, to the general public, Turner is still a fresh face. For a guy as talented as Turner is, it is a bit puzzling that he hasn't garnered more of a profile. The reason for that may be because Turner doesn't have a stand out skill. You hear about a guy like Stanley Robinson because he can dunk; Jarvis Varnado because he can blocks shots; Sherron Collins because he is a big time scorer, especially in the clutch. Turner's game is based on versatility - a 6'7" forward that averaged 17.3 ppg and 7.1 rpg, Turner will be playing a lot of minutes as Ohio State point guard this year. Turner is arguably the best all-around player in the country, a guy that deserves a spot as a first-team all-american. It is time he gets that much credit.

Despite being a 6'7" forward, Turner will see time running the point this year.
(photo credit: Times Union blog)

Terrico White, Mississippi: Ole Miss could not catch a break last season. They lost three players (two starters including star point guard Chris Warren) to season-ending knee injuries and head coach Andy Kennedy was arrested after hurling racial slurs, and then fists, at a cab driver in Cincinnati. But if those players had not gotten injured, Kennedy may have never found out what he had in Terrico White. White, who was the SEC's freshman of the year before an impressive performance for the U-19 national team, is a terrific athlete who managed to average 13.7 ppg while playing out of position as the Rebels lead guard. With Warren back in the mix, White's scoring numbers may not make a huge jump, but with an off-season's worth of work, expect White to be one of the best all-around two guards in the SEC.

Matt Bouldin, Gonzaga: Last season, Matt Bouldin played on arguably the most talented Gonzaga team to date. With guys like Jeremy Pargo, Josh Heytvelt, and Austin Daye on the roster, Bouldin played more of a complimentary role, as he is a heady player and a good passer. With those three guys gone, this will be Bouldin's team. Offensively, Bouldin is one of the best all-around wings that you will find. His game is based off of his ability to put the ball on the floor. He has a good mid-range game, is a smart passer that significantly cut down his turnovers last season, and has developed a dead-eye three point shot. While Gonzaga maybe a bit down compared to the last few seasons, don't be surprised if Bouldin posts impressive numbers as the Zags make another NCAA Tournament.

Devan Downey, South Carolina: There are few players in the country that can post the numbers that Downey does - 19.8 ppg, 4.5 apg, 2.9 spg. While some of that can be attributed to the faster pace that Darrin Horn's Gamecocks play, it become all the more impressive when you consider Downey is all of 5'9". Downey is a high-risk, high-reward kid. He takes a lot of shots, and a lot of tough shots at that (he often settles for tough threes or forces shots in the lane), but when he is hitting them, he is one of the most fun players in the country to watch. Any given night, Downey can explode for 30.

Kenneth Faried, Morehead State: Faried was one of the best rebounders in the country last year. Despite playing at a low-major, Faried's length, athleticism, and incredible motor has him on NBA Draft boards after averaging 13.9 ppg and 13.0 rpg as a sophomore. Faried's offensive game could use quite a bit of development still, but expect another season chock full of double-doubles. Faried will get quite a test early in the season, as the Eagles open the season at Rupp Arena against Kentucky.

Kenneth Faried made a believer out of Rick Pitino in last year's first round.
(photo credit: MSU Eagles nation)

Matt Howard, Gordon Hayward, and Shelvin Mack, Butler: Sure, you may know that Butler is all over pre-season top 10 lists. But can you name their three stars? Howard is a 6'8" horse on the block that is as good in the low post as anyone in the country. Hayward is a lights out shooter, but as a 6'8" wing with less-than-ideal athleticism, he thrives on a wide variety of shot-fakes, jab steps, and crafty dribble moves. Mack is a tough point guard that defends and rebounds well, but also showed the ability to be a big time scorer for the Bulldogs. These three guys should be household names by February.

Talor Battle, Penn State: While the Nittany Lions did not quite make it back to the NCAA Tournament last season, they were actually relevant down the stretch for the first time in recent memory. A huge reason for that was the play of Talor Battle. Battle's game is based around his perimeter shot, and while he could stand to improve its consistency, one thing that you can't question is his ability to stick shots in the clutch. Battle runs the point for Penn State, and if he can improve on his passing ability, especially once he gets into the lane and draws an extra defender or two, he could be the best point guard in the conference not named Kalin Lucas.

Jeff Taylor, Vanderbilt: Taylor was one of the best freshman you never heard about last year. Averaging over 12 points and 6 boards per, Taylor projects as more of a small forward despite playing a lot of minutes as Vandy's four last season. Taylor is one of the most athletic players in the SEC, and will provide the Commodores with defense and energy. But with an off-season to work on developing his offensive game, Taylor could turn into one of the best all-around forwards in the SEC. That potential is a big reason Vandy is picked as a sleeper in a deep SEC East.

Rodney Green, La Salle: A lot of people are predicting La Salle to make some noise in the A-10, and Green is a big reason why. Green is one of the best scorer's in the conference, averaging 17.8 ppg while using his size and strength to get to the rim and draw contact. Green stuffs the stat sheet - 5.0 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1.9 spg, but also 3.3 t/o's, which is a bigger problem when you consider Green spent some time running the point. If he can cut down on some of those turnovers, La Salle could make a tournament run which would put Green in the conversation as the best player in Philly.

Malcolm Delaney, Virginia Tech: Delaney has been putting up solid numbers for a few years for Seth Greenburg, but he was overshadowed by talents like AD Vassallo and Deron Washington. As a junior, this Virginia Tech team will be Delaney's to lead. Delaney has talent to burn. At 6'3", he has excellent size and athleticism to be a combo guard. His quick first step allows him to beat just about any defender off the dribble in either direction. He also has an excellent three-point stroke, although he tends to force up contested shots from deep. Virginia Tech is down this season, but Delaney is talented enough to carry this team to the dance.

Malcolm Delaney will put up impressive numbers as the star of the Hokies this year.
(photo credit: flickr)

Jerome Randle, Cal: Most people are going to say that Washington has the best guards on the West Coast. While that may be true, there is a pretty good player down in Berkeley that should make some reconsider. Randle (who might be my favorite player in the country) is generously listed at 5'9", but he is blessed with outstanding speed and quickness. It is ability to change speeds, however, that makes him so effective. Difficult to stay in front of as you have to respect his jumper out to 25 feet, Randle is excellent at getting into the lane and finding an open man or finishing amongst the trees.

Others to watch:

• Trevor Booker, Clemson
  
• Aubrey Coleman, Houston
• James Florence, Mercer
  
• Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall
• Troy Jackson, Alcorn State
  

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2009-2010 Team Preview: South Carolina Gamecocks

2008-2009 Record: 21-10, 10-6 SEC East (t-1st)

Key Losses: Zam Frederick (15.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg)

Key Returners: Devan Downey (19.8 ppg, 4.5 apg, 2.9 apg), Dominique Archie (10.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg), Mike Holmes (10.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg)

Newcomers: Ramon Galloway, Lakeem Jackson, Stephen Spinella, Johndre Jefferson

Devan Downey may be just 5'9", but he is one of the best scorers in the country.
(photo credit: Gamecock Central)

Darrin Horn caught a huge break during the off-season has Dominique Archie and Devan Downey both withdrew from the NBA Draft. With those two back in the fold, South Carolina will have enough talent to make a run at the top of the SEC.

It all starts with Downey. He stands just 5'9", but Downey is one of the best scorers in the country. Lightening quick, Downey is playing at his best when he is attacking the basket. Despite being just 5'9", he is a very good finisher around the rim as he has an effective floater and is adept at using his body to draw contact and create space from a defender. He has a tendency to force the issue when he is attacking the basket, resulting in a relatively high number of turnovers. Downey is also an excellent three-point shooter (his 35% shooting from deep on the season is skewed a bit by shots he forced with the Gamecocks down late) when he isn't forcing threes. Downey is a high risk, high reward type of player. He is going to take a lot of tough shots, and when he is on, he can make them and carry the team while putting up 30. Same thing on the defensive end. Downey's quickness allows him to be a pest on the ball and in the passing lanes (2.9 spg), but he gives up easy buckets when he gambles for steals and misses.

Joining Downey in the back court will be SEC sixth man of the year Brandis Raley-Ross. Raley-Ross battled injuries all through last season, missing six games in November and December with a sprained knee. With Zam Frederick graduating, expect Raley-Ross to have an expanded role on the offensive end. Two freshman will provide depth in the Gamecock's back court. Lakeem Jackson is a hard-nosed, 6'5" wing that is known for his athleticism and toughness. Still not a great scorer at this point in his career, Jackson will get a lot of minutes this season simply because he will play defense and provide energy in Horn's uptempo, pressing system. Ramon Galloway is also a pretty athletic kid, but he is much more of an offensive presence than Jackson. He will be counted on to provide a spark off the bunch, making up some of the 15.5 ppg that graduated with Frederick.

Up front is where the Gamecocks may have some issues. Mike Holmes is their solid, if inconsistent, center. Standing just 6'7", Holmes is a handful on the block. He's an excellent rebounder, especially on the offensive end, and he looked like a potential all-SEC player during the non-conference portion of South Carolina's schedule last year. But his production tailed off a bit during SEC play, leading to some questions about how well he can handle bigger opponents. Joining Holmes in the starting front court is 6'9" Sam Muldrow. Muldrow had a slow start to last season as he was suspended for academics for the first couple of game before injuring his elbow, missing the first 15 games. Muldrow is a good shotblocker, averaging almost two per contest, and if he can develop his offensive game a little bit, he could be a nice complement to the bruising Holmes.

The first guy off the bench for the Gamecocks up front will be Evaldas Banilius. Banilius stands 6'7" and moves more like a power forward, but the Lithuanian is the best shooter on the South Carolina team, as he knocked down 48-100 3's last season. He plays the majority of his minutes as a power forward, which forces a big man to cover him on the perimeter, which, most of the time, is a mismatch. 6'8" junior Austin Steed and 6'9" JuCo transfer Johndre Jefferson will provide depth up front.

The x-factor for this team will be Dominique Archie. Archie is a very good all-around player. He is 6'7" and athletic enough to guard all five positions on the floor, which makes him so effective in the South Carolina press. Essentially, Archie is a very, very good glue guy. He plays defense (1.2 spg, 1.5 bpg), he crashes the offensive glass, he can put the ball on the floor and get to the rim, he can knock down an open three. With Zam Frederick gone, Horn is going to be relying on Archie to become the second option for the Gamecocks.

Outlook: Despite sharing the SEC East title last season, the Gamecocks once again failed to make the NCAA Tournament, somewhere they haven't been since 2004. This year looks like their best chance. They have one of the best point guards in the country in Devan Downey and plenty of athletes that buy into Horn's system of pressure defense and fast-paced offense. The biggest question mark is going to be who steps up to replace the offense that was lost with Frederick's graduation. If Archie can turn into a guy you have to worry about going for 20 every night, it should take a lot of pressure off of Downey. The biggest problem the Gamecocks will face this season is how good the SEC East is - five teams have a shot a dancing. If they can put up the same record they did last year - 21 wins, 10 in conference - then they will be headed to the dance.
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Who are we still waiting on?

Tyler Smith and Dominique Archie have both pulled their names out of the NBA Draft, which provides a huge boost to both schools.

So with four days left for players to return to school, who are the big names we are still waiting to hear from?

- Brian Davis, Chinemelu Elonu, and Donald Sloan, Texas A&M: None of these three guys seem likely to be drafted, and all three should return to school. Elonu is probably the best bet to have a solid NBA career given his size, length, and athleticism. The Two Man Game even compared him Joakim Noah and Tyson Chandler, although I think Louis Admunson is a lot closer.

- Austin Daye, Gonzaga: Daye is in a tricky situation. There have been numerous reports about him - that his dad wants him to stay in the draft and that he has been promised in the top 20. Although he really could use another season in college to let his body (and his personality) mature enough to where he is ready for the league, can you really argue with being a top 20 pick and taking the guaranteed money. Reports yesterday have Daye staying in.

- Devan Downey, South Carolina: Downey would likely not be selected into the NBA, but reports have said that he is interested in doing the Euro route.

- Luke Harangody, Notre Dame: As Andy Katz writes, this is a tough decision for Harangody. He has a chance to be the best player ever at a school with a pretty solid basketball tradition. If he leaves now, odds are he won't be a first-rounder and may even end up in the D-League. 'Gody is exactly the kind of player that should come back to school, especially when you consider that Notre Dame, who returns Tory Jackson and Jonathon Peoples but, more importantly, add transfers Ben Hansbrough and Scott Martin, will be a good team next season.

- Damion James, Texas: James is a crapshoot. He has not impressed many teams thus far with his workouts, as reports have said he is settling too much for his jumper and not attacking the glass the way we have seen. James could probably use another season developing his perimeter game so he can play the wing in the pros, but there is a chance he is a first round pick. With James back, Texas probably vaults into the conversation as a sleeper for the Final Four with their returning front line and incoming freshman class.

- Jodie Meeks, Kentucky: Meeks, along with Harangody, will probably be a pre-season national player of the year candidate. Unlike Harangody, Meeks has an excellent chance of bringing home a national title next season. The biggest issue I can see arising is that Meeks, who is a borderline first round pick (more likely early second), is going to take a hit in his numbers playing a season with that much talent surrounding him. Does he want to risk it?

- Jeff Teague, Wake Forest: Teague was almost a lock to leave, as he has played his way well into the first round while drawing comparisons to solid role players like Louis Williams and Monta Ellis. But after spraining his MCL last week, Wake Forest fans should be hoping the injury, while not too serious, is enough to scare teams off and send Teague back to school.

- Greivis Vazquez, Maryland: Vazquez should return to College Park. He is not a first round pick, and may not even be drafted. He is simply not athletic enough for the NBA. But what if Maryland lands Lance Stephenson? Can two overpowering personalities co-exist on the same team, especially when both players want the ball in their hands every possession? Vazquez, with his dual citizenship, would be a valuable commodity overseas.


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Tyler Smith and Dominique Archie returning to school

TYLER SMITH HEADED BACK TO TENNESSEE: On Thursday afternoon, Volunteer forward Tyler Smith announced at a press conference his intentions to withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to school.

Smith probably was not going to be picked in the first round, and after flirting with the idea of heading to Europe, Smith made the (correct, in our opinion) decision to return to Knoxville for his senior season.

Tennessee has a chance to be very, very good. They return everyone that matters from the 2008-09 team that won a share of the SEC East title, which means that (once again) they are going to be a team loaded with size, length, and athleticism on the perimeter. The problem is that while they bring back a ton of talent, they don't add anything into the mix, which means that more than likely the Vols are not going to be filling the holes in their roster.

And there were plenty of holes on that team last season. After Bobby Maze, who is a talented but inconsistent point guard, the Vols do not really have a viable option as a back-up. That role landed on guys like Josh Tabb, Cam Tatum, JP Prince, and even Tyler Smith. The Vols also had a problem with three-point shooting - Bruce Pearl encourages his guys to fire away, which would be great if any of them understood a) what a good shot is and b) that being encouraged to shoot when you are open does not a Stephen Curry make.

Their only signed recruit is 6'8" power forward Kenny Hall, a top 100 recruit that will bolster their front court depth.

In terms of raw ability, Tennessee is going to be a top 10-15 team, which is probably where they will be ranked in most pre-season polls. But unless they have a couple guys develop a three-point stroke, the Vols are going to be in danger of underachieving again next season.


SOUTH CAROLINA GETS DOMINIQUE ARCHIE BACK, STILL WAITING ON DEVAN DOWNEY: Darrin Horn and the Gamecocks get a big boost as Archie pulls his name out of the draft. Not really a surprise here, as all along Archie had said that he was only looking to get feedback from the NBA people and was planning on returning.

A 6'7" swingman, Archie averaged 10.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.5 spg, and 1.2 bpg last season. More than anything, his experience and leadership will be important for South Carolina (Archie is a fifth year senior).

Now the Gamecocks turn their attention to Downey. Downey was one of the best scorers in the country this past season, averaging just under 20 ppg. He is projected to be, at best, a late second round pick this year. But there have already been rumors that Downey plans on staying in the draft and heading to Europe if he isn't picked.

If Downey returns, it probably would put the Gamecocks in position to make a run at an NCAA tournament berth even with the loss of senior Zam Frederick.

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