The BIAH Advent Calendar: Day 1

Yup, it is December. And as the temperatures outside drop, the heat is rising on college campuses across the country as basketball season kicks into full swing. But December is also a time to reflect on the past year. This December is special, because as we draw closer to the new year, we get closer to the end of the aughts. In the spirit of the holidays, we are going to celebrate the decade past by counting down the top 25 games, players, and teams of the last 10 years with the BIAH advent calender. Each day, we will be unveiling the next on each of our lists, culminating with our gift to you on Christmas Day: the best game, the best player, and the best team of the 2000's.

Here is No. 25:

2008: Drake vs. Western Kentucky: Drake was the mid-major darling of the 2007-2008 season, using a 21 game winning streak to go from the bottom of the MVC to a No. 15 ranking. But with eight minutes left in their first round game with the Hilltoppers, the Bulldogs found themselves down 15. But the Bulldogs would catch fire, using a 29-14 run at the end of regulation, capped by a Jonathon Cox three with 35 seconds left to tie the game at 88 and force OT.

In the overtime, Drake's Josh Young hit back-to-back threes to open up a 96-92 lead, but a Ty Rogers free throw and a Tyrone Brazelton three would tie the game up with just 1:12 left. After two Boris Slakam free throws with 21 seconds left gave WKU a 98-97 lead, Jonathon Cox drew a foul on Orlando Mendez-Valdez with six seconds left. He would make both free throws, setting up this final play:




Wayne Simien, Kansas: Simien was never a flashy player. A strong, 6'9" forward, Simien was a third-team AP all-american as a junior before earning first-team honors as well as winning the Big XII player of the year award as a senior. Simien's individual numbers are as good, if not better, than some of the players above him on this list (17.8 ppg and 9.3 rpg as a junior, 20.3 ppg and 11.0 rpg as a senior). Simien would probably be higher on this list if his teams had more success in March. As a sophomore, Kansas lost to Syracuse in the title game after Simien had suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. His junior season, Simien struggled through a 4-14 night as the Jayhawks lost to Georgia Tech in the Elite 8. His senior year, third-seeded Kansas was upset in the first round by Bucknell, ending Simien's excellent four year career.

Wayne Simien because a fan favorite in his four stellar years in Lawrence.
(photo credit: ESPN)

2009 Louisville Cardinals: There are quite a few people that consider the 2008-2009 Big East the best conference in college basketball history. Three one seeds, five Sweet 16 teams, two Final Four teams, and at one point during the year, nine member schools in the top 25. And Louisville won both the Big East regular season and tournament titles. The 2009 Cardinals were led by Terrence Williams and Earl Clark, two dynamic, play-making forwards that would go on to be selected in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft. After struggling through non-conference play, Louisville's season turned around thanks to a 26 foot game winner from Edgar Sosa to beat arch-rival Kentucky. Louisville would go on to win 22 of their next 24 games, before eventually falling to national runner-up Michigan State in the Elite 8.

Louisville won both the regular season and tournament titles of what many believe was the toughest conference ever.
(photo credit: Hell in the Hall)

Continue reading...

Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Preview

Schedule (all games played in Missouri):

Thursday, March 5th / First Round
- Game #1: #8 Drake vs. #9 Northern Iowa
- Game #2: #7 Wichita State vs. #10 Missouri State

Friday, March 6th / Quarters
- Game #3: #1 Northern Iowa vs. Game #1 Winner
- Game #4: #4 Bradley vs. #5 Southern Illinois
- Game #5: #2 Creighton vs. Game #2 Winner
- Game #6: #3 Illinois State vs. #6 Evansville

Saturday, March 7th / Semis
- Game #7: Game #3 Winner vs. Game #4 Winner
- Game #8: Game #5 Winner vs. Game #6 Winner

Sunday, March 8th / Finals
- Game #9: Game #7 Winner vs. Game #8 winner

Favorite: It isn't a secret that the MVC tourney, commonly known as Arch Madness, is one of the best conference tourneys around. This year should, once again, be exciting. While Northern Iowa earned the #1 seed, the favorite has to be Creighton. The Bluejays have the best back court in the conference (and maybe in the midwest) with conference POY Booker Woodfox (who doubles as the nation's best three-point shooter) and last year's rookie of the year P'Allen Stinnett. They won their last 10 games, including a win at Northern Iowa and a home victory over George Mason. They also won non-conference games against New Mexico and Dayton. In fact, they were a grand total of ten seconds away (in last second losses to Arkansas-Little Rock and Nebraska) from going undefeated out of conference.

P'Allen Stinnett (top), Cavel Witter, and company look to carry their momentum into Arch Madness
(photo credit: Nati Harnik/AP)

Contenders: You have got to think that Northern Iowa, Bradley and Illinois State all have a shot at winning this thing. Bradley probably has the either path, as they avoid Creighton until the Finals. Northern Iowa won both against Illinois State during the regular season, although it was by a combined six points with one win coming in overtime. Of the three, Bradley is the only team coming in playing well. NIU has lost four of seven, ISU has lost three in a row, but Bradley has won four of their last five.

Sleeper: As much as I want to say defending champion Drake, who returns both Josh Young and Jonathon Cox, I just don't see a team that has won four games since January 11th winning four in a row in March. I am going to go with Indiana State. The Sycamores started out the season 4-19, but they have won six of their last seven to finish at 7-11 in the conference.

BIAH Prediction: Creighton. Continue reading...

Drake: 2008-2009 Team Preview

2007-2008 Record: 28-5, 15-3 (1st MVC)

Key Losses: Adam Emmenecker (8.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 6.8 apg, MVC POY), Leonard Houston (14.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg), Klayton Korver (10.4 ppg, 84 3's), Keno Davis (coach)

Key Returnees: Josh Young (15.9 ppg, 43% 3's, 86 3's), Jonathan Cox (12.3 ppg, 8.5 ppg)

Newcomers: Sean Jones, Craig Stanley, Brett Spiker, Adam Templeton, Mark Phelps (coach)

Drake had their best season in recent memory last year, but they are going to have to replace a lot, including head coach Keno Davis, who left for the bright lights of Providence one year after taking over for his father. The Bulldogs bring in former Arizona State assistant Mark Phelps to take over. The Bulldogs are also going to have a lot of talent to replace. PG and MVC player of the year Adam Emmenecker, their most valuable player despite not putting up big numbers, Leonard Houston, and Klayton Korver all graduated, meaning that Drake will have to replace three starters who each logged over 30 mpg.

They do have some talent returning. Josh Young, who was the MVC's leading scorer at 15.9 ppg, is an explosive 6'1" shooter (86 3's, 43%), who can get hot and put up points in a hurry. Young is one of the up-and-coming stars in college basketball, and could be an all-american if he can continue to improve. Jonathan Cox also returns. He was Drake's only best front court player last season. Cox is the typical MVC big man - 6'8", scrappy rebounder, decent post moves and a great jump shot. Cox improved a lot as the season went on, and he played his best basketball towards the end of the season. He averaged 14 ppg and 8.7 rpg in the MVC tourney, and then exploded for career-highs of 29 and 16 in Drake's first-round loss to Western Kentucky.

Drake is going to need big seasons out of those two if they hope to come close to the success they had last season. Jacob Baryenbruch (who started five games last year when Young was injured), John Michael Hall, and Brent Heemskerk, all seniors, also return for the Bulldogs, although Heemskerk led the trio, averaging only 18 mpg. Drake does bring in some talent this year. Craig Stanley is a talented JuCo transfer who could compete for time at the point and Sean Jones is a 6'11" center who was fairly highly recruited, but may be a year or two away from really contributing. Two transfers will also become eligible. Adam Templeton should fit right into Drake's team, as he averaged 8.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg, and 59 3's in two years starting at UC Irvine. Brett Spiker, transferring in from Peru State, will also become eligible.

Outlook: Drake does have a lot of talent on this roster, and should be a favorite along with Creighton and ISU to win the MVC. But their season will hinge on how well these players can adjust to whatever system Phelps' brings in. Drake was successful last year because of the unique zone defense they played, and the semi-Princeton/three-point heavy offense they ran. Continue reading...