The key for Brian Gregory: continue to recruit his home turf

Brian Gregory found himself in a bit of a hole when he took over the Georgia Tech program for the fired Paul Hewitt.

The Yellow Jackets haven't had a winning record in ACC play since 2004. They've snuck into three NCAA Tournaments in that span, grabbing one of the last available at-large bids each season. They've had a moderate amount of success as well, winning a game in two of those three trips, but based on the amount of talent Hewitt was able to bring into the program, Georgia Tech was almost always considered a disappointment since they made the 2004 Final Four.

So not only does Gregory walk into a situation where he needs to rebuild a program, he has to do it at a place where underachieving is the norm. Winning is a learned skill, and sometimes changing the attitude surrounding a program -- going from a team that expects to lose to a team that finds a way to win -- is the biggest challenge. Just ask anyone that rooted for the Boston Red Sox prior to 2004.

But he has to start somewhere, and with the amount of talent coming out of Georgia and the Atlanta area, the key for Gregory winning in ACC play was to win early and often on the recruiting.

And he has been. It started earlier this summer when Gregory landed a commitment from Chris Bolden, a talented point guard out of powerhouse Norcross HS. It earlier in August when he earned a pledge from Bolden's AAU teammate Marcus Hunt, a top 100 wing with a number of high-major programs on his tail. Gregory was the first program to offer Hunt once he took over the job. According to Hunt, that meant a lot; the previous staff wasn't chasing him.

Next up for Gregory?

Robert Carter, a top 25 big man and Georgia native.

Landing Carter would be a bit of a coup, as he currently holds offers from Maryland and Florida and is being pursued by Kentucky. Even if Gregory is unable to land Carter, its important to note that he is in the mix. As Memphis and Indiana have done, the key to rebuilding a program in a basketball hotbed is to key homegrown talent at home.
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NBA Draft Profiles: Iman Shumpert, Georgia Tech

Bjorn Zetterberg of SwishScout.com will be helping us out with all of our NBA Draft Profiles this year. You can follow him on twitter @swishscout.

To browse through the latest prospect profiles, click here. To see a complete list of the players we have profiled, click here.

Stats: 17.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 3.5 apg, 2.7 spg, 27.8% 3PT

Age: 20, junior

Size:

• Listed: 6'6", 220 lb
• Official: 6'4.25" (no shoes), 6'5.5" (with shoes), 6'9.5" (wingspan), 8'3.5" (reach), 222 lb

Strengths: Shumpert's biggest strength as a prospect is his terrific physical profile. He stands over 6'5" in shoes with a wingspan beyond 6'9", which are outstanding numbers for a guy that can play the point. The former McDonald's all-american is more than just a body, though. He is also a physical specimen as an athlete. He has a Vince Cater-esque 42" max vertical and threw up 18 reps of 185 lb on the bench. All of that combines to make Shumpert one of the best defensive players available in this draft. He averaged a ridiculous 2.7 spg this past season, jumping passing lanes and playing lockdown man-to-man defense. He's also a very good rebounder for his position. Shumpert's athleticism and length also make him quite dangerous when he is attacking the rim, be it in transition or in a half court setting.

Weaknesses: As a junior, Shumpert finally had the opportunity to become the focal point for the Yellow Jackets. With an increased number of shot opportunities, his saw his scoring numbers jump to 17.3 ppg. The problem is that his increased production didn't coincide with increased efficiency. Yes, Shumpert saw his turnover number drop dramatically, but that came at the expense of his shot selection. Shumpert has fallen in love with his jumpshot, but he is far from what you would consider a consistent jumpshooter. Case in point -- he shot 4.9 threes per game this past season and made just 27.8% of them. Those numbers are probably quite similar to what he shot on mid-range pull-ups. Shumpert also has a tendency of forcing a tough pass -- or even making a simple pass -- when its in his best interest to attack the rim or to try and use his physical tools to dunk over a defender. In simpler terms, Shumpert hasn't quite learned how to use his athleticism as well offensively as he does defensively.

Comparisons:

• Best Case Scenario: Somewhere between Shannon Brown and OJ Mayo. Shumpert's athletic profile is in the same league as Brown's, but if he can develop his jumper and his decision making, his skill-set is much closer to Mayo's. He can be a lock-down defense stopper, and if he embraces the fact that being a spot-up shooter is his ticket to an NBA career, than Shumpert should be a border-line NBA starter. DeShawn Stevenson is another comparison that I like.


• Worst Case Scenario: Bjorn says Trey Johnson, and I'll go with it. Johnson is a big, athletic, high-scoring guard out of Jackson State that has been tearing up the D-League for the past two seasons. But for a myriad of reasons, he hasn't had more than a couple cups of coffee in the NBA. If Shumpert doesn't refine his shot selection, improve his consistency with the jumper, and accept being a role player, he'll be an all-star in the D-League. And that isn't a compliment.

Outlook: Shumpert has the tools and the skill-set to be an NBA player. 6'5" combo-guards with 6'9" wingspans and 42" verts don't grow on trees. If Shumpert can accept the fact that his primary use in the league, at least at the start of his career, will be to blanket perimeter scorers and to chase the hot hands around screens, than he will probably be able to latch on to a team. To become more than just a defensive weapon, however, Shumpert is going to need to become a better shooter, a better decision maker, and a willing complimentary option. Shannon Brown is the perfect example for the kind of path that Shumpert should follow. He parlayed his athleticism into a defensive role, and managed to work his way into the Laker's rotation. Shumpert can do the same, and with a superior offensive repertoire, he has a higher upside than Brown.

Draft Range: Mid to Late 1st Round

And the experts say...

• Chad Ford: "Shumpert has caught the eye of NBA scouts for years, but he's never quite lived up to the potential -- at least on the offensive end of the ball. Defensively he's one of the best guards in the country. If he could ever get a consistent jump shot he'd be a lock for the first round."


• Draft Express: "While Shumpert certainly hasn't had a stellar offensive season despite his productivity, he's made a lot of key improvements in other areas. If he lands on a team with a coach that can help him hone his shot selection, eliminate the inefficient parts of his game (mainly his stubborn insistence for settling for pull-up jumpers), and play to his strengths, the improvements he's made as a slasher, rebounder, and defender could make him a very useful player at the NBA level. Though he projects as a roleplayer due to his lack of jump shooting ability and pure point guard play, Shumpert has the ability to compete with any guard in the country in workouts on a good day, and is a clear-cut sleeper prospect to watch should he enter the draft."


• Swish Scout: "Naturally built guard who has solid gifts in terms of length, size, strength, and athleticism, but could really struggle to be effective in the NBA due to a ‘shoot first’ mentality running the point. Not a great shooter or that great of a penetrator as you would hope from a guard, but plays excellent pressure defense with his ability to over opposing guards with his length, size, and lateral quickness."

Highlights:




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The B.I.A.H Not-Top-10 Rankings

Every week, writers, publications, media outlets and bloggers issue their Top-25 rankings for the week. A majority of the time, everybody has virtually same opinion of all the teams.

If you want to find this week's top-25 rankings, you've come to the wrong place. Here you will find our rankings for the 10 worst team performances in the NCAA. This list isn't just home to the winless mid-major bottom-feeders. No, here you will find the biggest underachievers, slumpers and teams in a funk, the worst weekly performers, and the teams that just plain suck. Now there will be teams on this list that are better than teams not on this list. But come on people, we are trying to be creative, just work with us.

The B.I.A.H Not-Top-10 Rankings

1. Mississippi State
Record: 8-6
Evidence: On the brink of anarchy


This is a no-brainer. If they had done things correctly, MSU probably could have gotten Sidney vs. Bailey on the televised portion of UFC 125:Resolution. Seriously, things could not be worse in Starkville if they tried. Rick Stansbury has decided to keep the biggest headcase in college basketball yet remove a senior co-captain from the program. The Fightin' Bulldogs have lost four of their last five, and while the SEC West is abysmal, things don't look good at all.


2. Butler
Record: 10-5
Evidence: 24-point loss to UW-Milwaukee

The loss to UW-Milwaukee was their first in five games, but there is no reason the back-to-back Horizon League champs should be losing to a middle-of-the-pack team by 24. What's worse is the marquee match-up this weekend between first-place Cleveland State and the Bulldogs has lost some of it's luster. This game was going to be a possible preview of the conference championship, but now it looks like Cleveland State is in a league of it's own, despite not even playing Butler yet. If Butler wants to make it back to the NCAA tournament, they will probably have to do it by getting an at-large bid, and I don't see that happening.


3. UMass
Record: 8-5
Evidence: Patheticism (if that's a word)

Where to start, where to start? Well, first, it's entirely possible that UMass is the worst team in the A-10. Look past their eight wins and look directly at their five losses. A five-point loss to Boston College (who has lost to Harvard and Yale), a 12-point loss to Maine, a 25-point loss to Seton Hall, a six-point loss to UCF (their only "good" loss), and get this, a 29-POINT LOSS TO CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE. I feel sick just writing that. I don't care if they have eight wins. UMass is ranked 266th in FG% and doesn't have a single good win.


4. Memphis
Record: 11-3
Evidence: "They are who we thought they were"

Well, "they are who I thought they were". I never believed Memphis was a top-25 team. All you had to do was look at their results after five games. They would blow out the "little sisters of the poor" but would struggle to put away BCS-conference bottom-feeders like Miami and LSU. Once they faced real competition (see: Georgetown, Kansas, Tennessee) it became apparent that this team was nothing more then a couple of freak athletes.


Hell, they even struggled to put away middling mid-majors like Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Tennessee State. In the past week, Josh Pastner recieved his first technical foul of the season and the Tigers got into a slight tussle with Tennessee State. Throw in the Jelan kendrick dismissal and Angel Garcia's departure and things look real ugly for the Tigers, especially considering how good C-USA is looking this year.


5.Georgetown
Record: 12-3
Evidence: Struggling "Run-DMV", Decline of "Big-man U."

It pains me to do this, it really does, but there is no denying that the Hoyas are struggling as of late. It seems like not too long ago people were pegging them as favorites to win the Big East. But even after watching their first game of the season against ODU, it was evident that this team will live by the three and die by the three, and in more than just one way.


If the Hoyas have the hot-hand, they are tough to beat, but when teams play suffocating defense and don't allow the Hoyas to get open looks (see Temple, Notre Dame, St. John's) the Hoyas are very beatable. The "Run-DMV" trio of Austin Freeman, Chris Wright and Jason Clark has been mediocre at best in the past couple of games. They need all three of them to have big games in order to stay competitive in the Big East. Plus the Hoyas frontcourt is pretty bad. Julian Vaughn can't stay out of foul trouble, and while Henry Simms has improved, he is still nowhere near being a Big-East caliber big-man. If they don't get things going soon, we could see them crash-and-burn just like they did two years ago.


6. West Coast Point Guards
Evidence: Drug arrests, injuries and transfers

It has been a tough week for point guards out west. First we had Washington State's Reggie Moore getting arrested for a marijuana possesion charge he got in December. Then California freshman guard Gary Franklin decided he wanted to transfer after seeing his minutes diminish, and finally, Washington's Abdul Gaddy, the conference's leader in assist-to-turnover ratio tore his ACl and will be out for the season. If I was a guard out west, I'd stay home for the rest of the week.


7. Georgia Tech
Record: 7-6
Evidence: Another bad ACC team

The bottom-half of the ACC might as well be called the SEC West. Georgia Tech is making their case for being one of the worst BCS-conference teams in the country. It's hard to be worse than Wake Forest, but the Yellow Jackets are certainly making a case for themselves. We all know about their early-season loss to Kennesaw State, but Tech also has losses to a not-so-good Siena team as well as Charlotte. In the Charlotte game, they blew a 16-point first-half lead and eventually lost in overtime to a much inferior squad. Methinks Paul Hewitt is on his last legs down in Hot-lanta.


8. Florida State
Record: 11-4
Evidence: Losses to Butler and Auburn

As we mentioned earlier, Butler is not in a good place right now. Yet Florida State still found a way to lose to them. Yes, FSU did follow it up with a win against Baylor, but you have to be blind to not see that Baylor was overrated. But the big blow to the Seminoles came earlier this week when they lost to Auburn, who is arguably the worst team in any BCS-conference. Did I mention that the Seminoles have virtually no offense whatsoever? The ACC might be bad, but if you can't score points, winning games will be tough, even if your conference is crappy.


9. Mt. St. Marys
Record: 4-12
Evidence: Ineptitude, 9-game losing streak, scored 34-points against Virginia Tech

I had a chance to watch a practice at The Mount earlier in the fall, and it honestly looked like an intramural squad. The Mountaineers went nine games without finding a W, and during the stretch had games in which they scored 53, 42, 47, and 34 points. That's terrible regardless of the quality of your team.


10. Toledo
Record: 3-11
Evidence: One quality win and a bunch of ugly, smelly losses

The Rockets didn't get a win til damn-near Christmas, and they still needed an extra session to defeat Valparasio. Their other wins are against Florida Gulf Coast and some school called Indiana Northwest. But what's worse is that they have scored under 50-points five times this season, including a 41-point output against a sub-par Alabama squad. In that game, Toledo went scoreless for seven minutes to start the second half and wound up losing by more than their total output, 83-41. Continue reading...

2010 NCAA Tournament Bracket Breakdown: Sleepers you have seen

How do you define a sleeper?

A sleeper, at least when talking about college hoops, is a team that is capable of making it further than they are expected to based on their seed. But there's a catch: to be a "sleeper", you have to like them to win at least two games, and to make it least one game (preferably two) beyond where they are expected if chalk holds. Five seeds can't be Sweet 16 sleepers. Two seeds can't be Final Four sleepers. If you only think they can win one game, they aren't a sleeper; they are an upset pick.

Sleepers come in all shapes and sizes. Sleepers can come from the low- and mid-major conferences. Sleepers can come from the power conferences. Sleepers can have all-americans and lottery picks. Sleepers can lack a single all-conference player. Sleepers can be picked based on talent, style of play, and/or matchups. Most importantly, correctly predicting the "sleepers" is how you win your pool. And isn't that why all of you are reading this?

Today, we will be schooling you on the sleepers. Who should you trust? Who shouldn't you trust?

Here are the sleepers that you have seen play:


Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: #10 seed, Midwest Region

If there is one thing that we have learned about Georgia Tech this season its that they aren't to be trusted. Paul Hewitt's club is overflowing with talent, especially on their super-sized front line, but the potentially-lame-duck head coach has had a heckuva time trying to figure out how to get this team in sync. Normally, I would not recommend putting much -- if any -- faith in Tech, but I really like their matchups the first weekend. Georgia Tech's DeAndre Bell is a tough kid, making it all way back from spinal stenosis, the same injury that derailed TJ Ford's career. He is a very good defender on the perimeter, and both Oklahoma State and Ohio State rely heavily on a star player -- James Anderson and Evan Turner. It also doesn't take a basketball genius to realize that neither of the OSU's have much size or depth inside. Georgia Tech does with Gani Lawal, Derrick Favors, and Zach Peacock. If the Yellow Jackets can put it all together, they can win a game or two in this tournament.


Siena Saints: #13 seed, South Region

Everyone is going to be picking Siena in the first round against Purdue. The Boilermakers were going to be a popular pick for an early exit ever since Robbie Hummel blew his acl. But after scoring just a measly 11 points against Minnesota in the first half of their Big Ten semifinal, Purdue dropped down to a four seed. I get the feeling that the disappointment of this season is going to be weighing pretty heavily on Purdue. If Siena can jump on the Boilermakers early, I think they might fold. Regardless of who the Saints would get in the second round -- Texas A&M or Utah State -- I think it is going to be more about what Siena can do than what their opponent can. The Saints are talented enough that they don't need to rely on a good matchup to knock off higher seeded team. Remember, when discussing the possibility of calling this season a disappointment for the Saints, all of their big matchups came on the road. This is a team that has been waiting for March ever since they lost a dogfight to Louisville in last year's second round, and you could tell by some listless play late in the year. Siena is balanced (only team with four scorers at 13 ppg or higher), they are experienced, they have size, and they have a phenomenal point guard in Ronald Moore.


Gonzaga Bulldogs: #8th seed, West Region

I think the Zags are going to have some trouble with Florida State in the first round. They always get flustered against teams with as much length and athleticism as the Seminoles have. If they do happen to get past FSU, I really like the way the Zags match up with Syracuse, especially with Onuaku out. They have size inside, and their two best post players are far from what you would call a stiff. Both are offensive weapons on the block or at the high post. Steven Gray, and to a lesser extent guys off the bench like Manny Arop and Bol Kong, are shot makers on the perimeter. But the player that makes the difference against this zone is Matt Bouldin. He's the guy that can penetrate and get into the paint; he's the guy that can beat the zone with his passing; he's the Zag's star. I also like the Sweet 16 matchups Gonzaga would face. The Bulldogs have a team that can make an Elite 8 run. But how often have you heard that about Gonzaga?

Marquette Golden Eagles: #6 seed, East Region

I keep saying it. Over and over again. Marquette is not a team you want to face in the NCAA Tournament. They're tough, they're battle-tested, and they know how to get you playing their style. The Golden Eagles like when their games become a slower, grind-it-out paced affait. It works perfectly for them on the offensive end, as most teams are going to eventually break down defensively, especially when dealing with as many mismatches as the Golden Eagles cause. Their matchup with Washington should be entertaining, but I think Marquette picks up the win. After tonight's NIT performance, I have officially lost all faith in Pac-10 teams. New Mexico's personnel matches up well with Marquette's, in that they both like to try and exploit mismatches on the perimeter with the four and five man. That said, I simply think Marquette has better players and shooters. When Marquette is hitting their threes, watch out. If the Golden Eagles and West Virginia meet in the Sweet 16, it is going to be a battle. WVU beat Marquette in Morgantown on a buzzer beater from Da'Sean Butler. Both are very physical teams that don't mind getting physical and playing a scrappy style of basketball. If Marquette can keep the much bigger 'Eers off the glass, they can win it.

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Wednesday's Shootaround: Purdue gets a much needed win, while Georgia Tech survives against Clemson

Purdue 84, Illinois 78: Matt Painter has been upset with his team's effort and execution, especially coming from senior leaders Chris Kramer and Keaton Grant. So Painter benched his only two senior starters, using Kelsey Barlow and Ryne Smith in the starting line-up. The move didn't work, as the Boilermakers still came out sluggish, struggling to run offense against Illinois and eventually finding themselves down 22-14.

JaJuan Johnson had 24 points and 12 boards in the Purdue win.
(photo credit: Chicago Breaking Sports)

That's when Painter turned to seldom-used sophomore John Hart. How seldomly is Hart used? Purdue got a technical after Hart's first basket because he wasn't in the scorebook. Tech aside, Hart was the spark that Purdue needed. Near the end of the first half it was his energy, as he forced a turnover, was flying around defensively, and was crashing the glass. Painter started Hart for the second half, and the youngster responded by scoring 12 of his career high 14 points.

Purdue responded as well, using a 14-5 run to open the second half and take a 42-37 lead. That lead would get pushed to as much as 12 as Purdue took firm control in the second half, and the only time Illinois got close was a flurry of threes in the final seconds. JaJuan Johnson had 24 points and 12 boards to lead Purdue, while the freshman Barlow had two huge and-one drives down the stretch.

Georgia Tech 66, Clemson 64: Georgia Tech showed last night why many believed they had one of the best front courts in the ACC, if not the country. Gani Lawal had 16 points and 10 boards (5 offensive) and Derrick Favors made a name for himself on national TV with 17 points and 14 boards (6 offensive), but neither of them were on the floor in the final seconds. No, for the second straight contest with the game on the line, Paul Hewitt went to Zach Peacock when he needed a bucket. After hitting the winning jumper against UNC, Peacock drew a foul with 3.2 seconds left, knocking down both free throws, to give the Jackets the win.

Derrick Favors had 17 points, 14 boards, 3 blocks, and a number of big time dunks.
(photo credit: Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Overall, this was not a pretty game to watch. Both teams turned the ball over and shot very poorly from the field and the free throw line. Neither team boxed out well or executed offensively in the half court. Hell, with the game tied, both teams turned the ball over in the final 30 seconds.

Both the Jackets and the Tigers currently sit at 3-2 in the ACC, two games behind Virginia in the loss column.

Wichita State 60, Northern Iowa 51: Maybe the Panthers aren't the runaway favorite in the MVC. The Shockers used a stingy defense to hold UNI to just 17 first half points and open up a double digit lead. The Panthers made a run early in the second half to cut it to two, but WSU responded by opening the lead back up to seven and never letting UNI get close again. JT Durley led the way with 19 points, while Clevin Hannah had 8 of WSU's 15 assists.

This win was almost a must-win for the Shockers. A loss would have dropped them to three games in back of the Panthers for the MVC title while still having to play them on the road. As it is, Wichita State (which is proving to be one of the toughest places in the country to play, they already beat Texas Tech there this season) checks in with a 17-3 record, two wins over ranked teams, and a 6-2 mark in the MVC.

Other notable scores

• Ohio State 76, Northwestern 56: Evan Turner helped the Buckeyes jump out to an early lead, finishing with 20 points, 13 boards, and 8 assists as tOSU moved to 4-3 in the Big Ten. Dallas Lauderdale added a career-high 14 points while Jon Diebler chipped in with 17.
• Tennessee 63, Alabama 56: Wayne Chism scored 11 points, all of which came in the final seven minutes, as Tennessee pulled away early in the second half and held on as Alabama made a run late. It was Tennessee's first road win since the suspensions, and although Cam Tatum and Melvin Goins were both in uniform, neither got off the bench.
• Texas A&M 65, Oklahoma 62: The Aggies bounced back from a tough loss at Texas as Donald Sloan scored four of his 16 points, a jumper to give A&M the lead with 32 seconds left and two free throws to put them up three, in the final minutes.
  

Tuesday's Best

• Kenneth Faried had 26 points and 16 boards as Morehead State won over SIU-Edwardsville.
• Joe Trapani went for 31 points and 6 boards as BC came back from 17 down to beat Miami.
• Demetri McCamey had 28 points and 9 assists in a losing effort against Purdue.
  

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1/18 - College Hoops Week in Review: Kansas State becomes the third contender in the Big XII

What we learned this week: Never bet on Georgia Tech. Ever. Take a look at there last four games: loss at Georgia, win at home over Duke, loss at Virginia, win at North Carolina. In the immortal words of the Twitterati: SMH? To call this year's version of the Yellow Jackets would be, at this point, an understatement. We know that Georgia Tech is talented, especially in the front court. But anyone looking at their roster could tell you that - Gani Lawal, Derrick Favors, and Zach Peacock are as good as any front line in the country. The question this season has been whether or not they have the toughness, and confidence, to win a big game on the road. I think they proved that in Chapel Hill on Saturday.

Iman Shumpert was great against UNC, scoring 30 points in Tech's road win.
(photo credit: Charlotte News & Observer)

I may be in the minority on this, but I was much more impressed with Tech's ability to hang on after blowing a 20 point lead than the fact that they built a 20 point lead. UNC was in a rhythm offensively, had the Dean Dome rocking, and rode the coattails of an unconscious Will Graves to a late second half lead after being down 20 in the first half, but Tech didn't given in, making a number of huge shots down the stretch, and getting one very important stop - when Larry Drew missed a tough layup in the paint. Holding on to win that game should give the Jackets a big boost of confidence for the rest of the ACC season.

One last point about Tech - one thing I read quite a bit after this game was a sentence along the lines of "it shouldn't surprise you that a Paul Hewitt-coached team in inconsistent." Hewitt hasn't been inconsistent. He's been consistently unpredictable. In other words, he always seems to have a talented roster than underperforms throughout a given year, but wins a number of games each season that they probably shouldn't win, while losing games they shouldn't lose. Hell, even the year that they made the NCAA Finals, they finished the regular season 22-8 and 9-7 in the ACC. I guess you could call that inconsistentcy, but if you are consistently inconsistent, is that really inconsistent?


For North Carolina, one thing I read a couple times was that the Heels were bailed out in their comeback when Will Graves got hot, questioning what would have happened if Graves hadn't shown up in the second half. But if the Heels had won that game, wouldn't the general theme have been that the Heels can compete even when their big guns have an off-night? That their role players are talented enough to step up and bring them back from a huge deficit? Wouldn't we be talking about this team possibly being deeper and more balanced than first imagined? Should losing a one possession game really skew your opinion that much?


Staying in the ACC, is it time to truly be consider UVa a tournament contender? Maybe. They are 14-3 right now and the only team in the ACC that is undefeated. It hasn't come against cupcakes either, as they've knocked of Georgia Tech and Miami in league play, as well as beating UAB in the non-conference portion of their schedule. But there has been a common them for the Hoos - all three of those wins came at home. Their four losses? At South Florida, to Stanford in Cancun, at home to Penn State (Big Ten cellar dwellar), and at Auburn. That's not a pretty sight. So while the Cavs deserve a tip-of-the-cap for the week they had, let's see them win at Wake Forest next Saturday before we start calling predicting a tourney trip for this team.

Sylvan Landesberg has been a star for the surprising Cavs.
(photo credit: WaPo)

Did we write off Oklahoma and Washington too soon? The Sooners picked up two huge wins this week, beating Oklahoma State in the Bedlam Series in overtime before knocking off surging Missouri. The wins moved the Sooners to 11-6 overall and 2-1 in the Big XII. But the Sooners still have a ton of work to do, as those two wins are the only quality wins Oklahoma has. That said, if Oklahoma can get to 11-5 in the league, they may have enough of a resume to earn themselves an at-large simply because the rest of their schedule is as tough as anyone in the country. They have two games left against Texas, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech, have to travel to Kansas and Oklahoma State, and get Kansas State and Baylor at home. If they can go 1-3 against the big three in the league, and avoid losing to any of the teams in the bottom of the Big XII, finishing 11-5 may end up being enough. Given how the Sooners have performed thus far this season, 11-5 may be a stretch, but they certainly have the talent to do it.

Washington is in a different boat. Given how weak the Pac-10 is, the Huskies would likely have to win out, or come very close to it, if they want to earn an at-large bid. But after their performance this weekend, could winning out be all that unlikely? Washington has been a disappointment this season, dropping three straight to fall to the bottom of the Pac-10 after the first two weekends, but the issue has been one of intensity and focus, especially on the defensive end, as opposed to one of talent. After beating Stanford by 33 and Cal by 15, have the Huskies finally figured it out?


Northwestern knocked off Purdue at home on Saturday improving their record in the Big Ten to 2-3 against a brutal early season schedule (their losses are to Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Illinois). Things will get more difficult before they get easier, as the Wildcat's next four games are at Ohio State, at home versus Illinois, at Minnesota, and at Michigan State. But if they can pick up a win somewhere in those four games, Northwestern should win at least seven of their last nine games in the league (the only two are at home against Minnesota and at Wisconsin). Would 10-8 in the Big Ten, 21-9 overall, with wins over Purdue, Iowa State, Notre Dame, and at Michigan be enough to get a bid?

Northwestern may have saved their season with a win over Purdue.
(photo credit: Chicago Tribune)

Purdue, on the other hand, has dropped their last three games, and has head coach Matt Painter questioning their effort. Maybe he has a point. The last three games have been by far the Boilermakers worst in terms of defensive efficiency. They have been far from great offensively, but the defensive end is where Purdue hangs their hat, and as we all know, how good you are defensively is a direct result of effort.


GAME OF THE WEEK: Georgia Tech 73, UNC 71

Led by 17 points and 4 assists from Iman Shumpert in the first 20 minutes, the Yellow Jackets opened up a 20 point lead on the Tar Heels in the Dean Dome. But the Heels had a comeback in them. On the strength of 22 second half points from Will Graves, UNC came all the way back, taking the lead midway through the second half. This set up an electrifying finish.

After Graves hit a three to put UNC ahead 64-63, Brian Oliver answered with a short jumper. After a Ginyard jumper and a bucket from Derrick Favors, Graves hit another three, this one from about 25 feet, to give the Heels a 69-67 lead with just under two minutes left. Iman Shumpert would answer for Tech with a three-point play, and after UNC regained the lead on a bucket from Travis Wear, Zach Peacock scored what would eventually be the winning basket with 28 seconds left. Larry Drew missed a tough layup in the paint, and after Tech hit one free throw, Graves missed a 30 footer at the buzzer and Tech came away with the win.


PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Scottie Reynolds, Villanova

We've already written in depth about Reynolds this week, but he deserves another mention after yet another fantastic outing against a top tier Big East opponent. In two games this past week, Reynolds averaged 31.5 ppg as Villanova won on the road against Louisville and hung on to beat Georgetown after the Hoyas made a frantic comeback in the second half. Reynolds didn't get his points in garbage time, either. Against Louisville, Reynolds had 30 in the second half, hitting big shot after big shot to lead the Wildcats back from a 17 point first half deficit. Against Georgetown, he hit his first four shots from the field, scoring 12 points as Nova jumped out to a 40-23 first half lead. After the Hoyas made a run to get back into the game, Reynolds scored on a tough drive to the rim to break a 69-all tie before hitting six free throws down the stretch to seal it.

Scottie Reynolds looks to be the favorite for Big East POY.
(photo credit: TSN)

The biggest improvement in Reynold's game has been his efficiency. Early in his career, he was the only scorer for the Wildcats, and as such Jay Wright needed him to be aggressive in trying to create scoring opportunities. As a result, Reynolds would post big scoring numbers, but on a very high volume of shots. These days, Reynolds is making the most of his more limited opportunities, and this week was a prime example. In the two game, Reynolds scored his 63 points on just 25 shots, hitting 68% from he floor, 75% of his threes, and 80% from the charity stripe. Against Louisville, he scored his 36 points on just 10 shots, hitting nine of them and going 5-5 from three.

They were good too:

• Hassan Whiteside, Marshall: The best player you've never heard of might also be the best fantasy player in the country, period. Whiteside's averages of 12.5 ppg, 9.4 rpg, and 5.6 bpg only improved this week as he averaged 17.0 ppg, 13.0 rpg, and 9.0 bpg, including a triple double against Central Florida. We get a real sense of how good this kid is in the next few weeks. He hasn't played much competition yet this year, and Marshall's next five games are rough: West Virginia, UAB, Memphis, @ Houston, @ Tulsa.
• Evan Turner, Ohio State: Ohio State thrust themselves back into the picture in the Big Ten as they knocked off Purdue and Wisconsin, and Turner put himself back into the player of the year race as he averaged 23.5 ppg for the week, including a 23 point second half performance to almost single-handedly bring OSU back from 10 down in the final four minutes against Purdue.
• Elias Harris, Gonzaga: The Zags have all but wrapped up the WCC crown, and we are only three games in. In their first three games in league play, they won on the road against Portland, St. Mary's, and San Diego, the other three teams thought to have a chance to contend, and the latter two this week. Harris was sensational in both, averaging 25.5 ppg, 11.0 rpg, and 2.0 bpg, including a 31-point, 13-board, 3-block performance against St. Mary's.
  

TEAM OF THE WEEK: Kansas State Wildcats

Kansas State officially announced that the Big XII was a three-team race as they knocked off No. 1 and then undefeated Texas at home on Monday night. We've touched on that win already today, but what shouldn't be lost in the shuffle is the other two wins the Wildcats had this week. On Tuesday, they blew out Texas A&M, a team expected to contend for an at-large berth, before holding on to pick up a rare road win by holding on to beat Colorado.

Jamar Samuels had a breakout performance against Texas.
(photo credit: Mercury News)

The question now becomes how good at the Wildcats? Are they really a Final Four contender? They should be considered one, albeit a bit of a dark horse. Kansas State's biggest strength right now is their back court. Both Denis Clemente and Jacob Pullen are talented senior leaders, and great, experienced guard play is what prevents upsets in the tournament. And if you took anything out of their win against Texas, it should be that all suspicions of their front court being underrated were substantiated. They play defense, they score in transition, and they were the best in the country at hitting the offensive glass heading into Monday's game. But if they have an achilles heel, it is the ability to score in the half court. Well coached teams don't generally give up easy baskets in transition or off of second chances, and the Wildcats may have an issue if they run into a team like Purdue early in the tournament. That said, with a little luck of the draw, Frank Martin's club could very well make a Final Four run.

They were good too:

• Virginia Cavaliers: The Hoos lent some credibility to their gaudy record by knocking off Georgia Tech and Miami at home. UVa is now alone atop the ACC standings with a 3-0 record. Win at Wake on Saturday, and we'll officially buy the Cavs.
  
• Ohio State Buckeyes: The Buckeyes put themselves right back into contention in the Big Ten avenging a loss to Wisconsin and knocking off Purdue in Mackey. With Evan Turner back, OSU may be the best team in the Big Ten not playing in East Lansing.
  
• Clemson Tigers: Clemson blew out UNC at home, picking up a much needed marquee victory. But more impressive may have been beating NC State on the road with Demontez Stitt leaving the game early in the second half with a foot injury. While it is just NC State, winning on the road is never easy and something Oliver Purnell has not been known for, especially when you lose your starting point guard with so much time left in the game.
  
• Pitt Panthers: The Panthers just keep rolling along, as this week they won at UConn then knocked off Louisville at home to remain undefeated atop the Big East standings.
  
• Syracuse Orange: The Orange won three league games on the road this week, including Monday night's victory over Notre Dame, but none more impressive than their win at West Virginia. With their performance this week, the Orange ensured that they would be in the thick of the title hunt in the league.
  
• Xavier Musketeers: The Musketeers were though to be in a rebuilding year, but they week knocked off both Charlotte and Dayton to improve to 4-0 in the A-10 as they sit atop the league standings.
  

MATCHUPS OF THE WEEK

• 1/19 - 7:00 pm: Clemson @ Georgia Tech
• 1/19 - 7:00 pm: Northwestern @ Ohio State
• 1/19 - 9:00 pm: Purdue @ Illinois
• 1/19 - 9:05 pm: Northern Iowa @ Wichita State
• 1/20 - 7:00 pm: Wake Forest @ UNC
• 1/20 - 7:00 pm: Xavier @ Temple
• 1/20 - 7:00 pm: Georgetown @ Pitt
• 1/20 - 9:00 pm: Baylor @ Kansas
• 1/23 - 12:00 pm: Michigan State @ Minnesota
• 1/23 - 2:00 pm: Marquette @ Syracuse
• 1/23 - 2:00 pm: Ohio State @ West Virginia
• 1/23 - 4:00 pm: Texas @ UConn
• 1/23 - 4:00 pm: Virginia @ Wake Forest
• 1/23 - 4:00 pm: Oklahoma State @ Kansas State
• 1/23 - 6:00 pm: Rhode Island @ Xavier
• 1/23 - 7:00 pm: Old Dominion @ William & Mary
• 1/23 - 9:00 pm: Duke @ Clemson
• 1/23 - 10:00 pm: BYU @ San Diego State
• 1/23 - 10:30 pm: Washington @ USC
• 1/24 - 12:00 pm: Georgia Tech @ Florida State
• 1/24 - 2:00 pm: Pitt @ Seton Hall
  

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Monday's Shootaround: Florida State and Wake Forest start ACC play off with the win

Florida State 66, Georgia Tech 59 OT: Everyone knows about the size of the Georgia Tech front line, but Florida State proved on Sunday that they have a pretty good group of their own. Ryan Reid scored a team high 17 points, and he and Solomon Alabi (9 points, 12 boards, 4 blocks) combined keep Derrick Favors (8 points, 12 boards - the first time he hasn't scored in double figures) and Gani Lawal (4 points, 4 boards) in check. Zack Peacock, who led the Jackets with 17 off the bench, hit a 17 footer to force the overtime, then started off the OT with a three. But Reid would spark a 12-2 run, which included a short jumper by Chris Singleton with a minute left to give FSU a 61-59 lead with just over a minute left.

Wake Forest 67, NC State 59: Al-Farouq Aminu went for 18 points and 13 boards as the Demon Deacons opened up the ACC season with a win. Wake took control midway through the first half and led the rest of the way. NC State cut the lead to 42-38, but Wake responded with a 13-4 run. Ish Smith had 10 points, 7 assists, and 4 boards.

UConn 60, UCF 51: UConn played one of their worst halves of the season as they headed into halftime down 25-20 and found themselves down 31-22 before Stanley Robinson took over in the second half, scoring 23 points as the Huskies asserted their dominance on the Knights. As you should expect with a disappointing performance from UConn, the were outrebounded 36-34 and only grabbed 9 offensive rebounds against the smaller Knights. Ater Majok, the 6'11" Sudanese freshman, had just 1 point and 3 boards in 16 minutes.

Cornell 91, Davidson 88 OT: Ryan Wittman was 7-16 from deep and scored 29 points, but none was bigger than the 30 footer he hit at the buzzer of overtime to give the Big Red the win. Louis Dale hit a runner in the lane with 0.7 seconds left to force the overtime.

St. John's 72, Hofstra 60: Charles Jenkins, who finished with 24 points for Hofstra, scored with six minutes to go to give the Pride a 59-54 lead. But Hofstra would only scored 1 point the rest of the game, as DJ Kennedy scored 10 of his 19 points as the Johnnies went on a game-ending 18-1 run. Cornell and St. John's will play for in the championship game of the Holiday Festival at MSG.

Iowa State 87, Bradley 68: Marquis Gilstrap scored 25 points and Craig Brackins went for 16 points and 12 boards as the Cyclones used a 26-4 midway through the first half to open up a 44-19 first half lead.

Boston College 72, Bryant 46: Joe Trapani had 21 points and 10 boards and Corey Raji added 20 as BC beat winless Bryant.

Baylor 94, UT-Arlington 63: Epke Udoh had 22 points, 16 boards, and 9 blocks and Tweety Carter added 12 points and 10 assists.

South Florida 69, San Diego 60: Mike Mercer scored 19 points to lead four players in double figures and sparked a 6-0 run that broke open a 51-51 game late in the second half.

Sunday's Best:

• Baylor's Epke Udoh was a block away from a triple-double with 22 points, 16 boards, and 9 blocks.
• Jawan Carter had 26 points, 6 boards, 4 assist, and 4 steals to lead Delaware to a win over Vermont.
• Gilberto Clavell scored 34 points on 14-17 shooting to help lead Sam Houston State to a 107-89 win over Auburn.
• Vincent Simpson had 31 points and 5 assists, but Hampton still lost to Towson.
• For the second game in a row, Tristan Thompson scored 20+ points for North Texas, going for 27 in a loss to Southeastern Louisiana.
  

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Morning Shootaround: Yea, not much

Oh, Finals week. There were all of 10 games last night, and just one ranked team in action. It will be like that all week, as there won't be a game between two ranked teams until Saturday.

Georgia Tech 95, Chattanooga 64: Gani Lawal scored a season-high 29 points and Derrick Favors added 14 points and 10 boards as the Yellow Jackets won their first true road game of the season. Tech shot 61% from the floor and 7-16 from three.

LSU 77, Southeastern Louisiana 60: Tasmin Mitchell had 24 points and 18 boards, Storm Warren added 14 and 12, while Bo Spencer chipped in with 21 points and 5 assists as the Tigers used a 15-3 run to start the second half and blow this game open.

Houston 93, Troy 85: Aubrey Coleman scored 25 for the Cougars in the win. Kelvin Lewis added 24.

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Iman Shumpert out for 3-6 weeks

I'm a little late on the uptake here, but Georgia Tech guard Iman Shumpert will miss at least three weeks after under going minor surgery to repair damage to his meniscus.

Shumpert hurt the knee when he slipped during a game in Puerto Rico.

Georgia Tech is already thin in their back court, but this could be worse. Freshman Mfon Udofia has been playing very well early in the season, and should be more than able to make up the production. It will also allow guys like Maurice Miller, D'Andre Bell, Lance Storrs, and Glen Rice Jr to see more minutes.

Georgia Tech has an excellent front court with Gani Lawal, Derrick Favors, and Zach Peacock, but if the Yellow Jackets really want to compete in the ACC, they are going to need to develop back court depth. What better way than throwing their more inexperienced guys into the fire.

Shumpert wasn't playing well either. His mobility and explosiveness were affected by the injury as his numbers dipped to 8.3 ppg and 4.7 apg. Even if Shumpert is out for a month, he should be back in uniform for the Duke game January 9th.

And while he may be rusty and out of shape, he will be healthy for the stretch run.

Which, in the end, what's important, right?

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The best ten days of the pre-March college hoops season starts tonight

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

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

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

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

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

How will UNC play against real competition?

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


Will UCLA's defense pick up?

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


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

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


Will Greivis Vasquez break out of this shooting slump?

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

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


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

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


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

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

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


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

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


Can Evan Turner continue to impress playing against quality competition?

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


Are Rider and Cornell for real?

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

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


How will Purdue react to the loss of Lewis Jackson?

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

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No. 23: 2009-2010 Team Preview: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

2008-2009 Record: 12-19, 2-14 ACC (12th)

Key Losses: Lewis Clinch (15.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg), Alade Aminu (11.8 ppg, 8.0 rpg)

Key Returners: Gani Lawal (15.1 ppg, 9.6 rpg), Iman Shumpert (10.6 ppg, 5.0 apg), Zach Peacock (9.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg)

Newcomers: Derrick Favors, Kammeon Holsey, Daniel Miller, Brian Oliver, Glen Rice Jr, Mfon Udofia

Gani Lawal and Iman Shumpert will lead the Yellow Jackets this year.
(photo credit: NBC Sports)

It isn't that often that you see a team go from worst to first in any league, let alone the ACC. Georgia Tech finished in last place in the league in '08-'09, but with the talent they have returning and a loaded freshman class, there is a good chance the Yellow Jackets make a run to the ACC title.

The biggest reason for that is Derrick Favors. I don't generally like to weigh a team's chances based on freshman, but Favors - like a Kevin Durant or a Michael Beasley - just might be good enough to carry the Jackets. Favors, who many consider to be the best recruit in the country, is an athletic and strong 6'9" power forward. He can run the floor and finish in transition, but he also finishes very well in traffic. Favors is very good on the glass, using his size and athleticism to rebound over smaller opponents. He is a good defender and shot blocker, both on the ball and coming from the weak side. Where his game could stand to improve is on the offensive end. He has some solid back-to-the-basket moves and a pretty good touch from the perimeter, but he needs to improve his consistency.

Favors is far from the only talented kid Paul Hewitt will have in his front court. Joining him along the starting frontline is another 6'9" power forward Gani Lawal. Lawal, who probably would have been a first rounder had he entered the draft last season, has a lot of the same problems that Favors does right now. He's and excellent athlete that will play hard and hustle when he is on the court, but his offensive game is still raw. He doesn't have great hands or feet, he has a tendency to get flustered when posting up, and he has no face-up or perimeter game to speak of. That said, there aren't many bigs across the country with his combination of athleticism and energy. He and Favors form one of the best starting front courts in the country, and it isn't a stretch to see them averaging 35 ppg and 16 rpg combined this season.

The Yellow Jackets will be deep along their front line as well. Zach Peacock, who averaged 9.2 ppg and 4.8 rpg as a junior last season, is probably good enough to start for most schools around the country. His game is a bit more suited to the perimeter than Favors or Lawal because he can knock down jumpers, which is why Hewitt was able to go with three big men last season. 7'0" Brad Sheehan should also see some time up front. Two freshman will be in the mix as well. Kammeon Holsey is a slender, athletic, 6'8" power forward. He is much more of an energy/defense guy at this point. He can defend the wing and the post, runs the floor very well, and can finish above the rim. Daniel Miller is a big body in the paint with a nice touch inside, but may find it tough to earn playing time in this loaded front court.

Hewitt's back court will be anchored by Iman Shumpert. Shumpert, a sophomore, was a McDonald's all-american coming out of high school. Shumpert showed flashes of being a dominant lead guard at this level last season, but was too inconsistent. The biggest issue was his decision making. He had seven games where he turned the ball over at least six times and shot just 39% from the field. Much of that was a result of being forced to try and make a play at the end of the shot clock. But he does have the talent, not only to score but to set up his teammates as well. If Shumpert can ease into the point guard role, not trying to do too much and relying on the talent around him, he can be an above average lead guard.

One of the big question marks is going to be Moe Miller. Miller was solid, if unspectacular, playing as a more typical point guard last season, but he is coming off of a concussion he suffered in a car accident. He is much more of a distributor and typical point guard that Shumpert is, and the two should be effective playing together in the back court. If Miller is unable to go, Hewitt should be just fine with freshman Mfon Udofia playing major minutes. Udofia is a smooth lefty point guard that excels when he can break his man down. He isn't much of a shooter yet, but knows how to set up his teammates where they will be effective and how to run a team.

With last season's leading scorer Lewis Clinch graduating, there will be a lot of minutes opening up on the perimeter, and quite a few candidates to fill the role. The first of which will probably be senior D'Andre Bell. Bell missed all of last season as he battled spinal stenosis, the same injury that has hampered TJ Ford through out his career. Bell is a one of the best perimeter defenders in the ACC. Junior Lance Storrs started a few games last season, but generally was the Jackets sixth man. He is a 6'5" wing with the ability to knock down some threes, but also gained a reputation for being a tough defender. Sophomore Nick Foreman was thrust into playing time early during his freshman season due to injuries to Clinch, Bell, and Miller, although never really proved the ability to be a scoring threat.

Two freshman will be in the mix on the perimeter as well. Glen Rice Jr. is a 6'5" guard, and while he doesn't have his father's jumper, he has a reputation for being a tough, physical kid that can mix it up in the paint and finish inside. Brian Oliver is a 6'6" wing with a solid jump shot, something that could be valuable this year. Georgia Tech doesn't have many shooters, and having Oliver on the court to spread the floor for the big guys inside could be very important for the Jackets.

Outlook: I really like this Georgia Tech team. They are big at every position, have a bunch of athletes on the team, and will play with a loaded front line that includes Derrick Favors (a kid some pundits are already predicting will be a first team all-american). The key to this team will be the back court. Will Iman Shumpert turn into a star? Can Udofia and Miller handle the point guard responsibilities, spreading the ball around and getting guys good shots? Will someone be able to replace Clinch's scoring and shooting ability? But the biggest question won't be on the offensive end, where Tech has plenty of talent. Will this team be able to get enough stops to win some games?
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Kammeon Hosley done for the year

Georgia Tech's stellar recruiting class took a bit of a hit as Kammeon Hosley, a top 100 forward out of Sparta, GA, tore his acl.

Hosley hurt the knee August 1st playing pick-up with the team, but found out earlier today he would need surgery and will miss to '09-'10 season.

While Hosley was expected to play a supporting role this year behind Derrick Favors and Gani Lawal, his role was significant as he brings a different skill set to the table than either projected starter. Where Lawal and Favors are your quintessenntial college posts (big, strong, low post scorers), Hosley is a spindly 6'8" athlete. He is raw offensively, but he is a tremendous athlete that can run the floor, defend four positions, and hit the offensive glass. Think Renaldo Balkman, the former South Carolina player.

Even with Hosley out for the year, Tech should be a borderline top 25 team with Favors and Lawal up front and Iman Shumpert in the back court. Continue reading...

GANI LAWAL IS HEADING BACK TO GEORGIA TECH: Paul Hewitt got some great news on Sunday as Gani Lawal decided to return the Yellow Jackets for his junior campaign. Lawal looked like he had a shot of being a late first rounder, but apparently realized he still needs to great deal of work on his skill set and his understanding of the game before he is ready for the league.

How often do you hear that?

Lawal's decision to come back gives Tech what could turn into the best frontcourt in the ACC. Joining Lawal up front will be senior Zachary Peacock and two freshman, top 100 recruit Kammeon Holsey and Derrick Favors, considered by some to be the best recruit in the country.

Tech also gets back guards Iman Shumpert, Moe Miller, and DeAndre Bell (who is recovering from surgery to repair spinal stenosis, the disease TJ Ford had). Also in the mix in the backcourt will be two freshmen, point guard Mfon Udofia and shooter Glen Rice Jr, both top 50 recruits.

What does all of that mean?

The Ramblin' Wreck will be good next season. How good? Probably not quite top 10, like the Atlanta Journal Constitution believes, but definitely good enough to make a run at the top of the ACC.

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Paul Hewitt talks with Steve Cohen

Last week, we talked a bit about Steve Cohen, a congressman from Tennessee, and the letter he sent to the NBA regarding their age limit. Cohen, in my opinion, was completely, 100%, correct in his conclusions about the NBA's age limit.

But for a congressman, Cohen probably could use a lesson in being a bit more politically correct.

He may have gotten one from Georgia Tech head coach Paul Hewitt.

In an interview with the New York Times, Cohen had some pretty inflammatory things to say:

“It’s a vestige of slavery. Not like the slavery of 150 years ago, but it’s a restraint on a person’s freedoms and liberties.”

“There’s something wrong with keeping kids, who are more likely to be African-American than not, from playing professional basketball and football when they can help their families and communities immediately. They’re forced to go to school when they have no desire or interest in going to school.”

“I think the odds of either of them coming back and getting a degree is probably less likely than the Grizzlies winning the N.B.A. title next year.”

“He [referring to former Georgia Tech player Thaddeus Young] could have gone straight to the pros. I don’t think he’s going to be an engineer. It’s just kind of a mockery.”

Thaddeus Young was at the center of a controversy involving comments
made by a Congressman from Tennessee.
(photo credit: SoulHonky)

First of all, I don't think I even need to mention the problems with Cohen, who is white, comparing anything to slavery. I understand the point he is making, and I am not disagreeing with it, but to compare "forcing" a student-athlete to attend college for free for a year because he can put a ball through a metal rim to slavery is down right absurd and completely inappropriate. It makes it worse that the people he is referring too are, in general, african-american youths.

That isn't the quote that upset Hewitt. It was the other three, specifically the way that Cohen spoke about Thaddeus Young. Young, who happens to hail from Cohen's district in Tennessee, was a 4.0 student in high school and left Georgia Tech in good academic standing.

It wasn't just the fact that Cohen blatantly insulted a former player of Hewitt's. Cohen also basically said that getting an education is worthless endeavor for these kids, and that the majority of them simply do not care about schooling. Again, I don't know what he was intending when he said it, but even I got a sense of racial undertones when reading it.

Not surprisingly, Hewitt was upset when he learned of these comments and demanded an apology from Cohen (follow the link, Hewitt's comments are long and, for the most part, scathing in nature).

"Saying a young man choosing to go to school at Georgia Tech, whether it’s one year or four years, is a mockery, I just didn’t think that was an accurate statement and I thought it was somewhat damaging," Hewitt to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "We know what we have here and the type of kids we bring here. ... The value of an education for a college basketball player is as significant as for anyone in the country, and I don’t think we should ever downplay that."

Hewitt and Cohen spoke over the phone, and apparently they were able to hash out their differences peacefully. In the Atlanta Journal-Constitution article, Hewitt said that he was "satisfied with their conversation", but didn't get into what was actually said.

The most ironic part of all this? Hewitt and Cohen agree on the age issue. Hewitt supports a system similar to that of baseball, where players can go straight to the pros, but if they go to school, they need to spend three years there (personally, I say two years, because it will mean more talent will end up in the college ranks, but the three year argument makes it very easy for a kid to earn his degree in that time if he attends summer classes for each year).

This is what I will leave you with. The gist of what Cohen was saying was essentially correct, and if those quotes came from a group of friends (regardless of race) talking sports, then it is what it is. But if you are a congressman representing a region that no doubt has a black population, then you cannot be quoted in the New York Times using such rhetoric.

The bottom line is that there is a perception that "jocks are dumb", which isn't entirely untrue. But there are plenty of kids playing a division 1 sport at a very high level that are incredibly intelligent and that could succeed in another career path, just as there are plenty of morons out there that simply are not athletically gifted.

People drop out of college all the time. Musicians, actors, construction workers, and even guys like Bill Gates leave school before earning their degrees to pursue careers. There are also a lot of professional athletes that go back to school to earn their degrees. Remember the uproar over Vince Carter's decision to go back to North Carolina to graduate during a playoff series?

So while the NBA's age limit is an exploitative rule that is in place to allow the NBA (and, to a certain extent, the NCAA) to maximize their profit margin, using stereotypes and generalities to argue the issues is not the way to go about changing it.

There is a silver lining, however. Maybe this little dust-up will bring the problems of the 19-and-1 to the forefront, and will help in eventually getting it overturned.

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