Manny Harris suspended against Purdue.

Umm, this sounds bad. Via USA Today:

Coach John Beilein announced the suspension Saturday ahead of the Wolverines' game at Purdue. Beilein said in a statement that Harris "used poor judgment" on Friday and it would be "best for Manny's future" if he didn't play. Details of the conduct weren't released by the team.

Michigan plays Purdue today, and the Wolverines really, really need this win if they have any thoughts of being a tournament team. Needless to say, losing Harris is a big blow to those hopes.

It gets worse though. Beilein said that he will meet with Harris and with the team after their Saturday trip to Mackey Arena to determine if Harris will be eligible for Tuesday's game against Michigan State, another one the Wolverines really, really need to win.

More info as it becomes available.

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11/30 - College Hoops Week in Review: Feast Week Rehashed

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

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

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

(photo credit: ESPN)

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

Probably not.

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

Feast Week MOP: Klay Thompson, Washington State

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

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

First Team All-Feast Week:

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

Second Team All-Feast Week

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

TOURNAMENT RECAPS

76 Classic

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

CBE Classic

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

Chicago Invitational Challenge

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

Great Alaska Shootout

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

Legends Classic

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

Maui Invitational

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

NIT Season Tip-Off

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

Old Spice Classic

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

Match-ups of the week:

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

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Friday's Shootaround: Manny Harris, Minnesota, and Portland all shine while Oklahoma's struggles continue

Old Spice Classic

• Michigan 83, Creighton 76 OT: Manny Harris looks like he may give Evan Turner a run for his money as the most versatile players in the Big Ten. Harris went for 20 points, 11 assists, and 9 boards as he finished one rebound shy of his second triple-double of the season. This also happened to be the most exciting game of the day. A clash of styles (Creighton pressed all over the court, while Michigan played their typical 1-3-1 zone while spreading the floor offensively), a Stu Douglass three put Michigan ahead 67-65 with 1:30 left in the game. After trading free throws, the Wolverines found themselves up 69-67 with 5.7 seconds left before pg Antoine Young went coast-to-coast for a lay-up to force OT.
  
  
  Manny Harris nearly had a triple double to lead Michigan.
  (photo credit: SBNation)
  
  
  In OT, Harris took over. He had a three point play and a big dunk to help Michigan open up a 76-73 lead, and after a Wolverine stop, he found Zak Novak for a three to ice it. Creighton was very impressive, however. They are much more athletic than I thought they would be, and they pressed the Wolverines all over the court. Justin Carter had a career-high 21 in his first game back from a knee injury.

• Marquette 71, Xavier 61: Buzz Williams sure does have his kids believing they can play. The Golden Eagles of Marquette used an 11-0 run late in the second half to open a 64-55 lead as they held off Xavier in the OSC's first round. Lazar Hayward had 27 points for Marquette, including two threes in the decisive run, while Jimmy Butler added 15. Jason Love played great for Xavier, recording 21 points, 19 boards, and 5 blocks, as he made it obvious that Marquette is still suffering from a lack of size. Jordan Crawford, the kid who dunked on LeBron, looked out of shape and out of sync as he huffed and puffed his was to a 3-18 shooting night.
• Alabama 79, Baylor 76: JaMychal Green had 22 points while Mikhail Torrance added 20 and Senario Hillman 15 as the Crimson Tide got a win for Anthony Grant in his first game on national TV. The Tide looked impressive as they were able to handle a big, athletic Baylor team, opening a 10 point second half lead before some hot bears shooting made it more respectable. I was really impressed with Grant in one instance late in the second half, when he took the blame (the national TV audience could see and hear him say it) for a mistake on an in-bounds play.
• Florida State 54, Iona 49: Florida State, a much bigger and more athletic team, could not pull away from the gritty Gaels as Iona fought tooth and nail to keep this thing close. Everytime it looked like FSU was going to break this thing open, Iona would make a spurt to keep tie the game up or take the lead back. FSU opened the second half with a 10-0 run to push the lead to 35-24, but Iona came all the way back. After a 6-0 spurt to make it 45-39, the Gaels scored eight of the next ten points to tie it agai. Eventually, the Noles used a late 6-0 run to break a 47-all tie and close this game out. Derwin Kitchen had 16 to lead FSU, who have looked far from the team that some were predicting could make noise in the ACC.

76 Classic

• West Virginia 85, Long Beach State 62: Devin Ebanks dressed, but he never took the court as the Mountaineers jumped on the 49ers. Casey Mitchell hit three early threes as WVU opened up a 20-9 lead in the first 10 minutes. Mitchell finished with a career-high 18 points and Johnnie West added his over career-high of 11 as WVU his 12-24 from deep.
  
• Texas A&M 69, Clemson 60: The Tigers came out of the gates playing well, especially on the defensive end, as they were up 7-1 six minutes into the game. But all of a sudden Texas A&M woke up on both ends of the floor, as they used 12-1 and 15-2 runs during the first half to take a 33-20 lead into the break. The Tigers made a push in the second half, getting the lead down to 58-56, but the Aggies responded with a free throw and a BJ Holmes three to take push the lead back to six. Holmes led the Aggies with 20 points off the bench while reserve David Loubeau added 12 points and 9 boards. Trevor Booker scored 12 of his 18 points after the break, but the Tigers, who came into this game shooting 45.5% from three, shot just 34% from the floor and 3-18 from three.
  
• Minnesota 82, Butler 73: In the most highly anticipated game of the day, the Gophers played phenomenal defensively, holding Butler to just 33% shooting from the field and 21 turnovers. But still, in a testament to how good this Butler team in, the Bulldogs had a dog in this fight until Matt Howard, who scored 23 points, picked up his fourth foul with 14 minutes left and Butler down 39-38. Minnesota immediately responded with an 8-1 run, and Butler never got within four the rest of the way. Look, Minnesota is a good team, and more than anything Butler seemed to just have an off night. Those happen.
  
  
  Minnesota played very well defensively against Butler.
  (photo credit: AP)
  
  
  But if you are going to take anything out of this game, think about how good Minnesota truly is. Three starters went to the bench during the first half with foul trouble, but Minnesota didn't miss a beat as they put three reserves in double figures. The hero in the first half was Colton Iverson, who was everywhere, posting a first half double-double and providing Minnesota with a spark that they seemed to be lacking. Down the stretch, as Butler was trying to make a comeback, the heroes were Blake Hoffarber and Devoe Joseph, who both his two threes in the last five or six minutes of the game to help ice it. Damian Johnson led the Gophers with 18 points, 4 assists, and 4 steals. Shelvin Mack had 20 for Butler, but 7 turnovers, who Gordon Hayward had 13 and 10 boards, but was just 3-8 from the field with 6 turnovers.

• Portland 74, UCLA 47: This one was ugly. Portland never trailed, was up 36-19 at the half, and was 11-19 from deep. For more, read what I wrote here already.

Houston 100, Oklahoma 93: Kelvin Lewis had 28 points and Aubrey Coleman added 27 points and 11 boards as the Cougars used a late 19-4 run to put away Oklahoma. The Sooners, frankly, are terrible right now. They don't play any defense and are selfish offensively. Willie Warren had 25 points and 7 assists, but is he really enough of a leader to make a difference for this team?

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11/16 - College Hoops Week in Review

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

Also good this week:

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

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Evan Turner, Ohio State

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

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

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

Also good this week:

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

TEAM OF THE WEEK: Rider Broncs, Cornell Big Red

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

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


Also good this week:

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

MATCH-UPS OF THE WEEK:

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

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2009-2010 College Basketball Season Preview: Small Forwards

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

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

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

Best Freshman

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

Best of the Rest

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

Top 10

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


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

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

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


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


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


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

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

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


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


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

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

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

Continue reading...

No. 19: 2009-2010 Team Preview: Michigan Wolverines

2008-2009 Record: 21-14, 9-9 (t-7th)

Key Losses: Kelvin Grady (6.1 ppg), Zack Gibson (3.9 ppg)

Key Returners: Manny Harris (16.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 4.4 apg), DeShawn Sims (15.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg), Zack Novak (6.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg)

Newcomers: Darius Morris, Eso Akunne, Matt Vogrich, Josh Bartelstein, Blake McLimans, Jordan Morgan

Manny Harris is one of the best natural scorers in the country.
(photo credit: UMHoops)

John Beilein runs arguably the most unique system in the country, and as would be expected, it took the Michigan players a season to get used to what Beilein was asking of them. In Beilein's second year at the helm, his guys became more accustomed to the offense and the Wolverines had their most successful season in a long time, reaching the NCAA Tournament's 2nd round. This year, Michigan will be one of the best teams in the Big Ten.

Michigan's offense will be based around the play of DeShawn Sims and Manny Harris. Harris is one of the most natural scorers in the country. Standing a lithe 6'5", Harris is at his best when he is using his quick first step to attack the rim. He is still a bit toolsy, as his jump shot and handle can still be improved. Where Harris made strides as a sophomore was with his efficiency. He greatly improved his shot selection and his decision making when passing the ball, an aspect that should become even better as he gets more comfortable with Beilein's system. The one place that Harris still could use some work is his perimeter jumper. He has made less than a third of his three point attempts during his first two seasons. Given Beilein's reliance on the three in his offense, improving this aspect of his game would greatly improve Harris's effectiveness.

While Harris is a bit of an imperfect fit for the Beilein system on the perimeter, Sims seems to be slightly better. At 6'8", he is able to hold his on in the post at both ends. He has a solid back-to-the-basket game, with a turn-around jumper as his go-to move. But Sims also has the ability to step out and knock down a shot from the perimeter. While he could still stand to improve upon his consistency, opposing bigs still have to come out and respect the shot, which allows the nimble Sims opportunities to put the ball on the floor and go to the basket. The biggest area Sims needs to improve is in his energy level and his work ethic. He looked lethargic at times last season, and as a result had a number of games where he didn't show up; while he has games like the 28 and 12 he had against Duke or the 29 he went for against Purdue, there is also the chance he goes 3-14 like he did against Illinois or 4-11 he shot against UConn.

As they did last season, I would expect Michigan to start four guards around Sims. There are four guys who will likely compete for those three starting spots - sophomores Zack Novak, Stu Douglass, and Laval Lucas-Perry and freshman Darius Morris. Novak, Douglass, and Lucas-Perry are all essentially the same player. Big guards that can do a little bit of everything, Lucas-Perry came in with the best reputation last season, but he was forced to play out of position for a lot of the season as Michigan struggled with their point guard situation.

That problem should be fixed with Morris. Morris is not the greatest offensive player, but he can penetrate and find shooters, he plays defense, and most importantly, he is an actual point guard. His biggest competition for playing time this season - Lucas-Perry and Douglass - both prefer to play off the ball. Speaking of Douglass, he and Novak should both be expected to have big sophomore seasons. They are both heady players that are good three point shooters and athletic enough to be a play maker in the Wolverines 1-3-1 zone. Also expect freshman Matt Vogrich, another 6'4" shooting guard, to have an impact this season.

The biggest problem for Beilein is going to be finding another big man that can provide quality minutes. With the strength of the Big Ten this season, being forced to have 6'5" guards like Harris and Novak as your second biggest player on the floor will make rebounding the ball very tough. Freshmen Jordan Morgan, Blake McClimans, and Ben Cronin are all possibilities to fill that role. Morgan is a 6'8" kid out of Detroit, and as you would expect, he is a blue collar type player. He will provide Beilein with a tough, rugged presence in the paint, fighting for rebounds and making opposing bigs work for their touches. Cronin, who is 7'0", is coming off of hip surgery last season and could provide an impact.

But the guy to keep an eye on in Blake McLimans. McLimans is 6'10" and athletic enough that he played volleyball and baseball in high school. He is the perfect big man for Beilein - he is an excellent three point shooter, he can pass the ball from the high post, and he is comfortable playing onthe perimeter 22 feet from the rim. McLimans doesn't have the same ring to it, but he could be the next Kevin Pittsnoggle.

Outlook: This may be the most talented team that John Beilein has ever coached. Manny Harris is a legitimate all-american candidate, DeShawn Sims could be a first or second team all-Big Ten guy, and their supporting cast can all play. But none of that matters, because the Wolverines will go as far as Beilein's system takes them. The ability of the team to make back door cuts, hit three pointers, and rebound out of a 1-3-1 zone is what will be the difference for Michigan. Will they once again finish in the middle of the Big Ten and get a nine or ten seed in the dance, or can they make that next step and stay near the top of the league standings? If Zack Novak, Stu Douglass, and Laval Lucas-Perry all continue to develop, and Darius Morris and Blake McLimans can come in and fill a (much-needed) role, Michigan is going to win a lot of games.
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Manny Harris Won't Be Suspended

Michigan's Manny Harris won't be suspended for the elbow he hit Purdue's Chris Kramer with on Saturday. Here is the video:



First off all, it was BS that he was even ejected in the first place. Kramer might be the best defender in the country, and one of the reason's for that is he is not afraid to get up into the defender. When you have a guy climbing all over you like that, one of the things players are taught to do from a young age is to "rip-through" - meaning that when you square up a defender, you are strong with the ball, essentially, throw an elbow as you pull the ball in front of the defender.

That elbow was completely unintentional, and at worst he was clearing some space. This is Big Ten basketball, sometimes you are going to catch an elbow. Luckily, all Kramer got out of it was a head ache and a bloodied, maybe broken, nose. Continue reading...

College Basketball Week in Review: The SEC Could Be Really Bad

GAME OF THE WEEK:
Duke 82, Rhode Island 79
The Rhody Rams were up for most of the game, and Jimmy Baron did his best Stephen Curry imitation in the second half, but the Blue Devils were too much down the stretch. It took a while for Duke to wake up at the start of the game as Rhode Island built up a 12 point lead in the first half, but the Devils used suffocating defensive pressure to force URI out of its offense rhythm and make an 11-0 run to end the half. The Rams were able to keep a slim lead for most of the second half, mainly due to Baron. As Duke started to get it going offensively, it seemed like Baron would respond to every Duke basket with a three (he hit seven of them in the second half). It was an incredible performance by the coaches son, who hit some ridiculously tough shots during that stretch. Duke was down 79-78 with 19.4 seconds left when Kyle Singler knocked down two free throws for the lead. Baron air balled a tough, fade away jumper, and Jon Scheyer hit two free throws for the final margin. Baron finished with 24 points, while Delroy Jones added 21 for the Rams. Singler had 21, 5 boards, and 5 assists, while Scheyer poured in a team-high 23.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Manny Harris, Michigan
Harris, who despite averaging 16.1 ppg last season as a freshman, flew under the radar nationally. Harris was phenomenal in his first two games of the Coaches vs. Cancer pre-season tourney. Against Michigan Tech, he went for a career high 30 points, while also grabbing 7 rebounds. Harris was even better the next night against Northeastern, coming up two assists shy of his first triple-double. All told, Harris finished the night was 26 points, 10 boards, and 8 dimes. For the week, Harris posted averages of 28.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg, and 5.0 apg while shooting 67% from the floor, 57% from deep, and 87% from the line.

TEAMS OF THE WEEK:
VMI and Mercer
For the second straight year, Kentucky lost to an unranked, low-major conference opponent on their home floor. Last year it was Gardner-Webb. This season it was VMI. The Keydets used terrific three point shooting and forced Kentucky into 13 turnovers in the first 11 minutes as they built a lead that at one time grew to 26 points. The Wildcats would come all the way back and take a lead late, but the Keydets would make a run at the end to win it 111-103. VMI finished the week 1-1 after losing to Virginia on Sunday, 107-97. Mercer went 2-0 on the week, with their big win coming Sunday against Alabama, the second straight season that they have beaten a major conference opponent (USC). The Bears got a lay-up from Calvin Henry with 13 seconds left to take the lead, and James Florence stole the ball on the next Tide possession, sealing the win. Florence finished with 23 points. Mercer beat Piedmont 89-63 in their first game.

MATCH-UPS OF THE WEEK:
11/17 - Miami OH @ Pitt: Miami OH gave UCLA all they could handle in a defensive battle in Pauley Pavilion. This one should be another slugfest, as Pitt plays slower and more physically than UCLA.

11/17 - UMass @ Memphis: Not only is this game the first game of the college basketball tip-off extravaganza, but it is the homecoming of former Memphis assistant Derek Kellogg, who left Memphis this off-season for the head coaching job at UMass. Both teams play the same style, so expect a fast pace and a lot of scoring.

11/18 - Kentucky @ UNC: Kentucky is coming off of a loss to VMI where Patrick Patterson failed to show up. But UNC is depleted by injuries (Hansbrough, Ginyard, Frasor's coming off a sore ankle). It would have been great to see Patterson and Hansbrough mix it up.

11/18 - Tennessee-Martin @ Tennessee: Definitely worth it to watch stat-stuffer Lester Hudson from the UT-Martin Skyhawks play.

11/20 - UCLA vs. Michigan; Duke vs. Southern Illinois: A couple intriguing match-ups in the CvC semi's. It will be interesting to see Manny Harris go up against a vaunted Bruin defense. And coming off a near-upset from Rhode Island, Duke will face Southern Illinois and their stingy defense. The finals the following night will pit the winner's against each other.

11/21 - Winthrop @ Davidson: Two mid-major powerhouse programs do battle. Winthrop has dominated the Big South this decade, while Davidson ran through the Southern Conference the last two years. Continue reading...

Thursday Morning Shootaround

Michigan 76, Northeastern 56: I was finally able to watch some college basketball last night, as I caught some of the Michigan-Northeastern regional final in the CvC. To be honest, I was a little disappointed with Northeastern. I thought they had a chance to be pretty good this year, but they looked completely flustered by Beilien's zone last night, shooting 29% for the game. Matt Janning and Chaisson Allen, the Huskies backcourt, combined to go 5-23 from the floor and 2-11 from deep (crazy stat here: Northeastern had 29 total rebounds ... with 18 offensive boards!!).

But last night wasn't about Northeastern. The real reason I wanted to catch this game was to see Michigan's Manny Harris, the leading returning scorer in the Big Ten. Harris did not disappoint, as he put up a near-triple-double with 26, 10 boards, and 8 dimes. But I am not sold on him yet.

There is no question the kid can put the ball in the basket. He was getting to the rim just about anytime he wanted to last night. He has a nice first step, but he didn't seem all that quick or explosive. Instead, it seemed as if Harris was gliding to the hoop. Maybe he has long strides which allow him to cover a lot of ground, maybe it was because he was playing a team from the CAA, but when he would go by a defender, it never seemed like the defender was out of position. What I mean is that it wasn't like watching Ty Lawson or Darren Collison or a guy like that, who makes a move and utilizes their quickness to get by a defender. Harris just seemed to have enough of a burst at the end to get his shoulders by the defender to draw a foul (he shot 14 free throws last night). Looking at his numbers from last season, he shot 38% from the field and 31% from 3, but still averaged 16.1 ppg with 1.24 pps (points per shot), which is a very good number for a scoring guard with an iffy jump shot. Last night he scored 26 on just nine shots, so it looks like he is picking up where he left off last year.

Harris did have eight assists last night as well, and he made a couple really nice, really tough passes. One particular play that stands out in my mind happened in the first half. Harris had the ball on the right wing with a post on the block. He drove base line (to his right hand), and the guy on the block peeled out behind him to the wing. The post's defender came over to help on Harris, leaving him double teamed. Without picking up his dribble, Harris stopped his penetration, used too pull-back dribbles, and threw a behind-the-back bounce pass right on the money to the Michigan post, who knocked down an open 15-footer from the wing. But Harris also had a couple sloppy, careless turnovers.

So what is my consensus for Harris? He is clearly a talented basketball player and really knows how to draw fouls and score points, but I need to see him play against some better competition. That should happen when he takes on the winner of Miami OH and UCLA in the CvC semi's in New York.

Southern Illinois 80, UMass 73: Southern Illinois was down 39-28 heading into halftime, but exploded for 52 points in the 2nd half, including hitting 9-14 from deep. BJ Mullins had 16 and 13 for the Salukis, Carlton Fay added 17 points, and Kevin Dillard shook off a cold first half to knock down four three's and score 14 points in second. UMass was led by their back court, who combined for 56 points (Ricky Harris had 24). But they also combined for 16 of the Minutemen's 20 turnovers. Chris Lowe had 10 turnovers himself and 0 assists.

Southern Illinois will play Duke in the CvC semi's on Nov. 20th at the Garden.

UCLA 82, Prairie View 58: UCLA's five freshman impressed and Darren Collison had five 3's en route to a 19 point, 4 dime night. Jrue Holiday was the only freshman starter (11 points) but Malcolm Lee scored 12 and Drew Gordon added 6 points and 8 boards.

Miami OH 70, Weber State 66 Continue reading...