Pics/Vids: Game 11: Oral Roberts vs. Oakland

Saturday, January 21st
Mabee Center, Oral Roberts University
Oral Roberts 93, Oakland 86

Game 10 - Oklahoma State vs. Kansas State
Game 9 - Missouri State vs. Creighton
Game 8 - Missouri vs. Texas A&M
Game 7 - Wisconsin vs. Nebraska
Game 6 - Marquette vs. Pittsburgh
Game 5 - Butler vs. Cleveland State
Game 4 - Indiana vs. Minnesota
Game 3 - Xavier vs. Duquesne
Game 2 - Kentucky vs. South Carolina
Game 1 - Belmont vs. Lipscomb

(Our third indoor-blimp sighting of the trip.)

(The production of this game from start to finish was flawless. The execution of the student section, band, promotions, operations and sports information departments was excellent. Oh and the game itself wasn't bad either.)

(The Golden Grizzlies get in some stretching and foul shots before the game.)

(The Golden Eagles go thru layup lines before the game.)

(Dominique "DoMo" Morrison takes a jumper during warmups. The senior forward is one of the most unheralded players in the country and is a candidate for Summit league Player of the Year.)

(The Golden Eagles get loose during warm-ups. The team shot 56% from the field and four players scored in double-digits.)

(Laval Lucas-Perry spent a season at Arizona and Michigan before landing at Oakland. He's one of the only fifth-year senior sto have played at three different schools.)

(The ORU band was absolutely rockin'. They played heavy-metal, ska, and classic stadium beats. They brought it all game.)

(Any band that plays "Man in the Box" is a friend of mine. Greatest rock song of the 90's. #TommyDreamer)

(Our first inflatable mascot of the trip. Sure, they seem cool, but they're just so damn unnecessary.)

(The ORU student section huddled up before tip-off to make sure they were all on the same page. They had pregame rituals and everything. It was extremely fun to watch.)

(I wish more more student sections did this.)

(Best student section costume ever? Definitely a contender.)

(The ORU dance team strikes a pose.)

(The Oakland Golden Grizzlies wait for Reggie Hamilton's introduction.)

(The scene after one of the many 3-pointers went through. Both temas shot over 50% from behind the arc.)

(It's astonishing how much Greg Kampe looks like Frank Caliendo.)

(Players on the Oakland bench pay attention to the team huddle during a first half timeout.)

(The tiniest court-storming ever.)

(Dominique Morrison guards Laval Lucas-Perry.)

(Oh, it's just some crowd volleyball. Nothing out of the ordinary at all......)

(Nearly every member of the student section was covered in white paint.)

(I have no clue who Tianna is. Hopefully, it's his girlfriend.)

(The leader of the ORU student section.)

(That's awe-diddly-awesome.)

(I'm not going to lie, this is an awesome picture.)

(Confirmation of the first 30-point scorer of the #BIAHroadtrip. Reggie Hamilton led all scorers with 30.)

(This chant never gets old.)

(The Mabee Center after everyone had gone home.)

(Dominique Morrison spent 45 minutes after the game signing autographs. He even signed one for me after the presser. What a swell guy.)

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College Hoops Week in Review: Reggie Hamilton, Florida and a thriller in Indianapolis

Player of the Week: Reggie Hamilton, Oakland

You should know who Reggie Hamilton is by now. He's one of the most dynamic guards in the country and the star of a team that could legitimately win a game in the NCAA Tournament if they are able to get there. He went for 35 points in a nationally televised win over Tennessee and followed that up with 28 points in a tough loss to Michigan. The 5'11" Hamilton averages 22.0 ppg and 4.2 apg on the season, but he had the best game of his career on Saturday afternoon.

Hamilton went for 41 points in a win over Valparaiso. He made 14-24 shots from the floor, hitting five threes and added four assists, four steals and three rebounds. More impressive, however, was the fact that the Grizzlies were down by as much as 17 points in the second half, but Hamilton lead the charge back. He scored the first 12 points during an 17-1 run that trimmed the lead to 61-60 and kept Oakland in the game. It was Hamilton's final shot of the game that truly made the difference, as he went the length of the court in the final five seconds and banked in a runner as time expired:
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NBA Draft Profiles: Keith Benson, Oakland

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: 17.9 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 3.6 bpg,

Age: 22, senior

Size:

• Listed: 6'11", 220 lb
• Official: 6'10" (no shoes), 6'11" (with shoes), 7'3.75" (wingspan), 9'1.5" (reach), 217 lb

Strengths: Keith Benson has a tantalizing skill set for NBA teams. For starters, he has terrific tools. He's a legit 6'11" with shoes on, he has a wingspan just a shade under 7'4", and he is an impressive athlete. That length and athleticism is part of the reason he has become an elite shot blocker at the collegiate level, averaging 3.6 bpg as a senior, but he also has impressive timing and does well to stay on his feet and avoid biting on pump fakes. Offensively, he has an excellent touch around the basket. He's got more of a finesse game with his back to the basket, scoring on jump hooks and turn-around jumpers, and also has proven to be a solid shooter from 8-10 feet. Benson knocked down 39.1% of his threes this past season, albeit only shooting a limited amount, but he should develop fairly well as a pick-and-pop threat.

Weaknesses: There are two major concerns with Benson. The first is strength. At less than 220 lb, Benson got pushed around at the collegiate level, which is not a good sign for a player that is going to be a post player at the next level. He needs to add strength and size in his upper-body, and could stand to strengthen his core and lower body as well. That lack of strength not only shows in his back to the basket game, but in his ability to hold position in the post. The other issue with Benson is his grit. He has a reputation for being a bit soft, and while he did average more than 10 boards, much of that was due to his superior length and athleticism. Kenneth Faried, he is not. Benson doesn't appear to have a great feel for the game, but that should come with playing more. Also to keep in mind -- while Benson has had some big games against some good teams, the majority of his collegiate career came against Summit League opponents.

Comparisons:

• Best Case Scenario: Marcin Gortat. May seem like an odd comparison, but if Benson packs on some pounds, he may very well be better than Gortat, who is a solid big man because of solid size, length, and athleticism. Respectable face up games and good tenacity in the paint, but filling out his body is top priority in the league to reach his potential.


• Worst Case Scenario: Mikki Moore. Solid rebounder, decent athlete and big body in the post with great size, but a little frail in build like Keith. Moore was never really much more than a hustle guy in the paint who could hit the open jumper, but it could happen if Benson isn’t up for the high level of competition because of undernourished play in the Summit League. Hassan Whiteside is another comparison I've seen that I like.

Outlook: Benson has a very intriguing skill-set. He can score and he can block shots. His flaws are correctable as well. If basketball is his profession, it shouldn't be that difficult for him to pack on the pounds. That said, toughness is not a trait that can be learned, and if he doesn't improve him ability to battle in the paint, he is not going to have much of an NBA career. Another thing to keep in mind with Benson is that he is a bit of a late bloomer. He was a bit of an under-the-radar recruit, which is how he wound up at Oakland, and he redshirted his first season. In his first year playing, Benson averaged a measley 5.2 ppg and 3.5 rpg. He's not a finished product, and probably has more upside than other players at his position in this draft.

Draft Range: Early to Mid 2nd Round

And the experts say...

• Chad Ford: "Benson is another great athlete who runs the floor well and shows excellent quickness and athletic ability for a big man. He's a very good shot-blocker, rebounder and even has a face-the-basket game out to about 15 feet. ... He lacks strength to play in the post. He can get a bit lazy at times and doesn't always engage every play. He struggled to defend stronger players in the paint."


• Draft Express: "The biggest challenges the Detroit Country Day product faces in legitimizing his NBA stock and maximizing his potential value is his lack of grit and physical strength. He has exceptional size, great fluidity, good mobility, and a terrific wingspan for a potential NBA big, but lacks the type of lower body strength that would give him the ability to prevent stronger NBA big men from backing him down in the post and the polish to get by on his skill-level alone."


• Swish Scout: "Finesse big man with a nice post game, midrange shooting, rebounding, and shot blocking ability. Benson is refined post player with a mature skill set, but could afford to put on a minimum of 10-15 pounds to his frame to improve his upper body strength to handle contact against on stronger post players in the NBA, which will be the major underlying issue in his game upon entering the league."

Highlights:


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Saying Goodbye: Keith Benson

In this world of NBA Draft early entry and one-and-done freshman, it is difficult to become attached to a college star. They simply don't hang around long enough. But when they do, that player becomes the fan favorite. There is nothing like watching a kid develop from a overwhelmed freshman into star as a senior. Those are the players that the fans connect with.

We reached out to some of the blogosphere's best, and over the next couple of weeks we will be running a series of posts saying goodbye to some of the country's best seniors.

Our second installment of "Saying Goodbye" is on Oakland center Keith Benson and is being provided by Corey fromGolden Grizzlies Gameplan

Deep down, part of me hoped that Oakland's magical season and Keith Benson's rise as a mid-major darling were enough to convince someone else to head to the O'rena that evening to see the senior center for the final time. They, too, would see history in the making. Though Benson didn't break a coveted record that night, he did walk off the O'rena court as the most decorated player to ever come through the program. When they introduced him to the crowd before the game, the list of accomplishments they read off seemed to last an hour. Benson, who has a reputation as a bit of a quiet giant, took it all in stride, but one couldn't quite tell if he was embarrassed in the way that someone might be when a long list of their accolades is being read off, or if he was secretly grinning inside as to say "I told you so" to all of his doubters.

Throughout his five years at Oakland, one of which was a redshirt year, it's that mental aspect of Keith Benson, also known as "Kito," that has been his most polarizing trait. Folks often questioned his desire to win because he seemed so nonchalant in his early days, and once he started being talked about for his NBA potential, it seemed every scout or scouting service had something to say about his demeanor, his toughness, or his "motor."

As an impassioned fan, I live and die with every Oakland shot, and I know that Keith Benson has been there to fight for the rebound of every one of those shots if they didn't fall through the net. During his sophomore campaign, he came away with Oakland's go-ahead dunk in the waning seconds of the 2008 Summit League Tournament Championship. He would have gone dancing with his teammates because of that dunk had fate not determined that it was simply North Dakota State's year (thanks, Ben Woodside).

As a junior, Benson had two monster blocks in the final minutes of that same championship setting, which sealed Oakland's second ever trip to the Big Dance. One of those blocks, which will forever live as one of my favorite moments as a Golden Grizzlies fan, came on a play where IUPUI had a lone player in transition, and Benson flat-out denied him. And when he was in the conference tournament's final game again as a senior, he overpowered Oral Roberts' frontline to the tune of 28 points and 14 rebounds. He was active on every play, for all 38 minutes he was in the game.

When it mattered most, Keith Benson was Oakland's hero. He leaves the program as one of the winningest players in program history, and certainly as the most dominating and accomplished. He was never a showboat. Nor was he ever mopey. He was never in trouble off the court or on it. In fact, when he was T'd up earlier this season, a few friends and I wondered if we could ever remember Benson putting himself in a position to get a technical, let alone actually getting one. Benson simply came to play basketball. He made his team better, and in each of the three years that he was a significant contributor, his team made it to the conference tournament championship. In his final two seasons, he led Oakland to the NCAA Tournament. You don't accomplish those things, while never missing a game, without having a motor, some toughness, or a desire to win.

The funny thing about being a mid-major star is that it's not often said player is even celebrated much on his own campus. A few of my undergraduate years overlapped with Benson's, and I'm fairly certain there are probably more die-hard college basketball fans from around the country who know of his dominance and NBA potential than those on Oakland's campus. That's not necessarily a condemnation of OU's fanbase, but for a large commuter university in the suburbs, it's simply how things work.

But beyond potentially being Oakland's first NBA draft pick, Keith Benson will leave another legacy in Rochester. As the most dominant player on a team with back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, he is the face of a program that more people, especially students, want to support. His accomplishments have brought on a new level of national interest in the Oakland program, landing his name and Oakland's in a number of respected publications or telecasts and on even more websites than one could count. More people know about Oakland than did before Kito arrived to campus, and by and large those representations of the university have been very positive.

For his efforts on the basketball court, Keith Benson will likely make a lot of money in the very near future. That's something us die-hard Golden Grizzlies fans are extremely excited about. Beyond that, Benson has helped raise the profile of not just the basketball program, but also the university. As an alumnus of Oakland U, where I had a great academic and social experience, that's a contribution I appreciate even more than wins on the court (well, maybe not). When a guy like Kyrie Irving leaves Duke, it's but a small footnote for a historic program and university. But when a guy like Benson departs from a school like Oakland, it's a very big deal.

The exposure a mid-major receives from such a player is invaluable. And because he's unlikely to get props for that impact, as but one of many Grizzly fans, I thank you, Kito.

Make us proud in the NBA!


More from "Saying Goodbye"
2011:Preston Knowles, Louisville
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Dancing with the Stars: Oakland Grizzlies

Conference: Summit

Record: 25-9, 17-1

Rankings: 69 (Kenpom), 58 (RPI), 58 (Sagarin)

Potential Seed: 12/13

Best Players: Keith Benson (18.0 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 3.6 bpg), Reggie Hamilton (17.4 ppg, 5.4 apg), Will Hudson (12.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg)


Big Wins, Bad Losses: Oakland did knock off Tennessee on the road this season, coming from behind to knock off the Vols 89-82 on the strength of a terrific performance by Larry Wright. That was it for the Grizzlies in terms of impressive wins, as they whiffed in the rest of their games against high-major competition.

Tendencies: Oakland wins because they are terrific on the offensive end of the floor. Of the nine players on their roster that play, only two have an offensive rating below 110, which is why they are the 15th most efficient team in the country on the offensive end of the floor. Keith Benson is a potential first round pick in the paint, but he's far from the only weapon this team has. Hamilton is a terrific creator, Hudson is a blue collar four man that hits the glass, Wright is capable of taking a game over, and they have a couple of shooters that can space the floor. This team is legit.

How They Got There: As I said earlier, Oakland played a number of high-major opponents, but they were only able to breakthrough against Tennessee. In Summit League play, the Grizzlies were incredible, losing one game, when Keith Benson managed just 18 minutes due to foul trouble.

Outlook: Oakland will probably get a fairly good seed for a Summit League team. Depending on how things shake out in the major conference tournaments, the Grizzlies will probably end up somewhere in the 12 or 13 range. I wouldn't want to be the four or five seed forced to play them in the first round.
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Butler's can earn an automatic bid tonight, while Oakland looks to finish a dominating season

Horizon, 10:00 pm, ESPNU: #2 Butler @ #1 Milwaukee

As anyone that reads this website should already be fully aware of, Butler is the reigning national runner-up. But with the loss of Gordon Hayward and Willie Veasley, this team simply is not as good defensively as they were last season. That said, Shelvin Mack and Matt Howard provide Brad Stevens with the best inside-outside combination in the conference. The Bulldogs started league play 6-5, but they rallied late, winning their last seven games to earn the two seed before knocking off Cleveland State in the semifinals to advance and face Milwaukee in the Horizon title game.


Ironically, Milwaukee has beaten Butler twice this season. Since the Bulldogs still have a chance to earn an at-large bid with a loss, that would have to make them the only NCAA Tournament team that ever lost to Milwaukee three times in one season. The fact that the Panthers are playing for a trip to the NCAA Tournament is surprising in and of itself. They started the season 5-7 in non-conference play and then 4-5 in the Horizon, but they won their last nine games in conference play, which was enough to earn them the No. 1 overall seed. Will the Horizon once again be a two-bid league?


Summit, 9:00 pm, ESPN2: #1 Oakland vs. #2 Oral Roberts

Oakland is legit. Keith Benson is an NBA center. Reggie Hamilton is a terrific playmaker on the perimeter. Will Hudson and Larry Wright are both excellent role layers. Tennessee may have collapsed this season, but the fact that the Golden Grizzlies beat the Vols in Nashville was not a fluke. If Oakland makes the NCAA Tournament, they have a real shot at springing an upset in the first round.

They haven't made the tournament yet, however, as Oakland still has to beat a tough Oral Roberts team tonight. The Golden Eagles won their last eight games of the regular season, and have extended that streak to ten games in making the Summit final. Oral Roberts has a balanced attack (four players average double figures) and a star in Dominique Morrison.


Sun Belt, 7:00 pm:, ESPN2: #4W North Texas vs. #5W Arkansas-Little Rock

During the preseason, many believed that North Texas was one of the favorites to win the Sub Belt's auto bid, and while they had a bit of a disappointing season, the Mean Green are right there at the end of the season, with a chance to play their way into an auto-bid. Keep an eye on (the other) Tristan Thompson, an 18.1 ppg scorer. UALR finished the season under .500 in league play, but thanks to a big week from Solomon Bozeman (he's averaging 22.7 ppg in three Sun Belt tourney games), the Trojans rallied to advance to the title game.

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Pass me the rock ... the slightly smaller rock

Sometimes I wonder who is running the college basketball world. I mean, Omar Samhan used to play in Sketchers shoes, Illinois and Wisconsin both wore their home jerseys for a game, no referees showed up for the Appalachian State-Tennessee Tech game, and now Illinois and Oakland played seven minutes of their game using a womens basketball.

I'll say it again.

Two division I basketball teams played eight minutes of a game before realizing they were using a WOMEN'S BASKETBALL.


With just under 12 minutes to play in the first half, with Oakland up 15-6, Illinois' Mike Tisdale realized something was wrong. He notified Bruce Weber who notified officials. With the women’s basketball, Oakland had outscored Illinois, 15-6, and had shot 7-for-16 from the field. Illinois only shot 3-for-13 with the women’s ball.

And in case you care about the actual outcome of the game, Illinois won 74-63

This isn't the result of a just one mental lapse that resulted in the equipment manager packing the wrong uniforms or the assistant AD not scheduling officials.

This is the result of two college basketball teams being completely and utterly stupid.

The official explanation for what happened, according to Paul Klee, is that after a women's game on Dec. 1st, a women's ball was left on the rack.

Still, I just don't understand how that happens when all ten guys on the court have hands the size of honeydew melons. You don't even have to look at the ball to tell the difference in size, even though the ball size is printed right ON THE FRONT of it. That's correct. Women's basketballs all say 28.5 on the front, not to mention the fact that their diameter is an inch less and more than two ounces lighter.

I could take one jump shot during open-gym, and I'd be able to tell the ball was too small. How do ten D-I athletes not notice they are playing with a women's ball?

This seriously boggles my mind.

Seriously, think about it. Two baseball teams wouldn't make it half way through a game before realizing they were using a softball.

I really want to write more about this, but I just realized I am using a women's keyboard.
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Monday's Pregame Beat

So we've already tipped you off to all 20 of the game to watch during the Tip-Off Marathon. But there is more good basketball to be played tonight. Here's what else you need to pay attention too:

7:00 pm: Wofford @ Clemson: Wofford may have lost to Minnesota by 14 on Friday, but don't sleep on this team. They are one of the best mid-majors team in the country, led by forward Noah Dahlmann. Clemson has more athletes that the Terriers, and it will also be interesting as I will be getting my first glimpse at the post-Purnell Tigers.

7:00 pm: Oakland @ Ohio: Two of the best mid-major players in the country will be taking part in this game -- center Keith Benson of Oakland, and point guard DJ Cooper of Ohio.

7:00 pm: William & Mary @ Richmond: Richmond will be in the running for the A-10 regular season title, especially when you consider the trouble that Xavier has been experiencing early on. A huge reason for that is the play of point guard Kevin Anderson, but it should be noted that 6'10" forward Justin Harper was the guy that carried the Spiders in the first game of the season. William & Mary looks like they may be further down than I expected, as the Tribe is coming off of a whooping at the hands of ACC-cellar dweller Virginia.

8:30 pm: East Tennessee State @ Murray State: After beating Vanderbilt in the tournament last season, Murray State got some votes for the preseason top 25. ETSU has consistently been one of the better mid-major programs in the country the last few years.

9:00 pm: Siena @ Minnesota (ESPNU): With Alex Franklin, Edwin Ubiles, and Ronald Moore all graduated and Fran McCaffery now at Iowa, the Saints don't have the same look as they did last season. They do have Ryan Rossiter, however, who ha 27 points and 10 boards in his first game this season. Minnesota is coming off of a nice win over Wofford. Can they make it two in a row?

11:00 pm: Pepperdine @ UCLA (ESPNU): Pepperdine isn't exactly expected to be great, or good, this season, but it will be a chance for a national audience to get a look at Lazeric Jones at the point for the Bruins. Also worth watching -- Keion Bell. Dude has sick hops.

Other Notable games:

• 7:00 pm: Tulane @ No. 21 Georgetown
• 7:00 pm: High Point @ Old Dominion
• 7:30 pm: Fairfield @ Rutgers
  
• 8:00 pm: Valparaiso @ No. 6 Kansas
• 8:30 pm: Pacific vs. Nevada at UCLA
  

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The Real March Madness: Day 8

Everyone loves the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Four straight days jam-packed with 12 hours of do-or-die college hoops is more than most people can handle.

But for junkies like us, the next 13 days are just as good, for it is when the true Madness takes place. Over the course of these two weeks, we whittle some 347 teams down to 30 conference champions (the Ivy doesn't have a tournament). Auto-bids will be won. Bubbles will be burst. Buzzers will be beaten. And most importantly, a 65 team bracket will be made.

Here is what happened on Tuesday:


Game of the Day: North Texas 66, Troy 63

It was only fitting that the Sun Belt title game was a dog fight. North Texas and Troy (no, not that Troy) went back and forth in a tightly contested first half that ended with the Trojans taking a 40-38 lead into the intermission. Troy came out of the half ice cold, missing 12 of their first 13 shots while allowing North Texas to open up a 59-51 lead with just 6:30 left. Troy had a run in them, however. Brandon Hazzard hit a three to cut the lead to two before Yamene Coleman tied it at 61 with 2:32 left in the game. After the teams traded baskets, the Mean Green had the ball in the final minute. Josh White drove middle, pulled up from 12 feet, hung in the air, and knocked down the go ahead basket with 22 seconds left. Hazzard had a shot blocked off of his side and out of bounds, and North Texas went on to win and move on to the NCAA Tournament.

They were good too:

• Seton Hall 109, Providence 106: The Friars scored 59 points in the last 13 minutes as they capitalized on Seton Hall's inability to play defense, protect the ball, and make free throws to come within a missed three at the buzzer of overcoming a 29 point deficit.
• Cincinnati 69, Rutgers 68: An ugly game, Cinci used a 10-0 run sparked by Lance Stephenson's back-to-back and-one's to turn a five point deficit into a five point lead. But Rutgers wouldn't go away, as Mike Rosario hit a tough, leaning three pointer to tie the game with 13 seconds left. At the other end, Lance Stephenson went 1-on-1 against Dane Miller, drawing a foul and hitting a free throw to win the game with 1.8 seconds left.
  

PLAYER OF THE DAY: Derick Nelson, Oakland

Oakland has two stars - Keith Benson and Johnathon Jones. But when a team's defensive is geared towards slowing those two down, you need someone else to step up. Enter Derick Nelson. Nelson went bananas in the Summit League title game last night. He scored 11 straight points as the Grizzlies erased an early five points deficit and finished with 20 in the first half and 36 points on the game. Nelson also added 9 boards.

They were good too

• Jamine Peterson, Providence, and Herb Pope, Seton Hall: Peterson sparked the Friar comeback against Seton Hall, going for 38 points and 16 boards. But it was Pope's performance yesterday that was the cause of the Friar's 29 point deficit, as he finished with 27 points, 11 boards, and 5 dimes.
• Dominique Jones, South Florida: Jones had 20 points, 9 boards, and 4 assists to lead USF to a win over DePaul and into a matchup with Georgetown, who they have beaten already this season.
  

TEAM OF THE DAY: UMass Minutemen

UMass has taken over the role of spoiler in the Atlantic 10 from St. Louis. After putting a huge dent into Rhode Island's tourney hopes by knocking off the Rams on Saturday, UMass beat the 49ers last night 59-56 ending any chance Charlotte had to get into the tournament. Ricky Harris led the way for UMass with 24 points, including four huge free throws down the stretch.

They were good too

• St. John's: The Johnnies did more than just know off UConn and more than just advance to the second round of the Big East Tournament yesterday. The win very well may have saved head coach Norm Robert's job.
  

Welcome to the Tournament

Summit League Tournament
Finals (Sioux Falls, SD)
#1 Oakland 76, #2 IUPUI 64

Sun Belt Conference Tournament
Finals (Hot Springs, AR)
#2 North Texas 66, #1 Troy 63

Horizon League Tournament
Finals (Indianapolis, IN)
#1 Butler 70, #2 Wright State 45


Tuesday's Tournament Results

Atlantic Ten Conference Tournament
First Round (at higher seed)
#5 Rhode Island 87, #12 St. Josephs 76
#7 Dayton 70, #10 George Washington 60
#8 St. Bonaventure 83, #9 Duquesne 71
#11 Massachusetts 59, #6 Charlotte 56

Big East Conference Tournament
Opening Round (New York City, NY)
#9 South Florida 58, #16 DePaul 49
#13 St. Johns 73, #12 Connecticut 51
#10 Seton Hall 109, #15 Providence 106
#11 Cinncinati vs. #14 Rutgers

Big Sky Conference Tournament
Semifinals (Ogden, UT)
#4 Montana 68, #2 Northern Colorado 63
#1 Weber State 69, #6 Portland State 60

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament
Opening Round (Winston-Salem, NC)
#7 Bethune-Cookman 64, #10 Florida A&M 53
#9 North Carolina A&T 65, #8 Howard 55


Wednesday's Slate of Tournament Games

Big East Conference Tournament
First Round (New York City, NY)
12:00PM - ESPN - #8 Georgetown vs. #9 South Florida
2:00PM - ESPN - #5 Marquette vs. #13 St. Johns
7:00PM - ESPN - #7 Notre Dame vs. #10 Seton Hall
9:00PM - ESPN - #6 Louisville vs.

Big Sky Conference Tournament
Finals (Ogden, UT)
10:05PM - ESPN2 - #1 Weber State vs. #4 Montana

Big-12 Conference Tournament
First Round (Kansas City,MO)
11:30AM - #8 Colorado vs. #9 Texas Tech
2:00PM - #5 Missouri vs. #12 Nebraska
6:00PM - #7 Oklahoma State vs. #10 Oklahoma
8:30PM - #6 Texas vs. #11 Iowa State

Big West Conference Tournament
First Round (Anahiem, CA)
6:00PM - #5 CS-Fullerton vs. #8 CS-Northridge
8:30PM - #6 Cal-Poly vs. #7 UC-Irvine

Conference-USA Tournament
First Round (Tulsa, OK)
12:00PM - #7 Houston vs. #10 East Carolina
2:30PM - #6 Southern Mississippi vs. #11 Tulane
6:00PM - #5 Tulsa vs. #12 Rice
8:30PM - #8 Southern Methodist vs. #9 Central Florida

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament
Opening Round/Quarterfinals (Winstom-Salem, NC)
3:00PM - #6 Maryland Eastern Shore vs. #11 Coppin State
7:00PM - #1 Morgan State vs. #9 North Carolina A&T
9:30PM - #2 Delaware State vs. #7 Bethune-Cookman

Moutain West Conference Tournament
First Round (Las Vegas, NV)
5:00PM - #8 Wyoming vs. #9 Air Force

Northeast Conference Tournament
Finals (at higher seed)
7:00PM - #2 Robert Morris at #1 Quinnipiac

Pac-10 Conference Tournament
First Round (Los Angeles, CA)
8:00PM - #8 Oregon vs. #9 Washington State

Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals (Bossier City, LA)
2:30PM - #2 Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. #7 Mississippi Valley State
9:00PM - #1 Jackson State vs. #9 Grambling State

Southland Conference Tournament
First Round (Katy, TX)
12:00PM - #2 Stephen F. Austin vs. #7 UT-Arlington
2:30PM - #3 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi vs. #6 UT-San Antonio
6:00PM - #1 Sam Houston State vs. #8 Nicholls
8:30PM - #4 Southeast Louisiana vs. # 5Texas State

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Conference Tournament Preview: Six teams that can win a game in the NCAA's

Everyone loves the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Four straight days jam-packed with 12 hours of do-or-die college hoops is more than most people can handle.

But for junkies like us, the next 13 days are just as good, for it is when the true Madness takes place. Over the course of these two weeks, we whittle some 347 teams down to 30 conference champions (the Ivy doesn't have a tournament). Auto-bids will be won. Bubbles will be burst. Buzzers will be beaten. And most importantly, a 65 team bracket will be made.

To kick off our preview of the conference tournaments, lets take a look at six teams that aren't going to be getting an at-large berth, but are capable of winning a game in March.


Siena Saints: 24-6, 17-1 MAAC

We've written this before, but Siena reminds me a lot of the Davidson team from 2008 that made that miraculous run to the Elite 8. After winning a game in each of the last two NCAA Tournaments, Siena had quite a bit of expectation coming into this season. But like Davidson in 2008, Siena lost all of their marquee games this season. Their best win? Northeastern, who finished in second place in the CAA. But rest assured, which ever four or five seed draws the Saints in the first round of the NCAA's will know what they are in for.

Ronald Moore doesn't score a lot, but he is probably Siena's MVP.
(photo credit: Albany Times-Union)

There are quite a few things to like about this Siena team. With Ryan Rossiter and Edwin Ubiles, they have the size and athleticism that many low- and mid-major teams lack, while Alex Franklin is your prototypical mid-major post -- undersized, but scrappy and productive. Throw Clarence Jackson in the mix, and they have four guys that are capable of going for 20 on a given night. They have arguably the most underrated point guard in the country in Ronald Moore. But most of all, this is a team that has already experienced wins in the tournament. They aren't going to be fazed by the bright lights of March.


Murray State Racers: 27-4, 17-1 OVC

Murray State rolled through OVC play, winning their first 16 games before losing to preseason favorite Morehead State on the road. Of their 17 league wins, 12 came by double digits. You would be hard-pressed to find a more balanced team in the country than the Racers. Ten players average at least 10 mpg, with no one playing more than 26.5 mpg. In one of the oddest statistics that you will see, Murray State has five players that average between 10.2 and 10.7 ppg. Murray State pressures the ball, forcing turnovers and bad shots as well as any team in the country. On the offensive end of the floor, they take smart shots and hit the offensive glass. Murray State has a number of talented players that can beat you in a variety of ways.


Portland Pilots: 19-9, 10-4 WCC

Portland made a lot of noise early in the season as they beat both Minnesota and UCLA en route to the finals of the 76 Classic back in November. They even managed to work their way into the top 25 for a week. That ranking went by the wayside as the Pilots proceeded to lose three straight and five of seven after beating the Gophers. As a result, the college basketball-watching public essentially forgot about the Pilots. But this is a team built for an upset. They are experienced -- their top seven scorers are all juniors or seniors. Luke Sikma and Robin Smuelders give them size and a couple scoring threats in the paint. They have an experienced and talented point guard in TJ Campbell that can beat you as a scorer or a playmaker. They are fourth in the country at shooting threes, led by the deadly Jared Stohl. It would be an upset for Portland to actually make the tournament, especially when you consider leading scorer Nik Raivio will be out for the WCC tourney, but if they can get there this is a team that may be able to shoot their way into the second round.


Cornell Big Red: 25-4, 11-1 Ivy

Cornell is all but a lock to make the tournament, so long as they can beat either Brown or Yale this weekend. When they do get there, don't expect Cornell to be much more than a 13 or 14 seed. That said, this is a team that can play with anyone in the country. Just ask Kansas, who trailed for most of the second half against Cornell playing in the Phog.

There are not many guys out there that can shoot it better than Ryan Wittman.
(photo credit: Syracuse.com)

There are three guys that make this team go -- point guard Louis Dale, sharp-shooter Ryan Wittman, and aptly named seven-foot center Jeff Foote. The Big Red are not a very athletic team and will struggle to defend against high-majors, but they execute with precision on the offensive end, shoot the heck out of the ball from three, and don't take many bad shots. If they get hot, look out.


Oakland Grizzlies: 23-8, 17-1 Summit

Oakland got smoked early on in the season. Wisconsin, Kansas, Memphis, Michigan State, and Syracuse all had their way with the Grizzlies before the conference regular season started. But since Summit League play began, all Oakland has done is win. It hasn't always been pretty. In fact, of Oakland's 17 wins in the Summit League, only two were blowouts of more than 14 points. This is a team that has been tested during the regular season, and as you know, "winning" is a learned skill. The Grizzlies have as good of a 1-2 punch as you are going to find at this level. 6'11" Keith Benson is an NBA prospect. Benson does not have a great back-to-the-basket game yet, he is capable on the block. But his best attribute is his ability to knock down shots from the perimeter. By forcing an opponent's center to guard him, it opens up space for Johnanthon Jones. Jones' number are a bit down from last season, when he was the nation's leader in assists, but the 5'11" point guard is still a nightmare to keep in front and one of the best playmakers in the country.


Radford Highlanders: 19-11, 13-5 Big South

Radford didn't even win their conference regular season title. With 11 losses on the season and a second place finish in a low-major league, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that the Highlanders are going to be getting a pretty low seed if they do happen to make it to the dance. That said, I still think Radford could spring an upset thanks to their presence in the paint. Artsiom Parakhouski, a 6'11 Belarusian that averages 21 ppg and 13 rpg, is a load to handle no matter what level of basketball you are playing. He's joined up front by two 6'8" forwards in Lazar Trifunovic and Joey Lynch-Flohr, who both also average double figures. Radford is good defensively and excellent on the glass, which you probably would expect with that front line. Combined with a couple of talented wings and point guard Amir Johnson (a 5'9" senior that averaged 13 ppg as a sophomore, but has since taken over role of playmaker), the Highlanders will put a scare into a first round opponent if they can get there.
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Top 10 (plus one) Sleeper Teams

In 2007-2008, Michigan won 10 games in John Beilein's first season at the helm. But last year, the Wolverines improved by 12 wins, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Likewise, LSU was just 13-18 and 6-10 in the weak SEC West two seasons ago. But in Trent Johnson's first season, the Tigers went 27-8 en route to an SEC regular season title and a trip to the second round of the tournament.

Each and every season, there are teams that seemingly come out of nowhere to earn a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Who will be this season's sleepers? (Ed. Note: We are only considering teams not listed here as potential sleepers.)

Boston College: Yes, the Eagles did win 22 games last season, earning a seven seed in the Big Dance. But they also lost Tyrese Rice, their best player and leading scorer. But don't be fooled, the Eagles return a ton of talent. Joe Trapani is a fundamentally sound combo forward that will impress a lot of people this year, and Rakim Sanders is a mega-athlete that has the ability to be an all-league player. Throw Corey Raji and Reggie Jackson in the mix, and the Eagles should have no problem replacing the scoring they lost with Rice. If someone can step up and replace Rice's playmaking ability, BC should make a second consecutive trip to the dance.

Rakim Sanders will be one of the best players in the ACC this year.
(photo credit: Hoops Report)

Seton Hall: The Pirates return their top four scorers from last season, including arguably the best scorer in the Big East in Jeremy Hazell. Robert Mitchell and Eugene Harvery also return on the perimeter, as does big man John Garcia. But the key to the Pirates season will be the addition of three transfers - Keon Lawrence, Herb Pope, and Jamel Jackson. Bobby Gonzalez has a team that will be able to score with anyone in the country, the question is going to be will they be able to defend well enough to win some more games?

Texas A&M: Losing Josh Carter and Chinemolu Elonu will hurt, but the Aggies do return three starters and their best scorer off the bench. Seniors Donald Sloan and Brian Davis seem like they have been around forever, but they are quality experienced players that are primed to lead this team. Add to the mix four top 150 recruits, and Texas A&M has the horses to be a player in the Big XII.

Kansas State: K-State won 22 games last year, but missed out on the dance due to too few quality wins. They return one of the best starting back courts in the conference with Jacob Pullen and the electric Denis Clemente, which is good enough to win quite a few games on their own. Add to that getting a stellar incoming class, including UConn transfer Curtis Kelly and freshman Wally Judge, the Wildcats are going to have a lot of talent on their roster. There will be some inexperience, but this is a team that no one will want to play late in the season.

Denis Clemente will be one of the most dynamic scorers in the country.
(photo credit: Bleacher Report)

Oregon State: The Beavers surprised a lot of people by winning seven games last year in the Pac-10. When seven wins is a surprise, that should tell you about the state of basketball in Corvallis. The best news? Obama's brother-in-law, head coach Craig Robinson, returns seven of his top eight scorers and brings in a good recruiting class, headlined by Roberto Nelson. The Pac-10 may be down this season, but the Beavers have enough talent that they can compete for the third spot behind Cal and Washington. If Nelson can live up to the hype, he will combine with Calvin Haynes and Roeland Schaftenaar to form one of the best inside-outside combos out west.

Niagara: People are going to be talking about Siena coming out of the MAAC, but don't count out the Purple Eagles. This is a team that won 26 games last year (14 in the MAAC, including a split with Siena) and returns four of their five starters from a season ago. With a couple talented freshman joining the fray, Niagara will have the talent to win the league and earn a trip to the NCAA's. Be sure to mark Jan. 9th and Feb. 12th on your calenders - you won't want to miss the Niagara-Siena games this year.

BYU: True, the Cougars lose Lee Cummard, who was one of the best players out west last season. But they also return Jonathan Tavernari and Jimmer Fredette, which will be the best 1-2 in the MWC this season. All told, BYU returns four starters and six of their top seven players. The MWC is consistently one of the best basketball leagues outside of the BCS conferences, and BYU should be the cream of the crop this season.

Jimmer Fredette is a name you are going to hear a lot this season.
(photo credit: Utah Daily Herald)

Oakland: The Golden Grizzlies have two of the keys you need to be dangerous come tourney time - and excellent point guard in Johnathon Jones and a post presence in 6'11" Keith Benson. Losing the perimeter shooting of Erik Kangas is going to hurt, but expect sophomores Drew Maynard and Blake Cushingberry to more than make up for it.

Idaho: Harold Arceneaux. Stephen Curry. All you need in the NCAA Tournament is one unstoppable player and a mid-major has a chance to spring an upset. This year, that player may very well be Idaho's Mac Hopson. As a junior, Hopson averaged a stellar 16.4 ppg, 5.9 apg, and 5.0 rpg. Idaho will need some role players to step up around him to get there, but if the Vandals get into the dance, no coach is going to enjoy game-planning for this kid.

La Salle: Rodney Green could very well be the guy that steals the A-10 player of the year award from away from front runners Jordan Crawford and Chris Wright. Green is a talented scorer and play maker, but he is far from the only player that the Explorers bring back. Kimani Barrett and Ruben Guillandeaux will help carry the back court load, while Yves Mekongo Mbala will pick up the slack inside for the departed Vernon Goodridge. And remember, John Giannini landed Aaric Murray, a 6'10", 250 lb center that most recruitniks believed was top 10 at his position in the class of '09.

Rodney Green may be the best player in the A-10.
(photo credit: Atlantic 10)

Portland: Gonzaga and St.Mary's have had a strangle hold on the top two spots in the West Coast Conference over the past decade. But Eric Reveno brings back a veteran group that many believe could win the WCC this year. The Pilots will be led by 6'5" Nik Raivio, a strong scoring guard that averaged 16.0 ppg and 6.5 rpg. Add into the mix sharp shooter Jared Stohl (45.6% 3's) and point guard TJ Campbell, and Portland has a roster loaded with shooters. If this team gets hot, they will be able to run with just about anyone in the country.

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Bradley Beats Oakland on a 70 Ft Buzzer Beater

The NCAA Tournament had no buzzer beaters in its first weekend.

Sure, the end of the Siena-Ohio State game was great. Demetri Goodson made a fantastic play to end the Gonzaga-Western Kentucky game.

But no buzzer beaters.

Maybe you're watching the wrong tournament.

From the Collegeinsider.com Tournament:

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