2009 - 2010 College Basketball Season Preview: Preseason Tournaments Presser

It's not that easy to keep up with the beginning of the college basketball season.

Why you ask? Well, because the first few weeks consist of nothing but tournament play in random venues across the country with nothing really at stake. Well, although the tournament trophies won't be as sought after as net twine in March, a solid performance in preseason tournaments can lead to a fast start.

Name: Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament
Date: Nov. 9-13 (Campus Sites), Nov. 19-20 (New York City)
Teams: California, UNC, Ohio State, Syracuse, Albany, Alcorn State, Detroit, Florida Intl., James Madison, Murray State, North Carlina Central, Robert Morris

Breakdown: The top four teams (Cal, 'Cuse, UNC and OSU) automatically qualify for the semifinals, but that doesn't mean an underdog can't spring an upset. In fact, after watching the first seven games of the season, Ohio State and Syracuse, the two lower seeded teams, seem to be farther along than Cal and UNC. This tourney features some key players to watch for: Cal's Patrick Christopher, Syracuse's Wesley Johnson, Ohio State's Evan Turner, and UNC's Ed Davis.

BIAH's Pick: Syracuse over Ohio State as Wes Johnson and company slow down Evan Turner.


Name: CBE Classic
Date: Nov. 15-18 (Campus Sites), Nov. 23-24 (Kansas City)
Teams: Iowa, Pittsburgh, Texas, Wichita State, Binghamton, Arkansas-Monticello, Duquesne, Eastern Kentucky, Farleigh Dickinsion, UT-San Antonio, UC-Irvine, Western Carolina

Breakdown: Wichita State, Texas, Pitt, and Iowa all advance to the semifinals in Kansas City as this is another one of the Gazelle Group's "tournaments". Texas should have no problem rolling through this tournament as not one of the other three semi-finalists have anywhere near the size to handle them inside. Don't count out Pitt, however, as Ashton Gibbs, Dante Taylor, and company will surprise some people this year.

BIAH's Pick: Texas. Too much size.


Name: N.I.T Season Tip-Off
Date: Nov. 16-17 (Campus Sites), Nov. 25-26 (New York City)
Teams: Duke, UConn, Arizona State, LSU, TCU, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Colgate, Cal State-Northridge, Elon, Hofstra, Indiana State, Texas State, UW-Milwaukee, Western Kentucky, Yale

Breakdown: I've always been a big fan of the preseason N.I.T. It is one of the few 16 teams tournaments that is actually set up as a tournament. This year's edition is set up for a finals tilt between UConn and Duke, a match up between legendary coaches and programs taking place at the most legendary arena in the world. But the other two hosts - Arizona State and LSU - may not make it to NYC. Specifically, keep an eye on Western Kentucky, with potential Sun Belt POY AJ Slaughter, knocking off the Tigers.

BIAH's Pick: In an excellent battle of styles, UConn knocks off Duke as the Blue Devils have trouble with UConn's athleticism.


Name: Cancun Challenge
Date: Nov. 18-25
Teams: Kentucky, Stanford, Virginia, Cleveland State, Florida A&M, Oral Roberts, Rider, Sam Houston State

Breakdown: For student-athletes, having to play basketball in Cancun must be torture. Hopefully Kentucky has their heads screwed on tightly. If so, they should be able to run through what is essentially a four team tournament - Stanford, Virginia, Cleveland State, and Kentucky. I'm now officially on the Cleveland State bandwagon, and Virginia's Sylvan Landesburg is a scoring machine, but Kentucky is easily the star attraction during this week in paradise.

BIAH's Pick: Take a guess.


Name: Legends Classic
Date: Nov. 18-22 (Campus Sites), Nov. 27-28 (Atlantic City, NJ)
Teams: Florida, Massachussetts, Michigan State, Rutgers, Arkansas-Forth Smith, Cornell, Valparasio, Drexel, Vermont, Toledo, Troy, Georgia Southern

Breakdown: Another Gazelle Group event. Not exactly sure why, but tournament organizers decided that Florida and Michigan State would be the smart match-up in the first round of the four-team play-off. The Gators lost Nick Calathes, but adding Kenny Boynton to a group loaded with potential gives Florida a shot to be good this year. But asking an unproved team to take on Michigan State so early is a tall task. Beware of Rutgers, however, as Mike Rosario and Gregory Echinique look to take this team out of the Big East gutter.

BIAH's Pick: Michigan State is just too good for this group.


Name: Charleston Classic
Date: Nov. 19-22
Teams: Miami, La Salle, Tulane, South Florida, Davidson, Penn State, South Carolina, UNC-Wilmington

Breakdown: Its a shame that the arguably the two best teams in this field - La Salle and South Carolina - will be going head-to-head in the first round. Don't sleep on Miami, who should more than make up for the loss of Jack McClinton with the addition of Malcolm Grant and Durand Scott. South Florida, who will add Ohio State transfer Anthony Crater to a talented duo of Dominique Jones and Gus Gilchrist, and Penn State, led by PG Talor Battle, could also make a run.

BIAH's Pick: South Carolina over Penn State as Battle and Downey both go for 25.


Name: Puerto Rico Tip-Off
Date: Nov. 19-22
Teams: Villanova, Georgia Tech, Dayton, Indiana, Ole Miss, Boston U., Kansas State, George Mason

Breakdown: Puerto Rico will play host to what is the deepest of this year's tournaments. Villanova, Georgia Tech, Dayton, Ole Miss, and K-State could all earn an at-large bid, while few would be surprised George Mason or BU made a run through their respective league tournaments. While Villanova should be considered the favorite, they are going to have their hands full in the second round (if they make it there) as both Dayton and Georgia Tech are huge inside. Speaking of which, Dayton-Ga Tech may be the best first round match-up of all the tournaments. Also watch for a second round match-up of dynamic point guards with Chris Warren and Denis Clemente going toe-to-toe.

BIAH's Pick: I'm going with Dayton knocking off Tech, Nova, and K-State to bring home the chip as Gani Lawal and Derrick Favors average a combined 40 and 20.


Name: Paradise Jam
Date: Nov. 20-23 (US Virgin Islands)
Teams: Boston College, Purdue, Tennessee, Northern Iowa, DePaul, East Carolina, South Dakota State, Saint Joseph's

Breakdown: Purdue heads a solid field in the Virgin Islands. Tennessee, Northern Iowa, and Boston College are all probably headed to the dance as well. Nothing too special in the first rounds here, but potential second round match-ups of Tennessee-No. Iowa and BC-Purdue are quite intriguing. Everyone should be pulling for a Tennessee-Purdue final, as the contrast of styles should be a pleasure to watch with two excellent coaches at the helm.

BIAH's Pick: I think Northern Iowa knocks off Tennessee before falling to Purdue in the finals in a game that barely reaches the 50's.


Name: Maui Invitational
Date: Nov. 23-25
Teams: Chaminade, Gonzaga, Maryland, Arizona, Cincinnati, Wisconsin, Colorado, Vanderbilt

Breakdown: One of the premiere preseason tournaments, the Maui field this year will be just as stacked as ever. The Silver Swords of host school Chaminade will be the fan-favorite and consensus underdog. The guard play in this field is unparalleled - Greivis Vasquez, Matt Bouldin, Lance Stephenson, Nic Wise, and Cory Higgins. The best first round match-up is between Cincinnati and Vanderbilt, who are the two best teams in this field.

BIAH's Pick: I like Cinci winning this thing, taking down Gonzaga in the finals.


Name: 76 Classic
Date: Nov. 26-29 (Anaheim, CA)
Teams: West Virginia, Butler, Clemson, Texas A&M, UCLA, Minnesota, Long Beach State, Portland

Breakdown: Butler is loaded this season, but with West Virginia, Minnesota, and Clemson in this field, this field is wide open. Minnesota and Butler in the first round should be a classic, but Clemson and Texas A&M is also a great match-up. The match-up everyone is hoping for is to see West Virginia and Butler take on each other in the finals, but with the depth of this tournament, don't be surprised to see one of these two teams go down early.

BIAH's Pick: We don't expect that too happen, and our guess is that the Mountaineers take down the Bulldogs in the final as Devin Ebanks gives Gordon Hayward fits with his length.


Name: Old Spice Classic
Date: Nov. 26-29 (Orlando, FL)
Teams: Marquette, Xavier, Michigan, Alabama, Baylor, Creighton, Florida State, Iona

Breakdown: This has to be my favorite tournament out there. The reason? The tourney is played at "the Milk House". There's a good chance that you won't be able to find an arena across the entire country with a better name than "the Milk House". Last season, the Old Spice was the fall's best tournament, but this season the theme is rebuilding. Alabama, Creighton, Baylor, FSU, Xavier, and Marquette all lost important pieces in the off-season. If a favorite has was to be picked, it would have to be Michigan. But with a path that includes Creighton and likely Xavier, the Wolverines will have a difficult road to the title.

BIAH's Pick: With an easy road to the finals, I think Florida State's athleticism and length wins out over Michigan in the finals.
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2009-2010 College Basketball Season Preview

Yes, we know that the season has already started. But seeing as 339 of the 347 DI teams are still in pre-season mode, we don't feel bad.

Here is our complete 2009-2010 season preview.

TEAM PREVIEWS

BIAH Pre-season Top 25

• No. 1 Kansas
  
• No. 2 Kentucky
  
• No. 3 Texas
  
• No. 4 Michigan State
  
• No. 5 Villanova
  
• No. 6 Purdue
  
• No. 7 UNC
  
• No. 8 Butler
  
• No. 9 West Virginia
  
• No. 10 Washington
  
• No. 11 Duke
  
• No. 12 Tennessee
  
• No. 13 Clemson
  
• No. 14 Dayton
  
• No. 15 Oklahoma
  
• No. 16 Ohio State
  
• No. 17 UConn
  
• No. 18 California
  
• No. 19 Michigan
  
• No. 20 Minnesota
  
• No. 21 Louisville
  
• No. 22 Oklahoma State
  
• No. 23 Georgia Tech
  
• No. 24 Illinois
  
• No. 25 Tulsa
  

BEST OF THE REST

• Cincinnati
• Florida
  
• Florida State
• Georgetown
  
• Gonzaga
• Maryland
  
• Memphis
• Mississippi State
• Northern Iowa
  
• Ole Miss
  
• Siena
• South Carolina
• Syracuse
• UCLA
  
• Vanderbilt
• Wake Forest
  
• Washington State
  
• Xavier
  

All-Name Team
Best Dunkers
Breakout players
Freshman
Overlooked Stars
Top 50 Non-Conference Games

Point Guards
Shooting Guards
Small Forwards
Power Forwards
Centers

Top 10 Moments for '08-'09

• 10.
• 9.
• 8.
• 7.
• 6.
• 5.
• 4.
• 3.
• 2.
• 1.
  

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No. 1: 2009-2010 Team Preview: Kansas Jayhawks

2008-2009 Record: 27-8, 14-2 Big XII (1st)

Key Losses: None

Key Returners: Sherron Collins (18.9 ppg, 5.0 apg), Cole Aldrich (14.9 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 2.7 bpg), Tyshawn Taylor 9.7 ppg, 3.0 apg)

Newcomers: Xavier Henry, Jeff Withey, CJ Henry, Thomas Robinson, Elijah Johnson

Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich both may be first team all americans this year.
(photo credit: UMHoops)

Just one year removed from winning a national title and losing his top six players, Bill Self has completely retooled his roster. The Jayhawks are absolutely loaded this season. How loaded? Just take a look at the 12th, 13th, and 14th men on their roster. Travis Releford, a sophomore, was a top 75 recruit out of Kansas, picking the Jayhawks over the likes of Texas, UConn, and North Carolina. Jeff Withey, a redshirt freshman who will be eligible at the end of the 2009 semester after transferring from Arizona, was a top 50 recruit in 2008. CJ Henry was one of the best prospects of the 2005 class before choosing to play baseball in the Yankees organization. Those three guys would start for a number of Big XII schools, and may not even sniff the court for Kansas this year.

The biggest reason for the Jayhawks being the consensus number one team in the country is the inside-outside combination of Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich. Aldrich may be the most dominating presence in the paint this season. At 6'11" with the wingspan of a pterodactyl, he can control the glass and is one of the nation's best shotblockers. Offensively, he didn't show great back to the basket moves, but his jumper (despite being hideous looking) is soft and he is a good finisher at the rim. If he put in the work during the off-season, expect Aldrich to be improved on the block this year. Everyone should know about Collins. Built like a bowling ball, Collins can shoot it, he can drive to score or to pass, and he is a proven clutch performer that isn't afraid to take (and make) a big shot. Collins is a natural leader, which is perfect for a team that is still relatively young. With the amount of talent on this roster, expect Collins' scoring numbers to dip a bit this year as he spreads the ball around more.

The likely starters on the perimeter will be sophomore Tyshawn Taylor and freshman Xavier Henry. Taylor is an excellent role player to stick in the off-guard spot. He has the talent to be a 15 ppg guy, but he is used to filling a role on a loaded roster (his high school team at St. Patrick's had seven D1 players on it). He has the handle and the play-making ability to play a little bit of point guard this year, but where his biggest contribution will be is on the defensive end. His long arms and quick feet will make him a night mare for opposing two guards. Henry might be the missing piece for Self. With a dynamic point guard, size inside, and role players and shooters on the perimeter last year, the one thing this Jayhawk team was missing was a big time scoring talent on the wing. Henry, a strong, 6'6" two-guard, is exactly that. The only concern that Self will have with Henry is his attitude - will he understand that he is not "the man" on this Jayhawk team and defer to Collins and Aldrich?

The rest of the Kansas back court is talented as well. Tyrell Reed, who was the 2008 Kansas high school player of the year, is a shooter first and foremost. A coaches son, he is a smart kid that understands the game and can play a little point if necessary, but where he will be utilized by Self is as a spot-shooter on the perimeter that will help spread the floor. Mario Little is a JuCo transfer that struggled to get time on the court last season. When he did, he produced, averaging 4.7 ppg and 3.2 rpg in just 12 mpg. He is an athletic slasher that is at his best in the open floor. Brady Morningstar is a former walk-on who earned his starting spot last season. A pesky defender and excellent shooter, Morningstar may have cost himself this season with his DUI back in September. He will not return from suspension until the end of the first semester, and by then Self will likely have his rotation figured out.

Of this group, Elijah Johnson probably has the most upside. Similar to a guy like Collins, Johnson is a solidly built, 6'2" point guard. He's explosive, he can get to the rim, he can shoot it from deep, and he makes the game look effortless. His issue is that he has a rep for being lazy, for coasting during games. If Self, or maybe even Collins, can light a fire in this kid, he should be a more than adequate back-up for Collins and may end up being a first round pick down the road.

The most improved players this season may end up being the Morris twins, Markieff and Marcus. Last season, the two showed flashes of potential, but they weren't big or strong enough to handle the rigors of the Big XII. But over the summer, the twins spent quite a bit of time in the weight room, adding strength, mass, and improving their athleticism in the process. Marcus is a bit more developed on the offensive end while Markieff is a better defender at this point in his career. Regardless, expect a big season out of these two as they will provide energy and athleticism for Self, both on the defensive end and on the glass.

The other guy expected to see time in the front court rotation is Thomas Robinson. At 6'9", Robinson is a fantastic athlete that can get out and fill a lane on the break. He isn't the strongest player inside right now, but he can finish above the rim and has shown a decent offensive game around the rim. Similar to Marcus Morris, Robinson can also step out and play the high post. He has a solid 15 foot jumper, and his passing and ball-handling ability will make him a difficult match-up for any opposing post.

Outlook: Kansas had a bit of a tumultuous off-season, as the basketball team's multiple skirmishes with the Jayhawk football team made national headlines. But as much of an issue and as big of an embarrassment as it was for Bill Self, some took it as a good sign. This wasn't one guy on an island fighting 60-some football players. This was the whole team having the back of a couple players with an issue. While there were certainly better ways to solve the issue than to take it to fists, Self has to be happy that he has a team that is close-knit enough that they didn't hesitate to have each other's back. I don't think that it will be much of a distraction at this point. The bigger issue is going to be how Self handles having this much talent on his roster. Will there be enough shots and minutes to go around to keep everyone happy? If he can manage and massage egos, Kansas looks like the clear cut favorite to cut down the nets in Indianapolis.
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No. 2: 2009-2010 Team Preview: Kentucky Wildcats

2008-2009 Record: 22-14, 8-8 SEC East (t-5th)

Key Losses: Jodie Meeks (23.7 ppg)

Key Returners: Patrick Patterson (17.9 ppg, 9.3 rpg), Perry Stevenson (7.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg), Darius Miller (5.3 ppg, 2.0 apg)

Newcomers: John Wall, Eric Bledsoe, DeMarcus Cousins, Daniel Orton, Jon Hood, Darnell Dodson, John Calipari

Kentucky's crop of newcomers will carry the Wildcats.
(photo credit: Photobucket)

At this point, who doesn't know about the turnover the Kentucky program has had in the last eight months. In short, after two disappointing seasons with Billy Gillispie at the helm, Kentucky fired him and signed John Calipari, who brought with him one of the best recruiting classes in recent memory.

In terms of talent, Kentucky is as loaded as any team in the country. We'll start in the back court, where two freshmen, John Wall and Eric Bledsoe, will run the show. Everyone knows about John Wall by now. At 6'4", Wall is as good of an athlete as you are going to find at the point, and he has the skills to be one of the best point guards in the country. He has the handle and the quicks to break down any defender in the country one-on-one. He can elevate and finish above the rim with either hand. He doesn't quite have Ray Allen's jumper yet, but he is a good enough shooter that a defender has to show respect. Despite being a freshman, Wall is being touted as a possible player of the year candidate. The only thing that will hold him back this season is the transition to playing at the college level. He is a perfect fit for Calipari's dribble-drive motion offense, and should be a pleasure to watch this year.

While you may know about John Wall, what you might not know is that Eric Bledsoe is a heckuva player as well. Bledsoe is much less of a scorer than Wall. He is more of a pass first point guard with the ability to get into the lane, draw defenders, and find the open man. Another guy that is perfectly suited to the DDM, expect Bledsoe and Wall to share the back court and terrorize defenses for quite a few minutes this season.

There is not drop off on the rest of UK's back court, either. There are three returners on the wings in senior Ramon Harris and sophomores DeAndre Liggins and Darius Miller. The 6'7" Harris will be a guy that Calipari is going to love having on his team. Not much of a factor on the offensive end, Harris is a blue collar player that will go out and defend, rebound the ball, and make the hustle plays. On a roster full of potential superstars, Harris is going to be the glue guy. Liggins is a bit of a conundrum. He has worlds of potential as he is 6'6" with the skills of a point guard. The problem is that he doesn't understand how to use his talent. Last season, Liggins forced too many bad shots and turned the ball over too much. But his ability to slash and to pass makes him the kind of guy that could be an impact player in the DDM assuming he figures out how to play. Miller is the best of the three. Miller is another guy that is 6'7" but plays almost as a point guard. He is a tremendous athlete that has shown the ability to be a play maker offensively, especially if his handle continues to improve.

The problem for Miller, as well as Harris and Liggins, is that they may never see the floor. That's because Darnell Dodson, a sophomore transfer from Miami-Dade, and Jon Hood, a freshman from Kentucky, also join the team. Dodson and Hood are probably going to be Kentucky's two best perimeter threats this year. Dodson looks to be a better overall offensive player as he has the ability to slash to the rim, but Hood has been very impressive in the early going, knocking down open threes and just playing an all-around tough brand of basketball. Both have looked like major contributors in the early going for Calipari.

Kentucky's front court is basically going to be a four man rotation of big, athletic, talented kids. The best of the group is Patrick Patterson, one of the best big men in the country. Patterson is a load to handle in the paint. His length and athleticism make him a great finisher - and, as was the case with Joey Dorsey and company in '07-'08, Patterson should catch quite a few lobs this season - but his strength when establishing position and holding off defenders is what makes him a dangerous scorer. Patterson averaged 17.9 ppg last season, and while Kentucky will likely be playing a bit of a faster pace under Calipari, Patterson's numbers may take a hit simply because of how much talent their is surrounding him.

Freshman DeMarcus Cousins looks likely to be the other starter up front. Cousins is a big, physical post with an outstanding array of scoring moves. He has quick feet and a strong base on the block, but he also has three point range, is capable of using the dribble to get to the rim, and is a solid passer. Cousins has a bit of a rep for being lazy - not hustling for rebounds, not running the floor - and having an attitude, but if anyone can put a mean streak into a player, it is Coach Cal. Orton may have a better low post game than Cousins. He has a stronger build and is tougher, but he does not have the perimeter game that Cousins does. Like Cousins, Orton is also a good passer, which should lead to some pretty high-low action between the two this year.

Senior Perry Stevenson is the odd man out. Stevenson, despite having a slender frame, has developed into a solid option inside. He is long and athletic, which allows him to be a good shot blocker and rebounder. While he struggles at holding position and he doesn't have much of an offensive game beyond catching-and-finishing, Stevenson's effort and athleticism alone would probably allow him to start for 95% of the teams in the country. Also expect junior Josh Harrellson to see some limited time.

Outlook: The talent is clearly there for the Wildcats. The issue for them is going to be how well they adapt to playing with each other and, for the younger guys, playing at the collegiate level. There are a lot of new faces on this team, including John Calipari, and the DDM is not an easy offensive to learn. If they can get it down quickly against some of their early season opponents, this team could go a long, long way this year. The other problem is going to be perimeter shooting. Jon Hood is really the only guy you would consider a "shooter" on this roster, but guys like Dodson, Miller, Wall, and Cousins are all capable of stepping out and hitting a three. Will there be enough shooting to keep spacing available inside?
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No. 3: 2009-2010 Team Preview: Texas Longhorns

2008-2009 Record: 23-12, 9-7 Big XII (t-4th)

Key Losses: AJ Abrams (16.6 ppg, 40% 3's), Connor Atchley (4.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg)

Key Returners: Damion James (15.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg), Dexter Pittman (10.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg), Gary Johnson (10.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Justin Mason (6.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 4.0 apg)

Newcomers: Avery Bradley, Jordan Hamilton, Shawn Williams, J'Covan Brown

Damion James' versatility will be a major factor in the Longhorn's success this season.

The last three season's, Texas has essentially ridden the coattails of their star. From Kevin Durant, to DJ Augustin, to AJ Abrams, the offense that Rick Barnes has run during that span has not been much more than a variety of clearouts or one-on-one opportunities. Lacking a great go-to scorer this year, Texas is going to look quite a bit different this year.

For starters, they are going to be big. Really big. It will start with 6'10", 290 lb Dexter Pittman. Pittman has the talent to be an absolute monster in this league. Arguably the strongest player in the league, Pittman is very good at establishing position in the post. When he gets the ball within seven feet, Pittman has a soft touch, which combined with his nimble feet (especially when you consider his size) make him an excellent low block scorer. Pittman's problem is, and has always been, his endurance. He was only able to log 17 mpg last season, which is not a good thing when you consider Pittman was able to average double figures in those limited minutes. If he can get into better shape (which he reportedly has been), not only will it help improve his athleticism and explosiveness but it will allow him to spend more time on the court.

Pittman, as good as he can be, won't be the best front court player for the Longhorns. That will be Damion James. For the numbers James has put up throughout his three years in Austin, he really doesn't get the national credit he deserves. The reason is probably because James has never really developed into much more than a role player, albeit an extremely good one. James is as good of an athlete as you are going to find. A strong 6'8", James is one of the better rebounders in the country despite being more of a combo forward than true power forward. Offensively, James is a threat to knock down a three, but he is most effective when putting his athleticism to work; be it cutting to the basket or attacking the offensive glass. Texas does not really have anyone that is going to be a real threat in the half court this season. If James can develop into a guy that can create his own shot, it will make Texas just that much better.

Gary Johnson is another guy that has not really received much attention during his time at Texas. Despite being just 6'6", Johnson is a load to handle inside. He is an athletic and strong kid with energy to burn, but he also added a decent 12-15 foot jumper to his repertoire last season. Johnson will likely see some time as a starter this season.

Not only will Texas be big this season, they will be deep. Three more guys will see time in the front court. Alexis Wangmene, a 6'7" sophomore, will be back after suffering a season ending knee injury last year. Wangmene is long and fairly athletic, but he is still quite raw and needs to develop a better feel for the game. Clint Chapman, a 6'10" junior, showed some signs of being an impact player last season. He is athletic, has a great motor, and plays with a lot of energy, but he needs to improve his decision making. Matt Hill is a 6'10" junior that had a promising start to his career, but has battled injuries and may struggle to really crack the rotation.

The Longhorns are going to be just as deep in the back court, but the key this season is going to be at the point. Last season, Texas had issues as no one ever emerged as a point guard capable of leading the team. Justin Mason was probably their best option last year, but he is not a point guard. He is their best perimeter defender, an excellent rebounder, and a capable play maker from the wing, he just simply never seemed to feel comfortable in the point guard role. Being able to drive and draw a defender is a a far cry from the ability to run a team. Simply put, he is most effective playing off the ball.

This season, there will be four guys competing for minutes at the point. The best of the bunch may be freshman J'Covan Brown. Brown was supposed to join Texas last season, but he had trouble gaining eligibility and ended up sitting the year out. The reason Brown might be the Longhorns best option is that is he dynamic with the ball. He can score and he can create, and on a team that will be lacking offensive explosiveness, that will be a valuable trait. Jai Lucas, a transfer from Florida who will be eligible for the second semester, is probably their second best option. The son of John Lucas and brother of Oklahoma State's John Lucas III, Jai is much less of a pure scorer than Brown is expected to be, but he may be a better true point guard.

Varez Ward and Dogus Balbay were the two guys that handled the point for Texas down the stretch last season. Ward is a solid player - pretty good at setting up the offense - but he is not a great scorer or shooter and may end up being the guy lost in the shuffle. Balbay, on the other hand, can create and get to the rim, where he will finish with reckless abandon, but he is such a bad shooter that teams defended him inside the foul line when he had the ball at the top of the key.

Three freshmen will be thrown into the mix in the back court. Avery Bradley looks to be the best of the three. Bradley has drawn praise from everyone that has seen him play for his efforts on the defensive end. When he and Mason share the back court, opposing guards are going to have a rough go of it. Offensively, he is a terrific athlete that excels when playing in the open floor and slashing to the rim. If he can add a consistent three point shot, forcing defenders to respect his range, he could end up being one of the best players in the country by the time he leaves Texas.

Jordan Hamilton and Shawn Williams are both tall (6'7") and talented wings. Williams is still basically just an athlete, although he has gotten recognition for his perimeter shooting ability. Hamilton, on the other hand, could be a very important piece for Barnes. A gifted scorer, he has the potential to be unstoppable offensively. He is quick, athletic, a good shooter, and has a feel for being able to score. Like I said with Brown, Texas lacks explosiveness offensively, and having a guy like Hamilton that can get his own shot will be valuable.

Outlook: Texas is going to be big, deep, and tough this season, especially on the defensive end. Where they are going to run into issues are on the offensive end. Is someone going to step up and take control of the point guard spot? Will guys like James, Hamilton, and Brown be able to create their own shots in the half court? Who is going to be the proverbial zone-buster - will there be enough perimeter shooting to force teams to come out of a zone? If Barnes can find a suitable answer to those questions, Texas will have the horses to make a run at not just the Big XII title, but a national championship.
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2009-2010 College Basketball Season Preview: Best Dunkers

There aren't too many things that will fire up a crowd more than an electrifying dunk. The momentum of a game can change on just one outlet pass that turns into a thunderous slam. There won't be a shortage of rim-rockers this year, and there are plenty of guys out there with the hops capable of putting on a show for the fans.

With the season tip-off being literally hours away, what better way to get back into the spirit of the game than by going over the biggest high-flyers of the upcoming season.

As we have certified ourselves as the preeminent dunk experts on the intrawebs, here is out list of the top 10 dunkers this season. Don't be surprised if these guys make quite a few Sportscenter top 10's.

Chris "Top Flight" Wright - 6'8" forward, Dayton

I can make this short, because, well, his nickname is "Top Flight". Wright is by far the most talked-about dunker entering this season, and with the high expectations that have been set for Dayton, we could be seeing a lot of the this high-flyer on weekly top tens throughout the year. There are more than a handful of dunks you could pick as being Wright's most memorable. When he dunked over Marquette's Maurice Acker, I was pretty sure he left the atmosphere (seriously, look at where he catches the ball, then think about the fact that he doesn't use a dribble to get to the rim). Not only is Wright one of the best dunkers in the country, he is also one of the most athletic players out there. With Blake Griffin and Gerald Henderson, arguably two of the best dunkers last year, leaving for the NBA, "Top Flight" has become the premiere rim-rocker at the college level.









Trevor Booker - 6'7" forward, Clemson

He's your prototypical power-dunker. The true definition of a rim-rocker. The bulk of his highlight reel dunks come on tip-ins and follow-up slams. Clemson is a widely known as a "push-the-pace" team, and Booker has become an expert at trailing the break and following up on the glass. He's also a beast on the offensive rebounds. His physical strength can get him over, around, or through any defender in his way.









Paul George - 6'8" forward, Fresno State

A lot of people across the country didn't get to see a single Fresno State game on the television last season. They missed out on one of the most entertaining players in the entire country. But George's popularity has soared because of his highlight reel videos across the internet and youtube. He made his case for last season's "Dunk of the Year" with a monstrous one-handed slam from just inside the foul line against St. Marys. Did I mention that he did this in only his second game in his college career? Entering his sophomore season, George will undoubtedly capture the spotlight in the Mountain West Conference. He's long and lanky and is still some-what raw, but he has smooth transitions and can get up off the ground in a hurry.









Stanley "Stix" Robinson - 6'9" forward, UConn

The man known as "Stix" has been soaring across the sky in Storrs for the past two seasons. He had to leave the team to tend to personal issues a year ago, but came back to the team for the second part of last season. Since then, he has been the Huskies resident skywalker. His dunking ability is a combination of great athleticism and entertaining excitement. With the Husky's style of play lending to outside jumpers, "Stix" has a great presence of mind to get to the basket after the shot. However, having said all that, we must remember that he does have a tendency to be on the wrong end of posterizations. See Summers-comma-Durrell or Anderson-comma-Joe for more details.

(first highlight here)









Durrell Summers - 6'4" guard, Michigan State

Mr. Summers makes the list for his ability to be in the right place at the right time along with feeling at home soaring above the rim. A long and athletic wing with a wiry frame, Durrell was MSU’s most dynamic big-play threat last season. His knack for making a big shot, or finishing off a nice transition has made him a star among the East Lansing faithful. He is an integral part of the Spartans transitional play and press-break, usually starring as finishing touch. Spartan fans were acustomed to nightly viewings of Durrell Summers finishing off a Michigan State possesion with a fierce slam. Summers is forever linked to Robinson because of the monumental posterization that Summers laid down during the Final Four.









The best of the rest

Willie Warren - 6'4" guard, Oklahoma





Gerard Anderson - 6'6" forward, Cal State-Fullerton



Will Coleman - 6'9" forward, Memphis





John Wall - 6'4" guard, Kentucky





Carlon Brown - 6'3" guard, Utah





Who did we miss?
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No. 4: 2009-2010 Team Preview: Michigan State Spartans

2008-2009 Record: 31-7, 15-3 Big Ten (1st)

Key Losses: Goran Suton, Travis Walton

Key Returners: Kalin Lucas (14.7 ppg, 4.6 apg), Raymar Morgan (10.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Durrell Summers (8.6 ppg), Delvon Roe (5.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg)

Newcomers: Garrick Sherman, Derrick Nix

Kalin Lucas will lead MSU as Sparty looks to make a return trip to the Final Four.
(photo credit: MLive)

More than any other team in the top five, Michigan State lost some valuable pieces in the off-season. Leader and defensive stalwart Travis Walton graduated, as did versatile big man Goran Suton. But, if it is possible for a team that reached the title game while beating Kansas, Louisville, and UConn along the way, Michigan State was operating at a diminished capacity last season.

Delvon Roe and Raymar Morgan, who are the likely starters in the two forward spots, were both limited last season, Roe due to microfracture surgery on his knee the season before and Morgan because of a bout of walking pneumonia and a broken nose. Roe's knee injury really cost him last season. More than anything, it was due to how weak his knee was. He didn't have the explosiveness he had as a high schooler and he wasn't able to defend as well as he is expected of a Tom Izzo post player. But when healthy, Roe is dangerous. He is athletic, energetic, and really able to get up and down the floor. His post game is still developing, but Roe should add an extra dimension offensively for the Spartans with his mobility and ability to finish above the rim in traffic.

Morgan is a bit of a conundrum. He came into last season hyped as one of the best combo forwards in the country, but he was extremely inconsistent and unreliable as a result of his injuries and illnesses. When Morgan is at 100%, the guy is as strong and aggressive a player as you will see on the wing, to the point that he is essentially a perimeter oriented power forward. Morgan's weakness at this point in his career is his relative lack of ball handling skills and his poor jump shot. With his ability to slash to the basket and score inside, especially on the offensive glass, if he has improved his perimeter game, Morgan will be a terror offensively for Izzo.

Joining those two up front is a solid group in sophomore Draymond Green, junior Tom Herzog, and freshmen Derrick Nix and Garrick Sherman. Green will probably see the most minutes, at least early on. At 6'6", 235 lb, Green isn't going to impress anyone with his offensive ability or his athleticism. But where he will be effective is on the defensive end and on the glass. He is a strong guy with a lot of determination in the paint. Herzog is a seven footer that saw very limited minutes last season, but expect him to get more consistent playing time this year as size off the bench with Idong Ibok's graduation. Nix and Sherman are similar players. Both are big, strong kids (Nix is 6'8", 280 lb, and Sherman is 6'10", 235 lb) and excellent on the glass. Sherman is probably a bit more polished offensively at this point, but given the talent on this roster, it won't be points that Izzo looks for out of these two - it will be toughness inside, defensively and on the glass.

As good as Michigan State's front court is, their back court is probably better. It will be headlined by reigning Big Ten player of the year Kalin Lucas. Lucas is as good of a point guard as you will find. Lucas is capable of playing on the ball or off of it. When he has the ball in his hands, he is able to break down a defender due to his crisp handle and an exceptional stop-and-go ability and quickness changing direction. He is good at finding the open man when he draws an extra defender as well. Perhaps his most dangerous weapon offensively is his jumper, which is good enough that a defender must respect it, making his ability to create all the more dangerous. As the Spartans will look to get out and run this year, Lucas will be counted upon to lead the break and orchestrate the Spartan offensive attack.

Joining Lucas on the perimeter will be a number of talented wings. Junior Durrell Summers is probably the best of the bunch. An exciting athlete, the 6'4" Summers developed an effective three point stroke during his sophomore season. Summers is going to be a terror running a lane on a fast break, but as he continues to expand his offensive arsenal, Summers may be primed for a break out season. Chris Allen and Korie Lucious will also see significant minutes this season. Allen entered East Lansing with a reputation as a big-time scorer and shooter, but has yet to really find a level of consistency playing at this level. Lucious averaged just 3.2 ppg in limited minutes as a freshman, but he showed flashes of being a good scorer. As minutes open up with Travis Walton's graduated, don't be surprised is Lucious turns into a consistent and effective scoring option.

Outlook: As you should be accustomed to by now, Michigan State will once again be the class of the Big Ten. While they do lose some key pieces from last year's team, the Spartans may be better than last year simply due to the natural development of some of their younger guys and playing this season at 100%. While the loss of Walton will hurt them - he was easily one of the most dominant perimeter defenders last year - it will provide increased minutes for more offensive-oriented guys like Chris Allen and Korie Lucious. The loss of Suton's size should be mitigated by the expected emergence of Delvon Roe and the addition of a couple big freshmen. Michigan State should be expected to run a little bit more this season than last, and if Morgan and Summers provide two legitimate scoring threats on the wings, another Big Ten title and Final Four trip should be expected.
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2009-2010 College Basketball Season Preview: Centers

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.
Here are the small forwards.
Here are the power forwards.
These are the centers.

Best Freshman:

• Keith "Tiny" Gallon, Oklahoma
• Alex Oriakhi, UConn
• Daniel Orton, Kentucky
• Aaric Murray, La Salle
  

Best of the Rest:

• Dwayne Collins, Miami
• Mac Kowshal, DePaul
• Chas McFarland, Wake Forest
• Keith Benson, Oakland
• Omar Samhan, St. Mary's
• Magnum Rolle, Louisiana Tech
  

Top 10:

• 10. Terrence Jennings, Louisville: Jennings is an imposing athlete. Standing 6'10", he is strong, fast, and can really jump. Where Jennings could really stand to improve is in his polish. Just a sophomore, Jennings was terrific last season at establishing position, many times because he simply beat his man down the floor. An excellent finisher when his teammates set him up, Jennings did not have much in the way of post moves. His strength allowed him to be effective with a strong drop step over his left shoulder, but beyond that he is still quite raw. But, as I said, Jennings is just a sophomore. A summer under the tutelage of Rick Pitino should have him much improved this season.
  

Terrence Jennings will be counted on for quite a bit of production
as Louisville looks to replace Earl Clark and Terrence Williams.
(photo credit: Hell in the Hall)

• 9. Dexter Pittman, Texas: For Pittman, the issue has never been talent. As a 6'10", big-bodied junior, Pittman averaged double figures while playing just 17 mpg last season. A huge reason for that is his ability to establish post position. Checking in at close to 300 lb, Pittman is able to get deep on the block and hold off defenders. He also has shown a decent array of post moves, as he has a solid touch inside of about seven feet. Blessed with nimble feet and solid mobility, Pittman needs to improve his explosiveness as he is not going to jump over many people. That explosiveness should go hand-in-hand with Pittman getting into shape. He came into Texas at close to 400 lb, and even though he has lost near 100 lb, Pittman still has very limited endurance, hence the limited playing time last season. If he gets into shape, Pittman will be a dominant force inside.
  


• 8. Solomon Alabi, Florida State: Alabi is a guy that oozes potential. Tall, long, and mobile, Alabi was the most effective last season as a defender. But he definitely has shown some potential as an offensive player. He has a nice touch out to about 15 feet, and seems to have a decent feel for the game. As is true with most players of his build (tall and skinny), Alabi will be much more effective as he adds strength, especially in his lower body.
  


• 7. Larry Sanders, VCU: Sanders is as raw of a player as you will find. While he did show some improvement in his post game last season, Sanders still is not much more than a catch-and-finish guy offensively. But as the junior has now been in college for two years, that aspect of his game should continue to improve. Where Sanders impresses is with his length. 6'10" with a 7'7" wingspan, Sanders routinely grabs impressive rebounds from outside of his area and blocks quite a few shots. As he continues to add strength and polish, keep an eye on Sanders throughout the season as he is a major reason new head coach Shaka Smart has a chance to keep VCU on the national radar after the graduation of Eric Maynor.
  

Larry Sanders may have the longest wingspan in college basketball.
(photo credit: VCU Athletics)

• 6. Jerome Jordan, Tulsa: Jordan has been on the NBA draft radar for a few years, but during conference play last season, he really came on strong averaging 17 ppg. The biggest strides Jordan has made is offensively. While his overall polish is fairly lackluster, Jordan developed a decent array of post moves and has a much better recognition of when to use them; essentially, he is starting to develop a feel for the game offensively. Defensively, Jordan's shot blocking numbers were down last season, but some of that can be attributed to players avoiding him inside. Overall, the senior is still quite raw as a prospect, but with his above average athleticism, his 7 foot frame, and his 7'6" wingspan, Jordan should produce big time numbers playing in C-USA.
  


• 5. Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State: Even with Hasheem Thabeet in Storrs last season, Varnado may have been the most dominating interior defender in college basketball. And defensively is where he will make his presence felt again this season. What makes Varnado so effective at blocking shots is that he is disciplined when it comes to biting on pump fakes and he is so quick off the floor, on both his first and second jump. His offensive game still leaves quite a bit to be desired as he is essentially a non-factor outside of dunking the ball. What impressed me the most about Varnado was what happened this off-season. Varnado declared for the draft, knowing that Mississippi State's signing of Renardo Sidney would mean that Varnado would be the Bulldog's 14th scholarship player. So he decided that he would walk-on this year, paying his own way through school.
  


• 4. JaJuan Johnson, Purdue: Johnson has certainly come a long way in the last four years. As a high school junior, Johnson was a 170 lb, 6'10" center that played JV basketball. Today, the 215 lb center (that can reportedly bench press 285 lb) is a potential Big Ten player of the year. Johnson's biggest attribute on the offensive end is his shooting touch. Johnson has excellent range and does not hesitate to shoot when he is left open from 18 feet. While his post game still leaves a bit to be desired, he has developed a fairly reliable turn around and jump hook, which is most effective when he makes quick moves. His under developed frame makes it difficult for him to hold position inside, on both ends of the floor, but you can definitely see why the agile, athletic center is drawing the attention of some NBA scouts.
  


• 3. AJ Ogilvy, Vanderbilt: Ogilvy is very different from the rest of the players on this list as he is not an athlete and doesn't have a ton of potential due to his length and athleticism. Operating one-on-one in the post, Ogilvy is so difficult to stop. He has a variety of effective post moves, and knows how to use pump-fakes and counter-moves to set them up. Where Ogivly struggles offensively is when he is forced to step away from the basket. He doesn't have a great jump shot, and his ability to put the ball on the floor is limited, but improving. While Ogilvy is probably not going to top NBA Draft boards as his athleticism and length is less than ideal, Ogilvy is hands down the best back-to-the-basket center in college basketball.
  


• 2. Ed Davis, UNC: Like Aldrich last season, Davis had limited opportunities as a freshman, playing behind Tyler Hansbrough. But that doesn't mean Davis wasn't productive. In just under 19 mpg, Davis averaged 6.7 ppg and 6.6 rpg. Davis is an excellent athlete with a ton of energy, crashing the offensive glass and defending the rim, especially when coming from the weak side. Davis should see a natural increase in his scoring simply from playing more minutes and being so effective gathering garbage points, but if he can develop a real back to the basket game, Davis could end up being a 15, 10, and 3 block center this year.
  

Cole Aldrich looks to win a second NCAA title.
(photo credit: NY Daily News)

• 1. Cole Aldrich, Kansas: Aldrich improved drastically from his freshman to sophomore season, although much of that was a result of the increased playing he got as a sophomore. Defensively, Aldrich has the ability to be a game changer. At 6'11", he has a ridiculous wingspan and a frame that will be able to hold a lot of strength. As evidenced by his triple-double against a tough Dayton team in the second round of the NCAA Tournament (13 points, 20 boards, 10 blocks), Aldrich is an excellent rebounder with the ability to dominate in the paint. Offensively is where Aldrich could still stand to improve. While he did average 14.9 ppg, much of that was off of lobs, drop-offs, and offensive rebounds. Aldrich is mechanical in the post, and he doesn't have a great touch, but he has shown some signs of developing a solid post game, especially his jump hook. All told, Aldrich is a throwback center, and should once again dominate the Big XII.
  

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Preseason Conference Media/Coaches Polls

It was recently announced that free-agent journalist Troy Machir (aka The Trizzle) will coming on board as a full-time writer for the '09-'10 college basketball season. Talks began as early as last June, but they soon fizzled as B.I.A.H could not meet the monetary demands of the highly-touted free-agent. Machir's new deal is for no less than one 12-pack a week during non-conference play, with an incentive-based deal for a guaranteed 30-pack per week from the beginning of conference play till the end of March Madness. Machir will provide B.I.A.H with a huge boost of hilarity, and is one of the foremost experts on college mascots and nicknames. He was also the mastermind behind B.I.A.H's "All-Name Team". Machir comes from a background in sports radio and new media.

OK, so now that we've gotten the breaking news out of the way, its time to get right in to the good stuff. We are in the home-stretch of the off-season, and teams are making their final adjustments to be ready for opening tip-off less than 14 days away. The pollsters are gearing up as well. Here we have all the preseason coaches/media polls for every major conference. Will these polls look the same by the end of the year? If Kansas can stay off the sauce, then possibly.

These numbers might be a little confusing to some of you. You can thank the conference officials for this, as not all leagues had both media and coaches polls. In fact, some conferences didn't even release any polls. But that's why I'm here, to help you decipher the numbers and select the top teams in each league.

Preseason Conference Coaches/Media Polls

America East Conference Coaches Poll - Boston U. (8), Vermont (1)
Well for one thing, we all knew Binghamton wasn't going to be getting the top spot in this poll. Former Villanova assistant Pat Chambers begins his first year as head coach of the terriers, who are seeking to win their sixth conference title, but their first since 2002.

Atlantic Coast Conference Media Poll - Duke (25), UNC (20)
Duke got more first place votes, but both teams ended up with the same amount of overall points, so the teams share the top spot in the preseason polls. Duke's problem will be their thin backcourt, and for UNC it will be their lack of leadership. This is mainly due to the graduation of the core of last year's championship squad. With Maryland, Wake Forest, and Georgia Tech nipping at their heels, this could be a very interesting season for the ACC.

Atlantic Sun Conference Coaches Poll - Jacksonville (5), Lipscomb (4), Mercer (1)
Jacksonville was the more popular vote by the media, but the coaches were basically split between the Dolphins and the Bison of Lipscomb. I would give my vote to Jacksonville, primarily because Libscomb has never even sniffed the NCAA tournament before, nor have they ever won the A-Sun tournament. They did however, win the regular season in 2006.

Atlantic 10 conference Media Poll - Dayton (33), Xavier (11)
I can't remember the last time Xavier wasn't the preseason favorite in the A-10. But Dayton definitely deserves the honors this year. The Flyers returns ten players who averaged between 8 and 28 minutes of playing time last year. With Chris "Top Flight" Wright and Marcus Johnson leading the way, the Flyers should be poised to have their best season in a long time. But don't sleep on the rest of the A-10. Sean Miller might have departed from Xavier, but the team will still be a force in conference play, and the spiders of Richmond could post their best season in a long, long time.

Big East Conference Coaches Poll - Villanova (10), West Virginia (5), Connecticut (1)
The Big East isn't going to be as ferocious as last year. But with five teams in the AP top 25, the conference will still be one of the country's best in '09-'10. The Wildcats nabbed the top spot due to returning talent, a top five recruiting class, and plenty of depth. Senior leader Scottie Reynolds, Duke transfer Taylor King and highly-touted recruit Mouphtaou Yarou will be the key players for Jay Wright's squad. Three Big East teams made it to the Final Four last year, I'd bet my lunch money it doesn't happen in 2010.

Big Sky Conference Coaches Poll - Weber State (4), Montana (3), Idaho State (1), Portland State (1)
The Coaches and media agree that defending champs Weber State will be the best in the Big Sky. However, they differed in opinion about Portland State, the two-time postseason champions. The coaches voted them fourth, while the media voted them third. Last year, Weber State became the first school in conference history to go 8-0 in conference road games. Now that is an impressive statistic.

Big South Conference Media Poll - Radford (23), UNC-Ashville, Winthrop (1)
Whats interesting here is that Winthrop garnered one vote from the media, but ended up ranking third behind UNC-Ashville, which received no votes from the media. Nonetheless, its Radford who is picked to repeat as conference champs. They are led by last year's conference player of the year, and this year's preseason player of the year, the "Belarussian Beast" Artsiom Parakhouski. The 6'10" senior was in complete beast mode all last year, averaging nearly a double-double per contest. I think he will continue the trend and dominate the paint in the Big South.

Big 10 Conference Media Poll - Michigan State (20), Purdue (4)
No surprise who was pegged no. 1 in the Big Ten. In fact, Sparty's sensational backcourt of Kalin Lucas and Manny Harris was also named to the preseason All-Conference team. Yes, Purdue has Hummell and Kramer, and the Buckeyes have Turner, but I think that is hardly enough for either team to contend with Izzo's squad throughout league play.

Big 12 Conference Coaches Poll - Kansas (11), Texas (1)
Kansas nabbed the top preseason ranking in both the conference and the entire country. Only problem is that a good chunk of their team will be spending most of the fall and winter at Alchoholics Anonymous meetings and/or anger management sessions. The talent is definitely there, but if the Jayhawks can't kick their extracurricular activities to the curb, a stacked Longhorn's squad has the size and depth to run Kansas right off the road.

Big West Conference Media Poll - Long Beach State (17), UC-Santa Clara (6), Pacific (1)
Another case of a team who was ranked in the middle of the pack who still recieved a vote. Pacific is picked to finish fifth, and yet one person in the media still thinks they deserve to finish first. Who ever voted for Pacific probably forgot that Michael Olowakandi doesn't play there anymore. In Any case, the 49er's return four starters from last years squad which finished 15-15, but 10-6 in conference play.

Conference USA - They aren't releasing a coaches poll or a media poll. This summer, the conference announced that the coaches poll for football would be kept in secrecy. Apparently they are doing the same for basketball. It's not like its a big secret. Even with the departure of coach Cal from Memphis, you have to imagine the Tigers are still the preseason favorite as Josh Pastner has done a solid job in keeping the Tigers loaded. Don't forget about Tulsa though, this could be the year the Golden Hurricanes take over as champs of Conference USA. The team's big man, Jerome Jordan was named C-USA preseason player of the year and was named to the Naismith Trophy award watch list.

Colonial Athletic Association - Old Dominion, Northeastern, VCU
The votes from coaches and media were not announced, but Old Dominion was picked by the experts to finish first in the CAA. The Monarchs have advanced to post-season play five years in row, including capturing the inaugural CollegeInsider.com Tournament championship last spring. VCU's Larry Sanders was named preseason player of the year, and the Rams will return four starters from last years squad that went 24-10 under Anthony Grant, who is now the head coach at Alabama.

Great West Conference Media Poll - South Dakota (4), Utah Valley (2)
Up until right now, I had no idea this conference existed. That's probably because this is the first year the conference will include basketball. What is even more confusing is that this league is called the "Great West" yet features teams from Illinois, Texas and New Jersey. Last I checked, Illinois and New Jersey weren't located in the west, let alone the great west. All I can say is that the travel schedule for NJIT is going to be crazy. Just imagine having to play at North Dakota on a Saturday, a home game in New Jersey on Tuesday, then out to Utah on Thursday.

Horizon League Media Poll - Butler (43), Cleveland State (2), Wright State (1)
First off, I want to know what the person was smoking who picked Wright State over Butler. That's like the one guy who didn't vote for Cal Ripken Jr. on the Hall of Fame ballot. (Yes, I'm an Orioles fan. No, don't make fun of me, I already feel bad enough about it.) Nonetheless, this is Butler's league to win. Cleveland State is a good team ( they beat Syracuse and Wake Forest last year) and could possibly sneak up and win the conference tournament, but they don't have the horses to run with Butler during the season. Shelvin Mack, Gordon Hayward and Matt Howard aren't just the best trio in the conference; they could be the best trio in the entire country too.

Ivy League Media Poll - Cornell (16)
No debate necessary here. Cornell grabbed all 16 votes and is the unanimous favorite to win their third consecutive Ivy League title. The Bears return all five starters, three all-league selections, and the Ivy League rookie and defensive player of the year from a year ago. Cornell is definitely doing their part to break the "dumb jock" stereotype. These nerds can ball.

Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Coaches Poll - Siena (9), Niagara, Rider (1)
Should it be a surprise to anyone that Siena was tabbed to win the MAAC this year? The Saints have advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament the past two years and have the talent and depth to do it again this year. Although the team graduated its best player, Kenny Hasbrouck, the Saints do return three players who averaged 10 or more ppg last year.

Mid American Conference Media Poll - Akron (19), Central Michigan (10), Northern Illinois (4),Western Michigan (4) Kent State (3), Eastern Michigan (3), Ball State (3)
How are we suppose to pick a clear cut winner if nearly every team in the conference got a first place vote? Whats even more confusing is that the media also voted on who they thought would win the post-season tournament, and Buffalo, who only received one vote for preseason favorite, received two, second behind Akron who gobbled up 19 votes. Is there something we don't know about Buffalo? I have so many questions about this conference, and I feel none of them can/will be answered. I guess we will just have to watch and see how this one plays out. Go Buffalo!

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Media Poll - Morgan State (20), Hampton (1), Florida A&M (1)
The defending champs at Morgan State were picked to once again sit atop the conference. Last year, the bears finished 23-12, and 13-3 in MEAC play. They also had wins over big name schools like DePaul (79-75), and Maryland (66-65). The Team's head coach Todd Bozeman has received coach-of-the-year honors in back-to-back years. I bet he is looking to grab the hat trick this year.

Missouri Valley Conference Media Poll - Northern Iowa (38), Creighton (1)
The pollsters aren't giving the Blue Jays much of a chance. Creighton has won 20-plus games for a league-record 11-straight seasons and also owns a league record with 12-straight post-season appearances. The reason UNI got the nod might be because they return all five starters from last year. Since The Valley began conducting a pre-season poll (1985-86), there have been four defending regular-season champions, including UNI this year, that have returned all five starters for the next season. The MVC is always a dangerous conference, so I'm not settled on UNI yet. With Creighton, Southern Illinois, Drake and Bradley in the mix, I have to think that there will be an upset in the conference that always seem to produce an upset somewhere along the line.

Mountain West Conference Media Poll - BYU (23), San Diego State (1)
San Diego State had a breakout season last year, advancing to the finals of the N.I.T. But Jimmer Fredette (preseason player of the year) and the BYU Cougars will once again be the best team in the Mountain West. The Cougars are three-time defending league champions and this season should be no different. The media got it right giving the majority of the votes to BYU. Plus Jimmer Fredette has a sweet name.

Northeast Conference Coaches Poll - Mount Saint Marys (9), Long Island (1)
This is the second straight year that the Mountaineers have been picked to finish first in the league. I'm not sure that's a good thing, because last year, Robert Morris finished the season atop the mountain. The Colonials hope to repeat this season despite being ranked third.

Ohio Valley Conference Media Poll - Morehead State (10), Murray State (10)
Ahhhh, a good ole fashioned tie. For one thing, we know these standings wont be like this at the end of the season. I'm a big fan of Morehead State's Kenneth Faried. Maybe its the dreadlocks, or maybe its the fact that this kid is a flat out ball-hawk. Blocks, rebounds, steals, you name it, this kid is going to be near the basketball. Oh, and he was named OVC preseason player of the year. My favorite team in the OVC, the Skyhawks (the best college nickname out there) of Tennessee-Martin, who were the league champs a year ago, drop to the eight spot. This is mainly due to the graduation of Lester Hudson, who averaged 28 points a game last year.

Pac-10 Conference Media Poll - California (25), Washington (7), UCLA (5)
Cal got the top preseason ranking in the Pac-10 but its clear that not all the voters thought that way. I mean, Washington and Cal are ranked back-to-back in the AP preseason top 25, at 13 and 14, and we actually have Washington ranked above Cal in our preseason top 25. So you can clearly tell that this one is still up for debate. Mike Montgomery has done a fabulous job at Cal thus far, and the Pac-10 could be the premier conference in '09-'10. Personally, I'd give the nod to Cal, but that's just because they have Bak Bak, a member of our All-Name team.

Patriot League Media Poll - Holy Cross (13), Lehigh (3)
The Crusaders return four starters from last year's team that fell short in the Patriot League championship game. They are hoping that this year will be different. With defending champs American University losing their core to graduation, Holy Cross should have an easier path to the title. Lehigh has other plans though. They will be led by preseason player of the year Marquis Hall, who was recognized as the League's rookie of the year back in 2007.

Southeastern Conference Media Poll - Kentucky (22), Mississippi State (3), Tennessee (2)
No surprise here. The arrival of coach Cal in Lexington has sparked a revival of big blue nation. But here's my question. Considering his team is made up of mostly new players, and his star recruit will be suspended for one game, why was the voting discrepancy so vast? Don't count out Jarvis Vanardo and the Bulldogs of MSU. If Renardo Sidney stops being the headache that he was this summer, alongside Varnardo and newcomer John Riek, the Bulldogs definitely have my vote. I imagine Kentucky has the potential to be the best in the conference, but there is just too much going on off the court to convince me right now. I want to see how they actually perform on the floor. But I guess that's what the season is for.

Southland Conference Media Poll - Sam Houston State (7), Stephen F. Austin (5), Nicholls (4), Southeastern Louisiana (4)
The Southland really likes to break down their voting. They had separate votes for each division and separated it by coaches and media. Both parties agreed that Sam Houston State will win the west division, while the coaches believe Stephen F. Austin will take the east and media is pulling for Nichols. From what I'm gathered, nobody really has a tight grasp on who the clear cut favorite is. As for me, I'm rooting for Texas-San Antonio. Why? because their mascot is the Roadrunner. Enough said.

Southwestern Athletic Conference - No polls have been released, but from what I understand, this should be an interesting season. The conference will feature eight new head coaches. That has to be the most in the entire country. I'm going with Alabama State, even though Chief Kickingstallionsims has graduated.

Summit League Media Poll - Oakland (34), Oral Roberts, IUPUI (1)
The Grizzles of Oakland dominated preseason media day. The took 34 out of the 35 first place votes, and placed a trio of players on the preseason All-League first team, which is led by preseason player of the year Johnathon Jones. Oakland was also listed as the 14th best mid-major team in the country by media-folk. I'd probably take this Oakland squad over the Oakland Raiders in basketball and football.

Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll - Western Kentucky (12), North Texas (9)
Western Kentucky and North Texas have been picked to win the Sun Belt Conference this season, while Hilltopper senior guard A.J. Slaughter headlines the Preseason All-Conference team. Defending East division and tournament champion WKU received 77 points and 12 first-place votes, emerging as the favorite to repeat in the East and North Texas, for the second-straight season, with its 85 points and nine first place votes is predicted to claim the top spot in the West. I myself am going with Western Kentucky, and this is why.

West Coast Conference Coaches Poll - Gonzaga (6), Portland (2)
I don't think I was born the last time any team not named Gonzaga was tops in the WCC, and they will continue their dominance in the west this season. They wont be as stacked as they were last year, but Matt Bouldin and company are good enough to fend off the also-rans of the WCC. Don't sleep on Portland though, as we've documented, they could be in the running for sleeper-of-the-year.

Western Athletic Conference Coaches Poll - Utah State (8), Nevada (1)
I will always be confused as to why a school in Louisiana (La. Tech) is in a conference with the word "west" in it. I'm no geographer, but I'm pretty sure Louisiana is in the south. But then again, Marquette is in Wisconsin and they are in the Big "East". Anyways, '08 champs Utah State get the nod to repeat this year, and their senior-led backcourt of Jahmar Young and Tai Wesley are the reason why. If I had to choose, I'd go with Nevada, who returns stud forward Luke Babbitt. Don't be surprised if he is named conference PoY and his team is holding the WAC trophy come March.

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