The NCAA gets one right

I rail on the NCAA as much as anyone on the blogosphere, but if I am going to critique them for their mistakes then I must also give credit when credit is due.

And the NCAA's decision to grant Lionel Gomis two extra years of eligibility is the correct one.

The name probably won't be familiar to you, but I guarantee his story will touch you. Gomis, a native of Dakar, Senegal, lost his mother when he was 14 years old. He tried living with his estranged father, but that didn't work out. Without a consistent income, Gomis and his sister were no longer able to afford the private school that they had been attending, so he took two years off from schooling. His basketball ability was enough, however, that he was noticed by the SEEDS -- Sports for Education and Economic Development -- Foundation, which brought him to the States. Due to the language barrier, he ended up having to reclassify one year at Blair Academy.

But thanks to a new NCAA rule that requires players to finish their high school classes in a five-year window, the NCAA ruled that Gomis had a single year of eligibility available to him -- he lost two because of the years he sat out in Senegal and the third because of the year that he reclassified at Blair.

Thankfully, the NCAA reversed their decision today, granting Gomis and his teammate Imoh Silas three years of eligibility; they both have to sit out this season after reclassifying at their american high schools.

"Our compliance staff and basketball coaches have done a great deal of work assembling documents and gathering information that led to Lionel earning back two years of eligibility," director of athletics John D'Argenio said.

"We will continue to seek new information to support a reconsideration of each case."

Sitting out this season won't be easy, but having three years of eligibility is better than having just one.

And at the very least, Gomis and Silas will both get an education. Because that's the goal of college athletics, right?
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2010 NCAA Tournament Bracket Breakdown: Sleepers you have seen

How do you define a sleeper?

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

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

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

Here are the sleepers that you have seen play:


Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: #10 seed, Midwest Region

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


Siena Saints: #13 seed, South Region

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


Gonzaga Bulldogs: #8th seed, West Region

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

Marquette Golden Eagles: #6 seed, East Region

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

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2010 NCAA Tournament Bracket Breakdown: Five teams that may disappoint

Baylor: The Bears have all of a sudden become a trendy pick to make the Final Four. I get it. I like them too. Heck, I'm probably picking this team to get to the Final Four, there's a lot to like about them. Tweety Carter and Lace Dunn form an excellent back court. Ekpe Udoh and Quincy Acy anchor a long and athletic front line. Baylor attacks the offensive glass and they shoot the three well. But what worries me about Baylor is their defense. They block a lot of shots, but they also give up too much penetration, allow too many open shots, and don't force many turnovers. That doesn't mean this team can't make a run, but trendy picks aren't always as good as we build them up to be.


Cornell:

Again, Cornell is a team I like. They are an experienced group that executes beautifully offensively. They have size, shooting, a standout point guard, and a big time scorer. Anyone that saw them hang tough with Kansas at Kansas will agree - Cornell is going to give someone problems this year. But just how much? Remember, we're basing out assumptions of this team based on wins at Alabama and UMass and a close loss to Kansas. This team also lost to Seton Hall at home and to Penn. They are not athletic, and they drew two tough match-ups -- Temple and potentially Wisconsin, both disciplined defensive teams -- in the first two rounds. I'm not saying Cornell can't win a game this season, but let's be realistic with out expectations (Jay Bilas had Cornell in the Elite 8).


Siena:

The Saints seem to almost be a given to win their first round game, almost to the point that they could actually be the favored team. It makes sense. Purdue struggled without Robbie Hummel, and Siena is a talented and balanced team that has been here before. I'm not knocking Siena here, but don't count out Purdue. This is a veteran club that no doubt hears the talk -- Duke got a gift with them in their draw, Siena's going to win the first round. This is a team that plays defense with a lot of toughness and pride and still has E'Twuan Moore and JaJuan Johnson.


Kentucky:

The Wildcats have as much talent as any team in recent memory. But as we all know, this team is full of youthful exuberance that, at times, can manifest itself as immaturity and poor decision making. Now that we know what Kentucky's matchups are, it gets a little more tricky. Texas has people that can defend DeMarcus Cousins (Dexter Pittman) and John Wall (Avery Bradley/Justin Mason). Temple and Wisconsin slow down the game and play a frustrating style. West Virginia will beat up the Wildcats. Its a tough draw for the young Wildcats, and anything short of a Final Four for this team is a disappointment.


Pitt:

I'm not sold on the Panthers. I look at them as a poor mans Wisconsin. They can play defense and hang in a slugfest, but where are they going to get their scoring from? Ashton Gibbs can shoot, but he isn't a point guard. Gilbert Brown can dunk on you, but how consistent is his perimeter shot? Brad Wanamaker and Jermaine Dixon are inconsistent. This team had a great start to Big East play, but faded late. Maybe teams have figured out how to beat the Panthers. I don't see them getting past Xavier.
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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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BracketBusters actually worked, the teams that needed wins just didn't win

BracketBusters weekend did not exactly have the outcome that many believed it would this year.

Instead of mid-major teams playing their way into the tournament, the consensus seems to be that the bubble teams that did participate in the event only hurt their chances of earning an at-large bid. With the outcome of so many games going against the teams on the bubble, the big winners of the weekend were teams like St. Mary's, UConn, and Mississippi State; teams that vaulted up a few spots on the bubble thanks to the losses of the BracketBusting mid-majors.



All this has led to some talk of the BracketBusters system being imperfect.

Its not.

Think about it. For a mid-major playing in BracketBusters, it is really no different than playing one of the best teams from your conference. Is there all that big of a difference between Old Dominion losing at Northern Iowa and losing at a William & Mary or Northeastern? Is Wichita State losing at Utah State any worse than if they lost at Northern Iowa or Illinois State?

If there is not BracketBusters, then where do these mid-majors go to fill that game? Do they schedule a middle-of-the-pack power conference team to play on the road? If you are looking to solidify a resume, would you rather play Butler or Alabama? Northern Iowa or Seton Hall?

More than anything, the bottom line is that the BracketBuster game is just one game. And one game is not going to make or break a team's resume.

Butler beat Siena in a brunch-time tipoff on Saturday.
(photo credit: SBRSports)

There were four teams on the bubble that lost their BracketBusters game - Old Dominion, William & Mary, Siena, and Wichita State. How much of an effect did the loss really have on their at-large chances?

• Old Dominion lost at Northern Iowa on Friday night. Northern Iowa has three losses all season, none of which came at home. They are currently sitting at 15th in the RPI. This is a team that is rated as high as a six seed according to some of the mock brackets that have come out. There is no shame in losing to Northern Iowa on the road, and its a loss that should have a minimal effect on the Monarch's seeding. If they had won, however, it would have been ODU's second best win of the season. As it is, ODU still probably needs to win three games - two regular season, at least one in the CAA tourney - if they want to feel at all comfortable on Selection Sunday. I probably would have said the same thing before the Northern Iowa game.
  
• Siena lost at Butler on Saturday in a situation similar to Old Dominion's. Before this game, Siena was probably not going to get an at-large bid. That's what happens when you don't have a win against anyone in the RPI top 50. If they had pulled off the upset in Hinkle Fieldhouse, it might have been enough to give the Saints some insurance should they get upset in the MAAC Tournament. If Siena really wanted to gripe, they should be mad at themselves for losing at Niagara and blowing their best chance at an at-large bid - going undefeated in league play.
• Wichita State lost at Utah State late on Saturday night. Even with a win, the Shockers were a long shot to make the field thanks to a disappointing few weeks in the MVC, which included a loss to Evansville. The win did help Utah State so long as the Shockers finish the season strong. WSU is currently sitting at 50th in the RPI, giving the Aggies their second top 50 win.
• William & Mary was the only team that really suffered in BracketBusters, as they lost to Iona on the road. The loss may have been the end of the Pride's at-large chances. William & Mary may have the best non-conference resume for mid-major bubble teams - beating Richmond at home and Maryland and Wake Forest on the road. To be honest, I don't feel bad for W&M. They wouldn't be in this predicament if they had beaten UNC-Wilmington at home or James Madison on the road, two teams that are 4-12 in the CAA. Or, and this may be a crazy thought, they could have simply beaten Iona.
  

The bottom line? No matter who you play, you must win games to make the tournament.

Old Dominion, Siena, and Wichita State lost games that would have helped their tournament resume. William & Mary lost a game it should have won. If ODU and Siena had both won, and that win helped the two teams to earn an at-large bid, people would be singing a much different tune about BracketBusters.

So until a situation arises in which a team winning their BracketBusters game has a negative effect on their tournament resume, I think BracketBusters is working just fine.

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Is Ray Floriani a jinx?

Ray Floriani is quickly becoming our resident tempo-free expert.

It just occurred that some of the strange goings on lately can be attributed to a jinx. Namely with yours truly and Rush the Court. Oh, don’t read this wrong. I love my association with RTC and never would have been introduced to this fine address without them.

It simply is what I have written this season.

Every other week a recap is submitted on the Northeast Conference and MAAC. Besides that is an occasional article of general interest. In November, at Coaches Vs. Cancer, one of my features was on the North Carolina cheerleaders. Well, you can see what has transpired in Chapel Hill these past few weeks.

Over thanksgiving another one of my articles was a profile on the UCONN cheer/spirit program. Watching the Huskies effort against Cincinnati on Saturday all I could think is NIT. How about UNC-UCONN at the Garden in an NIT semi. Coula happen.

Friday morning I sent my MAAC wrap-up across several time zones (with no Rick Majerus-like complaints of the cyberspace road trip). At the beginning I noted how the MAAC tournament in March will be 'Siena's to lose'. The reasoning was the undefeated Saints have the experience, talent, coaching and location. That evening Siena went out and lost at Niagara. On seeing the score I thought blame me.

On second thought I did not officiate their game nor did I drive the team bus to Niagara Falls Ontario and not NY by mistake. Neither of those things happened, in other words the game had a great crew and I’m sure Fran McCaffery’s club arrived well rested and prepared to play.

So what happened? Here's quick tempo free look:

Siena: 71 possessions; Off. Efficiency 104; eFG: 45%; OReb: 55%; T/O rate: 21%
Niagara: 68 possessions; Off. Efficiency 128; eFG: 60%; OReb: 50%; T/O rate: 18%

The purple Eagles scored their 87-74 victory because they were almost unconscious from the floor, battled the Saints gamely on the ball and cared for the ball with a great TO RATE. Niagara also moved the ball extremely well with 22 assists on 33 field goals and shot 26 of 40(65%) from two point range. Joe Mihalich’s club all appeared to follow the lead of sophomore forward Kalief Edwards , a 7 PPG scorer, who shot 9 of 14 from the floor for a 20 point night.

So forget the jinx, for Siena as well as UNC and UConn. I did promise the S;ton Hall cheer coach, Jackie, an RTC profile for her squad. Things are busy and that’s on the back burner. Still whenever I cover the Hall at the Rock she never reminds me. Guess she doesn't want to jeopardize the Pirates' post season aspirations.

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Cornell and Siena losing completes Friday's craziness

The Pitt-West Virginia game wasn't the only bit of craziness from Friday night.

You see, Cornell lost their first game of the year in the Ivy League.

By 15 points.

To Penn.

That's right, Penn. The team that came into the game with three wins on the season. The team that fired their coach midway through December. The team that didn't pick up a win in the 2009-2010 season until it was actually 2010.

Penn got 24 points from Sam Eggleston and 22 from Zach Rosen as they used a 15-0 run to open up the second half. Cornell, who looked frustrated throughout most of the game, never was able to recover from that deficit.

This is a huge loss for Cornell. They are now in second place in the Ivy and half to face league leader Princeton on the road today. In fact, five of their last seven games in conference play are on the road, which includes a trip up to Harvard. Big Red fans shouldn't be so sure about their teams chances of making the tournament. As we all know, the Ivy doesn't have a tournament; their auto-bid goes to the regular season champ.

But that isn't all.

Siena had their 15 game winning streak, the longest in the nation, and their perfect 14-0 record in the MAAC snapped on the road at Niagara last night as well. The Purple Eagles forced 16 turnovers, and used a 21-3 run midway through the second half to pull away.

Siena has already clinched their league title, but this loss is significant because now the Saints have no margin for error when it comes to earning a trip to the dance. They whiffed against all their major out of conference opponents, meaning that the only way they had a chance at an at-large bid was if they went unbeaten through the league.

That didn't happen thanks to Niagara.

Which means Siena is probably going to have to win the MAAC tournament if they want to make the big dance.

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Complete list of the Bracket Buster matchups

On Monday, ESPN released their schedule of televised Bracket Buster games, and we got a couple of very good ones. If you are planning on filling out a bracket (which, if you read this site, is probably true multiple times over), than this is a pretty big weekend for you. Upsets are what make the tournament exciting, but not just because everyone loves an underdog story.

We do.

Watching Stephen Curry carry undermanned Davidson to within a shot of the Final Four is the stuff Disney movies legends are made of.

But lets not kid ourselves. The reason upsets are so exciting is because you called that 12 seed beating that 5 seed; or you picked the 4 seed that's about to lose to a 13 seed to make the Elite 8; or you thought that 10 seed would beat that 2 seed. The key to winning a bracket is predicting those upsets. Everyone had UNC making the Final Four last season, but it was the guy that had Arizona in the Sweet 16, Dayton beating West Virginia, and Wisconsin getting past Florida State that probably won money.

So what is so great about Bracket Busters weekend?

It allows the nation a chance to see the team's that will make or break our brackets. Bragging rights will be earned and money will be made by the people that take Saturday to enjoy some of the best mid-major hoops in the country. Hit the jump for the full breakdown of games.


Games with Bubble implications

• 2/19 - 7:00 pm: Old Dominion @ Northern Iowa (ESPN2): Barring a collapse, Northern Iowa is in. They are 20-2 on the season and 10-1 in the MVC, with their only loss coming at a Wichita State, another bubble team with one of the best home courts in the country. Old Dominion, on the other hand, has a little bit of work to do to feel safe. The Monarchs are 17-6 on the season, but they don't exactly have any bad losses. The worst, believe it or not, is probably to Mississippi State. They are 9-2 in the CAA, but those losses came at George Mason and at Northeastern, the two other teams competing for the CAA title. They've knocked off Georgetown and William & Mary on the road as well. The Monarchs still could earn an at-large bid if they lose to UNI with a strong finish in league play, but beating a team on the road with an RPI in the top 20 is always a good thing.


• 2/20 - 11:00 am: Siena @ Butler (ESPNU): I feel like I could just retype the previous preview, exchange Butler with Northern Iowa and Siena with Old Dominion, and nothing would change. Butler should be in. They are 18-4, they have a top 20 RPI, and if the regular season has shown us anything, they shouldn't have a problem cruising to a win in their conference tournament. Siena, on the other hand, whiffed on all of their chances for a signature win. But they have no bad losses (at Temple, at Georgia Tech, at Northern Iowa, only vs. St. John's is questionable), an RPI in the 40's, and a 13 game winning streak. There is a shot that they could still get in even with a loss, and will definitely be the favorites to win the MAAC Tournament, but I'm sure every Saints fan will like to see them pad that resume a little bit.


• 2/20 - 11:59 pm: Wichita State @ Utah State (ESPN2): If you want an idea of how weak the bubble is this season, both the Shockers and the Aggies have a shot at earning an at-large bid this season. The Shockers probably have the better chance at making a run to a bid, simply because they get another shot an Northern Iowa on Wednesday. They probably need to sweep UNI (they beat them in their first meeting at home earlier in the season) and pick up the win at Utah State if they want any serious consideration. The Aggies have a very nice win over BYU, but other than that they have not played much of anyone. The WAC probably doesn't warrant an at-large bid this season, but if anyone is going to get it, it will be USU. To do that, however, the Aggies are probably going to have to win out.
  

Other televised games

• 2/19 - 9:00 pm: William & Mary @ Iona (ESPN2)
  
• 2/20 - 12:00 pm: Morgan State @ Murray State (ESPNU)
• 2/20 - 1:00 pm: Louisiana Tech @ Northeastern (ESPN2)
• 2/20 - 3:00 pm: Nevada @ Missouri State (ESPN2)
• 2/20 - 4:00 pm: Akron @ VCU (ESPNU)
• 2/20 - 8:00 pm: Charleston @ George Mason (ESPN2)
• 2/20 - 8:00 pm: Western Carolina @ Kent State (ESPNU)
  
• 2/20 - 10:00 pm: New Mexico State @ Pacific (ESPNU)

Non-televised games: These games have not had their times or dates announced by the schools as of yet. They will be trickling out over the course of the next week or so.

Tennessee Tech at Appalachian State
Oral Roberts at Austin Peay
Tennessee-Martin at Ball State
California-Davis at Boise State
Valparaiso at Bowling Green
Drexel at Bradley
Southern Illinois-Edwardsville at Cal State Fullerton
Drake at Cal State Northridge
Marist at California-Irvine
Youngstown State at California-Riverside
Fresno State at California-Santa Barbara
James Madison at Canisius
Tennessee State at Central Michigan
Toledo at Cleveland State
Loyola (Ill.) at Creighton
Boston University at Delaware
Eastern Michigan at Detroit
Northern Illinois at Eastern Illinois
Winthrop at Eastern Kentucky
Illinois-Chicago at Evansville
Elon at Gardner-Webb
South Carolina State at Georgia State
Cal Poly at Hawaii
Rider at Hofstra
Long Beach State at Idaho
Morehead State at Illinois State
Presbyterian at Jacksonville State
New Hampshire at Loyola (Md.)
Towson at Manhattan
Southeast Missouri at Miami (Oh.)
San Jose State at Montana State
Wright State at Ohio
North Carolina-Wilmington at Radford
Buffalo at Saint Peter's
Western Michigan at Southern Illinois
Fairfield at Vermont
Indiana State at Wisconsin-Green Bay
Niagara at Wisconsin-Milwaukee
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Siena, the hottest team in the country

Kentucky lost on Tuesday. BYU lost on Wednesday. Siena won on Thursday.

And I care, why?

Let me jump back two years. In the '07-'08 season, the Davidson Wildcats had a talented roster headlined by Stephen Curry, Jason Richards, and Andrew Lovedale. Knowing this, head coach Dave McKillop scheduled a tough non-conference slate, including games against Duke, UNC, and UCLA, among others.

Well, that Davidson team, who many predicted to be a sleeper that year, promptly lost every notable non-conference game that season, kicking off the year with a 4-6 start.

They wouldn't lose again until March 30th, when Richards' three drifted left and the eventual national champion Kansas Jayhawks hung on for a two point win to earn their trip to the Final Four.

Why do I bring this up?

Because the Siena Saints are now the proud owners of the nation's longest winning streak at 12 games.

The same Siena Saints that started the season 6-4 with losses at Temple, at Northern Iowa, at Georgia Tech, and against St. John's in Philly.

Ronald Moore doesn't score much, but he's probably Siena's MVP.
(photo credit: AllOverAlbany)

Like Davidson two years ago, a lot of people turned a blind eye to the Saints after their slow start. The thought process was that if they couldn't beat a team like Temple or Northern Iowa, they weren't going to earn an at-large bid or run through the MAAC. Even if they won the auto-bid, this wasn't a team that would make noise in the dance.

But all of a sudden those losses on the road to UNI and Temple don't look so bad, and neither do the Saints.

Siena is a team built for success. Their front line of 6'9" Ryan Rossiter (13.7 ppg, 10.5 rpg), 6'5" Alex Franklin (15.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg), and 6'6" Edwin Ubiles (15.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg), when he's healthy, can match-up with just about any high-major program. Clarence Jackson has proven to be a more-than-capable replacement for the graduated Kenny Hasbrouck, averaging 13.7 ppg.

But the key to this team's success is going to be Ronald Moore. Moore, like Richards for Davidson, is the point guard that makes this team go. He leads the nation in assists with 8.1 apg (and its not even close, John Wall is second at 6.6) while turning the ball over less than three times per game. And while he is the only starter that hasn't led the Saints in scoring, he is their most valuable player, or so says Niagara coach Joe Mihalich.

"Who makes their team win?" Mihalich told the American Chronicle. "That's what I'm talking about. Not the leading scorer, the leading rebounder, but who's the most critical guy for a team? And Ronald Moore makes his team win more than anybody."

The Saints have balanced scoring. They have size. They have athletes. They have a quality point guard with a proven ability to hit big shots.

Oh, and they have one a game in each of the last two NCAA tournaments.

So why should you care about the Saints?

Because more likely than not, this is a team you are going to want to know about come March Madness.

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Top 10 moments from 2008-2009 - No. 5

College basketball season tips off today, and in an effort to get you guys (and ourselves) excited, we will be counting down the Top 10 moments from last season. Check back with us throughout the day as we will be posting on the hour until 7pm, when UNC and FIU kick off the 2009-2010 college basketball season.

5. Siena puts themselves on the national radar as the tiny school from the MAAC reached the NCAA Tournament's second round for the second straight season.


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2009-2010 Team Preview: Siena Saints

2008-2009 Record: 27-8, 16-2 MAAC (1st)

Key Losses: Kenny Hasbrouck (14.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg)

Key Returners: Edwin Ubiles (15.0 ppg, 4.9 rpg), Alex Franklin (13.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg), Ryan Rossiter (10.0 ppg, 7.9 rpg), Ronald Moore (8.7 ppg, 6.4 apg)

Newcomers: O.D. Anosike, Jonathon Breeden, Davis Martens, Denzel Yard

Senior Edwin Ubiles will lead the Saints in '09-'10.
(photo credit: cityrocks.org)

The Siena men's basketball team is in the midst of the best run in the history of their program. And despite losing guard Kenny Hasbrouck, the 2009 MAAC player of the year, that run should continue during the 2009-2010 season.

The biggest reason for that is small forward Edwin Ubiles. Ubiles, who has made two straight all-MAAC first teams, is probably the best returning player in the conference. Standing 6'6", Ubiles is widely considered the most athletic player in the conference. While his game is centered around his aggressiveness attacking the rim and defending, Ubiles has shown the ability to knock down perimeter shots (although, his 3PT% dropped from 42% to 31% last year).

But Ubiles will be far from the only weapon on the Saints roster. Joining him up front is Alex Franklin and Ryan Rossiter. Franklin is a muscle-bound, 6'5" senior that plays a good three inches taller than he is. An excellent rebounder for his size, Franklin has a knack for being able to score down low against much taller players. Rossiter had an excellent sophomore campaign, averaging 10.0 ppg and 7.9 rpg. He is a good complement to Franklin along the front line as he longer and has a bit more of a face-up game than Franklin.

Two freshmen should also contribute up front. Davis Martens, who will have to sit out the first 12 games of the season after playing with professionals in his native Germany, is a 6'9", 220 lb center with range out to the three point line. He is strong down low, but still needs to develop more of a back to the basket game. O.D. Anosike, a 6'7" freshman from Staten Island, is the only other player on the roster over 6'5".

The Saints back court is where a lot of the question marks come into play. They return tournament hero Ronald Moore, a senior point guard who has started all four years with the Saints. He is not a great scorer (averaging right around 8 ppg for his entire career), but Moore is an excellent creator that doesn't make bad decisions with the ball (6.4 apg, 2.9 a/to ratio).

The issue in the back court is where the Saints will make up the shooting and scoring they lose with Hasbrouck. The first option will probably be junior Clarence Jackson. Jackson has shown flashes of being a big time scorer (he averaged 8.7 ppg in just 14.3 mpg), including a 28 point outburst against St. Joe's. But he is considered a shooter (142 3's attempted in 514 minutes), and has yet to hit even a third of his three point attempts for a season. If he can get more consistent from deep (which should happen with the more consistent minutes he will receive this year), its not a stretch to think that Jackson could become a dangerous weapon on the perimeter.

Sophomores Kyle Downey and Owen Wignot will be the Saints first two options off the bench in their back court. Wignot has the potential to be quite a player at this level. At an athletic 6'5" (he was a high and long jump champ in high school), Wignot also possess range beyond the three point line. But until he adds something to his game besides hops and a jumper, he won't be much more than a role player. Downey is a heady player. He's not going to blow you away with quickness, athleticism, or scoring ability, but he is a smart kid that knows how to play and won't make many mistakes. Also keep an eye on freshman Jonathon Breeden, a quick 5'11" point guard that can makes plays in the lane. With the talent the Saints have along their front line, a point guard that can get in the lane and find people is a valuable asset.

Outlook: You know what you are going to get with this Saints team. They are strong inside and loaded with experience. The biggest question mark is going to be where they replace the scoring ability they lost on the perimeter with Hasbrouck's graduation. If guys like Jackson and Wignot can fill the void, this is a team that could make some more noise in the NCAA Tournament. The Saints won't play as tough of a non-conference schedule this season (Temple, St. Joe's, Northern Iowa, Georgia Tech, St. John's, BracketBusters), so unless they can sweep those six games, this group is probably going to have to win the MAAC to earn a bid. That will be easier said than done, as Niagara will be very good this year as well.

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Saturday Morning Shootaround: Did You Stay Up For The Late Games?

As was true in 2008, Friday's slate of games was much more exciting than Thursday's. Twice, in the first round of games and in the last round of games, we had two nailbiters coming to a finish at the same time, which meant that at every break, commercial, timeout, or free throw, CBS was throwing us back and forth between the two locations.

All in all, I think CBS has done a very good job so far broadcasting the tournament. I haven't been stuck watching many blowouts (the longest they stayed with one was Wake-Cleveland State, for obvious reasons) and I have been able to see the ending of all the exciting games. MMOD has also been great this year - it is very easy to switch between games and the streaming video is damn near flawless. My only word(s) of advice - split screen.

Let's get into yesterday's best:

GAME OF THE DAY: Wisconsin 61, Florida State 59 OT

Once again, the best game of the night was the last game of the night. Wisconsin played a horrid first half, heading into the break down 31-19 after an 11-0 Seminole run to close the half. But the Badgers were not about to roll over. They held Florida State scoreless for almost six minutes to start the second half, going on a 13-0 run to take a 32-31 lead. Toney Douglas, who finished with 26 points but didn't even attempt a shot in the first 11 minutes, would respond. An 11-2 Seminoles run, spurred by 9 points from Douglas, gave FSU a 46-39 lead with 4:38 left, but Wisconsin would score the next seven points, setting up the exciting finish.

Trevon Hughes tied the game at 46 with a three, but at the other end, Douglas drew a foul and hit both shots. Jason Bohannon responded at the other end with a three with two minutes left, giving Wisconsin the 49-48 lead, but Derwin Kitchen got to the rim and scored to give FSU the lead back. That set up one of the strangest plays I have seen in a while. After Marcus Landry missed a three, Kitchen grabbed the board and started racing up court. As he got near midcourt, he jumped and turned to the ref, trying to call a time out. His momentum carried him out of bounds, and the ref ruled that Kitchen was not allowed to call a timeout in the air while going out of bounds. Wisconsin ball. The Badgers would respond, as Bohannon drilled a three from about 26 feet as the shot clock expired, and Wisconsin took a 52-50 lead with under a minute left. Douglas, however, managed to get into the lane and draw a foul, hitting both free throws and forcing overtime.

Trevon Hughes takes the game-winning shot.
(photo credit: Paul Sakuma/AP)

In the OT, Wisconsin would open the scoring with another Bohannon three, but FSU would respond with a 7-1 run, capped by a three from Douglas. The Badgers would cut it to one with 48 seconds left, and after getting a stop, they had the ball, down 59-58 with 14 seconds left. Trevon Hughes got it, isolated on the wing, and drove to the rim, finishing a spin move by banking a shot in off the glass with 2 seconds left, and the foul. He would hit the foul shot, and a Douglas prayer was off the mark.

Bohannon led the Badgers with 16 points, while Hughes added 10. Chris Singleton was the only other Seminole to reach double figures, going for 12 points.

PLAYER OF THE DAY: Ronald Moore, Siena

Moore did not overload the stat sheet Friday night, as he finished with 11 points, 7 boards, 6 assists, and 3 steals. He did not shoot all that well, going just 4-13 from the floor and 2-6 from three. What did he do well? He was 2-2 from three with under 15 seconds on the clock.

Siena advanced to the second round for the second straight year as they knocked off Ohio State 74-72 in 2OT. The biggest reason for the win was not the 20 points from Kenny Hasbrouck, and was not the double-double's posted by Ryan Rossiter and Alex Franklin. It was the big shots that Moore hit. Hasbrouck forced the first OT with a free throw, but Siena found themselves down 65-62 with just 9 seconds left on the clock. But Moore brought the ball up court, and calmly drilled a three in the face of PJ Hill, who was supposed to be fouling, forcing the second OT.

Moore is mobbed by teammates after hitting the go-ahead three.
(photo credit: Skip Peterson/AP)

In the second OT, Moore hit a free throws with 57 seconds left to give the Saints the lead, but Evan Turner scored on a lay-up at the other end to take the lead back for the Buckeyes. On the ensuing Saints possession, Edwin Ubiles drove middle and drew three defenders, kicking the ball out to Moore, who buried another three with 3.9 seconds left on the clock. Turner would miss a 15 foot runner at the buzzer, and the Saints were advancing.

They were good too (there were so many great performances Friday):

• Byron Eaton, Oklahoma State: Eaton had 20 points and 7 assists, including the game winner, as the Cowboys beat Tennessee.
• Sherron Collins, Kansas: Collins had 32 points and 8 assists as the Jayhawks outlasted Ben Woodside and the NDSU Bison.
• Ben Woodside, NDSU: Woodside finished with 37 points in his duel with Collins, likely playing his way into the NBA Draft.
• Lazar Hayward, Marquette: Hayward had 26 points and 8 boards as Marquette came back to beat Utah State.
• DeJuan Blair, Pitt: Blair was the lone bright spot in Pitt's win against ETSU, going for 27 points and 16 boards.
• Evan Turner, Ohio State: Turner finished with 25 points, 9 boards, 8 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks, all team highs, in the Buckeye's loss.
  
• Chris Wright, Dayton: "Top Flyght" had 27 points and 10 boards, earning his moniker with a number of thunderous dunks.
• Nic Wise, Arizona: Wise scored 29 points in the Wildcats "upset" over Utah.
• Taj Gibson, USC: Gibson had 24 points, 6 boards, 5 assists, and 3 blocks, shooting 10-10 from the floor, as USC knocked off BC.

TEAM OF THE DAY: Cleveland State

Is it obvious? The Viking pulled off the biggest upset of the first round by torching the Demon Deacons 84-69. Wake Forest was never really in this game, as CSU raced to a 9-0 lead out of the gates and a 29-12 lead midway through the first half. Wake would get as close as 55-49 with 11 minutes to go in the second half, but an 11-2 run triggered by 5 points from Cedric Jackson and 6 points from Norris Cole all but put the game away.

Jackson and Cole were sensational in the game. Cole had 22 points, but Jackson was the one that took over for about a four minutes stretch in the second half, nailing tough jumpers and getting to the rim whenever he pleased. Jackson finished with 19 points, 7 boards, 8 assists, and 3 steals. The two also linked up on the play of the day (keep in mind that this was off of a sideline out of bounds.



Cleveland State advances to face Arizona in the second round.
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Tuesday's Madness

Seeing as championship week has officially started, we are going to be doing a new daily madness segment. Here, you can find the daily scores and schedules for every conference tournament game that day as Trizzle will once again be taking over BIAH. For a full schedule of the conference tournaments and a listing of the automatic bids, click here.

Four conferences handed out tickets to the big fiesta last night. Although the true performance of the night came from the Miami Heat's Dwayne Wade (48 points, game winner in 2OT, trust me its worth your click) there were plenty of good games on the night.

GAME OF THE DAY: Siena 77, Niagara 70

This game was MUCH closer than the final score indicates. Niagara created a big lead in the first half, connecting on open shots and stifling Siena's potent offense. But the Saints toughened up and chipped away at the lead for the end of the first half and beginning of the second half. For 14 minutes of the second half, the teams traded the lead. But with six minutes left, Senior Kenny Hasbrouck led one final push, and ultimately fended off the Purple Eagles. He also scored 19 in the points (17 in the second half), as Siena punches a ticket to their second straight NCAA tournament.


I gotta show some love for the local news podcasts.


PLAYER OF THE DAY: Larry Sanders, VCU

Eric Maynor led the VCU Rams with 25 points, but Sanders stat sheet was much more robust. He logged CAA Finals records with 20 rebounds and 7 blocks, to go along with his 18 points. I mean, with a name that similar to the beastly Detroit Lions great, you expect these types of numbers. VCU is headed to the tourney with the CAA title after knocking off George Mason. This looks like a team good enough to register at least one win.

TEAM OF THE DAY: Gonzaga Bulldogs

It was almost common knowledge that the Bulldogs were going to win the WCC title, but not by 21 points. They thrashed rivals St. Marys in a game that Patty Mills never really seemed to get it going. You want an idea of how dominant Gonzaga was last night? The literally led all 40 minutes. St. Mary's center Omar Samhan was called for a technical foul for dunking in the lay-up lines, and Matt Bouldin hit a free throw to put the 'Zags ahead. Micah Downs led six 'Zags in double figures with 12 points and 12 rebounds. This team clearly has the talent to win at least 3 games in the NCAA tournament. They have won 19 of 20 games, but the loss came in the form of an 18 point whooping in Seattle to Memphis. Has this team figured out their chemistry issues?

Monday's Results

CHAMPIONSHIPS

Colonial Athletic Final (Richmond, VA)
#1 VCU 71, #2 George Mason 50

MAAC Final (Albany, NY)
#1 Siena 77, #2 Niagara 70

Southern Final (Chattanooga, TN)
#1 Chattanooga 80, #3 Charleston 69

West Coast Final (Las Vegas, NV)
#1 Gonzaga 83, #2 St. Marys 58

Summit Semis (Sioux Falls, SD)
#1 North Dakota St. 79, #5 Southern Utah 67
#3 Oakland 74, #7 South Dakota St. 56

Sun Belt Semis (Campus Sites)
#1 Western Kentucky 77, #4 North Texas 70
#6 Southern Alabama 54, #2 AR-Little Rock 44


Tuesday's Games
Today features the opening round of the Big East tournament. This is the first year that all 16 teams get to participate in the tournament, and at least three teams playing today - Georgetown, Notre Dame, and Cincinnati - have to run the table a la Gerry McNamara and Syracuse in 2006, in order to make it to the Big Dance. The Don Juan of College Hoops, Rob Dauster, will, of course, be blogging live from all the games at MSG. BET Day 1 Live Blog

CHAMPIONSHIPS

Horizon Final (Indianapolis, IN)
- 9:00PM: #1 Butler vs. #3 Cleveland St.

Summit Final (Sioux Falls, SD)
- 8:00PM: #1 North Dakota St. vs. #3 Oakland

Sun Belt Final (Hot Springs, AR)
- 10:00PM: #1 Western Kentucky vs. #6 Southern Alabama

Big East First Round (New York City, NY)
- NOON: #9 Cincinnati vs. #16 DePaul
- 2:00PM: #12 Georgetown vs. #13 St. Johns
- 7:00PM: #10 Notre Dame vs. #15 Rutgers
- 9:00PM: #11 Seton Hall vs. #14 South Florida

Big Sky Semis (Ogden, UT)
- 7:00PM: #2 Portland St. vs. #6 Montana St.
- 9:30PM: #1 Weber St. vs. #4 Idaho St.

MEAC First Round (Winston-Salem, NC)
- 6:30PM: #10 Delaware St. vs. #7 Hampton
- 9:00PM: #8 Florida A&M vs. # 9 Howard

Western Athletic Opening Round (Reno, NV)
- 10:30PM: #8 Hawaii vs. # 9 Fresno St.

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Teams to Watch

We at BIAH have already talked about some of the mid-majors expected to garner national attention this year - St. Mary's, Davidson, and Kent State to name a few. But there are a lot other schools out there beyond the scope of the national media that are talented and could ruin quite a few brackets come tournament time. Here's a quick look at six of those schools.

Vermont: The Catamounts had a bit of a down year in '07-'08, going just 16-15 and 9-7 in America East play, but they return their top two players, 2nd team all-AE Mike Trimboli and AE player of the year Marqus Blakely. Trimboli, a senior, is a crafty play maker at the point that can score (17.6 ppg) and create shots for teammates (4.5 apg). He has really improved his decision making, as he has cut his turnovers and upped his FG% every year in Burlington, but he still has a habit of forcing shots and trying to make tough passes. Marqus Blakely (if you read this blog, you may remember him) is one of the most fun players in the country to watch. He is only 6'5", but he posted averages of 11.0 rpg and 2.7 bpg to go along with his 19.0 ppg. He is able to get by playing inside because of his incredible athleticism and length. The inside-outside combo of Trimboli and Blakely is one of the most underrated in the country. UVM adds Michigan State transfers Maurice Joseph, a 6'4" wing that should give the Cats three all-conference caliber players. The Cats also have a solid core of role players, including forwards Evan Fjeld and Colin McIntosh, that should make them the immediate favorite in the AE.

RPI Boosters:

• 11/15 - George Mason
• 11/21 - @Maryland
• 12/6 - @Pitt
• 12/27-12/30 - Rainbow classic in Hawaii
  

Siena: Last season, the Saints went 23-11 and earned the MAAC's automatic bid to the NCAA tourney where they exploded onto the national scene with an 83-62 drubbing of Vanderbilt (yeah, they beat Stanford, but they were without Brook Lopez and it was early in the season, so no one cared). This year's Saints team will be very similar, as they lose just two guys from their rotation and return their top four scorers. The best player on the Saints is Kenny Hasbrouck, the MAAC's preseason player of the year. Hasbrouck was the second leading scorer for Siena, averaging 16.1 ppg, but was also one of their best perimeter defenders. Hasbrouck, a senior, is so effective because he can score in a variety of ways, best exemplified by the 30 points he put on Vandy - he was 9-14 from the floor, 2-5 from deep, and 10-10 from the line. Edwin Ubiles was the Saints leading scorer last season at 17.1 ppg. He is a tremendous athlete with a quick first step, and at 6'6" he is long enough to get his shot off against basically anyone in the MAAC. PG Ronald Moore (8.6 ppg, 5.3 apg) and PF Alex Franklin (14.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg) are both excellent players, and the Saints have a deep bench and a great supporting cast. This team has already proved they can beat the big boys (Stanford, Vandy), so expect more of the same this season.

RPI Boosters:

• 11/27-11/30 - Old Spice Classic: 1st game against Tennessee
• 12/17 - @Pitt
• 1/6 - @Kansas
• 2/21 - BracketBusters

American: American gave Tennessee all it could handle in the first round of last year's NCAA's, and bring back basically the same team. The strength of the Eagles will once again be their back court, with senior Garrison Carr leading the way. Carr is one of the best shooters in the country (hitting 135-299 3's, good for a ridiculous 45%), and once he gets it going he is tough to slow down. Senior PG Derrick Mercer also returns. Mercer, who is just 5'9", is very good at getting into the lane and finding shooters around him, but he can also score (he averaged 12.4 ppg last year, second on the team). Bryce Simon and Brian Gilmore, two senior forwards, are both solid contributors as well. This is the year for the Eagles if they want to win a couple games in the tournament, as their four best players are all seniors.

RPI Boosters:

• 11/14 - @Oklahoma
• 12/6 - @Georgetown
• 12/17 - @George Washington
• 12/22 - @Maryland

Wright State: The Raiders play in the Horizon League, better known as "that conference Butler is in", but WSU is just a year removed from the conference regular season and tournament crowns. While they had a bit of a down year last season (is 21-10 really a down year?), the Raiders look like they are ready to return to form. Wright State hung their hat on their defensive prowess last season, holding opponent's to just 60.4 ppg. They return their entire starting back court with juniors Vaughn Duggins (1st team all HL, 13.8 ppg) and Todd Brown (12.7 ppg) and fifth year point guard Will Graham (5.9 ppg, 3.5 apg). Inside, Ronnie Thomas, Cooper Lande, and Gavin Horne should battle it out for the two starting spots, and newcomers Scott Grote (a transfer from Duquense) and Cory Cooperwood (a two-time JuCo all-american) should provide the Raiders with quality depth.

RPI Boosters:

• 12/14 - @Wake Forest
• 12/20-12/22 - San Juan shootout - Oral Roberts, South Florida, Murray State
• 2/21 - BracketBusters

Murray State: While the Racers have not yet returned to level they were at when they dominated the Ohio Valley conference in the '90's (9 titles in 10 years), they will put a very talented squad on the court this year. While they lose leading scorer Bruce Carter, Murray State still returns four starters. Danero Thomas is a 6'4" forward who is the Racers best perimeter defender, but he can also put the ball in the basket (12.4 ppg). 6'2" SG Tyler Holloway is the best shooter on the team, hitting at a 46% clip last season. Kevin Thomas, a senior point guard, is a quality play maker that doesn't turn the ball over (136 assists vs. 69 turnovers). Tony Easley, a 6'9" forward, is the Racers best inside presence, posting 9.3 ppg and 5.2 rpg averages. Also added to the mix are Florida's 4A-5A-6A player of the year Ivan Iska, a 6'7", 230 lb beast, and Isaac Miles, a sophomore who transferred from Creighton after a freshman season that landed him on the all-rookie team.

RPI Boosters:

• 12/13 - @Missouri
• 12/20-12/22 - @San Juan shootout - South Florida, Oral Roberts, and Wright State
• 2/21 - BracketBusters

Cornell: Cornell is coming off of one of their best seasons in history, going 22-6 and 14-0 in the Ivy. The Big Red return four starters from that team, including their top three scorers. Louis Dale, the reigning Ivy League player of the year, is one of the all around points guards you will see this year. He averaged 13.8 ppg, 5.0 apg, and 4.4 rpg while racking up 34 steals. Ryan Wittman, a 1st team all-Ivy pick in '07-'08, is a 6'6" forward with a deadly jump shot that. Adam Gore, another potential all-league player, tore his ACL in September, and is expected back sometime in January. Alex Tyler is a good forward, and 7'0" Jeff Foote should slide into the starting line-up and provide the Big Red with some good size inside.

RPI Boosters:

• 11/17 - St. John's in preseason NIT
• 11/30 - @Indiana
• 12/3 - @Syracuse
• 12/6 - @Minnesota
• 12/20 - LaSalle
• 12/22 - @St. Joe's

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