2009-2010 College Basketball Season Preview: Point Guards

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.

Best Freshman:

• John Wall, Kentucky
• Abdul Gaddy, Washington
• Maalik Wayns, Villanova

Best of the Rest:

• Charles Jenkins, Hofstra
• Chris Warren, Ole Miss
• Courtney Fortson, Arkansas
• Jimmer Fredette, BYU
• Trevon Hughes, Wisconsin
• Mac Hobson, Idaho
• Corey Fisher, Villanova

Top 10:

• 10. Talor Battle, Penn State: Talor Battle was the major reason that Penn State was relevant down the stretch last season. Battle's offensive game is based on his ability to shoot, where he is excellent, especially in the clutch as he knocked down a couple game-winners last year. When he puts the ball on the floor, Battle is good at getting into the paint and is a solid finisher in the lane despite lacking outstanding explosiveness. If he improves his ability to create for his teammates (he averaged 5.0 apg last season, but a lot of that was simply the result of moving the ball around the perimeter), this ranking may end up being too low by the end of the year.


• 9. Shelvin Mack, Butler: Mack is one of the more underrated point guards in the country. Playing on a team with Gordon Hayward and Matt Howard in the Horizon League will do that to you. But don't doubt his ability. Mack is an effective scorer, capable of carrying the Bulldogs if Hayward and/or Howard happen to be struggling. A big, strong kid (6'3", 215 lb), Mack is an excellent defender and a good rebounder from the guard spot. He needs to improve on his quickness getting into the lane, as well as add some consistency to his perimeter jumper, but the bottom-line is that Mack is the guy that runs the shows for Butler, who most believe will be a top 10 or 15 team this season.

Shelvin Mack is one of the most underrated point guards in the country.
(photo credit: Horizon League)

• 8. Nic Wise, Arizona: Arizona caught a huge break when Nic Wise decided to return to school. With all the turnover in the Arizona program, Wise declared for the 2009 NBA Draft and expected to end up playing overseas this season. But when Sean Miller was able to sign five top 100 recruits this summer, Wise decided that the Wildcats just might have enough talent to be a factor this year. Arizona is going to go as far as Wise carries them. After slimming down before his junior season, Wise had an exceptional junior campaign, at times carrying a Wildcat team with two NBA draft picks on it. While he is capable of creating opportunities for others, Wise is going to be asked to shoulder much more of a scoring load this year as the young Wildcats adjust to the college game.


• 7. Scottie Reynolds, Villanova: Reynolds doesn't get the national credit that he deserves. He's not a guy that is going to be a great pro, as his athletic limitations will limit his effectiveness at the next level. But at the collegiate level, his smarts allow him to get by. Reynolds is a deadly three-point shooter, but when he is playing his best, he is putting the ball on the floor and going to the rim. Despite an underwhelming vertical, he finishes well in the paint because he is able to use his body to shield his man. He has had his play-making duties reduced with the emergence on Corey Fisher along side him. Where Reynolds is at his best in the clutch. He is the guy that Jay Wright is going to go to when he needs a basket.


• 6. Jerome Randle, Cal: I've said it before and I'll say it again - Jerome Randle might be my favorite player in the country to watch. The catalyst for Cal's resurgence last season, Randle should once again carry the team that was picked to win the Pac-10. Randle is the perfect fit for the spread system that Mike Montgomery is running in Berkeley. Very solid with the ball in his hands, Randle is adept at beating his man off the dribble thanks to his fantastic ability to change speeds. But you cannot lay off of him as he is one of the best shooters in the country. If Cal is going to win the Pac-10, it will be Randle's play that will carry them there.

Despite his small stature, Jerome Randle is one of the best scorers in the country.
(photo credit: DailyCal)

• 5. Devan Downey, South Carolina: Downey is small, even for a point guard, but he is unbelievably quick. Downey can flat out score. He is at his best when he is attacking the rim, where an effective floater and an impressive ability to create space through contact with the defender allows him to finish inside. Downey tends to settle for threes, but when he is on he can hit four or five in a row from deep. Downey is a high-risk, high-reward kind of guy. He takes a lot of tough shots, but makes a good number of them. He tries quite a few risky passes and gambles for steals on the defensive end, but again, he is successful enough of the time that it isn't a huge issue. Expect big numbers once again from Downey, as his speed and ability to create in the open court will be instrumental in Darrin Horn's uptempo, pressuring style of play.


• 4. Kemba Walker, UConn: Walker came into UConn as a much-herald recruit out of NYC's Rice High, but was stifled a bit last season by UConn's slower tempo and the presence of all-american AJ Price. With UConn being a smaller, more athletic team this season, expect Jim Calhoun to play a much faster pace with Walker being the catalyst. He is an absolute menace on the defensive end as he may be the quickest player in the country. Offensively, he is near impossible to stay in front of. Despite his small size, Walker can finish at the rim, but he is at his best when he collapses a defense and finds an open man - be it a big at the rim or a shooter on the perimeter. While his jump shot could still use some improvement, Walker is going to be the motor that makes the Huskies engine run this season.


• 3. Greivis Vasquez, Maryland: Simply put, Vasquez will be the most exciting player in the ACC this season. While his time in College Park has been maddeningly inconsistent, Vasquez improved his decision making last year. He didn't force as many tough shots and more often settled for the smart, easy pass as opposed to the highlight reel play. When he is playing well, Vasquez can completely take a game over, even against a much more talented team (see his triple-double is MD's win over UNC last year). He still will need to focus on making the smart play this year, but in terms of pure talent, Vasquez is good enough to carry an undermanned Terp team to a second straight NCAA tournament.


• 2. Kalin Lucas, Michigan State: Lucas is the perfect fit for the team-oriented offense that Tom Izzo likes to run. He can play on the ball or off, and is excellent at picking his spots to attack. Not the quickest player in the world, he is excellent at changing speed and direction when putting the ball on the floor. Lucas is going to be instrumental for the Spartans this season as Izzo is going to look to play a quicker pace than he did last year. Lucas is valuable for a talented MSU team because he can run a team and keep an offense moving without dominating the ball, but if the shot clock is winding down, he is more than capable of creating a good shot, either for himself or for a teammate.

Sherron Collins and Kalin Lucas are the two best point guards in the country.
(photo credit: daylife)

• 1. Sherron Collins, Kansas: Collins is an easy pick atop these rankings. First team pre-season all-american and the star player and leader for the consensus best team in the country. Collins is a great scorer at this level. He is strong enough to get to the rim on just about anyone, but he has three-point range well beyond NBA line. What makes Collins so good is he really developed into a point guard last season. While he had to shoulder a bulk of the scoring load for a young Jayhawk team, he was a good decision maker. He knew when he should pass and he knew when he needed to shoot. But the biggest difference between Collins and anyone on this list is his ability to make a big play when you really need it. If you are down one with 15 seconds left on the clock, is there anyone in the country you would rather have with the ball in their hands?

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2009-2010 College Basketball Season Preview: Overlooked Stars

Utah State's Gary Wilkinson averaged 17 and 7 for the Aggies as they won 30 games last season and came a couple possessions away from upsetting Marquette in the NCAA tourney's first round.

Had you ever heard of him?

Dionte Christmas was one of the most explosive scorers in the country as a senior, averaging 19.5 ppg in leading Temple to the Big Dance with a season's worth of performance's like this.

But was he on anyone's all-american lists?

Craig Brackins averaged close to 20 and 10 for Iowa State as a sophomore last season, but I'm willing to bet the first time you will see Brackins play is when the Cyclones play Duke on ESPN2 in January.

Every season, the college basketball landscape is littered with talented kids that, for whatever reason, never make it into the national consciousness. Who will be this season's Overlooked Stars?

Evan Turner, Ohio State: I debated whether or not to put Turner on this list, as most pundits will have Turner somewhere on their all-american teams. I eventually decided to keep him here because, well, to the general public, Turner is still a fresh face. For a guy as talented as Turner is, it is a bit puzzling that he hasn't garnered more of a profile. The reason for that may be because Turner doesn't have a stand out skill. You hear about a guy like Stanley Robinson because he can dunk; Jarvis Varnado because he can blocks shots; Sherron Collins because he is a big time scorer, especially in the clutch. Turner's game is based on versatility - a 6'7" forward that averaged 17.3 ppg and 7.1 rpg, Turner will be playing a lot of minutes as Ohio State point guard this year. Turner is arguably the best all-around player in the country, a guy that deserves a spot as a first-team all-american. It is time he gets that much credit.

Despite being a 6'7" forward, Turner will see time running the point this year.
(photo credit: Times Union blog)

Terrico White, Mississippi: Ole Miss could not catch a break last season. They lost three players (two starters including star point guard Chris Warren) to season-ending knee injuries and head coach Andy Kennedy was arrested after hurling racial slurs, and then fists, at a cab driver in Cincinnati. But if those players had not gotten injured, Kennedy may have never found out what he had in Terrico White. White, who was the SEC's freshman of the year before an impressive performance for the U-19 national team, is a terrific athlete who managed to average 13.7 ppg while playing out of position as the Rebels lead guard. With Warren back in the mix, White's scoring numbers may not make a huge jump, but with an off-season's worth of work, expect White to be one of the best all-around two guards in the SEC.

Matt Bouldin, Gonzaga: Last season, Matt Bouldin played on arguably the most talented Gonzaga team to date. With guys like Jeremy Pargo, Josh Heytvelt, and Austin Daye on the roster, Bouldin played more of a complimentary role, as he is a heady player and a good passer. With those three guys gone, this will be Bouldin's team. Offensively, Bouldin is one of the best all-around wings that you will find. His game is based off of his ability to put the ball on the floor. He has a good mid-range game, is a smart passer that significantly cut down his turnovers last season, and has developed a dead-eye three point shot. While Gonzaga maybe a bit down compared to the last few seasons, don't be surprised if Bouldin posts impressive numbers as the Zags make another NCAA Tournament.

Devan Downey, South Carolina: There are few players in the country that can post the numbers that Downey does - 19.8 ppg, 4.5 apg, 2.9 spg. While some of that can be attributed to the faster pace that Darrin Horn's Gamecocks play, it become all the more impressive when you consider Downey is all of 5'9". Downey is a high-risk, high-reward kid. He takes a lot of shots, and a lot of tough shots at that (he often settles for tough threes or forces shots in the lane), but when he is hitting them, he is one of the most fun players in the country to watch. Any given night, Downey can explode for 30.

Kenneth Faried, Morehead State: Faried was one of the best rebounders in the country last year. Despite playing at a low-major, Faried's length, athleticism, and incredible motor has him on NBA Draft boards after averaging 13.9 ppg and 13.0 rpg as a sophomore. Faried's offensive game could use quite a bit of development still, but expect another season chock full of double-doubles. Faried will get quite a test early in the season, as the Eagles open the season at Rupp Arena against Kentucky.

Kenneth Faried made a believer out of Rick Pitino in last year's first round.
(photo credit: MSU Eagles nation)

Matt Howard, Gordon Hayward, and Shelvin Mack, Butler: Sure, you may know that Butler is all over pre-season top 10 lists. But can you name their three stars? Howard is a 6'8" horse on the block that is as good in the low post as anyone in the country. Hayward is a lights out shooter, but as a 6'8" wing with less-than-ideal athleticism, he thrives on a wide variety of shot-fakes, jab steps, and crafty dribble moves. Mack is a tough point guard that defends and rebounds well, but also showed the ability to be a big time scorer for the Bulldogs. These three guys should be household names by February.

Talor Battle, Penn State: While the Nittany Lions did not quite make it back to the NCAA Tournament last season, they were actually relevant down the stretch for the first time in recent memory. A huge reason for that was the play of Talor Battle. Battle's game is based around his perimeter shot, and while he could stand to improve its consistency, one thing that you can't question is his ability to stick shots in the clutch. Battle runs the point for Penn State, and if he can improve on his passing ability, especially once he gets into the lane and draws an extra defender or two, he could be the best point guard in the conference not named Kalin Lucas.

Jeff Taylor, Vanderbilt: Taylor was one of the best freshman you never heard about last year. Averaging over 12 points and 6 boards per, Taylor projects as more of a small forward despite playing a lot of minutes as Vandy's four last season. Taylor is one of the most athletic players in the SEC, and will provide the Commodores with defense and energy. But with an off-season to work on developing his offensive game, Taylor could turn into one of the best all-around forwards in the SEC. That potential is a big reason Vandy is picked as a sleeper in a deep SEC East.

Rodney Green, La Salle: A lot of people are predicting La Salle to make some noise in the A-10, and Green is a big reason why. Green is one of the best scorer's in the conference, averaging 17.8 ppg while using his size and strength to get to the rim and draw contact. Green stuffs the stat sheet - 5.0 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1.9 spg, but also 3.3 t/o's, which is a bigger problem when you consider Green spent some time running the point. If he can cut down on some of those turnovers, La Salle could make a tournament run which would put Green in the conversation as the best player in Philly.

Malcolm Delaney, Virginia Tech: Delaney has been putting up solid numbers for a few years for Seth Greenburg, but he was overshadowed by talents like AD Vassallo and Deron Washington. As a junior, this Virginia Tech team will be Delaney's to lead. Delaney has talent to burn. At 6'3", he has excellent size and athleticism to be a combo guard. His quick first step allows him to beat just about any defender off the dribble in either direction. He also has an excellent three-point stroke, although he tends to force up contested shots from deep. Virginia Tech is down this season, but Delaney is talented enough to carry this team to the dance.

Malcolm Delaney will put up impressive numbers as the star of the Hokies this year.
(photo credit: flickr)

Jerome Randle, Cal: Most people are going to say that Washington has the best guards on the West Coast. While that may be true, there is a pretty good player down in Berkeley that should make some reconsider. Randle (who might be my favorite player in the country) is generously listed at 5'9", but he is blessed with outstanding speed and quickness. It is ability to change speeds, however, that makes him so effective. Difficult to stay in front of as you have to respect his jumper out to 25 feet, Randle is excellent at getting into the lane and finding an open man or finishing amongst the trees.

Others to watch:

• Trevor Booker, Clemson
  
• Aubrey Coleman, Houston
• James Florence, Mercer
  
• Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall
• Troy Jackson, Alcorn State
  

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Wednesday N.I.T. Turmoil

The first night of N.I.T. Quarterfinals are in the books, and for the second straight night, we had some legit action on the hardwood. Both #1 seeds fell, leaving Kentucky as the lone SEC team in post-season play. Two of the Trizzle's favorite non-Georgetown teams got wins tonight to send them into the semis of the N.I.T. (Contrary to popular belief, it is not called the Not Invited Tournament.)

- #2 Penn St. 71, #1 Florida 62 - If you know anything about the Trizzle, you know that I have been high on Penn St. all year. Jamelle Cornley, PSU's go-to big man had a superb game scoring a game-high 23 points and grabbing 12 boards as well. Oh yeah, he hurt his shoulder late in the first half, and played almost the entire second half to secure the Nittany Lions victory. Talor Battle had 13 points, but shot a dismal 8-21 from the field. Gator's senior Walter Hodge had only 7 points in his last collegiate game ever. May I remind you that Walter Hodge was the only Florida player to stay after the back-to-back Championships. The end of the game was a surreal moment. Florida was down by 9, but the student section in Gainsville was still cheering "WALTER HODGE.....WALTER HODGE" That right there is why I love college basketball.

- #3 Baylor 74, #1 Auburn 72 - I have been a big fan of Baylor for the past two years. The improvement their program has made in the past 36 months is second to none in the entire country.. Their roster has been way to good this year to fall to a streaking SEC team in Auburn. LaceDarius Dunn led the Bears with 19 points and was just one rebound shy of the double-double. Curtis Jerrels had a spectacular game, hitting the go-ahead basket as well as posting 16 points and 8 assists. To round out the night for Baylor was big man Kevin Rogers, who got the double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds. For Auburn, senior Quantez Robinson ended his college career on a down note, being shut down for the majority of the game, as he ended with just 4 points.

Tonight's Games

- 7:00PM: #4 Kentucky @ #2 Notre Dame
- 9:00PM: #2 St. Mary's @ #1 San Diego St. Continue reading...

Wednesday NIT Turmoil

I know we are all preparing ourselves for lunchtime on Thursday, but that's no reason not to check out some pretty descent basketball action before hand. Like I was told hundreds of times in school, and ignored every time, don't judge a book by its cover. Yea, it might be the NIT, but since at least 15 of the teams in the NCAA tournament only got there because of automatic bids, so you have to figure that the majority of the teams ranked #30-50 in the country will be invited to this second tier tourney.

If your a college basketball fan, you like seeing competitive basketball, and I honestly believe there are a handful of matchups in the N.I.T that will feature competitive basketball. I mean, I would much rather watch Georgetown vs. Baylor rather than Missouri vs. Cornell, even if there isn't a lot at stake.


Tuesday's Results


- #6 Davidson 70, #3 South Carolina 63 - Davidson might not be the Cinderella anymore, but that didn't stop Steph Curry from dropping 30+ points for the 15th time this season.


- #2 Penn St. 77, #7 George Mason 73- Maybe it's because I currently reside in Pennsylvania (not for long), but I have been all about Penn State this year. They were just a Mississippi State loss away from making the big dance, and Talor Battle is proving to everyone that he is a play maker. He hit another buzzer-beater, this time to send it in to overtime. In OT, Battle scored 8 of PSU's 10 points and sealed the deal for the Nittany Lions.


- #2 Notre Dame 70, #7 UAB 64 - the bar scene in South Bend must have been out of control last night, because there was literally nobody at this game. But again it was St. Patrick's Day, and it's Notre Dame we are talking about here. UAB should have been a tournament team this year, but by the time conference play started they were down to 6 scholarship players. Luke Harangody dominated against a much smaller Blazers squad. But let me reiterate something I have been saying for the past two years: Robert Vaden is a stud. He had 16 points before halftime, but still, UAB's season is over.


- #4 Kentucky 70, #5 UNLV 60 - Rupp Arena was already being used (High School State Playoffs) so UK played in their practice gym and although they struggled early, they put together a solid second half to get the win. But more importantly, the win silenced any talk of firing coach Billy Gillespie. Wait, this is the NIT? Yea, BCG is screwed.

Other N.I.T. Results

- #3 New Mexico 83, #6 Nebraska 71
- #1 San Diego St. 65, #8 Weber St. 49
- #7 Washington St. 57, #2 St. Mary's 68
- #6 Rhode Island 68, #3 Niagara 62


Wednesday's Games
- 7:00PM: #7 Duquesne @ #2 Virginia Tech
- 7:00PM: #4 Miami (FL) @ #5 Providence - ESPN2
- 8:00PM: #8 Tennessee-Martin @ #1 Auburn
- 8:00PM: #8 Bowling Green @ #1 Creighton
- 8:00PM: #8 Jacksonville @ #1 Florida
- 9:00PM: #6 Georgetown @ #3 Baylor - 9 pm - ESPN2
- 8:00PM: #5 Illinois State @ #4 Kansas State
- 9:00PM: #5 Northwestern @ #4 Tulsa - 9 pm Continue reading...

Friday Morning Shootaround: Penn State is dancing

Did somebody actually lock up a bid? Penn State did, thanks to this shot from Talor Battle:



With 3:52 left in the game, PSU was down 63-55 to the Illini, only to score the last nine points of the game to all but lock up a bid. Talor Battle finished with 15 points, while Stanley Pringle led the Nittany Lions with 20. Demetri McCamey had 16 and 7 assists for the Illini.

The rest of Thursday's games:

• Xavier 76, Dayton 59: Despite a little pre-game jawing, Xavier came out and jumped all over the Flyers en route to their third straight A-10 title. Dante Jackson scored Xavier's first 11 points as the pulled out to an early 11-2 lead and remained in control for the rest of the contest. BJ Raymond led X with 14.
  
• Stanford 74, Arizona State 64: The Cardinal got 20 points from Landry Fields as they got revenge for a 30 point whooping they took from the Sun Devils earlier in the season. ASU has now dropped three in a row.
• Tennessee 86, South Carolina 70: The Vols got 22 points and 7 assists from Tyler Smith and 20 points and 9 boards from JP Prince as they clinched at least a share of the SEC East crown (they win out right if they can beat Alabama on Sunday). The Vols may not be a lock to go dancing anymore, and should probably avoid losing to Georgia over the weekend.
• Villanova 97, Providence 80: Scottie Reynolds scored 23 points as the Wildcats locked up the #4 seed and thus a double bye in the Big East Tournament. Providence, who will be the 8 seed and will likely play the Cincinnati-DePaul winner, probably wants to beat Cinci (for the third time this season) in the second round if they want to avoid the NIT.
• Cal 83, Arizona 77: Jerome Randle had a career high 28 points, Theo Robertson had a career-high 24, and the Cal Bears put a serious damper on Arizona's tournament hopes. The Wildcats have now lost four in a row after their seven game winning streak.
• UCLA 79, Oregon State 54: Josh Shipp had 27 as the Bruins kept their title hopes alive.
  

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