It is no secret the B.I.A.H is the world wide leader in collegiate slam-dunk knowledge and information. This is a tried truth. I can show you the numbers if you don't believe us.
Our meteoric rise in the college hoops world has provided us with some great opportunities. One of these opportunities includes being able to provide color commentary for Delaware State Hornets games on Sports Radio 1290AM The Ticket in Wilmington, DE. The play-by-play voice of the Hornets, Scott Klatzkin, is a rising star in the radio broadcasting world who you will be hearing more of in the future.
If the name sounds familiar, it's because @ScottieK3 has contributed here at B.I.A.H on an assortment of entertaining posts and videos.
Two weeks ago on Saturday, February 11th, the Hornets traveled to Baltimore, MD to take on the Coppin State Eagles in a key MEAC game. I was lucky enough to get the call and provide expert analysis on the pivotal MEAC showdown for the radio station.
After a deflating eight-game losing streak, The Hornets had won five-straight, and were rapidly ascending the conference standings. After getting down by as many as 12 points to Coppin State, DSU put together a furious second half rally.
They applied a suffocating full-court press, and started double-teaming players at mid-court. With under two minutes to play, superstar freshman Tahj Tate (@1ahj1ate) decided it was about time to leave his mark on the game, and in doing so, provided B.I.A.H with some much needed radio publicity.
Cue the video Scottie.
Here's the thing. The game was already in it's wildest sequence.
Scottie and I were still trying to catch up to what was going on. There had been two steals, a fast break, and another big dunk from Tate. When Tahj stole the outlet pass and decided to drop the hammer, I was speechless. Literally speechless. Scottie was so elated that he reached over with his right arm and almost knocked me out of my chair.
But the audio speaks for itself.
I spent the entire 45-minute drive back to Washington, D.C. giddy in anticipation of this video's release. And as always, both Scottie and Tahj delivered.
But was it as good as these?
John Henson, North Carolina vs. Virginia, 2/25
C.J. Aiken, St. Joseph's vs. Temple, 2/25
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Anthony Davis, Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt, 2/25
Dion Waiters, Syracuse vs. UConn, 2/25
Weekend Recap, 2/18
Tony Wroten Jr./Aziz N'Diaye, Washington vs. Arizona, 2/18
Chris Czerapowicz, Davidson vs. Wichita State, 2/18
Darius Miller, Kentucky vs. Ole Miss, 2/18
Darrion Pellom, Hampton vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore 2/15 (DotY Candidate)
Trency Jackson, Northwest Florida vs. Chipola, 2/15
Kwame Alexander, Cal St. San Bernadino, 2/12
Weekend Recap, 2/10 - 2/12
Kyisean Reed, Utah State vs. Louisiana Tech, 2/9
Joshea Singleton, Bucknell vs. Colgate, 2/8
Kelsey Barlow, Purdue vs. Ohio State, 2/7
Markel Brown, Oklahoma State vs. Iowa State, 2/7
Roscoe Smith, UConn vs. Louisville, 2/7
Weekend Recap, 2/2 - 2/5
Jamaal Franklin, San Diego State vs. TCU, 2/4
Michael Carter-Williams, Syracuse vs. St. John's, 2/4
Kwame Alexander, Cal State-San Bernardino vs. Cal State-Dominguez Hills (D-II), 2/3
Bradley Beal, Florida vs. South Carolina, 2/2
Doug Anderson, Detroit vs. Valparaiso, 2/2
Thomas Robinson, Kansas vs. Oklahoma, 2/1
Markel Brown, Oklahoma state vs. Texas Tech, 1/31
Royce White, Iowa State vs. Kansas State, 1/31
Savalace Townsend, Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Grambling State, 1/28 (DotY Candidate)
Weekend Recap, 1/25 - 1/29
Tony Wroten Jr., Washington vs. Arizona State, 1/26 (DotY Candidate)
Ronald Roberts, St. Joseph's vs. Dayton, 1/25
Markel Brown, Oklahoma State vs. Missouri, 1/25 (DotY Candidate)
Larry Nance Jr., Wyoming vs. San Diego State, 1/24
Dion Dixon, Cincinnati vs. Syracuse, 1/23
Victor Rudd Jr., South Florida vs. St. John's, 1/17 (DotY Candidate)
C.J. Fair, Syracuse vs. Pittsburgh, 1/16
TrayVonn Wright, North Dakota State vs. South Dakota, 1/14
Bandja Sy, New Mexico State vs. Utah State, 1/12
Kenny Hall, Tennessee vs. Mississippi State, 1/12
Dezmine Wells, Xavier vs. Duquesne, 1/11
Kadeem Batts, Providence vs. Louisville, 1/10
Karam Mashour, UNLV vs. CS-Bakersfield, 1/6
Tony Snell, New Mexico vs. Houston Baptist, 1/3
Tony Mitchell, Alabama vs. Georgia Tech, 1/3
Trevis Simpson, UNC-Greensboro vs. Miami, 1/2
Orion Outerbridge, Rhode Island vs. Boston College, 1/2
Sam Thompson, Ohio State vs. Indiana, 12/31
DeShon Minnis, Texas Tech vs. Southeastern Louisiana, 12/30
Keith Gabriel, VMI vs. Old Dominion, 12/22
Eric Etherly, Loyola (Md.) vs. Kentucky, 12/22
Chris Evans, Kent State vs. Texas-Arlington, 12/21
P.J. Hairston, North Carolina vs. Texas, 12/21
Robbie Hummel, Purdue vs. IPFW, 12/20
Robert Brown, Virginia Tech vs. North Florida, 12/19
Tony Mitchell, Alabama vs. Kansas State, 12/17
Torye Pelham, Southern Mississippi vs. Ole Miss, 12/17
Quincy Diggs, Akron vs. Florida A&M, 12/17
Anthony Davis, Kentucky vs. Chattanooga, 12/17
Langston Galloway/C.J. Aiken/Ronald Roberts, St. Joseph's vs. Villanova, 12/17
Terrence Ross, Washington vs. UC-Santa Barbara, 12/16
Jared Cunningham, Oregon State vs. Howard, 12/15
Raheem Appleby, Louisiana Tech vs. McNeese State, 12/14
Tony Mitchell, Alabama vs. Detroit, 12/12
Vander Blue, Marquette vs. UW-Green Bay, 12/11
Ronald Roberts, St. Joseph's vs. Creighton, 12/10
Dion Waiters, Syracuse vs. George Washington, 12/10 (DotY Candidate)
Victor Oladipo, Indiana vs. Kentucky, 12/10
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Georgia vs. Georgia Tech, 12/10
Vander Blue, Marquette vs. Washington, 12/6
Terrence Ross, Washington vs. Marquette, 12/6
Deville Smith, Mississippi State vs. West Virginia, 12/3
Terrence Jones, Kentucky vs. North Carolina, 12/3
Tony Mitchell, Alabama vs. Georgetown, 12/1
Anthony Marshall, UNLV vs. UNC, 11/26
Michael Kidd-Glichrist, Kentucky vs. Portland, 11/26/11 (DotY Candidate)
Markel Brown, Oklahoma State vs. Virginia Tech, 11/25
Rodney Williams, Minnesota vs. DePaul, 11/24
Thomas Robinson, Kansas vs. Duke, 11/23
Stan Okoye, VMI vs. Ohio State, 11/23
Kyisean Reed, Utah State vs. Southern Utah, 11/19
Ra'Shad James, Iona vs. Western Michigan, 11/18
Alandise Harris, Houston vs. Arkansas, 11/18
Sam Thompson, Ohio State vs. Jackson State, 11/18
Tony Mitchell, Alabama vs. Wichita State, 11/18
Eric Griffin, Campbell vs. North Carolina A&T, 11/18 (DotY Candidate)
Olek Czyz, Nevada vs. Pacific, 11/17
Chris Watson, Pikeville vs. Mountain State, 11/16
Ray Willis, North Carolina Central vs. Wagner, 11/16
Mike James, Lamar vs. Ohio, 11/15 (DotY Candidate)
Quincy Acy, Baylor vs. San Diego State, 11/15
Deniz Kilicli, West Virginia vs. Kent State, 11/15
Chris Evans, Kent State vs. West Virginia, 11/15
Tony Mitchell, Alabama vs. Oakland, 11/14
Isaiah Brown, East Tennessee State vs. Virginia Tech, 11/12
Michael Lyons, Air Force vs. Army, 11/11
Dezmine Wells, Xavier vs. Morgan State, 11/11
Jeremy Lamb, UConn vs. Columbia, 11/11 (DotY Candidate)
Andre Drummond, UConn vs. CW Post, 11/4
Moe Harkless, St. John's vs. CW Post, 10/26
Continue reading...
Monday, February 27, 2012
POSTERIZED: Tahj Tate provides some #POSTERIZED publicity |
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
MEAC star leads by example |
BALTIMORE, MD -
In the halls outside of the Coppin State Physical Education Complex, flanked by his mother and father, Jay Threatt is all smiles.
And with good reason.
The Delaware State senior guard was minutes removed from assisting on the game-winning basket as the Hornets rallied from behind to defeat the Coppin State Eagles 84-81. The win extended the Hornet's win-streak to six games, and Threatt finished with 11 assists, leaving him just ten assists shy of becoming the school's all-time leader.
He is a diminutive point guard with the heart of a lion. Named as one of the 16-best lock-down defenders in the country, Threatt's 2.95spg rank second in Division-I. He is a relentless competitor, fighting through injuries and rarely ever taking a rest. This season alone, Threatt has played the entire 40 minutes seven different times.
Off the court, he's just as active. His smile is so big it could light up even the darkest of caves. His personality so big, that it eclipses his 5-foot-11, 175-pound frame. The positive energy that radiates from him is borderline-contagious.
In the cavernous white hallways, a congregation of Jay's relatives (his mother, Cheryl is from Baltimore) hugged, smiled and took pictures. His father, Jay Threatt Sr., was glowing.
"It's crazy, even way back to when they were just kids on the playground, Jay and Jarvis (his younger brother and freshman guard at Delaware) were always leaders, always field generals. You could just see it in their body language and in the way they communicated."
But for Threatt, those skills were honed and sharpened by adversity.
Growing up outside of Richmond, VA, Threatt was a three-time member of the All-District team at Highland Springs. As a senior, he was named to the All-Metro, All-Region and honorable mention All-State teams, thus earning a scholarship to play for George Mason University.
As a youth, he watched and idolized Allen Iverson, an undersized guard and Virginia-native like Threatt, who was as tenacious on defense as he was explosive on offense. But just like Iverson, Threatt found himself in legal trouble prior to his college enrollment.
In June of 2007, just two months after signing his Letter of Intent with George Mason, Threatt was arrested in connection to a carjacking case in Henrico County, VA. According to the report, Threatt was the get-away driver for two men that attempted to steal a car at traffic stop outside of Richmond. The judge agreed that Threatt had been caught in the "wrong place at the wrong time", and all the charges against him were dropped.
"I was caught taking it all for granted. Going to college for free, playing basketball at a high level. I realized it could all be taken from me at any time. I had to grow up quick. I'm seventeen, in there with grown men. I had to grow up."
Threatt attended George Mason his freshman year but saw little playing time. When the coaches who recruited him left George Mason for other jobs, Threatt decided to transfer.
But Like any good leader, Threatt adjusted and responded, and Delaware State has been reaping the benefits ever since. "I love being the leader. It's part of my position. Even if it wasn't, that's part of my personality. I like to take over, I've been through the fire."
It's his past experiences that have given him the confidence to persevere. He's battled through injuries, and a lengthy seven-game losing streak.
"I had to battle through some injuries earlier, and winning isn't easy. You have to want it. You have to earn it. I don't need every stat. I don't need to score. My job is to be the coach on the floor."
And that's exactly what Threatt has been doing. He has 43 assists and 21 steals in the last six games, all Delaware State victories. But more importantly, he has served as guidance for freshman Tahj Tate, the team's leading scorer. Tate scored 29 points against Notre Dame earlier in the season, but was suspended for four games due to "conduct detrimental to the program".
But Threatt, who has been through the fire before, was there for the freshman playmaker.
"I'm here to motivate him. Me and Tahj, you know, off the court, I'm always here for him. I've been through some of the same stuff he's been through. Just reminding him to not take all of this for granted, helping him realize that everything he does goes under the microscope. I'm here to help him mature. You know, at the D-I level, whether it's Big East, MEAC or what not, you have to grow up quickly. On the court, he has it all, he's a unique talent. He can beat anybody he wants to. It's just how he puts it all together off the court."
Since returning from the suspension, Tate is averaging roughly 17ppg, and his energy and effort has increased tremendously, as evidence by his two late steals against Coppin State. One of which, led to an emphatic dunk which ignited the Hornet's 12-point comeback.
"Any time he get's one of them big plays. Points just start to pile up. It's just exciting. he's just so exciting to play with." Say Threatt, snapping his fingers to indicate just how fast Tate can rack up buckets.
Talking to Threatt and watching him play, you can just see it in his eyes. You can see it in his body language, the way he uses his hands to demonstrate and direct. He loves this game. He loves this sport. When he's not directing the offense or shutting down the opponent's best player, he's coaching at camps, and teaching the game to the next generation.
"Oh, I love it. I really love it. When the ball stops bouncing, that's definitely one thing I want to look into, something I want to dip my feet in to. I really like coaching"
But the ball hasn't stopped bouncing for Threatt just yet.
"I'm trying to keep this thing going, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, on to the tournament. This is what I envisioned at the begining of the season. These young guys are maturing, and we're peaking at the right time."
Could Threatt be playing at the BCS-conference level? Absolutely. Just look at his numbers. He's also dealt with adversity, battled through hardships, and walked away victorious, which is bigger than any statistic, winning streak or game-winning assist.
"I'm having so much fun. I love college. This is how I envisioned it way back. It's a dream come true. I just have to thank god for giving me the opportunity."
An oppurtunity that he's making the most of.
Continue reading...
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Hair we go again: A look at the best hairdos in college basketball |
With every new year comes new fads, fashions and trends. The college basketball scene is no different; Platinum jerseys, 3-goggles, faux-hawks, just some of the trends currently overtaking the hoops landscape.
But as I've said time and time again, basketball is one of the few sports that allows players to show off their follicle freedom and allows fans to see their creativity up-close. Every season is different, and what we've been presented with in '11-'12 is of it's own flavor and style.
To Look back at past "All-Hair-Teams", choose from the following:
- Best Hair in College Basketball '10-'11
- Basketball's Best Beards '10-'11
- Hoops Hairdos '09-'10 Part 2
- Hoops Hairdos '09-'10 Part 1
If you think I missed anybody, go back and look through the previous editions. If I didn't mention them there, be sure to let me know. There is more to come.
For those of you just tuning in to college hoops for the first time this season now that football is over with, here is what you have missed.
Not only is Scott a legitimate contender for ACC Player of the Year, he's also the most versatile hair stylist in the country.
The Cavalier big-man has donned no less than five different cornrow patterns this season, each one more complex than the other.
Sure Virginia plays a painfully-boring style of basketball. But there's nothing boring about what Scott is doing to his hair follicles.
Lost in all the "perfect season" hype is the masterful afro displayed by Racers' forward Ed Daniel. According to a report from WPSD Channel-6 in Kentucky, Daniel's hair has it's own mysterious powers. Yes, I agree, that may be the most ridiculous news package I've ever seen. But there's no denying that Daniel's hair is a popular topic of discussion.
After all, it has it's own Twitter account, Facebook page and StatTracker. I'm seriously not making any of this up.
Now more than ever, I'm hoping Murray State stays undefeated and runs the tables come March. If/when Ed's hair becomes the next pop sensation, just remember that I was on the bandwagon before anybody else.
Honorable Mention: Quincy Diggs, Akron; Jontel Evans, Virginia; Bryson Johnson, Bucknell
Somebody must have put him up to this.
He must have lost a bet.
There is no way a sane human being would knowingly do this to his own head of hair. I'm literally speechless. Wha...who...I mean...why..... I just....Ahhhhhhhhhhhh. I just can't take this any more.
Imagine if Khem Birch had transferred to Central Michigan instead of UNLV.... You know what? Don't imagine that, I wouldn't wish that on anybody. One bleached-blonde skunk-hat is heinous enough.
Now, if you would excuse me, I have to go douse my eyeballs in concentrated bleach.
Honorable Mention: Khem Birch:
The fauxhawk is one of the worst epidemics to ever hit college basketball. It's silly, it's stupid, and most importantly, it's not creative at all. However, if you do decide to rock the fauxhawk, you should do it with extreme vigor, just as the Broncos guard has done. He has since gone with the clean-shaven look, but nonetheless, his fauxhawk was one of the few that deserved mention.
And to think, here I am wondering how a guy with the name "Ivory White" could possibly get any more awesome?
Easy, rock some dreads like these and you're well on your way. Seriously, this hairdo is awesome. Pure, concentrated awesome. Is it an afro? No, not exactly. Are they dreadlocks? no, not that either. Instead it's an awesome combination of two equally-awesome hair styles. This may be the only time all year you read about Alabama State, so make sure you take notice.
Like if it weren't already bad enough that he's a goofy white seven-footer who plays on one of the worst BCS-conference teams in the country. Nope, Bachynski had to go out and rock one of the ugliest looking mop-tops in recent history.
If he wasn't seven feet tall, I'm sure he would fit right in with all the Kid Cudi-listening, lax penny wearing bros chillin' on the quad playing hacky-sack. It would not surprise me at all if we were to learn that Bachynski is also the chairmen of the ASU chapter of The Young Republicans Club.
And, on top of all that, it turns out that Bachynski is also a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Now, that's not an issue at all. Except, well, I thought "long hair" was one of the things forbidden by the religion, you know, up there with caffeine, 64-bit gaming systems, premarital sex, driving sports cars and foods with artificial flavoring.....
Honorable Mention: Skylar McBee, Tennessee
This hairdo hasn't been seen in the sports world since The Rock left pro wrestling in order to make sub-par Disney movies. But hey, good for him. In 15 years, he'll still be making crappy movies (Read: Millions of dollars) while a bunch of his former co-workers will be in rehab units getting fed via plastic tubes....
Anyways, this really is an awesome look. I'm not sure what it is, but there's something about that smooth transition from scalp-to-sideburns-to facial hair going on in this look. Williams has since gone to a more conservative look, but if he ever decides to grow it out again, a bevy of post-dunk celebrations would become available.
There may not be a single player in the country who is as important towards his team's success as Iowa State' Royce White. Seriously, take him away from the Cyclones, and what are they?
Sure, White has had his problems in the past, but there is no denying that the power forward is having a superstar-year. And what better way to emerge as a burgeoning superstar than rocking some ridiculous (and I mean RIDICULOUS) hairdos. First he went with the homage to "Nino Brown", a bleach-glazed mini-afro which, to be honest, was not his best look. Some guys would have stopped there, but White took it to a whole new level.
He took his already-bleached hair and dyed it bright red, then decided to shave all but the middle, leaving nothing but a thick strip of red mowhawk running down his scalp. Apparently, it's called "The Cy-Hawk" and he decided to do it as a form of school spirit, which wouldn't be the first time he showed off his school spirit. Nonetheless, this is a truly unique hairdo. You can love it or hate it, but you have to respect his moxy.
Quick. I need a Jon Rothstein-like comparison for Tyler Lamb right away. Take a look at the picture and tell me who you see:
If you said "So much Terrence Howard from 'Hustle & Flow' in Tyler Lamb", you win.....well nothing, but you do end up on the same page as I.
In fact, you aren't the only one who agrees with me. Go and do a Google Images search for "Tyler Lamb UCLA". One of the first results that comes up is a black-and-white photo of Little Richard.....
I'm just going to end on that right there, because it's little things like this which makes life worth living.
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes and Yes.
This. Is. Awesome.
He'd be a member of the All-McDonald's American Team, the All-Swag Team, and well, the All-Hair Team. Big fella not only rocks the mop-top, but dons the turtle-neck AND rec-specs. I'm just at a loss for words. Go read what Luke Winn has to say about big slim right here, he's much better at writing than I am.
Honorable Mention: Michael Sanchez, Arkansas
If you are a fan of collegiate sports at all, then you should know this kid's story. He was the first passenger on the post-LeBron hype-train, A Sports Illustrated cover boy, the next "All-Everything". But again, you already knew that. So fast-forward to the present day, and you can find Walker rocking a solid hi-top fade for the New Mexico Lobos.
Now, we've certainly seen better hi-top-fades, (See: 2011 Scotty Hopson), but for a guy who has been in front of such a bright spotlight, only to be buried deep in the background, it's nice to see him stand out for something unique.
Honorable Mention: Ryan Evans, Wisconsin
OK. So, your name is Jordair Jett. Yeah, you're parents decided to name you Jordair, and your last name is Jett. Everyone at school looks at your during roll call. The teachers chuckle when they announce your name. Public recognition is always awkward. So what do you do in order to take some of the attention away from your ridiculous name? Simple, grow ridiculous dreadlocks. If the kids are going to stare at you, might as well have them take a good look.
Seriously, dude looks like he should be filling in for Coolio at MTV's Spring Break 1995. Jett has been a viable spark plug for the Billikens, who still seem to be in the mix for an at-large bid or potentially the A-10 championship. It would be a huge shame if March Madness is void of Jordair Jett. Whether for his hair or his name, this guy needs to get some publicity.
Honorable Mention: Jesse Perry, Arizona; Josh Davis, Tulane
I don't think you can possibly find a current college basketball player that has a more-feminine look than Alabama freshman Levi Randolph. Now that's no knock on Levi himself. I'm sure he's a good dude, masculine and all the stuff, but this hairdo just doesn't suite him. Hell, it doesn't suit anyone.
I've seen Alabama play a lot this year, and I swear to God, every time I watch them play, I have to remind myself that Randolph is in fact a dude, and I am in fact watching men's basketball. It does get difficult, because, well, Alabama is averaging less points per game than a marginal women's team.
Seriously, He could pass as a stunt-double for Brittney Griner.
Honorable Mention: Freddie Riley, UMass; Martez Harris, UT-Martin
What's with all these "All-Name Teamers" rockin' sick hair-swag? If they would have just let me known, i could have consolidated my work and made one extensive list. Regardless, Marq (I'm going to start calling him "Marq" because typing "Marquavese" all the time gets strenuous) has some unique threads. And by "unique", I clearly mean "Looks like basket-weaving" or "something you'd find on a sailboat".
Does the NCAA forbid the use of a "skullcap" during game play? Because, well, Wichita State's Hall could definitely benefit from it. More to the point, Hall's opponents could benefit from it. Sure, Under Armor probably doesn't make a "skull cap" big enough to fit around all these dreadlocks. I mean, look at this picture. really take a good look at it. It's sheer chaos. How does he control all of it? There's just so much hair. It looks like he bunches it all up and hopes it stays in one place.
You probably don't know a lot about Dominique Morrison, and that's a damn shame. "DoMo" is one of the most underrated and under-appreciated forwards in the country. His jumper is silky-smooth, he can handle the ball with ease and has solid post skills. He's also just an all-around great-guy. But since he goes to Oral Roberts and plays in the Summit League, you probably don't know a lot about him. So now is your chance. I mean, wouldn't you want to know more about a guy with a luscious mane like that? I know I would.
Plus, the mustache just makes everything so much better. I don't think there is a player in the country with more voluminous hair than "DoMo". If there is, I'd really like to see what it looks like.
Honorable Mention: Terran Petteway, Texas Tech; Johnny O'Bryant, LSU
Chol is one of the most fearsome-looking guys in the country. There aren't many guys who sport a meaner-mug than him, and his choice of hairdo has a lot to do with it. Guys with long hair don't tend to evoke fear. Sure there are exceptions (Jae Crowder, Marquette), but on a whole, long hair just isn't all that frightening. But short, stubby dreadlocks? They look like thorn-bushes. Have you even looked at a thorn bush and thought "Wow, I would really like to stick an appendage in there"? Didn't think so.
Last, and certainly not least, is "Mr. All-Hair-Team Himself" Mike Wilder. No collection of awesome college basketball hair would be complete without recognition of Wilder's tremendous afro. It's the best afro in sports. Period. It's thick, it's luscious, it's flawlessly-perfect and perfectly-flawless.
I'm going to stop typing so you can just soak it all in. It's magnificent.
Honorable Mention: Andre Coimbra, Central Michigan
So there you have it. An in-depth look at some of the best hairdos in college hoops this season. But my work isn't done. I know there are dome-pieces out there I haven't seen yet. If you have noticed a bizarre hairdo, or if something catches your eye during a game, hit up @BIAHTroyMachir or email us at contactBIAH@gmail.com
Continue reading...
Monday, October 24, 2011
2011-2012 B.I.A.H All-Name Team |
The day you've all been waiting for is finally here.
Today is the day we release the world-renowned B.I.A.H college basketball All-Name Teams. We here at Ballin' is a Habit pride ourselves on researching material that not only wastes time but proves to be completely unnecessary. This year's selection had over 1,000 candidates, from UConn to Southeast Missouri State, and every college in between.
Who will be this year's SirValiant Brown? The next God Shamgod? After the jump, you will find the best 100+ names in college basketball.
But before you click, be on the look out for our 2011-2012 Top-50 "Namesmith Award" Watch List. This brand new award will be handed out to the player whose performance during the season best helps promote the popularity of their awesome name.
2010-2011 B.I.A.H All-Name-Teams
2009-2010 B.I.A.H All-Name-Teams
B.I.A.H All-Name Team, First Team
Orion Outterbridge, Rhode Island
Claybrin McMath, Bryant
Jordair Jett, St. Louis
Four McGlynn, Vermont
Indiana Faithfull, Wofford
B.I.A.H All-Name Team, Second Team
Kidani Brutus, Manhattan
Jabs Newby, Eastern Kentucky
Deuce Bello, Baylor
Elhanen Bone, North Carolina-Greensboro
Bubu Palo, Iowa State
B.I.A.H All-Name Team, Third Team
Deverin Muff, Eastern Kentucky
Finis Craddock, Central Michigan
Jawanza Poland, South Florida
Adonis Burbage, Central Connecticut State
Staats Battles, North Carolina State
B.I.A.H All-Name Team, Fourth Team
Grandy Glaze, St. Louis
Delbert Love, Kennesaw State
Storm Clonch, Binghamton
Blaise Ffrench, St. Peter's
Scooter Gillette, Niagara
B.I.A.H All-Name Team, Honorable Mention
Onochie Ochie, Southeastern Louisiana
Charlon Kloof, St. Bonaventure
Lincoln Vorba, Drake
Festus Ezeli, Vanderbilt
Tawaski King, Western Carolina
Trinity Fields, Iona
Galal Cancer, Cornell
Hippolyte Tsafack, Memphis
Marcellus Barkdale, IUPUI
Rakeem Christmas, Syracuse
Kiwi Gardner, Providence
Hooper Vint, UTEP
Antuan Bootle, Sam Houston State
Bak Bak, California
Beau Levesque, Saint Mary's
JayDee Luster, Wyoming
Myles Loving, Texas Southern
But that's not all. With over 3,000 D-I basketball players in the country, you know we couldn't pass up the chance to mention some classic names parenting gaffs
All That's-Not-a-Real-Name Team, First Team
Dundrecous Nelson, Ole Miss
Flenard Whitfeld, Western Michigan
Gelaun Wheelwright, Weber State
Mardracus Wade, Arkansas
Savalance Townsend, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
All That's-Not-a-Real-Name Team, Second Team
Alwayne Bigby, Northeastern
Nurideen Lindsey, St. Johns
DeMetrice Jacobs, Northwestern State
Keithtrick Denson, Texas Southern
Alandise Harris, Houston
All That's-Not-a-Real-Name Team, Third Team
Crandall Head, Illinois
Marqavese Ford, Northern Illinois
Corderio Maclin, Tennessee-Martin
Dyami Starks, Bryant
Kraidon Woods, Drake
All That's-Not-a-Real-Name Team, Fourth Team
Delwan Graham, Jacksonville
Falando Jones, Mississippi Valley State
Dartaye Ruffin, Drexel
Lazabian Jackson, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Julysses Nobles, Arkansas
First Team All-Alliteration
Blondi Baruti, Tulsa
Hector Harold, Pepperdine
Gideon Gamble, Winthrop
Jernard Jereau, Washington
Peter Pappageorge, Long Beach State
Second Team All-Alliteration
Vertrail Vaughns, George Mason
Colton Christian, Michigan
Davonte Drinkard, Southern Illinois
Mackey McKnight, Lehigh
Mathis Monninghoff, Gonzaga
Third Team All-Alliteration
Anell Alexis, Marist
Preston Purifoy, UAB
Delino Dear, Toledo
Stallon Saldivar, Northern Arizona
Paris Paramore, Central Michigan
Fourth Team All-Alliteration
Sheridan Shayne, Idaho
Reyshawn Rembert, East Tennessee State
Orin O'Bryant, Hampton
Cannen Cunningham, SMU
Dustin Dibble, UMKC
(Go to any Delta Delta house at Vanderbilt or Clemson and you're bound to find the following names, decked out in Vinyard Vines pants, oxford shirts, and croakies, while drinking a Natty Light out of a coozie)
First Team All-SEC-Frathouse
Hugh Greenwood, New Mexico
Carson DeRosiers, Wake Forest
Keifer Sykes, Wisconsin-Green Bay
Keegan Hornbuckle, UC-Santa Barbara
Logan Aronhalt, Albany
Second Team All-SEC-Frathouse
Paxson Guest, Northwestern State
Mitch Wilmer, North Dakota
Maxwell Lenox, Army
Tristan Spurlock, Central Florida
Bryson Triggs, Nicholls State
Third Team All-SEC-Frathouse
Jud Dillard, Tennessee Tech
John Caleb Sanders, Liberty
Garrick Sherman, Notre Dame
Colt Ryan, Evansville
Caleb Ashcraft, Tennessee Martin
First Team All-Gender-Confusion
Kim English, Missouri
Elisha Justice, Louisville
Hilary Haley, Maryland-Eastern Shore
Leslie McDonald, North Carolina
Shannon Scott, Ohio State
Second Team All-Gender-Confusion
Courtney Austin, Southern Utah
Stacey Poole, Kentucky
Tracy O'Neal, North Carolina Central
Torrey Craig, USC-Upstate
Caitlin Baciu, Clemson
(For this next team, use the following phrase, along with the player's last name. That's how you'll know he's All-Name-worthy: "Umm...I guess I'll have a plate of the _____________")
First Team All-Sounds-Like-a-Food
Clint Steindl, Saint Mary's
James Fraschilla, Oklahoma
Ryan Quigtar, Miami (Fl)
Paul Gombwer, Charleston Southern
Kader Tapsoda, Texas Tech
Second Team All-Sounds-Like-a-Food
Evan Smotrycz, Michigan
Djibril Coulibaly, Manhattan
Jeremiah Samarrippas, SMU
Tyler Pontichelli, Brown
Kevin Canitol, Florida-Gulf Coast
(This next team is similar to the previous one, except this time, use the phrase: "Oh Man, I think I got a case of (the) _____________")
First Team All-Sounds-Like-a-Disease
James Loupus, Navy
Tim Abromaitis, Notre Dame
Roy Ghantous, George Washington
Nate Basaglya, UMBC
Jimmie Duplessis, Prairie View A&M
Second Team All-Sounds-Like-a-Disease
Mitch Asmus, Dayton
Evan Bruinsma, Detroit
Domas Rinksalis, Wofford
Brock Zylstra, BYU
Levan Shengalia, Rhode Island
First Team All-Appostrophe
De'End Parker, UCLA
Ja'Rob MaCallum, Milwaukee
Ge'Lawn Guyn, Cincinnati
Pe'Shon Howard, Maryland
Pi'I Minns, Hawaii
Second Team All-Appostrophe
De'Mon Brooks, Davidson
J'Covan Brown, Texas
Al'Lonzo Coleman, Presbyterian
J'Hared Hall, Loyola (Md)
Drake U'u, Cal-Poly
First Team All-Hyphen
Corey Raley-Ross, Buffalo
Rafeal Rojas-Reyes, Air Force
Dyricus Symmes-Edwards, Bradley
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Georgia
John Hayward-Mayhew, Cal State-Northridge
Second Team All-Hyphen
Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette
Dexter Kernick-Drew, Washington State
Laval Lucas-Perry, Oakland
Shane Harris-Tunks, Colorado
Alexander Scotland-Williamson, UAB
All-Make-Up-Your-Mind-Team, First Team
Brockeith Payne, Utah State
Chrishawn Hopkins, Butler
JayVaughn Pinkston, Villanova
Markeith Cummings, Kennesaw State
RayVonte Rice, Drake
All-Make-Up-Your-Mind-Team, Second Team
KenDerek Washington, Alabama State
Santoine Butler, Gardner-Webb
JohnMark Ludwick, William & Mary
Dondre Wise, Arizona
Rayshawn Goins, James Madison
All-Misspelled-Team, First Team
Donivine Stewart, Bradley
Erique Gumbs, Towson
Karee Ferguson, St. Peter's
Morece Isaac, St. Fracis (Pa)
Raymoan McAfee, Bethune-Cookman
All-Misspelled-Team, Second Team
Markus Duran, Pacific
Kregg Jones, Cal State-Bakersfield
Konner Veteto, Sacramento State
Zavier Sanders, Eastern Illinois
Jermol Paul, Stetson
First Team All-Two First Names
Derek Craig, Georgia Tech
Jack Ryan, Stanford
Mike Scott, Virginia
Sam Mike, Georgia Southern
Michael Eric, Temple
Second Team All-Two-First-Names
Greg Travis, Illinois-Chicago
Miguel Paul, East Carolina
Dan Kenny, Mt. St. Mary's
Curtis Dennis, Toledo
Arnold Louis, Savannah State
(There are some names that are better off being said than written. The following is a list of those names just that roll off tongue smoothly)
Names that just sound funny to say, Team One
Assane Sene, Virginia
Toddrick Gotcher, Texas Tech
Eddie Odio, Boston College
Mamadou Datt, Duquesne
Joel Vander Pol, Liberty
Names That Just Sound Funny, Team Two
Ben Aird, Utah Valley
Matt Sauey, North Florida
Sei Paye, Texas-San Antonio
Nick Kitcoff, IUPUI
Will Brew, UC-Santa Baraba
(Some players were blessed with the gift of a fantastic last name. Unfortunately, they were also blessed with parents with no creativity. Nonetheless, there are some last names that just can't go unnoticed, no matter how boring their first name is)
All-Awesome-Last-Name-Team
Dwight Tarwater, Cornell
John Peckinpaugh, IPFW
Joe Goydish, Georgia Southern
Corey Wickware, SIU-Edwardsville
Rodney Clinkscales, SMU
Second Team All-Awesome-Last-Name-Team
Corey Littlejohn, UNC-Asheville
Jared Swopshire, Louisville
Keith Shamburger, San Jose State
Steve Tchiengang, Vanderbilt
Christian Standhardinger, Hawaii
First Team All-Prefix
LeBryan Nash, Oklahoma State
TyQuane Goard, Ohio
DuShawn Brooks, Youngstown State
DeCarlos Anderson, Manhattan
JaMychal Green, Alabama
All-Initials Team
D.C. Gaitley, Fordham
G.J. Vilarino, Appalachian State
L.C. Doss, Eastern Illinois
K.C. Caudill, Boston College
O.D. Anosike, Siena
All-No-Creativity-Team
Brian Bryant, Mississippi State
Luke Loucks, Florida State
Ella Ellis, Army
Andrew Andrews, Washington
Marc Mark, Bethune-Cookman
All-Scrabble-Team
Olek Czyz, Nevada
Vladyslov Kondratyev, Bryant
Kristers Zeidaks, Mississippi State
Nick Niemczyk, Southeast Missouri State
Xavier Bazile, Idaho
First Team All-NBA
Shawn Kemp Jr., Washington
Glenn Rice Jr., Georgia Tech
Tim Hardaway Jr., Michigan State
Reggie Lewis, Florida A&M
Avery Johnson, San Francisco
Second Team All-NBA
A.J Price, Texas-San Antonio
Terrence Williams, Charlotte
Dee Brown, Bowling Green
Marcus Thornton, William & Mary
Derrick Williams, Richmond
All-NFL Team
Chris Collinsworth, BYU
Alex Smith, Bethune-Cookman
David Carr, Portland
Shannon Sharpe, Colorado
Chad Johnson, Rutgers
All-Coaches-and-Owners Team
Jerry Jones, Duquesne
Ralph Wilson, Alabama State
Larry Brown, Winthrop
Mark Jackson, Louisville
All-Not-That-Celebrity Team
Tim Meadows, Prarie View A&;M
Sean Carter, Umass
Steve Forbes, Stetson
Brian Williams, Jacksonville State
Chris Brown, Oregon State
All-Other-Sports-Stars Team
Matt Morgan, Winthrop (TNA Wrestler)
Colby Lewis, Charlotte (Texas Rangers Pitcher)
Reggie Jackson, UC-Riverside (Mr. October)
Tim Thomas, Pacific (Boston Bruins Goalie)
Marcus Davis, Houston Baptist (former-UFC Welterweight fighter)
All-Colors-Team
Vander Blue, Marquette
Okaro White, Florida
Kauri Black, Northeastern
Rion Brown, Miami (Fl)
Garlon Green, TCU
All-City-Team
Denver Holmes, Evansville
Dallas Ouano, Villanova
Cleveland Melvin, DePaul
Conroy Baltimore, Lehigh
Montreal Scott, Prairie View A&M
All-Bible-Team
Joab Jerome, Winthrop
Isaiah Canaan, Murray State
Genesis Maciel, Hartford
God's Gift Achiuwa, St. John's
Ephraim Ekanem, Northern Arizona
Continue reading...
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
2010-2011 Introduction Videos |
In any sport, not just college basketball, preparation is key. You need to make sure that by game time, you are mentally and physically prepared for battle.
But for us fans, there is little we can do to prepare for a college basketball game other than down a couple pints and paint our faces. But luckily the good people in athletics departments provide us with the necessary materials to get fired up for a college basketball game.
As somebody who grew up wanting to be a professional wrestler solely for the entrance music and pyrotechnics, I live for the ten minutes prior to tip-off. It's the time when fans can really start to get the blood flowing. The light's dim, the players get introduced, and right before "Zombie Nation" hits the loudspeakers, the pregame videos hit.
There's nothing better than a good pregame video.
Scouring the internet is one of the things we do best here at B.I.A.H, and we used those skills to seek out some of the better current jumbotron videos. There's no better experience that watching one of these instant-adrenaline-rushes and feeling the hair on your neck stand straight up.
This isn't a full list since clearly not all the videos have been uploaded onto the internet. If you find one, please let us know at CONTACTBIAH at GMAIL dot COM
In case you didn't get a chance to check out last year's version of this post, here ya go: 2009-2010 Jumbotron Intro Videos
Arizona
Boston College
BYU
Charlotte
Cincinnati
Clemson
Colorado State
East Carolina
Elon
Georgetown
Gonzaga
Indiana
Iowa State
Kansas
Kansas State
Louisiana State
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
North Carolina-Greensboro
North Carolina State
Oklahoma
Providence
Southern California
South Carolina
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
UNLV
Virginia
Wake Forest
West Virginia
Continue reading...
Monday, November 8, 2010
Preseason Media Day Total Recap |
The college hoops is so close, I can smell it. We've given you our conference previews and have broken down our preseason top-25. As of this week, all the conferences have had their media days and released their preseason polls and All-Conference teams. Below you will find all the results. But be warned, there is a lot of different information, and as usual, each conference marches to the beat of their own drum. That's why you end up with things like the Atlantic Sun's 12 member all-conference first team. Before we get to the analysis, use the following paragraphs as a disclaimer.
Conferences differ in their preseason voting styles. Some conferences chose to have only coaches vote, some have a mixture of coaches, athletic directors, sports information directors and other media-type vote. A few conferences have separate polls for the coaches and the media.
In each conference poll, teams are ordered by the number of votes they received, with first place votes being in parentheses. Not all conferences choose preseason Rookie of the Year or Newcomer of the year. Some conferences chose a Preseason All-Defensive Team or a Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and some do not. Not all the conferences released the outcome of voting, so numbers will only appear for conferences that released them to the public.
Enjoy!
Atlantic Coast Conference
It is no surprise that Duke was heavily favored by the media to win the 2011 ACC Championship. The defending national champions return Kyle Singler, the 2010 NCAA Tournament MVP and All-American, along with Nolan Smith, a 2010 All-American and All-ACC First Team member. The Blue Devils will add sensational guard Seth Curry who sat out last year after transferring from liberty. Duke will also have the services of freshman Kyrie Irving, one of the most sought-after recruits in the country. North Carolina was picked second, thanks to the addition of freshman Harrison Barnes and the return of big-man Tyler Zeller and John Henson. But don't sleep on Virginia Tech either. Yes they've been on the wrong side of the bubble for the last hundred years or so, but I just don't don't think a player like Malcolm Delaney is going to go down without a fight.
Media Poll:
Duke (61), Virginia Tech, North Carolina (1), North Carolina State, Florida, Maryland, Clemson, Miami, Georgia Tech, Boston College, Virginia, Wake Forest
All-Conference Team:
Kyle Singler F, Sr., Duke
Malcolm Delaney G, Sr., Virginia Tech
Nolan Smith G, Sr., Duke
Tracy Smith G, North Carolina State
Chris Singleton F, Sr., Florida State
Player of the Year:
Kyle Singler F, Sr., Duke (38)
Rookie of the Year:
Harrison Barnes, G, North Carolina (46)
Atlantic-10 Conference
The Temple Owls, Atlantic-10 Champions from a year ago, were selected by a group of coaches and media to win their 10th Atlantic-10 championship. The A-10 championship will be hotly-contested however. Xavier, a perennial conference powerhouse was picked to tie for second place with Richmond, led by preseason player of the year Kevin Anderson. Although the polls said it's Temple's conference to win, I think any of the top four teams could win the Atlantic-10.
Coaches/Media Poll:
Temple (19), Xavier (3), Richmond (3), Dayton (1), Rhode Island, St. Louis, Charlotte, Duquesne, LaSalle, George Washington, Massachusetts, St. Joseph's, St. Bonaventure, Fordham
All-Conference Team:
LaVoy Allen F, Sr., Temple
Kevin Anderson G, Sr., Richmond
Andrew Nicholson F, Jr., St. Bonaventure
Damien Saunders F, Sr., Duquesne
Chris Wright F, Sr., Dayton
All-Defensive Team:
Lavoy Allen F, Sr., Temple
Kevin Anderson G, Sr., Richmond
Dante Jackson G, Sr., Xavier
Andrew Nicholson F, Sr., St. Bonaventure
Damian Saunders F, Sr., Duquesne
All-Rookie Team:
C.J. Aiken, F, St. Joseph’s
Langston Galloway, G, St. Joseph’s
Jordan Latham, F, Xavier
Rob Loe, F, Saint Louis
Juwan Staten, G, Dayton
Player of the Year:
Kevin Anderson G, Sr., Richmond
Atlantic Sun Conference
(Note: A tie in voting resulted in 12 players making the all-conference first team, but only 3 received unanimous selections)
Preseason player of the year Adnan Hodzic leads the Lipscomb Bison on a bid for their second consecutive regular season championship in the Atlantic-Sun. Hodzic enters this season with the nation's longest active streak of scoring in double figures, at 57. Since the start of 2000, the streak ranks as the ninth-longest in nation. East Tennessee State, the reigning Atlantic Sun tournament champions were picked to finish second, while Belmont, former multiple-time conference and tournament champions, were picked to finish third.
Coaches/Media Poll:
Lipscomb (6), East Tennessee State (3), Belmont (1), Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Campbell, North Florida, Mercer, Stetson, Florida-Gulf Coast, South Carolina-Upstate
Media Poll:
Lipscomb (23), East Tennessee State (9), Belmont (1), Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Campbell, Mercer, North Florida, Florida-Gulf Coast, Stetson, South Carolina-Upstate
All-Conference Team:
Adnan Hodzic F, Sr., Lipscomb
Markeith Cummings G, So., Kennesaw State
Josh Slater G, Sr., Lipscomb
Player of the Year:
Adnan Hodzic F, Sr., Lipscomb
America East Conference
Boston University was chosen by league coaches as the favorites to win the America East Conference. The Terriers will be looking for their first conference championship since 2002. Stony Brook, the reigning regular season champions came in second place in voting, followed by Maine, who received the final first place vote.
Coaches Poll:
Boston (6), Stony Brook (2), Maine (1), New Hampshire, Vermont, Hartford, Binghamton, Albany, UMBC
All-Conference Team:
Greer Wright F, Sr., Binghamton
John Holland G/F, Sr., Boston
Jake O’Brien F, Jr., Boston
Gerald McLemore G, Jr., Maine
Evan Fjeld F, Sr., Vermont
Big-12 Conference:
For the first time in school history, Kansas State was selected first by the coaches to win the Big-12 Conference. Perennial favorites Kansas and Texas were picked second and third, followed by a Baylor team that has risen from the depths of the Big-12 to become a legitimate league power.
Coaches Poll:
Kansas State (10), Kansas (2), Texas, Baylor, Missouri, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Iowa State
All-Conference Team:
LaceDarius Dunn G, Sr., Baylor
Cory Higgins G, Sr., Colorado
Marcus Morris F, Jr., Kansas
Curtis Kelly F, Sr., Kansas State
Jacob Pullen G, Sr., Kansas State
Player of the Year:Jacob Pullen G, Sr., Kansas State
Rookie of the Year:Josh Selby G, Kansas
Newcomer of the Year: Ricardo Ratliffe F, Jr., Missouri (Central Florida CC)
Big East Conference
Connecticut was picked tenth in the preseason coaches poll, the lowest they have ever been selected in a preseason poll. St. John's, with new head coach Steve Lavin, received one first place vote despite finishing in the bottom half of the Big East each of the past six seasons. The Pittsburgh Panthers were the unanimous selection as favorites to win the Big East Title, led by Ashton Gibbs, Gilbert Brown and Brad Wannamaker.
Coaches Poll:
Pittsburgh (12), Villanova (1), Syracuse (2), Georgetown, West Virginia, St. John's (1), Notre Dame, Louisville, Marquette, Connecticut, Seton Hall, Cincinnati, South Florida, Providence, Rutgers, DePaul
All-Conference Team:
Austin Freeman G/F, Sr., Georgetown
Kemba Walker G, Jr., Connecticut
Ashton Gibbs G, Jr., Pittsburgh
Jeremy Hazell G, Sr., Seton Hall
Corey Fisher G, Sr., Villanova
Kevin Jones F, Jr., West Virginia
Player of the Year:
Austin Freeman G/F, Sr., Georgetown
Rookie of the Year:
Fab Melo, F, Syracuse
Big Sky Conference
(Note: The Big Sky Conference has not released a preseason All-Conference team)
Despite suffering an epic collapse in last season's championship game to Montana, Weber State has once again been picked by the coaches to win the Big Sky championship. The Wildcats are the two-time defending regular season champions, and last reached the NCAA tournament in 2007. The media selected Northern Colorado second, while Northern Arizona drew the No. 2 slot from the coaches. Northern Colorado earned two first-place votes from the media while Northern Arizona garnered one first-place vote from the coaches. Northern Colorado was tabbed fourth by the coaches, while NAU was picked fourth by the media, earning one first-place vote.
Coaches Poll:
Weber State (6), Northern Arizona (1), Montana (2), Northern Colorado, Montana State, Eastern Washington, Portland State, Idaho State, Sacramento State
Media Poll:
Weber State (21), Northern Colorado (2), Montana (4), Northern Arizona (1), Montana State, Eastern Washington, Portland State, Idaho State, Sacramento State
Big South Conference
The Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina were selected as the favorites to win the 2010-2011 Big South championship. Radford, the back-to-back Big South champions lost Art Parakhouski to graduation and have been selected to finish ninth.
Coaches/Media Poll:
Coastal Carolina (10), Winthrop (5), UNC-Ashville (4), Presbyterian (4), High Point, Liberty (1), Charleston Southern, VMI, Radford, Gardner-Webb
All-Conference Team:
Nick Barbour G, Jr., High Point
Chad Gray F, Sr., Coastal Carolina
Al'Lonzo Coleman F, Jr., Presbyterian
Jamarco Warren G, Sr., Charleston Southern
Austin Kenon G, Sr., VMI
Player of the Year:
Nick Barbour G, Jr., High Point
Big Ten Conference
(Note: The Big-ten only lists the top three teams that receive votes. None of the voting results were released)
Michigan State was the unanimous selection by the media to win the Big-Ten championship in 2011. The Spartans have made it to back-to-back Final-Fours and are led by preseason player of the year Kalin Lucas. Purdue, picked third, likely would have competed for the top preseason vote, but lost star player Robbie Hummel three weeks ago when he injured his ACL.
Media Poll:
Michigan State, Ohio State, Purdue
All-Conference Team:
Demetri McCamey G, Sr., Illinois
Kalin Lucas G, Sr., Michigan State
JaJuan Johnson F/C, Sr., Purdue
E’Twaun Moore F, Sr., Purdue
Jon Leuer F, Sr., Wisconsin
Player of the Year:
Kalin Lucas G, Sr., Michigan State
Big West Coference
Media Poll:
UC-Santa Barbara (20), Long Beach State (2), Pacific (1), UC-Davis, Cal-Poly, UC-Irvine, CS-Fullerton, CS-Northridge, UC-Riverside
A panel of media members selected UC-Santa Barbara to successfully defend its Big West men's basketball title in the 2010-2011 season. The Gauchos return all five starters from last season's squad which won both the regular season title and conference title in the Big West Conference.
All-Conference Team:
Joe Harden G, Sr., UC Davis
Orlando Johnson G, Jr., UC-Santa Barbara
James Nunnally F, Jr., UC-Santa Barbara
T.J. Robinson F, Jr., Long Beach State
Casper Ware G, Jr., Long Beach State
Eric Wise F, Jr., UC-Irvine
Colonial Athletic Conference
Note: The CAA did not release the voting results of the coaches/media poll, just the predicted order of finish)
ODU, which has made six consecutive postseason appearances, is riding the momentum from its first CAA championship since 2005, including a first round win overt Notre Dame, 52-51 in last season's NCAA Tournament. The Monarchs return four starters from last year's 27-9 squad and were the commanding favorite to repeat, as chosen by coaches and media. But don't think that this conference is ODU's to win, as there are several teams that have a chance to make the 2011 NCAA tournament, wether it be from an auto-bid or an at-large selection. George Mason and Virginia Commonwealth both have plenty of post-season experience, elite-caliber coaches and a hefty chunk of returning starters. Don't be surprised if one of these teams is atop the CAA standing at the end of the year. But until that point, ODU has to be considered the favorite
Coaches/Media Poll:
Old Dominion, George Mason, Virginia Commonwealth, James Madison, Hofstra, Drexel, Northeastern, William & Mary, Delaware, Towson, Georgia State, UNC-Wilmington
All-Conference Team:
Chaisson Allen G, Sr., Northeastern
Denzel Bowles F, Sr., James Madison
Charles Jenkins G, Sr., Hofstra
Cam Long G, Sr., George Mason
Joey Rodriguez G, Sr., Virginia Commonwealth
Player of the Year:
Charles Jenkins G, Sr., Hofstra
Conference-USA
(Note: C-USA does not release a preseason coaches or media poll)
Despite not releasing preseason polls, it can be assumed that Memphis and UTEP will compete for the C-USA crown. The Tigers, led by second-year coach Josh Pastner, should be the favorites to win the conference after failing to do so last season. Pastner has a stellar recruiting class, headlined by Will Barton. But UTEP features preseason player of the year Randy Culpepper, and are coached by Tim Floyd, one of the most polarizing/notorious coaches in the game today.
All-Conference Team:
Randy Culpepper G, Sr., UTEP
Gary Flowers F, Sr., Southern Miss
Justin Hurtt G, Sr., Tulsa
Wesley Witherspoon G/F, Jr., Memphis
Brock Young G, Sr., East Carolina
Player of the Year:
Randy Culpepper G, Sr., UTEP
Rookie of the Year:
Will Barton, G, Memphis
Horizon league
Butler received all 48 first place votes to once again win the Horizon League. Even with the loss of Gordon Hayward, the Bulldogs return Matt Howard, the 2009 Horizon League preseason player of the year and Shelvin Mack, the current Horizon League preseason player of the year.
Coaches/Media Poll:
Butler (48), Detroit, Cleveland State, UW-Milwaukee, Wright State, UW-Green Bay, Loyola, Illinois-Chicago, Youngstown State
All-Conference Team:
Shelvin Mack G, Sr., Butler
Norris Cole G, Sr., Cleveland State
Matt Howard F, Sr., Butler
Rahmon Fletcher G, Sr., Green Bay
Brandon Wood G, Sr., Valparaiso
Player of the Year:
Shelvin Mack G, Sr., Butler
Ivy League
(Note: The Ivy League does not select preseason all-conference teams or player of the year.)
Princeton returns its top five scorers and top two rebounders, and was voted as the preseason pick to win the 2010-11 Ivy League championship. The Tigers recieved 12 of the 17 first-place votes from the media panel. Harvard, having lost superstar Jeremy Lin and is stil hoping for it's first Icvy League title, was picked second. Cornell was not voted as the preseason selection for the first time in three years, but did receive one first-place vote. They lose their top three players from a season ago, as well as their head coach Steve Donahue, who took the Boston College head coaching position.
Media Poll:
Princeton (12), Harvard (4), Cornell (1), Penn, Yale, Brown, Columbia, Dartmouth
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
For the first time in three seasons, Siena, the reigning MAAC champions, have not been selected as preseason favorites to win the conference. That honor goes to Fairfield, who made the MAAC tournament finals last season for the first time since 2003, and was semi-finalists in the CollegeInsiders.com post-season tournament. The Stags will be led by sophomore guard Derek Needham, who was selected as the 2009-2010 MAAC Rookie of the Year.
Coaches Poll:
Fairfield (6), Siena (3), St. Peter's (1), Iona, Rider, Loyola, Canisius, Niagara, Manhattan, Marist
All-Conference Team:
Derek Needham G, So., Fairfield
Scott Machado G, Jr., Iona
Wesley Jenkins G, Sr., Saint Peter's
Clarence Jackson G, Sr., Siena
Ryan Rossiter F, Sr., Siena
Player of the Year:
Ryan Rossiter F, Sr., Siena
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
It is no surprise that the Morgan State Bears was selected by 20 out of the 22 members of the panel that voted in the MEAC preseason poll. The Bears are led by Kevin Thompson, the MEAC preseason player of the year. Thompson is no stranger to conference accolades having earned the MEAC's Defensive Player of the Year and the Tournament's Most Outstanding Performer honor last season. In 2009-10, Thompson led the Bears to their second straight conference tournament title averaging roughly 13 points and 12 rebounds, fourth best in the NCAA. He was also selected to the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District First-Team.
Coaches/Media Poll:
Morgan State (20), South Carolina State, Hampton, Bethune-Cookman (2), Delaware State, Norfolk State, Maryland-Eastern Shore, North Carolina A&T, Howard, Coppin State, Florida A&M
All-Conference Team:
C.J. Reed G, Jr., Bethune-Cookman
Darrion Pellum G, Jr., Hampton
Dewayne Jackson G/F, So., Morgan State
Kevin Thompson F, Jr., Morgan State
Kyle O'Quinn C, Jr., Norfolk State
Player of the Year:
Kevin Thompson F, Jr., Morgan State
Mid-American Conference
Despite losing the top three players from the team that won the MAC tournament last season as an 8-seed, then shocked the country by upsetting Georgetown in the first round of the NCAA tournament, the Ohio Bobcats were picked to finish first, along with the Ball State Cardinals, to win the Mid-American Conference. Ball State will return four starters from a team that finished tied for second in the MAC West Division last season.
Eastern Division Media Poll:
Ohio (12), Kent State (8), Akron (4), Miami, Bowling Green, Buffalo
Western Division Media Poll:
Ball State (12), Central Michigan (8), Eastern Michigan (2), Western Michigan, Northern Illinois (2), Toledo
Conference Tournament Champions Media Poll:
Ohio (10), Kent State (6), Central Michigan (4), Ball State (2), Akron (2)
Eastern Division All-Conference Team:
Brett McKnight F, Sr., Akron
Scott Thomas F, Jr., Bowling Green
Justin Greene F, Jr., Kent State
Julian Mavunga F, Jr., Miami
D.J. Cooper G, So., Ohio
Western Division All-Conference Team:
Jarrod Jones F/C, Jr., Ball State
Trey Zeigler, G, Fy., Central Michigan
Brandon Bowdy F, Sr., Eastern Michigan
Xavier Silas G, Sr., Northern Illinois
Flenard Whitfield F, Jr., Western Michigan
Missouri Valley Conference
Northern Iowa was the darling of last season's NCAA tournament, thanks to a remarkable victory against top-seeded Kansas in the second round. But the Panthers lost three of their top players, and it was the Wichita State Shockers who were the unanimous selection to win the MVAC championship this season. Despite receiving nearly all the preseason votes, the MVAC is anything but a one-horse race. Missouri State, picked second, return the top seven scorers from the team that won the college's first post-season basketball championship, the CollegeInsiders.com Tournament. Creighton is always in the running for the MVAC crown and will receive a boost from Rutgers-transfer Gregory Echinque.
Coaches/Media Poll:
Wichita State (33), Missouri State (1), Northern Iowa (3), Creighton, Bradley (2), Illinois State, Indiana State, Drake, Southern Illinois, Evansville
All-Conference Team:
Kwadzo Ahelegbe G, Sr., Northern Iowa
Kenny Lawson Jr. C, Sr., Creighton
Sam Maniscalco G, Sr., Bradley
Toure' Murry G, Jr., Wichita State
Kyle Weems F, Jr., Missouri State
Player of the Year:
Kenny Lawson Jr. C, Sr., Creighton
Mountain West Conference
BYU may have the league's best player in Jimmer Fredette, but the Aztecs of San Diego State the best team in the conference. Or at least that's what conference coaches and media members believe. SDSU returns all five starters team that amassed a 25-9 overall record and tied for third in the MWC regular season a year ago. The Aztecs captured their third conference tournament crown and received the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, marking the program's fifth consecutive postseason appearance. Led by forwards Kawhi Leonard and Malcolm Thomas, the Aztecs look to make it six consecutive post-season appearances.
Coaches/Media Poll:
San Diego State (21), BYU (5), New Mexico (3), UNLV (1), Colorado State, Utah, TCU, Wyoming, Air Force
All-Conference Team:
Jimmer Fredette G, Sr., BYU
Dairese Gary G, Sr., New Mexico
Kawhi Leonard F, So., San Diego State
Malcolm Thomas F, Sr., San Diego State
Tre'Von Willis G, Sr., UNLV
Player of the Year:
Jimmer Fredette G, Sr., BYU
Rookie of the Year:
Kyle Collinsworth, G, BYU
Newcomer of the Year:
Drew Gordon F, Jr., New Mexico
Northeast Conference
Quinnipiac, led by last season's NEC player of the year, Justin Rutty, recieved 11 of the 12 conference coaches. The Bobcat's senior center is conference's most dominant player, averaging close to a double-double a contest. Two-time defending NEC Tournament champion Robert Morris was tabbed second, followed by Long Island, which recieved the other first place vote.
Coaches:
Quinnipiac (11), Robert Morris, Long Island, Central Connecticut State, Mount St. Mary's, Fairleigh Dickinson, St. Francis (NY), St. Francis (PA), Sacred Heart, Monmouth, Wagner, Bryant
All-Conference Team:
Karon Abraham G, So., Robert Morris
Akeem Bennett G, Sr., St. Francis (NY)
Ken Horton F, Jr., Central Connecticut State
Justin Rutty F/C, Sr., Quinnipiac
Mike Scott G, Sr., Fairleigh Dickinson
Ohio Valley Conference
(Note: The OVC does not have choose an all-conference first or second team. Instead they list all the potential candidates end-of-the-year OVC First-Team All-Conference)
The Ohio Valley Conference features one of the most intriguing Mid-Major teams in the country in Murray State, along with one of the most intriguing Mid-Major players in the country, Morehead State's Kenny Faried. Murray State was picked to win the OVC for the second year in a row. Last season Murray State won an OVC-record 31 games on its way to the OVC regular season and tournament championship as well as a NCAA Tournament win over Vanderbilt, which, if you remember correctly, came in dramatic fashion. Morehead State's Faried was named both the OVC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in 2009-10. Faried was second nationally in rebounding and double-doubles and 17th nationally in field goal percentage as he earned honorable mention All-American honors.
Coaches/Media Poll:
Murray State (18), Morehead State (2), Eastern Illinois, Austin Peay, Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee Tech, Tennessee State, Jacksonville State, Southeast Missouri, Tennessee-Martin
All-Conference Team:
Ivan Aska F, Jr., Murray State
Anthony Campbell F, Jr., Austin Peay
Isaiah Canaan G, So., Murray State
Kenneth Faried F/C, Sr., Morehead State
Demonte Harper G, Sr., Morehead State
B.J. Jenkins G, Sr., Murray State
Tyler Laser G, Sr., Eastern Illinois
Isaac Miles G, Sr., Murray State
Kevin Murphy F, Jr., Tennessee Tech
Nick Murphy G/F, Sr., Jacksonville State
Justin Stommes G/F, Sr., Eastern Kentucky
Player of the Year:
Kenneth Faried F/C, Sr., Morehead State
Pac-10 Conference
(Note: The Pac-10 does not select preseason all-conference teams or player of the year)
Last season the Pac-10 was awful. UCLA couldn't beat anybody, Arizona missed out on the tournament for the first time in what feels like 25 years, and we saw non-conference losses to teams like Portland and Seattle. This season things should be different, at least we hope so. For the first time in program history, the Washington Huskies were selected as preseason favorites to win the Pac-10. The team is led by standout guard Isaiah Thomas and forward Venoy Overton. They should receive a large impact from highly-touted freshman Terrence Ross. After Washington, the conference is pretty much up-in-the-air. Arizona should be solid, as coach Sean Miller has had a year to recruit heavily and teach his players the system. There is no way UCLA can be worse than they were last year. The name-brand talent may not be there, but Ben Howland will have his guys playing his way this year.
Coaches/Media Poll:
Washington (33), Arizona (1), UCLA (1), Arizona State, Washington State, Southern Cal, California, Oregon State, Stanford, Oregon
Patriot League
The 2010-2011 Patriot League should be an entertaining one, as five teams were separated by just 10 points at the top of the rankings by coaches and sports information directors. The Eagle of American U., winners of the 2008 and 2009 Patriot League received the most votes, but Bucknell, Lafayette and Holy Cross were closely behind. Lehigh, the conference champions from a season ago, were picked fifth.
Coaches/Media Poll:
American (7), Bucknell (3), Lafayette (2), Holy Cross (2), Lehigh, Navy, Colgate, Army
All-Conference Team:
Andrew Keister F, Sr., Holy Cross
CJ McCollum G, So., Lehigh
Jared Mintz F, Sr., Lafayette
Vlad Moldoveanu F, Sr., American
Mike Muscala F/C, So., Bucknell
Jordan Sugars G, Jr., Navy
Player of the Year:
CJ McCollum G, So., Lehigh
Southeastern Conference
Despite another spectacular recruiting class, John Calipari's Kentucky team was not able to garner the top spot in the SEC preseason polls. Florida, the last back-to-back National Champions, got that honor, due to a roster filled with experience, athleticism and talent. Preseason Player of the Year Trey Tompkins leads a Georgia squad that is as good as the program has fielded in years. Rick Stansbury's Mississippi State squad could pose a threat now that Renardo Sidney, John Riek and Dee Bost can be on the floor at the same time.
Media Poll:
Florida (8), Mississippi State (3), Kentucky (2), Tennessee (2), Georgia (1)
SEC East Poll:
Florida (13), Kentucky (3), Georgia (2), Tennessee (2), Vanderbilt, South Carolina
SEC West Poll:
Mississippi State (18), Ole Miss (2), Alabama, Arkansas, LSU, Auburn
Coaches All-Conference Team:
Dee Bost G, Jr., Mississippi State
JaMychal Green F, Jr., Alabama
Scotty Hopson G, Jr., Tennessee .
Travis Leslie G, Jr., Georgia
Chandler Parsons F, Sr., Florida
Marshawn Powell F, So., Arkansas
Jeffery Taylor F, Jr., Vanderbilt
Trey Thompkins F, Jr., Georgia
Chris Warren G, Sr., Ole Miss
Media All-Conference Team:
Brandon Knight G, Fr., Kentucky
Travis Leslie G, Jr., Georgia
Jeffery Taylor F, Jr., Vanderbilt
Trey Thompkins F, Jr., Georgia
Chris Warren G, Sr., Ole Miss
Player of the Year:
Trey Thompkins F, Jr., Georgia
Southern Conference
Wofford and Appalachian State are the favorites to capture the Southern Conference's divisional men's basketball titles in 2010-11, according to a vote by the leagues head coaches. Wofford were the Southern Division and SoCon Tournament champions last season and feature two of the conference's best forwards in Noah Dahlman and Jamar Diggs. Appalachian State advanced to the semifinals of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament last season but will see a replacement at the head coach position. Jason Capel, the brother of Oklahoma head coach Jason, replaces Buzz Petersen, who left to take the job at UNC-Wilmington.
Northern Division Coaches Poll:
Appalachian State (9), Western Carolina (3), Chattanooga, UNC-Greensboro, Elon, Samford
Southern Division Coaches Poll:
Wofford (10), Charleston (2), Davidson, Citadal, Furman, Georgia Southern
All-Conference Team:
Donald Sims G, Sr., Appalachian State
Cameron Wells G, Sr., The Citadel
Andrew Goudelock G, Sr., Charleston
Jeremy Simmons F, Sr., Charleston
Jake Cohen F, So., Davidson
JP Kuhlman G, So., Davidson
Drew Spradlin G, Jr., Elon
Amu Saaka F, Sr., Furman
Noah Dahlman F, Sr., Wofford
Jamar Diggs F, Sr., Wofford
Player of the Year:
Andrew Goudelock G, Sr., Charleston
Southland Conference
Stephen F. Austin, Nicholls and Southeastern Louisiana have been selected as the preseason favorites to win the Southland Conference in 2010-2011. Stephen F. Austin, winners of two of the last three regular-season titles, was ranked first in the West Division in both polls. Nicholls, tabbed as the favorites to win the Eastern division are led by two-time Southland first-team member Anatoly Bose.
Eastern Division Coaches Poll:
Nicholls (5), Southeastern Louisiana (3), Northwestern State (1), Lamar (2), McNeese State (1), Central Arkansas
Western Division Coaches Poll:
Stephen F. Austin (8), Sam Houston State (2), Texas State (1), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (1), Texas-San Antonio, Texas-Arlington
All-Conference Team:
Anatoly Bose G/F, Sr.,Nicholls
Gilberto Clavell F, Sr., Sam Houston State
Eddie Williams G, Sr., Stephen F. Austin
Devin Gibson G, Sr., Texas-San Antonio
Cameron Johnson F, Sr., Texas State
Southwestern Athletic Conference
Jackson State received the majority of first place votes as favorites to win the SWAC championship. The Tigers went 17-1 in the league last season, but were upset in the opening round of the SWAC Tournament by Arkansas-Pine Bluff, the eventual tournament champions, who were picked to finish second.
Coaches/Media Poll:
Jackson State (11), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (4), Alabama State, Prairie View A&M (1), Texas Southern (2), Alabama A&M (2), Mississippi Valley State, Grambling State, Southern, Alcorn State
All-Conference Team:
Rod Melvin G, Jr., Jackson State
Donald Qualls G, Sr., Grambling State
Travele Jones F, Sr., Texas Southern
Grant Maxey F, Sr., Jackson State
Amos Studivant C, Jr., Mississippi Valley State
Player of the Year:
Travele Jones F, Sr., Texas Southern
Defensive Player of the Year:
Chris Duncan C, Sr., Alabama State
Summit League
Oakland is once again the overwhelming favorite to win the Summit League, and its due in large part to Keith Benson, the conference's choice as preseason player of the year. The Golden Grizzlies set Summit League records for league victories (17), league winning percentage (.944) during the 2009-10 campaign and equaled the all-time record for consecutive league wins with 16 en route to their regular season and tournament titles. Benson, the team's leader and towering center, was awarded the Lou Henson Award in 2010 for being the Nation's Mid-Major Player of the Year by CollegeInsider.com.
Coaches/Media Poll:
Oakland (29), Oral Roberts (3), IUPUI (2), North Dakota State, South Dakota State, IPFW, Western Illinois, UMKC, Southern Utah, Centenary
All-Conference Team:
Keith Benson C, Sr., Oakland
Ceola Clark III G, Jr., Western Illinois
Michael Craion F, Sr., Oral Roberts
Dominique Morrison F, Jr., Oral Roberts
Michael Tveidt F, Sr., North Dakota State
Alex Young F, Jr., IUPUI
Player of the Year:
Keith Benson C, Sr., Oakland
Sun Belt Conference
Western Kentucky and North Texas were chosen as favorites to win the Sun Belt Conference in 2010-2011. The Green Terror of North Texas received all 12 first places votes to win the Eastern Division while the Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky received all but one vote to win the Western division. North Texas won the Sun belt tournament last season but fell to Kansas State in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
East Division Coaches Poll:
Western Kentucky (11), Florida Atlantic (1), South Alabama, Middle Tennessee, Florida International, Troy
West Division Coaches Poll:
North Texas (12), Arkansas State, Denver, Louisiana-Lafayette, Alabama-Litte Rock, Louisiana-Monroe
All-Conference Team:
George Odufuwa F, Sr., North Texas
Josh White G, Sr., North Texas
Tim Williams G, Sr., South Alabama
Sergio Kerusch F, Sr., Western Kentucky
Steffphon Pettigrew F, Sr., Western Kentucky
Player of the Year:
Sergio Kerusch F, Sr., Western Kentucky
West Coast Conference
(Note: The WCC does not chose a first team and section team. Instead they list the candidates for the all-conference teams posted at the end of the year.)
Gonzaga has won ten consecutive WCC titles and were selected by coaches to win their 11th in a row. The vote was not unanimous, as both Loyola Marymount and Saint Mary's received first place votes. Loyola Marymount made its first post-season appearance in 20 years last season, making the field of the CollegeInsiders.com Tournament. Saint Mary's, which was picked third, is coming off its first NCAA Sweet 16 appearance in school history and the 2010]WCC Tournament Championship.
Coaches Poll:
Gonzaga (6), Loyola Marymount (1), Saint Mary's (1), Santa Clara, Portland, San Francisco, Pepperdine, San Diego
All-Conference Team:
Steven Gray G, Sr., Gonzaga
Elias Harris F, So., Gonzaga
Vernon Teel G, Sr., Loyola Marymount
Drew Viney F, Jr., Loyola Marymount
Keion Bell G, Jr., Pepperdine
Jared Stohl G, Sr., Portland
Matthew Dellavedova G, So., Saint Mary's
Mickey McConnell G, Sr., Saint Mary's
Kevin Foster G, So., Santa Clara
Marc Trasolini F, Jr., Santa Clara
Western Athletic Conference
Both the coaches and media agree that Utah State is the favorite to win the conference, just like they did a year ago. New Mexico State, the winners of last season's conference tournament were picked to finish second in both polls. The coaches and media did differ on conference player of the year voting. The coaches believe Utah State's Tai Wesley is the conference’s best player while the media believes Adrian Oliver of San Jose State is.
Coaches Poll:
Utah State (8), New Mexico State (1), Nevada, Boise State, Fresno State, San Jose State, Louisiana Tech, Idaho, Hawaii
Media Poll:
Utah State (19), New Mexico State (8), Nevada (2), San Jose State (1), Fresno State, Boise State, Louisiana Tech, Idaho, Hawaii
All-Conference Team:
Troy Gillenwater F, Jr., New Mexico State
Wendell McKines F, Sr., New Mexico State
Adrian Oliver G, Sr., San Jose State
Greg Smith C, So., Fresno State
Tai Wesley F, Sr., Utah State
Coaches Player of the Year:
Tai Wesley F, Sr., Utah State
Media Player of the Year:
Adrian Oliver G, Sr., San Jose State
Newcomer of the Year:
Brockeith Pane G, Jr., Utah State
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