2007-2008 Team Preview: 38-2, 16-0 C-USA (1st)
Key Losses: Derrick Rose (14.9 ppg, 4.3 apg, 4.5 rpg), Chris Douglas-Roberts (18.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg), Joey Dorsey (6.9 ppg, 9.1 rpg)
Key Returnees: Antonio Anderson (8.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.4 apg), Robert Dozier (9.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg), Shawn Taggart (5.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg)
Newcomers: Tyreke Evans, Wesley Witherspoon, Angel Garcia, Matt Simpkins, Roburt Sallie, CJ Henry
Memphis lost Derrick Rose, Chris Douglas-Roberts, and Joey Dorsey to the NBA (with Rose and CDR leaving early), but Memphis still got a bit lucky with Antonio Anderson and Robert Dozier pulling their names out and returning for their senior years. Anderson is a big, strong guard that can run the point as well as play off the ball. He does a lot of things well - he is a decent shooter, fairly athletic, a solid defender, but more than anything Memphis will probably count on him for leadership. Also returning in the back court for Memphis is Doneal Mack and Willie Kemp. Mack and Kemp will be two of the best long-range shooters for the Tigers, although the rest of their games are very different - Mack is an athletic, 6'5" slasher where Kemp is more of a steady point guard that makes plays without turning the ball over (20 turnovers in 40 games, 3:1 assist-to-turnover ratio).
The Tigers return a lot in their front court. Dozier is as athletic as they come. He is 6'10", long, and very mobile, and can knock down a jump shot when he is open. His handle and post game leave much to be desired, but he can slash to the basket and finish at the rim, which is perfect for Coach Cal's system. Sophomore Shawn Taggert is a similar player to Dozier, with a little less athleticism but a little more polish offensively - better back-to-the-basket moves, better stroke. Also returning is junior Pierre Niles, who was a fairly highly touted recruit coming out of high school but has battled attitude, weight, and behavioral issues since he has stepped foot on the Memphis campus. But word out of Memphis is that Niles has a new work ethic and has lost around 45 lbs, and if that is true than Niles is good enough to be a force in the paint.
Now to the newcomers. Tyreke Evans is the best of the bunch. He is an athletic and highly skilled 6'5" scoring guard that knows how to score. He is very aggressive, and has a tendency to be too selfish, but if he can accept his role, he is the perfect player for the Memphis system. Wesley Witherspoon is a 6'8" athlete, and while he still is very raw offensively, he has the potential to be a game-changer if he can develop. Again, another guy well-suited to the Memphis system. Angel Garcia is a 6'11" forward with a lot of perimeter skills (handle, jump shot), but he is not quick enough to play the three yet and probably needs to bulk up to be effective in the post. Matt Simpkins, a 6'9" forward, is athletic, mobile, and a good finisher around the basket - think Dozier.
The other two newcomers are Roburt Sallie and CJ Henry. Sallie originally committed to Nebraska out of high school, but couldn't get eligible and spent a year at the City College of San Francisco. CJ Henry is the older brother of Xavier Henry, who we've written about before. CJ was a top-10 recruit in 2005, but decided to play baseball for the last three years. He wasn't getting anywhere, and since the Yankees (who signed him) had agreed to paying for his education in his contract, CJ walked on to Memphis. It may take a while to get back into game shape, but if his skills are still there, the 6'3" Henry should see a lot of time on the wing for Memphis.
Outlook: Memphis is loaded with talent and athleticism, but more importantly they are going to be big at every spot on the floor, so their defense should be as tough as ever. Losing the Dorsey to protect the rim will hurt, but they have enough big guys that it shouldn't be that big of a problem. The biggest issue I see is going to be that they have no real playmaker. Derrick Rose was able to break people down off the dribble, get into the paint, and find the open man - who on this roster is going to be able to do that? Anderson, maybe. Evans is able to, it is a matter of whether or not he will actually do it. The talent is there, the question is going to be, especially with how inexperienced a lot of the rotation is, how well will Cal get his team to fit into the Dribble Motion offense. Expect them to roll through C-USA again, but I don't think another Final Four is in the Tiger's future.
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Thursday, October 16, 2008
No. 12 Memphis: 2008-2009 Team Preview |
Dalonte Hill is College Basketball's Highest Paid Assistant Coach |
If I were to ask you what school had the highest paid assistant coach in the country, where would Kansas State be on that list? I'm guessing not first. Bob McClennan over at Rivals did some investigating, and found that Kansas State's Dalonte Hill is probably the highest paid assistant coach in the country.
By A LOT.
Hill will make $420,000 next year in salary and "extra benefits", which is $150,000 more than the next highest paid assistant that McClennan looked at (he only examined the 10 public universities in the top 15 of the 2007-08 post season poll, as well as Ohio State, Florida, and Kentucky; private universities aren't required to release this information).
I'm sure you won't be surprised to hear that Dalonte Hill was Michael Beasley's AAU coach in DC, and that Beasley looked on him as an older brother. I'm also sure you won't be surprised to find out that Hill was coaching at Charlotte during Beasley's last high school season (where Beasley was all set to go) until Bob Huggins swooped in and offered Hill the huge contract. And I was complaining about Billy Gillespie paying a recruit's father a couple grand?
Seriously though, take a look at this chart:
Those are the salaries for the assistants of the four teams that reached the Final Four last year, and four of the best and most consistent programs in the country. And Hill makes more than everyone one of them. He makes more than the entire staffs (three assistants per school) of Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Washington State.
I don't want to criticize a guy for getting his, but I really hope this guy is actually a decent coach (which he probably is - this will be his sixth season as a D-1 assistant, three of which were with Charlotte), because eventually he won't be able to eat off of his relationship with Michael Beasley.
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10/16 - Some Links, Some News |
Haven't done one of these in a while, and there's a lot of news to get caught up on...
-San Diego State forward Lorrenzo Wade has been suspended indefinitely by coach Steve Fisher after he plead guilty to felony burglary charges for stealing a tv from a women's apartment. Apparently, Wade has been held out of all team activities for the last two weeks, but the school did not announce the suspension until Wednesday, a day after Wade was in court.
-Chris Collinsworth, a 6'9" forward from BYU who averaged 3.2 ppg and 4.8 rpg as a freshman before heading to Sydney for his two-year mormon mission, was attacked yesterday and stabbed in the back. His companion was cut pretty badly on the hand, severing tendons and requiring surgery. Apparently the injuries Collinsworth suffered were not too serious, as he has already returned to his mission.
-Are they really earning degrees at record rates, or are schools being more lenient with athletes to be perceived in a better light when it comes to graduation rates? Am I too cynical?
-Jerry Jones wants Texas and North Carolina to play a game in the new stadium he is building.
-Could this actually sway North Carolina in Obama's favor? Obama must be a Heels fan. Remember when he laced 'em up and scrimmaged with them?
-Someone gave Jerry Tarkanian a blog.
-This may be the most epic post in the history of blogs - one reason to love every college basketball team.
-Marshall's Markel Humphrey, who averaged 13.3 ppg and 5.6 rpg last year, will be sidelined for at least 6 weeks with a stress fracture in his left foot.
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Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Wednesday Where Are They Now?: Miles Simon |
Ever wonder what happened to those college stars that couldn't catch on in the NBA? The guys that put up the great numbers or the guys that left early, and were never heard from again? Every Wednesday, we at BIAH will take a look at a former college star that never made it in the NBA, and we will update you on where he is playing or what he is doing. We're guessing the results will surprise you. To request a player, leave a comment in the comments section.
Miles Simon, Arizona
After a standout career at Southern California powerhouse Mater Dei High School, Miles Simon enrolled at Arizona at the ripe age of 17 with moderate expectations. He had solid freshman (8.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.6 apg) and sophomore (13.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 4.1 apg) years, but it was during his junior and senior seasons that he solidified his standing as an Arizona Wildcat legend.
Simon had a trying, up-and-down junior year. It started in the spring of 1996, during Simon's sophomore year. There was some sort of mix-up regarding Simon dropping an algebra class, with the end result being that the class was never officially struck from his record. This caused Simon, who was a mediocre student at best, to become academically ineligible for the fall semester. During that fall semester, Simon passed all of his classes, but it still did not get his GPA up to eligibility standards. His last chance was to take a three-week Family Studies mini-course during the Christmas break and get an A, which would get him eligible. He succeeded (although there were some in depth investigations into whether or not his grades were tampered with), and joined the team after missing the first 11 games.
But that wasn't the end of Simon's troubles that year. He also battled a serious case of pneumonia, which put him in the hospital with a fever of 103 just three games into his return. In mid-February of that year, the car he was driving was struck on the driver's door in an impact strong enough to fling him into the passenger's seat. Despite all of that, Simon managed to average 18.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, and 4.2 apg in the 23 games he played, which is all the more impressive when you consider that team also had Mike Bibby, Jason Terry, and Michael Dickerson, among others. Arizona went 6-5 without Simon, which is part of the reason they were a #4 seed heading into the NCAA tournament. Arizona had one of the greatest NCAA tourney runs of all-time, knocking off three #1 seeds (UNC, Kansas, and Kentucky in the final, who just so happened to be, at the time, the three winningest programs of all-time) en route to the title. Simon was named the most outstanding player after scoring 30 in the Championship Game Catfight.
Simon decided to return to school and was named a 1st team all-american his senior year, posting averages of 17.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.7 apg. He was a second round pick (42nd overall) by the Orlando Magic, but only managed to see time in five games in 1998-1999 before being cut. Simon would bounce around for the next five years, playing in leagues in Israel, Italy, and Venezuela, as well minor leagues in the US (random fact - playing for the CBA's Dakota Wizards in 2001-2002, he was named League MVP, 
Playoffs MVP, and Newcomer of the Year). He had some tryouts with NBA teams (the Clippers in 2001, the Sonics in 2002), but was unable to latch on with them. After the 2002-2003 season, Simon suffered a horrific knee injury playing pick-up basketball - he tore his ACL, MCL, and meniscus, forcing him to be sidelined for more than 12 months. He attempted a comeback in 2004, playing in Turkey before joining on with the Nuggets, but he didn't make it past their summer league team.
In 2005, Simon joined the Arizona program as an assistant. He was there until May of this year, when he was a casualty of Lute Olson cleaning house. He is currently coaching the senior team of LA's Pump 'N' Run Elite, which had Solomon Hill (Rivals # 28, '09), Tyler Honeycutt (#29, '09), Kendall Williams (#47, '10), and Tyler Lamb (#99, '10), among many others, on the roster at some point this year. As Gary Parrish details in this article, with the connections and relationships to talented high schoolers that Simon has, don't expect him to be out of the college ranks for long.
Continue reading...
Terrence Williams is hurt and Robert Vaden is a moron |
Some important news about a couple of important players. First off, Terrence Williams tore his medial meniscus in a pick-up game on campus, just two days before the official start of practice and mere hours after being praised by Rick Pitino at the Louisville tip-off luncheon for his work and dedication in the off-season. Williams will undergo surgery in the coming days and will be sidelined for the next 4-6 weeks. The news about the torn meniscus was actually good news for Pitino and the Cardinals:
I'm ecstatic that it's not an ACL tear as was first feared. He'll be out only a short period of time, and we know he'll come back as good as new. We're totally relieved.If all goes according to plan and Williams is back in 4 weeks, then he should be ready to play by the time games begin and back to 100% when Big East play starts in January. T-Will is so important to this Louisville team, as he is really the only guy they have that can create for someone other than himself. I really hope that this doesn't have a negative effect on his performance for his senior year, as he is one of the most entertaining and exciting players to watch in the Big East.
Robert Vaden is a different story. Vaden, who originally attended Indiana before transferring to UAB to follow head coach Mike Davis, was back in Bloomington this past weekend. While he was there, Vaden was arrested on a preliminary charge of public intoxication. Not all that big of a deal, right? Vaden is 23 years old, and was back visiting old friends and had a few too many, meaning he spent the night in the drunk tank.
By itself, really not much to talk about. Except Vaden is still on probation from a disorderly conduct charge after he and four other Blazer players were arrested after a fight outside a club in August of 2007. Now I don't know if this will violate his probation (I assume it does) or what kind of punishment he will face as a result (I assume it depends on the mood of the judge or probation officer who handles it), but I would not be surprised if he missed some games as a result. Gotta use better judgement, Bobby.Ironically, the story about his arrest broke on the same day he was announced as the preseason player of the year in Conference USA. Vaden, a sharpshooter who averaged 21 points, 4 boards, and 3 dimes per game last year (and also put on one of the greatest shooting displays I've ever seen against Kentucky last year - seriously, watch that video, it was incredible), declared for June's NBA Draft, but withdrew his name days before the deadline. Continue reading...
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
No. 13 Oklahoma: 2008-2009 Team Preview |
2007-2008 Team Record: 23-12, 9-7 Big XII (t-4th)
Key Losses: Longar Longar (11.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg), David Godbold (7.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg)
Key Returnees: Blake Griffin (14.9 ppg, 9.1 rpg), Tony Crocker (11.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg),
Newcomers: Willie Warren, TJ Franklin, Ray Willis, Ryan Wright, Orlando Allen, Kyle Cannon, Juan Patillo
Blake Griffin probably would have been a lottery pick if he had entered the draft after his freshman year, but he decided to return to Oklahoma for his sophomore season. Griffin is easily a pre-season first team all-american and may be the best player in the country (although the folks at UNC may have something to say about that). Blake Griffin dealt with some knee problems during his freshman year, but based on the workout regimen he put himself through over the summer, I think it is safe to say that his knees are healthy. Griffin is a phenomenal physical specimen, standing 6'10" and 240 lb of muscle. He is a very aggressive offensive player, attacking the basket and the offensive boards. He can finish with authority in the paint, but he also has a great touch around the basket. His jump shot and ball-handling could be improved, as well as his defensive effort, but don't be surprised if Griffin averages 18 and 12.
After Blake Griffin, the Oklahoma front line gets a little iffy. Taylor Griffin, Blake's brother, is a solid player. He's three inches shorter than Blake, but he is probably the better defender of the two. Taylor is more of a team player, willing to sacrifice his stats for wins, which is why, with the emergence of Blake and center Longar Longar last season, Taylor's production dropped off a bit. But Taylor is definitely a talented player and an above average post in the Big XII. The Sooners also add sophomore JuCo transfer Kyle Cannon. Cannon is another big body (6'8", 245 lb) and looks to be the first big man off the bench, but his health may be a question mark as he is coming off of knee surgery. Ryan Wright, who spent two years at UCLA before transferring to OU, will become eligible this year. At worst, he is a serviceable big man that can provide some depth up front, which the Sooners were sorely lacking last year. Orlando Allen, a 6'11" JuCo transfer, and junior Beau Gerber may also see some time.
The one thing Oklahoma was missing last year was a dynamic play maker on the perimeter. They landed that with Willie Warren, a top-20 recruit that is a great athlete and scorer. Warren and Griffin could form one of the more potent inside-outside combinations in the country.
There is no shortage of big, athletic perimeter players for the Sooners. Warren is 6'4". They also return Austin Johnson (6'3"), Tony Crocker (6'6"), and Cade Davis (6'5"), and add freshman Ray Willis (6'6") and JuCo transfer Juan Patillo (6'7"). Johnson was their primary ballhandler, splitting time with senior Omar Leary, but may be out of a job depending on how Jeff Capel plans on using Warren (meaning, is Warren going to be the lead guard or play off the ball). Tony Crocker has developed into a reliable third option as a scorer, and is the Sooners best shooter. Willis, Davis, and Patillo will battle it out for the left over playing time. Willis probably has the most raw talent (he is a top-100 recruit) of the bunch, although he is mainly an athlete that plays basketball at this point. Patillo is an inside-outside threat, who can finish in the paint and knock down a three.
Outlook: Oklahoma looks much more balanced than they did last year. On paper, they have a very good squad. The problem is that they will depend a lot on guys that haven't proven that they can play at this level - Warren, Wright, Willis, Patillo. But they do have Blake Griffin, and he alone should be enough to keep them near the top of the Big XII standings regardless of the other four guys on the floor. If Warren is as good as advertised, Crocker continues to develop as a reliable option, and the newcomers prove they can compete, a conference title is a real possibility for this team, especially since the Big XII is wide open this year.
Continue reading...
Billy Gillespie Is Back At It |
Holding Big Blue Madness a week early has already paid off for Billy Gillespie. Daniel Orton, a 6'10", 260 lb center who is a top-25 recruit nationally, committed to Kentucky on Sunday after spending the weekend in Lexington. At a press conference Orton called before leaving Kentucky, he said there were two major factors in his decision - that Kansas, his other major suitor, had gotten a commitment from forward Thomas Robinson and thus filled their scholarships; and the outpouring of support from Big Blue Nation, which included the fans at Big Blue Madness chanting his name until he acknowledged them.
But was there another factor? Jeff Goodman reported on his blog that Larry Orton, Daniel's father, as well as Daniel's brother, Terrence Crawford, both spoke and/or made appearances at Kentucky camps over the summer. Orton's father, specifically, said that he spoke three times (twice bringing Daniel with him), and Goodman guesses that he was paid around $500-$1,000 per appearance. Larry Orton was a college basketball player (playing two years of JuCo ball before playing at Old Dominion and eventually finishing up his career at Cameron University) and is an assistant on Orton's AAU team, and Crawford played at Oklahoma State for a current Kentucky assistant, both credible basketball resumes. But let's be honest - neither of them are Hubie Brown, and neither would be getting those opportunities is it wasn't for the talents of Daniel.
To be clear, Gillespie is not breaking any rules. Just like he didn't break any rules recruiting 8th graders and he didn't break any rules holding Big Blue Madness early. Is he pushing ethical boundaries? Yes. Is he smack dab in the middle of the grey area where he bends, but doesn't quite break the rules? Yes.
But does every other coach in the country do the same thing? Yes. Larry Orton also said that Oklahoma State and Kansas paid him to speak at camps.
So is this really that big of a deal? Probably not. Call me cynical, but I really doubt that all Daniel Orton got during his recruitment was a couple hundred bucks in the pockets of his brother and father.
Continue reading...
Saturday, October 11, 2008
No. 14 Michigan State: 2008-2009 Team Preview |
2007-2008 Team Record: 27-9, 12-6 Big Ten (4th)
Key Losses: Drew Neitzel (13.9 ppg, 4.0 apg), Drew Naymick (4.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg)
Key Returnees: Raymarr Morgan (14.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg), Kalin Lucas (10.3 ppg, 3.9 apg), Goran Suton (9.1 ppg, 8.2 rpg)
Newcomers: Delvon Roe, Draymond Green, Korie Lucious, Austin Thornton
Losing a talent like Drew Neitzel always is going to hurt, but Michigan State is still going to be one of the top two or three teams in the Big Ten next year. The biggest reason is that Raymarr Morgan decided to return to school for his junior season. Morgan is the perfect player for a Tom Izzo team. His size (6'7", 225 lb), strength, and athleticism would probably make him a pretty effective tight end, and he is an aggressive rebounder and good defender. His perimeter skills are still developing, but he is a good scorer when he is attacking the rim (he shot 180 free throws last year), and can finish through contact. If he can develop a jump shot that is consistent out to the three point line, he can be a Caron Butler-type player this year.
The Spartans will also have three very good big men. The best of the bunch may be freshman Delvon Roe, depending on his health (he underwent micro-fracture surgery in December, and had another minor surgery on his other knee in August). When healthy, Roe (6'8", 225 lb) is an explosive athlete and great finisher around the rim. His footwork is much improved, and he has apparently added some very nice finesse moves (drop-steps, up-and-unders) to his repertoire. MSU also returns seniors Goran Suton and Marquise Gray. Gray has been a part-time starter all three years at MSU, mainly because he has never developed beyond a big body that can grab a few boards, throw down a dunk, and provide a tough presence in the paint. Suton is 6'10, 245 lb, but mobile for a kid his size. He is one of the best rebounders in the country, especially on the offensive end, where he averaged almost three o-boards per game last year. 6'11" senior Idong Ibok and 6'7" freshman Draymond Green should also compete for minutes.
Even without Neitzel, Michigan State looks to have a pretty solid back court. Kalin Lucas and Travis Walton are a great combo at the point. Lucas is a lighting quick point guard that loves to run the floor and make plays, where as Walton is a much steadier point guard who won't make the flashy play, but won't turn the ball over and will get the ball to the open man. Lucas is a better scorer, but Walton is probably the team's best perimeter defender. Korie Lucious, a top-100 recruit, should also see some minutes at the point. The Spartans two off-guards are Chris Allen and Durrell Summers. Allen is more of a shooter and should see an increase in attempts with Neitzel gone, while Summers is a little bit taller and more of a slasher (Izzo has said that he has been impressed by Summers this off-season).
Outlook: Michigan State looks like they will resemble the Spartan teams of the late-90's this year. They have some good size up front with a lot of guys that love attacking the back boards. Their guards are tough, pesky defenders and I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of pressure man-to-man in the half court out of this team. But what I like the most about the Spartans this year is their versatility and balance. They can go really big (with Morgan, Roe, and Suton up front) or really small (with Walton and Lucas in the backcourt and Morgan at the four) and still be a dangerous team. Michigan State seems to be one of those teams that is always ranked too high in the preseason (see here for statistical evidence) and thus ends up having a disappointing regular season only to redeem themselves with a deep tourney run. I think that they are destined for a similar kind of year unless Morgan can become a go-to scorer and one of Lucas and Walton can lock down the starting point guard spot. I'll make a prediction: third in the Big Ten regular season, but they make a run to the Elite 8.
Continue reading...
Friday, October 10, 2008
No. 15 Arizona St.: 2008-2009 Team Preview |
2007-2008 Team Record: 21-13, 9-9 Pac-10 (t-5th)
Key Losses: Christian Polk (3.5 ppg)
Key Returnees: James Harden (17.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.3 apg), Jeff Pendergraph (12.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg), Ty Abbott (9.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
Newcomers: Johnny Coy, Taylor Rhode, Brenton Thomas, Virgil Sanders, Trent Anderson, Stephen Rogers, Nico Fricchione
Arizona State was one of the last teams left out of the NCAA tournament last year, but they return essentially their entire roster. When you talk about Arizona State, the first person you have to mention is James Harden. The Pac-10 was loaded with talented players like Kevin Love and OJ Mayo last season, so its easy to see why Harden flew under the radar nationally. Harden, however, was as productive as anyone in the conference. Harden has what I would term as "old-man's game". He is not all that athletic (although that picture may make you think otherwise), but he is extremely fundamentally sound. He knows how to use hesitations, fakes, and jump-stops to create space for himself to get a shot off and how to draw a defender (especially on penetration) and kick out to an open teammate. He is a very efficient player (53% FG, 41% 3's), is a fantastic shooter, and has a high basketball IQ. He isn't going to dunk over you, but he will slither his way to the basket and finish with a floater, finger roll, or runner that will leave you saying "how the heck did he make that?".
Arizona State has a slew of other talented guards. The best of the bunch is probably sophomore Ty Abbott, a late signee last year after de-committing from New Mexico. Abbott is a very good shooter (his 76 3's were fourth most by a freshman in Pac-10 history) and thrived off of kickouts from teammates. Derek Glasser will most likely get most of the starts at the point, but he is coming off of knee surgery in May, so Jamelle McMillan should also see a lot of time (they basically shared PG duties last season as well). They are very similar players, as both as good play-makers that can knock down an open three, but Glasser protects the ball better (59 t/o's in 912 minutes versus 43 t/o's in 484 minutes). Also in the rotation in the Sun Devils back court is Jerren Shipp, Josh's (UCLA) and Joe's (former Cal Bear) brother. Jerren, a junior, is a very capable scorer that kind of got lost in the shuffle with the addition of Abbott and Harden (he did start 16 games last year when the Sun Devils went small, with Harden at the four).
As good as the Sun Devil back court could end up being next year, their front court must improve in order for them to be better than a good Pac-10 team. They do have Jeff Pendergraph, a 6'9" bruiser inside. Pendergraph, like Harden, is a bit of a throwback player. He's not a combo-forward, as he is much more effective with his back to the basket, using a variety of jump hooks, drop steps, and up fakes to score. He's big, strong, and fairly athletic. But beyond that, the Sun Devil front line was thin last year, which helped lead them to being the second worst rebounding team in the Pac-10 (although they do play strictly zone, which is a much tougher defense to rebound and box out in). Eric Boateng, the 6'10" Duke transfer and former Mickey D's all-american, should benefit from the year getting used to the ASU system and hopefully can provide another force inside. Rihards Kuksiks came on strong towards the end of the year, scoring double figures in six of the last 12 games, but he is still more of a wing than an inside threat. His versatility is effective in Herb Sendek's system - he can mix it up a bit in the paint defensively, but he has the perimeter skills and jump shot to create a mismatch on the offensive end. Freshmen Johnny Coy (a 6'7" wing) and Taylor Rhodes (a 6'8" forward) should also compete for minutes.
Outlook: You know what you are going to get when you play Arizona State: a slow-paced game where you will have to defend for 35 seconds and beat a zone on the offensive end. Sendek has recruited well for his system, as he has a lot of guys that can do a lot of different things. James Harden is probably the preseason favorite for Pac-10 player of the year, and if the rest of the team can improve, Arizona State is looking at the most talented roster they have had in a long time. They aren't as good as UCLA, but a second place finish in the conference and advancing to the second weekend in the NCAA's is very possible.
Continue reading...
College Basketball "Starts" This Weekend |
For schools around the country, Midnight Madness marks the beginning of the college basketball season. Why is it called Midnight Madness? Because team's traditionally will hold their first official practice at midnight on the first day that practices are allowed by the NCAA, opening it up to the public and their fans (nowadays, with ESPN covering the practices, a lot of teams will hold their "Midnight Madness" in prime time). As we have discussed here before, Kentucky started a trend by holding their Big Blue Madness tonight at 10:00 pm. Follow the jump for the full schedule of teams holding their Midnight Madness this weekend:
The award for the most interesting goes to Illinois, who will be holding their first practice (weather permitting) on a court set up in the end zone of the Illini football stadium immediately following the Illinois-Minnesota football game.
Don't expect this trend to continue much longer, however. The NABC is already looking into ending it because of the "recruiting overtones" associated with holding Midnight Madness earlier (read this article by Pat Forde and tell me it isn't a very convincing tool).
Continue reading...
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Wednesday Where Are They Now? (on Thursday): Omar Cook |
Ever wonder what happened to those college stars that couldn't catch on in the NBA? The guys that put up the great numbers or the guys that left early, and were never heard from again? Every Wednesday, we at BIAH will take a look at a former college star that never made it in the NBA, and we will update you on where he is playing or what he is doing. We're guessing the results will surprise you. To request a player, leave a comment in the comments section.
Omar Cook, St. John's
Omar Cook was supposed to be another in the long line of superstar New York City point gods. Cook was a McDonald's all-american his senior year Christ the King high school before heading to St. John's University in Queens. He only played for the Johnnies for one season (2000-2001), but he was fantastic for that one season. Cook not only averaged 15.3 ppg, but he led the Big East (and was second in the country) with 8.7 apg while averaging 2.3 spg. No one can argue that Cook was a great playmaker - he had the typical NYC point guard swagger and handle, being able to shake just about any defender while seemingly always finding the open man.
While Cook could always make the spectacular play, there were really two fatal flaws in his game - he too often would try to make the difficult play and end up turning the ball over (he averaged more than 5 turnovers in his one year) and he couldn't shoot (in 29 games, he shot 220 3's and only made 68, a crisp 31% clip). Still, he was talented enough for the Orlando Magic to take a chance on him with the 32nd pick in the 2001 NBA Draft, but his NBA career wouldn't last much longer than that. He was almost immediately traded to Denver, who would end up cutting him in training camp. Over the next four years, Cook would bounce around between NBA rosters and the Fayetteville Patriots of the NBDL. All told, he would be on the roster of (or signed for a short time by) - Dallas (2001), Boston (summer 2002), Orlando (training camp 2002), Indiana (training camp 2003), Portland (2003-04, played in 17 games), Charlotte (training camp 2004), and Toronto (2005, played in 5 games). Cook's NBA career totals were 22 games with averages of 1.7 ppg and 2.1 apg. During those four years, Cook also averaged 38 games a season for Fayetteville, scoring 10.1 ppg and handing out 7.4 apg.
After four years trying to make it in the NBA, Cook headed overseas. Cook bounced around Europe for a little while as well, playing for Dexia Mons Hainaut (Belgium), Samara (Russia), and Strausburg (France) during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons. In 2007-08, Cook joined Red Star Belgrade of the Serbian League. Cook ended up playing in 43 total games with Red Star, with 14 of those coming in the ULEB Cup. Cook average 16.5 ppg, 6.5 apg, and 3.0 spg in Red Star's 29 Adriatic League games, and led the ULEB Cup by averaging 6.1 apg while also posting 15.2 ppg and 2.4 spg.
Cook apparently enjoyed his time in the Balkans, because during the summer of 2007, he applied for and was given a passport and citizenship in Montenegro. This is important for two reasons, especially dealing with FIBA's international regulations. For one, he will be able to compete internationally with the Montenegrin national team because he is a citizen of the country (kind of like what Becky Hammon did with Russia). But since he has a foreign passport and citizenship, he does not count as an american player (European leagues have limits on the number of americans allowed on a team's roster). This is a smart move by Cook, because it increases the number of teams that are able to sign him and thus increases his value as a player.
Cook recently signed a two year contract with Unicaja Malaga of Spain's top league, a team that reached the Euroleague during 2007-08. Joining Cook on Malaga is Marcus Haislip from Tennessee, Robert Archibald from Illinois, Thomas Kelati from Washington State, and former NBA players Boniface Ndong and Jiri Welsch.
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Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Marcus Ginyard Injured |
Marcus Ginyard underwent surgery on a stress fracture in his left foot today, meaning he will be out about eight weeks. Apparently, Ginyard played much of last season in pain, even being forced to wear a boot at times (according to the AP, team officials called the injury a "stress reaction"). In August, he sprained his left ankle, which aggravated the foot injury. In a statement, coach Roy Williams said
You hate this for Marcus because he has worked so hard to get ready for his senior season, but he decided it was better to have the surgery now and be ready sometime in December than risk a more substantial injury that would knock him out of action later in the season.If the injury is really an eight week thing, then Ginyard could be back by the Michigan State game in the ACC/Big Ten challenge on December 3rd, and possibly the Maui Invitational at the end of November. Hopefully (for Tar Heel fans) Ginyard will be back to 100% by the time the ACC season rolls around in January. While UNC is talented enough to overcome the loss of Ginyard for a time, it will still hurt because he is probably the Heels best perimeter defender, and if you saw them play last year you know that they can ill afford to lose anyone that will actually play some defense. Continue reading...
No. 16 Marquette: 2008-2009 Team Preview |
2007-2008 Team Preview: 25-10, 11-7 Big East (t-5th)
Key Losses: Ousmane Barro (5.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.3 bpg), Dan Fitzgerald (4.2 ppg), Tom Crean (coach)
Key Returnees: Dominic James (12.9 ppg, 4.4 apg), Jerel McNeal (14.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.6 apg), Wesley Matthews (11.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg)
Newcomers: Chris Otule, Joseph Fulce, Jimmy Butler, Buzz Williams (coach)
Tom Crean left Marquette for Indiana, but he leaves Buzz Williams with a very talented team. Marquette, once again, will be loaded with good guards. At this point, everyone around the Big East and the country should know about the trio of seniors Dominic James, Jerel McNeal, and Wesley Matthews. James is probably the most talented of the bunch, but he is coming off of a bit of a disappointing season individually. He was banged up all year long, and never really got on track offensively. When he is 100%, James is one of the best athletes in the country, boasting outstanding quickness and strength, and a 39" vertical. James does have a tendency to look for his own shot first, which sometimes leads to poor decision making, but he did seem to be much more unselfish as the season wore on.
Jerel McNeal had the best season of the three last year, averaging almost 15 points and 5 boards to go along with 3.6 apg and 2.2 spg. He is a very good defender, both on the ball and in the passing lanes, and loves to attack the basket. McNeal is an aggressive player, and can take over a game on both ends of the floor when he gets on a roll (look at the last six games - McNeal averaged 23 ppg, including 30 against Stanford in the NCAA tourney). Matthews is the biggest of the bunch at 6'5". He isn't as talented as James or McNeal, but he does a lot of things well. The best aspect of his game is probably his slashing ability. The Golden Eagles also bring two talented guards off the bench in David Cubillan and Maurice Acker. Cubillan is a 6'0" scoring guard from Venezuela who is a streaky shooter that can put up points in a hurry. Acker is a 5'8" lighting bug with the ball who can create and is a knockdown three point shooter, especially when he gets his feet set.
Marquette's front line is (as it has been the last three years) where the question marks come in. Ousmane Barro is gone, but Marquette does return 6'6" Lazar Hayward. Hayward is the best three-point shooter on the team at 45%, but he tends to fall in love with the shot. He can put the ball on the floor a little bit, especially against bigger players (in Crean's system, Hayward, who is a natural 3, played the four, meaning he would draw a lot of mismatches on the offensive end). Also returning is Dwight Burke, who started 17 games as a junior. Burke is 6'8" and 250 lb, and despite not being too mobile, he is an above average offensive rebounder, grabbing 46 in just 11.8 mpg. Trevor Mbakwe, who was slated to be a medical redshirt after injuring his knee, returned in February and played in 11 games. Mbakwe (who almost transferred after Crean left, but decided to stay when Williams was announced as the head coach) is tough, aggressive, and athletic, and at 6'7" should provide some quality minutes at forward for the Golden Eagles (Ed. Note: Mbakwe actually decided to transfer to Miami-Dade Community College, although he is still listed on the team's roster on the Marquette website). Marquette also adds three guys to their front court rotation - freshman Chris Otule (a 6'10" recruit from Texas who should back up Burke), and sophomore JuCo transfers Jimmy Butler and Joseph Fulce, who both should compete for playing time.
Outlook: Crean left the cupboard full for Williams. He returns a deep, talented, and experienced back court that should provide leadership and make the transition that much easier for Williams. The front court is where they will face problems. The Big East powers (UConn, Notre Dame, Pitt) all are big down low, and unless guys like Mbakwe and Otule can step up and have outstanding years, it will be tough for Marquette to be able to match-up with some of them. That said, their back court (plus Hayward) is talented enough and versatile enough that they should be able to exploit some mismatches and win some games against bigger teams. I think they are right there with the Villanova's and the Syracuse's battling for the 5th-9th spots in the conference.
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Tuesday, October 7, 2008
No. 17 Baylor: 2008-2009 Team Preview |
2007-2008 Team Record: 21-11, 9-7 Big XII (t-4th)
Key Losses: Aaron Bruce (8.4 ppg)
Key Returnees: Curtis Jerrells (15.3 ppg, 3.8 apg), LaceDarius Dunn (13.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg), Kevin Rogers (12.3 ppg, 8.5 rpg)
Newcomers: Quincy Acy, Anthony Jones, Fred Ellis, Kendall Wright, Artem Valov
Baylor was one of the biggest surprises in the country last season, winning 21 games and advancing to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 20 years. The main reason for that was their back court, which is probably the best in the Big XII. Baylor loves to push the ball and play a wide open style, and Curtis Jerrells is the guy that makes this team go. He is a good scorer and creator, and although he generally looks for his own shot first, he averaged 3.8 apg last year while cutting his turnovers down from almost 3 to just over 2 per game. Jerrells biggest issue as a player is that he shoots a lot of 3's (5 per game), but makes a low percentage (33%).
LaceDarius Dunn was the Bears second leading scorer last year at 13.6 ppg, despite not starting a single game and playing just 22 mpg. Dunn is about 6'4" and strong, but he is not overly athletic. A phenomenal shooter (he shot 42% from three last year, taking more than 60% of his shots from behind the arc), Dunn is very crafty when he puts the ball on the floor and usually finishes his drives with short jumpers or floaters. Dunn was one of the most efficient players in the country last year (ask Luke Winn), and could be primed for a huge sophomore year. Henry Dugat and Tweety Carter are also both excellent players. Dugat is a bit bigger than Carter (6'0" to 5'10"), but both are similar players - they can knock down the three, they are good defenders, and they can create their own shot off the dribble. Dugat is a little better defensively (he is also a fantastic athlete with a 40" vert), while Carter, the first McDonald's all-american recruit to attend Baylor, is probably a more complete offensive player (a better shooter and distributor). Freshman Kendall Wright, an all-state player from Texas who is a "walk-on" (at Baylor on a football scholarship) should also compete for minutes.
The Baylor front line is where they have questions marks. Kevin Rogers is very good in the system that Baylor runs. He is athletic and mobile, and is most effective on the move (i.e. running the floor or rolling to the basket after a screen and roll, two things Baylor does a lot) because he has great body control and good hands. He is a good finisher around the rim, but he is still not very polished offensively (with his back to the basket or facing up) despite being a senior. The Bears also have two 7-footers returning. Senior Mamadou Diene is one of the best shot blockers in the Big XII, but not much more than that. Junior Josh Lomers is better offensively, but still isn't much more than a 7-foot stiff.
Baylor also adds three freshman to the front court rotation. Anthony Jones is a 6'10" combo forward who is very good at running the floor and has a solid perimeter game with three point range, although he tends to float around outside too much (think Donte Greene of Syracuse last year). Quincy Acy is similar to Kevin Rogers, in that he is an athletic, aggressive 6'8" forward that is a strong finisher around the rim, but lacking in ball skills. Redshirt freshman Fred Ellis also should compete for some minutes now that he will be eligible. JuCo transfer Artem Valov, a 6'9", 245 lb bruiser, also signed with Baylor, but is not currently listed on the roster on the Baylor website.
Outlook: Baylor plays a helter-skelter, fast paced style, and when their guards are hitting their shot, they are going to be a tough team to beat. The difference between this year's team and last year's team is that they will be a little bit more balanced. Both Jones and Acy should be able to provide some quality minutes and provide some depth at the forward spot, allowing Scott Drew a little more freedom to mix and match his line-ups. I don't think they are as good as Texas or Oklahoma, but a third place finish and a Sweet 16 run are definitely within reach for this team.
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10/7 - Some Links, Some News |
-Pete Thamel from the New York Times caught up with Brandon Jennings in Rome. The highlights: Through five exhibition games, Jennings is leading the team in scoring at 20 ppg and is receiving enough coaching that he has actually been thrown out of a practice; he is making a total of $1.2 million this year in salary and endorsement (he signed with Under Armour); and he likes fettucini alfredo.
-Gary Parrish is fed up of freshman making stupid mistakes on campus, so he gives them a little bit of advice. Aren't all of these fairly obvious?
-Billy Donovan, over a year removed from backing out on the Orlando Magic, has finally signed a contract with Florida.
-A couple of interesting articles. The rising gas prices are having a huge effect on college athletics, including possibly changing the Thursday/Saturday - Friday/Sunday NCAA Tournament schedule. The New York Times takes a look at how internet videos are influencing college recruiting.
-Renaldo Woolridge, a freshman at Tennessee, is a better rapper than Bobby Maze (I still love the B-Maze video - "I can't forget about my man Cam Tatum; y'all better stop playin', y'all some potatoes")
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Monday, October 6, 2008
No. 18 Miami FL: 2008-2009 Team Preview |
2007-2008 Team Preview: 23-11, 8-8 ACC (5th)
Key Losses: Anthony King (7.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg), Raymond Hicks (5.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg)
Key Returnees: Jack McClinton (17.7 ppg, 2.9 3's, 43% 3's), James Dews (10.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg), Dwayne Collins (8.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg)
Newcomers: Dequan Jones, Reginald Johnson, Cyrus McGowan
Jack McClinton may be the most explosive scorer in the country. Don't believe me? Just ask St. Mary's, the team he put up 32 second half points against in the opening round of the NCAA tournament. McClinton can score in a multitude of ways. He is an excellent three point shooter, hitting on 43% of his 220 attempts during the season. But he also is pretty quick, and is able to use his shooting ability to get defenders off balance and set up his penetration, where he can finish in the mid-range and at the rim (although his 6'1" height limits his effectiveness in the paint). The bottom-line is that McClinton can flat out score (he was better in conference, averaging 18.8 ppg in ACC games), and can score a lot in a hurry.
The Hurricanes also have some talented players returning around McClinton. Also starting in Miami's three-guard backcourt will probably be Lance Hurdle and James Dews. Dews is a junior and solid contributor who was voted the team's most improved player last year. Last year, he was used mostly as a spot up shooter, but if he continues to improve he could be a dangerous weapon for the U. Hurdle is an athletic point guard and an excellent defender (probably the best perimeter defender Miami has). He is aggressive attacking the rim, but can also knock down a three pointer. DeQuan Jones, a top 25 recruit, will also see time on the perimeter. Jones needs to improve his handle and his jump shot, but he is a 6'6" high flier that will probably do this a lot (that's John Wall he dunks on).
Miami's front court does have a few question marks, especially with the loss of Anthony King. Dwayne Collins and Brian Asbury split time in the starting line up last year, although the two are very different players. Collins is a 6'8", athletic center that is an aggressive rebounder and finisher. The rest of his game isn't that polished. Asbury's game is a little more perimeter oriented, as he can knock down the three, handle the ball a little bit, and is a pretty good passer. Jimmy Graham, a 6'8", 256 lb senior, also returns. Adrian Thomas, a redshirt junior who has battled injuries his entire Miami career, finally appears to be healthy, while Arkansas transfer Cyrus McGowan (eligible this year) and freshman Reggie Johnson should also compete for minutes.
Outlook: Everyone knows about Jack McClinton, and everyone knows what you are going to get from him. The question for Miami is how good will their supporting cast be. Can James Dews emerge as a solid No. 2 scoring option? Will DeQuan Jones end up being the real deal? Is Dwayne Collins a threat on the block? Depending on the answer to those questions, the Hurricanes could end up as high as third in the ACC.
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Friday, October 3, 2008
Coaches vs. Cancer Field Announced |
Duke, UCLA, Michigan, and Southern Illinois will serve as the hosts for the preliminary round games in this year's version of Coaches vs. Cancer. This is how the brackets will shake out, with the first day winners playing each other on the second day:
At Duke on Nov. 10-11, Georgia Southern will play Houston and Duke will play Presbyterian.
At Southern Illinois on Nov. 11-12, Arkansas Monticello will play UMass and Southern Illinois will face California, PA.
At Michigan on Nov. 11-12, IUPUI will play Northeastern and Michigan Tech will face Michigan.
At UCLA on Nov. 12-13, Weber State plays Miami (Ohio) and Prairie View will take on UCLA.
My picks: UMass, Duke, Michigan, and UCLA reaching the MSG, with UCLA taking home the championship.
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Nate Miles Expelled From UConn |
Where does Jim Calhoun find these guys? In the last few years, AJ Price, Marcus Williams, Jerome Dyson, Doug Wiggins, and Stanley Robinson have all had to miss time because of issues ranging from stolen lap tops to underage drinking to academic problems. Well, would you be surprised if I told you another UConn player is going to miss time.
UConn freshman Nate Miles was expelled from school yesterday, for an assortment of charges. From Mike Anthony of the Hartford Courant:
According to an affidavit obtained Wednesday, the alleged victim said the relationship began with consensual sex but later Miles became physical and "extremely possessive."The alleged victim, a 19 year old freshman from Manchester, CT (Miles is 20), got a restraining order against Miles, which he violated 16 minutes later by calling her.
The affidavit said the woman went to Miles' dorm room on Sept. 14, at which time he began pressuring her to have sex. When she refused, he allegedly "would tap my face or dig his nails into me." When she hit him back, he "slapped me and pushed me off the bed."
Miles has been banned from campus since the assault, but will only face criminal charges based on the restraining order violation.
This is really bad news for the Huskies. They have already lost Stanley Robinson for at least the first semester this year. The UConn admissions office has finally received the grades of international recruit Ater Majok, but he will not be eligible until at least the second semester.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Are You Kidding Me? |
So tonight, as I was parousing some of my typical, nightly reads, I came across this diddy at Rush The Court. Apparently, The Gazelle Group, which runs the CBE Classic and the Legends Classic (both of which are preseason tournaments), has changed the format a bit. Both are 16 team tournaments, with four power conference teams (Kansas, Florida, Washington, and Syracuse in the CBE; Washington State, Mississippi State, Texas Tech, and Pitt in the Legends) hosting a preliminary two-day, four-team tournament. Each winner then heads to a larger venue for the two-day, four-team finals (the same way the Preseason NIT is set-up).
Only this year, the tournaments are being run a little bit differently. From the CBE site:This year, the O’Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic will be played under a new format…
And from the Legends site:
- Regional hosts automatically advance to the Championship Rounds in Kansas City regardless of the regional results.
- All other participants will advance to play a round-robin series at one of two other sites. Thus, every participating team will be guaranteed four games.The four regional hosts advance to the Championship Rounds at Prudential Center regardless of the regional results. The other participants will advance to play a round-robin series at Fairleigh Dickinson's Rothman Center on November 28, 29, and 30.
Are you kidding me?!?!?!? Yea, I know, 99.9% of the time teams like Pitt and Kansas and Florida are going to advance out of their brackets and make it to the finals. But it doesn't happen all the time. You only have to think back to last year, when tiny Gardner-Webb laid the smack down on Kentucky in Rupp, then won again to advance to play in Madison Square Garden, where they gave UConn a fight before losing by 12. Or what about in 2006, when George Mason advanced all the way to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament.
Teams making a run like that is great for college basketball. They're great for the fans. Who does not benefit? The guys that make the money. Who do you think MSG wanted coming that weekend - Gardner-Webb, whose enrollment is all of 4,000, or Kentucky, who has Big Blue Nation traveling with them everywhere they go?
I'm not saying that any of these teams are going to lose. In fact, I would probably bet that all eight power conference teams are going to win both early round games. My problem is that what makes college basketball so appealing and so awesome to watch is the one-and-done aspect of it. The David slaying the Giant. The little guy knocking off the superpower. And the geniuses at the Gazelle Group are taking that away because they want to make sure they make an extra buck.
If you think this is as outrageous as I do, if you love college basketball as much as I do, or if you simply are bored at work and want to mess with a prick in a suit, shoot some emails to this guy:
Dan Loney (CBE): dloney@gazellegroup.com
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10/2 - Some Links, Some News |
-So Lute Olson is back in the news again. Remember how Olson decided he would no longer recruit one-and-done players, because of the defections of Brandon Jennings and Jerryd Bayless. Maybe Lute should look in the mirror. Apparently, after top 10 recruit Abdul Gaddy decided to re-commit to Arizona (he originally committed there, and then de-committed, and then re-committed again about two weeks ago), Olson withdrew his scholarship offer to Reger Dowell because his class was too guard heavy. The link is too a Gary Parrish column about it. And he has some good points. Recruiting is a cutthroat business, and recruits and coaches back out on each other all the time. Even Dowell was committed to Alabama and backed out.
So should you feel bad for Dowell? Probably. Should you be mad at Olson? Probably. Does this kind of thing happen ALL THE TIME? Definitely.
-More Olson news. Apparently the divorce that kept him from coaching last year is off of his mind. Olson is engaged again, this time to a 47 year old.
-Storming the Floor with a unique view on this year's coaching carousel.
-Two of the Final Four rings George Mason won in 2006 are now for sale on EBay.
-Santa Clara center John Bryant was stabbed in the back at an off-campus party over the weekend. Apparently, it is not that serious as he is already back in class.
-Joe Mazzulla and Cam Thoroughman both plead guilty to lesser charges stemming from an incident at a Pittsburgh Pirates game over the summer. They were charged with underage drinking, resisting arrest, and aggravated assault (just Mazzula), but were both given $100 fines (plus court fees).
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