No. 23 West Virginia: 2008-2009 Team Preview

2007-2008 Team Record: 26-11, 11-7 Big East (t-5th)

Key Losses: Joe Alexander (16.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg), Darris Nichols (10.7 ppg, 3.0 apg)

Key Returnees: Alex Ruoff (13.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg), Da'Sean Butler (12.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg), Joe Mazzula (5.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg)

Newcomers: Devin Ebanks, Darryl Bryant, Kevin Jones, Cameron Payne, Dee Proby

Joe Alexander flourished in Bob Huggins system, going from relative unknown, even for the Big East, to the #8 pick in the NBA Draft and arguably the best player in the conference over the last month-plus of the season. If he had come back, West Virginia would be one of (if not the) favorite in the Big East, but even with Alexander in Milwaukee, the Mountaineers have a ton of talent returning.

The loss of Darris Nichols in the back court is going to hurt a bit, but junior Joe Mazzula proved that he is more than capable of handling the starting point guard role. At 6'2", Mazzula is strong and fast (he was a five-time all-state sprinter in high school), but also a very good decision maker. He doesn't turn the ball over much, can rebound well for his size, and is fine setting up his teammates. 6'6" senior Alex Ruoff also returns. Ruoff has always been a great spot-up shooter, but has added some slashing ability to his game. Freshman Darryl Bryant and sophomore Will Thomas should also see some minutes off the bench.

Even with Alexander gone the Mountaineers have a very good front court. The most proven player is junior Da'Sean Butler, WVU's third leading scorer last year. Butler is an athletic, 6'7" small forward that can do a little bit of everything - he can get to the basket from the perimeter, he can post up a smaller defender, he can knock down a three, he can rebound, he can defend. With Alexander gone, Butler could be poised for a big year. The most talented player in the front court is freshman Devin Ebanks, a top-15 recruit that Huggins signed late. Ebanks might as well be Alexander circa his freshman year - a 6'8", long, lanky, athletic wing that can score from the perimeter or in the post. His jump shot is a little better than Alexander's, as are his ball skills. Ebanks should have an immediate impact. Wellington Smith is another guy cut out of that exact same mold. A tremendous athlete (at 6'7", he had 60 blocks last year playing 20 mpg), he has put on about 45 pounds of muscle since landing in Morgantown, and should expect a big bump in playing time and production this year. Sophomores John Flowers and Cam Thoroughman played limited roles last year (Thoroughman much more limited than Flowers) but were both impressive when I did see them play, and newcomers Kevin Jones (a 6'9" freshman) and Dee Proby (a 6'10" JuCo transfer) should also get some minutes.

Outlook: WVU is not going to have a problem defending or rebounding (Huggy Bear's teams never do). They have a ton of size and a slew of athletes that they can throw at an opponent. The question this year is going to be who can score? Who can they give the ball to when they need a basket? Ruoff and Butler are talented players, but neither of them were really go-to scorers last year, and Ebanks, as talented as he is, has a tendency to disappear and not be assertive enough. Even without a go-to guy, the Mountaineers should be a top-8 team in the conference (which isn't as bad as it sounds). Continue reading...

Willie Warren on Xavier Henry

Willie Warren, a top 50 recruit and freshman at Oklahoma, is renowned for his confidence (which some people would call cockiness). Proof? Here are two stories:

Bryant wasn't a regular visitor early on at the invitation-only, Nike-sponsored Kobe Bryant Skills Academy. So when he finally arrived Warren took it upon himself to deliver a little jab and tell Bryant he had been wondering whether he'd ever show his face.

Then they went at it on the court.

When Bryant offered some advice to help Warren with his game, Warren countered by offering some advice to help Bryant with his game. Hilarious. A few weeks later at the LeBron James Skills Academy, Warren declined to take a picture with James because he didn't want to be seen idolizing a person he plans on competing against in the NBA sometime soon.

Personally, I think those stories are hilarious, and I love Warren's swagger (hopefully, he can tone it down a bit when he is playing with Blake Griffin).

Anyway, maybe the cockiness is warranted.

The dunk happened last May at the Nike Memorial Day Classic. The guy getting dunked on? Xavier Henry, a top 5 recruit in the class of 2009. Continue reading...

No. 24 St. Mary's: 2008-2009 Team Preview

2007-2008 Record: 25-7, 12-2 WCC (2nd)

Key Losses: Tron Smith (8.0 ppg), Todd Golden (7.0 ppg)

Key Returnees: Patty Mills (14.8 ppg, 3.5 apg), Diamon Simpson (13.4 ppg, 9.6 rpg), Omar Sahman (10.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg)

Newcomers: Clint Steindl, Colin Chiverton, Trey Anderson, Tim Williams, Phil Benson, Ben Allen

This year may be the year that Gonzaga's reign atop the WCC finally comes to an end, as St. Mary's returns their top three scorers and four starters from a 25 win team (although the 'Zags are loaded this year). When you talk about the St. Mary's Gaels, the first guy you have to mention is Patty Mills, the only college player that played in this year's Olympics (for Australia). And what an Olympics he had, averaging 14 ppg and 2 apg, including a 20 point and 3 steal outburst against the US (he drew rave reviews from Chris Paul and Coach K). Mills is as quick as anyone in the country, and can get into the paint with ease. If he improves his perimeter shooting, this guy has first round pick written all over him. The biggest knock on Mills is that he is a bit over-aggressive (he had more turnovers than assists 12 times, not good for your primary ball handler), but some of that can be attributed to him being a freshman and getting used to American basketball.

Junior Wayne Hunter, who redshirted last season, will return, which should help offset the loss of Tron Smith and Todd Golden. Hunter, a 6'4" slasher, averaged 8.8 ppg and 3.2 rpg as a sophomore in 2006-07. Senior Carlin Hughes will probably be the first guard off the bench, and expect freshman Colin Chiverton and Trey Anderson to also see some time.

The Gaels may have the most underrated front court in the country. Diamon Simpson, a 6'7" power forward and double double machine, is back for his senior year. Simpson is a force on the block, but can also step out and knock down a three (he shot 41% on the year). The combination of Mills and Simpson gives the Gaels two legitimate go-to guys and one of the best inside-outside combos out west. Simpson's front court mate, 6'11' Omar Samhan, also returns. Samhan provides a big body inside, and can put up big numbers (six double doubles last year). Indiana transfer Ben Allen will be eligible this year, giving the Gaels some depth at the position. Ian O'Leary started at small forward last season and probably will again this year, but Yusef Smith and Lucas Walker are both very capable players.

Outlook: St. Mary's has it all - experience, depth, size, and a go-to scorer in the back court and the front court. They are talented enough that they could win the WCC, and I wouldn't be surprised if they made it to the Sweet 16, or further. Expect Patty Mills to be an all-american candidate. Continue reading...

A Feel Good Story For A Change

Darnell Jackson, a starting forward on the national championship Kansas Jayhawk team and second round NBA Draft pick, has just signed a three-year guaranteed contract with Cleveland. It's great for him, because by all accounts he seems like a pretty good kid who has gone through some tough times.

In the eighth grade Jackson’s absentee father, James Howard, was shot and killed by Oklahoma City police after he attacked a jogger. As a high school senior, Jackson arrived at the scene moments after a friend’s murder. A few years ago his close friend, Glen Davis, died after being shot in the head by gang members.

Jackson’s uncle was murdered, too, and his grandfather died in 2006. “Just last month his cousin was killed in a shooting.” The worst tragedy, though, occurred in the summer of 2005, when a car carrying Jackson’s mother, Shawn, and grandmother, Yvonne, was struck by a drunk driver in Las Vegas. Yvonne Jackson died a week later from the injuries she sustained in the collision.

Since I've started this blog, I've realized that being a media member (even if it is just this blog) is kind of depressing. It seems like everything I am writing about, especially during the summer months, is an injury, or an arrest, or another kid making a mistake that could cost him his career.

Well, that changes today. Read this letter from Darnell Jackson to Jayhawk fans, which he emailed to a paper in Kansas:

Dear Jayhawk fans,

Just about five years ago I realized a dream when coach (Bill) Self offered me a scholarship to become a Jayhawk. I came to Kansas as a young man who had a lot to learn in a lot of ways. My freshman year was a real eye opener.

On one hand I got a chance to play with some of the greatest players to don a KU uniform in Aaron Miles, Wayne Simien and Keith Langford.

But the rigors of big time college basketball were a real challenge. I had to grow up quickly and learn to take care of business in the classroom and on the court. As all of you know I was a role player my freshman year and played in only 13 games.

But what I hope you all realize is I felt so fortunate to play for the Jayhawks and especially to practice with and learn from guys like Simien and Langford.

By my sophomore year I was a little more prepared for what I needed to do. Coach Self gave me a chance to play a lot more. That year was one of the hardest years of my life. As most of you probably recall, my mom and grandma were hit by a drunk driver that year.

I was already struggling with trying to grow up and be a better student and a better teammate. Then when my mom was seriously hurt and my grandma was killed, I felt like the world was caving in on me. That, I think, was the first time I really truly started to understand what it meant to be part of the Jayhawk family.

Looking back I see what incredible support I received from so many Jayhawk fans that I had never even met. At the time I was really struggling to battle the “woe is me” trap. But now I can look back and see how I learned so much from all of you who were so ready to offer love and support.

I can tell you now, that is one of my most cherished memories as a Jayhawk. I loved winning on the court but it was then I started to see that being a Jayhawk was really something that would be there for me the rest of my life.

By my junior year I was still struggling with insecurity about handling all the stress I felt. My mom was still in pain and needing surgery after surgery. My little brother and sister were growing up and I felt I needed to be there for them. I still lacked confidence that I could step up and be what the coaching staff was hoping from me.

I felt like I needed to be a leader and to represent KU in a great way that all you fans deserved. But I still needed to grow up and learn how to handle all these things. But everywhere I turned there was always a KU fan with an encouraging word.

At the time I sometimes thought that no one really understood what I was going through. But looking back I have learned that even if that was true what really was amazing was that people just wanted to show love and support.

I now realize how that continuous support from all of you was always something that lifted me up and made me feel good and positive. It was my junior year that all my inner turmoil came to a head. I felt so overwhelmed by everything that I just reacted without really thinking and came home to Oklahoma City. I just felt I couldn't take care of my family and school as well as being the Jayhawk everybody wanted me to be any more. I was just feeling overwhelmed.

That is when it happened. After coach Self came down and talked with me I decided to come back. It was then I started to realize that the reason I was feeling so overwhelmed was that I was mostly focusing on myself and my stress. All this time I was playing for the greatest basketball school in the country with the best fans hands down.

I started to see what a blessing it was to have people who were so willing to show love and support. And I can assure you that you fans did show love and support far beyond anything I could have hoped for. I also realized that the coaching staff was trying to get me to become the best I could be.

I realized that all of the yelling and pushing was just trying to get me to work harder and improve. Over the summer between my junior and senior years I got to spend a lot of time at home. I really began to see and focus on all the blessings I had rather than all the trials. I came back for my senior year determined to be the best Jayhawk I could be.

A very close friend of mine, my mentor, always would tell me that when I was so blessed I needed to understand that put a responsibility on me to multiply those blessings by giving blessings to others.

I really was seeing what a great blessing it was to be on such a great team, with great coaches but most of all having the Jayhawk on my jersey in a packed Allen Fieldhouse with the most knowledgeable and enthusiastic fans anywhere.

So I wanted to start giving back by playing my butt off and giving all you fans something to cheer about. In April I was able to realize a second great dream along with all my teammates when we brought a National Championship back to Lawrence.

I didn't think anything could ever top running out on the court at Allen Fieldhouse. But when 100,000 fans showed up to celebrate our championship I truly felt so honored to be able to be a small part in bringing such joy to all you fans.

Believe me, it only begins to pay you back for all the love and support you have given me these last four years.

Well, this week I realized a third dream when I signed a multi-year contract to play in the NBA for the Cleveland Cavaliers. I am very excited to play in Cleveland. But I want all of you fans to know that no matter where I go or what I do, I will forever be thankful to you for showing all the love and support for me these last four years. I AM FOREVER A JAYHAWK. I even have a degree to prove it. You fans have taught me so much and meant so much to me so I wanted to send you this letter saying THANK YOU.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk,
Darnell Jackson

In this world of agent's, and runner's, and shoe contracts, and recruiting scandals, it is so nice to see that sometimes, college athletics actually do what they are supposed to do - get someone a college degree who wouldn't have otherwise.

Congratulations Darnell. Continue reading...

No. 25 Xavier: 2008-2009 Team Preview

2007-2008 Team Record: 30-7, 14-2 A-10 (1st)

Key Losses: Stanley Burrell (9.7 ppg, 3.8 apg), Drew Lavender (10.8 ppg, 4.5 apg), Josh Duncan (12.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg)

Key Returnees: Derrick Brown (10.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg), CJ Anderson (10.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg), BJ Raymond (9.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg)

Newcomers: Kenny Frease, Terrell Holloway, Mark Lyons, Brad Redford, Brian Walsh

Xavier may have been the most balanced team in the country last year, with six guys averaging more than 9.7 ppg. They lose three of those guys, Stanley Burrell, Drew Lavender, and Josh Duncan, but are left with more than enough to be considered the favorite in the A-10. The strength of this Xavier team will probably be on the wing, where they have a glut of talented small forwards. The best of the bunch is probably Derrick Brown, who will end up in the power forward role again this year. He is an athletic, 6'8" lefty who came to Xavier as not much more than an athlete, but has developed a respectable jump shot (even out to the three point line) and a decent face-up game. CJ Anderson and BJ Raymond will most likely be the starters at the two-guard and small forward positions. While both 6'6", their games are complete opposite - Anderson is a slasher (did not make a three pointer last year) while Raymond is more of a shooter (attempted 38 free throws in 37 games). Dante Jackson, a sophomore who really started to develop as the season progressed (especially defensively), will be the first guy off the bench and should contribute some very good minutes.

Despite being the leading scorer last year, Duncan only started 16 games. That's because Jason Love, a 6'9", 255 lb center was a much better defender on the block. Love averaged 6.0 ppg and 5.5 rpg in just 18 mpg last year, but will probably split time again this season with freshman Kenny Frease, a top 50 recruit. Frease could have gone anywhere in the country, but committed early to Xavier and stuck with them. At 6'11", most scouting reports say that he is a tough rebounder with some solid post moves. A low post scoring threat was the one thing Xavier was missing last year, and Frease should fill that role well.

The point guard spot seems to be wide open. The Musketeers lost Lavender to graduation, and did not have anyone to replace him, so Sean Miller went out and landed some very good point guard recruits. Terrell Holloway, who originally committed to Indiana but re-opened his recruiting after the Kelvin Sampson debacle, is probably the favorite to land the starting spot as he is the most ready to play. While not a flashy play maker, Holloway is a quick point guard who needs to work on is jump shot, but can get by his defender and also makes things happen defensively (very similar to Lavender, but five inches taller, at the same point in Lavender's career). Where Holloway will look to run the offense, Mark Lyons is more of a scoring point guard. At 6'1", he has great athleticism and leaping ability, although it is sometimes to his disadvantage as he will try to make the spectacular play instead of the simple one. He is also a good defender, and wreaks havoc in the passing lanes.

Outlook: Once again, Xavier looks to be the class of the A-10. They are probably not as good as last year's team, which spent a good part of the season in the top 10, because of the inexperience at the point guard position (people really under appreciate how good Lavender was). They still have a lot of athletes and a lot of guys that are versatile and can play multiple positions. You know what you are going to get out of the veteran Musketeers, so if Holloway and Lyons can solidify the point guard spot and Frease develops into a legitimate post threat, Xavier should win the A-10 with ease again. Continue reading...

Kenny George out for the year

The biggest man in college basketball will be out for the season after undergoing a second surgery on his right foot. Kenny George, the 7'9", 370 lb center from UNC Asheville began experiencing discomfort in the foot after the big man camp in Las Vegas last month. It's a shame. George had finally started to come into his own as a player, after averaging 12.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg, and 3.3 bpg last year. He also scored 14 points and grabbed 11 boards in Asheville's match up with the Tar Heels last year (although most people will probably remember him for this).

George's career has been plagued by injuries and eligibility problems. He dislocated his knee and missed most of his senior year in high school, red shirted his freshman year because he was not academically eligible, and then missed most of the 2005-06 season after suffering another knee injury.

Maybe people just weren't meant to be that big. Continue reading...

Wednesday Where Are They Now?: Luke Recker

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.

Luke Recker, Indiana/Arizona/Iowa

Luke Recker was living the dream. As a McDonald's and Parade all-american and Indiana's Mr. Basketball in 1997, Recker had decided to stay home and attend Indiana to play for coach Bobby Knight. As a freshman in 1997-98, he ended up being second on the team in minutes while averaging 12.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg, and 2.9 apg and also leading the team in steals with 48. Recker was named honorable mention All-Big 10. He was even better as a sophomore, when he increased his scoring output to 16.1 ppg, which was enough to get a nod as 3rd team All-Big 10.

But that's when the dream turned into a nightmare for Recker. As a schoolboy legend, he was expected to follow in the footsteps of guys like Steve Alford and Damon Bailey, leading the Hoosiers for four years. But Coach Knight's style of play was not conducive to the way Recker played. Recker was a shooter that liked to get out and run the floor and make plays (for example, his biggest knock had always been his man to man defense, but he still managed to average more than 1.5 spg for his career). Bobby Knight's Hoosier teams played at a slower, more deliberate pace, which Recker felt hindered his ability to showcase his talents for the NBA. So Recker decided to transfer to Arizona to play under Lute Olsen. The decision to transfer was not an easy one for Recker, as he became public enemy #1 in Indiana basketball circles, although to this day he still maintains he decision to leave IU had nothing to do with Knight's aggressive demeanor and everything to do with basketball.

But just weeks before he was to go to Arizona, Recker was in Colorado with his high school sweetheart, Kelly Craig, and her family. One night, on the way home from a carnival, the car Recker and Craig were riding in was struck head on by a drunk driver in a pick-up (he also side-swiped the pick-up in front of them, which was carrying 11 people, 9 in the bed of the truck). All told, 14 people were seriously injured and 1 died. Recker almost lost his left ear, sliced his temporal artery, had a gash running from his ear and along his jaw down to his neck, and he crushed his left wrist and thumb. He needed more than 200 stitches to close him up, and would probably have ended up bleeding out had a nurse not happened to drive by minutes after the accident.

Craig broke her neck and severely bruised her spinal cord, leaving her paralyzed. She was able to gain some mobility back in her shoulders, left arm and wrist, and some feeling in her legs, but she will be in a wheelchair the rest of her life. Craig's brother was left in a coma with permanent brain damage. Recker never played a game for Arizona, as he decided to transfer closer to his family and the Craigs, instead attending the University of Iowa where he would play for former Hoosier Steve Alford (it is rumored, mostly among IU fans, that Recker left because he would have been stuck behind Gilbert Arenas and Richard Jefferson, two pretty decent players). Recker was able to get a waiver from the NCAA which allowed him to be eligible at the beginning of the 2000-01 season. This caused Recker to be even more despised in the state of Indiana, and during the only game he actually played in Bloomington, he was taunted the entire game, scoring only eight points in a 79-51 blow-out loss. One sign a fan held up said Indiana's Most Wanted, with a picture of Recker next to a picture of Osama Bin Laden.

Recker had a great year as a junior, averaging 18.1 ppg while hitting almost three 3's per, but was only able to suit up for 18 games because of a fractured knee-cap. He came back in 2001-2002, and led the Hawkeyes with 17.1 ppg while earning third team All-Big 10 honors. During the Big 10 tournament his senior year, Recker hit two consecutive game winners, the second of which came against Indiana.

Recker, who was a better than average athlete before the accident and the knee injury, never was really able to gain that athleticism back, and thus went undrafted after graduating. He played 34 games for Asheville in the NBDL in 2002-03, averaging just 8.9 ppg off the bench, before he decided to head over to Europe. He signed with Benetton Treviso in April of 2003 (for those of you that read WWATN, this should sound familiar) but he was released before ever playing a game. He then signed with Roseto in Italy in August, where he averaged 17.2 ppg. In 2004-05 he played with Girona in Spain, where he averaged 15.2 ppg, but only played in 19 games before being released. He spent the 2005-06 season with Livorno in Italy, averaging 14.5 ppg. Finally, in 2006, he landed somewhere for more than a year as he signed with Bilbao Basket in Spain, where he averaged 14.5 ppg in 2006-07 and 11.2 ppg in 2007-08. He will play for them again in 2008-09 alongside former NBA draft picks Fran Vazquez and Frederic Weis (yes, that Frederic Weis), and former Minnesota Golden Gopher Quincy Lewis. Continue reading...

9/9 - Some Links, Some News

-This probably won't surprise anyone, but Derrick Caracter isn't actually attending Oklahoma City University of the NAIA. It appears that Caracter will be enrolling at Southern Mississippi, where he will have to sit out a year before he is eligible to play. While I'm happy that Caracter has a chance to play D1 basketball again, I don't see how he is going to put in the effort of working out, staying in shape, and going to class when he is not playing for a year when he could barely do that while playing.

On the other hand, Southern Mississippi is coached by Larry Eustachy, a guy who knows a thing or two about second chances. He was the coach of Iowa State that was caught drinking at a frat party after playing a road game at Missouri. Well, he landed at Southern Mississippi and hopefully he can get through to Caracter. If he does, Southern Miss could be pretty good in 2009-2010, as they also landed Angelo Johnson, a transfer from USC.

-Look at this amazing piece of investigative journalism (sarcasm alert): college athletes that play big time sports for big time schools get (gasp) accepted into schools as "special admits" (kids that are expected to need tutoring and extra attention to graduate) at higher rates than normal students. Seriously though, look at this chart, the numbers are pretty crazy. In 2004-05, 95% of the freshman football class at California were special admits, 94% at Texas A&M.

-Kansas's Morris twins, Markieff and Marcus, were both declared academically eligible for the season, and will begin taking classes this week (class officially started August 21st). Hopefully, Markieff's legal troubles will be solved by then.

-VCU's Eric Maynor had an infected toe, which kept him out of the teams three exhibition games during their trip to the Bahamas. He'll be healthy by the time the season starts, but Maynor sitting out allowed his two sophomore backups to get experience playing with the first team.

-Adam Gore, a senior starter and returning all-Ivy performer for Cornell, tore his acl and will be out for the season, which is a huge hit to Cornell's chances of repeating as Ivy League champs. Gore did the same thing to his other acl in the first game of the 2006-07 season.

-UConn recruit Ater Majok, a 6'9" athletic, power forward, will not be eligible until at least December. Apparently, his high school, the American International School in Sydney, Australia, will not release his transcript until the rest of his classmates finish their semester as well, which means that UConn could not turn over all of his paperwork to the NCAA Clearinghouse. Since it is already the third week of classes in Storrs, it is very unlikely that Majok will be able to get eligible and enroll in classes in time to start the season with the Huskies.

-Texas point guard recruit Dogus Balbay was suspended for the first game of the upcoming season. From 2004-2006, he played in 11 games for a professional team in his native Turkey. The NCAA suspended him on a 1-for-1 basis, and he was deemed eligible in March of last year and sat out the team's final 10 games.

-Southern Illinois junior guard Josh Bone has decided to transfer, and will leave the school in December at the end of this semester. Continue reading...

Syracuse: 2008-2009 Team Preview

2007-2008 Team Record: 21-14, 9-9 Big East (8th)

Key Losses: Donte Greene (17.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg)

Key Returnees: Paul Harris (14.5 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 3.3 apg), Jonny Flynn (15.7 ppg, 5.3 apg)

Newcomers: Kevin Drew, Mookie Jones, Kris Joseph

Last season, the Orange were a pretty talented team, winning 21 games and going .500 in the Big East despite having a six-man rotation as a result of the season-ending knee injuries suffered by Andy Rautins and Eric Devendorf. The only guy they lose is leading scorer Donte Greene, who was a first round pick after his freshman year, although the loss of Greene may be a blessing in disguise. He was a 6'11" gunner, who shot almost eight 3's per game while only making them at a 34% clip (29% in conference play), taking away touches from some of Syracuse's other talented players.

Syracuse returns a lot of talent, especially in their back court. It starts with Jonny Flynn, the 6'0" (looks more like 5'10") point guard who is as exciting to watch as any guard in the conference. Flynn has range well beyond the college three and can knock it down consistently off the dribble or the catch, but he is also extremely quick and strong, and can get in the paint easily. He is fearless attacking the rim (and athletic enough that sooner or later he is going to embarrass a center by dunking on them), but, with shooters Devendorf and Rautins back, he is unselfish enough where he can create open looks for them off of his penetration. The return of Devendorf should actually help out Flynn, because Devendorf can play some point, which would take pressure off of Flynn (he averaged 39.2 mpg in Big East play). Devendorf was off the the best start of his career before tearing an acl against Tennessee State. He was averaging 17.0 ppg and 3.9 apg. Rautins will also be a key addition, most likely coming off the bench, as he is a great shooter with range which will help spread the floor.

The Orange also return Paul Harris, who is (still) a reliable jump shot away from being a lottery pick. Harris, a 6'4", 228 lb wing, is as strong as anyone in the conference. He is a fantastic rebounder and can get to the basket when he pleases, usually by just muscling his way through weaker defenders. Arinze Onuaku had to red shirt a season after knee surgery, but as a sophomore was a pleasant surprise for Jim Boeheim. Onuaku blossomed into one of the better centers in the conference, using his tremendous bulk (6'9", 258 lb, although he looks closer to 275 lb) to carve out space. He has a soft touch around the basket as well, and gets a ton of easy points off of offensive boards and drop-offs. Scoop Jardine and Kristoff Ongenaet are solid role players. Ongenaet really impressed me down the stretch with his hustle - he should complement Onuaku well. Also expect sophomore Rick Jackson and freshman Mookie Jones and Kris Joseph to get some playing time.

Outlook: Syracuse's biggest issue last season was depth - they couldn't really go past their sixth, maybe their seventh man. With Rautins and Devendorf returning, and the addition of two freshman (Jones and Joseph), the Orange's line-up looks much deeper than it did a year ago. The problem for Syracuse this season is that the Big East is loaded. They could feasibly finish 10th in the conference and still make the NCAA tournament. They aren't as good as the top four, but will battle it out with the like of Marquette, Villanova, and Georgetown for the 5th-10th spots. My prediction: 8th and a tournament bid. Continue reading...

Dick Vitale is a Hall of Famer

Some people like him. Some people can't stand him. But the one thing that you can't argue is that Dick Vitale has left his mark on college basketball, from each "Dipsy-Doo Dunkaroo" to every "Awesome Baby, with a capital A!". Sure, he was never the greatest coach (but how many people can name the top 10 winningest coaches of all-time? I can probably get, like, six tops) or the greatest player, but has there ever been a more recognizable announcer in college basketball (or any sport for that matter)?

Seriously, has there ever been a college basketball announcer that is more well known than Dickie V, especially with casual fans? Love him or hate him, he has been as much a face (or voice) of college basketball as anyone since the 90's. It has gotten to the point where, if he is working a game, fans will come out with their bald wigs on and their "PTPer" signs. What other announcer has ever gotten that kind of treatment, regardless of who is playing.

Isn't that what the Hall of Fame is all about? It is more than just a place where you can hang the plaques of the guys a group of writers think were the best ever. The Hall of Fame (and this goes for any sport) is supposed to be a museum - a place someone can go to learn about the history of the game, the athletes and people that played, and everyone that was involved with it.

How can you tell the story of college basketball without mentioning Dick Vitale?

The one thing that most people hate the most about Dickie V (other than the Duke bias) is that he rants and raves and yells his usual Dickie-babble when he gets excited. Well, I think that is his best attribute, and what makes him the best at what he does. Don't get me wrong. When he starts spouting that verbal diarrhea, I sometimes want to throw the remote at the TV.

But all of it is legitimate. He is not faking it. He actually gets that excited about a great play. He really is that emotional when talking about Jim Valvano, his close friend that died of cancer. He truly enjoys and loves the game that college basketball so much, and he is not afraid to wear those emotions on his sleeve. 

And regardless of how much you hate him, you have to admire him for that.

Congratulations Dickie V. At least one person thinks you deserved it.

Continue reading...

Jayhawk Pt. 2

On Thursday, reports started to trickle out of the NBA's Rookie Transition program that Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur were sent home because they were caught smoking weed with a couple of girls in their hotel room at 3:30 am Wednesday morning, the first night they were at the Rye Brook, NY resort.

Well, apparently, it was initially reported by the worldwide leader that Michael Beasley was also in the room at the time, but he was deemed not connected with the weed (later reports removed his name). From The Big Lead:

According to police, the mystery man locked himself in the bathroom, repeatedly flushed the toilet, and refused to open the door.

I don't think we will ever really know if that is true, but the fact that it is an internet rumor is not good for Beasley or the NBA, especially given the pre-draft concerns about his immaturity and "goofy" demeanor.

Back to Kansas, as I said in the previous post, this is just another knock on the reigning national champs. From Sherron Collins' run-ins with the law (and lack of run-ins with a treadmill), to Markieff Morris' target practice, to the accusations that Arthur's grades were falsified in high school, all the publicity that Kansas has been getting since winning the title has been bad.

If you've read this blog before, then you know that I am a big fan of Jason Whitlock, and here is his take on the situation. Continue reading...

Temple: 2008-2009 Team Preview

2007-2008 Team Record: 21-13, 11-5 A-10 (2nd)

Key Losses: Mark Tyndale (15.9 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 4.2 apg), Chris Clark (7.5ppg)

Key Returnees: Dionte Christmas (19.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Lavoy Allen (8.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg), Ryan Brooks (8.6 ppg)

Newcomers: TJ DiLeo, Andrew "Scootie" Randall, Juan Fernandez, Michael Eric (RS), Ramone Moore (RS)

Early on last season, the A-10 looked like it was going to get as many as five teams into the NCAA tournament, but Temple was not one of them. Then conference play started, injuries and losses started to pile up for teams like Dayton and UMass, and thanks to a late push by the Owls, including an upset of Xavier on the way to the A-10 tournament championship, they ended their six-year tournament drought. That Temple team was led by Mark Tyndale and Dionte Christmas, who combined to score 36 ppg last year. Tyndale has graduated, but Christmas is will be back on campus for his senior season.

Christmas is probably the preseason A-10 player of the year, thanks to his fantastic scoring ability. He has excellent range on his jump shot, and he is tall enough (6'5" shooting guard) that he can get it off against most perimeter defenders. He can also get to the rim (he is good at trying to get to the basket when his shots aren't falling), but is not overly quick, meaning he relies a lot of pump fakes and hesitation moves. Christmas will be joined in the backcourt by Ryan Brooks, a junior two-guard (from Kobe Bryant's high school), who hasn't been a starter (tough when you play behind Christmas and Tyndale) but was the Owls third leading scorer last year. He should slide into a starting spot on the wing. Senior Luis Guzman and sophomore Martavis Kee, who was a fairly big-time recruit but struggled to see the court (six games played), should battle it out for the starting point guard spot. Also, keep an eye on red-shirt freshman Ramone Moore, who was a big-time scorer coming out of Philly.

One of the keys to this years team will be how well Lavoy Allen develops. The 6'9", 225 lb Allen was one of only two top 100 recruits to head to the A-10 last year, and he had a pretty good year, averaging 8.1 ppg and 5.7 rpg and playing very good post defense. He is joined up front by Sergio Olmos, a 7-foot senior who finally seemed to fulfill some of his potential mid-way through he junior season. Michael Eric, another red-shirt freshman, will be counted on to play a lot of minutes off the bench.

Outlook: Any Temple fan should know what they are going to get out of Christmas. Regardless of who is defending him, he is going to find a way to put up 18-20 points, and has the ability to go for 30 against anyone (Florida last year, for one). But how good Temple is this year will depend on how well last year's role players progress, and whether or not they can fill some of the production and leadership lost with Tyndale's graduation. If Brooks, who has a tendency to be inconsistent, and Allen can both develop into all-conference caliber players, Temple seems poised to give Xavier a run for their money atop the A-10. Continue reading...

Team Previews: Top 25 and the Best of the Rest

Top 25
1) UNC
2) UConn
3) UCLA
4) Louisville
5) Pittsburgh
6) Gonzaga
7) Notre Dame
8) Purdue
9) Duke
10) Texas
11) Tennessee
12) Memphis
13) Oklahoma
14) Michigan State
15) Arizona State
16) Marquette
17) Baylor
18) Miami FL
19) Wake Forest
20) Davidson
21) UNLV
22) Wisconsin
23) West Virginia
24) St. Mary's
25) Xavier

Best of the Rest
Alabama
Arizona
BYU
Cincinnati
Clemson
Creighton
Drake
Florida
Georgetown
Kentucky
Illinois State
Kansas
Kent State
Nevada
Ole Miss
Syracuse
Temple
Villanova
Washington State
USC Continue reading...

Cincinnati: 2008-2009 Team Preview

2007-2008 Team Record: 13-19, 8-10 Big East (10th)

Key Losses: John Williamson (11.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg), Adam Hrycaniuk (6.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg)

Key Returnees: Deonta Vaughn (17.9 ppg, 4.0 apg)

Newcomers: Nick Aldridge, Dion Dixon, Yancy Gates, John Riek, Steve Toyloy, Mike Williams, Cashmere Wright

Cincinnati went 13-19 last year, including losses to powerhouse programs such as Belmont and Bowling Green, and lost four of their top six players. So how can I list them as one of the top 50 teams in the country? Well, it starts with one of the most exciting players in the country to watch - Deonta Vaughn. Last year, Vaughn averaged 17.9 ppg, but was one of the most explosive scorers in the country (he went for 30+ three times, 20+ eight times, and 19 four more times), mainly because of his three point shooting ability - he can hit them out to about 28 feet and has no conscience (and a permanent green light from Coach Mick Cronin).

Vaughn will be joined in the back court by top 100 recruit Cashmere Wright and sophomore Rashad Bishop. Wright is a similar player to Vaughn (shoot-first point guard) so he may end up coming off the bench, but since he is more of a penetrator than Vaughn is, they should complement each other well. Rashad Bishop is a tough defender who could turn into a very effective wing if he improves his jump shot - right now he is a slasher that can get to the rim and finish. Freshman Dion Dixon, who comes from Crane Tech in Chicago (which produced Tony Allen, Sherron Collins, and Will Bynum), and sophomore Larry Davis should also compete for time.

The Bearcats greatly improve their front court with the recruiting class that Cronin brought in, which is probably the second biggest reason I see Cincinnati being a good team. First and foremost, they add Yancy Gates, who has the potential to be one of the best freshman in the country. He is 6'9", 250 lb, and probably is the strongest player in the class, but he can also step out and shoot it to the three point line or put the ball on the floor. His biggest knock by most recruiting analysts is that he doesn't use his size or strength enough and falls in love with perimeter jumpers. 

The other huge signing for Cronin was 7'1" John Riek, who many considered to be the top prospect in the country a few summers ago, but has battled leg injuries for over a year. Riek, who is from the Sudan, may not be eligible for the first semester, but once he gets on the court, a starting front line of him and Gates is as talented as any in the Big East (although they are probably still a year away). Cincinnati also adds Mike Williams, who has sat out the last two years - one for transferring (from Texas) and the other after he blew out his achilles in August of 2007. JuCo transfer Steve Toyloy, freshman Nick Aldridge, and 7'0" sophomore Anthony McClain (who is a very similar player to Riek - long, athletic, oozing with potential, but very raw) should also get some minutes, especially if Riek is ineligible.

Outlook: Mick Cronin is really doing a good job with this Cincinnati program. It took them a while to gel last year, but once they did, they were very competitive in the Big East, starting the year out 8-5 in league play before dropping their last five (although, three were on the road - G'town, Pitt, UConn - and three were very close games). They will be young again, but with their front line and Deonta Vaughn, this team is my sleeper pick in the Big East.

Continue reading...

9/4 - Some Links, Some News

-Luke Winn of SI.com caught up with Lee Cummard of BYU. It is a pretty interesting article, as Cummard is a unique individual - a member of the Church of Latter-Day Saints, a husband, a father, and still a senior in college. Here is my favorite exchange:

LW: As a kid, you were notoriously skinny -- so much so that I read you were nicknamed 'Leethiopia.' How did it come about, and did it stick through high school?

LC: I got that nickname in elementary school, and my mom jokingly kept it around. None of my high-school teammates kept it up, but it became kind of a family joke that kept going.

LW: What do you get called now, at BYU?

LC: My teammates call me a lot of stuff. I'll just leave it at that.

LW: You're not going to give us any of them?

LC: Well ... a few. They call me Lee-Z, LeRoy, Big Pipes and Deez Salty.

His last name is Cummard. I'm sure he has plenty of nicknames, they just can't be posted on SI.com (if you are dense, replace the second 'm' with an 'h').

I also found this blog posting. Its kind of creepy...

-Police have confirmed that two of the people stabbed in a brawl at a night club were Oklahoma athletes. One was defensive line-man Frank Alexander, and the other was freshman guard Ray Willis from the basketball team. Reportedly, Willis sustained a collapsed lung, but that has not yet been officially confirmed. There were also reports that a 27-year old man was arrested in connection with the fight and charged with carrying a concealed weapon, but in fact no one has been arrested as of yet.

-Chris Singleton of Kent State was arrested for violating a noise ordinance after ignoring the first visit by police to his residence. He was also charged with resisting arrest after he was uncooperative with officers, and he apparently suffered wrist and shoulder injuries. This is his fourth run-in with law-enforcement this year - an OVI arrest (what?) on Jan. 26th resulting in a one game suspension, a nuisance party regulations charge on March 10th, and a DUI arrest on April 7th. I'm all for partying in college, but come on dude, be smart about it. Someone needs to tell Chris to walk to a friend's place to party (h/t March to Madness).

-Good news for Big Blue Nation - Kentucky will hold their Big Blue Madness (aka midnight madness) on Oct. 10th, a full week before teams are allowed to practice. How is that legal? Well, the NCAA allows two hours on on-court instruction per week prior to the start of the season, so UK has decided to just use both hours at the same time. (h/t Dickmonious)

-Bad news for the Pitt Panthers - Levance Fields needed a second surgery on his left foot, which he injured against Dayton last year (one game after Mike Cook blew out his knee). Apparently, he needed a bone graft because there was a small fracture. I don't know the medicine of it, but I do know he will be out about two months.

-Gary Parrish of CBS Sports caught up with Sonny Vaccaro. Apparently, Vaccaro has about 12 elite high school players (at least one from each class) looking to head over to Europe instead of going to college. Parrish and Vaccaro also both hint at the idea that Jennings will land a endorsement deal with Under Armour in the next few weeks.

-Last two notes. Ty Proffitt, a seldom used guard at Notre Dame, has decided to transfer closer to home (Kentucky) and has enrolled at Morehead State. Jim Larrananga, the George Mason head coach, was given a 40% raise, to $525,000 a year, through the 2014-15 season.. Continue reading...

Rock, Chalk ... err ... Smoke, Pot, Jay, Hawk

Players affiliated with the Kansas Jayhawks just can't seem to steer clear of the law. Darrell Arthur and Mario Chalmers, both members of the 2008 National Champions, were thrown out of the NBA Rookie Transition program in Rye Brook, NY after being caught in their hotel room with weed and women on the first (Tuesday) night. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, both players are expected to be fined $20,000 and will have to repeat the program again next year. The Grizzlies, who signed Arthur to his rookie contract in July, and the Heat, who recently signed Chalmers, a second-round pick, to a two-year deal, may also be fined by the league.

The NBA Rookie Transition program is a four-day event which all newcomers to the league are required to attend. According to the AP:

it focuses on issues such as handling their finances, life skills, the differences in NBA and NCAA rules, legal matters, how to handle the media, and the importance of character and image.

I guess they got to that part on day 2... Continue reading...

Wednesday Where Are They Now?: Wayne Turner

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.

Wayne Turner, Kentucky

Despite being a McDonald's all-american coming out of tiny Beaver Country Day School, Wayne Turner never put up superstar numbers at Kentucky. In fact, he has mediocre career averages of 7.7 ppg and 3.3 apg. Turner was known more for his defense (UK career leader in steals), his play-making ability (4th all-time at UK in assists), and his leadership than for his scoring. But more than anything, he was a winner, as his three NCAA Finals appearances and two NCAA championship rings can attest. Turner is actually the NCAA's career leader in games played (he broke Christian Laettner's record of 148) with 151.

Turner's first season in Lexington was the 1995-96 season. Despite joining one of the most talented teams of all-time (nine guys from that team played in the NBA, and the back court consisted of Tony Delk, Derek Anderson, Ron Mercer, Jeff Sheppard, and Anthony Epps), Turner was able to break into the rotation, averaging 14 mpg and 4.5 ppg and even starting eight games due to some injuries. Kentucky won the national title that year, the first of three consecutive title game trips for Turner and the Wildcats. Turner still was not a full-time starter as a sophomore, but he increased his averages to 22 mpg, 6.6 ppg, and 3.0 apg. He also developed into one of Kentucky's best perimeter defenders, using his outstanding quickness to harass opposing point guards as he helped guide a UK team that lost Delk, Sheppard, Antoine Walker, and Walter McCarty back to the Finals, where they lost to Arizona in overtime. Turner was named to the NCAA all-region team. Turner picked up his second championship ring as a junior, when he averaged 9.3 ppg and 4.4 apg and helped ease the tensions during Tubby Smith's first year, the first time UK had a black head coach. Turner's leadership to this team is exemplified by the fact that they were the first team in over 20 years to win a title without a lottery pick or a 1st team all-american (you have to love Wikipedia). Turner was named MVP of the SEC tournament and MVP of the South Region. As a senior, Turner averaged 10.5 ppg and 3.9 apg en route to being named 3rd team all-SEC, but Kentucky only reached the Elite 8 before being knocked out of the NCAA's.

Turner never really found a home as a professional. In the 1999-00 season, he landed with the Celtics summer league team and actually made the team, but only managed to play in 3 games before being waived. He eventually signed with the Cincinnati Stuff of the IBL for the remainder of the season. The next year he was on the Pacers summer league team then signed with Turkey's Kombassan Konya, but was cut before he played in any games. His next career choice took an interesting turn, as he signed with the Harlem Globetrotters. At the time, the Globetrotters had decided to start playing exhibition games against NCAA teams, and signed a couple of former college players (Alex Sanders from Louisville was another one) to try and compete. On Nov. 27th, 2000, Turner gained the dubious distinction of being on the Globetrotters team that had their 1,270 game winning streak snapped with a 72-68 loss to Michigan State.

In the summer of 2001 he played with the Knicks summer league team, then split the year between Fillattice Imola (Italian Series A, his best pro ball yet), the Dakota Wizards (CBA), and the Florida Sea Dragons. In 2002-03, it seemed like Turner had finally landed somewhere he could succeed. He signed with the Townsville Crocodiles of the Australian NBL, and proceeded to average 19.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg, and 5.1 apg. But the night before Turner was to return to Australia for the 2003-04, he was arrested for gun possession and possession of a high-capacity magazine (he had a Glock 9mm with 12 live rounds in the car). There were two passengers in the car, each of which had an open beer and one of whom had weed. As a result, Turner had his passport taken away, and was cut by Townsville eight days later (NOTE: Does anyone know what ended up happening? I spent an hour trying to figure it out before giving up).

Over the next four years, Turner bounced around Europe and local minor leagues, playing a few games here and there. The highlight is probably when he signed with TEC Spirou Charleroi (Belgium) in 2005-06, where he played limited minutes but reached the ULEB Cup. In 2007-08, he went back to the Aussie NBL, where he signed with the New Zealand Breakers, but 11 games in he suffered a season ending injury. According to Australia Basket, Turner is currently unsigned for the upcoming season. Continue reading...

9/2 - Some Links, Some News

-This off-season has not been a great one of the University of Kansas, even beyond the fact that they lost nine total players and five NBA Draft picks from last season's NCAA Championship team. First, it was Sherron Collins and the "elevator incident". Then freshman Markieff Morris was arrested for shooting a woman with a BB gun from his dorm room window. The lastest news to come out of Lawrence is that Collins has shown up to camp out of shape after off-season knee surgery. Collins has always battled conditioning and weight issues, but according to Bill Self

"He's a month behind where I thought he'd be at this stage," Self said when the Jayhawks opened camp on Aug. 21. "He just reported back in bad shape. He was [in Lawrence] up until the time he was cleared to start [working out]. When he got cleared to do some things, that's when he decided to go home [to Chicago]. You can't go four months off, not be prepared and then just walk out there and say, 'I'm going to practice.' His body is just not ready to take a pounding at all."

Collins was expected to be a leader for this young Kansas team as he is the only major contributor from last season. Collins did not play Saturday during Kansas' first game of a three game Canada trip, although the official reason was that his knee was no feeling well. He had 10 points in the team's second game.

-I have to say, I feel bad for New Mexico State coach Marvin Menzies. About a month ago, his best returning big man, Herb Pope, was visiting schools like Seton Hall in hopes of transferring to greener basketball pastures. On Friday, Pope announced that he would be returning the NMSU (most likely because he was going to have to sit out a year because he wasn't going to get an NCAA waiver for his undisclosed personal issues). Well, today Menzies said in a statement that Pope will in fact be leaving NMSU, hopefully to transfer to Duquense or Seton Hall, which is closer to his Pittsburgh home.

"A decision has been made that Herb Pope will not play for the Aggies this upcoming season," NMSU coach Marvin Menzies said in a statement. "It is unfortunate things did not work out for Herb at NMSU, however, moving forward is best for all parties involved. We are building a program that will have chemistry and success, and in order to do that you must have development and continuity. We wish him well in the future both on and off the court."

Last year, NMSU was 9-10 without Pope, but 12-4 in the 16 games he played in after being cleared by the NCAA. He averaged 11.1 ppg in those 16 games.

-The NBA Players Association has suspended Calvin Andrews, the agent from Bill Duffy Associates that allegedly gave OJ Mayo his improper benefits while Mayo was at USC, for one year and reserved the right to further punish him.

-Indiana's only returning contributor Kyle Taber will undergo knee surgery and is expected to miss about 10 weeks. Indiana may not win a game this year.

-Alabama freshman Tony Mitchell has been declared ineligible for at least the first semester, while Arkansas freshman Jason Henry has been cleared to play.
Continue reading...

USC: 2008-2009 Team Preview

2007-2008 Team Record: 21-12, 11-7 Pac-10 (t-3rd)

Key Losses: OJ Mayo (20.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.3 apg), Davon Jefferson (12.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg), Angelo Johnson (4.5 ppg, 2.1 apg)

Key Returnees: Taj Gibson (10.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 2.6 bpg), Dwight Lewis (10.8 ppg), Daniel Hackett (8.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.2 apg)

Newcomers: Demar Derozan, Percy Miller, Donte Smith, Marcus Johnson, Alex Stephenson, Leonard Washington, Nikola Vucevic

USC lost their top two scorers from 2007-08 to the NBA Draft (OJ Mayo and Davon Jefferson), but may be a better team now mainly because they will be deeper. Their leading returning scorer is Taj Gibson, a 6'9" power forward who actually had a less-productive sophomore year than he did as a freshman (down from 12.2 ppg and 8.7 rpg). Although he is very thin (220 lb), Gibson is long and has an effective finesse game around the basket. He is also a very good defender (2.6 bpg). The drop in production is worrisome, although it may be a result of OJ Mayo dominating the ball (although, Gabe Pruitt and Nick Young did the same thing). The biggest addition to their front court is Alex Stephenson, a 6'9" transfer from UNC (he is still waiting to hear from the NCAA on whether or not he will be eligible for this year. His father is sick which is why he transferred out of Chapel Hill, and it appears as if he will be allowed to play). Stephenson only played about 14 mpg for the Tar Heels, but he is strong and athletic and will complement Gibson well down low. Also in the mix will be 6'10" sophomore Keith Wilkinson, 6'10" freshman Nikola Vucevic, and 6'7" freshman Leonard Washington.

The Trojans will be loaded on the perimeter. The first guy you have to mention is freshman Demar Derozan, a consensus top five recruit in the country. Derozan is a phenomenal athlete known for his highlight reel dunks (at the 2:15 mark he goes 1-on-5 and dunks on a whole team, definite must watch). The rest of his game has been improving, but right now he is much better in the open court than he is in a set offense (he is drawing a lot of comparisons to Vince Carter at the same age). Marcus Johnson, another athletic wing, will become eligible after transferring from UConn and should see some quality minutes.

USC also returns two starters from last year's back court, Daniel Hackett and Dwight Lewis. Hackett is the type of player coaches love (coincidence that he is a coach's son?), meaning he can do a little bit of everything. With Angelo Johnson transferring to South Alabama, Hackett looks like he may get the nod as the primary ball-handler. Lewis is more of a scorer, whose strength is his mid-range game. Donte Smith, a 5'11" JuCo transfer, will challenge for minutes at the point, as he was fairly highly recruited. The last addition to the Trojans back court is Percy Miller, aka Lil' Romeo. He probably won't see many minutes, but that is worth a mention.

Outlook: The Pac-10 lost a lot in the draft and is wide open after UCLA. USC has a lot of talent, but there are still some question marks. Will Stephenson be eligible? Who will run the point? Can anyone shoot? Which Taj Gibson shows up this year? Tim Floyd is an excellent coach, but those are a lot of ifs to overcome - and to predict. I can see this team missing the NCAA's, but I can also see them reaching the second weekend, depending on if they catch some breaks. Continue reading...

Kentucky: 2008-2009 Team Preview

2007-2008 Team Record: 18-13, 12-4 SEC (2nd East)

Key Losses: Joe Crawford (17.9 ppg), Ramel Bradley (15.9 ppg, 3.3 apg), Derrick Jasper (4.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg)

Key Returnees: Patrick Patterson (16.4 ppg, 7.7 rpg), Jodie Meeks (8.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg), Perry Stevenson (5.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg)

Newcomers: DeAndre Liggins, Darius Miller, Kevin Galloway, Josh Harrellson, Donald Williams

The main reason Kentucky will have a chance to make their second straight NCAA tournament under Billy Gillespie is that Patrick Patterson, who is probably the favorite to win SEC player of the year, came back for his sophomore season. The 6'8", 232 lb Patterson underwent surgery during the off-season because of a stress fracture in his ankle, but he should be completely healthy by the time the season starts. There aren't many players in the country with his combination of size, strength, athleticism, and skills. It's not a stretch to say he could end up being a 1st team all-american, and with an inexperienced team around him, the 'Cats are going to go as far as Patterson can carry them.

Patterson's front court mate is junior Perry Stevenson, who started to play much better as the season went on, averaging more points, rebounds and minutes than starter Mark Coury (Coury, who is a walk-on, is rumored to be looking for a place to transfer where he will be on scholarship). Stevenson is long, athletic, and a above average defender, but offensively he is not much more than a dunker at this point. Josh Harrellson, a JuCo transfer who originally committed to Western Illinois, will also compete for minutes up front.

The backcourt is a different story as the Wildcats lost their three best ballhandlers in Ramel Bradley, Joe Crawford, and Derrick Jasper. The starting point guard spot will probably be a battle between Kevin Galloway and DeAndre Liggins, although both are more in the mold of a point forward (both are 6'6"). Galloway already has collegiate experience (JuCo transfer and former USC Trojan), so he looks to be the early favorite, but Liggins was a top-30 recruit this year and probably has more raw talent (he comes in with a rep as a penetrator with great vision and passing ability).

There are three guys that will get most of the minutes on the wing. Ramon Harris, who started 25 games last year, is UK's best perimeter defender, but doesn't bring much to the table offensively. Top-50 recruit Darius Miller, however, is much more skilled offensively, and the two should complement each other well. The wildcard for Kentucky this year will be Jodie Meeks. Meeks is a very talented two-guard who has yet to live up to his hype as a go-to scorer for UK. The 'Cats are really going to need him to step-up and be a guy who can put points on the board and take some of the pressure off of Patterson.

UPDATE: UK also signed 6'5" guard Donald Williams to a scholarship (about two days before classes started), so look for him to get some minutes as well.

Outlook: Kentucky's top six or seven are pretty good, but there is a real drop-off after that. The biggest problem for the Wildcats, however, will not be depth, it will be perimeter shooting (get this, they return a TOTAL of 38 made 3's from last year's team). Meeks is really the only guy on the perimeter that can shoot, which could be very problematic for Patterson as teams will collapse on him. That said, Kentucky is big, athletic, and will be a tough defensive team again this year. They aren't quite as good as Florida or Tennessee, but don't be surprised if they reach the second weekend of the tournament. Continue reading...