2011-2012 Top 50 Countdown: No. 23 Gonzaga Bulldogs

Over the coming weeks, we will be counting down our Top 50 teams in the country. Teams 26-50 will be posted in groups of five, while we will count backwards from No. 25 to the No. 1 team in the country. You can find a complete schedule of our 2011-2012 Season Preview coverage here. To browse through the rest of the Top 50, click here.

Last Season: 25-10, 11-3 (t-1st WCC), lost to BYU in the round of 32

Head Coach: Mark Few

Key Losses: Steven Gray, Demetri Goodson, Manny Arop

Newcomers: Gary Bell Jr, Kevin Pangos, Kyle Dranginis, Ryan Spangler, Chris Sarbaugh, Guy Landry

Projected Lineup:

- G: David Stockton, So.
- G: Marquise Carter, Sr.
- F: Guy Landry Edi, Jr.
- F: Elias Harris, Jr.
- C: Robert Sacre, Sr.
- Bench: Sam Dower, So.; Gary Bell, Fr.; Kevin Pangos, Fr.; Kelly Olynyk, Jr.; Mathis Monninghoff, Jr.


Outlook: Gonzaga is coming off of a 2010-2011 season that was strange, to say the least. After struggling through the early part of the season -- they lost five of their first nine games in non-conference play and started out league play just 3-3 -- the Zags flipped the switch when Marquise Carter was moved into the starting lineup and David Stockton and Sam Dower became the primary options off the bench. The Zags won 10 games in a row in WCC play, enough to give them both a share of the conference regular season title and the WCC Tournament title, sending Mark Few's club back to the NCAA Tournament.

There will be some new faces on this team, however. Gone is Steven Gray, Gonzaga's leading scorer from last season. Also gone is defensive-stoppers Manny Arop and Demetri Goodson, who transferred to Indiana State and Baylor, respectively, the latter for football. And while this year's back court is going to have a new feel to it, the Zags still appear to be the favorite in the WCC.

The strength of this year's Gonzaga team is going to be in the front court, but a lot of just how good that front court ends up being is going to depend on Elias Harris. Specifically, which Elias Harris are we going to get this year? As a freshman, Harris had lottery pick written all over him. Here was a 6'8", 220 lb kid that could go by his man on the perimeter, he could score over a smaller defender in the post, he was able to finish above the rim with a authority, and he was a deadly three-point shooter. But as a sophomore, Harris's number dipped across the board. For my money, there were three reasons for that: A) Robert Sacre's continued development; B) the lack of a pure point guard and a natural playmaker with Matt Bouldin graduating; and C) an off-season shoulder injury and an early-season achilles injury that limited his explosiveness and left him out of shape.

One of the knocks on Harris during his time at Gonzaga has been his inability to create his own shot. He was a finisher around the rim and a catch-and-shoot guy on the perimeter as a freshman, and that didn't change when he was a sophomore. But after an offseason in which he was healthy and able to develop his game, there's no reason why Harris shouldn't be a more well-rounded offensive player. If he is, than he will create a dangerously talented and experienced inside-outside combo with Robert Sacre, who has quietly developed into one of the best big men on the west coast. Sacre is a legitimate seven-footer with a solid back-to-the-basket game, the ability to draw fouls and convert free throws, and the size to take up space in the paint and make his presence felt on the glass and as a shot-blocker.

Joining those two up front will be Sam Dower and Kelly Olynyk. Dower is an interesting prospect. A redshirt sophomore, he didn't see many minutes until midway through the season, when Gonzaga's struggles forced Few to give him a chance. He responded with production, making a name for himself as a junkyard dog around the rim, using his length and positional smarts on the glass. Olynyk is a 6'11" face-up four with a solid perimeter stroke when he has time. Like Dower, he's a pest on the offensive glass. That front court rotation will be able to matchup with any front court in the country.

The back court is where the real question marks arise. For my money, the only guaranteed starter is Marquise Carter, the combo-guard who sparked the late-season surge. He's a 6'2" senior that had a couple of big scoring games as a junior. He's not just a scorer, however, as he can create for his teammates as well. Few will be counting on him to become more consistent this season, as he will likely begin the year as the primary offensive weapon.


From there, the picture gets a bit blurry. I think that David Stockton can and will start for this team next year, although there are folks that will disagree with me. But Stockton isn't as big and doesn't have the athleticism of some of the other back court options. He's also not as dynamic of a playmaker; Stockton plays more of a leader/facilitator role. That's fine when you are dealing with a team with individual talent and scorers, which I believe Gonzaga as -- assuming Harris finds the ability to create his own shot. Don't be surprised to see Kevin Pangos, a canadian point guard and fairly highly regarded recruit, to push for some minutes at the point as well, although I believe he is still a year or two away from having a major impact.

The other perimeter spot is also up in the air, and it appears that two newcomers will be battling for the position. The freshman phenom is Gary Bell Jr, a Kent, WA, native known for his ability to score. His game centers around his perimeter stroke, but he also appears able to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. Guy Landry Edi is a JuCo transfer from Midland (TX) that Gonzaga fans are hoping will be the x-factor. He's an athletic, 6'5" wing and Ivory Coast native that should be able to replace the defensive presence that Arop provided. Also keep an eye on Mathis Monninghoff, a sharp-shooting swingman that got eight starts last year.

There is talent on this roster, but there are going to be two keys to the season for the Zags. The first is whether or not Harris can live up to his potential as a superstar and first round NBA Draft Pick. The other is whether Gonzaga can solidify a back court rotation, and just how good the newcomers end up being. The Zags should be considered the preseason favorite in the WCC, and if things break right, there are the pieces here to make a run to -- and past -- the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
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The Only Conference Preview You Need To Read: Conference USA

Over the next month and a half, we will be rolling out all of our 2011-2012 Season Preview posts. You can find a full schedule of all the preview posts here. If you want to browse through the rest of the conference previews, click here.

AWARDS

Player of the Year: Arsalan Kazemi, Jr., Rice

There is quite a bit of talent in Conference USA this year, but the most productive player -- and probably the best NBA prospect -- is tucked away at the other school in Houston. Arsalan Kazemi, the first Iranian-born player to play Division I basketball, is quite possibly the most underrated player in the country. Standing just 6'7", Kazemi was the only player in Conference USA to average double figures in rebounds last season. In fact, he was seventh nationally at 11.0 rpg, ranking 15th in offensive rebounding percentage and second in defensive rebounding percentage. Kazemi also managed to average 15.2 ppg despite being the focal point of every defensive attack in league play; he didn't even lead his team in scoring during conference play last season. That said, after going from one win in 2009-2010 to five wins last season, the Owls should continue to improve this year. With their top four scorers returning -- including fellow junior Tamir Jackson in the back court -- there will be less attention on Kazemi. And while Kazemi isn't the kind of offensive talent that can be isolated in the post, he plays such an active and energetic brand of basketball that he almost requires a double team when he is cutting to the rim or hitting the offensive glass. Think Kenneth Faried, only without the dreads.


And a close second goes to...: Joe Jackson, So., Memphis

This pick may be a bit out of the box, but I'm expecting a big season out of Jackson. I'm not saying I think he'll be the leading scorer for this team -- although I do think he will have some big games -- but I do think he'll be the engine that drives the Memphis Tigers. Jackson had a very inconsistent freshman season, which isn't unusual, but it hit Jackson harder than a typical freshman. Jackson is a Memphis native and really felt the pressure of playing in front of a hometown crowd with his entourage in his ear every day. Jackson persevered, however, and was responsible for sparking the comeback in what amounted to a road game in the C-USA title game, making the game-winning play -- drawing a foul and hitting the two free throws -- with 7.5 seconds. You don't always have to be your team's leading scorer to win a conference's Player of the Year award or make first-team all-conference. Last year's winner was Aaron Jackson, who led the country in assists and was that team's leader but was the Blazer's third-leading scorer. I don't expect Jackson to lead the country in assists, but I do expect him to be the guy Josh Pastner calls upon when he needs a big bucket this year.

Breakout Star: Jordan Clarkson, So., Tulsa

Tulsa always seems to have a guy on the perimeter that is dangerous with the ball in his hands. Last year it was Justin Hurtt. Before that it was Ben Uzoh. With Hurtt graduating, is Clarkson the next in line? An athletic, 6'4" slasher, Clarkson averaged 11.5 ppg despite battling a couple of injuries during the season. He also came on strong late in the season, averaging 15.9 ppg on 50.7% shooting from the field and getting to the line 41 times. Clarkson will have a chance to become the No. 1 option offensively this season. If he can cut down on some of his turnovers and become a more consistent jump shooter, Clarkson has a chance to be a big-time scorer this year.

All-Conference First-Team:

- POY: Arsalan Kazemi, Jr., Rice
- G: Joe Jackson, So., Memphis
- G: Jordan Clarkson, So., Tulsa
- G: Deandre Kane, So., Marshall
- F: Keith Clanton, Jr., UCF
- C: Cameron Moore, Sr., UAB


All-Conference Second-Team:

- G: Damier Pitts, Sr., Marshall
- G: Marcus Jordan, Jr., UCF
- G: Will Barton, So., Memphis
- F: Kendall Timmons, Jr., Tulane
- C: Darius Morrow, Sr., East Carolina

Four summer storylines

- Everything Central Florida: The Golden Knights were an episode of Jerry Springer this summer. It started with praise for Donnie Jones ability to recruit, as he added center Michael Chandler and point guard Kevin Ware to an incoming class that already included three high-major transfers and three highly-regarded recruits. But that commitment from Ware lasted all of 10 days, as the former Tennessee-signee backed out a day before Pat Forde and Pete Thamel dropped a bombshell that Jones had recruits steered towards his programs by a convicted felon with strong ties to an agent; in other words, a runner. That runner, named Ken Caldwell, has a twitter account and decided to tee-off on the media in response. As a capper, both Chandler and Ware, who ended up at Louisville, were ruled ineligible for this season.


The irony here? None of the conversation about UCF this offseason had to do with the fact that they are one of the most intriguing teams in the country heading into this season. It wasn't all bad news for the Golden Knights. Tristan Spurlock, who was one of three ineligible transfers that formed a practice squad called "Team Buckets", is starting a non-profit with the same name to help local youths.

- Will Barton guarantees another title: Prior to Will Barton ever suiting up for the Tigers, he made the decision to guarantee that Memphis would win the national title. It was all in good fun, but it made headlines and it was, well, way off. Memphis finished fourth in Conference USA and lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. This offseason, Barton did it again, telling the crowd at the annual High Tops party that "we're going to win it all." I'll agree with Pastner here. If he's saying it, he better back it up.

- Arsalan Kazemi in the Asia Games: Not only is Arsalan Kazemi the first Iranian-born player in the Division I ranks, he also happens to be one of the stars for his country's national team. It originally appeared as if Kazemi wasn't going to be able to try and help his country qualify for the Olympics this September, as classes at Rice and NCAA regulations got in the way. Eventually, however, the ruling was overturned -- why its a bad thing for an athlete to represent his country, I'll never know. Iran did not qualify for the Olympics, getting upset and eliminated by Jordan, but Kazemi played well, averaging 12.0 ppg and 8.9 rpg.

- DJ Newbill transfers to Penn State: DJ Newbill made some headlines when he decided to transfer out of Southern Miss and head to play for Pat Chambers at Penn State. It wasn't exactly a surprise, however. Newbill ended up in Hattiesburg when his scholarship to Marquette disappeared, an event that just so happened to coincide with a talented Wisconsin native trying to transfer back home. But the question some people wound up asking is whether or not what Newbill did to Larry Eustachy was fair? It was July 2nd of last summer when Newbill's scholarship offer was taken away. Newbill was lucky that Eustachy gave him a place to land safely.

But after an excellent freshman season, Newbill headed for the door at the first opportunity to play high-major basketball. On the one hand, it seems a bit unfair for Newbill to, essentially, take advantage of the opportunity given to him by Eustachy. On the other hand -- which I happen to agree with -- Newbill never wanted to be at Southern Miss in the first place. He was the victim of a coach looking out for himself. What's wrong with Newbill doing the same?

Four storylines to watch this season

- Will Memphis regain control over the conference?: The Tigers owned Conference USA at the end of John Calipari's tenure with the school. When I say owned, I mean owned, as in they didn't lose a league game the last three years he was in Memphis. The Pastner era has been no where near as successful. That's not meant to be a shot at Pastner, either, but finished second and fourth in his first two years is not exactly what Tiger fans are expecting. This may be the year that the Tigers regain their strangle hold on the league. Memphis is loaded. They bring back everyone except Will Coleman, they add Adonis Thomas and Stan Simpson, and the freshmen that struggled early and started to gel late are all now sophomores. Based on talent alone, Memphis is by far the best team in the conference and will likely find themselves sitting somewhere in the top 15 of every preseason poll. Will Pastner be able to fit all the pieces together?


- Who wins the battle for second place?: There's not much of an argument over who is the best team in Conference USA heading into the year. There will be quite a few arguments over who is the second best team, however, as three clubs have a legitimate argument to be slotted there. Marshall has been the trendy pick heading into October. The Thundering Herd not only return arguably the best back court in the league with Deandre Kane and Damier Pitts, they only lose one player from their rotation while adding a number of talented recruits and transfers. Tulsa should be good as well. The Golden Hurricanes do lose their leading scorer in Justin Hurtt, but they bring back a big front line, two talented kids on the perimeter in Jordan Clarkson and Scottie Haralson, and should finally have a healthy point guard in Donte Medder. The most interesting team? Central Florida. They are coming off of a roller coaster season in which they started out the year 14-0 but finished just 6-10 in league play, including an eight game losing streak. But with both Marcus Jordan and Keith Clanton returning and a talented crop of recruits and transfers joining the program, there is reason to be hopeful. It begs the question ...

- Will there be more than one team worthy of an at-large bid?: I'd say there is a good chance there will be. Let's assume, for argument's sake, that Memphis wins the regular season and tournament titles, meaning that Tulsa, Marshall and UCF -- and any other team that puts together a strong enough resume to warrant consideration -- will have to earn an at-large bid if they want to go dancing. My guess is that Marshall has the best chance. They get Memphis and UCF twice in league play, and while they have to travel to Tulsa, they get West Virginia, Iona and Belmont at home in non-conference games. Marshall will also travel to Cincinnati, Syracuse and Belmont (they play the Bruins twice).

Tulsa will travel to South Carolina for the Charleston Classic -- whose field is not as strong as it was last year -- before playing non-conference roadies against Missouri State and Oklahoma State while hosting Arizona State, Creighton and Wichita State. Its worth noting that Tulsa only gets Marshall, UCF and Memphis once each in league play, hosting each game. UCF better hope they beat the College of Charleston in their opener in the Battle 4 Atlantis and get a shot a UConn, because if they don't, their only quality non-conference game may end up being at Florida State.

- What will Conference USA look like in the future?: That is a really good question and one that cannot be answered by a single person. The rumors involving Conference USA teams as plug-ins for the major conferences as been non-stop. Its not secret that East Carolina and UCF both want in the Big East. Memphis wants in a BCS league, and while the Big East would make sense, the school doesn't particularly care what league it is. All four of the Texas schools -- Houston, Rice, UTEP, and SMU -- have, at one point, been a rumored target of both the Big 12 and the Big East. And who can forget the massive, country-wide merger of Conference USA and the Mountain West that was discussed last month?

Power Rankings

1. Memphis: There were good things and there were bad things to take out of the 2010-2011 season for the Memphis Tigers. The good news is that, despite having a roster overloaded with freshmen, they were still able to win the Conference USA Tournament, locking up a bid to the NCAA Tournament. The bad news is that thanks to a season full of underwhelming and inconsistent performances, the Tigers almost assuredly needed that automatic bid to go dancing.

One thing is clear heading into this season for the Tigers -- there is not shortage of talent on their roster, as Josh Pastner has really been able to flex his muscles as a recruiter. The back court should be one of the best in the country next season. Joe Jackson had an up-and-down season as a freshman as he struggled to deal with the expectations that come with being a star high school player from Memphis, but he came around by the end of the year and was the guy Pastner called upon with the C-USA championship on the line. There's no reason that Will Barton can't improve, either. He was the Tiger's leading scorer as a freshman, but he needs to learn to be more efficient with his shot selection and turnovers. Sophomores Antonio Barton and Chris Crawford and senior Charles Carmouche are all quality defenders that excel in their roles offensively. In the front court, sophomore Tarik Black eventually played his way into the starting lineup and should be able to provide an anchor in the paint. With Seton Hall transfer Ferrakhon Hall, JuCo transfer Stan Simpson, and redshirt freshman Hippolyte Tsafack also on the roster, the Tiger's should have plenty of bodies to rotate through up front. The x-factors could end up being Wesley Witherspoon and Adonis Thomas. Witherspoon is a versatile forward that struggled in a leadership role and has never really lived up to his potential. Will he lose minutes to Thomas, a Memphis native and 6'6" forward that some believe is the best prospect in this class? If he does, will that throw off the team's chemistry? Memphis is the overwhelming favorite in the league, and has the talent to make the Final Four.


2. Marshall: Marshall had a bit of a surprising season in 2010-2011. After seeing their head coach bolt for Conference USA rival Central Florida, the Herd still managed to win 22 games -- including victories over West Virginia and Memphis -- while finishing 9-7 in the league. Even more promising is the fact that Marshall loses just two players from last season's team. The future looks bright in Huntington, WV.


This season, it starts with the back court. Senior Damier Pitts is one of the best point guards in the conference. Assuming he stays academically eligible (he missed the first semester last season and still led the team in scoring and assists), he's nightmare to try and defend. DeAndre Kane, Pitts' back court mate and only a sophomore, is a very well-rounded player (15.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.4 apg) and has a chance to be Player of the Year in Conference USA by the time he graduates. He's that good. Shaquille Johnson will also return in the back court and will provide experience. Replacing Tirrell Baines inside won't be easy, but Nigel Spikes will provide size in the paint while Dago Pena gives Marshall a forward that can really shoot the ball from the perimeter. Tom Herrion has an impressive influx of talent, as well. Yaos Mbao, a 7'2" Marquette transfer, should provide depth up front. Justin Coleman, who was ruled academically ineligible at Louisville, also joins the program. Freshmen DeVince Boykins and Jamir Hanner and JuCo transfers Chris Martin and Robert Goff should also see some minutes. The Thundering Herd have enough talent to be Memphis' strongest contender in Conference USA.*

(*Ed. Note: While I think Marshall is the second best team in the league and the second most likely to earn an at-large bid, I think Tulsa will end up in second place at the end of the season. Marshall, UCF and Memphis are all in the eastern division of the league on the football side, meaning they will play each other twice. Tulsa, who plays in the much weaker western division, has a schedule that is unbelievably favorable, as they host Marshall, UCF and Memphis in their only meetings.)

3. Tulsa: Tulsa is as consistent as any program in the country. Keep in mind, this was a program heading into the 2010-2011 having lost two potential NBA players in Jerome Jordan and Ben Uzoh, and after a rough non-conference slate, the Golden Hurricane managed to play their way into the No. 2 seed in the Conference USA Tournament. That's impressive. And while Tulsa lost leading scorer Justin Hurtt to graduation, the pieces are in place to make a similar run next season.

Hurtt averaged 20.0 ppg as a senior and was the guy that had the ball in his hands the majority of the time on the offensive end of the floor. There is no doubt that his graduation is going to result in a tweaking offensively, but that doesn't necessarily mean that Tulsa is going to suffer as a result. UConn transfer Scottie Haralson averaged 10.9 ppg, shooting a better percentage from beyond the arc than Hurtt, while being named Newcomer of the Year. Jordan Clarkson averaged 11.5 ppg and was named to the C-USA all-freshman team. I wouldn't be surprised to see both of those guys average 15 ppg next season. Junior Donte Medder will, hopefully, be healthy after tearing the acl in his right knee in back-to-back years. Sophomore Tim Smith and freshman Eric McClellan will push for minutes. Point guard play will be huge for Tulsa, as they were last in the conference in assists, assists-to-turnover ratio (0.8:1) and turnover margin. If healthy, Medder can be that answer. Up front, 6'11" senior Steven Idlet returns, giving Tulsa a back-to-the-basket scorer. He'll be joined by a deep group of front-line players in seniors DJ Magley and Joe Richard and sophomore Kodi Maduka. If Medder is healthy and can provide steady point guard play, I'd say Tulsa will have a very good chance of finishing second in the league next season and may even be able to get back to the NCAA Tournament.


4. Central Florida: UCF had one of the stranger seasons I've ever seen in 2010-2011. After winning the first 14 games of the season and climbing to their first ever national ranking, the Knights lost eight straight games in league play before finishing the regular season with five wins in their last seven games to solidify a trip to the CBI. Despite the eight game losing streak, UCF still managed to put together a 21 win season, which included wins over Florida and Miami.

As we mentioned, what makes UCF's season all the more impressive is that they weren't supposed to be good until this year. And that is what makes them scary -- and unpredictable -- heading into the season. In terms of talent, UCF has as much as anyone in the conference, save Memphis. It starts with who they bring back, namely juniors Marcus Jordan (Michael's son) and Keith Clanton. Jordan is a 6'3" slasher on the wing that can score and create, but he needs to work on improving shot selection and avoiding settling for jumpers. Clanton is a 6'8", 240 lb power forward that can do a bit of everything -- score inside, rebound the ball, block a shot, hit a three. Senior AJ Rompza didn't have a bad season running the point as a junior, but he may see his playing time cut due to the arrival of some talented transfers. Jeff Jordan (Michael's other son) will be eligible after transferring in from Illinois and is a tough, defensive-minded lead guard. Tristan Spurlock, a sophomore small forward that was once a top 100 recruit at Virginia, and Josh Crittle, a big-bodied center that transferred in from Oregon, will also become eligible this season. Throw in a well-regarded recruiting class of Rod Days, Wayne Martin and Casey Wilson -- all of whom are 6'7" forwards -- as well as returners PJ Gaynor, a senior front court player, and Isaiah Sykes, a sophomore wing, and Donnie Jones has plenty of able bodies. Assuming Donnie Jones can iron out the consistency issues from a year ago, there are two issues here for the Golden Knights. The first will be managing minutes, particularly in the front court, where UCF has a number of options. The other will be finding a perimeter shooting threat. With Isaac Sosa being run off, Jones lost his best three point shooter. Who fills that role? The talent is there, on paper, to finish as high as third, but will all the pieces come together? Will Spurlock and Crittle finally live up to their expectations coming out of high school?


5. UAB: For what is one of the most consistent programs in the country, UAB had their best season to date under head coach Mike Davis. They won the Conference USA regular season title and earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Davis was named Coach of the Year in the league. Point guard Aaron Johnson was named Player of the Year while Jamarr Sanders earned first-team all-league honors. Even when they lost, they did it in a competitive manner, with just three losses coming by more than five points.

It will be difficult for Davis to sustain that level of success, however. For starters, both Johnson and Sanders -- who were as good as just about any back court in the country -- both graduated, leaving a gaping hole in the Blazer's back court. This year's team will likely be built around the interior. Cameron Moore, who was well on his way to averaging a double-double last season before breaking his hand, is back. Ovie Soko is back as well and will likely start along side Moore. With Moore's ability to knock down shots from the perimeter and Soko's aggressiveness on the offensive glass, Davis will have a solid tandem up front. Todd O'Brien, who started at St. Joe's, and Beas Hamga, an athletic seven-footer that was once a top 25 recruit in the country, are also on the front line. In the back court, Preston Purifoy is a 6'5" sophomore on the best shooter on the roster. With more playing time, he could be primed for a big season. Sophomore Robert Williams and Quincy Taylor were in and out of the starting lineup as freshmen, and don't be surprised to see newcomers KC Whitaker or Isiah Jones make a push for minutes. With that much youth in their back court, expect the Blazers to remain competitive but don't expect them to make a push to finish in the top three or four of the league.


6. Rice: Its a real sign of your program if a 14 win season that ends with a 5-11 record in conference play is considered a good year, but that's exactly the situation that the Rice Owls currently find themselves in. Its also what happens when that team is coming off an eight win campaign that saw just a single league victory. Throw in the fact that the Owls swept cross-town rival Houston and knocked off Memphis -- both C-USA firsts -- and now returns their top four scorers from a year ago, and you may understand why there is actually a bit of excitement surrounding this team.

Ben Braun has two all-league caliber players at his disposal. The first is Arsalan Kazemi, an Iranian-born power forward and arguably the best big man in the conference. He averaged 15.2 ppg and 11.0 rpg as a sophomore despite being the sole focus of some defenses during league play. Combo-guard Tamir Jackson was actually the team's leading scorer in C-USA, as the junior was to take advantage of the attention that was being shown to Kazemi. Connor Frizzelle will provide some leadership and experience in the back court while Lucas Kalpers will help spread the floor for Kazemi with his ability to shoot as a forward. That's a solid core in Conference USA, but the issue Rice is going to face has to do with their depth. They don't have much of it, and the guys they do have are freshmen. Will youngsters like Dylan Ennis and Julian DeBose be able to contribute immediately? Can Braun find some athleticism in his back court and a burly big man to play along side Kazemi? Finishing .500 in league play is not a stretch for this team, but I'm not sure they have the depth for much beyond that this season.


7. East Carolina: The Pirates 2010-2011 campaign was, without a doubt, an overwhelming success. With new head coach Jeff Lebo took over a team that managed just 10 wins the year before and playing much of the season with their star guard Brock Young battling a knee injury, ECU won 18 games -- this first time they finished above .500 in 14 years -- while going 8-8 in league play. They also knocked off Memphis for the first time ever and their two wins in the Conference USA Tournament earned them a trip to the CIT.

The issue that Lebo is going to run into this season is how he can build on that success. Two starters -- including leading scorer Jontae Sherrod -- and Conference USA's sixth man of the year (Young) all graduate, leaving a team that only went eight deep without half of their rotation. Expect senior Darius Morrow to be the star of this year's Pirate squad. Last season's second-leading scorer and leading rebounder, Morrow averaged 21.7 ppg and 13.7 rpg in the Conference USA Tournament. Also back is junior Corvonn Gaines, a 6'4" playmaker (3.1 apg) that led the team in minutes and steals. Erin Straughn, a 6'6" guard who started 33 games as a sophomore, also returns, as does 6'8" sophomore Robert Sampson, who has some range on his jumper and should provide a solid inside-outside attack with Morrow. Beyond that, however, there are plenty of minutes available. South Carolina transfer Austin Steed, JuCo transfer Miguel Paul, sophomore Darius Morales and freshman Yasin Kolo will provide front court depth. JuCo transfer Shamarr Bowden and freshman Paris Roberts-Campbell will likely be the guys that provide the back court depth. If Lebo can coach this team up to another .500 season, it should probably be considered a success.


8. Southern Miss: There is no question that the 2010-2011 season was a major disappointment for the Golden Eagles, who were as talented as they have been in the Larry Eustachy era. Led by seniors Gary Flowers and RL Horton, Southern Miss jumped out to a 14-3 record, but road struggles, a late-season swoon that dropped them out of the hunt for the C-USA regular season title and a second-round exit in the conference tournament meant that USM was left without as much as an invite to the NIT. When you head into the season with expectations of dancing, settling for the CBI just doesn't cut it.

This year will be a rebuilding one for Southern Miss. Not only do they lose Flowers -- who led the team in points, rebounds, blocks and steals -- and Horton -- their second leading scorer, freshman DJ Newbill decided to transfer out of the program and closer to his Philly to play for Penn State. With the graduation of a couple role players as well, Eustachy returns just four players that cracked last season's rotation. Senior point guard Angelo Johnson, a transfer from USC, will be counted on to lead this team next season. He was terrific as a distributor and a facilitator as a junior, but USM will need him to be more of a scorer and a playmaker this year. Seniors Torye Pelham and Maurice Bolden will likely move into the starting lineup in the front court with Ahyaro Phillips coming off the bench while junior scoring guard LaShay Page will start along side Johnson. JuCo transfers Keith DeWitt and Jonathon Mills and freshman Christian Robbins may also provide some minutes up front. Eustachy has pieces in the front court, but the back court will be interesting to keep an eye on. Behind Johnson and Page, Eustachy will only have a pair of seldom used freshmen and a pair of transfers (Neil Watson from Toledo and Rashard McGill from Iona). Watson redshirted at Toledo, but McGill had a promising freshman season, starting a handful of games.


9. SMU: SMU had their best season in the five-year tenure of Matt Doherty in 2010-2011, winning 20 games and earning a bid to the CIT. And while Doherty touts the season as proof that the Mustangs program is officially turned around, the true mark of a basketball program is sustainability. What happens the year after you are successful? Doherty's team loses quite a bit from last year's squad. Five players from their eight-man rotation have moved on, including Papa Dia, a monster in the paint that opened everything up for the rest of the SMU team.

Perhaps the best news for Doherty is that Jeremiah Samarrippas turned to be better than he expected as a freshman. The 5'10" Florida native stepped in and ran the point from day one. Samarrippas can do a little bit of everything, and as he continues to develop, there is no reason he can't become one of the best point guards in the conference by the time he graduates. Doherty will also have some veteran leadership on the roster in the form of Robert Nyakundi and Robert Clinkscales. Nyakundi is a sharpshooting 6'8" small forward (49.7% from three, 97 threes made) that thrived complimenting Dia's post presence. Clinkscales will be counted on to be more of a scoring threat last year. There will be quite a few newcomers here. Shawne Williams, a former top 100 small forward that couldn't get off the bench at Texas, joins the program, as does London GIles, who was a seldom-used point guard at Nevada. Leslee Smith and Ricmonds Vilde are both redshirt freshmen forwards. Those four have all had a year to practice with the team and should be able to contribute right away. Doherty also has brought in a solid recruiting class -- big men Cannen Cunningham and Eric Norman and wings Jalen Jones and Ryan Manuel. There will be a lot of youth and inexperience on this roster, but if Clickscales and Samarrippas improve, a low-post threat emerges and a couple of these newcomers outperform expectations, the Mustangs will be competitive.


10. Houston: When the Cougars fired Tom Penders and hired James Dickey, they knew that the program would be undergoing a massive overhaul. Penders coached a run-and-gun style that didn't exactly ignore defense, but made it look that way on the final box score. Dickey's always been a defensive-minded head coach, and while the transition seemed to go fairly well early in the season -- as Houston won 11 of their first 17 games and three of their first four in C-USA -- it wore on the team as the season progressed. As Houston continued to lose close games (they lost five in a row by less than five points, including two in OT), the infighting only got worse. Trumaine Johnson left the team mid-season, Kendrick Washington transferred to Arkansas State when the year ended, and when it was all said and done, Houston had lost 12 of their last 13 games and had been swept by Rice.

Dickey will almost be given a clean slate heading into this season. In addition to the early departures, Houston will also be losing their three leading scorers to graduation. But the cupboard is far from bare. Don't be surprised if sophomore Alandise Harris becomes the go-to guy for Dickey this season on the offensive end of the floor. The 6'6" power forward really came on strong late in his freshman season. If Harris is the go-to guy, count on Darian Thibodeaux to be the team's leader. He led the team in minutes played last season, starting every games and providing playmaking and three-point marksmanship from the wing. The only other returners of consequence are sophomore Mikhail McLean and junior Kirk van Slyke, two big men that were in and out of the starting lineup. After that, Dickey's roster will be chock full of question marks and newcomers. The name you've probably heard before is Joseph Young, a talented guard out of Houston that was forced to take a year off when Keno Davis wouldn't allow him out of this letter of intent at Providence. Young isn't the only well-regarded newcomer, however. TaShawn Thomas is a four-star big man. Jherrod Stiggers and JJ Thompson are guards that had some high-major interest. JuCo transfers Jonathon Simmons and Leon Gibson, as well as freshman LeRon Barnes, will also have ample opportunity to earn playing time. Houston will be young and is still probably a year or two away from finishing in the top half of the league.


11. Tulane: Tulane looked like they were ready to shock the world in Ed Conroy's first season as head coach. After a 10-4 non-conference season -- which surprised just about everyone -- the Green Wave won their first two Conference USA games. But that was, more or less, the end of the good news for Tulane, as they proceeded to lose 12 consecutive games and 14 or their last 15, finishing the year 3-13 in the league. And while they bring back their two best players, including second-team all-conference performer Kendall Timmons, they lose five seniors that combined for 84 starts this past season.

The good news for Tulane is that Timmons and Jordan Callahan, who solidified the point guard spot, are back for their junior years. Timmons averaged 17.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg, and 3.4 apg despite being forced to play out of position. A strong and physical kid, Timmons stands just 6'5" and is a natural two-guard, but he played the four due to a lack of size. Despite the Green Wave struggling against conference competition, Callahan proved that he will be able to compete against some of the best in the league. It will be interesting to see what Conroy does to surround those two. Sophomore Kevin Thomas should get a chance to start in the middle, and if a couple of the front court newcomers -- freshmen Grant Fiorentinos, Trevante Drye, and Lotanna Nwogbo; JuCo transfer Tomas Bruha; or NC State transfer Josh Davis -- can prove themselves worthy of consistent playing time, Timmons can slide over and play the wing. In the back court, Ben Cherry -- who started four games before injuring his knee -- should be healthy, as should Penn transfer Don Monckton. Throw in a quartet of freshmen on the perimeter, and its pretty obvious that there will be some serious competition for those available minutes. I'd say there is an outside chance Tulane finishes .500 in the league this year.


12. UTEP: I think it would be unfair to say that Tim Floyd had an unsuccessful season in his first year with UTEP, but it wasn't exactly a storybook year, either. He led a senior-dominated team to 25 wins, a second-place finish in a top 10 conference, to within a pair of Joe Jackson free of the C-USA Tournament title and a to the NIT. It could have been much worse. But given the amount of talent on the roster -- and the number of players that UTEP lost to graduation -- the season felt like a disappointment heading into the summer.

Floyd is going to have his work cut out for him rebuilding the Miners. He loses eight seniors, including his five leading scorers. Only three players from the Miner rotation return. Senior forward Gabriel McCulley and sophomore center John Bohannon both were in and out of the starting lineup last season. They should anchor the front line next season. Sophomore guard Michael Perez played limited minutes as a freshman, but the back court will be held down by Jacques Streeter, a transfer that started as a freshman and a sophomore at Cal State-Fullerton. Floyd does bring in a massive recruiting class -- eight freshmen and one Juco transfer. Wing forward Julian Washburn, the son of Chris Washburn, is the most highly-touted of the group and he should crack the starting lineup immediately. But beyond that, most of the newcomers are solid recruits that will take a year or two to develop into impact players in the conference. A .500 season in league play should probably be considered a success.
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Wednesday Morning Dump

- Rush the Court hands out "The Best of" for the Wooden Award watch-list

- Speaking of RTC, they are starting up one of my favorite features again: The #30 things we love about college hoops

- Some say this will be Roy Williams' best team ever. others, not so much. Speaking of RTC and the ACC, is Duke's non-con schedule hard or easy?

- Missouri forward Laurence Bowers tore his ACl during a pick-up game yesterday. Speaking of Missouri, the school has decided to continue to explore realignment options

- Dana O'Neil provides a fantastic analysis of the non-conference schedules for all the ACC teams. Diamond Leung does the same for the SEC. Andy Katz got stuck with Conference-USA

- In case you missed it, I got to interview Jay Bilas on Monday. It was pretty awesome

- According to John Calipari, Louisville isn't part of Kentucky

- Andy Katz can't wait for the Champions Classic

- It seems as though some people are not too happy with Detroit's recent infusion of talent

- This is probably the best thing to happen as a result of the NBA lockout

- This was the year Loyola-Marymount got back to the upper-echelon of the WCC. Or at least it was supposed to be until a swarm of injury bugs attacked the program

- Former-Maryland star Len Bias will be inducted into the Washington Metropolitan Basketball Hall of Fame

- Take a quick gander at this post and I think you'll understand why I linked to it

- Anderson University (DII) player Lamar Jack died yesterday after completing a preseason workout on campus

- Not sure how I missed this from last week: The myth that Butler doesn't get any star players

- The Kentucky villains have found themselves a head coach

- If there is a NBA Draft in June, these are the power forwards who are most likely to get drafted

- Juwan Howard Jr. will transfer from Western Michigan to Detroit

- Jared Sina has decided to re-open his recruitment after making a non-binding commitment to Alabama in January

- Xavier Commit Jalen Reynolds is using time at prep school to stay focused on getting better

- IUPUI got themselves an all-namer

- BracketBusters will feature a heavy dose of Big Sky teams this season

- A look at the early portion of Michigan's 2011-2012 schedule

- This is exactly why you shouldn't hire Tone Loc as your Midnight Madness musical guest

- An in-depth breakdown of Vanderbilt's projected depth chart

- Seton Hall got a new mascot....sorta

Former-Kentucky star Walter McCarthy made a music video. I have absolutely no reason why


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Laurence Bowers tears acl, Mizzou's Big 12 title hopes take a hit

Its now official.

Missouri forward Laurence Bowers will miss the rest of the season after tearing an acl in a pickup game on Monday afternoon.

This is just difficult news for an outstanding young man and representative of our athletics department," head coach Frank Haith said in a statement a couple hours after news of the injury broke. "I have had a chance to talk with Laurence a few times and he is doing well. I know he is anxious to get started on his rehabilitation and he will continue to be a big part of the 2011-12 team. It's obviously a tough loss for us as a basketball team. He's an All-Big 12 type player. He's one of our best defenders and he brings a great deal of versatility, but our primary concern is to help Laurence through the recovery process."


Bowers is a genuinely liked kid, the kind of player that turned himself from an under-heralded recruit into an NBA prospect. Seeing him lose his senior season -- a chance to end his playing career with guys like Kim English and Marcus Denmon, who he has been teammates with for four years -- is certainly not pleasant.

The loss is a huge blow to the Tiger's hopes of winning the Big 12 this season. Already thin up front, Bowers was the team's best rebounder, second-leading scorer and most versatile defender. Given the lack of size on this season's roster and the struggles they have had defensively, there is an argument to be made that he was the most valuable player on Mizzou. How important does George Goode's decision not to enroll at Missouri and to instead finish his career at FDU appear now?

With Kansas reloading, Texas rebuilding and Baylor, well, being Baylor, this was supposed to be Missouri's season to win the league.

But between Bowers' injury, the head coaching change, the potential NCAA violations facing Frank Haith and the ever-present rumors swirling about Mizzou's involvement in conference realignment, it seems like destiny is just not on the Tiger's side.
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2011-2012 Top 50 Countdown: No. 24 Marquette Golden Eagles

Over the coming weeks, we will be counting down our Top 50 teams in the country. Teams 26-50 will be posted in groups of five, while we will count backwards from No. 25 to the No. 1 team in the country. You can find a complete schedule of our 2011-2012 Season Preview coverage here. To browse through the rest of the Top 50, click here.

Last Season: 22-15, 9-9 (t-9th, Big East), lost to UNC in the Sweet 16

Head Coach: Buzz Williams

Key Losses: Jimmy Butler, Dwight Buycks, Erik Williams, Joseph Fulce, Reggie Smith

Newcomers: Juan Anderson, Derrick Wilson, Todd Mayo, Jamil Wilson

Projected Lineup:

- G: Junior Cadougan, Sr.
- G: Darius Johnson-Odom, Sr.
- F: Vander Blue, So.
- F: Jae Crowder, Sr.
- C: Chris Otule, Jr.
- Bench: Davante Gardner, So.; Jamil Wilson, So.; Jamail Jones, So.; Juan Anderson, Fr.; Derrick Wilson, Fr.; Todd Mayo, Fr.


Outlook: Much of the talk of the first weekend of the 2011 NCAA Tournament centered on the Big East and the fact that, of the 11 teams that earned a bid to the dance from the league, only two made it past the first weekend. One of those teams was UConn, who would eventually win the national title. The other? Marquette, who knocked off league rival Syracuse before getting smoked by UNC in the Sweet 16. And while Marquette's postseason success left Golden Eagle fans with a satisfied feeling after the season, it masked what was an up-and-down year. Marquette lost a number of close games in non-conference play, they blew an 18 point lead in six minutes against Louisville and they lost their last two regular season games against Cincinnati and Seton Hall, which forced the Golden Eagles to need a run to the Big East quarterfinals just to earn a bid to the Big Dance.

Perhaps the biggest victory for Marquette came after the season actually ended, when they were able to resign Buzz Williams to a seven-year contract. Williams drew heavy interest this offseason from schools like Oklahoma and Texas A&M when their head coaching positions came open.

Marquette should once again find themselves in a position to make a run at the NCAA Tournament. While they lose two starters in Dwight Buycks and the criminally underrated Jimmy Butler, the Golden Eagles have some pieces back that should minimize the negative effect. At the point, Junior Cadougan has proven himself to be a capable playmaker, posting just six fewer assists on the season than Buycks despite playing two-thirds as many minutes. What made Buycks so dangerous, however, was his ability to hit from long-range. Cadougan made two threes all season long.

Butler's graduation will allow Jae Crowder to play a bigger role this year. Marquette is becoming a powerhouse when it comes to the tweener-forward position. Buzz Williams loves players of that ilk -- 6'7" forwards that battle on the glass, hit from long-range, and create matchup problems with their ability on the perimeter. Crowder should, theoretically, be able to thrive next season simply because he does some many things well. He defends, he attacks the glass, he'll knock down a three if you give him space, he'll put the ball on the floor if you crowd him and he doesn't turn the ball over.

This may be the only Marquette preview you read that gets five paragraphs deep before mentioning Darius Johnson-Odom. DJO has a legitimate chance to be the Big East Player of the Year. He is the leading returning scorer and a senior that will be counted on to provide leadership for a group with some young-but-talented pieces. DJO can do a lot of different things on the offensive end of the floor, but he is at his best when he is a slasher that uses his ability to get to the rim and finish to set up his perimeter shot.


The rest of the Marquette perimeter attack appears to be solid. Vander Blue was a top 30 recruit coming out of high school, and while he did crack the starting lineup 12 times as a freshman and played tough defense throughout the year, his offense never came around. Blue could end up being an x-factor if he develops into a double-digit scorer this year. Oregon transfer Jamil Wilson -- a former top 50 recruit that started for the Ducks as a freshman in 2009-2010 -- is an athletic small forward that may end up starting this year alongside Crowder. Also expect freshman Juan Anderson -- who is cut from the same cloth as Butler and Crowder -- to see minutes as well. Freshman Derrick Wilson will back up Cadougan at the point.

What's interesting about Marquette this season is that they actually have a couple of legitimate low-post threats. Chris Otule started last season and appears to finally be healthy heading into his junior year. Otule, who was born with one eye, has trouble catching quick, dump-off passes, but that's really the only issue he has with his vision. He's a bid-body inside that takes up space and will block a couple of shots. Like Blue, Davante Garnder will end up being an x-factor for Marquette. The 6'9" sophomore has some terrific moves around the rim, which is why he was so productive last season in the limited minutes that he played. But his weight and conditioning kept those minutes down. It appears he has bought into the idea of getting into shape and being a 20 mpg player, which should finally give Buzz Williams a low-post threat.

Marquette will be an interesting team to watch. Their reputation is as a scrappy club of over-achievers that always find themselves in dogfights, but there appears to be more talent on this team. DJO is a legitimate Player of the Year contender in the Big East. Crowder, Wilson, Blue and Anderson once again give the Eagles a deep, talented and versatile crop of forwards to work with. There is size inside and a playmaker at the point. The key, in my opinion, will be defensively. Marquette needs to get better at forcing their opponent's into difficult shots and must improve on their defensive rebounding. If this club can consistently get stops, they can make a push for a top four finish in the league.
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Preseason Q-and-A Series: Jay Bilas

Over the next month, we will be unloading a plethora of preseason college basketball content. From top-25 rankings, to conference previews, All-American teams, player profiles, and even the vaunted "B.I.A.H All-Name Team" selections. We will also be providing a handful of Q-and-A sessions with some of the biggest names in college hoops.

Our second installment of our Q-and-A series features Jay Bilas.

Yes, that Jay Bilas.

He's the best analyst in college basketball. He's the smartest person in college basketball. And he's arguably the funniest person in college basketball. Don't believe me? follow him on twitter.

You won't be disappointed.


Jay Bilas Q&A Session

If you'd rather just read what Jay Bilas had to say, we've provided a transcript of some of his best answers after the jump


On what he does to prepare for a gamecast or studio show:

"It's kind of a year-round thing now. If I have a game coming up, there will specific preparation I do for that game based upon the two teams playing, and I tend to prepare for that they way you would if you were coaching a game.

One of the things I thought, years ago when I started, Say I'm doing North Carolina at Georgia Tech, I don't usually spend a lot of time talking to Roy Williams about his team, strategically, like what their running and stuff like that. I tend to talk to them more about their opponent. But I'll also call their last couple opponents and ask them what ways they hurt them, what they tried to do against them, what was successful and what wasn't, what were some areas of attack that they felt they (UNC) were vulnerable.

It's interesting, I think coaches end up being a lot more candid about other people's teams than they are about their own. When I was an assistant at Duke, we didn't call the opposing coach and ask what was going on. We studied it ourselves. Maybe we talked to some of their opponents, guys that we knew, in order to try to find out as much information as we could to prepare for the game, and that's kind of what I do when I'm preparing for a broadcast."


On Bill Raftery's mystique and game preparation:

"Oh, Raftery watches a ton of film. Bill is so well prepared, and that's what makes it kinda funny, because he's so self-deprecating and so humble.

I don't know that there is a broadcaster out there today that is as well prepared as Bill Raftery is. He's old-school. When he watches film and has coaches send him DVDs, he will sit down and watch the tapes with his glasses on the tip of his nose, and diagrams all the plays on an old yellow pad. He will keep all his diagrams with him, and prepare all the stats for the game. but when the game begins, he has all that material, the reservoir of data that he has prepared, he just lets the game tell him what to do.

I've never been around anybody who enjoys the process and the people that he's around more than Bill does. I think it shows during the games, but it also shows in how much fun those around him are having. I just can't imagine anything more fun than doing a game with Bill."


On his ESPN teammates:

"There are so many great ones. Working with Sean (McDonough), just doesn't get any better than that. The same with Dan Schulman and Dave O'Brien. You name it, there are just so many great guys to work with. I'm lucky that when I do games, I get to work with those guys.

When I step in to the studio, There are so many great ones, Chris Fowler is unbelievable, but I don't know if I've ever had a better teammate in anything I've done than Rece Davis. Working with Rece, Hubert Davis, and Digger Phelps in the studio, to be a member of those type of teams is hard to beat. And Rece, not only is he super-talented, but he's so selfless. he gets up in the morning wondering how he can help his analysts do their jobs. You can have fire start in the studio and it wouldn't bother Rece, he could handle it.

"...We are lucky that we're all friends. That's what, to me, sports are about. We do have a job to do and everything, but it doesn't seem like work. It seems like we're all watching a game, we get to go to all these tremendous venues for GameDay. I hate to say this, but we'd all probably pay to do this. We're pretty lucky."


On the amateurism model:

" I just don't believe that amateurism as a principle is such a valuable thing. I heard Taylor Branch say this recently, and I think it's a great way to put it, 'If one wishes to be an amateur, that's great, but to impose amateurism across the board doesn't seem right to me'.

It didn't seem right to me in college and doesn't seem right to me now. Especially when you have so much money that's being made off of college athletics, to deny an adult, which a college athlete is, the right to benefit from endorsements, his name or likeness, just seems to be fundamentally wrong. I don't think players need to paid a salary, or made employees, anything like that. I do think that "cost of attendance" is the least we could do and we're not even going to get to that. They're going to punt on "cost of attendance", and it will probably end up being $2,025 as the maximum, which will fall way short for a lot of athletes.

I just feel like there is nothing in the principle of amateurism that's of great benefit to the athlete. It's not like you say 'if you're an amateur, it will enhance you education, it's a wonderful virtue that you get great benefit from'. It's just not true, there's nothing like that. People just don't want to do it.

We've got athletes right now, that are professionals in other sports, you know, quarterbacks at some schools playing right now are professional baseball players. That doesn't separate them from their teammates or effect their education negatively. It doesn't detract from their love of the game. There's nothing like that. And nobody is up in arms about that. In fact, most people don't even know it because they don't care. It's legal, so it doesn't bother them.

I don't think it would bother people if we had the Olympic model. People used to say, 'If Olympic athletes got paid, and benefit from their name and likeness, that it would ruin the Olympics, and the Olympics would cease to exist.' Well, that's not the case. It doesn't bother anybody. The Olympics are as strong now as they've ever been, if not stronger, and I think college athletics would see the same thing.

It's not just revenue-producing athletes. It would be for tennis players and swimmers. If they had value outside of the university, they could realize that value. It's fair, there would not be Title-XI issues to be concerned with, and the universities would not have to find a way to compensate all of these players. They like to argue that they can't do it even though they are making billions of dollars."


On Expansionocalypse:

"I think the ACC has put itself in a commanding position. So has the SEC and the Big-Ten, and the Pac-12 has solidified it's position. I do see all of those leagues expanding. "

"...I see conference expansion as being inevitable. I don't think replacing Syracuse and Pittsburgh with Service Academies, Central Florida and East Carolina will do the trick. There aren't many good options right now for the Big East. I think the Big East got out-maneuvered in this thing. There aren't a lot of moves right now that make sense that are going to get the Big East back to the prominent position it was. I don't think the Big East is well-positioned to sit at the biggest table with the heaviest-hitters like the Pac-12, ACC, SEC and Big-Ten."

"...Those media rights deals coming, instead of being about ratings and the number of eyeballs, it will be about subscriptions and the number of people who have a television. That's where we're headed and everybody is trying to position themselves the best way possible to maximize revenues. That's really what this is about. I don't agree with those who say college athletics isn't a business. I think it's a really big business. But that doesn't mean that you can't make money and have a really good business model and educate students. Of course you can. That's like saying you can't have a great business model for a hospital and still give great patient care. Those two things aren't mutually exclusive in either example.

I'm not opposed to super-conferences. I don't think it will be a problem. I think it may lead us to a playoff in college football, and I think super-conferences are the best way for us to ultimately arrive at that. I do think that basketball is always going to be fine. Whether it's the NCAA tournament or if they start something new, I think the little guys, the 'Cinderellas' will always be invited to the tournament. I'm not concerned about that at all. "


On the Big East Tournament:

"In the past five or six years, the Big East Tournament has surpassed all other tournaments and has been the best post-season conference tournament. In fact I don't even think it's been close, the Big East Tournament has been the best by far."


On the potential death of the Big East Tournament:

"It would be really sad in a way. But there's a part of me, while I would be sadden by it, and I would be wistful that we're losing something that wonderful, I'm not naive. I mean, there's change all the time. We've been talking about the Big East and changes coming for quite some time now."


On the potential death of the NCAA Tournament:

"The idea that, like, Moses walked down from Mount Sinai with the plans for the Big East Tournament, and all that stuff. That's not the case. It's only been a league since 1979. Sure it's tradition, but this league hasn't been forever now. When i was a little kid, the N.I.T. was the biggest thing in the game, and now it's reduced to a secondary post-season tournament. And I do think that if there's not some significant change with the way the NCAA operates, I could see the kind of thing happen to the NCAA Tournament in the future."


On being a "Duke-homer":

"Well, you get called both. It's funny. Duke people think I bend over backwards to go against them. I hear 'You bend over backwards to try and be objective' I always kind of laugh at that. Like, I'm bending over backwards, just to TRY and be objective? We're just talking about basketball here. We're not transporting explosives or selling medical devices, things like that. It's just basketball.

"...It's funny. If somebody asks me "Well, who's the best point guard?" and I say, it's Kendall Marshall at North Carolina. If I were to say that, the people at UNC would say 'Of course he would say that because our guy is the best', and what everybody else hears 'He just said our point guard sucks'. "


On Twitter:

"My wife encouraged me to use it, and I resisted it because I kinda assumed Twitter was all just one big bathroom wall. Turns out I was right, it is one big bathroom wall, but with a lot of funny and entertaining stuff on it."

"...I've just really enjoyed myself with it. One of my favorite parts is when somebody un-follows me. I kinda have a good time with that. I don't claim to understand Twitter at all, I just use it for fun more than everything"


His Top Five Rappers of all-time:

"I listen to a lot of (Young) Jeezy right now, so I'd put him in the top-five. Then I'd go old-school. I'd have to put The Sugar Hill Gang in there because that was the first rap group I listened to back in the late-70s, early-80s in high school. Then in college It was Run-DMC was pretty strong. I'd probably put TuPac in there, and maybe, maybe Biggie to round it out."


Click here to read the first Q-and-A with Jason King of Yahoo Sports


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Tuesday Morning Dump

- Conspiracy Theory alert: IMG is the mastermind behind expansionocalypse (This is a must-read)

- The Wooden Award top-50 list was released yesterday. Two players from the Atlantic-10 were listed. Four Tar Heels were nominated. Two Memphis Tigers are on the list. Andy Katz got some comments from various coaches on each of the 50 nominees. katz also takes a look at some of the names that aren't on the list now, but could be there at the end of the season

- Andre Drummond will remain eligible despite Adidas shoe video. Don;t know what we're talking about: click here

- Add "unofficial visits" to the list of things that concern the NCAA

- In case you still aren't aware that basketball doesn't matter, Gary Parrish drives the point home

- Purdue is going to have to rely heavily on Robbie Hummel. But Matt Painter is also going to have to get production out of Kelsey Barlow and Terone Johnson

- How on Earth did I miss this? former-Duke/Villanova forward Taylor King wants to convert to judaism in order to make money (The guy who wrote this is in my fantasy football league. I beat him for my first W of the season. Not sure what this has to do with Taylor King, but oh well)

- A man involved in the shooting of Arizona guard Kevin Parrom has been charged with attempted murder

- The addition of Syracuse and Pittsburgh to the ACC is going to hurt Boston College

- Adam Zagoria details why Rutgers is expecting big things from Sophomore Gilvydas Biruta (I'm a huge Biruta fan. This kid has some serious game)

- If you want a fantastic primer for the West Coast Conference, I suggest you read this article (#ShamelessSelfPromotion)

- Ed Isaacson provides a lengthy preview of the Big-Ten Conference

- Mike Krzyzewski is making a hard push for highly-touted big-man Tony Parker

- Five-star big-man Mitch McGary has cancelled the rest of his visits and will decide in the next 30 days. Michigan is said to be the early favorite to win his services

- Murray State got a commitment from Class of 2012 guard C.J. Ford

- Florida Atlantic picked up a huge commitment from power forward Chris Bryant. Speaking of Florida Atlantic, Sun Belt Basketball put together a solid season preview of the Owls

- Dayton and USC will begin a home-and-home series next year

- Rhode Island made a slight alteration to their non-conference schedule, will play season-opener at George Mason

- Curtis Sumpter was suppose to be a superstar at Villanova, but knee injuries hampered his career. Brian Ewart of VUHoops details how Sumpter is trying to get his game back

- UNC-Wilmington center Matt Wilson has not participated in team drills yet due to "minor medical issues"

- Don't look now, but the financial situation at Maryland is getting even worse

- Former-Greyhound standout Omari Israel has been named the new Director of Basketball Operations at Loyola (I played against Israel freshman year in high school. Sophomore year he was starting on varsity and I was looking for a new winter sport)

- A Daly Dose of Hoops takes an in-depth look at the South Florida Bulls

- Jared Sullinger does not like it when fans boo

- Big-XII Hoops is looking for some new basketball writers

For the drug addict/hoops fan/8-year-old kid in us all



(H/T Rush The Court)


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Kentucky loses interest from two recruits

Something strange has been going on the past 24 hours.

Two of the elite high school forwards in the country -- TJ Warren (the 23rd ranked player in our Consensus Recruiting Rankings) and Mitch McGary (who is now No. 2), who both are attending Brewster Academy this season -- have made some progress in their college decision-making process. And while both kids have received plenty of interest from John Calipari nd Kentucky during their recruitment, it appears as if neither will end up in Lexington.

Warren has cut Kentucky from his list completely. The high-scoring, 6'7" forward was scheduled to be on campus for Big Blue Madness, but he is now down to just four schools -- UNC, NC State, Georgetown and Florida. McGary hasn't cut Kentucky from his list, but he's canceled the rest of his visits. He won't be attending Big Blue Madness either. Most believe Michigan is the leader there.

Its still too early for Kentucky fans to start worrying about their 2012 class. They've already landed one of the best wing prospects in the country in Archie Goodwin and will still have an impressive amount of talent coming to campus for Big Blue Madness, which always seems to be the tipping point for some recruits.

So what happened?

Maybe Calipari stopped recruited Warren and McGary as hard because they weren't his top targets. Maybe McGary and Warren got scared off when they started receiving tweets like this from Kentucky fans. Maybe those two simply don't want to go to Kentucky.

Who knows. But I sincerely doubt its a sign Kentucky's recruiting class is in trouble.
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Can we stop talking about Wooden Award list snubs now?

The Wooden Award's list of the top 50 candidates was released on Monday, and as is the tradition, seemingly every person with a college hoops blog weighed in on the snubs.

Washington's Terrence Ross sure does seem primed for a big year, but he wasn't included. Arsalan Kazemi and Chace Stanback may end up winning the Player of the Year awards in their respective leagues -- Conference USA and the Mountain West -- but neither of them were nominated. Doron Lamb, who may end up leading Kentucky in scoring? No dice. Kevin Foster, who may end up leading the country in scoring? Nada. Kyle Weems? Kendall Williams? CJ McCollum? Jared Cunningham? Zilch.

But you know what?

It doesn't matter. Because none of those guys are going to be in contention for the Wooden Award anyway.

Look, I understand that its an honor to be named to the list. The preseason award watch lists are essentially the way we name the top 50 players in the country heading into the season. And while I feel for the guys that are on the outside of the top 50 looking in, they aren't necessarily snubs. You see, the preseason list not only doesn't include transfers -- which isn't a huge deal this year, but has been in the past with players like Wes Johnson of Syracuse -- it doesn't include freshmen. No Anthony Davis. No Andre Drummond. No Austin Rivers. No Cody Zeller.

There's a reasonable argument to be made that if the freshmen were allowed to be included in this list, the snubs would no longer look like snubs. (And yes, I do realize that this would open up a whole new group of "snubs", but I'm rolling, let me go.)

And there's an even more reasonable argument to be made that none of the guys on the edge of this list will actually be in the conversation for Player of the Year when the decision has to be made. That list normally comes down to a handful of players -- this year, it will likely be one of Harrison Barnes, Jared Sullinger, Jordan Taylor, or Tu Holloway, or a "sleeper" like a Terrence Jones, Jeremy Lamb, or Doug McDermott.

Arguing about it is pointless.

But hey, at least we're arguing about college hoops. Things could be worse.
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2011-2012 Top 50 Countdown: No. 25 Harvard Crimson

Over the coming weeks, we will be counting down our Top 50 teams in the country. Teams 26-50 will be posted in groups of five, while we will count backwards from No. 25 to the No. 1 team in the country. You can find a complete schedule of our 2011-2012 Season Preview coverage here. To browse through the rest of the Top 50, click here.

Last Season: 23-7, 12-2 (t-1st Ivy), lost to Oklahoma State in the first round of the NIT

Head Coach: Tommy Amaker

Key Losses: None

Newcomers: Kenyatta Smith, Wesley Saunders, Corbin Miller, Jonah Travis, Steve Moundou-Missi, Max Hooper

Projected Lineup:

- G: Brandyn Curry, Jr.
- G: Oliver McNally, Sr.
- F: Christian Webster, Jr.
- F: Kyle Casey, Jr.
- C: Keith Wright, Sr.
- Bench: Laurent Rivard, So.; Kenyatta Smith, Fr.; Wesley Saunders, Fr.; Corbin Miller, Fr.; Steve Moundou-Missi, Fr.


Outlook: Last season was, arguably, the greatest in the history of Harvard's basketball program. But you would be hard-pressed to find a fan of the Crimson that wasn't left with a bad taste in their mouth when the 2010-2011 season came to an end. After clinching a share of the Ivy League's regular season title for the first time in school history, Harvard fans rushed the court. But it was all in vain, as Princeton beat Penn later that day to force a one-game playoff for the Ivy's bid to the NCAA Tournament. Princeton won on a buzzer-beating floater from Douglas Davis.

The good news for Harvard fans? They play in the Ivy, which means that a team without a senior on the roster will bring back everyone of consequence from last season while also adding a talented incoming recruiting class, one that includes players that show up on Top 100 lists.

Last season, Harvard was as balanced as any team in the country, but they weren't terribly deep. Using a rotation that rarely went further than the sixth-man, each of those six players averaged between 9.6 ppg and 14.8 ppg. The Crimson's perimeter attack is going to be loaded this season. It starts with Brandyn Curry, the guy that averaged 9.6 ppg last season. Curry, a junior, is the team's starting point guard and one of the best distributor's in the country, ranking 26th nationally with a 35.2% assist rate while averaging 5.9 apg. He can stand to cut down on his turnovers a bit (2.4 per game). Curry is more than just a distributor, however. He's a tough defender and a guy that made a lot of key plays late in games for the Crimson.

Joining him in the starting line up will, once again, be senior Oliver McNally and junior Christian Webster. Webster is a 6'5" wing and a talented scorer. He's a dangerous enough shooter that you have to play up on him, but he's also capable of using his dribble to get to the rim. McNally is more of a role player, but he's very efficient and understands what his job on this team is. He doesn't take a ton of shots, but he knocks down open threes, he makes clutch free throws and he gets his points within the framework of the offense.

The x-factor for this team may end up being sophomore Laurent Rivard. I'd expect Rivard to once again come off the bench at the start of the season, but he might be the most dangerous returner on the perimeter. Rivard is a big-time scorer, the kind of player that can get hot and complete change the course of a game. He will be an all-Ivy player before he leaves Harvard. Sophomore Matt Brown and freshman Corbin Miller may be able to work their way into the rotation as well.


While Harvard's back court is talented, experienced and deep, its their front court that will allow them to compete with some of the top programs in the country. Keith Wright, a 6'8" behemoth and the reigning Ivy League Player of the Year, is the anchor of this team. He's the definition of a handful on the block. The 240 lb senior really understands how to get position and uses his strength to hold that position. His low-post game is developed enough that he can score with his back to the basket, but he is also a terrific offensive rebounder.

Joining Wright inside will be junior Kyle Casey. At 6'7", Casey is the kind of athlete that you rarely see at the Ivy level. He had a bit of a frustrating season in 2010-2011 as he played much of last season on a broken foot, but when he is healthy, he provides the perfect high-flying compliment to Wright's land-warrior style of play. Senior Andrew Van Nest and junior Jeff Georgatos played limited minutes off the bench last season to provide those two with some rest, but don't be surprised to see those roles taken over by a couple of freshmen. Wesley Saunders is a bruising, 6'5" combo-forward from California that will be a real matchup problem once he solidifies his jumper. Steve Moundou-Missi is a physical, around the rim power forward. Both kids come in with a rep for playing exceptionally hard, which is what you look for in freshmen that will be playing limited minutes.

Harvard certainly has the talent to make a run at the Ivy League title and, potentially, an at-large bid into the tournament. The latter is a bit of a stretch, as playing in the Ivy League is devastating to a team's computer numbers. If there is a key to the season, it will be consistency. There were a number of games this past season in which Harvard was forced to make a second-half comeback. If they can put together 40 minutes games all season long, Harvard is talented enough to make a lot of noise this season.
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