11/14 College Hoops Week in Review: And we're off!

Games of the Week: George Mason 92, Rhode Island 90 OT

It was a wild one in at the Patroit Center on Friday night. With both Jamil Wilson of Rhode Island (38 points) and Ryan Pearson from George Mason (28 points, 12 boards) were in a groove offensively, the two teams saw the lead change hands 22 times -- with 17 ties thrown in for good measure -- in an exciting, back-and-forth game. Mason erased a 10 point first half deficit to tie the game at the half. After opening up a five point lead early in the second half, GMU saw Rhode Island go on a 12-2 run to go ahead by five. The Patriot responded with a 9-1 spurt of their own.

George Mason eventually took an 80-77 lead with 39 seconds left when sophomore Sherrod Wright cleaned up a miss by Vertrail Vaughns. But at the other end, Jonathon Holton -- who was 0-5 from long range at that point in the game -- buried a three to force the extra period. In overtime, GMU scored six of the first seven points, taking an 86-81 lead, but Wilson responded with a 7-1 run of his own. Pearson game GMU the lead back and after trading baskets, he hit a free throw with 11 seconds left to take a 92-90 lead. URI used their hot hand Wilson as a decoy, but Orion Outerbridge missed a would-be buzzer-beating three.


Evansville 80, Butler 77 OT: Butler somehow always seems to be involved in games with weird endings. Everyone will remember the strange finish to Butler's upset of Pitt in last year's NCAA Tournament, but do you remember when Butler beat Xavier when the clock stopped for 1.2 seconds? Believe it or not, Butler may have topped that with the way they lost to Evansville on Saturday evening. After blowing a 12 point second half lead, Butler fouled Colt Ryan with 0.9 seconds left and a one point lead. But Ryan missed the first before making the second shot, tying the game.

On the ensuing inbounds, Butler threw the ball the length of the court to Andrew Smith who made the catch and laid the ball in at the buzzer. The only problem? The refs said the lay-in came after the buzzer, but that he was fouled with 0.2 seconds left on the clock. Smith would proceed to miss both free throws and Evansville won the game in overtime when Chrishawn Hopkins failed to get a shot off to try and tie the game. For a more in-depth look at the controversy involved in the finish, we wrote about it here.



Player of the Week: Nurideen Lindsey, St. John's

St. John's may not have played a murder's row schedule in the first week of the season, but the youthful Johnnies were tested. They dug themselves a big hole against William & Mary and a bigger hole against Lehigh before coming back and winning both of those games. Lindsey played a huge role in both of those comebacks, getting 15 of his 19 points in the second half against W&M and finishing with 15 points against Lehigh. Lindsey's best game of the week came against UMBC. He finished one assist shy of a triple-double with 15 points, 10 boards and nine assists.

For the week, Lindsey finished with averages of 16.3 ppg, 4.7 apg and 4.7 rpg. He also added 3.3 spg while shooting a crisp 50% from the field. Lindsey is a slippery penetrator. He's got a crafty handle and while he doesn't have blazing speed, he's quick and understands how to change speeds. He's a good finisher when he gets into the paint and, at least against some mid-major competition, was able to avoid getting his shot blocked while drawing fouls. He still has plenty of room to improve -- Lindsey turned the ball over 10 times in the three games while shooting 0-7 from three and just 15-27 (55.6%) from the line -- but what makes him so important to the Steve Lavin's team is he is one of the only guys that is capable of getting his own shot.


The All-They-Were-Good-Too Team

- G: Tray Woodall, Pitt: The talk of the Panthers coming into the season was their front line and Ashton Gibbs, but Woodall was the star of the first two games. He averaged 21.0 ppg, 10.0 apg and 6.5 rpg while committing just six turnovers and hitting 9-17 from beyond the arc.

- G: Nate Wolters, South Dakota State: Wolters may have had the single best game of the week, putting up 32 points and 11 assists -- without a turnover -- in a win over Western Michigan.

- F: Dominic Cheek, Villanova: Cheek is an important piece for the Wildcats if he can become a consistent scorer on the wing. We know about his defensive acumen (he had three steals), but his 27 points and 5-8 shooting from beyond the arc was a pleasant surprise for Nova fans.

- F: Ryan Pearson, George Mason: The Patriots big man went for 28 points and 12 boards in an overtime win over Rhode Island on Friday night.

- C: John Henson, North Carolina: In a 2-0 week for the Heels, Henson finished with averages of 16.0 ppg, 9.5 rpg and 5.5 bpg while shooting 66.7% from the floor. He even showed off a turnaround jumper in the win over UNC-Asheville.

- Bench: Nathaniel Lester, Hofstra (33 points in a win over Long Island; Jamil Wilson, Rhode Island (38 points in a loss to George Mason); Trae Golden, Tennessee (29 points, 9 assists in a win over UNC Greensboro); Robbie Hummel, Purdue (21 points in his return to the court); Eric Atkins, Notre Dame (27 points, 6 assists, 6-7 FGs, 12-12 FTs in a win over MVSU); Dorian Finney-Smith, Virginia Tech (10 points, 16 boards, 5 assists, 5 blocks in Tech debut); CJ Wilcox, Washington (20.5 ppg in a 2-0 start); Arnett Moultrie, Mississippi State (16.3 ppg, 12.7 rpg in three games this week); J'Covan Brown, Texas (28 points, 8 assists, 1 turnover in a win over Boston U.); Kendall Marshall, North Carolina (15 assists, 1 turnover against UNC-Asheville); Allen Crabbe, Cal (22.5 ppg in a 2-0 week)

Team of the Week: Cleveland State

The Vikings were a bit of an afterthought heading into this season. That's generally what happens when you are a mid-major program and you lose a player as talented and important to your team as Norris Cole. But Gary Waters' team did a fine job introducing themselves to the country on Sunday afternoon, as they went into Memorial Coliseum and bullied Vanderbilt into a 71-58 victory. D'Aundray Brown led the way for the Vikings, finishing with 18 points and 8 boards, but he got plenty of help, as five of his teammates scored between seven and 11 points.

But the offensive end of the floor isn't what won this game for Cleveland State. It was their defensive pressure. Vanderbilt, a top 10 team known for having a powerful offensive attack, had more possessions end in a turnover (20) than in a made field goal (18). John Jenkins, the Commodores all-american, was hounded the entire game, shooting 5-14 from the floor (2-8 from three). Jeff Taylor had just nine points, shooting 3-8 from the field and turning the ball over six times. All in all, it was an impressive performance from the Vikings, one that will likely get them into the conversation -- along with Butler and Detroit -- for the favorite in the Horizon.


Teams deserving a shoutout:

Akron: Akron made a statement on Wednesday night, as they went into Starkville and handled Mississippi State fairly easily. Quincy Diggs led the way with 19 points, but it was an all-around team effort that got the job done. Much like Cleveland State's win over Vanderbilt, it was work on the defensive end that got the job done.

Cal: The Bears looked quite impressive in their two games this week. After running through UC-Irvine with a dominating first-half performance, Cal used a 21-0 run to close out the first half against George Washington on Sunday night. Jorge Gutierrez and Allen Crabbe have been as good as advertised, but it was the play of Justin Cobbs (16 points, five assists on Sunday) and Brandon Smith (seven points, six assists on Friday) that was promising.

St. John's: The Johnnies went 3-0 this week, and while all three games were against overmatched opponents, there is reason to be excited about this team. They are young and, obviously, will go through some growing pains, but the fact that they were able to come back from halftime deficits twice was promising. God'sgift Achiuwa and Moe Harkless have been promising up front and when the Johnnies press is clicking, they are a dangerous team.


Five Thoughts:

- The SEC stinks again?: Vanderbilt was supposed to be a Final Four contender this year, but they were manhandled by Cleveland State at home on Sunday. Mississippi State was a team that everyone thought could finally turn the corner this year, but with Renardo Sidney still out of shape -- and now injured, apparently -- that looks like wishful thinking. The loss to Akron on Wednesday confirms that. Now to be fair, those are the only two league teams that lost this week and Cleveland State and Akron are both legitimate contenders to make a run at an NCAA Tournament bid this year. But to get an idea of the significance of two of the league's top five teams having a mark in the loss column right now, only three other high-major teams do as well -- Michigan State (who lost to North Carolina), Oregon (who lost to Vanderbilt) and UCLA (who lost to Loyola Marymount).

- Good start for the MVC: Missouri State is in full-on rebuilding mode this year. That's what happens when you lose six of your seven rotation players and overhaul the coaching staff. But that doesn't mean the Bears won't be competitive in the Missouri Valley this year. On the one hand, they bring back Kyle Weems, the reigning MVC player of the year. On the other hand, they opened the season with a 22 point win at Nevada. Making the win even more impressive? Weems had four points on 2-12 shooting. Northern Iowa was impressive as well. Old Dominion is in a bit of a rebuilding year as well, but the Panthers went into Richmond and beat the Monarchs by 17 despite the semi-surprising return of Kent Bazemore. Now if we could only forget about the loss Southern Illinois suffered against (wait for it) Ohio Dominican. Yeah, they're D-II.

- UConn's strength is their back court?: That's at least the way that it looks after UConn's first game against Columbia. Jeremy Lamb lived up to the all-american hype, putting up 30 points on 11-17 shooting, while Shabazz Napier was just as good, finishing with 21 points, eight assists and six boards. The two combined for six steals. Alex Oriakhi and Andre Drummond, on the other hand, combined for just two points and nine rebounds. Drummond attempted a single shot in 12 minutes. As good as Napier and Lamb looked, they played a 36 and 38 minutes, respectively, against Columbia. The Huskies are going to need more balance -- and depth -- this season.

- Duke and Belmont: Duke has some major issues they need to address this season. Austin Rivers is ridiculously talented but will make plenty of freshman mistakes this year. Seth Curry is a knockdown shooter, as if Andre Dawkins, but the best point guard -- and perimeter defender -- on the roster is Tyler Thornton. How does Coach K get him into the lineup? Duke's big men have put up some solid numbers early, but are we ready to assume that the Plumlees are more than just the Plumlees and Ryan Kelly is better than a sixth or seventh man? But more than anything, what you should have taken out of Belmont's one-point loss to Duke at Cameron Indoor is that the Bruins are going to be a team to reckon with in March. In other words, Belmont is legit. Memphis, you have been warned.

- Who is the best team in the Pac-12?: It certainly doesn't look like UCLA at this point. The Bruins looked awful in a loss to Loyola Marymount, as Josh Smith is clearly not in shape and their guards look better suited to playing at Cal. State Northridge. Arizona is dealing with their fair share of issues as well. They struggled against Valparaiso and Duquense before having to come back from a double digit deficit against Ball State. The Wildcats lack an interior presence and are trying to identify their go-to scorer and starting point guard; Josiah Turner lost his starting job after missing a shootaround and didn't play on Sunday against Ball State. Oregon's loss at Vanderbilt looks worse after Vandy lost to Cleveland State, and Washington has struggled against two inferior opponents. That leaves Cal. So are the Bears really the favorite in the Pac-12?

Matchups of the Week (all times eastern):

- 11/14 7:00 pm: UCF @ Florida State
- 11/14 8:00 pm: Oakland @ Alabama
- 11/14 9:00 pm: Detroit @ Notre Dame
- 11/14 10:00 pm: Nevada @ UNLV
- 11/15 12:00 am: Washington State @ Gonzaga
- 11/15 12:00 pm: Belmont @ Memphis
- 11/15 2:00 pm: SDSU @ Baylor
- 11/15 7:00 pm: Champions Classic -- Duke vs. Michigan State and Kansas vs. Kentucky
- 11/15 8:00 pm: Florida @ Ohio State
- 11/15 8:00 pm: Bucknell @ Vanderbilt
- 11/16 9:00 pm: Long Beach State @ Pitt
- 11/17 1:00 pm: Purdue vs. Iona
- 11/17 7:00 pm: Texas A&M vs. Mississippi State
- 11/19 2:00 pm: Louisville @ Butler
- 11/19 6:30 pm: Vanderbilt vs. NC State
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2011-2012 Top 50 Countdown: Nos. 40-36

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.


40. George Mason Patriots:

Last Season: 27-7, 16-2 (Colonial)

Head Coach: Paul Hewitt

Key Losses: Luke Hancock, Cam Long, Isaiah Tate, Jim Larranaga

New Additions: Eric Copes, Corey Edwards, Vaughn Gray

Projected Lineup:

- G: Andre Cornelius, Sr.
- G: Vertrail Vaughns, So.
- F: Sherrod Wright, So.
- F: Ryan Pearson, Sr.
- C: Mike Morrison, Sr.
- Bench: Eric Copes, Fr.; Corey Edwards, Fr.; Bryon Allen, So.; Johnny Williams, Jr.; Vaughn Gray, Fr.


Outlook: George Mason is going to be a very interesting team to watch this season. On the surface, this team looks to have the pieces necessary to win the CAA title even with the change in coaching regimes. They start three seniors, they have a big and talented front line, and they have a couple of young kids that should be able to excel playing a role. Ryan Pearson -- a crafty and bearded 6'7" lefty that looks and plays like the old guy at the park -- will have to take over the role of go-to guy for this team, and should be capable of doing so. Mike Morrison and Eric Copes should provide plenty of size, rebounding and shot-blocking on the interior. Andre Cornelius, when (if?) he returns from a suspension for an arrest for credit card fraud, is their senior ball-handler. Vertrail Vaughns is a sharp-shooting off-guard that did a lot of damage in limited minutes. Sherrod Wright missed last season with an injury, but he had some big games late in his freshman year. The question mark, as I see it, will be replacing the playmaking of Luke Hancock and Cam Long. Those two were responsible for 240 of Mason's 483 assists last year. Can freshman Corey Edwards or sophomore Bryon Allen play the role of creator? Will Cornelius, Wright or Vaughns be able to expand their game? If yes, Mason should once again be competing for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.


39. Drexel Dragons:

Last Season: 21-10, 11-7

Head Coach: Bruiser Flint

Key Losses: Gerald Colds

New Additions: Damion Lee, Tavon Allen, Aquil Younger, Casey Carroll, Kazembe Abif

Projected Lineup:

- G: Franz Massenat, So.
- G: Chris Fouch, Jr.
- G: Derrick Thomas, Sr.
- F: Samme Givens, Sr.
- F: Daryl McCoy, Jr.
- Bench: Dartaye Ruffin, So.; Damion Lee, Fr.; Tavon Allen, Fr.; Aquil Younger, Fr.; Casey Carroll, Fr.; Kazembe Abif Fr.


Outlook: Drexel returns six of the seven players that were in their rotation from last season's 20-win team and will be a trendy pick to win the conference this season. Drexel is one of the most unique teams in the country playing the game in the simplest manner -- getting stops. They led the country in defensive rebounding percentage and were seventh nationally in defensive effective field goal percentage, which is a long-winded way of saying they forced their opponents into taking tough shots and then cleaned the glass on those misses. Expect more of the same this year. The undersized Samme Givens is a potential player of the year in the league, a guy that, at 6'5", averaged a double-double last season. With Daryl McCoy and Dartaye Ruffin joining him up front, the front court should once again be rugged, physical and dominant on the glass. Sophomore Franz Massenat will be expected to, once again, be a playmaking force on the offensive end of the floor. Their are two keys to the season. The first is on the offensive end of the floor. Derrick Thomas will be counted on to up his production on the perimeter, but more importantly Chris Fouch is going to have to stay healthy. Fouch was as dangerous as any perimeter threat at the mid-major level early in the season, but he went cold late in the year as injuries kept him out of practice and out of a rhythm. The other key will be their depth. They have a solid, five-man recruiting class. If a couple of those guys can become reliable options on the bench, Drexel will make quite a bit of noise.


38. Purdue Boilermakers:

Last Season: 26-8, 14-4

Head Coach: Matt Painter

Key Losses: JaJuan Johnson, E'Twaun Moore, Patrick Bade

New Additions: Jacob Lawson, Donnie Hale, Anthony Johnson,

Projected Lineup:

- G: Lewis Jackson, Sr.
- G: Ryne Smith, Jr.
- F: DJ Byrd, Jr.
- F: Robbie Hummel, Sr.
- C: Travis Carroll, So.
- Bench: Kelsey Barlow, Jr.; John Hart, Jr.; Terone Johnson, So.; Anthony Johnson, Fr.; Jacob Lawson, Fr.; Donnie Hale, Fr.; Sandi Marcius, So.


Outlook: Purdue is one of the most difficult teams in the country to peg this season. There are just so many unknowns surrounding this team. For starters, they are losing two of the best players in the Big Ten the past few seasons in JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore. Their star heading into this season, Robbie Hummel, has complete just a single practice with the team since tearing his acl in February of 2010 -- he missed last season after tearing his acl again on the second day of practice last season. Just how good is he going to be coming off of back-to-back devastating knee injuries? And who is going to step up and replace the 38.5 ppg, 13.7 rpg, and invaluable leadership on the court provided by Johnson and Moore? I like Lewis Jackson at the point, but who is going to join him on the perimeter? Ryne Smith and DJ Byrd both started over 20 games as sophomores. Kelsey Barlow, a junior now, and Terone Johnson, a sophomore, started a handful as well. Junior John Hart and freshman Anthony Johnson will no doubt be looking for an opportunity to prove their worth. Will a young front line of sophomores Travis Carroll and Sandi Marcius and freshmen Jacob Lawson and Donnie Hale be able to battle with the bigger teams in the Big Ten? There is no doubt that Purdue will be well-coached and physical defensively this season, a credit to the coaching of Matt Painter. And there certainly are some talented pieces on this roster, the question is simply how are they going to fit together?


37. Cal Golden Bears:

Last Season: 18-15, 10-8 (Pac-10)

Head Coach: Mike Montgomery

Key Losses: Gary Franklin, Markhuri Sanders-Frison

New Additions: Justin Cobbs, Alex Rossi, David Kravish, Christian Behrens

Projected Lineup:

- G: Brandon Smith, Jr. or Justin Cobbs, So.
- G: Jorge Gutierrez, Jr.
- F: Allen Crabbe, So.
- F: Richard Solomon, So.
- C: Harper Kamp, Sr.
- Bench: Cobbs or Smith; Bak Bak, Jr; Jeff Powers, So.; Alex Rossi, Fr.


Outlook: Cal is a sleeper in the Pac-12, a team that may end up competing for the league title depending on how things shake-out this season. This is a group that won 10 league games a year ago and returns their big three. Jorge Gutierrez, a 6'4" off-guard, is the heart and soul of this team, a potential first-team all-league player and one of the best all-around guards in the country you've never seen. He defends, he can shoot, he can put the ball on the floor and create and he's not afraid to mix it up with an opponent to defend his team. Allen Crabbe, who averaged 13.4 ppg as a freshman, was the rookie of the year in the conference last season and also has a chance to be an all-league player. Senior Harper Kamp is an experienced low-post presence and consistently underrated from a national perspective. The question for the Bears will be how they fill the holes in their line-up. Brandon Smith, who played well filling in for Gary Franklin when he transferred to Baylor in the middle of the season, and Justin Cobbs, a transfer from Minnesota, will battle it our for the right to start at the point and should combine to solidify the position. Richard Solomon showed flashes as a freshman, but he'll struggle to fill the void left by Markhuri Sanders-Frison as he is literally half the size of the burly Sanders-Frison despite being three inches taller. Bak Bak will get some help from a couple of freshmen to provide front court depth, while Jeff Powers and Alex Rossi, a redshirt freshman that missed last season with an injury, will give the Bears some perimeter depth. The big three on Cal are good enough to get them to the NCAA Tournament, but how well the rest of the Cal roster developed during the off-season will determine whether this has a shot of competing for a league title.


36. St. Mary's Gaels:

Last Season: 25-9, 11-3 (WCC)

Head Coach: Randy Bennett

Key Losses: Mickey McConnell

New Additions: Paul McCoy, Elvidas Petrulis, Brad Waldow, Zach Sanchez

Projected Lineup:

- G: Matthew Dellavedova, Jr.
- G: Stephen Holt, So.
- F: Clint Steindl, Sr.
- F: Rob Jones, Sr.
- C: Kenton Walker, Sr.
- Bench: Jorden Page, So.; Tim Williams, Jr.; Paul McCoy, Jr.; Mitchell Young, Jr.; Kyle Rowley, Jr.


Outlook: There is no question that losing a player of Mickey McConnell's caliber will hurt. He was so efficient and so smart and such a threat from the perimeter. But the Gaels have enough perimeter talent returning this season that they may be able to nullify that loss. Matthew Dellavedova will take the reins of this team as a junior and he should be primed for a big season as the feature guard in Randy Bennett's offense. He will likely be joined in the back court by sophomore Stephen Holt, a highly-regarded recruit when he entered the program that had a couple of impressive performances late in the season. Jorden Page missed most of last season with a knee injury. He had a couple of big games in the WCC Tournament two seasons ago and should provide a spark off the bench. Same with Paul McCoy, a transfer that averaged 13.4 ppg as a freshman in 2008-2009. In the front court, Clint Steindl and Rob Jones will start at the forward spots. Steindl is a lanky, 6'7" sharpshooter at the small forward spot while Jones, despite standing just 6'6", is the team's second-leading scorer and best rebounder. He's more of a combo-forward than a pure power forward, but Jones plays with a mean streak. Kenton Walker got 26 starts last season, but only played 15 mpg. Mitchell Young actually played more minutes that Walker and averaged double figures off the bench. Tim Williams and Northwestern transfer Kyle Rowley will also be in the front court rotation. If Dellavedova embraces the role of the leader and youngsters like Page and Holt develop into big-time players, ranking St. Mary's 36th may look silly come March.
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Luke Hancock to Louisville is a bigger deal that you think

You may have missed the news over the weekend -- its the end of may, and players transferring out of CAA schools are hardly the biggest priority in the sports world at this time of year -- but Luke Hancock finally settled on Louisville as his landing point after opting to leave George Mason in the wake of Jim Larrananga's departure to Miami.

Hancock is by no means a super star. He averaged a modest 10.9 ppg, 4.3 apg, and 4.2 rpg and shot 35.9% from three as a 6'5" wing for the Patriots last season. He is not a program changing transfer.

But he is a perfect fit for Rick Pitino's system at Louisville. Hancock was, by definition, George Mason's starting small forward last season, but he was also their most important playmaker. Down the stretch of the season, he was one of the guys with the ball in his hands at the end of a clock or when George Mason needed a basket. He almost played the role of the point guard.


If you don't believe the kid has talent, ask Louisville's Big East brethren Villanova, who were the recipients of 18 points and five assists -- including the game-winning three -- from Hancock in the round of 64 in the NCAA Tournament.

Hancock is a perfect fit for the Louisville system. Rick Pitino wants to spread the floor. He wants players that are able to create off of the dribble, either for themselves or to find an open teammate, and he wants his players to be able to knock down an open, catch-and-shoot three. That's Hancock to a T. Throw in the fact that he's a 6'5", athletic wing -- the kind of player that will be effective in Louisville's press and 2-3 zone -- and its not hard to see what the two were a perfect fit.

Hancock will not be eligible to play until the 2012-2013 season -- the fact that Jim Larrananga is allowed to change jobs and coach immediately and Hancock is forced to sit out a season as a transfer is ridiculous, but also a different post for a different day -- so think of him as a recruit in the class of 2012. Think of him joining sophomore Wayne Blackshear and senior Peyton Siva on the Cardinals' perimeter with Gorgui Dieng, Chane Behanan, and Zach Price patrolling the paint. Now think of that team if Rodney Purvis decides to recommit to Louisville.

Transfers like Hancock's always seem to fly under the radar.

But rest assured that in January of 2013, as Big East play gets rolling, Hancock's name will be one you will hear referenced.
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Paul Hewitt adds to his staff, then adds to his recruiting class

Roland Houston had spent the last seven years on Karl Hobs' coaching staff at George Washington.

Those seven years of service were on the verge of paying dividends, as Houston's nephew, Erik Copes, was set to become a Colonial next year. Copes is the No. 73 recruit in our consensus recruiting rankings, a 6'8", 225 lb big man from Philly that excels as a rebounder and defender in the paint. Copes would have been joining a roster that returned the entire rotation from a team that won 10 Atlantic 10 games and gets a healthy Lasan Kromah back into the fold.

But with Mike Lonergan replacing Hobbs at GW, Houston was out of a job, but he instantly became a valued commodity when quotes like this from Copes hit the internet: "I really wanted to be coached by my uncle ... I called him right after I find out Coach (Karl) Hobbs was fired and asked him where we were going."

As it turns out, Houston may not even have to move, as he was added to Paul Hewitt's staff at George Mason. And as you might expect, Copes will be following Houston to the Fairfax, VA, school, giving Hewitt a prized recruit after less than a month on the job.

The key for Hewitt now is to convince Luke Hancock to return to George Mason. Hancock, a 6'5" wing, was the Patriot's third leading scorer and leader in assists last season, but after Jim Larrananga decided to go to Miami, Hancock requested a release from Mason that would allow him to research a transfer. With Mason also losing Cam Long to graduation, Hancock becomes a vital piece to the puzzle. He's Mason's playmaker offensively, as their point guard -- Andre Cornelius -- is more of a spot up shooter.
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Jamal Coombs-McDaniel transferring; Luke Hancock as well?

On the same day that he appeared in court due to an arrest for possession of marijuana, it was announced that UConn's Jamal Coombs-McDaniel was transferring out of the program.

JCM, who won high school and AAU national titles with UConn teammates Alex Oriakhi, never was able to figure out a way to get along with Husky head coach Jim Calhoun. He played sparingly during his freshman season, and his sophomore season was following that same trajectory. Until mid-February, that is, when JCM exploded for 64 points over a three-game stretch. While he never was able to defend the way that is required by Calhoun, the 6'7" Dorchester, MA, native proved that his offensive versatility was an asset for the Huskies.

After playing 38 minutes and scoring 23 points in a win over Georgetown on February 16th, JCM's minutes tailed off again down the stretch of the season. He played just 22 minutes in UConn's final three games and scored 12 points in the NCAA Tournament, ten of which came in UConn's win over Cincinnati.

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In what is probably bigger news, George Mason granted NCAA Tournament hero Luke Hancock his release to allow him to look into a transfer.

"He requested permission to explore his options and it was granted to him," a Mason team spokesman told Patrick Stevens of the Washington Times. "At this point, all he is doing is looking. In no way, shape or form has he decided to leave."

It makes sense for him to look. As you know, George Mason underwent a coaching change in the past few weeks, with longtime head coach Jim Larrananga taking his staff with him to Miami. Former Georgia Tech head coach Paul Hewitt took over, and according to Brian Mull of the Wilmington Star, Hancock does not believe he fits into Paul Hewitt's system.

If Hancock does decide to leave, it would be a major loss for the Patriots. George Mason's point guard by definition is Andre Cornelius, but Hancock is their playmaker in the half court. The 6'5" wing averaged 4.2 apg to go along with 10.9 ppg and 4.3 rpg as a sophomore, which includes an 18-point, five assist performance against Villanova in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in which Hancock hit the game-winning jumper.

Mason will still be a favorite in the CAA without Hancock.

But they won't be a preseason top 25 team if they lose Hancock and Cam Long, who graduated.
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Paul Hewitt to George Mason

According to Jeff Goodman, the most connected writer in college hoops (the Wes without the Mess of the media?), former Georgia Tech head coach Paul Hewitt will be taking over for Jim Larrananga at George Mason. (Here's a full breakdown of all the head-coaching movement from this offseason.)

Hewitt took the Yellow Jackets to the national title game in 2004, but he once again struggled this past season. Tech finished the season 13-18 (5-11 in the ACC) and Hewitt was fired.

The situation he lands in at George Mason, however, may actually be better. The Patriots are coming off of a 27-win season and a trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. They return everyone except for Cam Long and will be the preseason favorite to win the CAA and, in all likelihood, a top 25 team. Georgia Tech almost assuredly cannot say the same thing.

What is interesting about this move is that Hewitt has always had the reputation of being a recruiter more than a coach. He brought quite a bit of talent through Atlanta -- Derrick Favors, Thaddeus Young, Javaris Crittendon, etc. -- but with the exception of the 2004 run, Hewitt seemed more adept at getting his players fast-tracked to the NBA than at winning basketball games.

Also of interest is the ripple effect that Mike Anderson's decision to leave Missouri -- or, for that matter, Matt Painter's decision to stay at Purdue -- has had. Almost assuredly, if that Missouri position was filled, Frank Haith would still be at Miami, Larrananga would still be at George Mason, and Hewitt would be looking for a job as an assistant or a broadcaster.

I guess that's why they call it the coaching carousel.
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Jim Larrananga makes the jump to Miami

Jim Larrananga's decision to move from George Mason to Miami certainly was a surprise.

Larrananga has built Mason into a powerhouse in the CAA, arguably the nation's best mid-major conference the last couple of years. He returns the majority of his roster from a 27 win team at a school where he was treated like a living legend from a better-than-you-think fan base. Larrananga is also a Providence alum. The Providence job has come available twice since his Final Four run (including this offseason), so if he wanted a rebuilding job at a power conference, why didn't he go to his alma mater?

Its not a hard argument to make that, from a strictly basketball perspective, George Mason is a better job than Miami.

The issue, however, is that nothing is ever strictly about basketball.

Before you criticize this move, answer me this. Let's say you were offered the same job that you currently have with a more powerful company where you make almost double your salary and you get to move to South Florida. Throw in the fact that you can work for a boss that you actually get a long with, and I'd be willing to bet that 99% of the people out there would take the new job.

That is exactly what Larrananga did. He moved from the CAA to the ACC, he got a significant raise, and he no longer has to work for an athletic director that he reportedly did not get along with. And I would be surprised if Shaka Smart's brand new contract didn't play a role in this decision.

Larrananga is, given the circumstances, a great hire for Miami. They couldn't get any of the young, hotshot coaches this offseason and they didn't want Frank Martin. "Settling" for a guy that has taken a CAA team to the Final Four and built the program into one that is consistently in the mix for an at-large bid is nothing to be embarrassed about.

The question is whether or not Larrananga will be able to win at Miami.

For long-term success, the key is obviously going to be recruiting, and as long as the program is competitive, it should never be difficult to recruit high school kids to Miami for college. In the short-term, however, Larrananga has a chance to win immediately. The Hurricanes have talent on their roster; Durand Scott and Malcolm Grant are a very underrated back court duo and Reggie Johnson, should he opt to return to school, is a force on the block.

The Hurricanes lost a lot of close games down the stretch last season, and much of that blame has been attributed to Frank Haith.

It will be interesting to see if Larrananga can turn those close losses into close wins.
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George Mason knocks off Villanova as Gus Johnson shines

Gus Johnson breeds excitement.

Seriously. Its unreal. It seems like every game that he calls in the NCAA Tournament comes down to the wire, so it should be no surprise that No. 8 George Mason's exciting, 61-57 comeback win over No. 9 Villanova had Mr. March Madness on the call.

Mason was down for much of the second half, and after getting to with a point on a couple of different occasions midway through the half, the Patriots found themselves down 54-48 with about two minutes left in the game. But the Patriots used a 13-3 run, capped by an emphatic put-back dunk from Mike Morrison and an ankle-breaking, step-back three from Luke Hancock.



The only thing less surprising than an exciting finish with Johnson on the call is a late-game collapse by Villanova.

For the second straight season, the Wildcats finished off a disastrous finish to their year with an early exit in the NCAA Tournament. And much like their first round loss to South Florida in the Big East Tournament, the Wildcats looked as good early in the game as they did bad down the stretch.

Corey Fisher and Corey Stokes were both on fire in the first half, but neither could buy bucket in the second half as Jay Wright's team, once again, resorted to dribbling the air out of the ball. Its almost frustrating to watch Villanova late in a game. Fisher and Maalik Wayns seemingly take turns dribbling out the shot clock and forcing up a tough shot.

One of the talking points coming into the tournament was that the Big East was overrated; that there was no way that a league sending 11 teams to the tournament would produce results living up to expectations; that the Big East had a lot of good and not much great.

And while Villanova lost this game, don't let that sway your opinion about the Big East's performance as much as, say, Louisville's loss to Morehead State.

Most folks had George Mason winning this game. I know I did. In fact, a Villanova win would have been a much more surprising result. Using this as evidence of the lack of power in the Big East would be a slap in the face of this Patriot team.

Villanova lost their last six games, eight of their final 10, and ten of their final 14. George Mason was on a 16 game winning streak -- the longest in the nation -- when VCU beat them in the semifinals of the CAA Tournament. George Mason is a very good basketball team, even if they didn't play like it for the first 38 minutes today.

The most impressive part about this victory is that George Mason was able to win despite getting poor performances out of both Cam Long and Ryan Pearson, their two leading scorer. The two combined for 15 points, 10 boards, four assists, and six turnovers on 4-17 shooting from the field. Instead, it was Luke Hancock (18 points, five assists) and Mike Morrison (10 points, 11 boards, four offensive) that carried the Patriots.

Those two are going to be very important on Sunday.

George Mason is not a very big basketball team. They don't have a lot of depth in their front court, which is not a good thing with Ohio State and Jared Sullinger on the docket for Sunday.

The Buckeyes are also a very good defensive team, and Hancock, despite being the team's small forward, is the team's best ball handler and creator.

Ohio State is the best team in the country. There are not many teams that matchup well with them, and George Mason is no different.

But if the Patriots get the kind of play they got out of Hancock and Morrison today, and Pearson and Long play up to their standards, GMU has a shot.

No one thought Jim Larrananga was going to be able to knock off UConn in 2006, either.
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George Mason's win over VCU puts them into the NCAA Tournament discussion

George Mason went into the Siegel Center in Richmond, VA, on Tuesday night and ran VCU off their own home court, winning 71-51.

With the win, Mason opened up a two game lead on VCU, Hofstra, and Old Dominion in the CAA standings, ensuring themselves, at minimum, a share of the league's regular season title with just two games left on their schedule.

More importantly, however, the Patriots have thrown themselves smack into the middle of the at-large conversation, and maybe even onto the right side of the bubble.


There may not be a hotter team in the country than George Mason. They have now won 12 straight games after losing back to back road games to Hofstra and Old Dominion in early January. Four of their last five wins have come against the four teams directly behind the Patriots in the CAA standings. Each of those games were decided by at least 14 points.

Coming into tonight, the Patriots sat at 23rd in the RPI, a number that will almost assuredly rise with a 20 point win on the road against a top 75 team. But that number may be a bit inflated; Mason hasn't exactly played the most rigorous schedule. Their two best wins coming into the night came against Harvard and Old Dominion, neither of whom are a lock to make the NCAA Tournament and they have non-conference losses to NC State, Wofford, and Dayton.

That said, the CAA is pretty strong at the top. There are six teams that have cracked the RPI's top 100, meaning that Mason can boast a solid 8-4 record against the top 100, with two of those wins (Harvard and ODU) coming against the top 50. Saturday's bracket buster game at Northern Iowa is another potential top 100 road win.

Not that it matters, but the Patriots look like a tournament team.

They have a balanced scoring attack -- four players average double figures and two more averages more than six points. There is some size and scoring inside with Ryan Pearson and Mike Morrison. Cam Long, who is finally playing up to his potential, and Luke Hancock are both athletic playmakers on the wings. And Isaiah Tate and Andre Cornelius can keep the floor spread with their ability to shoot the rock.

George Mason still has some work to do. With three regular season games left (they also have Georgia State and Northeastern in addition to Northern Iowa) and a conference tournament, which takes place in Richmond, to play.

In other words, the Patriots are no means a lock to make the tournament. And if they get there, they are by no means going to be expected to repeat their 2006 Final Four run.

But as of today, this should be an NCAA Tournament team.
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Bill Murray hung out with George Mason on Sunday

Bill Murray is a huge basketball fan.

The Space Jam star lives in Charleston, SC, and owns the Charleston River Dogs. His son, Luke, is currently an assistant as Wagner College for head coach Dan Hurley. He's also worked at programs like Arizona and Quinnipiac. Luke is the same age as me and played AAU basketball for a team from Connecticut, the NNC Lions, that I played quite often growing up. Bill would show up at Luke's game every so often. I can tell you with first hand experience that Bill is a pretty knowledgeable dude when it comes to basketball.

So what does this have to do with anything?

Not all that much. I just wanted to write something Bill Murray and basketball related so I could post this picture:


That's Bill Murray meeting with the George Mason basketball team before their 82-79 overtime loss against Wofford on Sunday.

Yeah. That's all I got.

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A college hoops WTF?

In any given season, there are numerous final scores that leave me scratching my head. Whether it is a mammoth upset or an unexpected blowout, this uncertainty is what makes college basketball, and sports in general, so intriguing to watch.

As the saying goes, anything can happen.

If sports were that easy to predict, your neighborhood bookie would be out of a job.

This season, there has been a few games that have really made me too a double take.

Take last month's Old Dominion-Charlotte game, played at Old Dominion. Charlotte was 10-1 heading into the game, which included a 22 point win on the road at Louisville. ODU was just 8-4, but proceeded to whip the 49ers by 33 points.

So the Monarchs are 55 points better than Louisville, right?

It gets even more confusing when you take into account Saturday's George Mason-Old Dominion game, which took place at Mason in the Patriot Center. Old Dominion was coming off of the Charlotte win, a win at Georgetown, and a win over Duquesne at home, while Mason was fresh off of a 27 point smack down at the hands of Radford of the Big South conference.

What happened?

George Mason won by 16 points.

Does that mean that Mason is 20 points better than Georgetown? One step further, and it makes the Patriots are a whopping 71 points better than Louisville, right?

There are too many examples of results like this to count, but this is just one that happened to grab my attention.

What does it mean?

Well, nothing really. At least nothing we don't already know.

It just goes to show you that in college hoops, no one ever really knows.
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The BIAH Advent Calendar: Day 20

Yup, it is December. And as the temperatures outside drop, the heat is rising on college campuses across the country as basketball season kicks into full swing. But December is also a time to reflect on the past year. This December is special, because as we draw closer to the new year, we get closer to the end of the aughts. In the spirit of the holidays, we are going to celebrate the decade past by counting down the top 25 games, players, and teams of the last 10 years with the BIAH advent calender. Each day, we will be unveiling the next on each of our lists, culminating with our gift to you on Christmas Day: the best game, the best player, and the best team of the 2000's.

Here is No. 6:


2006: UConn vs. George Mason: This has to be considered the greatest upset of all-time. Tiny George Mason, a school out of the CAA, barely gets into the tournament as an at-large bid, then proceeds to beat Michigan State and UNC on the way to the Elite 8 where they face the mighty Huskies. UConn would send six players off of this team to the NBA, five of them getting drafted in the 2006 draft, and four of those picks going in the first round.

UConn made a little run late in the first half to open up a 12 point lead, but the Patriots, who outrebounded the much bigger Huskies 37-34, would respond early in the second half with six straight three pointers. Mason would eventually open a 67-63 lead at the end of regulation, but missed free throws and timely buckets gave Denham Brown a chance to tie the game, and he did with a tough reverse lay-up at the buzzer, setting up a fantastic OT.



UConn, as talented as they were, never put together a complete game in the 2006 tournament, and it finally came back to bite them against Mason.


Emeka Okafor, UConn: Okafor came to UConn as an impressive defender. Standing just 6'9", Okafor had long arms, great timing, and incredible discipline when it came to blocking shots. But as a freshman, he wasn't much on the offensive side of the ball, averaging just 7.9 ppg - compared to 9.0 rpg and 4.0 bpg.

Okafor led the Huskies to the 2004 national title.
(photo credit: SI)

As a sophomore, however, Okafor started to break out of his shell offensively, and as a junior, his last season in Storrs, he became unstoppable on the block. He averaged 17.6 ppg, 11.5 rpg, and 3.9 bpg while earning first team all america honors (and player of the year honors according to some publications) and winning the Big East player of the year award. Okafor battled back problems all season long, missing a lot of time towards the end of the season. The selection committee thought enough of Okafor in 2004 to give UConn a #2 seed as a result of the big fella being questionable on Selection Sunday. But UConn would go on to win the title, and Okafor won the 2004 Tournament's MOP.

Okafor wasn't just known for his excellence on the court, he was also an outstanding student. Okafor graduated from UConn in three years with a finance degree while sporting a 3.8 GPA.


2005 Illinois Fighiting Illini: Illinois had one of the most dominating seasons in recent memory as they won their first 29 games before losing to Ohio State in the regular season finale. The Illini then rolled through the Big Ten tournament before receiving a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Illinois survived an exciting overtime game against Arizona in the Elite 8, eventually making it all the way to the title game before losing to UNC.

Illinois won both the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles, before losing in the 2005 title game.
(photo credit: Illinois Loyalty)

Illinois was loaded in 2005, especially in the back court. Deron Williams, Luther Head, and Dee Brown were all named first or second team all-american, while center James Augustine eventually ended up being a draft pick of the Orlando Magic.


No. 7: Oklahoma State v. Texas, Carmelo Anthony, Michigan State's 2000 team
No. 8: UCLA v. Gonzaga, Jameer Nelson, Maryland's 2002 team
No. 9: Barton v. Winona State, Blake Griffin, St. Joseph's 2004 team
No. 10: West Virginia v. Wake Forest, Juan Dixon, Kansas's 2008 team
No. 11: Kansas v. Memphis, TJ Ford, Syracuse's 2003 team
No. 12: West Virginia v. Louisville, Stephen Curry, and UCLA's 2008 team
No. 13: Gonzaga v. Arizona, Kevin Durant, and Florida's 2006 Team
No. 14: UConn v. Duke, Joakim Noah, and Duke's 2002 team
No. 15: Oklahoma State v. St. Joe's, Chris Paul, and UConn's 2006 team
No. 16: Gonzaga v. Oklahoma State, Ty Lawson, and Kentucky's 2003 team
No. 17: Duke v. Maryland in the 2001 Final Four, Deron Williams, and Gonzaga's 2006 team
No. 18: Duke v. Indiana, Mateen Cleaves, Gonzaga
No. 19: Syracuse v. Kansas, Dwyane Wade, UCLA's 2006 team
No. 20: Pitt v. Villanova, Michael Beasley, and Duke's 2004 team
No. 21: Duke vs. Maryland in the 2001 ACC Semis, Josh Howard, Arizona's 2001 team
No. 22: Marquette v. Kentucky, Tayshaun Prince, UConn's 2009 team
No. 23: Vermont v. Syracuse, Andrew Bogut, and Memphis's 2008 team.
No. 24: UConn v. Miami, Luke Harangody, and Kansas's 2003 team
No. 25: Drake v. Western Kentucky, Wayne Simien, and Louisville's 2009 team.
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11/23 - College Hoops Week in Review

What we learned this week: We'll get to Syracuse and their performance, and we have already touched on the Big East's success early in the season, so lets talk about the Pac-10?

Coming into the season, no one was saying that the Pac-10 was going to be the best league in the country. Outside of Cal and Washington, it seemed like everyone was in the midst of a rebuilding year, with the the term "re"-building (as opposed to simply building) being used loosely.

The Pac-10 conference has struggled early in the season.
(photo credit: Pac-10)

Just take a look at the numbers. The league has just four unbeaten teams (the Arizona schools and the Washington schools), and the overall record is 23-10, just a .697 winning percentage. That's far less than any other power conference (the lowest is the Big Ten, believe it or not, with a 27-9 record and a .750 winning percentage), and just a fraction better than the A-10, which is 26-12 with a .684 winning percentage.

And it isn't like the Pac-10 is losing to good teams, either. Stanford, who is 2-2, has lost to San Diego and Oral Roberts. UCLA lost to Cal St. Fullerton. USC was beaten by Loyola Marymount. Oregon State has already lost three games, to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Texas Tech, and Sacramento State, a team coming off of a two win season.

At least Oregon (at Portland) and Cal (Syracuse and Ohio State in MSG) lost to potential tournament teams.

You don't even want to ask about their best win. Arizona State over TCU? Oregon over Colorado State? Cal over Murray State? The way things are going, it won't be long until you start to hear serious talk of the Pac-10 getting just one team (Washington) into the tournament. With so many bad losses, and so few good wins, in out of conference play, the Pac-10's RPI will be in the toilet in this keeps up.

Is it too late for the Pac-10?

Not yet. Arizona State still has a trip to MSG for the Pre-season NIT, Arizona will be in Maui starting tomorrow to play in the Maui Invitational, and there is still the Pac-10-Big XII challenge. With a good performance in those three events, and a couple of wins in marquee out of conference match-ups (Washington vs. Georgetown, Washington State vs. Gonzaga, Oregon vs. St. Mary's, UCLA and Cal vs. Kansas), and maybe some doubters will be silenced.

Until then, expect the Pac-10 to be compared to last year's SEC.


GAME OF THE WEEK: Villanova 69, George Mason 68

George Mason asserted their control on this game early. Pressuring Villanova's guards all over the court, the Patriots were able to open up a 13 point first half lead. The Wildcats made a couple runs during the first 20 minutes, but Mason eventually went into the half up 37-28. A 15-5 run by the Wildcats early in the second half tied the game, and set off an exciting 13 minutes of basketball down the stretch.

Mason would build the lead back up to five on multiple occasions before Villanova finally came all the way back, going up 56-54 on a Scottie Reynolds lay-up. After back-to-back Patriot buckets, Taylor King buried a three with four and a half minutes left to give the Wildcats the lead. Once again, Mason would go on a run, scoring six straight point to build a 64-59 lead. But the Patriots couldn't seal this one as they hit just four of eight free throws down the stretch, leaving the door open for Villanova. Down 67-63 with under a minute left, freshman Maalik Wayns buried a three. After Sherrod Wright hit 1-2 from the line, another freshman, Isaiah Armwood, hit the first shot of his career, a three with just 17 seconds left on the clock. It ended up being the game-winner, as the Patriots couldn't get a shot off at the end of the game.



Also good this week:

• Louisiana-Monroe 74, Morehead State 73: Kenneth Faried had 24 points and 12 boards, but Tony Hooper hit a jumper at the buzzer to end an exciting back-and-forth game.
• Michigan State 75, Gonzaga 71: The Zags were up big in the first half, but a second half rally, sparked by the hot shooting of Durrell Summers, carried the Spartans to the four point win.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jon Scheyer, Duke

Scheyer has played as well as anyone in the country during the first two weeks of the season. In a 3-0 week for Duke, Scheyer averaged 16.0 ppg and 5.7 apg, while hitting 9-16 from deep. Impressive numbers, yes, but the most impressive stat is that Scheyer did not have a turnover in the three games. In fact, Scheyer has played 131 minutes in four games this season (32.8 mpg), and has yet to turn the basketball over. With the limited depth in Duke's back court, being able to rely on Scheyer to play well for a lot of minutes will be a key to the Blue Devil's success this season.

Also good this week:

• Shelvin Mack, Butler: Butler had a 2-0 week, winning both games on the road, and Mack's performance was a huge reason why. He averaged 16.0 ppg, 5.5 apg, and 4.0 rpg in the two wins.
• James Anderson, Oklahoma State: Could Anderson be better than he was last season? In two games last week, he averaged 27.5 ppg and 9.5 rpg while hitting 20-37 shots from the field in two Cowboy wins.
• Quincy Pondexter, Washington: Pondexter came into the week averaging 22 ppg and 11 rpg, but he had his best game of the season on Friday as he posted 30 points (on 10-18 from the field) and 15 boards.
  

TEAM OF THE WEEK: Syracuse Orange

I mean, was there any other choice? The Orange looked like a team that may not reach the tournament after losing an exhibition game to Le Moyne. But after taking MSG by storm this week, the Orange are a trendy pick to make it to the Final Four. Syracuse ran roughshod over Cal and UNC on Thursday and Friday. Against Cal, it was a big first half run that opened up an insurrmountable lead. In the UNC game, the Orange used a 22-1 run to open the second half to put that game away. And while Syracuse is making these big runs and putting up impressive offensive numbers, the reason the Orange are so good this season is their defense. Their length creates turnovers, while the talent in their backcourt and the willingness of their front line to run the floor creates points off of those turnovers.

As good as Andy Rautins has been, as promising as their front line has played on both ends, and and as much of a stud as Wesley Johnson is, the most impressive part of this team has been the play of Scoop Jardine and Brandon Triche. Jardine and Triche are two different styles of point guards. Both are excellent defenders that can get into the passing lanes, but Triche seems to be a better player in the half court offensively, while Jardine is more of a dynamic, open court player that can score in transition. Excellent complimentary players, it has been their stellar early season play that has been the most pleasant surprise for the Orange.

Also good this week:

• Villanova Wildcats: Villanova improved to 5-0 while winning the Puerto Rico Tip-off this week. They knocked off George Mason, Dayton, and Ole Miss along the way. While the Wildcats are still trying to find their stride and a while away from being at full strength (Reggie Redding, Mouphtaou Yarou), this was a talented field that Jay Wright's club just ran through.
• Tennessee Volunteers: The Vols went 3-0 on the week, including two games where they git triple figures. While Bruce Pearl's club did struggle a bit with DePaul, when the athlete the Vols have get going in the full court, they are a tough team to slow down.
  
• Virginia Commonwealth Rams: The Rams were just 1-1 on the week, but the win came in impressive fashion against Oklahoma.
  

For match-ups of the week, check back for the daily Pregame Beat's, as most of the big games this week come during tournament play.
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Colonial Athletic Association Conference Tournament Preview

Schedule (all games played in Richmond):

Friday, March 6th / First Round
- Game 1: #8 Georgia State vs. #9 Delaware
- Game 2: #5 Hofstra vs. #12 UNC Wilmington
- Game 3: #7 James Madison vs. #10 William & Mary
- Game 4: #6 Drexel vs. #11 Towson

Saturday, March 7th / Second Round
- Game 5: Game 1 Winner vs. #1 VCU
- Game 6: Game 2 Winner vs. #4 Old Dominion
- Game 7: Game 3 Winner vs. #2 George Mason
- Game 8: Game 4 Winner vs. #3 Northeastern

Sunday, March 8th / Semis
- Game 9: Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner
- Game 10: Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Winner

Monday, March 9th / Finals
- Game 11: Game 9 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner

Favorite: This one is tough, because the CAA was, as has become the norm, one of the most competitive leagues in all of college basketball. VCU has to be considered the favorite. They won the league and are led by two-time CAA player of the year Eric Maynor. Maynor has already proven he knows how to perform in March (remember this - NSFDF*) and is coming off his best season as a Ram, averaging 22.4 ppg and 6.2 apg. The problem is that this year, he does not have as much of a supporting cast. Larry Sanders is a long, athletic forward and a tough match-up for CAA teams, but at this point in his career he isn't much more than a rebounder/shot blocker (his .21 a/to ratio is actually an improvement from last season). In fact, thre are only two rotation players that aren't freshman or sophomores, so if VCU plans on winning this thing, they need to ride Maynor.

Eric Maynor will need to do much more of this if the Rams want to make the dance.
(photo credit: Duke Chronicle)

Contenders: Northeastern, George Mason, and Old Dominion all won at least 12 games in league play and earned a bye for the first round of the tournament. Northeastern, to me, seems like the best of the bunch. I saw them early in the season knock off Providence and came away pretty impressed. They are tough defensively (holding opponent's to under 60 points and 42% shooting) and are an experienced bunch (most of their rotation is upperclassmen). George Mason is a similar team to Northeastern in that they are an experienced group that can really defend. But they have been a bit beat up this year, and they don't really have a play maker or a big time scorer. Old Dominion is the only team of the four mentioned that played the other three team twice (they split with each). They have something that most other CAA team don't in Gerald Lee, a 6'10", 250 lb, Finnish center that is a legitimate back-to-the-basket scorer.

Sleeper: I got a chance to see the Dragons play during the Tip-Off Marathon back in November, and even then I came away very impressed with Drexel. They are a guard-heavy team, with their top four scorers all playing in the back court, which at times creates match-up nightmares for opponents. The Dragos are also playing well right now. They finished the season just 10-8 in the league, but won 10 of their last 15 games. Of those five losses, three were by one point and one came in OT.

BIAH Pick: Northeastern.*Not Safe For Duke Fans Continue reading...