Iona vs. Rider: Friday Thoughts

Raphielle Johnson — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:15:59 -0500

Light schedule tonight with Ivy League Fridays not really getting going on a consistent basis until next weekend, but there are some entertaining matchups to keep fans occupied. Both MAAC matchups consist of top-half (of the standings) teams taking on squads hoping to avoid "First Round Friday" in March's conference tournament. One such game is Iona hosting Rider on ESPNU, and while Tommy Dempsey's Broncs have been a major disappointment this year they have the firepower necessary to keep up with the Gaels.

But can Danny Stewart and company defend well enough to keep talents such as Scott Machado (the national leader in assists) and Mike Glover (AKA Optimus Prime) in check? Novar Gadson, who has found the going tough in recovering from offseason microfracture surgery, has shot 5-for-17 in his last three games and one has to wonder if there's some fatigue at play. The chemistry was off during non-conference play, especially with the addition of Virginia transfer Jeff Jones, but that seemed to be improving some before dropping games at Siena and Fairfield.

Also in the MAAC surprising Manhattan visits a Marist team that seems to be young every season, and it could become a situation where Chuck Martin's club needs a run in the MAAC Tournament to avoid a regime change. Freshman Chavaughn Lewis has been one of the better rookies in the MAAC and he's second on the team in scoring to Devin Price, but the Red Foxes average 15.7 turnovers per game. That could be an issue against Steve Masiello's Jaspers, who will look to ramp up the tempo with their full-court pressure.

George Beamon has led the way offensively for Manhattan, and after last season some seemed to forget how explosive a scorer he was in high school. Manhattan is a young team as well but they've all bought in to Masiello's vision for the program, and the team's experienced more success than expected as a result. Last year's meeting in Poughkeepsie looked to be a win for the home team...until Michael Alvarado did this. Hopefully we get similar fireworks tonight.

The best game of the night is in the Horizon League as first-place Milwaukee visits a Youngstown State team that's turned some heads this season. Seniors Kaylon Williams and Tony Meier lead the way for Rob Jeter's club, but they're going to have to be at their best defensively especially on the perimeter as the Penguins have multiple scoring options there. But what Youngstown State doesn't have is muscle in the paint, and Milwaukee may be able to take advantage of that. Butler was able to do so last weekend in their home win over YSU, and that could be what keeps Youngstown State from being a title contender this season.

Cleveland State is another Horizon contender and they host Green Bay, a team that has the ability to upset an unsuspecting title contender if not work their way back into the race. Center Alec Brown leads the way for the Phoenix, and his height (7'1") could be an issue for the Vikings in the paint. But can Green Bay slow down Jeremy Montgomery? That's easier said than done. And in the Atlantic Sun, Florida Gulf Coast visits Stetson in a battle of teams that are hoping to eventually separate from a middle of the pack that features five teams with either three or four league losses.

NCAA Division I Games
7:00 PM Florida Gulf Coast at Stetson (ESPN3)
7:05 PM Milwaukee at Youngstown State (ESPN3)
8:00 PM Green Bay at Cleveland State (ESPNU)
9:00 PM Manhattan at Marist (ESPN3)
10:00 PM Rider at Iona (ESPNU)

#5 Ohio State vs. #7 Indiana: Sunday Thoughts

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 11:48:48 -0500

Sunday's a quiet day with regards to the number of games on the college basketball schedule, but there's a critical matchup of Top 10 teams in Columbus as #7 Indiana (15-2, 3-2) visits. #5 Ohio State (15-3, 3-2) in their second meeting of the season. The Hoosiers won the first meeting 74-70 back on New Year's Eve, and a big reason why was the way in which they defended point guard Aaron Craft. Tom Crean threw multiple guys at the sophomore point guard, and the varying looks were a big reason why Craft turned the ball over a season-high six times.

Be it Jordan Hulls, Verdell Jones III or Victor Oladipo, the Hoosiers made things difficult for Craft and by extension the Ohio State offense as a whole. William Buford shot 3-for-7 from the field and scored eight points, and also of note in this contest is that Craft attempted the most shots (ten) for the Buckeyes. Jared Sullinger and Cody Zeller essentially canceled each other out with foul trouble for both being an issue for much of the game (Sullinger: 3-5, 15 points and nine rebounds; Zeller: 5-9, 14 points and four rebounds).

From an efficiency standpoint that was Ohio State's worst game of the Big Ten slate thus far, as they averaged exactly one point per possession. Indiana's been the more efficient team when looking at the numbers throughout the season, and they're going to need that to be the case again today if they're to have any shot of winning at Value City Arena. If the Hoosiers can get another good outing from Hulls and Oladipo (combined to score 32 points in the first meeting) they can win, but the return meeting will be an entirely different animal based on how Ohio State played against the two teams they lost to on the road last season.

Ohio State's 87-64 win over Purdue was actually the first meeting of two last season, with E'Twaun Moore going off in the return contest in West Lafayette, so it's likely better to use OSU's rematch with Wisconsin as the example. After losing in Madison 71-67 on February 12, the Buckeyes went off in the March 6 meeting, knocking down 14 of 15 from beyond the arc on their way to the 93-65 victory. Without a Jon Diebler on this year's team that kind of marksmanship is unlikely to happen, but when motivated by the sting of a road defeat Thad Matta's team is extremely difficult to beat.

Also of note: Both Minnesota and Wisconsin have games that they'll be expected to win, and both will need to win for the sake of their respective resumes. The Golden Gophers take on Penn State in Happy Valley and will need to keep Tim Frazier in check, and the Badgers host a Nebraska team that features Bo Spencer. Bo Ryan's team whipped the Huskers in Lincoln in Nebraska's first-ever league game as a Big Ten member, so at the least Doc Sadler's team should have a better feel for the Badgers' style of basketball.

Duke visits Clemson in what could be a trickier game than many will expect, with the Tigers' play at Littlejohn Coliseum being a big reason why. The Tigers, who blew out Florida State at home in their ACC opener, need Devin Booker and Milton Jennings to play well if they're to have a shot at beating Duke. Maryland could use a win to establish themselves as a top-half of the ACC squad, and if they can keep Georgia Tech's Glen Rice Jr. in check the Terps can get it done. Sophomore guard Terrell Stoglin has been one of the league's best scorers to this point in the season, but to be a truly elite player he has to raise his level on the defensive end.

Big games in the MAAC, MVC: The two teams tied for first place in the Metro Atlantic meet in New Rochelle as Iona host Loyola (MD). The Gaels fell to a surprising Manhattan team on Thursday night on an Emmy Andujar three as time expired while the Greyhounds came back to win at Fairfield despite trailing by as many as 17 in the second half. Robert Olson got hot late for Jimmy Patsos' team and in Dylon Cormier the Greyhounds have one of the best players in the league, which should make for an entertaining battle between he and Scott Machado. The Gaels did the exact opposite of Loyola on Thursday, taking their foot off the gas with a 17-point late with less than eight minutes remaining.

And while Wichita State's trip to Terre Haute isn't a matchup of teams atop the Missouri Valley, simply put the Sycamores need the win to avoid dropping to 2-5 in league play. Joe Ragland's played well on the perimeter and Toure Murry is arguably the MVC's best sixth man, but it's been the recent play of center Garrett Stutz that's made the difference for Gregg Marshall's team. Dwayne Lathan and Jake Odum have led the way for Indiana State but the bigger issue has been their defense, as opponents shoot 43.7% from the field. They'll likely need to hold the Shockers to below 40% if they're to win tonight.

Third-Best Team in the ACC: Florida State or Virginia?

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 02:39:02 -0500

In the midst of watching Tony Bennett's Virginia Cavaliers wrap up a good 67-54 win at Oregon on Sunday afternoon, the following statement trickled across my Twitter timeline: Virginia is the third-best team in the ACC. At 9-1 on the season coming on the heels of their first road victory of the season, the Cavaliers can definitely make that argument.

But what about 8-3 Florida State? Leonard Hamilton's Seminoles did drop a pair of games in the Bahamas and they can be an eyesore offensively, but with one of the best half-court defenses in the country they have an argument as well. How do the Seminoles and Cavaliers stack up at this point in the season? Here's one attempt to provide an answer.

Florida State vs. Virginia on offense

The Cavaliers currently have an offensive efficiency of 104.4 while Florida State sits at 100.0 according to Ken Pomeroy's website (subscription required) following Sunday's action. Florida State moved up to an average of one point per possession with their 77-61 win over Loyola Marymount, but it can be argued that the Seminoles aren't as bad offensively as many assume. The problem: when they're bad they don't go halfway, as seen in losses to Harvard and Michigan State.

Against the Crimson, Florida State scored just 0.67 points/possession and they weren't much better in East Lansing with a mark of 0.79. FSU's bigger problem than their effecitve field goal percentage (50.6%) is their turnover percentage, as they currently "boast" a turnover rate of 26.5%. It's safe to say that when averaging just a point per possession it's not a good idea to waste more than a quarter of your possessions by turning the ball over.

The main culprits when it comes to turning the ball over have been their forwards, especially the triumvirate of Xavier Gibson, Bernard James and Okaro White. Unlike guards Michael Snaer (21 assists, 29 turnovers) and Luke Loucks (39, 27), none of these three are even in double figures in assists on the season. The assist-to-turnover splits for Gibson, James and White are as follows:

Gibson: six assists, 30 turnovers
James: five assists, 23 turnovers
White: eight assists, 22 turnovers

Therein lies the difference between Virginia and Florida State offensively; the Cavaliers turn the ball over on 19.3% of their possessions on the season. Mike Scott is their most-used player according to Ken Pomeroy's numbers, just as Gibson is for Florida State. But Scott has a turnover rate of just 16.3, and even with three of their top four assist men having more turnovers than assist Virginia has just one player with a turnover rate higher than 25.0 (point guard Jontel Evans: 33.3).

The Seminoles average four more points per game (70.7- 66.7) than Virginia but that's due in part to their averaging nine more possessions per game as well. FSU has made up for their lack of a perimeter marksman and turnover issues by rebounding nearly 40% of their own misses, a number that West Virginia surpassed in 2010 on their way to a Final Four appearance.

But in comparing the offenses of Florida State and Virginia the edge would have to go to the Cavaliers. Joe Harris is another solid option for the Cavaliers while freshman Malcolm Brogdon and senior Sammy Zeglinski will also be called upon within their system.

Florida State vs. Virginia on defense

The defensive numbers are where things can get a little tricky. The Seminoles are widely accepted as one of the top defensive teams in the country as their size helps make things difficult for opponents. FSU allows 0.82 points per possession, a number that ranks fifth nationally according to statsheet.com. Their opponents have turned the ball over on 24.8% of their possessions while shooting just 34.2%, a number that ranks among the best nationally.

The Seminoles' length is a big factor defensively, but while athletically they may have the edge on Virginia the numbers aren't very far apart. Virginia is second nationally in points allowed per possession as teams score just 0.79 points/possession. And while their "pack line" defense does its' best to keep the opposition from getting to the basket Virginia's opponents have struggled to shoot from deep. Virginia's opposition has made just 25.7% from deep, a number that sits right above Florida State's three-point percentage defense (25.8%) at 12th nationally.

With opponents averaging just 6.6 assists per game Virginia has done a good job of forcing teams to look to create more for themselves as opposed to setting up teammates. This could have something to do with the fact that UVA hasn't allowed more than 57 points in a game, and that came in a two-point loss to TCU. Both teams have been very stingy defensively as each ranks in the top six nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency (FSU 2nd, Virginia 6th), with tempo being a reason why the Cavaliers have the edge in keeping teams off of the offensive glass.

Taking those numbers into consideration the edge right now goes to Virginia due to their better efficiency on offense. That could definitely change with Florida State expecting Ian Miller and Terrence Shannon back and freshman Terry Whisnant improving his play by the game.

But when it comes to what teams look forward to facing, the pack line defense could be to college basketball what the neutral zone trap was to hockey when the New Jersey Devils made it famous in the mid-90s. To say the least watching this argument unfold as the season wears on should be fun for ACC and college hoops fans in general.

Weekend Recruiting Links and Notes

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 01 May 2011 03:42:32 -0400

This has been a busy weekend on the grassroots scene, with a number of events taking place throughout the country. Obviously the event that received the most attention was the second round of the Nike EYBL, which was played in Dallas. Forty of the top AAU teams in the country are in the field, and this weekend was a continuation of what began at the Boo Williams Invitational the weekend after the Final Four.

Also on tap this weekend were the Jayhawk Invitational in Lawrence, Kansas, the Hoop Group Providence Jam Fest and the Double Pump Best Buy Challenge Spring Classic in Las Vegas. There was also the Tucson Spring Exposure Showcase, an event that featured some solid young talent especially in the 2013-15 classes. Below are some notes on players observed in the Spring Exposure Showcase in addition to links to recaps on other action around the country. (Note: some of the links may require a subscription)

Nike EYBL Session #2 (Dallas)
- Friday recap from Jerry Meyer of Rivals.com
- Friday recap from Five Star Basketball (Team Takover's 22-point win over Mac Irvin Fire)
- Day one and day two recaps from Evan Daniels for Scout.com

Jayhawk Invitational (Lawrence, KS)
- Notes from Eric Bossi of Rivals.com (most notably a good Friday for Mitch McGary)
- Day two notes from Tim Dwyer for Five Star Basketball (including Dream Vision's loss to Minnesota Southside)

Hoop Group Providence Jam Fest
- Friday night notes from Dave Krupinski of the Hoop Group

Double Pump Best Buy Challenge (Las Vegas)
- Day one notes from Anthony Ray of ArizonaPreps.com

Tucson Spring Exposure Showcase notes

- 2011 guard Frank Mgbolu played well in a pair of games in the early afternoon portion of the event, displaying the ability to get to the basket with speed and finish with contact. Also in the 2011 class, forward John Makkar played well on both ends of the floor for the Fastbreakers. Makkar is still a bit raw, as evidenced by the need to further improve finishing around the rim with two hands, but his wingspan allows him to get to shots as a help-side defender. Makkar was productive on the boards as well, especially on the offensive end where he did a good job of keeping the ball up high.

- 2012 guard Michael Barry also played well for the Fastbreakers and he's got the ability to get hot from the perimeter. At one point in their second game of the day he scored seven unanswered points, combining the three-point shot with the ability to pull up off the dribble for mid-range shots. Barry also showed solid composure with the ball in his hands in other situations. 2011 wing Daniel Cobb has a good build (can finish in traffic) and shoots well from the perimeter, although there were instances where he settled for the three instead of attacking the basket.

- Two other 2012 players on display were teammates Anthony Charles and Julien Phifer. Charles is a good perimeter shooter who got open in the second half of their final game of the day, helping spark the decisive run in their victory. Phifer is an interior presence on both ends of the floor, but he needs to improve at keeping the ball up high on rebounds (an issue that some pros have these days to be honest). Look for these two to get even better as the spring/summer wears on.

- The Tucson Heat 2014 squad has some talented players as well. Guard Cameron Denson, who remarked after the game that he's looking to improve his left hand and outside shot, is an athletic player who proved tough to keep from getting to the rim. He's got very good jumping ability as well, a characteristic that should get even better as his career wears on.

- Also playing well on the perimeter was Austin Nehls, who proved tough to handle in their final game of the day. Nehls is looking to work on the quickness of his release in addition to getting to the basket. When the Heat pulled away in the second half his offense proved to be the catalyst. Austin Miller wasn't too thrilled with his shooting in the win but the guard displayed very good vision with the basketball. That makes perfect sense given the fact that his father is Arizona head coach Sean Miller. Austin will look to improve upon his shot this summer, which should pay dividends as he matures physically.

- Inside for the Heat were Chaz Mack and Thomas McEvoy, and if both can improve upon their games away from the basket (both noted this area as what they'd like to improve upon this summer) they'll be guys to keep an eye on. They both rebounded well in addition to defending in the paint, and they were a solid supplement to what the aforementioned guards provided offensively.

- 2013 big man Jeremiah April will be a player to remember as the circuit progresses this year. Already standing at 6'10", April has good shooting form in addition to being a shot-blocking presence on the defensive end. As he fills out and becomes even more comfortable in what he can do, look out. And 2015 forward Dakota Kordsiemon should only get better as well. In a brief conversation with him following a game, Kordsiemon noted that he's looking to work on his left hand and perimeter shooting this summer. He did a good job of getting to the basket and finishing, and that should only improve as he matures.

- More on the event from Chad Groth of the West Coast Hoops Report

Recruiting Talk

Friday Afternoon Conference Tournament Happenings

Raphielle Johnson — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 17:36:47 -0500

You know it's March where there's midday college basketball to be discussed. Friday afternoon delivered just six games (one in progress) but there hasn't been a lack of drama. The Colonial, Missouri Valley and Southern conferences all had afternoon doubleheaders in their tournaments, with the MVC in the quarterfinals while the other two leagues are playing first round games today.

Colonial

(8) Georgia State 58, (9) UNC Wilmington 52

The collegiate career of UNC Wilmington guard Chad Tomko came to a tough end in the first game of the day in Richmond. Tomko led the Seahawks with 19 points but he shot 7-for-21 from the field and finished with four turnovers, the last of which came with just over a minute remaining and UNCW trailing by five (54-49). As a team UNCW shot a season-worst 29.5% from the field, and they could never get into a groove offensively. It also didn't help that the Seahawks made just 10 of 20 from the foul line. Josh Micheaux led the Panthers, who earn the honor of facing regular season champion George Mason at noon tomorrow, with 14 points while Eric Buckner added 12 and Jihad Ali grabbed 11 rebounds to go along with his nine points. And the play of Marques Johnson shouldn't be overlooked either as he dished out seven assists to just one turnover on the day. George Mason beat Georgia State 66-51 in their lone meeting on January 15th.

(5) Drexel 75, (12) Towson 69

Considering the fact that Towson went into today's game winless in CAA contests this season, many expected Bruiser Flint's Dragons to simply run through the Tigers on their way to a matchup with VCU on Saturday. But that wasn't the case as Pat Kennedy's squad remained competitive throughout, but they couldn't take advantage of an opportunity to tie the game late due in part to some bad foul shooting by Drexel. The Dragons survive with Samme Givens leading the way, scoring 22 points and grabbing 14 rebounds for his 10th double-double of the season. Chris Fouch added 15 points of the bench while CAA All-Rookie Team member Frantz Massenat scored 13 and handed out five assists. Dartaye Ruffin, who had a rough time at the charity stripe late, grabbed 12 rebounds while also scoring eight points. Josh Brown led four Tigers in double figures with 18 points but they were whipped on the boards by a 43-26 margin.

Missouri Valley

(1) Missouri State 58, (8) Southern Illinois 56

Southern Illinois got out of the gates quickly, outscoring the regular season champion Bears 11-3 over the first 2:53 of the game and led 32-24 at the half. But despite those facts and a 56-47 lead with 2:49 remaining, the Salukis went out in heartbreaking fashion as a Kyle Weems basket with 1.4 seconds to go capped an 11-0 run to end the game. Adam Leonard led Missouri State with a game-high 20 points while Weems added 14, making up for a 5-for-18 afternoon from the field with the late-game heroics. Mamadou Seck led SIU with 15 points and 14 rebounds and Kendal Brown-Surles and Justin Bocot scored 11 apiece. Rebounding (38-28 edge) and points from the foul line (15-6 advantage) helped out Cuonzo Martin's club, who has to come out with more energy to start in tomorrow's semifinal against Creighton if they're to get to Sunday's final.

(5) Creighton 70, (4) Northern Iowa 67

The Blue Jays survived some suspect play late, most notably a missed layup that would have sealed the game by Jahenns Manigat, to beat the Panthers in the second quarterfinal of the day. Kwadzo Ahelegbe tried to draw a foul on the final shot of the game but Manigat stayed on the ground, not falling for the shot fake and forcing the senior to put up a challenged shot that fell short. Forwards Doug McDermott and Kenny Lawson, Jr. were the difference for the Blue Jays, with McDermott scoring 16 points (including nine of the first 11) to go along with seven rebounds and Lawson dropped in 18 off the bench. UNI took away the inside play that hurt them in the first half, but all that did was allow the preseason MVC Player of the Year to do damage via Creighton's pick-and-pop game. Antoine Young scored 11 points and racked up seven assists, being every bit the problem for the Panthers that he was in the regular season. Ahelegbe finished with 14 points and four assists, and Anthony James added 10 for UNI.

Southern

UNC Greensboro 71, Davidson 64

To say the least it's a bit weird to talk about Davidson in March with the subject being their loss in the first round of the conference tournament. But that's exactly what happened to Bob McKillop's team, as UNCG sent them home in the first game of the day in Chattanooga. It doesn't help matters when you shoot 24% from the field, as the Wildcats made just 18 of 75 shots on the day. Freshman Trevis Simpson led the Spartans with 15 points and 10 rebounds and teammates Brandon Evans (12) and Kyle Randall (11) each reached double figures as they won their seventh game of the season. Brendan McKillop led Davidson with 14 points and J.P. Kuhlman added 11. Next up for UNC Greensboro is a matchup with the top seed in the North Division, Western Carolina.

Appalachian State 65, Georgia Southern 57

Donald Sims led three Mountaineers in double figures with a game-high 20 points to go along with four rebounds and two assists in the win over Georgia Southern. Neither team shot well from beyond the arc (combined 3-for-19) but Appalachian State scored 27 of their 65 points from the foul line in the win. Ben Drayton III led the Eagles with 16 points but it wasn't enough to prevent the end of their season. Next up for Appalachian State is defending tournament champion Wofford in the second quarterfinal tomorrow.

Tonight's Games

Atlantic Sun Semifinals (ESPN3)
(1) Belmont vs. (5) Mercer
(2) East Tennessee State vs. (6) North Florida

CAA First Round (CAASports.com)
(10) Northeastern vs. (7) Delaware (29-27 Northeastern at halftime)
(11) William & Mary vs. (6) James Madison

Horizon Quarterfinals (ESPN3)
(6) Wright State vs. (3) Cleveland State (31-27 Cleveland State at halftime)
(5) Detroit vs. (4) Valparaiso

MAAC First Round (MAACSports.com)
(8) Niagara vs. (9) Marist
(7) Siena vs. (10) Manhattan

Missouri Valley Quarterfinals (FSN Midwest)
(7) Bradley vs. (2) Wichita State
(6) Evansville vs. (3) Indiana State

Ohio Valley Semifinals (ESPNU)
(4) Tennessee Tech vs. (1) Murray State
(3) Austin Peay vs. (2) Morehead State

Southern Conference First Round (SoConSports.com)
(N6) Samford vs. (S3) Furman
(S5) The Citadel vs. (N4) Elon

WCC First Round (ESPN3)
(8) Loyola Marymount vs. (5) Portland
(7) San Diego vs. (6) Pepperdine

Other Games (regular season)
Brown at Cornell
Princeton at Dartmouth
Penn at Harvard
Yale at Columbia
Akron at Kent State
Ohio at Miami (OH)

HOOPS TALK LIVE SATURDAY 11am-NOON

MAAC Hoops

Hoops Talk Live Debuts Monday!

Raphielle Johnson — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 13:09:48 -0400

October 22, 2010 - The first ever all-basketball online radio station will debut on Monday, October 25, 2010.

Hoops Talk Live (www.hoopstalklive.com) is a website that includes daily shows broadcasted by national basketball experts. The shows are broadcasted using webcams and viewers will be able to interact live with the hosts while watching the shows.

Viewers can type in questions and comments for the hosts as well as call into the shows to talk to the hosts using their computers. The shows will discuss all levels of basketball, including NBA, college basketball, and high school basketball.

The hosts will include:

Adam Zagoria, ZagsBlog.com
Matt Norlander, College Hoops Journal
Jeff Borzello, Busting the Bracket
Alex Schwartz, Northstar Basketball
Troy Machir, Ballin is a Habit
Chris DiSano, College ChalkTalk
Raphielle Johnson, CollegeHoops.net
Ryan Feldman, The Hoops Report
Alex Kline, The Recruit Scoop
Darington Hobson, Milwaukee Bucks (NBA)
Dick "Hoops" Weiss, New York Daily News

Please check the website for the schedule.

For additional information, please visit Hoops Talk Live at www.hoopstalklive.com or e-mail Ryan Feldman at rfeldman@thehoopsreport.com.

National Title Game Recap: Duke Wins 4th Title

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 00:43:10 -0400

Wow. What a game.

In a contest fitting for the wild ride that was the 2010 NCAA Tournament, Duke survived a Gordon Hayward shot from halfcourt as time expired to win their fourth national title by the final score of 61-59. Kyle Singler led all scorers with 19 points and nine rebounds while Jon Scheyer (15 points, six rebounds, five assists) and Nolan Smith (13 points, four assists) also reached double figures as Duke became the first team since Indiana in 1987 to win a national title game without one point from its bench. Brian Zoubek and Lance Thomas, both of whom were critical throughout the title run both defensively and on the boards, combined for 14 points and 14 rebounds (ten by Zoubek).

"All these guys made big plays," said Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski. "I thought Zoubs on his out of bounds defense, then he adjusts, altered the shot, then got the rebound, was so fitting for Zoubek. For Brian to do that, because he really elevated our team over these last six weeks, seven weeks, to where we would have a chance to play and win a national championship."

Butler, who saw its 25-game win streak end, finished with four players scoring in double figures with Hayward and Shelvin Mack scoring 12 apiece to lead the way. In a tournament that's had a number of memorable made shots however, it will be two close misses that remain stuck in the minds of those hoping that the Horizon League champs would find away to win yet another close game. After two layups from Matt Howard, the second of which drew the Bulldogs to within one at 60-59, Butler got the defensive stop they needed and eventually set themselves up for a shot at the lead.

But with the 7-foot-1 Zoubek providing the obstacle, Hayward's baseline fadeaway was inches long, bouncing back into the big man's waiting hands with seven seconds remaining and Butler gave the foul with just over three ticks to go. After making the first Zoubek was instructed by Coach Krzyzewski to miss the second on purpose, and this strategic move very nearly provided a catastrophic outcome for the Blue Devils.

"I thought Gordon's shot had a chance," said Butler head coach Brad Stevens. "The first one looked good the whole way. The last one had a chance. Anytime you have a player of Gordon's caliber and he's got the ball in his hands and he lets it fly on the last attempt, you feel like you got a chance to win." In addition to their performance on the boards, providing Duke their toughest challenge on the glass all tournament, the Bulldogs received ten important points off the bench from Avery Jukes. Matt Howard's foul trouble issues weren't as severe tonight but they were enough to require help from someone and the senior stepped up.

But this was Duke's night in the end, as they fittingly found a way to win in the end. The key for Duke all season has been every player's knowledge (and more importantly) acceptance of their individual roles and how it all fit into the team concept. "It's tough to put words to," said Lance Thomas. "We maxed out our season. We maxed out all our practices. We played in every game that the season had to offer us. To seal the deal at the end, I'm really lost for words on it."

They didn't have the "new" feeling of the 1991 team, the wire-to-wire dominance of the 1992 team or the pro-level talent of the 2001 bunch. But they had heart and toughness, something that still goes a long way despite the flooding of college basketball with players looking at campus as a one-year pit stop on the way to pro riches. Congratulations to the Duke Blue Devils, your 2010 national champions...but be sure to show Butler some love as well.

All-Tournament Team

MOP: F Kyle Singler (Duke)
G Jon Scheyer (Duke)
G Nolan Smith (Duke)
F Gordon Hayward (Butler)
G Shelvin Mack (Butler)

Final Four Saturday Recap: Bulldogs, Blue Devils Advance

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 00:35:32 -0400

It wasn't pretty but because of their defensive grit and the ability to take advantage of Michigan State mistakes, the Butler Bulldogs find themselves forty minutes away from striking a significant blow for all schools whose operating budgets reside below the "Red Line". Despite going almost eleven game minutes without a field goal (10:42 to be exact), Brad Stevens' team will play Duke on Monday night as a result of outscoring the Spartans 20-2 in points off of turnovers and making twelve of seventeen from the charity stripe in the final twenty minutes (by comparison, Michigan State made just five of twelve second-half foul shots).

Gordon Hayward (19 points) and Shelvin Mack (14 points) once again led the way on an evening that saw Matt Howard once again get into first-half foul trouble, keeping the Bulldogs afloat in the first half as everyone else struggled to get going offensively. Those two combined for 25 points in the first half and Butler scored ten off of seven Michigan State turnovers to get into the locker room tied at 28. When you get nothing from Howard and no field goals from anyone else (9-24 FG) that's a serious blessing from the basketball gods. Durrell Summers led Michigan State with 14 points while Korie Lucious and Draymond Green scored 12 apiece.

Butler didn't shoot well from the field, making just 30.6% of their shots from the field. But their opportunistic nature has been the calling card throughout the Bulldogs' run to the national title game, and that was evident in both their scoring off of turnovers and getting points at the foul line when they were unable to score from the field. "For us, as long as we guard, we feel like we can be in games," said Hayward. "That's what we've tried to do all year. We've gone through stretches like that before where it seems like we can't throw it in the ocean and we're standing on the beach."

In the time between Willie Veasley's dunk with 12:18 left in the game to make the score 44-37 and Hayward's layup with 1:36 to go (thanks in large part to a crucial offensive board from Shawn Vanzant), Butler scored just four points...but Michigan State was able to counter with just nine. Most will complain about the artistic nature (or lack thereof) of the first semifinal but that stretch typified why Butler is on their current 25-game win streak. It's not always a matter of being the more talented team, which they were on many nights in the Horizon League; sometimes you simply have to buckle down and step up in other areas in order to pick up the win.

But the Spartans did not go down quietly, pulling to within one (50-49) following free throws from Summers (one) and Green (two following his offensive rebound of Summers' miss). But with a chance to take the lead with eight seconds remaining Green's jumper in the lane fell short (a definite argument can be made that he was fouled), forcing the Spartans to foul Ronald Nored with six seconds remaining. The sophomore, who had shot poorly from the line throughout the tournament, made both to push the lead back to three.

"I shot so many short," said Nored. "So I just wanted to kind of get my elbow under and just finish high, and then flick my wrist. It looks like I'm aiming it. It feels like I'm aiming it rather than shooting it. All week, [with] our coach, Coach Shrewsberry, he was working with me on finishing through and finishing high. That's been the difference."

Michigan State thought they were going to get a chance to tie it but the Bulldogs gave the foul, sending Korie Lucious to the line with two seconds remaining. But after making the first the Spartans were unable to grab the intentionally missed second foul shot, giving Butler the 52-50 victory. Improbable? Maybe so, but the urge to paint this with the broad "heartwarming made for Hollywood story" brush stroke should not be done at the expense of realizing how good of a team Butler is. You don't get this far by riding on the coattails of fairy tales.

INJURY ISSUES: Shelvin Mack (dehydration) and Matt Howard (possible concussion) Both will be re-evaluated by the Butler medical staff on Sunday.

The second game lacked the suspense of the first matchup with Duke putting forth arguably its best showing of the year (the win over North Carolina at Cameron may be the only one at that level) in a 78-57 beating of West Virginia. The "big three" combined to score 63 of the Blue Devils' 78 points in the rout, capitalizing numerous times on the Mountaineers' switching defense not challenging shooters as well as the frontcourt grabbing eleven offensive boards that were converted into nineteen second-chance points. Jon Scheyer led all scorers with 23 points while Kyle Singler added 21 and Nolan Smith 19, and all three had at least five assists apiece. When Duke is playing as well as they did on Saturday night they're are extremely difficult to beat.

"Well, what's really hard is if you try to do too many things to keep the ball out of those three guys, and those three perimeter guys are terrific," said West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins. "You turn the other two guys lose at the rim to rebound the ball, and I don't think you can let them offensive rebound the ball."

Brian Zoubek, who enjoyed a seven-inch height advantage over Wellington Smith, grabbed five offensive boards and ten total (three assists also), contributing to the Blue Devils finishing the game with an offensive rebounding percentage of 40.7%. They were the team able to play within their character and as a result they move on to the title game. Duke hit thirteen of twenty-five shots from beyond the arc, outscoring the Mountaineers by 24 points in that aspect of the game. When you shoot 52.7% from the field and 52.0% from three you stand a very good chance of winning to say the least.

"I just think we keep getting better," said Mike Krzyzewski. "We've gotten better throughout the year. We got better this week. It's a really good team and it can do something great on Monday night. That's what we're going to try to do."

Singler's other important contribution came on the defensive end, where he was the primary defender on Da'Sean Butler. Butler, who ends his career as West Virginia's third-best all-time scorer, made just two of eight shots from the field (10 points) before going down just over halfway through the second half with a left knee injury. He and Coach Huggins said after the game that it was a sprain but would be re-evaluated early next week. Smith led the way with 12 points while Devin Ebanks added 11 but when you're best player struggles from the field against a team as potent offensively as Duke you're fighting an uphill battle.

The injury brought about one of what will likely be one of the enduring images of the tournament, with Coach Huggins comforting the disconsolate senior as he was on the floor in pain. "Da'Sean is -- and I've said this repeatedly, and I mean it, he's a really, really good player," said Huggins. "He's a lot better person. He's a wonderful, wonderful guy. When I went out, you know, it was more he felt like he let his team down than it was about the injury. And that's Da'Sean. You know, that's the way he is. He's got such a great heart."

Las Vegas installed the Blue Devils as an early 6.5 point favorite.

Movie Review: "The Street Stops Here"

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 03:42:07 -0400

The Street Stops Here will air on PBS on Wednesday at 10 PM EST.

Coach [kohch] - noun. A person who trains an athlete or a group of athletes (dictionary.com).

What's the definition of a coach? Given what most dictionaries hold it's a rather vague term, but if you look within the word you will find its true and complete meaning. Such is the role of the movie The Street Stops Here, which takes a look into the methods of Bob Hurley Sr. as he leads St. Anthony High School (Jersey City, NJ) on a quest towards its' 22nd state title (they now have 23) in the 2007-08 season. Does a coach simply coach in the gym? Does a coach only work within the confines of athletics? Throughout the course of this documentary the viewer will learn a variety of meaning to the word.

What made this season and the group that Coach Hurley led so remarkable was two things: six seniors were heading to college on Division I scholarships, but they were also looking to avoid becoming the first graduating class in Hurley's time at St. Anthony to graduate without a state title. They're familiar names as well, with co-captains Travon Woodall (Pittsburgh) and Jio Fontan (USC via Fordham) leading a squad that also included Mike Rosario (Rutgers), Tyshawn Taylor (Kansas), Alberto Estwick (Fordham) and A.J. Rogers (Saint Joseph's) among others (most notably Dominic Cheek, who now plays at Villanova).

But this isn't just about one year or even four; it's about a legacy of excellence in the face of uncertainty. From the streets that the players need to rise above in hopes of making something of their lives to the works of the late Sister Alan (who battled cancer during he final years at the school) and development director Kathleen Staudt with the hope of keeping the school afloat financially. From the coach who works in the community to reach out to the youth of Jersey City to the parents like a Jorge Fontan who strive to be a positive force in the lives of young men at an important stage in their lives, director Kevin Shaw depicts the story that is St. Anthony in outstanding fashion.

Why have so many made the call for the Basketball Hall of Fame to open its doors to Coach Hurley? The numbers speak for themselves: 957 wins, 23 state titles, 10 Tournament of Champions titles and three USA Today national titles. But it's more than the numbers on the court; what he's done for the lives of countless kids who were a part of his program speaks volumes. In his 36 years as a head coach just two players did not attend college after graduation. Two. 150 of his players have received college scholarships with more to come in the future, and while all haven't made their way to the NBA they've made something of themselves.

The Street Stops Here gives viewers an inside look at one of the nation's most successful high school programs with film of practices and games as the Friars look to win another state title. You'll see the hard work that goes into raising the necessary funds to keep the school afloat, including the decline of the stock market that puts a serious dent in donations to the school. And you will see the maturation of a class that desperately wants to leave their school with a title not only for themselves but as a measure of thanks for a man who has given them so much.

So what's the definition of "coach"? The Street Stops Here shows that the impact of a successful coach stretches far beyond the court and doesn't have to be solely about basketball. Coach Hurley is a finalist for the Basketball Hall of Fame with the 2010 class to be announced on Championship Monday; The Street Stops Here will give you an idea of why so many have campaigned on his behalf through various mediums. Give up the "reality" TV for one night and be sure to tune in.

Basketball Movies

Sunday Elite 8 Recap: Spartans, Blue Devils Round Out Quartet

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 21:20:27 -0400

The 2010 Final Four was completed on Sunday with teams led by two of the best coaches around punching their tickets. Michigan State, a team counted out on multiple occasions this season, will make it's sixth trip to the Final Four in the last twelve seasons due to their 70-69 win over Tennessee in the Midwest Region final in St. Louis. In a game that was tight throughout it took a Raymar Morgan free throw with 1.8 seconds remaining to provide the final margin. How did Morgan (13 points, 10 rebounds) get to the line? Draymond Green made the find, hitting him with an excellent pass inside and forcing the Volunteers to foul on the challenge.

"I knew once he got the ball he was either going to score the layup," said Green, who finished with 13 points and four rebounds. "Raymar is not known for missing layups, even when we're doing layup lines. I just never saw him miss a layup. I knew he was either going to make a play, and he's smart enough to know that they're going to come flying at him. He was smart enough to know the pump fake and go up, and they darn near killed him, but it was just a heads-up play by Raymar."

These two along with Durrell Summers (21 points) led the way and they needed to do just that as Korie Lucious struggled with Tennessee's ball pressure to the tune of 2-for-9 shooting and five turnovers to offset four assists. But that's been the story of the tournament for Michigan State, with players throughout the current four-game run stepping up to pick up a teammate. "I know they [were] out there pressuring me a lot," said Lucious. "They wore me down. Thank God for Raymar and Durrell and Draymond to come get the ball and take some of that pressure off me. I mean, it's just been helping me and keeping me able -- keeping me in the game and being able to get some rest whenever I need it."

"But I just gotta give credit to them for sticking with me and helping me throughout these two games to be as sharp as possible and just keep my focus and play my game and just try to help us win." The Spartans went into the locker room down three at the half (42-39) as Tennessee was able to hurt them with backdoor lobs and three pointers (6-9 3PT). But Michigan State did a better job of defending the three (1-7 3PT in the second half) and limited the amount of damage that the Vols were able to do via the backdoor as the half progressed.

Wayne Chism led four Tennessee starters in double figures with 13 points in his final collegiate game, yet despite this balance they fell one point short and the foul line is likely the spot that made all the difference. Tennessee made seven of twelve in the second half and 14-21 for the game; Michigan State made 16 of their 21 foul shots. A great game that neither team deserved to lose, once again it was Tom Izzo who came out on top. Tennessee head coach Bruce Pearl may have said it best following the game: "Tom Izzo is probably as accomplished and outstanding a coach as there is in our profession."

HOUSTON: Duke attacks the glass to get back to the Final Four.

For most programs six years wouldn't be a long time in between Final Four appearances. Not the case for Duke, who earned their first trip since 2004 with a 78-71 win over Baylor in the South Region final. Nolan Smith led all scorers with 29 points while Jon Scheyer added 20, but it was their rebounding and second-chance points that told the story. Despite outrebouding the Bears by just six (43-37), Duke grabbed 23 offensive rebounds and outscored the Bears 23-16 in second-chance points. Lance Thomas and Brian Zoubek combined to grab twelve of those, and while they didn't score much in the way of putbacks they got the ball out to the guys better equipped to score.

Thomas had the play that likely sealed things for Duke, dunking in a rebound while being fouled by Epke Udoh with 1:36 remaining and making the free throw to extend the lead to eight (70-62). "With Lance, he had a couple of plays where he kept the ball alive, which he doesn't necessarily get credit for, it's not a stat," said Scheyer. "And then the tip and dunk was just a huge play. Really a huge play. If not the biggest, one of the biggest of the game."

Four Bears scored in double figures with LaceDarius Dunn's 22 points leading the way, but Duke was able to limit him to 3-for-9 from the field in the second half. "Well, just got to give credit to the Duke defense," said Dunn. "They pressured us and really took us out of our comfort zone and allowed us not to run our offense, you know. But like I said, a lot of great things happened, but a lot of great things didn't. I just give them credit for their defense." As a team the Bears shot 2-for-11 from beyond the arc and just 41.2% overall in the final twenty minutes, and the combination of this with some timely Duke plays led to Baylor's demise.

Of course there will be conversation about two sequences involving the Bears' Quincy Acy, one being a charging call with 4:37 remaining and the other being a technical foul with 1:19 to go that short-circuited any hopes of a comeback. But for all the conversation this was a game that Duke won due to their effort on the boards. Is this team as talented as prior Duke squads that got to a Final Four? No, but their desire and willingness to work has them to this point. "I never had a group exactly like this one," said head coach Mike Krzyzewski. "Again, we're not a great team, but we are really a good team. But we have great character. To be around that character on a day-to-day basis is so fulfilling for me. That's why I'm very, very happy for them."

Game of the Day: Michigan State 70, Tennessee 69

Notable Performances

G Nolan Smith (Duke) 29 points in the Blue Devils' win over Baylor.

G Durrell Summers (Michigan State) 21 points (8-10 FG) in the Spartans' win over Tennessee.

F Ekpe Udoh (Baylor) 18 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and five blocks in the Bears' loss to Duke.

Final Four (Indianapolis; Saturday)

6:07 PM Butler vs. Michigan State
8:47 PM West Virginia vs. Duke