Arkansas

SEC West Preview: The Great Unknown

Jason Brubaker — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:07:43 -0700

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Yesterday, we looked at the SEC East, where Tennessee appears to be a clear-cut favorite. Today, we dive into the SEC West, where the picture is a little murkier. Early defections to the NBA and graduation snagged some of the top players, and newcomers will be counted on heavily if teams want to make a run at the postseason. Here’s how it should shape out.

SEC WEST

1) ALABAMA

2007-08 results : 17-16 (5-11 SEC)

Players lost: Richard Hendrix, Mykal Riley, Rico Pickett

While the lure of the NBA may have pulled Hendrix out of Tuscaloosa, it wasn’t strong enough to entice Alonzo Gee or Ronald Steele, who should anchor this team. Steele, who has battled injuries and sat out all last season, is one of the premier point guards in the conference when healthy, and Gee is an athletic freak who has only scratched the surface of his talent. A deep rotation last year enabled plenty of players to get minutes, and a solid recruiting class will add more depth.

In the backcourt, the Tide welcome back Steele with open arms. Steele doesn’t blow you away with physical ability, but he plays poised and is a good decision maker with the ball. He’ll be joined by Mikhail Torrance, Brandon Hollinger and Senario Hillman, as well as incoming freshman Andrew Steele, his younger brother, in a deep rotation. Look for Coach Mark Gottfried to try to push the pace this season with so many guards.

Up front, Gottfried returns forwards Demetrius Jemison and Yamene Coleman, who will play major minutes this year with the loss of Hendrix. However, help is on the way in the form of freshman forward JaMychal Green, an elite recruit who should start from the first day. Green lacks Hendrix’s strength, but he is a better athlete and can run the floor. Gee mostly operates out of the small forward slot also, which allows him to take advantage of his tremendous athleticism by crashing the glass. Gee can play out of control at times, but another year of experience should help him become a more mature player, and he could turn some heads this year.

The return of Steele and Gee should give the Tide the experience needed to win the West. With plenty of athletic guards and the addition of Green up front, the Tide may run more this season. The key will be Steele’s health. If he’s back on his game, the Tide will be dramatically improved from last year’s disappointment. They’ll miss the steady play of Hendrix down low, but there’s still enough talent here to think about an NCAA berth.

2) LSU

2007-08 results: 13-18 (6-10 SEC)

Players lost: Anthony Randolph, Dameon Mason

Despite the loss of lottery pick Anthony Randolph, the Tigers should actually improve this season. The return guards Marcus Thornton, Terry Martin and Garrett Temple, as well as big man Chris Johnson, but the most important returnee may be forward Tasmin Mitchell, who played in only three games last year before being injured.

New coach Trent Johnson has plenty of pieces to work with to put the Tiger back into contention.

The backcourt should again be good, as Thornton, Temple and Martin return for another year. Thornton ‘s shot selection could use some work, but he did put up nearly 20 points per game last season, and showed he’s capable of scoring on anyone at any time. Martin, Temple and Alex Farrer also return to offer experience and give the Tigers one of the tallest backcourts in the SEC. Look for Chris Bass, the younger brother of former LSU All-American Brandon Bass, to get a chance at the point. Getting consistent effort and intensity will be the key here.

Johnson’s Stanford teams were built around powerful post players like the Lopez twins, so this will be an adjustment for him. Chris Johnson is the most experienced post player, but he’s painfully undersized to bang down low. A lanky, explosive athlete, he needs to play more under control this year if he’s going to help replace Randolph. Quinton Thornton also will have to step up, as will Garret Green. However, the return of Mitchell to small forward is huge for LSU. A talented athlete who can play inside or out, Mitchell creates a lot of matchup problems, and if he’s fully healthy, could challenge for All-SEC honors. The Tigers were hurt by the defection of talented recruit J’Mison Morgan to UCLA.

The Tigers had a lot of talent last year, but often played uninspired and undisciplined ball. That won’t fly this year under Johnson, who should help them maximize their potential. If he can coax more effort and consistency out of them, the Tigers could challenge Alabama for the West title. There’s too much talent here for the team to have another 13-win season.

3) OLE MISS

2007-08 results: 24-11 (7-9 SEC), NIT Semifinals

Players lost: Dwayne Curtis, Kenny Williams, Jeremy Parnell

The second year of the Andy Kennedy era was a surprising success, led by talented point guard Chris Warren. The Rebels stumbled a bit in SEC play, which led to the NIT instead of the NCAA, but their 45 wins in the past two season show that Kennedy has them on the right track.

Even with all of the recruiting services, blogs, rankings, scouting, summer camps, televised tournaments…some players still are overlooked out of high school. Lucky for Ole Miss, one of those overlooked was Warren, an undersized point out of Florida who immediately took over the team, leading them in scoring and assists. A feisty playmaker, Warren wasn’t fazed by big-time college ball, and he should only be better this year. Joining him will be Eniel Polynice and David Huertas, who have lots of ability but need to show more consistency. Trevor Gaskins and Zach Graham should provide depth, as will freshmen Will Bogan and Terrico White, an explosive athlete. But there’s no mistaking that this team will go as Warren goes.

The Rebels attack worked well last year because of the inside-outside balance, provided by Warren and Dwayne Curtis. With Curtis gone, along with frontcourt mates Kenny Williams and Jeremy Parnell, the Rebels are looking for help in a big way. Malcolm White and Wesley Jones are the only returning players over 6’7”, so Kennedy hopes incoming forwards Terrance Henry and DeAundre Cranston are ready to contribute early. Henry is the more highly-touted, but Cranston has a bigger body that may hold up better in SEC play. Redshirt freshman Kevin Cantinol will also help in the frontcourt. However, Williams and Curtis combined to average nearly 24 points and 15 rebounds per game, and those numbers simply won’t be replaced this year.

After two solid seasons, the Rebels won’t sneak up on anyone this year. Kennedy is quietly building a solid foundation, and they’re looking to take the next step toward an NCAA Tournament berth. They’ll be thin up front, but the backcourt has the potential to be one of the best in the conference, led by Warren. In the depleted SEC West, they’ll be tough.

4) MISSISSIPPI STATE

2007-08 results 23-11 (12-4 SEC), NCAA 2^nd round

Players lost: Jamont Gordon, Ben Hansbrough, Charles Rhodes

When do-everything guard Jamont Gordon elected to keep his name in the NBA Draft, the Bulldogs’ season took a big hit. Gordon was the unquestioned leader of the team, and his versatility allowed him to dominate games from all over the court. The Bulldogs have a few returning players to provide experience, but it’s hard to envision this team making any kind of post-season run without Gordon.

The Bulldogs do return guards Barry Stewart and Phil Turner, who will have to step up and play bigger roles this year. Both have proven to be solid role players, but they’ll be asked to do much more. Not only do they have to replace Gordon, but they also will miss the toughness of Hansbrough, a feisty competitor who also was one of their top outside threats. Swingman Ravern Johnson will also have to start living up to his potential if the Dogs want to make nay noise. A wiry athlete, Johnson can create matchup problems if he puts his mind to it. Freshmen Dee Bost and Antiquawn Beckham will also likely see big minutes. Both have big time scoring ability, something the Dogs desperately need.

Up front, the loss of Rhodes is just as devastating as Gordon. Rhodes provided a lot of toughness and leadership in addition to his 17 points per game, and he’ll be hard to replace. However, the return of Jarvis Varnado is a good place to start. Varnado is a terrific defender, blocking six shots or more in game 12 times last year, including three games with 10 blocks. His offense is still limited, but his effort and defensive intensity will be crucial to the Bulldogs up front. After Varnado, there are some question marks though. Can Brian Johnson, Elgin Bailey and Kodi Augustus handle the additional minutes? Will freshman Romero Osby be ready to play right away? There’s plenty of potential here, but until they tip-off, Bulldogs fans have to be feeling a little ansty.

The Bulldogs have some talent, but the loss of Gordon and Rhodes can’t be overstated. If they even want to think about making another postseason run, they’ll need terrific efforts from guys who were used to being role players last season. They’ll be a solid team, but it’s just hard to imagine a deep run without their two best players from last year.

5) ARKANSAS

2007-08 results: 23-12 (9-7 SEC) NCAA 2^nd round

Players lost: Sonny Weems, Steven Hill, Darian Townes, Vincent Hunter, Charles Thomas, Gary Ervin, Patrick Beverly

Hogs fans will need to keep their media guides handy next year just to identify all the new faces. Coach John Pelphrey will essentially be starting over after losing so many key players, but he still has some talent to work with, and he’s hoping a talented freshmen class will be ready to step in right away.

The Hogs knew they would lose Weems and Ervin last year, but the loss of Beverly (reportedly due to academics) was salt in the wound. A talented combo guard, Beverly was destined to be the focal point of the Hogs’ offense; now he’ll play in Europe for a year or two before trying to make the NBA. The loss of Weems and Ervin hurt also. Weems was a terrific athlete capable of carrying the team at times last year, while Ervin was a steady playmaker who rarely got rattled. Pelphrey will first look to Stefan Welsh, who all of a sudden is the new face of the program. Welsh is a versatile guard, and they’ll need every bit of experience they can squeeze out of him. Freshmen Courtney Fortson and Rotnei Clark come in with reps as explosive scorers, and both will get the chance to prove that early.

Like in the backcourt, the Hogs have only one returning player with any experience up front, and they’ll need him to step up in a big way. Michael Washington has the versatility to be a good player in the league, and now he’ll get the minutes to prove it. To fill the rest of the holes, Pelphrey is again counting on freshmen, specifically Jason Henry, Montrell McDonald, Brandon Moore and Andre Clark. Henry is the best of the bunch, and he could start right away. Redshirt freshmen Michael Sanchez is also an option here, he’ll see plenty of minutes as well.

The Hogs certainly are bringing in some talent, but even the most optimistic fan can’t imagine a postseason run this year. There’s way too many question marks and way too much inexperience on the roster. They’ll be fun to watch, and they pull a few surprises along the way, but the Hogs are probably at least a year away from thinking about the postseason.

6) AUBURN

2007-08 results: 14-16

Players lost: Quan Prowell, Frank Tolbert

Thankfully, Tigers fans should at least be able to enjoy football season, because it doesn’t appear that basketball season will be any more enjoyable than it has been in recent years. The Tigers lost their best all-around player in Prowell, and just don’t have the horses to compete in the SEC this year. Barring some surprises, they’ll likely hover around the .500 mark once again.

The backcourt loses Tolbert, but returns nearly everyone else, making this the strength of the team. Quantez Robertson, Rasheem Barrett, DeWayne Reed and Larry Williams provide plenty of experience. Barrett was the team’s third-leading scorer last year, and Roberston led the team in assists, so the Tigers have talent coming back. But so far, that talent just hasn’t proved capable of consistently making the Tigers competitive. Until that happens, it’s hard to place a lot of stock into them, no matter how experienced they are.

Up front, the Tigers will look for Kovortney Barber to replace Prowell. Barber has been solid, but he’s hardly lived up to the hype he generated as an elite recruit, and he needs to play to his potential this year if the Tigers have any shot of winning. Barberr looked to be putting it together early last year before being lost to a broken hand. Lucas Hargrove is another solid player, albeit undersized, who the Tigers are counting on. Hargrove is a tough competitor and won’t back down. Beyond them, there’s a lot of newcomers the tigers will county on. Francis Alhe, Brandon Knox, Kenny Gabriel and Johnnie Lett are all at least 6’8”, and if the Tigers can get any contributions from them, it will be a plus.

The Tigers aren’t a bad team – just not necessarily a good one. They have some talented pieces, but they haven’t been able to put them together in the right way, and consistent play has been a pipe dream in recent seasons. It’s always possible that the light bulb will go on in Barber’s head, and he’ll provide a steady post player to complement the guard play. However, recent history says otherwise. Look for another season with as many wins as losses, and another postseason of sitting at home for the Tigers.

ALSO: Yesterday's SEC EAST PREVIEW

State of '08: Arkansas

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:44:53 -0700

What is the top D1 basketball program in each state.. and which program is the worst? While there's not much competition in Hawaii.. there are great debates to be had in loaded regions like California, North Carolina, and Texas. The State of '08 is a state by state ranking based mostly on recent success (the last five years) mixed in with subjective factors such as conference prestige, historical success, and overall program direction.

Up today: Arkansas. For more info, check out the State of '08 introduction.

Arkansas - With so many unfamiliar faces on next year's roster, no one's really sure what to expect.. will the Razorbacks be bad or really bad? Also on the negative end, the glory days of the early to mid-nineties (National Champs in '94) seem like distant memories. Regardless, there's not much competition for the title of top team in this state.

UALR - The Trojans bounced back from two down seasons to win 11 Sun Belt games, and won 20 games against all competition. Still, its been years since UALR was relevant on the national scene, or even in the Sun Belt title race. 1996 was their last postseason trip (NIT), and 1990 the last NCAA Tournament bid (which was the end of coach Mike Newell's late eighties glory run).

Arkansas State - The newly titled Red Foxes (nee Indians), Sun Belt rivals of UALR, are coming off a brutal season that included just 8 D1 wins, an RPI of 294, and a 9-game losing streak (at least one of their 8 wins was over UALR..) John Brady was hired in the off-season to right the ship, and hopefully get the program to the Big Dance for just the 2nd time ever.

Central Arkansas - The Fighting Pippens (this is where Scottie went), are new to D1 ball having completed just two seasons with the big boys. All things considered, last year's 10-16 record against D1 teams isn't that bad, and their 280 RPI topped Arkansas State and UAPB.

UAPB - While the Golden Lions are bad by any standard, 310 RPI last year, just two wins over Top 250 teams in the past three seasons, members of the SWAC (the worst league in D1), etc, this program is actually substantially better than it was just a handful of years ago. From 1999 to 2004, UAPB won just 17 D1 games combined in 6 seasons.

Yesterday: Alabama

State of '08: The Introduction

Patrick Beverley Ruled Ineligible for Arkansas

Press Release — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 00:23:31 -0700

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Junior guard Patrick Beverley will not compete for the Razorbacks in the 2008-09 basketball season.

The University of Arkansas, including its administrators and coaches, will have no further comment due to student privacy laws.

-www.arkansasrazorbacks.com

2008-09 Arkansas Basketball Preview: #108

Joel Welser — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:48:01 -0700

Arkansas Razorbacks

Overall Rank: #108

Conference Rank: #10 SEC

2007-08: 23-12, 9-7, 2^nd West

2007-08 postseason: NCAA

Over the last couple of years Arkansas has failed to live up to their lofty expectations. The silver lining now is that second year coach John Pelphrey gets to pretty much start over with the departure of six key players. That might not be a good thing this season for a team that has made the NCAA Tournament in both years they underachieved, but the fresh start will help rebuild confidence in the program.

Who’s Out:

One of the biggest loses is Sonny Weems, who averaged 15.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals last season. Weems’ ability to create his own shot bailed out the offense many, many times and that skill will be greatly missed. Point guard Gary Ervin never seemed to reach his full potential with the Razorbacks, but he was always a solid scorer and a decent distributor. For the last four years, the Razorbacks have had a bevy of big men, but the group is finally moving on after some up and down seasons. Darian Townes developed into a great scorer under the basket, Steven Hill was a shot blocking machine, Charles Thomas did a little bit of everything and Vincent Hunter was talented enough to come in and give anybody a rest without much of a drop in production. Little used Levan Patsatsia and Nate Rakestraw have also wrapped up their collegiate careers in Fayetteville. The late departure of Patrick Beverley (who will end his college career and play in Europe) is a huge problem for the Razorbacks. The guard was a great scorer and the team’s best rebounder despite all the talented big men on the roster. Without Beverely the rebuilding process will be a huge, huge process.

Who’s In:

The newcomers have plenty of talent and they will have to show it off right away. Point guard Courtney Fortson has the ability to make the offense run. He can get down the lane and find his teammates extremely well. How well he can make that work as a freshman is a question, but he could be starting very soon. Rotnei Clarke can run the point too, but the 6-0 Claremore, Oklahoma product is much more known for his high scoring outbursts. For now, he will be a potentially explosive scorer off the bench. Small forwards Jason Henry and Montrell McDonald are both great athletes. Henry is a superb scorer and will get to the basket with ease and can hit the outside jumper with relative consistency. McDonald, a junior college transfer, will not score like Henry, but he is a great defender and his experience will come in handy on this young team. Andre Clark, Brandon Moore and Michael Sanchez will help replace all those senior big men who are now gone. Sanchez, who redshirted last year, has the most potential. His versatility will make him a match-up nightmare for most opposing defenders and, along with his ability to rebound and defend, that should be enough to earn him a starting role.

Who to Watch:

Stefan Welsh started 21 games last season and could start full-time at the point guard spot if he can hold off Fortson. Welsh is not as explosive as Fortson, but his experience will go a long way. Without Beverley, who is off the team this year for undisclosed reasons, joining him in the backcourt, Welsh suddenly has to become a leader and the newcomers in the backcourt will have a lot of work to do.

Final Projection:

The lone returning player up front is Michael Washington. He only averaged 13.4 minutes per contest, but Washington could have a breakout campaign now that he will be given the opportunity. And the Razorbacks could use some consistent scoring and rebounding in the paint. Suddenly the focus will be on the Arkansas backcourt, not the frontcourt. There is enough talent to make a run at the postseason, but it is probably a year too early. The 2009-2010 season will be a different story.

Projected Post-season Tournament: none

Projected Starting Five:

Stefan Welsh, Junior, Guard, 5.3 points per game

Rotnei Clarke, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season

Jason Henry, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season

Michael Sanchez, Freshman, Forward, DNP last season

Michael Washington, Junior, Forward, 4.3 points per game

*This preview was updated in late August following the news of Patrick Beverley's dismissal from the team.

Complete Top 144 Ranking | 2008-09 Preview & Awards | Coach Interviews | Discuss the Preview

Sonny Weems: NBA Draft Profile

Jeff Fox — Mon, 26 May 2008 09:56:07 -0700

Sonny Weems

College: Arkansas

Class: Senior

Position: SG/SF

Height: 6’6”

Weight: 203lbs

Accolades: First Team All-SEC (08), SEC All-Tournament Team (07), Honorable Mention All-American – junior college (06), All-Tournament Team – junior college national tournament (06), Third Team All-American – junior college (05).

Scouting Report: An athletic scoring wingman.

Strengths: An explosive leaper. Good outside shot – three-point range. Good elevation and extension on his jumper. Able to knock down shots over defenders. Good wingspan. Athletic. Solid build. Capable of big scoring games – poured in 20 or more points in 10 games this year, including 31 against Indiana in the NCAA tournament. Decent rebounder for a wing player. Good free throw shooter.

Weaknesses: Needs to improve his ball-handling to play the wing in the NBA. Doesn’t always play aggressive enough. Needs to become a better defender. Still very inconsistent. Has to cut down on his turnovers – more turnovers than assists in college. Only played two seasons of D1 basketball. Will be 22-years-old when the season begins.

Projected 2008 Draft Range: Mid to late second round pick.

Consensus: Weems is a borderline NBA prospect. His athleticism and length may get him into the League, but more than likely he is bound for the D-League or Europe.

Stats: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=32032

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Collegehoops.net All-First Round Team & MOP

Jeff Fox — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 21:53:08 -0700

It may have been Good Friday for the rest of the world, but for college basketball fans it was a Great Friday. While Thursday’s opening round games had their moments, Friday’s slate of action was full of what makes the NCAA tournament great – upsets, nail biters, buzzer beaters & great individual performances.

Not surprisingly, Friday’s top performers dominate CHN’s All-First Round Team.

CollegeHoops.net First Round MOP: Stephen Curry, Davidson

40 points, five steals, 8-10 3pts

Could it really be anyone else? Dell’s little boy was on fire against Gonzaga, almost matching his teammates point for point (Curry – 40, rest of the Wildcats – 42). There are few NCAA players that can light it up like Curry can and as the ‘Zags found out, he can be deadly efficient (14-22 FGs, 4-6 FTs, 8-10 3pts). You think John Thompson and Georgetown are having nightmares about him yet? And to think, a wise CHN scribe mentioned that this might happen..

MOP Runner Up: Tyrone Brazelton, Western Kentucky

33 points, five assists, five rebounds, two steals, 6-10 3pts

Point guard Tyrone Brazelton seemed to be everywhere on the court for the Hilltoppers on Friday. In addition to scoring a career-high 33, he set up teammate Ty Rogers for the game-winning, buzzer-beating, desperation three-pointer in overtime. Western Kentucky will need more of Brazelton’s relentless attacking to get past San Diego and gain entry into the Sweet Sixteen.

CollegeHoops.net All-First Round Team:

Guard: Tyrone Brazelton, Western Kentucky

Guard: Stephen Curry, Davidson

Guard: Jack McClinton, Miami - 38 points, four rebounds, three assists

McClinton’s 32 second half points matched opponent Saint Mary’s total. Enough said.

Forward: Jonathan Cox, Drake - 29 points, 16 boards, 2 blocks, 4-6 3pts

Killer stat line - the only thing missing was the W.

Forward: Sonny Weems, Arkansas - 31 points, five boards, two steals

At least Weems left some room for improvement – he did miss two of the 14 shots he took against Indiana.

2008 NCAA Tournament Capsule: Arkansas

Joel Welser — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 21:47:07 -0700

Arkansas Razorbacks

Southeastern Conference (22-11, 9-7)

Seed: #9

East Region

RPI: 35

Big Wins: 1/5 at Baylor (85-78), 1/30 Mississippi State (78-58), 3/1 Vanderbilt (78-73)

Bad Losses: 12/22 Appalachian State (67-74), 1/16 South Carolina (66-70), 1/19 at Georgia (69-82)

Last NCAA Appearance: 2007, First Round loss to USC

Coach: John Pelphrey (0-1 in 1 NCAA appearance)

Probable Starters:

Gary Ervin, Senior, Guard, 9.6 ppg, 3.7 apg

Patrick Beverly, Sophomore, Guard, 12.0 ppg, 2.4 apg, 6.8 rpg

Sonny Weems, Senior, Guard, 14.4 ppg, 2.7 apg, 4.5 rpg

Charles Thomas, Senior, Forward, 9.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg

Steven Hill, Senior, Center, 4.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.2 bpg

Key Roleplayers:

Stefan Welsh, Sophomore, Guard, 5.4 ppg, 2.2 apg

Vincent Hunter, Senior, Forward, 2.9 ppg, 1.7 rpg

Darian Townes, Senior , Forward, 11.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.0 bpg

Michael Washington, Sophomore, Forward, 4.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg

Why They Can Surprise:

The size, depth, experience and talent of the Arkansas frontcourt should have made the Razorbacks a very dangerous team the last two seasons. However, consistency has been a major problem. Darian Townes is the most productive scorer of the group. Townes will usually come off the bench, but he still averages nearly 12 points per game despite only seeing the floor for 22 minute per contest. Workhorse Charles Thomas will usually get the starting nod. The 6-8 senior has a decent outside shot, but his field-goal percentage has suffered when he tries to extend his range a little too far.

Seven-footer Steven Hill is a great shot blocker and can score a few points on occasion. His ability to alter shots on the defensive end is a vital attribute for the Razorbacks. The big guys keep coming with sophomore Michael Washington and senior Vincent Hunter. Washington has worked his way into a crowded frontcourt over the last two seasons and has proven to be a solid rebounder.

Why They Can Disappoint:

The big guys keep the team’s field-goal percentage up, but this is not a great shooting team. Sophomore Patrick Beverly has seen his overall shooting numbers decrease after a great freshman season. The good news is Beverly is usually taking smart shots from beyond the arc and will not force as many three’s as he did last year. Wing Sonny Weems is the team’s leading scorer. He can hit the long ball from the wing, but is much more effective getting to the basket. If the outside shot is not falling for Beverly or Weems, the opposition will have a much easier time clogging the lane and stopping the slashers and the big men.

Who To Watch:

Gary Ervin is a lightning quick point guard. His 9.6 points and 3.7 assists per game might be a little disappointing, but Ervin will still create for his teammates and has the ability to take over a game. Ervin is also responsible for keeping the Arkansas offense moving at a fast pace, but still under control. At times, the Razorbacks have been anything but under control and they will not be able to afford a string of poor decisions and bad passes in March.

By the Numbers:

Scoring Offense: 73.3 (87^th in nation, 7^th in conference)

Scoring Defense: 66.0 (106, 3)

Field-Goal Percentage: 46.4 (61, 5)

Field-Goal Defense: 41.2 (56, 3)

Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 6.0 (214, 10)

Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 34.5 (190, 8)

Free-Throw Percentage: 67.3 (228, 7)

Rebound Margin: 4.1 (46, 3)

Assists Per Game: 14.8 (85, 7)

Turnovers Per Game: 15.6 (244, 11)

Joel’s Bracket Says: Second Round loss to North Carolina

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Teams of the Day: Arkansas and Cornell

Raphielle Johnson — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 23:17:40 -0800

Arkansas 19-9 (8-6 SEC West) Computer numbers (courtesy of kenpom.com): RPI 44, SOS 54 (before Saturday's games) On a day in which some bubble teams found a way in which to further complicate their situations (Houston, Syracuse and Florida this means you), the Razorbacks took care of business at home in knocking off #14 Vanderbilt 78-73. Four Hogs reached double figures, led by Sonny Weems with twenty, and this game was a virtual must-win for a team that's one of only two in its division with a league record above .500 (Mississippi State is the other at 11-3). As a team, Arkansas shot 58.3% on Saturday, and this is a team with enough size and depth to give a high seed fits if they were to get to the second round of the tournament. But with games at Ole Miss and home to Auburn to close out the regular season, John Pelphrey's bunch can ill afford to drop a game it should (at least on paper) win. Cornell 20-5 (12-0 Ivy League) Computer numbers (courtesy of kenpom.com): RPI 69, SOS 221 Congratulations to the Big Red for becoming the first school to officially punch its ticket to the Big Dance. Tonight's 86-53 win over Harvard was also the end of a 20-year stranglehold on the Ivy's automatic bid by traditional powers Pennsylvania and Princeton. So, where does Cornell get seeded come Selection Sunday? As of Friday, ESPN.com's Joe Lunardi gives them a 13, while CHN's Shawn Siegel has them as a 14 seed. That general area, based on their overall record, RPI and current fourteen-game win streak sounds about right. But I do know this: the Big Red will be no one's pushover, especially with forward Ryan Wittman (15.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg) and guard Louis Dale (3.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4.9 apg) leading the way. On the clock: Arizona, Kentucky and Villanova. All three Wildcats have resume-building opportunities in front of them on Sunday. The fact that they're all on national (in the case of Arizona and Villanova, split coverage) television could magnify the result. A tremendous challenge...but also a tremendous opportunity.

Five Minutes With a Star: Sonny Weems

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 09:05:18 -0800

Five Minutes With Sonny Weems.. Arkansas Star Forward

Arkansas is enjoying a fine 14-5 season in large part due to the play of leading scorer Sonny Weems. In his senior season, the 6'6" wing is averaging 14 points and 4.5 rebounds per game and shooting a solid 48% from the floor. His first goal is to lead the team to the NCAA Tournament.. and then the possibility of the NBA looms beyond that.

CollegeHoops.net: Win or lose, what's the best game Arkansas has played so far?

Sonny Weems: I would say the VCU game in Puerto Rico. They were a great team and we ended up with about 11 or 12 turnovers. Overall, we just played really well as a team, rebounding, and playing defense, especially with their point guard Eric Maynor. I think that was the best game we've played.

CHN: Do you think the team has played as well as its capable of?

SW: Not close. I don't think we've played nearly as well as we can.

CHN: Is there any opposition player that you've been particularly inpressed with?

SW: That’s a tough question. Probably, Devan Downey. He's one of the quickest guys I've ever seen and he can score from anywhere along with handling the ball. So that really impressed me.

CHN: Grading your own play from A to F, what would you give yourself and why?

SW: Probably about a C. At the start of the season, I didn't start too well and now I'm starting to pick it up. After this most recent game against South Carolina, I think I had one of my best games, but I think early on when I was out there playing, I wasn't really committed. So I'd give myself a C.

CHN: What are you most looking forward to in the 2nd half of the season?

SW: We want to take the SEC West. We want to go deep into the NCAA Tournament. That’s what I'm looking forward to the most.

CHN: What have you benefited the most from having John Pelphrey as a coach?

SW: He gives us a lot of freedom out on the court. Pressing and running in transition is my thing and that’s what has helped me improve my game.

- Special thanks to John Thomas for helping to compile Sonny's responses.

- We'll be rolling out a series of daily Q&A's with top college basketball stars over the next few weeks. Check back tomorrow to see whose next!

Preview: Puerto Rico Tip-Off

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 07:29:49 -0800

One of the joys of the early season for some teams is to head off to some beachside location for a few days of fun in the sun. But that’s for the fans that happen to make these trips. The teams have business to attend to. And with the number of talented teams making their way to the Puerto Rico Tip-Off with hopes of eventually dancing in March, this tournament is a good place to discover what you have in the early going. Twelve games will be played over four days, with a day off on November 17^th (OK, so there’s the players’ beach time). Here’s a breakdown of the schedule:

November 15th (all times Eastern)

Game 1: Houston vs. VCU (9 AM, ESPNU)

Game 2: Marist vs. Miami (FL) (11:30 AM, ESPNU)

Game 3: Temple vs. Providence (2:30 PM, ESPNU)

Game 4: College of Charleston vs. #18 Arkansas (5 PM, ESPNU)

November 16^th

Game 5: 11 AM, ESPNU

Game 6: 1:30 PM, ESPNU

Game 7: 5:30 PM, ESPNU

Game 8: 8 PM, ESPNU

November 18^th

Game 9: 11 AM, ESPNU

Game 10: 1:30 PM, ESPNU

Game 11: 5:30 PM, ESPN2

Game 12: 8 PM, ESPN2

This tournament shapes up to be a very good one on paper, one that features some teams with thoughts of making some noise in their respective conferences as well as players who could make runs at conference honors. Splitting the bracket into two parts (morning games and afternoon games), here’s a quick breakdown of what each team will be looking to find along with a player from each team to watch.

Houston

The Cougars head into 2007-08 as one of the teams jockeying for second place in Conference USA. Tom Penders has what he believes may be his most talented Cougar team to date on campus, including guards Lanny Smith, Robert McKiver (his nickname: Fluff) and Marcus Malone. But the Coogs will also have six newcomers to work into the fold, such as Seton Hall transfer Marcus Cousin, Auburn transfer Kelvin Lewis and junior college All-American DaShaun Williams. This team will run, making for an entertaining brand of basketball. Four Houston, this tournament will be just as much about building a chemistry between the returnees and newcomers as it is winning.

Player to Watch: F Dion Dowell: scored 25 in the season-opening win over Morehead State.

Virginia Commonwealth

Thanks to their run through the CAA and then an NCAA Tournament win over Duke, people throughout the country know about the Rams. But, repeating those feats will be tougher with the graduation of BA Walker and Jesse Pellot-Rosa. At least head coach Anthony Grant returns after that Billy Donovan scare in Gainesville for his second season. And in junior point guard Eric Maynor, he’s got one of the best in the country running the show. It was Maynor’s heroics against George Mason and Duke that led the Rams to the winner’s circle in both games. Who steps in to pick up the scoring slack with the graduation of Walker and Pellot-Rosa? Most likely senior Jamal Shuler, who’s diversified his game throughout his career. The frontcourt will be anchored by seniors Michael Anderson and Wil Fameni. Once again picked to finish near the top of the Colonial, VCU has a chance to pick up some marquee wins in Puerto Rico.

Player to Watch: G Jamal Shuler: you most likely won’t be able to take your eyes off of Maynor and rightfully so. But Shuler’s development could be more important to the Rams’ postseason hopes.

Marist

Just like VCU, Marist won their conference’s regular season title. But, Marist has to replace both guards from that team (Jared Jordan and Will Whittington), something that won’t be easy to do. An influx of fresh faces will need to produce in order for the Red Foxes to have a successful season, but there are some returnees who will have an impact as well. Forwards Ryan Stilphen, Ben Farmer and Spongy Benjamin are all back for their senior season, and Benjamin already has things rolling after putting up 21 and 17 in their opener. Guards David Devezin, Dejuan Goodwin and Jay Gavin all scored in double figures in the opener, which is a good sign for a team that could be without Syracuse transfer for the foreseeable future. Marist was picked to finish fifth in the MAAC this season, but that league is practically wide-open at the top. This weekend will help get the guards some experience against top teams, which should only help them come conference play.

Player to Watch: G Dejuan Goodwin: All the freshman did in his first action as a Red Fox was score thirteen points and win MAAC Rookie of the Week honors.

Miami (FL)

When’s the last time Miami’s basketball team became a diversion away from football? Well, after the ‘Canes football team closed the Orange Bowl in “style”, a little roundball could be just what the doctor ordered for Miami fans. Senior Jack McClinton is one of the ACC’s most prolific scorers and could even see time at the point this year. Gone are the disciplinary issues that put the Hurricanes behind the eight ball before ACC play kicked off last season, and this team should be deeper in the frontcourt as well. It all adds up to a team in search of an answer at the point (Denis Clemente transferred to Kansas State), and if they find the right answer then that could help them stand out in the middle of the ACC.

Player to Watch: G Jack McClinton: The Siena transfer led the ACC in both three-point and free throw percentages last season. Marist should be quite familiar with McClinton when they play on Thursday.

Providence

Weren’t we here just a few seasons ago with the Friars? A wealth of returning players, along with some talented (and in some cases proven) newcomers would equal a return to the NCAA Tournament? Well, Tim Welsh arrives in Puerto Rico with a team that has a chance to be his most talented during his tenure at PC. Guard Sharaud Curry will miss the tournament due to injury, but in Weyinmi Efejuku, Dwain Williams and Jeff Xavier there’s plenty of talent remaining in the backcourt. Up front, Geoff McDermott and Jonathan Kale will be rejoined by an old friend, junior Randall Hanke who sat out last season to attend to some personal issues. The Friars possess depth and the ability to play guys at a variety of positions, and while they won’t win the Big East, they have a good chance to dance come March.

Player to Watch: F Geoff McDermott: McDermott is one of the more versatile players in the nation, but you don’t hear his name thrown around a lot on the major networks. That should change this weekend.

Temple

Year one under Fran Dunphy was one of transition for the Temple program after the lengthy John Chaney era. Funny thing is, Temple’s defense was the issue last season after years of that suffocating matchup zone. At least the Owls return the top two scorers in the Atlantic 10, junior Dionte Christmas and senior Mark Tyndale. When your team averages 75 points per game and you finish the year 12-18, you can usually point to defense and rebounding as two main categories to improve. Five freshmen will look to help the Owls improve on last season’s record, and once again Temple will play a tough non-conference slate. But in the improved Atlantic 10, making a substantial move up from 11^th will prove to be difficult. For the Owls, this tournament will be more about learning what they have outside of Christmas and Tyndale, and getting the youngsters ready for conference play.

Player to Watch: G Mark Tyndale: Tyndale may have been the biggest benefactor from the coaching change, as he was more willing to take shots last season.

College of Charleston

One year after beginning his reign in Charleston with a run to the Southern Conference final, Bobby Cremins will have his hands full replacing the three starters lost from that 22-11 squad. Guards Marcus Hammond and Tony White Jr. are back on campus, which is good considering the fact that the Cougars lost their three best post options and Dontaye Draper to graduation. While there are still a few roles to be determined with this team, one look at Charleston’s proud history and Cremins’ ability to recruit should mean that the Cougars will once again be in the middle of the SoCon race this year. Just like Temple and Miami, developing the youngsters will be the most important task this weekend.

Player to Watch: G Marcus Hammond: With the departure of Dontaye Draper, Hammond looks to be the one most likely to pick up the scoring slack.

Arkansas

John Pelphrey is the man who ends up running the Razorback program after Dana Altman changed his mind, and let it be known that Stan Heath didn’t leave an empty cupboard either. With Alabama losing Ronald Steele, Arkansas becomes the favorite alongside Mississippi State in the SEC West, and truth be told they would have been there even if Steele were healthy. Guard Patrick Beverley was SEC Newcomer of the Year last season, and should be even better this year. In total, all five starters are back for the Hogs, as well as every key contributor off the bench. Simply put, the Razorbacks may be the deepest team in the SEC behind Tennessee. And in regards to depth, they may have more than Tennessee. With the amount of experience back on campus, don’t expect Pelphrey to change too much right now. Not only should Arkansas be in the NCAA Tournament, they have the ability to go a long way.

Player to Watch: G Gary Ervin: For as talented as players such as Beverley and Sonny Weems are, how good this team can be rests on the shoulders of their senior point guard.

My Prediction

Unfortunately, Providence and Arkansas would have to meet in the semifinals instead of the final, but this should still be an entertaining tournament. In the top half of the bracket, I like Houston to defeat Marist. On the other side, I’ll take Arkansas over Providence in what could be one of the best games this weekend. In Sunday’s final, I like the Razorbacks’ size to win out.

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