January 17th

Joel’s Monday Mailbag

Each Monday, Joel Welser will be bringing you his Monday Mailbag.  If you have a question which you'd like Joel to answer, email jwelser_chn@ameritech.net.  He’ll post and answer as many questions as possible.  Please include your first name and home state when contacting Joel. 

One question each week is chosen as the "Question of the Week", and is answered by a few CHN staffers.  At the end of each Monday Mailbag, Joel presents his "Team of the Week" and his "Thoughts of the Week."  Visit the Mailbag Archive for past installments.

Question of the Week

 - The question of the week is answered by multiple CHN staffers -

Joel,

Assuming everyone comes back to Duke and all the high school kids show up, do you think Duke will be in the preseason top three in the nation next year? It certainly looks like UNC could be really thin next year because I think everyone besides Sean May will leave.

From Justin,

Ohio

Kristi Chartrand

First of all, I don’t agree with the assessment that Carolinas talented bunch will ALL bolt for the NBA. But this question is really about Duke.

They will be talented, deep, and experienced. Sean Dockery, J.J. Redick, Shavlik Randolph and Shelden Williams will be quite grizzled quartet of seniors. Not to mention the fact that the Blue Devils are bringing in what is, as of now, the most heralded recruiting class in the nation. I would be shocked if Duke weren’t in the Top 5 next year. I think they’ll struggle a bit this year and anytime that happens Coach K comes back with an even stronger squad the following year. It’s not a stretch to say Duke and Carolina will both be Top 5 teams next year pending NBA defections around the nation.

Shawn Siegel

I agree with Kristi that although UNC will be thinner next year, I don’t think there will be a mass exodus.  In fact, I think both teams will end up in next year’s Pre-Season Top 5.  As you know, Duke is undefeated right now and they really don’t have as good a team as you expect under Coach K.  That simply shows just how amazingly high expectations are in Durham.  I’ve always been quick to praise DeMarcus Nelson, and I think he will be the key to next year’s team.  However big a loss you feel Daniel Ewing is, Nelson will step into his starting roll and be more than adequate, if not better.  It remains to be seen if Josh McRoberts will ever put on a Duke uniform, but this team will be Top 5 even if their heralded recruit jolts for the NBA.

Joel Welser

It is possible that both Duke and UNC will be in the top three next season, but a lot of that depends on what happens to some other teams and early entrants into the NBA.  In any event, if…and this is a big if, everybody shows up to Duke that could, the Blue Devils will be a tough team.  Josh McRoberts, Eric Boateng and Jamal Boykin will add some much needed depth in the slim frontcourt.  Greg Paulus could see plenty of time running the point if he can adjust to the speed of the college game quickly enough.  Throw in Redick, Williams, Nelson, Randolph, Dockery and even Melchionni and that is a solid team.  It’s enough talent for a top three spot, but we’ll have to wait and see who else around the country decides to leave early. 

Have a question?  Email Joel at jwelser_chn@ameritech.net, and please include your first name and home state. We’ll post and answer as many as possible.  All questions may be published or edited unless requested otherwise.

Joel’s Team of the Week

California State University, Northridge Matadors

There were quite a few choices for the team of the week this week, but all things being equal, I go with the ol’ stomping grounds of CSUN.  After going a disappointing 2-6 in non-conference games, and that’s including a victory over powerhouse Cal Baptist, the Matadors started to turn things around in Big West play.  Heading into this week, CSUN was 4-1 in conference.  The toughest tests were awaiting Bobby Braswell’s squad over the last few days.  Idaho, undefeated in conference play, and perennial Big West powerhouse Utah State were coming to the Matadome.  CSUN pulled out a back and forth victory over Idaho 67-64, led by Ian Boylan’s team high 18 points. 

The home crowd of 1,189 was rocking for the televised battle with Utah State, well as much as possible in the 1,600 seat gym.  The Aggies wanted payback for being knocked off by the Matadors in the semi-finals of last seasons Big West Tournament, effectively relegating Utah State to the NIT.  But it was not to be for the Aggies, as CSUNs Davin White put down all of his team high 15 points in the second half.  Ian Boylan added 11 points, seven assists and six rebounds to lead Northridge over the Utah State by a score of 70-67.  The Matadors have won six in a row, and at 6-1, only trail Pacific in the Big West standings.  The Matadors hit the road next week with trips to UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly.

Joel’s Thoughts of the Week

I’m watching the St. Francis (PA) and Robert Morris game on Monday night (don’t worry it was a commercial for the Syracuse / Notre Dame match-up) and I see a big ugly, yet comfortable looking, green couch sitting courtside of the Sewall Center, home of the Colonials of Robert Morris University…located in Moon Township, PA nonetheless.  My first thought is why is there a couch five feet away from the court.  My second is why can’t I sit on a couch courtside or why aren’t there couches all over the place in every arena.  I either have an inquisitive mind, or way too much free time, so I looked into the mystery of the green couch at Robert Morris.  It turns out the couch is the “Cricket Best Seat in the House Contest Couch,” representing the ‘comfortable wireless’ service of Cricket, yet I haven’t attempted to make a phone call from the couch.  The three lucky winners for every home game are escorted to the infamous couch, where they watch RMU in the lap of luxury and receive some beverages and a large pizza. 

Couches should be lining arena floors all over the country.  What player wouldn’t want to dive onto a couch while saving an errant pass instead of a metal bench or chair?  That would be comfortable for the rest of us too.  And let us be realistic if we may…if you have a 10,000 seat arena that hasn’t seen over 5,000 people in a couple decades or a 1,600 seater that has never been full (see my team of the week) than why not throw in some couches and jack up those ticket prices.  I’d pay ten extra bucks for some courtside comfort.

Have a question?  Email Joel at jwelser_chn@ameritech.net, and please include your first name and home state. We’ll post and answer as many as possible.  All questions may be published or edited unless requested otherwise.