Big Sky

Jon Teitel's End of January All-Conference Teams

Jon Teitel — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:35:11 -0500

With the final month of the regular season on our door step, this is a good time to put together some all-conference teams. Enter CHN writer Jon Teitel, who not only picked his all-conference teams for each league but also provided a conference Player of the Year as well. Without further ado here are the all-conference teams, with the league POY in italics.

America East
G Gerardo Suero (Albany)
G Darryl Partin (Boston University)
G Gerald McLemore (Maine)
F Chase Plummer (UMBC)
F Alasdair Fraser (Maine)

Atlantic 10
G Ramone Moore (Temple)
G Carl Jones (Saint Joseph's)
G Tu Holloway (Xavier)
F Chris Gaston (Fordham)
F/C Andrew Nicholson (St. Bonaventure)

ACC
G Terrell Stoglin (Maryland)
G C.J. Harris (Wake Forest)
F Harrison Barnes (North Carolina)
F Mike Scott (Virginia)
F John Henson (North Carolina)

Atlantic Sun
G Jordan Burgason (Lipscomb)
G Markeith Cummings (Kennesaw State)
G Adam Sollazzo (ETSU)
F Torrey Craig (USC Upstate)
F Adam Pegg (Stetson)

Big 12
G J'Covan Brown (Texas)
G Marcus Denmon (Missouri)
G Tyshawn Taylor (Kansas)
F Thomas Robinson (Kansas)
F Perry Jones III (Baylor)

Big East
G Maalik Wayns (Villanova)
G Darius Johnson-Odom (Marquette)
G Jeremy Lamb (Connecticut)
F Kevin Jones (West Virginia)
F Herb Pope (Seton Hall)

Big Sky
G Damian Lillard (Weber State)
G Charles Odum (Portland State)
G Will Cherry (Montana)
F Collin Chiverton (Eastern Washington)
F Scott Bamforth (Weber State)

Big South
G Nick Barbour (High Point)
G Anthony Raffa (Coastal Carolina)
G Darren White (Campbell)
F Stan Okoye (VMI)
F Eric Griffin (Campbell)

Big Ten
G Tim Frazier (Penn State)
G Drew Crawford (Northwestern)
F John Shurna (Northwestern)
F Jared Sullinger (Ohio State)
F Draymond Green (Michigan St.)

Big West
G Orlando Johnson (UCSB)
G Phil Martin (UC Riverside)
G Casper Ware (Long Beach State)
F Stephan Hicks (Cal State Northridge)
F T.J. Robinson (Long Beach State)

Colonial
G Mike Moore (Hofstra)
G Devon Saddler (Delaware)
G Keith Rendleman (UNC Wilmington)
F Ryan Pearson (George Mason)
F Jamelle Hagins (Delaware)

Conference USA
G Will Barton (Memphis)
G Miguel Paul (East Carolina)
G DeAndre Kane (Marshall)
F Cameron Moore (UAB)
F Arsalan Kazemi (Rice)

Horizon
G Ray McCallum (Detroit)
G Chase Simon (Detroit)
G Kendrick Perry (Youngstown State)
F Kevin Van Wijk (Valparaiso)
F Ryan Broekhoff (Valparaiso)

Independent
G Mitch Albers (Nebraska-Omaha)
G Isaiah Wilkerson (NJIT)
F Aaron Broussard (Seattle)
F Jeremy Robinson (Chicago State)
C Antwan Carter (Longwood)

Ivy
G Zack Rosen (Pennsylvania)
G Tyler Bernardini (Pennsylvania)
G Brian Barbour (Columbia)
F Greg Mangano (Yale)
F Ian Hummer (Princeton)

MAAC
G Juan'ya Green (Niagara)
G Scott Machado (Iona)
G George Beamon (Manhattan)
F Michael Glover (Iona)
F O.D. Anosike (Siena)

MAC
G Rian Pearson (Toledo)
G Trey Ziegler (Central Michigan)
F Julian Mavunga (Miami (OH))
F Jarrod Jones (Ball State)
F Javon McCrea (Buffalo)

MEAC
G Darrion Pellum (Hampton)
G Tony Gallo (Coppin St.)
F Amin Stevens (Florida A&M)
F Brandon Riley (South Carolina State)
C Kyle O'Quinn (Norfolk St.)

MVC
G Colt Ryan (Evansville)
G Rayvonte Rice (Drake)
F Doug McDermott (Creighton)
F Taylor Brown (Bradley)
F Kyle Weems (Missouri St.)

Mountain West
G Chase Tapley (San Diego St.)
G Wes Eikmeier (Colorado St.)
G Jamaal Franklin (San Diego St.)
F Mike Moser (UNLV)
F Drew Gordon (New Mexico)

Northeast
G Shane Gibson (Sacred Heart)
G Velton Jones (Robert Morris)
G Robby Ptacek (CCSU)
F Ken Horton (CCSU)
F Julian Boyd (LIU Brooklyn)

OVC
G Kevin Murphy (Tennessee Tech)
G Isaiah Canaan (Murray State)
G Jud Dillard (Tennessee Tech)
F Robert Covington (Tennessee St.)
F Tyler Stone (Southeast Missouri St.)

Pac-12
G Jared Cunningham (Oregon St.)
G Tony Wroten (Washington)
G Allen Crabbe (California)
F Brock Motum (Washington St.)
F Andre Roberson (Colorado)

Patriot
G C.J. McCollum (Lehigh)
G Charles Hinkle (American)
F Ella Ellis (Army)
F J.J. Avila (Navy)
F Mike Muscala (Bucknell)

SEC
G John Jenkins (Vanderbilt)
G Kenny Boynton (Florida)
F Jeffery Taylor (Vanderbilt)
F Arnett Moultrie (Mississippi St.)
F Anthony Davis (Kentucky)

Southern
G Kevin Giltner (Wofford)
G Eric Ferguson (Georgia Southern)
F Antwaine Wiggins (Charleston)
F De'Mon Brooks (Davidson)
C Mike Groselle (Citadel)

Southland
G Mike James (Lamar)
G Trevon Lewis (Nicholls St.)
F Patrick Richard (McNeese St.)
F LaQuentin Miles (Central Arkansas)
F LaMarcus Reed III (UT-Arlington)

SWAC
G Quincy Roberts (Grambling St.)
G Savalace Townsend (UAPB)
G Jenirro Bush (Jackson St.)
F Casey Cantey (Alabama A&M)
C Paul Crosby (Mississippi Valley St.)

Summit
G Reggie Hamilton (Oakland)
G Nate Wolters (South Dakota St.)
G Frank Gaines (IPFW)
F Alex Young (IUPUI)
F Dominique Morrison (Oral Roberts)

Sun Belt
G DeJuan Wright (FIU)
F Tony Mitchell (North Texas)
F Chris Udofia (Denver)
C LaRon Dendy (Middle Tennessee)
C Augustine Rubit (South Alabama)

WCC
G Kevin Foster (Santa Clara)
G Anthony Ireland (Loyola Marymount)
G Matthew Dellavedova (Saint Mary's)
F Noah Hartsock (BYU)
F Rob Jones (Saint Mary's)

WAC
G Kevin Olekaibe (Fresno St.)
G James Kinney (San Jose St.)
G Deonte Burton (Nevada)
F Wendell McKines (New Mexico St.)
C Vander Joaquim (Hawaii)

College Basketball Conference Ranking: RPI, KenPom, Sagarin

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:09:04 -0500

With the new year upon us and conference play starting in earnest, it seemed like a fitting time to check on how the computers rank the conferences so far. The computers all agree on one thing: the Big Ten is by far the most dominant league in the country. After that, there are subtle disagreements down the line. It is noteworthy that the Mountain West is ahead of 3 traditional power conferences, while the Pac 12 barely comes in ahead of the MVC and A10.

The overall ranking is based on an average of three rankings: the RPI, KenPom.com's ratings, and the Sagarin rating from USA Today.

Rank	Conference	RPI	KenPom	Sagarin	Avg
1	Big Ten	1	1	1	1.0
2	Big 12	3	2	2	2.3
3	Big East	2	3	3	2.7
4	Mountain West	4	6	4	4.7
5	SEC	6	4	5	5.0
6	ACC	5	5	6	5.3
7	Pac 12	9	7	7	7.7
8	Missouri Valley	7	9	8	8.0
9	Atlantic 10	8	8	9	8.3
10	CUSA	11	10	10	10.3
11	WCC	10	11	11	10.7
12	Horizon	12	13	13	12.7
13	WAC	18	12	12	14.0
14	MAC	14	15	14	14.3
15	Summit	13	17	15	15.0
16	Colonial	20	14	16	16.7
17	Ivy	17	16	19	17.3
18	Sun Belt	15	20	17	17.3
19	Atlantic Sun	19	18	18	18.3
20	MAAC	16	19	21	18.7
21	Big West	21	21	20	20.7
22t	Patriot	23	22	26	23.7
22t	Southern	22	24	25	23.7
24t	Ohio Valley	24	25	24	24.3
24t	Big South	27	23	23	24.3
26	Big Sky	28	26	22	25.3
27	Southland	25	28	27	26.7
28	Northeast	26	27	28	27.0
29t	America East	31	29	29	29.7
29t	MEAC	29	30	30	29.7
31t	Independent	32	31	31	31.3
31t	SWAC	30	32	32	31.3

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Jon Teitel's All-Conference Teams (Pre-League Play Edition)

Jon Teitel — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 01:59:57 -0500

With conference play beginning for many leagues this week (a few conferences began their league slate in early December) it's a good time to look back on some of the top performers. Enter CHN writer Jon Teitel, who put together his all-conference teams for each of the leagues.

America East
G Gerardo Suero (Albany)
G Darryl Partin (Boston University)
G Gerald McLemore (Maine)
F Ben Dickinson (Binghamton)
F Chase Plummer (UMBC)

Atlantic 10
G Carl Jones (Saint Joseph's)
G Tu Holloway (Xavier)
G Ramone Moore (Temple)
F Chris Gaston (Fordham)
F Chris Braswell (Charlotte)

ACC
G Terrell Stoglin (Maryland)
G Kendall Marshall (North Carolina)
F Travis McKie (Wake Forest)
F Mike Scott (Virginia)
F Harrison Barnes (North Carolina)

Atlantic Sun
G Markeith Cummings (Kennesaw St.)
G Kerron Johnson (Belmont)
G Adam Sollazzo (East Tennessee St.)
F Torrey Craig (USC Upstate)
C Adam Pegg (Stetson)

Big 12
G Steven Pledger (Oklahoma)
G J'Covan Brown (Texas)
G Marcus Denmon (Missouri)
F Thomas Robinson (Kansas)
F Royce White (Iowa St.)

Big East
G Jeremy Lamb (Connecticut)
G Darius Johnson-Odom (Marquette)
G Dion Waiters (Syracuse)
F Kevin Jones (West Virginia)
F Herb Pope (Seton Hall)

Big Sky
G Damian Lillard (Weber St.)
G Charles Odum (Portland St.)
G Will Cherry (Montana)
G Stallon Soldivar (Northern Arizona)
F Collin Chiverton (Eastern Washington)

Big South
G Darren White (Campbell)
G Nick Barbour (High Point)
G Anthony Raffa (Coastal Carolina)
F Eric Griffin (Campbell)
C Al'Lonzo Coleman (Presbyterian)

Big Ten
G Drew Crawford (Northwestern)
G Tim Frazier (Penn St.)
F John Shurna (Northwestern)
F Robbie Hummel (Purdue)
F Jared Sullinger (Ohio State)

Big West
G Orlando Johnson (UCSB)
G Casper Ware (Long Beach St.)
G Phil Martin (UC Riverside)
F T.J. Robinson (Long Beach St.)
F James Nunnally (UCSB)

Colonial
G Mike Moore (Hofstra)
G Devon Saddler (Delaware)
G Keith Rendleman (UNC Wilmington)
F Ryan Pearson (George Mason)
F Jamelle Hagins (Delaware)

Conference USA
G Will Barton (Memphis)
G Damier Pitts (Marshall)
G DeAndre Kane (Marshall)
F Keith Clanton (UCF)
F Arsalan Kazemi (Rice)

Horizon
G Chase Simon (Detroit)
G Kendrick Perry (Youngstown St.)
G Ray McCallum Jr. (Detroit)
F Ryan Broekhoff (Valparaiso)
F Ben Averkamp (Loyola (IL))

Independent
G Mitch Albers (Nebraska-Omaha)
G Isaiah Wilkerson (NJIT)
F Aaron Broussard (Seattle)
F Art Bernardi (Houston Baptist)
C Antwan Carter (Longwood)

Ivy
G Zack Rosen (Pennsylvania)
G Tyler Bernardini (Pennsylvania)
F Keith Wright (Harvard)
F Ian Hummer (Princeton)
F Greg Mangano (Yale)

MAAC
G Dylon Cormier (Loyola (MD))
G Harold Washington (Canisius)
G Scott Machado (Iona)
F Michael Glover (Iona)
F Rakim Sanders (Fairfield)

Mid-American
G D.J. Cooper (Ohio)
G Rian Pearson (Toledo)
F Julian Mavunga (Miami (OH))
F Jarrod Jones (Ball St.)
F Javon McCrea (Buffalo)

MEAC
G Tony Gallo (Coppin St.)
G Darrion Pellum (Hampton)
F Brandon Riley (South Carolina St.)
F Dominique Sutton (North Carolina Central)
C Kyle O'Quinn (Norfolk St.)

Missouri Valley
G Colt Ryan (Evansville)
G Rayvonte Rice (Drake)
G Kyle Weems (Missouri State)
F Doug McDermott (Creighton)
F Taylor Brown (Bradley)

Mountain West
G Chase Tapley (San Diego St.)
G Wes Eikmeier (Colorado St.)
G Michael Lyons (Air Force)
F Chace Stanback (UNLV)
F Mike Moser (UNLV)

Northeast
G Shane Gibson (Sacred Heart)
G Kyle Vinales (CCSU)
F Ken Horton (CCSU)
F Julian Boyd (Long Island)
F Ike Azotam (Quinnipiac)

Ohio Valley
G Kevin Murphy (Tennessee Tech)
G Isaiah Canaan (Murray St.)
G Jeremy Granger (Eastern Illinois)
F Robert Covington (Tennessee St.)
F Tyler Stone (Southeast Missouri St.)

Pac-12
G Jared Cunningham (Oregon St.)
G Jorge Gutierrez (California)
G Tony Wroten (Washington)
F Brock Motum (Washington St.)
F Andre Roberson (Colorado)

Patriot
G Charles Hinkle (American)
G C.J. McCollum (Lehigh)
G Jim Mower (Lafayette)
F Mike Muscala (Bucknell)
F JJ Avila (Navy)

SEC
G John Jenkins (Vanderbilt)
G Kenny Boynton (Florida)
G Dee Bost (Mississippi St.)
F Anthony Davis (Kentucky)
F Arnett Moultrie (Mississippi St.)

Southern
G Kevin Giltner (Wofford)
G Harouna Mutombo (Western Carolina)
F Antwaine Wiggins (Charleston)
F De'Mon Brooks (Davidson)
C Mike Groselle (Citadel)

Southland
G Brandon Fortenberry (SE Louisiana)
G Kannon Burrage (UTSA)
G Anthony Miles (Lamar)
F LaQuentin Miles (Central Arkansas)
F Patrick Richard (McNeese St.)

SWAC
G Savalace Townsend (Arkansas-Pine Bluff)
G Marquis Baker (Alcorn St.)
G Jenirro Bush (Jackson St.)
F Kenderek Washington (Alabama St.)
C Paul Crosby (Miss. Valley St.)

Summit
G Reggie Hamilton (Oakland)
G Nate Wolters (South Dakota St.)
G Frank Gaines (IPFW)
F Alex Young (IUPUI)
F Terell Parks (Western Illinois)

Sun Belt
G Raymond Taylor (FAU)
G Chris Jones (North Texas)
F LaRon Dendy (Middle Tennessee)
F Chris Udofia (Denver)
C Augustine Rubit (South Alabama)

West Coast
G Kevin Foster (Santa Clara)
G Matthew Dellavedova (Saint Mary's)
G Kevin Pangos (Gonzaga)
F Noah Hartsock (BYU)
F Rob Jones (Saint Mary's)

WAC
G Kevin Olekaibe (Fresno St.)
G James Kinney (San Jose St.)
G Zane Johnson (Hawaii)
F Wendell McKines (New Mexico St.)
C Kyle Barone (Idaho)

Jon Teitel's November All-Conference Teams

Jon Teitel — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:22:22 -0500

With the first month of the college basketball season concluded, this is a good time to recognize some of the top players throughout the country. With that in mind, CHN writer Jon Teitel gave his all-conference selections for each conference (and independents, which includes the Great West in this piece).

America East
G Darryl Partin Boston University
G Justin Edwards Maine
G Gerardo Suero Albany
F Ben Dickinson Binghamton
F Chase Plummer UMBC

Atlantic 10
G Carl Jones Saint Joseph's
G Mark Lyons Xavier
G Tu Holloway Xavier
F Andrew Nicholson St. Bonaventure
F Chris Braswell Charlotte

ACC
G Kendall Marshall North Carolina
G Terrell Stoglin Maryland
G Glen Rice Jr. Georgia Tech
F Travis McKie Wake Forest
F Mike Scott Virginia

Atlantic Sun
G Marcus Dubose ETSU
G Markeith Cummings Kennesaw St.
G Jordan Burgason Lipscomb
F J.J. Mann Belmont
F Torrey Craig USC Upstate

Big 12
G J'Covan Brown Texas
G Marcus Denmon Missouri
F Royce White Iowa St.
F Thomas Robinson Kansas
F Quincy Miller Baylor

Big East
G Maalik Wayns Villanova
G Darius Johnson-Odom Marquette
G Jeremy Lamb Connecticut
F Kevin Jones West Virginia
F Herb Pope Seton Hall

Big Sky
G Damian Lillard Weber St.
G Will Cherry Montana
G Kareem Jamar Montana
F Scott Bamforth Weber St.
F Collin Chiverton EWU

Big South
G Keith Gabriel VMI
G Darren White Campbell
G Anthony Raffa Coastal Carolina
F Eric Griffin Campbell
F Al'Lonzo Coleman Presbyterian

Big Ten
G Tim Frazier Penn St.
G Drew Crawford Northwestern
F John Shurna Northwestern
F Jared Sullinger Ohio St.
F Robbie Hummel Purdue

Big West
G Casper Ware Long Beach St.
G Orlando Johnson UCSB
F Stephan Hicks Cal State-Northridge
F James Nunnally UCSB
F T.J. Robinson Long Beach St.

CAA
G A.J. Davis James Madison
G Devon Saddler Delaware
G Humpty Hitchens James Madison
F Ryan Pearson George Mason
F Nathaniel Lester Hofstra

Conference USA
G Will Barton Memphis
G Miguel Paul East Carolina
F Keith Clanton UCF
F Josh Davis Tulane
F Cameron Moore UAB

Horizon
G Kendrick Perry Youngstown St.
G Chase Simon Detroit
F Kevin Van Wijk Valparaiso
F Ryan Broekhoff Valparaiso
C Alec Brown Green Bay

Independents
G Mitch Albers Nebraska Omaha
G Isiah Williams Utah Valley
F Aaron Broussard Seattle
F Jeremy Robinson Chicago State
F Antwan Carter Longwood

Ivy
G Zack Rosen Pennsylvania
G Sean McGonagill Brown
F Ian Hummer Princeton
F Greg Mangano Yale
F Keith Wright Harvard

MAAC
G Scott Machado Iona
G Harold Washington Canisius
G Dylon Cormier Loyola (MD)
F Michael Glover Iona
F Rakim Sanders Fairfield

MAC
G Rian Pearson Toledo
G D.J. Cooper Ohio
G Trey Ziegler Central Michigan
F Jarrod Jones Ball State
F Julian Mavunga Miami (OH)

MEAC
G Tahj Tate Delaware St.
G Tony Gallo Coppin St.
G Darrion Pellum Hampton
F Dominique Sutton NC Central
F Brandon Riley South Carolina St.

Missouri Valley
G Colt Ryan Evansville
G Rayvonte Rice Drake
F Doug McDermott Creighton
F Ben Simons Drake
F Taylor Brown Bradley

Mountain West
G Michael Lyons Air Force
G Chase Tapley San Diego St.
G Wes Eikmeier Colorado St.
F Anthony Drmic Boise St.
F Mike Moser UNLV

NEC
G Kyle Vinales Central Conn. St.
G James Johnson Quinnipiac
F Ken Horton Central Conn. St.
F Alex Francis Bryant
F Ike Azotam Quinnipiac

Ohio Valley
G Kevin Murphy Tennessee Tech
G Isaiah Canaan Murray St.
G Jud Dillard Tennessee Tech
F Mike Liabo UT Martin
F Robert Covington Tennessee St.

Pac-12
G Jared Cunningham Oregon St.
G Jorge Gutierrez California
G Trent Lockett Arizona St.
F Devon Collier Oregon St.
F Brock Motum Washington St.

Patriot
G Charles Hinkle American
G Jim Mower Lafayette
G C.J. McCollum Lehigh
F Ryan Willen Lafayette
C Mike Muscala Bucknell

SEC
G John Jenkins Vanderbilt
G Kenny Boynton Florida
G Brad Beal Florida
F Arnett Moultrie Mississippi St.
F Tony Mitchell Alabama

Southern
G Jamaal Trice Appalachian St.
G Eric Ferguson Georgia Southern
F De'Mon Brooks Davidson
F Antwaine Wiggins Charleston
F Mike Groselle Citadel

Southland
G Brandon Fortenberry SE Louisiana
G Anthony Miles Lamar
G Antonio Bostic Stephen F. Austin
F LaQuentin Miles Central Arkansas
F Patrick Richard McNeese St.

SWAC
G Marquis Baker Alcorn St.
G Savalace Townsend UAPB
G Tramaine Butler Alabama St.
F Casey Cantey Alabama A&M
F Demarquelle Tabb Alabama A&M

Summit
G Frank Gaines IPFW
G Nate Wolters South Dakota St.
G Reggie Hamilton Oakland
F Dominique Morrison Oral Roberts
F Alex Young IUPUI

Sun Belt
G Chris Jones North Texas
G Jeremy Allen FIU
G Phil Taylor FIU
F Chris Udofia Denver
C Augustine Rubit South Alabama

WCC
G Evan Roquemore Santa Clara
G Kevin Foster Santa Clara
F Noah Hartsock BYU
F Rob Jones St. Mary's
C Robert Sacre Gonzaga

WAC
G Kevin Olekaibe Fresno St.
G Christian Kabongo New Mexico St.
G Zane Johnson Hawaii
F Wendell McKines New Mexico St.
C Kyle Barone Idaho

Jon Teitel's "Forgotten Legends" Series: NAU's Andre Spencer

Jon Teitel — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 13:28:18 -0500

In the most recent installment in his "Forgotten Legends" interview series CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with Northern Arizona great Andre Spencer, who helped lead the Lumberjacks to their first-ever postseason appearance (1986 NIT). Spencer's scoring average jumped nearly ten points from his junior to senior season, and he went on to play professionally in the NBA, CBA and multiple foreign countries.

Jon Teitel: You began your college career at Bakersfield CC. Why did you decide to go there?

Andre Spencer: I was a late-bloomer. I did not start playing until high school so I still needed to develop physically. I had some Division I interest but needed to work on my game a lot. I had a good friend who was going to Bakersfield and I wanted to get out of Los Angeles and just experience college life.

JT: You later ended up at NAU, where you scored 9.8 PPG as a junior and 19 PPG as a senior. Why did you choose NAU, and how did you make such a big leap from your junior year to your senior year?

AS: NAU was not really on my radar. My JC coach wanted me to go to Oregon. I was used to the California weather and Flagstaff was pretty cold and rainy. However, it was a shorter drive home from Arizona and I really liked the campus and the outdoors. AD Gary Walker was a nice personable guy, as was assistant coach Pat Rafferty. My teammates were really great guys and it was nice to be a big fish in a little pond. Coach Jay Arnote and the rest of his staff really developed my fundamental skills, as I was a skinny, raw and athletic guy when I showed up.

JT: In 1986 you led the conference in shooting (61% FG). How were you able to dominate, and what is your secret for shooting?

AS: I was a real big fan of the bank shot. It is now a lost art form, although Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki still use it effectively. My mid-range game had not developed yet and we already had plenty of long-range shooters, so I focused on my post play and footwork.

JT: You made 12-14 FG in the 1986 Big Sky conference semifinals (a six-point upset loss to eventual champion Montana St.). Was it just one of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were "in the zone", and how close did you come to winning the game?

AS: It was a big game for us because we had a big rivalry with them. The bigger the game was, the bigger my game was. I loved a challenge!

JT: What are your memories of the 1986 NIT, the first postseason basketball game in school history (a six-point loss to Louisiana Tech)?

AS: Our trainer and historian told us to make sure that we put our best foot forward, and the school and administration really rallied around us. It was exciting to accomplish that. We thought we had an outside shot at making the NCAA tourney but did not get in.

JT: You played for three teams in the NBA from 1992-1994. What is your favorite memory from your NBA career?

AS: One of my fondest memories was my homecoming to play the Clippers at the Sports Arena, as I went to school literally across the street. All of my family and friends were there and we ended up winning the game. I even made Sportscenter's Top-10 after catching a great pass from Tim Hardaway and dunking the ball over Ken Norman. During a timeout after the dunk Coach Don Nelson asked me if I ever did that before joining his team, and I just laughed and told him that it was all due to his coaching! Nelson was great, as he and his son brought me in from the CBA. They always referred to me as a point-forward.

JT: You NBA career was sandwiched in between a decade plus of playing professionally in several countries (including Sweden, France, Israel, The Phillipines and Japan). What did you learn from these experiences, and how did the NBA compare to pro basketball overseas?

AS: The European experience was really an eye-opener for me. I watched Jacques Cousteau on TV as a child and I always said that I wanted to travel the world. The Sonics wanted me to play abroad for a year in Sweden to develop, but from then on my career was born. I had an agent named Lucky Cappuccino(!) who took me under his wing. I learned a lot and made lifelong friends during the process, and the worldly view helped me become a better person overall. It is like music in that it can bring people together and educate them.

JT: Your son Taj and daughter Dremel are both high school basketball players in California. How proud are you of their success, and do you think they can play at the college level?

AS: My daughter is kind of like me in that she is slowly blossoming into her role. She has basketball genetics and is finally understanding that she can get a free scholarship if she so desires. She is also a straight A student, which I am very proud of. Taj is finally starting to come into his own this year after being a role player in the past on a team with former McDonald's All-American Michael Snaer. He is finally developing his offensive skills, as he had 17 points and 20 rebounds in a game. He used to complain that the coach was not letting him shoot, but I told him that if he is getting 20 rebounds per game then he should feel free to take a shot or two here and there!

JT: You currently are a coach at Heritage HS in Romoland, CA. How do you like coaching, and what do you hope to do in the future?

AS: I was coaching last year, but am spending this year traveling around and watching my kids play at home and on the road and encouraging their development.

JT: When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most?

AS: I never really thought about it before. I hope they remember me as a hard worker who loved the game. For me it was how I expressed myself, like Picasso with his tapestry.

Spencer is also on Jon's list of best pro players in Big Sky history:

Eastern Washington: Rodney Stuckey (2008)
Idaho State: Ron Boone (1969)
Montana: Micheal Ray Richardson (1979)
Montana State: Jack Gillespie (1970)
Northern Arizona: Andre Spencer (1993)
Northern Colorado: Mike Higgins (1990)
Portland State: Freeman Williams (1979)
Sacramento State: NO ALUMNI IN ABA/NBA
Weber State: Willard Sojourner (1972)

Jon Teitel's All-Conference Picks, Part One

Jon Teitel — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 02:07:57 -0400

In the latest installment in our 2011-12 preview series, CHN writer Jon Teitel took some time selecting his preseason all-conference selections for 31 conferences as well as the Independents. Below are the picks, which should be interesting to look back on come March.

America East
G: Darryl Partin (Boston University)
G: Chris De La Rosa (UMBC)
G: Gerald McLemore (Maine)
F: Ferg Myrick (New Hampshire)
F: Brian Voelkel (Vermont)

Atlantic 10
G: Tu Holloway (Xavier)
G: Ramone Moore (Temple)
G: Tony Taylor (George Washington)
F: Chris Gaston (Fordham)
C: Andrew Nicholson (St. Bonaventure)

ACC
G: Durand Scott (Miami)
G: Kendall Marshall (North Carolina)
F: Harrison Barnes (North Carolina)
F: Tyler Zeller (North Carolina)
F: Mike Scott (Virginia)

Atlantic Sun
G: Markeith Cummings (Kennesaw State)
G: Ian Clark (Belmont)
F: Torrey Craig (USC Upstate)
F: Isiah Brown (ETSU)
C: Mick Hedgepeth (Belmont)

Big 12
G: Marcus Denmon (Missouri)
G: Scott Christopherson (Iowa St.)
F: Perry Jones III (Baylor)
F: Khris Middleton (Texas A&M)
F: Thomas Robinson (Kansas)

Big East
G: Ashton Gibbs (Pittsburgh)
G: Darius Johnson-Odom (Marquette)
F: Tim Abromaitis (Notre Dame)
F: Kevin Jones (West Virginia)
F: Kris Joseph (Syracuse)

Big Sky
G: Will Cherry (Montana)
G: Charles Odum (Portland State)
G: Damian Lillard (Weber State)
F: Kyle Bullinger (Weber ST)
F: Scott Bamforth (Weber ST)

Big South
G: Matt Dickey (UNC Asheville)
G: Nick Barbour (High Point)
G: JP Primm (UNC Asheville)
F: Al'Lonzo Coleman (Presbyterian)
F: Stan Okoye (VMI)

Big Ten
G: William Buford (Ohio State)
G: Jordan Taylor (Wisconsin)
F: Trevor Mbakwe (Minnesota)
F: John Shurna (Northwestern)
F: Jared Sullinger (Ohio State)

Big West
G: Casper Ware (Long Beach State)
G: Phil Martin (UC Riverside)
G: Orlando Johnson (UCSB)
G/F: James Nunnally (UCSB)
F: TJ Robinson (Long Beach State)

CAA
G: Kent Bazemore (Old Dominion)
G: Bradford Burgess (VCU)
F: Samme Givens (Drexel)
F: Ryan Pearson (George Mason)
F: Quinn McDowell (William & Mary)

Conference USA
G: DeAndre Kane (Marshall)
G: Marcus Jordan (UCF)
G/F Kendall Timmons (Tulane)
F: Arsalan Kazemi (Rice)
F: Cameron Moore (UAB)

Horizon
G: Ray McCallum (Detroit)
G: Trevon Harmon (Cleveland State)
G: Chase Simon (Detroit)
F: Ben Averkamp (Loyola)
F: Khyle Marshall (Butler)

Independents
G: Isaiah Wilkerson (NJIT)
G: Sterling Carter (Seattle)
F: Stephon Carter (CA State Bakersfield)
F: Aaron Broussard (Seattle)
C: Antwan Carter (Longwood)

Ivy
G: Noruwa Agho (Columbia)
G: Zack Rosen (Penn)
F: Keith Wright (Harvard)
F: Ian Hummer (Princeton)
C: Greg Mangano (Yale)

MAAC
G: Derek Needham (Fairfield)
G: Scott Machado (Iona)
F: Mike Glover (Iona)
F: Novar Gadson (Rider)
F: George Beamon (Manhattan)

Next: MAC through WAC

Thirty-Two Impact Freshmen, Part One

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 18:26:30 -0400

After going over the teams expected to win their regular season titles, we move on to talking about the top freshmen in each conference. Will all automatically take over and become the stars of their respective teams and leagues? It's tough to say at this point in the season, but that doesn't mean that we can't discuss it. Below are the picks for each of the 32 conferences.

America East: James Kennedy (Boston University)
With Jake O'Brien lost for another season due to injury first-year head coach Joe Jones may need to call on the 6'6" forward for important minutes. The Boston native helped lead Cushing Academy to a 21-7 record last year.

Atlantic 10: Dezmine Wells (Xavier)
While many expect Kenny Frease to be back with the team at some point in the near future, Xavier can make up for the height they lack in the frontcourt with sheer talent. Wells is one reason why, as the 6'5" small forward can flat-out make things happen on the floor.

ACC: Austin Rivers (Duke)
Not sure if there's much that hasn't been said about the Winter Park, Florida native. Duke needs to account for the loss of Nolan Smith in the backcourt, and while there are some experienced options returning to Durham they aren's as explosive as Austin. He should also benefit from the team's summer trip to China and Dubai, as Duke gained 10 practices to prepare for the journey.

Atlantic Sun: Rashawn Rembert (East Tennessee State)
ETSU lost three starters, and not only were they all guards but they were also the top three leading scorers. That means plenty will be needed from a shooting guard like Rembert, who averaged more than 20 points and seven rebounds per game at Sickles High in Tampa.

Big East: Andre Drummond (Connecticut)
Remember when Drummond was slated to spend a year at Wilbraham & Monson with friend and Connecticut Basketball Club teammate Kris Dunn (Providence commit)? That all changed in August as the 6'11", 275-pound Drummond decided this was the right time to join the UConn program. Joining forces with Alex Oriakhi and Tyler Olander will give the Huskies one of the country's best frontcourts.

Big Sky: Gelaun Wheelwright (Weber State)
The team that most people expect to win the Big Sky does have seven players returning from last year's team, not to mention a healthy Damian Lillard. But there's always room for someone else to step up, and that player could be the Centennial (CA) High product. Wheelwright averaged 18.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game as a senior.

Big South: John Brown (High Point)
Scott Cherry landed a good on in Brown, who was named 1A Player of the Yeah in the State of Florida. Brown averaged 17.9 points, 12.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game as a senior, and the Jacksonville native has the ability to be the conference's best freshman.

Big Ten: Cody Zeller (Indiana)
The 2011 class is the first of two recruiting classes that many expect Indiana head coach Tom Crean to use as a springboard back to where many expect IU to be on the college landscape. One key cog is forward Cody Zeller, who averaged 24.6 ppg, 13.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game for a Washington (IN) High team that won the 3A state title.

Big 12: Le'Bryan Nash (Oklahoma State)
When's the last time a recruit of this caliber has shown up in Stillwater? It's safe to say that a player the quality of Le'Bryan Nash doesn't come around every day, and his arrival could make the Pokes a factor in the Big 12 race. Nash was a McDonald's All-American last year and to say the least has an NBA-ready build (and skill set) right now.

Big West: Reese Morgan (Cal Poly)
The Mustangs ranked 338th nationally in scoring with an average of 59.3 points per game, so to say the least they could use a boost in the scoring column. Enter Reese Morgan, who scored more than 2,400 hundred points in his high school career at Peninsula High in San Pedro, California. Morgan averaged 27.3 points per game as a senior.

CAA: Erik Copes (George Mason)
The freshman forward/center from Philadelphia pairs up with senior Ryan Pearson, and it isn't far-fetched to think that this duo could rank among the best frontcourts in the CAA. Copes was a player Paul Hewitt was able to get in the summer, a near steal for a senior of his caliber.

Conference USA: Adonis Thomas (Memphis)
In addition to their roster full of returnees Memphis should have a good feeling about this season due to the arrival of Memphis native Adonis Thomas. The Melrose High product ranked among the top players in the country in the 2011 class, and his ability to run the floor and finish above the rim will make Memphis even better.

Great West: Shane Benton (North Dakota)
The Fighting Sioux welcome back a host of contributors from a team that won the first Great West conference tournament as well as a game in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament, but Benton has the ability to crack the rotation. The 6'3" guard is a product of Linn-Mar High school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he was a teammate of North Carolina commit (2012) Marcus Paige.

Horizon: Roosevelt Jones (Butler)
With Matt Howard and Shelvin Mack both moving on the Bulldogs need players to step up as offensive options. One of those possibilities could be Jones, a small forward from O'Fallon, Illinois who can do a variety of things on the floor. As a senior Jones averaged 17.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.

Ivy: Wesley Saunders (Harvard)
Tommy Amaker and his staff have brought in a very good recruiting class for this season, but the question is just how much the preseason Ivy League favorites will need to call on them. One option to play may be the 6'5" Saunders, who averaged a double-double as a senior at Windward High in Los Angeles. He's a very good athlete who also played volleyball in high school.

MAAC: Juan'ya Green (Niagara)
The MAAC will have some good freshmen entering the league (a crop that would have been bolstered by Siena's Imoh Silas and Lionel Gomis if cleared by the NCAA), but one who will have to step up from the start is Philadelphia native Juan'ya Green. The Purple Eagles like to attack teams with their guards, and as a scorer who can also handle the ball Green fits the system.

Next: MAC through WAC

Thirty-Two Regular Season Champions, Part One

Raphielle Johnson — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 01:04:40 -0400

With the college basketball season finally on the horizon, the game that's been overlooked by many in conference realignment will once again have the center stage. Perennial contenders will once again make a run at a national title while some new faces will pop up as well. The first four-part preview will focus on the conferences, and more specifically who will win each of the 32 leagues.

America East: Albany
There were some important coaching changes in America East this offseason, with Patrick Chambers leaving the defending conference tournament champs (Boston University) to take over Penn State and Mike Lonergan leaving regular season champ Vermont for George Washington. While both teams, along with tournament finalist Stony Brook, return some key pieces the Great Danes of Albany return four starters. Tim Ambrose departs but Third Team All-America East performers Logan Aronhalt (14.6 ppg) and Mike Black (12.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.9 apg) return as does All-Rookie Team member Luke Devlin (7.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg). In a tight race throughout league play, look for Will Brown's team to win the title.

Atlantic 10: Xavier
In the A-10 it's tough to pick against Chris Mack's Musketeers, who have won at least a share of the last five regular season titles. Point guard Tu Holloway (19.7 ppg, 5.9 apg) was a Third Team All-America selection last season and the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, and he'll have help on the perimeter from Mark Lyons (13.6 ppg) and sharpshooter Brad Redford, who missed all of last season due to a torn ACL. Kenny Frease (suspended indefinitely on Friday; Xavier hopes that he'll return at some point) and transfers Travis Taylor (Monmouth) and Andre Walker (Vanderbilt) will handle things inside, and freshmen Dezmine Wells and Justin Martin will also factor into the rotation. Their biggest challenger will likely be Temple, but the Musketeers look poised to run their streak to six.

ACC: North Carolina
The moment Roy Williams' talented cast decided to return to Chapel Hill the bar was set: anything less than a national title would be a disappointment. Harrison Barnes (15.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg) , John Henson (11.7 ppg, 10.1 rpg) and Tyler Zeller (15.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg) all return along with point guard Kendall Marshall (6.2 ppg, 6.2 apg), and the Heels' talent and depth make them the early favorite to win it all. All five starters and some key reserves return in addition to a talented recruiting class led by P.J. Hairston, Desmond Hubert and James Michael McAdoo. Duke and Florida State look to be the teams with the best ability to make a run at the top, but Carolina's the head of the class right now.

Atlantic Sun: Belmont
2010-11 was supposed to shape up as a "they're a year away" kind of campaign for Rick Byrd's Bruins. All Belmont did in response was go 30-5 overall with a 19-1 record in conference play. Four starters and ten letterwinners from last season return for Belmont, including forwards Mick Hedgepeth (10.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg) and Scott Saunders (9.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and guard Drew Hanlen (6.4 ppg, 4.0 apg). Hanlen and the rest of the backcourt will have to make up for the losses of Jon House and Jordan Campbell but they've got more than enough tools to do so. And if Belmont can get back to the Big Dance and get a favorable matchup style-wise, look out.

Big East: Syracuse
The Big East produced its first national champion since 2004 last season, and the fact that a team that tied for ninth (Connecticut) was the one to do it surprised many. That goes to show how tough the league can be on a nightly basis, so even though many see four teams (UConn, Louisville, Pittsburgh and Syracuse) separate from the pack in October things can change by March. The pick here is Syracuse, with Jim Boeheim returning many talented pieces in addition to welcoming in a highly-touted recruiting class led by forward Rakeem Christmas. Seniors Kris Joseph (14.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and Scoop Jardine (12.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg) will be expected to lead as will junior Brandon Triche (11.1 ppg), and keep an eye on sophomores C.J. Fair (6.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and Dion Waiters (6.6 ppg) as well. But whether or not Syracuse wins the Big East could ultimately come down to how the bigs perform with Rick Jackson having graduated.

Big Sky: Montana
Wayne Tinkle's Grizzlies were one win away from a trip to the NCAA Tournament as they fell at Northern Colorado in the tournament final, and with four starters back Montana is well-equipped to move to the top of the league. First Team All-Big Sky performer Will Cherry (14.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg) returns as does 7-footer Derek Selvig (10.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and sophomore guard Kareem Jamar (8.1 ppg). Freshman wing Kevin Henderson is a rookie some have pegged as a player to watch within the league as well, and Montana has the pieces needed to win the league crown.

Big South: UNC Asheville
Led by guards Matt Dickey (15.7 ppg, 3.3 apg) and J.P. Primm (14.6 ppg, 4.5 apg), Eddie Biedenbach's Bulldogs won the conference tournament title as well as a game in the NCAA Tournament. And with those two returning in addition to two other starters it's tough not to pick UNC Asheville to do what they could not do last season and win the regular season crown. Coastal Carolina won the regular season crown a season ago but eligibility issues in the second half of the season helped submarine their run, and they'll likely be the Bulldogs' biggest challenger this season.

Big Ten: Ohio State
Much like North Carolina, Ohio State's status as a national title contender was cemented the moment its biggest star committed to returning to school. Jared Sullinger returns for his sophomore campaign in better shape, and all he did was dominate the Big Ten as a freshman. The Buckeyes do have to make up for the loss of David Lighty, Jon Diebler and Dallas Lauderdale, but they have enough talent both returning (Will Buford and Aaron Craft being two other returnees) and incoming (Sam Thompson and Shannon Scott being two of the four) to merit their status as clear favorites to win the conference.

Next (Sunday): Big 12 through MAAC

Jon Teitel's "Coaching Greats" Series: Northern Colorado's George Sage

Jon Teitel — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:35:53 -0400

In the latest installment in his "Coaching Greats" interview series CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with former Northern Colorado head coach Dr. George Sage. In five seasons in Greeley Dr. Sage went 95-36 and led the Bears to four conference titles. Dr. Sage also played baseball and basketball at UNC, with one of his achievements being a win in the 1955 College World Series over USC.

Jon Teitel: You played basketball and baseball at UNC (including a 6-hitter in a 2-1 win over USC in the 1955 College World Series). Which sport did you enjoy more, and which one were you better at?

Dr. George Sage: I was better at baseball but I liked them both in their separate seasons. I liked having the ability to play both and learn from some great coaches. In my four seasons on the diamond we went to the College World Series three times.

JT: Why did you decide to go into coaching, and what did it mean to you to become coach at your alma mater?

GS: I grew up in north Denver (which was considered a working-class area), and all the kids played sports. Some of my friends wanted to join the Army after high school so I decided to join them. I played baseball and basketball at Fort Jackson before getting shipped out to Korea. I just wanted to continue with basketball and figured that coaching would be a good way to do so.

JT: You won four league titles in six years as basketball coach at UNC. How were you able to have so much success in such a short period of time?

GS: I started out coaching in Chandler, AZ and then moved to UCLA to get a graduate degree. I got put in the same office as one of John Wooden's assistants. I became head coach at Pomona for four years, but after the UNC coach retired they contacted me and I moved to Greeley, CO.

JT: What are your memories of the 1964 Division II Tournament (you lost to Southeast Missouri St. by four and then gave up 116 points to Lamar)?

GS: It was the first national tourney UNC had ever played in, so it was a big deal back on campus. I just remember that there was so much excitement.

JT: What are your memories of the 1966 Division II Tournament (you lost to North Dakota)?

GS: To get there we had to fly through Minneapolis. It was snowing very hard and as soon as we got into Minneapolis they closed the airport, so we had to sleep over and then take a train the next day. Phil Jackson was an All-American for North Dakota and quite a force. What is embedded in the memory of all of our players is that our center outplayed Jackson even though we lost. Our center was an expert at the mechanics of offense and defense even though he was not as skilled as Jackson.

JT: In 1967 your team set a school scoring record in a 130-106 win over Colorado Mines. How were you able to score so many points that night, and do you think anyone will ever break that record?

GS: The main reason it was that high a score is because Colorado Mines was a good fast-break team.

JT: One of your players was future coach Don Meyer. What was he like as a player, and what do you think made him such a great coach after his playing days were over?

GS: He was a freshman during my first year, and also happened to be an All-American baseball player. He loved baseball but knew he could not make it to the major leagues. From his very 1st year he kept inquiring as to why I made certain decisions because he was intent on learning how to be a coach. He was like a coach for us out on the floor. When we would call a timeout he would come into the huddle and mention a key thing that would turn out to be exactly what we needed to do. He was very much on top of strategy, tactics, etc. He did not want to coach high school basketball, just college basketball. He asked if he could coach our freshman team while getting his masters degree, so I told him he could do that. I suggested he try something called "sponsored mobility", where you played and coached for a high-profile coach who would sponsor you to go coach elsewhere. He wanted to go to UCLA but I knew that Wooden would not take graduate assistants. I called Jack Gardner at UT to see if he would help out Meyer, and Meyer said he would get another masters degree if he could work for Gardner.

JT: You wrote a book called "Power and Ideology in American Sport". What was it about, and why are sports so important in our society?

GS: I had always been interested in social sciences. After six years at UNC I had a young family and like the school a lot. In order to give my family some security I figured that I had to either become a Division I coach or get another degree. I was co-author of another book called "Sociology of North American Sport" that is going into its ninth edition.

JT: UNC has a "Dr. George Sage Scholar Athlete Award" that is given to the graduating male senior athlete with the highest GPA. What does it mean to you to have an award named after you, and what importance do you place on academics?

GS: It is quite an honor. When I was an undergraduate we had a coach who died from cancer, and my senior year I won the award that was named after him. They later stopped giving out the award but about a decade ago our athletic director decided to re-institute the award and name it after me. It is one of the most humbling things that has ever happened to me and one of the things I am the proudest of.

JT: When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most?

GS: It is the same thing that I have told my two sons, three grandsons and one granddaughter: you know your last name is Sage, but it is just an acronym. It stands for "Set A Good Example". I just hope people think that I set a good example for my players.

Dr. Sage is also on my list of best coaches in Big Sky history.

Eastern Washington: WB "Red" Reese (1930-1942, 1945-1964) 473-298, 12 conference titles
Idaho State: Jim Killingsworth (1971-1977) 163-109, 2 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, 2-time conference COY
Montana: Blaine Taylor (1991-1998) 141-66, 2 NCAA tourneys, 2 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
Montana State: G Ott Romney (1922-1928) 144-31, 5 conference titles
Northern Arizona: Mike Adras (1999-present) 177-149, 1 NCAA tourney, 2 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
Northern Colorado: George Sage (1963-1969) 95-36, 4 conference titles
Portland State: Ken Edwards (1972-1978) 94-63
Sacramento State: Jerome Jenkins (2000-2008) 80-147
Weber State: Neil McCarthy (1974-1985) 205-105, 4 NCAA tourneys, 5 conference titles, 3-time conference COY

Ten Non-NCAA Teams to Watch in 2011-12

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 02:03:32 -0400

While many tend to ignore the "other" postseason tournaments in March due to the overwhelming popularity of the NCAA Tournament, there's an awful lot to be gained from said events especially if a team has a lot due back the following season. So similar to those bowl games outside of the BCS in college football, teams gain valuable practice and game experience. Below are ten teams (in alphabetical order) who fit the mold, including one that didn't play in the postseason at all, and could make some noise in 2011-12.

(1) Alabama (25-12, 12-4 SEC)
Anthony Grant's Crimson Tide were ultimately done in by a non-conference schedule that featured losses to the likes of Iowa, Providence and Seton Hall, having to settle for a Postseason NIT berth as a result. But they took advantage of the extra games, getting all the way to the title game before falling to Wichita State. While Alabama will have three seniors to replace (Charvez Davis, Senario Hillman and Chris Hines) the top three scorers will be back, including forwards JaMychal Green and Tony Mitchell. Guard Trevor Releford was one of the best freshmen in the SEC this season, and a four-player recruiting class led by guard Levi Randolph and forward Nick Jacobs will likely keep Bama atop the SEC West at the very least.

(2) Baylor (18-13, 7-9 Big 12)
Scott Drew's Bears were arguably the most disappointing team in America, going from a team some thought could make some noise to one that didn't play anywhere in the postseason. The Big 12's all-time leading scorer (LaceDarius Dunn) graduates but with Perry Jones III deciding to return to Waco next season look for high expectations once again. Quincy Acy and Anthony Jones will also return up front, and the addition of guard Deuce Bello and forward Quincy Miller will add even more talent-wise. But the biggest question is point guard play, something that cost the Bears dearly this season. If A.J. Walton and JUCO transfer Pierre Jackson can take care of the basketball look out. But if not, things could get sloppy.

(3) Harvard (23-7, 12-3 Ivy)
Tommy Amaker's Crimson put forth arguably the best season in school history but thanks to Doug Davis' shot at the buzzer that still wasn't enough to get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1946. But for many who follow the Ivy League 2011-12 was supposed to be Harvard's year, and with everyone expected back that may very well be the case. Kyle Casey and Keith Wright will lead the way up front, and guards such as Oliver McNally, Laurent Rivard and Christian Webster can get it done on the perimeter. Add in the Ivy's best incoming recruiting class that's six-deep and should at the very least offer a challenge in practice, and Harvard could very well end up in the Big Dance.

(4) Iona (25-13, 13-5 MAAC)
Tim Cluess' Gaels picked the wrong time to go cold offensively, struggling to crack the tough Saint Peter's defense in the MAAC Tournament final and ending up in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament as a result. Iona reached the title game in that event as well, losing to Santa Clara but gaining valuable game and practice time as a result. The lone departures will be seniors Rashon Dwight and Alejo Rodriguez, and with point guard Scott Machado and power forward Mike Glover leading the way Iona could be the preseason favorite in the MAAC. The key for the Gaels: defense. If they can defend at a solid clip this will be a tough team to beat given all the offensive weapons at Coach Cluess' disposal.

(5) Kent State (25-12, 12-4 MAC)
Of the ten teams on this list Kent State is the only one to lose it's head coach, with Geno Ford moving on to take the Bradley job. But by no means does that kill the Golden Flashes' chances of getting to the NCAA Tournament. New head coach Rob Senderoff obviously knows the personnel having been promoted from assistant, and with just one of their top five scorers (Rodriguez Sherman) moving on Kent State can win a lot of games next season. Justin Greene and Carlton Guyton are the leading returning scorers, and incoming freshman Kris Brewer should help make up for Sherman's departure on the perimeter. Tough to peg the MAC given its wild nature, but look for the Golden Flashes to be one of the favorites.

(6) Long Beach State (22-12, 14-2 Big West)
Dan Monson's 49ers took on one of the toughest schedules in the nation last season, with Larry Anderson missing a decent portion of that stretch due to injury. But once he returned The Beach took control of the Big West, comfortably winning the Big West regular season title before falling to UCSB in the tournament final. The top three scorers all return and that includes Anderson in addition to guard Casper Ware and forward T.J. Robinson, and another tough non-conference schedule will prepare them for another run through the Big West. But for one-bid leagues one weekend in early March can undo all that hard work, something Long Beach State will be more than aware of.

(7) Montana (21-11, 12-4 Big Sky)
Wayne Tinkle's Grizzlies were one win away from representing the Big Sky in the NCAA Tournament, falling to regular season champ Northern Colorado in the title game on the road. But with the Bears taking on heavy personnel losses it's unlikely they're the preseason favorite to win the league, and with all that Montana has coming back they likely assume that role. The Grizzlies do have to replace big man Brian Qvale but Derek Selvig returns for his senior campaign, and the backcourt should be in good hands with Will Cherry, Kareem Jamar and Art Steward. It should surprise no one if Montana were to be the Big Sky's tournament representative.

(8) Oral Roberts (19-16, 13-5 Summit)
The last two seasons it's been Oakland who has won the Summit League, but despite the return of Reggie Hamilton the Golden Grizzles do have to account for important losses including big man Keith Benson. So who has the good to challenge Oakland if not dethrone them? Scott Sutton's Golden Eagles look to be in good position to do so, with Dominique Morrison leading the way. ORU's top five scorers are all due back and in Morrison they've got a tough scorer who most likely will be the preseason Player of the Year in the Summit League. It should be a good year for the Golden Eagles, and that may be a conservative statement.

(9) Santa Clara (24-14, 8-6 WCC)
There will be two major national storylines in the West Coast Conference to start next season: the arrival of BYU (football independence but all other sports in the WCC) and Gonzaga being the preseason favorite to win the conference. But people had better not ignore Kerry Keating's Broncos, who won the CollegeInsider.com Tournament and replace just one senior of note (Ben Dowdell). Kevin Foster, Evan Roquemore and Marc Trasolini all return for Santa Clara, and they also welcome in a four-member recruiting class with Robert Garrett having the ability to add some interior depth. If anyone in the WCC can prevent Gonzaga from coasting to the conference title it may be Santa Clara.

(10) Wichita State (29-8, 14-4)
Gregg Marshall's Shockers were the preseason favorites to win the Missouri Valley and while they didn't accomplish that feat in either the regular season (Missouri State) or postseason (Indiana State), Wichita State was able to win the Postseason NIT. There will be some key losses, most notably leading scorer J.T. Durley, but given the number of players due back and the offensive balance (eight players scored at least six points per game) the Shockers could make a run at the regular season crown. David Kyles, Toure Murry and Garrett Stutz all return, and with Coach Marshall giving so many guys a chance to play meaningful minutes this year the Shockers should be able to hit the ground running in 2011-12.

Five others: California (18-15, 10-8 Pac-10), UCF (21-12, 6-10 Conference USA), Drexel (21-10, 11-7 CAA), Florida Atlantic (21-11, 13-3 Sun Belt), New Mexico (22-13, 8-8 Mountain West).