Patriot

Jon Teitel's "Coaching Greats": Bucknell's Charlie Woollum

Jon Teitel — Mon, 21 May 2012 22:41:47 -0700

In the latest installment in his "Coaching Greats" series CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with former Bucknell and William & Mary head coach Charlie Woollum. Woollum won 318 games at Bucknell and led the Bison to two NCAA tournament appearances, winning seven regular season conference titles. Woollum is now a color commentator for both William & Mary (his alma mater) and CN8.

Jon Teitel: In 1960 as a player at William & Mary you split the regular season series with West Virginia before losing to them in the Southern Conference tournament. What was it like to play against Jerry West, and could you tell at the time that he was going to become a Hall-of-Famer?

Charlie Woollum: I was a sophomore when West was a senior so I did not play a lot, but West had a special aura about him when he was on the floor. Before I knew him I asked someone which player was West, and the person said, "Just watch, you will find out pretty quick!" He was an unbelievable competitor.

JT: The following year your teammate Jeff Cohen had 31 rebounds and a school-record 49 points in a game vs. Richmond. Where does that rank among the best single-game performance you have ever seen?

CW: Jeff could make hook shots on the court from places where other people had to shoot jump shots. Our offense was designed to get him the ball: he is one of the best to ever play here.

JT: One of your players at Bucknell in the early 1980s was Jay Wright, who is now head coach at Villanova. How good a player was Jay back in the day, and what makes him such a great coach?

CW: Jay was a very good player who just knew the game. He was a crucial member of our team who played behind NBA draftee Jay Andrews. He averaged double digits off the bench for us as a senior. I did not know that he was going to become a coach but he gets along with people. Communication is important in the business.

JT: What are your memories of the 1987 NCAA tournament (Reggie Williams had 21 points and ten rebounds in the Georgetown victory)?

CW: The Hoyas were pretty good. We were not a big team at all (our power forward was only about 6-4) so they wore us down at the end. We had a pretty good run in the 1980s but kept falling short in the conference tournament. The town got behind us and the kids will always remember it.

JT: What are your memories of the 1989 NCAA tournament (Billy Owens had 27 points and 13 rebounds in the Syracuse victory)?

CW: They had a couple of first round picks on that team (Owens and Sherman Douglas) so they were pretty good. Our center Mike Butts had 22 points (10-14 FG), but they were just a better basketball team.

JT: You won six regular-season titles in a ten-year span from 1984-1993. How were you able to remain so consistent over such a long time period?

CW: Back then we only had need-based scholarships but were still able to average about 20 wins a year for over a decade. I was always fortunate to have good people playing for me. We had several kids who got drafted by the NBA. We always had good point guardss, which was a big factor because they were an extension of our coaching staff. We were also a good free throw shooting team.

JT: In 1994 you became coach at William & Mary. Why did you make the switch, and what did it mean to you to become coach at your alma mater?

CW: It was a good experience. I signed a five-year deal and stayed an extra year until I turned 60. Coaching is a tough racket but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I took over a team that had won only four games...and four years later we won 20 games. The CAA is a very competitive basketball league and is better than the credit it gets.

JT: In 1998 you won the only CAA regular season title in school history and earned CAA Coach of the Year honors. How big a deal was it to win the title, and what did it mean to you to win such an outstanding individual honor?

CW: I was hired by AD John Randolph (one of my former classmates). It was sad that he passed away before he had a chance to see us win the title. Our freshmen fit in very well with our upperclassmen. We were 13-3 in the league and people were very excited about it.

JT: You are the all-time winningest coach in Bucknell history. What made you such a great coach, and do you think that anyone will ever break your record?

CW: If you stay at a place long enough you will always have a chance to get a lot of wins. Good coaches have good players, but they also have to like each other and have the same purpose in mind. It means a lot to me because they were some of the greatest years of my life. I am still happy whenever Bucknell does well.

JT: You currently work as a radio analyst for the Tribe basketball team. How do you like the job?

CW: I also do some work for CN8 covering CAA games. I have enjoyed it because it allowed me to stay around the game that I love. I coached for 38 years and this is a nice way to step it down. I have gained a great deal of respect for all the play-by-play guys I have worked with. My wife and I have traveled a bit and I enjoy retirement very much.

Woollum is also on Jon's list of best coaches in Patriot League history.

American: Jeff Jones (2000-present) 201-163, 2 NCAA tourneys, 4 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
Army: Bobby Knight (1965-1971) 102-50
Bucknell: Charlie Woollum (1975-1994) 318-221, 2 NCAA tourneys, 7 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
Colgate: Bill Reid (1919-1928) 133-55
Holy Cross: George Blaney (1972-1994) 357-276, 3 NCAA tourneys, 2 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
Lafayette: Tom Davis (1971-1977) 116-44, 4 conference titles
Lehigh: Billy Taylor (2002-2007) 81-69, 1 NCAA tourney, 1 conference title, 2-time conference COY
Navy: Ben Carnevale (1946-1966) 257-160, 5 NCAA tourneys

Jon Teitel's "Forgotten Legends": Lafayette's Tracy Tripucka

Jon Teitel — Mon, 21 May 2012 22:23:45 -0700

Recently CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with Lafayette great Tracy Tripucka, who is still the school's all-time leading scorer. Most basketball fans should be familiar with his younger brother Kelly, but Tracy was a three-time All-American who finished his collegiate career with 1,973 points.

Jon Teitel: Your dad Frank was an All-American QB at Notre Dame and later threw the first TD pass in the history of the AFL. What was it like to grow up as the son of a pro athlete, and did you ever consider going into football?

Tracy Tripucka: It was fun. The AFL had just been founded and my brother Mark and I were old enough to be ballboys and stand on the sideline for the games. I remember that DT Ernie Ladd from San Diego made a tackle near us one time. I had never seen such a large human being in my life. He was scary, especially to a skinny 11-year old! I was a little too thin to play football and really disliked like the monotony of the practices. Basketball practices (probably more than most sports) resemble actual games, and that was more fun.

JT: In 1969 you scored 37 points (16-22 FG) in your varsity debut in a win at Moravian. How were you able to come in and contribute from the start?

TT: Lafayette had been sort of on cruise control for several years before I got there. There was no real recruiting program and the talent level was below that of the other schools in our league. Coach Hal Wissel got the job in 1967 and began to recruit in earnest. My class had at least seven players who were better than the players that were already in the program, even the seniors. After we played together in freshman ball we were ready as a unit to play as sophomores and started to turn around the program.

JT: In 1969 you scored a career-high 41 points vs. Syracuse, and in 1975 your brother Todd scored a career-high 42 points vs. St. Joseph's. Was it just one of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were "in the zone", and what was it like to see your brother beat you out by a single point?

TT: I do not know if shooters get in a "zone" as much as the opponent gives you openings and your teammates find you in the right spot and are willing to share the ball. My brother Todd and I competed not as much on total points but more on my team against his team. I am convinced to this day that we had a better team, even though the teams that he was on played very well.

JT: What are your memories of the 1972 NIT (you scored a game-high 25 points and Jay Mottola made a free throw with three seconds left in a one-point upset win over nationally-ranked Virginia)?

TT: It was really "David vs. Goliath" when we played Virginia in the NIT. They had won the ACC regular season title but lost in the ACC tournament so they ended up in the NIT. As I remember we were not intimidated by them, although we probably should have been because they had some great players! The real story of the game was Mottola, who outplayed All-ACC guard Barry Parkhill and hit the winning free throw. In the next round we gave Jacksonville a little bit of a run, but they were just too big for us.

JT: You are still the all-time leading scorer in school history despite playing only three years on the varsity and playing before the three-point line was instituted. Did you realize at the time how prolific a player you were, and how untouchable do you think your scoring record would be if you had another year and to play and an arc to shoot behind?

TT: As I said before great shooters/scorers need to have teammates who are willing to find them, and I had that. Another year would have been nice but I would not have been a very good three-point shooter because I did not have the range for that. I shot mostly short jumpers inside the top of the circle. You do not see this "middle" game that much anymore in basketball. Everything is either a drive to the hoop or a kick-out for a three.

JT: In the summer of 1972 you were drafted in the seventh round by the Knicks, but after not making the team you went to play in Switzerland. Were you thrilled to realize your dream of getting drafted or disappointed that you got cut, and what did you learn from your time overseas?

TT: I knew with my size and position that I would not be drafted high but it was nice to at least be drafted. I spent two summers trying out and got to meet and play with guys like Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, Bill Bradley, and all the other greats from the 1970 and 1973 championship teams. That is an experience that I will never forget. Switzerland was great but I only stayed for one year. Looking back on it I should have stayed longer.

JT: In 1978 you got to coach your brother TK for Fordham in a loss to your brother Kelly's Notre Dame team at MSG. What was it like to have such a family reunion, and what are your memories of that night?

TT: That night was great. A coach and two brothers on opposite teams: it was fun. We actually had them nervous (especially in the first half), but their size and talent took over in the second half. We still talk about that game within the family. There was a great shot on the back cover of the NY Post with all three of us on the court and my parents watching. A friend gave me the photo, and I still have it.

JT: Kelly led Notre Dame in scoring during each of his four years there, was a two-time NBA All-Star, and was later named New Jersey Boy's Basketball Player of the Century. When could you 1st tell that he was going to be the best player in the family, and how proud are you of all his success?

TT: Kelly was bigger and stronger and a better athlete than any of us at comparable ages. When I was in college he was still in grade school but he used to play with us all the time, usually when we need another guy to fill in. He got a heck of a basketball education beginning at a very young age. As he grew bigger and stronger his fundamentals and game experience that began in grade school helped him immensely in developing as a player. He did very well and our whole family was very proud of him. We had an enormous amount of fun watching him play at Notre Dame and in the pros.

JT: After retiring you worked as an assistant coach at several schools (including Navy, Fordham, and Utah). Which school did you like the most, and how what effect did being a great player have on your ability to be a great coach?

TT: I think I enjoyed my time at Navy the most. The head coach there was a man named Dave Smalley. He was wonderful to work with and we became great friends even after our coaching days. He passed away in 2007 and they named the court at Navy after him. I was never a great coach because I did not have the necessary passion. I had the passion to become as good a player as I possibly could, but somehow I could never summon up the same passion for the game as a coach. When I realized this I knew it was time to try something else, so I did.

JT: You currently work as a VP at Kearny Federal Savings Bank. How do you like the job, and what do you hope to do in the future?

TT: I enjoy commercial lending very much. We lend money to small businesses, but as you know it has become a very difficult and challenging business in this environment. In terms of the future, retirement is gaining ground very rapidly. I would someday like to have grandkids who are interested in all sports (and basketball in particular) so that I can watch them develop and enjoy the game as much as I do.

Tracy is also on Jon's list of best players in Patriot League history.

American: Russell Bowers (1981) 2056 PTS (#1), 54.5 FG% (#4)
Army: Kevin Houston (1987) 2325 PTS (#1), 379 AST (#3), 126 STL (#2), 86.9 FT% (#2), 47.7 3P% (#1), 2-time All-American, conference POY
Bucknell: Mike Bright (1993) 1670 PTS (#3), 206 3PM (#3), 120 BLK (#3), 286 STL (#1), conference POY
Colgate: Adonal Foyle (1997) 1776 PTS (#2), 1103 REB (#1), 492 BLK (#1), 54.7 FG% (#2), 2-time All-American, 2-time conference POY
Holy Cross: Ron K. Perry (1980) 2524 PTS (#1), 88.5 FT% (#2), 4-time All-American, conference POY
Lafayette: Tracy Tripucka (1972) 1973 PTS (#1), 83.4 FT% (#5), 3-time All-American
Lehigh: Daren Queenan (1988) 2703 PTS (#1), 1013 REB (#1), All-American, conference POY
Navy: David Robinson (1987) 2669 PTS (#1), 1314 REB (#1), 516 BLK (#1), 160 STL (#3), 61.2 FG% (#1), 2-time All-American, 3-time conference POY, national POY

Wednesday Predictions: Big Sky, NEC, Patriot Finals & More

Greg Mengelt — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 08:16:51 -0800

Our g ame prediction guru Greg Mengelt has been on fire this year. He'll be picking (just about) every conference tournament game over the next week, including tonight's three key championship games. Games listed in order with later rounds on top and earlier rounds at the bottom. Read more about Championship Week at CollegeHoops.net.

BIG SKY CHAMPIONSHIP: AT MONTANA

(2) Weber State (24-5, 14-2) at (1) Montana (24-6, 15-1)

Tipoff: 9 p.m. TV: ESPN2. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 14 – Weber State 80-64; Feb. 28 – Montana 66-51. RPI: Montana 82, Weber State 69. Analysis: The Grizzlies are simply the better team. With the homecourt advantage, it should be a comfortable win for Montana. Pick: Montana 71, Weber State 61.

NORTHEAST CHAMPIONSHIP: AT LIU

(3) Robert Morris (24-9, 13-5) at (1) Long Island (24-8, 16-2)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. TV: ESPN2. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 26 – Robert Morris 75-66. RPI: Long Island 91, Robert Morris 109. Analysis: Velton Jones is one of the hottest players in the country and should help the Colonials punch their ticket. Line: Long Island -1. Pick: Robert Morris 69, Long Island 65.

PATRIOT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP: AT BUCKNELL

(2) Lehigh (25-7) at (1) Bucknell (11-3)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. TV: CBS Sports Network. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 18 – Bucknell 68-61*; Feb. 16 – Lehigh 56-53*. RPI: Bucknell 89, Lehigh 113. Analysis: Lehigh’s C.J. McCollum is a superstar, but beating the Bison on the road twice may be too much to ask. Line: Bucknell -5. Pick: Bucknell 66, Lehigh 59.

BIG EAST SECOND ROUND: AT NEW YORK CITY

(8) West Virginia (19-12, 9-9) vs. (9) Connecticut (19-12, 8-10)

Tipoff: Noon. TV: ESPN. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 9 – Connecticut 64-57. RPI: Connecticut 33, West Virginia 42. Analysis: Two good performances in a row may be too much to ask of this UConn team. Line: UConn -2. Pick: West Virginia 68, Connecticut 62.

(5) Georgetown (22-7, 12-6) vs. (13) Pittsburgh (17-15, 5-13)

Tipoff: 2 p.m. TV: ESPN. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 28 – Pitt 72-60. RPI: Georgetown 9, Pittsburgh 90. Analysis: Pitt may not win the game, but the Panthers should cover in a low-scoring game. Line: Georgetown -6. Pick: Georgetown 57, Pittsburgh 53.

(7) Louisville (22-9, 10-8) vs. (10) Seton Hall (20-11, 8-10)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. TV: ESPN. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 28 – Louisville 60-51*. RPI: Louisville 28, Seton Hall 60. Analysis: Great matchup for Louisville. The Cardinals defense will lead them to a big win. Pick: Louisville 59, Seton Hall 47.

(6) South Florida (19-12, 12-6) vs. (14) Villanova (13-18, 5-13)

Tipoff: 9 p.m. TV: ESPN. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 5 – South Florida 74-57*; Feb. 15 – South Florida 65-51. RPI: South Florida 43, Villanova 105. Analysis: Love the Wildcats for the upset. Pick: Villanova 55, South Florida 52.

PAC-12 FIRST ROUND: AT LOS ANGELES

(8) Washington State (15-15, 7-11) vs. (9) Oregon State (17-13, 7-11)

Tipoff: 3:10 p.m. TV: FSN. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 31 – Washington State 81-76; Feb. 9 – Washington State 83-73. RPI: Washington State 170, Oregon State 151. Analysis: Close game. The Beavers will at least cover. Line: Oregon State -3½. Pick: Oregon State 78, Washington State 76.

(5) UCLA (18-13, 11-7) vs. (12) USC (6-25, 1-17)

Tipoff: 5:40 p.m. TV: FSN. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 15 – UCLA 66-47*; Feb. 15 – UCLA 64-54. RPI: UCLA 103, USC 259. Analysis: UCLA is playing its best basketball, rallying around Coach Ben Howland. The Bruins may make a run in this tourney. Line: UCLA -12½. Pick: UCLA 73, USC 51.

(7) Stanford (20-10, 10-8) vs. (10) Arizona State (10-20, 6-12)

Tipoff: 9:10 p.m. TV: FSN. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 2 – Stanford 68-44. RPI: Stanford 96, Arizona State 248. Analysis: The Cardinal will blow out Arizona State for the second time this season. Line: Stanford -10. Pick: Stanford 71, Arizona State 54.

(6) Colorado (19-11, 11-7) vs. (11) Utah (6-24, 3-15)

Tipoff: 11:40 p.m. TV: FSN. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 31 – Colorado 73-33; Feb. 18 – Colorado 55-48. RPI: Colorado 81, Utah 265. Analysis: The Buffaloes are really pretty good, and Utah … isn’t. Line: Colorado -11½. Pick: Colorado 66, Utah 51.

*Road win

Greg Against the Spread This Season: 137-103-3

Wednesday's Conference Tournament Primer

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 07:13:22 -0800

Day two of the Big East Championship features four teams looking to improve their chances of reaching the NCAA tournament, with the biggest game of the day being the first. Nine-seed Connecticut, who opener their tournament with an 81-67 win over DePaul on Tuesday, takes on eight-seed West Virginia with the winner likely locking up a tournament berth. These two teams met once during the regular season, a 64-57 UConn victory at the XL Center on January 9th, and with so much change over the nearly two months since that game there may not be a whole lot to take from it.

But there is rebounding, something the Mountaineers did extremely well in defeat and had they not gone cold in the second half Bob Huggins' team likely wins the game. WVU grabbed 20 offensive rebounds in the Januar meeting...twenty. The Mountaineers have been a very good team at hitting the offensive glass for most of Huggins' tenure at his alma mater, with the big men expected to give maximum effort in that department. This season West Virginia averages 14.7 offensive rebounds per game, which works out to the Mountaineers grabbing 40.7% of their misses per statsheet.com.

Kevin Jones, who led the Big East in both scoring and rebounding this season, has led the way and maybe he uses the slight of not being a unanimous All-Big East selection as motivation (this is the injustice Mountaineer fans should be upset about as opposed to the Player of the Year award). UConn clearly will try to account for Jones with their stable of big men, but if Deniz Kilicli brings the effort as well it will be tough for the Husky big men from a toughness standpoint. Roscoe Smith has played well of late and at this point is a key figure in the rotation, while getting the likes of Andre Drummond and Alex Oriakhi to play well on a consistent basis has remained an issue.

Guard play will be critical as well, especially with the Mountaineers calling on freshman guards Gary Browne and Jabarie Hinds in addition to senior Truck Bryant. Bryant needs to consistently make sound decisions if WVU is to be successful, and the same can be said for UConn's Jeremy Lamb and Shabazz Napier. The guards who play smarter will lead the winning team in this one.

Also on the bubble "stage" are Seton Hall and USF, with both teams likely needing wins albeit for different reasons. The Pirates looked to be a safe bet for the Field of 68 before dropping games to Rutgers and DePaul, so a win over Louisville would do a great deal for their hopes. USF simply needs to keep playing, as their unbalanced league slate has devalued their 12 league wins in the eyes of many.

Big East - Second Round
#8 West Virginia vs. #9 Connecticut, Noon (ESPN)
#5 Georgetown vs. #13 Pittsburgh, 2:00 p.m. (ESPN)
#7 Louisville vs. #10 Seton Hall, 7:00 p.m. (ESPN)
#6 USF vs. #14 Villanova, 9:00 p.m. (ESPN)

Big 12 - First Round
#8 Oklahoma vs. #9 Texas A&M, 7:00 p.m. (Big 12 Network)
#7 Oklahoma State vs. #10 Texas Tech, 9:30 p.m. (Big 12 Network)

Not a whole lot to see here, other than the fact that the two winners will move on to face Kansas and Missouri on Thursday. Oklahoma likely has the most to gain from today's action, as a win would guarantee a .500 (or better) finish and put them in line for a postseason berth in Lon Kruger's first season. The extra game and practice action can do a great deal for the Sooners, almost akin to what bowl practices can do for college football teams. The other three will need to win the conference tournament to either guarantee a .500 finish (Oklahoma State) or go to the postseason.

Big Sky - Title Game
#2 Weber State at #1 Montana, 9:00 p.m. (ESPN2)

The two best teams in the Big Sky all season long meet in Missoula with the winner getting the NCAA berth and the loser headed to the NIT. Weber State and Montana split the regular season series, with the home team winning both by double digits. The backcourt battle could be the best in the country on today's schedule, with Weber State's Damian Lillard and Scott Bamforth battling Montana's Will Cherry and Kareem Jamar. One area to watch tonight will be offensive rebounding, something the Wildcats have done well in both meetings. If Darin Mahoney and Kyle Tresnak can control the boards once again they can win in Missoula, and with the Grizzlies not being the best rebounding team that's definitely possible. Unlike the first two meetings, look for the rubber match to go right down to the wire.

Conference USA - First Round
#7 Rice vs. #10 East Carolina, 1:00 p.m. (CSS)
#6 Marshall vs. #11 SMU, 3:30 p.m. (CSS)
#8 UTEP vs. #9 Houston, 7:30 p.m. (CSS)
#5 UAB vs. #12 Tulane, 10:00 p.m. (CSS)

Similar to the Big 12's first round there's not much to see in Memphis in regards to who will make the NCAA tournament out of Conference USA (Memphis, who will reach the Sweet 16, is a lock. Who joins them?). UAB, Marshall, Rice and Houston are all playing for postseason berths, with the Thundering Herd having the best shot at finding somewhere to play next week. The other three all need multiple wins to ensure finishing .500 or better, and outside of the Herd (led by DeAndre Kane and Damier Pitts) and UAB (Cameron Moore is a player) it's tough to find any team capable of making a run to either Friday or Saturday.

MAC - Second Round
#12 Northern Illinois vs. #8 Western Michigan, 7:00 p.m. (STO)
#7 Toledo vs. #11 Central Michigan, 9:30 p.m. (STO)

The winners of tonight's action in Cleveland move on to battle Ohio and Kent State on Thursday night in the newly recorfigured MAC tournament, and for the Huskies and Chippewas to reach this point is a surprise in itself. NIU takes on a Western Michigan team that swept the regular season series, with the game in Kalamazoo being the closer of the two. CMU looks to be in better shape from a competitive standpoint in their matchup with Toledo, as the Chips lost to the Rockets by just five in their second meeting. Rian Pearson leads the way for the Rockets, and if CMU finds away to neutralize him they've got a shot at the win.

MEAC - Opening Round/Quarterfinals
# 1 Savannah State vs. #8 Hampton, 6:00 p.m.
# 2 Norfolk State vs. #10 Howard, 8:00 p.m.

The top two seeds begin their march towards the MEAC's automatic bid, and both Savannah State and Norfolk State will be favored to get to the semifinals. Horace Broadnax's Tigers won the regular season title outright, quite the achievement for a team not only picked to finish 11th in the preseason poll but also in its first season as a full Division I (and MEAC) member. NSU, who many expected to win the league, finished a game out of first and has the MEAC's best player in forward Kyle O'Quinn. Hampton may be able to give Savannah State some trouble and the same goes for Howard, but both favorites should move on.

NEC - Title Game
#3 Robert Morris at #1 LIU Brooklyn, 7:00 p.m. (ESPN2)

The NEC delivers a rematch of last season's title game, a battle that went right down to the wire with the home team (LIU Brooklyn) winning by a basket. The rematch should be just as close, with Velton Jones leading the Colonials and forwards Julian Boyd and Jamal Olasewere pacing the Blackbirds. LIU has to rebound, something they haven't always done consistently this season, if they're to defend their home floor and make a return trip to the Big Dance. RMU has done a solid job defensively of late, and that will be the ticket for them if they're to win an NEC title on the road for the second time in three seasons.

Pac-12 - First Round
#8 Washington State vs. # 9 Oregon State, 3:10 p.m. (FSN)
# 5 UCLA vs. # 12 USC, 5:40 p.m. (FSN)
# 7 Stanford vs. # 10 Arizona State, 9:10 p.m. (FSN)
# 6 Colorado vs. # 11 Utah, 11:40 p.m. (FSN)

The Pac-12 is essentially a tournament where one could toss two NCAA bids in the middle of the Staples Center and let all 12 teams fight to the death for them. The resumes are that bad, and without any true separation there isn't a clear favorite either. Colorado and Utah kick off their first Pac-12 tournament experiences and the Buffs will be favored to beat the Utes in the final game of the day. But a sleeper to grab the automatic berth may lie in the second game, as UCLA is coming off of a home sweep of the Washington schools as they brushed off the Sports Illustrated article that painted the program in a negative light. If Joshua Smith can stay on the floor and be a factor, there's no reason why the Bruins can't win the tournament. Oregon State and Stanford could also make a run, with the Cardinal likely being the better choice despite the presence of OSU's Jared Cunningham.

Patriot - Title Game
#2 Lehigh at #1 Bucknell, 7:00 p.m. (CBS SN)

The road team won both meetings during the regular season, with a C.J. McCollum dagger giving the Mountain Hawks the win in the second meeting. McCollum and Bucknell's Mike Muscala were the two best players in the Patriot League this season, with McCollum winning Player of the Year. But the key for the Mountain Hawks may be to make sure that Joe Willman doesn't have a big night alongside Muscala. Willman averaged 10.8 points per game and was a Second Team All-Patriot League selection, as was guard Cameron Ayers. Inside for Lehigh Gabe Knutson and Holden Grenier have both played well this season, providing good frontcourt scoring to balance out what McCollum brings to the table.

Southland - Quarterfinals
# 2 Stephen F. Austin vs. # 7 Sam Houston St, 1:00 p.m.
# 3 Lamar vs. # 6 Northwestern St., 3:30 p.m.
# 1 UT Arlington vs. # 8 Nicholls St., 6:00 p.m.
# 4 McNeese St. vs. # 5 UTSA, 8:30 p.m.

The Southland tournament gets going today (there's an off day between the semifinals and title game), and regular season champ UT-Arlington enters as the favorite. LaMarcus Reed III was one of the leaders for a team that lost just one game in conference play, but they won't go unchallenged in Katy either. Reigning tournament champion UTSA returned a number of key players from last season's team, most notable Melvin Johnson III and reserve Kannor Burrage leading the way. Pat Knight's Lamar Cardinals are another possible winner, provided seniors like Mike James take the reins from a leadership standpoint. Look for there to be an upset or two on our way to the championship.

SWAC -Quarterfinals
#2 Texas Southern vs. #7 Alabama A&M, 1:30 p.m. (SWAC TV)
#1 Mississippi Valley State vs. #8 Jackson State, 9:00 p.m. (SWAC TV)

MIssissippi Valley State begins tournament play with Jackson State, and while they ran through the SWAC without much fuss, the Delta Devils' overall record will make them a 16-seed should they get the automatic bid. Paul Crosby, Terrence Joyner and company have taken nearly a third of their shots from beyond the arc this season, and if those shots are falling MVSU is a tough team to beat. Jackson State played them close in both meetings, so the question for tonight is whether or not they have enough to get over the hump. Texas Southern gets the two-seed due to Southern's ineligibility, and they swept Alabama A&M during the regular season with both wins by double digits.

Semifinals Predictions: Horion, MVC, Patriot, WCC

Greg Mengelt — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 10:16:07 -0800

Our g ame prediction guru Greg Mengelt has been on fire this year. He'll be picking every conference tournament game over the next 2 weeks. Read more about Championship Week at CollegeHoops.net.

HORIZON LEAGUE SEMIFINALS: AT VALPARAISO, IND.

(2) Cleveland State (22-9, 12-6) vs. (3) Detroit (20-13, 11-7)

Tipoff: 6 p.m. TV: ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 3 – Cleveland State 66-61*; Feb. 23 – Cleveland State 77-64. RPI: Cleveland State 82, Detroit 157. Analysis: With D’Aundray Brown expected to make his return tonight, stay away from this one. He may light up the Titans and he may cause a rift in chemistry – as newly returning players often do for a game or two. Line: Cleveland State -1. Pick: Cleveland State 64, Detroit 62.

(1) Valparaiso (21-10, 14-4) vs. (5) Butler (20-13, 11-7)

Tipoff: 8:30 p.m. TV: ESPNU. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 3 – Valparaiso 77-71 (OT)*; Feb. 24 – Valparaiso 71-59. RPI: Valparaiso 95, 112. Analysis: Oh-oh! Butler’s getting hot again at the right time. The Bulldogs haven’t lost a game in March since 2009. Still, tough to take them in Valpo. Line: Even. Pick: Valparaiso 60, Butler 52.

MISSOURI VALLEY SEMIFINALS: AT ST. LOUIS

(1) Wichita State (27-4, 16-2) vs. (4) Illinois State (19-12, 9-9)

Tipoff: 2:30 p.m. TV: Fox Sports Midwest/MVC TV. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 10 – Wichita State 65-62; Feb. 22 – Wichita State 68-55*. RPI: Wichita State 12, Illinois State 124. Analysis: Illinois State wins with toughness, rebounding and defense. Guess what. The Shockers are tough, they rebound and play defense – and much, much more. Line: Wichita State -12. Pick: Wichita State 68, Illinois State 52.

(2) Creighton (26-5, 14-4) vs. (3) Evansville (16-14, 9-9)

Tipoff: 5 p.m. TV: Fox Sports Midwest/MVC TV. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 7 – Evansville 65-57; Feb. 21 – Creighton 93-92 (OT). RPI: Creighton 25, Evansville 135. Analysis: Creighton will use a little better shot selection than Missouri State did against the Aces and pull away in the second half. Line: Creighton -6. Pick: Creighton 80, Evansville 71.

PATRIOT LEAGUE SEMIFINALS: AT CAMPUS SITES

(3) American (20-10, 10-4) at (2) Lehigh (24-7, 11-3)

Tipoff: 2 p.m. TV: CBS Sports Network. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 11 – Lehigh 71-60; Feb. 9 – American 71-62. RPI: Lehigh 117, American 150. Analysis: It is games like this in which Hawk star C.J. McCollum takes over, but the line seems way too high. Line: Lehigh -9½. Pick: Lehigh 64, American 58.

(5) Lafayette (13-17, 7-7) at (1) Bucknell (23-8, 12-2)

Tipoff: 4:30 p.m. TV: CBS Sports Network. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 14 – Bucknell 79-65*; Feb. 11 – Bucknell 90-78. RPI: Bucknell 92, Lafayette 199. Analysis: Bucknell’s Mike Muscala has scored 51 points against the Leopards in two outings. He’ll do it again on Saturday. Line: Bucknell -11½. Pick: Bucknell 83, Lafayette 65.

WCC SEMIFINALS: AT LAS VEGAS

(1) Saint Mary’s (25-5, 14-2) vs. (5) San Francisco (20-12, 8-8)

Tipoff: 9 p.m. TV: ESPNU. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 9 – Saint Mary’s 87-72; Feb. 25 – Saint Mary’s 67-60*. RPI: Saint Mary’s 37, San Francisco 142. Analysis: The Dons are playing well, including a 7-point loss at Saint Mary’s just a week ago. And the Gaels are still a little banged up, so USF should keep it close. Line: Saint Mary’s -7½. Pick: Saint Mary’s 71, San Francisco 66.

(2) Gonzaga (24-5, 13-3) vs. (3) BYU (24-7, 12-4)

Tipoff: 11 p.m. TV: ESPNU. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 2 – BYU 83-78; Feb. 23 – Gonzaga 74-63. RPI: Gonzaga 24, BYU 52. Analysis: Interesting matchup featuring strong front lines and good shooters, but the Bulldogs have the better overall talent. Line: Gonzaga -1½. Pick: Gonzaga 69, BYU 62.

Greg Against the Spread This Season: 100-69-2

Wednesday'sTournament Predictions: Atlantic Sun, Big South, Patriot

Greg Mengelt — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:18:38 -0800

Our g ame prediction guru Greg Mengelt has been on fire this year. He'll be picking almost conference tournament game over the next 2 weeks.

BIG SOUTH TOURNAMENT AT ASHEVILLE, N.C.

(2) Coastal Carolina (19-10, 12-6) vs. (7) Virginia Military (15-15, 8-10)

Tipoff: Noon. TV: Big South Network. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 1 – Coastal Carolina 87-78; Feb. 25 – Coastal Carolina 81-64*. RPI: Coastal Carolina 179; VMI 287. Analysis: The Chanticleers struggled late in the regular season. With a game under its belt, VMI should be able to keep this game close. Line: Coastal Carolina -6. Pick: Coastal Carolina 73, VMI 64.

(3) Campbell (17-14, 11-7) vs. (6) Winthrop (11-19, 8-10)

Tipoff: 2 p.m. TV: Big South Network. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 17 – Campbell, 54-51*; Feb. 9 – Campbell, 67-58. RPI: Campbell 201; Winthrop 274. Analysis: Campbell really faded down the stretch. This could be the first conference tournament upset. Line: Campbell -1½. Pick: Campbell 61, Winthrop 60.

(1) UNC-Asheville (21-9, 16-2) vs. (8) High Point (11-19, 6-12)

Tipoff: 6 p.m. TV: Big South Network. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 14 – Asheville, 86-79*; Jan. 26 – Asheville, 90-70. RPI: Asheville 123; High Point 276. Analysis: High Point has more talent than its record indicates and has a chance to keep this game close. Line: Asheville -8½. Pick: Asheville 80, High Point 73.

(4) Charleston Southern (18-11, 11-7) vs. (5) Liberty (14-17, 9-9)

Tipoff: 8 p.m. TV: Big South Network. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 31 – Charleston Southern, 81-76*; Feb. 9 – Liberty 75-74*. RPI: Charleston Southern 178; Liberty 282. Analysis: CSU is the higher seed and has the better record, but Liberty is playing better behind do-everything Jesse Sanders. Line: Charleston Southern -3½. Pick: Liberty 72, Charleston Southern 65.

PATRIOT LEAGUE AT CAMPUS SITES

(8) Navy (3-25, 0-14) at (1) Bucknell (22-8, 12-2)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 28 – Bucknell 66-51*; Feb. 25 – Bucknell 64-55. RPI: Bucknell 83, Navy 328. Analysis: It would take the return of David Robinson for Navy to stay in this game. Line: Bucknell -21½. Pick: Bucknell 80, Navy 51.

(7) Colgate (8-21, 2-12) at (2) Lehigh (23-7, 11-3)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 24 – Lehigh 78-56*; Feb. 11 – Lehigh 89-69. RPI: Lehigh 109, Colgate 300. Analysis: The Hawks will roll into the title game. Line: Lehigh -21½. Pick: Lehigh 75, Colgate 53.

(5) Lafayette (12-17, 7-7) at (4) Holy Cross (15-13, 9-5)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 19 – Lafayette 54-43*; Feb. 22 – Holy Cross 70-63*. RPI: Holy Cross 165, Lafayette 210. Analysis: The Crusaders win the rubber match with their seventh straight win. Line: Holy Cross -6½. Pick: Holy Cross 60, Lafayette 55.

(3) American (19-10, 10-4) at (6) Army (12-17, 5-9)

Tipoff: 7:30 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 21 – American 67-55; American 74-50*. RPI: American 152, Army 300. Analysis: American has won 6 of 8 and the hot play with continue Wednesday. Line: American -13. Pick: American 73, Army 52.

ATLANTIC SUN TOURNAMENT AT MACON, GA.

(1) Belmont (24-7, 16-2) vs. (8) Jacksonville (8-21, 6-12)

Tipoff: 2:30 p.m. TV: ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 4 – Belmont 75-63*; Jan. 28 – Belmont 85-51. RPI: Belmont 61, Jacksonville 263. Analysis: Belmont’s explosive offense has led the Bruins to 11 straight wins. Make it 12. Line: Belmont -16. Pick: Belmont 90, Jacksonville 64.

(2) Mercer (21-10, 13-5) vs. (7) Lipscomb (13-17, 8-10)

Tipoff: 8:30 p.m. TV: ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 1 – Mercer 79-72*; Feb. 23 – Mercer 63-54. RPI: Mercer 125, Lipscomb 219. Analysis: Mercer has had a nice season, but the Bears aren’t playing well late in the season. Line: Mercer -10. Pick: Mercer 68, Lipscomb 62.

*Road win

Jon Teitel's All-Conference Teams, Part One

Jon Teitel — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 09:51:43 -0800

It's that time of the year again. With conference tournament action beginning today, it was a perfect time for Jon Teitel to present CollegeHoops.net's All-Conference Teams. Part one focuses on the teams who will enter conference tournament play this week, and the rest of the conferences will be posted next week. Player of the Year selections are 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 Sun
G Drew Hanlen (Belmont)
G Adam Sollazzo (ETSU)
G Kerron Johnson (Belmont)
F Torrey Craig (USC Upstate)
F Adam Pegg (Stetson)

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

Big South
G Nick Barbour (High Point)
G Keith Gabriel (VMI)
G Matt Dickey (UNC Asheville)
F Stan Okoye (VMI)
F Eric Griffin (Campbell)

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

Horizon
G Kendrick Perry (Youngstown State)
G Ray McCallum (Detroit)
G Julius Mays (Wright State)
F Ryan Broekhoff (Valparaiso)
F Ben Averkamp (Loyola (IL))

Metro Atlantic
G Juan'Ya Green (Niagara)
G Scott Machado (Iona)
F Michael Glover (Iona)
F George Beamon (Manhattan)
F OD Anosike (Siena)

Missouri Valley
G Colt Ryan (Evansville)
G Rayvonte Rice (Drake)
F Doug McDermott (Creighton)
F Kyle Weems (Missouri State)
C Garrett Stutz (Wichita State)

Northeast
G Shane Gibson (Sacred Heart)
G Kyle Vinales (CCSU)
F Ken Horton (CCSU)
F Jamal Olasewere (LIU-Brooklyn)
F Julian Boyd (LIU-Brooklyn)

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

Patriot League
G C.J. McCollum (Lehigh)
G Charles Hinkle (American)
F Ella Ellis (Army)
F Mike Muscala (Bucknell)
F Ryan Willen (Lafayette)

Southern
G Eric Ferguson (Georgia Southern)
G Brad Loesing (Wofford)
F Trevis Simpson (UNC Greensboro)
F De'Mon Brooks (Davidson)
C Mike Groselle (Citadel)

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

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

West Coast
G Drew Viney (Loyola Marymount)
G Matthew Dellavedova (Saint Mary's)
G Anthony Ireland (Loyola Marymount)
F Noah Hartsock (BYU)
F Rob Jones (Saint Mary's)

Conference Tournament Schedules, Week 1

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 18:04:56 -0800

It may feel like it was only yesterday when college basketball fans were excited about the prospect of playing a game on an aircraft carrier, but the most important time of the season is here. Championship "Week" ("Fortnight" sounds more appropriate) begins on Monday, February 27th and won't end until Selection Sunday on March 11th.

Below are the pairings and schedules for the conference tournaments that begin this week (the Big Sky will be added following the important Weber State/Montana battle on Tuesday night), and these will be updated throughout. Before you know it someone will be cutting down the nets at Mercedes Benz (yes, they went corporate) Superdome.

America East (March 1, 3-4 (West Hartford, CT), 10)
Regular season champion: Stony Brook
.pdf bracket

Thursday, March 1 - First Round
#9 Binghamton 73, #8 UMBC 67 (OT)

Saturday, March 3 - Quarterfinals
#1 Stony Brook 78, #9 Binghamton 69
#4 Albany 63, #5 New Hampshire 45
#2 Vermont 50, #7 Maine 40
#6 Hartford 53, #3 Boston University 49

Sunday, March 4 - Semifinals
#1 Stony Brook 57, #4 Albany 55
#2 Vermont 77, #6 Hartford 73 (2OT)

Saturday, March 10 - Title Game (at highest remaining seed)
#2 Vermont at #1 Stony Brook, 11:02 a.m. (ESPN2)

Atlantic Sun (February 29-March 3 in Macon, GA)
Regular season champion: Belmont
.pdf bracket

Wednesday, February 29 - Quarterfinals
#1 Belmont 76, #8 Jacksonville 62
#2 Mercer 61, #7 Lipscomb 53

Thursday, March 1 - Quarterfinals
#4 ETSU 68, #5 North Florida 66
#6 FGCU 71, #3 USC Upstate 58

Friday, March 2 - Semifinals
#1 Belmont 69, #4 ETSU 61
#6 FGCU 62, #2 Mercer 58

Saturday, March 3 - Title Game
#1 Belmont 83, #6 FGCU 69 (Belmont wins the automatic bid)

Big Sky (March 3, 6-7 at Montana)
Regular season champion: Montana
.pdf bracket

Saturday, March 3 - Quarterfinals
#4 Eastern Washington 81, #5 Idaho State 75
#3 Portland State 75, #6 Montana State 53

Tuesday, March 6 - Semifinals (at Montana)
#2 Weber State 69, #3 Portland State 63
#1 Montana 74, #4 Eastern Washington 66

Wednesday, March 7 - Title Game
#1 Montana 85, #2 Weber State 66 (Montana wins automatic bid)

Big South (February 27, 29, March 1, 3)
Regular season champion: UNC Asheville
.pdf bracket

Monday, February 27 - First Round
#7 VMI 55, #10 Radford 53
#8 High Point 68, #9 Gardner-Webb 58

Wednesday, February 29 - Quarterfinals (at UNC Asheville)
#7 VMI 85, #2 Coastal Carolina 68
#6 Winthrop 71, #3 Campbell 55
#1 UNC Asheville 86, #8 High Point 61
#4 Charleston Southern 88, #5 Liberty 74

Thursday, March 1 - Semifinals (at UNC Asheville)
#7 VMI 75, #6 Winthrop 55
#1 UNC Asheville 91, #4 Charleston Southern 64

Saturday, March 3 - Title game (at highest remaining seed)
#1 UNC Asheville 80, #7 VMI 64 (UNC Asheville wins automatic bid)

Colonial (March 2-5 in Richmond, VA)
Regular season champion: Drexel
.pdf bracket

Friday, March 2 - First Round
#9 UNCW 70, #8 James Madison 59
#5 Delaware 72, #12 Towson 65
#7 Northeastern 57, #10 William & Mary 49
#6 Georgia State 85, #11 Hosftra 50

Saturday, March 3 - Quarterfinals
#1 Drexel 59, #8 UNCW 47
#4 Old Dominion 88, #5 Delaware 74
#2 VCU 75, #7 Northeastern 65
#3 George Mason 61, #6 Georgia State 59

Sunday, March 4 - Semifinals
#1 Drexel 68, #4 Old Dominion 51
#2 VCU 74, #3 George Mason 64

Monday, March 5 - Title Game
#2 VCU 59, #1 Drexel 56 (VCU wins automatic bid)

Horizon League (February 28, March 2-3 (at Valparaiso), 6)
Regular season champion: Valparaiso

Tuesday, February 28 (campus sites)
#3 Detroit 80, #10 Loyola (IL) 71
#6 Youngstown State 77, #7 Green Bay 60
#4 Milwaukee 68, #9 UIC 55
#5 Butler 70, #8 Wright State 52

Friday, March 2 - Quarterfinals (at Valparaiso)
#3 Detroit 93, #6 Youngstown State 76
#5 Butler 71, #4 Milwaukee 49

Saturday, March 3 - Semifinals (at Valparaiso)
#3 Detroit 63, #2 Cleveland State 58
#1 Valparaiso 65, #5 Butler 46

Tuesday, March 6 - Title Game (highest remaining seed)
#3 Detroit 70, #1 Valparaiso 50 (Detroit wins automatic bid)

Metro Atlantic (March 2-5 in Springfield, MA)
Regular season champion: Iona
.pdf bracket

Friday, March 2 - First Round
#8 Marist 64, #9 Saint Peter's 57
#7 Niagara 80, #10 Canisius 70

Saturday, March 3 - Quarterfinals
#4 Fairfield 65, #5 Rider 63
#1 Iona 87, #8 Marist 63
#2 Loyola (MD) 86, #7 Niagara 73
#6 Siena 84, #3 Manhattan 82

Sunday, March 4 - Semifinals
#4 Fairfield 85, #1 Iona 75
#2 Loyola (MD) 70, #6 Siena 60

Monday, March 5 - Title Game
#2 Loyola (MD) 48, #4 Fairfield 44 (Loyola (MD) wins automatic bid)

Missouri Valley (March 1-4 in St. Louis, MO)
Regular season champion: Wichita State
.pdf bracket

Thursday, March 1 - First Round
#8 Indiana State 66, #9 Southern Illinois 51
#7 Drake 65, #10 Bradley 49

Friday, March 2 - Quarterfinals
#1 Wichita State 72, #8 Indiana State 48
#4 Illinois State 54, #5 Northern Iowa 42
#2 Creighton 68, #7 Drake 61
#3 Evansville 72, #6 Missouri State 64

Saturday, March 3 - Semifinals
#4 Illinois State 65, #1 Wichita State 64
#2 Creighton 99, #3 Evansville 71

Sunday, March 4 - Title Game
#2 Creighton 83, #4 Illinois State 79 (OT) (Creighton wins the automatic bid)

Northeast (March 1, 4, 7; all games at higher seeded team)
Regular season champion: LIU-Brooklyn
.pdf bracket

Thursday, March 1 - Quarterfinals
#1 LIU Brooklyn 80, #8 Sacred Heart 68
#2 Wagner 87, #7 Central Connecticut State 77
#3 Robert Morris 87, #6 Monmouth 68
#5 Quinnipiac 80, #4 St. Francis (NY) 72

Sunday, March 4 - Semifinals
#1 LIU Brooklyn 78, #5 Quinnipiac 75
#3 Robert Morris 71, #2 Wagner 64

Wednesday, March 7 - Title game
#1 LIU Brooklyn 90, #3 Robert Morris 73 (LIU Brooklyn wins automatic bid)

Ohio Valley (February 29 - March 3)
Regular season champion: Murray State
.pdf bracket

Wednesday, February 29 - First Round
#5 Southeast Missouri 75, #8 Eastern Kentucky 65
#7 Jacksonville State 75, #6 Austin Peay 70

Thursday, March 1 - Quarterfinals
#4 Tennessee Tech 77, #5 Southeast Missouri State 73
#3 Morehead State 68, #7 Jacksonville State 54

Friday, March 2 - Semifinals
#1 Murray State 78, #4 Tennessee Tech 58
#2 Tennessee State 59, #3 Morehead State 52

Saturday, March 3 - Title Game
#1 Murray State 54, #2 Tennessee State 52 (Murray State wins the automatic bid)

Patriot League (February 29, March 3, 7)
Regular season champion: Bucknell
.pdf bracket

Wednesday, February 29 - Quarterfinals
#1 Bucknell 87, #8 Navy 63
#5 Lafayette 84, #4 Holy Cross 76
#2 Lehigh 70, #7 Colgate 57
#3 American 57, #6 Army 40

Saturday, March 3 - Semifinals (at higher seed)
#1 Bucknell 79, #5 Lafayette 52
#2 Lehigh 85, #3 American 66

Wednesday, March 7 - Title Game (at highest remaining seed)
#2 Lehigh 82, #1 Bucknell 77 (Lehigh wins automatic bid)

Southern (March 2-5 in Asheville, NC)
Regular season champion: Davidson
.pdf bracket

Friday, March 2 - First Round
#5N Appalachian State 93, #4S Charleston 81
#3N Western Carolina 68, #6S The Citadel 56
#5S Furman 75, #4N Samford 66
#3S Georgia Southern 76, #6N Chattanooga 70

Saturday, March 3 - Quarterfinals
#1N UNCG 65, #5N Appalachian State 55
#3N Western Carolina 82, #2S Wofford 59
#1S Davidson 73, #5S Furman 54
#2N Elon 65, #3S Georgia Southern 58

Sunday, March 4 - Semifinals
#3N Western Carolina 82, #1N UNCG 77
#1S Davidson 83, #2N Elon 67

Monday, March 5 - Title Game
#1S Davidson 93, #3N Western Carolina 91 (2OT) (Davidson wins automatic bid)

Summit League (March 3-6 in Sioux Falls, SD)
Regular season champion: Oral Roberts
.pdf bracket

Saturday, March 3 - Quarterfinals
#1 Oral Roberts 71, #8 IPFW 67
#2 South Dakota State 77, #7 IUPUI 56

Sunday, March 4 - Quarterfinals
#4 Western Illinois 58, #5 North Dakota State 53
#6 Southern Utah 84, #3 Oakland 82

Monday, March 5 - Semifinals
#4 Western Illinois 54, #1 Oral Roberts 53
#2 South Dakota State 63, #6 Southern Utah 47

Tuesday, March 6 - Title Game
#2 South Dakota State 52, #4 Western Illinois 50 (OT) (South Dakota State wins automatic bid)

Sun Belt (March 3-6 in Hot Springs, AR)
Regular season champion: Middle Tennessee
.pdf bracket

Saturday, March 3 - First Round
#6 South Alabama 87, #11 Troy 81
#9 Arkansas State 70, #8 Florida Atlantic 55
#7 Western Kentucky 67, #10 FIU 63

Sunday, March 4 - Quarterfinals
#9 Arkansas State 64, #1 Middle Tennessee 61
#5 North Texas 65, #4 Louisiana-Lafayette 62
#7 Western Kentucky 68, #2 UALR 63
#3 Denver 61, #6 South Alabama 50

Monday, March 5 - Semifinals
#5 North Texas 76, #9 Arkansas State 72
#7 Western Kentucky 67, #3 Denver 63

Tuesday, March 6 - Title Game
#7 Western Kentucky 74, #5 North Texas 70 (Western Kentucky wins automatic bid)

WCC (February 29 - March 3, 5)
Regular season champion: Saint Mary's
.pdf bracket

Wednesday, February 29 - First Round
#8 Portland 74, #9 Santa Clara 70

Thursday, March 1 - Second Round
#5 San Francisco 87, #8 Portland 66
#6 San Diego 76, #7 Pepperdine 54

Friday, March 2 - Quarterfinals
#5 San Francisco 67, #4 Loyola Marymount 60
#3 BYU 73, #6 San Diego 68

Saturday, March 3 - Semifinals
#1 Saint Mary's 83, #5 San Francisco 78
#2 Gonzaga 77, #3 BYU 58

Monday, March 5 - Title Game
#1 Saint Mary's 78, #2 Gonzaga 74 (OT) (Saint Mary's wins automatic bid)

Consensus Conference Ranking: February vs January

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 07:56:23 -0800

Although the conference table was mostly set back in January when we last updated the Consensus Conference Ranking, there have been some changes since. As you'll see below, the Mountain West dropped from 4th to 6th since January 3rd, while the Colonial and Ivy have jumped 2 spots. This often has to do with the benefits conferences get from regularly playing a Top ranked team: ie, Murray St's ranking rubbing off on the rest of the OVC teams, or Kentucky rubbing off on the SEC.

Below is the Consensus Conference Ranking as of today, as well as January's ranking below for reference. The difference in standings can be seen in green/red.

Rank	Conference	RPI	KenPom	Sagarin	Avg	Change
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	SEC	4	4	4	4.0	+1
5	ACC	6	5	5	5.3	+1
6	Mountain West	5	6	6	5.7	-2
7	Atlantic 10	7	7	8	7.3	+2
8	Pac 12	10	8	7	8.3	-1
9	Missouri Valley	8	9	9	8.7	-1
10	CUSA	9	10	10	9.7
11	WCC	11	11	11	11.0
12	WAC	12	12	12	12.0	+1
13	Horizon	13	15	13	13.7	-1
14	Colonial	15	13	14	14.0	+2
15	Ivy	14	14	16	14.7	+2
16	MAC	17	17	15	16.3	-2
17t	Summit	16	18	19	17.7	-2
17t	Atlantic Sun	20	16	17	17.7
19	Sun Belt	19	19	18	18.7	-1
20	MAAC	18	20	20	19.3
21	Big West	24	21	21	22.0
22t	Patriot	22	22	23	22.3
22t	Ohio Valley	21	24	22	22.3	+2
24	Southern	23	23	25	23.7	-2
25	Big Sky	26	26	24	25.3	+1
26	Big South	27	25	26	26.0	+2
27	Northeast	25	27	28	26.7	+1
28	Southland	28	28	27	27.7	-1
29	America East	29	29	29	29.0
30	MEAC	30	30	30	30.0	-1
31	Independent	31	31	31	31.0
32	SWAC	32	32	32	32.0	-1

	January 3rd
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

Lobos Strengthen Grip on Mountain West: Saturday's Recap

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 07:37:42 -0800

With games at #13 San Diego State and against #11 UNLV this week, Steve Alford's New Mexico Lobos had a great opportunity to not only take control of the Mountain West but also make a statement nationally.

Mission accomplished.

Drew Gordon was outstanding, scoring 27 points and grabbing 20 rebounds as the Lobos whipped UNLV 65-45 in Albuquerque. And while Gordon was outstanding the effort of New Mexico on the defensive end of the floor shouldn't be ignored. UNLV shot just 31.1% from the field for the game, by far their worst performance of the season, and the Runnin' Rebels scored just 18 points in the second half. Anthony Marshall, who finished with 18 points, scored 12 of those second half points and outside of the junior UNLV shot 2-for-13 from the field.

Meanwhile Gordon was a man among boys in the final 20 minutes as he shot 9-for-13 from the field and accounted for 18 points and 11 rebounds. Tony Snell added 12 points in a game that saw both teams go on runs early, but neither could establish any kind of distance in the first half. But the Lobos' intensity on the defensive end combined with heavy doses of Gordon proved to be too much in front of a frenzied crowd at The Pit.

"I don't know if we are the best team in this league yet but there is no team in the last month that has guarded the way that we have guarded," remarked Alford. "To hold a team like this who is averaging 80 points a game, and you hold them to four field goals in one half is great."

In addition to their victory New Mexico received some help from an unlikely source as San Diego State fell 58-56 at Air Force. As a result the Lobos find themselves two games up on both the Aztecs and Runnin' Rebels with four league games to go. Remember that SDSU/UNLV "round three" that many (myself included) were clamoring for in light of their split of the season series? We may get that matchup, but thanks to New Mexico it will likely have to come a round early in the Mountain West tournament.

Other Notable Happenings

1. Murray State takes care of a hobbled Saint Mary's in the Sears BracketBusters headliner.
Much importance was placed on the Sears BracketBusters matchup between Murray State and Saint Mary's, with many hypothesizing that the Racers would have to get this game in order to have a shot at an at-large bid (at 25-1 coming in, this talk seemed to be an absurd overreaction). The Gaels were with a hobbled Matthew Dellavedova and without the injured Stephen Holt, and Isaiah Canaan and company took care of business accordingly. Canaan scored 23 points and dished out four assists in leading Murray State to the 65-51 win, and despite their size disadvantage inside Steve Prohm's club out-rebounded SMC 31-24.

Just as important as Canaan however was the Murray State effort on the defensive end, as they limited Saint Mary's to 37.7% shooting and 2-for-14 from beyond the arc. Dellavedova managed a team-best 17 points but getting outscored by 21 points from beyond the arc (27-6) and Jorden Page and Rob Jones combining to shoot 3-for-18 from the field proved to be too much to overcome. The win should satisfy the masses with regards to Murray State's chances should they not win the OVC's automatic bid, and the task for Randy Bennett's team is to simply get healthy and protect their one-game lead in the WCC.

2. Trey Burke makes the difference as Michigan beat Ohio State in Ann Arbor.
It may be time to end the debate as to not only who the best freshman point guard in America is but also the conversation regarding the Big Ten's best point guard regardless of class. Michigan's Trey Burke scored 17 points and dished out five assists in the Wolverines' 56-51 win over #6 Ohio State to pull into a tie with the Buckeyes a game behind Michigan State in the loss column. His work against Aaron Craft proved to be the difference as Craft struggled, scoring four points on 1-for-6 shooting with three assists and two turnovers.

Deshaun Thomas led the Buckeyes with 25 points and Jared Sullinger was able to muster 14 despite being the focus of Michigan's interior defense, but with Tim Hardaway Jr. adding 13 points and Jordan Morgan a double-double (11 points, 11 rebounds) Michigan was able to give the home folks what they wanted. Guard play wins out more times than not especially in March, and it's very apparent that Michigan is in a good position thanks to Burke.

3. Antoine Young's shot with three-tenths of a second remaining completes the Creighton comeback.
This Sears BracketBuster did not fail to live up to the hype that preceded it as the 49ers and Bluejays put on a show in Omaha. Dan Monson's club led for much of the night but down the stretch Creighton was able to turn the momentum in their favor. And they were able to do so by ramping up their intensity of the defensive end of the floor. "Holding" a team to 50% shooting from the field isn't all that impressive until two factors are noticed: Long Beach State shot 68% in the first half, and the 49ers were just 1-for-5 from beyond the arc after shooting 60% in the first half. Antoine Young would cap the rally with a jumper over T.J. Robinson with less than a second remaining, giving Creighton a needed 81-79 win.

Long Beach State's versatility allows them to switch just about any ball screen, and to head coach Greg McDermott and his players' credit they were able to take advantage of it. Creighton's win can't be mentioned without noting the play of Doug McDermott either, who took full advantage of playing a team unfamiliar with his skill set by scoring 36 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Robinson (20 points, eight rebounds) and Casper Ware (21 points) led the way for the 49ers, who have the remainder of the Big West season to look forward to. Creighton likely locked up an at-large bid barring a collapse, and while Long Beach State has seen some of their bigger wins devalued two things need to be remembered. One, it's not their fault that Xavier and Pittsburgh haven't performed to expectations, and two 37 teams are needed should the 49ers not win the automatic bid. Are there really 37 teams better than Long Beach State? No.

4. Kansas State picks up a win they truly needed as they beat #10 Baylor in Waco.
Given the tough four-game stretch that Frank Martin's team is currently in, it was clear that the Wildcats would have their work cut out for them from a tournament resume standpoint. But those games can be looked at as either a challenge or an opportunity, and how they're seen is up to the team and no one else. Opportunity knocked in the form of a trip to Baylor on Saturday and the Wildcats took advantage, beating the Bears 57-56 in a weird finish. A Jordan Henriquez dunk with 1:55 remaining gave K-State a 57-56 lead, and with neither team scoring another point that would be the final score as well.

Quincy Acy, who finished with 14 points, looked to have been fouled just over 20 seconds later on a shot attempt but no call came and Quincy Miller (12 points, 11 rebounds) missed a shot that would have given the Bears the lead in the final seconds. Angel Rodriguez and Rodney McGruder scored 15 apiece to lead the Wildcats, but the biggest story on the box score has to be the lack of production from Perry Jones III. Jones III managed just four points and four rebounds before fouling out in just 22 minutes of action, and if Baylor's to do anything of note in March these kind of performances can't happen. Kansas State picked up a win they desperately needed however, helping to relieve some of the pressure they may have felt going to their game at Missouri on Tuesday night.

5. Washington beats Arizona but was there anything gained from the result?
There's no denying the fact that the game between the Huskies and Wildcats was an important one within the Pac-12, as the Huskies (tied with California) enjoyed a one-game lead over Arizona (Colorado and Oregon as well) going into Saturday's action. But what does the game, which Washington won 79-70, mean to both in regards to their hopes of an at-large berth? For Arizona it seems quite simple in defeat: win out with games against the L.A. schools at home and a trip to Arizona State and then do some damage at the Pac-12 tournament.

The Wildcats shot just 35.5% from the field in the second half, 2-for-13 from three, as they were unable to make up the two-point halftime deficit (39-37). Terrence Ross led the Huskies with 25 points and Tony Wroten added 22 and nine assists, but with computer numbers that don't jump off the screen at first glance and an 0-4 record against RPI Top 50 teams it will be interesting to see what's made of the Huskies. To say the least a regular season Pac-12 crown would help their cause immensely, and Washington took a step in that direction on Saturday afternoon.

Quick Hitters

1. There were few results more impressive than Wichita State's 91-74 win at Davidson, moving the Shockers to 24-4 on the season. Joe Ragland scored 30 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the way for Wichita State, who shot a scalding 63.5% from the field. Jake Cohen led the Wildcats, who are the prohibitive favorite to win the SoCon's automatic bid, with 25 points.

2. The story of Florida State's 76-62 win at NC State should be the Seminoles limiting the Wolfpack to 29.3% shooting from the field, but thanks to the actions of official Karl Hess that's not the case. Hess thought it necessary to throw Wolfpack legends Tom Gugliotta and Chris Corchiani out of the RBC Center, and according to those in the area it was a blatant overreaction. Much has been made about officials being overworked, but the real problem is that some act as if the fans show up to watch them. This really needs to be dealt with.

3. Things have gotten even worse for Connecticut and Illinois as both teams were on the receiving end of whippings on Saturday afternoon. The Huskies fell to #13 Marquette 79-64 thanks to 53 combined points from Jae Crowder (29 points, 12 rebounds) and Darius Johnson-Odom (24 points). But the bigger issue was point guard Shabazz Napier calling out his teammates following the game. The Huskies don't have the look of a team capable of turning things around and neither does Illinois, who was whipped at Nebraska. In the 80-57 loss the Fighting Illini saw Bo Spencer score 27 points and Nebraska shoot 55.3% from the field.

4. Saint Mary's may have lost but they actually gained a game in the loss column with regards to the WCC race. Rashad Green's jumper with 3.3 seconds remaining pushed San Francisco past #24 Gonzaga by the final score of 66-65. Gonzaga's now tied with BYU for second place at 11-3 with Saint Mary's a game ahead at 12-2 with all three having two games remaining, and the Bulldogs and Cougars meet in Spokane on Thursday night.

5. One way to make earning an NCAA berth tougher than it should be is to lose games you're supposed to win, which is exactly what #23 Mississippi State did. The Bulldogs struggled offensively, shooting 35.2% from the field and 5-for-22 from three in a 65-55 loss at Auburn. Frankie Sullivan led the Tigers with 16 points and Kenny Gabriel added 15 and nine boards.

6. Drexel went on the road and beat Cleveland State 69-49, and while the Vikings are a far different team without D'Aundray Brown this was an impressive result for the Dragons. Drexel has now won 15 in a row, and it may be time to consider where Bruiser Flint's team stacks up against last year's George Mason squad. The Patriots won 16 in a row but would eventually need an at-large bid (8-seed), and a quick look at the numbers (see the "Rankings" area) for both teams shows how difficult it could be for the CAA to get two bids.

7. Both Memphis and Southern Miss dropped games they weren't expected to, meaning that not only do the two teams remain tied for first in Conference USA but they also move closer to the pack. UTEP was able to come back and beat Memphis 60-58 for their first road win of the season, and Houston knocked off Southern Miss 73-71 as Jonathon Simmons led the Cougars with 28 points and eight rebounds. Conference USA needed Southern Miss and Memphis to separate in order to feel good about two bids, and that may not happen at this rate.

8. The streak will live for another year as Dayton was once again unable to win at Xavier, losing 86-83 in overtime at the Cintas Center. The Flyers, who were led by Kevin Dillard's 20 points and six assists, haven't beaten the Musketeers in Cincinnati since 1981. Tu Holloway (32 points, six rebounds, five assists) and Mark Lyons (20 points, three rebounds) led the way for the Musketeers, who remain in the A-10 race with the win.

9. The Patriot League race has become much tighter than expected with two games remaining. While both American (74-50 win at Army) and Lehigh (72-53 win over Lafayette) took care of business they received the help they needed from Holy Cross, who beat first-place Bucknell 54-52 despite 20 points and ten rebounds from Mike Muscala. The Bison are now just a game up on the Eagles and Mountain Hawks, and with two to go there's always the chance that Bucknell could drop all the way down to the 3rd seed. Bucknell and American meet in D.C. on Thursday night.

10. Not only did Belmont take care of what they needed to do in beating East Tennessee State 80-58 but they also received help in the form of Jacksonville's 81-75 win over Mercer. This gives the Bruins a one-game lead over the Bears in the Atlantic Sun with three to go, and the regular season finale is a battle between the two at Mercer (the Bears also host the conference tournament).

11. Similar to the battle between Arizona and Washington, the second meeting of the season between Wyoming and Colorado State is a contest that we'll still have some work to do when it comes to figuring out the meaning. Behind Greg Smith (14 points, eight rebounds) and a defense that limited the Cowboys to 38.6% shooting, the Rams picked up a much-needed split of the season series with a 54-46 win (Wyoming won the first meeting in Laramie by 19). Both teams have plenty of work to do (despite solid computer numbers for CSU) but this is a good step for the Rams.

12. Not only did Northwestern pick up a much-needed win (64-53 over Minnesota) but John Shurna became the school's all-time leading scorer. The senior was all over the stat sheet for the Wildcats, finishing with 18 points, five rebounds, five assists, four steals and three blocked shots. At 6-8 in league play Northwestern has opportunities remaining as they host Michigan and Ohio State, while the remaining road games are Penn State and Iowa.

13. Harvard once again took care of Yale, this time by the final score of 66-51, to remain alone in first place in the Ivy League. Brandyn Curry scored 18 points and Keith Wright ten as the Crimson, who host Princeton and Penn next week, soundly defeated the Bulldogs for the second time this season despite 22 and 11 from Greg Magnano. A sweep of next weekend would guarantee Tommy Amaker's bunch at least a share of the Ivy crown.

14. The nation's second-longest win streak came to an end on Saturday night as Weber State edged out UT-Arlington 72-70 in Ogden. The Mavericks, who had won 16 in a row, limited the nation's leading scorer (Damian Lillard) to 17 points but Scott Bamforth scored 16 of his 19 in the second half to propel the Wildcats to the victory.

15. Two teams in need of wins took losses on the road Saturday as Texas fell 90-78 to Oklahoma State and Seton Hall dropped a 62-57 decision at Cincinnati. Safe to say that both the Longhorns and Pirates have work to do if they're to go dancing, but the good news for both is that their leagues will provide the opportunities needed to strengthen their case.

Five Notable Performances

1. F Drew Gordon (New Mexico)
27 points and 20 rebounds in the Lobos' 65-45 win over #11 UNLV.

2. G Keiton Page (Oklahoma State)
40 points (20-20 FT) in the Cowboys' 90-78 win over Texas.

3. F/C Andrew Nicholson (St. Bonaventure)
32 points, 13 rebounds and three blocked shots in the Bonnies' 81-61 win over Rhode Island.

4. F Doug McDermott (Creighton)
36 points and 11 rebounds in the Bluejays' 81-79 win over Long Beach State.

5. G Louie Krogman (South Dakota)
37 points, six assists and four steals in the Coyotes' 93-92 loss to Texas State.