SEC

Poll: Who Will Win the SEC Tournament?

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:22:19 -0500

Kentucky's Postseason Could be a Roller-coaster

Jason Brubaker — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:10:59 -0500

Every year, CBS concludes their coverage of the NCAA Tournament with “One Shining Moment”, the sappy video montage that shows the highlights, lowlights, emotions and passion that make March Madness so great. Monster dunks. Clutch three-pointers. Buzzer-beaters. Teary-eyed players and coaches. You name it- it's on there.

So why bring this up now, still two weeks from Selection Sunday? Well if Kentucky plans on making a deep run in the tournament, fans better familiarize themselves with the roller-coaster of emotions that are often captured in that video. Because despite their overwhelming talent, the young Cats still have plenty of flaws that could be the difference between cutting down the nets or heading home early.

The most glaring defect right now is clearly the lack of outside shooting. The Cats' 2-22 effort against Tennessee, unfortunately, isn't an aberration. Since the calendar flipped to February, the Cats have made only 35 three-pointers in 145 attempts, a robust 24 percent. And while they're 8-1 in those games, their shooting woes have forced them to play with a razor-thin margin of error, needing overtime to best Mississippi State by six and surviving in Nashville against Vanderbilt by only two points. Even 10-point margins of victory over teams like Ole Miss and Alabama are a little misleading, as both games were tight throughout. Yes, there's certainly something to be said for finding a way to win, and the Cats did that in two very tough environments. But winning sometimes offers a false sense of security, and in the one-and-done style of the Big Dance, another cold night from the floor against a quality team could spell trouble.

But shooting woes shouldn't be the biggest concern for UK. After all, this is a team that buried 12 threes in a home win over Vandy in January, as well as 10 in a win over Arkansas, 11 against Sam Houston State and 14 against Hartford. The Cats have shooters, albeit some inconsistent ones. But they're very capable of making outside shots. No, the real concern should be why they're missing those shots. And the answer is easy...tired legs.

The Cats' eight-man rotation includes four true freshmen, as well as a junior college transfer. And as spectacularly talented as guys like John Wall and Eric Bledsoe are, they are simply not used to playing this many minutes. Although most high school teams play 30-35 games each season, it's a safe bet that both Wall and Bledsoe were both able to spend some second halves on the bench last year, having already built up a big lead. Unfortunately, that's not been the case this year, as both players are averaging over 30 minutes per game for the season. And their stats bear out the fact that they may be wearing down from all of the time on the court.

In December and January, Wall shot 45 percent from the field and 41 percent from the three-point line. In February? He's at 39 percent from the field and a paltry 19 percent from behind the arc. Bledsoe has also seen his numbers dip, from 46 percent from the field and 38 percent from three-point land to 40 percent from the field and 18 percent from three-point land in the same time. Of course some will point to the level of competition having increased in conference play, and the fact that UK is getting every team's best shot - both fair points. However, even if that is the case, the tournament certainly won't change either of those facts. The level of play is going to be just as high, and every team will be fighting to stay alive, meaning the target on UK will grown even bigger as March wears on.

And therein lies the next concern...the march through March. Can a team with so little postseason experience handle playing six games in three weeks, each with increased intensity and scrutiny? They certainly didn't show it this past weekend, playing on a short turnaround after beating South Carolina on Thursday night. They did manage to climb back in the game against Tennessee, but only after spotting them an 18-0 first half run, something that could end them if it happens in March. Quite simply, mental lapses and periods of defensive breakdowns usually mean early exits from the Big Dance. The Cats' talent level is so high, they've been able to win despite those errors all season. But what about when they match up with a quality team in the second or third round of the tournament, potentially a team like Wisconsin, a veteran team who slows the pace and makes you maximize every possession? Could they fight through a poor shooting night to keep their intensity and focus at both ends of the floor? Only time will tell.

Of course, it's only fair to point out that the Cats, despite their youth and occasional mental lapses, are still 27-2. They still have a Player of the Year candidate in Wall, a potential All-American in DeMarcus Cousins, and a versatile forward in Patrick Patterson who is likely to be a lottery pick in June. They are the biggest team in the country, and they've showed that when they lock in, they're nearly unbeatable. So can they win the title this year? Absolutely. But because of their youth, they probably enter the postseason with a few more question marks than other title contenders like Kansas or Syracuse. So it remains to be seen if the Cats will fulfill their potential and cut down the nets in Indianapolis.

But one thing is certain.

It's going to be a heck of a ride.

SEC News & Notes: Blocks Record, POY, More

Jason Brubaker — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 10:20:39 -0500

Some SEC News & Notes, as I am trapped inside with around 18 inches of snow on the ground here in Cincinnati. (Yes, I realize other areas of the country have much more than that, but this gives me an excuse to be lazy and stay in front of the television watching college basketball). So without further ado, here's what's happening around the league.

•    Wayne Chism has never been the most popular player amongst opposing fans in the SEC, but even the most ardent Tennessee opponent has to admire his play this year. Since the dismissal of forward Tyler Smith, Chism has averaged 15 points and a little over eight rebounds per game, and has piled up three-double-doubles in that time, including a monster 26-point, 12-rebound effort in a win over Ole Miss. He’s also taken on more of a leadership role, playing through numerous injuries to help the Vols stay on track for the NCAA Tournament.. His inside/outside game causes mismatches for opponents, and he's even played his way onto the NBA radar as a possible second-round pick. If the Vols make any noise this postseason, it's a certainty Chism will lead the way.

•    LSU has been awful this year (0-11 in the SEC), but the play of Tasmin Mitchell shouldn't be overlooked. Mitchell is averaging 17 points and just a shade under 10 boards per game, and should surpass 2,000 career points by the end of the season. He's seen it all during his LSU career, visiting the Final Four as a freshman, suffering a season-ending injury as a junior, and now struggling to lead an undermanned team as a senior. However, his effort has always been terrific, and by all accounts, he's a terrific leader on and off the floor. I'm sure he envisioned a better senior season than this, but regardless, he deserves recognition for a great overall career.

•    The SEC Weekly Awards have been finding their way to Lexington quite a bit this year. Through the first 14 weeks, Kentucky has claimed 12 awards, including ten Freshmen of the Week awards and two Player of the Week awards. John Wall alone has five FOW awards, and his sixth could be on the way after a near triple double against Mississippi State. The next best school? Vanderbilt, with four awards, including two FOW awards for guard John Jenkins.

•    How different would Arkansas' record be if they had Courtney Fortson all season? Fortson was suspended the first 14 games of the season, as the Hogs went just 7-7. Since his return, he's averaged 19 points, five rebounds and six assists, and the Hogs have climbed to first in the jumbled SEC West. Fortson's energy and scoring ability has pumped life in Arkansas, and they're going to be a tough out in the SEC Tournament.

•    His team is just 14-11, and he's likely to go undrafted in the upcoming draft. He doesn't have the exposure of players like John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins, and, if he wasn't in uniform, he might be mistaken for a team manager. Yet South Carolina's diminutive superstar, Devan Downey, has firmly planted himself in the SEC Player of the Year argument. In conference games, Downey is averaging a shade under 29 points per game, despite being the focal point of every opposing defense. Downey's detractors will point out that his numbers have been inflated because he has taken more than twice as many shots as anyone else on his team, which is currently fifth in the SEC East. However, what he's done this year is nothing short of remarkable for an undermanned team that needs him to score - and score big - to have a chance to win. The Gamecocks' record may prevent him from taking home the award, but I'd have a hard time arguing against him.

•    With five regular season games left, as well as at least a couple of postseason games, it's almost a certainty that Jarvis Varnado will end his career with more blocked shots than anyone in Division I history. The long-armed Mississippi State senior is only 14 blocks shy of tying Louisiana Monroe's Wojciech Mydra, who holds the record with 535 blocks. After Tuesday's loss to Kentucky, Varnado is averaging 4.9 blocks per game, meaning he should be in striking distance of the record during the Bulldogs' Feb. 27 match-up with South Carolina. Of course, he also has 24 career games with seven or more blocks, so he could get there even sooner. It's not every day that an NCAA career record falls, and Varnado should be congratulated on his efforts when he gets there.

•    And finally, to the Mississippi State fans who threw objects on the floor following the heart-breaking loss to Kentucky...grow up. Emotion and passion are what makes college sports great, and we've all been frustrated as fans when things don't go our team's way, but there's no excuse for what happened on Tuesday night. The Bulldogs were undermanned and outclassed in talent, yet played their tails off the entire game and nearly pulled off an incredible upset. But instead of their team being congratulated for their effort, it's the fan base that is getting the headlines, and for all the wrong reasons. I realize that it only takes a few fans to make an entire stadium or arena look bad, but this unfortunately gives a black eye to the entire university. Let's hope this is something we don't see again.

For Patrick Patterson, Less is More

Jason Brubaker — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:07:57 -0500

As the 2009 NBA Draft rolled around, there was one name conspicuously absent - Kentucky forward Patrick Patterson. This had to be a mistake, right? After all, Patterson was a McDonald's All-American in high school, had a terrific freshman year, and then had upped his averages to 17 points and nine board per game as a sophomore. He received All-American nominations, and was a lock to be selected in the first round. He had no reason to come back to school. Besides, playing second, or third, or even fourth fiddle to Kentucky's heralded freshmen would only hurt his draft stock, right?

Wrong.

Although his scoring and rebounding numbers have dropped, Patterson's NBA stock is now higher than ever, thanks to a chance to showcase his all-around game, unselfishness, and leadership on a young team. And, following two frustrating seasons under Billy Gillispie, and having never played in an
NCAA Tournament game (he missed UK's 2008 game against Marquette due to injury), Patterson now heads into March with a legitimate chance to cut down the nets as a national champion. For a guy who spent last March watching the Big Dance on television, it has to feel good.

Coming into the season, some wondered how Patterson would mesh with uber-hyped recruits like John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. Would he be okay playing a supportive role, even though he had every right to demand to be the star? Would his game be affected with Cousins occupying the paint with
him? Would he be able to adapt to John Calipari's offense after two years of Gillispie's high-low attack?

Turns out, there has been little need for worry. By all accounts, Patterson is, and has been, a team-first guy his entire career. Even amidst the turmoil of last season, Patterson never let his frustrations show, always playing the role of the good soldier and letting his play do the talking. This season, instead of worrying about declining stats or the spotlight shining upon his teammates, he has taken on the role of a leader and counselor. He's usually the first one to gather his teammates in a huddle on the floor, and he can be often seen dishing out advice to the freshmen during stoppages in play. And we've even seen something from Patterson that was very rare last year...smiles.

But don't confuse Patterson for an-over-the-hill veteran who's merely passing on knowledge to his teammates. Time and time again, he's proven that he's still the same All-American caliber talent he was the last two years. It's just that this year, he has been able to pick his spots more, and his overall game has improved as a result.

His field attempts have decreased this year overall, and his shooting percentage is down slightly, from 60 percent to 57 percent. However, when you consider that the team is playing at a much faster pace than in previous years (81.3 points per game compared to 74.1 in 2008-09 and 68.5 in 2007-08), and Patterson is playing more on the perimeter than ever before, it makes sense to have a few more missed shots. His teammates still have confidence in him to hit the big shots however, as evidenced by his baseline jumper on Tuesday that sent the game against Mississippi State into overtime.

Of course, Patterson has also added another weapon to his repertoire – the three pointer. In his first two years on campus, with no other post presence, Patterson was rooted under the basket and attempted only four shots from beyond the arc, making exactly none. This year? He's nailed 18, and is shooting 40 percent from behind the line, not bad for a guy who's 6'9” and has the physique of a bodybuilder.

Between his willingness to cede shots and attention to his teammates, and his expanded game, Patterson has seen his draft status steadily climb all year. Pegged as a probably mid-to-late first rounder last year, it now appears likely that Patterson will find himself in the lottery this year. He's still got the size, athleticism and strength to play in the post, but he's now shown the ability to step away from the basket and play in an up-tempo offense, which will serve him well in the NBA. He's also shown the ability to function when he's not the top option on the floor, and his team-first attitude will be a welcome fit on many NBA rosters.

It seems odd, that Patterson could see his numbers go down but his stock go up, but it's also fitting. He's a guy who has done everything right in his UK career so far, both on and off the floor, and it's finally paying off for him, with a great season and a brighter-than-ever future.

It's also a great lesson for young college stars, who feel that big stats are the quickest way to the NBA. By sacrificing his stats for the betterment of the team, Patterson has shown that big numbers don't always translate to success. By embracing his teammates instead of resenting the attention they receive, he's helped set the tone for a team that is on the verge of doing something very special. And because of that, he's going to reap the rewards, with a possible NCAA title and a pretty hefty paycheck in the NBA.

So next time you glance over the NCAA's leading scorers, or scan down the list of the country's leading rebounders, don't confuse those names with the best players in the country. As Patterson has proven, sometimes less is more.

SEC Tournament Watch: Who Will Be Dancing?

Jason Brubaker — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:19:32 -0500

Valentine’s Day for many people involves an intimate dinner, flowers, perhaps some candy, maybe even a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride through the snow. But for college basketball fans – it means that teams have one month left to earn their dance cards. One more month of proving their worth against conference opponents, trying to build momentum as they enter March.

With the conference season halfway done, the SEC is in decidedly better shape than last year, when Cupid arrived and saw a mess of bubble teams that had no shot of reaching the second weekend. This year, as many as six teams could find themselves dancing, although as always, there’s still a lot that can happen.

Here’s the breakdown right now.

Tournament Locks:

Kentucky: 23-1 (8-1 SEC)

RPI: 6

Strength of Schedule: 51

Key wins: Vanderbilt, at Florida, Mississippi

Bad losses: None

Big games remaining: Tennessee, at Mississippi State at Vanderbilt, at Tennessee

The Cats have hovered in the top five all year, and should be in contention for a top seed come March. Despite some inconsistent efforts and youthful mistakes, they’ve simply been able to overwhelm people with their talent all year. Their non-conference schedule doesn’t look great, especially with North Carolina, Louisville and UConn struggling, but if they continue to win like they have, it won’t matter. With three tough road games left, it’s not unconceivable that the Cats could stumble once more, but barring a major surprise, they should be quite pleased on Selection Sunday.

Tennessee: 18-5. (6-3 SEC)

RPI: 19

Strength of Schedule: 38

Key wins: Kansas, Mississippi

Bad losses: at USC, at Georgia

Big games remaining: at Kentucky, at Florida, Kentucky, at Mississippi State

The Vols have responded better than many thought after the dismissal of star Tyler Smith, but they still have work to do to improve their seed. Since losing Smith, the Vols have knocked off Kansas, but also have dropped a pair of games to Vandy, and struggled to win against Florida and LSU. They still have a pair of games left with Kentucky, and winning one of those would be huge for their resume. Right now, the Vols look to be around a 5-seed, but they could go a couple spots in either direction depending on how strong they finish the season.

Vanderbilt: 18-5 (7-2 SEC)

RPI: 18

Strength of Schedule: 24

Key wins: Tennessee (2), Florida, Missouri

Bad losses: Western Kentucky, at Georgia

Big games remaining: at Mississippi, Kentucky, at Florida

The Commodores are a team to keep an eye on in March. They have veteran leadership, a balanced attack, and are playing well as of late, having won nine of 11 since the calendar flipped to 2010. If they’re able to score an upset of Kentucky in a huge home game on Feb. 20, they could find themselves as high as a three-seed in the NCAA. Right now, they’re probably in 5-seed range along with Tennessee, but they’re certainly capable of climbing higher. Look for Vandy to be a tough out this year in the NCAA Tourney.

Probably Dancing:

Mississippi: 17-6 (5-4 SEC)

RPI: 39

Strength of Schedule: 52

Key wins: at Kansas State

Bad losses: None

Big games remaining: at Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Florida

The Rebels are in good position to make the tournament, but they may need to find another signature win somewhere. They don’t have any terrible losses, with four of their six losses coming to teams ranked in the top 15, and the early season win over Kansas State continues to look better. However, the Rebels need a strong finish to avoid being on bubble watch. If they’re able to get to 10 conference wins, and make a good showing in the SEC Tournament, they’ll likely find themselves in the 8-9 seed range. Knocking off Vanderbilt would be a huge boost for their resume.

On the Bubble:

Florida: 17-7 (6-4 SEC)

RPI: 50

Strength of Schedule: 70

Key wins: Michigan State, Florida State

Bad losses: South Alabama

Big games remaining: at Mississippi, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, at Kentucky

The Gators have been rolling lately, having won six of their last seven heading into a showdown with South Carolina on Wednesday. They don’t always win pretty, and have relied on some late-game heroics more than once, but regardless, they’re still sitting in a good position heading into March. They have two great non-conference wins, and even the loss to Richmond doesn’t look as awful as it did at the time. However, they’re still searching for a big SEC win to add to their resume. If they’re able to hold home court against Tennessee and Vanderbilt, as well as knock off Auburn and Georgia, 10 conference wins should get them into the tournament. They’re certainly not a sure thing, but they’re on the right track.

Mississippi State: 16-7 (4-4 SEC)

RPI: 71

Strength of Schedule: 126

Key wins: Mississippi

Bad losses: Rider, Western Kentucky

Big games remaining: Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee

The Bulldogs have plenty of work to do if they want to dance into March. The good news for them is that they’ll have plenty of chances, starting with a showdown against Ole Miss on Thursday. The Bulldogs also have homes dates with Kentucky and Tennessee, and they’ll probably need both to make their resume more tournament-worthy. Rick Stansbury’s club has some nice pieces, but they haven’t seemed to find a rhythm in conference play, having lost four of their last five. It’s not too late to make a run, but for a team that entered the season with expectations of a deep run through March, they’ve been largely disappointing so far.

On the Outside But Have a Chance:

South Carolina: 14-9 (5-4 SEC)

In all likelihood, the Gamecocks will need to win the SEC Tournament to earn a bid, but don’t count them out. Devan Downey is making a run at SEC Player of the Year, and he’s shown the ability to carry the team through long stretches. Another win over Kentucky certainly wouldn’t hurt, but overall, they still probably need to win out to even think about the bubble.

Arkansas: 13-11 (6-3 SEC)

Like South Carolina, the Hogs probably have too much work left to do to count on an at-large bid, and will need to run the SEC Tournament to get in. However, with Courtney Fortson back, the Hogs are a dangerous team, and they’re playing their best ball of the season right now. They may not win it, but look for the Hogs to at least put a scare into someone during the SEC Tournament.

There’s always next year:

Georgia 10-12 (2-7 SEC)

They may be the best 10-win team in the country, but at the end of the day, they’re still a 10-win team. The Dawgs have some good pieces, but just don’t have enough to compete this year.

Alabama 13-11 (3-7 SEC)

Like Georgia, the Tide can’t be faulted for their effort, but they just don’t simply have enough talent. On the bright side, spring football practice is only a couple months away.

Auburn: 12-12 (3-6 SEC)

The Tigers have attempted close to 600 three-pointers this year. When you’re shooting them at 32 percent, that’s not a recipe for success.

LSU 9-15 (0-10 SEC)

Nothing much to say here. The Tigers just simply aren’t a good team. Help may be on the way next year, but unfortunately, they have to finish this season first.

Bracketology: Now Tuesday & Friday

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:08:28 -0500

The Bracketology field is based on how the tourney looks "as of this moment." The field below is not based on who I think deserves to be in, but a prediction of what the committee would do as things stand. Beginning this week, I'll be posting Bracketology updates every Tuesday & Friday. In late February, I release Bracketology updates daily as the season approaches crunch time.

Why should you care what I have to say? In 2007 & 2008, I was considered to have one of the Top 2 or 3 brackets amongst 53 national experts including Joe Lunardi, Gary Parrish and the like. (Admittedly my 2009 final bracket was rather weak.. not sure what happened. Can't win 'em all.)

Notes:

Arrows indicate movement by seed. Green indicates new to the field this week. Conference champions are not my end of season predictions, but current leaders. (Ties atop conference standings go to the higher RPI team).

ONE

Kansas**

Syracuse**

Kentucky**

Villanova

TWO

Duke**

THREE

FOUR

Vanderbilt

Gonzaga

FIVE

Ohio St

Temple

Texas

Butler**

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

Cornell**

TEN

ELEVEN

Siena**

Florida

Clemson

UTEP**

TWELVE

Oklahoma St

Old Dominion

Illinois

Wichita St

THIRTEEN

Utah St**

Northeastern**

Murray State**

Kent St**

FOURTEEN

Charleston**

Oakland**

Weber St**

Pacific**

FIFTEEN

Sam Houston St**

Coastal Carolina**

Morgan St**

Arkansas St**

SIXTEEN + ONE

Stony Brook**

Belmont**

Robert Morris**

Lehigh** / Jackson St**

** = Automatic Bid

League Leaders/Winners (31)

- Leaders throughout the season are merely the first place team in the standings as of the update, and not projected winners. Ties go to the higher RPI team. New teams this week in green.

America East - Stony Brook

A-10 - Charlotte

ACC - Duke

Atlantic Sun - Belmont

Big 12 - Kansas

Big East - Syracuse

Big Sky - Weber St

Big South - Coastal Carolina

Big Ten - Michigan St

Big West - Pacific

CAA - Northeastern

Conference USA - UTEP

Horizon - Butler

Ivy - Cornell

MAAC - Siena

MAC - Kent St

MEAC - Morgan St

MVC - Northern Iowa

MWC - New Mexico

Northeast - Robert Morris

Ohio Valley - Murray St

Pac-10 - California

Patriot - Lehigh

SEC - Kentucky

Southern - Charleston

Southland - Sam Houston St

SWAC - Jackson St

Summit - Oakland

Sun Belt - Arkansas St

WAC - Utah St

WCC - St Mary's

*** = Locked Up Automatic Bid

Last In: Oklahoma St, Old Dominion, Illinois, Wichita St

Last Out: Dayton, Marquette, Virginia Tech, Washington, Cincinnati

Further Four: South Florida, Notre Dame, Virginia, Northwestern

Dropped Out Of Field (at-large): Arizona, Cincinnati, Mississippi St

Post your thoughts on this week's field below:

DeMarcus Cousins: Big Cuz Emerging From Wall's Shadow

Jason Brubaker — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:41:16 -0500

Remember Greg Oden?

Of course you do. He was one the most hyped big men to enter college in the last 10 years, billed as a superstar long before he ever even made his college decision. He graced magazine covers as a sophomore in high school, and was compared to everyone from Patrick Ewing to David Robinson to Tim Duncan. In his one and only year in college, he averaged 15.9 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, and helped lead Ohio State to the national championship game before departing to the NBA, where he was the top overall pick.

Now, three years later, another dominant freshman big man has emerged. The only problem is, nobody seems to notice. You might think it's hard for a 6'11”, 260-pound big man to be overlooked, but that's exactly what's happened to Kentucky center DeMarcus Cousins for much of the season.

The hype around Lexington most of the season has centered on fellow freshman John Wall, and deservedly so. As the point guard, Wall has the ball in his hands nearly every play, and his combination of athleticism and poise has all but ensured that he will be the top pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. But is it possible that he's not even the most important player on his own team?

After all, Cousins, or “Big Cuz” to his teammates, has been a monster in the paint all year long, posting averages of 16 points and nine rebounds per game...all in only 21 minutes per game. Blessed with soft hands and brute strength, Cousins is an absolute load in the paint, and his presence under the basket opens up driving lanes for Wall, Eric Bledsoe and DeAndre Liggins. He also has allowed forward Patrick Patterson to showcase more of his perimeter game by stepping away from the basket.

With all that he does, you may wonder why he's only logging 21 minutes per game. And therein lies the biggest question mark surrounding Cousins' future. Known to be an emotional player who can sometimes lose focus, Cousins has become the target of opponents recently, as they try to neutralize him by playing overly physical and trying to get him to lose his temper. As the season has worn on, this tactic has been employed more and more, as teams realize the best way to stop Cousins is to have him stop himself.

Against Vanderbilt last weekend, the Commodores did their best to frustrate Cousins, using forward Steve Tchiengang off the bench as an agitator for most of the game. While Big Cuz did have his moments, picking up a technical while mixing it up under the basket, he also pounded the 'Dores with 21 points and 10 boards. He also continually sparked life into an occasionally restless crowd, hitting the floor at least three times for loose balls and playing with an infectious energy that seemed to inspire his teammates. In short, he showed that even the one strategy designed to stop him might not be enough.

And the scary part for opponents? He is getting better. Of his 13 double-doubles this year, nine have come in the last 11 games. In SEC play, he's averaging 18 points and 10 rebounds, all while shooting 55 percent from the floor. He also has 15 blocks through the first seven conference games, showing he can be a factor on both sides of the floor.

Now admittedly, Cousins still is a work in progress. He needs to improve his conditioning, as he tends to look winded during games, which sometimes leads to his foul trouble. He has managed to control his emotions enough to still be a force on the floor, but veteran opponents will continue to bait him, hoping to take him out of his game. His defense has improved, but he still continues to find himself in foul trouble far too often. Only three times this year has he committed fewer than three fouls in a game, and should UK find themselves matched up with a frontcourt like Syracuse or Kansas at some point in March, they'll need him on the floor as much as possible.

But it's hard not to like Cousins at this point. For all of the talk about his emotions and temper, it's often not mentioned that his effort can't ever be questioned on the floor. He plays with a passion that has endeared him to the Big Blue nation, and he's quietly making a case for SEC Player of the Year. The grimace he wears on the floor masks a great smile off of it, as he has quickly become to “go-to” interview for reporters because of his sense of humor and brutal honesty. As impossible as it may have seemed only a few weeks ago, he has emerged from the John Wall shadow and is now creeping onto the radar of fans, who realize that this giant, dancing, sometimes-grumpy-but-often-goofy big man is a pretty good player in his own right.

He may not get the recognition of Wall, or even of other recent big men like Oden or Michael Beasley, but there's no doubt that Cousins could have just as big an impact as any of them. He looks to be a lock for the lottery now, and it would be a shock if he returns to Lexington for another season, especially if the Cats are able to cut down the nets in Indianapolis.

Maybe then, people will finally start to notice Big Cuz.

Devan Downey: CollegeHoops.net Player of the Week

Jeff Borzello — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 09:16:06 -0500

CollegeHoops.net Player of the Week: Devan Downey, South Carolina

Sometimes, picking a Player of the Week is difficult. In some weeks, one has to go through dozens and dozens of box scores, seeing which players had two good games during the week, which teams did well and were carried by a certain player and then narrow it down to eight or nine players. After that, you have to pick a few of the marquee performers and then eventually choose one. This week, however, was easy. Forget West Virginia’s Da’Sean Butler and his 27 points against Louisville; forget Illinois’ Demetri McCamey’s 19 points, eight assists and buzzer shot vs. Indiana; forget Greg Monroe’s 21 points, five rebounds and five assists against Duke; forget Quincy Pondexter of Washington averaging 28.0 points and 11.5 rebounds this week; forget everything.

The clear Player of the Week honor this week has to go to Devan Downey of South Carolina. In case you don’t follow college basketball, or sports in general – and I’m guessing that’s doesn’t cover any of the people reading this, since you’re, well, reading this – Downey had 30 points and single-handedly led the Gamecocks to an upset of No. 1 Kentucky on Tuesday. While he did shoot just 9-for-29 from the field against the Wildcats, Downey’s craftiness and scoring ability late in the game enabled South Carolina to get the victory. Downey also grabbed five rebounds, dished out three assists and banned two steals. That performance would have likely won him this week’s honors anyway, but Downey wasn’t done. The diminutive 5-9 waterbug of a guard dropped 33 points and hit the game-winning basket with 50 seconds left to give South Carolina a one-point victory over Georgia.

In the two games this week, Downey averaged 31.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals – and only 1.5 turnovers per game. Overall this season, Downey is now averaging 22.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.1 steals per game. While his shooting percentages are not overly attractive, it is Downey’s clutch scoring ability and innate knack for getting into the lane that makes him so difficult to contain. If he continues to play like this – and leads South Carolina to some more big victories – Downey and the Gamecocks could be in the thick of things come Selection Sunday.

Previous CHN Player of the Week:

Jan 26: Jerome Dyson - UCONN

Jan 19: Scottie Reynolds - Villanova

Jan 12: Scotty Hopson - Tennessee

Jan 5: Ashton Gibbs - Pittsburgh

Dec 29: Mike Gerrity / Devin Ebanks

Dec 22: Dexter Pittman - Texas

Dec 14: Jacob Pullen - Kansas St

Dec 7: Trevon Hughes - Wisconsin

College Basketball: 73-team Power Conference Ranking

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:56:25 -0500

Power Conference Ranking

During the 2007-08 season, I posted occasionally BCS Conference power rankings that spurred some interesting debates. Sure, everyone knows the best teams in the nation, but it was particularly interesting (and offensive to some fans) to see who the worst of the worst was. With some extra time on my hands, I decided to bring back the ranking once again. In the right hand column, you'll see the team's ranking in my overall Top 50 for reference. However, the Top 50 #'s are weekly and don't include the latest games (ie, Texas losing to Kansas St) which is why the overall order has changed.

Amazing that at the same time in 2007-08, UCLA was #1 on the list, and they are now 67th out of 73. Kentucky, meanwhile went from #22 in the middle of that season to our current #1.

Team Record League T50

1
Kentucky

the lone remaining unbeaten
18-0 SEC 1

2
Kansas
16-1 B12 3

3
Syracuse
already won 4 big east road games
18-1 BE 4

4
Texas
17-1 B12 2

5
Duke
15-2 ACC 5

6
Villanova
16-1 BE 6

7
Michigan State
15-3 B10 7

8
Kansas St
16-2 B12 9

9
Tennessee

better without tyler smith?
15-2 SEC 8

10
Purdue
15-3 B10 10

11
West Virginia
13-3 BE 11

12
Georgetown
13-3 BE 12

13
Pittsburgh
perhaps biggest surprise bcs team?
15-2 BE 18

14
Wisconsin
14-4 B10 14

15
Georgia Tech
14-4 ACC 19

16
Clemson
15-4 ACC 15

17
Texas A&M
13-5 B12 21

18
Florida State
14-4 ACC 22

19
North Carolina
12-6 ACC 24

20
Ohio State
14-5 B10 32

21
Ole Miss
13-4 SEC 20

22
Baylor
14-2 B12 25

23
Vanderbilt
quietly won 8 games in a row
14-3 SEC 33

24
Mississippi St
15-3 SEC 34

25
Wake Forest
12-4 ACC 36

26
Oklahoma State
13-4 B12 39

27
Virginia Tech
14-3 ACC 42

28
Connecticut
havent won a road or neutral game yet
11-6 BE 38

29
Missouri
14-4 B12 44

30
Florida
12-5 SEC 45

31
USC
11-6 P10 46

32
Cincinnati
12-6 BE 48

33
Northwestern
13-5 B10 43

34
Miami
15-4 ACC 31

35
California
11-6 P10 49

36
Notre Dame
14-5 BE *

37
Arizona St

first place in pac-10 early.. so what
14-5 P10 *

38
Washington
12-5 P10 *

39
St. John's
12-5 BE *

40
Maryland
12-5 ACC *

41
Minnesota
12-6 B10 *

42
Louisville
12-6 BE *

43
Illinois
12-7 B10 *

44
Virginia

3-0 in acc play is somewhat flukey
12-4 ACC *

45
Texas Tech
losers of 3 straight, but all to good teams
12-5 B10 *

46
Marquette
11-6 BE *

47
South Carolina
11-6 SEC *

48
Seton Hall
10-6 BE *

49
Washington St
13-5 P10 *

50
Oklahoma
young team perhaps finally turning corner
11-7 B12 *

51
Iowa St
12-5 B12 *

52
NC State
12-6 ACC *

53
Providence
11-7 BE *

54
Michigan
10-7 B10 *

55
Alabama
11-7 SEC *

56
Nebraska
12-6 B12 *

57
Arizona
derrick williams is perhaps top under the radar fr
9-9 P10 *

58
Indiana
8-9 B10 *

59
Georgia
8-8 SEC *

60
Boston College
11-8 ACC *

61
South Florida
11-6 BE *

62
Colorado
10-7 B12 *

63
Oregon
10-7 P10 *

64
Arkansas
8-9 SEC *

65
LSU
9-8 SEC *

66
Stanford
8-9 P10 *

67
UCLA
amazing to see ucla way down here
7-10 P10 *

68
Auburn
jeff lebo's job has to be in jeopardy
9-9 SEC *

69
Oregon St
8-9 P10 *

70
Penn St
8-9 B10 *

71
Rutgers
9-8 BE *

72
Iowa
7-11 B10 *

73
DePaul
a new coach wont change a thing
7-10 BE *

SEC to Make Big Impact on 2010 NBA Draft

Jason Brubaker — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 11:31:31 -0500

For SEC fans, the 2009 NBA Draft was about as exciting as watching paint dry.

First there was the lottery... nothing. Next, the rest of the first round... nothing. It was nearly two hours into the draft before the Bucks selected Kentucky SG Jodie Meeks with the 41^st pick. Two picks later, LSU guard Marcus Thornton went to New Orleans, and two picks after that, Florida PG Nick Calathes was selected by Dallas.

But it was there the excitement ended, with just three SEC players selected. Three. And by the time Meeks finally heard his name called, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, UCLA, Wake Forest and Louisville had all seen multiple players selected. In fact, UNC produced more picks by themselves than the entire SEC, with four. Safe to say, it was not a banner year for the conference.

But it's also safe to say 2010 won't be more of the same. With the influx of talent into the league, as well as the development of some returning players, the SEC should be much better represented this year. With the season approximately halfway over, here's a look at some of the top NBA prospects.

John Wall, Kentucky

Key stats: 17. 1 points, 6.9 assists

Draft prediction: Top pick

Barring a major surprise, Wall will be the top pick in the 2010 draft. Although just a freshman, he has the speed, athleticism and poise to become an instant impact player, and there's no reason he shouldn't become a star in the league. Wall has great size for the point, and he's virtually unstoppable in transition. Look for him to fill up NBA highlight reels for years to come.

DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky

Key stats: 15.3 points, 9.3 rebounds

Draft prediction: Lottery

Cousins is overshadowed by Wall at times, but he is a tremendous talent in his own right. He has great size, solid ball skills and an NBA-ready body. The only thing holding Cousins back is his attitude. He's known to have a quick fuse, and can sometimes lose focus on the floor. However, if he's able to continue to keep his composure and help lead UK on a deep tournament run, he could find himself shaking David Stern's hand not long after Wall.

Scotty Hopson, Tennessee

Key stats: 13. 3 points, 3.7 rebounds

Draft prediction: Late lottery – mid first round

Hopson has great size for a shooting guard, as well as top-notch athleticism and a sweet stroke from the perimeter. However, his production doesn't always match his potential, and there are questions about his drive. If he proves he can lead the Vols this year in the absence of Tyler Smith, look for his stock to skyrocket.

Patrick Patterson

Key stats: 16.9 points, 7.9 rebounds

Draft prediction: Late lottery – mid first round

Patterson is no longer having to shoulder such a large load for the Cats this year, and as a result, his game has expanded. Patterson has been able to showcase more of a perimeter game, having made 10 three-pointers this season after making zero in his first two years. With good size, good athleticism and a high basketball IQ, Patterson is likely to become a solid NBA player for the next 10-12 years.

Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State

Key stats: 14.1 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.3 blocks

Draft prediction: Mid to late first round

Varnado may never be an offensive force, but his defensive ability should keep him in the league for a while. Varnado has great athleticism for his size, and he attacks the glass with an attitude that scouts love. He's willing to do the dirty work, and he could make an instant impact as a defender off the bench. If he continues to put up numbers this year, look for him to land in the first round.

Michael Washington, Arkansas

Key stats: 13.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.3 blocks

Draft prediction: Early second round

Washington has intriguing size and athleticism, but he hasn't taken the step forward that scouts wanted to see. He still doesn't take over games the way he should with his skill set, and the Hogs' mediocre record the past two years won't help his case much. As it is, he's likely to draw some interest based solely on potential, but at some point, he's going to have deliver on that potential.

Tasmin Mitchell, LSU

Key stats: 16.9 points, 9.4 rebounds

Draft prediction: Late second round

Mitchell lacks the flash of the rest of the players on this list, and as a fifth-year senior, scouts question how much upside he still has left. But Mitchell is still a versatile player who is closing in on 2,000 career points and he can guard multiple positions because of his size and quickness. He also has a high basketball IQ and his effort will never be questioned. Although he likely will never be more than a role player in the league, he's got a good chance of finding a home somewhere.

Other notables:

Tyler Smith, Tennessee: Dismissed from the Vols for an arrest stemming from gun possession, Smith's legal case has yet to be determined. A borderline first round talent heading into the year, Smith could still find a way into the league, but obviously needs to stay out of trouble first. His stock has obviously gone down, but how far is anyone's best guess.

Renardo Sidney, Mississippi State: Sidney was a highly touted recruit who has yet to play because of eligibility issues. Billed as power forward with three-point range, Sidney has made no secret of the fact that he wants to enter the league as soon as possible. However, with questions surrounding his attitude, conditioning and overall game after taking a year off, his stock is anyone's best guess.

Players to watch for 2011 Draft

Terrico White, Ole Miss: White has the size and strength the play SG at the next level, and he's shown the ability to get to the rim at will. Another year of seasoning could see his stock climb even higher, especially if helps lead the Rebels on a run through the NCAA Tournament.

Eric Bledsoe, Kentucky: Bledsoe is an explosive athlete who thrives in transition and has the ability to score in bunches. Given the chance to run the UK attack after Wall leaves, Bledsoe could play his way into the lottery in 2011.

Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt: Taylor has great athleticism and is developing into an all-around player. He already has the attention of NBA scouts, and if he continues to improve his perimeter game, his stock could continue to rise.

Trey Thompkins, Georgia: Thompkins has two things scouts love – size and toughness. Thompkins' numbers are up across the board after a solid freshman season, and if he continues to improve, he could soon find himself in an NBA frontcourt.

Daniel Orton, Kentucky: Orton is battling Cousins and Patterson for minutes now, but the frontcourt should be all his next year. Orton is a solid defender, and although he's limited offensively, he's demonstrated a great attitude and work ethic, and he should continue to improve.

AJ Ogilvy, Vanderbilt: Ogilvy arrived at Vanderbilt two-and-a-half years ago billed as a future lottery pick. However, after a great freshman year, his numbers have continued to go down and there are some scouts who question his toughness. But, because he’s 6’11 with good ball skills, there’s still a good chance he’ll find a home somewhere in the league

	Team	Record	League	T50
1	Kentucky the lone remaining unbeaten	18-0	SEC	1
2	Kansas	16-1	B12	3
3	Syracuse already won 4 big east road games	18-1	BE	4
4	Texas	17-1	B12	2
5	Duke	15-2	ACC	5
6	Villanova	16-1	BE	6
7	Michigan State	15-3	B10	7
8	Kansas St	16-2	B12	9
9	Tennessee better without tyler smith?	15-2	SEC	8
10	Purdue	15-3	B10	10
11	West Virginia	13-3	BE	11
12	Georgetown	13-3	BE	12
13	Pittsburgh perhaps biggest surprise bcs team?	15-2	BE	18
14	Wisconsin	14-4	B10	14
15	Georgia Tech	14-4	ACC	19
16	Clemson	15-4	ACC	15
17	Texas A&M	13-5	B12	21
18	Florida State	14-4	ACC	22
19	North Carolina	12-6	ACC	24
20	Ohio State	14-5	B10	32
21	Ole Miss	13-4	SEC	20
22	Baylor	14-2	B12	25
23	Vanderbilt quietly won 8 games in a row	14-3	SEC	33
24	Mississippi St	15-3	SEC	34
25	Wake Forest	12-4	ACC	36
26	Oklahoma State	13-4	B12	39
27	Virginia Tech	14-3	ACC	42
28	Connecticut havent won a road or neutral game yet	11-6	BE	38
29	Missouri	14-4	B12	44
30	Florida	12-5	SEC	45
31	USC	11-6	P10	46
32	Cincinnati	12-6	BE	48
33	Northwestern	13-5	B10	43
34	Miami	15-4	ACC	31
35	California	11-6	P10	49
36	Notre Dame	14-5	BE	*
37	Arizona St first place in pac-10 early.. so what	14-5	P10	*
38	Washington	12-5	P10	*
39	St. John's	12-5	BE	*
40	Maryland	12-5	ACC	*
41	Minnesota	12-6	B10	*
42	Louisville	12-6	BE	*
43	Illinois	12-7	B10	*
44	Virginia 3-0 in acc play is somewhat flukey	12-4	ACC	*
45	Texas Tech losers of 3 straight, but all to good teams	12-5	B10	*
46	Marquette	11-6	BE	*
47	South Carolina	11-6	SEC	*
48	Seton Hall	10-6	BE	*
49	Washington St	13-5	P10	*
50	Oklahoma young team perhaps finally turning corner	11-7	B12	*
51	Iowa St	12-5	B12	*
52	NC State	12-6	ACC	*
53	Providence	11-7	BE	*
54	Michigan	10-7	B10	*
55	Alabama	11-7	SEC	*
56	Nebraska	12-6	B12	*
57	Arizona derrick williams is perhaps top under the radar fr	9-9	P10	*
58	Indiana	8-9	B10	*
59	Georgia	8-8	SEC	*
60	Boston College	11-8	ACC	*
61	South Florida	11-6	BE	*
62	Colorado	10-7	B12	*
63	Oregon	10-7	P10	*
64	Arkansas	8-9	SEC	*
65	LSU	9-8	SEC	*
66	Stanford	8-9	P10	*
67	UCLA amazing to see ucla way down here	7-10	P10	*
68	Auburn jeff lebo's job has to be in jeopardy	9-9	SEC	*
69	Oregon St	8-9	P10	*
70	Penn St	8-9	B10	*
71	Rutgers	9-8	BE	*
72	Iowa	7-11	B10	*
73	DePaul a new coach wont change a thing	7-10	BE	*