Auburn

Sunday Recap: Kansas State Controls Title Game Throughout

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 00:59:42 -0500

The question leading into the title game of the Diamond Head Classic was how would Kansas State deal with Long Beach State guard Casper Ware. But by the end of the game it was obvious that the better question to ask was how the senior would navigate the Wildcats' tough perimeter defense. Thanks in large part to Will Spradling and Martavious Irving the Wildcats harassed Ware in to a 5-for-18 night from the field, and they took control of the game at both ends on their way to a 77-60 win in Honolulu. Rodney McGruder led the way offensively with 28 points and six rebounds, and he was named tournament MVP as a result of his play all weekend.

As a team the 49ers shot just 36.8% from the field and 6-for-19 from beyond the arc, and while they did manage to grab 17 offensive rebounds it wasn't enough to overcome the K-State attack. Ware and Larry Anderson scored 17 points apiece for the 49ers but no other player would score more than eight on the night for them. In addition to McGruder's performance Spradling scored 17 points and Jamar Samuels added 11 to go along with eight rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots. Kansas State out-rebounded Long Beach State 39-32 and outscored the 49ers 48-38 in the paint, making 54% of their two-point shots.

Long Beach State by comparison made just 39% of their two-point shots, and when adding to that a minus-8 in points from the foul line (20-12; LBSU shot 12-for-21) there's no mystery as to why they were unable to make a comeback. Kansas State led by as many as 18 points in the second half of a game they never trailed, and it's time to start thinking of Frank Martin's club as a serious contender in the Big 12. They've got the bodies up front, with Samuels, Thomas Gipson and Jordan Henriquez-Roberts, and the perimeter depth is there as well. Baylor, Missouri and Kansas are the names that have received the headlines early, but K-State isn't far behind.

As for Long Beach State, while a win on Sunday would have been another solid boost for a non-conference schedule that is the toughest in America they essentially did what they had to do. In beating Xavier they landed a second win over a Top 15 (at the time) team, and their win over Auburn meant avoiding the possibility of having a "bad loss" take away from their resume. In Big West play they're not going to encounter a team like Kansas State, so while UCSB will once again provided a stiff challenge and Cal Poly's been a surprise the 49ers should be fine. They simply ran into a team that was able to put their stamp on the game early and determine the "rules of engagement" throughout.

Other Notable Happenings

1. Xavier beats Southern Illinois to end their three-game losing streak.
Falling to host Hawaii on Friday was tough enough for the Musketeers, who lost their third straight game for the first time in Chris Mack's tenure as head coach. But the situation would have been nothing compared to what could have been had they left the islands 0-3. Tu Holloway and Mark Lyons combined to score 38 points (Holloway dished out seven assists while Lyons grabbed ten rebounds) as the Musketeers beat Southern Illinois 87-77 in the seventh place game. Dantiel Daniels led four Salukis in double figures with 22 points but SIU shot just 40% from the field. So how did they score 77 points? Xavier couldn't keep them off the glass, as Southern Illinois grabbed 19 offensive rebounds on the afternoon.

But Xavier got to the foul line early and often, making 36 of their 48 attempts to take advantage of a 28-16 foul count. In addition to Lyons forward Andre Walker (13 points, 10 rebounds) recorded the first double-double of his career, and it couldn't have come at a better time for a team in desperate need of a win. Will this result allow Xavier to regain the confidence lost in the aftermath of the Cincinnati game? They get Dezmine Wells back so that will definitely help, and they've got a little time before Atlantic 10 play begins to regain the chemistry. This is not a team anyone will line up to face anytime soon.

2. UTEP makes the plays late to pull away from Auburn for third place.
Many picked Tim Floyd's team, which features nine players in their first season on the floor for the program, to finish in the bottom three of Conference USA. Either C-USA is a much-tougher conference than it's given credit for or people were wrong about the Miners, because in going 2-1 at the Diamond Head Classic that did not look like a team that would finish 10th-12th in the league. John Bohannon played his best game of the tournament in the Miners' 83-76 win over Auburn, finishing with 20 points and nine rebounds, and guard Michael Perez added 18 points and a couple of daggers late to seal the deal.

Five UTEP players reached double figures while Tim Floyd's move to a box-and-1 on Frankie Sullivan took the Auburn star out of the flow of the offense in the second half. Kenny Gabriel stepped up with 24 points, eight rebounds and four assists but that wasn't enough to make up for Sullivan scoring seven points on 2-for-5 shooting from the field. UTEP isn't particularly deep as they used just seven players and the inexperience has been documented. But when considering players like Bohannon and Perez, who are getting used to bigger roles, and a transfer in Jacques Streeter who's run a team at this level before (Cal-State Fullerton) maybe they can surprise some folks in Conference USA.

3. Zane Johnson's shooting sparks Hawaii's win over Clemson.
While most visitors to the islands leave with memories they'll never forget, the same may not be said for the Clemson Tigers in terms of their on-court experience. Milton Jennings was suspended for Sunday's fifth-place game against Hawaii due to conduct detrimental to the team for his behavior in a timeout in Friday's win over SIU, but it might not have mattered if he were on the floor Sunday. Zane Johnson made six of his twelve three-point attempts in scoring a game-high 27 points and the Warriors made 16 of 19 free throws in their 75-68 victory.

Vander Joaquim added 14 points and 10 rebounds while Hauns Brereton chipped in with 10 points off the bench. Clemson simple couldn't shoot well enough from inside of the arc, making 18 of 48 shots from two on the afternoon. Gib Arnold's team winning two of three games is a good boost for them as they approach WAC play, where many expect them to slot into the middle of the pack. As for Clemson, they picked up a win but it wasn't pretty. If Jennings and Devin Booker can't provide consistent help for Tanner Smith and Andre Young it could be a long season in the ACC despite the wide-open nature of the league outside of the top two.

Three Notable Performances

1. G Rodney McGruder (Kansas State)
28 points and six rebounds in the Wildcats' 77-60 win over Long Beach State.

2. G Zane Johnson (Hawaii)
27 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals in the Warriors' 75-68 win over Clemson.

3. C John Bohannon (UTEP)
20 points (6-9 FG, 8-9 FT), nine rebounds, three assists and two steals in the Miners' 83-76 win over Auburn.

Diamond Head Classic All-Tournament Team

G Rodney McGruder (Kansas State) - MVP
G Zane Johnson (Hawaii)
G Michael Perez (UTEP)
G Larry Anderson (Long Beach State)
F Jamar Samuels (Kansas State)

Sunday Preview: Long Beach State vs. Kansas State

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 12:31:25 -0500

Happy Holidays to you all. Before getting into a preview of today's action, here are two stories here and here that you all will enjoy (h/t to Jameson Fleming of CBSSports.com and College Hoops Journal).

The only games being played on Christmas Day are out in Hawaii, with the Diamond Head Classic wrapping up. The title game matches Long Beach State (7-5), who has played one of the toughest schedules in the country to date, and a Kansas State (9-1) team that's been better than some expected. After beating Xavier in the first round the 49ers took care of business against Auburn in a matchup that would have done more harm in a loss than good in a win from a resume standpoint. As for Kansas State, they've beaten both Southern Illinois and UTEP in games they were expected to win, with the latter offering up more of a challenge than many anticipated going into the event.

The question for the Wildcats is how they go about defending Long Beach State point guard Casper Ware (16.7 ppg, 3.8 apg), who runs the show for the 49ers while also being asked to lead the team in scoring. Ware's shooting percentages aren't all that impressive, but that's got more to do with the number of shots Dan Monson has him take in their offense than shot selection. A key factor for the 49ers, both this weekend and in Big West play, will be freshman Michael Caffey. Caffey played very well in their win over Xavier, and his emergence off the bench will both keep Ware fresh and allow the senior to do more work off the ball when paired together with Caffey.

Kansas State has also had a reserve emerge while in Hawaii, as freshman Angel Rodriguez (7.7 ppg, 2.6 apg) has averaged 16.5 points per game in the tournament. Rodriguez made 10 of 16 shots from the field in the two wins, by far his best performance this season. If he can keep this up the freshman will be a nice addition to starters Will Spradling (11.2 ppg, 2.9 apg) and Rodney McGruder (10.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg) not to mention fellow reserve Shane Southwell. Long Beach State overall has more firepower on the perimeter however, with senior Larry Anderson (14.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg) and junior James Ennis (9.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.8 apg) also being key cogs in their attack.

The battle up front will be interesting to watch, with the Wildcats being the bigger of the two teams. But that doesn't mean that life will be easy for them, as the experienced T.J. Robinson (12.3 ppg, 10.0 rpg) and Eugene Phelps (9.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg) anchoring things for the 49ers. Long Beach State can also bring Edis Dervisevic off the bench, and this is something they may have to do against the K-State attack. Jamar Samuels (12.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg) leads the way for Kansas State while freshman Thomas Gipson (11.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg) has the build of a player far more experienced than he actually is.

There's also junior Jordan Henriquez-Roberts, who has progressed a great deal in his two-plus seasons in Manhattan. He'll be a key figure for the Wildcats going forward into Big 12 play, as they'll encounter some deep frontcourts. Kansas State has been the better rebounding team of the two, and they even average more possessions per game than Long Beach State. The 49ers have to hold their own on the glass in order to win, and given their schedule to date they're more than capable of doing so. Keep an eye on turnover margin as well, with both teams breaking even on assist-to-turnover ratio while forcing at least 16 turnovers per game defensively.

In the other games in Honolulu Xavier looks to bounce back from a disappointing loss to Hawaii against Southern Illinois, and the truth is that Chris Mack's team should win by a good margin. The Salukis have a good player in senior Mamadou Seck, and they have been competitive in their two games on the island, but Chris Lowery's bunch is in for a tough time in the Missouri Valley.

Clemson and host Hawaii play in the fifth-place game, as Tanner Smith stepped up for the Tigers in their win over SIU. Forwards Josten Thomas and Vander Joaquim provide a tough matchup inside however, meaning that it's time for Devin Booker to step up with Milton Jennings suspended. And in the third-place game UTEP, led by Jacques Streeter and the surprising Michael Perez, takes on Auburn in what should be a toss-up.

Top 25 Games
2:00 PM Southern Illinois vs. #14 Xavier (ESPN3)

NCAA Division I Games
4:30 PM Clemson vs. Hawaii (ESPNU)
7:00 PM Auburn vs. UTEP (ESPN2)
9:30 PM Kansas State vs. Long Beach State (ESPN2)

SEC Basketball: 5-Year Ranking

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:54:04 -0500

As part of our 5-Year Ranking series, here's how the SEC teams stack up according to conference wins. Unlike most leagues, there hasn't been one dominant team over the last handful of years. Florida and Kentucky have had some great years, but also some very mediocre ones mixed in. At the bottom of the league, LSU and South Carolina are close to forming a bottom rung of their own.

First Tier

1 - Kentucky - 53 wins - Freshman U will battle with Florida for the league title

2 - Tennessee - 53 - The Vols seems destined to fall out of the lead pack, but Martin was a good hire

3 - Florida - 52 - Only a few years removed from their national championship era

Second Tier

4 - Vanderbilt - 49 - Haven't won a tourney game since 2007. Will they live up to this year's hype?

5 - Mississippi St - 47 - Have held steady at 9-7 over the last 3 seasons

Wannabees

6 - Ole Miss - 38 - Rebels basketball exemplifies mediocrity. Never awful, never good

7 - Alabama - 37 - Have been competitive in league play, but no tourney trips in this period

Also-Rans

8 - Arkansas - 32 - With a good recruiting class and a new coach, Hogs are back on track

9 - Auburn - 31 - Auburn still seems no closer to breaking out of this bottom pack

10 - South Carolina - 30 - These are bleak years for the Gamecocks, and it might get worse

11 - Georgia - 29 - After last year's tourney bid, its clear Georgia is on the move

12 - LSU - 29 - The tournament trip in 2009 seems like a distant memory at this point

All 5-Year Rankings.

Which BCS Conference Team is the Worst?

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 02:12:28 -0500

A familiar argument early in the season is which conference is tops. The preseason hype tended to go in the direction of the Big Ten, but with strong starts by the Big East and Big 12 there has been room for discussion. But what about the opposite end of the spectrum: which BCS conference member is the worst team to this point in the year? Unlike the best conference question, that answer has been rather straightforward as the Auburn Tigers have put forth quite the display of ineptitude through the first ten games of the Tony Barbee era. Lacking experience and dealing with some key injuries, the Tigers may be slipping under the radar in their own town thanks to the exploits of the football team and fans looking forward to their bowl game on January 10th. The hope for January 11th (besides the celebration of a national title): that Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton announces that he'll be joining the basketball team. Below is a breakdown of each of the BCS conference members currently with a losing record in alphabetical order, beginning with the team that may be the least deserving to be on the list.

Alabama (5-6)
Wins: Florida A&M, Troy, Alabama A&M, South Alabama, Southeast Louisiana
Losses: Seton Hall, Iowa, Saint Peter's, Purdue, Providence, Oklahoma State
Pomeroy: 74
Sagarin: 163
*Five of the Crimson Tide's six losses have come against teams from BCS leagues

The above note is exactly why Anthony Grant's team shouldn't be on here but they make the list simply because of their record. The Crimson Tide don't own any eye-popping victories, and five of their six defeats have come to teams in BCS conferences (with three of those losses on a neutral floor). Alabama is one of the better defensive teams in regards to efficiency and the triumvirate of Tony Mitchell, Senario Hillman and JaMychal Green is talented enough to make some things happen offensively. Ken Pomeroy projects Alabama to win eight games in the SEC this season, a number that isn't far-fetched when considering the strength (or lack thereof) of the SEC West. With their next three games at Coleman Coliseum look for the Tide to make their way off of this list.

Auburn (3-7)
Wins: Middle Tennessee, Georgia Southwestern, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Losses: UNC Asheville, Samford, Campbell, Jacksonville, Rutgers, USF, Presbyterian
Pomeroy: 225
Sagarin: 306 (in between Longwood and Manhattan)
*Frankie Sullivan (knee) returned to the lineup last night

Things got off to a bad start in the summer when leading returning scorer Frankie Sullivan went down with an injury to his left knee. Sullivan's trying to give it a go, beginning with their loss last week at USF, but he doesn't look 100% and what good does that do for a team that needs a capable creator offensively? The Tigers are the lone team in the SEC with an adjusted offensive efficiency under 100 (96.7), and five of their seven losses have come to teams ranked 172 or worse in Ken Pomeroy's rankings. You'd like to say that their next three games (USC Upstate, Georgia Southern and Grambling) are likely wins, but what is a "likely win" for Auburn? If any of Gene Chizik's guys are as good on the court as they are at Jordan-Hare maybe they can make their way over once football season ends.

DePaul (5-6)
Wins: Chicago State, Northern Illinois, Central Michigan and Milwaukee
Losses: Western Carolina, Oklahoma State, Cal-State Northridge, Stanford, Indiana State, Ball State
Pomeroy: 197
Sagarin: 262 (in between UIC and Bethune-Cookman)
*Only Big East team not in the Top 100 of the Sagarin

Many expected there to be an adjustment period for the Blue Demons in the first year of the Oliver Purnell era, but a 0-3 showing in the 76 Classic didn't help the process. Included in that trip was an 88-66 loss to a rebuilding Cal-State Northridge squad, and the other 22-point beating the Blue Demons have taken this season came at the hands of Indiana State. DePaul hasn't been the most efficient team offensively and that was to be expected given their personnel. But to be allowing an effective field goal percentage of 51.1% (241st in America) certainly doesn't help matters. The good news for DePaul throughout the remainder of their non-conference slate is that four of their six losses have come by seven points or less. The bad news: they have to deal with Big East play, and as the lone team below 100 in the Sagarin it's likely going to be another long conference season in the Windy City.

Oklahoma (5-6)
Wins: Coppin State, North Carolina Central, Texas Southern, Gardner-Webb, Oral Roberts
Losses: Kentucky, Virginia, Chaminade, Arkansas, Arizona, Cincinnati
Pomeroy: 114
Sagarin: 125
*Lone team on this list with a loss to a Division III program (Chaminade)

After starting the season 3-0 Jeff Capel's team has lost six of their last eight (including five in a row immediately after that start), and they managed to set themselves apart from the other teams on this list by losing to a Division III squad (Auburn's loss to Division II Columbus State came in an exhibition) in the Maui Invitational (Chaminade). Why have the Sooners struggled? The same as just about anyone else on this list: the absence of a player who can make things happen in a variety of ways offensively. Cade Davis, who is also Oklahoma's lone senior, is a good shooter and players such as Steven Pledger and Andrew Fitzgerald can also score. But who's getting them the basketball? Oklahoma has a turnover percentage of 23%, and opponents are shooting 39% from behind the arc. But they, like Alabama, have lost five of their six games to teams from BCS leagues and you can definitely argue that they've had the toughest schedule to date. But given the start for the top of the Big 12 it could be a long year in Norman.

Oregon State (4-6)
Wins: Texas-Arlington, Charlotte, Howard, Texas-Pan American
Losses: Seattle, Texas Southern, Utah Valley State, Colorado, Montana, George Washington
Pomeroy: 188
Sagarin: 266 (in between Southern Utah and Mississippi Valley State)
*last night's loss at Montana moved the Grizzlies to 2-0 in Pac-10 play

The good news for Craig Robinson on Saturday was that the highly touted Roberto Nelson was finally able to play. But it didn't matter much as Oregon State fell at home to George Washington in their fifth loss to a team from a non-BCS conference this season. Oregon State owns three losses to teams with a Pomeroy ranking of 275 or worse, making for a stunning start for a team with one of the worst schedules in college basketball (SOS: 333). Three of the four wins have come at the expense of teams ranked 287 or worse (Howard and UTPA are in the 300s), but they receive a minor boost for being able to beat Charlotte (which Tennessee could not do). What works in Oregon State's favor is the fact that the Pac-10 is once again limping into conference play, meaning that once chemistry with Nelson is established they could win a few more games than expected. And it isn't as if Coach Robinson's team lacks experience; they simply need to get better at defending (eFG% 53.6% ranks 307th) as the season wears on.

Texas Tech (5-6)
Wins: Louisiana-Monroe, Stephen F. Austin, Liberty, Georgia Southern, Oral Roberts
Losses: North Texas, Saint Mary's, USF, Washington, TCU, UTEP
Pomeroy: 105
Sagarin: 185
*One of two teams on this list (Oklahoma) to own a win over Oral Roberts

Many saw this as a big year for head coach Pat Knight in regards to his future in Lubbock and it's gotten off to an uneven start to say the least. The Red Raiders have just one win over a team ranked in the Top 100 of the Pomeroy rankings, and with Stephen F. Austin sitting at 97 that doesn't say a whole lot. Three of their other four wins have come over teams ranked 264 or worse, but on a positive note North Texas (Pomeroy: 158) is the worst team they've lost to thus far. Texas Tech executes well offensively thanks in large part to Mike Singletary and John Roberson, but this is one of the poorest shooting teams in the Big 12 when it comes to the three-pointer (31.0%). And without a bell cow in the paint that they can look to on a regular basis that hurts the Red Raiders even more. Texas Tech has their next six games at home but with the final two being Baylor and Texas they're going to need a good finish to non-conference play in order to avoid a complete nosedive.

Dishonorable Mention: Iowa (6-5), USF (6-6), Wake Forest (6-5)

College Cheerleader of the Day: Auburn

Shawn Siegel — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:44:45 -0500

Each day (just about), CollegeHoops.net features a Cheerleader (or in this case Dancer) of the Day. Today's picture is courtesy of Icon Sports Media. Check out the archive for more

-- AUBURN

More Cheerleaders!
>>		>>		>>			..All

- Check out past Cheerleaders of the Day!

- Also check out the Picture of the Day!

- Watch all of CHN's favorite College Basketball Videos!

Poll: Who Will Win the SEC Tournament?

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

College Basketball Odds & Predictions: Thursday

Shawn Siegel — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:29:52 -0500

Betting odds are a great guide to college basketball entertainment. I'll discuss my daily predictions after the lines.. these are posted solely for fun, as I do not bet on games myself, nor do I suggest anybody else does either (it's not easy). If you agree or disagree with my picks, have thoughts on the day's lines, or have upsets or picks to announce, post them below.

February 18th: Odds & Predictions

- listed are the day's 6 most popular/intriguing games. I only predict games from this pool due to fan interest.

7:00

Auburn
at Florida

Favorite

Florida by 8.5

Over/Under

144.5

7:00

Vanderbilt
vs Mississippi

Favorite

Ole Miss by 3.5

Over/Under

154.5

7:00

Syracuse
vs Georgetown

Favorite

Georgetown by 2

Over/Under

144

9:00

Gonzaga
at Loyola Marymount

Favorite

Gonzaga by 11.5

Over/Under

153

9:00

Pittsburgh
at Marquette

Favorite

Marquette by 6.5

Over/Under

131

9:00

Wisconsin
at Minnesota

Favorite

Minnesota by .5

Over/Under

124

10:30

Southern California
at Washington

Favorite

Washington by 8

Over/Under

131

10:30

California
at Oregon St.

Favorite

Cal by 6

Over/Under

130

11:00

St. Mary's
vs San Diego

Favorite

St. Mary's by 7

Over/Under

134

- Lines as of 11:00 am (from SportsBetting) - Check out the day's other odds as the day progresses, including odds from other betting sites. Predictions below:

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.

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

SEC Mid-Season Stock Watch

Jason Brubaker — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:07:39 -0500

The buzz around the SEC this year was how much stronger the conference would be, top-to-bottom, with so many key players returning and new faces ready to make an instant impact. A year after getting only three teams into the NCAA Tournament, this was supposed to be a rebound year, with as many as six or seven teams competing for berths in the Big Dance.

Well, with the non-conference season nearly wrapped up for most teams, it's still hard to get a great read on the overall strength of the conference. Only three teams are currently ranked in the latest AP poll, and of those, only Kentucky looks like a sure bet for a long postseason run. Teams like Georgia and Arkansas have continued to struggle, and the muddled mess in the middle doesn't look to have any teams who will distinguish themselves.

But there's still plenty of basketball to play, so there's a good chance things may change as the season goes on. So here's an SEC Stock Watch as we prepare to enter conference play.

Alabama

Record: 8-4

Quality wins: Michigan, Baylor

Postseason prediction: NIT

The Crimson Tide may have to hang their hat on winning the championship in football this year, because they likely won't be getting a chance to run through the NCAA Tournament. The Tide have some talent, including big man JaMychal Green, but they often don't play smart or disciplined, two traits that were evidenced when they blew a 16-point second half lead against Purdue. New coach Anthony Grant brings a ton of passion to the sidelines, and the Tide have enough talent to scare some teams, but in the end, it's likely they'll struggle to do better than the NIT.

Arkansas

Record: 7-5

Quality wins: None

Postseason prediction: None

The Razorbacks struggled mightily in the conference last year, finishing 2-14, and this year isn't shaping up to be much better. The Hogs give up 72 points per game, shoot 64% percent from the foul line and don't have a player averaging more than seven rebounds per game. The loss of Courtney Fortson robbed the Hogs not only of a terrific scorer, but someone whop provided the team with confidence and swagger. Michael Washington is a talented forward and Rotnei Clarke is as good a shooter as anyone in the country, but that isn't going to be enough this year. Look for the Hogs to finish near the bottom of the SEC West again.

Auburn

Record: 7-6

Quality wins: None

Postseason prediction: None

Speaking of the bottom of the West...meet the 2009-10 Tigers. They shocked many observers last year by finishing second in the West, winning 10 conference games and 24 games overall. Don't look for a repeat. The Tigers don't take great care of the ball, don't shoot particularly well, and are still trying to adequately fill the shoes of departed leaders Kovortney Barber, Quantez Robertson and Rasheem Barrett. Senior DeWayne Reed and Lucas Hargrove are solid players and good leaders, but neither would be described as a star. Expect a long season on The Plains.

Florida

Record: 9-3

Quality wins: Michigan State, Florida State

Postseason prediction: NCAA 1^st round

The Gators have already surprised with their 8-0 start this year, and they certainly have enough talent to make their way back to the Big Dance after two straight years in the NIT. Freshman Kenny Boynton looks to be a future star, and returning players like Alex Tyus, Erving Walker, Chandler Parsons and Dan Werner are experienced enough to keep the Gators in most games. But with shaky depth up front, and a small backcourt, the Gators likely don't have enough to expect a deep postseason run. Look for them to challenge Tennessee for second place in the SEC East.

Georgia

Record: 6-4

Quality wins: Illinois

Postseason prediction: None

First-year coach Mark Fox arrived with plenty of excitement as he hopes to pull the Bulldogs out of the SEC East cellar. Unfortunately, he didn't inherit a roster loaded with talent to match that energy. The Bulldogs have some nice pieces, especially forward Trey Thompkins, but they simply just don't have enough talent to compete this year. They don't have a great backcourt, and outside of Thompkins, they lack a scorer in the post. The 'Dawgs will play hard this year, but their lack of talent will do them in on most nights. While Fox may have the program on the right track, look for another rough year in Athens.

Continue to Part Two of the SEC Stock Watch

Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi St, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt