Austin Peay

Wednesday's Conference Tournament Primer

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 01:27:24 -0800

Four more conferences join in on the tournament fun on Wednesday while the Big South moves on to the quarterfinal round, meaning that more teams will see their season come to an end. The top two seeds in the Atlantic Sun, regular season champion Belmont and host school Mercer, begin their journey in Macon and both teams will be prohibitive favorites to advance. Rick Byrd's Bruins enter tournament play on an 11-game win streak and they won both regular season meetings with 8-seed Jacksonville by double digits.

However both of those meetings came in January and the Dolphins won three straight before falling to North Florida in their regular season finale. In the second meeting, an 85-71 Belmont win, the Bruins shot 5-for-9 from three and scored 46 points after going into the half tied at 39. Guard Kerron Johnson, one of three Bruins named First Team All-Atlantic Sun, scored 21 points in the win and three other Belmont players reached double figures. Belmont's balance, which comes as a result of their deep rotation, makes them a tough matchup for many teams on the defensive end of the floor.

Aloys Cabell and Russell Powell led the way for the Dolphins in that contest, scoring a combined 37 points but as the game wore on it was apparent that Jacksonville didn't have the number of weapons needed to keep up with Belmont. Therein lies the problem for the Dolphins, whose opponents have shot 47% from the field this season. Add in big men Scott Saunders and Mick Hedgepeth and it's easy to see that JU will have a hard time slowing Belmont down unless multiple Bruins have off nights.

Bob Hoffman's Bears won nine straight games entering their stretch run but dropped three of their final four games, but maybe getting to host the conference tournament can turn things around. Mercer takes on Lipscomb, a team they swept with the most recent meeting being a 63-54 victory on the 23rd. Mercer limited the Bison to 33.3% shooting from the field and 38.6% from two, but the Bears had better improve their rebounding if they're to avoid an upset. Lipscomb grabbed 17 offensive rebounds but luckily for Mercer the Bison were unable to take advantage.

Jake Gollon and Langston Hall struggled in that contest but Bud Thomas stepped up to score 15 points and Daniel Coursey added 12. Lipscomb freshman Malcolm Smith was named to the All-Freshman Team and rightfully so, as he ranks second on the team in scoring despite starting just eight games this season. Others need to step up with Smith essentially being the man with jordan Burgason no longer with the team. The winners of these games have Thursday off, a built-in perk for the higher-seeded teams provided they take care of business.

Atlantic Sun (quarterfinals)
#1 Belmont vs. #8 Jacksonville, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN3)
#2 Mercer vs. #7 Lipscomb, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN3)

Big South (quarterfinals)
#2 Coastal Carolina vs. #7 Radford, 12:00 p.m. (Big South Network)
#3 Campbell vs. #6 Winthrop, 2:00 p.m. (Big South Network)
#1 UNC Asheville vs. #8 High Point, 6:00 p.m. (Big South Network)
#4 Charleston Southern vs. #5 Liberty, 8:00 p.m. (Big South Network)

One would expect the top three seeds, led by regular season champ UNC Asheville, to take care of business and move on to the semifinals with all three having swept their opponents in the regular season. If there's one matchup of those three to keep an eye on its Winthrop/Campbell, with the Camels winning by just three points in the meeting at Winthrop. And despite the two games separating them in the standings that 4/5 battle could go right down to the wire as Charleston Southern and Liberty split their two meetings. Antwan Burrus' three-pointer in the final seconds of the second meeting gave the Flames a 75-74 win on February 9th.

Ohio Valley (first round)
#5 Southeast Missouri vs. #8 Eastern Kentucky, 6:00 p.m. (OVCSports.TV)
#6 Austin Peay vs. #7 Jacksonville State, 8:00 p.m. (OVCSports.TV)

Murray State's clearly the favorite to win the OVC crown but they won't play until Friday, so the question is whether or not one of the four teams playing on Thursday has the ability to make it to that point. Southeast Missouri State would be the most likely choice given their 9-7 conference record, but the Redhawks limp into the tournament on a four-game losing streak. Dave Loos' Austin Peay squad could be the better choice as they boast four players averaging double figures (TyShawn Edmondson leads the way at 12.5 ppg), and the Governors have won three in a row entering their game against Jacksonville State.

Patriot League (quarterfinals)
#8 Navy at #1 Bucknell, 7:00 p.m.
#5 Lafayette at #4 Holy Cross, 7:00 p.m.
#7 Colgate at #2 Lehigh, 7:00 p.m.
#6 Army at #3 American, 7:30 p.m.

The question in the Patriot League on Wednesday night is whether or not any of the visitors have the ability to knock off one of the top three teams. Navy? Highly unlikely as the Midshipmen went 0-14 in league play, something no team has accomplished since Army did so in 2002-03. Colgate? The Raiders' lone conference wins came at the expense of Navy, and outside of NJIT they haven't beaten a team other than the Mids since mid-December (Dartmouth). Army would be the best choice given the presence of Ella Ellis, but they lost both meetings with American by double digits (by 12 at home and by 24 at AU). Lafayette and Holy Cross split their season series so that would be the game that should garner the most attention. If one of the top three should lose it would be a huge surprise.

WCC (first round)
#8 Portland vs. #9 Santa Clara, 9:00 p.m.

Simple storyline here: Kerry Keating's Broncos have seen a year that was supposed to be promising unravel right before their eyes, beginning with Marc Trasolini's torn ACL during a summer trip to Canada. Kevin Foster's been suspended for the remainder of the season and the play of Evan Rocquemore notwithstanding it's easy to see why Santa Clara went winless in WCC play. Portland doesn't arrive in Las Vegas scalding hot themselves, as the Pilots have lost 12 of their last 13 games. Winner gets San Francisco on Thursday night.

Wednesday's Preview: Texas at #6 North Carolina

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:38:23 -0800

Rick Barnes' Texas (9-2) Longhorns have gotten off to a solid start despite heavy personnel losses from last year's NCAA Tournament team, but outside of a neutral-court win over NC State there aren't any decisions that jump off the page. Can't credit Santa with this pre-Christmas "gift" but they've got a great opportunity to pick up a quality win as they visit #6 North Carolina (10-2). One key for Texas' prospects this season is the play of freshman point guard Myck Kabongo (10.8 ppg, 6.0 apg), and the Canadian has shown signs by the game that he'll be alright.

But in sophomore Kendall Marshall (10.2 apg, 4.1 A/T ratio) he'll take on one of the elite distributors in the game. Marshall has more than a few weapons at his disposal, but the fact that he's so good at finding teammates in the best position for them to be successful is a big reason why he's so highly regarded. But he can be had on the defensive end of the floor, and with J'Covan Brown (19.3 ppg, 4.3 apg) likely to draw the attention of North Carolina's best perimeter defender in Dexter Strickland maybe Kabongo can take advantage of this.

The key for Brown in his development is that he's become more of a team guy for Texas, most notably eliminating the immaturity that took away from his game during his early days in the program. They've needed him to become more of a leader and the junior has taken steps in that direction. Also of importance for Texas on the perimeter is Sheldon McClellan (11.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg), who could get the call in defending UNC wing Harrison Barnes (16.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg). McClellan will need to make Barnes dribble for his shots as opposed to working off the catch or one dribble. It's been well-documented that his efficiency drops a great deal when required to work more for his own shot.

The interior play is where Texas will need to step up in order to knock off the Tar Heels, who grabbed 72 rebounds in their win over Nicholls State on Monday (Texas is far superior to Nicholls State, however). John Henson (14.5 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 3.4 bpg) and Tyler Zeller (14.5 ppg, 8.2 rpg) lead the way for a deep UNC front line, and the Heels' rebounding margin of plus-8.7 is better than the Longhorns' plus-5.6. However both teams have been good at hitting the offensive glass, with Texas corralling 41.9% of their misses while North Carolina has an offensive rebounding percentage of 39.6%.

Alexis Wangmene, Jonathan Holmes and Clint Chapman average a combined 16.3 rebounds per game, and with the scoring options that Texas has Chapman and Wangmene are needed more for defensive and rebounding purposes (Holmes ranks fourth on the team in scoring). Freshman Jaylen Bond (5.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg) has improved his play of late and that will need to continue if Texas is to win. North Carolina will also throw a few perimeter weapons at Texas off the bench, with P.J. Hairston and Reggie Bullock being two of the better shooters in the ACC while James Michael McAdoo is another interior presence off the bench. Whether or not Texas can hang around could depend on what the likes of Bond and Sterling Gibbs do, and they've got the talent needed to do so.

Another big game on the schedule for Wednesday is Seton Hall visiting Dayton, a team that's put together two drastically different products on the floor this season. At times Archie Miller's Flyers have the look of a team that can beat almost anyone, and they're just as capable of looking like they can lose to anyone as well. Jordan Theodore and Herb Pope have been more than capable leaders for Kevin Willard's Pirates, and a road win here would be quite the boost for their NCAA Tournament profile.

Duquesne visits George Mason in what could be a wild affair, with Ron Everhart's team enjoying a fast pace and being adept at forcing turnovers and Paul Hewitt's Patriots play interesting games as well. The matchup between T.J. McConnell and Bryon Allen could determine the outcome, especially if Allen gets out of control running the show for George Mason. Iona visits William & Mary and Belmont visits Austin Peay in games where the home teams may give more of a fight than their records would indicate, and Oklahoma State takes on Alabama in Birmingham. If the Cowboys are reckless with the basketball as they were on Saturday against New Mexico, look out for another episode of the "Tony Mitchell Show".

Top 25 Games
7:00 PM Texas at (6) North Carolina (ESPN)
8:00 PM Tennessee-Martin at (22) Murray State

NCAA Division I Games
12:00 PM Hiwassee College at Chattanooga
6:00 PM Fresno State at Arizona State
7:00 PM North Florida at Florida A&M
7:00 PM Charleston Southern at Stetson
7:00 PM Sacred Heart at Boston College
7:00 PM UNC Wilmington at Wake Forest (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Vermont at Fairleigh Dickinson
7:00 PM West Virginia Tech at Marshall
7:00 PM Eastern Illinois at Maine
7:00 PM Dartmouth at Army
7:00 PM North Carolina A&T at Akron
7:00 PM Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Cincinnati
7:00 PM Seton Hall at Dayton
7:00 PM Duquesne at George Mason
7:00 PM Wofford at High Point
7:00 PM Hartford at Marist
7:00 PM Loyola Marymount at Morgan State
7:00 PM Southeastern Louisiana at South Carolina (ESPN3)
7:00 PM UTPA at St. John's (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Coppin State at Saint Joseph's
7:00 PM Iona at William & Mary
7:05 PM Louisiana-Monroe at Indiana State
7:30 PM Cornell at Penn State (BTN)
7:30 PM Kent State vs. Texas-Arlington*
7:30 PM North Carolina Central vs. Stephen F. Austin*
8:00 PM Lipscomb at Iowa State
8:00 PM South Carolina State at Oklahoma (ESPN3)
8:00 PM Peru State at South Dakota
8:00 PM Lafayette at Vanderbilt (ESPN3)
8:00 PM Rogers State at Houston
8:00 PM Alabama A&M at Tennessee State
8:05 PM UCF at Louisiana-Lafayette
8:05 PM Oregon State at Chicago State
8:05 PM Central Arkansas at Drake
8:05 PM Santa Clara at Houston Baptist
8:30 PM Cal Poly at DePaul
8:30 PM Belmont at Austin Peay
9:00 PM Middle Tennessee at Ole Miss (ESPN3)
9:00 PM McNeese State at New Mexico State
9:00 PM Oklahoma State vs. Alabama (ESPN)*
10:00 PM Prairie View A&M at Oregon
10:05 PM Saint Peter's at Utah State
10:10 PM Virginia at Seattle (Root NW)

Saturday Recap: Watford's Shot Lifts Indiana Past Kentucky

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 08:42:37 -0800

In the days leading up to Indiana's game against#1 Kentucky at Assembly Hall there weren't too many people who thought that the Hoosiers could knock off the Wildcats. There were a few outside of the Indiana fan base who picked Tom Crean's team to win, but the majority of the predictions ranged anywhere from a close loss to a Kentucky blowout with IU's schedule to date being the main reason why. But what didn't seem realistic in the days leading up to the game became reality thanks to Christian Watford, who knocked down a three from the left elbow as time expired to give Indiana the 73-72 win.

Watford led five Hoosiers in double figures with 20 points in his best performance of the season, with Victor Oladipo (13 points, seven rebounds) and Cody Zeller (11 points, seven rebounds) chipping in as well. Zeller was also the focal point of what plagued Indiana as they watched a ten-point lead slip away, as the Hoosiers threw up wild shots instead of getting their freshman the ball.

Kentucky's Anthony Davis was either out of the game or playing with four fouls for a good portion of that stretch, which should have lent itself to getting Zeller the ball. But the Hoosiers survived and won a game that in recent years they'd either lose late or not be in to begin with, so this is a big step in the return to national prominence.

"It's a great moment for us.," said Crean. "It's a great victory because it's just such an outstanding team and a team, you can see it, the explosiveness, the athleticism, the skill level, the coaching, it's top notch and to get a win like that is huge and to have it be at home where our fans had so much to do with it is the biggest part of the day."

Doron Lamb (19 points) and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (18 points, nine rebounds) led the way for the Wildcats while Marquis Teague scored the majority of his 15 points in a solid second half, but they needed more from sophomore forward Terrence Jones. Jones didn't look to be himself from an activity standpoint, finishing with four points and one rebound in 28 minutes of action.

But in spite of his struggles and Davis' foul trouble Kentucky still had a chance to get out of Bloomington with the win. Lamb made one of two free throws with 5.6 seconds remaining to give UK a 72-70 lead, setting the stage for Kentucky to give a foul since they had two to give. But whether it was a matter of the Kentucky defender (Teague) not being convincing enough in his attempt to foul or the official failing to make the call, that didn't happen. And as a result, Kentucky likely won't be ranked number one on Monday.

"We were going to foul them," said Calipari. "We had two fouls to use. So, the whole timeout was about fouling. Marquis tried to foul and they didn't call it. No one fouled."

Kentucky made 55.6% of their shots on the afternoon, but Indiana outscored the Wildcats 27-6 in points from beyond the arc. That discrepancy made up for Indiana shooting just 43.1% overall and 37.2% on two-point baskets, the latter number partially reflecting the effects of the wingspan of Kentucky's front line. But Indiana hung in there and ultimately won, and it has to be considered the watershed moment of the Crean era. But there's still plenty of work to be done and games to be won, so it may be wise to hold off on declaring Indiana to be all the way "back".

Other Notable Happenings

1. Key figures step up in Kansas' win over a Jared Sullinger-less Ohio State.
Unfortunately for Thad Matta the All-American power forward was unable to go due to back spasms, and this development opened the door for Kansas to knock off the #2 team in the country. The Jayhawks took full advantage, with Thomas Robinson scoring 21 points and Tyshawn Taylor (playing with a torn meniscus, which will sideline him for the next three weeks) dishing out 13 assists in Kansas' 78-67 win in Lawrence. Ohio State fell behind by double figures in the first half and couldn't get over the hump despite nunerous attempts to take the lead.

William Buford scored 21 points to lead the Buckeyes and Deshaun Thomas added 19, but shooting 39% from the field led to their first loss of the season. The question for Ohio State with Sullinger out is a simple one: who steps up to create offense for this team. Aaron Craft scored 11 points and dished out six assists, but Ohio State will need to do more in 1-on-1 situations while the big man is out. But the Buckeyes will be fine due to the remaining talent and experience.

2. Xavier's emphatic win over Cincinnati sullied by both teams embarrassing their institutions.
It would be nice to be able to focus on the Musketeers' 76-53 win over city rival Cincinnati for the play on the floor, as Chris Mack's team pulled away late in the first half and added to their lead throughout the final 20 minutes. However thanks to a bench-clearing brawl that resulted in the game being ended with 9.3 seconds remaining the actual game takes a back seat to one of the ugliest sights in recent memory. Whether citing the statement made by Cincinnati's Sean Kilpatrick earlier in the week or the chirping going on before the national anthem, it was pretty clear that the Bearcats and Musketeers were going to have some issues throughout the course of the game.

But a brawl? There were so many things to point out during the fracas that have no place in sports, from Tu Holloway talking to the Cincinnati bench to the standoff between he and Ge'Lawn Guyn (with Dezmine Wells entering himself with a shove) to Yancy Gates decking Kenny Frease and Cheikh Mbodj following up with an Ndamukong Suh-esque stomp to Frease's head. There was also the bright idea to allow Holloway and Mark Lyons to speak to the media in the aftermath of the fight, and that clearly didn't go well. Per NCAA rules the three players ejected for fighting (Gates and Mbodj for Cincinnati, Wells for Xavier) will sit out their team's next game but it's clear that one game won't be enough for many of the players involved. It will be interesting to see how the schools and their respective conferences hand out discipline for this disgraceful showing.

3. UNLV can't get their tempo going in a loss at Wisconsin.
Few people expected Dave Rice's Runnin' Rebels to be able to go into the Kohl Center and play the fast tempo that they prefer. Wisconsin's just that good at controlling the flow of the game thanks to Bo Ryan's system, and that ultimately resulted in a 62-51 Badger victory. Jordan Taylor scored just four points and missed all ten of his shots from the field, but the Rebels couldn't take advantage due to their own poor shooting. Removing Chace Stanback (5-9 FG, 16 points), UNLV's starters made just seven of twenty-four shots from the field and as a team the Rebels were outscored by 15 points (30-15) from beyond the arc.

On the season Wisconsin scores 41% of their points from deep but on Saturday that number was up to 48%, and that's a number that can be tough to overcome when a team makes just 38% of their two-point shots as UNLV did. Ben Brust was outstanding off the bench as he made all seven of his three-point attempts in scoring a game-high 25 points. Brust gives the Badgers a scoring punch off the bench that they haven't had especially in the backcourt, and if he can continue to provide that Wisconsin has a weapon that teams will find difficult to match. But even with Brust's play UNLV has to assign more blame to their own offensive performance for the defeat.

4. Draymond Green leads Michigan State to a good road win at Gonxaga.
One thing that's been quite apparent over the last year plus is just how good of a leader Michigan State senior forward Draymond Green is. And with the young team that Tom Izzo has this season it's imperative that Green continue to carry the load in that area, which he's done all season long. The Spartans' leader in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals was outstanding in their 74-67 win at Gonzaga, scoring 34 points while providing great on-court leadership. As a team Michigan State shot 54.2% from the field and assisted on 18 of their 26 made baskets while Gonzaga's assist/turnover split (nine assists, 20 turnovers) played a big role in their demise. Also of import was the defense that Michigan State played in slowing down Elias Harris and Kevin Pangos, who shot a combined 5-for-19 from the field. But all that together and you end up with one of the more impressive road victories of the season to date.

5. Saint Joseph's hands #17 Creighton their first loss of the season.
There was no doubting the fact that Phil Martelli's improved Hawks had a shot to knock off undefeated Creighton going into Saturday's matinee. And thanks to Carl Jones, who scored a game-high 29 points, the Hawks got the job done by the final score of 80-71. Doug McDermott led Creighton with yet another double-double as he finished with 26 points and ten rebounds, but the Bluejay reserves were outscored 20-6 by the Saint Joseph's tandem of Ronald Roberts Jr. (12 points) and Chris Wilson (eight). Add in the fact that the Hawks attempted 23 more free throws (making 19 to Creighton's six) and it's pretty easy to see why the home team won. The Hawks' offensive numbers were significantly better than what the Bluejays allow on the average this season, and they've played much improved basketball when compared to 2010-11. Just another good non-conference win for the Atlantic 10, one of the leagues likely to profit from a down Pac-12 come March.

Quick Hitters

1. Duke had the look of a marathoner who got off to a fast start only to hold on for dear life towards the end as cramping set in with their 86-80 win over Washington. Austin Rivers scored 18 points and Andre Dawkins added 17 off the bench, but Washington's Tony Wroten was a major player in the Huskies' comeback with 23 points.

2. Don't look now but Columbia has now won seven straight thanks to their 63-53 win over NEC favorite LIU. Mark Cisco and John Daniels scored 12 points apiece and defensively the Lions limited LIU to 36.4% shooting from the field. And this has happened with Norwua Agho missing the last nine games with a torn patellar tendon.

3. Nick Johnson scored 14 points and Solomon Hill 13 in Arizona's 63-47 win over Clemson in a game that also featured the return of point guard Josiah Turner. Turner finished with six points and five turnovers in 17 minutes of action, but if Sean Miller can get him to buy in the Wildcats will be one of the favorites in the Pac-12.

4. Ramone Moore scored 32 points and grabbed six rebounds in Temple's 78-67 win over Villanova. Maalik Wayns, Dominic Cheek and Mouphtaou Yarou scored 47 of the Wildcats' 67 points on the afternoon, and to be frank if they don't get contributions from the supporting cast it could be tough for Jay Wright's team to grab an 8th straight NCAA Tournament bid.

5. Lazeric Jones led four UCLA players in double figures with 21 points as the Bruins beat Penn 77-73 in their first game post-Reeves Nelson. Penn's field goal (44.8%) and effective field goal (55.2%) percentages were actually improvements for UCLA defensively when looking at their season averages. The chemistry may be better without Nelson but talent-wise there's still a long way to go for Ben Howland's team.

6. While Tennessee won't be a national contender, Austin Peay picked up an important 74-70 win in Knoxville. Josh Terry scored 20 points and TyShawn Edmondson added 19 off the bench as the Governors picked up their second win of the season. Dave Loos' team can still be a factor in the OVC despite the slow start.

7. Jarrod Jones scored 21 points and his jumper with 48 seconds remaining proved to be the difference in Ball State's 58-55 home win over Butler. As for the Bulldogs, outside of Khyle Marshall (9-15 FG, 21 points) the team shot 11-for-40 from the field. Brad Stevens needs guys to step up as consistent offensive options if Butler is to be a contender in the Horizon League.

Five Notable Performances

1. G/F Alex Young (IUPUI)
43 points (14-20 FG), nine rebounds and three steals in the Jaguars' 84-76 win over Western Kentucky.

2. F Javon McCrea (Buffalo)
29 points (14-17 FG), 13 rebounds and three steals in the Bulls' 80-72 win over Youngstown State.

3. F Draymond Green (Michigan State)
34 points (11-13 FG), three assists and three steals in Michigan State's 74-67 win over Gonzaga.

4. G Damian Lillard (Weber State)
Lillard bounced back from an off night at BYU with 31 points (9-15 FG), nine assists and three rebounds in the Wildcats' 84-66 win over Southern Utah.

5. G Bryce Cotton (Providence)
34 points (11-16 FG) and three rebounds inthe Friars' 72-61 win over Brown.

College Hoops Saturday Recap: Wild Saturday Will Shake Up Polls

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 08:58:04 -0800

Before the start of action on Saturday few had any idea that the day would end up being as wild as it was. Seven ranked teams fell to unranked opponents on a day that will have a drastic impact on Monday's polls, providing a reminder that the madness doesn't always wait until March to get going. Those results were as follows:

- Colorado 89, #8 Missouri 76
- Georgia 77, #11 Kentucky 70
- West Virginia 65, #13 Georgetown 69
- Oklahoma State 76, #17 Kansas State 62
- Houston 76, #18 UCF 71
- Penn State 66, #19 Michigan State 62
- South Carolina 83, #22 Vanderbilt 75 (OT)

The biggest surprise of this group, despite the fact that Michigan State has its fair share of issues in Happy Valley, may be Penn State picking off the Spartans. Jeff Brooks posted his second consecutive double-double (17 points, 12 rebounds) and four Nittany Lions reached double figures to make up for an off night from Talor Battle (3-for-14, 13 points). But Battle had six assists on the afternoon and his jumper with 18 seconds remaining pushed Penn State's lead to three as they held on for their second Big Ten victory. Durrell Summers led the Spartans with 21 but Michigan State left points at the foul line (10-20) and that ultimately cost them. UCF also went on the road and lost to a team not expected to contend for a conference title, falling at Houston as the Cougars limited the Knights to 39% shooting on the day.

Georgia and West Virginia picked up important victories from a resume standpoint as the Bulldogs knocked off Kentucky in Athens while the Mountaineers hit the road to beat Georgetown. Travis Leslie provided his usual highlights for Mark Fox's club and Trey Thompkins led four scorers in double figures with 25 points and seven rebounds. Meanwhile, outside of Terrence Jones, Brandon Knight and Doron Lamb the Wildcats struggled offensively and as a team made just 38% of their shots from the field. Georgetown was once again cold from deep (5-for-17) but their 18 turnovers had just as much to do with their loss as the poor shooting, and Casey Mitchell scoring 28 points didn't help the cause of the home team either. With the Hoyas now 1-3 in Big East play don't be surprised if they experience a sharp drop in the polls thanks to losses to St. John's and West Virginia.

Also of note was the performance of Colorado's Alec Burks, who reminded those who didn't know why he's on the Wooden Award's Midseason List. 36 points and eight rebounds for the wing in the Buffaloes' win over Missouri in the Big 12 debut for first-year head coach Tad Boyle. Colorado hadn't won their league opener since the 1996-97 season, when Chauncey Billups led the program to its most recent NCAA Tournament appearance. And in their last year before moving on to the Pac-10 this is the best that the Buffs could have hoped for as a beginning to their last hurrah. Of the seven defeats six occurred on the road, underlining the dangers that await teams within league play.

Other Notable Happenings

1. Connecticut makes the big plays late to win at Texas.
The matchup between the Huskies and Longhorns featured just about everything a sports fan would want: players stepping up to make crucial plays in late game situations, formerly struggling contributors posting their best performances of the season and the clutch shooting of one of the game's best players. Add in a flubbed dunk attempt and one of the more perplexing late-game decisions ever seen and you've summed up the game of the day. Kemba Walker struggled for much of the afternoon shooting and Texas point guard Dogus Balbay had a bit to do with that. But when it was winning time the junior was ready for the occasion, hitting a step-back jumper with five seconds remaining in overtime to give UConn a key 82-81 victory.

Walker, who made just 8 of 27 shots, also drained an end of shot clock heave from about 30 feet out to give Jim Calhoun's team an 80-77 lead. The struggling contributor going into yesterday's game? That would be forward Alex Oriakhi, who stepped up with 11 points and 21 rebounds as the Huskies grabbed 20 offensive boards and held a plus-10 (48-38) edge on the glass. Add in 15 from Shabazz Napier off the bench and 13 from Roscoe Smith (who likely misread the clock in throwing the ball 75 feet late in regulation) and the Huskies earned their first true road victory of the season. Five Longhorns reached double figures in defeat, but in the end it was about the superlative ability of Walker to make the big plays late.

2. Austin Peay remains in the driver's seat in the Ohio Valley race.
Much of the talk before the season focused on Morehead State and defending champion Murray State in regards to the OVC race. But don't forget about Dave Loos' Austin Peay Governors, who moved to 5-0 in league play with 66-64 win at Murray. The Govs were up 15 with 9:36 remaining, holding off the hard-charging Racers to move two games in the loss column ahead of both expected contenders (and already owning a victory over each). TyShawn Edmondson struggled, making just one of seven from the field and scoring seven points (averaging more than 19 per game going into Saturday's contest), but Justin Blake's 15 off the bench made up for it. Murray will likely look back to their shooting from the foul line (11-for-21) as the reason for their loss despite shooting 5-for-17 from distance, squandering a 39-24 advantage on the boards. There's still a long way to go before the OVC gets to its conference tournament, but you have to think that if Austin Peay can get themselves in a situation where the avoid both Morehead and Murray until the title game they'd be in solid shape.

3. Renardo Sidney and Dee Bost return and it doesn't matter for Mississippi State.
This one was a bit under the radar due to the fact that frankly neither Alabama nor Mississippi State has performed all that well. But Saturday marked the return of point guard Dee Bost and forward Renardo Sidney, with the big man serving just a one-game suspension for his role in a fight at the Diamond Head Classic with now former teammate Elgin Bailey. But not only did the two return to active duty they started, and if Saturday's result is any indicator of how much work Rick Stansbury has to do with this group they're in for a rough go for the immediate future. Trevor Releford led four Alabama starters in double figures with 17 points as the Crimson Tide stampeded in the second half of their 75-57 victory. As for the two stars: Bost shot 5-for-16 (14 points) while Sidney was 1-for-8 (2 points) from the field. The question for Mississippi State is who leads this team? That will more than likely fall upon the shoulders of Bost but with him missing the first half of the season he'll need time to get into game form. Is there anyone else who can step up in the meantime? The answer will likely determine the path on which the Bulldogs' season travels and a conclusion in the negative could bring down even more heat on their head coach.

Top Three Games

1. Connecticut 82, Texas 81 (OT)

2. UAB 100, UTEP 97 (3 OT) Cameron Moore, who led the Blazers with 29 points and 14 rebounds, won the game on a three pointer from the corner with two seconds remaining in the Conference USA opener for both. Randy Culpepper, who sent the game into the third overtime with a three pointer, led UTEP with 34 but his last-second shot from 40 feet out missed the mark.

3. St. Bonaventure 92, Charlotte 88 (3 OT) Andrew Nicholson's 34 points and seven rebounds led the way for the Bonnies, who move to 2-0 this season in games that have gone at least three overtimes (they beat Ohio in four OTs on December 18th). Javarris Barnett and Jamar Briscoe scored 20 points apiece to lead the 49ers, who attempted just nine free throws to St. Bonaventure's 42.

Three Notable Performances

1. Forwards Alex Oriakhi (Connecticut) and Herb Pope (Seton Hall) These were the only two players in college basketball on Saturday to grab 20 or more rebounds, with Oriakhi grabbing 21 (and scoring 11 points) in the Huskies' win over Texas and Pope snagging 20 (scoring 14 points) in the Pirates' loss to Syracuse.

2. G Alec Burks (Colorado) 36 points, eight rebounds and two assists in the Buffaloes' 89-76 win over Missouri in the Big 12 opener for both.

3. G Mickey McConnell (Saint Mary's) 11 points and 15 assists in the Gaels' 85-60 win over Pepperdine, moving their win streak to eight as a result.

Jon Teitel's "Forgotten Legends" Series: Austin Peay Great Bubba Wells

Jon Teitel — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 14:23:26 -0800

In the latest installment in his "Forgotten Legends" interview series, CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with Austin Peay great Charles "Bubba" Wells. Wells, who remains the all-time leading scorer in APSU history, led the Governors to the 1996 NCAA Tournament and played in various professional leagues after graduating in 1997. Wells' wife, Tracee, is currently the head coach of the women's basketball program at Tennessee State.

Jon Teitel: How did you get the nickname Bubba and did you like the nickname?
Bubba Wells: I think I got that from being a "Jr." and growing up in a small town in KY. At least that is the story I got, so I am sticking to it!

JT: Why did you choose to go to Austin Peay?
BW: It was close to home, which allowed my family to watch me play.

JT: In 1994 you were named OVC Freshman of the Year, and you also were a three-time First Team All-OVC performer over the next three years. How were you able to come in and contribute as a freshman, and how were you able to dominate throughout the rest of your college career?
BW: I just worked hard. I played in a lot of tourneys in the summertime and got a lot better. I also went to a few big man camps and ran the guard spot so that I could handle the ball more. Where I am from that is all we did in the summer: just play basketball.

JT: In 1996 you scored 26.3 PPG (3rd in the nation) and were named OVC Tournament MVP. Did you feel like you were one of the best players in the country?
BW: I did not think that I was one of the best, but thought I could play with anyone in the country.

JT: What are your memories of the 1996 NCAA Tournament (Wells scored 16 points and had seven assists in a loss to Georgia Tech, who was led by Matt Harpring's 27 points and Stephon Marbury's 17)?
BW: We had a couple of guys who were out, and I missed a few shots as well. We did not get the breaks we needed and just ran out of gas. I remember Stephon was at the free throw line and we asked each other if we were coming out early that year. Matt was a great player who was very strong.

JT: In 1997 you missed the first 12 games of the season due to a left tibia stress fracture, but gained national attention by miraculously returning to the court one month later and scoring 39 points on a career-high 7 three-pointers in 28 minutes in your first game back. How were you able to come back from such an injury, and why were you able to play at such a high level in your very first game?
BW: It was just a blessing. My doctor was great; I even went back to him for surgery after tearing my Achilles in the NBA. Dr. Andrews down in Alabama is great, but Dr. Cooper Beazley is great too and I worked hard on my rehab. I did not lose a lot of muscle and was able to ride a stationary bike to stay in shape. I was only expecting to play 10 minutes in my first game back, but ended up playing 28 minutes.

JT: Although you did not play enough games to qualify for the official scoring title, your 31.7 PPG was the best in the nation, and you were later named conference Player of the Year. What did it mean to you to win such an outstanding individual honor?
BW: Coming from a town of only 7,000 people (Russellville, KY), there are not many people who get out of there and find success in athletics. My cousin Joseph Jefferson was later drafted in the third round by the Colts, which also helped show the townspeople that you could go to school and make a good life for yourself.

JT: You finished your career as the leading scorer in school history. Did you realize at the time how prolific a player you were?
BW: I was the type of guy who never listened to that kind of stuff. I just tried to go out and be the best player I could be. I knew that I was okay, but I was just thankful for the opportunity to play college basketball.

JT: In the summer of 1997 you were drafted in the second round by Dallas but only played 39 games for them. Did you consider your chance to play in the NBA a success (due to making it to the top) or a failure (due to not having a long and noteworthy career)?
BW: Timing is everything, and Dallas already had five experienced guards on the roster. I was rated pretty high after our training camp, but Coach Jim Cleamons told me that he did not play rookies a lot. It was a rude awakening for me, and hurt me a bit after all the hard work I had put in.

JT: After 16 games Don Nelson took over as coach and was looking for a way to stop the Bulls' offense, so he put you in and told you to foul notoriously poor free throw shooter Dennis Rodman (the first-known use of the defensive strategy that would later become known as "Hack-a-Shaq"), but Rodman made 9-12 FT in Chicago's six-point win and you broke a 41-year old NBA record for the quickest disqualification due to personal fouls in an NBA regular-season game (racking up 6 fouls in 3 minutes). What are your memories of that night, and what did you think of Nelson's strategy?
BW: Nellie does all kinds of stuff like that. I look up to him a lot. A lot of people thought I did it accidentally, but he asked me before the game if I would be willing to try it, and I told him that I would do whatever it takes to win. We fell short of winning, but when you are playing against Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen it is hard to make any strategy work!

JT: In 1998 you retired from the NBA due to a torn Achilles tendon and other injuries. Did you feel frustrated that you could not go out on your own terms?
BW: I got past a serious injury in college, so tearing my Achilles during my free agent year after being in the best shape of my life was not good. It was unfortunate, but I knew that I could go overseas.

JT: After the NBA you played in the CBA and USBL, then spent two years playing in the Philippines and Greece. What did you learn from these experiences, and how did they compare to college basketball?
BW: I tell people that my time in college was the best years of my life. I might have been a first round pick if I had went pro after my junior year, but I thought that I could move up if I came back for my final year. My surgery set me back a bit, so I understand why some college players choose to leave early. I have had a great life and been to places I never dreamed of visiting, so I am truly blessed.

JT: After playing abroad you returned to the US and played for the Harlem Globetrotters for two years. What was it like to be a Globetrotter, and what was your favorite memory from that time?
BW: I loved being around the Globetrotters, as they are all good guys. Seeing the world was great, and playing with Magic Johnson in a 2003 game against Michigan State was very special. Magic and I worked the pick-and-roll to perfection!

JT: Since 2005 you have worked as an assistant basketball coach at Austin Peay. Why did you choose to return to your alma mater to coach, and what has the experience been like?
BW: My experience with Coach Loos was great. He is someone who helped me get my degree, and I value everything that he does. He is strictly old-school, and has not changed 1 bit over the years. He stressed defense, and helped me kick-start my coaching career.

JT: In 2007 you married Tracee Wells, who was named 2008 OVC Coach of the Year as the women's basketball coach at Tennessee State. What has your wife taught you about coaching college basketball, and do you find that the men's game is very different from the women's game?
BW: The women are a little different from the men, as the men are better at leaving their problems off the court. Sometimes she asks me for advice, as she knows I played a lot of basketball. She is very good at what she does and I think she has a lot more coaching to do; I think she can move up pretty quick. She understands the business, which means that she understands when I am gone a lot for my own job.

Wells is also on Jon's list of best fantasy players in OVC history.

Austin Peay: Bubba Wells (1997) 2267 PTS (#1), 40.5 3P% (#3), All-American, conference POY

Eastern Illinois: Henry Domercant (2003) 2602 PTS (#1), 798 REB (#2), 66 BLK (#5), 285 3PM (#1), 40.5 3P% (#4), 85.2 FT% (#2), All-American, conference POY

Eastern Kentucky: Mike Rose (2009) 1763 PTS (#2), 184 STL, 271 3PM (#2), 38.2 3P%, 75 FT%

Jacksonville State: Robert Lee Sanders (1990) 1983 PTS (#1), 256 3PM (#1), All-American, conference POY

Morehead State: Ricky Minard (2004) 2381 PTS (#1), 417 AST (#2), 247 STL (#1), 226 3PM (#1), conference POY

Murray State: Popeye Jones (1992) 2057 PTS (#4), 1374 REB (#1), 2-time conference POY

SE Missouri State: Carl Ritter (1963) 1916 PTS (#1), All-American

Tennessee State: Dick Barnett (1959) 3209 PTS (#1), 3-time All-American

Tennessee Tech: Earl Wise (1990) 2196 PTS (#1), 845 REB (#4), 155 STL (#5), All-American

Tennessee-Martin: Lester Hudson (2009) 1727 PTS (#2), 169 STL (#3), 230 3PM (#2), 85.6 FT% (#1), All-American, 2-time conference POY

Poll: Who Will Win the OVC?

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:25:59 -0700

OVC Tournament Preview & Predictions

Evan Dorey — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:44:02 -0800

This is one in a series of my conference tournament previews, in which I run down all the teams involved, giving a brief statistical review and picking out some of the key players, and presenting the log5 projections, using in-conference offensive and defensive efficiency. The basic log5 methodology comes from Bill James, and this is an area Ken Pomeroy has looked at in the past as well. I claim nothing new in the application, but obviously with slightly different methodologies, these numbers may differ from others you find. I don’t claim to be an expert on any particular conference, and I’m sure there are some mis-characterizations on some players I’ve seen sparingly at best, so please add your thoughts in the comments. Anyway, with no further ado, the preview follows below:

Ohio Valley

The OVC Tournament features the top 8 teams out of a 10 team league, with the quarterfinals being hosted at the home courts of the top 4 seeds, and the two later rounds hosted at the Sommet Center in Nashville.

OVC Tournament Odds

#	Team	SF	F	W
1	Tennessee Martin	90.91%	58.86%	30.81%
2	Austin Peay	80.67%	25.43%	10.06%
3	Murray St.	93.43%	69.19%	42.55%
4	Morehead St.	73.48%	30.09%	12.17%
5	Eastern Kentucky	26.52%	8.67%	2.81%
6	Tennessee St.	6.57%	1.87%	0.35%
7	Eastern Illinois	19.33%	3.50%	0.82%
8	Tennessee Tech	9.09%	2.37%	0.45%

It’s interesting to see that the #1 seeds and league champions aren’t the favorites, a title that belongs to #3 Murray St. The first four teams were separated by just two games in the standings, but the efficiency stats tell us that Martin and Murray St. are in a separate class.

#1 – Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks (21-8, 14-4) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.114

Last NCAA Tournament bid: None

Tennessee-Martin has had an excellent season, claiming its first OVC regular season title, powered by a ten-game winning streak early in the conference schedule. The Skyhawks aren’t spectacular in any area, but do a lot of things well, and don’t make a lot of mistakes. Their main weakness is long-distance shooting, where they sit last in the OVC, but they make up for it by shooting 74% at the free throw line and earning a lot of extra possessions on the glass and by avoiding turnovers. Martin also defends well, managing to dominate the turnover margin by forcing a lot.

Players to watch:

6-2 SR Lester Hudson, 26.6 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 2.4 SPG, 50.8 eFG% - The only player more important to his team than Hudson is some Curry guy that you might have heard about once or twice. Like Curry, Hudson’s shooting percentages aren’t that impressive on their own, but when you consider how many shots he takes, you really get a sense of how valuable he is. He also is a key player in lot of other areas, leading the Skyhawks in rebounding and steals, and putting up a very good assist rate.

6-1 JR Delrico Lane, 5.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 4.9 APG, 2.3 SPG, 51.5 eFG% - Lane doesn’t score much, but let’s face it, there’s not a lot of shots available once Hudson and second-best scorer Marquis Weddle get their share. Lane has done a good job getting the ball to Hudson, leading the OVC in assists, and like Hudson has an excellent steal rate.

#2 – Austin Peay Governors (17-12, 13-5) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.053

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2008 (1^st Round)

The Governors face the strange situation of being lucky, as their record is somewhat better than their efficiency margin would suggest, but also unlucky, as a couple of losses in overtime are the only thing separating them from a conference title. Still, it’s telling that this is the #4 favorite by the log5 method, and to see them suffer an ‘upset’ wouldn’t be a big surprise. Austin Peay is the best pure shooting team in the conference, well over 50% from inside and at 39% from behind the arc, and the second best OVC offense overall. For all their ability to make shots, though, stopping opponents from doing the same has been difficult, especially from long distance, where they put up the conference’s worst defensive mark. The Governors are the only team of the top 4 seeds to give up more than a point-per possession, and their defensive woes will probably be their downfall.

Players to watch:

6-5 SR Drake Reed, 22.4 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 59.0 eFG% - In a lot of other conferences in the nation, Reed’s numbers would be good enough to make him a clear top scorer and the favorite for player of the year, but with Hudson taking the spotlight, Reed has to settle for being the OVC’s #2 scorer. Reed doesn’t take as large a proportion of his team’s shots as Hudson does, but he’s much more efficient, nearly 60% from inside the arc and a 40% outside shooter. He’s also in the top 5 in the conference in rebounding and rarely turns the ball over.

6-3 JR Wes Channels, 16.8 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 51.1 eFG% - Channels takes a similar proportion of the Governors’ shots as Reed, but is much more dependent on the three-pointer, and isn’t quite as good a percentage shooter. Still, he’s a good scoring guard who leads the team in assists, and combines with Reed to form a deadly inside-outside duo.

#3 – Murray St. Racers (17-12, 13-5) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.129

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2006 (1^st Round)

Murray St. may be the third seed, but don’t be surprised to see it run off with a 14^th NCAA tourney appearance, the best of any OVC team. The worst of the Racers’ five losses came by 6 points, meaning that their efficiency margin is the highest in the league. This is mostly due to a defense that is clearly the best in the OVC; opponents make few threes and turn the ball over a lot, a clear sign of how good the Racers are on the perimeter. They aren’t great at making threes themselves, but tend to focus on scoring from two, where they are efficient enough to have a decent offense overall. The Racers’ style probably contributes to why they’ve had so many close losses; their defensive, slow-paced game makes it a lot more difficult to get a big margin against weaker teams.

Players to watch:

6-2 SO Isaac Miles, 10.3 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 3.8 APG, 48.2 eFG% - The team’s second leading scorer is entering the tournament on a roll, having scored in double digits in each of the last five games, and has done this despite taking a lot of bad shots from behind the arc, where he hits less than 30%. He’s a good scorer from two who gets a lot of chances at the line, and while he puts up a lot of assists, he also has occasional bouts of major turnover trouble.

6-4 JR Danero Thomas, 11.8 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 47.1 eFG% - Thomas isn’t a great offensive player, but leads the Racers in scoring, and is a decent shooter, though like Miles he struggles from behind the arc. His best performance comes on the defensive end, where he’s the team’s best shot-blocker and one of the conference leaders in steals.

#4 – Morehead St. Eagles (16-15, 12-6) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.066

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1984 (1^st Round)

The last of the teams that open the season at home, Morehead seemed to be destined for a tough year when they started 0-6, but had turned it around by the time conference play began, though they should be concerned after closing the season on a four-game losing streak. The Eagles are similar to Murray St., depending on inside play on the offensive end, but doing their best work defensively, but they aren’t as effective at either end as the Racers. Morehead isn’t too strong from the field, but is a good offensive rebounding team that does a great job getting to the line, and making shots once there. Defensively, the Eagles best play also comes inside, as they hold opponents to a conference-best 44.5% from two, and are good rebounders and shot-blockers.

Players to watch:

6-8 SO Kenneth Faried, 13.5 PPG, 12.6 RPG, 2.1 SPG, 2.0 BPG, 56.4 eFG% - Faried is probably the conference’s best big man, fourth nationally in rebounding and the only Valley player averaging more than nine boards a game. He’s a 56% shooter from the field who also sits in the top 3 of the conference rankings in steals and blocks. The only real weakness in his game is his free throw shooting, where he’s worse than from the field, but he looks like he’ll be a great player in the conference in the years to come.

6-5 SR Leon Buchanan, 15.3 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 53.5 eFG% - Buchanan is a great interior partner for Faried, a decent rebounder who shoots a good percentage, and unlike the sophomore, does a really great job at the free throw line. He’s an 81% shooter who makes a lot of appearances, and the points he gets there are enough to make him the team’s leading scorer.

#5 – Eastern Kentucky Colonels (18-12, 10-8) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.036

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2007 (1^st Round)

Eastern Kentucky are an ideal example of how a team’s tempo can confuse those who don’t take it into account. The Colonels are easily the slowest team in the OVC, and a look at their point-per-game numbers would lead you to suggest that they are merely average offensively. In reality, the Colonels tend to be involved in the conference’s most offensively efficient games, boasting the OVC’s best offense, and the worst defense of the teams qualifying for the tournament. The Colonels are an offensive dream, putting up a 55.7 eFG% in conference, and one of the nation’s best marks in the category of the whole season, and having the OVC’s lowest turnover rate. Their problems come inside, where they don’t get much of their offense (the second-most three-dependent team in the country), and are terrible on the glass. Opponents shred EKU’s defense seemingly at will, shooting 54%, and even the ability to force a lot of turnovers doesn’t help much.

Players to watch:

6-4 SR Mike Rose, 20.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 59.2 eFG% - The third 20 PPG player in the conference, Rose is the deadliest three-point shooter on a team that thrives behind the arc. Shooting 49% from long-distance is the kind of percentage we expect from an occasional shooter, not someone who puts up more than 200 attempts a season. He’s one of the team’s better rebounders and a solid defender, but his value is all in that shot.

6-7 SO Justin Stommes, 10.2 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 59.4 eFG% - Behind Rose, there are a group of other strong shooters, though none with the frequency, or the success, of the Colonels’ leading scorer. Stommes is the best of the bunch, and he provides a great alternative option from outside.

#6 – Tennessee St. Tigers (12-17, 9-9) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.048

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1994 (1^st Round)

The Tigers made a lot of headlines, and got a lot of criticism, for firing Cy Alexander mid-season, but it worked out pretty well, as they went 6-1, including six straight wins entering the tournament, to manage a .500 finish in the conference. Tennessee St.’s defense is almost as bad as EKU’s, one of the worst in the tournament, but unlike the Colonels, TSU’s offense isn’t good enough to bail it out. Tennessee St. is focused on attacking the inside, and does it decently, but struggles with turnovers and free throws. The Tigers should watch their opponents to find a better example of inside play, as they allow 52% of attempts from inside, and don’t do much on the defensive glass either. They actually have the poorest odds of any team in the tournament, and a #6 seed probably flatters them somewhat.

Players to watch:

6-7 SO Darius Cox, 10.8 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.9 BPG, 54.3 eFG% - Cox is just fourth on the team in scoring, but is the most efficient offensive option when Tennessee St. has the ball, shooting over 50% from the field. He’s also an excellent rebounder, and a good shot-blocker.

6-8 SR Jerrell Houston, 14.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.3 BPG, 51.4 eFG% - Houston is another good interior player, with similar numbers to Cox, but with a larger role in the offense, and a much bigger problem with turnovers.

#7 – Eastern Illinois Panthers (12-17, 8-10) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.019

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2001 (1^st Round)

After talking about a couple of teams that struggle on the defensive end, Eastern Illinois are a bit of change of pace, decent defenders but the worst offensive team in the conference. A bright note for the Panthers’ offense is that they make a decent percentage of both threes and free throws; unfortunately, they don’t get to the line much, and take a large majority of their shots from inside the arc. Defensively, EIU is a solid team, especially inside, where it holds opponents to just 46% shooting. However, their offensive woes are too great to overcome, and they enter the tournament on a real low, losing their last six conference games.

Players to watch:

6-1 SO Tyler Laser, 11.6 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, 56.5 eFG% - Laser isn’t a go-to scorer, but is the kind of pure shooter who can be really effective as a secondary option. He hits over 40% from behind the arc, and is 6^th nationally in free throw percentage, 50-of-52 on the season. He’s a good distributor of the ball and can also score from inside the arc, the kind of player who could really break out if he can handle a bigger role in future seasons.

6-3 JR Romain Martin, 15.2 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 53.5 eFG% - Martin is the other guy on the Panthers who can make threes, and while his percentage isn’t as high as Laser’s, he takes a lot more shots, and is much more important in the offense. Most of his value depends on his shooting, he doesn’t really contribute much in the other statistical areas.

#8 – Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (12-17, 6-12) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.034

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1963 (1^st Round)

Tennessee Tech is the OVC’s fastest paced team, but its high speed hasn’t equalled highly effective offensive possessions, especially from two-point range, where you’d expect such a team to score in transition. Instead, the Golden Eagles are best when they put up threes, over 38% from behind the arc. This doesn’t happen nearly enough, though, with poor rebounding, turnovers, and a fairly two-point-heavy offense combining to limit the Eagles’ long distance-scoring. Defensively, Tennessee Tech force a lot of turnovers, but are terrible defensive rebounders and commit a lot of fouls.

Players to watch:

6-9 SR Daniel Northern, 12.4 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 2.5 BPG, 49.4 eFG% - Northern is an excellent big-man in almost every area except field goal percentage, and it’s only his 49% from the field that holds him back. He’s the second-best rebounder in the OVC, and leads the conference in shot-blocking. He gets to the line a lot, and while his 65% from the stripe isn’t great, it’s not too bad, and shows a clear improvement from previous seasons.

6-2 JR Frank Davis, 10.1 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 59.2 eFG% - If you’re looking for a great example of how a player who isn’t the offensive focus can really thrive, Davis may be a perfect. He doesn’t take a lot of shots, but his contribution on the stat sheet will be basically limited to whatever he manages to score. He’s a 43% three-point shooter, and has taken more attempts from behind the arc than the Eagles’ next two most prolific shooters combined. He doesn’t turn the ball over much, but he’s not the kind of player who will do much beside shoot when he does get it.

My statistical all-OVC team:

Tennessee Martin SR G Lester Hudson, 26.6 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 2.4 SPG, 50.8 eFG%

Eastern Kentucky SR G Mike Rose, 20.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 59.2 eFG%

Austin Peay SR F Drake Reed, 22.4 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 59.0 eFG%

Morehead St. SR F Leon Buchanan, 15.3 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 53.5 eFG%6-8,

Morehead St. SO F/C Kenneth Faried, 13.5 PPG, 12.6 RPG, 2.1 SPG, 2.0 BPG, 56.4 eFG%

College Basketball: Seven Day Stretch

Rob Carpentier — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 08:51:54 -0800

Rob Carpentier's "Seven Day Stretch" is a whirlwind tour around every corner of college basketball nation:

Seven Day Savior (Team): Louisville Cardinals

This was a team that, while they weren't exactly left for dead, were certainly playing much worse no more than 10 days ago. Since then the Cardinals of Coach Rick Pitino have beaten both Notre Dame and then #1 Pitt. The Cardinals are starting to commit themselves to defense and are offensively finally taking what the defense gives them. Up until the Notre Dame Game, the Cardinals shot from behind the three point line as if they believed that they were all the second coming of Larry Bird. That wasn't particularly bright for a team that does not have any superlative outside shooters. In many ways that accounted for the losses to Western Kentucky and Minnesota. However, in their past two games, the Cards have focused on defense, rebounding and slashing to the hoop on offense. This is still a team with too many holes to seriously consider them as a Big east title contender, let alone a threat to make the Final Four. But for a week, anyway, Louisville proved they can still, (consistently), run with the big dogs.

Seven Day Savior (Player): Drake Reed; Wes Channels, Austin Peay Governors

This dynamic duo is dominating the Ohio Valley Conference. Reed, 6'5 senior swingman and Channels, a 6'3" guard, are averaging a little over 19 and 17 points respectively. Reed is the power player, shooting over 50% from the floor and leading the team in rebounding with over 7 boards per game. Channels is the finesse player, hitting over 44% from behind the arc. He is also averaging 3 assists per game. Against Tennessee State last week, Channels scored 24 points and Reed chipped in with 19. The Govs haven't beaten anyone of note yet this year, but they played Louisville tough for a while and played Arkansas very tough for the entire game, both on the road. This is the kind of team that can cause some real trouble in the first round or two of the NCAA Tournament. They play in a solid system and they play defense, but the key to the Govs' success has clearly been the play of their inside/outdie combo of Reed and Channels.

Game of the Week (The one you already heard about): Baylor Bears at Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma looks to be the runaway winner of the Big 12 and really have only two more hurdles to clear; Kansas and Baylor. The Sooners have already defeated Texas A&M, Texas and Kansas State and look like a real threat on the national level. Baylor has quietly been running just under the surface of "name" teams this season, even though the Bears are 13-3 and have defeated Providence, Oklahoma State, Arizona State and Washington State, (on the road, mind you, no easy task). Baylor plays the kind of frenetic game that could either lead to a blowout win for Oklahoma or an upset victory for Baylor. The key to this game is which Baylor team shows up on both the defensive end and behind the three point line. Baylor has the ability to shoot themselves in or out of games. That shooting has the added effect of motivating or deflating Baylor's defense; the better they shoot, the better they play on 'D'. This isn't exactly the mark of a championship squad, but it is the mark of a team that can pull off this kind of upset.

Game of the Week (The one you DON'T know about): George Mason Patriots at Northeastern Huskies

Most people remember George Mason from their surprising Final Four run in 2006. Well, the Patriots are back. They are undefeated in the Colonial Athletic Association and have an RPI in the 40's. Northeastern is a bit of a surprise. Other than a close road lose to Hofstra last week, this would be a game of Colonial unbeatens. George Mason comes into the contest at 14-3 while Northeastern is 11-6. The Patriots haven't beaten anyone of not, (their best non-conference win coming against Ohio), and they've only played one game against a team in the RPI top 50, Dayton. That was a close four point loss for GMU. The Huskies, who are in the 70's in the latest RPI, actually have played more teams of note; Michigan, Rhode Island and Memphis were all blowout losses, but NU did beat Providence and Indiana on the road. Northeastern is the home team and they've played much tougher schedule. Frankly, adding to the level of interest in this game, the Huskies have to win this one or they and the rest of the CAA are going to watch George Mason pull away from the rest of the conference and win the CAA title. That is looking like a bigger deal now that other traditional mid-major power conferences, (the Horizon League and the MAC to name two), appear to be one bid conferences come March when dance cards are handed out. Although both teams still have to face VCU, the third member at the top of the CAA, this game will go a long way in determining if the CAA is a one, two or three horse race.

Seven Days Under the Radar: Northern Iowa Panthers

The best mid major conference in the country over the past 10 years has probably been the Missouri Valley Conference. Traditionally the Valley has been a two or three bid league when it comes to the NCAA Tournament. However, this season, the Valley may be a one bid league. The MVC is only the 8th ranked conference in the RPI; the Valley has five teams in the RPI top 100, but the best, Illinois State, is only # 50, and those numbers are going to get worse as the teams in the MVC knock each other off. Enter the surprising Panthers. They have the worst RPI rating of any of the aforementioned Valley squads, yet they sit in first place in the conference at 6-1. Included in those wins were victories at Southern Illinois, (the first time that's happened in more than a decade), at Creighton, (even longer), and at Evansville. When you look at those wins you're shocked to see that UNI's onc conference blemish was at home against lowly Indiana State. The thing that makes the Panthers so formidable is the fact that they have five players that average in double figures in scoring. They are led by sophomore guard Kwadzo Ahelegbe, who is exceedingly quick and has the ability to go off for 28 points in a game, which he's already done this season. More importantly, however, is the Panthers' ability to defend. Most coaches will tell you that the most important statistic defensively is field goal percentage defense. UNI is holding opponents to 42% from the field, which isn't great, but its really good. Last week the Panthers held Evansville and Drake to a combined 37% from the field...on the road!!! As the season progresses, UNI's defense is getting better. That bodes well for a team that has already won four games on the road against some of the best competition the Valley has to offer.

Seven Days on the Hot Seat: Paul Hewitt, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Its hard to believe that Hewiit had the Ramblin' Wreck in the national title game less that five years ago. Its seems like ancient history in light of Tech's recent woes. Since that remarkable run to the finals, the Jackets have been to the NCAAs only twice. That's not going to cut it in the ACC. They are the only winless team in the league and after they host Boston College this weekend, they don't appear to have any realistically winnable games on their schedule until mid-February. There are definitely more than just a few rumblings coming out of Atlanta that Hewitt may be on the chopping block after this season. He has, perhaps been the victim of his own recruiting success. He definitely has raised expectations because of his ability to bring in talent. He has consistently put together some huge recruiting classes but then has seemingly not done anything with them. Then, as these kids are starting to learn his system and grow, they jump to the NBA, ala Javaris Crittenden and Thaddeus Young. Once again Hewitt's team is being led by two underclassmen, forward Gani Lawal and frosh guard Iman Shumpert and Lawal is a good bet to jump ship after this, his sophomore season. What may save Hewitt past this season is that he has landed the consensus #1 recruit in the country, post player Derrick Favors...again, Hewitt can recruit. For his sake, however, he had better learn to keep these kids around for more than a year or he's going to be out of work.

Seven Days of Head Scratching: Officiating Differences

I am a basketball purist and as such I believe that the best officiated games are the ones where you don't even remember who the refs were or the calls tat were made. Granted, too often in today's game I se officials demonstratively making calls as if they were going to be up for some acting award at the end of the season. However, (except for the Pac-10), the major conferences have officials who make the right calls and control a game in a way that allows the players to determine who wins. In the past week I have watched some women's hoops and was singularly impressed bout how fundamentally sound the play of the women was. Granted, women's ball isn't as athletic, (lack of dunks, etc.), as the men's game, but they set better screens and rebound with position compared to their male counterparts. in short, I think the women are more fundamentally sound than the men. That's why its a shame to see games, even at the highest level, be so poorly officiated. It seems that I see more blown calls, (traveling, carrying and over the back to name a few), and phantom calls in the women's games than in the men's. I know that there isn't enough time in the day for the best men's officials to do the best women's games, too, even if they wanted to, but there has to be something better than what I've seen. Let's put it this way; it occurred to me this week that the reason i don't wacth women's ball much is because the officiating is so bad. If I'm thinking that then there re probably more than a few others out there thinking the same thing.

OVC Basketball Preview: 08-09

CHN — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:40:15 -0800

Conference Rank: 26th

10 year average: 22nd

Conference Page

All-OVC Team
Pos.	Player	Team	Yr.

G	Marquis Weddle	UTM	So
G	Lester Hudson	UTM	Sr
G	Mike Rose	EKU	Sr
F	Daniel Northern	Tenn. Tech	Sr
F	Drake Reed	Austin Peay	Sr
CHN Award Winners		Returning Leaders
Mid-Major All-Americans Lester Hudson		Points: Lester Hudson 25.7 Rebounds: Daniel Northern 9.3 Assists: DeAndre Bray (JSU) 6.3

Ohio Valley Standings
Nat'l	Team	League	Tourney

106	Murray State*	OVC	1	NCAA
162	Tennessee Martin	OVC	2
184	Austin Peay**	OVC	3
204	Tennessee St	OVC	4
215	Morehead State	OVC	5
286	Eastern Kentucky	OVC	6
304	SE Missouri St	OVC	7
322	Jacksonville St	OVC	8
328	Tennessee Tech	OVC	9
340	Eastern Illinois	OVC	10

*Click on links for full Top 144 team preview

** returning conference champion

Poll: Who Do You Think Will Win the OVC?

Other OVC Content

Conference Media Poll

Other

Top Shooting Guards: Lester Hudson

Rise & Fall: OVC

Daily Conference Poll: Who Will Win the OVC?

Shawn Siegel — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 18:15:34 -0800