ECU

Jon Teitel's "Forgotten Legends" Series: East Carolina Legend Lester Lyons

Jon Teitel — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 01:59:43 -0500

In the latest installment in his "Forgotten Legends" interview series CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with Lester Lyons, who ranks second in East Carolina history with 1,825 points. But Lyons, who scored 27 points in the Pirates' 1993 NCAA Tournament loss to eventual national champion North Carolina, wasn't solely about scoring as he still leads ECU in career steals with 235. Lyons is now the head basketball coach at his high school alma mater in North Carolina.

Jon Teitel: Why did you choose to attend ECU?
Lester Lyons: After not being recruited by many major D-I schools my choices were limited to ECU, VCU, & Richmond, who were all mid majors at the time. I chose ECU for several reasons. I had the best chance to play as a freshman, it was local, and my family would have the opportunity to see me play.

JT: In 1991 you were named CAA Rookie of the Year. How were you able to come in as a freshman and contribute from the start?
LL: My chance to play was pretty good upon my arrival. Coach Mike Steele made it very clear that if I worked hard at every position that I could possibly play, then I would have a chance to get on the court. We were limited on talent and depth at the guard position, as we were not a very good team the year before I got there.

JT: In 1991 you had a school-record seven steals against UNC Wilmington. Were you just playing exceptional defense that night or were your opponents playing very sloppy?
LL: I would like to think that I was a lock-down defender, but that night I think our game plan was to overplay the passing lanes because UNCW liked to pass the ball a lot and run the shot clock down. I just jumped in front of a few passes playing help-side defense, and that helped me get a lot of steals.

JT: In 1991 you were selected for a CAA all-star squad that toured England and Wales. What was the tour like and what kind of competition did you face?
LL: Actually, that tour was very good for me because it led to an opportunity for me to play later on. We played against some pretty good club teams that eventually turned into a professional league in that country. The all-star squad had a good mix of players from the CAA, and I had great time learning how those guys operated.

JT: In 1992 you scored 25 points in the 2nd half vs. Old Dominion. Was it just one of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were "in the zone"?
LL: That was just a situation that all players hope for, but I think for me it was just wanting to win the game and not giving up. My shots start going in, and I could not wait to shoot the next one. Playing on ESPN always helps!

JT: What are your memories of the 1993 NCAA Tournament (Lyons scored a tournament school-record 27 points on 8-11 FG in a loss to eventual national champ North Carolina, who wad led by Eric Montross with 17 points)?
LL: I remember the atmosphere that surrounded the tournament. Everybody is good, as it is the best 64 teams left in the country. We were just glad to have made it that far. I happened to play well in another nationally-televised game, which I had success in on several occasions. Montross was a big factor, but not bigger than George Lynch (15 points on 7-9 FG). We underestimated Lynch and he made us pay.

JT: In 1993 you became the first player to score 1,500 points since joining the CAA. Did you realize at the time how prolific a player you were?
LL: I really did not have any idea of how others perceived me or how I played. I was always focused on my team and personal goals. One thing about me is that I want to win so I tried very hard and it produced the results, even though we did not win as many games as I would have liked.

JT: From 1991-1994 you were a three-time Second Team All-CAA performer. How were you able to maintain such consistency over the course of your career?
LL: I think the work that I did every summer to stay on top of my game and improve on my weaknesses helped me maintain my level of play. I wanted to get better every year because I knew the other CAA teams would be planning to guard me with their best defenders every night.

JT: What did you do after graduation?
LL: I played professionally for eight years overseas (in Ireland, England, Lithuania, and Germany) before retiring due to a disappointing knee injury. After returning to the U.S. I began coaching, which is what I am doing now as the head coach at my old high school (Bertie High) in Windsor, NC.

JT: When people look back on your career what do you want them to remember the most?
LL: I want people who saw me play to remember how hard I played and the will I had to win. I ask the kids I coach to never give up because I believe in the will to win. Another thing is that I believed in myself and took pride in who I was. No matter where you come from, be prepared for your opportunities. I would rather be prepared and not get a chance than get the chance and not be prepared. Preparation displays itself every time.

Lester is also on Jon's list of best fantasy players in Conference USA history.

East Carolina: Lester Lyons (1994) 1,825 PTS (#2), 326 AST (#5), 235 STL (#1), 73 BLK (#5), 79.4 FT% (#4), 229 3PM (#1)

Houston: Elvin Hayes (1968) 2,884 PTS (#1), 1,602 REB (#1), three-time All-American, national Player of the Year

Marshall: Skip Henderson (1988) 2,574 PTS (#1), 208 STL (#1), 41.4 3P% (#3), conference Player of the Year

Memphis: Keith Lee (1985) 2,408 PTS (#1), 1,336 REB (#1), 320 BLK (#1), four-time All-American, two-time conference Player of the Year

Rice: Michael Harris (2005) 2,014 PTS (#1), 1,111 REB (#1), 119 BLK (#2), 60.2 FG% (#1)

SMU: Jon Koncak (1985) 1,784 PTS (#3), 1,169 REB (#1), 278 BLK (#1), 55.9 FG% (#2), All-American

Southern Miss: Clarence Weatherspoon (1993) 2,130 PTS (#2), 1,320 REB (#1), 155 STL (#3), 227 BLK (#1), 57.6 FG% (#3), three-time All-American, three-time conference Player of the Year (conference record)

Tulane: Jerald Honeycutt (1997) 2,209 PTS (#1), 870 REB (#5), 419 AST (#1), 235 STL (#2), 163 BLK (#3), 193 3PM (#1), All-American

Tulsa: Shea Seals (1997) 2,288 PTS (#1), 777 REB (#2), 388 AST (#2), 222 STL (#2), 299 3PM (#1), All-American

UAB: Steve Mitchell (1986) 1,866 PTS (#1), 597 AST (#1), 190 STL (#4), All-American

UCF: Bo Clark (1980) 2,886 PTS (#1), 81.3 FT% (#5), 302 AST (#5), four-time All-American

UTEP: Tim Hardaway (1989) 1,586 PTS (#3), 563 AST (#1), 262 STL (#1), conference Player of the Year

Poll: Who Will Win the CUSA Tournament?

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:26:04 -0500

Conference USA: All-Conference Teams

Press Release — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:02:00 -0500

IRVING, Texas - Players from five different schools are represented on the 2010 All-Conference USA men's basketball first-team, featuring three repeat all-conference selections and two newcomers. Seniors Aubrey Coleman of Houston and Ben Uzoh of Tulsa are joined by juniors Elijah Millsap of UAB and Randy Culpepper of UTEP, along with sophomore Elliot Williams of Memphis. All five players are guards. Voting on the awards was done by the C-USA head coaches and media members in each conference city.

Coleman is a repeat first-team selection and has been the nation's leading scorer this season, averaging 26.0 points per game. The guard from Houston, Texas, scored 420 points during the conference regular season, the second-highest total in league history. Coleman, who has led UH in scoring in all but one game this season, enters this week's GMC Sierra C-USA Men's Basketball Championship with 1,400 points during his two years at UH. He was named C-USA Player of the Week five times this season.

Uzoh, a two-time second-team all-conference selection, leads Tulsa in scoring this season at 15.4 points per game, while adding 4.7 rebounds per game and 45 three-pointers made. He has moved into the top 10 in C-USA history in scoring, ranking seventh with 1,895 points. Uzoh is just the sixth player in Tulsa to history to score at least 400 points in three consecutive seasons.

Culpepper made the jump from the all-conference third team to the first team as he helped guide UTEP to its first C-USA title with a 15-1 league record. The junior from Memphis, Tenn., enters the C-USA Championship ranked third in C-USA in scoring at 18.1 points per game. Culpepper has led the Miners in scoring 14 times this season and has moved up fourth place in scoring all-time at UTEP with 1,597 points. He has topped the 30-point mark three times this year, including 45 points against East Carolina on Feb. 13, the most by any C-USA player this season and tied for second-most in league history.

Millsap burst onto the scene for UAB this season, averaging 16.0 points per game (fifth in C-USA), while leading the league in rebounding (9.3) from his guard position. He is one of only two guards to rank among the top 40 players in rebounding in Division I. Millsap, the brother of Utah Jazz star Paul Millsap, tops the conference in double-doubles with 15 (second-most in UAB history).

Williams has scored in double figures in 29 of 31 games this season and is currently averaging 18.5 points per game. He has topped the 20-point mark on 16 occasions, the fourth-highest single-season total in Tiger history. Williams also ranks in C-USA's top 10 in assists per game (3.8) and three-point field goals made (56).

The second team is comprised completely of forwards and centers. Marshall senior Tyler Wilkerson and freshman Hassan Whiteside (the only freshman all-conference selection) are joined by Southern Miss junior Gary Flowers, UTEP junior Derrick Caracter and Tulsa senior Jerome Jordan on the second unit.

SMU placed two student-athletes on the all-conference third team in junior forward Papa Dia and senior guard Derek Williams. The pair was joined by Memphis sophomore swingman Wesley Witherspoon and junior guards Brock Young of East Carolina and Aaron Johnson of UAB.

These 15 All-Conference players will be in action at this week's GMC Sierra C-USA Men's Basketball Championship, March 10-13 at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla.

2009-10 ALL-CONFERENCE USA FIRST TEAM
Aubrey Coleman, Houston, G, 6-4, 200, Sr., Houston, Texas
Randy Culpepper, UTEP, G, Jr., 6-0, 165, Jr., Memphis, Tenn.
Elijah Millsap, UAB, G, Jr., 6-6, 211, Grambling, La.
Ben Uzoh, Tulsa, G, 6-3, 200, Sr., San Antonio, Texas
Elliot Williams, Memphis, G, 6-5, 180, So., Memphis, Tenn.

2009-10 ALL-CONFERENCE USA SECOND TEAM
Derrick Caracter, UTEP, F, 6-9, 275, Jr., Fanwood, N.J.
Gary Flowers, Southern Miss, F, 6-8, 214, Jr., Dallas, Texas
Jerome Jordan, Tulsa, C, 7-0, 245, Sr., Kingston, Jamaica
Hassan Whiteside, Marshall, F, 6-11, 235, Fr., Gastonia, N.C.
Tyler Wilkerson, Marshall, F, 6-8, 240, Sr., Lexington, Ky.

2009-10 ALL-CONFERENCE USA THIRD TEAM
Papa Dia, SMU, F, 6-9, 235, Jr., St. Louis, Senegal
Aaron Johnson, UAB, G, 5-8, 175, Jr., Chicago, Ill.
Derek Williams, SMU, G, 6-1, 170, Sr., Jamaica, N.Y.
Wesley Witherspoon, Memphis, F/G, 6-9, 210, So., Atlanta, Ga.
Brock Young, East Carolina, G, 5-11, 175, Jr., Raleigh, N.C.

Conference USA Preview: 2009-10

CHN — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:06:11 -0500

With Memphis in flux following the departure of John Calipari, this might be the year someone like Tulsa, Houston, or UTEP breaks through. The other contenders better act quickly as Memphis has locked up a monster recruiting class next year..

Conference Rank: 10th

10 year average: 8th

Conference USA Page

All-CUSA Team
Pos.	Player	Team	Yr.

G	Aubrey Coleman	Houston	Sr
G	Ben Uzoh	Tulsa	Sr
G	Randy Culpepper	UTEP	Jr
G	Willie Kemp	Memphis	Sr
F	Jerome Jordan	Tulsa	Sr

Player of the Year - Jerome Jordan Freshman of the Year - Keith Clanton (UCF)
CHN Award Winners		Returning Leaders
CHN All-Americans Jerome Jordan High-Major All-Americans Jerome Jordan (1st Team) Aubrey Coleman (2nd) Willie Kemp Roburt Sallie Ben Uzoh		Points: Aubrey Coleman 19.4 Rebounds: Jerome Jordan 8.6 Assists: Brock Young 7.6 Team: Houston 75.8

Conference USA Standings
Nat'l	Team	League	Tourney

33	Memphis	CUSA	1	NCAA
38	Tulsa	CUSA	2	NCAA
80	UTEP	CUSA	3	NIT
100	Houston	CUSA	4	CBI/CIT
118	Marshall	CUSA	5	CBI/CIT
153	UAB	CUSA	6
163	UCF	CUSA	7
193	SMU	CUSA	8
208	Tulane	CUSA	9
211	East Carolina	CUSA	10
230	Rice	CUSA	11
272	Southern Miss	CUSA	12

*Click on links for full Top 144 team preview

** returning conference champion

Poll: Who Do You Think Will Win the CUSA?

College Basketball Preview - 348 Team Ranking - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

East Carolina vs. Memphis Football Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:59:26 -0400

No football on Wednesday night (Game 1 of the World Series) but there is a game on Tuesday, with East Carolina (4-3, 3-1) hitting the road to take on Memphis (2-5, 1-3) at 8 PM on ESPN2. The Pirates, who are looking to defend their Conference USA title, got off to a slow start this season with losses to West Virginia and North Carolina but they've won three of their last four games. In Memphis they'll take on an offense that can move the ball, ranking sixth in the conference in total offense (362 yards per game), but they average just twenty-one points per contest.

Tommy West's Tigers are talented on that side of the ball with players such as RB Curtis Steele and WR Duke Calhoun leading the way, but the quarterback position has been the holdup. Tyler Bass is out for the season with a shoulder injury, putting the job back into the hands of Will Hudgens with Arkelon Hall backing him up. Hopefully the sight of ECU, who knocked both of them out of last year's 30-10 Pirate victory, won't result in negative flashbacks.

As for the Pirates they've had problems moving the ball consistently, especially in the passing game. ECU ranks ninth in the conference in both pass offense (198 yards per game) and passing efficiency (112.7 rating). But they've been able to remain in contention for the conference crown due to a defense that can force turnovers. Led by safety Van Eskridge and linebacker Nick Johnson the Pirates have forced seventeen turnovers (10 interceptions) in 2009, resulting in a turnover margin of +4 (3rd in Conference USA).

Memphis ranks among the worst teams in the conference in turnover margin and with the Pirates having the better defensive unit of the two the game will likely come down to how well Will Hudgens performs for the Tigers. Look for the Pirates to win a game that plays out a bit closer than many will expect it to.

The Ultimate Schedule: Conference USA East Division

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 02:43:29 -0400

Conference USA Schedule “Rules”:

- Four non-conference games

- Eight conference games (three against West Division opponents)

- Conference USA Championship Game (December 5^th)

Week 1: Ole Miss @ Memphis (September 6^th)

A game that’s become the traditional opener for both schools, the Tigers would land a serious blow for Conference USA should they upset a team many have in their preseason Top 10 polls. The Rebels won last season’s meeting 41-24, and Memphis hasn’t beaten the Rebels since the 2004 season opener. In order for Memphis to have any chance at beating Ole Miss, Curtis Steele will need to have an outstanding day and Arkelon Hall will need to make a few plays through the air while not turning the ball over. No one’s expecting Memphis to win, but an upset (or at the least a good showing) could move the Tigers into the Conference USA title conversation.

Other Games Considered: Rice @ UAB (9/5), Appalachian State @ East Carolina (9/5)

Week 2: East Carolina @ West Virginia (September 12^th)

ECU thoroughly outclassed the Mountaineers in Greenville last year, so expect West Virginia to be on full alert when the Pirates reach Morgantown. Jarrett Brown takes over for Pat White at quarterback, but he’s got some big game experience to his credit. And Noel Devine also returns for West Virginia, but neither he nor White mattered much in last year’s meeting. Home-field advantage could end up being the determining factor, but to expect the defending C-USA champs to simply fold once they get off the plane would be to disrespect their resume. Should be a fun matchup.

Other Games Considered: UCF @ Southern Miss (9/12), SMU @ UAB (9/12), Marshall @ Virginia Tech (9/12),

Week 3: East Carolina @ North Carolina (September 19^th)

The Pirates take center stage once again; such is life when you take on all comers in the non-conference schedule. ECU won the most recent meeting (2007) but has lost eight of the eleven all-time meetings. Butch Davis has the Tar Heel program looking ready to turn the corner and consistently contend for ACC titles, but ECU provides a serious roadblock before they reach conference play. Both teams will be coming off of tough road games the previous weekend (UNC visits Connecticut), so whether or not there will be any kind of “hangover” will be an interesting question to answer.

Other Games Considered: Virginia @ Southern Miss (9/19), Buffalo @ UCF (9/19), UAB @ Troy (9/19)

Week 4: UCF @ East Carolina (September 26^th)

Southern Miss’ trip to Lawrence is more intriguing from a national perspective, but sometimes it’s just as interesting to check out a program in need of a big win travelling to face the division favorite. Not sure if George O’Leary is on the hot seat or not (I’d say no, although the Erick Plancher situation definitely doesn’t help matters), but how big would a win in Greenville be for the Knights? UCF has lost the last three meetings, two of which were by double digits; even in the season that the Knights won C-USA (2007) they allowed the Pirates to score fifty-two points. Last year’s game featured five combined turnovers and a combined 10-34 on third downs. While both defenses will once again be solid, don’t expect either offense to be as bad as they were in last year’s meeting.

Other Games Considered: Southern Miss @ Kansas (9/26), Marshall @ Memphis (9/26)

Week 5: Memphis @ UCF (October 3^rd)

Two teams hoping to crack the top two of ECU and Southern Miss get together in Orlando in what is a big game for the visiting Tigers. Since Conference USA expanded the Tigers have not beaten the Knights, alternating between blowouts and close finishes in the four meetings. If you follow the trend Memphis is “supposed” to get blown out, but not so fast. The quarterback position didn’t play very well or the Knights in 2008, and who’s to say that things will automatically shoot up in that area? The Tigers have some solid offensive weapons; it’s now about whether or not they can get over the hump that is UCF.

Other Games Considered: Southern Miss @ UAB (10/1), East Carolina @ Marshall (10/3)

Week 6: UTEP @ Memphis (October 10^th)

These two haven’t played since the 2006 season, and both teams are hoping that they can make a little noise in 2009. Both teams have solid playmakers on offense, and the meeting in the Liberty Bowl could very well come down to who has the ball last. Memphis, however, was the far superior defensive team last season and if much doesn’t change Mike Price’s team will have a tough time improving upon their fourth-place (in the West Division) finish in 2008. Also working in the favor of these two teams is an underwhelming slate around the league, meaning that many eyes will be paying attention to this one.

Other Game Considered: Southern Miss @ Louisville (10/10)

Week 7: Memphis @ Southern Miss (October 17^th)

If Memphis wants to entertain any thoughts of finishing higher than their third place finish in 2008, they’ll need to beat the Golden Eagles in Hattiesburg for the third straight time. The Tigers, in fact, have won four of the previous five meetings, but none of those wins were by more than six points. In last season’s meeting the Tigers were phenomenal on the ground, rushing for 285 yards and possessing the football for more than thirty-five minutes in the 36-30 win. If Curtis Steele can rush for another 178 yards Southern Miss could fall again. However, Larry Fedora’s team is a far better offensively at this point than they were at the time of the last meeting so expect a wild, high-scoring affair.

Other Games Considered: Rice @ East Carolina (10/17), Marshall @ West Virginia (10/17), Miami (FL) @ UCF (10/17)

Week 8: Bye Week (October 24^th)

As lean as the schedule seemed in Week 6, at least there was the option of UTEP/Memphis. No such decisions this week, so it’s a good time to recharge the batteries for the stretch run.

Week 9: Southern Miss @ Houston (October 31^st)

While Southern Miss has some excellent offensive weapons they’d be hard-pressed to get into an all-out shootout with the Houston Cougars. These are two of four teams to score seventy points or more in a game last season, but for the year the Cougars were a far more potent unit, ranking second in the conference in total offense. The Golden Eagles ranked fourth, but their yardage average (433.5 yards per game) was more than one hundred yards less than the Cougars (562.8 ypg). Quarterbacks Case Keenum and Austin Davis will throw the ball to capable receivers, and backs Bryce Beall and Damion Fletcher are more than capable of stealing the headlines. Preview of the Conference USA title game? Possibly.

Other Games Considered: East Carolina @ Memphis (10/27), Marshall @ UCF (11/1)

Week 10: Virginia Tech @ East Carolina (November 5^th)

ECU overkill in regards to the non-conference games selected? Maybe, but look at who the Pirates are taking on this year and you know they won’t be accused of ducking anyone. Just like the West Virginia game this is a rematch of a game the Pirates won last season. ECU knocked off the Hokies, eventual ACC champions, in Charlotte thanks in large part to special teams. For all the talk about “Beamer Ball” it was an ECU blocked punt that was returned by T.J. Lee for the game-winning score.

The Hokies were outgained by more than one hundred yards, but to be fair this had as much to do with the bad decision (at the time, and it was corrected) to redshirt Tyrod Taylor. With Taylor on the field things could be different; at the very least he offers Virginia Tech another dimension they didn’t have in last year’s meeting.

Other Games Considered: Memphis @ Tennessee (11/7), UCF @ Texas (11/7), and Florida Atlantic @ UAB (11/7)

Week 11: East Carolina @ Tulsa (November 15^th)

Just like the Southern Miss/Houston matchup on Halloween, these two could very well see each other the first Saturday in December as well. The Pirates beat Tulsa in last season’s conference title game 27-24, picking off David Johnson five times and forcing seven turnovers overall in the win at H.A. Chapman Stadium. With a new quarterback running things for Todd Graham and offensive coordinator Herb Hand, the Pirates will look to ratchet up the pressure in order to force some mistakes. Key number from the previous meeting: 199. As in the number of passing yards for Tulsa, who was third in C-USA in passing offense (301.9 ypg) last year. If the Golden Hurricane aren’t balanced on offense they can be slowed down.

Other Games Considered: Southern Miss @ Marshall (11/14), UAB @ Memphis (11/14)

Week 12: UAB @ East Carolina (November 21^st)

Yes, ECU again. But with the quota of three interdivisional games already reached, Southern Miss hosting Tulsa has to be watched from a distance. Two of the last three meetings in this series have gone down to the wire despite the rebuilding nature of the UAB program, including a Blazers win in 2006. The trend of the series has been a simple one: low-scoring games mean that UAB’s got a shot while the higher the scores go, so go the chances of a Blazer victory. Eleven starters return on offense for Neil Calloway’s team, so there may be enough weapons needed to steal a win in Greenville. However, it would be in the best interest of the Blazers to have their defense keep the Pirates under wraps.

Other Games Considered: Tulsa @ Southern Miss (11/21), Memphis @ Houston (11/21)

Week 13: Southern Miss @ East Carolina (November 28^th)

The scheduling gods got this one right, matching the two favorites for the East Division crown on the final day of the regular season. However the Golden Eagles have won seven of the last eight meetings in the series, and they haven’t lost at ECU since 1994. If the division crown comes down to this meeting then the Golden Eagles have the historical advantage, and if Southern Miss stops the run again this year they’ll be well on their way to eight out of nine. The Pirates rushed for just sixty-six yards in last season’s 21-3 loss, and the game was sewn away thanks to two touchdowns within the first four minutes of the fourth quarter. A loss to Southern Miss didn’t cost ECU a trip to the title game in 2008; a loss this year due to the date on the calendar could keep them home this year.

Other Games Considered: Memphis @ Tulsa (11/27), UCF @ UAB (11/28)

Week 14: Conference USA Championship Game (December 5^th)

The pick here is that Houston knocks off East Carolina thanks in large part to the arm of Case Keenum, clinching a trip to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in the process.

Conference USA Football Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:53:10 -0400

Offense sells tickets…does it win titles?

By Raphielle Johnson

A familiar theme within Conference USA was the explosive offensive capabilities of many teams. But for all the fireworks that came from the likes of Houston and Tulsa it was the league’s best defensive team that won the title. East Carolina survived a mid-season letdown that followed huge non-conference wins over Virginia Tech and West Virginia, clinching a title game berth opposite the Golden Hurricane. ECU’s 27-24 win, which included five Pirate interceptions, meant the first conference title of any kind for the program since 1976.

Skip Holtz’s team could very well find itself back in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl with seventeen starters back in Greenville. QB Patrick Pinkney threw for more than 2,600 yards last season, and RB Dominique Lindsay returns after missing all of 2008 due to injury. But the Pirates’ calling card is a tough defense led by safety Van Eskridge and middle linebacker Nick Johnson. The key for the Pirates will be navigating a treacherous non-conference schedule (West Virginia, North Carolina and Virginia Tech). Outside of a mid-November trip to Tulsa the Pirates’ toughest conference games will be at home.

As for who can challenge ECU within the East Division, look no further than Larry Fedora’s Southern Miss Golden Eagles. Southern Miss got off to a slow start in 2008, losing six of their first eight contests. But the Golden Eagles finished with a flourish, winning their last five games with no single-digit margins until the 30-27 overtime win in the New Orleans Bowl (versus Troy).

RB Damion Fletcher is back for one more run through the conference, and there’s a very good chance that he could once again lead the league in rushing. But the health of WR DeAndre Brown, who suffered a broken leg in the bowl game, will be important. When 100%, Brown gives the Southern Miss a vertical threat that cannot be ignored by opponents.

As for another challenger, Tommy West’s Memphis Tigers may be the team best equipped to push its way into the top two. WR Duke Calhoun has caught at least one pass in each of the thirty-seven games he’s played in, and Carlos Singleton led the Tigers in receiving last season. But the development of RB Curtis Steele helped the Tigers immensely on offense.

The junior college import ran for more that 1,200 yards in 2008, taking some of the pressure off of QB Arkelon Hall. However, Memphis will need to find answers in regards to line play, both offensively and defensively, if they want to compete with East Carolina and Southern Miss. Those lines will receive a significant test in the season opener, when the Tigers host Ole Miss in front of a national television audience (ESPN).

As for the rest of the East, both Mark Snyder (Marshall) and George O’Leary (UCF) have very important seasons ahead of them in regards to the state of their programs. Snyder simply hasn’t won enough to appease a fan base used to bowl games and national titles (at the now FCS level). O’Leary’s case is a little less cut and dry, with the program coming under fire from some circles following the death of Erick Plancher a couple of seasons ago. Combine this with the fact that the reigning conference champions going into 2008 finished 4-8 (3-5 C-USA). Ten starters are back on offense for UCF, which will hope that its quarterbacks can complete a higher percentage of their passes in 2009 (42.9%).

The Thundering Herd return eight starters each on offense and defense, including all four defensive linemen and offensive threats Cody Slate and Darius Marshall. How Marshall makes up for the loss of WR Darius Passmore remains to be seen, but they will need someone to step up on the outside. Coach Snyder brought in Rick Minter, who has experience at Cincinnati and Notre Dame, to run a defense that finished 2008 eighth in Conference USA in total defense.

Neil Calloway’s UAB Blazers are also looking to make a move within the East Division, and with eighteen starters back (including all eleven on offense) they could do just that. QB Joe Webb shouldered much of the load last season, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark on the ground while throwing for more than 2,600 yards. The burden of being essentially the lone offensive playmaker may have shown itself in his sixteen interceptions to ten touchdown passes. If Rashaud Slaughter and Justin Brooks can step up in the backfield and receivers such as Frantrell Forrest and Mark Ferrell can help in the air UAB could separate from the other teams that finished 3-5 in 2008.

As for the West, offense reigned supreme in 2008 and it’s expected to be the same in 2009. Tulsa, Houston and Rice were the conference’s most explosive offensive teams, and more of the same is to be expected. Houston QB Case Keenum led Conference USA in total offense, averaging more than 400 yards per game. The next two in that category, Chase Clement (Rice) and David Johnson (Tulsa), have both moved on and that fact gives the Cougars the edge in the division race. Running back Bryce Beall also returns for the Cougars, along with three returning starters each at receiver and on the offensive line.

There is a negative for Houston; six starters need to be replaced on a defense that was seventh in Conference USA in both total and scoring defense. If head coach Kevin Sumlin and company can find some answers on that side of the football Houston has a change to pass Tulsa as division champ.

Todd Graham’s Golden Hurricane return six starters on offense (but lose Johnson and RB Tarion Adams), but the biggest loss could be that of offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn. A trio of receivers with the same last name (Damaris, Trae and Ricky Johnson) will lead a receiving corps that could once again light up scoreboards throughout the conference.

Defensively Tulsa should be in decent shape with MLB Mike Bryan (how was he only an Honorable Mention All-Conference selection?) being one of eight returning starters on the unit. Tulsa actually finished fifth in the conference in total defense, but they struggled against the pass (ninth in pass efficiency defense). The three-game stretch that will go a long way in determining the fate of the Golden Hurricane is in November, with Houston, East Carolina and Southern Miss all in a row. Outside of those three games the conference schedule is manageable for the Golden Hurricane, so some good fortune there could give them another shot at the conference title.

As for David Bailiff’s Owls, they’ll be going through the unenviable task of replacing one of the most productive combinations in college history. QB Chase Clement and WR Jarrett Dillard have moved on, leaving large holes to fill in their wake. Do-it-all offensive (and sometimes defensive) standout James Casey is also gone, as is RB C.J. Ugokwe, and with just four starters back on offense the defense may have to do some heavy lifting in the early going. Early-season games against Texas Tech and Oklahoma State will test a unit that returns eight starters, including leading tackler FS Andrew Sendejo and KAT Travis Bradshaw.

The team that may need to improve for the sake of its head coach is UTEP, which has struggled of late under Mike Price since he hit the ground running upon his arrival is 2004. After two consecutive bowl appearances to start off his tenure, Coach Price has a record of 14-22 over the last three seasons. QB Trevor Vittatoe’s return will go a long way in getting the Miners back into contention for a bowl berth, but truth be told if the defense isn’t up to par (11^th in C-USA in total defense last season) it may not matter what the offense puts on the board. The linebackers will need some polish, and two of the team’s top three tacklers from 2008 are gone, but the seven returning starters should help lead the improvement.

SMU and Tulane round out the division, with the hope in Dallas being that the Mustangs can make significant strides in their second season under June Jones. Coach Jones had to go with a true freshman at quarterback in Bo Levi Mitchell, and to say that there were some growing pains in the 1-11 campaign would be an understatement. But to be honest, the lack of playmakers around Mitchell had just as much to do with his struggles as his youth. A season under Mitchell’s belt should help with his progression as a quarterback, as should the return of seven other offensive starters and eight defensive starters.

As for the Green Wave, head coach Bob Toledo drew a rough two games to start the season: Tulsa and BYU. At least both games will be at the Louisiana Superdome…which will probably ensure that droves of Golden Hurricane and Cougar fans make the trip to cheer on their respective teams. Tulane also wasn’t done any favors in the three-game stretch of Houston, Southern Miss and LSU in October.

RB Andre Anderson was the most productive member of the Tulane offense in 2008, rushing for more than 800 yards. Eight starters return to an offense that ranked ninth in total offense and tenth in rushing offense, while six starters return on defense. There is room for growth, but just how much Tulane progresses could be stunted by a tough schedule.

Storyline: Offense sells tickets but defense wins championships. If anyone’s to challenge defending champion East Carolina they’ll need to play solid defense, not just outscore people.

Players of the Year: QB Case Keenum (Houston) and FS Van Eskridge (East Carolina)

How they’ll finish

East 1. East Carolina West 1. Houston

2. Southern Miss 2. Tulsa

3. Memphis 3. UTEP

4. UCF 4. Rice

5. UAB 5. SMU

6. Marshall 6. Tulane

Next: Conference USA East and West ultimate schedules

Conference USA Tournament: Preview & Odds

Evan Dorey — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:55:56 -0400

This is one in a series of conference tournament previews, in which I run down all the teams involved, give a brief statistical review and present 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:

Conference USA Tournament

The C-USA tournament will be held in Memphis, TN, and give the top four teams a first-round bye.

#	Team	QF	SF	F	W
1	Memphis	100.00%	98.60%	94.04%	86.69%
2	Tulsa	100.00%	89.61%	49.28%	5.70%
3	UAB	100.00%	79.65%	43.55%	5.13%
4	Texas El Paso	100.00%	46.00%	2.25%	0.75%
5	Houston	91.19%	52.96%	3.37%	1.38%
6	Central Florida	81.82%	19.19%	5.56%	0.27%
7	Marshall	60.25%	7.15%	1.13%	0.03%
8	Tulane	60.00%	0.97%	0.25%	0.04%
9	East Carolina	40.00%	0.43%	0.08%	0.01%
10	Rice	39.75%	3.24%	0.36%	0.01%
11	Southern Mississippi	18.18%	1.16%	0.11%	0.00%
12	Southern Methodist	8.81%	1.04%	0.01%	0.00%

As if Memphis needed more help, the tourney being in its hometown boosts its odds of winning its tournament to the best in the country. Tulsa and UAB seem to be the only teams that have a chance, but let’s face it, anyone but Memphis lifting the trophy will be the biggest shock in March.

#1 – Memphis Tigers (28-3, 16-0) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.252

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2008 (Runner-Up)

Memphis ran through yet another undefeated Conference USA season, and should do the same in the tournament. The Tigers have had the nation’s best defense, holding opponents under 40% on two-point shots, and forcing a lot of turnovers. They rank in the top 10 in the country in both block and steal rates, and it’s been very difficult for teams to get much offense against them. Memphis’ offense has also been the conference’s best, but its advantage hasn’t been quite as wide. It’s a good rebounding team that holds onto the ball well, and its shooting is decent, though its best from the inside. Another important note: Memphis has lost just three times on its home floor in the last four seasons, each time to a strong power-conference opponent, and no current C-USA team has won at Memphis in more than seven years.

Player to watch:

6-6 FR Tyreke Evans, 16.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.7 APG, 2.1 SPG, 48.9 eFG% - There was a lot of talk early in the season about a lack of ‘impact’ freshmen of the class we’ve seen over the last few years, but now that it’s March, Evans has clearly reached that role, the dominant player on one of the country’s best teams. He’s not a great shooter, especially from behind the arc, but he’s good enough overall, and has distributed the ball well while putting up one of the conference’s best steal rates.

#2 – Tulsa Golden Hurricane (22-9, 12-4) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.104

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2003 (2^nd Round)

Tulsa was the closest team to beating Memphis, losing by only a single point on its home floor. Like Memphis, Tulsa is strong defensively, though it obviously isn’t nearly as good as the Tigers. It dominates behind the arc, holding opponents to just 28% on threes, and does well inside and on the glass, but forces very few turnovers. The Hurricane are average offensively, taking most of their shots from two, and doing pretty well, along with getting to the free throw line often.

Player to watch:

7-0 JR Jerome Jordan, 14.7 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 2.5 BPG, 59.8 eFG% - Jordan is the best big man in Conference USA, an excellent rebounder and shot-blocker who has a good offensive touch, nearly 60% from the field and an impressive 76% from the free-throw line. He’s critical to Tulsa’s defensive success inside.

#3 – UAB Blazers (21-10, 11-5) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.106

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

UAB finished third in the conference, but was second in efficiency margin, and like the two teams above them, is a defense-first team that manages to score just enough to win. The Blazers aren’t great at defending shots, but force a lot of turnovers, are good on the glass, and rarely commit fouls. They also have a couple of major offensive strengths, great inside scorers who hold onto the ball well, but have stumbled because of poor shooting behind the arc and weak offensive rebounding.

Player to watch:

6-2 SR Paul Delaney, 15.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 60.5 eFG% - Robert Vaden may get most of the attention, but Paul Delaney has the man who makes the Blazers efficient, with one of the conference’s best field goal percentages, 62% from two-point range.

#4 – Texas El Paso Miners (19-11, 10-6) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.036

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2005 (1^st Round)

There’s a big drop-off after the top three teams, and UTEP doesn’t seem to have a great chance of winning the conference tournament. It’s becoming a broken record, but the Miners have a solid defense, but just a conference average offense, with their high point total mostly due to the conference’s fastest pace. The pace doesn’t help them make shots, as they are the conference’s worst in FG%. Defensively, they are good on the glass and against perimeter shots, but commit a lot of fouls.

Player to watch:

6-5 SR Stefon Jackson, 23.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 43.6 eFG% - In most conferences, Jackson would be the leading scorer, but in C-USA, his 6^th place in the national scoring rankings is only good enough for 2^nd. Jackson is the kind of player who thrives at the free throw line; his shooting from the field isn’t great, but he gets to the stripe a lot, and shoots 84% once there. He also avoids turnovers very well, considering how often he touches the ball.

#5 – Houston Cougars (19-10, 10-6) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.067

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1992 (1^st Round)

Houston has struggled to find much consistency, alternating wins and losses in its past six games. Unlike the above teams, the Cougars’ strength is scoring, as they are behind only Memphis in the conference offensive rankings. They don’t make a high percentage, but have a very low turnover rate, and are good at the free throw line. They are good perimeter defenders, forcing turnovers and stopping threes, but have been weak on the inside.

Player to watch:

6-4 JR Aubrey Coleman, 19.8 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 2.5 SPG, 44.3 eFG% - Coleman scores a lot of points, but this is more due to his large role than his efficiency, as his percentages have not been a particularly strong. He does do a good job of generating a possession advantage, getting a lot of steals while rarely turning it over.

#6 – Central Florida Golden Knights (17-13, 7-9) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.004

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2005 (1^st Round)

The Knights are the last team in the league above zero in efficiency margin, if only barely, though a 2-7 finish to the season is hardly encouraging from their standpoint. They’ve been solid shooters who’ve done well on the offensive glass, but struggled with turnovers, and their mediocre defensive play has given them a lot of problems. They don’t have a serious weakness when defending, but don’t do anything well enough to cause opponents problems.

Player to watch:

6-4 SR Jermaine Taylor, 26.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 56.2 eFG% - Taylor is the country’s 3^rd ranked scorer, and takes a higher percentage of his team’s shots than anyone in the country, even Stephen Curry. He’s an excellent shooter, at 55% from two and 38% from three, and rarely turns the ball over. In his last seven games, he’s averaged a simply incredible 35 points.

#7 – Marshall Thundering Herd (15-16, 7-9) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.072

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1987 (1^st Round)

Marshall is a bit fortunate to get to the #7 seed, as it’s ranked 9^th in league in both offense and defense. Its offensive woes have been due to poor outside shooting; it tends to take a lot of threes, but has shot a conference-low 29% on those attempts. Decent inside play can’t really make up for that level of ineptitude. Marshall’s opponents haven’t had the same problems, and the Herd have been the conference’s worst at defending shots, especially behind the arc, where opponents shoot 42%. The good news is that they get their hands on the ball a lot, whether from turnovers or rebounds, but opponents don’t need a lot of chances to put up points.

Player to watch:

6-6 SR Markel Humphrey, 12.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 58.6 eFG% - Humphrey leads the Herd in scoring, despite not taking a lot of shots, thanks to a really high inside percentage, 62% on two-point attempts. He also does well at the free-throw line, and doesn’t turn it over much.

#8 – Tulane Green Wave (18-12, 9-7) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.042

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1995 (2^nd Round)

The 8-9 game is a tough one, with the ‘winner’ earning a date to get steamrolled by Memphis, but Tulane look to be the favorites to earn that chance. No team, not even Memphis, has turned opponents over as well as the Wave, and when combined with an average ability to defend inside, Tulane has a solid defense. The offense, though, has consigned them to the bottom half; they make shots decently, but just can’t get enough chances, having trouble with turnovers and offensive rebounding.

Player to watch:

6-0 JR Kevin Sims, 13.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 4.0 APG, 51.5 eFG% - Sims leads the team in scoring; a good three-point shooter who also puts up a solid assist rate.

#9 – East Carolina Pirates (13-16, 5-11) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.086

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1993 (1^st Round)

The only bottom half team to average more than a point-per-possession, the Pirates’ great offense couldn’t stop a collapse down the stretch, losing their final five games. They excel on the perimeter, taking a lot of threes, and making a high percentage, and controlling turnovers effectively. Of course, with an offense like that, they’d be higher placed if it weren’t for the conference’s worst defense, which forces very few turnovers and has trouble stopping opponents anywhere on the floor. When you add in the fact that East Carolina grabs very few of its opponents rare misses, you get a unit that is capable of sinking your season.

Player to watch:

5-11 SO Brock Young, 10.6 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 7.7 APG, 1.4 SPG, 42.7 eFG% - Young isn’t much of shooter, but there are few players in the country who are as good at helping their teammates as him. Young’s assist rate is third nationally, so the Pirates benefit most when he touches the ball, but doesn’t shoot it.

#10 – Rice Owls (9-21, 4-12) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.106

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1970 (1^st Round)

Now, we’re well and truly into the conference dregs, as the bottom three teams should be big underdogs to win even a single game. The Owls are the conference’s best three point shooters, at 41%, but actually shoot a similar percentage from two, and are horrible offensive rebounders. If they were a heavy three-shooting team, they could be decent with this profile, but they aren’t, and thus have one of CUSA’s worst attacks. Rice has been solid at stopping shots, but get such a small percentage of misses back that opponents aren’t punished enough when they do miss.

Player to watch:

6-1 SR Rodney Foster, 12.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 4.6 APG, 53.9 eFG% - Foster is a great perimeter guard, putting up a good assist rate and hitting 45% of threes, but his inside play is not very good, as he’s shot just 36% from two-point range. It he can avoid taking many of those shots inside, he can be an even more efficient player.

#11 – Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (14-16, 4-12) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.135

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1991 (1^st Round)

Southern Mississippi had a decent start to the season, but won just one of its last 11 games to fall into the conference cellar. It has had an average offense on the season, but a lot of defensive struggles, which have resulted in its poor finish. The Eagles have been good defensive rebounders, but haven’t forced enough misses for it to really matter. Offensively, they’ve managed to avoid turnovers better than any team in the conference, and haven’t shot a lot of threes, an area where they really struggle. Still, they haven’t been strong enough with their numerous inside shots to be above average.

Player to watch:

6-2 JR Jeremy Wise, 15.9 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.3 SPG, 47.0 eFG% - Wise has been a good guard in terms of assists, but his best offense has come inside; he’s just 23% from behind the arc. He’s also strong at the free throw line, getting there often and hitting nearly 85% of those attempts.

#12 –Southern Methodist Mustangs (9-20, 3-13) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.139

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1993 (1^st Round)

The Mustangs have lost at least 10 conference games in every Conference USA season they’ve played, and were heavily outmatched this season. They are good three point shooters, and decent inside, strong on the offensive glass and at defending inside shots, but lose the turnover margin battle badly, and are the conference’s worst free throw shooters.

Player to watch:

5-11 FR Paul McCoy, 13.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.7 SPG, 50.6 eFG% - McCoy has led the Mustangs in scoring, having been a pretty good shooter from two and three, and put up a good assist rate, though he has had some trouble with turnovers

My statistical all-Conference USA team:

Central Florida SR G Jermaine Taylor, 26.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 56.2 eFG%

UAB SR G Paul Delaney, 15.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 60.5 eFG%

Memphis FR G Tyreke Evans, 16.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.7 APG, 2.1 SPG, 48.9 eFG

Memphis SR F Robert Dozier, 12.9 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.7 BPG, 55.9 eFG%

Tulsa JR C Jerome Jordan, 14.7 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 2.5 BPG, 59.8 eFG%

+ NCAA Tournament

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Conference USA Tournament: Pairings/Schedule

Press Release — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 22:40:45 -0500

IRVING, Texas – Regular season champion Memphis will be the No. 1 seed at the 2009 Conference USA Men's Basketball Championship, March 11-14 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn. The Tigers, ranked No. 3 in the country, enter the conference tournament as the No.1 seed for the fourth year in a row, owning a record of 28-3 and the nation’s longest winning streak at 22 games.

As the top seed, Memphis will have a first-round bye at the tournament. Other teams receiving first-round byes include No. 2 Tulsa, No. 3 UAB and No. 4 UTEP. Wednesday's first-round match-ups feature: No. 7 Marshall vs. No. 10 Rice at Noon, No. 6 UCF vs. No. 11 Southern Miss at 2:30 p.m., No. 8 Tulane vs. No. 9 East Carolina at 6 p.m., and No. 5 Houston vs. No. 12 SMU at 8:30 p.m. CT.

In Thursday's quarterfinal round, No. 2 Tulsa will take on the winner of the Marshall-Rice game at Noon and No. 3 UAB will face the winner of the UCF-Southern Miss match-up beginning at 2:30 p.m. No. 1 seed Memphis will battle either Tulane or East Carolina at 6 p.m., while No. 4 seed UTEP will close out Thursday night against the winner of the Houston-SMU contest at 8:30 p.m.

The tournament will get underway on Wednesday when Marshall squares off with Rice at Noon. The Thundering Herd is led by senior guard Markel Humphrey, who is the only player in Marshall history to rank in the top 20 in scoring, rebounding and assists. Rice senior guard Rodney Foster is the team’s leading scorer and also ranks among the nation’s top free throw shooters. Marshall took the regular season meeting between the teams, 76-62, last Wednesday in Huntington, W. Va.

UCF and Southern Miss meet in the second game on Wednesday. The Knights are led by senior guard Jermaine Taylor, the conference’s leading scorer at 26.3 per game (third in the nation). He has established a Conference USA single-season record for points scored in league games and moved up to fourth on the league’s career scoring chart. The Golden Eagles feature guards Jeremy Wise, and Courtney Beasley, both of whom average more than 15 points per game. UCF won the only regular season meeting between the clubs, 73-61 in Orlando on Jan. 21.

Tulane and East Carolina will square off in the 8-9 game at 6 p.m. Wednesday. This will mark the third time in four years that the Green Wave will play in the 8-9 game. Junior G Kevin Sims is Tulane’s leading scorer and leading assist man for the third year in a row. ECU sophomore guard Brock Young ranks second in the nation in assists per game and is closing in on the C-USA regular season record for assists. The two squads split their regular season meetings, with each team winning on its home floor.

The final game on Wednesday is Houston against SMU at 8:30 p.m. CT. This will be a rematch of Saturday night’s contest, won by the Cougars, 89-77. Houston swept the regular season series and carries a seven-game winning streak against the Mustangs that dates back to Dec. 17, 2000. The Cougars are led by junior guard Aubrey Coleman, who ranks among the C-USA leaders in scoring. SMU is led by senior F Bamba Fall, who ranks second in the league in blocked shots and sixth in rebounding. The Mustangs will look to become the first No. 12 seed to win a C-USA tournament game since Southern Miss in 2003.

Memphis has won each of the last three tournaments and is 12-1 in its last 13 C-USA Championship games. The Tigers have won 58 consecutive games against Conference USA opponents (regular season and tournament). Tulsa is the No. 2 seed and the Golden Hurricane have won 20 or more games for the third consecutive season. UAB is the No. 3 seed and has topped the 20-win mark for the sixth time in seven seasons. UTEP earned an opening round bye for the first time in four years and needs one more victory for its first 20-win season since 2005-06.

All games will be played at FedExForum, the state-of-the-art arena in downtown Memphis, Tenn. Quarterfinal games will be shown on CSS, while CBS College Sports will televise the semifinals. CBS will broadcast the championship game, beginning at 10:35 a.m. (CDT). For ticket information, please visit ConferenceUSA.com, contact your local Conference USA school's ticket office, the FedExForum box office or Ticketmaster.

2009 C-USA Championship

FedExForum, Memphis, Tenn.

Wednesday, March 7

(7) Marshall vs. (10) Rice Noon

(6) UCF vs. (11) Southern Miss 2:30p

(8) Tulane vs. (9) East Carolina 6:00p

(5) Houston vs. (12) SMU 8:30p

Thursday, March 8

(2) Tulsa vs. Marshall/Rice (CSS) Noon

(3) UAB vs. UCF/Southern Miss (CSS) 2:30p

(1) Memphis vs. Tulane/East Carolina (CSS) 6:00p

(4) UTEP vs. Houston/SMU (CSS) 8:30p

Friday, March 9

*Semifinal # 1 (CBS College Sports) 3:00p

*Semifinal # 2 (CBS College Sports) 5:30p

Saturday, March 10

Championship (CBS) 10:35a

*highest remaining seed entering the semifinals will play at 3:00 p.m.

All Times Central

-ConferenceUSA.com-

College Football: January 1st-3rd Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:59:32 -0500

Happy New Year! The first day of 2009 offers up some intriguing matchups on the gridiron, but given the recent phenomena of spreading out bowl games over an entire month New Year's Day can seem a bit barren to some. Bragging rights for conferences are on the line as well, most notably in a couple of matchups between the Big Ten and SEC along with a traditional showdown in Pasadena. The league/team with the most to lose: Virginia Tech, champions of the ACC. They (and the conference) don't gain much with a win over Cincinnati in the FedEx Orange Bowl; but should the Hokies lose (making it nine straight losses for the ACC champ in BCS games) a league that was lauded by some for its balance takes a big hit in the eyes of the public. Here's the schedule for January 1st-3rd.

And I seriously regret picking Georgia Tech to win the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. Wow.

Thursday January 1st

Outback Bowl: South Carolina vs. Iowa (Tampa), 11 AM on ESPN

The first game of the day isn't without the intrigue of job speculations, with it being reported that Scott Pioli, the popular Patriots executive being interviewed for just about every opening in the NFL, stating that he favors Kirk Ferentz as his head coach should he accept the job in Cleveland. Well, Coach Ferentz is still in Iowa City but you have to wonder if the many off-field issues have him thinking about this being the time to move on to the next level. This could be a distraction for a team that just began to round into shape at season's end. Doak Walker Award winner Shonn Greene will be tested by a stout Gamecock defense, a unit that played a big role in Steve Spurrier's team getting to a bowl game in spite of a spastic offense. Given their lack of consistency at the quarterback position, I can't pick South Carolina to win this game. Look for an improving Ricky Stanzi do just enough to get the Hawkeyes the win.

Capital One Bowl: #15 Georgia vs. #18 Michigan State (Orlando), 1 PM on ABC

Distractions are also in this game, with many thinking that this could be the last hurrah for Georgia stars Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno. A young offensive line that's been hit hard by injuries had a month of practices to gel should be ready for what Michigan State will throw at them and could be building towards an outstanding 2009. As for the Spartans, they've had RB Javon Ringer and little else on the offensive side of the football, and there isn't much faith in Brian Hoyer hitting the jackpot in this game. Georgia's got better athletes and a balanced attack, which should take care of any early-game letdown on their part.

Konica Gator Bowl: Nebraska vs. Clemson (Jacksonville), 1 PM on CBS

Not too much talk about this game, but when there is a mention it usually centers around the merits of the Tigers being in this game. 5-5 against FBS opponents and a dismissed head coach will do that, especially when you have a history of following up big expectations with small results. But with James Davis, Cullen Harper and (possibly) C.J. Spiller all headed to the next level head coach Dabo Swinney may be able to coax one more spectacular performance out of this group. But they'll be facing an improved Nebraska defense led by defensive end Ndamukong Suh looking to hang onto its recently returned Blackshirts, and an offense led by a capable quarterback in Joe Ganz. Look for the Huskers to win this game and build towards a 2009 that should see them challenge for a Big 12 title.

Rose Bowl Game Presented by Citi: #8 Penn State vs. #5 USC (Pasadena), 4:30 PM on ABC

All the talk in regards to the Rose Bowl has been about how will Penn State manage to do anything against the powerful USC defense, and whether or not they're athletic enough to stay on the field with the Trojans. You hear this kind of talk for about a month, and the competitor within you gets fed up and a level of anxiety takes over. Not out of nerves, but the desire to get on the field and show the world what you're truly capable of. To be honest about that USC defense, how many of their opponents have shown the willingness to stand toe-to-toe with them and turn the game into a slugfest? Oregon State did it back in September, and you all know what happened there. RB Evan Royster will be a huge factor in this game if the Nittany Lions are to win this game, and a Penn State defense that's pretty good itself will challenge Mark Sanchez and his many weapons. Look for the Trojans to win this game, but it'll be closer than many people think. Joe Paterno's got a pretty good football team.

FedEx Orange Bowl: #12 Cincinnati vs. #19 Virginia Tech (Miami), 8:30 PM on Fox

I stated earlier how important this game is to the Hokies and the conference they represent. But how much of a distraction will it be for the Bearcats to move out of their hotel the night before the game (Diddy is staying there too, and a New Year's Eve bash isn't the best way to get ready for the biggest game in program history)? Virginia Tech moved from their posh digs as well, but they had that plan in the making for some time. Tyrod Taylor will be a tough matchup for a stout Cincinnati defense, but they've already seen Pat White (West Virginia) and Matt Grothe (USF) this season, so DE Connor Barwin and DT Terrill Byrd should be fine. Cincinnati also has a potent offense that will have just about all of its quarterbacks healthy and ready to go should head coach Brian Kelly call upon any of them. The Hokies will be motivated for this game, and the atmosphere will be new territory for the Bearcats. But once they calm down, look for their talent (especially WRs Mardy Gilyard and Dominick Goodman) to take over in a Cincinnati win.

Friday January 2nd

Cotton Bowl: #25 Mississippi vs. #7 Texas Tech (Dallas), 2 PM on Fox

This one will be entertaining to say the least. The Red Raiders will look to sling the ball all over the field, but they may be going up against one of the best lines (both offensive and defensive) in the nation. You probably know all about Rebels offensive tackle Michael Oher, who stands to make a lot of money in the near future. But what about defensive end Greg Hardy and defensive tackle Peria Jerry? Hardy missed the upset win over Florida, but Jerry was a destructive force in that win in The Swamp. Head coach Houston Nutt has taken the talent left over from the Ed Orgeron era and given it direction, and it's hard to argue with the results. Texas Tech could be a bit distracted, with the talk of where Mike Leach may be headed combined with the draft status of Michale Crabtree. But they should still win this game.

Autozone Liberty Bowl: Kentucky vs. East Carolina (Memphis), 5 PM on ESPN

The Conference USA champs will look to bookend their season with wins over opponents from BCS conferences. The Pirates forced seven turnovers in their win over Tulsa in the conference title game, and in facing a Kentucky offense that's lacked stability at quarterback there's a chance that Skip Holtz's Pirates could rack up some more takeaways. Look for QB Patrick Pinkney to make a couple of plays in the passing game, leading ECU to the win.

Allstate Sugar Bowl: #6 Utah vs. #4 Alabama (New Orleans), 8 PM on Fox

The Crimson Tide were dealt a major blow when star LT Andre Smith was suspended due to improper dealings with an agent. So one part of the best offensive line in the SEC is now out, which could mean a big night for Utah DE Paul Kruger. Personally, I feel cheated because this had the makings of the best individual matchup in all of the BCS bowls. Utah makes the fourth team to crash the BCS party, becoming the first program to do it twice. But they aren't facing anyone near the level of that Pittsburgh team they blew out in the Fiesta Bowl a few years back. They've been hearing for some time that they can't compete with the SEC, but QB Brian Johnson and friends have the ability to make some plays against that Alabam defense. Their problem is the man who runs the show at Alabama: Nick Saban. Look for him to cook up some defensive schemes to take care of that spread offense, with the Crimson Tide offense being efficient enough to pick up the win.

Saturday January 3rd

International Bowl: Buffalo vs. Connecticut (Toronto), Noon on ESPN2

This game should be close, similar to the basketball game played between the two last month. The Huskies have struggled mightily at quarterback this season, while that hasn't been the case for the Bulls and senior Drew Willy. They've got one of the hot names in coaching in Turner Gill and a running back in James Starks who's pretty good in his own right. Add to this the fact that even with Donald Brown toting the football UConn has to deal with offensive coordinator Rob Ambrose taking the Towson job and you could have the recipe for a Buffalo win. Keep an eye on how well Husky defensive back Darius Butler plays in his first game back since injuring his knee almost two months ago. Bulls win by a touchdown due to their offensive balance.