EWU

Tuesday Conferene Tournament Predictions:

Greg Mengelt — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 08:11:41 -0800

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

HORIZON LEAGUE FINALS: AT VALPARAISO

(1) Valparaiso (22-10, 14-4) vs. (3) Detroit (21-13, 11-7)

Tipoff: 9 p.m. TV: ESPN. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 6 – Valparaiso 73-71*; Feb. 2 – Valparaiso 78-73. RPI: Valparaiso 89, Detroit 135. Analysis: Detroit is playing like it was expected to all season, but the Crusaders may be playing even better. Line: Valparaiso -2. Pick: Valparaiso 69, Detroit 64.

SUMMIT LEAGUE FINALS: AT SIOUX FALLS, S.D.

(2) South Dakota State (26-7, 15-3) vs. (4) Western Illinois (18-13, 9-9)

Tipoff: 9 p.m. TV: ESPN2. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 3 – South Dakota State 67-66*; Feb. 23 – South Dakota State 74-57. RPI: South Dakota State 59, Western Illinois 159. Analysis: Nate Wolters will lead the Jackrabbits to their first NCAA Tournament. Pick: South Dakota State 83, Western Illinois 74.

SUN BELT FINALS: AT HOT SPRINGS, ARK.

(5) North Texas (18-13, 9-7) vs. (7) Western Kentucky (14-18, 7-9)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. TV: ESPN2. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 12 – North Texas 84-67. RPI: North Texas 193, Western Kentucky 214. Analysis: North Texas should win. Of course, in the Sun Belt Tournament, that means Western Kentucky probably will. Pick: North Texas 77, Western Kentucky 69.

BIG SKY SEMINFINALS: AT CAMPUS SITES

(3) Portland State (17-13, 10-6) at (2) Weber State (23-5, 14-2)

Tipoff: 7:30 p.m. TV: Altitude. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 7 – Weber State 88-81*; Feb. 2 – Weber State 92-79. RPI: Weber State 73, Portland State 170. Analysis: Despite being the 2 and 3 seeds, there’s a wide gap between the Wildcats and the Vikings. Line: Weber State -5½. Pick: Weber State 87, Portland State 73.

(4) Eastern Washington (15-16, 8-8) at (1) Montana (23-6, 15-1)

Tipoff: 10 p.m. TV: Altitude. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 30 – Montana 79-71; Jan. 26 – Montana 74-60*. RPI: Montana 88, Eastern Washington 210. Analysis: Montana is the class of the Big Sky. Line: Montana -10½. Pick: Montana 80, Eastern Washington 67.

ATLANTIC 10 FIRST ROUND: AT ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.

(12) Charlotte (13-16, 5-11) at (5) Saint Joseph’s (19-12, 9-7)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 7 – Charlotte 57-52*. RPI: Saint Joseph’s 50, Charlotte 164. Analysis: The Hawks avenge their worst loss of the season in a big way. Line: Saint Joseph’s -9. Pick: Saint Joseph’s 79, Charlotte 51.

(11) George Washington (10-20, 5-11) at (6) Dayton (19-11, 9-7)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Regular-season meetings: March 3 – Dayton 75-59. RPI: Dayton 71, George Washington 172. Analysis: The Flyers beat GW by 16 points at home on Saturday. So why’s the line only 9? Line: Dayton -9. Pick: Dayton 73, George Washington 61.

(10) Richmond (16-15, 7-9) at (7) LaSalle (20-11, 9-7)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 8 – Richmond 78-76. RPI: LaSalle 77, Richmond 119. Analysis: Richmond played really well down the stretch and could be a factor in the A-10 tourney. Line: LaSalle -6½. Pick: Richmond 75, LaSalle 70.

(9) Duquesne (16-14, 7-9) at (8) Massachusetts (20-10, 9-7)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 18 – Duquesne 80-69. RPI: UMass 82, Duquesne 98. Analysis: B.J. Monteiro’s work in the paint will keep the Dukes in the game. Line: UMass -6½. Pick: Massachusetts 73, Duquesne 70.

BIG EAST FIRST ROUND: AT NEW YORK CITY

(9) Connecticut (18-12, 8-10) vs. (16) DePaul (12-18, 3-15)

Tipoff: Noon. TV: ESPN2. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 15 – UConn 80-54. RPI: UConn 32, DePaul 196. Analysis: A double-digit spread is way too much for a team that comes to play as little as UConn does. Line: Connecticut -10½. Pick: Connecticut 67, DePaul 59.

(12) St. John’s (13-18, 6-12) vs. (13) Pittsburgh (16-15, 5-13)

Tipoff: 2 p.m. TV: ESPN2. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 29 – Pitt 89, St. John’s 69. RPI: St. John’s 134, Pitt 95. Analysis: Pitt has enough talent to be the surprise of this tournament. Line: Pitt -4. Pick: Pittsburgh 76, St. John’s 67.

(10) Seton Hall (19-11, 8-10) vs. (15) Providence (15-16, 4-14)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. TV: ESPNU. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 7 – Seton Hall 67-56*. RPI: Seton Hall 60, Providence 146. Analysis: There are a lot of different ways this one could go. Leaning Seton Hall in a high-scoring game. Line: Seton Hall -4. Pick: Seton Hall 86, Providence 78.

(11) Rutgers (14-17, 6-12) vs. (14) Villanova (12-18, 5-13)

Tipoff: 9 p.m. TV: ESPNU. Regular-season meetings: March 1 – Villanova 77-71*. RPI: Rutgers 150, Villanova 115. Analysis: Malik Wayns can carry the Wildcats to at least one Big East win. Line: Villanova -1. Pick: Villanova 69, Rutgers 65.

Greg Against the Spread This Season: 128-94-3

Thursday's Preview: #13 Michigan at #12 Indiana

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 09:42:04 -0800

There's just one game between Top 25 teams on the schedule tonight, and it should be a good matchup of teams looking to further cement themselves as Big Ten title contenders. #12 Indiana (13-1) is 10-0 at Assembly Hall this season, and their wins over Kentucky and Ohio State are the most impressive pair of victories that any team in America can claim.

But #13 Michigan (12-2) offers up a challenge unlike either of those contests for Tom Crean's team due to the system that John Beilein runs. Indiana is familiar with what the Wolverines like to do but that doesn't make the task any easier, as the Wolverines have adjusted well to life without Darius Morris.

A big reason why: freshman point guard Trey Burke. Burke (14.0 ppg, 5.0 apg) has done a good job of balancing his ability to score with the need to get others involved. Of course in Michigan's system up to four players on the court can handle the basketball at any given time, so this helps out some. But Burke could easily get overly aggressive and try to force things, but he hasn't done that and the Wolverines have benefitted greatily.

Tim Hardaway Jr. (15.6 ppg, 2.8 apg) is the go-to offensive option when considering pure scoring ability, but Michigan has six players averaging at least seven points per game. That will be the challenge that Indiana will have to deal with, and it's a task they haven't been faced with on many occasions this season. The Hoosiers will need to remain honest defensively not just because of that balance but also the fact that Michigan is so reliant on the three-point shot, scoring 36.5% of their points from deep (2nd in the Big Ten behind Northwestern).

Indiana's opponents have scored just 22.5% of their points from beyond the arc, and Indiana has limited teams to 31.1% shooting from three. One guard who will have a big impact on the perimeter defense for Indiana is sophomore Victor Oladipo (12.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg), who ranks among the best defenders in the Big Ten. One would think that he would match up with Hardaway Jr. tonight, but with guards such as Stu Douglass and Zack Novak also at Beilein's disposal all of the Indiana guards will need to be at their best defensively.

The Hoosiers have a slight edge in the frontcourt, with freshman Cody Zeller (14.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg) and senior Christian Watford (12.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg) leading the way. Zeller has been a steady offensive force inside for the Hoosiers, which has allowed Watford to play more on the perimeter in what is a more comfortable spot for him. Watford knocked down the game-winning three against Kentucky and he's been playing more confidently all season long.

Michigan counters with Evan Smotrycz (10.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg) and Jordan Morgan (7.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg), but they need more consistent play from Morgan if they're to be a contender for a Big Ten title. Morgan's scored in double figures in just two of Michigan's last nine games but to be fair he did grab 12 rebounds in the win over Minnesota. Smotrycz has the ablity to step out and knock down perimeter shots, as he's hit 54.5% of his three-point attempts.

On the glass these two teams are about even but Indiana's been the more efficient offensive team, likely a byproduct of Michigan's reliance on the perimeter shot. Jordan Hulls and Verdell Jones III will be players that Michigan will need to account for defensively, and the fact that Indiana forces an average of 17 turnovers per game should also be a concern. The winner will have to be considered a Big Ten title contender after tonight.

Two teams that need wins in a big way will also be on display tonight, as Pittsburgh visits DePaul and UCLA hosts Arizona. Tray Woodall likely will not play for the Panthers due to injury, which place more responsibility on the shoulders of Ashton Gibbs not to mention freshman guard John Johnson. But if Nasir Robinson, Lamar Patterson and Dante Taylor can step up the Panthers should be in decent shape. The key against the Blue Demons: be smart with the basketball. Oliver Purnell's team will want to speed things up to an uncomfortable tempo, and in Cleveland Melvin they've got one of the better players in the Big East.

As for UCLA, it's tough to figure out if the Bruins have the pieces required to be a factor in the Pac-12 despite the poor nature of that conference. Joshua Smith can be a factor when he wants to be, but against Arizona's quick frontcourt the sophomore could get exposed in a big way if he isn't thoroughly invested in the action. Also of note will be the maturation of Arizona's young guards especially Nick Johnson, who would likely be the early favorite for Pac-12 Rookie if the Year honors if not for Washington's Tony Wroten.

In the CAA, George Mason visits ODU in a key matchup for both teams if they're going to contend for the regular season crown. Paul Hewitt's team is definitely talented with the likes of Mike Morrison and Ryan Pearson, but for whatever reason the Patriots tend to make games far more difficult that they should be. That could be a recipe for disaster against the Monarchs, given how tough Blaine Taylor's teams can be defensively.

BYU's trip to LA to take on Loyola Marymount can be a tricky game for the Cougars simply for the fact that you never know which LMU team will show up. But it's tough to see the Lions being able to matchup up with Brandon Davies and company in the frontcourt, which could mean a long night for the home team.

There's also a big game in the Big Sky with Weber State visiting Eastern Washington. The Eagles have been one of the best teams in the country at taking care of the basketball, and Colin Chiverton and company will need to continue that if they're to beat Damian Lillard and company.

And in the MAAC two teams who hope to fit in right behind Iona and Fairfield match up in Baltimore, as Manhattan visits Loyola (MD). Steve Masiello's done a very good job with the Jaspers in his first season at the helm, but keep in mind that Marist won their two December league games last season and still finished in the bottom half of the league.

Top 25 Games
9:00 PM (13) Michigan at (12) Indiana (ESPN2)
10:00 PM (17) UNLV at Cal State Bakersfield
10:00 PM San Diego Christian at (25) San Diego State

NCAA Division I Games
7:00 PM George Mason at Old Dominion (CSN)
7:00 PM New Hampshire at Hartford
7:00 PM Fordham at Massachusetts
7:00 PM Wagner at Fairleigh Dickinson
7:00 PM Citadel at Furman
7:00 PM Western Carolina at Chattanooga
7:00 PM Boston University at Vermont
7:00 PM Pittsburgh at DePaul (ESPN2)
7:00 PM UIC at Cleveland State
7:00 PM Stony Brook at Binghamton
7:00 PM Saint Francis (PA) at Central Connecticut State
7:00 PM Georgia Southern at Elon
7:00 PM Louisiana-Monroe at Florida Atlantic
7:00 PM Albany at UMBC
7:00 PM Mount St. Mary's at Monmouth
7:00 PM VMI at UNC Asheville
7:00 PM Davidson at UNC Greensboro
7:00 PM Western Illinois at Oakland
7:00 PM High Point at Presbyterian
7:00 PM Long Island at Sacred Heart
7:00 PM Quinnipiac at St. Francis (NY)
7:00 PM Canisius at Saint Peter's (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Radford at Winthrop
7:00 PM Robert Morris at Bryant
7:00 PM IUPUI at IPFW
7:05 PM Loyola (IL) at Youngstown State
7:30 PM Campbell at Charleston Southern
7:30 PM Manhattan at Loyola (MD)
8:00 PM North Texas at South Alabama
8:00 PM Morehead State at Jacksonville State
8:00 PM Louisiana-Lafayette at Western Kentucky
8:00 PM Purdue at Penn State (BTN)
8:00 PM USF at Villanova (ESPN3)
8:00 PM Appalachian State at Samford
8:00 PM Southeast Missouri State at Tennessee-Martin
8:00 PM Tennessee State at Tennessee Tech
8:00 PM Charleston at Wofford (ESPN3)
8:05 PM North Dakota State at Oral Roberts
8:05 PM Denver at Arkansas State
8:30 PM Alabama State at Jackson State
8:30 PM Alcorn State at Prairie View A&M
8:30 PM Middle Tennessee at Troy
9:00 PM Washington at Colorado (ROOT RM)
9:00 PM South Dakota State at Southern Utah
9:00 PM Washington State at Utah
9:00 PM Saint Mary's at San Diego (ESPNU)
9:00 PM Weber State at Eastern Washington
9:00 PM Pepperdine at Gonzaga (ROOT NW)
9:00 PM BYU at Loyola Marymount (BYU TV)
9:00 PM Stanford at Oregon (CSN NW)
9:00 PM Southern University at Texas Southern
9:00 PM Alabama A&M at Grambling State
9:05 PM Montana State at Idaho State
9:05 PM Fresno State at Utah State (ESPN3)
10:00 PM California at Oregon State
10:00 PM UC Irvine at Pacific
10:00 PM UC Riverside at UC Davis
10:00 PM Cal State Fullerton at UC Santa Barbara
10:05 PM Cal Poly at Long Beach State
10:05 PM Northern Arizona at Portland State
10:30 PM Arizona State at USC
11:00 PM Arizona at UCLA (FSN)
11:00 PM Santa Clara at Portland (CSN NW)
11:05 PM Nevada at Idaho

Wednesday Recap: Bearcats' Small Lineup a Success in Game One

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:32:49 -0800

With suspensions ruling out two of their key interior players for the next six games, many wondered what Mick Cronin's Cincinnati Bearcats would do to make up for the absence of Yancy Gates and Cheikh Mbodj. Without a consistent scoring option in the paint the strategy was to let the guards go to work, and that they did in the Bearcats' 78-58 win at Wright State. Sean Kilpatrick, who was a non-factor in their loss at Xavier on Saturday, scored a game-high 20 points (6-12 3PT) while JaQuon Parker added 14 points and all five starters finished in double figures.

Freshman Jermaine Sanders, one of the players expected to benefit from those losses as more minutes have become available, scored nine points and grabbed four rebounds in 18 minutes of play and point guard Cashmere Wright dished out eight assist to three turnovers to go along with 12 points. Cincinnati fired away from deep throughout the night, making 14 of their 32 shots from beyond the arc. The Bearcats average seven makes and 17 attempts from beyond the arc on the season, but with Gates out those numbers figure to increase until he returns.

A.J. Pacher and John Balwigaire scored 11 points apiece to lead the Raiders, who shot 47.5% from the field but turned the ball over 13 times and were out-rebounded 31-22. Two other areas that cost Billy Donlon's team were points in the paint (22-18 Cincinnati) and second-chance points (23-2 Cincinnati), and these are areas that one wouldn't expect Cincinnati to control given their lack of interior depth. But they found a way to do so, and with the offensive issues that Wright State's had this season (averaging 55 points per game) the Bearcats' fast start proved to be too much to overcome.

The good news for Cincinnati is that their next three games, Radford, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Chicago State, are all winnable games that they should be able to win despite the depth issues. And with a loss to Presbyterian already on their resume it's critical that the Bearcats take care of business and avoid any more bad losses as there won't be another marquee non-conference opportunity available. Game one offered a blueprint for the Bearcats with regards to how they'll score with Gates out of the lineup, with the guards needing to take on greater scoring responsibilities. It also won't hurt if they can knock down shots from deep at a similar clip to Wednesday's mark.

Other Notable Happenings

1. Did an injury impact UCLA's defensive efficiency? It very well could have.
With forward Travis Wear missing Wednesday's game against Eastern Washington with a skin infection on his left foot there were minutes up for grabs in the frontcourt for someone. That turned out to be Anthony Stover, who missed the early portion of the season with a shoulder injury, and he took full advantage of the increased minutes in the Bruins' 60-47 win over the Eagles. Stover played 18 minutes but blocked three shots and grabbed three rebounds, providing the spark UCLA needed on the defensive end of the floor. EWU shot a season-low 25.9% from the field and turned the ball over 12 times to just five assists on the night.

Cliff Ederaine and Colin Chiverton had particularly rough nights as they combined to make just eight of thirty-one shots for a combined 21 points. Lazeric Jones had another solid scoring performance for the Bruins with 19 points to go along with six rebounds and four assists and Tyler Lamb added 14, but for Ben Howland's team to be successful they have to be better defensively. Wednesday was a step in the right direction, and they can partially thank Stover for that.

2. Charleston recovers from a slow start to defend their home floor against Tennessee.
To the surprise of many Cuonzo Martin's Volunteers led College of Charleston by as many as 11 points in the first half at TD Arena. But as the game wore on Bobby Cremins' Cougars got back into the game and would lead by as many as 14 in the second half on their way to the 71-65 win. This is the second straight season that Charleston has beaten Tennessee, and the tandem of Antwaine Wiggins and Andrew Lawrence led the way on Wednesday.

Wiggins scored a game-high 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds while Lawrence added 14 points, five steals and four assists. Charleston scored 22 points off of 16 Tennessee turnovers, and the six-point edge in that category proved to be the difference. The Cougars were also aided by a ten-point edge in points from the foul line (14-4), moving to 8-1 on the season as a result. It took some time but the Cougars were able to put together a stretch worthy of a team looking to compete for a conference title. The key now is to consistently put forth that kind of effort for entire games.

3. Princeton's three-pointer at the buzzer hands Rider their tenth loss of the season.
According to The Beatles, "one is the loneliest number", and in addition to that fact it was also the most important number in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Mack Darrow made just one shot on the night: a three-pointer as time expired to give Princeton a 72-71 overtime win at Rider to drop the Broncs to a stunning 1-10 mark on the season. The Tigers probably should have sewn things up in regulation as they led 65-61 with less than 30 seconds remaining after trailing by as many as 16 late in the first half, but the Broncs sent the game into overtime thanks to four Brandon Penn points.

Things remained tight in the extra session but Rider left the door open by missing three of their final four free throws. Douglas Davis would take Daniel Stewart's second miss and drive down the court, finding Darrow for the game-winning bucket. The Tigers will be a factor in the Ivy League race but it's very difficult to say the same about Tommy Dempsey's Broncs in the MAAC. A team that many expected to finish in the top four at the very least may struggle to finish outside of the bottom four at their current pace, and that's something that no one familiar with Rider's talent expected in October.

Quick Hitters

1. In the lone afternoon game of the day Iona picked up a good road victory at Richmond. In the 88-79 win Scott Machado dished out 15 assists and scored 13 points while Mike Glover led the way with 24 points and eight rebounds. Iona shot 67.7% from the field in the second half and finished the game with an offensive efficiency of 118.9. Richmond opponents average an efficiency of 98.5 on the season.

2. Jared Sullinger didn't start for Ohio State but he did return to the lineup, scoring 12 points and grabbing ten rebounds in 25 minutes of action as the Buckeyes beat USC Upstate 82-58. Ohio State shot 56.9% from the field on the night, beginning to pull away late in the first half thanks to 13 forced turnovers. Deshaun Thomas led the way with 23 points, his ninth straight double-figure scoring outing.

3. Kyle O'Quinn scored 22 points and grabbed 14 rebounds and Quasim Pugh scored 10 points in 15 minutes off the bench as Norfolk State beat LIU 73-62. The Spartans limited LIU to 33.8% shooting from the field and 5-for-21 from beyond the arc.

4. FIU led for much of the night at Maryland but couldn't seal the deal, allowing the Terrapins to escape with 65-61 victory in front of a sparse crowd at the Comcast Center. FIU shot 35.5% from the field in the second half, and for the game Maryland outscored the Golden Panthers 22-9 from the foul line.

5. It isn't far-fetched to think that Denver may be the best team in the state of Colorado. Joe Scott's Pioneers beat Northern Colorado 71-65 in Greeley with Brian Stafford (16 points) and Royce O'Neale (14) leading the way offensively and Chris Udofia blocking three shots. Denver visits Colorado State on January 11th, and a win in Fort Collins would be another piece of evidence in support of them being the best in the state.

6. Baylor took care of business in their 69-42 win over Bethune-Cookman, but the real test comes on Saturday as they visit BYU. The Bears limited Bethune-Cookman to 34.8% shooting and Pierre Jackson scored 12 points and dished out four assists in 23 minutes off the bench.

Three Notable Performances

1. F Kyle O'Quinn (Norfolk State)
22 points, 14 rebounds and four assists in the Spartans' 73-62 win over Long Island.

2. G Scott Machado (Iona)
15 assists, 13 points and six rebounds in the Gaels' 88-79 win at Richmond.

3. F Ian Hummer (Princeton)
21 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and four steals in the Tigers' 72-71 overtime win at Rider.

Jon Teitel's Coaching Greats Interview Series: Eastern Washington's W.B. "Red" Reese

Jon Teitel — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 22:24:51 -0700

In the most recent installment in his Coaching Greats interview series CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with John Reese, the son of Eastern Washington coaching great W.B. "Red" Reese. Coach Reese coached the Eagles in track and football in addition to basketball, winning almost 70% of the events in which he was involved. Coach Reese won twelve conference titles at EWU and his 1946 team won a school-record 27 consecutive games against collegiate competition, and Eastern Washington's home court now bears his name.

Jon Teitel: What was he like as a father, and how did he balance his coaching jobs with his family life?

John Reese: He was a good father who tried to do a lot for his kids, and he did a good job of balancing his coaching with his family. He coached football/basketball/track when he first arrived at EWU, and when football/basketball overlapped in the fall, he would come home from football practice, eat a quick meal and take a nap, then head back out to basketball practice.

JT: In 1930 he won a state championship at North Central HS. Why did he leave to go to EWU?

JR: I assume that he thought it was a promotion, but I never heard him say why he did that.

JT: In World War II he served as physical fitness officer and football coach for the 2nd Air Force. Why did he join the Air Force, and how did your family cope with that?

JR: We were with him that whole time after he was commissioned in 1942. He was too young to serve in WWI, so I think he just figured this was his chance to serve his country. We started out at the Air Force headquarters in Spokane, and later moved to Colorado Springs.

JT: In 1946 his basketball team finished 31-4, including a school record 27-game winning streak versus collegiate competition, then won two games in the NAIA tourney before falling to Pepperdine. Was that his best season ever, and how was he able to have so much success in his 1st year back after the war?

JR: He was a real good coach and had some real good talent including Irv Leifer (the best player he ever coached), although he had the shortest team in the whole tourney.

JT: He was instrumental in the founding of the NAIA, serving as NAIA president in 1952. Why did he get involved with the NAIA, and how did he like being president?

JR: He felt there was a need for small college teams to have an association similar to the NCAA, and often commented about the nice people he met.

JT: As EWU track coach he won 23 league titles in 31 seasons, and as EWU football coach he won six conference titles in 13 seasons. Which sport did he enjoy the most, and which do you think he was best at?

JR: I know that he enjoyed track the most, which surprised me. He said it was because in those days most of the high school track coaches were just professors who coached track on the side. He could tell if he was making good headway as a coach by seeing if he could improve their times/heights. Additionally, the nice spring weather made it fun to coach track outdoors.

JT: He also served as AD from 1938-1962. How did he like that job compared to his coaching gigs?

JR: He preferred coaching to being an administrator.

JT: He is a member of the Washington State Hall of Fame. What did it mean to him to win such an outstanding individual honor?

JR: He was a member of several Halls of Fame. He played basketball at Pullman, but was inducted as a coach rather than as an athlete, and enjoyed the honor very much.

JT: EWU ended up naming its basketball court after him. Could you think of any better tribute to your father, and how proud are you of all that he accomplished?

JR: We are very proud of it. Some of our kids are really good athletes, and two of my nieces have even played on that court!

JT: When people look back on his career, how would he want to be remembered the most?

JR: He would want to be remembered as honest and fair, even though he was a tough disciplinarian, as were most other coaches back then. I remember hearing him scream and yell at his players, but after they graduated they would come back to visit and have a cup of coffee with him.

Coach Reese is also on Jon's list of best coaches in Big Sky history.

Eastern Washington: W.B. "Red" Reese (1930-1942, 1945-1964) 473-298, 12 conference titles
Idaho State: Jim Killingsworth (1971-1977) 163-109, two NCAA Tournament appearances, three conference titles, two-time conference Coach of the Year
Montana: Blaine Taylor (1991-1998) 141-66, two NCAA Tournament appearances, two conference titles, conference Coach of the Year
Montana State: G Ott Romney (1922-1928) 144-31
Northern Arizona: Mike Adras (1999-present) 158-136, one NCAA Tournament appearance, two conference titles, conference Coach of the Year
Northern Colorado: George Sage (1963-1968) 95-36, four conference titles
Portland State: Ken Edwards (1972-1978) 94-63
Sacramento State: Jerome Jenkins (2000-2008) 80-147
Weber State: Neil McCarthy (1974-1985) 205-105, four NCAA Tournament appearances, five conference titles, three-time conference Coach of the Year

Forgotten Legends: College Basketball Q&A Series

Jon Teitel — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 08:59:50 -0700

College basketball is a game of history, exemplified by the stars of yesterday who set the bar for today's student athletes. Jon Teitel looks back at some of the forgotten (and not so forgotten) college basketball legends who made our game what it is today. Some of these names might bring back great memories, while others will mean nothing to you, but each of the player's below made an important mark on college basketball history.

Enjoy Jon Teitel's interviews with the following college basketball legends:

Taylor Coppenrath

Vermont - Led UVA to 3 NCAA Tournaments (including win over Syracuse). Averaged 25.1 ppg in 2005.

Ron Cox

Eastern Washington - EWU's All-time leading scorer & rebounder. First-team All-American '77. Third-team All-American '76

Fennis Dembo

Wyoming - Averaged NCAA-Tournament best 27.8 ppg in 1987. Featured on Sports Illustrated cover.

Les Hunter

Loyola-Chicago - Member of 1963 NCAA Champions. 2-time ABA All-Star.

Keith Jennings

ETSU - 2 time Conference Player of the Year. Conference leader in assists & steals. 4-year NBA career.

Cliff Meely

Colorado - 2 time Big 8 Player of the Year. Top 10 NBA pick in 1971. Top 5 in Colorado's point, rebounds, blocks list.

Ricky Pierce

Rice - Owls all-time leading scorer. 1st Round pick in 1981. 15-year NBA career. Won Sixth Man of the Year twice.

Dan Roundfield

Central Michigan - 3-time NBA All-Star. 5-time NBA All-Defensive team. 1975 MAC Player of the Year.

Billy Shepherd

Butler - Bulldogs all-time leading scorer. Averaged 24.1 ppg for career. Played in ABA.

Charles Smith

Pittsburgh - Big East Player of the Year. 2-time All-American. Lengthy NBA career.

Mychal Thompson

Minnesota - #1 Pick in 1978 NBA Draft. Won back to back NBA titles. Gophers all-time leading scorer.

Willie Wise

Drake - Led Bulldogs to lone Final Four trip. Averaged almost ppg in ABA career. Nicknamed "Wonderous"

Also:

Marc "Showbiz" Brown - Siena

Lanard Copeland - Georgia State

Ben Hinson - Charleston Southern

Richard "Doc" Sauers - Albany

Talvin Skinner - UMES

Frank Viera - Quinnipiac

Isaac Fontaine - Washington State

Darren Queenan - Lehigh

Troy Bell - Boston College

Joe Behling - Belmont

Dave Hoppen - Nebraska

Kelly Golob - Northern Arizona

Doug Day - Radford

Steve Barker - Samford

Evan Eschmeyer - Northwestern

Carrick DeHart - UC Santa Barbara

Michael Watson - UMKC

Mike Pegues - Delaware

Jamar Wilson - Albany

Lester Lyons - East Carolina

Charles "Bubba" Wells - Austin Peay

Jaycee Carroll - Utah State

Ernie Calverley - Rhode Island

Wayne Molis - Chicago State/Lewis University

Joe Carrabino - Harvard

Dickie Hemric - Wake Forest

Rick Raivio - Portland

Dwight "Bo" Lamar - UL Lafayette

Ron Cornelius - Pacific

Andy O'Donnell - Loyola (MD)

Wille Jackson - Centenary

Jerry Sloan - Evansville

Donell Taylor - UAB

Butch Lee - Marquette

Q&A w/ Ron Cox: EWU All-Time Scorer & Rebounder

Jon Teitel — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 14:18:49 -0800

Ron Cox holds the rare distinction of being his school's all-time leader in points & rebounds. By the time Cox was finished at Eastern Washington University, he was a 1st team, 3rd team, and honorable mention All-American. The Eagles legend was kind enough to answer some questions for CHN's Jon Teitel:

1. Why did you choose to attend Eastern Washington? I chose EWU because they showed the most interest in me and I felt very comfortable with Coach Jerry Krause (who is now the Director of Men's Basketball Operations at Gonzaga) and his staff. Both Washington State and EWU recruited me to play football, and Central Washington, Western Washington, and Pacific Lutheran recruited me to play basketball, but once I visited with Coach Krause in my home and after I made the campus visit, I knew it was the place for me. I cancelled all other trips and gave EWU a verbal commitment.

2. In 1975 you were named honorable mention All-American: how were you able to come in and contribute so quickly? #1: I had great fundamental coaches who believed in me and gave me tons of positive support. #2: I loved to play the game, and I worked very hard on my skills. Most of my days were spent practicing on my own prior to our team’s scheduled 2-hour practice, and then after practice every night Jeff MacAlister and I would play 1-on-1 for another hour. I was usually at the gym for 5 hours a day, and it was a blast.

3. In 1976 you were named 3^rd-team All-American: were you happy with your individual success, or unhappy because your team did not have much postseason success? I spent very little time thinking about any individual accomplishments. We were a very close group of guys. Many of us came in as freshmen and sophomores together, and we all had one thing we wanted to accomplish: a trip to the national tournament. I was very disappointed at the time that we lost in the playoffs to Central Washington, but as time went on I realized that there were guys working just as hard as me and my teammates to get to the highest level of play, and whoever plays best at the right time will advance.

4. In 1977 you were named 1^st team All-American: did you feel like you were one of the best players in the country? We had played games with schools in our own division all over the West coast, and we also had some non-league games against some D-1 schools. I felt I could compete with everyone we played against, but to say that I felt I was one of the best in the country would be a stretch. I felt very honored, but I did have some uncertainty about where I was at. I was an undersized post player, and I knew that if I was going to have any shot of playing at the next level, I would have to develop a face-the-basket game.

5. You finished your career as the all-time leading scorer/rebounder in EWU history, as you led your team in scoring and rebounding in each of your 4 years: did you realize at the time how prolific a player you were? I just enjoyed playing. I knew that I had had an excellent career at EWU, but to be honest I remember so many moments that I shared with great teammates. The records just came with playing a lot and playing hard. My memories of my career at EWU are so much more people-related: great coaches, an awesome educational university, great teammates and friends.

6. In the summer of 1977 you were drafted in the 6^th-round by Cleveland: were you thrilled to realize your dream of making it to the NBA, or disappointed that you did not get selected earlier? To be honest, I found out about it when I got a call from 1 of the local news channels telling me I had been drafted by Cleveland: Cleveland did not call me the next day. I was excited about the challenge, and worked extremely hard that summer to prepare myself for camp. I came into camp in the best condition ever, and I felt mentally ready to compete.

7. You did not end up playing for Cleveland: how close did you come to making the team, and how important was it to you to play professional basketball? We were told that 4 guys would carry over from the rookie free-agent camp, so I felt very good about my chances of advancing. On the 3^rd day of camp I was injured and was sent home for reconstructive surgery on my left ankle. I read the newspaper and learned that 7 guys moved on to the next camp: I felt I would have been 1 of those guys. I was in a cast for 3 months, and walked poorly for another couple of months. It was a huge letdown, and looking back now I believe that I went through some depression. I felt like I had given it a good shot, but was somewhat robbed by some bad luck. I had a chance to try out for a CBA team, and another chance to play in Denmark, but I had a wife and 2 kids, so it was time to move on with my career.

8. In 1994 you became a graduate assistant coach at EWU: how had the college game changed since the time you played, and what did it mean to you to coach at your alma mater? The 3-point line and shot clock have changed the game a great deal. The athletes are so much bigger and stronger today. It was a great opportunity to coach at that level, and it was especially fun to be back at EWU. If I have any regrets about my coaching career, it is that I wish I had given college coaching a look earlier in my life. I love EWU: it was very special to be back there.

9. You are currently a teacher at Lakeside High School, and you used to coach there as well: which role did you enjoy the most? I gave up the head basketball job 4 years ago. I am still a coach, but mostly for my family, as I coach soccer and basketball for several of my young grandchildren. I think that in order to coach you have to be able to teach. Although there are some very good coaches out there that do not teach a school subject, I think that the schools are doing a disservice to their students by not hiring more teachers that are willing to coach.

10. When people look back on your career, what do you want them to remember the most? I hope they remember that I am a good person: I cared for my players and always tried to do the best for them so that we could succeed as a team. If I gained respect from my fellow coaches, players, and fans, then I am satisfied.

BEST “FANTASY” PLAYERS IN BIG SKY HISTORY

-- based on career stats/awards, with all-time school ranks in parentheses
Eastern Washington: Ron Cox (1977): 1741 PTS (#1), 1273 REB (#1), 62.9 FG% (#1), 3-time All-American

Idaho State: Steve Hayes (1977): 1933 PTS (#2), 1147 REB (#1), 207 BLK (#1)

Montana: Larry Krystkowiak (1986): 2017 PTS (#1), 1105 REB (#1), 56.5 FG% (#4), 3-time conference POY

Montana State: John Thompson (1930): 1539 PTS (#4), 3-time All-American, national POY

Northern Arizona: Kelly Golob (2006): 1550 PTS (#1), 295 3PM (#2), 85.1 FT% (#3)

Northern Colorado: Mike Higgins (1989): 2112 PTS (#1), 959 REB (#1), 302 BLK (#1), All-American

Portland State: Freeman Williams (1978): 3249 PTS (#1), 2-time All-American

Sacramento State: Robert Martin (1989): 1774 PTS (#1), 147 STL (#4), 294 3PM (#1)

Weber State: Bruce Collins (1980): 2019 PTS (#1), 879 REB (#3)

BEST NBA PLAYERS IN BIG SKY HISTORY (BOLD = ACTIVE)
Eastern Washington: Rodney Stuckey (2008)
Idaho State: Ron Boone (1969)
Montana: Micheal Ray Richardson (1979)
Montana State: Jack Gillespie (1970)

Northern Arizona: Andre Spencer (1993)

Northern Colorado: Mike Higgins (1990)
Portland State: Freeman Williams (1979)
Sacramento State: NO ALUMNI IN ABA/NBA
Weber State: Willard Sojourner (1972)

Poll: Who Will Win the Big Sky?

Shawn Siegel — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:41:04 -0700

Picture of the Day: Scene of the Crime

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 07:22:52 -0800

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Today's BIG PICTURE

Thanks to our friends over at Icon Sports Media, CHN has access to thousands of great college basketball photos. Each day during the season, CHN will feature a Picture of the Day, which might include a newsworthy, funny, or simply interesting subject. At the bottom will be a caption or headline that might be informative or amusing. The possibilities are endless! During the off-season, we'll publish scattered favorites that were missed during the year.

SCENE OF THE CRIME

Irvine's Zack Atkinson is knocked hard to the floor.. while his EWU opponents stand around the scene of the crime

- Check out recent BIG Pictures!

- Also check out the Cheerleader of the Day!

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

Big Sky Basketball Preview: 08-09

CHN — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:16:03 -0800

Conference Rank: 23rd

Conference Page

All-BIG SKY Team
Pos.	Player	Team	Yr.

G	Jeremiah Dominguez	Portland St	Sr
G	Josh Wilson	NAU	Sr
F	Phil Nelson	Portland St	So
F	Jabril Banks	No. Colorado	Sr
F	Jordan Hasquet	Montana	Sr
CHN Award Winners		Returning Leaders
none		Points: Jeremiah Dominguez 14.2 Rebounds: Jordan Hasquet 7.2 Assists: Josh Wilson 5.4

BIG SKY Standings
Nat'l	Team	League	Tourney

112	Montana	Big Sky	1	NCAA
149	Portland State**	Big Sky	2
181	Northern Arizona	Big Sky	3
203	Weber State	Big Sky	4
243	Idaho State	Big Sky	5
265	Eastern Wash	Big Sky	6
279	Northern Colorado	Big Sky	7
308	Montana State	Big Sky	8
327	Sacramento St	Big Sky	9

*Click on links for full Top 144 team preview

** returning conference champion

Poll: Who Do You Think Will Win the Big Sky?

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Rise & Fall: Big Sky

EWU Falls to Carroll College in Exhibition

Press Release — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 17:40:10 -0800

Eastern Washington University couldn’t overcome 21 percent shooting and a nearly nine-minute scoreless drought in the first half and lost 58-56 to Carroll College in a men’s basketball exhibition game Saturday (Nov. 1) at Reese Court in Cheney, Wash.

The game does not count in EWU’s season record or statistics. The Eagles have another exhibition game next Saturday (Nov. 8) against Puget Sound at 2:05 p.m. Pacific time before officially opening the season at Illinois on Nov. 14.

"That's what these exhibition games are for -- to find out where you are, what you need to improve on and what you're doing well," said Eastern head coach Kirk Earlywine, whose team was playing without three key players on his anticipated active roster of 11 players.

"I don't think I did a good enough job of expressing to our guys how good Carroll is," he continued. "I knew that they would be good and that is precisely why I scheduled the game. I knew that they would come in here and that we would have our hands full. That turned out to be true."

The Eagles rallied from a 19-point deficit to pull within one in the closing seconds, but Eastern’s Milan Stanojevic missed a three-pointer at the buzzer that would have won the game. Carroll, which opened its season with an 83-76 victory over the University of Regina on Oct. 23, is now 2-0.

The Eagles made just 16-of-50 shots in the game for 32 percent. In the first half alone, Eastern was just 6-of-29 overall (21 percent) and 2-of-15 from the three-point stripe (13 percent). Eastern was out-rebounded by Carroll 39-32, including 26-16 in the first half.

"You have to give them a lot of credit," added Earlywine. "I thought that they out-competed us, particularly in the first half. They out-rebounded us by 10 in the first half and held us to 21 percent. So our hats are off to Carroll."

Eastern returning starter Trey Gross led the Eagles with 17 points and Stanojevic added 11. Both players hit a trio of three-pointers, but the rest of the team was 0-of-9.

In the first half, Eastern went 8:52 without scoring as the Fighting Saints scored seven-straight points in that span to take an 11-point advantage. Carroll led by as many as 18 in the first half before taking its biggest lead of the night at 39-21 with 14:41 to play.

Eastern rallied, pulling to within five at 49-44 at the 5:04 mark and three at 53-50 with 1:22 left on a driving layin by Gary Gibson. Gibson sparked the Eagles in the second half with six points, three steals and three assists.

Two free throws by Gross pulled Eastern to within one, but a three-pointer by Chad Vaculin put the Fighting Saints back up by four. After a basket by Gross, Vaculin made a free throw with 3.9 seconds left prior to Stanojevic’s miss.

"I thought Gary Gibson played very well in the second half," said Earlywine of his team’s positives. "Milan made three from the arc in the second half. I think that Andy Genao and Jeff Christiansen both did exactly what I'm asking them to do -- take care of the ball, defend, and play hard. On the defensive end we were much better in the second half. On the offensive end we were a little better in the second half."

Guard Benny Valentine, who sat out last season after transferring from Texas Tech, had five steals in his first game in an EWU uniform. However, he made just 1-of-10 shots from the floor.