LSU

Monday Preview: Texas A&M at #6 Baylor

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 00:42:59 -0500

While bowl games will garner most of the attention on Monday college basketball won't be taking the day off with leagues transitioning into conference play. One such matchup is the first game of Big 12 play as Texas A&M (9-3) visits Waco to take on #6 Baylor (13-0), and Billy Kennedy's Aggies can definitely use a win for resume reasons.

According to realtimerpi.com Texas A&M has an RPI of 242 and a strength of schedule of 341, and while those numbers will jump considerably in Big 12 play their non-conference resume lacks quality wins. That puts even more pressure on the Aggies to finish high in the Big 12, and they'll need to steal a few on the road in order to do so. But this isn't a very good matchup for Texas A&M, even with Baylor's question marks on the perimeter.

Scott Drew's Bears have been more effective on the perimeter than many expected when the season began, and that will need to continue if Baylor is to make noise in March. Junior Pierre Jackson (12.2 ppg, 4.4 apg) has improved by the game coming off the bench but the turnovers are still an issue, with Jackson averaging 3.4 per game.

The same goes for starter A.J. Walton, who is second on the team with 3.9 assists per game. While Walton has the better assist-to-turnover ratio (1.8) of the two he's also got the highest turnover percentage (32.9%). Cal transfer Gary Franklin will also see time and in Boston College transfer Brady Heslip (10.8 ppg, 49.4% 3PT) have one of the best shooters in the Big 12.

Texas A&M also has concerns in the backcourt, and the decision of Jamal Branch to transfer didn't help matters despite his playing just 18.6 minutes per game. Washington transfer Elston Turner (12.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg) has been the Aggies' most effect guard from a scoring standpoint, but A&M will need other guards to step up.

Senior point guard Dash Harris (5.0 ppg, 4.4 apg) has more value as a distributor but he's attempted the second-most three-pointers despite making just 34.8% of those shots. Many thought that Branch could at one point take over the starting point guard job but that's out of the window now, meaning that Harris and others need to step up their play.

Baylor's frontcourt ranks among the best in the country when considering both talent and depth, and while Texas A&M has done a good job of rebounding (margin of plus-8.2) the Bears are an entirely different challenge. Perry Jones III (13.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg) is considered to be Baylor's best NBA prospect, and when he can play with a level of aggression equal to his skill set consistently look out.

Freshman Quincy Miller (10.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg) may be Baylor's most versatile frontcourt player as he's also third on the team in assists (2.1 per game), and seniors Quincy Acy (12.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg) and Anthony Jones (6.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg) are also tough customers. Baylor's wingspan is what makes their matchup zone so tough to deal with, and with A&M shooting 31.9% from three on the season look for the Aggies to face that zone for much of the night.

Beating Baylor's zone will depend largely on how effective the Aggies are at finding the gaps, and in wing Khris Middleton (13.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.4 apg) Texas A&M has one of the best players in the Big 12. Middleton missed time earlier in the season with a knee injury but he's reached double figures in each of the four games played since his return. He's Texas A&M's most versatile player, and he'll likely have to be the best player on the floor if the Aggies are to win.

David Lobeau (11.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg) and Ray Turner (12.0 ppg, 6.4 rpg) are also important factors for A&M on both ends of the floor, especially when considering the lack of scoring from the guards outside of Turner. There isn't a big difference between the teams from a tempo standpoint, which makes the disparity in offensive efficiency (Baylor 112.2, A&M 99.6) all the more glaring. A&M will need some unheralded guys to put forth excellent performances in order to leave Waco 1-0 in league play, and that may not be a realistic expectation right now.

Also of note on Monday is Virginia's trip to Baton Rouge, and with Trent Johnson's team having won seven straight games (including a win over Marquette) this is a treacherous trip for the Cavaliers. Mike Scott and Joe Harris will have to lead the way while Jontel Evans and Sammy Zeglinski play with poise on the perimeter for the Cavaliers to leave town with a win.

And Vanderbilt hosts Miami (Ohio), who has one of the best frontcourt players in the MAC in Julian Mavunga. Taking on Charlie Coles' team is a tough task so don't be surprised if the Commodores have some issues early in that one. Another non-conference battle involving the MAC is Ohio hosting Robert Morris, with point guard D.J. Cooper being the catalyst for a team that's won nine straight.

In conference games there's VCU's trip north to take on Hofstra in a CAA battle of teams that have been playing good ball of late. Shaka Smart's young team seems to be figuring things out as they've won seven straight, and Mo Cassara's Pride have won three in a row.

Bradford Burgess (VCU) and Mike Moore (Hofstra) are two of the better players in the CAA, but with the Rams forcing turnovers on 28.2% of their opponents' possessions Hofstra has to be sound with the basketball in order to win. ODU visiting James Madison is another game in the CAA to keep an eye on, and the same goes for the Big West battle between UCSB and surprising Cal Poly.

Top 25 Games
7:00 PM Texas A&M at (7) Baylor (ESPNU)
7:00 PM (24) Virginia at LSU (ESPN3)

NCAA Division I Games
12:00 PM William & Mary at George Mason
1:00 PM Rhode Island at Boston College (ESPN3)
1:00 PM American at Brown
2:00 PM Delaware at UNC Wilmington
3:00 PM Old Dominion at James Madison (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Northeastern at Towson
7:00 PM Wofford at Wake Forest (ESPN3)
7:00 PM UMBC at New Hampshire
7:00 PM Fairleigh Dickinson at Columbia
7:00 PM Robert Morris at Ohio
7:00 PM Stetson at Kennesaw State
7:00 PM Hartford at Albany
7:00 PM Maine at Binghamton
7:00 PM Drexel at Georgia State
7:00 PM Charleston Southern at High Point
7:00 PM VCU at Hofstra (FiOS 1)
7:00 PM Shawnee State at Kent State
7:00 PM Presbyterian at Liberty
7:00 PM Rider at Manhattan
7:00 PM Saint Peter's at Marist
7:00 PM UNC Asheville at Radford
7:00 PM Vermont at Stony Brook
7:00 PM Chattanooga at Tennessee (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Gardner-Webb at Virginia Military
7:00 PM Lafayette at NJIT
7:05 PM Virginia-Wise at Citadel
7:15 PM Lipscomb at Jacksonville
7:30 PM Brewton Parker at Georgia Southern
7:30 PM Niagara at Loyola (MD)
7:30 PM FGCU at Mercer
7:45 PM Coastal Carolina at Campbell
7:45 PM Belmont at North Florida
8:00 PM Bethune-Cookman at Auburn
8:00 PM Miami (OH) at Vanderbilt
8:00 PM Roosevelt at Northern Illinois
8:00 PM Jarvis Christian at Sam Houston State
8:30 PM Jacksonville State at Southeast Missouri State
9:00 PM UNC Greensboro at Miami (FL) (ESPN3)
9:05 PM Idaho State at Northern Colorado
10:00 PM UC Santa Barbara at Cal Poly
10:00 PM Cal State Northridge at UC Riverside
10:00 PM Boise State at Fresno State
10:00 PM Long Beach State at UC Irvine
10:00 PM New Mexico State at Cal State Bakersfield
10:05 PM Pacific at Cal State Fullerton

Monday Recap: #10 Marquette, #12 Kansas Both Upset

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 23:17:46 -0500

What looked to be a routine post-finals Monday in college basketball turned out to be anything but as two ranked teams fell. #10 Marquette went on the road to take on an LSU team that much isn't expected of this season and found themselves in a dog fight. Averaging 81 points per game the Golden Eagles finished the game 22 points below their average in the 67-59 loss to the Tigers, with LSU making the required plays on both ends of the floor late.

Ralston Turner led the way with 22 points while Justin Hamilton (13 points, seven rebounds) and Storm Warren (10 points, six rebounds) also reached double figures and point guard Anthony Hickey added eight points, six assists and four steals. LSU very well could have allowed things to get out of hand from the start as Marquette rushed out to a 13-0 lead, but Trent Johnson's team didn't panic and they used defense to get back into the contest. Marquette shot 36.3% from the field and turned the ball over 15 times, and their bench was outscored 24-4 as well.

"We got hit in the face a little bit with that 13-0 run," said Johnson. "I thought those guys (senior reserves Malcolm White, Storm Warren and Chris Bass) came in and gave us a lot of energy. They competed their tails off and then we got back in the thing and found out that we can compete a little bit."

How often will Buzz Williams' team have to account for quiet nights from Vander Blue (four points, 1-4 FG), Junior Cadougan (six points, 3-10 FG) and Todd Mayo (two points, 0-5 FG)? Probably won't happen all that much, and when adding to that LSU's offensive efficiency of 103.1 despite turning the ball over on 28% of their possessions the makings for an upset are there. Jae Crowder (22 points) and Darius Johnson-Odom (16 points but six turnovers) led the way offensively for Marquette, and a positive they can take out of the game was the seven points and eight rebounds supplied by Davante Gardner.

Not as much luck for #12 Kansas, who trailed for much of the night in their 80-74 loss to Davidson in Kansas City. The big question for Bill Self's team in the aftermath of the defeat: outside of Thomas Robinson (21 points, 18 rebounds) where did the Jayhawks have a clear edge on the Wiildcats? Davidson turned the ball over 12 times in the first half yet still went into the break with a 33-32 lead as the Jayhawks shot just 39.8% from the field.

Bob McKillop's team would be even better in the second half taking care of the basketball, not turning it over once. Nik Cochran led four starters in double figures with 21 points and while Davidson didn't shoot well from the field (41.0%) they shot well from the foul line (19-25) while Kansas left points on the board in shooting 18-for-31. It's one thing to shoot poorly from the field, but leaving points at the charity stripe will more times than not come back to haunt you.

The Wildcats also outscored Kansas 33-18 from beyond the arc, with Cochran being the main marksman by knocking down four of five attempts. Kansas made a few threes late to stay in the game but it was too little too late, as Davidson put more effort as the game wore on in doubling Robinson inside. The Jayhawks simply couldn't get over the hump in front of a partisan crowd, and in the final minutes Davidson landed the critical blows needed to bounce back with a win following their blowout loss at Charlotte.

"I thought we came out in the second half and scored two baskets, which at least put us in the center ring for the rest of the half," remarked McKillop. "I thought our resiliency was a great statement about our team maturing and showing poise and taking a week of practice after a tough loss and really capitalizing on it."

Other Notable Happenings

1. Marshall beats Belmont by one in a thriller in Huntington.
The game of the night did not disappoint, with Marshall needing a missed Kerron Johnson layup as time expired to hang on for the 87-86 win. Damier Pitts (19 points, 11 assists) and Dennis Tinnon (24 points, ten rebounds) each posted double-doubles while DeAndre Kane led the way with 29 points for the Thundering Herd, who are now 8-2 and have the talent to challenge Memphis in Conference USA. Johnson led six Belmont players in double figures with 18 points, but despite the margin of defeat Rick Byrd's team will be able to point at second-chance points as the difference.

Marshall grabbed 14 offensive boards and outscored Belmont 23-7 in second-chance points, a margin that did more damage to the visitors than the 16-4 spread in fast-break points. The good news for the Bruins is that they'll get another shot at the Herd in ten days in Nashville, but if they can't rectify the issues on the boards between now and then the rematch will likely net the same result. As for Marshall this is another solid win for their resume, and if they can to C-USA play with an 11-2 record Bill Herrion's team would be a a nice spot in terms of a possible at-large berth.

2. No Gutierrez or Solomon? No problem for Cal, who blew out UCSB.
With forward Richard Solomon out for at least the next two games with a stress fracture in his left foot and guard Jorge Gutierrez falling ill, the Golden Bears were without two key cogs for their game against UCSB. With the Gauchos having one of the more potent perimeter attacks in James Nunnally and Orlando Johnson a loss at home was a distinct possiblity. But Justin Cobbs would have none of that talk, scoring a career-high 25 points (10-12 FG) and Allen Crabbe adding 19 in the Golden Bears' 70-50 victory.

Nunnally and Johnson combined to score just 19 points, making nine of twenty-five shots from the field and as a team UCSB made two of thirteen from beyond the arc (Cal finished 11-for-20). Freshman David Kravish replaced Solomon in the starting lineup, finishing with seven points, nine rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Kravish isn't needed to be a scorer as the Bears have enough weapons to take care of that department, but his ability to hit the glass and do the little things has been a factor in their 10-2 start. Next up for Cal is a tough non-conference game at UNLV this weekend before they begin Pac-12 play next week.

3. Denver does the job defensively in handing Wyoming their second loss.
There was the question of just how legit Larry Shyatt's Cowboys were as they boasted an 11-1 record going into Monday's game at Denver. But in the aftermath of the Pioneers' 57-46 win at Magness Arena the better conclusion to draw may be that Joe Scott's got a Sun Belt title contender on his hands. Denver attempted just 39 shots for the game but they outscored the Cowboys 27-3 from beyond the arc, and Chase Hallam scored 21 points in his third double-digit effort of the season.

Wyoming shot 37.2% from the field while making just one of thirteen from beyond the arc, and that difference proved costly as the Pioneers made six of nine from three in the second half. Hallam's a key figure for Denver if they're going to be right there with Middle Tennessee in the Sun Belt race. After averaging 12.5 points per game and shooting 46.2% from the field in 2010-11 Hallam's numbers have dropped significantly this season (7.8 ppg, 40.3% FG), and that will need to change in order to supplement the efforts of Brian Stafford and Chris Udofia. The hope for Denver is that Hallam's 21-point outing is a step in the right direction.

Quick Hitters

1. A third head coach stepped down on Monday, with Idaho State and Joe O'Brien parting ways. The Bengals are 2-8 on the season and O'Brien concludes his tenure at ISU with a record of 56-105. Assistant coach Deane Martin was named interim head coach.

2. North Carolina grabbed a staggering 72 rebounds in their 99-49 win over Nicholls State. The Colonels have to adjust to life without the graduated Anatoly Bose, and it's been a rough go as they dropped to 4-8 on the season. Three UNC players grabbed at least ten rebounds with two more grabbing at least seven, and as a team the Tar Heels finished with 31 offensive rebounds.

3. It might be time to speak of Creighton forward Doug McDermott the same way Bum Phillips used to speak of Earl Campbell when he coached the Houston Oilers. He might not be the best forward in the country but it doesn't take long to call roll, and McDermott put up 35 points (career-high) and seven rebounds in the Bluejays' 83-64 win at Tulsa.

4. Another forward moving in that direction is West Virginia forward Kevin Jones. Jones put up 25 points, 14 rebounds and two assists in the Mountaineers' 72-53 win over Tennessee Tech, and he's got six double-doubles in ten games.

5. Kudos to USF for proving this writer wrong with their 70-55 win over Cleveland State. Jawanza Poland made his return and scored 13 points off the bench while Cleveland State made just seven of twenty-six shots from beyond the arc in their second loss of the season. Good win for Stan Heath's club.

6. Two teams tied for first place in the Big South dropped non-conference road games on Monday night, as Campbell lost to UNC Wilmington 67-65 and Coastal Carolina was whipped 76-51 by East Carolina. The Chanticleers made just three of twenty-one shots from three in their loss at ECU while Matt Wilson's tip-in with 1.4 seconds remaining spelled doom for the Camels.

7. Welcome back, Darnell Dodson. His three-pointer as time expired gave Southern Miss a 64-61 win at Arizona State in what turned out to be a wild affair. Well before the Golden Eagles blew a nine-point lead in the final minute USM's Torye Pelham and ASU's Ruslan Pateev were ejected for fighting, and LaShay Page scored all 14 of his points in the second half.

8. What's more surprising about USC's 83-59 beating of TCU: that they scored 83 points or that they got college basketball's "iron man" Maurice Jones four minutes of rest? Jones, who leads the nation in minutes per game, led four Trojans in double figures with 25 points and USC shot 50.9% from the field. That "extra" rest could come into play on Thursday night as USC hosts Kansas.

9. The Basketball Hall of Fame released its first list of candidates for the Cousy Award on Monday, and two names are missing from the list: Saint Mary's Matthew Dellavedova and Missouri's Phil Pressey.

Four Notable Performances

1. F Kevin Jones (West Virginia)
25 points, 14 rebounds and two assists in the Mountaineers' 72-53 win over Tennessee Tech.

2. F Doug McDermott (Creighton)
Career-high 35 points and seven rebounds in the Bluejays' 83-64 win over Tulsa.

3. F Thomas Robinson (Kansas)
21 points and 18 rebounds in the Jayhawks' 80-74 loss to Davidson.

4. C Meyers Leonard (Illinois)
19 points, 16 rebounds and two assists in the Fighting Illini's 64-60 win over Cornell.

College Hoops Thursday: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 03:57:37 -0500

Thursday's schedule is highlighted by three in-season tournaments, with action in Charleston, New York City and San Juan. The 2K Sports Classic Benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer semifinals will be played at Madison Square Garden with Texas A&M playing Mississippi State in the opener and St. John's and Arizona doing battle in the nightcap. The second game jumps out not only because of the fact that it will be a home game for the Red Storm but also due to the roles that newcomers play on both teams. The story of the Red Storm has been told countless times, and that's to be expected when your roster returns just one letterwinner (guard Malik Stith) from the previous season.

But the newcomers have played well in three games for the Red Storm, with junior college transfers Nurideen Lindsey and God'gift Achiuwa and freshmen Maurice Harkless and D'Angelo Harrison leading the way. Those four are all averaging double figures in scoring with Achiuwa leading the way in both scoring (17.7 ppg) and rebounding (8.3 rpg). His athleticism and strength could be a problem for an Arizona team that's seen its big men outside of senior forward Jesse Perry struggle thus far.

Angelo Chol and Kyryl Natyazhko have seen the majority of the minutes at center thus far, but Chol is young and raw while Natyazhko is more the "dirty work" type of big. What Arizona will likely have to do is use their depth as St. John's can only effectively go seven deep with Phil Greene and Sir'Dominic Pointer coming off the bench. St. John's will still look to get out in the open floor, and their trapping defense could be an issue for the Arizona guards. While talented they've also been a bit turnover-prone thus far, and along those lines it remains to be seen if the benching of Josiah Turner proves to spark his game.

Arizona can call on a number of players to handle the basketball, including Jordin Mayes, Kyle Fogg and Nick Johnson, and just as important is the return of wing Kevin Parrom. While still working into game shape the junior is essentially a jack of all trades for the Wildcats given what he provides on both ends of the floor. Can Arizona take care of the basketball? Can St. John's keep Achiuwa out of foul trouble against a deeper front line? The answers will provide the winner.

In the first game Texas A&M is without Khris Middleton due to a partially torn meniscus while it looks as if Mississippi State will have Renardo Sidney (groin), but the Bulldogs could still be at a disadvantage. Forward Ray Turner scored 20 points in each of the first two games and David Lobeau has a great deal of experience. The backcourt is deep as well for Texas A&M, and overall they've shown a greater ability to make smart decisions than Mississippi State. Dee Bost and Arnett Moultrie will have to be the reliable forces that they can be, because it's anyone's guess which Sidney will show up underneath the bright lights.

The likely game of the day in Puerto Rico matches Purdue and preseason MAAC favorite Iona, with the Gaels looking for a BCS AQ scalp to add to their pre-conference resume. Given the additions of players such as MoMo Jones and Rashad James combined with a wealth of returnees led by Scott Machado, Mike Glover and Kyle Smyth, many expect this to be a big year for Tim Cluess' team. As for Purdue, Robbie Hummel is back and along with point guard Lewis Jackson will look to set the tone from the start. If the Boilermakers turn this into a half-court affair they'll be in better shape to pull off the win.

And in Charleston while there isn't a game that truly stands out from a national standpoint Northwestern can ill-afford a loss to an LSU team that's coming off of a loss at Elon. John Shurna and Drew Crawford lead the way for Bill Carmody's Wildcats, and it's only a matter of time before people ask the question of when this program that's never danced will make an NCAA Tournament appearance. Given the tournament field Northwestern may need to get to the title game in order to bolster their resume, but with many of these teams looking to be close with regards to skill level, just about anything can happen.

Other games to keep tabs on include USC visiting San Diego State, and you can bet that "The Show" will be ready to welcome the Trojans to San Diego, Fairfield visits Minnesota and Penn visits Rider in a game that both teams (especially the winless Broncs) need.

Top 25
7:00 PM Maine at (4) Connecticut (Full Court)
8:00 PM North Florida at (8) Florida
5:00 PM Maryland vs. (15) Alabama* (ESPN2)
9:30 PM St. John's vs. (16) Arizona* (ESPN2)
8:30 PM Western Illinois at (17) Michigan (ESPN3)
7:00 PM (18) Texas A&M vs. Mississippi State* (ESPN2)
8:00 PM Niagara at (25) Missouri(Full Court)

NCAA Division I Games
10:30 AM Temple vs. Western Michigan* (ESPNU)
12:30 PM Tulsa vs. Western Kentucky* (ESPN3)
1:00 PM Purdue vs. Iona* (ESPNU)
3:00 PM LSU vs. Northwestern* (ESPN)
5:30 PM Virginia Commonwealth vs. Seton Hall* (ESPNU)
7:00 PM Lyndon State at Yale
7:00 PM NJIT at Massachusetts
7:00 PM Fairfield at Minnesota (BTN)
7:00 PM Mercer at Furman
7:00 PM Hampton at Richmond
7:00 PM Alcorn State at West Virginia (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Northwestern State at Alabama State
7:00 PM Florida Christian College at Bethune-Cookman
7:00 PM North Carolina A&T at Campbell
7:00 PM Loyola (MD) at UMBC
7:00 PM Asbury at Morehead State
7:00 PM NC Pembroke at UNC Greensboro
7:00 PM Pennsylvania at Rider
7:05 PM Prairie View A&M at Florida Gulf Coast
7:30 PM Wichita State vs. Colorado* (ESPNU)
7:30 PM Coker at East Carolina
7:30 PM Sacred Heart at Rutgers
7:30 PM Western Carolina at Presbyterian
8:00 PM Southern at Rice
8:00 PM Northern Illinois at Iowa
8:00 PM Georgia Tech vs. Saint Joseph's* (ESPN3)
8:05 PM Tennessee-Martin at Arkansas State
8:05 PM SIU-Edwardsville at Illinois State
8:30 PM TENN-Temple at Murray State
9:00 PM Idaho at Montana
9:00 PM Mont St Billings at Southern Utah
9:00 PM Lipscomb at Illinois (BTN)
9:00 PM Southern Miss at Denver
10:00 PM USC at San Diego State (The Mtn.)
10:00 PM Canisius at UNLV
10:00 PM Pacific at Nevada
10:00 PM Eastern Washington at Oregon
10:05 PM Sacramento State at Washington State

College Hoops Tuesday Recap: Krzyzewski Gets 903rd Victory

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 02:07:49 -0500

After wins over Belmont and Presbyterian moved Mike Krzyzewski into a tie with Bob Knight for the most wins in college basketball history, many at Madison Square Garden were hoping that the Duke head coach would become the record-holder with a win over Michigan State on Tuesday night. But while some went as far as to almost assume the game to be a coronation of sorts, Tom Izzo's Spartans refused to back down. Michigan State, never a team to back down from a challenge, went toe to toe with Duke in the first half, outscoring the Blue Devils in the paint 16-4 and scoing 15 points off of eight Duke turnovers.

But the first half was ultimately about missed opportunities for Michigan State, who despite those numbers went into the locker room trailing 34-33. Why? Two big reasons: eleven turnovers, and a combined 23 points scored by Duke guards Andre Dawkins (14) and Seth Curry (9). And in hindsight all Michigan State did was delay the inevitable, as Dawkins, Curry and Ryan Kelly kept it going in the second half and helping push the Duke lead out to as high as 20 points with just over nine minutes left in the game. Michigan State refused to fold but it was too little too late in Duke's 74-69 win.

"I thought we were, I don't know, tight or tentative the whole first half," said Krzyzewski of his team's play. "I don't know if the moment was so big or we tried to downplay the moment but then obviously, you all being here, and it's in the Garden and it becomes a big thing."

Michigan State attempted 20 more field goals than Duke on the night, but the Blue Devils more than made up for that at the charity stripe as well as beyond the arc. Duke made 30 of 41 free throws while Michigan State was just 13 of 18, with the Spartans committing eight more fouls (29-21). Duke also outscored Michigan State 30-12 from three, and when the Blue Devils are able to reach such an edge it's nearly impossible to beat them.

Keith Appling bounced back from his performance against North Carolina to lead the way with 22 points and Brandon Wood added 15, but an off night from senior Draymond Green was a major factor as well. Green made just four of fifteen shots from the field, finishing with 10 points, seven rebounds and five turnovers. Kelly defensively was a big key for Duke in controlling Green, a happening that you'd be hard-pressed to expect from the junior in either of his prior two seasons in Durham.

"I thought Ryan Kelly did a good job on Green," remarked Krzyzewski. "I think Green is a heck of a player and went 4-15 and had four turnovers and two assists. I thought Ryan was really good in that second half."

Michigan State dominated the glass on Friday in their loss to North Carolina, but they could do no more than out-rebound Duke by one (32-31) on this night. Dawkins was superb for Duke, finishing with a game-high 26 points while Curry added 20 and Kelly 14, and this trio combined to score 16 points in a 17-4 Duke run early in the second half to take control of the game. The Plumlee brothers may have been quiet and Austin Rivers may have made just one of seven shots, but the veteran trio more than made up for those struggles.

The days in leading up to Duke's next game (Davidson) will likely be spent talking about what this record means and what Krzyzewski means to the sport, and there should be little doubt that a "Mount Rushmore" for college basketball would include the West Point grad along with his college coach. But just as important, if not moreso, is the play of Dawkins and Curry on such a stage.

For all the talk about the newcomers in the backcourt, it's pretty obvious that the experienced members will be just as important (if not more) as the Blue Devils embark on life without Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler. Tuesday night provided an impressive message as to their willingness to be the players Duke looks to for big plays. As for Michigan State, they'll grow from this and be a good basketball team as the season wears on. Appling isn't a true point guard right now and freshman Travis Trice is still learning the ropes. These two games offer great lessons to Izzo's team, and they'll be that much better for it.

"We are going to grow from these two games," said Izzo. "A lot people think we are insane but, we are going to get better from it. We played two very good teams and we are competing more and more. Everybody playing together, I think we are going to get better as a team."

Other Notable Happenings

1. UCLA hit a new low in an 86-66 pasting suffered at the hands of Middle Tennessee.
Well, using the logic that since Middle Tennessee beat a Loyola Marymount team that beat UCLA it wasn't a stretch to expect the Blue Raiders to give the Bruins a good run at the L.A. Sports Arena. Well Kermit Davis' team didn't just give UCLA a run for their money...they ran them out of the arena. Middle Tennessee shredded the UCLA defense with an array of backdoor cuts and drive and kicks for open threes while also thoroughly confusing the Bruins by using multiple defenses on their way to an emphatic 20-point win. Middle Tennessee shot a staggering 71% from the field and 91% from three (making their first nine before finally missing one late) with LaRon Dendy leading five players in double figures with 16 points (and 13 rebounds). If Middle Tennessee can build on this performance keep an eye on them in the Sun Belt.

As for UCLA, where do you start? Defense has been one of the core principles for Ben Howland's program during his time in Westwood, but it was nowhere to be found on Tuesday. Frankly UCLA looked to be unprepared to deal with what Middle Tennessee was throwing at them, and they were getting out-hustled to boot. Of course not having Reeves Nelson (suspension) or Anthony Stover (injury) didn't help matters, but that's no excuse for this kind of loss. And for a team that according to some has the best frontcourt in the Pac-12, why would the Bruins shoot 20 three-pointers (making four)? Joshua Smith led the way with 15 points and nine rebounds, but the fact that UCLA has attempted 35 three-pointers in two games (making six) is exactly why they're 0-2. There's no sugar-coating this: UCLA had better figure things out in a hurry with the Maui Invitational on the horizon.

2. Kentucky uses a strong second half to beat Kansas, and they're only going to get better.
Just like Michigan State in the first game of the Champions Classic, Kansas had every opportunity to go into the locker room with a nice advantage on a team that played a poor first half. And just like the Spartans the Jayhawks allowed that opportunity to slip away, tied at 28 with Kentucky at the break. And sure enough John Calipari's young, talented squad made Kansas pay in the second half, going on an 11-0 run and pushing their lead up to as many as 17 points by the 10-minute mark. Kansas would fight back but they didn't have enough horses as Kentucky put the finishing touches on 75-65 win. Doron Lamb led five Wildcats in double figures with 17 points but the talk of the night (especially in the second half) was freshman Anthony Davis, who finished wih 14 points, seven blocks and six rebounds.

The Chicago native's wingspan and skill set are impressive enough to take over games, and he was part of the defensive effort that made things very tough on Kansas forward Thomas Robinson. Robinson rarely got a chance to go one on one in the post, posting a double-double (11 points, 12 rebounds) but making five of twelve shots. Kentucky had its moment of lackadaisical play, turning the ball over 19 times (Marquis Teague had six and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist five), but when they needed to turn it on in the second half they did. Just imagine this young group consistently playing at a high level. That's a scary thought for much of their remaining schedule.

3. Ohio State beats Florida in Columbus, but that doesn't mean that Florida can't take positives out of the game.
Ohio State was able to rebound from Florida scoring eight of the first ten points of the game behind 21 points from William Buford, beating the Gators 81-74 in front of a packed house at Value City Arena. Ohio State led by as many as 16 points in the second half, but Florida fought back and eventually cut the deficit to five in the final minute as they refused to give in. There are other positives that Billy Donovan's team can take out of the defeat as well, beginning with the play of sophomore forward Patric Young. Young scored 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, leading the Gators to a 38-29 edge on the glass despite the presence of Jared Sullinger.

Florida also held a 15-8 advantage in second-chance points, but theses numbers weren't enough to overcome 16 turnovers. Bradley Beal, who led the way with 17 points, turned the ball over five times while fellow guards Erving Walker and Kenny Boynton finished with three apiece. Florida was outscored by 14 points at the foul line but they knocked down 11 of 22 from beyond the arc, and the 14 points scored by Erik Murphy is another encouraging sign. Florida's backcourt prowess is well-known at the early point in the season, but getting 28 points from their starting frontcourt against a Top 5 opponent is something that they should be able to build on.

Quick Hitters

1. While Florida and Kentucky split their games against ranked opponents, neither LSU nor South Carolina did the SEC any favors on the road. LSU visited defending regular season Big South champ Coastal Carolina and left with a 71-63 loss as they were out-rebounded 51-32. Sam McLaurin led the Chanticleers with 16 rebounds. The Gamecocks on the other hand shot 3-for-27 from three in losing 58-53 at Elon. The teams in the bottom half of the SEC are going to need to step up if the conference is to boost its national reputation.

2. There were two impressive road victories in the morning hours of the College Basketball Tipoff Marathon: Drexel pulling away in the second half to whip Rider 80-62 and Kent State winning 70-60 at West Virginia. The Dragons, expected to at the very least contend in the CAA, received 21 points apiece from Samme Givens and Frantz Massenat. Kent State outscored WVU 42-27 in the second half and held the Mountaineers to 36.8% shooting for the game.

3. There are few players hotter than Texas guard J'Covan Brown. Brown scored 35 points to go along with six rebounds, six assists and no turnovers in the Longhorns' 100-90 win over Rhode Island. Brown's averaging 28.0 points, 8.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game on the season with just one turnover through two games.

4. How impressive was Memphis in their 97-81 win over Belmont? Will Barton led three starters with 20 or more points with 23 while Joe Jackson accounted for 20 points, seven assists and four rebounds with just two turnovers. Memphis shot 58.6% from the field while their length and athleticism limited the Bruins to 38.8% shooting.

5. Damian Lillard made just four of sixteen shots in scoring 17 points, but that was OK as Scott Bamforth dropped 28 to lead Weber State to a 73-63 win over Utah State in Ogden. The preseason favorites to win the Big Sky made 12 of 23 shots from beyond the arc and forced 15 Aggie turnovers. Weber State visits BYU on December 7th.

Four Notable Performances

1. G J'Covan Brown (Texas)
35 points, six rebounds, six assists and no turnovers in the Longhorns' 100-90 win over Rhode Island.

2. G Dorenzo Hudson and F Dorian Finney-Smith (Virginia Tech)
Hudson finished with 31 points and five rebounds while Finney-Smith added 14 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals in the Hokies' 78-63 win over FIU.

3. F Josh Davis (Tulane)
Davis spearheaded the Green Wave's 96-50 beating of Nicholls State with 23 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and three blocks.

4. G/F James Nunnally and G/F Orlando Johnson (UCSB)
Nunnally scored 21 points and grabbed four rebounds while Johnson scored 24 to go along with eight rebounds and three assists in the Gauchos' 89-56 win over Santa Clara.

SEC Basketball: 5-Year Ranking

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

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

First Tier

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

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

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

Second Tier

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

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

Wannabees

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

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

Also-Rans

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

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

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

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

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

All 5-Year Rankings.

Poll: Who Will Win the SEC Tournament?

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

SEC News & Notes: Blocks Record, POY, More

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEC Tournament Watch: Who Will Be Dancing?

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

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

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

Here’s the breakdown right now.

Tournament Locks:

Kentucky: 23-1 (8-1 SEC)

RPI: 6

Strength of Schedule: 51

Key wins: Vanderbilt, at Florida, Mississippi

Bad losses: None

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

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

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

RPI: 19

Strength of Schedule: 38

Key wins: Kansas, Mississippi

Bad losses: at USC, at Georgia

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

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

Vanderbilt: 18-5 (7-2 SEC)

RPI: 18

Strength of Schedule: 24

Key wins: Tennessee (2), Florida, Missouri

Bad losses: Western Kentucky, at Georgia

Big games remaining: at Mississippi, Kentucky, at Florida

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

Probably Dancing:

Mississippi: 17-6 (5-4 SEC)

RPI: 39

Strength of Schedule: 52

Key wins: at Kansas State

Bad losses: None

Big games remaining: at Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Florida

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

On the Bubble:

Florida: 17-7 (6-4 SEC)

RPI: 50

Strength of Schedule: 70

Key wins: Michigan State, Florida State

Bad losses: South Alabama

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

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

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

RPI: 71

Strength of Schedule: 126

Key wins: Mississippi

Bad losses: Rider, Western Kentucky

Big games remaining: Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee

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

On the Outside But Have a Chance:

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

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

Arkansas: 13-11 (6-3 SEC)

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

There’s always next year:

Georgia 10-12 (2-7 SEC)

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

Alabama 13-11 (3-7 SEC)

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

Auburn: 12-12 (3-6 SEC)

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

LSU 9-15 (0-10 SEC)

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

Cheerleader of the Day: LSU

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 09:20:58 -0500

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

-- LSU

More Cheerleaders!
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- Check out past Cheerleaders of the Day!

- Also check out the Picture of the Day!

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

SEC to Make Big Impact on 2010 NBA Draft

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

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

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

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

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

John Wall, Kentucky

Key stats: 17. 1 points, 6.9 assists

Draft prediction: Top pick

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

DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky

Key stats: 15.3 points, 9.3 rebounds

Draft prediction: Lottery

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

Scotty Hopson, Tennessee

Key stats: 13. 3 points, 3.7 rebounds

Draft prediction: Late lottery – mid first round

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

Patrick Patterson

Key stats: 16.9 points, 7.9 rebounds

Draft prediction: Late lottery – mid first round

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

Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State

Key stats: 14.1 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.3 blocks

Draft prediction: Mid to late first round

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

Michael Washington, Arkansas

Key stats: 13.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.3 blocks

Draft prediction: Early second round

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

Tasmin Mitchell, LSU

Key stats: 16.9 points, 9.4 rebounds

Draft prediction: Late second round

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

Other notables:

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

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

Players to watch for 2011 Draft

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

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

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

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

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

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