Montana

Saturday Recap: Northwestern, Florida State Pick Up Important Wins

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:06:41 -0500

There weren't many opportunities to watch ranked teams play each other (there was just one, which is discussed below), but Saturday's slate provided many teams the chance to improve their resumes. Florida State and Northwestern took full advantage of their opportunities as they both knocked off Top 10 opponents at home, albeit in different ways.

While #6 Michigan State put up a fight in losing to Northwestern 81-74 in Evanston, #3 North Carolina offered no such challenge for Florida State in Tallahassee. Deividas Dulkys, who entered the game averaging 6.2 points per game, went off to the tune of 32 points (8-10 3PT) in the 90-57 beating.

Roy Williams' team went into the locker room at the half down just eight points at 36-28, but the Tar Heels didn't look like a team that wanted to fight back in the second half. Entering the game Florida State was the worst team in the ACC when it came to taking care of the basketball, but it was North Carolina that turned the ball over 22 times on Saturday with Kendall Marshall tallying seven.

FSU did turn the ball over 17 times but six of those belonged to Luke Loucks, and all six came in the first half. Leonard Hamilton's team didn't shoot better in the second half (47.1% to 50.0% in the first), but they took better care of the basketball (six turnovers). And combining that with their defense (33.3% FG allowed) meant bad things for the visitors from Chapel Hill.

"I think it was a team effort just defending their system," said Hamilton when asked of how they limited Tyler Zeller (14 points, 14 rebounds) and John Henson (ten points, three rebounds). "You just try to limit the clean looks they get and make them work for whatever they get."

As for Northwestern, they received help from the supporting cast and that was a big reason why the Wildcats were able to beat Michigan State. John Shurna (22 points) and Drew Crawford (20 points) did what they normally do, but Davide Curletti and Reggie Hearn (10 points) also reached double figures. As a team the Wildcats shot 50.0% from the field and assisted on 20 of 26 made field goals with just seven turnovers.

Bill Carmody's team also played well defensively in the second half, limiting Michigan State to 34.4% shooting overall and 7-for-21 on two-point shots. Michigan State scored 37 points in both halves, but the drop in their accuracy on two-point shots (61.5%) and efficiency helped Northwestern take control of the game and eventually push their lead out to 12 (69-57) with 6:45 remaining.

Keith Appling scored 17 points and Draymond Green 14, but they were the only two Spartans to reach double figures. Both Northwestern and Florida State were "out of character" in their victories on Saturday, with the Seminoles taking better care of the basketball and the Wildcats getting scoring from guys other than their two primary options. But the wins aren't going to mean much if they can't build on the outcomes and continue to improve.

"In order for this game to be meaningful we need to continue to stacking on these types of games," remarked Hamilton. Can't say it any better than that.

Other Notable Happenings

1. Jamaal Franklin's runner in the final seconds pushes #22 San Diego State past #12 UNLV.
The lone contest on the schedule matching ranked teams was also the Mountain West opener for both the Aztecs and Runnin' Rebels, and they gave the fans either at Viejas Arena or watching on TV a treat. Jamaal Franklin, who had to leave the game with 1:01 remaining after injuring his ankle, returned to the floor 30 seconds later and provided the winning points for San Diego State.

Franklin's driving bucket with three-tenths of a second remaining was the difference in the Aztecs' 69-67 win over UNLV, who remained within striking distance thanks in large part to their work on the offensive glass. UNLV grabbed 19 offensive rebounds, leading to ten second-chance points.

Franklin was outstanding despite some early issues with rushed shots, finishing with 24 points and ten rebounds. But he wasn't the only key contributor for Steve Fisher's team, as James Rahon scored 22 points and Chase Tapley 11. Anthony Marshall led UNLV with 26 points, but he was the Runnin' Rebels' lone double figure scorer as SDSU did a solid job of defending the likes of Chace Stanback (3-9 FG, seven points) and Mike Moser (3-11 FG, nine points, 11 rebounds).

UNLV entered the game averaging more than 18 assists per game but they finished with just nine, and the foul line didn't help matters either. UNLV made 11 of 21 from the charity stripe while SDSU knocked down 16 of 20, and leaving points at the foul line is one of the easiest ways to lose a close contest. With New Mexico getting their shot at both teams next week (SDSU in Albuquerque on Wednesday, at UNLV on Saturday) there isn't much time to rest on this outcome, but at the very least San Diego State held serve at home.

2. Oregon hangs on the beat Arizona, pulling off the road sweep of the Arizona schools for the first time in 34 years.
Dana Altman's team entered Saturday's game in Tucson needing a win to remain a game out of first place in the loss column, but to say the least history was not on their side as they hadn't beaten both Arizona and Arizona State on the road in the same season in 34 years. But thanks to a balanced offensive effort (four players scored either 12 or 13 points) the Ducks made program history in winning 59-57 despite blowing a 17-point lead. The Wildcats had two chances in the waning moments to either tie or win the game but couldn't make either shot, and quiet afternoons from Jesse Perry (2-4 FG, eight points) and Kyle Fogg (1-9 FG, five points) didn't help matters either.

Arizona's had trouble with bigger teams this season, and that was no different with the Ducks having Tony Woods and Olu Ashaolu to pester Perry inside. Does Oregon have enough to contend for the Pac-12 crown? The addition of guard Devoe Joseph is one reason why, and E.J. Singler has played well for much of the season. In a wide-open league the teams that can pull off road sweeps will likely have the best chance of winning the title. This is a big weekend for Oregon from a historical standpoint, but how big it is this season depends on whether or not they can build on the positive momentum.

3. Kentucky makes the plays they needed to make late to win at Tennessee.
Cuonzo Martin welcomed freshman Jarnell Stokes (nine points, four rebounds) into the fold on Saturday, and while he still has a way to go with regards to both conditioning and understanding the system there's no denying Stokes' talent. In spite of a fired up crowd at Thompson-Boling Arena and a team that refused to lie down, Kentucky found a way to leave Knoxville with a win thanks in large part to Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. It's become obvious that the freshman is Kentucky's leader and he once again made the "winning plays" needed to close teams out, finishing with 17 points, 12 rebounds and three steals in the 65-62 win.

Anthony Davis added 18 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots and Terrence Jones ten points as Kentucky won their second conference road game of the season. That matches their total from all of last season, which should be a good sign for John Calipari's young team. Cameron Tatum led Tennessee with 16 points and Jeronne Maymon added 15 and ten rebounds, but the Volunteers couldn't overcome Kentucky's seven-point edge (21-14) at the foul line. Tennessee gave Kentucky everything they wanted and will get better as the season wears on, but a team with a glue guy the caliber of Kidd-Gilchrist is tough to beat.

4. Weber State makes quite the statement in whipping Montana to take sole possession of first place in the Big Sky.
The second-biggest game of the day out west took place in the Big Sky, with Montana and Weber State being the lone remaining undefeated teams in the conference. But with the return of two key cogs in the attack, Randy Rahe's Wildcats made a statement in their 80-64 win over the Grizzlies in Ogden. Damian Lillard (21 points) and Scott Bamforth (15 points) are names known by most college basketball fans, but what about Frank Otis and Gelaun Wheelwright? Otis, who like Kyle Bullinger missed multiple games due to injury, sparked a Weber State run from the eight-minute mark of the first half that resulted in a 49-36 halftime lead.

Both he and Wheelwright finished with seven points and Kyle Tresnak scored 12 as the Wildcats proved to be too much for Montana on both ends of the floor. Montana shot just 35.7% in the first half and 38.5% for the game as their six-game win streak came to an end. There's a lot of basketball to be played before Wayne Tinkle's team gets another shot at Weber State (the regular season finale for both on February 28th), but Weber State's performance on Saturday night clearly makes them the team to beat.

5. Oklahoma picks up a much-needed win, knocking off #18 Kansas State in Norman.
There aren't many teams that are going to beat Missouri and Kansas period, much less in back-to-back games, so there wasn't much shame in falling to those teams as Lon Kruger's Sooners did to start Big 12 play. But to lose at Oklahoma State on Monday night to fall to 0-3 made Saturday's game against #18 Kansas State even more important, and the Sooners rose to the challenge as they won 82-73 in Norman. Andrew Fitzgerald scored 21 points and Steven Pledger and Romero Osby scored 18 apiece for Oklahoma, who shot 70.0% from the field in the second half to maintain the nine-point spread they built in the first half.

Kansas State shot just 33.3% from the field in the first half and trailed 38-29 at the break, and a big problem for them was the lack of productivity from their starters other than Rodney McGruder (19 points, ten rebounds) and Will Spradling (11 points). The other three starters combined to score just ten points with nine coming from Jamar Samuels, and while Nino Williams and Jeremy Jones scored 12 apiece off the bench it wasn't enough as the Wildcats were unable to get stops in the second half. Whether or not the Sooners can make a run at a tournament bid remains to be seen and it will be tough since the Big 12 is now a true round-robin, but at the least they needed a win Saturday and they got one.

Quick Hitters

1. While neither team won on Saturday, both Pittsburgh and Villanova played far better than they did on Wednesday in losses to Rutgers and Syracuse respectively. The Panthers fell at #24 Marquette 62-57, but the move to put Isaiah Epps in the starting lineup at the point served as a boost for Ashton Gibbs (29 points). As for Villanova, Maalik Wayns (39 points, 13 rebounds, six assists) was outstanding but it wasn't enough in an 82-78 loss at Cincinnati. Whether or not these two can play their way into NCAA Tournament consideration remains to be seen, but at the least they've shown signs of life. That wasn't the case on Wednesday.

2. There may not have been a more impressive bounce-back from a bad outing earlier in the week than what Iowa was able to do, as they beat #13 Michigan 75-59 in Iowa City following a 95-61 loss at Michigan State on Wednesday. Matt Gatens led four Hawkeyes in double figures with 19 points and Fran McCaffery's team assisted on 18 of their 25 made baskets. It also didn't hurt to have Michigan shoot 8-for-31 from beyond the arc.

3. Good luck attempting to handicap the Atlantic 10 race, but unlike the Pac-12 that action would be to sift through quality options as opposed to detritus. Xavier looks to be back to their normal selves as they beat St. Bonaventure 77-64 at home, and Saint Louis was finally able to win a close game as they won 68-67 at Charlotte. But Temple and Saint Joseph's weren't as fortunate, falling to Richmond (76-65) and a surprising UMass (71-62) respectively. This is going to be a fun race to watch unfold.

4. Another non-BCS race to keep an eye on is the NEC, which currently has one undefeated team (LIU Brooklyn at 6-0), three teams at 5-1 (CCSU, St. Francis (NY) and Wagner) and Robert Morris sits a game behind those teams at 4-2. Dan Hurley's Seahawks beat CCSU 67-58 at home despite 21 turnovers, moving their win streak to seven games (Wagner hadn't done that since the 1979-80 season) thanks in large part to their defense (19 TOs forced, 38.8% FG allowed). Jonathon Williams led Wagner with 18 points while CCSU was paced by Robby Ptacek, who finished with 26.

5. The three remaining undefeated teams (Baylor, Murray State and Syracuse) all won on Saturday afternoon, with the Bears and Orange both blowing out overmatched opponents (Baylor beat Oklahoma State 106-65 while Syracuse beat Providence (without the suspended Vincent Council) 78-55). Murray State dealt with a stiffer challenge, beating Tennessee Tech 82-74 thanks in large part to a combined 52 points from guards Donte Poole (28) and Isaiah Canaan (24). With Ivan Aska out for the next month or so while his broken hand heals, the Racers are going to need more from their frontcourt to remain atop the OVC.

6. Zeke Marshall (17 points, six rebounds) became the 8th player in MAC history to block at least 200 shots in a career, but the biggest reason for Akron's 68-63 win over Ohio was the production of their bench. Nick Harney and Brett McClanahan scored 10 points apiece and the Zips' reserves outscored Ohio's 31-18. Keith Dambrot's team moved to 3-0 in league play and there's little doubt that Akron has the tools needed to return to the NCAA Tournament.

7. Arnett Moultrie won the individual matchup between he and JaMychal Green, scoring 25 points and grabbing 13 rebounds, and as a result #20 Mississippi State beat Alabama 53-50 in Starkville. Dee Bost added 17, and it should be seen as a good sign for Rick Stansbury's team that they found a way to win with starters Rodney Hood and Jalen Steele combining to shoot 0-for-11 from the field.

8. Despite Shabazz Napier's foot still bothering him and guard Ryan Boatright being held out due to eligibility concerns, #16 Connecticut ended Notre Dame's 29-game home win streak with a 67-53 win. Napier scored a team-high 16 points, Alex Oriakhi had arguably his best game of the season (12 points, seven rebounds) and Andre Drummond posted another double-double (10 points, 13 rebounds) to make up for Jeremy Lamb scoring just six points. Eric Atkins scored 20 but Notre Dame made just 32.3% of their shots on the day.

9. Early pick for Ivy League Player of the Year? Has to be Penn guard Zack Rosen, who scored 18 points and dished out five assists (five steals as well) in the Quakers' 64-52 win at Cornell. Penn's off to a 2-0 start in conference play, and while there's quite the gulf between Harvard and the rest of the league Rosen and Tyler Bernardini (18 points, eight rebounds) are two reasons why Jerome Allen's team may be their biggest threat.

10. Bob McKillop's Davidson squad took control of the South Division of the SoCon with their 83-79 win at Appalachian State, moving to 6-0 in league play. Jake Cohen scored 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds and De'Mon Brooks scored seven straight during a 10-0 run to move the Wildcats to 12-4 overall. And with Georgia Southern losing at Wofford, Davidson is two games up on the second place Eagles.

Five Notable Performances

1. G Maalik Wayns (Villanova)
39 points, 13 rebounds and six assists in the Wildcats' 82-78 loss at Cincinnati.

2. G Deividas Dulkys (Florida State)
32 points (8-10 3PT) and four assists in the Seminoles' 90-57 pasting of #3 North Carolina.

3. C Kyle O'Quinn (Norfolk State) and F Dewayne Jackson (Morgan State)
In Norfolk State's 90-89 double overtime win O'Quinn posted a line of 25 points, 12 rebounds and seven blocks while Jackson led the Bears with 33 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks.

4. G J'Covan Brown (Texas)
34 points (10-16 FG), four rebounds and two assists in the Longhorns' 84-73 loss at #9 Missouri.

5. F T.J. Robinson (Long Beach State)
14 points and 19 rebounds in the 49ers' 76-66 win over Pacific, Long Beach State's 17th straight win at home.

#22 San Diego State vs. #12 UNLV: Saturday's Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:25:01 -0500

The Mountain West, similar to the Ivy League and Great West, had to start conference play later than other conferences due to the fact that they've got just eight members. Saturday marks the beginning of conference play and there are two key games to keep an eye on, most notably #22 San Diego State (14-2) hosting #12 UNLV (16-2) in the day's lone matchup of ranked teams.

Both teams have some quality wins on their schedules but the extra week to schedule non-conference games hurt the strength of schedule numbers for both teams, so getting into league play should give the Runnin' Rebels and Aztecs the boost they need to ensure good seeds in the NCAA Tournament provided they take care of business.

Steve Fisher's team was thought to be a clear third option to win the Mountain West behind UNLV and New Mexico due to the four starters lost from last year's Sweet 16 team. But thanks in large part to their backcourt the Aztecs have exceeded expectations thus far. Chase Tapley (17.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg), San Diego State's lone returning starter, has adjusted well to being the primary scoring option as he's shooting 52.6% from the field and 50.0% from three.

In addition to Tapley there's Jamaal Franklin (15.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg), Xavier Thames (11.4 ppg, 5.5 apg, 3.7 rpg) and James Rahon (10.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg) to contend with, and these guards for the most part are good at creating their own offense (SDSU assists on just 49.4% of their made baskets).

UNLV's got some very good perimeter players as well, with Anthony Marshall (10.6 ppg, 4.9 apg, 4.3 rpg) and Oscar Bellfield (9.6 ppg, 5.3 apg) being the players most likely to initiate the offense for Dave Rice. In addition to their offensive skills both are good defenders and Marshall is also a prolific athlete who can finish above the rim.

And sixth man Justin Hawkins (9.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg) doesn't receive the pub that the majority of the other Rebels do but he's a good basketball player who would start for many teams. And on the wing the Rebels have senior Chace Stanback (14.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg), who has raised his scoring average and shooting percentages in his final campaign.

Both teams boast a great deal of talent on the perimeter, but the outcome may depend on what the interior players provide. UNLV's got the advantage with regards to size but San Diego State's big men have done a good job of simply doing what's needed instead of trying to do what Kawhi Leonard, Billy White and Malcolm Thomas did last year.

Tim Shelton (4.1 rpg) has been around for quite some time and his savvy makes him a valuable defender despite knees that have been an issue throughout his collegiate career. LSU transfer Garrett Green (7.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg) leads the team in rebounding while Deshawn Stephens (6.3 rpg, 5.9 rpg) isn't far behind.

UNLV also works as a committee inside, with Brice Massamba (5.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg) being the starter while Quintrell Thomas (5.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg) and Carlos Lopez (7.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg) come off the bench. Those three are called on for rebounding and defense, while at the "4" the Rebels have one of the nation's most productive transfers in Mike Moser.

Moser (14.2 ppg, 11.1 rpg) was outstanding early in the season as teams failed to come up with an answer for the versatile UCLA transfer, and he's remained a solid bet for a double-double as the year's worn on. With both teams having rebounding margins around a plus-3, Moser may be the difference on the glass in spite of SDSU's ability to hit the offensive boards.

With rebounding about even, the way in which UNLV scores their points will be something to watch on Saturday afternoon. UNLV averages 18.8 assists per game, assisting on 65% of their made baskets. The Rebels have players who can create on their own, but the offense runs better when they're able to create for each other. If SDSU can limit the drive and kick situations that result in UNLV scoring 31% of their points from beyond the arc, "The Show" and the other fans at Viejas Arena have a good chance of going home happy.

Also in the Mountain West on Saturday is New Mexico's trip to Laramie to take on a Wyoming squad that's surprised folks in Larry Shyatt's first season (second stint) at the helm. Drew Gordon and Kendall Williams have played much better over the last month than they did at the beginning of the year, and sophomore Tony Snell hasn't received as much credit as he should for his play throughout the year. Senior Adam Waddell has been a good frontcourt option for the Cowboys, who have improved a great deal on the defensive end since last season.

Florida State has a great opportunity to boost their profile on the heels of a win over Virginia Tech as they host #3 North Carolina. The Seminoles aren't a terrible shooting team as many would lead you to believe. The problem for Leonard Hamilton's team is that they don't take care of the basketball, boasting a turnover rate of around 26%. Giving up too many opportunities to Kendall Marshall and company could result in a blowout if FSU isn't smart with the ball.

Northwestern finds themselves in a similar position as they host red-hot #7 Michigan State and Iowa State visits #10 Kansas with forwards Royce White (ISU) and Thomas Robinson (Kansas) being the marquee attractions. In the Big East, Pittsburgh needs a win at #24 Marquette to avoid their first 0-5 start in conference play since the 1999-2000 season. Tray Woodall's still out due to injury, meaning that players such as John Johnson and Lamar Patterson need to step up and help out Ashton Gibbs.

#16 Connecticut will be without the services of freshman guard Ryan Boatright, who is being held out due to the NCAA looking into possible extra benefits received in high school, as they look to beat Notre Dame in South Bend. The Fighting Irish, led by sophomore point guard Eric Atkins, has won the last three games in the series and have the ability to make it four if the Huskies aren't ready to go from the start.

And even with the great number of games on television a contest that will only be available online will rank among the best games out west. Montana visits Weber State in the first meeting of the two favorites to win the Big Sky this season, and the Grizzlies have the talent to make things tough on the Wildcats despite the presence of Damian Lillard. Kareem Jamar is one of Montana's key players on the perimeter while Derek Selvig is an important piece inside. And there's also a meeting of contenders in the MAC as Ohio visits Akron, with two POY candidates (Ohio guard D.J. Cooper and Akron center Zeke Marshall) on display.

Top 25 Games
6:00 PM Providence at (1) Syracuse (ESPN3)
12:00 PM (2) Kentucky at Tennessee (ESPN)
2:00 PM (3) North Carolina at Florida State (ESPN)
3:00 PM Oklahoma State at (4) Baylor (ESPN2)
3:00 PM (7) Michigan State at Northwestern (BTN)
1:00 PM Texas at (9) Missouri (ESPN2)
4:00 PM Iowa State at (10) Kansas (ESPN3)
4:00 PM (12) UNLV at (22) San Diego State (NBC SN)
1:00 PM (13) Michigan at Iowa (BTN)
6:00 PM Tennessee Tech at (14) Murray State (ESPNU)
4:00 PM DePaul at (15) Louisville (ESPN3)
11:00 AM (16) Connecticut at Notre Dame (ESPN2)
1:30 PM (18) Kansas State at Oklahoma (ESPN3)
7:00 PM (19) Florida at South Carolina (ESPN3)
4:00 PM Alabama at (20) Mississippi State (ESPN3)
8:00 PM (23) Gonzaga at Loyola Marymount (ROOT NW)
2:00 PM Pittsburgh at (24) Marquette (ESPNU)
2:00 PM George Washington at (25) Harvard

NCAA Division I Games
12:00 PM Stony Brook at Boston University (ESPN3)
12:00 PM Hofstra at Old Dominion (MSG)
12:00 PM Villanova at Cincinnati (ESPN3)
12:00 PM St. Bonaventure at Xavier (ESPNU)
1:00 PM William & Mary at Northeastern
1:00 PM Bryant University at Mount St. Mary's
1:00 PM Tulsa at East Carolina
1:00 PM NC State at Wake Forest (ESPN3)
1:00 PM Bucknell at Lafayette
1:00 PM Gardner-Webb at Campbell
1:30 PM Ole Miss at Auburn (ESPN3)
1:45 PM Texas Tech at Texas A&M (ESPN3)
2:00 PM Brown at Yale
2:00 PM Holy Cross at American
2:00 PM Longwood at Dartmouth
2:00 PM Duquesne at Rhode Island
2:00 PM Rutgers at West Virginia (ESPN3)
2:00 PM Davidson at Appalachian State
2:00 PM Eastern Michigan at Ball State
2:00 PM Lehigh at Colgate
2:00 PM Towson at Georgia State
2:00 PM Saint Louis at Charlotte (CBS SN)
2:00 PM Sam Houston State at Nicholls State
2:00 PM Central Arkansas at Northwestern State
2:00 PM UAB at Southern Miss (FSN)
2:00 PM Toledo at Western Michigan
2:00 PM Furman at Western Carolina
2:00 PM Wright State at Green Bay (ESPN3)
2:00 PM SUNY-Cobleskill at NJIT
2:30 PM Army at Navy (CBS SN)
3:00 PM Virginia Tech at Boston College (ESPN3)
3:00 PM Vermont at New Hampshire
3:00 PM Texas-Arlington at Lamar
3:00 PM Howard at North Carolina A&T
3:00 PM Chattanooga at Samford
3:30 PM Oregon at Arizona (CBS)
3:30 PM East Tennessee State at Jacksonville
3:30 PM New Mexico at Wyoming (The Mtn.)
4:00 PM Colorado at Stanford (FSN)
4:00 PM VCU at Delaware (TCN)
4:00 PM Loyola (IL) at Illinois-Chicago (ESPN3)
4:00 PM Saint Joseph's at Massachusetts
4:00 PM Elon at Charleston (ESPN3)
4:00 PM Georgia at Vanderbilt (ESPN3)
4:00 PM Ohio at Akron (ESPNU)
4:00 PM Southern University at Arkansas-Pine Bluff
4:00 PM South Carolina State at Bethune-Cookman
4:00 PM Hampton at Coppin State
4:00 PM Norfolk State at Morgan State
4:00 PM Quinnipiac at Saint Francis (PA)
4:30 PM Presbyterian at Coastal Carolina
4:30 PM Monmouth at LIU Brooklyn
4:30 PM Central Michigan at Northern Illinois
4:30 PM Pepperdine at San Francisco (CSN CA)
4:30 PM Fairleigh Dickinson at St. Francis (NY)
5:00 PM McNeese State at Texas State
5:00 PM North Texas at Louisiana-Monroe
6:00 PM Air Force at Boise State (The Mtn.)
6:00 PM Buffalo at Miami (OH) (ESPN3)
6:00 PM Alcorn State at Mississippi Valley State
6:05 PM Eastern Washington at Northern Colorado (Altitude)
6:30 PM Savannah State at Florida A&M
6:30 PM Alabama A&M at Alabama State
6:30 PM Prairie View A&M at Jackson State
6:30 PM Texas Southern at Grambling State
7:00 PM Oral Roberts at IUPUI
7:00 PM Princeton at Columbia
7:00 PM Pennsylvania at Cornell
7:00 PM George Mason at James Madison (CSN)
7:00 PM Temple at Richmond (CBS SN)
7:00 PM UCF at Marshall
7:00 PM Drexel at UNC Wilmington
7:00 PM Maine at Albany
7:00 PM La Salle at Dayton
7:00 PM Middle Tennessee at Florida Atlantic
7:00 PM UNC-Asheville at High Point
7:00 PM Bowling Green at Kent State
7:00 PM Winthrop at Liberty (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Siena at Manhattan (ESPN3)
7:00 PM USC Upstate at North Florida
7:00 PM Sacred Heart at Robert Morris
7:00 PM Texas A&M-CC at Southeastern Louisiana
7:00 PM UTSA at Stephen F. Austin
7:00 PM Central Connecticut State at Wagner
7:00 PM Georgia Southern at Wofford
7:00 PM Oakland at IPFW
7:05 PM Pacific at Long Beach State (FSN PT)
7:05 PM UNC Greensboro at Citadel
7:30 PM Florida Gulf Coast at Lipscomb
7:30 PM Maryland-Eastern Shore at Delaware State
7:45 PM Eastern Kentucky at Morehead State
8:00 PM Oregon State at Arizona State (FSN AZ)
8:00 PM Santa Clara at BYU (ESPNU)
8:00 PM Detroit at Milwaukee (ESPN3)
8:00 PM Rice at Tulane (LHN)
8:00 PM Radford at VMI (MASN)
8:00 PM Southern Utah at Western Illinois
8:05 PM Arkansas-Little Rock at Arkansas State
8:15 PM Stetson at Belmont
8:30 PM Florida International at Louisiana-Lafayette
8:30 PM South Dakota at North Dakota State (ESPN3)
8:30 PM UMKC at South Dakota State
8:35 PM Montana State at Northern Arizona (NAU TV)
8:45 PM Jacksonville State at Austin Peay
9:00 PM LSU at Arkansas (ESPN3)
9:00 PM TCU at Colorado State (The Mtn.)
9:00 PM Idaho at New Mexico State (ESPN3)
9:00 PM Memphis at Houston (CBS SN)
9:00 PM Eastern Illinois at Southeast Missouri State
9:00 PM SIU-Edwardsville at Tennessee State
9:00 PM SMU at UTEP
9:00 PM South Alabama at Troy (ESPN3)
9:00 PM Montana at Weber State
9:30 PM Utah State at Louisiana Tech
10:00 PM Cal Poly at UC Riverside
10:00 PM San Jose State at Fresno State
10:00 PM Hawaii at Nevada
10:00 PM UC Irvine at UC Santa Barbara
10:00 PM Cal State Fullerton at Cal State Bakersfield
10:05 PM Idaho State at Sacramento State
10:05 PM UC Davis at Cal State Northridge
10:30 PM Utah at California (CSN CA)
11:00 PM Portland at Saint Mary's (CSN BAY)

Thursday Recap: Virginia Falls Short at Duke

Raphielle Johnson — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 02:04:00 -0500

Thursday was a big night for the Virginia Cavaliers as they were looking for their first win at Duke since 1995, and a victory over the sixth-ranked Blue Devils would raise their ceiling even higher.

Despite shooting 0-for-11 from three in the second half Tony Bennett's team still had two chances to send the game into overtime, but neither fell and the Blue Devils hung on to win 61-58. On a night that Duke shot 5-for-20 from three against the ACC's best when it comes to defending the bonus shot the Blue Devils needed a group effort to move their home win streak to 44 games.

Mason Plumlee scored 12 points to lead four players in double figures, and he could have scored more if not for a 2-for-10 outing at the foul line. Duke finished the game with a field goal percentage of 52.2%, as making 73.0% of their two-point attempts made up for the poor perimeter shooting. With their outside shots not falling Duke needed to clamp down on defense, and they did just that as two Virginia starters (Jontel Evans and Sammy Zeglinski) failed to score a single point.

"I also thought it was by far the best defensive game that Andre Dawkins has ever played," said Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski of his junior guard's defensive contribution. "Everyone talks about his shooting, but he really played well defensively. And we did a good job against Zeglinski and Harris...we were able to at least limit Harris and we were fortunate we shut down Zeglinski."

The one player Duke didn't have an answer for was forward Mike Scott, who scored a game-high 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds in a losing effort. Virginia had the pace they preferred, playing a 59-possession game on the road against an opponent that averages 70 possessions/game, and they did a good job of limiting the open looks for Duke's prolific shooters.

That's definitely something the Cavaliers can build on in the days leading up to their game at Georgia Tech next Thursday. Coach Bennett and his team certainly shouldn't be in the business of claiming moral victories but if anything Virginia showed that, in addition to their own growth as a program, there's a sizeable gap between the top three and the rest of the ACC.

"Tonight, it could have been the same situation, and I thought they got a little tougher and stingier defensively," said Bennett when asked to compare this season's meeting to last year's (76-60 Duke win). "That got us back on track. Then we made some baskets. That is why we at least had some chances at the end to send it into overtime."

Other Notable Happenings

1. Wisconsin jumps out to a big lead and picks up a much-needed win at Purdue.
Slow starts had been a problem in recent games for Bo Ryan's team leading up to their game in West Lafayette, and with a 1-3 record in Big Ten play Wisconsin needed to figure out a solution. Instead of the usual methodical pace the Badgers found (and made) quick looks from beyond the arc in their swing offense to take control of the game, scoring 22 of the first 26 points before holding on in the second half to win 67-62. Five players reached double figures for the Badgers but the biggest surprise had to be senior Mike Bruesewitz, a glue guy who knocked down all four of this three-point attempts and scored 12 points.

Terone Johnson led Purdue with 16 points off the bench and Robbie Hummel added 13, but with Lewis Jackson not 100% physically and other options struggling from the field the Boilermakers didn't have enough to overcome the hole they dug for themselves early. As a team Purdue made just 35.1% of their two-point shots, a far cry from their mark for the season (49.4%), and that's a testament to Wisconsin's defense and not just Purdue's inability to make shots. In order to get back on track Wisconsin looked for scoring opportunities earlier in their sets to start the game, and that proved to be the difference.

"We gave them respect and talked about not giving them 'rhythm shots' and I think they got too many 'rhythm shots' and got their head up early," remarked Purdue head coach Matt Painter after the game.

2. Saint Mary's whips Gonzaga to go 2-0 against the other WCC contenders at home.
Saint Mary's early WCC schedule can be summed up by using the title of Jay-Z's "Blueprint 2" album. "The Gift" was getting to host both BYU and Gonzaga early in league play. The key for Randy Bennett's team is to make sure that having to play both teams on the road in the second half of the season season doesn't turn out to be "The Curse". The Gaels controlled the Bulldogs in the second half on Thursday night, pushing their lead out to as many as 24 after leading 37-32 just over a minute into the half. Saint Mary's won 83-62 despite forward Rob Jones not scoring until 1:39 remaining in the game, but he made up for the lack of scoring by grabbing 11 rebounds and racking up eight assists.

A big reason why Saint Mary's was able to pull away in spite of Jones' lack of scoring was the play of forward Brad Waldow, who posted his first career double-double with 17 points and ten rebounds. And with Gonzaga's Robert Sacre making just one of seven shots and scoring four points, the visitors from Spokane couldn't take advantage. Matthew Dellavedova, who like Seton Hall's Jordan Theodore continues to make the Cousy Award selection committee look siily for leaving him off the finalists list, scored a game-high 26 points and dished out six assists while Stephen Holt added 15 and six assists. But essentially the Gaels held serve in the three-team race for the WCC crown with the two home wins. Whether or not Saint Mary's can take this show on the road will determine whether or not they end up on top at the end of the season.

3. Drexel ends George Mason's 18-game regular season conference win streak.
After wins over Old Dominion and Georgia State, Paul Hewitt's Patriots entered Thursday's matchup with Drexel full of confidence and rightfully so as George Mason had won 18 straight regular season CAA games. But thanks in large part to a freshman who had made five of his last fifteen field goals, the Dragons snapped Mason's streak and forced a three-way tie for first place in the CAA. Damion Lee made eight of his fourteen shots and scored a game-high 21 points (16 in the second half), picking up the slack for Drexel as fellow starters Frantz Massenat (4-18 FG, 12 points) and Derrick Thomas (2-9 FG, eight points) struggled from the field.

What also helped Drexel was their effort on the defensive end, as they harassed Ryan Pearson and Vertail Vaughns into a combined 2-for-16 night from the field. What also didn't help George Mason were their turnovers, more specifically Drexel's ability to take advantage of the Patriots' miscues. George Mason turned the ball over just ten times (Drexel finished with nine turnovers), but the Dragons scored 16 points off of those turnovers compared to six for the visitors. Drexel also won the battle on the boards (41-30), grabbing 18 offensive rebounds and while they didn't cash those in at a great clip (11 second-chance points) those extra shots can make the difference when shooting just 36.2%. Lee's second half will stick out however and rightfully so, as his outburst not only tightened things up at the top of the CAA but kept Drexel in the discussion.

Quick Hitters

1. Virginia wasn't the only team to show well on the road in defeat. Colorado did the same, and their 57-50 loss at California was closer than the final margin would indicate. Tad Boyle's team leads the Pac-12 in scoring defense, and Carlon Brown has done a much better job of picking his spots over the last month. And in forward Andre Roberson, who leads the conference in rebounding and accounted for 11 points and 14 rebounds on Thursday, Colorado's got one of the nation's most underrated players.

2. Minnesota picked up their first Big Ten win of the season at Indiana of all places, beating the Hoosiers 77-74. Austin Hollins led the Golden Gophers with 18 points, and they did just enough late to hold off an Indiana team that refused to quit. Indiana's problem: they made just four of eighteen shots from three on the night, a far cry from their percentage for the season (45.9%).

3. Saturday's showdown in the Big Sky will feature teams undefeated in league play as Montana (4-0) and Weber State (5-0) took care of business against Northern Arizona and Montana State respectively. Scott Bamforth scored 20 points in Weber State's 63-49 win over Montana State while Kareem Jamar led three Montana starters in double figures with 15 points (and seven rebounds) in the Grizzlies' 78-53 win at NAU.

4. It was a struggle but Oral Roberts found a way to remain undefeated in Summit League play, moving to 7-0 with a 71-70 double overtime win at Western Illinois. Dominique Morrison played all 50 minutes and scored a game-high 27 points and Steven Roundtree added 12 off the bench for the Golden Eagles.

5. UNC Asheville came back from a 12-point halftime deficit at Campbell to beat the Camels 89-82 and move to 6-0 in the Big South. Jeremy Atkinson was the catalyst as he scored 19 of his 22 points in the second half. Matt Dickey chipped in with 19 points and ten rebounds, J.P. Primm scored 18 and sixth man Jaron Lane added 13 off the bench.

6. The comeback of the day, and possibly of the season to date, happened in New Rochelle as Manhattan stormed back from 17 down with less than eight minutes remaining to beat rival Iona 75-72. Emmy Andujar's turnaround three as time expired was the difference, but don't discount the effort of Rhamel Brown (17 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks) either. Steve Masiello's surprising Jaspers are now just a game out of first place in the MAAC, and this result also makes Friday's game between Loyola (MD) and Fairfield even more important.

7. Quinnipiac picked up a much-needed win as they beat Robert Morris in Moon Township 78-76 to move to 2-3 in the NEC. With just the top eight teams qualifying for the conference tournament Tom Moore's team needed a win, and thanks to 22 points from James Johnson and 18 from Dave Johnson (no relation) the mission was accomplished.

8. Yes things got heated during overtime in Arizona's 91-83 win over Oregon State, with OSU's Joe Burton and Arizona's Kyryl Natyazhko being ejected for leaving their respective bench areas. But no punches were thrown during an interaction that featured more jawing than anything else thanks to quick-acting coaches and officials. Instead the focus should be on the fact that Craig Robinson's team dropped to 1-4 in conference play, and anything less than a split of the weekend (they visit Arizona State on Saturday) would be the end of the Beavers' title hopes despite the wide-open nature of the conference.

Three Notable Performances

1. G Phil Martin (UC Riverside)
Long Beach State has sole possession of first place in the Big West and Martin's a big reason why. Martin scored 33 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the Highlanders' 79-70 overtime win over UCSB.

2. C Vander Joaquim (Hawaii)
23 points (9-11 FG), 16 rebounds and three blocked shots in the Warriors' 74-68 overtime win at Fresno State.

3. C John Fraley (Austin Peay)
25 points (10-12 FG) and 12 rebounds in the Governors' 80-65 win over Eastern Kentucky.

Thirty-Two Regular Season Champions, Part One

Raphielle Johnson — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 01:04:40 -0400

With the college basketball season finally on the horizon, the game that's been overlooked by many in conference realignment will once again have the center stage. Perennial contenders will once again make a run at a national title while some new faces will pop up as well. The first four-part preview will focus on the conferences, and more specifically who will win each of the 32 leagues.

America East: Albany
There were some important coaching changes in America East this offseason, with Patrick Chambers leaving the defending conference tournament champs (Boston University) to take over Penn State and Mike Lonergan leaving regular season champ Vermont for George Washington. While both teams, along with tournament finalist Stony Brook, return some key pieces the Great Danes of Albany return four starters. Tim Ambrose departs but Third Team All-America East performers Logan Aronhalt (14.6 ppg) and Mike Black (12.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.9 apg) return as does All-Rookie Team member Luke Devlin (7.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg). In a tight race throughout league play, look for Will Brown's team to win the title.

Atlantic 10: Xavier
In the A-10 it's tough to pick against Chris Mack's Musketeers, who have won at least a share of the last five regular season titles. Point guard Tu Holloway (19.7 ppg, 5.9 apg) was a Third Team All-America selection last season and the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, and he'll have help on the perimeter from Mark Lyons (13.6 ppg) and sharpshooter Brad Redford, who missed all of last season due to a torn ACL. Kenny Frease (suspended indefinitely on Friday; Xavier hopes that he'll return at some point) and transfers Travis Taylor (Monmouth) and Andre Walker (Vanderbilt) will handle things inside, and freshmen Dezmine Wells and Justin Martin will also factor into the rotation. Their biggest challenger will likely be Temple, but the Musketeers look poised to run their streak to six.

ACC: North Carolina
The moment Roy Williams' talented cast decided to return to Chapel Hill the bar was set: anything less than a national title would be a disappointment. Harrison Barnes (15.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg) , John Henson (11.7 ppg, 10.1 rpg) and Tyler Zeller (15.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg) all return along with point guard Kendall Marshall (6.2 ppg, 6.2 apg), and the Heels' talent and depth make them the early favorite to win it all. All five starters and some key reserves return in addition to a talented recruiting class led by P.J. Hairston, Desmond Hubert and James Michael McAdoo. Duke and Florida State look to be the teams with the best ability to make a run at the top, but Carolina's the head of the class right now.

Atlantic Sun: Belmont
2010-11 was supposed to shape up as a "they're a year away" kind of campaign for Rick Byrd's Bruins. All Belmont did in response was go 30-5 overall with a 19-1 record in conference play. Four starters and ten letterwinners from last season return for Belmont, including forwards Mick Hedgepeth (10.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg) and Scott Saunders (9.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and guard Drew Hanlen (6.4 ppg, 4.0 apg). Hanlen and the rest of the backcourt will have to make up for the losses of Jon House and Jordan Campbell but they've got more than enough tools to do so. And if Belmont can get back to the Big Dance and get a favorable matchup style-wise, look out.

Big East: Syracuse
The Big East produced its first national champion since 2004 last season, and the fact that a team that tied for ninth (Connecticut) was the one to do it surprised many. That goes to show how tough the league can be on a nightly basis, so even though many see four teams (UConn, Louisville, Pittsburgh and Syracuse) separate from the pack in October things can change by March. The pick here is Syracuse, with Jim Boeheim returning many talented pieces in addition to welcoming in a highly-touted recruiting class led by forward Rakeem Christmas. Seniors Kris Joseph (14.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and Scoop Jardine (12.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg) will be expected to lead as will junior Brandon Triche (11.1 ppg), and keep an eye on sophomores C.J. Fair (6.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and Dion Waiters (6.6 ppg) as well. But whether or not Syracuse wins the Big East could ultimately come down to how the bigs perform with Rick Jackson having graduated.

Big Sky: Montana
Wayne Tinkle's Grizzlies were one win away from a trip to the NCAA Tournament as they fell at Northern Colorado in the tournament final, and with four starters back Montana is well-equipped to move to the top of the league. First Team All-Big Sky performer Will Cherry (14.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg) returns as does 7-footer Derek Selvig (10.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and sophomore guard Kareem Jamar (8.1 ppg). Freshman wing Kevin Henderson is a rookie some have pegged as a player to watch within the league as well, and Montana has the pieces needed to win the league crown.

Big South: UNC Asheville
Led by guards Matt Dickey (15.7 ppg, 3.3 apg) and J.P. Primm (14.6 ppg, 4.5 apg), Eddie Biedenbach's Bulldogs won the conference tournament title as well as a game in the NCAA Tournament. And with those two returning in addition to two other starters it's tough not to pick UNC Asheville to do what they could not do last season and win the regular season crown. Coastal Carolina won the regular season crown a season ago but eligibility issues in the second half of the season helped submarine their run, and they'll likely be the Bulldogs' biggest challenger this season.

Big Ten: Ohio State
Much like North Carolina, Ohio State's status as a national title contender was cemented the moment its biggest star committed to returning to school. Jared Sullinger returns for his sophomore campaign in better shape, and all he did was dominate the Big Ten as a freshman. The Buckeyes do have to make up for the loss of David Lighty, Jon Diebler and Dallas Lauderdale, but they have enough talent both returning (Will Buford and Aaron Craft being two other returnees) and incoming (Sam Thompson and Shannon Scott being two of the four) to merit their status as clear favorites to win the conference.

Next (Sunday): Big 12 through MAAC

Ten Non-NCAA Teams to Watch in 2011-12

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 02:03:32 -0400

While many tend to ignore the "other" postseason tournaments in March due to the overwhelming popularity of the NCAA Tournament, there's an awful lot to be gained from said events especially if a team has a lot due back the following season. So similar to those bowl games outside of the BCS in college football, teams gain valuable practice and game experience. Below are ten teams (in alphabetical order) who fit the mold, including one that didn't play in the postseason at all, and could make some noise in 2011-12.

(1) Alabama (25-12, 12-4 SEC)
Anthony Grant's Crimson Tide were ultimately done in by a non-conference schedule that featured losses to the likes of Iowa, Providence and Seton Hall, having to settle for a Postseason NIT berth as a result. But they took advantage of the extra games, getting all the way to the title game before falling to Wichita State. While Alabama will have three seniors to replace (Charvez Davis, Senario Hillman and Chris Hines) the top three scorers will be back, including forwards JaMychal Green and Tony Mitchell. Guard Trevor Releford was one of the best freshmen in the SEC this season, and a four-player recruiting class led by guard Levi Randolph and forward Nick Jacobs will likely keep Bama atop the SEC West at the very least.

(2) Baylor (18-13, 7-9 Big 12)
Scott Drew's Bears were arguably the most disappointing team in America, going from a team some thought could make some noise to one that didn't play anywhere in the postseason. The Big 12's all-time leading scorer (LaceDarius Dunn) graduates but with Perry Jones III deciding to return to Waco next season look for high expectations once again. Quincy Acy and Anthony Jones will also return up front, and the addition of guard Deuce Bello and forward Quincy Miller will add even more talent-wise. But the biggest question is point guard play, something that cost the Bears dearly this season. If A.J. Walton and JUCO transfer Pierre Jackson can take care of the basketball look out. But if not, things could get sloppy.

(3) Harvard (23-7, 12-3 Ivy)
Tommy Amaker's Crimson put forth arguably the best season in school history but thanks to Doug Davis' shot at the buzzer that still wasn't enough to get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1946. But for many who follow the Ivy League 2011-12 was supposed to be Harvard's year, and with everyone expected back that may very well be the case. Kyle Casey and Keith Wright will lead the way up front, and guards such as Oliver McNally, Laurent Rivard and Christian Webster can get it done on the perimeter. Add in the Ivy's best incoming recruiting class that's six-deep and should at the very least offer a challenge in practice, and Harvard could very well end up in the Big Dance.

(4) Iona (25-13, 13-5 MAAC)
Tim Cluess' Gaels picked the wrong time to go cold offensively, struggling to crack the tough Saint Peter's defense in the MAAC Tournament final and ending up in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament as a result. Iona reached the title game in that event as well, losing to Santa Clara but gaining valuable game and practice time as a result. The lone departures will be seniors Rashon Dwight and Alejo Rodriguez, and with point guard Scott Machado and power forward Mike Glover leading the way Iona could be the preseason favorite in the MAAC. The key for the Gaels: defense. If they can defend at a solid clip this will be a tough team to beat given all the offensive weapons at Coach Cluess' disposal.

(5) Kent State (25-12, 12-4 MAC)
Of the ten teams on this list Kent State is the only one to lose it's head coach, with Geno Ford moving on to take the Bradley job. But by no means does that kill the Golden Flashes' chances of getting to the NCAA Tournament. New head coach Rob Senderoff obviously knows the personnel having been promoted from assistant, and with just one of their top five scorers (Rodriguez Sherman) moving on Kent State can win a lot of games next season. Justin Greene and Carlton Guyton are the leading returning scorers, and incoming freshman Kris Brewer should help make up for Sherman's departure on the perimeter. Tough to peg the MAC given its wild nature, but look for the Golden Flashes to be one of the favorites.

(6) Long Beach State (22-12, 14-2 Big West)
Dan Monson's 49ers took on one of the toughest schedules in the nation last season, with Larry Anderson missing a decent portion of that stretch due to injury. But once he returned The Beach took control of the Big West, comfortably winning the Big West regular season title before falling to UCSB in the tournament final. The top three scorers all return and that includes Anderson in addition to guard Casper Ware and forward T.J. Robinson, and another tough non-conference schedule will prepare them for another run through the Big West. But for one-bid leagues one weekend in early March can undo all that hard work, something Long Beach State will be more than aware of.

(7) Montana (21-11, 12-4 Big Sky)
Wayne Tinkle's Grizzlies were one win away from representing the Big Sky in the NCAA Tournament, falling to regular season champ Northern Colorado in the title game on the road. But with the Bears taking on heavy personnel losses it's unlikely they're the preseason favorite to win the league, and with all that Montana has coming back they likely assume that role. The Grizzlies do have to replace big man Brian Qvale but Derek Selvig returns for his senior campaign, and the backcourt should be in good hands with Will Cherry, Kareem Jamar and Art Steward. It should surprise no one if Montana were to be the Big Sky's tournament representative.

(8) Oral Roberts (19-16, 13-5 Summit)
The last two seasons it's been Oakland who has won the Summit League, but despite the return of Reggie Hamilton the Golden Grizzles do have to account for important losses including big man Keith Benson. So who has the good to challenge Oakland if not dethrone them? Scott Sutton's Golden Eagles look to be in good position to do so, with Dominique Morrison leading the way. ORU's top five scorers are all due back and in Morrison they've got a tough scorer who most likely will be the preseason Player of the Year in the Summit League. It should be a good year for the Golden Eagles, and that may be a conservative statement.

(9) Santa Clara (24-14, 8-6 WCC)
There will be two major national storylines in the West Coast Conference to start next season: the arrival of BYU (football independence but all other sports in the WCC) and Gonzaga being the preseason favorite to win the conference. But people had better not ignore Kerry Keating's Broncos, who won the CollegeInsider.com Tournament and replace just one senior of note (Ben Dowdell). Kevin Foster, Evan Roquemore and Marc Trasolini all return for Santa Clara, and they also welcome in a four-member recruiting class with Robert Garrett having the ability to add some interior depth. If anyone in the WCC can prevent Gonzaga from coasting to the conference title it may be Santa Clara.

(10) Wichita State (29-8, 14-4)
Gregg Marshall's Shockers were the preseason favorites to win the Missouri Valley and while they didn't accomplish that feat in either the regular season (Missouri State) or postseason (Indiana State), Wichita State was able to win the Postseason NIT. There will be some key losses, most notably leading scorer J.T. Durley, but given the number of players due back and the offensive balance (eight players scored at least six points per game) the Shockers could make a run at the regular season crown. David Kyles, Toure Murry and Garrett Stutz all return, and with Coach Marshall giving so many guys a chance to play meaningful minutes this year the Shockers should be able to hit the ground running in 2011-12.

Five others: California (18-15, 10-8 Pac-10), UCF (21-12, 6-10 Conference USA), Drexel (21-10, 11-7 CAA), Florida Atlantic (21-11, 13-3 Sun Belt), New Mexico (22-13, 8-8 Mountain West).

College Hoops Wednesday: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 11:47:22 -0500

More conference tournaments enter the fray on Wednesday with the Big 12 and Pac-10 being two of the seven conference tournaments that open. The Big 12 will be of particular interest as two teams playing today can ill-afford a first round loss. Baylor and Colorado are both in need of more wins; how many more is unknown but a loss to either Iowa State or Oklahoma could do irreparable harm to their at-large hopes. The task is simple for the Buffaloes: Alec Burks, Cory Higgins and Levin Knutson need to be on offensively while on the defensive end they have to slow down Diante Garrett. Colorado's picked up some impressive wins but they've also dropped a few games an NCAA Tournament team should win, leaving them open to an upset today.

Baylor's resume lacks bulk, a surprising fact for a team that has some very good individual pieces. Such is life when you're without the graduated Tweety Carter at the point, and despite the amount of blame left at the feet of his replacement (A.J. Walton) there's also the matter of senior shooting guard LaceDarius Dunn's decision-making as well. Dunn is the big 12's all-time leading scorer but he averages more turnovers than assists per game, and if the shots aren't falling the Bears have problems. Oklahoma beat Baylor in Norman earlier this season, and while Cade Davis is their leading scorer at 13.8 points per game they can struggle offensively occasionally. But they're still scoring more points per possession than the Bears on the season, and another win isn't out of the realm of possibility. But with Quincy Acy and ~~Perry Jones III~~ up front the Bears enjoy an advantage (not so much anymore as Jones will sit out due to the acceptance of impermissible benefits according to a Dallas news station). Whether or not they take full advantage of it will determine whether or not they play on Thursday.

Two NCAA Tournament bids will be handed out as well with the regular season champions in the Big Sky and NEC hosting games. Northern Colorado survived Northern Arizona last night while Montana used a second half run to vanquish Weber State. The Grizzlies may be on the road but their frontcourt tandem of Derek Selvig and Brian Qvale can pose problems for any opponent. Montana is also the last team to beat the Bears, who have won nine of their last ten games and in Devon Beitzel have the MVP of the conference. He scored 22 in that 55-42 loss at Montana but no other Bear scored more than six and two starters (Neal Kingman and Elliott Lloyd) went scoreless. That can't happen tonight if Northern Colorado is to defend their home court (13-0 at home).

As for the NEC, Jim Ferry's LIU Blackbirds have been the class of the conference for much of the season behind First Team All-NEC performer Julian Boyd. Their depth up front has been a handful for opponents, as has the play of point guards Jason Brickman and C.J. Garner. But in order to be the champ you often have to dethrone the champ, which is the task that faces them in two-time defending champion Robert Morris. First-year head coach Andy Toole has navigated a tough non-conference schedule and most recently the loss of guard Karon Abraham for the remainder of the season to get the Colonials to this point. And in Russell Johnson and Velton Jones the Colonials have two players capable of moving their win streak to nine in a row. The two hottest teams in the conference will be on the same floor and keep in mind that Robert Morris won last year's title game at Quinnipiac, meaning that there will be little fear over playing in a tough environment.

Also of import today is the final game in the second round of the Big East Championship between Marquette and West Virginia. Depending on who you ask the Golden Eagles are in the field of 68 but another win never hurt anyone. Jimmy Butler and Darius Johnson-Odom both played well in their win over Providence on Tuesday, and despite tougher matchups in the form of Truck Bryant and Kevin Jones it would come as no surprise if the Golden Eagles were to win. The Pac-10 will sort out its bottom four seeds and the same goes for the 8/9 matchup in the Mountain West, while the unpredictable Conference USA begins the process of determining its NCAA Tournament representative. But their true suspense will come tomorrow when Memphis, UAB and host UTEP hit the floor.

Big 12 First Round (Kansas City)
12:30 PM Oklahoma State vs. Nebraska (ESPN3)
3:00 PM Iowa State vs. Colorado (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Oklahoma vs. Baylor (ESPN3)
9:30 PM Texas Tech vs. Missouri (ESPN3)

Big East Second Round (New York City)
12:00 PM Connecticut vs. Georgetown (ESPN)
2:00 PM Rutgers vs. St. John's (ESPN)
7:00 PM USF vs. Cincinnati (ESPN)
9:00 PM Marquette vs. West Virginia (ESPN)

Big Sky Final (Greeley, CO)
9:00 PM Montana at Northern Colorado (ESPN2)

Conference USA First Round (El Paso, TX)
1:00 PM UCF vs. East Carolina
3:30 PM Tulane vs. Southern Miss
7:30 PM Houston vs. Marshall
10:00 PM Rice vs. SMU

MEAC Quarterfinals (Raleigh, NC)
3:00 PM Howard vs. Norfolk State (first round matchup)
7:00 PM South Carolina State vs. Bethune-Cookman
9:30 PM Maryland-Eastern Shore vs. Hampton

Mountain West First Round (Las Vegas)
5:00 PM TCU vs. Wyoming (The Mtn.)

NEC Final (Brooklyn, NY)
7:00 PM Robert Morris at LIU (ESPN2)

Pac-10 First Round (Los Angeles)
9:00 PM Oregon State vs. Stanford (FSN)
11:30 PM Arizona State vs. Oregon (FSN)

Southland Quarterfinals (Katy, TX)
1:00 PM Northwestern State vs. Texas-San Antonio
3:30 PM Sam Houston State vs. Stephen F. Austin
7:00 PM McNeese State vs. Nicholls State
9:30 PM Texas State vs. Southeast Louisiana

SWAC Quarterfinals (Garland, TX)
1:30 PM Jackson State vs. Prairie View A&M
9:00 PM Texas Southern vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

WAC First Round (Las Vegas)
3:00 PM San Jose State vs. Hawaii
5:00 PM Fresno State vs. Nevada

HOOPS TALK LIVE WEDNESDAY 6-7PM EST

#103 Montana: 2010-11 Basketball Preview

Joel Welser — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 22:01:59 -0400

Overall Rank: #103

Conference Rank: #1 Big Sky Conference

2009-10: 22-10, 10-6

2009-10 postseason: NCAA

Coach: Wayne Tinkle (70-53 at Montana, 70-53 overall)

Losing Anthony Johnson and Ryan Staudacher will hurt Montana’s chances of reaching a second consecutive NCAA Tournament, but they return a solid nucleus of players and bring in a stellar recruiting class. The long list of newcomers may need some time to adjust to life in the Big Sky, but by the time the conference season gets in full swing this will be one of the toughest teams to beat.

Key Losses: G Anthony Johnson, F Jack McGillis, G Ryan Staudacher, G Michael Taylor, F Raason Young

Key Newcomers:

Replacing Johnson and Staudacher on the wings is the biggest priority and Coach Wayne Tinkle found plenty of options. Incoming freshmen Vaughn Autry and Kareem Jamar are probably more talented than junior college transfers Art Steward and Jordan Wood. Autry is a proven scorer and a superb athlete. If he has been working on his outside shot, Autry will be the starting shooting guard. If not, he could start at the point. Jamar is not a great shooter either, but he has the size to attack the basket. Steward and Wood have more experience and that could be enough to get them in the starting lineup. Steward is a defensive stalwart and Wood is a versatile player who can do a little bit of everything. Four more freshmen will help bolster the depth in the frontcourt.

Backcourt:

This is now Will Cherry’s team. As a freshman last season Cherry averaged 8.2 points, 2.4 assists and 2.8 rebounds. He will be asked to run the point full-time this season and he has the skills to do it. The problem is he is not a three-point shooter either. The top four outside shooters are gone and somebody has to replace them. It will not be Cherry if he is busy running the point, so one of the newcomers needs to step up and start knocking down the open shots. Shawn Stockton is the only other returning perimeter player who could work his way into the regular rotation. Stockton is more of a point guard than a scorer, but he could turn out to be a nice backup to Cherry and that would allow Autry to spend all of his time at the two spot and not have to worry about running the point.

Frontcourt:

What makes this team a favorite to win the conference crown is the duo on the inside. Brian Qvale is a 6-11, 260 pound senior and Derek Selvig is a 7-0, 230 pound junior. Nobody had much luck scoring in the paint against those two last year and it should be just as difficult this time around. Qvale is more than just a big presence in the paint. He ranked second on the team with 10.2 points per game and led the squad with 7.1 rebounds and 2.0 blocks. Selvig ranked just behind Qvale in both the rebounding and blocked shots department. Qvale is a superb interior scorer and will open up space for the shooters, while Selvig is actually one of those shooters. He will not make a ton of three-pointers, but he usually gets open looks and he is surprisingly effective when it comes to knocking down the long ball. Mathias Ward had a decent freshman campaign, but really did not get much of an opportunity to show his stuff last year and he will battle with the newcomers for playing time off the bench.

Who to Watch:

And it is those frontcourt newcomers that could make the difference on this team. Last year Selvig and Qvale were rarely on the floor together. They might have to be this year unless one of the freshmen is ready to play major minutes right away. At 6-8 and 220 pounds, Taylor Farnsworth already has the body to bang in the paint. Eric Hutchinson spent a year redshirting and bulking up. If he can start knocking down the mid-range jumper, Hutchinson could be the answer. Billy Reader is a fast rising prospect who needs more experience, but has plenty of potential and Mike Weisner may end up playing more at the small forward spot than the power forward position.

Final Projection:

As long as Selvig and Qvale are around, nobody is going to score too many points against the Grizzlies. The frontcourt needs to find some depth and the perimeter needs to find some shooters, but having Cherry back to run the show is huge and he will help get the newcomers going offensively and defensively. However, there will not be much time for the new guys to adjust to life in the Big Sky before this team will have to start winning games if they want to win a conference title for the first time under Coach Tinkle.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Will Cherry, Sophomore, Guard, 8.2 ppg

Vaughn Autry, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season

Kareem Jamar, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season

Derek Selvig, Junior, Forward, 6.0 ppg

Brian Qvale, Senior, Center, 10.2 ppg

Next Top 144 Teams
104		105		106		107		..All

College Basketball Preview - 144 Teams in 144 Days - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

Jon Teitel's Coaches Interview Series: Old Dominion Head Coach Blaine Taylor

Jon Teitel — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:45:07 -0400

In his most recent coaches' interview, CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with former Montana and current Old Dominion head coach Blaine Taylor. Taylor, whose Monarchs won the CAA's automatic bid this past season and beat Notre Dame in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, led the University of Montana to a pair of NCAA Tournaments in his seven seasons at the helm.

Jon Teitel: You played point guard for Coach Mike Montgomery at Montana from 1979-81. What was it like to play for him and what was the most important lesson you learned from him?

Blaine Taylor: I was the last player that Jud Heathcote recruited before he went to Michigan State to coach Magic Johnson and win the national title in 1979. Heathcote's coaching tree is probably one of the largest in the country. Jim Brandenburg, who had come over from Wyoming, was the next coach after Heathcote. We had a pretty good team, as I played in the same backcourt as Micheal Ray Richardson. I was the first starting point for Montgomery and his assistant was Stew Morrill. We had a series of four or five guys who later got elevated to head coach and have accomplished so much in their careers. Montana had twenty-one winning seasons in a row.

JT: In 1981 you were recognized as the school's most outstanding male athlete. What did it mean to you to win such an outstanding individual honor?

BT: A lot of people who were there at the time have gone on to do some incredible things, so I was very fortunate to win it. I look back and wonder how on earth I won.

JT: From 1981-84 you were a graduate assistant at Montana. Was it weird to be coaching guys who you were previously teammates with?

BT: I attended two practices a day, as I was also the JV coach. Three or four of the varsity scholarship kids ended up playing JV, and I had to do the scheduling, budget, etc. It was a tremendous opportunity, as a lot of guys who come in now to start coaching have never even led their own practice before.

JT: From 1986-91 you were an assistant under Stew Morrill. What was it like to coach for him and what was the most important lesson you learned from him?

BT: Every coach is their own certain kind of guy. I am forever indebted to Stew as he gave me my first job as an assistant coach; we are tremendous friends. He is as competitive and organized as anyone around. When you keep following people who are successful, you wonder how you can follow in their footsteps.

JT: In 1991 you were promoted to head coach at Montana and you were named 1992 Big Sky Coach of the Year. How were you able to come in and be so successful so quickly?

BT: We had built that whole group together so I benefited from the efforts of many others. I called Stew after we won the conference title. I helped recruit that team, but the timing was very good.

JT: In 1998 you left Montana to become an assistant under Montgomery at Stanford. Why did you decide to make the move, and what was the biggest difference between the two programs?

WW: It was kind of an unusual move, as I was leaving a very successful program...at my alma mater...in my home state. Stanford was very aggressive, and I just thought it was time to try something else. It extended my career in some respects, as Stanford was winning titles in so many different sports and recruiting a bunch of basketball players who ended up in the NBA. When you go to a BCS school, you get to recruit some of the best players in the country.

2001 NCAA Tournament

JT: Jason Collins scored 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a win over UNC-Greensboro. How far did you think your team was going to go that year?

BT: We were ranked #1 in the country for a lot of my time there so we had high expectations.

JT: Collins scored 22 points and had nine rebounds in a seven-point win over St. Joe's (led by a career-high 37 points from Marvin O'Connor and a near-triple-double from freshman Jameer Nelson). Were you just unable to stop O'Connor because he was "in the zone", and could you tell at the time that Nelson would become a star?

BT: Jameer was young at the time but he was awfully good. When a guy goes crazy on you there is not a lot you can do; Homeland Security could not have stopped O'Connor!

JT: Casey Jacobsen scored 27 points in a win over Cincinnati. What was the feeling like going into the Maryland game and did you think the geographic discrepancy would give you a big advantage?

BT: Casey was the leading scorer in the history of California high school basketball and was a scoring machine.

JT: MD made 9-of-13 3PT to bring your season to an end. Did you consider your team's run a success because you made it so far and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterwards?

BT: Maryland ended up winning the title the following year so we just ran into a bunch of guys who were learning their lessons. When you play one game instead of a seven-game series anything can happen.

JT: In 2001 you left Stanford to become head coach at ODU. Why did you decide to make the move?

BT: I had been there a few years and Mike was not sure how long he was going to stay there as coach. I made the right choice, as things have fallen into place here at ODU.

JT: What are your memories of the 2005 CAA tourney final (CAA tourney MVP Alex Loughton scored 28 points in a seven-point OT win over VCU)?

BT: It was in Richmond, and there were discussions at the time as to where to hold it, but the attendance records that were set that year solidified Richmond as the location for the future. Loughton had his folks fly in from Australia so that was very special. It was a neat group of kids that captured the imagination of our entire campus.

JT: What are your memories of the 2005 NCAA tourney (Loughton had 22 points and 11 rebounds in an eight-point loss to Michigan State)?

BT: It was the highest scoring game of the first round that year but Tom Izzo's guys were just so experienced. I called Jud the next day, and he wondered if we could have won that game. Michigan State probably should have been seeded a little higher, as they ended up going to the Final Four that year. My kids were crying their eyes out in the locker room as they felt they had a real shot to win it.

JT: You finished the 2005 season with 28 wins (most in school history) and were named CAA Coach of the Year. Where does that season rank among your best ever?

BT: When you come in and rebuild something from scratch, it gives you a lot of satisfaction. It is hard to say which is the all-time best, but that one was very special, as it allowed us to "cut our teeth".

JT: When you lost in the 2007 NCAA Tournament to Butler, did you ever think that then-assistant coach Brad Stevens would end up in the title game against Mike Krzyzewski only three years in the future?

BT: It was a close game. They have had a lot of success since then; Barry Collier is their athletic director and I have known him for a long time. I ran into [Brad] at a golf tournament when he was only 29 years old, and I wondered if he was a waiter bringing us hors d'ouevres, but then he told us he was there as a fellow coach!

2010 NCAA Tournament

JT: The whiteboard in the locker room from your pre-game speech had the phrase "If the Shoe Fits, WEAR IT!". What did you choose that phrase, and why did you want your team to play like underdogs?

BT: I told my guys that I thought we could win even though the media saw us as underdogs, so why not just go out and show them that we could do it.

JT: Frank Hassell scored 15 points and had nine rebounds in a one-point upset over Notre Dame for the school's first tourney win since 1995. How big a deal was that win and do you think that you would have lost if Luke Harangody (four points in 23 minutes) was playing at full-strength?

BT: After we won, we ended up shaking their hands rather than running around and piling up on the floor. Notre Dame came into the tourney as a hot team, even though they had changed their style a little bit after Luke had gotten hurt. We were big and physical, so we matched up with them pretty good. Our governor Bob McDonnell went to Notre Dame (as did his son), and when I was on "Mike and Mike in the Morning" the next day I noticed that Notre Dame alum Mike Golic was not there, which I found to be odd. The win was pretty big stuff, as it gave our school a lot of good publicity.

JT: At halftime you switched from a man-to-man to a 3-2 zone defense. Why did you make the switch, and why was it so successful?

BT: We were chasing them around, and all we were doing was wasting energy, so we just decided to stop doing that.

JT: Hassell scored 15 points and had eight rebounds in an eight-point loss to Baylor. How impressed were you by his performance in the tourney, and how much of a key will he be to your success next year?

BT: Gerald Lee is an awfully good player, but Frank's performance against two great teams was great. Baylor and our team were two of the biggest teams in the tourney, so we could both play big. We shot 52 FG%, but their guards were just too good. We return four starters so we have a good shot. Sports Illustrated has us ranked #14 in its preseason poll, but I do not know if I believe all that.

JT: Your assistant coach Rob Wilkes is the son of legendary Stetson coach Glenn Wilkes. What is Rob like as a coach and is it hard for him to follow in his father's large footsteps?

BT: I have had to make my way in the world, but I think it is actually a little easier if you have a dad who is in the same business, and Rob's dad is a tremendous coach. Our other assistant coach (Jim Corrigan) has also been great, so I have been very fortunate.

JT: When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most?

BT: I hope people think that when they played against my team, they were in for a long night.

Best Coaches in Big Sky History

Eastern Washington: WB "Red" Reese (1930-1942, 1945-1964): 473-298, twelve conference titles

Idaho State: Jim Killingsworth (1971-1977): 163-109, two NCAA tourneys, three conference titles, two-time conference Coach of the Year

Montana: Blaine Taylor (1991-1998): 141-66, two NCAA tourneys, two conference titles, one conference Coach of the Year award

Montana State: G. Ott Romney (1922-1928): 144-31

Northern Arizona: Mike Adras (1999-present): 158-136, one NCAA tourney, two conference titles, one conference Coach of the Year award

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 tourneys, five conference titles, three-time conference Coach of the Year

New Mexico vs Montana: Odds & Prediction

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:36:52 -0400

Start: Mar 18 2010 - 9:50pm

Team Previews: #3 New Mexico -- #14 Montana

Vegas Odds: New Mexico -9 Bet at bodog

Why Montana will win: Anthony Johnson has the ability to absolutely go off and the Big Sky final was the most recent stage on which the junior displayed that ability. The Grizzlies will also be successful in slowing down the forward tandem of Darington Hobson and Roman Martinez.

Grizzly to Watch: G Anthony Johnson - 20 ppg, 3 rpg, 3 apg

This is an obvious one. If Johnson struggles to score then by extension his teammates likely will also. But if the Lobos allow him to get going this will be a tougher game than anticipated.

Why New Mexico will win: Hobson and Martinez will be too much for Montana to handle, especially on the offensive boards, and Dairese Gary will win the matchup with Johnson in the backcourt. Simply put, Steve Alford’s team will have an answer for every thing that Wayne Tinkle throws their way and then some.

Lobo to Watch: F Darington Hobson - 16 ppg, 9 rpg, 5 apg

The much-traveled superstar leads the Lobos in points, rebounds and assists; whatever New Mexico does in the tournament will likely be a reflection of what Hobson has done. He’s a very tough matchup given his height and length, along with the versatile skill set.

How it will go down: This one will be on “upset alert” into the second half but in the end the Lobos will simply be too much for Montana. Hobson and Gary combine to score 40 points while New Mexico’s defense limits Anthony Johnson’s good looks. Lobos pull away in the end.

Betting Pick: New Mexico -9

Real Pick: New Mexico

Q&A With Montana Guard Anthony Johnson

Jon Teitel — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:01:30 -0400

What goes through the mind of a player who's in "the zone"? CHN writer Jon Teitel had the opportunity to find out, talking to Montana star guard Anthony Johnson about his performance against Weber State among a variety of topics in advance of the Grizzlies' first round matchup with New Mexico.

Jon Teitel: Your halftime ritual/obsession is to rub lotion on your hands. How long have you been doing that, and why do you do that?
Anthony Johnson: I have been doing it for about 4 years now. It is just a superstition, but it helps me get adjusted to the game ball as it seems to stick to my hands better.

JT: Your mother raised you as a single parent, then you lived with your father for a couple of years during junior high school, then went back to live with your mother during high school. Was it hard to keep going back and forth like that, and what impact did it have on you?
AJ: It was not a hard adjustment at all; the hardest adjustment was living with my dad because we are so much alike. It was the first time that I had a father figure in the same house. I do not think it had that much of an effect on me, as I always had a great relationship with my mom.

JT: Your wife Shaunte Nance-Johnson plays guard for the Montana women's team. What is it like to be married while in college, and why did you both decide to go to Montana?
AJ: During the recruiting process I sold myself as a package deal along with my wife, and Montana was the only school that offered us both a scholarship. I had a great career at Yakima CC, but it was hard to find a school to take both of us.

JT: In 2005 you were washing dishes at a seafood restaurant trying to earn money to buy a car when the two of you started dating, and she ended up persuading the coach at Yakima CC to give you a tryout. How much of your success do you owe to your wife, and what has she taught you after her own trip to the NCAA tourney last year?
AJ: I owe everything to her; she got me my first opportunity to play and she believed in me when I did not believe in myself. I gave up the sport after high school, but was still playing at the YMCA and local rec center. She got my foot in the door, and then I ran with it. When I saw her win the conference title last year, it was a great experience for me, and it motivated our men's team for this year. That is also how it was at the junior college level. I learned from her about how to make a team work together and how to win games.

JT: Your coach Wayne Tinkle played 12 years of pro basketball. What makes him such a good coach on the court, and what is the most important lesson he has taught you off the court?
AJ: He is a player's coach; he knows what works and what does not. I am constantly studying him and have also become a student of the game. He is a role model both on and off the court: he has taught me to remain focused and consistent off the court.

JT: You shoot over 40% from the three-point line for your college career and almost 90% from the foul line. Which do you think is more important in the tourney, and what is your secret for being such a good shooter?
AJ: It is just hard work; shooters are made not born. I have learned how to be a great shooter, and had to make myself into a great shooter. The key for me in the tourney will be getting easy baskets. I have made it to the FT line a ton throughout my career, so I will just try to be aggressive from the start of the game.

JT: In 2009 you were named Big Sky newcomer of the year while averaging 18 PPG. How were you able to come in and contribute so quickly?
AJ: I have been fortunate to take a back seat and learn from other great players around me. Last year I was allowed to be in a system that was geared towards my kind of game, and I always remember to work hard and focus on our team's goal, which is to win.

JT: You scored a tourney-record 42 points and played all 40 minutes of the title game in a one-point win at Weber State, including a game-winning jumper with 10 seconds left to win the title. Was that the best game you have ever played, and do you think it will end up changing your life in the future?
AJ: I think it will change my life, and it is the best game I have played up to this point. I think it opened people's eyes, and also opened doors that I am not even aware of yet. I have had some high scoring games in my career, but not in a come-from-behind situation like that with so much at stake.

JT: Your team is a fourteen-seed who will play three-seed New Mexico. How do you like your chances against the Lobos, and what is your goal for the tourney?
AJ: My goal is to make it out of the first round. We are not satisfied with just winning the conference; we want to go out with our heads held high. I think...no, I know we can do it if we do not get behind early and do not turn the ball over.

JT: If you upset NM, then you will play either Marquette (where Coach Tinkle's father went to college) or Washington (who only beat you by four back in November). Is it easy to keep your focus on New Mexico, or do you see any signs of your coach or teammates looking ahead to a possible 2nd-round match-up?
AJ: We are completely in the moment. At tourney time it is "win or go home"; you cannot afford to stray from the task at hand and become unfocused. We are on a mission, and looking past New Mexico would be detrimental to that mission.