Morgan St

Monday's Recap: Technical Sparks UConn Rally

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:30:22 -0800

On the heels of losses at Seton Hall and Rutgers, with the leadership capabilities of the team being questioned both within and outside of the locker room, Connecticut needed a win over West Virginia in a big way. But the Huskies didn't play with that sense of urgency out of the gates, as the Mountaineers grabbed eight offensive rebounds to UConn's zero on their way to a 33-28 lead. If the rebounding wasn't bad enough the turnovers were, as the Huskies turned the ball over nine times leading to 15 Mountaineer points.

Things weren't much better for Jim Calhoun's team at the start of the second half either, eventually trailing 46-36 with just under 12 minutes to go following a technical foul on Calhoun (Truck Bryant made one of two free throws) followed by a Deniz Kilicli jumper. But that technical provided the spark that UConn needed as they went on a 17-3 run to take control of the game. The end result: a 64-57 win with Jeremy Lamb scoring 25 points and Andre Drummond adding 20 to go along with 11 rebounds and three blocks.

After [the free throws] we got a stop, [and then] we got a score," said Lamb, who bounced back from a quiet eight point performance against Rutgers. "It got real loud and just pushed us through that time."

West Virginia attempted 18 more shots but couldn't take advantage, shooting just 32.3% from the field on the night. Drummond was just as important in defending Kevin Jones as the early favorite for Big East Player of the Year accounted for 22 points but grabbed just five rebounds, well below his conference-leading average of 11.5 caroms per game. Truck Bryant's offensive struggles didn't help the visitors either, as he scored eight points by made just two of thirteen field goal attempts.

The problem for West Virginia was their lack of patience in finding quality looks. While Jones and (when on) Bryant are both capable scorers, they have to rely on each other in order to be successful offensively. That got them in trouble during UConn's run, and it's something that will need to improve as the Mountaineers get deeper into Big East play.

As for UConn, while there's still plenty to be improved upon Monday's win was a step in the right direction. Alex Oriakhi played better while Shabazz Napier made up for missing all six shots by dishing out eight assists. UConn was punched in the mouth and thanks to their coach they responded, something that didn't happen in New Jersey.

Other Notable Happenings

1. Cincinnati picks up a much-needed victory for their resume at Georgetown.
Somewhat lost in the midst of Cincinnati's seven-game win streak, which was ended by St. John's on Saturday, was the fact that the opposition for Mick Cronin's team didn't do a whole lot for their resume. Cincinnati entered Monday night's game at Georgetown with a strength of schedule of 258 according to realtimerpi.com, and they still hadn't picked up a win that would qualify as a suitable counter for the home loss to Presbyterian. But Sean Kilpatrick scored a career-high 27 points and Dion Dixon added 22 as the Bearcats beat the 11th-ranked Hoyas 68-64 at the Verizon Center. With Cashmere Wright struggling, scoring just two points and missing all six shots from the field, the Bearcats needed Kilpatrick and Dixon to step up and they did.

Late in the game Cincinnati spread out the Hoyas, using their two leading scorers to take advantage of defensive mismatches to attack the rim. As for Georgetown, as strange as it may seem to say their relatively equal shot selection may have done them in. Hollis Thompson made all five of his shots in the first half, only to attempt one (which he missed) in the second. Four starters scored in double figures with a high of 14 points (Thompson and Jason Clark), but neither got the number of shots they could have commanded. Cincinnati played the hot hands, and the end result was a much-needed road win.

2. Oklahoma fails to bounce back from Saturday's loss, falling in Stillwater to the rival Cowboys.
Few expected Lon Kruger's team to beat Kansas at home on Saturday, so there wasn't much made of their defeat. But despite the fact that Monday's matchup with Oklahoma State was a rivalry game, it was one the Sooners had to have. But OU couldn't hit anything from the field until it was too late, making 32.4% of their shots in the 72-65 loss to the Cowboys. Travis Ford's team didn't shoot much better from the floor, making just 38.6% of their field goals, but they made up for it by getting to the foul line.

Oklahoma State finished 23-for-30 from the charity stripe while the Sooners made 13 of 20, and the ten-point edge gave OSU the cushion they needed to move to 2-1 in league play. Le'Bryan Nash led the way with 21 points and seven rebounds and Keiton Page added 18 for the victors, while OU's Steven Pledger made just three of thirteen shots from the field. Now 0-3 in league play, Oklahoma finds themselves in a position where they likely need to sweep their two-game home stand against Kansas State and Texas Tech.

3. Saint Mary's takes care of business, but the bigger issue is the defensive woes of their opponent.
Randy Bennett's Gaels did what they had to do in order to remain tied with Gonzaga atop the WCC standings. Matthew Dellavedova scored 27 points, Rob Jones 18 and Stephen Holt added 11 and ten rebounds, but it isn't ad if the visiting Dons did a great job of making things difficult on the Gaels. Saint Mary's shot 67.3% from the field and 11-for-19 from beyond the arc in the 87-72 win, dropping San Francisco to 0-4 in WCC play.

Defense has been the problem for Rex Walters' team, as they've allowed three of their four league opponents to shoot 52% or better from the field. The one exception was Loyola Marymount, who beat the Dons by a point on New Year's Eve. The talent and athletic ability are definitely there, with the likes of Angelo Caloiaro and Perris Blackwell leading four players averaging double figures, but if the desire to defend isn't there as well more results like this will occur. Once thought to be a team in the middle of the WCC who could give the three favorites fits, San Francisco finds themselves in desperate need of a league win.

Quick Hitters

1. There were two mid-year transfer decisions announced on Monday, one of which being former Pittsburgh forward Khem Birch deciding to transfer to UNLV. Birch, who was a McDonald's All-American out of high school, is a big pickup for Dave Rice's program. Could this help the Runnin' Rebels with marquee 2012 recruits Shabazz Muhammad and Anthony Bennett? That remains to be seen, but at the very least to get a player of Birch's caliber into the program is an important get for UNLV.

2. The other announcement came from former Texas A&M guard Jamal Branch, who has decided to transfer to St. John's. Branch's addition adds some depth to the Red Storm backcourt, and with Steve Lavin essentially using this season to recruit while recuperating from prostate cancer treatment he needed a commitment to spark things on the trail. Maybe this is it.

3. Morgan State played without suspended head coach Todd Bozeman and dropped a close one 57-55 at Savannah State. Rashad Hassan's dunk with 1:12 remaining proved to be the difference as the Tigers moved to 3-1 in MEAC play, and the Bears dropped to 1-1 and 3-10 overall. Norfolk State leads the conference with a 4-0 record.

4. Also in the MEAC North Carolina Central handed Bethune-Cookman their first league loss, winning 69-64 in Durham. Ray Willis scored 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds in leading the Eagles while Dominique Sutton added 11 and ten rebounds. Talent-wise, Levelle Moton's team can hang with any team in the conference.

5. While Lipscomb's win over Belmont on Friday opened things up in the Atlantic Sun, Monday's results showed just how wide open the league could be. Six teams sit one game behind the first-place Bruins in the loss column, and it's anyone's guess who the best option to challenge Belmont may end up being. One option: Mercer, who boasts a 4-2 league record (12-7 overall) after winning 73-66 at USC Upstate. Justin Cecil, who finished with a game-high 26 points, sparked a 14-1 second half run that helped the Bears take control of the action.

6. It's pretty much a lock at this point in the season that the automatic qualifier out of the SWAC will be playing in one of the four first-round games, but that doesn't mean that the race will lack intrigue. Texas Southern and Mississippi Valley State lead the league with matching 3-0 marks as the Delta Devils won 81-69 at Alabama A&M. Falando Holmes led five MVSU players in double figures with 18 points, and the Delta Devils scored 45 second half points.

Three Notable Performances

1. G Sean Kilpatrick (Cincinnati)
Career-high 27 points (10-16 FG) and four steals in the Bearcats' 68-64 win at #11 Georgetown.

2. G Matthew Dellavedova (Saint Mary's)
27 points (9-13 FG), six rebounds and four assists in the Gaels' 87-72 win over San Francisco.

3. C Andre Drummond (Connecticut)
20 points (9-11 FG), 11 rebounds and three blocks in the Huskies' 64-57 win over West Virginia.

Monday Preview: Cincinnati at #11 Georgetown

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 21:49:24 -0800

While most of the country will be captivated by the BCS Championship Game, there are suitable alternatives on the college basketball schedule for those not interested in watching the rematch. The game that stands out has to be Cincinnati (12-4, 2-1) visiting #11 Georgetown (13-2, 3-1) with both teams looking to bounce back from losses suffered on Saturday afternoon. The situation may be even more important for the Bearcats, who despite their seven-game win streak ahead of their last-second loss to St. John's, still has to account for losses to Presbyterian and Marshall on their resume.

The problem for Cincinnati on Saturday was that for the first time in their stretch of games post-Xavier the four guard lineup couldn't shoot, making just 20 of 76 shots from the field and seven of thirty-two from beyond the arc. That allowed St. John's to get away with 19 turnovers, and the outcome could be even worse against a Georgetown team that does a better job of taking care of the basketball than the Red Storm. The Hoyas average 12.3 turnovers per game on the season, but they've turned the ball over 15 times or more in three of their four Big East games.

Mick Cronin's team is forcing 15 turnovers per game, and their four-guard attack has done a solid job of ramping up the tempo and forcing bad decisions. Leading the way is point guard Cashmere Wright (10.8 ppg, 4.9 apg, 1.7 spg), whose game has taken off with Cronin handing him the keys offense. Wright was the chief decision-maker before the suspensions, but in the aftermath he's been given more freedom to look to score. Add in sophomore shooting guard Sean Kilpatrick (15.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and senior Dion Dixon (13.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg) and the Bearcats have a solid three-headed attack that can score points at a solid clip.

Georgetown counters on the perimeter with a good mixture of experience and youth, and their system can be tough to guard if defenders aren't alert with regards to backdoor cuts and the like. Senior Jason Clark (15.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg) and junior Hollis Thompson (14.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg) provide the experience and the consistent scoring while sophomore Markel Starks (9.1 ppg, 50.0% FG) has moved into the point guard job left open by the graduation of Chris Wright. The Hoyas are averaging 1.11 points/possession this season, and a big reason for their efficiency is the play of one of the most improved players in the Big East.

Senior center Henry Sims (11.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.9 apg) leads the Hoyas in assists, and his ability to initiate the offense from the high post allows the perimeter players to work off the ball to get their shots. Nate Lubick can serve in a similar role on occasion while freshman Otto Porter has become more comfortable in the system by the game. His versatility will be something to keep an eye on for the Bearcats, who could be at a disadvantage in matching up with Porter due to his ability to go either inside or out. Jaquon Parker (10.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg), who has played the four in Cincinnati's new setup, will need to be at his best if the Bearcats are to win.

That also goes for senior forward Yancy Gates (12.4 ppg, 9.1 rpg), who has come off the bench since returning to the lineup. Justin Jackson starts but he's far more valuable on the defensive end of the floor, allowing Gates to provide an offensive spark when he enters the game. Gates has done his best to fit into things on the floor, at times maybe even being a bit too deferential in attempt to not step on any toes. How Gates performs in the matchup with Sims on both ends of the floor could ultimately decide the outcome. If he's scoring and rebounding in addition to limiting Sims' role as a distributor Cincinnati can win.

Also in the Big East a Connecticut team that went 0-for-New Jersey last week looks to rebound, but it's going to be difficult against West Virginia despite the fact that the Huskies are back home. One big reason why is WVU's Kevin Jones, who as of right now would have to be considered the frontrunner for Big East Player of the Year. Jones went for 22 points and 16 rebounds in the Mountaineers' win over Georgetown, and overall the effort of Bob Huggins' team on the offensive glass could be a problem if UConn isn't ready to meet that challenge from a toughness standpoint. With the likes of Jones and Deniz Kilicli, this is a game where the Huskies need Alex Oriakhi to step up and be accounted for.

There's also the first of two installments of "Bedlam" as Oklahoma visits Stillwater to take on the Cowboys. Oklahoma State has incurred some big losses on the perimeter, most recently losing J.P. Olukemi for the season with a torn ACL. The Sooners have one of the best scorers in the Big 12 in Steven Pledger, and under first-year head coach Lon Kruger they've definitely stepped up their play. Neither would be considered a contender for the Big 12 title, but the winner would take an important step towards being a part of the bubble conversation in the middle of the league.

Other games to keep an eye on include Saint Mary's hosting San Francisco, with this being the kind of game that can trip up an expected title contender like the Gaels. Rex Walters' Dons don't lack for talent but they've been a bit inconsistent, which could be a problem when dealing with SMC's Matthew Dellavedova and Rob Jones. The A-Sun, which looks to be more wide-open than anyone anticipated before the season began, has a pair of key matchups on the docket as North Florida visits and Stetson and Mercer visits USC Upstate. Belmont may very well win the conference again, but the race to the title will be a lot tougher this season than last.

And in the MEAC, Morgan State takes on Savannah State without head coach Todd Bozeman, who was suspended with pay by the school following an incident in the Bears' last game. Along with Hampton the Bears are expected to contend for the league's automatic bid, and a loss in a game like this one could come back to haunt Morgan State in regards to seeding for the conference tournament. Don't worry about not having anything to do if you don't want to watch Alabama and LSU, there's some good basketball to watch as well.

Top 25 Games
9:00 PM Cincinnati at (11) Georgetown (ESPNU)
7:00 PM West Virginia at (16) Connecticut (ESPN2)

NCAA Division I Games
4:15 PM North Florida at Stetson
5:00 PM Jackson State at Southern
6:00 PM Mississippi Valley State at Alabama A&M
6:00 PM Kennesaw State at East Tennessee State
7:00 PM Oklahoma at Oklahoma State (ESPNU)
7:00 PM Hampton at James Madison
7:00 PM Bethune-Cookman at North Carolina Central
7:30 PM Jacksonville at Florida Gulf Coast
7:30 PM Coppin State at South Carolina State
7:30 PM Mercer at USC Upstate
8:00 PM Grambling State at Alcorn State
8:00 PM Florida A&M at North Carolina A&T
8:00 PM Howard at Norfolk State
8:00 PM Morgan State at Savannah State
8:05 PM Florida Atlantic at Arkansas State
8:30 PM Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Alabama State
9:00 PM Texas-Pan American at Air Force
9:00 PM Idaho State at Wyoming
10:00 PM San Francisco at Saint Mary's

Thirty-Two Regular Season Champions, Part Three

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:58:05 -0700

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. After going through parts one and two, the Mid-American through Patriot leagues will be touched on today.

MAC: Kent State
The Golden Flashes will have a new head coach with Geno Ford taking the job at Bradley, but it's not as if introductions were needed. Rob Senderoff, who has been a part of the program since 2002, takes over and he'll have an experienced and talented squad on his hands. Three of the seniors back won individual honors last season: MAC Player of the Year Justin Greene (15.4 ppg, 8.3 rpg), MAC Defensive Player of the Year Michael Porrini (10.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.3 apg) and MAC Sixth Man of the Year Carlton Guyton (12.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg). Four starters return and newcomers Patrick Jackson (Rutgers transfer) and Chris Evans (JUCO All-America) will provide a boost inside. The MAC race can be unpredictable, especially in the conference tournament, but Kent State looks like a solid choice.

MEAC: Morgan State
Todd Bozeman's Bears finished fourth last season but advanced to the MEAC Tournament final, where they fell to Hampton, and with four starters back they can complete the mission in 2011-12. Interior presence Kevin Thompson (13.1 ppg, 9.1 rpg) has Player of the Year ability, and versatile forward DeWayne Jackson (14.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg) is a 6'8" junior who can do a variety of things on the floor. Jackson's versatility actually isn't rare for the Morgan State team as Aric Brooks, Justin Black and Ameer Ali can all play multiple positions. Senior point guard Larry Bastfield (5.1 ppg, 3.4 apg) will run the show, and his ability to do so will be critical if the Bears are to return to the top of the MEAC.

Missouri Valley: Creighton
Creighton's been the team that's received the bulk of the media attention in the offseason, and rightfully so given the number of talented players back in Omaha. Sophomore Doug McDermott (14.9 ppg, 7.2 rpg) looks to build on a busy summer and a freshman year that saw him become the first freshman to be named First Team All-Missouri Valley since Wichita State's Cleo Littleton in 1951-52. Gregory Echenique (10.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg) will have a full season to play after sitting out the first half of last season after transferring from Rutgers, and guards Antoine Young (13.1 ppg, 5.0 apg) and Jahenns Manigat (5.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg) will also be heard from. Gonzaga transfer Grant Gibbs will also factor into the backcourt rotation, and frontcourt players Ethan Wragge and Will Artino will get the chance to contribute as well. There will be plenty of challenges from the likes of Wichita State, Indiana State and Northern Iowa, but this could be a special season for the Bluejays.

Mountain West: New Mexico
Steve Alford had a young team at his disposal outside of senior point guard Dairese Gary, who is the lone starter not back for a team that won 22 games in 2010-11. But given his impact, why would the Lobos be the favorite in the Mountain West without Gary? Because the returnees, including four starters, are very talented with forward Drew Gordon (13.0 ppg, 10.5 rpg) leading the way. Guards Jamal Fenton (5.4 ppg, 1.9 apg), Kendall Williams (11.6 ppg, 4.0 apg) and Tony Snell (4.4 ppg, 1.9 rpg) all return, and the backcourt will also be bolstered by some highly-touted newcomers. Australian Hugh Greenwood has a wealth of international experience, Arizona State transfer Demetrius Walker is an exceptional athlete and Dominique Dunning can do a number of things on the floor. Alex Kirk and Cameron Barstow will need to help out Gordon in the paint, but the Lobos have all the tools needed to win the conference with UNLV in hot pursuit.

Northeast: Long Island
It took eight seasons at the helm in Brooklyn for Jim Ferry to get LIU back to the NCAA Tournament, but given the talent that returns he may not have to wait for a second trip. The NEC's best frontcourt returns intact with Julian Boyd (13.0 ppg, 8.9 rpg), Jamal Olasewere (12.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and Kenny Onyechi (7.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg) all back on campus. Arnold Mayorga, Booker Hucks and freshman Troy Joseph will supply the depth. The question comes in the backcourt, where the Blackbirds have to replace the 21.7 points per game that Kyle Johnson and David Hicks provided. Look for C.J. Garner (9.5 ppg, 3.4 apg) and Jason Brickman (6.2 ppg, 5.5 apg) to see more time together despite the fact that they're both 5'10", with Brickman being the distributor while Garner gets more time off the ball. Michael Culpo is a very good perimeter shooter, and newcomers Gerrell Martin and Brandon Thompson could also factor into the rotation.

Ohio Valley: Tennessee Tech
It's either Tennessee Tech or Austin Peay atop the OVC, with the pick here being the Golden Eagles and their four returning starters. Guard Zac Swansey (9.7 ppg, 6.4 apg), also known as "Big Shot Z" in some circles, will once again run the point with shooting guard Kevin Murphy (17.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg) being the scorer with a variety of offensive skills. First-year head coach Steve Payne has a deep backcourt at his disposal with Zach Bailey and Chase Dunn also at the ready.

The Golden Eagles did lose Alfred Jones in the frontcourt, meaning that there will be chances for reserves to earn more playing time. Terrell Barnes (4.9 rpg) returns after starting 28 games, and how much he can improve offensively (4.1 ppg) could determine where Tennessee Tech finishes. Jud Dillard (11.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg) was Tennessee Tech's leading rebounder last season, and look out for freshmen Javon McKay (redshirted last season) and Lanerryl Johnson on the perimeter.

Pac-12: Arizona
On the heels of winning the final Pac-10 regular season title and losing to eventual national champion Connecticut by two points in the Elite 8, Sean Miller's Wildcats look to build on that success with a highly-touted recruiting class descending upon the Old Pueblo. Guards Josiah Turner and Nick Johnson may get the bulk of the attention, but also keep in mind that they'll have some experienced help/competition as well. Senior Kyle Fogg (8.1 ppg), sophomore Jordin Mayes (4.9 ppg) and junior Brendon Lavender (3.6 ppg) all return and despite the loss of MoMo Jones the Wildcats are better on the perimeter.

Solomon Hill provides a "jack of all trades" option at small forward, and if they can get back Kevin Parrom at some point following a trying off-season Arizona will be even deeper on the wing. Inside returnees Jesse Perry and Kyryl Natyazhko will be joined by freshmen Angelo Chol and Sidiki Johnson, and the goal will need to be "step up what we do well" as opposed to stressing out about "replacing" lottery pick Derrick Williams. The Pac-12 is improving with the likes of Cal and UCLA looking strong, but the Wildcats remain at the head of the class.

Patriot: Bucknell
The Bison have one starter to replace from last year's NCAA Tournament squad, and how they account for the loss of point guard Darryl Shazier could determine whether or not they repeat. Shazier averaged 5.4 assists per game and was second nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio, and Cameron Ayers (7.4 ppg) looks to be the likely candidate to assume that role. The good news for Bucknell: reigning Patriot League Player of the Year Mike Muscala (14.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.0 bpg) is back for his junior campaign and fellow starters Bryan Cohen (7.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg), Bryson Johnson (11.7 ppg) and Joe Willman (7.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg) return as well. Dave Paulsen will also enjoy the benefit of just one of these players (Cohen) being a senior, which mean that Bucknell will have more than enough left in the stable to get comfortable atop the Patriot League standings.

Next: SEC through WAC

Part One: America East through Big Ten
Part Two: Big 12 through MAAC

#124 Morgan State: 2010-11 Basketball Preview

Joel Welser — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:56:55 -0700

Overall Rank: #124

Conference Rank: #1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

2009-10: 27-10, 15-1

2009-10 postseason: NCAA

Coach: Todd Bozeman (85-51 at Morgan State, 145-85 overall)

Morgan State is 42-6 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play over the last three years. This season may not go as well as the previous three due to the absence of most of the backcourt, but the Golden Bears still boast the most talented team in the conference and Coach Todd Bozeman has his team ready to win their fourth straight conference title.

Key Losses: G Joe Davis, G Reggie Holmes, G Troy Smith, G Sean Thomas

Key Newcomers:

Jarrod Denard will have to step into a pretty big role right away. The redshirt freshman will need to turn into a productive player off of the bench since there are few other options on the roster. The 6-2 guard may need some time to ease into things, but by March he should be a productive player. The lone incoming freshman is center Ian Childs. The frontcourt has more talent than the group on the perimeter, but Childs will still be asked to contribute off the bench. Yet, the seven-footer will need some time before he turns into an offensive threat.

Backcourt:

Danny Smith started ten games a year ago and should emerge as the starting point guard during his senior campaign. On a team that had Reggie Holmes scoring 21.5 points per game, Smith was never asked to do much scoring, yet he could score a few more points this year. However, his shooting needs to improve if he is going to ever be a major scoring threat. But Smith just needs to take care of the ball, feed the big men and get the rest of the team involved to have a successful season. Ameer Ali, a 6-4 junior, is more of a small forward than a shooting guard due to his lack of outside shooting, but the wing will likely be forced to the two guard spot if Coach Bozeman wants to start his five most talented and experienced players. Ali can do some scoring by attacking the basket and will be a great rebounder for a shooting guard.

Frontcourt:

Without Holmes on the floor, DeWayne Jackson is suddenly the team’s best outside shooting threat. The 6-8 forward was the conference’s player of the year in 2009-2010 after averaging 10.1 points and 4.3 rebounds. His size ideally makes him a power forward who can stretch out the defense, but on this team he will likely have to at least spend some time at the small forward spot so Kevin Thompson and Rodney Stokes can handle a majority of the minutes at the four and five spots with Childs backing them up. Stokes has never been much of a scorer, but he is a decent rebounder and a fine defender.

Who to Watch:

Thompson will take over this team. He may be the reigning conference defensive player of the year, but Thompson is so much more than a great shot blocker and defender. He was second on the team last year with 12.7 points and led the squad with 11.8 rebounds per contest. Those are some pretty impressive numbers to go along with his stellar defense. Once again the opposition will have a tough time scoring in the paint with Thompson, not to mention Stokes, hanging out under the basket.

Final Projection:

The backcourt lacks some firepower and the entire Morgan State squad lacks experienced depth. That may not be much of an issue come March once the newcomers learn their roles, but this could be the year somebody in the MEAC at least has a chance to catch the Golden Bears. But in the end the frontcourt is just way too dominating for anybody to catch Morgan State. And that should lead to the team’s third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Danny Smith, Senior, Guard, 2.8 ppg

Ameer Ali, Junior, Forward, 4.4 ppg

DeWayne Jackson, Sophomore, Forward, 10.1 ppg

Kevin Thompson, Junior, Forward, 12.7 ppg

Rodney Stokes, Senior, Forward, 3.0 ppg

Next Top 144 Teams
125		126		127		128		..All

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

West Virginia vs Morgan St: Odds & Prediction

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 07:46:43 -0700

Start: Mar 19 2010 - 12:15pm

Team Previews: #2 West Virginia -- #15 Morgan St

Vegas Odds: West Virginia -16.5 -- Bet at bodog

Why Morgan St will win:

This is not your average MEAC team. Morgan played a brutal schedule this year and is no stranger to playing BCS teams on the road. They only lost by 9 at Louisville, beat Arkansas, and hung in against Baylor for awhile. With the way the Big East has struggled, you never know.

Bear to Watch:

Kevin Thompson, F - 13 ppg, 12 rpg, 2 apg

While Reggie Holmes is the big scorer, Thompson might quietly be the Bears best player. He's very consistent and has proven he can play with the big boys, putting up 16 & 13 against Louisville and 10 & 14 against Arkansas. He'll certainly need a double-double here.

Why West Virginia will win:

WVU hasn't lost to a to team ranked below 65th in the RPI all year (Morgan St is 102nd) and with the exception of a close game at Cleveland St, they've put away all the opponents they're supposed to put away. If for whatever reason the game is close, WVU has a trump card in Da'Sean Butler

Mountaineer to Watch:

Darryl Bryant, G - 10 ppg, 2 rpg, 3 apg

Da'Sean Butler is WVU's star, but Bryant's play will be crucial if WVU goes deep (and wins today). He's had a fine season but has been losing time and confidence recently. In his last 4 games, he's 2-22 from the floor (brutal) and Joe Mazzulla's been playing more. Bryant gives WVU an edge on offense when he's on and they'll need him to turn it around.

How it will go down:

Although WVU's offensive output has been kind of weak recently, they'll find things easier against Morgan St, and eventually pull away in the 2nd however. However, the Bears will remain pesky throughout and just sneak in under the spread.

Betting Pick: Morgan St

Real Pick: West Virginia

Morgan St 2010 NCAA Tournament Capsule

Joel Welser — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 08:21:15 -0700

Morgan State Bears

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (27-9, 15-1)

Big Wins: 11/19 East Tennessee State (72-61), 11/24 at Arkansas (97-94), 1/16 at South Carolina State (72-67)

Bad Losses: 12/1 at Loyola MD (66-78), 12/29 vs Eastern Kentucky (62-76), 2/15 South Carolina State (68-71)

Last NCAA Appearance: 2009, First Round loss to Oklahoma

Coach: Todd Bozeman (2-4 in 4 NCAA appearances)

Why They Can Surprise:

Morgan State is easily the most talented team in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and their 15-1 record proves it. The reason for their success largely rides on the shoulders of two players, the first is one of the best players to ever suit up for the Bears and the other is a rising star in the conference. Senior Reggie Holmes has been a great scorer for the last four seasons and has not disappointed as a senior. He hits nearly three long balls per game and ended the regular season with an impressive 21.8 points per game.

The inside player is sophomore Kevin Thompson. While Thompson showed plenty of promise last year, he was relegated to the bench for most of the season. This time around he is almost always in the starting lineup and has proven to be nearly impossible to stop. He is a quality scorer in the paint and averages 12.8 points per contest, but it is ability to dominate on the glass against just about anybody that makes him so special.

Why They Can Disappoint:

The question is who is the third scorer behind Holmes and Thompson? DeWayne Jackson is a 6-8 forward with a very consistent outside shot, but he is just a freshman and the bright lights of March, not to mention the unfriendly confines of a larger arena, could make him less effective. Jackson does deserve a ton of credit for having a great year and shooting 43.9 percent from beyond the arc, but he needs to get more aggressive attacking the basket and using his size to his advantage. There are other options too. Troy Smith and Sean Thomas are decent ballhandlers, but are not great shooters. Joe Davis is a pure shooter, but he hits less than 24.7 percent of his long range attempts. The other option is undersized forward Ameer Ali, but he is pretty much just around for his tenacity on the glass.

Who To Watch:

Generally speaking Morgan State will find their third scorer from somewhere. With a team that easily goes nine deep, somebody will almost certainly be at least a threat to score outside of Holmes and Thompson. More importantly is the size of the frontcourt. Ali is often the starting power forward and he is just 6-4. That is where 6-10 junior Rodney Stokes comes into the conversation. Despite the difference in size, Stokes is not as good of a rebounder as Ali, but he is a much more imposing presence under the basket and the Bears best shotblocker. Against bigger teams, Stokes will have to play more minutes and at least provide a defensive presence.

Probable Starters:

Sean Thomas, Sophomore, Guard, 4.7 ppg, 3.1 apg

Troy Smith, Senior, Guard, 9.3 ppg, 1.8 apg

Reggie Holmes, Senior, Guard, 21.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.5 spg

Ameer Ali, Sophomore, Forward, 4.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg

Kevin Thompson, Sophomore, Forward, 12.8 ppg, 11.9 rpg

Key Roleplayers:

Joe Davis, Junior, Guard, 7.2 ppg, 1.0 apg

DeWayne Jackson, Freshman, Forward, 10.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg

Danny Smith, Junior, Guard, 2.8 ppg, 2.9 apg

Rodney Stokes, Junior, Forward, 3.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg

By the Numbers:

Scoring Offense: 76.9 (36^th in nation, 1^st in conference)

Scoring Defense: 71.0 (235, 8)

Field-Goal Percentage: 42.7 (208, 4)

Field-Goal Defense: 42.8 (155, 6)

Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 5.7 (212, 2)

Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 33.7 (180, 1)

Free-Throw Percentage: 70.4 (121, 3)

Rebound Margin: 3.9 (58, 1)

Assists Per Game: 12.5 (200, 3)

Turnovers Per Game: 13.3 (132, 3)

Follow Joel Welser's Postseason Capsules & College Basketball Previews on Twitter @Joel_Welser and on his Facebook page. Joel will be back in June for his annual Top 144 Teams in 144 Days preview on CollegeHoops.net

+ NCAA Basketball Tournament

• 2010 NCAA Tournament Coverage

• NCAA Tournament Capsules

• NIT Capsules

• NCAA Tournament Schedule

• Venue Info & Tickets

• Bracketology

College Hoops Monday Recap: Huskies Bag Another Top 10 Victim

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:37:33 -0800

Connecticut went into their game against West Virginia back in the NCAA Tournament conversation following wins over Villanova and Temple. But consistency has been a problem for the Huskies all season long, so it can be understood if some expected them to fall to West Virginia at the XL Center. A mediocre rebounding team for most of the season, the Huskies received a far better performance on the glass on Monday night, out-rebounding the Big East's best 37-33 in a 73-62 win. WVU fans will likely cite the foul shot disparity (42-23) as a major factor (Bob Huggins didn't stick around for the end, receiving a pair of technical fouls), but the fact that the Mountaineers made just twelve (52.2%) put them behind the 8-ball to begin with.

Kemba Walker led the Huskies with 21 points and four assists, scoring fourteen points from the foul line, while Stanley Robinson (15 points, 13 rebounds) and Jerome Dyson (17 points) chipped in. Dyson's biggest contribution may have come on the defensive end, where he was assigned Da'Sean Butler and held him to nine points on 2-for-10 shooting from the field. Devin Ebanks led the Mountaineers with 17 points and nine rebounds while Kevin Jones added 12 but the team's struggles from both the foul line and behind the arc (4-for-18) proved to be too much for the visitors. The win moves the Huskies further into the conversation for an at-large bid and moves their win streak to three.

"We've got a couple of pretty good, significant wins right now, and none of it means anything except that we have Louisville next Sunday," said head coach Jim Calhoun. "I have no misgivings about what we didn't do. All I care about is what we're doing right now. There's no look-back in life. There are no mulligans. I just happy with what we're doing now, and we still have a lot more work to do (quote courtesy of UConn Athletics)."

Three Key Happenings

1. Kansas takes care of Oklahoma, clinches share of the Big 12 title. No Willie Warren for Oklahoma meant little drama for the Jayhawks as they wrapped up at least a share of the Big 12 regular season title with an 81-68 win. Xavier Henry made all seven of his shots in the first half and finished with 23 points and five rebounds while Sherron Collins led three other starters in double figures with seventeen. Tommy Mason-Griffin led the Sooners with 17 while Andrew Fitzgerald, whose made field goal ended a streak of eleven straight misses to start the game, scored sixteen. The title is the sixth straight for Kansas and they can clinch it with either a Kansas State loss tomorrow night or a win in their next contest (at Oklahoma State on Saturday).

"To win six conference championships in a row and be undefeated is quite an accomplishment," said head coach Bill Self. "We are really proud of our guys. For Sherron to become the winningest player ever and for Cole to be named basically the student-athlete of the year, it was a pretty good day for our basketball program (quote courtesy of Kansas Athletics)." The Jayhawks have had the answers for much of the season and are one of the favorites to cut down the nets in Indianapolis. The only thing missing has been a "killer instinct", something they really haven't needed thus far. But with veterans like Collins and Cole Aldrich it won't be a trait they lack come March.

2. Texas receives the results on Dogus Balbay's MRI: torn ACL. Balbay's scoring deficiencies may be brought up often in discussing the struggles of the Longhorns, but if that were what's been holding Rick Barnes' team back then why hadn't either J'Covan Brown or Jai Lucas passed him in the rotation? Now with the native of Turkey done for the year with a torn ACL it's time for either one (or both) of those two to step up lest a once-promising season fall by the wayside. Dogus was the Longhorns' best perimeter defender and while the other two are more talented offensive players Brown's been inconsistent and Lucas a non-factor.

If there's to be any kind of turnaround Brown's the likely choice to run the point for Texas. Could the loss of Balbay mean more definitive roles or simply more confusion for a group that's struggled to find an identity? If it's the former then Texas can still be a team to keep an eye on next month. But if not they'll most likely flame out well before anyone expected them to back in November.

3. Morgan State clinches their third consecutive MEAC title. The Bears closed the game by outscoring the Hawks 9-5 in the final 1:27 to win 65-61, wrapping up at least a share of their third consecutive MEAC title in the process. Kevin Thompson led the way with 21 points and 10 rebounds as the Hawks missed five of their final six free throws, allowing Morgan State to escape despite leading scorer Reggie Holmes shooting 1-for-10 from the field. Rarely do teams win games on the road when they go 0-for-15 from behind the arc but when UMES shoots 9-for-21 from the foul line you get that chance.

Outside of a three-point loss to South Carolina St and their BracketBusters defeat at Murray State, Todd Bozeman's team has played very good basketball in 2010. Could they scare someone in the NCAA Tournament provided they win the MEAC Tournament? Yes; Holmes isn't going to shoot 1-for-10 from the field very often. As for the history of the MEAC Tournament, only three times in the last decade did a team that didn't have one of the top two seeds win the automatic bid.

Top Three Games

1. Prairie View A&M 69, Mississippi Valley St. 68 Christopher Jones' layup with two seconds left gave the Panthers the one-point road win in Itta Bena. Jones scored eleven while Dorian McDaniel led the way with 22 points, and Shannon Behling led MVSU with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

2. Connecticut 73, West Virginia 62 See above.

3. Seattle 90, San Jose St 88 Adrian Oliver scored 35 points and four Spartans reached double figures but it wasn't enough to make up for a bench that produced zero points. Charles Garcia led the Redhawks with 20 as Seattle U picked up their fifth win in their last six games.

Three Notable Perfomances

1. G Adrian Oliver (San Jose St) 35 points (9-14 FG, 17-18 FT) in the Spartans' 90-88 loss to Seattle.

2. G/F Dana Smith (Longwood) Played forty minutes, scoring 25 points and grabbing ten rebounds in the Lancers' 96-86 loss at James Madison. G Pierre Curtis (James Madison) added his own 25 & 10 (his were assists) in the same game.

3. G Michael Deloach (Norfolk St) 31 points, five steals and four assists in the Spartans' 82-62 win over South Carolina St.

Poll: Best Low-Major Team?

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 07:22:00 -0800

BracketBusters TV Pairings Announced

Press Release — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:57:22 -0800

ESPN announced today live on ESPNU’s 2010 BracketBusters Selection Show the pairings for the eighth annual BracketBusters – a two-day men’s college basketball event pitting NCAA Tournament hopefuls Friday, Feb. 19, and Saturday, Feb. 20. The field features two ranked teams, No. 15 Butler and No. 22 Northern Iowa, as well as the return of Siena, which also received votes in the ESPN/USA Today Top 25 Coaches Poll.

BracketBusters will feature 11 nationally televised games live, selected from a pool of 98 teams. ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network, will televise five BracketBusters games, and ESPN2 will televise six, all simulcast on ESPN360.com, ESPN’s customized broadband service. Three of the ESPN2 telecasts will be in high definition. The matchups are highlighted by Old Dominion at No. 22 Northern Iowa on Friday, Feb. 19, at 7 p.m., and Siena at No. 15 Butler on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 11 a.m. ET, both on ESPN2 HD and ESPN360.com.

2010 BracketBusters Schedule

Date	Time (ET)	Matchup	Network(s)
Fri, Feb 19	7 p.m.	Old Dominion at No. 22 Northern Iowa	ESPN2 HD / ESPN360.com
	9 p.m.	William & Mary at Iona	ESPNU
Sat, Feb 20	11 a.m.	Siena at No. 15 Butler	ESPN2 HD / ESPN360.com
	Noon	Morgan State at Murray State	ESPNU
	1 p.m.	Louisiana Tech at Northeastern	ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
	3 p.m.	Nevada at Missouri State	ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
	4 p.m.	Akron at Virginia Commonwealth	ESPNU
	8 p.m.	Coll. of Charleston at George Mason	ESPN2 HD / ESPN360.com
	8 p.m.	Western Carolina at Kent State	ESPNU
	10 p.m.	New Mexico State at Pacific	ESPNU
	11:59 p.m.	Wichita State at Utah State	ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

This year’s 22 BracketBusters teams represent 10 conferences and:

· Two ranked teams: No. 15 Butler and No. 22 Northern Iowa

· 19 teams in the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) top 100: No. Iowa (16); Butler (18); Siena (44); Old Dominion (46); Wichita State (48); William & Mary (51); Utah State (55); Northeastern (56); Virginia Commonwealth (60); Nevada (66); Kent State (69); Western Carolina (73); La. Tech (74); New Mexico State (82); Missouri State (84); Iona (85); Murray State (92); College of Charleston (94); Pacific (95)

· Seven 2009 NCAA Tournament participants: Northern Iowa; Siena; Butler; Morgan Sate; Akron; Virginia Commonwealth; Utah State

· 16 teams with 15 or more wins overall: Old Dominion; Northern Iowa; William & Mary; Iona; Siena; Butler; Morgan State; Murray State; La. Tech; Missouri State; Akron; Virginia Commonwealth; George Mason; Western Carolina; Wichita State; Utah State

· Four teams undefeated in conference play: Butler; Siena; Morgan State and Murray State

Poll: Who Will Win the MEAC?

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:19:16 -0700