Morehead St

Friday Tournament Predictions: Horizon, OVC, MVC, WCC

Greg Mengelt — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 10:54:50 -0500

Our g ame prediction guru Greg Mengelt has been on fire this year. He'll be picking every conference tournament game over the next 2 weeks. Read more about Championship Week at CollegeHoops.net.

ATLANTIC SUN SEMIFINALS: AT MACON, GA.

Belmont (25-7, 16-2) vs. East Tennessee State (17-13, 10-8)

Tipoff: 6 p.m. TV: Comcast Sports. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 23 – Belmont 82-70; Feb. 18 – Belmont 80-58. RPI: Belmont 63, East Tennessee State 180. Analysis: Belmont beat the Buccaneers by a combined 34 points in two meetings this year. Can’t find a reason why the Bruins won’t blow them out again. Line: Belmont -12. Pick: Belmont 88, East Tennessee State 66.

Mercer (22-10, 13-5) vs. Florida Gulf Coast (14-16, 8-10)

Tipoff: Approx. 8:30 p.m. TV: Comcast Sports. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 2 – Mercer 76-54; Feb. 20 – Mercer 75-66. RPI: Mercer 126, Florida Gulf Coast 238. Analysis: Mercer looked better in its win over Lipscomb, but the Bears probably aren’t playing well enough yet to take them against the spread. Line: Mercer -9.5. Pick: Mercer 71, Florida Gulf Coast 67.

HORIZON LEAGUE QUARETRFINALS: AT VALPARAISO, IND.

(3) Detroit (19-13, 11-7) vs. (6) Youngstown State (16-14, 10-8)

Tipoff: 6 p.m. TV: Horizon League Network/ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 1 – Youngstown 64-61*; Feb. 25 – Detroit 76-74*. RPI: Detroit 158, Youngstown State 166. Analysis: Detroit’s underachieving roller coaster season comes to an end. Line: Detroit -6. Pick: Youngstown State 68, Detroit 65.

(4) Milwaukee (20-12, 11-7) vs. (5) Butler (19-13, 11-7)

Tipoff: Approx. 8:30 p.m. TV: Horizon League Network/ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 31 – Butler 54-50; Jan. 26 – Milwaukee 53-42. RPI: Milwaukee 124, Butler 112. Analysis: The Butler magic lives on – for one more day. Line: Butler -1. Pick: Butler 66, Milwaukee 61.

MISSOURI VALLEY QUARTERFINALS: AT ST. LOUIS

(1) Wichita State (26-4, 16-2) vs. (8) Indiana State (17-13, 8-10)

Tipoff: 1 p.m. TV: MVC TV. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 15 – Wichita State 75-65*; Feb. 4 – Wichita State 71-66. RPI: Wichita State 12, Indiana State 130. Analysis: This isn’t a typical 1/8 matchup with the Sycamores finishing a game behind third place. Indiana State is closer to the team that won last year’s tournament than to the one that struggled during the middle of this season. Line: Wichita St -10. Pick: Wichita State 70, Indiana State 62.

(4) Illinois State (18-12, 9-9) vs. (5) Northern Iowa (19-12, 9-9)

Tipoff: Approx. 3:30 p.m. TV: MVC TV. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 29 – Illinois State 65-61; Feb. 11 – Northern Iowa 78-63. RPI: Illinois State 125, Northern Iowa 62. Analysis: This game could go either way, so take the team with more post-season experience. Line: Northern Iowa -2. Line: Northern Iowa -2. Pick: Northern Iowa 70, Illinois State 67.

(2) Creighton (25-5, 14-4) vs. (7) Drake (16-14, 9-9)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. TV: MVC TV. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 3 – Creighton 76-59; Jan. 25 – Creighton 77-69. RPI: Creighton 25, Drake 127. Analysis: Except for a late push against Long Beach State, the Blue Jays just aren’t playing as well as they were earlier this season. It would be tough to take them by more than a handful of points. Line: Creighton -8. Pick: Creighton 69, Drake 65.

(3) Evansville (15-14, 9-9) vs. (6) Missouri State (16-15, 9-9)

Tipoff: Approx. 9:30 p.m. TV: MVC TV. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 15 – Evansville 87-82 (OT)*; Feb. 25 – Evansville 75-70 (OT). RPI: Evansville 138, Missouri State 108. Analysis: Missouri State senior Kyle Weems will find a way to shine in his final week, and the Bear defense will clamp down on Ace star Colt Ryan. Line: Missouri State -2. Pick: Missouri State 77, Evansville 70.

OHIO VALLEY SEMIFINALS: AT NASHVILLE

(1) Murray State (28-1, 15-1) vs. (4) Tennessee Tech (19-12, 9-7)

Tipoff: 6 p.m. TV: ESPNU. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 14 – Murray State 82-74; Feb. 25 – Murray State 69-64*. RPI: Murray State 31, Tennessee Tech 151. Analysis: Tennessee Tech found a way to keep both regular-season meetings close, and Kevin Murphy and the Eagles will push the Racers again. Line: Murray St -8. Pick: Murray State 70, Tennessee Tech 64.

(2) Tennessee State (19-11, 11-5) vs. (3) Morehead State (18-14, 10-6)

Tipoff: Approx. 8 p.m. TV: ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 11 – Tennessee State 77-72. RPI: Tennessee State 131, Morehead State 173. Analysis: With an extra day of rest, Tennessee State will pull away from the Eagles early in the second half. Line: Tennessee St -4. Pick: Tennessee State 81, Morehead State 69.

WCC QUARTERFINALS: AT LAS VEGAS

(4) Loyola Marymount (19-11, 11-5) vs. (5) San Francisco (19-12, 8-8)

Tipoff: 9 p.m. TV: ESPNU. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 31 – Loyola Marymount 77-76 (OT)*; Feb. 4 – Loyola Marymount 90-88. RPI: Loyola Marymount 119, San Francisco 147. Analysis: Vegas is begging you to take LMU, don't fall for it. Line: San Francisco -1.5. Pick: Loyola Marymount 78, San Francisco 75.

(3) BYU (24-7, 12-4) vs. (6) San Diego (12-17, 9-7)

Tipoff: Approx. 11 p.m. TV: ESPNU. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 31 – BYU 88-52; Jan. 16 – BYU 82-63*. RPI: BYU 50, San Diego 193. Analysis: BYU will control the boards and its defensive end en route to an easy win. Line: BYU -13. Pick: BYU 78, San Diego 55.

*Road win

Greg Against the Spread This Season: 95-62-2

Thursday Tournament Predictions: A-Sun, Big South, NEC, OVC

Greg Mengelt — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:26:02 -0500

Our g ame prediction guru Greg Mengelt has been on fire this year. He'll be picking almost conference tournament game over the next 2 weeks.

BIG SOUTH SEMIFINALS: AT ASHEVILLE

(7) VMI (16-15, 8-10) vs. (6) Winthrop (12-19, 8-10)

Tipoff: 6 p.m. TV: ESPNU. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 7 – Winthrop 91-84; Feb. 4 – VMI 86-79. RPI: VMI 275, Winthrop 264. Analysis: The Keydets have won 4 of 5 and don’t appear to be a fluke after Wednesday’s blowout win over 2-seed Coastal Carolina. Pick: VMI 85, Winthrop 80.

(1) UNC-Asheville (22-9, 16-2) vs. (4) Charleston Southern (19-11, 11-7)

Tipoff: 8 p.m. TV: ESPNU. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 19 – Charleston Southern 93-88*. RPI: Asheville 122, Charleston Southern 178. Analysis: This appears to be the Big South championship, for all intents and purposes. Hard to imagine either side wins by more than five or six. Pick: Asheville 83, Charleston Southern 79.

ATLANTIC SUN QUARTERFINALS: AT MACON, GA.

(4) East Tennessee State (16-13, 10-8) vs. (5) North Florida (16-15, 10-8)

Tipoff: 2:30 p.m. TV: ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 16 – ETSU 64-63*; Feb. 11 – ETSU 65-50. RPI: East Tennessee 191, North Florida 168. Analysis: Both teams have won three straight and are playing as well as anyone in the league except Belmont. This one could go either way. Line: East Tennessee State -2. Pick: North Florida 69, East Tennessee State 66.

(3) USC-Upstate (20-11, 13-5) vs. (6) Florida Gulf Coast (13-16, 8-10)

Tipoff: 8:30 p.m. TV: ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Dec.19 – Upstate 80-75*; Feb. 23 – Upstate 87-74. RPI: Upstate 134, Florida Gulf Coast 237. Analysis: It may be tough to beat a team three times in a season, but not when you’re the significantly better team. Line: Upstate -8. Pick: USC-Upstate 79, Florida Gulf Coast 62.

OHIO VALLEY QUARTERFINALS: AT NASHVILLE

(4) Tennessee Tech (18-12, 9-7) vs. (5) Southeast Missouri State (15-15, 9-7)

Tipoff: 6 p.m. TV: OVCSports.TV. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 21 – Tennessee Tech 77-62. RPI: Tennessee Tech 159, Southeast Missouri State 255. Analysis: Tech is the better team, but with a game under its belt in the tournament, the Redhawks will keep it competitive. Pick: Tennessee Tech 70, Southeast Missouri State 68.

(3) Morehead State (17-14, 10-6) vs. (7) Jacksonville State (14-17, 8-8)

Tipoff: 8 p.m. TV: OVCSports.TV. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 5 – Morehead State 63-55*; Feb. 8 – Jacksonville State 69-55*. RPI: Morehead State 175, 228. Analysis: The Gamecocks are playing very well. This would be a good time to take an underdog straight up. Pick: Jacksonville State 66, Morehead State 62.

NORTHEAST QUARTERFINALS: AT CAMPUS SITES

(8) Sacred Heart (14-17, 8-10) at (1) Long Island (22-8, 16-2)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 5 – Long Island 87-81*; Feb. 16 – Long Island 103-91 (OT). RPI: Sacred Heart 239, Long Island 100. Analysis: Long Island will run its way to a runaway. Line: Long Island -9. Pick: Long Island 91, Sacred Heart 72.

(7) Central Connecticut State (13-15, 10-8) at (2) Wagner (24-5, 15-3)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 14 – Wagner 67-58; Feb. 25 – Central Connecticut 78-61. RPI: Wagner 89, Central Connecticut 225. Analysis: Ignore the records. These teams have similar talent and this one will be close. Line: Wagner -10. Pick: Wagner 74, Central Connecticut 72.

(6) Monmouth (12-19, 10-8) at (3) Robert Morris (22-9, 13-5)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 3 – Robert Morris 69-51; Jan. 21 – Robert Morris 81-73 (OT). RPI: Robert Morris 121, Monmouth 235. Analysis: RMU is poised to make a deep run in this tourney. Line: Robert Morris -10. Pick: Robert Morris 76, Monmouth 59.

(5) Quinnipiac (17-12, 10-8) at (4) St. Francis (NY) (15-14, 12-6)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 5 – St. Francis 73-72; Feb. 16 – St. Francis 64-56*. RPI: St. Francis 203, Quinnipiac 169. Analysis: St. Francis got the better of the regular-season matchups, but the Bobcats should move on in the post-season. Line: Quinnipiac -2½. Pick: Quinnipiac 67, St. Francis 64.

*Road win

Greg Against the Spread This Season: 89-59

Southwest Region Final Thoughts: What's in Store for 2011-12?

Raphielle Johnson — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:01:01 -0400

Next up in the short series of looking ahead to next season is the Southwest region, where things essentially went haywire the first weekend. Advancing to San Antonio was the top seed Kansas and seeds 10 through 12, and when the dust settled VCU won the region. A number of teams have some important personnel issues to address, but the Jayhawks won't be the lone team expected to contend for their league title out of this region in 2011-12. (1) Kansas: lost to VCU in the Elite 8
While most programs would happily accept a trip the regional final, that's not exactly the case for a Kansas squad that arrived in San Antonio with their road to Houston looking like a two-game cakewalk. They took care of Richmond, only to fall victim to VCU in the Elite 8. Now comes the roster turnovers, with the Morris twins and Josh Selby entering the NBA Draft, and seniors Mario Little, Brady Morningstar and Tyrel Reed graduating. That puts more on the shoulders of guards Tyshawn Taylor and Elijah Johnson in addition to forward Thomas Robinson, and the latter should be ready for the leading role. The recruiting class lacks in quantity but not in quality, with wing Ben McLemore and point guard Naadir Tharpe both expected to have an impact next season. Kansas will still be a player in the Big 12 race despite the heavy losses.

(2) Notre Dame: lost to Florida State in the third round
An outstanding season that featured their best finish as a Big East member (2nd) came to a screeching halt in their loss to the Seminoles, which surprised people more by the way in which it happened than the mere result. There will be two important losses to account for next season as Big East Player of the Year Ben Hansbrough and forward Tyrone Nash are out of eligibility, but there's a lot of experience returning as well. Tim Abromaitis, Eric Atkins, Jack Cooley, Scott Martin, and Carleton Scott will be expected to lead while redshirt Jerian Grant and incoming freshman Pat Connaughton will both have to help fill the large hole left in the lineup by Hansbrough. There may be other teams picked to win the Big East but don't sleep on Mike Brey's group as they should be pretty good next year.

(3) Purdue: lost to VCU in the third round
The Boilermakers first went through the process of being whipped by the Rams in Chicago, then had to deal with the drama that was the pursuit of head coach Matt Painter by Missouri. Painter decided to remain at his alma mater in a move most saw as angling for a new deal (which he received), but at least Purdue avoided a third critical loss heading into the offseason. Seniors JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore move on, leaving the team to Robbie Hummel (who missed this season with a torn ACL) and point guard Lewis Jackson. Patrick Bade, D.J. Byrd, Terone Johnson and Ryne Smith are four of the players who will be needed to step up next season, and the Boilers welcome two solid frontcourt players in Donnie Hale and Jacob Lawson. If Hummel can remain healthy the Boilers may not be a favorite in the Big Ten, but they'll likely slide in just behind Ohio State.

(4) Louisville: lost to Morehead State in the second round
Rick Pitino did one of the best coaching jobs in the nation this season, a campaign that began in rather embarrassing fashion for him. But he had a team that was far more unselfish than last year's group, and senior Preston Knowles emerged as the perfect leader for this group. But once he went down with just over nine minutes remaining the Cardinals lost their best offensive threat, ultimately falling to Morehead State in the second round. Knowles will leave big shoes to fill from a leadership standpoint but everyone else returns, including Terrence Jennings, Kyle Kuric and Peyton Siva. Add in an outstanding recruiting class led by Wayne Blackshear and Chane Behanan, and Rakeem Buckles and Josh Swopshire should be healthy, and it's not hard to see this team competing for a Big East title.

(5) Vanderbilt: lost to Richmond in the second round
The move from a four to a five-seed did little to help out the Commodores, who once again lost their first NCAA Tournament game (they were a four in losses to Siena and Murray State). Point guard play was an issue, with Kevin Stallings having to rely on Brad Tinsley as the primary option. That changes with Kedren Johnson's arrival, and along with Dai-John Parker Vandy brings in a very good freshman backcourt (Shelby Moats will likely figure in the frontcourt rotation). If John Jenkins and Jeffery Taylor decide to return this is a group that could be in the conversation with Kentucky atop the SEC East. Festus Ezeli, Lance Goulbourne, Rod Odom and Steve Tchiengang all return up front as well. If this group gets good play at the point and some added toughness they should hang around the NCAA Tournament substantially longer in 2012.

(6) Georgetown: lost to VCU in the second round
Georgetown's season went downhill the moment point guard Chris Wright broke his left hand in a loss to Cincinnati in February. Even though he was on the floor in the loss to VCU the Hoyas were ripe for the picking in that one. Now Wright and Austin Freeman move on as does big man Julian Vaughn, meaning that more responsibility falls on the shoulders of players such as Jason Clark, ante Lubick, Markel Starks and Hollis Thompson. Lubick, Jerrelle Benimon and Henry Sims will all need to step up inside, and they'll be helped out by the addition of Tyler Adams, Mikael Hopkins and Greg Whittington. Shooting guard Jabril Trawick will also figure into the plans for John Thompson III, and while they won't be picked in the upper echelon of the Big East the Hoyas should return to the Big Dance.

(7) Texas A&M: lost to Florida State in the second round
Mark Turgeon's Aggies had a good season, winning 24 games before being knocked out of the tournament by Florida State in the second round. And that was without consistent scoring from the backcourt. B.J. Holmes and Nathan Walkup are the two biggest losses for A&M next year, with David Lobeau and Khris Middleton being two of the key players expected to return. But who helps out Dash Harris in the backcourt will have a lot to do with how well the Aggies do in the reconfigured Big 12. The good news is that A&M did well on the recruiting trail, signing point guard Jamal Branch and shooting guard Jordan Green and both should be able to help out. A&M will be back in the Big Dance, the only question is how long they'll stick around.

(8) UNLV: lost to Illinois in the second round
Once again a promising season was derailed in the first NCAA Tournament game for UNLV, this time falling in surprising fashion to an Illinois squad that limped into the tournament. Now a program that has to make up for the loss of Derrick Jasper and Tre'Von Willis will also need to find a new head coach as Lon Kruger moved on to take the Oklahoma job. UNLV released a list of four finalists: Dave Rice (BYU assistant, played on the 1990 national title team), Reggie Theus (former head coach at New Mexico State, played under Jerry Tarkanian in the late-70s), St. John's assistant Mike Dunlap and former Oregon head coach Ernie Kent. Whoever gets the job should have some good pieces to work with (provided they stay) in Oscar Bellfield, Anthony Marshall, Chace Stanback and Quintrell Thomas. The Rebels are a likely tournament team as it stands right now, but it's tough to make that leap without knowing who AD Jim Livengood will hire.

(9) Illinois: lost to Kansas in the third round
The Fighting Illini, who disappointed for much of the year, popped up and surprised some people in their 73-62 win over UNLV in the second round. The veterans put forth a good fight to continue their college careers but Kansas proved to be too much, meaning that head coach Bruce Weber needs to go about replacing Mike Davis, Demetri McCamey and Mike Tisdale in addition to freshman Jereme Richmond (going pro and hiring an agent). But there's talent due back in Champaign, as Brandon Paul and D.J. Richardson will need to step up as leaders. Crandall Head and Meyers Leonard should get more chances to make things happen as well, and a strong recruiting class (especially in the frontcourt) should help matters. Tracy Abrams, Mycheal Henry and Mike Shaw are three of the five incoming players, and after some early growing pains this could be a tournament team.

(10) Florida State: lost to VCU in the Sweet 16
Despite their offensive woes the Seminoles won two tournament games thanks in large part to the nation's best defense, and that was without Chris Singleton for most of February. Singleton has a decision to make in regards to the NBA Draft but with many expecting him to be a first round pick, it may be best for Leonard Hamilton to plan for 2011-12 without the junior coming back. Derwin Kitchen is the only actual (as of right now) departure of note, and if this team can improve it's offensive efficiency look out. Michael Snaer is due for a breakout campaign and Ian Miller should be better as a sophomore. The frontcourt will not lack for bodies and they've got a very good recruiting class as well (Antwan Space, Aaron Thomas and Terry Whisnant all highly-touted recruits). North Carolina will be the preseason favorite in the ACC, but on paper Florida State may merit consideration.

(11) USC: lost to VCU in the First Four
The Trojans somehow found themselves in the NCAA Tournament when few gave them a chance of earning an at-large bid in February, but their offensive woes were exposed by VCU in the First Four. Now comes the rebuilding job for Kevin O'Neill, and boy will he have his work cut out for him. Nikola Vucevic (leaving school early) and Alex Stepheson both move on, as do Donte Smith and Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Simmons. That means more work for Jio Fontan and Maurice Jones in the backcourt, and that pales in comparison to what the Trojans will need up front. Byron Wesley and Alexis Moore lead a four-member recruiting class that also has a seven-footer (James Blasczyk). It may be a long year in the Galen Center due in large part to the losses up front.

(11) VCU: lost to Butler in the Final Four
VCU didn't even have a team get-together on Selection Sunday but once selected Shaka Smart's team did not allow the opportunity to go to waste, getting all the way to the Final Four before falling to Butler. Coach Smart ignored the offers from other programs, signing an eight-year extension to remain in Richmond .That's good for both the Rams and the CAA, but there are also some important departures to account for this offseason as well. Four seniors (Ed Nixon, Joey Rodriguez, Brandon Rozzell and Jamie Skeen) were key contributors in the run to Houston, but there are some returning players who picked up valuable experience due back. The frontcourt looks to be in better shape with DJ Haley, Juvonte Reddic and Toby Veal returning, but guard Darius Theus should be a solid compliment to Bradford Burgess on the wing. Briante Weber and Treveon Graham should help on the perimeter as well, so look for VCU to once again be a factor in the CAA.

(12) Richmond: lost to Kansas in the Sweet 16
Chris Mooney found himself in a similar situation to Shaka Smart after his team's run to the second weekend, and like Smart he decided to remain in Richmond with a new deal. The Spiders also have some senior departures to account for, with Kevin Anderson, Dan Geriot, Justin Harper and Kevin Smith (all starters) moving on. Darien Brothers, Darius Garrett and Francis Martel will all be important figures next season for Richmond, who also welcome a pair of power forwards (Alonzo Nelson-Ododa and Luke Piotrowski) who have the ability to enhance the Spiders' interior play. Richmond likely misses the NCAA Tournament without that Atlantic 10 Tournament title, and they could find themselves in a similar position given the heavy senior losses.

(13) Morehead State: lost to Richmond in the third round
Led by seniors Kenneth Faried and Demonte Harper, Donnie Tyndall's Eagles won the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament and knocked off Louisville in the second round. Richmond ultimately had too much for them but that defeat shouldn't take away from their season. Add in Sam Goodman's 8.3 points per game and Morehead has to replace three of their top four scorers. The good news is that Terrance Hill and Ty Proffitt return and should make up one of the better backcourt tandems in the OVC, but if Drew Kelly and others are incapable of stepping up inside the Eagles may have issues. Coach Tyndall and his staff signed an eight-player class for this season, and there will be a need for some of those frontcourt guys (especially Jeff Drew) to step up in 2011-12.

(14) Saint Peter's: lost to Purdue in the second round
John Dunne's rebuilding plan delivered this March as the Peacocks rode their stifling defense to the MAAC Tournament title. Seniors Ryan Bacon, Jeron Belin, Wesley Jenkins and Nick Leon led the MAAC's best defensive team, and their departure leaves a huge hole in the Peacock rotation. So who steps up for SPC next season? One would have to start with guard Steven Samuels, who will be the team's leading returning scorer with an average of 7.1 points per game. Darius Conley started 25 games (moving Belin into the 6th man role sparked SPC's revival) and if Blaise Ffrench can remain healthy they'll have an answer at the point. Saint Peter's has just one commit thus far so there's work to be done with the unsigned guys who may remain, but either way it's tough to see this group being a favorite in the MAAC come October.

(15) Akron: lost to Notre Dame in the second round
The Zips once again reached the MAC Tournament title game, this time beating bitter rival Kent State in a close contest. Keith Dambrot's team ultimately fell to Notre Dame in the second round but that won't put a damper on things, and there should be enough talent returning for the Zips to make another run in 2011-12. Three of their top six scorers do move on in Brett McKnight, Steve McNees and Darryl Roberts, but Nikola Cvetinovic and Brett McClanahan will be back. And there's also seven-footer Zeke Marshall due back to patrol the inside. Marshall's shot blocking ability is well-known, and an offseason working on his offensive game and strength will make him even better as a junior. The MAC rarely has a runaway team during the regular season, so look for Akron to figure prominently in the discussions for conference champion come October.

(16) Boston University: lost to Kansas in the second round
John Holland helped lead the Terriers back to the NCAA Tournament, and while the senior was a First Team All-America East selection he wasn't the lone reason for BU's rise. Darryl Partin proved to be a capable sidekick with Jake O'Brien being lost for the year in January due to injury, and those two should make a formidable pairing next season. Holland is the lone personnel loss for Patrick Chambers' team, and with Patrick Hazel and Dom Morris joining O'Brien in the frontcourt the Terriers will likely be the preseason favorite in America East. Power forward James Kennedy will have the opportunity to earn minutes as a freshman but there shouldn't be much pressure on either he or guard Zach Chionuma to be "the answer" given BU's depth.

2011 CollegeHoops.net Mid-Major All-Americans

CHN — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 01:31:21 -0400

With Butler and VCU making Final Four runs, CollegeHoops.net's Mid-Major All-America teams feature multiple stars who are playing deep into March. Kenneth Faried, our Mid-Major Player of the Year, led the country in rebounding while leading Morehead St to a first round upset of Louisville in the NCAA Tournament. He's joined by forwards Matt Howard of Butler and Keith Benson of Oakland on the First Team, along with high-scoring guards Charles Jenkins of Hofstra and Andrew Goudelock of Charleston.

Butler (Howard and Shelvin Mack) and Old Dominion (Frank Hassell and Kent Bazemore) are the only teams to feature multiple players on the list. Butler knocked off Old Dominion in the first round of the Big Dance in heart-breaking fashion before returning to the Final Four for the 2nd season in a row.

CollegeHoops.net Mid-Major Player of the Year:

F Kenneth Faried, Morehead St, Sr

CollegeHoops.net First-Team Mid-Major All-America
G Charles Jenkins, Hofstra, Sr
G Andrew Goudelock, Charleston, Sr
F Kenneth Faried, Morehead St, Sr
F Keith Benson, Oakland, Sr
F Matt Howard, Butler, Sr

Second-Team Mid-Major All-America

G Shelvin Mack, Butler, Jr
G Norris Cole, Cleveland St, Sr
F Mike Glover, Iona, Jr
F Frank Hassell, Old Dominion, Sr
F Justin Greene, Kent State, Jr

Third-Team Mid-Major All-America
G Devon Beitzel, Northern Colorado, Sr
G Cam Long, George Mason, Sr
F Noah Dahlman, Wofford, Sr
F Keith Wright, Harvard, Jr
F Ryan Rossiter, Siena, Sr

Fourth-Team Mid-Major All-America

G Casper Ware, Long Beach St, Jr

G/F Mike Smith, ETSU, Sr

F Kareem Maddox, Princeton, Sr
F Jamie Skeen, VCU, Sr
F Orlando Johnson, UCSB, Jr

Honorable Mention

F Chaisson Allen, Northeastern, Sr

G/F Kent Bazemore, Old Dominion, Jr

F Denzel Bowles, James Madison, Sr

F Julian Boyd, LIU, So

G Solomon Bozeman, UALR, Sr

G Ian Clark, Belmont, So

F Gilberto Clavell, Sam Houston St, Sr

G DJ Cooper, Ohio, So

G Vaughn Duggins, Wright St, Sr

G TyShawn Edmondson, Austin Peay, Jr

G Devin Gibson, UTSA, Sr

F Chad Gray, Coastal Carolina, Sr

F Adnan Hodzic, Lipscomb, Sr

F Ken Horton, CCSU, Jr

C Greg Mangano, Yale, Jr

F Julian Mavunga, Miami, Jr

G CJ McCollum, Lehigh, So

F Mike Muscala, Bucknell, So

G Derek Needham, Fairfield, So

G CJ Reed, Bethune-Cookman, Jr

G Jesse Sanders, Liberty, Jr

G Xavier Silas, Northern Illinois, Sr

F Alex Young, IUPUI, Jr

Also:

National All-Americans: Jimmer Fredette POY

High-Major All-Americans: A10, CUSA, MVC, MWC, WAC, WCC

Third Round Saturday: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 12:15:26 -0400

East Region
Tampa
12:15 PM (4) Kentucky vs. (5) West Virginia (CBS)
These two met in last year's East Region final in Syracuse, with the West Virginia defense harassing the Wildcats into a horrific night from deep. This edition of the Kentucky Wildcats shoots the basketball better but they're still young with a few of the key spots in the rotation once again manned by freshmen. Brandon Knight was scoreless for more than 39 minutes on Thursday against Princeton before scoring the game-winning basket, and he'll have another tough matchup on Saturday with senior guard Joe Mazzulla.

Mazzulla was outstanding in the Elite 8 win, and with players such as Truck Bryant and Kevin Jones also on the floor the Mountaineers can get back to the Sweet 16. They played very well in the second half against Clemson on Thursday, and if West Virginia can attack the offensive boards they can make the Wildcats pay. Kentucky scores more per game and shoots a higher percentage from the field but WVU's offensive rebounding makes them a more efficient team than their field goal percentage would lead one to believe. Josh Harrellson and Terrence Jones need to keep the Mountaineers off the glass in order to win, and they're more than capable of doing so.

Southeast Region
Tampa
2:45 PM (2) Florida vs. (7) UCLA (CBS)

Washington, D.C.
7:10 PM (1) Pittsburgh vs. (8) Butler (TBS)

Denver
7:45 PM (3) BYU vs. (11) Gonzaga (CBS)
After getting past Wofford on Thursday, BYU runs into a team with the size and rebounding ability to take full advantage of the Cougars' lack of interior depth in Gonzaga. The Bulldogs were outstanding on Thursday night, dominating St. John's on the glass and shooting well over 50% from the field. Mark Few's team is a plus-6.5 in rebounding margin on the season, and with the likes of Elias Harris and Robert Sacre up front it should come as no surprise that the Bulldogs can rebound.

Guard Steven Gray does a solid job on the boards as well, averaging nearly four rebounds per game. Jimmer Fredette will get his points, that much is to be expected. But who steps up for BYU tonight? Jackson Emery may be the obvious choice here, but BYU will also need a frontcourt player (Charles Abouo or Noah Hartsock) to step up. Gonzaga is deeper and across the board may be more talented once you get past Fredette. Use of the word "upset" should the Bulldogs win would be a reach at this point.

Tucson
8:40 PM (4) Wisconsin vs. (5) Kansas State (TNT)
Two of the premier guards in America will be on display in Wisconsin's Jordan Taylor and Kansas State's Jacob Pullen. But who advances may depend on the play of the two frontcourts, especially Curtis Kelly and Jamar Samuels for the Wildcats. Kelly scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds in Kansas State's win over Utah State on Thursday night but Samuels was quiet due in large part to foul trouble. Kansas State can't afford such a situation today, especially with Jon Leuer and Keaton Nankivil making up one of the best interior tandems in the Big Ten. Both also have the ability to step out on the perimeter and knock down shots, and with the Badgers doing a very good job of controlling the number of possessions in a game it's imperative that Kansas State remain poised.

Southwest Region
Denver
5:15 PM (12) Richmond vs. (13) Morehead State (CBS)
At least one double-digit seed will play next weekend thanks to this matchup, and the question for Richmond is how they go about containing Morehead State's Kenneth Faried. The senior from Newark grabbed 17 rebounds in Thursday's win over Louisville, and his presence will put pressure on the Spiders' Darius Garrett and Dan Geriot inside. Thanks to the presence of Faried the Eagles are a plus-9.4 in rebounding margin, an area that Richmond has struggled with this season.

But the Spiders have been very good defensively, keeping their last seven opponents below 40% from the field. And in seniors Kevin Anderson and Justin Harper Richmond has two outstanding players that can make things happen offensively. Harper was quiet on Thursday against Vanderbilt but the Commodores had Rod Odom to match up with him. Morehead State's Demonte Harper, who knocked down the game-winning three pointer, also has the ability to take over a game on the perimeter, which should make for a fun afternoon in Denver.

West Region
Tucson
6:10 PM (2) San Diego State vs. (7) Temple (TNT)
The Aztecs are just 40 minutes away from their first-ever Sweet 16, and with the next round of games in the West being played in Anaheim they'd enjoy quite the advantage fan-wise. But they'll have their work cut out for them tonight, especially if they take the same caliber of perimeter shots they threw up in the first half of Thursday's win over Northern Colorado. The Aztecs shot 32.4% in the half and went into the break leading by just six points (30-24). Steve Fisher's team did a better job of working the ball inside in the second half to eventually pull away but the task will be far tougher in dealing with Temple.

The Owls needed a Juan Fernandez leaner with four tenths of a second remaining to beat Penn State, and they're going to need all available players to chip in on the glass in order to win tonight. Lavoy Allen has fought hard up front since the loss of Micheal Eric and the Owls out-rebounded Penn State by two on Thursday, but the Aztecs are an entirely different squad on the boards than the Nittany Lions. Kwahi Leonard and company have a rebounding margin of nearly plus-7 and limit opponents to 39% shooting from the field. Allen, Fernandez and Ramone Moore will all have to be at their offensive best if the Owls are to challenge, and while they have the ability to do so it could be a tough evening in Tucson.

Washington, D.C.
9:40 PM (3) Connecticut vs. (6) Cincinnati (TBS)

Louisville vs Morehead St: Preview & Prediction

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 22:56:50 -0400

(4) Louisville vs. (13) Morehead State

Southwest Region - Denver

March 17 - 1:40 TBS

Two schools that call the Bluegrass State home meet all the way out in Denver, in what could be an entertaining affair. The tandem of Kenneth Faried and Demonte Harper was an absolute handful throughout the OVC Tournament, and Morehead State has enough experience to know what to expect since quite a few of these players were on the 2009 team that lost to Louisville in the first round. Rick Pitino may not have any surefire NBA prospects on his roster but he's done one of his best coaching jobs with this group. The Cardinals will press, using guards Preston Knowles and Peyton Siva to ramp up the tempo. But their defense is about more than full-court pressure; the Cardinals will change up what they do at times within the same possession. Morehead State can win but they'll need to be smart with the basketball to do so.

CHN Team Capsules (w/ stats, records, and rankings):

Louisville

Morehead St

Stars to Watch:

G Kyle Kuric (Louisville)

C Kenneth Faried (Morehead State)

Vegas Odds:

Louisville -9.5

Predictions:

RealTimeRPI: Louisville 71 - Morehead St 64

KenPom: Louisville 71 - Morehead St 59

CollegeHoops.net Betting Pick: Morehead St

Faces Winner Of: Vanderbilt vs Richmond

Southwest Region Overview: Kansas Leads the Way

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 05:58:57 -0400

Tulsa (March 18)
(1) Kansas vs. (16) Boston University
(8) UNLV vs. (9) Illinois

The Big 12 champion Jayhawks begin their march towards another Final Four in Tulsa, and they steadily improved their play throughout the Big 12 Tournament. But what to do when there isn't the motivation of getting revenge on a team that beat them earlier in the season (Texas)? There should be the motivation of last season, when as the top overall seed the Jayhawks went home in the second round. Boston University has compensated well for the loss of Jake O'Brien and in John Holland and Darryl Partin head coach Patrick Chambers has some solid pieces. But it likely won't be enough to deal with the deep Jayhawks, and the scary thing for Kansas is that Josh Selby has yet to go off as so many know he's capable of doing. The Morris twins and Thomas Robinson offer a great deal up front, but a trip to Houston may come down to how well their guards play.

The 8/9 matchup offers quite the contrast in terms of how the two teams enter the tournament. UNLV has played well in recent weeks, winning six straight before falling to San Diego State in the Mountain West semis. Illinois on the other hand has failed to to establish any kind of consistency, losing five of their last eight games. The Rebels do a good job of defending and have a number of versatile options on offense, led by wings Chace Stanback and Tre'Von Willis. The confusing aspect of the Illini's struggles center around the fact that they've got experience with Demetri McCamey, Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale leading the way. But are these guys capable of leading this talented group, or will they end their careers with a whimper? Toughness has been an issue for Illinois, and UNLV will test them in that area from the opening tip.

Denver (March 17)
(5) Vanderbilt vs. (12) Richmond
(4) Louisville vs. (13) Morehead State

In their last two NCAA appearances prior Vanderbilt was a four-seed paired up with champions of non-BCS leagues, and both times they went home. In 2008 Siena blew them out in a game that was more surprising for its margin than the fact that it happened. Last year it was Murray State that did the honors, knocking down a shot at the buzzer to beat the Commodores. Maybe being a five this time around is a good omen, but Kevin Stallings' team did not get an easy matchup. Richmond starts four seniors with guard Kevin Anderson and forward Justin Harper leading the charge, and they've held their last six opponents below 40% shooting from the field. Vandy is a tougher team than in seasons past but they've still had issues closing games out, especially away from Memorial Gym. This could be one of the 12 over 5 games that many people pick.

The other matchup will be entertaining to watch as well with two schools that call the Bluegrass State home meeting all the way out in Denver. The tandem of Kenneth Faried and Demonte Harper was an absolute handful throughout the OVC Tournament, and Morehead State has enough experience to know what to expect since quite a few of these players were on the 2009 team that lost to Louisville in the first round. Rick Pitino may not have any surefire NBA prospects on his roster but he's done one of his best coaching jobs with this group. The Cardinals will press, using guards Preston Knowles and Peyton Siva to ramp up the tempo. But their defense is about more than full-court pressure; the Cardinals will change up what they do at times within the same possession. Morehead State can win but they'll need to be smart with the basketball to do so.

All-Top Half Team
G Kevin Anderson (Richmond)
G John Jenkins (Vanderbilt)
G/F Chace Stanback (UNLV)
F Marcus Morris (Kansas)
F/C Kenneth Faried (Morehead State)

Top Half All-Rookie Team
G Josh Selby (Kansas)
G Cedric Lindsay (Richmond)
F Jereme Richmond (Illinois)
F Dom Morris (Boston University)
C Gorgui Dieng (Louisville)

Top Half All-Lower Seed Team
G Anderson
G Demonte Harper (Morehead State)
F John Holland (Boston University)
F Justin Harper (Richmond)
F/C Faried

Chicago (March 18)
(6) Georgetown vs. (11) USC/VCU
(3) Purdue vs. (14) Saint Peter's

Dayton is where this subregional will begin with USC meeting VCU on Wednesday night with the winner moving on to face Georgetown. Both teams have had their credentials questioned with the Rams being a frequent whipping boy along with UAB. But Shaka Smart has a very good basketball team that doesn't lack for experience, led by point guard Joey Rodriguez and forward Jamie Skeen. USC has a good frontcourt comprised of Alex Stepheson and Nikola Vucevic, and wing Marcus Simmons was the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year. Tempo will likely determine the matchup with a quicker pace favoring VCU. As for Georgetown, the question is how rusty will point guard Chris Wright be after missing the last two weeks with a broken hand. It was painfully obvious how much the Hoyas missed him offensively with Austin Freeman getting little in the way of consistent help. Can Georgetown duplicate last year's first round exit? Sure, but they can also win a game or two if all members of the rotation contribute in some way.

Purdue taking on Saint Peter's could be a half-court slugfest as both teams are very good defensive teams. The story of John Dunne's senior-led squad is one that's been told numerous times since their win in the MAAC Tournament. Their nucleus won five games as freshmen, and the climb from that valley to the NCAA Tournament has been a long and sometimes painful one. But in a matchup like this the edge tends to go to the team with more pro-level talents, and in center JaJuan Johnson the Boilermakers have one of the nation's best. E'Twaun Moore has been outstanding all season as well, but if Purdue is to get to Houston some of their supporting cast members will need to have an impact.

Chicago (March 18)
(7) Texas A&M vs. (10) Florida St.
(2) Notre Dame vs. (15) Akron

Chicago will feature two defensive slugfests as Texas A&M takes on Florida State in a game that may not reach the 60s. Texas A&M's guards don't have the greatest shooting percentages but Dash Harris and B.J. Holmes simply find ways to make plays late for head coach Mark Turgeon. Khris Middleton leads the team in scoring and fellow forwards David Lobeau and Nathan Walkup are right behind him, and what Middleton does against the Seminoles will be something to watch especially if Chris Singleton is able to return. Derwin Kitchen has stepped up in Singleton's absence but there have been plenty of instances where the loss of their leading scorer and rebounder was apparent.

Two-seed Notre Dame didn't have to travel far for their opening game, and while expected to take care of Akron the Zips have an outstanding big man in Zeke Marshall. Marshall blocked nine shots in the MAC title game on Saturday and leads a team that has made five straight appearances in the MAC final. But do they have enough defensively to slow down Mike Brey's potent offense led by Ben Hansbrough? The good news for Akron is that they allow opponents to shoot just 31% from three, but they haven't run into a club that shoots the ball as well as the Irish do. Tim Abromaitis, Tyrone Nash and Carleton Scott will all have an impact as well, and Scott Martin has played well himself. While the Irish can definitely shoot the have to avoid becoming too reliant on the outside shot in order to make a deep run.

All-Bottom Half Team
G Ben Hansbrough (Notre Dame)
G Austin Freeman (Georgetown)
G E'Twaun Moore (Purdue)
F Nikola Vucevic (USC)
F JaJuan Johnson (Purdue)

Bottom Half All-Rookie Team
G Maurice Jones (USC)
G Terone Johnson (Purdue)
F Okaro White (Florida State)
F Nate Lubick (Georgetown)
F Kourtney Roberson (Texas A&M)

Bottom Half All-Lower Seed Team
G Wesley Jenkins (Saint Peter's)
G Joey Rodriguez (VCU)
G Derwin Kitchen (Florida State)
F Vucevic
F Zeke Marshall (Akron)

Region Winner: Kansas

Poll: Most Likely 13 vs 4 Upset?

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 01:17:54 -0400

Morehead St: 2011 NCAA Tournament

Shawn Siegel — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 04:23:06 -0400

Morehead St Eagles: 2011 NCAA Capsule

Conference: OVC
Conference RPI: 27th (of 31)

RPI: #76
Record: 24-9
Conference Record: 13-5 (2nd - Tie)

Key Games

Top 100 Results: 3-2
Best Non-Conference Win: #71 Charleston 69-49

Worst Loss: #261 Eastern Kentucky 49-59 at home
Promising Loss: at #5 Florida 55-60

Players

Leading Scorer: Kenneth Faried 17.6
Leading Rebounder: Kenneth Faried 14.5
Leading Passer: Demonte Harper 3.4
X-Factor: Terrance Hill

Team Stats

Tempo: Slow - 258th
Offensive Efficiency: 111th
Quality Offensive Stat: Offensive Rebounds - 3rd

Defensive Efficiency: 90th
Quality Defensive Stat: Steals - 9th

Tournament History

Record: 5-7 (3-7 excluding play-in games)
Last: 2009
Last Win: 1961 (excluding play-in games)
Final Fours: 0

Links

ESPN Clubhouse
KenPom Stats & Analysis
RealTime RPI Schedule Breakdown

"Big Dance" Interviews: Morehead State's Kenneth Faried & Demonte Harper

Jon Teitel — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 13:07:59 -0500

Recently CHN writer Jon Teitel spoke with two key members of the OVC champion Morehead State Eagles, forward/center Kenneth Faried and shooting guard Demonte Harper. Faried has won both the Player and Defensive Player awards in the OVC the last two seasons, and all Harper did last week was win the tournament MVP for his play in three Morehead State wins. Look for the Eagles to be a tough matchup for anyone they draw next week.

Jon Teitel: You declared for the draft last spring before returning to school. Why did you decide to declare, and why did you decide to return?

Kenneth Faried: I declared because I wanted to test the waters, see how things were, and see what I had to do to improve and get to that level. I came back because my mom and dad told me to get my degree and then go into the draft. The NBA will always be there.

JT: You had a double-double in each of your two toughest non-conference road games (Florida and Ohio State). How are you able to play your best against your best opponents?

KF: I just try to play to the level of my competition and step up when I need to. My team needed me to step up, so I did just that by playing as hard as I could like I always do.

JT: Your highlight in February was breaking the record for most career rebounds in NCAA history since 1973 (when freshman were first allowed to play). What is your secret for rebounding, and how do you get so many rebounds despite only being 6'8"?

KF: It is really no secret: I just try my hardest to get a rebound. Rebounding is all about effort, and I just want it that much more than my opponent.

JT: You did not attempt a single free throw in the semifinal win over Austin Peay, but helped your team with 21 rebounds and eight blocks. Do you feel like you need to make more of an effort to draw contact, or do you think the best way you can help your team win game is by rebounding and playing defense?

KF: I just do whatever is needed for my team; whatever they need me to do they ask me to do. Not taking a free throw is not a big deal to me because we won the game. I could have no points and 21 rebounds and I am fine with that, as long as we win the game.

JT: You had 24 points and 15 rebounds in the title game win over Tennessee Tech (after promising to return following a loss in the 2010 conference title game to Murray State). How important was it to you to fulfill your promise, and what did it mean to you to celebrate the win with your daughter Kyra?

KF: It was very important to me because it is my last year: you want to go out with a bang when it is your last year. For me to celebrate it with my daughter was special because she was about to be born around the title game last year. Now she is one year old and is healthy, so it was wonderful for me to share that special moment with her.

JT: The first paper you wrote in college stated that your dream was to play in the NBA. Even though you are focused on the task at hand, do you feel any extra pressure knowing that there were 15 scouts on hand to watch you last weekend?

KF: Not at all. I do not feel pressure: I just go out there and keep playing my hardest and put forth a great effort and let the chips fall where they may

JT: You are the two-time defending OVC Player and Defensive Player of the Year. What did it mean to you to win such outstanding individual honors?

KF: It means a lot to me, and it feels good to win it again in my last year around the conference. I am glad that my teammates and coaches pushed me hard enough to make sure that I won this award and make sure we came out on top.

JT: What did you learn in the 2009 NCAA Tournament (21 rebounds in a win over Alabama State followed by a double-double in a loss to #1-seed Louisville) that you think will help you in this year's tournament?

KF: I learned that you just have to bring it every possession on every play: there is no looking back. I also learned that we can probably compete with anyone that we are up against.

JT: You grew up in New Jersey. What would it mean to you if you make it to the East Regional in Newark?

KF: It would mean a lot because people from back home who have never seen me play could see me play up close and personal. My family would be there including my mom and dad, who are the two closest people to me other than my daughter.

Demonte Harper

JT: You had a near triple-double (27 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists) in the OVC Tournament final. Where does that game rank among the highlights of your career?

DH: It was one of the best games of my whole career.

JT: You were named tournament MVP while playing in your hometown. Did you have a lot of family and friends in the crowd, and how were you able to play your best when it mattered the most?

DH: My focus and attention to detail were the key. I had a lot of family and friends there, and it helped my focus knowing they were there cheering me on.

JT: You have gotten 10+ rebounds in three of your last six games despite playing shooting guard. Is the biggest obstacle to getting so many rebounds your height (6'4"), or your teammate Kenneth Faried (the leading rebounder in the nation)?

DH: Definitely Faried. He gets almost everything that comes off the boards.

JT: You only have three seniors on the roster, but each of you is among the team's top four scorers. How important is your collective experience to your collective success?

DH: That plays a huge part in our success. Kenneth and I are four-year veterans and Sam is a two-year veteran, so having that experience of playing in big time games in a heated environment has really helped out.

JT: What did you learn in the 2009 NCAA Tournament (10 points and six assists in a win over Alabama State followed by a 1-9 FG performance in a loss to #1-seed Louisville) that you think will help you in this year's tournament?

DH: The lesson is just to be more aggressive. The first game against Alabama State was a team similar to us, but Louisville was the #1 team in the tournament. I was not as aggressive in the Louisville game. They had at least three first-round draft picks on their team.