Morehead St

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.

College Hoops Saturday Recap: Three Tickets Punched

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 12:05:19 -0500

By this time next Sunday there will be more than 20 teams guaranteed inclusion in the 2011 NCAA Tournament and the first three tickets were punched on Saturday. UNC Asheville (Big South), Belmont (Atlantic Sun) and Morehead State (Ohio Valley) all won their conference tournament finals while Princeton (Ivy) missed out on a chance to join the fun with their loss at Harvard. Now the Tigers need to beat rival Penn at the Palestra to forge a tie atop the standings, forcing a one-game playoff with Harvard for the Ancient Eight's automatic bid.

But the focus goes to the teams already in the field, beginning with Eddie Biedenbach's Bulldogs. UNC Asheville won at Coastal Carolina 60-47, limiting the regular season champions to 34% shooting from the field and 18.8% from three. UNCA wasn't much better offensively but they forced 21 turnovers, and Matt Dickey knocked down a dagger with 1:39 remaining just two weeks after capping this thrilling win with a three-pointer at the buzzer. Thus ends a tough season for the Chanticleers, who looked near unbeatable in late-January but heavy personnel losses greased the skids for a second consecutive title game loss on their home floor.

Morehead State finished the job left incomplete last year by a loss to Murray State in the OVC title game with their 80-73 win over Tennessee Tech in Nashville. Kenneth Faried, who has grabbed the most rebounds in the history of Division I basketball, posted another double-double with 24 points and 15 rebounds and Demonte Harper was outstanding as well with 27 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. The Eagles were in control for much of the second half before they became too generous, allowing Kevin Murphy (30 points) and company back into the game with 22 turnovers. Donnie Tyndall's team will offer quite the challenge to whomever they face in the first round, as a player of Faried's (and Harper's) caliber isn't easy to corral.

But the trendy selection for a first-round upset will be Rick Byrd's Belmont Bruins, who capped a dominant run through the Atlantic Sun with a virtuoso performance in their 87-46 whipping of North Florida. Mick Hedgepeth was outstanding, finishing with 23 points, nine rebounds and two assists and sidekick Scott Saunders added 15 points off the bench.

Belmont plays an uptempo style that applies pressure to opponents on both ends of the floor due to their unselfish nature on offense and a defense that can turn teams over (North Florida finished with 22 turnovers). Belmont goes at least 10 deep, and given the nature of the game on Saturday just three players played 20 or more minutes and 12 played at least 12 minutes.

"I came to the realization as a coach that you can ask your guys to play harder if they are not playing 35 minutes a game," said Coach Byrd. Ian Clark added that "it will help us in the tournament as well seeing as other teams probably won't sub as much as our system and it could help us in the last minutes of the game in a big game in the NCAA tournament." (quotes courtesy of the Atlantic Sun Conference)

Whether or not the Bruins can make noise in March will ultimately depend on who they draw, but it's a safe assumption that no one will be thrilled to see Belmont on the bracket as their opponent. How well these three teams do in the NCAA Tournament is a discussion better saved for next week when the matchups are known. This week offers the champions a chance to rest up and celebrate what they've achieved to date. Congratulations.

Other Notable Happenings

1. North Carolina beats Duke to clinch an outright ACC title.
First there was last season, a year far tougher than anyone expected of the North Carolina program despite heavy personnel losses from a team that won the 2009 national title. Then there was the uneven beginning, with their 1-2 showing in the Puerto Rico Tipoff displaying just how far the Tar Heels had to go in regards to both guard play and interior toughness. But all the while the freshmen grew up. Harrison Barnes figured out and became more comfortable with his role in Roy Williams' system, and Kendall Marshall improved to the point where the departure of Larry Drew II helped the team because it required Marshall to play even more. The end result: the outright ACC title, as the Heels beat rival Duke 81-67 in Chapel Hill on Saturday night.

Barnes scored 18 points, Marshall posted a double-double with 15 points and 11 assists and John Henson (10 points, 12 rebounds) and Tyler Zeller (14 points) played well inside to lead the way. Duke's problems offensively came from deep, as players other than Seth Curry (6-11) shot 0-for-16 from three and there was little help for Curry (20 points) and Nolan Smith (30). Kyle Singler made just three of fourteen shots, and the goal between now and the ACC Tournament has to be to snap the senior out of his current shooting funk. But Saturday night was about the lighter shade of blue, and a group of players who have grown together and now are seeing the fruits of their labor. It's tough to call someone a "sleeper" when they have the hardware to prove otherwise.

2. Arizona (Pac-10), Florida (SEC), Kansas (Big 12), Ohio State (Big Ten) and Pittsburgh (Big East) all do the same.
Despite the childhood lessons about the virtues of sharing they don't apply to championships, and the other five titles in BCS conference are all of the outright variety. "Welcome back" messages could be in order for both Arizona and Florida, with the Wildcats winning their first Pac-10 title since 2005 and the Gators hadn't done so in the SEC since 2007. The more impressive of the two wins: Florida winning at Vanderbilt, with all five starters reaching double figures and guards Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker combining for just three turnovers (Walker had six assists to just one turnover). When those two play smart and get the basketball to Vernon Macklin, Chandler Parsons (who could be SEC Player of the Year) and Alex Tyus the Gators are a tough team to beat.

Ohio State clinched their thanks to Purdue's loss at Iowa and Pittsburgh took care of reeling Villanova at home to lock up the top spot in the Big East. As for longevity, that honor goes to a Kansas team that won their seventh straight Big 12 title by winning at Missouri despite 24 turnovers. Three of the four number one seeds in the NCAA Tournament could very well come from this group (Kansas, Ohio State and Pittsburgh) but the other two are nothing to scoff at either. Say what you well about the quality of the Pac-10, but when you have one of the best players in America (Derrick Williams) and supplementary pieces that understand (and more importantly accept) their roles you have a chance to make some noise. Saturday's achievements were just the first step for these five, who all home to have far more to celebrate over the next month.

3. Notre Dame picks up a revealing win at Connecticut, and people need to calm down with the Big East automatically getting 11 teams in chatter.
The idea of Notre Dame being a potential one-seed in the NCAA Tournament may feel a bit far-fetched, but upon closer inspection it isn't that far off. The Fighting Irish were by far the second-best team in the Big East, and their win at Pittsburgh was the only home loss the Panthers suffered all season (the Tennessee loss was at the CONSOL Energy Center). But there may not have been a more revealing win for Mike Brey's team than their 70-67 win at Connecticut, which stemmed from the star wasting the trust of his coach by picking up a silly 5th foul with more than eight minutes left in the game. Ben Hansbrough, the lone unanimous selection to the Big East's First Team All-Conference squad, was called for an offensive foul just moments after Brey put him back out on the floor.

But instead of wilting as Kemba Walker sparked a 13-0 UConn run the Irish stood their ground, with Tyrone Nash and Carleton Scott rising to the challenge. Can Notre Dame rise to that top line come Selection Sunday? They'll need to make some noise in New York most likely, and if they can do that it's definitely possible. The other issue in regards to the Big East has nothing to do with Notre Dame (or Connecticut) and everything to do with Marquette. Many have simply assumed that the Big East will get 11 teams into the field, but the question is who have the Golden Eagles beat of consequence since that painful loss at Louisville? They did win at Connecticut last week, but Marquette has lost four of its last seven games and the UConn win is their best league victory away from the Bradley Center (Marquette did beat Notre Dame and Syracuse at home). Marquette will more than likely be in the field, but the thought that they're a lock may be putting too much stock in the many close losses on their resume.

4. Clemson beats Virginia Tech to grab a first-round bye in the ACC Tournament.
Virginia Tech's loss to Boston College on Wednesday night was a tough one, as it not only came at home but capped another regular season sweep (Virginia) that could hurt the Hokies come Selection Sunday. But they had a chance to redeem themselves on Saturday afternoon, and instead of coming out of the gates firing Seth Greenberg's team showed up at Clemson flat. Brad Brownell's Tigers took full advantage and they were able to hold off Virginia Tech's attempts to rally in winning 69-60. Jerai Grant (17 points, nine rebounds) and Demontez Stitt (15, five rebounds, five assists) stepped up in their final games at Littlejohn Coliseum, wrapping up the four-seed in the upcoming ACC Tournament. More than likely that means a matchup with Boston College (the Eagles should take care of Wake Forest today, and then in the rematch on Thursday) with the winner getting a shot (potentially) at North Carolina. The best thing a team can do for its tournament fate this time of the year is to win, and by doing so Clemson's put themselves in a position to make their way into the field with more positive results.

5. Wichita State falls in the Missouri Valley semis, likely relegating them to the NIT.
The preseason favorites to win the MVC became more of an afterthought in regards to the NCAA Tournament bubble due to the missed chances at high-profile scalps that litter their resume. But Gregg Marshall's team had a chance to keep their name in the public conversation by getting to today's Missouri Valley Conference final. Their 61-54 loss to Indiana State on Saturday makes it tough for the Shockers because now they have no more chances on the court to state their case, and to have it happen now means a painful week of watching other teams while they slip into the background. J.T. Durley led the Shockers with 18 points and 11 rebounds but Wichita State struggled from the field, making just 33.9% of their shots (outside of Durley the Shockers shot 13-for-46) from the field and 24.1% from beyond the arc. Is there still a chance? Definitely, as no one's truly ruled out until the end of the Selection Show. But it sure doesn't look good right now.

Top Five Games

1. VCU 62, Drexel 60
The second game of the day at the CAA Tournament was a thriller, as Jamie Skeen's turnaround at the buzzer answered a game-tying three from Drexel's Chris Fouch. The Rams move on to play top-seed George Mason in today's semifinals while the Dragons should have a good enough profile to merit and NIT bid. Skeen finished with 24 points and eight rebounds while Fouch led Drexel with 20 and seven boards.

2. (7) Notre Dame 70, (16) Connecticut 67

3. (2) Kansas 70, (24) Missouri 66
The Jayhawks survived 24 turnovers, 12 in each half, to wrap up yet another Big 12 title with a win over rival Missouri. Marcus Morris (21 points, 10 rebounds) and Thomas Robinson (15 and 13) led the way for Kansas, who has now won seven straight Big 12 titles, and Laurence Bowers led the Tigers with 22 points, 10 rebounds and five steals.

4. USC 62, Washington 60
Just two nights after beating UCLA the Huskies didn't do much to sustain the positive vibes in regards to their NCAA Tournament prospects. Jio Fontan led the Trojans with 20 points and Nikola Vucevic added 19 and 10 rebounds (Alex Stepheson finished with 11 and 14 rebounds) as they added a road victory to their resume. Isaiah Thomas led four Huskies in double figures with 16.

5. Saint Joseph's 71, Charlotte 70
Langston Galloway's free throw with 4.1 seconds remaining proved to be the difference as the Hawks wrapped up the final spot in next week's Atlantic 10 Tournament. Galloway matched his career-high with 27 points and Carl Jones added 19 to lead the Hawks. Chris Braswell led Charlotte, who tied things up on a Derrio Green three, with 16 and 10 rebounds.

Five Notable Performances

1. F/C Kenneth Faried and G Demonte Harper (Morehead State)
Faried tallied 24 points and 15 rebounds while Harper accounted for 27 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists in the Eagles' 80-73 win over Tennessee Tech to win the OVC Tournament.

2. G Jimmer Fredette (BYU)
38 points and four rebounds in the Cougars' 102-78 win over Wyoming to wrap up a share of the Mountain West title.

3. F Mike Glover (Iona)
31 points and 11 rebounds in the Gaels' 94-64 win over Siena to move on to the MAAC semifinals.

4. G Kemba Walker (Connecticut)
34 points and six rebounds in the Huskies' 70-67 loss to Notre Dame.

5. G Louis Krogman (South Dakota)
37 points (13-20 FG) and two rebounds in the Coyotes' 96-87 win over Houston Baptist.

Special Mention: G Marshon Brooks (Providence)
28 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the Friars' 75-74 win over Rutgers. Brooks broke the Big East's single-season scoring record (468 points) as a result of his performance.

College Hoops Saturday: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 03:32:49 -0500

With three NCAA Tournament tickets assured of being punched (that number becomes four if Princeton wins at Harvard in a crucial Ivy League tilt), it makes sense to touch on each of those games as opposed to the usual daily preview. The title game in the Atlantic Sun provides a matchup of the prohibitive favorite taking on the underdog, a storyline that usually doesn't come into play for another two weeks.

Belmont, who wasn't picked to win the conference in the preseason, won 19 of its 20 league games by a margin of nearly 21 points per game and Rick Byrd's team has taken care of business in wins over Kennesaw State and host Mercer thus far. Standing in their way is six-seed North Florida, a program that before this season had never won a single A-Sun Tournament game (they just recently earned full Division I status) before this week. All the Ospreys have done is send home both the three (Jacksonville) and two (East Tennessee State) seeds. Can they do the same to the Bruins?

It will be tough to say the least, as the balanced regular season champions have just two players averaging double figures in scoring (Ian Clark- 12.5, Mick Hedgepeth- 10.3) but five others score at least six points per game. The Bruins have failed to score more than 65 points just twice all season long and both were losses (the second Tennessee loss and at Lipscomb), and UNF did lose by just two points in their meeting on February 5th. But if the Belmont that whipped North Florida 91-59 on January 8th shows up the test becomes that much tougher for the Ospreys. North Florida got the job done defensively in both of their tournament wins, limiting ETSU to 13% from beyond the arc and when Belmont struggles from deep they can be had.

In the Big South regular season champion Coastal Carolina has survived heavy personnel losses, most recently losing leading scorer and rebounder Desmond Holloway, to get back to the championship game. Last year the Chanticleers had their NCAA Tournament hopes ended on their court by Radford, and Saturday presents a challenge in the form of a UNC Asheville team more than a few people liked to win this tournament before it began. Eddie Biedenbach's Bulldogs have won five straight games, with the streak beginning with a 61-58 win at CCU on February 22nd, and they shut down High Point in the semifinals on Thursday night. Matt Dickey and J.P. Primm have led the way for Asheville, and having your stars could make the difference in Myrtle Beach. Chad Gray and Anthony Raffa have been the players Cliff Ellis has needed to step up for the Chanticleers, and they combined for 50 points in the win over VMI on Thursday. But whether or not they can do the same against UNC Asheville is up for debate and will likely determine which team goes dancing.

And in the Ohio Valley there's the contrast of a Morehead State team that's made a habit of contending for conference titles of late and Tennessee Tech, which makes its' first-ever appearance in the conference final. But if Tennessee Tech lacks title experience they've got the college basketball answer to "Mr. Big Shot" (Chauncey Billups) and that would be Zach Swansey, who has made five game-winning baskets this season and dropped an absolute dagger on regular season champ Murray State in the final minute of the Golden Eagles' win on Friday night. TTU has won seven straight games to date but they were swept in the regular season by Donnie Tyndall's Eagles, who have an outstanding tandem in Demonte Harper and Kenneth Faried. Faried grabbed 21 rebounds in their win over Austin Peay in the semifinals while Harper provided 25 points and a few thrilling drives to the rim. Those two will be a handful to say the least, but it was Terrance Hill and Drew Kelly who combined for 38 points in Morehead State's 76-60 win in the last meeting between these two.

Plenty of other conference tournaments will be in session on Saturday, with the Missouri Valley moving on to the semifinals after a quarterfinal Friday that provided three outstanding finishes. Missouri State takes on Creighton in the first semi, and if forwards Kenny Lawson Jr. and Doug McDermott can play as they did in the win over Northern Iowa the Blue Jays definitely have a chance to advance. And Wichita State, the lone team to avoid the craziness, takes on Indiana State in the second game. Jake Odum made the big shot in the final second for Greg Lansing's Sycamores, who have won six of their last seven games but were swept by the Shockers in the regular season. The issues for ISU: turnovers and offensive efficiency, which go hand in hand. If the Sycamores can perform well in those two areas they have a chance. The America East, Big Sky, CAA, MAAC, Southern and WCC all move into the quarters while the Sun Belt tips off its first day of action. And the semifinals in the Horizon League should also be interesting as Butler and Milwaukee take the floor for the first time.

In regular season action there's the matter of Princeton and Harvard, with the Tigers looking to complete the season sweep that would also net them a return to the NCAA Tournament. Missouri hosts Kansas in a big game for both, as the Jayhawks look to lock up the outright Big 12 title and the Tigers look to remain undefeated at home. Duke at North Carolina is always huge and Saturday night's matchup will also be for the outright ACC title. Xavier (Atlantic 10), Pittsburgh (Big East), Arizona (Pac-10) and Florida (SEC) will all look to join the party in locking up outright conference titles, with the Gators having the stiffest test as they visit Vanderbilt. Pitt hosts a reeling Villanova squad that's running out of time to find answers.

San Diego State and BYU will wrap up their seasons in hopes of clinching at least a share of the Mountain West title, but the Aztecs will have to contend with a Colorado State team that could most certainly use a big win for their NCAA Tournament resume. The same goes for Baylor, who's done more to hurt their chances of dancing this season but they have a shot to pick off Texas and the Longhorns haven't played as well as they're capable of the last two weeks. And Michigan State visiting Michigan and Virginia Tech at Clemson are both immensely important games when it comes to the field of 68. Saturday may still be the regular season for a number of teams, but it certainly doesn't feel like it.

Top 25
12:00 PM (2) Kansas at (24) Missouri (CBS)
3:30 PM Wyoming at (3) BYU (The Mtn.)
8:00 PM (4) Duke at (13) North Carolina (CBS)
4:00 PM (19) Villanova at (5) Pittsburgh (CBS)
4:00 PM (6) Purdue at Iowa (ESPN)
2:00 PM (7) Notre Dame at (16) Connecticut (ESPN)
9:00 PM (8) Texas at Baylor (ESPN)
10:00 PM Colorado State at (9) San Diego State (The Mtn.)
12:00 PM (11) Louisville at West Virginia (ESPN)
4:00 PM DePaul at (12) Syracuse (ESPN3)
6:00 PM (14) Florida at (20) Vanderbilt (ESPN)
8:00 PM South Florida at (15) St. John's (ESPN3)
2:00 PM (17) Georgetown at Cincinnati (ESPN3)
2:00 PM Oregon at (18) Arizona (CBS)
7:00 PM (21) Utah State at Louisiana Tech (ESPN3)
1:30 PM Texas Tech at (22) Texas A&M (ESPN3)

NCAA Division I Games
12:00 PM Virginia Tech at Clemson (ESPN2)
12:00 PM Duquesne at Richmond
12:00 PM Indiana at Illinois (BTN)
1:00 PM Buffalo at Bowling Green
1:00 PM Massachusetts at Fordham
1:00 PM Nicholls State at Southeastern Louisiana
1:30 PM Georgia at Alabama (ESPN3)
1:30 PM Iowa State at Kansas State (ESPN3)
2:00 PM Dayton at George Washington
2:00 PM Virginia at Maryland (ESPN3)
2:00 PM Michigan State at Michigan (CBS)
2:00 PM Xavier at Saint Louis (CBS College)
2:00 PM Rhode Island at St. Bonaventure
2:00 PM South Carolina at Mississippi State (ESPN2)
2:00 PM Northern Illinois at Ball State
2:00 PM Western Michigan at Central Michigan
2:00 PM Toledo at Eastern Michigan
2:00 PM Saint Joseph's at Charlotte
3:00 PM La Salle at Temple
3:00 PM Stephen F. Austin at Northwestern State
3:00 PM UTEP at SMU
4:00 PM Oregon State at Arizona State
4:00 PM Arkansas at Mississippi (ESPN3)
4:00 PM Oklahoma State at Oklahoma (ESPN3)
4:00 PM Tulane at Memphis
4:00 PM UNLV at Utah (The Mtn.)
4:00 PM Chicago State at N.J.I.T.
4:30 PM Lamar at McNeese State
5:00 PM Texas A&M-CC at Central Arkansas
5:30 PM UCLA at Washington State
5:30 PM Alcorn State at Texas Southern
6:00 PM Air Force at New Mexico (The Mtn.)
6:00 PM Rice at Houston
6:00 PM Marquette at Seton Hall (ESPN3)
6:30 PM Alabama A&M at Jackson State
7:00 PM Stanford at California
7:00 PM Auburn at LSU (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Princeton at Harvard (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Pennsylvania at Dartmouth
7:00 PM Brown at Columbia
7:00 PM Yale at Cornell
7:00 PM UCF at Marshall
7:00 PM Rutgers at Providence (ESPN3)
7:30 PM Alabama State at Grambling State
8:00 PM East Carolina at UAB
8:00 PM Southern Miss at Tulsa
8:00 PM Texas-San Antonio at Texas-Arlington
8:00 PM Texas State at Sam Houston State
8:45 PM South Dakota at Houston Baptist
9:00 PM Nebraska at Colorado
9:00 PM San Jose State at Boise State
9:00 PM Nevada at New Mexico State (ESPN3)
9:00 PM North Dakota at Texas-Pan American
9:00 PM Southern University at Prairie View A&M
10:00 PM UC Irvine at UC Riverside
10:00 PM Seattle at Idaho
10:00 PM Cal State Northridge at Pacific
10:00 PM Cal State Fullerton at UC Davis
10:05 PM Cal Poly at UC Santa Barbara
10:30 PM USC at Washington
11:30 PM Hawaii at Fresno State

Conference Tournaments

America East Quarterfinals (at Hartford)
12:05 PM Stony Brook vs. Albany (America East TV)
2:15 PM Binghamton vs. Vermont (America East TV)
6:05 PM New Hampshire vs. Boston University (America East TV)
8:15 PM Hartford vs. Maine (America East TV)

Atlantic Sun Final (at Mercer)
6:00 PM North Florida vs. Belmont (ESPN2)

Big Sky Quarterfinals (at higher seeded team)
8:35 PM Montana State at Northern Arizona (FCS)
9:30 PM Eastern Washington at Weber State

Big South Final (at Coastal Carolina)
4:00 PM UNC Asheville at Coastal Carolina (ESPN2)

CAA Quarterfinals
12:00 PM Georgia State vs. (25) George Mason (ESPN3)
2:30 PM Drexel vs. VCU (ESPN3)
6:00 PM Delaware vs. Old Dominion (ESPN Full Court)
8:30 PM William & Mary vs. Hofstra (ESPN Full Court)

Horizon Semifinals (at Milwaukee)
6:00 PM Cleveland State vs. Butler (HLN)
8:30 PM Valparaiso vs. Milwaukee (HLN)

MAAC Quarterfinals (at Fairfield)
2:30 PM Saint Peter's vs. Loyola (MD) (MSG/ESPN3)
4:30 PM Fairfield vs. Marist (MSG2/ESPN3)
7:30 PM Iona vs. Siena (MSG+/ESPN3)
10:00 PM Rider vs. Canisius (MSG/MASN/ESPN3)

Missouri Valley Semifinals (in St. Louis)
2:35 PM Missouri State vs. Creighton (FSN Midwest)
5:05 PM Wichita State vs. Indiana State (FSN MIdwest)

OVC Final (in Nashville)
8:00 PM Morehead State vs. Tennessee Tech (ESPN2)

SoCon Quarterfinals (at Chattanooga)
2:00 PM Western Carolina vs. UNC Greensboro (SoConTV)
4:30 PM Wofford vs. Appalachian State (SoConTV)
7:00 PM Chattanooga vs. Furman (SoConTV)
9:30 PM Elon vs. College of Charleston (SoConTV)

Summit Quarterfinals (in Sioux Falls, SD)
7:00 PM Oakland vs. Southern Utah (Midco Sports Net)
9:30 PM Oral Roberts vs. North Dakota State (Midco Sports Net)

Sun Belt First Round (in Hot Springs, AR)
7:30 PM North Texas vs. Troy (Summit Arena)
7:45 PM Western Kentucky vs. ULM (Conv. Center Court)
9:45 PM Denver vs. FIU (Summit Arena)
10:00 PM South Alabama vs. Arkansas-Little Rock (Conv. Center Court)

WCC Quarterfinals (in Las Vegas)
9:00 PM Santa Clara vs. Loyola Marymount (BYU TV)
11:30 PM San Francisco vs. Pepperdine (BYU TV)

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