Notre Dame

College Football: The BCS Does It Again

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:55:33 -0500

Unless you've had absolutely no access to any form of media (TV, radio, internet, newspaper, etc.), you know that yesterday's installment of the BCS standings placed Oklahoma ahead of Texas. With those two being tied along with Texas Tech atop the Big 12 South with 7-1 records that was the determining factor in sending the Sooners to take on Missouri in the Big 12 Championship Game on Saturday. But wait: didn't Texas beat Oklahoma 45-35 back on Ocotber 11th? Yes they did, so when you take that into consideration you may wonder what's up with the BCS and the Big 12's tiebreaker system.

On the tiebreaker, it went down to the fifth category, which was BCS ranking. Not like the ACC and SEC, who in this scenario use the standings to eliminate the third team and then go to head-to-head. But in fairness to those who decided this procedure in the Big 12, hindsight is 20/20 and you really don't foresee something like this happening. As for the BCS, both the human and computer elements once again proved themselves to be an absolute joke.

1. Harris Poll voters pull of an interesting switch in their ranking of the Sooners and Longhorns. Thanks to their 61-41 win at then-#12 Oklahoma State, Oklahoma went from nineteen points ahead of Texas to six points behind. Guess those who changed their minds feel that beating a 4-8 Texas A&M team at home by 40 is more impressive. How else can you explain this? If they wanted to emphasize Texas beating Oklahoma, why not keep Texas ahead of Oklahoma? The Longhorns were just forty-four points behind the Sooners immediately following their loss at Texas Tech, jumped back over Oklahoma the next week and stayed there for two more weeks before being jumped by Oklahoma. Of course OU had beaten Texas Tech to move back ahead of Texas, but where's the consistency? How is the BCS supposed to determine the two best teams if components of the system feature voters with, in some cases, hidden agendas?

2. The computers pushed Oklahoma ahead of Texas after this weekend, thanks to the Sooners' strength of schedule. But Alabama third and Utah fifth (ahead of Florida) in computer average? It's pretty obvious that the computers favor two forms of numbers being punched in: margin of victory and how many wins your opponents have. And for myself personally, the computers valuing strength of schedule is a little suspect when I look at Texas Tech's non-conference slate: Eastern Washington, Nevada, SMU and UMass. And yet they're fourth? The Big 12 South is the best grouping of teams in the country period, but even with those tough games there's something terribly wrong with that in my opinion.

But does this latest example of people and computers not knowing what they're doing mean that we're any closer to a playoff? No. Television rights for the BCS continue to fetch top dollar, with ESPN winning the rights beginning in 2011. And if there were a playoff, would the road to a national title be even tougher for schools in a non-BCS conference? Unless you go with a 16-team model in which every league champion earns a bid, it would be near impossible for a Utah or Boise State to throw their hat into the ring. But whatever the change could be in our lifetime, I only ask this: let it be more efficient and make more sense than what we have right now. This is absurd.

More Coaching Changes

- Tennessee named former USC assistant and Oakland Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin head coach today. One member of his staff will be father Monte, currently defensive coordinator for the Tamp Bay Buccaneers.

- New Mexico State fired Hal Mumme. Mumme, who went 3-9 in a season filled with injuries, leaves Las Cruces with a 11-38 record in four seasons at the school.

- Clemson officially removed the "interim" tag for head coach Dabo Swinney on Monday. Swinney, who took over for the removed Terry Bowden, went 4-2 in six games this season.

- Wyoming named Missouri offensive coordinator Dave Christiansen head coach on Monday. In his final seasons in Columbia, the Tigers offense featured a Heisman finalist in QB Chase Daniel, two outstanding tight ends in Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman, and an explosive threat in WR Jeremy Maclin.

- Iowa State head coach Gene Chizik made some changes to his coaching staff on Monday, demoting coordinators Robert McFarland (offense) and Wayne Bolt (defense). Both will remain on the staff, with McFarland coaching the offensive line and Bolt the linebackers. Quarterbacks coach Tony Petersen and secondary coach Shawn Raney weren't so lucky, with both being dismissed. The Cyclones went 2-10 (0-8 Big 12 North) this season.

- Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis and Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville will both have meetings with their atheltics directors within the next week to evaluate their seasons and most likely determine their job status. Both finished off subpar seasons with embarassing showings on Saturday, with the Irish racking up four first downs in a 38-3 loss at USC and Auburn not doing much better in a 36-0 loss at Alabama.

GameNight: UNC vs Notre Dame (Maui Final)

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:24:22 -0500

Start: Nov 26 2008 - 10:00pm

Preview & Prediction: By Raphielle Johnson

The 25^th EA Sports Maui Invitational has reached its climax; with #1 North Carolina (5-0) taking on #8 Notre Dame (4-0) in Wednesday night’s final. Their semifinal victories don’t have much in common with the Tar Heels making short work of Oregon (98-69) while the Irish had to survive (81-80) four missed free throws (one of which was an air ball) and a heave from A.J. Abrams that nearly went in. Good news for Carolina in their win was the performance of preseason Player of the Year (national and ACC) Tyler Hansbrough. A stress reaction in his right leg forced the power forward to sit out their opener against Penn (there was little reason to play him against Chaminade), but he accounted for sixteen points (2-4 FG; 12-14 FT) and four rebounds against the Ducks.

The player who has stepped up for head coach Roy Williams in Maui has been Danny Green, who has put together back-to-back 20-plus point performances. Green went for twenty-one and eight rebounds in Tuesday’s blowout, and freshman Ed Davis posted a double-double off the bench (11 points, 13 rebounds). North Carolina did well against Oregon on the defensive end of the floor, limiting the Ducks to 30.6% from the field. But while Oregon can certainly shoot the basketball, their shot selection at times can leave something to be desired. Notre Dame doesn’t have that problem for the most part, and unlike the Ducks they’ve also got one of the best answers on the block in the nation in reigning Big East Player of the Year Luke Harangody.

While Harangody is the main man on the block for head coach Mike Brey, there are a number of long-range marksmen who can burn the Heels if left alone. First and foremost, North Carolina must keep an eye on senior Kyle McAlarney, who went 5-for-9 from downtown against Texas. Point guard Tory Jackson runs the show, but he’s going to have his hands full with Ty Lawson in arguably the best lead guard matchup of the season’s first month. The issue for the Irish in this game: rebounding. Notre Dame, despite attempting eleven fewer shots from the field than Texas, was outrebounded by nine in the semifinal. North Carolina, even with limited playing time for their stars due to the blowout, held a 55-24 advantage on the boards.

It’s not like the Irish are lacking in the height department; guys like Zach Hillesland and Luke Zeller are also called on to contribute. But they aren’t traditional bigs who will stay in the paint, and the fact that all five starters played at least thirty minutes against Texas isn’t a good sign for them. Look for North Carolina to win the Maui Invitational for the third consecutive time in which they’ve entered (1999-2000 and 2004-05). And both of those title seasons led to a Final Four berth at season’s end.

Winner: North Carolina Margin: 5-9 pts.

GameNight: Texas vs Notre Dame (Maui)

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:49:59 -0500

Start: Nov 25 2008 - 7:00pm

Preview & Prediction: By Raphielle Johnson

The first semifinal in the Maui Invitational matches up a pair of undefeated Top 10 teams in Notre Dame (3-0) and Texas (3-0). The Fighting Irish, picked to finish fourth in the loaded Big East, beat in-state rival Indiana like they stole something on Monday afternoon (88-50). This is a balanced offensive team that can absolutely kill you either inside with Big East Player of the Year Luke Harangody or outside with sharpshooter Kyle McAlarney. But those aren’t the only two weapons at head coach Mike Brey’s disposal, with solid point guard Tory Jackson running the show and a couple of bigs in Zach Hillesland and Luke Zeller who can also step outside and knock down perimeter shots. The question for Notre Dame regards their commitment to the defensive end of the floor, and even though Indiana isn’t expected to do much this season you have to give Notre Dame credit for holding the Hoosiers to 39.6% from the field (1-12 from three).

The Longhorns were even more impressive on the defensive end of the floor in their 68-50 win over St. Joseph’s. The Hawks shot an ice-cold 29.3% from the field (4-21 from distance) for the game, and also turned the ball over eighteen times. The man who came through for Rick Barnes off the bench in the win was forward Gary Johnson, who went for fourteen points and ten rebounds in twenty-three minutes off the bench. A.J. Abrams led the Longhorns with seventeen points, but it will have to be more than just him on that end of the floor if they’re to hang with Notre Dame. Can Texas bring the same level of play on the defensive end of the floor against the Irish? Can Notre Dame’s big men outside of Harangody rebound with the Longhorns? Those are the keys to this game, but look for Notre Dame to have the answers.

Winner: Notre Dame Margin: 5-9 pts.

Poll: Who Will Win the Maui Invitational?

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 03:50:12 -0500

GameNight: Indiana vs Notre Dame (Maui)

Blake Hofstad — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:29:32 -0500

Start: Nov 24 2008 - 5:00pm

Preview & Prediction: By Blake Hofstad

The Indiana Hoosiers (2-0) will obviously not be the same team they were last year. Tom Crean steps into a very undesirable situation, as everyone who had any impact on Indiana’s season last year is gone. However, this will be an intriguing matchup, if only for the fact that Notre Dame is prone to giving up a lot of points, and the elite freshman class of the Hoosiers will see how they match up to a marquee opponent. Tom Pritchard, a freshman, leads IU with 16 points a game along with 10 boards. Devan Dumes is not far behind, and being a junior, he is one of the leaders of this very young team. Indiana has a lot of guys who are looking to find their spot in the rotation, and I think that this could either help or hinder them against Notre Dame. If everyone understands their role, they could prove to be a challenge for the Irish. If they don’t function as a cohesive unit, and play for themselves, Notre Dame should roll.

Notre Dame (2-0) is on the outside looking in right now in the Big East (at least in terms of winning the league). They need a good showing in Maui to prove they can hang with the big boys, even if the big boys aren’t so big this year. Right now, they are sitting around 4th, in my opinion, in the best conference in college basketball. In order to stay in the upper echelon, a win here is a must. Luke Harangody is arguably the best player in the country. He is almost a lock for a double-double against IU. Kyle McAlarney is a knockdown 3-point shooter. Tory Jackson is a great point guard. A pass-first guy, he has a chance to lead the nation in assists. The key for Notre Dame will be to D up on the Hoosiers. I think they can hold Indiana well under 75, and Notre Dame rarely scores under 75. That means a win for the Irish.

Winner: Notre Dame Margin: 10-20

Maui Invitational Preview: Can Someone Stop UNC?

Kevin McNeill — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 14:21:05 -0500

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EA SPORTS Maui Invitational (Nov 24-26)

Key Games:

- Texas / St. Joseph's winner vs. Indiana / Notre Dame winner

- UNC vs. Alabama / Oregon winner

- Championship game

Once again, Maui showcases a little bit of everything. The country will get a good look at three teams contending for their respective conference titles, two of the most underrated freshmen in the country in Michael Dunigan and JaMychal Green, along with returning stars such as Tyler Hansbrough, Tajuan Porter, Luke Harangody and the great tandem of AJ Abrams and Damion James.

You also have the dueling storylines of a tradition-rich program primed for a run at the national title, along with a tradition-rich program just trying to get through one of their most challenging seasons ever.

North Carolina starts the season the same way they started the last one, as the top ranked team in the nation. This time however, there is a noticeable gap between the Tar Heels and everyone else. Not only do they return the reigning Wooden award winner (not to mention the other five national POY awards), but also feature Wayne Ellington, Danny Green and Ty Lawson - all of whom pulled out of the NBA draft to come back for a title run.

Marcus Ginyard will be in street clothes for the tournament, which is a huge setback, especially on defense, but the Heels still tower over everyone else and should be the favorite to leave the island with the championship. Even though Tyler Hansbrough is still recovering from a stress reaction in his shin, he should be more than effective in Hawaii.

The Maui tournament is also a great test for North Carolina, not only for the high caliber of the field, but for the fact that it also prepares the Heels for a big test at Michigan State. They should be more than ready for the start of ACC play come January.

On the other end of the spectrum sits Indiana. They will field a team with all but two players from last season's roster having either transferred or been booted, a lame duck Athletic Director, an entirely new coaching staff, a self-imposed penalty limiting contact with recruits and a loss of a scholarship - all due to the still-lingering effects of the Kelvin Sampson call scandal.

Better yet, Indiana still awaits word on the NCAA's ruling over the charge of "failure to monitor," indicating that the school didn't do enough to watch Sampson's calls and activities in regard to recruits. Indiana angrily, and repeatedly, denied the charge over the summer, but soon after Sampson helpfully issued a statement saying he never concealed his illegal calls from university officials. Besides, the NCAA rarely likes to admit they were wrong.

So, in a perfect world, the end result would be that Indiana wouldn't have to suffer any more indignities than they already have, and Kelvin Sampson wouldn't be allowed within 100 yards of so much as a NAIA job. Which means of course that it may be safe to predict that Indiana will find itself facing a postseason or television ban, and Sampson will be back in college again by this time next year (following his foray into the NBA as an assistant).

But we move on. The Maui Invitational could well feature back to back matchups of Top 10 teams, should Texas play Notre Dame, with the winner facing the top ranked Tar Heels in the title game. That alone makes it once again the preseason's best tournament.

Another thing to look out for are the two aforementioned freshmen - Michael Dunigan for Oregon and JaMychal Green for Alabama. It wasn't that long ago that we didn't put much stock in freshmen play in November since they are just getting their first glimpse of the college game. No more. Dunigan is already averaging 13 & 8 down low, while Green tries to replace Richard Hendrix by chipping in 15 & 10.

Finally, one last note. The tournament first began on the 20^th anniversary of the greatest upset in sports history, Division II school Chaminade's victory over Ralph Sampson and #1 Virginia in 1982. They play the Tar Heels in the first round this year. If a miracle happens, would this be a bigger upset?

College Football: Saturday Touchdowns

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 01:34:55 -0500

Heading into this Saturday it seemed like the Notre Dame Fighting Irish were well on their way to a seventh victory and a berth in either the Gator or Sun Bowl. All they had to do was beat Syracuse, playing for a recently dismissed head coach in Greg Robinson and dead last in the Big East. But while the Orange haven't played particularly well this season, you can't accuse this team of quitting. What ensued was one of the more stunning results of the day, with Syracuse stunning the Irish 24-23 on a late touchdown pass. Where do the Irish go from here? USC is the finale next week, and a loss there puts them at 6-6 and in a very tough situation. A 6-6 team can't be taken ahead of a team with a 7-5 record or better, so they could be in a very undesirable locale...if they accept a bid in that case. Beat USC and it doesn't matter, but they'll have a tough task in front of they in the Coliseum.

Here are the seven key points for this Saturday. And congrats to Florida State safety Myron Rolle for being named a Rhodes Scholar today. It's much better to hear this news when it comes to Florida State than hearing about receivers being suspended for getting into a lunchroom brawl.

1. Boy was I wrong about that Texas Tech/Oklahoma game.

Going into this one, it surprised me how quickly people were jumping off the Texas Tech bandwagon for their showdown in Norman with the Sooners, so much so that I actually picked the Red Raiders to win. Let's say it all together: fool. What ensued was one of the worst beatings of the season when you take into consideration the quality of the two teams, with the Sooners running away 65-21 in a game that was essentially over when Tech failed to convert a 4th-and-6 just past midfield with about twelve minutes left...in the second quarter. The Sooner offense did what it pleased, putting up more than 600 yards of offense in a brutally effiecient fashion (326 passing, 299 rushing). But that defense needs some credit as well, limiting the nation's best passing offense to 406 yards of total offense (45 on the ground) and 1-for-13 on third downs. That's not going to get it done if your on the road in a game of this magnitude.

Now the question is this: do the Sooners move ahead of Texas in the BCS standings when they're unveiled tomorrow afternoon? That depends on what pollsters and the computers value: the head-to-head meeting (which Texas won) or who's playing better football right now (Oklahoma would win that argument given what they did tonight). To push OU ahead of Texas would be, in some way, blaming the Longhorns for playing that game in early October and that wouldn't be fair at all. We shall see what happens, and what makes it all the more important is that in the case of a three-way tie the team ranked highest in the BCS is the one that goes to the Big 12 Championship Game.

2. Utah completes their undefeated season. Now they have to wait for two weeks.

The Utes got the job done against bitter rival BYU, picking off Max Hall five times in the 48-24 beating. Now 12-0, Kyle Whittingham's team is pretty much assured of a BCS at-large slot and they've earned it. QB Brian Johnson had an outstanding game in his final appearance in Rice-Eccles Stadium, going 30-36 for 303 yards and four touchdowns along with twenty-eight yards on the ground. But it was the Utah defense that made the difference in this one, forcing six turnovers and holding the Cougars to 4-12 on third down. The two-week wait should be little more than a coronation of what they've accomplished, but you never know with this system.

3. Cincinnati holds on to put a virtual chokehold on the Big East race.

Pittsburgh made this game close in the fourth quarter, scoring fourteen unanswered points to reach the 28-21 final. But this was the product of a dominant defensive showing by the Bearcats (264 total yards allowed and seven sacks) and QB Tony Pike's play in leading the Bearcat offense (26-32, 309 yards and three touchdowns). Now Brian Kelly's team is one win, over Syracuse next weekend, from clinching the Big East and heading most likely to the FedEx Orange Bowl (hence fans showering the field with oranges). But Syracuse won't be thought of as a pushover in that locker room, especially with what the Orange accomplished in South Bend. To think about where this program was in their final seasons in Conference USA (the New Orleans Bowl to the BCS? Almost like the Notorious B.I.G.'s quote about going from "ashy to classy") makes their rise all the more spectacular.

But there an unfortunate consequence of Cincinnati's success: Coach Kelly's name could be thrown around in regards to high-profile job openings in the month between the end of the regular season and their bowl game. But that's all for another day for Cincinnati, who should celebrate their recent success (their first-ever win over Pitt).

4. The dream lives in Corvallis, Oregon.

There were two plays that could have led Oregon State fans to believe that their first trip to Pasadena in more than forty years wasn't meant to be: James Rodgers dropping a deep ball that would have been the game-tying touchdown, then kicker Justin Kahut hooking a potentially game-tying extra point to leave the Beavers down 17-16 with four minutes remaining. But a pair of unlikely heroes stepped up in the 19-17 comeback victory: backup quarterback Sean Canfield and wide receiver Sammie Stroughter. With both players possessing a wealth of experience the word "unlikely" is a stretch, but given the amount of attention heaped upon the Rodgers brothers (Jacquizz was lost to injury and wasn't available) they've been forgotten by some.

It was this combination that picked up the slack for James Rodgers on that touchdown drive, and once again on the gamewinning charge with a deep ball to put Kahut in position to keep their Rose Bowl hopes alive. Kahut did just that, hitting the kick as time expired. Every week people look for the wheels to fall off and the dream to die. But the Beavers continue to win games, with guys stepping up on a weekly basis. Maybe they are a team of destiny. Oregon will look to change that in the "Civil War" next weekend.

5. We finally have some frontrunners in the ACC. I think.

It's all cut and dry for these two teams: Boston College (Atlantic) and Virginia Tech (Coastal) win next week and they'll meet in Tampa on December 6th. The only other teams with a shot are Florida State and Georgia Tech, who need those two to lose in order to get in. Boston College, who lost starting QB Chris Crane to a broken collarbone in their come-from-behind 24-21 win at Wake Forest. The Eagles did a good job in keeping both teams in the game, with miscues setting up all 21 Demon Deacon points before winning the game in the end. Dominique Davis led the gamewinning drive for BC, but the credit for this win should go to their defense for holding Wake to under 200 yards of total offense. Other than taking advantage of the Eagle mistakes, Wake Forest did nothing on offense.

As for the Hokies, they didn't look pretty against Duke but they won the game and that's what's most important. Nine combined turnovers made this game an eyesore, but Virginia Tech did manage to rush for 187 yards on the night. Duke's longest passing play: a 23-yard pick-six by Virginia Tech's Macho Harris. The Blue Devils finished the game with twenty yards in the air and 136 yards total offense. Next weekend, the Eagles host Maryland (37-3 loser to FSU tonight) while the Hokies host rival Virginia (13-3 loser to Clemson).

6. Washington State picks up their first Pac-10 win of the season while rival Washington remains winless.

Missed field goals are what did in the Huskies in this one, with a missed 40-yarder keeping the Cougars within three in the fourth quarter and a missed chip shot in the second overtime setting the stage for Wazzu's victory. For as hard as they've played this season, Washington has found ways to lose football games and this one has to hurt considering how dominant they'd been in the trenches on both sides of the football. But give credit to Washington State, which hung around and found a way to win the Apple Cup in the end. The Huskies have one more shot at getting that elusive victory with a trip to Cal next week, but how much do they really have left in the tank? They'll be decided underdogs in Berkeley, but this much is known: they will compete. There are other teams in similar situations (tough year, coaching change, etc.) who have mailed it in but neither UDub or Wazzu has done that, And you have to give those kids and their coaches some credit (instead of pointing and laughing at their misfortune) for that even though it hasn't panned out in the form of wins.

7. Penn State headed back to the Rose Bowl. And Michigan has a lot of work to do this offseason.

The Nittany Lions were dominant from start to finish in their 49-18 victory over Michgan State, picking up the 800th win in school history at the same time. Darryl Clark, who has been criticized by some for his uneven play of late, threw for 341 yards and four touchdowns without a turnover in the beating, and that defense held Javon Ringer to 42 yards on the ground. The Spartans needed QB Brian Hoyer to attempt around twenty-five passes or so to have a shot in this one, meaning that Ringer was having a productive day running the football. Hoyer threw forty passes, and he was even replaced by backup Kirk Cousins late. Penn State is a talented football team on both sides of the football, but also an example of what one bad quarter (4th quarter at Iowa) can do to your national title dreams if you're not careful.

As for the Wolverines, there really isn't much to analyze in their 42-7 pasting at the hands of Ohio State, They hung in there for a half, going into the locker room down just 14-7. But things got out of hand quickly, with Dan Herron breaking a 49-yard touchdown run less than four minutes into the second half. From there Michigan had to try their luck through the air, and Nick Sheridan isn't ready to make plays in the passing game. It got ugly, and with nine losses and an embarassing defeat to the hated Buckeyes this is an extremely important offseason for Rich Rodriguez and his staff. Regardless of the system used, that was not Michigan Football, and their fanbase will not accept anything less than marked improvement next year.

Offensive Performance of the Day: West Virginia QB Pat White. White ran for 200 yards and three touchdowns on twenty-one carrier along with 6-11 for 122 yards and two touchdowns through the air in the Mountaineers' 35-21 win at Louisville. White is now the all-time NCAA leader in rushing yards by a quarterback, passing Missouri's Brad Smith. And he also is the Big East's all-time leader in total touchdowns, passing Syracuse's Donovan McNabb.

Big East Coach Ranking: Sweet Sixteen

Dan Daitchman — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:17:50 -0500

The 2008-09 Big East season should bring as much excitement as any. Commonly regarded as the toughest conference in college basketball, it has the potential to put 9+ teams into the NCAA tournament come March.

At the backbone of a great team comes a great coach, and the Big East has plenty of great coaches. But which coaches are the best? Let's just say that a well-padded résumé is not enough to give a coach top honors in this conference.

1. John Thompson III (Georgetown) - Like father like son, JT III has brought Georgetown back to national attention. His teams display great hustle regardless of score, and perennially sport a top-5 defense. The other mark of a great coach? Winning close games. Last year, Georgetown won six Big East games by 3 points or less.

2. Jim Calhoun (UConn) - Truly one of the elite coaches in college basketball. He's got the hardware to support his hall-of-fame status, and puts impact players in the NBA (See the careers of Ray Allen, Ben Gordon, and Emeka Okafor for further details).

3. Jim Boeheim (Syracuse) - When your signature is a decal of the court you coach on, you know you've done well. Nobody runs a better 2-3 zone defense than Jim Boeheim. He recruits great talent and has never missed the NCAA tournament 3 years in a row.

4. Rick Pitino (Louisville) - Not enough can be said about the Godfather. He's the only coach to take 3 teams to the Final Four. His squad always plays well as a team, and nobody mixes zone and man-to-man defense better then the Cardinals.

5. Bob Huggins (West Virginia) - Regardless of his off-the-court antics, this guy can flat out coach. He brought the 21^st century version of phi slamma jamma to Cincinnati, a perennial top-15 team. He gave K-State a great run at the NCAA tourney in his short term there, and left a full cupboard of talent in Michael Beasley and Bill Walker. Huggins silenced a lot of critics last year when the 7^th-seed Mountaineers knocked off 2^nd-seed Duke to reach the Sweet 16.

6. Jamie Dixon (Pitt) - Pitt has become a familiar name in the NCAA tournament thanks to this guy. He's moved up a rung in the recruiting latter by getting big-time local talent in Dejuan Blair, who grew up a mile from the Petersen Events Center. Dixon is an Elite-8 away from becoming a premier coach in college basketball.

7. Jay Wright (Villanova) - He's the classiest coach in basketball. He's brought Villanova back to playing their best basketball since the '85 championship. Some of the best guards in the country have stopped through Philadelphia as of late. The future holds similar high hopes, as Villanova's 2009 class is ranked in the top 5 by Scouts Inc.

8. Mike Brey (Notre Dame) - As Dick Vitale once said, nobody fits a program better than Mike Brey at Notre Dame. He's created a very balanced attack that will continue to give a lot of teams fits this year.

9. Keno Davis (Providence) - Out with the old, in with the new. Davis led the Drake Bulldogs on a magical run to the NCAA tournament last year and was a buzzer-beater away from making the second round. Keno inherits a program full of disappointment from last year and hopes to turn things around.

10. Mick Cronin (Cincinnati) - Cincy hasn't been the same since Huggins left, but Cronin has been steadily building his alma mater into a contender once again.

11. Jerry Wainwright (DePaul) - One quality about all of Wainwright's teams: they play tough. The Blue Demons have knocked off a ranked team each year for the past three years.

12. Buzz Williams (Marquette) - Buzz hasn't had much time as head coach yet, and will try to remove the sour taste Tom Crean left in fans' mouths. One thing is true: he's a great recruiter. Three of his recruiting classes in the last 8 years have been in the top 50, all at mid-major or high-major schools. He helped Texas A&M in becoming a top-tier program, and his 2009 class for Marquette is ranked 5^th by Scouts Inc.

13. Stan Heath (South Florida) - Football gets more hype than basketball these days in Tampa, but Heath's Bulls have shown they're a sleeper team. Last year featured wins over Syracuse and Florida State, and a 1-point loss in overtime to 17^th-ranked UConn.

14. Fred Hill (Rutgers) - Hill has done nothing but lose games since he's shown up in New Brunswick, but he's brought in two top-tier recruits in Mike Rosario and Gregory Echenique, who he hopes will help the Scarlet Knights climb out of last place.

15. Norm Roberts (St. John's) - This is not Lou Carnesecca's Redmen of the 80s. Norm needs to quickly rebuild a team that's in danger of losing court time at Madison Square Garden.

16. Bobby Gonzalez (Seton Hall) - This is a team that's won 3 Big East road games in the last 2 seasons. That won't cut it anywhere, especially in the toughest conference in college basketball.

College Basketball: Top Juniors

Joey Whelan — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:42:04 -0500

In this day and age of one and done phenoms, it is rare to see a large group of talented upperclassmen. While this years crop of juniors is very strong at the top, the talent quickly dwindles once you get below the top 20-25 players; at least when comparing this class to the freshman or sophomores. Luckily this list will only be dealing with the best of the best from the juniors. While some of these players were stars before they even suited up for their first college game, some have built their reputation over the years and have climbed to the top of their class.

Pick Six: Top Seniors

CHN's Pick Six series highlights the Top 6 players by position, league, and class.

1. Stephen Curry - Davidson

When it’s all said and done, he won’t be the best pro player on this list, he wont even be the highest drafted; but for now Curry is king. The Wildcats’ sharp shooter captivated the nation last year with one of the greatest individual performances in NCAA Tournament history and will likely continue to post gaudy numbers this year (if his 41 points in Davidson’s first exhibition game are any indication). Few players can match his shooting prowess at this level and his non stop movement off the ball makes him a nightmare for defenders. Even with teams focusing almost all of their attention on Curry this season, he’ll still likely manage to torch many of his opponents.

2. Hasheem Thabeet – Connecticut

While Thabeet has already proven to be a game changing force, this selection is mainly a potential pick. The 7’3” shot blocking machine showed tremendous flashes last season and if he has gotten stronger in the off season and improved his post game, Big East opponents better watch out. The Husky big man has more than enough potential to emerge as the top defensive player in the country this year, and with his frame and length, if he puts it together offensively, could be a go to force inside.

3. Luke Harangody – Notre Dame

His game may not be pretty, in fact more often than not it isn’t, but you simply have to respect a 20 and 10 season in the Big East. Harangody is a bruising force inside, with an almost immovable frame, great hands and a soft touch. He almost always seems to know where he is in relation to the basket and just finds a way to get his points night in and night out. More than anything though, you have to love the effort that the big man gives each and every time out on the floor despite the physical beating he takes. It’s been said before, but he is the next closest thing to Tyler Hansbrough.

4. Chase Budinger – Arizona

This high-flyer could have left for the NBA after each of the last two seasons, but opted to return. This year will likely be his last, but could also be his best. There isn’t a player in the Pac-10 with a better combination of athleticism and a perimeter skill set than Budinger. His ability to connect from the perimeter or mid-range has definitely improved since his freshman season and now is a consistent threat to beat teams from the outside. Of course, if team’s play him to shoot he can burn them with a solid first step and do serious damage in the lane with his 40-inch vertical leap. In all, Budinger is a devastating perimeter player who will see his name on All-American lists at the end of the season.

5. Tyler Smith – Tennessee

The SEC has plenty of young talent this season, but it’ll be the upperclassmen Smith who stands above them all as the conference’s top player. The junior does a little bit of everything, rebounding well from his position, and proving to be a solid passer. His shooting numbers improved dramatically from his freshman to sophomore seasons, and with his quickness is a constant threat to attack the basket. Defense is Smith’s bread and butter, showing the ability to guard multiple positions. He has very good lateral quickness, great length and a high basketball IQ on this end of the floor. While the Vol’s have plenty of talent this season, Smith will be the key to how far they go come March.

6. Earl Clark – Louisville

Statistically, Clark will never completely jump off the page due to the number of weapons Louisville trots out each night; that doesn’t mean the junior isn’t a big time inside/outside presence. Clark brings a great physical package to the floor, with good length, quickness and athleticism. Much of his game centers on his dribble drive game; he has a nice first step and solid handles, able to attack with either hand. Clark’s jump shot has improved during his career but certainly still needs some work before it is a consistent weapon. Clark has also shown some nice flashes of ability when he catches the ball on the block. He may not even be the best player on his team this season, but Clark will certainly be one of the top juniors in the country.

Next in Line: Wayne Ellington, North Carolina; Gerald Henderson, Duke; Damion James, Texas; Ty Lawson, North Carolina; Greivis Vasquez, Maryland; Derrick Brown, Xavier

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