Princeton

Tuesday's Conference Tournament Primer

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:03:10 -0800

While there's plenty of conference tournament action on Tuesday's schedule, and three bids to be distributed, there's also a huge game in the Ivy League as Penn (19-11, 11-2) visits rival Princeton (18-11, 9-4). What's on the line for the Quakers? A share of the Ivy League title with Harvard, which would force a one-game playoff between the two teams at a site to be determined. Jerome Allen's Quakers are led by the outstanding senior guard triumvirate of Zack Rosen, Tyler Bernardini and Miles Cartwright, with Rosen being the likely choice for Ivy League Player of the Year.

Rosen (18.5 ppg, 5.3 apg) has scored 20 points or more in four of Penn's last six games, and in Penn's 82-67 win over Princeton back on January 30th he scored 28 and dished out five assists. Job one for any team taking on Penn is to limit Rosen's impact on the game, but that's a task that's far easier said than done. And in most instances this season it's fallen short. Bernardini had to deal with foul trouble in that game yet still managed to score 14 points in 25 minutes, and the Quakers will need him to snap out of his current slump tonight if they're to force a playoff.

While Penn's won seven straight it isn't as if the Tigers come in playing poorly, as they've won seven of their last eight. Forward Ian Hummer's been a critical factor all season long for Mitch Henderson, leading the team in both scoring and rebounding and ranking second on the team with three assists per game. Hummer's a versatile forward who can be a difficult matchup for teams, and he combined with center Brendan Connolly to score 36 points in the first meeting (21 for Hummer).

Those two got their points but rebounding was a problem at the Palestra, as Penn grabbed 13 offensive boards and out-rebounded the Tigers 33-19. Pretty easy to figure out what Princeton needs to change from that first meeting if they're to defend their home floor. Princeton also has senior Douglas Davis in the backcourt, who averages 13.0 points per game, and point guard T.J. Bray has proven himself to be effective as both a distributor (3.6 apg) and a rebounder (4.5 rpg) at his position. If Penn wins the battle on the glass and shoots 10-for-18 from three as they did at The Palestra, there will likely be a playoff this weekend. But with Princeton playing better now than they were at the end of January, look for the rematch to be a 40-minute dogfight.

Atlantic 10 - First Round
#9 Duquesne at #8 Massachusetts, 7:00 p.m.
#12 Charlotte at #5 Saint Joseph's, 7:00 p.m.
#10 Richmond at #7 La Salle, 7:00 p.m.
#11 George Washington at #6 Dayton, 7:00 p.m.

The four winners will advance to the quarterfinals in Atlantic City, where the top four seeds await. Tonight's action is most important for Saint Joseph's and Dayton, two teams clinging to hopes of making a run at an NCAA tournament bid. For that to happen one would think that the Hawks and Flyers need to get to Sunday's final given recent missteps, but the simplest thing to do at this point is go out and win; live to fight another day.

Carl Jones, Langston Galloway and C.J. Aiken have the ability to lead Saint Joseph's on a run, and it's not like Archie Miller's Flyers lack for talent either. But keep an eye on La Salle, who has one of the best point guards in the conference in Tyreek Duren, and that 8/9 matchup could be the most entertaining given the pressure applied by both Duquesne and UMass.

Big East - First Round
# 16 DePaul vs. #9 Connecticut, Noon (ESPN2)
# 13 Pittsburgh vs. # 12 St. John's, 2:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
# 15 Providence vs. # 10 Seton Hall, 7:00 p.m. (ESPNU)
# 14 Villanova vs. # 11 Rutgers (ESPNU)

So, UConn begins their Big East Championship in the same spot they began their "five games in five days" run last season. But it's an entirely different scenario for the Huskies, who were safely in the NCAA tournament last season, and they had an assertive leader in Kemba Walker. That guy hasn't stepped up yet for the Huskies, who are also taking a DePaul team that despite their last place finish has improved since last season. Cleveland Melvin and Brandon Young are both very good sophomores, and freshman Jamee Crockett has improved his play. UConn can't afford to stumble, but they're likely in better shape than a slumping Seton Hall squad that dropped games to Rutgers and DePaul to end the regular season. Providence lacks depth but with Bryce Cotton, Vincent Council and LaDontae Henton the Friars can definitely scare the Pirates if not win.

Big Sky - Semifinals (at Montana)
#3 Portland State vs. #2 Weber State, 7:30 p.m. (Altitude)
#4 Eastern Washington at #1 Montana, 10:00 p.m. (Altitude)

The top four teams in the Big Sky meet up in Missoula, and few are expecting anything less than a Weber State/Montana rubber game on Wednesday night. Tyler Geving's Portland State team has won four straight and seven of their last eight game, and with Charles Odum and Chehales Tapscott he's got two of the better players in the Big Sky. But the question for PSU is whether or not they can limit Damian Lillard, and if the two regular season meetings are any indication of what could happen tonight their chances aren't good. Lillard's two point totals against the Vikings this season: 38 points on the road, 40 at home.

Eastern Washington has won three of their last four games, but in a weird scheduling quirk all three wins came at the expense of Idaho State (two regular season games, then their conference tournament meeting on Saturday). And they're running to a Montana squad that swept the two regular season meetings, and the Grizzlies are hot right now as well with a streak of 12 straight wins. Will Cherry and Kareem Jamar have played well on the perimeter all season long, and even with Cliff Colimon it's going to be tough for the Eagles to win on the Grizzlies' home floor.

Horizon League - Title Game
#3 Detroit at #1 Valparaiso, 9:00 p.m. (ESPN)

Valparaiso hosts a Detroit team that's gotten things going at just the right time, winning four straight and nine of their last ten heading into tonight's title game. The two regular season meetings were close but Bryce Drew's Crusaders won both, most recently beating the Titans at home on February 2nd. It was a tale of two halves, as Detroit shot 61% and scored 45 points in the first half, only to see VU clamp down and limit them to 34.5% shooting in the second half. Ray McCallum Jr. and Eli Holman are two key figures for Detroit but it's important to point out that five Titans finished that game in double figures.

The key for Detroit: slow down Horizon League Player of the Year Ryan Broekhoff, who scored 26 points in the second meeting (6-6 3PT). Kevin Van Wijk has done well inside for the Crusaders, averaging 14.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in Valpo's last two games, and if he can come close to those numbers tonight Valparaiso will have a better shot at returning to the Big Dance for the first time since 2004.

MEAC - Opening Round
# 8 Hampton vs. # 9 Morgan State, 11:00 a.m.
# 7 North Carolina A&T vs. #10 Howard, 1:30 p.m.
# 5 North Carolina Central vs. # 12 UMES, 4:00 p.m.
# 4 Bethune-Cookman vs. # 13 South Carolina State, 6:30 p.m.
# 6 Coppin State vs. # 11 Florida A&M, 9:00 p.m.

Given the nature of the MEAC race beneath regular season champion Savannah State and second-place finisher Norfolk State this could be a wild five days in Winston-Salem. The top three seeds take Tuesday off, and Bethune-Cookman and North Carolina Central shouldn't have much trouble with South Carolina State and UMES, respectively.

But beginning with Coppin State/FAMU things could get interesting, especially considering the fact that somehow the two teams didn't meet during the regular season. Tony Gallo leads four Eagles in double figures, and with both teams having issues defensively this could be a wild contest that goes down to the wire. Hampton/Morgan State shouldn't lack for entertainment value either with the two teams splitting their regular season meetings, but neither winner reached 70 points so don't expect offensive fireworks.

Summit League - Title Game
#4 Western Illinois vs. #2 South Dakota State, 9:00 p.m. (ESPN2)

Many expected the top two seeds to meet for the Summit League crown, but the Leathernecks took care of those plans with a 54-53 win over Oral Roberts on Monday night. Defending Dominique Morrison was tough enough and he still finished with 23 points, but just as it was on Monday the key for WIU in beating the Jackrabbits will be to make Nate Wolters' teammates don't go off as well.

Wolters, who led SDSU to a 63-47 win over Southern Utah with 31 points, seven rebounds and six assists, has an impact in all facets of the game for the Jackrabitts, and if he's able to get his teammates going offensively there's no telling how many points they could end up scoring (they hung 93 on Washington earlier this season). Ceola Clark III and Obi Emegano lead the way offensively for WIU, who will need a low-scoring (and low-possession) game if they're to pull off the upset.

Sun Belt - Title Game
#5 North Texas vs. #7 Western Kentucky, 7:00 p.m. (ESPN2 - Summit Arena)

When Ken McDonald was fired on January 6th, few people thought that a young Western Kentucky squad would have enough left to make a run at a Sun Belt title. But thanks in large part to new head coach Ray Harper and a freshman in Derrick Gordon who is going to win a conference Player of the Year award before his career's over, the Hilltoppers find themselves one win away from an improbable NCAA tournament appearance. On the other side of the floor is North Texas, a team many pegged as a team that could win the league thanks to the addition of one-time Missouri signee Tony Mitchell.

North Texas won the lone regular season meeting 84-67 back on January 12th, but this is a far different WKU team than the one that set foot in Denton on that night. Does WKU have enough left in the tank, playing their fourth game in four days, to win the title? It will be tough, but there's no reason to assume that can't at this point.

Iona vs. Fairfield: Friday's Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 10:05:00 -0800

After winning their first three MAAC games (two of which were played in December), Sydney Johnson's Fairfield (17-11, 12-4) Stags lost three straight league games and looked to be anything but a contender for the regular season title. Well the players have looked more comfortable with their first-year head coach, and sure enough here are the Stags sitting just a game out of first place heading into the final weekend of league play. Tonight they visit Iona (22-6, 13-3) with first place on the line, and a win for the Gaels would clinch their first regular season title since the 2000-01 season.

Iona won the first meeting 71-62 on January 27th and Fairfield has won seven of eight since, with Derek Needham and Rakim Sanders both playing good basketball. Needham was a preseason candidate for MAAC Player of the Year, and while the season hasn't worked out in that fashion the Illinois product has the ability to get things rolling offensively. Needham shot 4-for-12 in the first meeting, scoring 11 points to go along with eight rebounds and four assists, and he's shot worse than 44% from the field in just two games since. Sanders leads the Stags in scoring and rebounding, and his versatility makes the Boston College transfer a threat both inside and out.

Fairfield may not score as much as Iona but that doesn't mean the Stags lack guys who can score. In addition to Needham and Sanders Fairfield has Maurice Barrow and Ryan Olander inside, with Barrow being a workhorse on the glass and Olander possessing range out to about 15 feet with consistency. But the problems for Fairfield in the first meeting came on the defensive end, which was somewhat predictable given how potent the Iona attack is. The Gaels shot 50% from the field in Bridgeport, and the straw that stirs the drink is senior point guard Scott Machado.

The nation's leading assist man had just five assists in the first meeting but he made seven of thirteen shots from the field and scored 18 points. Add Momo Jones' 20 to that and there's a big reason why the Gaels were so successful against the Fairfield defense. Jones has become more comfortable in his role after some early struggles, which has added to an offense that also features Mike Glover inside and shooters Sean Armand and Kyle Smyth. Tempo is going to be key, because the more possessions the tougher things get for Fairfield. The Stags average just one point per possession and Iona enters the game at a 1.15, but if they can make this a half-court battle they've got a shot.

West Virginia gets another shot at a win over a ranked opponent as they host #10 Marquette, who has played outstanding basketball of late. On an individual level three of the top candidate for Big East Player of the Year will be on display, as Kevin Jones and the Mountaineers look to slow down Jae Crowder and Darius Johnson-Odom. Crowder and DJO were unstoppable last week in their win at Connecticut, and Buzz Williams' team is more than tough enough to go into a hostile environment and win. WVU needs their guards to play consistently in order to win, especially Truck Bryant and Jabarie Hinds. A West Virginia win would go a long way towards locking up an NCAA bid.

Harvard can clinch at least a share of the Ivy League title this weekend with home games against Princeton and Penn, beginning with the Tigers tonight. Princeton handed the Crimson their only league loss to date a couple weeks ago but with Kyle Casey playing better of late it's going to be much tougher for Ian Hummer and company this time around. And the matchup between Butler and Valparaiso could be a preview of a Horizon League title game, but the Bulldogs need a win to lock down the two-seed in the conference tournament. A loss to the Crusaders, who may have Kevin Van Wijk (sprained knee) back, would open the door for Cleveland State to swipe the spot with a win on Saturday.

Top 25 Games
9:00 PM (10) Marquette at West Virginia (ESPN)

NCAA Division I Games
7:00 PM Columbia at Yale
7:00 PM Princeton at Harvard
7:00 PM Pennsylvania at Dartmouth
7:00 PM Cornell at Brown
7:00 PM North Florida at Jacksonville (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Canisius at Manhattan
7:00 PM Loyola (MD) at Rider (ESPN2)
7:00 PM Butler at Valparaiso (ESPNU)
8:00 PM Niagara at St. Peter's
9:00 PM Fairfield at Iona (ESPNU)
9:05 PM Idaho at Utah State (ESPN3)

Michigan State Forces a Tie for First: Saturday's Recap

Raphielle Johnson — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:13:47 -0800

With first place on the line in Columbus the expectation was that #11 Michigan State and #3 Ohio State would play a tight, physical affair. And that's exactly what it was, with the visitors from East Lansing seeming to be the more comfortable of the two teams in the first half. Michigan State shot 46.9% from the field but the reason for their 35-25 lead at the half was their defense, as they limited Ohio State to 33.3% and forced eight turnovers. The Spartans' defending of Jared Sullinger was central to that effort, as they forced the sophomore big man into five of Ohio State's eight turnovers (he finished with ten) in the half. Michigan State scored 14 points off of those eight turnovers, and the ten-point margin proved too much for the home team to overcome in the 58-48 loss.

"You have to give them a lot of credit," said Ohio State point guard Aaron Craft, who finished with 15 points. "What they hang their hat on is big pressure defense. They limited us to one shot and they shrink the floor. Our guys weren't ready for it tonight."

Draymond Green didn't shoot his best from the field as he made just five of sixteen shots in scoring 12 points and grabbing nine rebounds, but his work on the defensive end of the floor more than made up for that. Keith Appling turned the ball over seven times but managed to score 14 points, but the star of the evening ended up being big man Adriean Payne. Payne, who entered the game averaging 7.3 points per game, made all six of his field goals in scoring 15 points in 20 minutes of action. Payne and Derrick Nix combined to guard Sullinger, who did score 17 points and grab 16 rebounds but those ten turnovers gave him an unwanted triple-double.

"Most of the turnovers I had were me going up for shots," noted Sullinger. "I wasn't expecting the [double-team] because that's not what Michigan State shows on the film. They dig but they don't dig like they did today. We have to give them credit, they had a great plan and they stuck to their system."

Payne was also a big reason why the Spartans outscored Ohio State 30-12 in the paint, and with William Buford and Deshaun Thomas both shooting 2-for-12 from the field this disadvantage proved to be too much for Ohio State to overcome. The win moves Michigan State into a tie with Ohio State atop the Big Ten standings, and while there's still a long way to go Tom Izzo's team made a major statement in a hostile environment. Michigan State is a Big Ten title contender, and at this rate there's a whole lot more that the Spartans can accomplish this season.

Other Notable Happenings

1. Wichita State wins big at Creighton and is well on their way to the MVC crown.
The rematch between the Shockers and Bluejays was one of the most-anticipated games on the schedule, as the outcome would go a long way in determining the regular season champ in the Missouri Valley. Creighton, who won the first meeting 68-61 in Wichita, would have pulled into a tie for first and owned the head-to-head tiebreaker with a win but they were outclassed on their home floor. Joe Ragland (24 points, six assists) and Ben Smith (22 points, six rebounds) led the way for Wichita State, who shot 58.2% in an 89-68 win to move two games ahead of Creighton in the standings.

Gregory Echenique led the Bluejays with 16 points and five rebounds but a quiet afternoon from Doug McDermott (5-14 FG, 15 points, six rebounds) and 40.4% shooting (5-for-23 from beyond the arc) proved to be too much to overcome when combined with Wichita State's offensive execution (efficiency of 141.3). Gregg Marshall's Shockers entered the game as the more balanced team when looking at their performance both offensively and defensively, and that's why they remain atop the MVC. Creighton, who has now lost three straight, needs to straighten things out defensively ahead of their BracketBusters game with Long Beach State next weekend. Because while the Bluejays remain a good bet to go dancing, their defensive performance will determine how long they stick around.

2. UNLV relies on their defense down the stretch to beat San Diego State.
There haven't been many home-and-home series this season that have been either as tight or as entertaining as the two games between UNLV and San Diego State, with the home team winning both contests by a margin of two points. Jamaal Franklin's runner was the difference in the first meeting, but the Runnin' Rebels had to lean on their defense to return the favor in Las Vegas. Dave Rice's team shot 39.4% from the field in the second half and went more than seven minutes without a made field goal, but steals from Mike Moser (which resulted in the Anthony Marshall layup that gave them a 64-63 lead), Marshall and Justin Hawkins proved to be the difference in the 65-63 win.

Moser scored 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds and Oscar Bellfield added 15 (Brice Massamba was also productive with 12 points as he outplayed the SDSU big men), but on an afternoon that saw Marshall and Chace Stanback combine to shoot 4-for-17 from the field UNLV was able to rely on their defense late. San Diego State turned the ball over 17 times to just eight for UNLV and was outscored 16-2 in fast break points, which negated their 49% shooting from the field and also didn't allow them to take advantage of UNLV shooting 6-for-25 from three. Chase Tapley led the Aztecs with 22 points and Franklin added 15, but James Rahon and Xavier Thames were quiet for much of the day. What does this all mean? We need a "Round 3" despite the fact that calls for such will likely motivate New Mexico, who is also 6-2 in the Mountain West.

3. North Carolina adjusts to the tempo well enough to beat Virginia.
Coming off of their tough loss to rival Duke on Wednesday, there were questions as to how #5 North Carolina would not only get over that defeat but deal with the slow pace that #19 Virginia would look to play at. Well, Roy Williams' team did just fine, pulling away with a 22-5 second half run to win 70-52 and remain part of a three-way tie for first in the ACC. Tyler Zeller, who took a great deal of criticism following Wednesday's loss due to missed free throws and his defending of Austin Rivers in the final sequence (he did go for 23 and 11), bounced back with 25 points and nine rebounds and as a team the Tar Heels made up for 35.3% shooting by grabbing 23 offensive rebounds.

Mike Scott led the Cavaliers with 18 points and six rebounds but it wasn't enough to make up for a 40-20 disadvantage in the paint and a 23-9 margin in second chance points. Unlike many teams that run into Virginia's pack line defense, North Carolina remained composed and didn't try to force things especially in the first half. And that's largely a credit to point guard Kendall Marshall, who dished out six assists and as a team the Tar Heels finished with just eight turnovers. Harrison Barnes (14 points, 11 rebounds) and John Henson (ten points, ten rebounds and four blocks) posted double-doubles, and while this result didn't make waves nationally UNC made sure to not allow Duke to beat them "twice".

4. Anthony Davis and Marquis Teague lead Kentucky past Vanderbilt in Nashville.
The national Player of the Year race seems to be a two-horse race at this point, with Kansas' Thomas Robinson and Kentucky's Anthony Davis being the thoroughbreds of choice. Davis was a key figure in the Wildcats' 69-63 win at Vanderbilt as he finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and seven blocked shots. But just as important was the play of point guard Marquis Teague, who followed up a double-double against Florida with 13 points, eight assists and four rebounds...with just one turnover. Four Kentucky starters finished in double figures as Doron Lamb led the way with 16 and Terrence Jones bounced back from a slow start to score 14 and grab nine boards, and they limited the Commodores to 27.6% shooting in the first half to take a 36-23 lead into the locker room.

But as expected Kevin Stallings' team fought back in the second half, scoring 40 points as they improved their shooting inside of the arc (45.4% to 25.0% in the first) and turned the ball over just two times. John Jenkins led four VU starters in double figures with 15 points but their 36.5% shooting from the field (and 35.7% from two) proved to be costly. Vanderbilt's going to win games down the stretch and reach the NCAA tournament, but the Wildcats are simply on another level right now. With Davis, Jones and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (who had a quiet game on Saturday night) John Calipari's got a front line that extremely difficult for opponents to score on. The key to cutting down the nets in New Orleans however could be Teague, which makes his improved play of late that much more important. While there definitely are other contenders (Syracuse chief among them), Kentucky's at the head of the class right now.

5. Missouri completes the season sweep of Baylor, whose ceiling really needs to be reevaluated.
The day's lone game matching Top 10 teams was intriguing not just because of the Big 12 race but also due to the fact that it gave viewers the chance to see how Baylor would bounce back from their loss to Kansas on Wednesday night. There was also the question of how the Bears would apply the lessons learned in their 89-88 home loss to Missouri last month, which would go a long way in determining the outcome. Well, Baylor made sure to not get whipped on the glass (40-27 edge) but they didn't accomplish much else, as Missouri limited the Bears to 36.2% shooting while knocking down 14 of 28 from beyond the arc in their 72-57 win. Paul Pressey led four Tigers in double figures with 19 points while Baylor's Quincy Miller (20 points, seven rebounds and three steals) had no such help from his teammates.

Removing Miller's 7-for-10 afternoon from the equation, Baylor shot a putrid 14-for-48 (29.2%) from the field on the day. Not going to beat many teams much less one the caliber of Missouri, who should definitely be considered to be a national title contender, by shooting that poorly. Perry Jones III, considered by many to be a lock for the lottery in the NBA Draft (should be leave), shot 2-for-12 and scored four points while Pierre Jackson (2-9 FG, five points) wasn't much better. Baylor went 0-4 in regular season games against Kansas and Missouri, and to be frank this team's ceiling is limited due to the inconsistency of their frontcourt and an inability to make key adjustments. When the stakes are raised simply relying on superior athletic ability won't get the job done, a lesson Baylor's had hammered home by both Missouri and Kansas.

Quick Hitters

1. Many were interested to see what Connecticut would bring to the table as they visited #2 Syracuse, and while the 85-67 final screams "blowout" the margin is a bit deceiving. The game turned for good when Andre Drummond left the game momentarily with an ankle injury, and the Orange went on a 19-3 run to put the game away. If the Huskies are to make a run at not just getting into the Big Dance but making waves once they get there, they need more from Alex Oriakhi (two points, two rebounds).

2. Wednesday night's hero was Austin Rivers but in #9 Duke's 73-55 win over Maryland it was the Plumlee brothers who led the way. Miles scored 13 points and grabbed 22 boards while Mason added 16 and ten to keep the Blue Devils tied with Florida State and North Carolina atop the ACC. If those two can build on this performance, Duke may end up being the favorite to win the league.

3. In a matchup of two of the top teams in the Atlantic 10, Temple sent a message in an 85-72 win over Xavier at the Liacouras Center. Ramone Moore scored 30 points, Micheal Eric added 11 and 16 boards inside and Khalif Wyatt scored 18 to move the Owls to 8-2 in conference play. Saint Louis, who won 59-51 at La Salle, are a game back in the loss column at 8-3.

4. Two ranked SEC teams did themselves no favors at home, as both #7 Florida and #18 Mississippi State dropped games they were expected to win. Trae Golden scored 17 points and dished out seven assists to lead Tennessee past the Gators 75-70 while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope led Georgia past Mississippi State 60-58 in overtime with 20 points, eight rebounds and three assists. While both teams should be safely in the Field of 68, results like these don't do much to help their possible seeding.

5. The race in the Ivy League regained some intrigue on Saturday night as #21 Harvard fell 70-62 at Princeton. This wasn't a huge surprise as the Crimson haven't won at Jadwin Gym since 1989, and Ian Hummer led the victors with 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Keith Wright led Harvard with 16 points and 12 rebounds, but they still lead Yale and Penn by a game in the loss column.

6. The Big East Coach of the Year "race" should be interesting to keep an eye on in the final month of the season, and while Jim Boeheim coaches the league's best team there are other solid candidates. Mike Brey, who won the award last season, has a Notre Dame squad that moved to 9-3 on the season with an 84-76 win over DePaul. Buzz Williams is also worthy as #19 Marquette is now 10-3 in league play after they recovered from another slow start to blitz Cincinnati 95-78, and one can't forget USF's Stan Heath as his Bulls are 8-4 following their 55-48 comeback win at Providence. Georgetown's John Thompson III and #23 Louisville's Rick Pitino, whose Cardinals came back to beat West Virginia 77-74 in Morgantown, should also be considered.

7. It's time to move from "he lit up Baylor" to "he's doggone good" when it comes to #10 Kansas big man Jeff Withey, who was outstanding in the Jayhawks' 81-66 win over Oklahoma State. Withey scored 18 points, grabbed 20 rebounds and blocked seven shots, which proved to be too much for the Cowboys to overcome with Thomas Robinson going for 24 and 12. The better Withey gets the better this team gets, which makes Kansas a serious threat to get to New Orleans.

8. The Pac-12, at the very least, needed its top contenders to establish some separation from the rest of the conference and that happened on Saturday as all four contenders that played won. California moved into sole possession of first with a 73-63 win at UCLA (Washington can move into a tie for first with a win at Oregon State on Sunday) as Justin Cobbs scored 18 points and dished out five assists. A game behind them at 9-4 are Arizona (who rebounded from arguably their poorest half of basketball this season to beat Utah 70-61), Colorado (63-49 win over Arizona State) and Oregon (78-69 win over Washington State). That separation may not help the national perception much but it was necessary for the contenders to move away from the bottom seven in order to boost their chances come Selection Sunday.

9. #7 Murray State rebounded from their first loss of the season as they beat Austin Peay 82-63. Isaiah Canaan scored 23 points and dished out six assists and Ivan Aska and Jewuan Long scored 12 apiece, and they also received the boost from the bench that wasn't there on Thursday night as the reserved combined to score 24 points.

10. Kentucky (11-0 SEC) still has company when it comes to teams undefeated in conference play as Long Beach State (Big West) and Mississippi Valley State (SWAC) moved to 12-0 with wins on Saturday. Casper Ware (school's all-time assist record) and T.J. Robinson (conference's all-time leading rebounder) established new standards in the 49ers' 89-69 win at UC Davis, and Luka Pavjovic led four Delta Devils in double figures with 16 points in their 71-63 win at Alcorn State. There are five conference undefeateds in college basketball as Utah Valley (Great West), Bucknell (Patriot) and UT-Arlington (Southland) are also unblemished.

11. With Kevin Van Wijk (knee) out and Ben Boggs (reaction after being poked in the eye on Thursday night) limited, Valparaiso fell into a tie for first in the Horizon League with a 71-53 loss at Youngstown State. The Crusaders (11-4), who beat 10-4 Cleveland State 59-41 on Thursday, still don't know the severity of Van Wijk's injury and if he's lost for an extended period of time their regular season title hopes could be in trouble.

12. The CAA has gained a little separation at the top as the three teams tied for first are now two games up on the closest competition with three to go. VCU knocked off rival Old Dominion 68-64 with Bradford Burgess leading the way with 24 points, six rebounds and five steals to move to 13-2 in league play. Joining them are Drexel (78-67 win over Hofstra) and George Mason (75-69 win at UNC Wilimington), and the separation could be part of the equation when it comes to earning multiple NCAA bids. The possible keys now: a good showing in Sears BracketBusters next weekend and two of these three meeting in the CAA tournament final.

13. While Loyola Marymount has been the "road warrior" of the WCC, entering their game at Gonzaga with a 6-0 record in league road games, they were no match for "The Kennel" and the Bulldogs as they fell 78-59. Kevin Pangos scored 21 points and dished out nine assists and Elias Harris added 17 and 15 caroms in the win, which moved Gonzaga to 10-2 in WCC play. The win keeps Gonzaga a game behind Saint Mary's and one ahead of BYU, who whipped Pepperdine 86-48.

14. Antwaine Wiggins scored 25 points and grabbed ten rebounds as Charleston beat Davidson 86-78, dealing the Wildcats' at-large hopes a major blow. The good news for Davidson, who was led by De'Mon Brooks (25 points, nine rebounds), is that they host Wichita State next week in the Sears BracketBusters event.

15. Sometimes a coach has to put the future of a program ahead of the present regardless of the possible consequences, and that's what Alabama head coach Anthony Grant did in suspending three starters ahead of their 67-58 loss at LSU. Already without Tony Mitchell (also suspended), JaMychal Green, Trevor Releford and Andrew Steele were all left in Tuscaloosa due to conduct detrimental to the team. While the loss likely kills their at-large hopes, Grant made a decision that a lot of other coaches would not have been willing to make.

16. Saturday marked the end of crossover games in the Mid-American Conference, and that's probably a good thing for the West Division as the East went 30-6 in those games this season. Akron leads the division with a 10-1 record after 75-51 win over Northern Illinois, and the top five conference records in the conference are all in the East (Eastern Michigan leads the West with a 6-5 mark). Does this mean that the East dominates the conference tournament? That would be the expectation, but you never know especially with the Eagles beating Ohio 68-55 on Saturday afternoon.

Five Notable Performances

1. F Thomas Robinson and C Jeff Withey (Kansas)
Robinson scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds while Withey accounted for 18 points, 20 rebounds and seven blocks in the Jayhawks' 81-66 win over Oklahoma State.

2. F/C Andrew Nicholson (St. Bonaventure)
21 points and 23 rebounds in the Bonnies' 69-48 win over Duquesne.

3. F Mason Plumlee and F Miles Plumlee (Duke)
In the Blue Devils' 73-55 win over Maryland, Mason scored 16 points and grabbed ten rebounds and Miles scored 13 and grabbed 22 caroms.

4. G Tim Frazier (Penn State)
23 points, ten rebounds and nine assists in the Nittany Lions' 72-54 win over Nebraska.

5. G Kenny McGowen (Idaho State) and G Shane Gibson (Sacred Heart)
McGowen scored 37 points (7-12 3PT) and dished out three helpers in the Bengals' 79-73 win at Northern Arizona, and Gibson accounted for 34 points and four assists in the Pioneers' 72-46 win over Bryant.

Texas vs. #4 Missouri: Monday's Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:22:33 -0800

With the final month of regular season play just two days away, the focus turns to the resumes that teams have put together in hopes of being one of the 68 teams in the NCAA Tournament. While Frank Haith's Missouri (19-2, 6-2) has no such concerns at this point the team they visit on Monday night isn't in the same position. Rick Barnes' young Texas (13-8, 3-5) need to improve their resume and soon if they're to return to the NCAA Tournament. The Longhorns' best wins to date are home wins over Temple and Iowa State, and with a 12-1 record at home Texas is more than a tough out at the Erwin Events Center.

Missouri last won in Austin in 2009, which isn't a bad streak when considering the fact that they would only play once a season before the drop to ten conference teams. Frank Haith's team has lost to Kansas State and Oklahoma State on the road with rebounding being a key factor, just as it was in their win at Baylor. Texas is a slightly better rebounding team when considering margin but they also allow teams to grab just over 13 offensive rebounds per game, which could be an issue with Ricardo Ratliffe (14.8 ppg, 6.9 rpg) averaging 2.9 offensive rebounds per game.

Ratliffe leads the nation in field goal percentage due to the fact that he rarely attempts a shot more than five feet away from the basket. Texas will counter with a frontline that goes four deep but the most talented players are the least experienced. Seniors Alexis Wangmene and Clint Chapman share time with freshmen Jaylen Bond and Jonathan Holmes, and this four-man group averages a combined 22.9 points and 20.0 rebounds per game. If they can get Ratliffe in foul trouble the dynamic inside changes, because even though Steve Moore has made solid contributions there's a drop in production when Ratliffe is saddled with foul trouble.

The problem for Texas lies on the perimeter, because even though they're talented the Longhorns lack experience when compared to the Tigers. Phil Pressey (9.8 ppg, 6.1 apg) is one of the best point guards in the country, and his playmaking ability will be a serious test for Texas freshman Myck Kabongo (9.9 ppg, 5.5 apg) on the defensive end. Pressey sets the table for Missouri's capable rotation of perimeter scorers, from leader Marcus Denmon to wing Kim English to sixth man Michael Dixon Jr. and those are just three of the benefactors. Texas calls on junior J'Covan Brown (19.7 ppg, 4.0 apg) to make big shots but while his decision-making has improved during his time in Austin there are still moments where he strays off the path.

Freshmen Shelden McClellan and Julien Lewis are averaging a combined 19.0 points per game and with the majority of Missouri's defensive attention likely being on Brown, at least one of these two will need to make an impact on the offensive end. Missouri boasts the better efficiency numbers on both ends of the floor, and that can't be the case for the Longhorns if they're to pull off the win. If Texas can also attack the offensive glass, as they enter with an offensive rebounding percentage of 39.7%, and cash in on some second-chance points they'll have a shot. Do that and get Ratliffe in early foul trouble, and it could be a good night on the 40 Acres.

Also of note are a pair of conference rivalry games, as Pittsburgh visits Morgantown to take on West Virginia and Penn hosts Princeton in an important Ivy League battle. Jamie Dixon's Panthers have won two straight games and with a healthy Tray Woodall at the point they're a much better team than the one that lost eight straight games. As for West Virginia they'll be looking to rebound from a tough loss at Syracuse, one marred by a missed goaltending violation in the final seconds of the game. Kevin Jones is one of the frontrunners for Big East Player of the Year at this point while their young guards have shown signs of improvement.

As for the Ivy League battle, Jerome Allen's Quakers remain undefeated in conference play (and tied with Harvard in the loss column) while Princeton is 1-1 in league play and needs a win to remain a major player in the race. Penn guard Zach Rosen has to be considered the best player in the Ancient Eight right now and classmate Tyler Bernardini is no slouch himself. Forward Ian Hummer and guard Doug Davis lead the way for the Tigers, who split their opening weekend of play with a loss at Cornell followed by a win at Columbia.

In the A-Sun Mercer visits Florida Gulf Coast in a key game for both teams, but moreso for Bob Hoffman's Bears as they're currently tied for the league lead with Belmont. Justin Cecil and Jakob Gollon lead a balanced offensive attack for Mercer, while Sherwood Brown and Bernard Thompson lead the way for FGCU, who also have one of the conference's better freshmen performers in point guard Brent Comer. Coppin State visits undefeated Norfolk State in an important MEAC battle and Southeast Missouri State looks to hold their two-game edge in the loss column for second place in the OVC as they visits a struggling Eastern Illinois squad.

Top 25 Games
9:00 PM (4) Missouri at Texas (ESPN)

NCAA Division I Games
6:15 PM USC Upstate at Jacksonville State
7:00 PM Kennesaw State at Stetson
7:00 PM Princeton at Pennsylvania
7:00 PM Pittsburgh at West Virginia (ESPN)
7:00 PM Palm Beach Atlantic at UCF
7:00 PM James Madison at East Tennessee State
7:00 PM Morgan State at Hampton (ESPNU)
7:00 PM Western Carolina at Wofford
7:05 PM Mercer at Florida Gulf Coast
7:30 PM Jacksonville at Lipscomb
7:30 PM Maryland-Eastern Shore at North Carolina Central
7:30 PM Howard at South Carolina State
8:00 PM North Florida at Belmont
8:00 PM Southeast Missouri State at Eastern Illinois
8:00 PM Delaware State at North Carolina A&T
8:00 PM Coppin State at Norfolk State
8:00 PM Charleston at Samford
8:00 PM Austin Peay at Tennessee State
8:00 PM SIU-Edwardsville at Tennessee Tech
8:30 PM Prairie View A&M at Alabama A&M
8:30 PM Jackson State at Arkansas-Pine Bluff
8:30 PM Grambling State at Mississippi Valley State
8:30 PM Northern Colorado at Northern Arizona (FCS)
9:00 PM Texas Southern at Alabama State (ESPNU)

Wednesday Recap: Bearcats' Small Lineup a Success in Game One

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:32:49 -0800

With suspensions ruling out two of their key interior players for the next six games, many wondered what Mick Cronin's Cincinnati Bearcats would do to make up for the absence of Yancy Gates and Cheikh Mbodj. Without a consistent scoring option in the paint the strategy was to let the guards go to work, and that they did in the Bearcats' 78-58 win at Wright State. Sean Kilpatrick, who was a non-factor in their loss at Xavier on Saturday, scored a game-high 20 points (6-12 3PT) while JaQuon Parker added 14 points and all five starters finished in double figures.

Freshman Jermaine Sanders, one of the players expected to benefit from those losses as more minutes have become available, scored nine points and grabbed four rebounds in 18 minutes of play and point guard Cashmere Wright dished out eight assist to three turnovers to go along with 12 points. Cincinnati fired away from deep throughout the night, making 14 of their 32 shots from beyond the arc. The Bearcats average seven makes and 17 attempts from beyond the arc on the season, but with Gates out those numbers figure to increase until he returns.

A.J. Pacher and John Balwigaire scored 11 points apiece to lead the Raiders, who shot 47.5% from the field but turned the ball over 13 times and were out-rebounded 31-22. Two other areas that cost Billy Donlon's team were points in the paint (22-18 Cincinnati) and second-chance points (23-2 Cincinnati), and these are areas that one wouldn't expect Cincinnati to control given their lack of interior depth. But they found a way to do so, and with the offensive issues that Wright State's had this season (averaging 55 points per game) the Bearcats' fast start proved to be too much to overcome.

The good news for Cincinnati is that their next three games, Radford, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Chicago State, are all winnable games that they should be able to win despite the depth issues. And with a loss to Presbyterian already on their resume it's critical that the Bearcats take care of business and avoid any more bad losses as there won't be another marquee non-conference opportunity available. Game one offered a blueprint for the Bearcats with regards to how they'll score with Gates out of the lineup, with the guards needing to take on greater scoring responsibilities. It also won't hurt if they can knock down shots from deep at a similar clip to Wednesday's mark.

Other Notable Happenings

1. Did an injury impact UCLA's defensive efficiency? It very well could have.
With forward Travis Wear missing Wednesday's game against Eastern Washington with a skin infection on his left foot there were minutes up for grabs in the frontcourt for someone. That turned out to be Anthony Stover, who missed the early portion of the season with a shoulder injury, and he took full advantage of the increased minutes in the Bruins' 60-47 win over the Eagles. Stover played 18 minutes but blocked three shots and grabbed three rebounds, providing the spark UCLA needed on the defensive end of the floor. EWU shot a season-low 25.9% from the field and turned the ball over 12 times to just five assists on the night.

Cliff Ederaine and Colin Chiverton had particularly rough nights as they combined to make just eight of thirty-one shots for a combined 21 points. Lazeric Jones had another solid scoring performance for the Bruins with 19 points to go along with six rebounds and four assists and Tyler Lamb added 14, but for Ben Howland's team to be successful they have to be better defensively. Wednesday was a step in the right direction, and they can partially thank Stover for that.

2. Charleston recovers from a slow start to defend their home floor against Tennessee.
To the surprise of many Cuonzo Martin's Volunteers led College of Charleston by as many as 11 points in the first half at TD Arena. But as the game wore on Bobby Cremins' Cougars got back into the game and would lead by as many as 14 in the second half on their way to the 71-65 win. This is the second straight season that Charleston has beaten Tennessee, and the tandem of Antwaine Wiggins and Andrew Lawrence led the way on Wednesday.

Wiggins scored a game-high 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds while Lawrence added 14 points, five steals and four assists. Charleston scored 22 points off of 16 Tennessee turnovers, and the six-point edge in that category proved to be the difference. The Cougars were also aided by a ten-point edge in points from the foul line (14-4), moving to 8-1 on the season as a result. It took some time but the Cougars were able to put together a stretch worthy of a team looking to compete for a conference title. The key now is to consistently put forth that kind of effort for entire games.

3. Princeton's three-pointer at the buzzer hands Rider their tenth loss of the season.
According to The Beatles, "one is the loneliest number", and in addition to that fact it was also the most important number in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Mack Darrow made just one shot on the night: a three-pointer as time expired to give Princeton a 72-71 overtime win at Rider to drop the Broncs to a stunning 1-10 mark on the season. The Tigers probably should have sewn things up in regulation as they led 65-61 with less than 30 seconds remaining after trailing by as many as 16 late in the first half, but the Broncs sent the game into overtime thanks to four Brandon Penn points.

Things remained tight in the extra session but Rider left the door open by missing three of their final four free throws. Douglas Davis would take Daniel Stewart's second miss and drive down the court, finding Darrow for the game-winning bucket. The Tigers will be a factor in the Ivy League race but it's very difficult to say the same about Tommy Dempsey's Broncs in the MAAC. A team that many expected to finish in the top four at the very least may struggle to finish outside of the bottom four at their current pace, and that's something that no one familiar with Rider's talent expected in October.

Quick Hitters

1. In the lone afternoon game of the day Iona picked up a good road victory at Richmond. In the 88-79 win Scott Machado dished out 15 assists and scored 13 points while Mike Glover led the way with 24 points and eight rebounds. Iona shot 67.7% from the field in the second half and finished the game with an offensive efficiency of 118.9. Richmond opponents average an efficiency of 98.5 on the season.

2. Jared Sullinger didn't start for Ohio State but he did return to the lineup, scoring 12 points and grabbing ten rebounds in 25 minutes of action as the Buckeyes beat USC Upstate 82-58. Ohio State shot 56.9% from the field on the night, beginning to pull away late in the first half thanks to 13 forced turnovers. Deshaun Thomas led the way with 23 points, his ninth straight double-figure scoring outing.

3. Kyle O'Quinn scored 22 points and grabbed 14 rebounds and Quasim Pugh scored 10 points in 15 minutes off the bench as Norfolk State beat LIU 73-62. The Spartans limited LIU to 33.8% shooting from the field and 5-for-21 from beyond the arc.

4. FIU led for much of the night at Maryland but couldn't seal the deal, allowing the Terrapins to escape with 65-61 victory in front of a sparse crowd at the Comcast Center. FIU shot 35.5% from the field in the second half, and for the game Maryland outscored the Golden Panthers 22-9 from the foul line.

5. It isn't far-fetched to think that Denver may be the best team in the state of Colorado. Joe Scott's Pioneers beat Northern Colorado 71-65 in Greeley with Brian Stafford (16 points) and Royce O'Neale (14) leading the way offensively and Chris Udofia blocking three shots. Denver visits Colorado State on January 11th, and a win in Fort Collins would be another piece of evidence in support of them being the best in the state.

6. Baylor took care of business in their 69-42 win over Bethune-Cookman, but the real test comes on Saturday as they visit BYU. The Bears limited Bethune-Cookman to 34.8% shooting and Pierre Jackson scored 12 points and dished out four assists in 23 minutes off the bench.

Three Notable Performances

1. F Kyle O'Quinn (Norfolk State)
22 points, 14 rebounds and four assists in the Spartans' 73-62 win over Long Island.

2. G Scott Machado (Iona)
15 assists, 13 points and six rebounds in the Gaels' 88-79 win at Richmond.

3. F Ian Hummer (Princeton)
21 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and four steals in the Tigers' 72-71 overtime win at Rider.

College Hoops "Roundtable": Favorite Games This Season

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 10:18:31 -0800

The first three questions in this five-part series involved legal matters that have effected college basketball, from conference realignment to the new recruiting guidelines and finally the updated scholarship model. Now comes the fun part: discussing the action that will take place on the floor. This question focuses on games that the panel is looking forward to, removing the December 3rd showdown between North Carolina and Kentucky (who isn't looking forward to that one?).

Question: Removing North Carolina/Kentucky, what's one game (conference or non-conference) that you're looking forward to watching this season?

Peter Robert Casey (Five-Star Basketball)
UConn at Syracuse on February 11th. 'Cuse is on its way out [of the Big East]. Both teams are expected to be inside the Top 10 nationally, and the Huskies and Orange always serve up a great treat. They'll be jockeying for a top-standing in the Big East, and the Dome will be rocking. It's already circled on my calendar.

Rob Dauster (Ballin' is a Habit)
Kentucky-Louisville on New Year's Day is going to be awesome. I'm personally hoping that when Duke and North Carolina play on the last day of the regular season, the ACC title will be on the line. Syracuse-UConn will be awesome as well. I'll be able to attend the Battle of the Boulevard this year -- the rivalry game between Lipscomb and Belmont. Can that count?

Brian Ewart (VUHoops.com)
I really can't wait to see UNC vs. Michigan State in the Carrier Classic. The whole concept is amazing and while Michigan State is coming into the game unranked, I still think it could end up being a very good game.

In the Big East, I'm pretty excited to see UConn and Syracuse go at it. Both are expected to be great teams this year and those two games could have a big effect on the conference title. It will also be interesting to see how UConn fans react to having Syracuse, a team on its way out the conference door, in their house.

Troy Machir (Ballin' is a Habit)
There might not be that many games that we can look to from this far away and already hype up, with UNC/Kentucky being the obvious exception. That being said, I think there are a bunch of games down the road that, if things pan out, could make for fantastic match-ups. I am really looking forward to this season's Maui Invitational, which features the most-loaded field in the tournament's history. I also am looking forward to the annual Crosstown Shootout between Xavier and Cincinnati. The Bearcats have made improvements every year since Mic Cronin took over, and this very well could be the year they reap the rewards of hard work. Likewise, Xavier is one of the deepest teams in the country, and features one of the most exciting guards in the county, Tu Holloway. Plus, I mean, it's a non-conference cross-town rivalry. Both these teams could suck and this game would still be entertaining.

Ray Mernagh (NBE Sports)
There's a lot of games I'm looking forward to, just like the rest of us I'll be that guy that watches a countless number of them over the next five months. One game I'll be at that I'm looking forward to is New Year's Day when Cincinnati comes to Pittsburgh. Cincinnati is getting a lot of love but they need a big win on the road to make me a believer. They will be a veteran group with a gaudy record but how they perform on New Years Day will tell us a lot about how "real" they are.

Jon Pence (SCACCHoops.com)
If you're taking away the UNC/UK game, then I'll go with a matchup that sees Duke go play a true road game at Ohio State in late November. The Blue Devils rarely play true road games, but Duke will get a tough matchup with Ohio State. The fun thing to watch will be Jared Sullinger against Duke's duo of Mason and Miles Plumlee. How will Austin Rivers fare in his first road game? This should be a fun one.

Jon Teitel (CollegeHoops.net)
I will do one of each. Conference game(s) of the year: it is hard to improve upon a buzzer-beater in a one-game playoff to decide who goes to the NCAA Tournament, but after last spring's Harvard-Princeton classic I recommend scanning your satellite to see them play twice in a two-week span (February 11th/24th). Non-conference game of the year: since most non-conference games happen early in the season before teams have a chance to form an identity and share some time together on the court, I am pretty psyched for the late-season Xavier-Memphis match-up (February 4th). Senior Tu Holloway will try to show the NBA scouts that he is better than his 1-8 FG/5 TO performance in last year's NCAA Tournament loss to Marquette, while hometown super-frosh Adonis Thomas should have 20 games under his belt by then.

Ben Weixlmann (Heard This Blog)
What a loaded question. Just because I imagine several folks will pick more obvious answers, I'll try to go outside the box. Because I cover the Atlantic 10, I'm really excited to see Xavier-Memphis. The Musketeers are loaded yet again, and head coach Chris Mack has done an incredible job with his talent in Cincinnati. Memphis head man Josh Pastner is no slouch, either, and his squad figures to be a dark horse Final Four contender. Can't wait for that one on Feb. 4.

My Thoughts
There are some very attractive games on the schedule of both varieties, but if I had to pick one matchup I'm going with either of the two battles between Fairfield and Iona in the MAAC (January 27th and February 24th). The Gaels are have the nation's second-best assist man from last season (Scott Machado) back along with a number of key returnees including "Optimus Prime" (Mike Glover). Add in some talented newcomers in Rashad James and Arizona transfer Lamont "MoMo" Jones and Tim Cluess won't lack for options.

But the same goes for Fairfield under first-year head coach Sydney Johnson, with Derek Needham anchoring the backcourt and transfers Rakim Sanders (Boston College) and Desmond Wade (Houston) ready to go. These two are expected to be the class of the MAAC, meaning that the stakes should be high as well.

Next question: Outside of the generally accepted top four (UNC/UK/Ohio State/UConn) who do think can win the national title?

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

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 11:06:01 -0700

With the NCAA Tournament now over and many resting up for a couple days before hitting the spring recruiting circuit (the Nike EYBL Boo Williams Invitational is this weekend), why not take a look at all 68 teams in this year's field and their early prospects for next season? With the NBA Draft deadline (May 8th) still a month away, here's a look at each of the teams in the East Region and what they'll likely have in 2011-12.

(1) Ohio State: lost in Sweet 16 to Kentucky
2011 ended in rough fashion for the Buckeyes, who were knocked out on a Brandon Knight shot in the final seconds of their regional semifinal battle in Newark. But moving forward it's easy to see Thad Matta's team ranking among the nation's best once again. While they do lose Jon Diebler, Dallas Lauderdale and David Lighty the cupboard will not be bare in Columbus. William Buford, Aaron Craft and Jared Sullinger are three of the returnees, and they once again bring in a highly-touted recruiting class ranked 4th by ESPN and led by point guard Shannon Scott and center Amir Williams. If the five freshmen can contribute (in addition to Deshaun Thomas) Ohio State will likely have more bodies to call on next season.

(2) North Carolina: lost in Elite 8 to Kentucky
The Tar Heels, who made their charge once Kendall Marshall earned the starting job at the point, are in the position of waiting for a key player to make an important decisions with regards to the NBA Draft. Harrison Barnes is projected to be a first round pick, but if he returns Roy Williams has one of the best teams in the country. John Henson and Tyler Zeller both announced today that they will be returning for the 2011-12 season, a big boost for the frontcourt. Marshall and Reggie Bullock (who missed the final month due to injury) will be back, along with a recruiting class led by P.J. Hairston and James McAdoo. If the Heels lose more than one player to the draft they'll still be very good, it just may take a little longer for them to reach their full potential.

(3) Syracuse Orange: lost to Marquette in the third round
Syracuse went the way of their guards this season, and when Scoop Jardine and Brandon Triche were quiet so was the rest of the team. Jim Boeheim will have to replace a warrior in Rick Jackson, but the progression of Fab Melo late in the season was an encouraging sign. Kris Joseph may have a decision to make in regards to the draft but most expect him to return. Add to this nucleus a rising sophomore class led by C.J. Fair and Dion Waiters and a very good recruiting class led by Michael Carter-Williams and Rakeem Christmas, and the Orange may very well be the preseason favorite in the Big East.

(4) Kentucky: lost in national semifinals to Connecticut
John Calipari's team reached heights few expected them to before the season began, getting all the way to the Final Four before having their worst offensive outing of the season in a loss to eventual champ UConn. Now comes the time when the Wildcats wait to see who will return to school. Terrence Jones, Brandon Knight and DeAndre Liggins all have decisions to make with regards to the NBA Draft, and if they all return to school UK could be one of the candidates for preseason number one. Add in the nation's top recruiting class boasting forwards Anthony Davis, Michael Gilchrist and Kyle Wiltjer along with point guard Marquis Teague and the Wildcats will definitely be heard from early and often. Look for Kentucky to be at the very least the favorite to win the SEC.

(5) West Virginia: lost to Kentucky in the third round
The Mountaineers had a solid season in 2010-11, winning 21 games (11 in the Big East) but they dropped two of their last three games. The good news for West Virginia is that they've got some key contributors slated to return, most notably guard Truck Bryant, wing Kevin Jones and big man Deniz Kilicli. They will need to step up leadership-wise as well with John Flowers and Joe Mazzulla out of eligibility, and it remains to be seen if Dalton Pepper can defend consistently enough to be a part of the rotation night in and night out. WVU also brings in a large recruiting class led by point guard Jabarie Hinds and forwards Tommie McCune and Keaton Miles. Bob Huggins will not lack for options next season.

(6) Xavier: lost to Marquette in the second round
The season came to a disappointing end for the Musketeers, who were bounced in the Atlantic 10 quarterfinals and then fell to Marquette in their first NCAA Tournament game. But the good news is that they lose just two seniors of note (guard Dante Jackson and forward Jamel McLean), and the backcourt tandem of Tu Holloway and Mark Lyons will be the best in the A-10. Jeff Robinson had a promising sophomore campaign and will pair up with Kenny Frease in the frontcourt. And sharpshooter Brad Redford returns after missing all of this season with a torn ACL. Chris Mack welcomes a solid recruiting class led by 6-4 wing Dezmine Wells, with guard Dee Davis and power forward Jalen Reynolds completing the class.

(7) Washington: lost to North Carolina in the third round
For the second consecutive season the Huskies rebounded from an inconsistent regular season to grab the Pac-10's automatic bid, winning the Pac-10 Tournament on an Isaiah Thomas jumper as time expired. They hung on to beat Georgia but had some moments of brain lock late in their close loss to North Carolina. Now Lorenzo Romar needs to replace four key contributors: Thomas, who entered the NBA Draft and will hire an agent, along with seniors Matthew Bryan-Amaning, Justin Holiday and Venoy Overton. Abdul Gaddy (torn ACL) and C.J. Wilcox return in the backcourt and the frontcourt shouldn't lack for depth either. Add in a recruiting class led by guards Hikeem Stewart and Tony Wroten Jr. and the Huskies should be a factor in the league race.

(8) George Mason: lost to Ohio State in the third round
While VCU grabbed the headlines in the NCAA Tournament it must be noted that Jim Larranaga's team won the CAA regular season title by two games. The Patriots lose just one starter (leading scorer as well) in Cam Long, and valuable reserve Isaiah Tate also graduates. But forwards Luke Hancock and Ryan Pearson along with guard Andre Cornelius all return. The key for the Patriots will be how many reserves step up. Bryon Allen, Paris Bennett and Vertail Vaughns are just three of the options for George Mason, and they have a pair of recruits from the New York metropolitan area slated to be on campus as well in guard Corey Edwards and wing Vaughn Gray. Look for George Mason to be one of the teams expected to contend in the CAA.

(9) Villanova: lost to George Mason in the second round
For the second straight year Jay Wright's Wildcats embarked on a steady decline down the stretch, losing six straight and eight of their last ten games. Villanova does lose three seniors from their rotation (Corey Fisher, Antonio Pena and Corey Stokes), but there will be talent returning to campus. Maalik Wayns will be back (some thought he was declaring himself eligible for the NBA Draft but he won't), as will Mouphtaou Yarou, and Isaiah Armwood, James Bell and Dominic Cheek should also figure into the rotation. Add in a very good recruiting class led by guard Tyrone Johnson and center Markus Kennedy and the Wildcats have a shot at being very good in 2011-12. But the chemistry needs to be there, something that's seemed to be off since their Final Four run in 2009.

(10) Georgia: lost to Washington in the second round
Mark Fox's team found a way to squeak into the NCAA Tournament, where they came back in the second half before falling to Washington in the second round. Now they've got to go about replacing some key cogs in the attack, with Travis Leslie (no agent) and Trey Thompkins (will hire an agent) both declaring themselves eligible for the draft. Also leaving are forwards Chris Barnes and Jeremy Price, meaning that newcomers such as Nemanja Djurisic and John Florveus will need to show themselves ready for the SEC sooner rather than later. On the perimeter Gerald Robinson Jr. and Dustin Ware will be back, and the task of replacing Leslie may be made easier by the addition of McDonald's All-America Kentavious Caldwell. NCAA Tournament trips could become a common occurrence in Athens.

(11) Marquette: lost to North Carolina in the Sweet 16
Buzz Williams' team found a way to get into the NCAA Tournament, winning 22 games and getting to the Sweet 16 where they were overmatched against a bigger North Carolina team. But the Golden Eagles play hard for 40 minutes, something that keeps them in nearly every game they play in. Jimmy Butler, Dwight Buycks and Joseph Fulce all graduate so there will be some holes to fill, but there are a number of contributors slated to return. Vander Blue, Junior Cadougan and Darius Johnson-Odom will handle things on the perimeter, and Oregon transfer Jamil Wilson along will Jamail Jones add more attacking wings to a frontcourt led by Jae Crowder. Davante Gardner played well in March as did Chris Otule, and their incoming recruits aren't slouches either. Juan Anderson could be a Big East All-Rookie Team candidate while guards Todd Mayo and Derrick Wilson could contribute as well.

(12) Clemson: lost to West Virginia in the second round
In Brad Brownell's first season the Tigers were able to get into the NCAA Tournament, beating UAB before falling to West Virginia with a small bit of blame going towards the bad decision to have Clemson play at noon just two days after playing the late game in Dayton. Forward Jerai Grant and guard Demontez Stitt both graduate but they'll have talent returning, led by guard Andre Young and forwards Devin Booker and Milton Jennings. Bryan Narcisse and Tanner Smith also played important roles this season for the Tigers, who will also welcome in a soild recruiting class. Point guard Daniel Sapp and power forward Bernard Sullivan are two of the key players arriving on campus, and wing Kevin McDaniels also has the opportunity to crack the rotation. Another NCAA berth is more than possible in 2011-12.

(12) UAB: lost to Clemson in the First Four
There were more than a few vocal critics of the Blazers' inclusion in the field of 68, and they certainly didn't help matters by being whipped soundly by Clemson in Dayton. But Mike Davis' team did win the Conference USA regular season crown thanks in large part to the leadership of senior point guard Aaron Johnson. Johnson and leading scorer Jamarr Sanders both graduate, adding more to the workload for leading returnees Cameron Moore and Ovie Soko. There may not be as much depth in Birmingham next season (and as of right now they've got just two players in their 2011 recruiting class) but the Blazers could be a factor in C-USA. Tough to see them being an NCAA Tournament team as of right now, however.

(13) Princeton: lost to Kentucky in the second round
The Tigers were able to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004 and very nearly knocked off the Wildcats, losing on a Brandon Knight basket in the final seconds. Now, a team that loses Dan Mavraides and Kareem Maddox will also have to find a new head coach as Sydney Johnson moved on to take the job at Fairfield. Rising seniors Doug Davis and Patrick Saunders are two key cogs expected to be back next season, and with the right coaching hire the Tigers could once again be a factor in the Ivy League, but many will pick Harvard to win the Ancient Eight come October.

(14) Indiana State: lost to Syracuse in the second round
Greg Lansing did an outstanding job with the Sycamores this season, leading them to their best regular season finish in the MVC in more than a decade and their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2001. ISU will lose three seniors (Aaron Carter, Jake Kelly and Isiah Martin) but they've got more than enough slated to return to campus, led by point guard Jake Odum, wings Dwayne Lathan and Carl Richard, and forward Myles Walker. Slender forward Justin Gant is the lone member of their incoming class right now but even with the lean recruiting haul look for the Sycamores to once again be a player in the MVC.

(15) Long Island: lost to North Carolina in the second round
The Blackbirds had an outstanding season, winning 27 games overall in addition to the NEC regular season and tournament titles. Forwards Julian Boyd and Jamal Olasewere were key figures, as were wings David Hicks and Kyle Johnson. Point guard Jason Brickman and C.J. Garner brought different skill sets to the table and that's what made the Blackbirds such a tough team to deal with throughout the course of the season. But with Hicks and Johnson graduating they'll need a couple wings to step up next season, led by Michael Culpo. LIU has just one incoming recruit (guard Gerrell Martin) as of right now but they've got more than enough experience to make another run at the NEC crown. Luckily for LIU head coach Jim Ferry turned down the Manhattan job, allowing the program to build on 2010-11 with the same man in charge.

(16) Alabama State: lost to UTSA in the First Four
The Hornets, who were the four-seed in the SWAC Tournament, knocked off top seed Texas Southern in the semis before taking care of Grambling State in the title game to get to the Big Dance. Lewis Jackson's team featured balanced scoring with five players averaging at least six points per game and two in double figures (Tramaine Butler and Tramayne Moorer). Moorer, who only played in 16 games due to NCAA issues, is the lone senior who was a major contributor this season meaning that the Hornets will be expected to finish higher than fourth in the SWAC next season. Look for Chris Duncan and Kenderek Washington to be two key factors alongside Butler in 2011-12.

(16) Texas-San Antonio: lost to Ohio State in the second round
Despite going 9-7 in Southland play the Roadrunners were able to get hot at just the right time, winning five straight games going into their First Four matchup with Alabama State. Melvin Johnson III went off in the first half of that contest and UTSA held on to earn a matchup with top overall seed Ohio State. Brooks Thompson earned his first NCAA bid as a head coach but the question now is whether or not UTSA can make a return trip next season. Johnson III will be a junior and leading scorer Devin Gibson is the only key departure for this group, with Jeromie Hill ranking third on the team in scoring as a freshman. So the answer is yes, although the Roadrunners will not have an easy time getting through the Southland.

Second Round Thursday: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 23:44:23 -0700

The true fun that is the NCAA Tournament tips off on Thursday, beginning with Clemson taking on West Virginia in Tampa (no disrespect to the "First Four"). Sixteen games across the nation will captivate the country with thrilling finishes and routine blowouts being the order of the day. Below is the schedule breakdown by region by tip time, with one game from each quadrant being featured.

By the time Thursday's schedule is finished millions of brackets will be ruined, which should come as no surprise given the regular season. This year also marks the first time that four networks will televise the games, which could take away from the tradition of "live look-ins" but at the least fans of a particular team know they can watch their squad from start to finish.

East Region
Tampa, FL
12:15 PM (12) Clemson vs. (5) West Virginia (CBS)
2:45 PM (13) Princeton vs. (4) Kentucky (CBS)
While Clemson will serve as the first example of how a "First Four" winner deals with the quick turnaround, the second game of the afternoon should be intriguing as well. Ivy League champion Princeton takes on SEC tournament champ Kentucky, and both teams should enter Thursday's game brimming with confidence. The Wildcats have been bolstered by their upperclassmen, led by SEC Tournament MVP Darius Miller and DeAndre Liggins. When Miller, who is fourth on the team in scoring, plays aggressively on offense Kentucky is an even tougher team to slow down. And in Liggins they've got one of the premier defenders in the nation.

The Tigers are an experienced group led in scoring by forwards Ian Hummer and Kareem Maddox, and guards Douglas Davis and Dan Mavraides get the job done on the perimeter. The key for Princeton: keep the Wildcats, especially Josh Harrellson and Terrence Jones, off of the offensive boards. Kentucky grabs 35% of their misses, a good number for a team that gets nearly 29% of its points from three (long rebound opportunities). The two teams are separated by just two possessions per game and the Wildcats have been the more efficient of the two offensively. Look for this contest to be an entertaining affair.

Southeast Region
Washington, DC
12:40 PM (9) Old Dominion vs. (8) Butler (TruTV)
The matchup between the Monarchs and Bulldogs will be among the best of the day, especially if viewers like defense. Butler was centimeters to the left away from an improbable national title last season, and as the season's worn on Brad Stevens' club has adjusted to the personnel losses from that team. Guard Shelvin Mack and forward Matt Howard are the top offensive threats for Butler, but they both will run into tough matchups. Guard Kent Bazemore is the best defensive player in the CAA, winning the league's Defensive Player of the Year award, and ODU has a big man in Frank Hassell who was named MVP of the conference tournament.

Blaine Taylor's Monarchs allow opponents to shoot just 40.4% from the field and 28% from three, one of the best marks in the country. Butler can ill-afford to resort to simply firing away from deep, but they do get 30.8% of their points from beyond the arc. If Old Dominion can take this aspect of Butler's offense away look out. The Bulldogs will need to keep Old Dominion off the offensive glass. The Monarchs have an effective field goal percentage of 48.7%, but their offensive efficiency (108.4) ranks among the best in the CAA due to the fact that they grab 45.3% of their misses. First team to sixty wins? More than possible in the nation's capital.

3:10 PM (16) UNC Asheville vs. Pittsburgh (TruTV)

Tampa, FL
6:50 PM (15) UC Santa Barbara vs. (2) Florida (TBS)
9:20 PM (10) Michigan State vs. (7) UCLA (TBS)
Tom Izzo is widely regarded as one of the best tournament coaches in the game, and six Final Four appearances in addition to the Spartans' overall success during his tenure more than backs it up. But this current team isn't on the same level of those outstanding teams that racked up the hardware and NCAA Tournament success, casting doubt on the idea that the Spartans can get hot come tournament time. Their opponents don't enter the Big Dance playing their best either, with UCLA suffering a bad loss in the Pac-10 quarterfinals against Oregon. But the Bruins do have weapons, led by wing Tyler Honeycutt and forward Reeves Nelson. The matchup between Nelson and Draymond Green should be fun to watch, and Michigan State needs Green back on his game after a quiet Big Ten Tournament.

Outside of Kalin Lucas it's tough to peg who exactly had a standout three games in Indianapolis last weekend, and Michigan State needs Durrell Summers to find his game if they're to hang around Tampa for the entire weekend. Summers shot 50% or better just once in Big Ten play, and that was in their quarterfinal win over Purdue with him taking just four shots. That can't happen against UCLA, and the Spartans will also need to hope that the tradition of Pac-10 teams struggling the first weekend when having to travel three time zones continues. UCLA will go as far as point guard Lazeric Jones can take them from a distribution aspect, as he's their most effective player at the point. Malcolm Lee and Joshua Smith will also be needed offensively, and they should have opportunities to make things happen.

Denver, CO
7:15 PM (14) Wofford vs. (3) BYU (CBS)
9:45 PM (11) Gonzaga vs. (6) St. John's (CBS)
Steve Lavin has St. John's back where their fans expect them to be at the least: playing in the NCAA Tournament. And for all the criticism Coach Lavin took during his tenure at UCLA, it needs to be noted that of the seven teams he took to the NCAA Tournament five went to the Sweet 16. The Red Storm will be without senior wing D.J. Kennedy but this is a group that's had to call on contributions from a number of players throughout the course of the season. It won't be one player that shoulders the full load left by their most versatile player but rather a number of guys who do a little bit more than usual. Guard Dwight Hardy has been outstanding for St. John's and with his role as the initiator of the offense in addition to his own scoring, Gonzaga will need to control him if they're to win.

The Bulldogs have three very good offensive weapons in Steven Gray, Elias Harris and Robert Sacre, but there have been other contributors for Mark Few's team. Sam Dower and David Stockton are two freshmen who have stepped up for Gonzaga, and Dower will be important in dealing with an experienced St. John's front line that has some muscle as well. Gonzaga has a rebounding margin of plus-4.9 and they will enjoy an advantage on the boards against St. John's. But the Red Storm use a variety of defenses, turning over their opponents 24% of the time, meaning that the rebounding disparity could be nullified if the Bulldogs are too reckless with the basketball.

Tucson, AZ
7:27 PM (13) Belmont vs. (4) Wisconsin (TruTV)
9:57 PM (12) Utah State vs. (5) Kansas State (TruTV)
There wouldn't be much surprise if both of these games in the Old Pueblo were won by the lower seeded team, with both Belmont and Utah State having won 30 games this season. But the focus here is on the nightcap, with Kansas State improving their play over the last month of the season (they don't match up well with Colorado) and Utah State far and away the class of the WAC. Jacob Pullen missed practice on Wednesday due to some food he ate, but he's tough and will be on the floor for the game. The question for the Wildcats is who steps up offensively to help him out, and two candidates there are Curtis Kelly and Jamar Samuels. And they will be tested by an experienced frontcourt led by WAC Player of the Year Tai Wesley.

Wesley averages 14.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per game for the Aggies, who have won eight straight games. On the perimeter junior Brockeith Pane has more freedom to make plays and senior Pooh Williams is a solid defender who will challenge Pullen for much of the night. Kansas State turns the ball over 15 times per game, and while they force nearly 16 per contest their opponents have been good at taking care of the basketball for much of the season. K-State also needs to hit the offensive boards as they rebound 41.3% of their misses on the season. If the Aggies can limit the Wildcats' good looks while also keeping them off the offensive glass they'll beat Kansas State, and it shouldn't be considered an upset either.

Southwest Region
Denver, CO
1:40 PM (13) Morehead State vs. (4) Louisville (TBS)
4:10 PM (12) Richmond vs. (5) Vanderbilt (TBS)
Here's another "12 over 5" scenario that would surprise few were it to happen. The Spiders start four seniors led by point guard Kevin Anderson and forward Justin Harper, two of the best players in the Atlantic 10. Vanderbilt is tougher than previous editions that made the NCAA Tournament but Kevin Stallings' team can still struggle in big road/neutral games. The Commodores are very good offensively however, with John Jenkins leading the way on the perimeter and big man Festus Ezeli in some areas being an upgrade when compared to the departed A.J. Ogilvy. Vandy averages 76 points per game, but they're going to have a hard time reaching that number against the Spiders.

Richmond has held each of their last six opponents to below 40% shooting from the field, and none of those teams shot higher than 28% from three either. The Spiders are very good in their defensive scheme when it comes to forcing challenged shots, an important characteristic given the fact that they don't force many turnovers (the high in turnovers for their last six opponents: 11). Offensively the Spiders can punish opponents that fall asleep with backdoor cuts, and if teams sag off an Anderson or Harper can go to work. This game will more than likely be one of the games that go right down to the very end.

West Region
Tucson, AZ
2:10 PM (10) Penn State vs. (7) Temple (TNT)
The Nittany Lions and Owls get to fly across the country to meet, with Temple winning their most recent NCAA Tournament meeting (2001 Sweet 16). Temple won that game and has won 25 of the last 31 meetings, most recently beating Penn State 45-42 last season. The Owls have won six straight in the series but head coach Fran Dunphy has struggled in the Big Dance with a 1-12 career record in the event. Guards Juan Fernandez and Ramone Moore will have their hands full with senior Talor Battle, but Temple is good enough defensively to keep tabs on arguably the greatest player in Penn State history. Temple allows opponents to shoot just 41% from the field and they enjoy a turnover margin of plus-2.5.

Temple has also been the better rebounding team of the two, and Lavoy Allen has stepped up since the loss of center Micheal Eric due to injury. But with the Owls' diminished depth up front comes increased opportunities for Nittany Lions such as Jeff Brooks and Andrew Jones to hit the boards on both ends of the floor. Temple makes things difficult on their opponents, allowing an offensive efficiency of just 93.7, meaning that Penn State will need to get their offense from a variety of sources if they're to live to play another day.

4:40 PM (15) Northern Colorado vs. (2) San Diego State (TNT)

Washington, DC
7:20 PM (14) Bucknell vs. (3) Connecticut (TNT)
9:50 PM (11) Missouri vs. (6) Cincinnati (TNT)
The final game of the day in Washington should be an entertaining contest, with a Missouri team that won just one conference road game taking on a Cincinnati club that's played better basketball over the last month or so. Yancy Gates has been more active for the Bearcats, and when he's ready to go the effort boosts the entire team. Five players average at least eight points per game for Cincinnati, and sixth man Sean Kilpatrick will be one of the key offensive options for them against a team that likes to ramp up the tempo. Missouri forces an average of 18 turnovers per game, but the Bearcats hand it over just 11.6 times so something has to give. A key for Cincinnati in their quest to keep Missouri from turning the game into a track meet will be their rebounding.

Missouri is not a very good rebounding team, allowing opponents to grab 36% of their misses on the season. Laurence Bowers and Ricardo Ratliffe are the key cogs up front for the Tigers, but they're not particularly big and the team has a rebounding margin of minus-2.0. Cincinnati's been better and if they're able to control the rebounding the flow of the game likely follows. Marcus Denmon, Michael Dixon Jr. and Kim English are the three leaders on the perimeter, but Mike Anderson will play a number of bodies throughout the course of the game. Eight players play 17 minutes or more per game for Missouri while nine play 13 or more for the Bearcats. Both teams have bodies to look to for contributions, but there's a big difference in how quickly these two want to play. He who controls tempo ultimately controls the outcome.

Kentucky vs Princeton: Tournament Preview & Prediction

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:44:26 -0700

(4) Kentucky vs. (13) Princeton

East Region -Tampa

March 17 - 2:45 CBS

Kentucky enters the NCAA Tournament with a high level of confidence, closing the regular season with a win at Tennessee then winning the SEC Tournament. With all the talk about their freshmen it's been upperclassmen such as DeAndre Liggins and Darius Miller who have raised their play of late, and John Calipari is a tournament-tested coach who knows how to win in March. Their opponents will be the Princeton Tigers, who make their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2004. The Tigers are experienced in regards to years, and a senior class that started their careers with a six-win season gets their ultimate reward for all of the hard work. Douglas Davis' shot delivered the automatic berth, and with Ian Hummer, Kareem Maddox and Dan Mavraides Princeton has a nucleus that's seen a lot of what college basketball has to offer.

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

Kentucky

Princeton

Stars to Watch:

G Brandon Knight (Kentucky)

F Kareem Maddox (Princeton)

Faces Winner Of: West Virginia vs UAB/Clemson

Vegas Odds:

Kentucky -14

Predictions:

RealTimeRPI: Kentucky 71-Princeton 64

KenPom: Kentucky 73-Princeton 61

CollegeHoops.net Betting Pick: Kentucky:

"Big Dance" Interviews: Princeton Postseason Teleconference

Jon Teitel — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 09:15:16 -0700

On Monday CHN writer Jon Teitel took part in the Ivy League Postseason Teleconference, which featured NCAA Tournament representative Princeton. The Tigers won their one-game playoff with Harvard on a Douglas Davis shot as time expired, and they will play four-seed Kentucky in their first NCAA appearance since 2004.

Forward Kareem Maddox

On winning Ivy Defensive Player of the Year: "I cannot take credit for the conference Defensive Player of the Year award without the help of my team on the defensive end."

On their NCAA Tournament and overall experience: "Coach Johnson and Assistant Coach Brian Earl were on the 1996 Princeton team that beat UCLA, so I am sure they will share some of their knowledge with us later this week. I think our experience will be huge for us going forward, as a lot of us have been together for four years. We did play in the postseason last year which gave us valuable experience."

On the win over Harvard: "I think the Ivy playoff game was a microcosm of our season, as it went down to the final two seconds in front of a sold-out crowd."

Guard Dan Mavraides

On Princeton's defense: "It has been a lot more fun from a player's perspective to force turnovers and run a little bit and get some easy baskets."

On preparing for Kentucky: "I think we will be mentally ready for the Kentucky game, as this is something that we have wanted really bad. We are going there to win a basketball game, so we are going to be mentally focused."

On Douglas Davis' shot: "When Doug Davis hit that shot to beat Harvard at the buzzer, it was one of the best moments of my life."

Head coach Sydney Johnson

On Kentucky: "We realize how good Kentucky is and how well we will have to play well in order to beat them. We have had a ton of close games this season, none closer than the last-second win over Harvard. Coach Calipari is fun to watch in terms of how he manages his team and makes sure they compete, and Terrence Jones is a man among boys. We have not yet decided what match-ups look best for us."

On their defensive improvement: "We have made major strides this year defensively, which allows us to get out and run a little more."

On keeping their focus on the task at hand: "A lot of our former players called me to congratulate us after we beat Harvard. You have to respect all of the stuff that goes on during the NCAA Tournament like media calls and open practices, but that is not why we are here. Coach John Thompson III kept us focused on the task at hand when he led us to the 2007 Final Four at Georgetown. I think we will be in good shape if we keep things as normal as possible and stay locked into what we have been doing well all year."

On being prepared: "I think we have an advantage this week of being game-ready due to the one-game playoff, because if we had clinched the title last Tuesday then we would have just been simulating practices last week while not knowing exactly who we would be playing."

On the players that fit into their program: "We go recruit players in the same gyms as every other coach in America, and I like guys who compete whether they are vocal or quietly confident. We want basketball players who are willing to work hard and have great grades. We do not want them to compromise on either aspect."

On the 1996 win over UCLA: "I get asked about the 1996 Princeton-UCLA game all the time, as it was a special moment both for our program and for die-hard college basketball fans."

On Kentucky: "Kentucky can certainly run up and down the floor, but if you watch tape of them you can see that they are also good at executing in the half-court offense."

On the days following the Harvard win: "It has all been surreal, as we were one bounce away from missing the tourney."