St Mary's CA

Second Round Saturday Recap: Northern Iowa Knocks Off Kansas

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:43:01 -0400

After a rather routine Friday the hope was that Saturday would provide even more surprises. But few people had in mind what the Northern Iowa Panthers did in Oklahoma City when it came to the shocker of the day. The Missouri Valley champions got off to a quick start early and did not let up until the game was decided, knocking off the top overall seed 69-67 to move on to the Sweet 16 next week in St. Louis. Ali Farokhmanesh led the way with 16 points, knocking down what has to be the shot of the Tournament thus far to give Northern Iowa a 66-62 lead with 34 seconds remaining. After a Kansas surge via the full court press cut the lead to one, UNI broke the press and Farokhmanesh had a decision to make with the ball deep on the right wing and Tyrel Reed backing off into the paint.

"I was just open on that side," said Farokhmanesh of the shot. "So they were trapping, and it came up to me. And I was going to go and Johnny was on the other wing. I was going to see if I could drive it. The he backed off so far that I thought I might as well just shoot this one." It was one of those "no, no, YES!" shots that tend to make heroes out of players this time of the year, legendary figures in their school's history books and the focus of stories to be rehashed for years. But this was more than just a feel-good story; on Saturday the team that played better won the game.

The Panthers forced fifteen Kansas turnovers and point guard Kwadzo Ahelegbe, who made just one of eleven field goal attempts, limited Sherron Collins to 10 points, four assists and five turnovers on 4-for-15 shooting from the field. The senior rose to the challenge, and without his defense on one of the nation's best point guards it's likely that the Panthers would be headed home. "I think Kwadzo was looking forward to that challenge," remarked UNI head coach Ben Jacobson. "He knew it was going to be a big challenge, but he was looking forward to it. He competed awfully hard."

Given the nature of college basketball Bill Self's team now has to answer questions despite going 33-3 on the season. Did they recorgnize the urgency of the moment from the opening tip? You can argue that they didn't, but to do so risks taking away from what UNI was able to do for forty minutes. Jordan Eglseder and Lucas O'Rear played well inside while brothers Adam and Jake Koch made their contributions as well. In a game that many expected the Kansas depth to be their downfall, a number of players stepped up for the Panthers and while they all may not have impressive stat lines they got the job done. And as a result, UNI will be back in the city in which they won the MVC Tournament crown two weeks ago.

Key Happenings

New Orleans: Kentucky rolls into the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2005. Wake Forest went into their game with Kentucky boasting a deep frontcourt and a point guard in Ishmael Smith who could match the speed (if not the skill) of John Wall. But it didn't take long to see that they were fighting an uphill battle against a team that may be light on experience but heavy on talent, and the game was essentially over by halftime. In the 90-60 victory, Kentucky 60.3% from the field (73.8% 2PT) in practically getting whatever shot they wanted against the Demon Deacons' defense. Darius Miller (20 points, nine rebounds) and DeMarcus Cousins (19 points, eight rebounds) led four starters in double figures while Smith managed just two points (1-9 FG) in his final collegiate game.

With Kansas falling are the Wildcats the favorite? That's likely but with a team so young head coach John Calipari is going to do his best to limit the distractions that surround them. By all accounts they didn't watch any of the Kansas game before their game and with a team so young that's a good route to take. "We're still a bunch of freshmen and sophomores," said Coach Calipari. "Our second NCAA Tournament game. They've never played in any other games. The guys that we're playing have never played in it. So all we're going to worry about is us." But if they play like they did in New Orleans this weekend, this is going to be one tough team to knock off in Syracuse next week.

Oklahoma City: Kansas State uses defense and Jacob Pullen to defeat BYU. Jacob Pullen and Jimmer Fredette was expected to be one of the best individual matchups of the day. And while Fredette did finish with 21 points, in all honesty it wasn't much of a contest. Pullen and company harrassed the scoring phenom all game, and Kansas State's junior guard scored 34 points while also picking up four steals in the Wildcats' 84-72 win over BYU to advance to their first Sweet 16 since 1988. BYU jumped out to a 10-0 lead but once K-State was able to apply the clamps defensively their taking control of the game became a matter of "when" instead of "if". Denis Clemente added 19 points and the Wildcats out-rebounded BYU 39-29.

Dominique Sutton also saw some time guarding Fredette but once the Cougars went to a taller lineup the need was there to put the junior on BYU's top scoring threat and he rose to the challenge. On falling behind early Pullen noted that "it was our lack of energy. We weren't in passing lanes. They were passing the ball around, making a dribble move, kick out [for] wide open threes. No one has done that really except for the games we lost this year. So we figured either we going home and they're going to shoot 3s or we're going to step up our defensive principles and really guard the ball." They've got the ability to put points on the board, but when they defend the Wildcats are a definite threat to get to Indianapolis.

Providence: Villanova has no answers for Omar Samhan, falls to Saint Mary's. While the shot of the game is the banked-in three by Mickey McConnell that broke a 65-all tie with 1:17 left in the game, Villanova's fate was sealed by their inability to find an answer for Omar Samhan. The senior big man made thirteen of his sixteen field goal attempts, scoring 32 points while also grabbing seven rebounds and blocking a pair of shots in the 75-68 victory. No matter who the Wildcats put on Samhan once he got the ball inside it was another two points on the board. And once Villanova finally decided to double down his teammates knocked down shots fron the perimeter, making seven of nineteen from behind the arc.

Corey Stokes (15 points) and Maalik Wayns (10) led the way for the Wildcats, but with Corey Fisher and Scottie Reynolds both struggling from the field they were in trouble not counting the Samhan effect. "It's definitely no shock to us how well he's been playing in the post and in games," said forward Ben Allen. "He's absolutely dominant and he creates so much for us when he goes and gets dirty like that, and it frees everyone else on the perimeter." The Gaels weren't expected to survive Providence yet here they are, on their way to the Sweet 16 in Houston to take on Baylor next week. Randy Bennett's got a team that can knock down shots from the perimeter and in Samhan a leader more than willing to take on all comers. That makes for a dangerous team this time of the year.

San Jose: Washington uses a late-first half run to put away New Mexico. If you thought that the Huskies were due for a surprise on Saturday following their dramatic win over Marquette on Thursday then you ignored the fact that they matched up very well with New Mexico. Add in a banged-up Darington Hobson and you had all the makings of a serious whipping, one that gained traction late in the first half and didn't stop until the Huskies won 82-64. Quincy Pondexter led the way with 18 points while Isaiah Thomas added 15, sending the Pac-10 Tournament champs to their first Sweet 16 since 2006. Washington was deeper and better equipped to play at a fast tempo, and this played a major role in their 25-13 finish to the first half to take a 12-point lead into the locker room.

"We did a great job of forcing our tempo on them," said Pondexter. "We knew they were a transition team going into this game, and we wanted to show that we have another level of fast break and defensive intensity. That's what really wore them down and helped us get the win." Add in their defense on Hobson (5-11, 11 points) and Roman Martinez (3-10, 10 points) while limiting the Lobos to 39.4% shooting and you had all the makings for a serious statement. Assisting on 21 of 32 baskets doesn't hurt either. Lorenzo Romar's team may not have lived up to the preseason hype during the regular season but they're making up for lost time now (and last week in Los Angeles). This isn't a team that folks should be lining up to play right now.

Top Games

New Orleans: Baylor 76, Old Dominion 68 LaceDarius Dunn scored 26 points as the Bears jumped out to a 10-1 lead and held on to defeat the CAA champions. As a team the Bears shot 51.9% from the field in moving on to the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history, and big man Josh Lomers put together one of his best showings (14 points, 12 in the second half) of the season. Gerald Lee and Frank Hassell led the Monarchs with 15 points apiece while Kent Bazemore added 13 and seven assists.

Oklahoma City: Northern Iowa 69, Kansas 67 See above.

Providence: Saint Mary's 75, Villanova 68 See above.

San Jose: Butler 54, Murray State 52 The end-game situation went far differently for the Racers on Saturday than it did on Thursday against Vanderbilt. Thanks to the Butler defense the Ohio Valley champs were unable to get a shot off before time expired, advancing the Bulldogs to next week's regional in Salt Lake City despite Matt Howard being in foul trouble throughout. Ronald Nored led the way with 15 points, six assists and some stellar defense while Isaiah Canaan scored 14 off the bench for Murray State.

Notable Performances

New Orleans: G LaceDarius Dunn (Baylor) 26 points and six rebounds (and unfortunately, six turnovers) in the Bears' 76-68 win over Old Dominion.

Oklahoma City: G Jacob Pullen (Kansas State) 34 points (7-12 3PT) and four steals in the Wildcats' 84-72 win over BYU.

Providence: C Omar Samhan (Saint Mary's) 32 points (13-16 FG), seven rebounds and two blocks in the Gaels' 75-68 win over Villanova.

San Jose: G Dairese Gary (New Mexico) Without Gary's efforts (11-20 FG, 25 points) the Lobos would have been beaten far worse than they were, an 82-64 loss to Washington.

Saturday's Scores

East Region
1)Kentucky 90, 9)Wake Forest 60
11)Washington 82, 3)New Mexico 64
Midwest Region
9)Northern Iowa 69, 1)Kansas 67
6)Tennessee 83, 14)Ohio 68
South Region
10)Saint Mary's 75, 2)Villanova 68
3)Baylor 76, 11)Old Dominion 68
West Region
2)Kansas State 84, 7)BYU 72
5)Butler 54, 13)Murray State 52

Richmond vs Saint Mary's: Odds & Prediction

Shawn Siegel — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:24:37 -0400

Start: Mar 18 2010 - 3:00pm

Team Previews: #7 Richmond -- #10 St. Mary's

Vegas Odds: Richmond by 1.5 -- Bet at bodog

Why St Mary's will win:

The Gaels have a top 25 offense and are 4th in the country in terms of 3-point output. This is key because Richmond is usually extremely good at preventing the long-ball, so only top shooting teams can overcome that. Richmond is a perimeter oriented team, and although bigs Justin Harper & Dan Geriot have size, they're not in Omar Samhan's league.

Gael to Watch:

Mickey McConnell, G - 14 ppg, 2 rpg, 5 apg

As mentioned, the 3-point shot will be crucial in this game, and luckily SMC has quite the weapon in McConnell who shot a ridiculous 52% from downtown this year. He lit up Gonzaga for 26 points in the WCC final.

Why Richmond will win:

Richmond's resume is extremely impressive, wins over Florida, Mississippi St, Missouri, Old Dominion, not to mention Temple and Xavier in conference play. Unlike most tourney teams, Richmond tends to win with stellar defense as opposed to stellar offense. However, they've picked up ther O in recent weeks as David Gonzalvez (15 ppg) has been more consistent.

Spider to Watch:

Justin Harper, F - 11 ppg, 6 rpg, 1 apg

Harper has the unenviable taslk of going up against Samhan, who has 19 double-doubles. The A-10, though a superior league to the WCC, doesn't have many dominant bigs.

How it will go down:

This is one of the more intriguing opening round games and probably the one I'm least decided on. Sometimes games are simply too close to bother betting on.. and that's what I feel about this one. (In a pool with bonus points for upsets, I'd certainly pick SMC though).

Betting Pick: Richmond

Real Pick: Richmond

South Region Preview: Duke Leads The Way

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:05:41 -0400

Not that anyone gets an “easy” route to the Final Four but Duke may have a bracket in which their biggest challengers bludgeon each other on their way to the Elite 8. ACC regular season co-champions and tournament champs, the Blue Devils begin the quest for their first Final Four since 2004 with the winner of the opening round game between Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Winthrop. The trio of Jon Scheyer, Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith has led the way but they’re going to need the frontcourt quartet of Lance Thomas, Brian Zoubek and the Plumlee brothers (Miles and Mason) to produce if they’re to get to Indy.

Behind them: Villanova, who ended the season with two consecutive losses (West Virginia and Marquette), yet despite their depth they do have issues to address if they’re to get to their second straight Final Four. Taylor King was out for personal reasons but did return for the Big East Tournament; he, Isaiah Armwood and Mouphtaou Yarou will all need to step up to go along with Antonio Peña in the frontcourt.

The guards, led by Scottie Reynolds, Corey Fisher and Reggie Redding, can play with anyone in America but something else the Wildcats must do in the NCAA Tournament is limit the number of points they give away at the foul line. They heard a lot of whistles in Big East play; whether the move to less familiar faces in stripes means more of the same or an increased ability to play physical remains to be seen.

Next in line is Baylor, a team that possesses both explosive guard play (LaceDarius Dunn and Tweety Carter) and a deep frontcourt led by Ekpe Udoh and Quincy Acy. Scott Drew has more than enough talent at his fingertips to make a run deep into the tournament, with Indianapolis being a definite possibility. Duke also got a wounded Purdue squad, who has struggled offensively since Robbie Hummel went down with a torn ACL. Ja’Juan Johnson and E’Twaun Moore have the ability to score but the Boilers are going to need Keaton Grant to step up if they’re to advance.

Matt Painter’s team isn’t even a guarantee to get out of the first round; Fran McCaffery’s Siena Saints have a talented core that’s more than experienced in the art of not just getting to the Big Dance but also being successful once they do. A lot of people will pick the Saints to win their opener but don’t expect that to get to their heads; point guard Ronald Moore leads the nation in assists and given the many offensive weapons from which to choose it’s no surprise that he does.

Another Big 12 team blessed with frontcourt depth is in the region in the form of Texas A&M. Brian Davis is just one of the bodies that Mark Turgeon can turn to, but he’s going to need his guards to knock down perimeter shots if the Aggies are to excel. And similar to Baylor their fans won’t have to leave the state should they get to the second weekend (Houston hosts the regional). Notre Dame rode a team transformation and change in philosophy to a six-seed, but in Old Dominion they’ll face a very good team that’s been tested in the non-conference as well as in the CAA. The matchup of Luke Harangody and Gerald Lee will be a good one to keep an eye on when these two meet.

Richmond and St. Mary's will get together in an intriguing matchup with the Spiders boasting an excellent backcourt tandem (Kevin Anderson and David Gonzalvez) and a style that’s tough to prepare for. Randy Bennett’s Gaels can counter with Omar Samhan and Ben Allen inside and Matthew Dellavedova and Mickey McConnell at the guard spots. This should be an entertaining matchup, as will California and Louisville.

The Cardinals have the edge in depth but they’ll have to find a way in which to bottle up point guard Jerome Randle; the Pac-10 Player of the Year has the speed to cause the Louisville pressure fits. But the key for the Golden Bears will be how their bigs deal with Samardo Samuels and Terrence Jennings, both of whom can hurt you on the offensive boards if you aren’t careful.

And there’s also the matter of Utah St, a team that will make the Texas A&M assistant assigned to this scout earn his pay in the coming days. Stew Morrill’s team, led by Jared Quayle and Tai Wesley, had won 17 straight before losing to New Mexico State in the WAC final and runs enough offensive sets to rival that of an NFL playbook. The way this region sets up, the winner could either be the team that has the fortune of watching others fall or the one that wins a survival of the fittest. You may think Duke was given an easy road but there’s no such thing when you get a better picture.

Predictions

Pick: Baylor

Sweet 16: Duke, Texas A&M and Villanova

Best 1^st Round Game: #10 Saint Mary’s vs. #7 Richmond

1^st Round Upset Possibility: #13 Siena over #4 Purdue

Scary Underachiever: #9 Louisville

Sweet 16 “Crasher”: Louisville

Players who can shoot their team to an upset:

G Clarence Jackson (Siena), G Kevin Anderson (Richmond), G Jared Quayle (Utah State), G Jerome Randle (California)

South Region Team (one per team):

G Jon Scheyer (Duke), G LaceDarius Dunn (Baylor), G Scottie Reynolds (Villanova), F Luke Harangody (Notre Dame), C Ja’Juan Johnson (Purdue)

St. Mary's 2010 NCAA Tournament Capsule

Joel Welser — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 02:10:41 -0500

St. Mary’s Gaels

West Coast Conference (26-5, 11-3)

Big Wins: 11/17 San Diego State (80-58), 12/5 at Utah State (68-63), 3/8 vs Gonzaga (81-62)

Bad Losses: 12/23 vs USC (49-60), 1/14 Gonzaga (82-89), 2/13 at Portland (75-80)

Last NCAA Appearance: 2008, First Round loss to Miami

Coach: Randy Bennett (0-2 in 2 NCAA appearances)

Why They Can Surprise:

Saint Mary’s ranks in the top 15 nationally in field-goal percentage, three-point field goals per game, three-point field-goal percentage, free-throw percentage, assists per game and assist-to-turnover ratio. That is quite an impressive list and everybody plays their part. On the perimeter Mickey McConnell and Matthew Dellavedova are both prolific outside shooters who connect on at least two long balls per game. McConnell is a little more consistent with his shooting, but the fact that Dellavedova stepped into a starting role as a freshman and still hits 41.4 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc is quite impressive. Both are also quality ballhandlers who dramatically help that impressive assist-to-turnover ratio.

Forward Clint Steindl, another freshman, and senior center Ben Allen are also capable outside shooters. Allen will also use his 6-11 frame to battle in the paint and Steindl is turning into an unsung glue guy that holds this team together.

Why They Can Disappoint:

The problem is the lack of depth and experience on this team. Dellavedova and Steindl are inexperienced underclassmen and the bright lights of March could get the best of them. But more importantly, fellow freshmen Mitchell Young and Jorden Page are the only two players who see any significant action off of the bench. Injuries to Wayne Hunter and Tim Harris have severely limited Coach Randy Bennett’s options and the Gaels could have very tired legs in the tournament.

Who To Watch:

Having a 6-11 power forward who can stretch out the defense and hit the glass certainly helps in the rebounding department, but it is Omar Samhan that makes this team so effective on the boards and in the shot blocking department. Man for man, the size and strength on this team can compete with anybody in the country. Mr. Samhan is the only returning starter from a year ago and many were anxious to see how he could perform with a less talented cast of players around him. In the end, the cast is not as less talented as most expected and Samhan has exceeded those expectations anyway. On the year he averages 20.9 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks. The 6-11, 265 pound senior will have very little trouble battling with anybody in the paint and he has turned into one of the best interior scorers in the country. And if you want to double-team him, McConnell and Dellavedova will make you pay with their outside shooting.

Probable Starters:

Mickey McConnell, Junior, Guard, 13.7 ppg, 5.3 apg, 1.5 spg

Matthew Dellavedova, Freshman, Guard, 12.5 ppg, 4.5 apg

Clint Steindl, Sophomore, Forward, 7.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg

Ben Allen, Senior, Center, 10.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg

Omar Samhan, Senior, Center, 20.9 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 3.0 bpg

Key Roleplayers:

Jorden Page, Freshman, Guard, 4.1 ppg, 1.1 apg

Mitchell Young, Freshman, Forward, 4.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg

By the Numbers:

Scoring Offense: 79.4 (16^th in nation, 1^st in conference)

Scoring Defense: 66.2 (118, 2)

Field-Goal Percentage: 48.7 (12, 2)

Field-Goal Defense: 42.3 (129, 2)

Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 8.4 (14, 1)

Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 40.9 (4, 1)

Free-Throw Percentage: 76.0 (8, 1)

Rebound Margin: 4.5 (45, 2)

Assists Per Game: 16.4 (15, 1)

Turnovers Per Game: 11.7 (41, 1)

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

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2010 CollegeHoops.net High-Major All-Americans

CHN — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:41:56 -0500

Talk about making an impact. Darington Hobson's first season of D1 basketball was certainly a memorable one. The CollegeHoops.net High-Major Player of the Year led New Mexico to an MWC title by averaging 16.2 ppg, 9.3 rpg, and 4.5 apg. He's joined on the High-Major First Team by guards Jordan Crawford, Jimmer Fredette, and Randy Culpepper, as well as WAC Player of the Year Luke Babbitt.

There are very few seniors on this year's High-Major All-America teams, meaning we should be in for a treat next year. Teams with multiple All-Americans include Gonzaga (Matt Bouldin & Elias Harris), New Mexico (Hobson & Roman Martinez), and UTEP (Culpepper & Derrick Caracter.)

CollegeHoops.net High-Major Player of the Year:

Darington Hobson, New Mexico, Jr

CollegeHoops.net First-Team High-Major All-America
G Jordan Crawford, Xavier, So
G Jimmer Fredette, BYU, Jr

G Randy Culpepper, UTEP, Jr
F Darington Hobson, New Mexico, Jr
F Luke Babbitt, Nevada, So

Second-Team High-Major All-America
G Matt Bouldin, Gonzaga, Sr
G Elliot Williams, Memphis, So
G Kevin Anderson, Richmond, Jr
F Aubrey Coleman, Houston, Sr

F Omar Samhan, Saint Mary's, Sr

Third-Team High-Major All-America
G Juan Fernandez, Temple, So
G Tre'von Willis, UNLV, Jr
G Jahmar Young, NMSU, Jr
F Derrick Caracter, UTEP, Jr
F Chris Wright, Dayton, Jr

Fourth-Team High-Major All-America
G Adrian Oliver, San Jose St, Jr
G Roman Martinez, New Mexico, Sr
F Elias Harris, Gonzaga, Fr
F Tai Wesley, Utah St, Jr

F Hassan Whiteside, Marshall, Fr

Honorable Mention

TJ Campbell, Portland
Osiris Eldridge, Illinois St
Jackson Emery, BYU
Dairese Gary, New Mexico

Paul George, Fresno St

Kyle Gibson, Louisiana Tech
David Gonzalvez, Richmond
Rodney Green, La Salle
Adam Koch, Northern Iowa

Jerome Jordan, Tulsa
Kawhi Leonard, San Diego St

Dior Lowhorn, San Francisco

Mickey McConnell, Saint Mary's

Elijah Millsap, UAB
Dinma Odiakosa, Illinois St

Jared Quayle, Utah St
Damian Saunders, Duquesne

Ben Uzoh, Tulsa

Check back tomorrow for our Mid-Major All-America Teams.

Also: National All-Americans

College Hoops Monday Recap: Gaels Have No Use for Bubble Talk

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:43:29 -0500

All the talk leading up to the West Coast Conference final between Gonzaga and Saint Mary's focused on how much the Gaels would need this victory. Anywhere from "they're fine without it" to "they're in trouble with a loss" depending on which bracketologist you happened to be listening to at that particular moment. But at the end of the game at Orleans Arena there was a rather emphatic message from Randy Bennett's team:

Save that bubble talk for someone else.

Of course no such words came out of the mouths of anyone involved but how else do you explain the second half run Saint Mary's went on in beating the Bulldogs 81-62 for the WCC crown? Omar Samhan may have scored just nine points but that's OK when Mickey McConnell (26 points) and Ben Allen (20 points, nine rebounds) play the way that they did on Monday night. And while a technical foul is never a good thing, the senior center likely gave his team a little more fire in bumping into Robert Sacre in the second half with the score SMC 46-40.

McConnell and Allen helped lead the Gaels on an 18-7 run that decided the outcome, and Saint Mary's did a better job in two areas that had an impact in their two regular season losses to Gonzaga. They held their own on the boards (30 rebounds apiece) and also won the turnover battle, handing the ball over just eight times to Gonzaga's fourteen. Steven Gray led the Bulldogs, who may have lost the chance to play their first two NCAA Tournament games at Spokane Arena, with sixteen points but freshman forward Elias Harris was 3-for-13 from the field.

Those fourteen Gonzaga turnovers were converted into eighteen points by the Gaels, who won the WCC Tournament crown for just the second time since the event began in 1987. Freshman Jorden Page added eleven points off the bench in the victory while Matt Bouldin scored fourteen points for Gonzaga. Did this win snatch a bid away from a team sitting on the bubble? Maybe, but it also could have save the Gaels from a repeat of last year's finish.

Three Key Happenings

1. Siena survives a tough Fairfield squad to win their 3rd straight MAAC crown. Few people expected any game in the Saints' run to a third consecutive MAAC title to be as difficult as Monday night's final turned out to be. While Fran McCaffery's bunch did trail at the half in games against Manhattan and Rider, a quick second half run was all they needed to put both away. No such folding from Ed Cooley's Stags, who took an eleven-point lead into the locker room at the half (39-28) and led by as many as fifteen points behind the play of Derek Needham (16 points) and Anthony Johnson (14 points, 13 rebounds). But the veteran Saints showed their championship mettle in fighting back into the game, and the tactical move at the end of regulation to put those fouls to give to good use was nothing short of brilliant.

In the extra session it was time for senior swingman Edwin Ubiles, who struggled in the first two games of the tournament, to make his presence known. Ubiles had six points in the extra session as Siena held off the Stags 72-65. Siena shouldn't be an unknown commodity given their success in the last two NCAA appearances, whipping Vanderbilt (2008) and edging Ohio State in double overtime (2009). But the experience and skill of players such as Ubiles, tournament MVP Alex Franklin (22 points, 12 rebounds), Ronald Moore (nine points, six assists) and Ryan Rossiter (10 points, 12 rebounds) makes this a tough team to knock out.

2. Old Dominion will be a dangerous team in the NCAA Tournament. Why will Blaine Taylor's Monarchs be a tough out? They've got the size and depth that allows them to adjust to a variety of styles; eight players played at least fifteen minutes in Monday's 60-53 win over William & Mary. This was an awkward game for ODU, who was taking on one of the best three-point shooting teams in the CAA. But they essentially took away the bonus shot, limiting the Tribe to 9-for-31 from behind the arc for the game. Tony Shaver's team was able to get back into the game by working the ball inside but the Monarchs had done such a good job of defending the three that it was too little too late.

Gerald Lee was named MOP of the CAA Tournament with an average of 17.3 ppg over the weekend but offensively it was a balanced effort (as it has been all season) that earned ODU their first NCAA berth since 2005. All five starters scored at least eight points, while William & Mary's David Schneider made just two of thirteen field goal attempts on the night. Danny Sumner led the Tribe with nineteen but with Schneider and Quinn McDowell (3-for-8, 9 pts) off from the field the Monarchs were simply too much. Coach Taylor has a team that rebounds and defends well, and combined the versatility of their offense ODU is a name that few teams want to see come up immediately after theirs on Selection Sunday.

3. Ignore the Wofford Terriers at your own peril. If you're looking for a team with the ability to sneak up on opponents in the NCAA Tournament, Wofford may be a good choice. When most people think of the Southern Conference they think Davidson or Charleston. Western Carolina and Appalachian State both made their mark this season but nationally it was a case of "out of sight, out of mind" when it came to the teams on top of the league. And if someone does that with the Terriers next week they're likely headed home when the game ends. This a very good basketball team that will be making its first NCAA Tournament appearance as a Division I member and has a school-record 26 wins. Cameron Rundles led the way Monday night with 20 points but it was the defense that was the story in their 56-51 win over Appalachian State.

Wofford held the Mountaineers to 29% shooting and harassed leading scorer Donald Sims into shooting 2-for-15 from the field for just nine points. "They just did a really good job of taking us out of everything we wanted to do offensively and knocked us off our cuts," said Appalachian State head coach Buzz Peterson. "We couldn't get by them on dribble penetration. They did one heck of a job on the defensive end." Mike Young's team will make opponents work for everything they get offensively, and with the likes of Rundles and Noah Dahlman this is a team that can run their sets efficiently on the other end. The best team in the SoCon all year long, Wofford is a team that can pop up and surprise someone given the right matchup.

Top Three Games

1. Siena 72, Fairfield 65 (OT) See above.

2. Wofford 56, Appalachian State 51 See above.

3. IUPUI 69, Oral Roberts 65 Robert Glenn led three Jaguars in double figures with 18 points (seven rebounds) as Ron Hunter's team sealed a date in the Summit League final opposite regular season champ Oakland.

Three Notable Performances

1. F Edwin Ubiles (Siena) The senior saved his best performance of the weekend for the final, scoring 27 points in the Saints' 72-65 overtime victory over Fairfield.

2. G Mickey McConnell (Saint Mary's) McConnell scored 26 points in the Gaels' 81-62 win over Gonzaga for the WCC title. Also, Ben Allen added 20 points and nine rebounds.

3. C Keith Benson (Oakland) There's been some buzz among NBA types in regards to Benson and he showed why Monday night. Keith scored 17 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in the Grizzlies' 71-58 win over IPFW.

MAAC Hoops

Gonzaga vs Saint Mary's: GameNight Preview

Jeff Borzello — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:27:30 -0500

Start: Feb 11 2010 - 11:00pm

Game of the Night: Gonzaga vs Saint Mary’s (11:00 PM, ESPN2)

There are dozens of games every night that have at-large or seeding consequences, but it is not often you get a contest that will have ramifications for the at-large field, the bubble, top-four seeds and a conference title. That is the case this Thursday, when West Coast Conference powers Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s go at it. Gonzaga, ranked No. 42 by Kenpom.com and No. 24 in the RPI, is 18-4 (7-1 in the WCC) with wins over Wisconsin, Cincinnati, Illinois, Memphis, Oklahoma and Saint Mary’s. The Bulldogs’ losses have come against Michigan State, Duke, Wake Forest and surprisingly, San Francisco. Saint Mary’s is an impressive 20-3 (8-1) with wins over San Diego State, Northeastern and Utah State. The Gaels are No. 44 in the RPI and No. 43 on Kenpom.com.

After Saint Mary’s lost Patty Mills and Diamon Simpson from last season, many expected the Gaels to fall back a few notches in the West Coast Conference. However, that has not happened, as they are right in the mix for both the conference championship and an at-large bid. Center Omar Samhan is one of the best big men in the country, averaging 21.7 points and 11.1 rebounds every night to go with 3.0 blocks. Former Indiana transfer Ben Allen is an excellent shooter and passer for his size, and he can also rebound well. Forward Clint Steindl has started the last 17 games for Saint Mary’s, after guard Wayne Hunter went down after seven games. The backcourt of Matthew Dellavedova and Mickey McConnell is versatile and can do a variety of things. They combine to average 26.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 10.1 assists per game, and both shoot better than 41 percent from three.

Gonzaga has rebounded nicely from the losses of Jeremy Pargo, Austin Daye, Josh Heytvelt and Micah Downs, and are looking more and more like a team that can get back to the Sweet Sixteen. The team revolves around the experienced guard duo of Matt Bouldin and Steven Gray. Bouldin is one of the best all-around players in the country, and is nearly impossible to stop when driving to the basket. Gray can shoot from three effectively, but he has been inconsistent this season. Demetri Goodson has been a disappointment at the point. Freshman Elias Harris has grown into a potential first-round pick with his play, absolutely dominating since late December. Robert Sacre has been up-and-down all season, but can be a solid offensive option down low. Mark Few has a few decent options off the bench, namely Bol Kong and Kelly Olynyk.

In the first meeting between the two teams, Samhan dominated the post, finishing with 31 points and 12 rebounds, but Harris matched him, going for 31 and 13. The difference was Gonzaga’s ability to get to the free-throw line (22 attempts to 10) and control the backboards (45 to 25). Moreover, the Bulldogs shot nearly 60 percent from the field. Even if Samhan goes off again, the Gaels don’t really have anyone to guard Harris or Bouldin; both players are capable of carrying Gonzaga. The Saint Mary’s guards are going to have to provide plenty of outside production if the Gaels are going to win on the road.

Prediction: Gonzaga 78, Saint Mary’s 72

Gonzaga at Saint Mary's: GameNight Preview

Jeff Borzello — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:51:11 -0500

Start: Jan 14 2010 - 11:00pm

Game of the Night: Gonzaga at Saint Mary’s (11:00 PM, ESPN2)

With exactly two months remaining until Selection Sunday, everyone’s eyes have begun to turn towards the NCAA Tournament and bids to the Big Dance. There are plenty of games that will help separate the contenders from the pretenders in the major conferences, but the best game on Thursday night is a West Coast Conference showdown between Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s, two teams doing better than expected. Gonzaga, ranked No. 50 by Kenpom.com and No. 19 in the RPI, is 11-3 with wins over Wisconsin, Cincinnati, Illinois, Oklahoma, Washington State and Portland. The Bulldogs’ losses have come against Michigan State, Duke and Wake Forest. Saint Mary’s is a surprising 14-2 with wins over San Diego State and at Utah State and Oregon. The Gaels are No. 35 in the RPI and No. 31 on Kenpom.com.

Gonzaga has rebounded nicely from the losses of Jeremy Pargo, Austin Daye, Josh Heytvelt and Micah Downs, and are looking more and more like a team that can get back to the Sweet Sixteen. The team revolves around the experienced guard duo of Matt Bouldin and Steven Gray. Bouldin is one of the best all-around players in the country, while Gray can shoot. Demetri Goodson has been inconsistent at the point. Freshman Elias Harris has grown into a potential first-round pick with his play, while Robert Sacre is a solid offensive option down low. Mark Few has begun to use his bench more and more in recent games; Bol Kong and Kelly Olynyk are the team’s best options off the pine.

After Saint Mary’s lost Patty Mills and Diamon Simpson from last season, many expected the Gaels to fall back a few notches in the West Coast Conference. However, that has not happened, as they look like they will fight Gonzaga all season. Center Omar Samhan is one of the best big men in the country, averaging 21-11 every night to go with 2.6 blocks. Former Indiana transfer Ben Allen is an excellent shooter and passer for his size, and he can also rebound well. Forward Clint Steindl has started the last 10 games for Saint Mary’s, after guard Wayne Hunter went down after seven games. The backcourt of Matthew Dellavedova and Mickey McConnell is versatile and can do a variety of things. They combine to average 26.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 10.5 assists per game, and both shoot better than 42 percent from three.

Going into the season, most thought that Gonzaga’s main competition would be Portland, but Saint Mary’s looks to be the primary contender. In this one, I think the difference will be Omar Samhan down low. Gonzaga does not have a lot of depth, and Samhan could force Robert Sacre into some foul trouble early. Saint Mary’s has the guards to hang with Gonzaga, and the Gaels are never easy to beat on their home court. Unless Bouldin carries Gonzaga to victory, I think Saint Mary’s takes the early lead in the WCC.

Prediction: Saint Mary’s 75, Gonzaga 71

Poll: Gonzaga vs St Mary's: Best in the WCC?

Shawn Siegel — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:48:03 -0500

WCC Basketball Preview: 2009-10

CHN — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:10:06 -0500

Gonzaga lacks the star power of recent seasons, so perhaps this is the year they get knocked out of 1st place. Portland looks to have the best chance, but Santa Clara, San Diego, and Saint Mary's are no slouches either.

Conference Rank: 16th

10 year average: 12th

Conference Page

All-WCC Team
Pos.	Player	Team	Yr.

G	Matt Bouldin	Gonzaga	Sr
G	Nik Raivio	Portland	Sr
G	Brandon Johnson	San Diego	Sr
F	Dior Lowhorn	San Francisco	Sr
C	Omar Samhan	Saint Mary's	Sr

Player of the Year - Matt Bouldin Freshman of the Year - Matthew Dellavedova (SMC)
CHN Award Winners		Leaders
Mid-Major All-Americans Matt Bouldin (1st Team) Omar Samhan (3rd) Steven Gray Brandon Johnson Dior Lowhorn		Best Scorer: Dior Lowhorn Best Rebounder: Omar Samhan Best Playmaker: Brandon Johnson

WCC Standings
Nat'l	Team	League	Tourney

31	Gonzaga	WCC	1	NCAA
88	Portland	WCC	2	CBI/CIT
121	Santa Clara	WCC	3	CBI/CIT
173	St. Mary's	WCC	4
196	San Diego	WCC	5
254	Pepperdine	WCC	6
300	San Francisco	WCC	7
339	Loy Marymount	WCC	8

*Click on links for full Top 144 team preview

Poll: Who Do You Think Will Win the WCC?

College Basketball Preview - 348 Team Ranking - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews