St Peter's

Saturday Mid-Major Preview & Predictions

Greg Mengelt — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 22:02:42 -0800

Greg Mengelt previews and predicts four of Saturday's intriguing Mid-Major battles:

BRADLEY (5-4) AT DREXEL (4-4)

Time/TV: 4 p.m., None

Line: Drexel -8.5.

Storylines: Drexel’s Chris Fouch appears to be healthy after back-to-back 23- and 24-point performances in wins over Princeton and Niagara. Fouch, who missed the Dragons’ first four games with a knee injury, and Samme Givens the main reason Drexel was picked as the pre-season Colonial Athletic favorites.

Key Matchup: Givens vs. Taylor Brown. The undersized Givens is one of the most creative scorers in the country and Brown has been one of the most improved players on the Missouri Valley each of the past two seasons.

The Bottom Line: The return of Fouch gives the Dragons another weapon and should set them back on course for a run at the Colonial title.

The Pick: Drexel 71, Bradley 56.

OAKLAND (7-4) AT VALPARAISO (7-3)

Time/TV: 8:05 p.m., None

Line: Valparaiso -1.5.

Storylines: At this point, both the Golden Grizzlies and the Crusaders could make an argument as their conference favorites. Oakland is 7-4 despite playing one of the nation’s toughest pre-conference schedules. Valpo is already 1-0 in the Horizon League after beating Butler on the road on Dec. 3.

Key Matchup: Valpo F Ryan Broekhoff vs. Oakland G Reggie Hamilton. The two will never go head-to-head on the court, but the game could come down to which Mid-Major star has the better outing.

The Bottom Line: Hamilton is nearly impossible to stop when he wants to get his shot. If this is a one-possession game, that gives the advantage to the Golden Bears.

The Pick: Oakland 81, Valpo 78.

CHARLESTON SOUTHERN (6-3) AT COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON (8-1)

Time/TV: 6 p.m., ESPN Full Court

Storylines: With Southern expected to compete in the Big South and Charleston a contender in the Southern Conference, this sets up as one of the best cross-town rivalries in a while.

Key Matchup: College of Charleston’s Trent Wiedeman vs. Southern’s Kelvin Martin. The opposing power forwards have seven double-doubles between them. It should be an epic battle under the boards.

The Bottom Line: Charleston is a little better and will have the crowd behind them.

The Pick: College of Charleston 82, Charleston Southern 71.

ST. PETER’S (2-6) AT LONG ISLAND (5-6)

Time/TV: 2 p.m., None

Storylines: Both teams were surprise entrants into the NCAA Tournament a year ago. Long Island should compete with Robert Morris, Wagner and Central Connecticut State for the Northeast Conference’s bid to the tournament. St. Peter’s will likely finish in the middle of the MAAC pack. It would have to pull off another March Miracle to go back to the tournament.

Key Matchup: LIU’s frontcourt vs. the St. Peter’s backcourt. Julian Boyd and Jamal Olasewere give LIU one of the nation’s best mid-major forward tandems. The Peacocks are led by guards Chris Prescott and Yvon Raymond.

The Bottom Line: This should be one of the most competitive games of the weekend.

The Pick: Long Island 77, St. Peter’s 75.

Iona's Glover Named Preseason MAAC Player of the Year

Press Release — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 10:56:02 -0700

Springfield, Mass. - Iona College senior forward Mike Glover has been named the 2011-2012 MAAC Men's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year, as selected by the league's 10 head coaches.

Glover is joined on the first team by Fairfield University junior guard Derek Needham and senior center Ryan Olander, Iona senior guard Scott Machado and Rider University senior guard/forward Novar Gadson.

Glover, who was named to the Preseason Top 50 List for the John R. Wooden Award, ranked 48th in the nation in scoring last season, netting 18.4 points per game for the Gaels. He also tied for 21st place on the NCAA rebounding chart with 10.1 caroms an outing during his junior campaign. Glover proved he was an expert marksman last season, connecting on a conference-high 61 percent of his attempts from the field.

Needham was an All-MAAC First Team selection last season. He ranked sixth in the MAAC in scoring, averaging 14.1 points per outing for the Stags. He also ranked third in the league in assists (4.5 per game), fifth in steals (1.4 per game) and 13th in free throw percentage (70 percent) during his sophomore campaign.

Olander, an All-MAAC Second Team choice last season, was second on the team in scoring as a junior with 10.4 points per game, good for 21st place on the MAAC scoring chart. He also recorded 6.8 rebounds per game (ninth in the MAAC) along with 2.1 blocks (third) an outing for the Stags. Olander owned a 53.2 percent field goal percentage, ranking him second in the league behind Glover.

Machado was a member of the All-MAAC First Team last season. He is the league's top assists leader, dishing out down 7.6 a night for the Gaels, good for second in the nation. Machado also contributed 13.2 points per game (eighth in the MAAC) and netted 67.5 percent of his shots from the charity stripe (15th).

Gadson, a 2010-11 All-MAAC Second Team pick, fin- ished his junior campaign seventh on the MAAC scoring list,netting13.7pointsanightfortheBroncs. Hefinished 15th in rebounding last season, pulling down 5.8 boards per game. Gadson also ranked ninth in the MAAC with his 47 percent field goal percentage.

2011-2012 Preseason All-MAAC Teams

First Team
Derek Needham, Fairfield Jr. G 5-11 Dolton, Ill.
Ryan Olander, Fairfield Sr. C 7-0 Mansfield, Conn.
Mike Glover, Iona Sr. F 6-7 Bronx, N.Y.
Scott Machado, Iona Sr. G 6-1 Queens, N.Y.
Novar Gadson, Rider Sr. G/F 6-7 Philadelphia, Pa.

Second Team
Gaby Belardo, Canisius Jr. G 6-2 San Juan, P.R.
Rakim Sanders, Fairfield Sr. G 6-2 Pawtucket, R.I.
Erik Etherly, Loyola Jr. F 6-7 Alexandria, Va.
Shane Walker, Loyola Sr. F 6-10 Northampton, England
George Beamon, Manhattan Jr. G/F 6-4 Roslyn, N.Y.

Third Team
Kyle Smyth, Iona Jr. G 6-4 River Edge, N.J.
Jeff Jones, Rider Sr. G 6-4 Chester, Pa.
Daniel Stewart, Rider So. F 6-7 Philadelphia, Pa.
Darius Conley, Saint Peter's Jr. F 6-7 Newport News, Va.
OD Anosike, Siena Jr. F 6-8 Staten Island, N.Y.

2011-2012 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year:
Mike Glover, Iona

MAAC Hoops

Iona Tabbed Preseason Favorite

Press Release — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 10:21:14 -0700

Springfield, Mass. - Iona College, the runner-up in last year's title game, is the preseason favorite to win the 2012 MAAC Men's Basketball Championship, according to the MAAC Pre- season Coaches' Poll.

Iona received eight of the first-place votes and 97 points, followed by last season's preseason pick Fairfield University,which received two first-place votes and 92 points. Loyola University (Maryland) finished in third with 76 points.

Rider University followed in fourth place with 71 points, while defending champion Saint Peter's College took fifth with 52points. Siena College received 44 points to finish sixth, followed by Niagara University (42 points) in seventh, Manhattan College (33) in eighth, Canisius College (25) in ninth and Marist College (18) in 10th to round out the poll.

Last season, the Gaels made their first appearance in the MAAC Championship final since winning the league crown in 2006 and also reached the title game of the 2011 CollegeInsider. com Postseason Tournament. Iona returns three starters from that squad -- preseason All-MAAC First Team picks Mike Glover and Scott Machado and Third Team member Kyle Smyth. Glover, named to the Preseason Top 50 List for the John R. Wooden Award, is the league's top returning scorer(18.4ppg) and rebounder (10.1rpg).

Machado finished second in the nation in assists per game with 7.6 an outing. Smyth averaged 10.1 points per game during his sophomore campaign, connecting on 45.1 percent of his shots from the field and 39.3 percent from three-point range. Second-year head coach Tim Cluess will also look to senior Jermel Jenkins, junior Lamont Jones and sophomore Sean Armand to help lead the Maroon and Gold in their quest for an eighth MAAC Championship.

Fairfield returns four starters and eight letterwinners that helped earn the MAAC regular season title last season. The Stags, who previously registered a league-high scoring defense of 58.3 points per game, will be led by preseason All-MAAC First Team selections Derek Needham and Ryan Olander as well as Rakim Sanders of the Second Team. Needham recorded 14.1 points and 4.5 assists per game during his sophomore campaign, while Olander averaged 10.4 points per game and shot 53.2 percent from the floor.

First-year head coach Sydney Johnson will also rely onthe efforts of juniors Colin Nickerson and Sean Crawford along with sophomores Maurice Barrow and Jamel Fields as the Stags look to earn the program's first MAAC championship title in 15 years.

MAAC Hoops

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

Raphielle Johnson — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 16:01:25 -0700

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Purdue vs St. Peter's: Preview & Prediction

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 20:21:57 -0700

(3) Purdue vs. (14) Saint Peter's

Southwest Region - Chicago

March 18 - 7:20 TNT

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

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

Purdue

St. Peter's

Stars to Watch:

F JaJuan Johnson (Purdue)

G Wesley Jenkins (Saint Peter's)

Vegas Odds:

Purdue -15

Predictions:

RealTimeRPI: Purdue 70 - St. Peter's 59

KenPom: Purdue 69 - St. Peter's 54

CollegeHoops.net Betting Pick: Purdue

Faces Winner Of: Georgetown vs USC/VCU

Southwest Region Overview: Kansas Leads the Way

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 02:59:21 -0700

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Region Winner: Kansas

St. Peter's: 2011 NCAA Tournament

Shawn Siegel — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 00:07:57 -0800

St. Peter's Peacocks: 2011 NCAA Capsule

Conference: MAAC
Conference RPI: 16th (of 31)

RPI: #93
Record: 20-13
Conference Record: 11-7 (4th)

Key Games

Top 100 Results: 4-6
Best Non-Conference Win: at #80 Alabama

Worst Loss: at #205 Lehigh 64-77
Promising Loss: vs #20 Old Dominion 52-59

Players

Leading Scorer: Wesley Jenkins 12.8
Leading Rebounder: Ryan Bacon 7.5
Leading Passer: Nick Leon 3.1
X-Factor: Jeron Belin

Team Stats

Tempo: Slow - 221st
Offensive Efficiency: 274th
Quality Offensive Stat: Getting to FT Line - 114th

Defensive Efficiency: 20th
Quality Defensive Stat: FG% Against - 3rd

Tournament History

Record: 0-2
Last: 1995
Last Win: never
Final Fours: 0

Links

ESPN Clubhouse
KenPom Stats & Analysis
RealTime RPI Schedule Breakdown

Jon Teitel's "Big Dance" Interviews: Saint Peter's forward Jeron Belin

Jon Teitel — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 12:35:28 -0800

Earlier today CHN writer spent a few minutes with Saint Peter's senior forward Jeron Belin as part of his "Big Dance" interview series. Belin, along with Ryan Bacon, Wesley Jenkins and Nick Leon, have been rewarded for buying into head coach John Dunne's program. The Peacocks last made the NCAA Tournament in 1995.

Jon Teitel: In 2009 you were named a First Team NJCAA Division II All-American. What did it mean to you to win such an outstanding honor?

Jeron Belin: I was happy and satisfied to get recognized for playing basketball. It was an outstanding honor that I will always remember. It made me realize that people were talking about my basketball ability.

JT: After only scoring in double-figures six times in your first 20 games this season, you have scored 10+ points in each of your last 13 games. What has changed for you from the first half of the season to the second half that has made you such a consistent scorer?

JB: I feel real comfortable in my role now that everyone is healthy and contributing. When Wes Jenkins injured his knee earlier this season I found myself in an unfamiliar position, but ever since he came back I have been able to play my part and help the team win.

JT: Your three fellow double-digit scorers are also seniors. How important to your team's success is the leadership of the senior class?

JB: It has been a key to our success. You never want there to be a last game, especially in tournament play. The senior class has led this team all season, especially now in the postseason. We are not ready to play our last game yet because we do not know if we will ever play again.

JT: You were named MVP of the MAAC Championship after scoring 17 points in a five-point win over Iona in the title game on Tuesday. How were you able to play your best when it mattered the most?

JB: I do not even feel like I have played my best yet. I just got hot at the right time and the team followed. I could not have done as well as I did without the rest of the team contributing as well.

JT: I know you are not a fortune-teller but what seed do you think you will get and what kind of team do you think you would match up well against?

JB: It does not matter what seed we get or who we play: we are just ready to get there and play our best and hopefully ruin some people's brackets. As I said right after we won, why can't we be this year's Butler?!

College Hoops Monday Recap: Four More Tickets Punched

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 07:14:14 -0800

The NCAA Tournament field is now up to seven confirmed members thanks to Monday's results. The two games with the bigger impact on who fills out the field from an at-large standpoint were the CAA and West Coast title games. Out in Las Vegas, Gonzaga regained the crown by beating Saint Mary's behind a balanced effort that saw four players score in double figures. Steven Gray, who had to leave the game in the first half to receive stitches for a cut above his left eye, scored 15 and Robert Sacre added 12 points and eight rebounds (knocking down some crucial free throws late as well).

Mickey McConnell (24 points) and Matthew Dellavedova (21) led the way for the Gaels, but the inability of the supporting cast to provide at least one more solid scoring effort combined with foul trouble in the frontcourt did them in. The Gaels will now have to sit and watch other teams play their games throughout the week, and despite the hope being that other bubble teams falter who really knows what Randy Bennett's team needs to happen.

The CAA final offered up suspense as well, with Old Dominion imposing their will early only to have to hang on for dear life late in beating VCU 70-65 in Richmond. Tournament MOP Frank Hassell scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the Monarchs won their second straight CAA Tournament title. Leading by as many as 18 points early in the second half, Blaine Taylor's team was in complete control of the game and looked to be a solid bet to win by a comfortable margin.

Then the sometimes chaotic nature of VCU's pressure took hold, turning the Monarchs over and closing to within one on a Bradford Burgess three-pointer with 4:27 left in the game. But that would be as close as the Rams would get, as ODU scored on consecutive possessions with offensive rebounds to keep their edge. Kent Bazemore added 14 points and six assists, but the Monarchs' 10 turnovers in the second half very nearly did them in.

So where does this leave VCU? By many accounts the Rams needed to win due in large part to a non-conference strength of schedule of 110 according to rpiforecast.com. How much will the SOS matter, and would playing in a league that ranks eighth in the RPI help their case? Saint Mary's, according to some, is in a better position at this stage but the lesson here is a simple one. Win. That's the best way for any team on the bubble to seal their fate, because all control is forfeited upon losing. So for all the bubble teams out there rejoicing that VCU didn't win the CAA, no one will show pity if you fail to take care of business this week.

Other Notable Happenings

1. John Dunne and his seniors complete an amazing turnaround at Saint Peter's.
When John Dunne took over in Jersey City there wasn't much left in the cupboard following the Peacocks' run to the 2006 MAAC title game. All-time leading scorer Keydren Clark was gone, and outside of Raul Orta and Todd Sowell the Peacocks were looking like a team destined to linger at the bottom of the league standings. But Coach Dunne and his staff brought in a freshman class that believed in the vision. Ryan Bacon, Jeron Belin, Wesley Jenkins and Nick Leon took their lumps, as they learned not only what it took to win but what it took to make Dunne's system work. If you defend you've got a good chance to win, and as they improved so did the win total. It all came to a head on Monday night as they cooled down a red-hot Iona team 62-57 in Bridgeport to grab their first NCAA Tournament bid since 1995. Belin scored 17 points off the bench, Jenkins and Leon combined to score 29 points and Bacon grabbed nine rebounds to go with eight points . They had to survive some hairy moments due to the many turnovers late, but they got it done.

2. The "Minnesota Mafia" leads Wofford back to the NCAA Tournament.
Mike Young's Wofford Terriers were the hottest team in the Southern Conference going into the conference tournament in Chattanooga, but more than a few people expected regular season champion Charleston to grab the automatic bid regardless. Andrew Goudelock scored 25 points but his having to leave the game due to foul trouble in the second half opened the door for the Terriers, and they took full advantage of the situation. Cameron Rundles scored a team-best 21 points and Noah Dahlman added 20 to go along with nine rebounds in the 77-67 victory. Dahlman, Rundles and Jamar Diggs make up the "Minnesota Mafia" with all three hailing from the state and it would be an understatement to say the recruiting haul has paid dividends. Next up is the NCAA Tournament, and the hope is that the Terriers get a better draw than Wisconsin a season ago. If it happens, Wofford is more than capable of sending someone home.

3. Chalk prevails in the Summit while the Sun Belt continues down the unpredictable path.
If there's a conference tournament that symbolizes the chaos that fans love come March it would be the Sun Belt, where it's been anything but chalk in Hot Springs. The two teams who will face off in tonight's final: North Texas and Arkansas-Little Rock, the four and five seeds out of the West Division. Just one of the four teams who received a first round bye (Middle Tennessee) won their first game, and UALR sent them home by the final score of 65-56 last night. Tristan Thompson led North Texas in an 81-62 whipping of Western Kentucky to grab their spot in the title game, and Johnny Jones' team is rounding into form at just the right time.

The Summit League tournament's gone according to form outside of South Dakota State beating IPFW, resulting in a final matching the top two seeds in the field (Oakland and Oral Roberts). The Golden Grizzlies whipped South Dakota State 110-90 in the first semifinal, shooting 57.7% from the field and all five scorers reaching double figures for Greg Kampe's team. Oral Roberts beat IUPUI 83-77 behind 26 points from Dominique Morrison and 20 from Warren Niles. The biggest stat for the Golden Eagles: 33 free throw attempts, and despite making just 63.6% of those shots the sheer volume was enough to seal their trip to the title game. Oakland's been the class of the league all season long and with Keith Benson leading the way they've got a good chance to get to the NCAA Tournament, but they'll have quite the challenge on their hands tonight.

Top Three Games

1. Old Dominion 70, VCU 65

2. Gonzaga 75, Saint Mary's 63

3. Saint Peter's 62, Iona 57

Three Notable Performances

1. G Tristan Thompson (North Texas)
There's more than one important Tristan Thompson plying his trade in the Lone Star State. The Mean Green's version scored 28 points and grabbed four rebounds in their 81-62 win over Western Kentucky to clinch a spot in the Sun Belt title game.

2. F Drew Valentine (Oakland)
Valentine scored 24 points (10-13 FG) and grabbed 11 rebounds in the Golden Grizzlies' 110-90 win over South Dakota State in a Summit League semifinal.

3. F Mike Glover (Iona)
Glover scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the Gaels' 62-57 loss to Saint Peter's in the MAAC title game.

College Hoops Monday: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 06:15:03 -0800

After Indiana State became the fourth team to punch its ticket to the NCAA Tournament with a 60-56 win over Missouri State in the MVC final, the pace begins to pick up with four more bids on the line tonight. The two biggest games with regards to the field of 68 are likely the CAA and WCC finals, with the possibility of a bid "thief" lurking in the former and a little confusion in terms of whether or not the two finalists have done enough to merit at-large bids in the latter. Old Dominion has the profile of a solid at-large choice and so does regular season champion George Mason, who VCU knocked out in Sunday's semifinals. But what about Shaka Smart's Rams? They need to grab the automatic bid because despite the impressive nature of their run to the Preseason NIT semifinals in November there really weren't any wins that stand out.

Their win over George Mason featured a 21-3 run late in the first half to take control of the game, quite the turnaround from two weeks ago when the Patriots blew them out in Richmond. Jamie Skeen scored 21 points to lead the way and Bradford Burgess added 16 and 13 rebounds. When the Rams are running effectively, as they did in assisting on 17 of their 24 made baskets against George Mason, they're a tough team to knock off. The challenge for VCU is to impose their style upon Blaine Taylor's Monarchs, something they were unable to do on February 12th in a 70-59 ODU win. VCU turned the ball over just nine times in that loss but ODU rendered them ineffective offensively by challenging every shot (37.3%) and out-rebounding the Rams 40-21.

ODU has won eight straight games, knocking off Hofstra on Sunday by shooting 57.1% and limiting CAA Player of the Year Charles Jenkins to 6-for-16 shooting and 16 points. The Monarchs aren't particularly adept defensively at turning opponents over but their half court defense can lock down, making it particularly difficult to find good looks. Guard Kent Bazemore is a very good perimeter defender and forwards Keyon Carter, Ben Finney and Frank Hassell are all good rebounders who can also defend and score. Three bids for the CAA? A VCU win would make that a near certainty.

As for the West Coast Conference, how many bids the league gets (one or two) varies based on who's offering the opinion. So it would be wise for both Gonzaga and Saint Mary's to win tonight's final in Las Vegas, because while both have solid records their resumes could leave either one up to debate should either need an at-large bid. This will be the third straight season these two have met in the title game, and just like the two regular season meetings the Bulldogs and Gaels have split the meetings. Gonzaga was able to hold on late last night thanks in large part to a technical foul assessed to San Francisco for calling a timeout they didn't have. Foul trouble made things interesting for the Bulldogs, and Mark Few will need his guys to avoid silly fouls tonight against Saint Mary's (a poor whistle on both sides didn't help matters).

Randy Bennett will lean on WCC Player of the Year Mickey McConnell and sophomore Matthew Dellavedova on the perimeter to get things going offensively, but the more important players could end up being forwards Rob Jones and Mitchell Young. If they have issues keeping Sam Dower, Robert Sacre and company off of the boards it could be a long night for the Gaels. Steven Gray and Elias Harris lead the way offensively for Gonzaga, and David Stockton has come into his own in recent weeks. The winner will sleep well until Selection Sunday while the loser may have to root for other bubblers to falter in the days that lie ahead, a situation no one wants to be in this time of the year.

The other two title games are in one-bid leagues, and the most dangerous team should they get to next week could be Iona in the Metro Atlantic. Tim Cluess' team has been on fire of late with nine straight wins, seven of which have been by double figures. Mike Glover has been outstanding inside and with the many other offensive options at Iona's disposal the presence of a point guard Scott Machado makes the Gaels an extremely difficult team to slow down. That's the task for Saint Peter's, who took out top-seed Fairfield on Sunday. John Dunne's team has the ability to lock down on opponents defensively and Monday will mark the ultimate moment for a senior class that's grown with the program. But they've also lost to the Gaels by double figures in both meetings, and the Gaels' firepower isn't the best matchup for the Peacocks.

The Southern Conference final matches the defending champion (Wofford) and this year's regular season champ in Charleston, as the Cougars also boast the Player of the Year in senior guard Andrew Goudelock. Goudelock can knock down any shot on the floor but still shoots at a solid percentage for a player entrusted with so much responsibility. The Terriers counter with forward Noah Dahlman, who was last season's Player of the Year in their run to the NCAA Tournament. If Wofford can slow down Goudelock and forward Antwaine Wiggins (Charleston has other solid offensive options to go along with these two) they're more than capable of making a return to the NCAA Tournament. Semifinals in the Summit and Sun Belt are also on tap tonight, with the latter providing a bracket that's seen three of the four teams with first round byes leave Hot Springs after their first game.

CAA Final (Richmond, VA)
7:00 PM VCU vs. Old Dominion (ESPN)

MAAC Final (Bridgeport, CT)
7:00 PM Saint Peter's vs. Iona (ESPN2)

Southern Final (Chattanooga, TN)
9:00 PM Wofford vs. Charleston (ESPN2)

Summit Semifinals (Sioux Falls, SD)
7:00 PM South Dakota State vs. Oakland
9:30 PM IUPUI vs. Oral Roberts

Sun Belt Semifinals (Hot Springs, AR)
7:00 PM North Texas vs. Western Kentucky
9:30 PM Arkansas-Little Rock vs. Middle Tennessee

West Coast Final (Las Vegas)
9:00 PM Gonzaga vs. Saint Mary's (ESPN)