Southern

Orange End Seven-Game Series Skid: Monday's Recap

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:33:52 -0800

After a 15-2 run gave Louisville a 51-46 lead with 3:38 remaining it seemed as if the Cardinals were well on their way to an eighth straight win over #2 Syracuse. In a contest that featured some ugly offense, a five-point margin seemed to be near insurmountable despite the Orange's many talented players. However a Brandon Triche jumper just 18 seconds later would start a 6-0 run, which ended with a C.J. Fair bucket with 2:11 to go to give Syracuse the 52-51 win. While these are two of the best teams in the country when it comes to field goal percentage defense, Monday's effort was just as much about two teams that couldn't make shots as it was about two teams that could defend.

Syracuse put together one of the most amazing performances ever seen on shots outside of the paint yet still found a way to win late. The Orange made just one of their twenty-nine shots, a Dion Waiters three with 16:32 remaining in the first half, from outside of the paint on the night. The 38-24 edge the Orange enjoyed in the points in the paint category played a major role in the outcome, as did the Cardinals' 12-for-21 night at the foul line (SU shot 9-for-11).

Fair led the Orange with 13 points and Fab Melo scored 11 (also pushing his made free throw streak to ten straight), propelling Syracuse to the win on a night that saw Kris Joseph and Scoop Jardine combine to make just two of their thirteen shots. Also pivotal to the win was the late-game play of Triche, whose first basket in the final 6:08 gave Syracuse a 46-41 lead. He accounted for six points and two assists in the second half, and while those are astronomical numbers they were needed on Monday night.

"I told Scoop he was 50% the last two games, 100% last game and zero percent tonight," said Boeheim of his fifth-year senior guard. "We're fortunate enough to have three high quality guards; Brandon Triche had two big buckets. I thought we showed great perseverance to get the lead, they came back and took the lead right back, and Brandon made two plays we had to have to get back."

Chane Behanan was the best player on the floor for Louisville, making seven of his eight shots from the field and grabbing six offensive rebounds in a 16-point, nine-rebound performance. But the decision-making of point guard Peyton Siva (eight points, four assists and five turnovers) was an issue, as was Rick Pitino not making the move to go small and place either Kyle Kuric (despite the fact that he was having a bad shooting night) or Wayne Blackshear in the high post (moving Kuric there against Charleston earlier this season saved the game for the Cardinals).

Far too often it was Gorgui Dieng in that position to make a play and he simply could not get it done. One thing about Syracuse's zone is that they traditionally do a good job of recognizing who they want to make decisions and where, so once Dieng got the ball at the foul line they let him try to make something happen. Dieng did score nine point and grab ten rebounds, but he also finished with five turnovers and shot just 2-for-9 from the field. The next time Louisville encounters a zone defense they're going to have to seriously consider placing Kuric or Blackshear at the foul line area.

But back to the Orange and what this game does for them in regards to next month. Was this the most impressive performance Syracuse could have put together? Of course not, but from a rebounding standpoint maybe they've discovered a "recipe" for success. Syracuse did allow 16 offensive rebounds but they grabbed 16 themselves, and within the 40-37 rebounding disadvantage it's important to note that seven players grabbed at least four rebounds (Joseph and Melo led the way with six apiece). To get to New Orleans the Orange will need to rebound by committee as they don't have that one dominant defender, so in that regard this was a good start.

Other Notable Happenings

1. Jeff Withey puts together another outstanding performance as #6 Kansas wins at Kansas State.
The discussion of the most improved player in the country is definitely an intriguing one, as in most cases big men tend to be the focus. One such big is Kansas' Jeff Withey, who has been on a tear of late and hasn't shown any signs of a letdown. In the Jayhawks' 59-53 win at Kansas State the San Diego native finished one blocked shot short of a triple-double, racking up 18 points, 11 rebounds and nine blocks. With teams doing whatever they can to limit the impact of Thomas Robinson (ten points, nine rebounds) it's critical that Withey perform and he's definitely done that for Bill Self. Tyshawn Taylor scored 20 points to lead the way for Kansas and Jamar Samuels countered with 20 of his own to go along with 12 rebounds.

Kansas didn't get a whole lot of production outside of their big three but they could afford that. The same couldn't be said for the Wildcats, who shot 22.6% from the field and scored 18 points in the first half. Angel Rodriguez had a bad night for lack of a better way to put it, going scoreless (0-8 FG) and turning the ball over seven times. If Frank Martin's team is to have any shot at reaching the NCAA tournament he simply has to get better. Samuels, Will Spradling and Rodney McGruder won't be enough for K-State at this point, and with games at both Baylor and Missouri next on the schedule the time is now.

2. Baylor bounces back from a rough week to beat Iowa State in Waco.
After losses to both Kansas and Missouri it was apparent that Scott Drew's team was the third-best in the Big 12, and while there's no shame in that the way in which the losses occurred has to be of concern. Monday night saw the Bears score 15 of their 33 field goals at the rim (layups or dunks), and their 81.8% shooting from two in the second half was a major factor in Baylor's 79-64 win over iowa State. Perry Jones III scored 18 points and grabbed seven boards and Quincy Miller led three other Bears in double figures with 16 (and six assists). What also helped Baylor was their work on the defensive end, where they neutralized the versatile Royce White.

White did score 14 points but he also turned the ball over seven times, a season high for the Minnesota transfer. Iowa State shot 44.1% from the field but just 8-for-26 from three, and against a defense like Baylor's the over-reliance on the perimeter shot can get a team in trouble if they aren't knocking them down at a good clip. Despite the win Baylor still has a lot of work to do on the boards as Iowa State grabbed 14 offensive rebounds and held a 30-26 rebounding edge. Shooting 60% from the field is fine but that's not going to happen every night. Until Baylor steps up their performance on the defensive glass people will continue to have questions.

3. Mississippi Valley State takes another step towards their first SWAC crown since 2008.
The game didn't receive much attention but the top two teams in the SWAC faced off in Baton Rouge as Southern hosted first-place Mississippi Valley State. Despite shooting 31.5% from the field and turning the ball over 21 times Sean Woods' Delta Devils found a way to win, outscoring the Jaguars 21-6 from beyond the arc in the 58-53 win. Paul Crosby was the best player on the floor as he finished with 23 points and 15 rebounds, and both he and Cor-J Cox knocked down three shots from beyond the arc. Cameron Monroe scored 15 points to lead Rob Spivery's Jaguars but the fact that they couldn't take advantage of MVSU's 21 turnovers or knock down shots (29.8% FG; 2-for-16 3PT) proved to be their downfall. With the win the Delta Devils (13-0 SWAC) have a four-game lead with five games to go, it's difficult to see anyone being able to catch them.

Quick Hitters

1. Joe Harris will be a game-time decision on Tuesday night as Virginia takes on Clemson due to a broken bone in his left (non-shooting) hand suffered in the Cavaliers' loss at North Carolina on Saturday. Harris, who has played in 55 straight games for the Hoos, is averaging 12.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game and is a solid sidekick for Mike Scott.

2. Valparaiso begins an important stretch on Tuesday night with a game against UIC, and it remains to be seen if forward Kevin Van Wijk is able to play. Van Wijk, who bruised his knee in Valpo's win at Cleveland State on Thursday, did not play on Saturday and the Crusaders struggled badly in their decisive loss at Youngstown State. Bryce Drew needs Van Wijk back not only if they're to win the regular season title but also if they're to have a shot at the automatic NCAA tournament bid.

3. It took a shootout but Belmont did what they had to do to move into a tie for first in the Atlantic Sun, beating Stetson 106-93. Ian Clark scored 23 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead five Bruins in double figures, and Belmont shot 12-for-20 from beyond the arc. Stetson fired away from deep with reckless abandon (15-for-35) and nearly pulled off the upset as a result. Belmont is tied with Mercer at 12-2, and these two teams will likely determine the regular season champ in the finale as they're slated to meet at Mercer.

4. Head coach Anthony Grant decided to end the suspensions for guards Trevor Releford and Andrew Steele on Monday, a day before Alabama hosts #12 Florida. But he did not end the suspensions of Tony Mitchell and JaMychal Green, meaning that a Nick Jacobs has to come up big if Bama is to win. Florida will be without Mike Rosario but they've got more than enough weapons to win on the road, so this will be tough sledding for Alabama.

5. It's going to be tough for anyone to catch red-hot UT-Arlington in the Southland, but McNeese State has the look of a team that can challenge for the conference's automatic bid. Patrick Richard scored 20 points, Dontae Cannon 17 and Rudy Turner added ten points and 12 rebounds off the bench as the Cowboys won 70-61 at Northwestern State. The win puts McNeese State two games ahead of both the Demons and Lamar in the loss column in the East Division, and with two of their next three against two of the best in the West (UTSA and UT-Arlington) this cushion could come in handy.

6. Remember when Savannah State was widely regarded as one of the worst programs at the Division I level? The program has come a long way since then, and with their 66-59 win at North Carolina A&T the Tigers remain tied in the loss column with Norfolk State atop the MEAC standings. Preston Blackmon scored 14 points and dished out six assists to lead the way, and Rashad Hassan added 11 points and seven boards.

Three Notable Performances

1. C Jeff Withey (Kansas)
18 points, 11 rebounds and nine blocks in the Jayhawks' 59-53 win at Kansas State.

2. F Paul Crosby (Mississippi Valley State)
23 points and 15 rebounds in the Delta Devils' 58-53 win at Southern.

3. F/C Adam Pegg (Stetson)
31 points (13-18 FG), five rebounds and three assists in the Hatters' 106-93 loss to Belmont.

#18 Louisville vs. #2 Syracuse: Monday's Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:30:21 -0800

Despite the fact that the distance between first and second place is just two games with five to go many have conceded the regular season crown to #2 Syracuse (25-1, 12-1), and rightfully so as the Orange have been head and shoulders above the rest of the conference. The race to observe has involved the other three double-bye slots, and #18 Louisville (20-5, 8-4) is a player in that regard. That makes Monday's game at the KFC Yum! Center an important one, with the Cardinals also in position to use the win to bolster their resume from an NCAA tournament seeding standpoint.

And it's also interesting that as Big East members the Cardinals have won seven of the eight meetings (seven straight after losing the first in 2006), a fact that fans of the Orange have gotten tired of hearing at this point. Rick Pitino and Jim Boeheim both use the 2-3 zone as their primary defense, although their teams reach that alignment in different ways. Louisville likes to force a frenetic tempo with their full-court pressure, falling back into the zone if they aren't successful in forcing a turnover, while Syracuse simply gets back into their spots (but when they do press it tends to stun opponents that aren't prepared for the onslaught).

A surprising stat in this matchup is that the Orange have been the better team when it comes to forcing turnovers, as opponents average 17.4 turnovers per game to Louisville's opponents handing the ball over 15.9 times per contest. Syracuse's oppents turn the ball over on 26.1% of their possessions (Louisville's opponents: 22.9%; numbers per statsheet.com), and the athletic ability combined with reads made by their defenders is the reason why. He may not start but sophomore guard Dion Waiters (12.4 ppg, 2.7 apg) has been one of the Big East's best players this season, and he leads the team with 2.1 steals per game.

Waiters is an explosive athlete in the open floor, possessing the abilty to finish above the rim and with contact. Whether it's Waiters or starters Scoop Jardine (8.7 ppg, 4.9 apg) and Brandon Triche (9.7 ppg, 2.9 apg) leading the break the Orange can finish with the best of them thanks to their wings in addition to the guard. Senior Kris Joseph (14.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg) is Syracuse's leading scorer and their most efficient when factoring in the number of opportunities he gets to score (21.6% of possessions according to kenpom.com), and sophomore C.J. Fair (8.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg) has been productive as one of Syracuse's first players off the bench.

Syracuse's most important player on the defensive end averages 7.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game, but to measure the impact of Fab Melo solely with numbers would be a mistake. Melo, one of the most improved players in the country, gives the Orange a "security blanket" in the middle of the zone, something that was missing when he had to sit out to attend to an academic issue. Rakeem Christmas and Baye Keita may being height but neither has the strength of Melo nor the defensive savvy needed to make plays via either blocked shot or taking a charge. Louisville also leans heavily on their center on the defensive end of the floor, and just like Melo their big man has improved a great deal since last season.

Gorgui Dieng (10.1 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 3.2 bpg) has not only been a tough defender but he's also become more of a threat on the offensive end of the floor, pairing up with Chane Behanan (9.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg) to form one of the Big East's better frontcourt tandems. But for his (and Behanan's) improvement there are still issues when it comes to operating in the high post, a situation remedied earlier this season by moving wing Kyle Kuric to the four. Kuric (13.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg) is a Swiss army knife of sorts for Louisville as his vast array of skills makes the senior a threat from multiple areas on the floor. Look for Kuric to see some time in the high post to help with distribution of the basketball against the Syracuse zone.

The play on the perimeter is where the Cardinals have been a bit unpredictable, and the play of the guards is a big reason why Louisville turns the ball over 14.7 times per game. Point guard Peyton Siva (8.5 ppg, 5.7 apg) leads the team in assists but also turns the ball over 3.4 times per game, and the electrifying Russ Smith (12.3 ppg) also has the issue of getting out of control on occasion. Chris Smith 10.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg) has been one of Louisville's steadier players while also ranking second on the team in assists, and the presence of freshman Wayne Blackshear is a bonus as he scored 13 points and grabbed four rebounds in Saturday's 77-74 win at West Virginia in his first game of the season.

Louisville's been the better rebounding team to date and they'll need to continue that as the Orange don't do a good job of keeping teams off the offensive glass. But turnovers, especially those of the "live-ball" variety, will ultimately determine the outcome. If Siva and Smith get out of control and give Syracuse too many odd-man situations the Orange are going to win by a good margin. But if they can take care of the basketball and knock down some perimeter shots without relying too much on the three (Louisville only makes 32.8% of their shots from deep), the Cardinals can push their win streak in this series to eight.

Both Big 12 games are critical to the unranked teams as Iowa State and reeling Kansas State have work to do if they're to guarantee themselves inclusion in the Field of 68. The Cyclones visit a Baylor team that should be happy they're done with Kansas and Missouri until the conference tournament as Scott Drew's team went 0-4 against those two. Frankly guys such as Perry Jones III need to show up on a consistent basis, and the task of dealing wth Royce White should be enough to motivate the Baylor bigs to do so.

As for the Wildcats, they need to toughen up with in-state rival Kansas visiting, as Alexis Wangmene and Clint Chapman punished K-State in their loss to Texas on Saturday. Kansas brings Thomas Robinson and the much-improved Jeff Withey in the paint, so if Frank Martin's team is to begin a run at a tournament bid Thomas Gipson, Jamar Samuels and the rest of the K-State frontcourt needs to bring it.

And the top two teams in the SWAC face off in Baton Rouge as Southern hosts first-place Mississippi Valley State. The Jaguars, who are ineligible for the NCAA tournament due to an unsatisfactory APR score, are 9-3 in league play and at the very least should be motivated to avenge the 77-56 beating they took in Itta Bena last month.

MVSU's Terrence Joyner and Paul Crosby lead the way for Sean Woods' squad, which has five players averaging at least 8.7 points per game. And at 12-0 in conference play a win would move the Delta Devils closer to their their first regular season crown since the 2006-07 season. A key for Southern will be to keep the Delta Devils off of the offensive glass, as their opponents grab an average of 14.0 offensive rebounds per game.

Top 25 Games
7:00 PM (2) Syracuse at (18) Louisville (ESPN)
9:00 PM (5) Kansas at Kansas State (ESPN)
7:00 PM Iowa State at (10) Baylor (ESPNU)

NCAA Division I Games
7:00 PM Belmont at Stetson
7:00 PM Jacksonville at East Tennessee State (ESPN3)
7:00 PM South Carolina State at North Carolina Central
7:00 PM North Florida at USC Upstate
7:05 PM Lipscomb at Florida Gulf Coast
7:30 PM Bethune-Cookman at Howard
7:30 PM Delaware State at Morgan State
8:00 PM Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Alcorn State
8:00 PM Savannah State at North Carolina A&T
8:00 PM McNeese State at Northwestern State
8:30 PM Grambling State at Prairie View A&M
8:30 PM Mississippi Valley State at Southern University
9:00 PM Maryland-Eastern Shore at Coppin State (ESPNU)
9:00 PM Jackson State at Texas Southern
9:05 PM Montana Tech at Utah Valley

Monday Recap: The More Things Change...

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:05:39 -0800

Monday's showdown between #3 Baylor and #7 Kansas gave the visiting Bears a great chance to make the statement that they were ready to dethrone a program that's won at least a share of the last seven Big 12 titles. Well while there's still plenty of basketball to be played before the regular season champion is determined, it's safe to say that Bill Self's team has no plans to simply hand over the top spot. Thomas Robinson outplayed the highly-touted Baylor frontcourt, scoring 27 points and grabbing 14 rebounds, and Tyshawn Taylor scored a game-high 28 points and dished out six assists as the Jayhawks rolled to the 92-74 victory.

"We played terrific. That's the best game we've played all year," remarked Self. "The energy level was great and we got off to a great start."

Baylor looked to be every bit Kansas' equal after the Jayhawks jumped out to a 17-9 lead, putting together an 18-5 run over a nearly seven-minute stretch to take a 27-22 lead with 6:01 remaining. But to sustain such play at Allen Fieldhouse is difficult to say the least, and Kansas would close the half on a 17-2 run to take a 39-29 lead into the break. Taylor, who capped the half with a three-pointer from the top of the key, led the way with 14 points while Robinson added 12 and five boards. Rebounding was an issue all night for Baylor, who ignored the need to box out and it cost them.

Kansas grabbed 15 offensive rebounds on the night, scoring 17 second-chance points, and out-rebounded the Bears 39-24. And if that wasn't enough the Jayhawks outscored Baylor 48-34 in the paint and all five starters reached double figures in scoring. Jeff Withey, the player who had to show up lest Robinson be left to deal with the Baylor frontcourt by himself, posted a double-double with ten points and ten rebounds in addition to three blocked shots. With Baylor's starting frontcourt scoring 49 of their 74 points Withey had to be a factor and he was.

"When we get Jeff going, it really gets a lot of us going, and a lot of people don't know that," said Elijah Johnson, who finished with 11 points and five rebounds. "Jeff is a key player to our team, especially with getting us started. When he is on track, it can be a long night for some teams."

Perry Jones III led Scott Drew's club with 18 points and Quincy Miller scored 17 but it wasn't enough to avoid their first defeat of the year. Pierre Jackson scored 11 points off the bench in his sixth-man role to go along with 11 assists, but his solid performance was eclipsed by what Taylor was able to do. Provided they improve their rebounding, which is surprisingly mediocre given their size, Baylor will be a factor in both the Big 12 and national title races. But the biggest lesson to come out of Monday night is that to win the Big 12 the road once again goes through Lawrence.

Other Notable Happenings

1. Marquette climbs out of an 18-2 hole to beat Louisville at home.
Down 18-2, Marquette head coach Buzz Williams took what many would judge to be an unconventional approach to dealing with his team. He didn't flip out or panic, and as a result his lack of an overreaction proved to be the best move. The Golden Eagles would outscore Louisville 32-12 from that point forward to take a 34-30 halftime lead on their way to the 74-63 win at the Bradley Center. Darius Johnson-Odom led four Marquette players in double figures with 19 points, Davante Gardner scored 17 and grabbed six rebounds and Jae Crowder posted a double-double (14 points, 11 rebounds), but the foul line proved to be the difference on Monday afternoon.

Marquette made 16 of their 18 free throws while Louisville failed to take advantage of their opportunities, making four of ten from the charity stripe. Russ Smith scored 20 points to lead the Cardinals, who were once again without the injured Kyle Kuric, and their half-court offense remains an issue. Louisville finished with 17 assists but also turned the ball over 17 times, and the absence of Kuric severely hampers the bench production as Smith moves into the starting lineup. Marquette's reserves, led by Todd Mayo (11 points), outscored the Louisville reserves 15-3. Marquette could have lost their composure and allowed the Cardinals to run away with the game at 18-2 but they stayed the course and ultimately won.

2. Syracuse continues the best start in school history with a win over Pittsburgh.
Despite their recent track record of futility against Pittsburgh heading into Monday's game at the Carrier Dome (no current player had ever beaten the Panthers), few expected the top-ranked Orange to struggle with Jamie Dixon's club. And after 20 minutes of play it looked as if Syracuse was going to roll to their 20th consecutive win as they led 35-26. Pitt couldn't take care of the basketball, and their 11 first-half turnovers led to 12 Syracuse points. But the Panthers were able to remain within striking distance by hitting the glass,out-rebounding the Orange 22-14. That would continue in the second half, and while the Orange went on to win 71-63 the 40-28 disadvantage on the glass is something that sticks out for Jim Boeheim's 20-0 squad.

Dion Waiters led five players in double figures with 16 points and Fab Melo posted a double-double with ten points and ten assists while Pitt was led by three players who scored ten points apiece. But just like Louisville, the Panthers' woes at the foul line prevented them from making the game uncomfortably close for Syracuse. Syracuse made 20 of their 23 free throws while the Panthers shot 12-for-23 with Nasir Robinson missing six of his eight attempts.

Be it free throws or layups Pittsburgh is not completing the "simple" plays right now, and that's a big reason why they're off to their worst start in Big East play since the 1995-96 season. As for Syracuse, while they were the unanimous choice for the top spot in the coaches' poll this week there's still plenty to improve upon. For a team that can achieve special things this season, this is just one step on the road they hope leads them to New Orleans.

3. So much for the SWAC showdown, as Mississippi Valley State rolls Southern.
With Southern entering their road game in Itta Bena just a game out of first place in the loss column there was reason to believe that Rob Spivery's Jaguars would challenge the Delta Devils. Twenty-one turnovers later however Southern found themselves on the wrong end of a 77-56 result, as they also shot 38.8% from the field and gave up 19 offensive rebounds. Five MVSU players reached double figures with Cor-J Cox scoring a game-high 23 off the bench and Paul Crosby grabbed 14 rebounds in addition to scoring 18 points.

To say the least it's a lot easier to win when scoring 27 points off of 21 turnovers and 23 second-chance points, and as a result Sean Woods' Delta Devils find themselves in sole possession of first place with a 5-0 league mark. With five teams within two games of each other in the loss column it's anyone's guess as to how the race will shake out, but the Delta Devils' win keeps them above the rest for the time being.

Quick Hitters

1. From Sunday, there were two huge differences between Ohio State's 80-63 win over Indiana and their loss to the Hoosiers in the first meeting. One, Aaron Craft was much better running the show (seven assists and no turnovers; had six turnovers in Bloomington). And two, Lenzelle Smith Jr. went off to the tune of 28 points and seven rebounds on 10-for-12 shooting. If Smith Jr. can be a consistent supplement to William Buford, Jared Sullinger and Deshaun Thomas, look out.

2. Missouri took care of business ahead of their meeting with Baylor in Waco on Saturday, beating Texas A&M 70-51. The point guard play wasn't close with Phil Pressey outplaying Dash Harris and that's one reason as to why Billy Kennedy's team has struggled this season. The Aggies need more from their guards if they're to have a shot at climbing into the middle of the Big 12 pack.

3. Logan Aronhalt scored 20 points and Mike Black 13 to lead Albany, but when two starters manage to go scoreless it's tough to win on the road. Guards D.J. Irving and Darryl Partin combined to score 32 points as Boston University beat the Great Danes 70-57 to move to 4-1 in America East play. The Terriers are a half-game behind Stony Brook for first place, as the Seawolves moved to 5-1 with a 71-62 win over New Hampshire.

4. In a matchup of undefeated (in league play) teams Norfolk State won 74-66 at Coppin State. Kyle O'Quinn, who has to be the frontrunner for MEAC Player of the Year right now, scored 24 points and grabbed 19 rebounds and Pendarvis Williams scored a game-high 25 points. The Spartans sit atop the MEAC standings with a 4-0 record.

5. Christian Williams made just three of twelve shots from the field but his three-pointer with 22 seconds remaining gave Jackson State a 52-51 lead on their way to the 54-51 win over previously undefeated Texas Southern. Jenirro Bush led the Tigers with 23 points and eight rebounds.

6. Memphis freshman Adonis Thomas could be done for the season due to an injury suffered in practice on Friday, according to Gary Parrish of CBSSports.com. A surgery that would repair a tendon between Thomas' ankle and foot would necessitate a recovery period of two to three months.

Three Notable Performances

1. F/C Kyle O'Quinn (Norfolk State)
24 points and 19 rebounds in the Spartans' 74-66 win over Coppin State.

2. F Thomas Robinson and G Tyshawn Taylor (Kansas)
Robinson scored 27 points and grabbed 14 rebounds and Taylor put up 28 points and six assists in the Jayhawks' 92-74 whipping of #3 Baylor.

3. G Melquan Bolding (Fairleigh Dickinson)
38 points, five rebounds and three steals in the Knights' 87-83 loss to Longwood.

#10 Kansas vs. #4 Baylor: Monday's Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:46:10 -0800

Throughout the history of the Big 12 Conference there has been one measuring stick for the rest of the league: Kansas. The Kansas (14-3, 4-0) program has won seven straight Big 12 regular season titles, and despite the early-season doubts of many Bill Self's team has the ability to extend that streak. And while there are multiple challengers there may not be a more talented one than #4 Baylor (17-0, 4-0), and Scott Drew's team is well-equipped to be the last team standing in April as well. And the guards, who were a cause for concern before the season began, have shown themselves capable of making plays and running the show this season.

Junior college transfer Pierre Jackson (12.3 ppg, 5.1 apg) has put together solid assist-to-turnover marks after a stretch early in the season that saw him struggle with turnovers. Over the last three games, Jackson has accounted for 26 assists and nine turnovers, more than double his A/T ratio for the season (1.4). Jackson's third on the team in minutes per game despite coming off the bench, as A.J. Walton (3.8 apg, 3.1 rpg) is the starter. In addition to those two there's Boston College transfer Brady Heslip (10.5 ppg, 48.1% 3PT), who has shown himself to be one of the Big 12's best shooters.

Kansas has talent on the perimeter as well, but the one player who has stepped up his production of late has been Travis Releford (10.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg), who had a stretch of four straight games in double figures snapped in the Jayhawks' win over Iowa State. The redshirt junior has already gone for a double-double in conference play (16 and 11 in the win over Kansas State) and he led Kansas to a win at Oklahoma with 28 points. Senior Tyshawn Taylor (15.5 ppg, 5.2 apg) runs the show and while he's had his moments when it comes to turnovers, Taylor's been solid for most of the season. And in Elijah Johnson the Jayhawks have a guard that can be a pest on the defensive end of the floor (1.6 spg).

But the frontcourts will be what the majority of people watching will focus on and with good reason. Baylor's one of the deepest teams in the country inside, led by Perry Jones III (13.8 ppg, 7.7 rpg), Quincy Acy (12.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.4 bpg) and Quincy Miller (11.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg). Be it their man-to-man or matchup zone defense, the wingspan of the Baylor frontline (which also includes Anthony Jones and Corey Jefferson) can be problematic for opponents. But while the Bears are very good at getting out and challenging shots (teams shoot 32.0% from three) they're only blocking 6.4 shots per game.

Kansas doesn't have the depth that Baylor possesses inside but in junior Thomas Robinson (17.2 ppg, 12.2 rpg) the Jayhawks have an absolute warrior they can rely on. Robinson has the muscle needed to go inside and bang around while also being able to step out and knock down the occasional mid-range jumper. He'll likely be fine against Baylor, but the concern lies in how Jeff Withey and Kevin Young will play. Withey's shown promise this season, but he scored 17 points in three league games before scoring 13 against Iowa State. Young isn't called on for points but rather help when either Robinson or Withey needs a breather. He'll need to be more productive if the Jayhawks are to slow down the Bears' frontcourt.

Turnovers will likely decide the outcome, as both teams have been good at forcing them but not necessarily great at avoiding them on the offensive end. That means Taylor and Jackson will be the guys to watch for each team, with the point guard that makes better decisions likely being a big reason as to why their team wins. Baylor's taken on some formidable opposition this season, and their win at BYU sticks out when it comes to dealing with rowdy crowds. How much will that matter at Allen Fieldhouse? One would think that the experience would help the Bears out, but that first trip into "The Phog" can be a tough one for newcomers. Veterans such as Acy, Jones III and Walton will need to lead the way in areas that can't be measured on the stat sheet.

Also in the Big 12 Missouri host Texas A&M in a game the Aggies desperately need to perform well in as their resume is meager, and a blowout loss in Columbia would mean big trouble. But can A&M match up with Missouri point guard Phil Pressey? It's difficult to see them being able to do so, and that will likely mean big trouble. Another team that needs a good showing on the road is Pittsburgh, who visits top-ranked Syracuse.

While their 0-5 start to Big East play say that the Panthers could get blown out, keep in mind two interesting facts regarding this series. One, no current Syracuse player has beaten Pittsburgh, and secondly Jamie Dixon has never lost in the Carrier Dome. Will that help Ashton Gibbs and company? Who knows, but the move of Isaiah Epps into the starting lineup coincided with Gibbs' best game of the year. The Panthers will need to limit the impact of reserves Dion Waiters and C.J. Fair if they're to have any chance of beating the Orange.

Also in the Big East, Louisville visits Marquette in a matchup of teams coming off of wins on Saturday. Louisville's Russ Smith is one of the more explosive scorers in the conference but his aggressive nature can get him in trouble as well. Against Marquette's backcourt, led by Darius Johnson-Odom and an improving Junior Cadougan, Smith and Peyton Siva will need to make plays without getting out of control. And it's going to be interesting to see how Louisville goes about defending Jae Crowder as well.

In the SWAC try to keep an eye on Southern's trip to Mississippi Valley State, with these being two of the four teams within a game of each other in the loss column atop the standings. MVSU, led by Terrence Joyner and Paul Crosby, has won three of its four league games by 12 points or more (4-0). Southern is 4-1 in league play and guard Derrick Beltran leads four players averaging at least 9.6 ppg with an average of 11.6 ppg.

Top 25 Games
7:30 PM Pittsburgh at (1) Syracuse (ESPN)
9:30 PM (4) Baylor at (10) Kansas (ESPN)
5:30 PM Texas A&M at (9) Missouri (ESPN)
3:30 PM (15) Louisville at (24) Marquette (ESPN)

NCAA Division I Games
2:00 PM Longwood at Fairleigh Dickinson
5:00 PM New Hampshire at Stony Brook
7:00 PM Albany at Boston University (CBS SN)
7:00 PM Maine at Vermont
7:00 PM USC Upstate at Jacksonville
7:00 PM Hampton at Morgan State (ESPNU)
7:00 PM East Tennessee State at North Florida
7:30 PM Stetson at Lipscomb
7:30 PM Rider at Fairfield
8:00 PM North Carolina Central at Howard
8:00 PM South Carolina State at Florida A&M
8:00 PM Florida Gulf Coast at Belmont
8:00 PM Savannah State at Bethune-Cookman
8:00 PM Norfolk State at Coppin State
8:00 PM Prairie View A&M vs. Grambling State*
8:45 PM Tennessee State at Austin Peay
9:00 PM Notre Dame at Rutgers (ESPNU)
9:00 PM Alcorn State at Arkansas-Pine Bluff
9:00 PM Texas Southern at Jackson State
9:00 PM Southern at Mississippi Valley State
9:05 PM Saint Mary at Utah Valley
10:00 PM BYU at San Diego (BYU TV)
10:05 PM Idaho State at Portland State
10:10 PM Eastern Washington at Seattle

Oakland Adds Former SWAC Freshman of the Year

Press Release — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:42:15 -0700

NORMAN, Okla. - Oklahoma men's basketball head coach Jeff Capel announced today that junior forward Barry Honoré has transferred to OU from Southern University. Honoré (pronounced ON-uh-ray) will sit out the 2009-10 season and have two seasons of eligibility remaining as a walk-on.

The 6-7 Honoré started 54 of 61 games during his two years at Southern and averaged 8.8 points and 4.8 rebounds in 25.5 minutes per contest. He was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year in 2007-08 when he averaged 8.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, and shot .361 from 3-point range (13-for-36). Last season as a sophomore, the Garland, Texas, product averaged 8.8 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting .413 from long range (19-for-46). He scored in double figures in 13 of the team's 31 contests.

Honoré, who attended South Garland High School, was born in Oklahoma City and has relatives in and close to Norman. He said family and the strength of the OU basketball program were the two reasons he decided to become a Sooner.

"I wanted to be closer to home and closer to my family," said Honoré. "I have a grandmother who's in a nursing home right down the street here in Norman. I also have an aunt and uncle who live in Norman, and another aunt and uncle who live in Noble.

"This is a great program. I've always loved OU since I was a kid. A lot of people from my family attended OU. It's a great school with great tradition in academics and sports. I want to be a part of that."

Honoré said he is a broadcasting major.

- OU -

Daily Conference Poll: Who Will Win the SWAC?

Shawn Siegel — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 13:26:12 -0800

SWAC Basketball Preview: 08-09

Shawn Siegel — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 18:10:28 -0800

Conference Rank: 31st

Conference Page

All-SWAC Team
Pos.	Player	Team	Yr.

G	Andrew Hayles	Alabama St	Sr
G	Trant Simpson	Alabama A&M	Sr
G	Darrion Griffin	Jackson St	Sr
G	Chris Davis	Southern	Sr
F	Grant Maxey	Jackson St	Jr

SWAC Standings
Nat'l	Team	League	Tourney

143	Alabama A&M	SWAC	1	NCAA
202	Jackson State	SWAC	2
234	Alabama State	SWAC	3
273	Miss Valley St	SWAC	4
297	Southern	SWAC	5
305	Texas Southern	SWAC	6
321	Prairie View A&M	SWAC	7
325	Grambling State	SWAC	8
336	Alcorn State	SWAC	9
338	Ark Pine Bluff	SWAC	10

*Click on links for full Top 144 team preview

Poll: Who Do You Think Will Win the SWAC?

State of '08: Louisiana

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 08:17:35 -0700

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Duke or Carolina? BC or UMASS? Gonzaga or Washington.. or Washington State? What is the best program in each state? While there's not much competition in Hawaii.. there are great debates to be had in loaded regions like California, North Carolina, and Texas. The State of '08 is a ranking of every program in every state.. based mostly on recent success (the last five years) mixed in with subjective factors such as conference prestige, historical success, and overall program direction.

Up today: Louisiana. For more info, check out the State of '08 introduction.

LOUISIANA

LSU - There's not much to say here, because LSU is by far and away the top program in the state. The Tigers made the Final Four in 2006, though have quickly descended since then.

LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE - The Ragin' Cajuns were one of the best mid-majors from 2000 to 2005, which included 3 NCAA Tournament trips and 2 NITs. In 2007, the program was cited for rule violations, and the past three seasons haven't been up to the former standards. Last year's crew did show some promise though with an 11-7 Sun Belt record.

NORTHWESTERN STATE - Mike McConathy has done a great job in a decade at Northwestern State. In 2001 & 2006, the Demons made the Big Dance, and you might remember their epic 2006 win over Iowa in the First Round. Even last year when the team seemed to struggle, NSU still managed to upset SFA to make the Southland Championship game.

TULANE - The Wave haven't made a dent on the national scene since 2000, when they won 20 games and knocked off 6 Top 100 teams. To put that in perspective, in the last five seasons, Tulane has only beaten 6 Top 100 teams. Last year the Wave did knock off big-name programs like Georgia, Auburn, and LSU, something that most schools in the state couldn't accomplish.

LOUISIANA TECH - Last year's Bulldogs were extremely inexperienced and struggled to a brutal 6-24 record. This year's group should show substantial improvement, and will push for .500 in league play. Last year aside, La Tech has had decent success over the last decade, with scattered Top 150 and Top 100 finishes. The program's 7th NCAA Tourney trip will have to wait a couple more years.

6. NEW ORLEANS - Joe Pasternack did a nice job in his first season, leading UNO to upset road wins over BCS teams like NC State and Colorado, and finishing 8-10 in league play. This was the program's best season since making a surprise run to the Sun Belt finals in 2004.

7. SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA - SELU made its lone NCAA Tournament in 2005. In the past three seasons though, the Lions have merely hovered around .500 in SLC play. They did knock off in-state SLC rivals McNeese & Nicholls State all four times last year.

8. SOUTHERN - Since 2003, Southern has finished .500 or better every season in the SWAC. In 2006, Rob Spivery led the Jags to the NCAA Tournament in his first season at the helm.

9. MCNEESE STATE - In 2001 & 2002, McNeese enjoyed back to back postseason trips, reaching the NIT and then the NCAAs. Once 2004 got underway, there's been little success and not even one season above 200th in the RPI. This year should be similar to last with a middle of the road Southland record expected. The Cowboys did have a nice road upset of Lousiana-Lafayette last season.

10. LOUISIANA-MONROE - The Warhawks (nee Indians) haven't had much success on the basketball court in about 25 years. Outside of a surprising 2002 campaign (98 RPI), ULM hasn't sniffed the postseason in the past decade. Moving to the Sun Belt Conference a couple years ago has yet to reap any major rewards.

11. NICHOLLS STATE - From 2002 to 2005, Nicholls somehow managed to only average 2 D1 wins a year. The past couple years have been better, but nothing to write home about.

12. CENTENARY - In 2005 & 2006, Centenary was easily one of the worst programs in the country. They won a combined 5 D1 combines in that span. Last year was somewhat of an improvement with an RPI of 283, and this year's team might creep up into the 250 range.

13. GRAMBLING STATE - After an embarrassing 2000 campaign in which the Tigers went winless, Grambling has hovered around .500 in SWAC play for most of the decade. Then again, the SWAC is the country's worst conference, so .500 in league play isn't a big accomplishment. Grambling hasn't won a non-conference game against a D1 team since 2005.

Last: Kentucky - Next: Maryland

State of '08: The Introduction (& State list/links)

Cheerleader of the Day: Southern

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:44:49 -0700

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Cheerleader of the Day

Thanks to our friends over at Icon Sports Media, we have access to thousands of great college & NBA basketball photos to use on the site. Each day, along with our Picture of the Day, we'll be featuring a Cheerleader of the Day. After a brief mid-summer run of NBA dancers, we're back with college girls..

Southern: Football

- Check out past Cheerleaders of the Day!

- Also check out the Picture of the Day!

Turnarounds: 31 Teams to Watch: Part Four

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 19 May 2008 07:49:33 -0700

With the off-season now upon us and the spring signing period well under way, this is a good opportunity to attempt to forecast some of the teams who could make the jump next season. Is there a team out there like this past season’s Drake Bulldogs, who went from ninth place to a dominating run through the Missouri Valley? Or how about Arizona State, a team that went from dead last in the Pac-10 to fifth place and could have the makings of a conference title run this season? With one pick for each conference, here are 31 teams you should keep an eye on next season.

Part Four

SEC: South Carolina

2007-08 Record: 14-18 (5-11)

There hasn’t been a whole lot of optimism around the Gamecock basketball program since a group led by Renaldo Balkman won its second straight Postseason NIT title a couple years back. But into the desk left open by the retired Dave Odom slides Darrin Horn, who led Western Kentucky to four straight twenty-win seasons and a Sweet 16 this past season. Given what we saw from the likes of Courtney Lee and Tyrone Brazelton during the Tournament, maybe Horn can add a little more to the game of Devan Downey and unleash some of the athletic talent in the South Carolina frontcourt. While it would be far-fetched to expect the Gamecocks to win the SEC East, look for them to make a return to postseason play next year.

Southern: College of Charleston

2007-08 Record: 16-17 (9-11)

It’s tough when you’re in the same division as Davidson, but for the Cougars to finish below .500 in conference play last season had to be a disappointment for Bobby Cremins and his staff. Four players, led by Tony White Jr., averaged double figures in scoring and they’ll all be back in 2008-09. Davidson will still be the odds-on favorite to win the Southern Conference, but don’t expect Charleston to simply roll over for the Wildcats. And the scary thing is that they may be even better the following season.

Southland: Nicholls State

2007-08 Record: 10-21 (5-11)

The Colonels are another team that suffered due to its lack of experience last season. But with Adonis Gray being the lone departure, look for Nicholls to repay some of the teams who took advantage of their youth this past season. Head coach J.P. Piper should have a full complement of players at his disposal next season, including three signed recruits and Michael Czepil for an entire season. And given the fact that they’re in the division opposite Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston State, the Colonels can make a run at a division title.

SWAC: Southern

2007-08 Record: 11-19 (9-9)

Head coach Rob Spivery loses two seniors from last season’s team, Geri Guillory and Joe Holliday, but his top three scorers will all be back in Baton Rouge. Chris Davis led the Jaguars in scoring at fifteen per game, and look for Barry Honore and Steffon Wiley to increase their production in order to become better compliments to Davis on the offensive end. The key in the SWAC, like the MEAC, is to not get buried by those “guarantee games” that many of the member schools have to play for the sake of their athletic department’s finances. I think Southern will have enough returning experience to make sure they don’t suffer that kind of letdown next season.

Summit: Centenary

2007-08 Record: 10-21 (4-14)

The Centenary Gents struggled mightily at times last season, and if not for South Dakota State they would have finished last in the conference. They only lose one senior from last season’s squad, and he (Iman Shokouhizadeh) averaged a mere four minutes per game. Three players averaged double figures in scoring, led by Tyrone Hamilton and Nick Stallings. They’ll both be back, and will be focal points as head coach Rob Flaska looks to move Centenary to the top half of the Summit League, if not win the automatic bid itself.

Sun Belt: Denver

2007-08 Record: 11-19 (7-11)

The Pioneers will have quite the task this season as their location doesn’t even remotely fit into the geographical footprint of the rest of the Sun Belt. But second-year head coach Joe Scott should be more familiar with his roster and each player’s strengths and weaknesses. The Pioneers lose four seniors, most notably David Kummer and Adam Tanner, but I think they can improve their standing within the West Division thanks to key losses incurred by other teams within the division. A full off-season in the system that Scott wants to run should also help with the completion of the coaching transition.

West Coast: Portland

2007-08 Record: 9-22 (3-11)

Personally, I thought that the Pilots should have performed better than their 3-11 record within the WCC. But with their only senior loss being Sherrard Watson, I think this could be the year in which Portland get to the middle of the pack in the WCC. Nik Raivio, who led the team in scoring last season, will be back along with fellow guard Taishi Ito and forward Rob Smeulders. Look for head coach Eric Reveno to have a vastly improved team in his third season at the helm.

WAC: Louisiana Tech

2007-08 Record: 6-24 (3-13)

Kerry Rupp heads into his second year in Ruston with a lot of young players returning after getting a taste of the “hard knock life” in 2007-08. Add to this group LSU transfer Magnum Rolle combined with other WAC teams losing some key contributors and you may have a team that can move up to the middle of the conference standings in 2008-09. In regards to competing for the conference title, that may be a little premature at this stage. But the cupboard certainly won’t be bare for the Bulldogs in 2008-09.

Part One: ACC, Big East, Big Ten etc

Part Two: Big 12, CUSA, etc

Part Three: MVC, MWC, Pac-10, etc