SMU

College Basketball Coaching Changes: 2012

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:43:20 -0700

As usual, the 2012 college basketball off-season features a never-ending parade of coaching changes. Some moves make sense, others are questionable, while others are simply head-scratchers. Thanks to collegesportsinfo.com, where a lot of this info was gleaned from. Also, apologies if all the colors give you a headache!

College Basketball Coaching Changes 2012: Power Conferences

Illinois

In - Jim Groce (ohio hc)

Out - Bruce Weber (fired >> kansas st))

Kansas St

In - Bruce Weber (illinois hc)

Out - Frank Martin (resigned >> so carolina)

LSU

In - Johnny Jones (north texas hc)

Out - Trent Johnson (resigned)

Mississippi St

In - Rick Ray (clemson asst)

Out - Rick Stansbury (retired)

Nebraska

In - Tim Miles (colorado st hc)

Out - Doc Sadler (fired)

South Carolina

In - Frank Martin (kansas st hc)

Out - Darrin Horn (fired)

Virginia Teach

Out - Seth Greenberg (fired)

College Basketball Coaching Changes 2012: High-Majors

Air Force

In - Dave Philopovich (asst)

Out - Jeff Reynolds (fired)

Colorado St

In - Larry Eustachy (so miss hc)

Out - Tim Miles (resigned >> nebraska)

Duquesne

In - Jim Ferry (liu hc)

Out - Ron Everhart (fired)

Rhode Island

In - Danny Hurley (wagner hc)

Out - Jim Baron (fired >> canisius)

Southern Illinois

In - Barry Hinson (kansas asst)

Out - Chris Lowery (fired)

SMU

In - Larry Brown

Out - Matt Doherty (fired)

Southern Miss

Out - Larry Eustachy (resigned)

TCU

In - Trent Johnson (lsu hc)

Out - Jim Christian (resigned)

Tulsa

In - Danny Manning (kansas asst)

Out - Doug Wojcik (fired >> charleston)

UAB

In - Jerrod Hasse (unc asst)

Out - Mike Davis (fired)

College Basketball Coaching Changes 2012: Mid-Majors

Central Michigan

In - Keno Davis

Out - Ernie Ziegler (fired)

Charleston

In - Doug Wojcik (tulsa hc)

Out - Bobby Cremins (retired)

FIU

In - Richard Pitino (louisville asst)

Out - Isiah Thomas (fired)

Miami (OH)

In - John Cooper (tennessee st hc)

Out - Charlie Coles (retired)

North Texas

In - Tony Benford (marquette asst)

Out - Johnny Jones (resigned >> lsu)

Ohio

In - Jim Christian (tcu hc)

Out - John Groce (resigned >> illinois)

Western Kentucky

In - Ray Harper (asst)

Out - Ken McDonald (fired)

College Basketball Coaching Changes 2012: Low-Majors

Brown

Out - Jessie Angel (fired)

Canisius

In - Jim Baron (rhode island hc)

Out - Tom Parrotta (fired)

Eastern Illinois

In - Jay Spoonhour

Out - Mike Miller (fired)

Grambling

Out - Bobby Washington (fired)

Idaho St

In - Bill Evans (montana asst)

Out - Joe O'Brien (resigned)

LIU

In - Jack Perri (asst)

Out - Jim Perry (reisgned)

Mt St. Mary's

In - Jamion Christian (vcu asst)

Out - Robert Burke (reisgned)

NC A&T

In - Cy Alexander

Out - Jerry Evans (fired(

Northern Arizona

In - Jack Murphy (memphis asst)

Out - Mike Adras (resigned)

Samford

In - Bennie Seltzer

Out - Jimmy Tillette (fired)

Southern Utah

In - Nick Robinson (lsu asst)

Out - Roger Reid (retired)

SFPA

In - Rob Krimmel

Out - Don Friday (fired)

Tennessee St

In - Travis Williams (asst)

Out - John Cooper (resigned >> Miami OH)

UNCG

In - Wes Miller (asst)

Out - Mike Dement (fired)

Wagner

In - Bashir Mason (asst)

Out - Danny Hurley (resigned >> rhode island)

Winthrop

In - Pat Kelsey

Out - Randy Peele (fired)

Please email shawn@collegehoops.net if we're missing any transactions

Poll: How Many CUSA Teams Will Make the Tournament?

Shawn Siegel — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 08:47:30 -0800

Jon Teitel's Coaching Greats Series: SMU's "Doc" Hayes

Jon Teitel — Tue, 03 May 2011 21:36:16 -0700

In the latest installment in his "Coaching Greats" interview series CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time talking about the career of late SMU head coach E.O. "Doc" Hayes with Gerry York, head of the SMU Heritage Hall Museum. In twenty seasons at SMU Coach Hayes won 299 games and led the Mustangs to eight conference titles and six NCAA Tournament appearances.

Jon Teitel: Elmore Onslow Hayes went by the nickname "Doc" or "Little Doc". How did he get the nickname, and how did he like it?

Gerry York: His father was a doctor and people started calling him "Doc" or "Little Doc" at an early age.

JT: Texas has always been known as a football state. How hard was it for Coach Hayes to convince the SMU fans to give basketball a chance?

GY: The answer to this question started in 1953 when Jim Krebs chose to enroll as a freshman at SMU instead of Vanderbilt. At that time, Jim was the tallest player (6'8") ever to play basketball at SMU. From that point on, interest in SMU basketball (and the SWC for that matter) really started picking up. When Jim came to SMU we were still playing in Perkins Gym, which only seated about 2,000 people. Shortly after Jim came to SMU, ground was broken on a new coliseum that would seat a over 8,000 people. It was completed by Jim's senior season, and just about every game that year was a sellout. I attended SMU for all three years that Jim was on the varsity and I attended every game, including quite a few out-of-town games.

JT: In 1954 SMU began an incredible 44-game home winning streak. What was the ambience like at home games, and how big a home-court advantage did it give the Mustangs?

GY: The first two years that Jim was there they played at Perkins, where the stands were very close to the court. There were hardly any fans from the visiting schools during that time because between season ticket holders and students, there were no seats left for anyone else! When we moved to SMU Coliseum for Jim's final year there were a few fans from the other teams but mostly 8,000 people there to cheer on the Mustangs, thus there was a real home court advantage.

JT: In 1955 SMU made its first NCAA Tournament appearance, suffering a two-point loss to a Bradley team that was 7-19. How big a deal was it to make the tournament, and how on earth did they get upset by Bradley?

GY: There was great excitement when we got to the tourney. We had already lost to Bradley earlier in the year so people really did not know what to think before the game. You have to remember that we still had a very young team. We were disappointed at the loss but were already thinking about the following year. You also have to remember that at that point in time, Bradley was a highly respected program and often had very good teams.

JT: In 1956 led SMU to a 26-4 record and a trip to the Final Four before losing to eventual national champion USF (USF's Bill Russell finished with 17 points and 23 rebounds) and then losing to Temple in the third place game (Hal Lear scored 48 points to lead the Owls). Is that considered the best season in school history, and was it just a matter of Russell and Lear being too talented for SMU to match up with?

GY: The 1956 team is considered the best. Russell was not the reason we lost to USF; Krebs (24 points) actually outscored Russell. Our scouting report did not show that Mike Farmer (one of their forwards) was a scorer, so our defense was geared to stop Russell and their guards. Farmer scored 22 points and was the deciding factor but the next night against Iowa he only scored a few points. The game against Temple was a shootout. We scored a lot but just could not stop Lear. He was quicker than our guards and it was just one of those nights. Our guys have told me many times that Lear was just outstanding. Two of our starters and our top substitute from that team are still very good friends of mine, and we attend a bible study together each week.

JT: Krebs was the first All-American in SMU history. How was Hayes able to convince Krebs to head south from St. Louis, and what was the reaction like when Krebs was killed at age 29 by a tree limb while trying to remove a tree from his neighbor's yard?

GY: A couple of guys from St. Louis had come to SMU the year before Jim got there and talked to him about coming to SMU, and another top player from St. Louis had already decided to come to SMU. I think the combination of those guys, the beautiful campus, and Coach Hayes were enough to sway Jim into becoming a Mustang. Jim's death was a big shock to the SMU community and to all of us who were his friends. Whenever his teammates have a reunion it does not take long before the Jim stories start coming up, so it is very obvious how they all felt about him.

JT: Eight years later Hayes and his wife Kathleen were tragically killed in a one-car accident. Did people feel it was déjà vu for the best coach in school history to die in a tragic accident after the best player in school history did so less than a decade earlier, and what was the reaction like on campus?

GY: There may have been people who compared the two deaths, but I never hear that from anyone. People were in shock after the news broke about Kathleen and Doc. They were not only loved by the SMU campus but also by the entire city of Dallas. Doc had been a legendary high school coach in Dallas before coming to SMU, so the whole town felt like it had lost not only two friends but also two outstanding role models.

JT: Coach Hayes won 299 games, which is the most by any SMU coach in any sport. Do you consider him to be the best coach in SMU history, and what was the key to his combination of success and longevity?

GY: He is the best coach in SMU basketball history without a doubt. Krebs was to SMU basketball what Doak Walker was to SMU football, and Coach Hayes was to SMU basketball what Coach Matty Bell was to SMU football. Doc's recruiting philosophy was to always find guys who could shoot, and the rest would take care of itself. There were many games (especially during the Krebs years) when our outstanding free throw shooting would pull us through the close games. Additionally, he always talked about the character of his players. I believe it was these two things that made Doc a big winner and a great coach.

JT: The Doc Hayes Award is given out each year to the most improved player. Why did they name the award after him, and what would it mean to him to know they did so?

GY: The team has many annual awards, so my guess is that someone came up with this idea because they wanted to name an award for him. I am sure Doc would be pleased to know that they named it for him because he took great pleasure in seeing the guys that he recruited improve each year.

JT: When people look back on his career, how do you think he should be remembered the most?

GY: I think he should be remembered as a good coach, a great motivator, and a truly wonderful and caring human being.

Coach Hayes is also on Jon's list of best coaches in Conference USA history.

East Carolina: Tom Quinn (1966-1974) 102-106, 1 NCAA tourney, 1-time conference COY
Houston: Guy Lewis (1956-1986) 592-279, 14 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, 3-time national COY
Marshall: Cam Henderson (1935-1955) 362-160, 3 conference titles, 1 NAIB title
Memphis: John Calipari (2000-2009) 252-69, 6 NCAA tourneys, 7 conference titles, 1 NIT title, 2-time national COY, 3-time conference COY
Rice: Buster Brannon (1938-1942, 1945-1946) 85-37, 2 NCAA tourneys, 2 conference titles
SMU: E.O. "Doc" Hayes (1947-1967) 299-192, 6 NCAA tourneys, 8 conference titles
Southern Miss: MK Turk (1976-1996) 300-267, 2 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title, 1 NIT title
Tulane: Perry Clark (1989-2000) 185-145, 3 NCAA tourneys, 4 conference titles, 1-time national COY
Tulsa: Nolan Richardson (1980-1985) 119-37, 2 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, 1 NIT title, 2-time conference COY
UAB: Gene Bartow (1979-1996) 350-193, 9 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, 3-time conference COY
UCF: Kirk Speraw (1993-2010) 279-233, 4 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
UTEP: Don Haskins (1961-1999) 719-353, 14 NCAA tourneys, 9 conference titles, 1 NCAA title, 2-time conference COY

Poll: Who Will Win the CUSA Tournament?

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:26:28 -0800

Conference USA: All-Conference Teams

Press Release — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:02:24 -0800

IRVING, Texas - Players from five different schools are represented on the 2010 All-Conference USA men's basketball first-team, featuring three repeat all-conference selections and two newcomers. Seniors Aubrey Coleman of Houston and Ben Uzoh of Tulsa are joined by juniors Elijah Millsap of UAB and Randy Culpepper of UTEP, along with sophomore Elliot Williams of Memphis. All five players are guards. Voting on the awards was done by the C-USA head coaches and media members in each conference city.

Coleman is a repeat first-team selection and has been the nation's leading scorer this season, averaging 26.0 points per game. The guard from Houston, Texas, scored 420 points during the conference regular season, the second-highest total in league history. Coleman, who has led UH in scoring in all but one game this season, enters this week's GMC Sierra C-USA Men's Basketball Championship with 1,400 points during his two years at UH. He was named C-USA Player of the Week five times this season.

Uzoh, a two-time second-team all-conference selection, leads Tulsa in scoring this season at 15.4 points per game, while adding 4.7 rebounds per game and 45 three-pointers made. He has moved into the top 10 in C-USA history in scoring, ranking seventh with 1,895 points. Uzoh is just the sixth player in Tulsa to history to score at least 400 points in three consecutive seasons.

Culpepper made the jump from the all-conference third team to the first team as he helped guide UTEP to its first C-USA title with a 15-1 league record. The junior from Memphis, Tenn., enters the C-USA Championship ranked third in C-USA in scoring at 18.1 points per game. Culpepper has led the Miners in scoring 14 times this season and has moved up fourth place in scoring all-time at UTEP with 1,597 points. He has topped the 30-point mark three times this year, including 45 points against East Carolina on Feb. 13, the most by any C-USA player this season and tied for second-most in league history.

Millsap burst onto the scene for UAB this season, averaging 16.0 points per game (fifth in C-USA), while leading the league in rebounding (9.3) from his guard position. He is one of only two guards to rank among the top 40 players in rebounding in Division I. Millsap, the brother of Utah Jazz star Paul Millsap, tops the conference in double-doubles with 15 (second-most in UAB history).

Williams has scored in double figures in 29 of 31 games this season and is currently averaging 18.5 points per game. He has topped the 20-point mark on 16 occasions, the fourth-highest single-season total in Tiger history. Williams also ranks in C-USA's top 10 in assists per game (3.8) and three-point field goals made (56).

The second team is comprised completely of forwards and centers. Marshall senior Tyler Wilkerson and freshman Hassan Whiteside (the only freshman all-conference selection) are joined by Southern Miss junior Gary Flowers, UTEP junior Derrick Caracter and Tulsa senior Jerome Jordan on the second unit.

SMU placed two student-athletes on the all-conference third team in junior forward Papa Dia and senior guard Derek Williams. The pair was joined by Memphis sophomore swingman Wesley Witherspoon and junior guards Brock Young of East Carolina and Aaron Johnson of UAB.

These 15 All-Conference players will be in action at this week's GMC Sierra C-USA Men's Basketball Championship, March 10-13 at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla.

2009-10 ALL-CONFERENCE USA FIRST TEAM
Aubrey Coleman, Houston, G, 6-4, 200, Sr., Houston, Texas
Randy Culpepper, UTEP, G, Jr., 6-0, 165, Jr., Memphis, Tenn.
Elijah Millsap, UAB, G, Jr., 6-6, 211, Grambling, La.
Ben Uzoh, Tulsa, G, 6-3, 200, Sr., San Antonio, Texas
Elliot Williams, Memphis, G, 6-5, 180, So., Memphis, Tenn.

2009-10 ALL-CONFERENCE USA SECOND TEAM
Derrick Caracter, UTEP, F, 6-9, 275, Jr., Fanwood, N.J.
Gary Flowers, Southern Miss, F, 6-8, 214, Jr., Dallas, Texas
Jerome Jordan, Tulsa, C, 7-0, 245, Sr., Kingston, Jamaica
Hassan Whiteside, Marshall, F, 6-11, 235, Fr., Gastonia, N.C.
Tyler Wilkerson, Marshall, F, 6-8, 240, Sr., Lexington, Ky.

2009-10 ALL-CONFERENCE USA THIRD TEAM
Papa Dia, SMU, F, 6-9, 235, Jr., St. Louis, Senegal
Aaron Johnson, UAB, G, 5-8, 175, Jr., Chicago, Ill.
Derek Williams, SMU, G, 6-1, 170, Sr., Jamaica, N.Y.
Wesley Witherspoon, Memphis, F/G, 6-9, 210, So., Atlanta, Ga.
Brock Young, East Carolina, G, 5-11, 175, Jr., Raleigh, N.C.

Poll: Who Will be the Next Coach Fired?

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:39:55 -0800

Conference USA Preview: 2009-10

CHN — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:06:35 -0800

With Memphis in flux following the departure of John Calipari, this might be the year someone like Tulsa, Houston, or UTEP breaks through. The other contenders better act quickly as Memphis has locked up a monster recruiting class next year..

Conference Rank: 10th

10 year average: 8th

Conference USA Page

All-CUSA Team
Pos.	Player	Team	Yr.

G	Aubrey Coleman	Houston	Sr
G	Ben Uzoh	Tulsa	Sr
G	Randy Culpepper	UTEP	Jr
G	Willie Kemp	Memphis	Sr
F	Jerome Jordan	Tulsa	Sr

Player of the Year - Jerome Jordan Freshman of the Year - Keith Clanton (UCF)
CHN Award Winners		Returning Leaders
CHN All-Americans Jerome Jordan High-Major All-Americans Jerome Jordan (1st Team) Aubrey Coleman (2nd) Willie Kemp Roburt Sallie Ben Uzoh		Points: Aubrey Coleman 19.4 Rebounds: Jerome Jordan 8.6 Assists: Brock Young 7.6 Team: Houston 75.8

Conference USA Standings
Nat'l	Team	League	Tourney

33	Memphis	CUSA	1	NCAA
38	Tulsa	CUSA	2	NCAA
80	UTEP	CUSA	3	NIT
100	Houston	CUSA	4	CBI/CIT
118	Marshall	CUSA	5	CBI/CIT
153	UAB	CUSA	6
163	UCF	CUSA	7
193	SMU	CUSA	8
208	Tulane	CUSA	9
211	East Carolina	CUSA	10
230	Rice	CUSA	11
272	Southern Miss	CUSA	12

*Click on links for full Top 144 team preview

** returning conference champion

Poll: Who Do You Think Will Win the CUSA?

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

The Ultimate Schedule: Conference USA West Division

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:43:47 -0700

Conference USA Schedule “Rules”:

- Four non-conference games

- Eight conference games (three against West Division opponents)

- Conference USA Championship Game (December 5^th)

Week 1: Buffalo @ UTEP (September 5^th)

It’s an important season for head coach Mike Price and the Miner program, and they’ll be tested right out of the gate by the reigning MAC champions. Head coach Turner Gill has high hopes for new quarterback Zach Maynard, and weapons such as James Starks and Naaman Roosevelt will help Maynard with the transition to starter. And with a defense that welcomes back eight starters, the Bulls will be a handful for UTEP in the season opener. Trevor Vittatoe is back for another run as starting quarterback, and if the defense can raise its level of play the Coach Price may be able to get UTEP back into bowl contention.

Other Games Considered: Rice @ UAB (9/5), Tulsa @ Tulane (9/4)

Week 2: Houston @ Oklahoma State (September 12^th)

This promises to be a wild, high-scoring affair with football filling the sky. In Case Keenum and Zac Robinson you’ll have two of the better quarterbacks in the nation, and the same goes for running backs Bryce Beall and Kendall Hunter. Add to this the presence of OK State WR Dez Bryant and the winner will likely score at least forty points. The question for both teams lies with the defense; as in how much have both units improved since last season.

Bill Young takes over the defensive coordinator role at Oklahoma State, and his addition has to be the difference if the Cowboys want to entertain any thoughts of cracking the Texas/Oklahoma tandem at the top of the Big 12 South. Houston, with a win here, would open up a world of possibilities in regards to a possible run at a BCS bid.

Other Games Considered: Rice @ Texas Tech (9/12), Kansas @ UTEP (9/12), Tulsa @ New Mexico (9/12)

Week 3: Tulsa @ Oklahoma (September 19^th)

The Golden Hurricane will have their hands full with a Sooner squad that blew them out in Tulsa last season. Heisman winner Sam Bradford is back and has a number of weapons at his fingertips with TE Jermaine Gresham, RB DeMarco Murray and WR Ryan Broyles among the many options. Tulsa, despite an offense that was the best in Conference USA last season, will have to contend with one of the best front sevens in all of college football. Coach Graham prefers a balanced attack so expect Tulsa to commit to establishing the run early on. If they can’t they’ll be in trouble against a team that, much like them, can put points on the board in a hurry.

Other Games Considered: Rice @ Oklahoma State (9/19), UTEP @ New Mexico State (9/19)

Week 4: Bye Week (September 26^th)

A little early for a bye week, but with October delivering a matchup of Boise State visiting Tulsa and no conference games on the schedule for West Division teams it’s a good time to rest. Keep an eye on Texas Tech visiting Houston and Rice hosting Vanderbilt for some entertaining football.

Week 5: Houston @ UTEP (October 3^rd)

The Cougars racked up seven hundred yards of offense in last year’s meeting yet only won by the final score of 42-37. The Miners had the ball for a little more than six minutes longer than Houston despite rushing for just 102 yards. Trevor Vittatoe had arguably his best game of the season, throwing for 362 yards and accounting for five total touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to upstage Case Keenum’s 480 passing yards and Bryce Beall’s 167 rushing yards. Houston has won the last three meetings in the series, scoring at least thirty-four points in each contest. Expect some fun in El Paso, and a Miner win would quickly turn the division race into a three-team affair.

Other Games Considered: Tulsa @ Rice (10/3), SMU @ TCU (10/3)

Week 6: East Carolina @ SMU (October 10^th)

While the more intriguing game in regards to division title/bowl implications would be Memphis taking on UTEP, we’ve already seen the Miners twice in the first four games of the season. That means a trip to Dallas is in order to check out the growth of the Mustangs under June Jones. It was a tough first season for Coach Jones, who had to lean upon a freshman quarterback (Bo Levi Mitchell) and went 1-11. Now with Mitchell and the other cogs of the offense having a full season under their belts with Jones, some are looking for the Mustangs to make a jump up the standings. How high? A meeting with the defending conference champions would provide an early answer. They haven’t met since 2006, so it will be interesting to see how the normally stout Pirate defense deals with the run and shoot.

Other Games Considered: UTEP @ Memphis (10/10), Houston @ Mississippi State (10/10)

Week 7: Boise State @ Tulsa (October 14^th)

No team in their right mind would schedule two games just four days apart; that rule doesn’t apply here. The Golden Hurricane host one of the schools that has provided the “BCS buster” blueprint over the last ten years in Boise State. QB Kellen Moore had an outstanding freshman campaign, and the Broncos were essentially two points away from going unbeaten in 2008 (losing to TCU 17-16 in the Poinsettia Bowl). Boise State has an awful lot of weapons back for another run at the BCS, and this along with their opener against Oregon may be their biggest roadblock. Tulsa can score with just about anyone; it’s the matter of how well their defense can perform in games like this. Linebacker Mike Bryan and SPUR James Lockett will lead the way for a unit that should improve its productivity. Are the strides enough to slow down the Broncos? We shall see.

Other Games Considered: Rice @ East Carolina (10/17), Navy @ SMU (10/17), and Houston @ Tulane (10/17)

Week 8: Tulsa @ UTEP (October 21^st)

The final game in the three-team round robin that will likely decide the West is Houston taking on Tulsa the first Saturday in November. And the Miners should be hungry for some revenge; if they’re not upset about getting seventy-seven points hung on them last season then something’s very wrong (SMU only allowed 37 the week prior). The Miners gave up 791 yards of offense, thirty-six first downs…and Tulsa only scored seven points in the fourth quarter. It was an embarrassing showing, indicative of the Miners’ poor defense in 2008. The UTEP offense struggled mightily on the ground, rushing for just thirty-two yards and thus failing to keep the ball away from the Golden Hurricane. For UTEP, this meeting is just as much about restoring pride as it is pushing their way into the division title race.

Other Games Considered: SMU @ Houston (10/24), Tulane @ Southern Miss (10/24)

Week 9: Southern Miss @ Houston (October 31^st)

The Golden Eagles have done quite well against the Cougars, winning seven of the last nine games in the series. The two haven’t met since 2006 when they split two meetings (Southern Miss winning the latter for the conference title), and they could very well meet twice in 2009. Both teams are expected to be a part of the conference title hunt, with the Cougars looking to improve defensively while the Golden Eagles will look to become even better offensively. Unlike East Carolina, who won’t have to play Houston, the Golden Eagles drew both Houston and Tulsa and that fact makes this an even bigger game for Southern Miss.

Other Games Considered: UAB @ UTEP (10/31), Tulane @ LSU (10/31)

Week 10: Houston @ Tulsa (November 7^th)

Their meeting last season provided arguably the most shocking result of the Conference USA season. The Cougars forced five turnovers on their way to a 70-30 beating in a game that featured fifty-nine combined first downs and more than 1,100 yards of total offense. Case Keenum threw for 402 yards and six touchdowns, and the Cougars raced out to a 42-17 halftime lead. The last two meetings have been blowouts, with the Golden Hurricane kicking things off with a 56-7 beating in 2007. Hopefully this time they go down to the wire, with the winner likely leaving with the inside track to the Conference USA Championship Game.

Other Games Considered: Rice @ SMU (11/7), UTEP @ Tulane (11/7)

Week 11: East Carolina @ Tulsa (November 15^th)

Another meeting that could take place again on December 5^th, and it’s also a rematch of last year’s title game. The Pirates picked off David Johnson five times in the 27-24 win, making up for a yardage difference of 121 yards and an ECU offense that was just 2-13 on third downs. Tulsa finished the game with seven turnovers and in Tulsa’s three losses last season they averaged five turnovers per game. If the Pirates are to duplicate last season’s win they’ll need to get more out of their passing game; ECU had just 122 yards through the air, but when you win the turnover margin by six that deficiency can be overcome. Will there be more of the same in the rematch? We’ll find out.

Other Games Considered: Houston @ UCF (11/14), UTEP @ SMU (11/14)

Week 12: UTEP @ Rice (November 21^st)

The Owls have won the last three meetings in the series, including a 49-44 thriller last season in which the teams combined for more than one thousand yards and fifty-three first downs. Unfortunately for David Bailiff he won’t have QB Chase Clement, TE James Casey or WR Jarrett Dillard since both have run out of eligibility so those weapons won’t be on the field. However, do not doubt Rice’s ability to put points on the board; their offensive system gets the ball in the air often and puts points on the board in a hurry. The same goes for UTEP, which had more of an issue defensively in 2008 than the Owls. High-scoring games have been the norm in this series so nothing less should be expected.

Other Games Considered: Tulsa @ Southern Miss (11/21), Memphis @ Houston (11/21)

Week 13: Rice @ Houston (November 28^th)

The “Bayou Bucket” will be on the line, and the Cougars will be looking for some revenge after a loss to the Owls cost them a berth in last year’s conference championship game. The schools are separated by just five miles and don’t care too much for each other, which makes this an appealing game to take in on the final day of the regular season. James Casey had an outstanding day for the Owls, accounting for five touchdowns (three receiving, one passing and one rushing) and 203 all-purpose yards. He’s out of eligibility, but don’t think that Coach Bailiff won’t have some offensive wrinkles to throw at the Cougars.

Other Game Considered: Memphis @ Tulsa (11/27)

Week 14: Conference USA Championship Game (December 5^th)

The pick here is that Houston will end East Carolina’s reign as Conference USA champion, beating the Pirates in the championship game.

Conference USA Football Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:53:34 -0700

Offense sells tickets…does it win titles?

By Raphielle Johnson

A familiar theme within Conference USA was the explosive offensive capabilities of many teams. But for all the fireworks that came from the likes of Houston and Tulsa it was the league’s best defensive team that won the title. East Carolina survived a mid-season letdown that followed huge non-conference wins over Virginia Tech and West Virginia, clinching a title game berth opposite the Golden Hurricane. ECU’s 27-24 win, which included five Pirate interceptions, meant the first conference title of any kind for the program since 1976.

Skip Holtz’s team could very well find itself back in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl with seventeen starters back in Greenville. QB Patrick Pinkney threw for more than 2,600 yards last season, and RB Dominique Lindsay returns after missing all of 2008 due to injury. But the Pirates’ calling card is a tough defense led by safety Van Eskridge and middle linebacker Nick Johnson. The key for the Pirates will be navigating a treacherous non-conference schedule (West Virginia, North Carolina and Virginia Tech). Outside of a mid-November trip to Tulsa the Pirates’ toughest conference games will be at home.

As for who can challenge ECU within the East Division, look no further than Larry Fedora’s Southern Miss Golden Eagles. Southern Miss got off to a slow start in 2008, losing six of their first eight contests. But the Golden Eagles finished with a flourish, winning their last five games with no single-digit margins until the 30-27 overtime win in the New Orleans Bowl (versus Troy).

RB Damion Fletcher is back for one more run through the conference, and there’s a very good chance that he could once again lead the league in rushing. But the health of WR DeAndre Brown, who suffered a broken leg in the bowl game, will be important. When 100%, Brown gives the Southern Miss a vertical threat that cannot be ignored by opponents.

As for another challenger, Tommy West’s Memphis Tigers may be the team best equipped to push its way into the top two. WR Duke Calhoun has caught at least one pass in each of the thirty-seven games he’s played in, and Carlos Singleton led the Tigers in receiving last season. But the development of RB Curtis Steele helped the Tigers immensely on offense.

The junior college import ran for more that 1,200 yards in 2008, taking some of the pressure off of QB Arkelon Hall. However, Memphis will need to find answers in regards to line play, both offensively and defensively, if they want to compete with East Carolina and Southern Miss. Those lines will receive a significant test in the season opener, when the Tigers host Ole Miss in front of a national television audience (ESPN).

As for the rest of the East, both Mark Snyder (Marshall) and George O’Leary (UCF) have very important seasons ahead of them in regards to the state of their programs. Snyder simply hasn’t won enough to appease a fan base used to bowl games and national titles (at the now FCS level). O’Leary’s case is a little less cut and dry, with the program coming under fire from some circles following the death of Erick Plancher a couple of seasons ago. Combine this with the fact that the reigning conference champions going into 2008 finished 4-8 (3-5 C-USA). Ten starters are back on offense for UCF, which will hope that its quarterbacks can complete a higher percentage of their passes in 2009 (42.9%).

The Thundering Herd return eight starters each on offense and defense, including all four defensive linemen and offensive threats Cody Slate and Darius Marshall. How Marshall makes up for the loss of WR Darius Passmore remains to be seen, but they will need someone to step up on the outside. Coach Snyder brought in Rick Minter, who has experience at Cincinnati and Notre Dame, to run a defense that finished 2008 eighth in Conference USA in total defense.

Neil Calloway’s UAB Blazers are also looking to make a move within the East Division, and with eighteen starters back (including all eleven on offense) they could do just that. QB Joe Webb shouldered much of the load last season, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark on the ground while throwing for more than 2,600 yards. The burden of being essentially the lone offensive playmaker may have shown itself in his sixteen interceptions to ten touchdown passes. If Rashaud Slaughter and Justin Brooks can step up in the backfield and receivers such as Frantrell Forrest and Mark Ferrell can help in the air UAB could separate from the other teams that finished 3-5 in 2008.

As for the West, offense reigned supreme in 2008 and it’s expected to be the same in 2009. Tulsa, Houston and Rice were the conference’s most explosive offensive teams, and more of the same is to be expected. Houston QB Case Keenum led Conference USA in total offense, averaging more than 400 yards per game. The next two in that category, Chase Clement (Rice) and David Johnson (Tulsa), have both moved on and that fact gives the Cougars the edge in the division race. Running back Bryce Beall also returns for the Cougars, along with three returning starters each at receiver and on the offensive line.

There is a negative for Houston; six starters need to be replaced on a defense that was seventh in Conference USA in both total and scoring defense. If head coach Kevin Sumlin and company can find some answers on that side of the football Houston has a change to pass Tulsa as division champ.

Todd Graham’s Golden Hurricane return six starters on offense (but lose Johnson and RB Tarion Adams), but the biggest loss could be that of offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn. A trio of receivers with the same last name (Damaris, Trae and Ricky Johnson) will lead a receiving corps that could once again light up scoreboards throughout the conference.

Defensively Tulsa should be in decent shape with MLB Mike Bryan (how was he only an Honorable Mention All-Conference selection?) being one of eight returning starters on the unit. Tulsa actually finished fifth in the conference in total defense, but they struggled against the pass (ninth in pass efficiency defense). The three-game stretch that will go a long way in determining the fate of the Golden Hurricane is in November, with Houston, East Carolina and Southern Miss all in a row. Outside of those three games the conference schedule is manageable for the Golden Hurricane, so some good fortune there could give them another shot at the conference title.

As for David Bailiff’s Owls, they’ll be going through the unenviable task of replacing one of the most productive combinations in college history. QB Chase Clement and WR Jarrett Dillard have moved on, leaving large holes to fill in their wake. Do-it-all offensive (and sometimes defensive) standout James Casey is also gone, as is RB C.J. Ugokwe, and with just four starters back on offense the defense may have to do some heavy lifting in the early going. Early-season games against Texas Tech and Oklahoma State will test a unit that returns eight starters, including leading tackler FS Andrew Sendejo and KAT Travis Bradshaw.

The team that may need to improve for the sake of its head coach is UTEP, which has struggled of late under Mike Price since he hit the ground running upon his arrival is 2004. After two consecutive bowl appearances to start off his tenure, Coach Price has a record of 14-22 over the last three seasons. QB Trevor Vittatoe’s return will go a long way in getting the Miners back into contention for a bowl berth, but truth be told if the defense isn’t up to par (11^th in C-USA in total defense last season) it may not matter what the offense puts on the board. The linebackers will need some polish, and two of the team’s top three tacklers from 2008 are gone, but the seven returning starters should help lead the improvement.

SMU and Tulane round out the division, with the hope in Dallas being that the Mustangs can make significant strides in their second season under June Jones. Coach Jones had to go with a true freshman at quarterback in Bo Levi Mitchell, and to say that there were some growing pains in the 1-11 campaign would be an understatement. But to be honest, the lack of playmakers around Mitchell had just as much to do with his struggles as his youth. A season under Mitchell’s belt should help with his progression as a quarterback, as should the return of seven other offensive starters and eight defensive starters.

As for the Green Wave, head coach Bob Toledo drew a rough two games to start the season: Tulsa and BYU. At least both games will be at the Louisiana Superdome…which will probably ensure that droves of Golden Hurricane and Cougar fans make the trip to cheer on their respective teams. Tulane also wasn’t done any favors in the three-game stretch of Houston, Southern Miss and LSU in October.

RB Andre Anderson was the most productive member of the Tulane offense in 2008, rushing for more than 800 yards. Eight starters return to an offense that ranked ninth in total offense and tenth in rushing offense, while six starters return on defense. There is room for growth, but just how much Tulane progresses could be stunted by a tough schedule.

Storyline: Offense sells tickets but defense wins championships. If anyone’s to challenge defending champion East Carolina they’ll need to play solid defense, not just outscore people.

Players of the Year: QB Case Keenum (Houston) and FS Van Eskridge (East Carolina)

How they’ll finish

East 1. East Carolina West 1. Houston

2. Southern Miss 2. Tulsa

3. Memphis 3. UTEP

4. UCF 4. Rice

5. UAB 5. SMU

6. Marshall 6. Tulane

Next: Conference USA East and West ultimate schedules

Conference USA Tournament: Preview & Odds

Evan Dorey — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:56:20 -0700

This is one in a series of conference tournament previews, in which I run down all the teams involved, give a brief statistical review and present the log5 projections, using in-conference offensive and defensive efficiency. The basic log5 methodology comes from Bill James, and this is an area Ken Pomeroy has looked at in the past as well. I claim nothing new in the application, but obviously with slightly different methodologies, these numbers may differ from others you find. I don’t claim to be an expert on any particular conference, and I’m sure there are some mis-characterizations on some players I’ve seen sparingly at best, so please add your thoughts in the comments. Anyway, with no further ado, the preview follows below:

Conference USA Tournament

The C-USA tournament will be held in Memphis, TN, and give the top four teams a first-round bye.

#	Team	QF	SF	F	W
1	Memphis	100.00%	98.60%	94.04%	86.69%
2	Tulsa	100.00%	89.61%	49.28%	5.70%
3	UAB	100.00%	79.65%	43.55%	5.13%
4	Texas El Paso	100.00%	46.00%	2.25%	0.75%
5	Houston	91.19%	52.96%	3.37%	1.38%
6	Central Florida	81.82%	19.19%	5.56%	0.27%
7	Marshall	60.25%	7.15%	1.13%	0.03%
8	Tulane	60.00%	0.97%	0.25%	0.04%
9	East Carolina	40.00%	0.43%	0.08%	0.01%
10	Rice	39.75%	3.24%	0.36%	0.01%
11	Southern Mississippi	18.18%	1.16%	0.11%	0.00%
12	Southern Methodist	8.81%	1.04%	0.01%	0.00%

As if Memphis needed more help, the tourney being in its hometown boosts its odds of winning its tournament to the best in the country. Tulsa and UAB seem to be the only teams that have a chance, but let’s face it, anyone but Memphis lifting the trophy will be the biggest shock in March.

#1 – Memphis Tigers (28-3, 16-0) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.252

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2008 (Runner-Up)

Memphis ran through yet another undefeated Conference USA season, and should do the same in the tournament. The Tigers have had the nation’s best defense, holding opponents under 40% on two-point shots, and forcing a lot of turnovers. They rank in the top 10 in the country in both block and steal rates, and it’s been very difficult for teams to get much offense against them. Memphis’ offense has also been the conference’s best, but its advantage hasn’t been quite as wide. It’s a good rebounding team that holds onto the ball well, and its shooting is decent, though its best from the inside. Another important note: Memphis has lost just three times on its home floor in the last four seasons, each time to a strong power-conference opponent, and no current C-USA team has won at Memphis in more than seven years.

Player to watch:

6-6 FR Tyreke Evans, 16.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.7 APG, 2.1 SPG, 48.9 eFG% - There was a lot of talk early in the season about a lack of ‘impact’ freshmen of the class we’ve seen over the last few years, but now that it’s March, Evans has clearly reached that role, the dominant player on one of the country’s best teams. He’s not a great shooter, especially from behind the arc, but he’s good enough overall, and has distributed the ball well while putting up one of the conference’s best steal rates.

#2 – Tulsa Golden Hurricane (22-9, 12-4) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.104

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2003 (2^nd Round)

Tulsa was the closest team to beating Memphis, losing by only a single point on its home floor. Like Memphis, Tulsa is strong defensively, though it obviously isn’t nearly as good as the Tigers. It dominates behind the arc, holding opponents to just 28% on threes, and does well inside and on the glass, but forces very few turnovers. The Hurricane are average offensively, taking most of their shots from two, and doing pretty well, along with getting to the free throw line often.

Player to watch:

7-0 JR Jerome Jordan, 14.7 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 2.5 BPG, 59.8 eFG% - Jordan is the best big man in Conference USA, an excellent rebounder and shot-blocker who has a good offensive touch, nearly 60% from the field and an impressive 76% from the free-throw line. He’s critical to Tulsa’s defensive success inside.

#3 – UAB Blazers (21-10, 11-5) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.106

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2006 (1^st Round)

UAB finished third in the conference, but was second in efficiency margin, and like the two teams above them, is a defense-first team that manages to score just enough to win. The Blazers aren’t great at defending shots, but force a lot of turnovers, are good on the glass, and rarely commit fouls. They also have a couple of major offensive strengths, great inside scorers who hold onto the ball well, but have stumbled because of poor shooting behind the arc and weak offensive rebounding.

Player to watch:

6-2 SR Paul Delaney, 15.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 60.5 eFG% - Robert Vaden may get most of the attention, but Paul Delaney has the man who makes the Blazers efficient, with one of the conference’s best field goal percentages, 62% from two-point range.

#4 – Texas El Paso Miners (19-11, 10-6) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.036

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2005 (1^st Round)

There’s a big drop-off after the top three teams, and UTEP doesn’t seem to have a great chance of winning the conference tournament. It’s becoming a broken record, but the Miners have a solid defense, but just a conference average offense, with their high point total mostly due to the conference’s fastest pace. The pace doesn’t help them make shots, as they are the conference’s worst in FG%. Defensively, they are good on the glass and against perimeter shots, but commit a lot of fouls.

Player to watch:

6-5 SR Stefon Jackson, 23.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 43.6 eFG% - In most conferences, Jackson would be the leading scorer, but in C-USA, his 6^th place in the national scoring rankings is only good enough for 2^nd. Jackson is the kind of player who thrives at the free throw line; his shooting from the field isn’t great, but he gets to the stripe a lot, and shoots 84% once there. He also avoids turnovers very well, considering how often he touches the ball.

#5 – Houston Cougars (19-10, 10-6) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.067

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1992 (1^st Round)

Houston has struggled to find much consistency, alternating wins and losses in its past six games. Unlike the above teams, the Cougars’ strength is scoring, as they are behind only Memphis in the conference offensive rankings. They don’t make a high percentage, but have a very low turnover rate, and are good at the free throw line. They are good perimeter defenders, forcing turnovers and stopping threes, but have been weak on the inside.

Player to watch:

6-4 JR Aubrey Coleman, 19.8 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 2.5 SPG, 44.3 eFG% - Coleman scores a lot of points, but this is more due to his large role than his efficiency, as his percentages have not been a particularly strong. He does do a good job of generating a possession advantage, getting a lot of steals while rarely turning it over.

#6 – Central Florida Golden Knights (17-13, 7-9) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.004

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2005 (1^st Round)

The Knights are the last team in the league above zero in efficiency margin, if only barely, though a 2-7 finish to the season is hardly encouraging from their standpoint. They’ve been solid shooters who’ve done well on the offensive glass, but struggled with turnovers, and their mediocre defensive play has given them a lot of problems. They don’t have a serious weakness when defending, but don’t do anything well enough to cause opponents problems.

Player to watch:

6-4 SR Jermaine Taylor, 26.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 56.2 eFG% - Taylor is the country’s 3^rd ranked scorer, and takes a higher percentage of his team’s shots than anyone in the country, even Stephen Curry. He’s an excellent shooter, at 55% from two and 38% from three, and rarely turns the ball over. In his last seven games, he’s averaged a simply incredible 35 points.

#7 – Marshall Thundering Herd (15-16, 7-9) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.072

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1987 (1^st Round)

Marshall is a bit fortunate to get to the #7 seed, as it’s ranked 9^th in league in both offense and defense. Its offensive woes have been due to poor outside shooting; it tends to take a lot of threes, but has shot a conference-low 29% on those attempts. Decent inside play can’t really make up for that level of ineptitude. Marshall’s opponents haven’t had the same problems, and the Herd have been the conference’s worst at defending shots, especially behind the arc, where opponents shoot 42%. The good news is that they get their hands on the ball a lot, whether from turnovers or rebounds, but opponents don’t need a lot of chances to put up points.

Player to watch:

6-6 SR Markel Humphrey, 12.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 58.6 eFG% - Humphrey leads the Herd in scoring, despite not taking a lot of shots, thanks to a really high inside percentage, 62% on two-point attempts. He also does well at the free-throw line, and doesn’t turn it over much.

#8 – Tulane Green Wave (18-12, 9-7) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.042

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1995 (2^nd Round)

The 8-9 game is a tough one, with the ‘winner’ earning a date to get steamrolled by Memphis, but Tulane look to be the favorites to earn that chance. No team, not even Memphis, has turned opponents over as well as the Wave, and when combined with an average ability to defend inside, Tulane has a solid defense. The offense, though, has consigned them to the bottom half; they make shots decently, but just can’t get enough chances, having trouble with turnovers and offensive rebounding.

Player to watch:

6-0 JR Kevin Sims, 13.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 4.0 APG, 51.5 eFG% - Sims leads the team in scoring; a good three-point shooter who also puts up a solid assist rate.

#9 – East Carolina Pirates (13-16, 5-11) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.086

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1993 (1^st Round)

The only bottom half team to average more than a point-per-possession, the Pirates’ great offense couldn’t stop a collapse down the stretch, losing their final five games. They excel on the perimeter, taking a lot of threes, and making a high percentage, and controlling turnovers effectively. Of course, with an offense like that, they’d be higher placed if it weren’t for the conference’s worst defense, which forces very few turnovers and has trouble stopping opponents anywhere on the floor. When you add in the fact that East Carolina grabs very few of its opponents rare misses, you get a unit that is capable of sinking your season.

Player to watch:

5-11 SO Brock Young, 10.6 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 7.7 APG, 1.4 SPG, 42.7 eFG% - Young isn’t much of shooter, but there are few players in the country who are as good at helping their teammates as him. Young’s assist rate is third nationally, so the Pirates benefit most when he touches the ball, but doesn’t shoot it.

#10 – Rice Owls (9-21, 4-12) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.106

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1970 (1^st Round)

Now, we’re well and truly into the conference dregs, as the bottom three teams should be big underdogs to win even a single game. The Owls are the conference’s best three point shooters, at 41%, but actually shoot a similar percentage from two, and are horrible offensive rebounders. If they were a heavy three-shooting team, they could be decent with this profile, but they aren’t, and thus have one of CUSA’s worst attacks. Rice has been solid at stopping shots, but get such a small percentage of misses back that opponents aren’t punished enough when they do miss.

Player to watch:

6-1 SR Rodney Foster, 12.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 4.6 APG, 53.9 eFG% - Foster is a great perimeter guard, putting up a good assist rate and hitting 45% of threes, but his inside play is not very good, as he’s shot just 36% from two-point range. It he can avoid taking many of those shots inside, he can be an even more efficient player.

#11 – Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (14-16, 4-12) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.135

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1991 (1^st Round)

Southern Mississippi had a decent start to the season, but won just one of its last 11 games to fall into the conference cellar. It has had an average offense on the season, but a lot of defensive struggles, which have resulted in its poor finish. The Eagles have been good defensive rebounders, but haven’t forced enough misses for it to really matter. Offensively, they’ve managed to avoid turnovers better than any team in the conference, and haven’t shot a lot of threes, an area where they really struggle. Still, they haven’t been strong enough with their numerous inside shots to be above average.

Player to watch:

6-2 JR Jeremy Wise, 15.9 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.3 SPG, 47.0 eFG% - Wise has been a good guard in terms of assists, but his best offense has come inside; he’s just 23% from behind the arc. He’s also strong at the free throw line, getting there often and hitting nearly 85% of those attempts.

#12 –Southern Methodist Mustangs (9-20, 3-13) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.139

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1993 (1^st Round)

The Mustangs have lost at least 10 conference games in every Conference USA season they’ve played, and were heavily outmatched this season. They are good three point shooters, and decent inside, strong on the offensive glass and at defending inside shots, but lose the turnover margin battle badly, and are the conference’s worst free throw shooters.

Player to watch:

5-11 FR Paul McCoy, 13.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.7 SPG, 50.6 eFG% - McCoy has led the Mustangs in scoring, having been a pretty good shooter from two and three, and put up a good assist rate, though he has had some trouble with turnovers

My statistical all-Conference USA team:

Central Florida SR G Jermaine Taylor, 26.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 56.2 eFG%

UAB SR G Paul Delaney, 15.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 60.5 eFG%

Memphis FR G Tyreke Evans, 16.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.7 APG, 2.1 SPG, 48.9 eFG

Memphis SR F Robert Dozier, 12.9 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.7 BPG, 55.9 eFG%

Tulsa JR C Jerome Jordan, 14.7 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 2.5 BPG, 59.8 eFG%

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