UAB

College Hoops Sunday Recap: Atlantic 10 Earns Two Titles

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:06:23 -0500

Sunday set up to be a big day for the Atlantic 10 with Dayton (Old Spice Classic) and Saint Louis (76 Classic) playing in the title game of their respective in-season tournaments. And even better for the conference is that both picked up wins, displaying the depth of a league thought by many to be Xavier, Temple and 12 other teams before the season began.

Saint Louis used an 18-2 run halfway through the second half to pull away from Oklahoma, winning 83-63 in Anaheim. Tournament MVP Brian Conklin made nine of his eleven shots from the field and scored 25 points, and as a team the Billikens shot 60.4% from the field and 52.9% from beyond the arc. Rick Majerus' team scored 1.32 points/possession, and their offensive efficiency of 131.7 was their best performance of the season, surpassing the 125.0 posted in their win over Villanova on Friday (numbers courtesy of statsheet.com).

"I thought the guys played with good poise and composure," said Majerus. "We were good with shot selection. A big goal of ours was to restrict the three. I thought [Conklin] deserved the tournament MVP, if nothing else for his defense and rebounding, and he was a beneficiary of his hard work in the summer."

The key for Saint Louis (as is the case with UNLV, who beat top-ranked North Carolina on Saturday night) will be how they deal with prosperity. A lot is made of how teams deal with adversity, but some things about Conklin and his teammates will be learned in their game at Loyola Marymount on Tuesday night. As for Dayton, their three wins in Orlando were a big deal in the first season of the Archie Miller era. Kevin Dillard was outstanding for the Flyers, posting a line of 19 points, 10 assists, seven steals and three blocks in winning the tournament MVP award.

Chris Johnson (18 points), Josh Benson (16), Josh Parker (12) and Luke Fabrizius (11) also reached double figures in Dayton's best offensive performance of the season since their opening win over Western Illinois. In Dayton's three best offensive games of the season they've assisted on at least 63% of their baskets, providing a blueprint for what the Flyers will need to do in order to continue on this path. And just like Saint Louis, Dayton will need to show that they can deal with prosperity. Following a home game against Buffalo the Flyers visit Great Alaska Shootout champ Murray State and host Alabama, meaning that a lot more will be learned about this team's potential.

While there were disappointments for the Atlantic 10 on Sunday (more on those below), the tournament wins for Dayton and Saint Louis show that the conference has something that it hasn't always had in recent seasons: depth. St. Bonaventure (who lost at Virginia Tech on Sunday), Duquesne and George Washington are three other teams that could be a factor in the A-10 race come January, and the race is setting up to be a very entertaining one at that.

Other Notable Happenings

1. A foul-counting mishap aids in Villanova's late collapse against Santa Clara.
With just over seven seconds remaining Villanova asked for their team foul count during a timeout while leading Santa Clara 64-61. Jay Wright and his staff were told that they only had five team fouls, and that was also displayed in Anaheim Arena. But when Darrun Hilliard gave the foul the Wildcats were found to have actually committed their seventh team foul, sending Evan Roquemore to the line for a 1-and-1. Roquemore made both, and after JayVaughn Pinkston missed the front end of his 1-and-1 he fouled Roquemore in his pursuit of the loose ball. The Bronco guard came through once again, making both free throws to give Santa Clara the stunning 65-64 win.

While the administrative error didn't help Villanova at all, they really have no one to blame but themselves for ending up in that situation. Leading 64-57 with 2:56 left in the game, Villanova failed to score again and turned the ball over four times in the final 2:56. Raymond Cowels III led Santa Clara with 20 points, and he combined with Roquemore to score 24 second-half points on a night that saw Kevin Foster (5-17 FG, 13 points) struggle. As for Villanova, Mouphtaou Yarou led the way with 19 points, and for them to be successful as the season wears on they'll need more than a combined 4-for-15 outing from Dominic Cheek (10 points) and James Bell (seven). Can this group that's adjusting to life without Corey Stokes, Corey Fisher and Antonio Pena produce enough offensively to account for those losses? We shall see.

2. Indiana has an impressive second half in pulling away from Butler.
While some have pointed out the improved play of Tom Crean's Hoosiers to start the season, skeptics pointed at their schedule and wanted to see more evidence against credible competition. Indiana got their chance on Sunday night with two-time defending national runners-up Butler visiting Assembly Hall, and after a 30-minute slugfest the Hoosiers separated with an 11-2 run. Indiana went on to win 75-59 with Will Sheehey (Hoosier Invitational MVP) scoring a career-high 21 points and Cody Zeller leading three other Hoosiers in double figures with 16, but the bigger story was their defense.

Butler finished the game with seven assists and 21 turnovers, which means an assist-to-turnover ratio of 0.33. Crean praised his team for their defensive effort, pointing out that Indiana had 74 deflections on the night. Indiana shot 50% in the second half as they outscored Butler 44-31, and outside of Chrishawn Hopkins (19 points) and Khyle Marshall (16) the Bulldogs couldn't establish much of anything offensively. With NC State and Kentucky in two of their next three games, Indiana will definitely be challenged. But for the first time in Crean's tenure at IU, it can be said that the Hoosiers look capable of attacking those challenges head-on.

3. Syracuse makes the move to fire associate head coach Bernie Fine after new information "surfaces".
Unfortunately there was more off-court news involving the sexual assault accusations levied against now-former Syracuse associate head coach Bernie Fine. Not only did a third accuser surface but a recorded phone call between Fine accuser Bobby Davis and Fine's wife Laurie from 2002 was released by ESPN's Outside the Lines. Both chancellor Nancy Cantor and head coach Jim Boeheim released statements on Sunday night in support of the action taken against Fine by the school, with this being a sharp departure from the defiant stance taken by Boeheim in support of his long-time assistant and friend when these allegations were first made. The question now is just how far this investigation goes, and what effect it may have on the Orange on the floor. Given the way they dealt with the distractions on their way to the NIT Season Tip-Off crown last week and the team's experience, Syracuse will likely be fine on the floor. But given both the sensitive nature of the charges and the statement issued by Boeheim in the beginning, this situation likely won't be solved for a while.

Quick Hitters

1. With Trevor Mbakwe scheduled for an MRI on his right knee, injured in their loss to Dayton, Minnesota has a lot on the line with regards to their season. Hopefully he checks out OK, but that would be a major loss for the Golden Gophers if he were to be ruled out for a significant amount of time.

2. The most disappointing in-season performance of the weekend: Washington State, who capped an 0-3 weekend in Anaheim with a 64-63 loss to UC Riverside. Yes the Cougars lost Klay Thompson and DeAngelo Casto, but there's talent back in Pullman. Not a good weekend for the Cougars or the Pac-12.

3. Team that should feel good about their weekend: DePaul. The Blue Demons made things tougher on themselves than they should have late but they did enough to hold off Arizona State 68-64 in the fifth place game at the Old Spice Classic (2-1 for the weekend). Cleveland Melvin led the way with 18 points and seven rebounds.

4. Cleveland State whipped Rhode Island 67-45 in Kingston in the final day of that particular three-game Legends Classic round-robin. Jim Baron's team turned the ball over an astonishing 17 times in the first half and as a result trailed 40-23 at the break. Rhody finished the game with 21 turnovers (27-23 CSU in the second half).

5. Bowling Green scored a nice win for both themselves and the MAC with a 67-64 win over Temple. BGSU shot 58% from the field in the second half and 56% for the game, and A'uston Calhoun led the way with 16 points and seven rebounds.

6. What's going on with UAB? Mike Davis' Blazers dropped to 1-4 on the season with a 59-54 loss to UT-Martin despite 15 points apiece from Cameron Moore and Jordan Swing. Mike Liabo scored 22 points off the bench to lead the Skyhawks, who entered the game having lost five of their first six games.

7. Indiana State hung on to beat Fairfield 72-66 in the third place game of the Old Spice Classic. Jake Odum posted ISU's first triple-double in 32 years and Dwayne Lathan and Myles Walker scored 16 apiece, with the Sycamores controlling the play in the paint throughout (34-20 points in the paint advantage).

Three Notable Performances

1. F Kyle O'Quinn (Norfolk State)
23 points, 11 rebounds and five assists in the Spartans' 70-63 win over Eastern Kentucky.

2. G Jake Odum (Indiana State)
10 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists in the Sycamores' 72-66 win over Fairfield. The triple-double is the first in ISU history since the great Larry Bird posted one in 1979.

3. G Kevin Dillard (Dayton)
19 points, 10 assists, seven steals and three blocks in the Flyers' 86-70 win over Minnesota.

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

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 14:05:37 -0400

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

First Four Tuesday Recap: Bulldogs Come Back to Beat UALR

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 14:27:54 -0400

Tuesday marked the beginning of the NCAA Tournament, although it's tough for most people to consider anything earlier than Thursday being the starting point. The first game of the "First Four" matched Big South champion UNC Asheville and Sun Belt winner Arkansas-Little Rock and the game did not disappoint, requiring an extra five minutes to determine the winner. A Matt Dickey three pointer from the left corner with 11 seconds remaining pushed the game into overtime, where the Bulldogs took the lead for good on a pair of J.P. Primm free throws with 1:11 remaining. Primm made three of his next four from the line to provide the 81-77 final, and UNC Asheville moves on to play Southeast top seed Pittsburgh on Thursday afternoon.

Dickey and Primm scored 22 points apiece to lead the Bulldogs, who struggled defensively in the first half to keep the Trojans out of the paint. UALR shot 53.6% overall in the first 20 minutes, making 10 of 15 two-point shots. But the percentages fell as UNCA did a better job of limiting UALR's access to the lane, and the Trojans attempted 14 of their 22 shots in the second half from beyond the arc (28.6% 3PT in the second half). Alex Garcia-Mendoza did the best job for UALR in regards to getting to the basket, scoring a team-high 21 points on 5-for-7 shooting from the field (9-11 FT). But Steve Shields' team couldn't shoot consistently from deep, making 31% for the game and sharpshooter Matt Mouzy made just one of his ten attempts from deep.

"They played more zone in the second half," remarked Coach Shields on what UNC Asheville changed defensively. "We weren't able to get the ball to the paint as much as we wanted versus their zone. [UNCA's D.J.] Cunningham has four fouls I think with 11 minutes to go, and we were trying to go back inside toward him and go at him, and we never could get real good looks in there."

But with the quick turnaround how does UNC Asheville go about preparing for the Panthers? The game is a 3:10 PM tip (Clemson was actually jobbed even worse in this matter) and with the requirements they have to fill it could be tough for the Bulldogs to properly rest up and prepare for the Big East regular season champions. But that's an issue the Bulldogs will happily take on at this stage, because just a month ago it would have been tough to project an NCAA Tournament appearance for them.

"I couldn't be prouder of our team, how they handled themselves all season long. We were up and down," remarked Coach Biedenbach. "We had a bit of a rocky road sometime during the season but we started to put it together late."

Other Notable Happenings

1. Clemson beats UAB, advancing to face West Virginia on Thursday afternoon.
Speaking of getting job from a logistical standpoint, how about Clemson's reward for beating UAB 70-52 in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader? The game didn't start until about 10 PM local time due to the first game going to overtime and a lighting issue that the officials decided to go ahead and play through. Add in postgame interviews and the like, and Brad Brownell's Tigers had a rough itinerary ahead of them with West Virginia on Thursday at 12:15 PM awaiting them. Jerai Grant scored 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead Clemson, who found their way into the lane far too easily against the Blazers.

Clemson shot 52% fro the field, making 22 of 37 two-pointers on the night. UAB used the three to get back into the game but their poor shooting inside of the arc (6-for-24) did them in. Jamarr Sanders led the Blazers, who provided may critics with ammunition for the "they shouldn't be in the field" argument, with 19 points. And sadly the collegiate career of senior Aaron Johnson ended with a broken tibia in the second half; get well soon Aaron. But Clemson got the NCAA Tournament monkey off their backs with the win, and if they can manage the fatigue the Tigers have a good chance against the Mountaineers in Tampa.

2. Kyrie Irving could make his return this weekend for Duke.
There are few NCAA Tournament pools that changed their deadline to Tuesday evening to account for the "First Four", but those who are in such pools may wish the deadline remained Thursday with the news out of Durham. Freshman point guard Kyrie Irving, who went through some individual on-court workouts at the ACC Tournament last weekend, practiced with the team some on Tuesday and could play when the Blue Devils open Friday in Charlotte. The key word is "could" as head coach Mike Krzyzewski said that there's a chance. There's no denying what the McDonald's All-American adds to their rotation when on the floor, but how far along is he in his recovery? In the eyes of many Duke becomes a safe bet to get to Houston due to this development but there's a big difference between practice and game speed. How big of an impact can Irving have on Duke's quest to win another national title? We'll have to wait and see.

3. Purdue suspends guard Kelsey Barlow for the remainder of the season.
It's unknown what exactly happened to cause this personnel move by Purdue head coach Matt Painter, but the move itself certainly does not help out the Boilermakers. In 19.5 minutes per game Barlow averaged 5.1 points and 2.9 rebounds per game, but it's one more body gone for a team that isn't all that deep to begin with. The development likely means an increase in minutes for both Lewis Jackson, who starts and plays nearly 26 minutes per game, and Ryne Smith (23 starts, 23.5 mpg). But Barlow's loss should not be a major blow offensively for the Boilermakers as he hasn't reached double figures since January 9th against Iowa. Purdue has the ability to withstand his loss, but this also makes it all the more imperative that they avoid foul trouble.

Top Three Games

1. UNC Asheville 81, Arkansas-Little Rock 77 (OT)

2. Boise State 83, Austin Peay 80 (CBI)
Daequon Montreal led four players in double figures with 14 points as the Broncos held off Austin Peay in the first round of the CBI. Caleb Brown (24 points) and Josh Terry (23) led the way for the Governors but it wasn't enough as Boise State had eight players score seven points or more.

3. Cleveland State 63, Vermont 60 (NIT)
Norris Cole scored 27 points, including the go-ahead basket with just over a minute left in the game to give the Vikings the win. Pat Bergmann led the Catamounts with 16 points and eight rebounds as they played without injured senior forward Evan Fjeld. The win sets up a showdown between Cole and College of Charleston's Andrew Goudelock in the second round.

Three Notable Performances

1. G Andrew Goudelock (Charleston)
Scored 39 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the Cougars' 94-84 win over Dayton in the first round of the Postseason NIT.

2. G Norris Cole (Cleveland State)
27 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals in the Vikings' 63-60 win over Vermont in the first round of the Postseason NIT.

3. G Reggie Jackson (Boston College)
22 points, eight rebounds and four assists in the Eagles' 82-64 win over McNeese State in the first round of the Postseason NIT.

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West Virginia vs UAB/Clemson: Preview & Prediction

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:41:00 -0400

(5) West Virginia vs. (12) UAB/Clemson

East Region - Tampa

March 17 - 12:15 CBS

Play in this grouping begins on Tuesday with UAB and Clemson meeting in Dayton as part of the "First Four". The Blazers have been raked over the coals when it comes to their inclusion in the field, but it's pretty obvious that the selection committee gave them credit for rising above the ruckus to win the regular season title in Conference USA. Senior point guard Aaron Johnson is among the national leaders in assists per game. Clemson's "finishing kick", which included wins over both Boston College and Virginia Tech, likely got them in. Their opponent will be West Virginia, who finished in the top half of the wildly competitive Big East. The Mountaineers have dealt with their share of issues, from Dan Jennings leaving the team to Casey Mitchell being suspended. But they've found a way to win games with the tough trio of Truck Bryant, Kevin Jones and Joe Mazzulla leading the way.

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

Clemson

UAB

Stars to Watch:

F Kevin Jones (West Virginia)

G Aaron Johnson (UAB)

F Jerai Grant (Clemson)

Vegas Odds:

Clemson -5 (vs UAB. No line for subsequent game vs West Virginia)

Predictions:

RealTimeRPI: Clemson 67-UAB 65

KenPom: Clemson 61-UAB 58

CollegeHoops.net Betting Pick: UAB

Faces Winner Of: Kentucky vs Princeton

First Round Tuesday: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:48:19 -0400

6:40 PM UNC-Asheville vs. Arkansas-Little Rock (TruTV)
The postseason champions of the Big South and Sun Belt open the 2011 NCAA Tournament with the winner moving on to play top-seed Pittsburgh in the Southeast Region. Eddie Biedenbach's Bulldogs were the pick of more than a few pundits to win the conference tournament given the heave personnel losses incurred by regular season champ Coastal Carolina and two-seed Liberty having lost four straight games to end the regular season. UNC Asheville beat the Chanticleers at Coastal Carolina to win the automatic bid, and their run began in that same gym on a Matt Dickey runner at the buzzer on February 22nd. The Bulldogs have won seven straight games with Dickey (15.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.3 apg) and J.P. Primm (14.4 ppg, 4.6 apg, 3.8 rpg) leading the way.

UNC Asheville starts three guards with junior Chris Stephenson averaging 9.4 points per game, and forward John Williams (5.3 rpg) and center D.J. Cunningham (7.5 rpg) are expected to get the job done on the boards. The Bulldogs essentially break even on the glass, possessing a rebounding margin of minus-0.3 but that number is better than what Arkansas-Little Rock brings to the table (minus-1.5). Coach Biedenbach's team turns the ball over 15 times per game but they're very good at forcing turnovers, averaging nine steals and forcing 17.6 turnovers per game. Averaging 74 points and nearly 72 possessions per game, the Bulldogs will look to play at a higher pace than the Trojans (65.7 possessions/game) and get to the basket (57% of their points are scored on two-point shots).

Arkansas-Little Rock arrived at this point by winning four games in four days at the wild Sun Belt Tournament. The Trojans finished fifth in the West Division and their ticket wasn't punched until Solomon Bozeman knocked down a three-pointer in the final seconds against North Texas. Bozeman, who began his college career at USF, is the lone double-digit scorer for Scott Shields and rarely leaves the floor. Bozeman has played 30+ minutes in every game against Sun Belt competition except for four, either meeting or exceeding that mark in six of the Trojans' last seven games. But whether or not UALR goes on to the nation's capital will depend on what the other expected contributors bring to the table. Gus Leeper scored 10 in the win over North Texas but averages just 1.6 points per game on the season. Seniors Alex Garcia-Mendoza (8.6 ppg) and Matt Mouzy (8.0 ppg) are next in line behind Bozeman and they'll both be needed.

Courtney Jackson and Eric Kibi are the leading rebounders for the Trojans, who have to get the job done on the boards by committee due to their lack of size. UNC Asheville isn't a lights-out rebounding team themselves but they are better than the Trojans, grabbing 34% of their missed shots on the season. If UALR can take care of the basketball, something they've done well with an average of just 11.8 turnovers per game, and hold their own on the boards they can win. The Trojans outscore their opponents by just one point per game on the average so look for some late-game suspense in the first game of the night in Dayton.

9:00 PM UAB vs. Clemson (TruTV)
The Blazers and TIgers were done no favors by the schedule planners, getting the late game tonight with the winner off to Tampa to play East five-seed West Virginia...at 12:15 pm EST (huh?). The beefs in regards to whether or not a team should be in the field are done but there will be a lot of eyes on UAB, the outright Conference USA regular season champion. Senior point guard Aaron Johnson ranks among the nation's best in assists per game with 7.7 in addition to scoring 12 points per contest. His primary responsibility on offense is to set up Jamarr Sanders (17.7 ppg) and Cameron Moore (14.3 ppg, 9.4 rpg), two players with the ability to drop 20-plus on an opponent on any given night.

Mike Davis' team plays just 65 possessions and turn the ball over 12.3 times per game, and they also enter tonight's game as the better rebounding team. Clemson doesn't play as fast as they did under Oliver Purnell in the first season of the brad Brownell era but old habits die hard, with the Tigers averaging eight steals per game. Guards Demontez Stitt (14.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.4 apg) and Andre Young (10.8 ppg, 3.0 apg) are also the team leaders in steals per game, with their quickness making up for the change in game tempo. Jerai Grant, Milton Jennings and Devin Booker are the key contributors in the frontcourt, and Tanner Smith is a solid player on the wing.

Clemson has played well defensively for much of the season, allowing 60 points and forcing more than 15 turnovers per game. Opponents shoot just 40% from the field, and the Tigers do a good job of grabbing offensive rebounds (34.6% offensive rebound percentage). But UAB is better at keeping their opponents off of the offensive glass, hence the earlier statement that the Blazers are the better rebounding team. Tonight's matchup may be just as much about motivation as execution. Clemson really hasn't been criticized for their inclusion, as they took North Carolina to overtime in the ACC semifinals (in all honesty the Tigers let that one slip away) and enjoy the pedigree of playing in a BCS conference.

But the Blazers aren't exactly chopped liver; despite having just one RPI Top 50 win (the same number of victories as Clemson) Mike Davis' team did go 9-3 against teams from 51-100 and did not suffer any horrific losses (teams ranked 200 or worse in the RPI). All they've heard is that they don't belong but UAB is a talented team that can not only win tonight but also on Thursday afternoon. Clemson can win a couple games as well, but it's that disrespect that may push UAB on to Tampa.

Postseason NIT Games
7:00 PM (3) Dayton at (6) Charleston (ESPN2)
7:00 PM (7) Vermont at (2) Cleveland State (ESPN3)
7:00 PM (8) Coastal Carolina at (1) Alabama (ESPNU)
7:30 PM (6) Harvard at (3) Oklahoma State (ESPN)
8:00 PM (6) Murray State at (3) Missouri State (ESPN3)
9:00 PM (6) Fairfield at (3) Colorado State (ESPN3)
9:00 PM (5) UTEP at (4) New Mexico (ESPN2)
9:00 PM (1) Boston College at (8) McNeese State (ESPNU)
11:00 PM (7) Kent State at (2) Saint Mary's (ESPN2)

College Basketball Invitational Games
7:00 PM James Madison at Davidson
8:05 PM San Jose State at Creighton
8:05 PM Hofstra at Evansville
9:00 PM Austin Peay at Boise State

College Insider Tournament Games
7:00 PM Ohio at Marshall
7:00 PM Furman at East Tennessee State
8:00 PM Jacksonville at East Carolina
8:00 PM Rider at Northern Iowa
9:00 PM North Dakota at Air Force
10:00 PM Northern Arizona at Santa Clara
1:00 AM Portland at Hawaii

Capital One March Madness Promotion

East Region Overview: Tough Draw for the Buckeyes?

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 05:37:06 -0400

Cleveland (March 18)
(1) Ohio State vs. (16) Texas-San Antonio/Alabama State
(8) George Mason vs. (9) Villanova

While other teams may have been more spectacular at times in terms of making dramatic impressions there was arguably no more consistent team on the one line than the Big Ten champion Ohio State Buckeyes, who were rewarded with the top overall seed in the bracket. They've lost just twice with both defeats coming on the road to ranked opponents (Purdue and Wisconsin), and their rotation may lack numbers but it doesn't lack versatility. Freshman Jared Sullinger has been outstanding inside, and he surrounded by a number of players who can make plays from about anywhere on the floor. But the road to Houston will not be without its road blocks, likely beginning with a second round matchup with either George Mason or Villanova.

Many have rushed to write off the struggling Wildcats, who have lost seven of their last nine games. But in the history of the NCAA Tournament no program has won more games as a lower seed and Jay Wright has won his last three first round games. Villanova has talent but with players such as Corey Stokes and Mouphtaou Yarou banged up will they have the health? They will be tested by an experienced George Mason squad that ran away with the CAA regular season title, winning the conference by two games. Jim Larranaga's been down this road before with many still having the 2006 Final Four team on their minds, and players such as Cam Long and Ryan Pearson are more than capable of winning in the tournament. As for UTSA and Alabama State it's tough to give a 16-seed even a puncher's chance of beating a one when it's never happened before.

Tampa (March 17)
(5) West Virginia vs. (12) UAB/Clemson
(4) Kentucky vs. (13) Princeton

Play in this grouping begins on Tuesday with UAB and Clemson meeting in Dayton as part of the "First Four" in Dayton. The Blazers have been raked over the coals when it comes to their inclusion in the field, but it's pretty obvious that the selection committee gave them credit for rising above the ruckus to win the regular season title in Conference USA. Senior point guard Aaron Johnson is among the national leaders in assists per game. Clemson's "finishing kick", which included wins over both Boston College and Virginia Tech, likely got them in. Their opponent will be West Virginia, who finished in the top half of the wildly competitive Big East. The Mountaineers have dealt with their share of issues, from Dan Jennings leaving the team to Casey Mitchell being suspended. But they've found a way to win games with the tough trio of Truck Bryant, Kevin Jones and Joe Mazzulla leading the way.

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

All Top-Half Team
G Brandon Knight (Kentucky)
G Jon Diebler (Ohio State)
F Terrence Jones (Kentucky)
F Kevin Jones (West Virginia)
F Jared Sullinger (Ohio State)

Top Half All-Rookie Team
G Aaron Craft (Ohio State)
G Doron Lamb (Kentucky)
G Knight
F Jones
F Sullinger

Top Half All-Lower Seed Team
G Corey Fisher (Villanova)
G Demontez Stitt (Clemson)
G Aaron Johnson (UAB)
F Kareem Maddox (Princeton)
F Jerai Grant (Clemson)

Cleveland (March 18)
(6) Xavier vs. (11) Marquette
(3) Syracuse vs. (14) Indiana State

All four games in Cleveland are part of the East region, allowing teams to get a look at who they may possibly run into in Newark in the Elite 8. Syracuse has their active 2-3 zone that can give teams unfamiliar with its nuances fits, and the Orange will begin their run with Missouri Valley tournament champion Indiana State. Point guard Scoop Jardine needs to make sound decisions with the basketball because when their other weapons are neglected the Orange can struggle offensively. ISU beat the top two seeds on consecutive days to grab the automatic bid. The Sycamores did achieve their best finish in the MVC in over a decade but do they have the shooting required to deal with Syracuse's zone.

While there is the possibility of the Orange running into a familiar face in conference foe Marquette, it won't be expected as Xavier has one of the best backcourts in the region(Tu Holloway and Mark Lyons). Chris Mack's Musketeers emerged as the class of the Atlantic 10 in the regular season, only to fall to rival Dayton in the conference tournament. Marquette will have their hands full with the Musketeers but Buzz Williams' team plays as hard as any team in the country. Jimmy Butler and Darius Johnson-Odom are the leading scorers for Marquette, who needs other guys to step up in order to prolong their stay. Whether or not they play well enough to advance, because their effort will be there, remains to be seen.

Charlotte (March 18)
(7) Washington vs. (10) Georgia
(2) North Carolina vs. (15) Long Island

North Carolina, regular season ACC champions, will get to share their subregional site with rival Duke but the Tar Heels traditionally enjoy the fan edge in the Queen City. Roy Williams' freshmen (Harrison Barnes and Kendall Marshall) have figured out what they're required to do in their roles and its shown on the floor. But they got off to slow starts in all three ACC Tournament games, and a similar beginning could keep the NEC champion LIU around longer than they're expected to be. But the Blackbirds, who are making their first NCAA appearance in more than a decade, are blessed with depth that isn't seen in most 15-seeds especially in the frontcourt with Julian Boyd and Jamal Olasewere leading the way. .

The 7/10 matchup is where the region's "Cinderella" may come from, although it's tough to peg the Pac-10 tournament champs with such a label. Point guard Isaiah Thomas put forth a virtuoso performance this past weekend, capping it all with a jumper at the buzzer to beat Arizona in overtime. While Georgia has an athletic perimeter rotation led by Travis Leslie the Huskies enjoy a clear advantage when it comes to decision-making. Obviously with their 10-seed it would be easy to assume Mark Fox's team was in the field, but their late-game decisions in the loss to Alabama in the SEC quarterfinals very nearly earned them an NIT berth.

All-Bottom Half Team
G Tu Holloway (Xavier)
G Isaiah Thomas (Washington)
G Darius Johnson-Odom (Marquette)
F Harrison Barnes (North Carolina)
F Rick Jackson (Syracuse)

Bottom Half All-Rookie Team
G Kendall Marshall (North Carolina)
G C.J. Wilcox (Washington)
G Jake Odum (Indiana State)
F Barnes
F C.J. Fair (Syracuse)

Bottom Half All-Lower Seed Team
G Johnson-Odom
G Travis Leslie (Georgia)
F Butler
F Julian Boyd (Long Island)
F Trey Thompkins (Georgia)

Region Winner: Ohio State

UAB: 2011 NCAA Tournament

Shawn Siegel — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 14:32:26 -0400

UAB Blazers: 2011 NCAA Capsule

Conference: Conference USA
Conference RPI: 2nd (of 31)

RPI: #31
Record: 22-8
Conference Record: 12-4 (1st)

First Round

Seed: #12

Region: East

Face: #12 Clemson (Play-In Game)

Key Games

Top 100 Results: 10-7
Best Non-Conference Win: #49 VCU 68-65

Worst Loss: at #162 Arizona St
Promising Loss: #28 Memphis (close twice)

Players

Leading Scorer: Jamarr Sanders 17.7
Leading Rebounder: Cameron Moore 9.4
Leading Passer: Aaron Johnson 7.7
X-Factor: Dexter Fields

Team Stats

Tempo: Very Slow - 319th
Offensive Efficiency: 74th
Quality Offensive Stat: 2 Pt FG % - 46th

Defensive Efficiency: 49th
Quality Defensive Stat: 3 Pt FG % Defense - 24th

Tournament History

Record: 9-13
Last: 2006
Last Win: 2005 (1st Round)
Final Fours: 0

Links

ESPN Clubhouse
KenPom Stats & Analysis
RealTime RPI Schedule Breakdown

Bracketology: A Brief History of Mid-Major Bias

Shawn Siegel — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 12:41:37 -0400

A Brief History of Mid-Major Bias

Inevitably, when the selection committee announces their decision tonight, the most deserving team left out of the field will come from one of the so-called "Mid-Major" conferences.

Just going through a small sample over the last 5 years, you'll see that the highest RPI team not to make the field has consistently come from a mid-major. In fact, over the last two years, the committee has become even more biased, and the top 5 to 8 RPI teams not to make the field have been mid-majors.

So what does that mean for this year? Once again, expect multiple mid-majors with sparkling records and sparkling RPI's to get left out. UAB has had a top 50 RPI for 3 straight years, but will most likely get left out again despite being ranked 31st. Harvard, Cleveland St, and Missouri St, all in the top 45 this year.. will most likely get shafted.

Interestingly, the top BCS team not to make it has come from the SEC the last 3 years.. is there an anti-SEC bias at work? If so, Georgia, with the #45 RPI might be headed to the NIT tonight.

Top RPI teams not to make the field, including the highest ranked BCS team not to make it:

2010
#40 Rhode Island
#45 UAB
#47 Kent State
#53 Memphis
#54 Dayton
#55 Mississippi St (SEC)

2009
#34 San Diego St
#40 Creighton
#46 UAB
#47 Illinois St
#48 St. Mary's
#49 Niagara
#51 George Mason
#53 Tulsa
#54 Florida (SEC)

2008
#37 Illinois St
#39 Ole Miss (SEC)

2007
#29 Air Force
#36 Missouri St
#39 Bradley
#41 Florida St (ACC)

2006
#22 Hofstra
#24 Missouri St
#39 St. Joseph's
#40 Cincinnati (Big East)

Jon Teitel's "Forgotten Legends" Series: UAB's Donell Taylor

Jon Teitel — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:25:20 -0500

Recently CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with former UAB player Donell Taylor, who went on to play professional basketball after helping lead the Blazers to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances in 2004 and 2005. His identical twin brother Ronell was also on the team, and they combined for one of the best fast break baskets in recent tournament history in their second round win over Kentucky in 2004. Donell currently plays professionally in Italy.

Jon Teitel: In 2001 you and your identical twin brother Ronell led your high school team to the Alabama 6A state title. What was it like to play with your twin, and who was the better player growing up?

Donell Taylor: It was GREAT playing with my brother! I was playing ball with the only person in the whole world who knows everything about me. He knew where I was going to be on the court and I knew where he was going to be also.

JT: You and Ronell started your college careers at Okaloosa-Walton CC (where you were an NJCAA All-American), and then you both transferred to UAB. Why did you two choose to go to the same JC, and why did you two later decide to go to UAB?

DT: We chose to play college ball together because we knew that once we got done playing college ball we might never play on the same team again, so we wanted to play together as long as possible. We wanted to go to UAB because it was close to our home, which would allow our family and friends to come to the games. It was also a system that fit both of our styles of play.

2004 NCAA Tournament

JT: You scored nine points in a 102-100 win over Washington, the first time in a decade that a team scored 100 points in the tourney and lost (Nate Robinson had 27 points in 32 minutes). How were you able to hang on and get the win, and how exhausted was your team by the end of that game?

DT: That was a great game. Both teams had the same style of play, so it was like a drag race. They got out and ran and we played the same way. I was not exhausted because we played that way all year long.

JT: You scored 13 points in a one-point upset win over #1-seed Kentucky after Mo Finley made a game-winning jumper with 12 seconds left and Chuck Hayes' tip-in rolled off the rim at the buzzer. How big was the play where Ronell stole a pass and blindly flipped the ball over his head to you for a dunk, and did you think Hayes' shot was going in?

DT: That was a VERY VERY VERY BIG PLAY. We still get asked about that play to this day. We just looked at it as something that came from years of playing together, but we would always do something like that in practice. I guess that it is just a TWIN THING!!

JT: You scored seven points in a loss to Kansas (Wayne Simien had 30 points on 18-20 FT). Was Simien just unstoppable that night?

DT: Simien was a big boy. I do not think we had one player on our team who was as big as him. You just have to give him props; he was on his game very well that night.

2005 NCAA Tournament

JT: You scored 14 points in a win over LSU (Brandon Bass had 25 points and 12 rebounds for LSU). What did you learn from the 2004 Tournament that helped prepare you for the 2005 tourney?

DT: We had to play our best ball. We knew that the games would be much slower, so we had to run our plays to perfection when we could not get out and get easy baskets on the break.

JT: You scored 13 points and had three steals in a loss to Arizona as your team only made one of its first 19 three-point shots (Salim Stoudamire had 28 points in 30 minutes). Was it just a cold shooting night from long-range or was their defense just tremendous?

DT: I would say a little bit of both: we missed a lot of shots that we would normally make, but their defense did kind of catch us off guard.

JT: After not getting drafted out of college, you signed with the Wizards in 2005 and made the playoffs during each of your two years there. What was your favorite memory from your time in DC?

DT: EVERYTHING. From the way we practiced and got along in the locker room to how we would travel from game to game. There was no bad blood between anyone, which was very rare for an NBA team. EVERYONE GOT ALONG WITH EVERYONE.

JT: In the summer of 2009 you were drafted second overall by the Erie BayHawks of the D-League. Were you thrilled to get drafted so high or disappointed that you were not on an NBA team?

DT: I just looked at it as my attempt to try and get back to the NBA where I want to be, so I took it one day at a time. I just wanted to play ball and help the team anyway that I could.

JT: On New Year's Eve 2009 you were traded to the Idaho Stampede. Did you take it personally, and is it hard to separate the personal side from the business side of professional sports?

DT: I do not take it personally because it is a business, but I was surprised because I was leading the team in points, rebounds and assists at the time! That is just part of playing pro ball. You never really know what is going to happen.

JT: You have played professionally in Greece, Belgium and Italy. What have you learned from these experiences, and how do they compare to the NBA?

DT: Playing ball overseas is a LOT different than the NBA because the team can release you at ANY TIME, so you have to play your best ball and be on your best behavior at all times. There are people watching you at all times. The only bad part is that we have to share a room on the road. In the NBA you have your own room!

JT: You have nine tattoos. Which 1 is your favorite, and what do you want your next tattoo to be?

DT: My FAVORITE is my son's name on my chest. I just got it in the spring after he was born on April 1st.

JT: When people look back on your career what do you want them to remember the most?

DT: I hope they remember that I played the game the right way and played hard until the buzzer went off.

Taylor is also on Jon's list of best ABA/NBA players in Conference USA history.

East Carolina: Blue Edwards (1990)
Houston: Hakeem Olajuwon (1985)
Marshall: Hal Greer (1959)
Memphis: Larry Kenon (1974)
Rice: Ricky Pierce (1983)
SMU: Jim Krebs (1958)
Southern Miss: Clarence Weatherspoon (1993)
Tulane: Hot Rod Williams (1987)
Tulsa: Paul Pressey (1983)
UAB: Donell Taylor (2006)
UCF: Jermaine Taylor (2010)
UTEP: Tim Hardaway (1990)

#123 UAB: 2010-11 Basketball Preview

Joel Welser — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 21:59:24 -0400

Overall Rank: #123

Conference Rank: #6 Conference USA

2009-10: 25-9, 11-5

2009-10 postseason: NIT

Coach: Mike Davis (85-48 at UAB, 200-126 overall)

Three straight NIT appearances for Coach Mike Davis and UAB is not good enough. The Blazers continually have roster turnover, but they tend to overachieve and still manage to win 20 games and reach the postseason. Sooner or later all of the turnover will come to an end and this will be a team that competes for a Conference USA title. Unfortunately, it will be closer to later than sooner.

Key Losses: C Kenneth Cooper, F Howard Crawford, G George Drake, G Elijah Millsap

Key Newcomers:

Once again UAB will have to rely on some newcomers to get the job done. The most important of the bunch right now is Beas Hamga. The well traveled junior is a talented player who has yet to really find his role on any team. At 7-0 and 225 pounds, Hamga provides UAB with a much needed interior threat on both ends of the floor. Redshirt freshman power forward Anthony Criswell may be forced into some backup duty due to lack of frontcourt depth. Depth on the perimeter is an issue as well, but UAB has a few more options there. Wing Preston Purifoy is the best freshman in this class and will likely step into a starting position right away. Redshirt freshman Robert Williams has a year on the sidelines and Quincy Taylor should be the point guard of the future.

Backcourt:

Purifoy will certainly be in the regular rotation on the wing, but Jamarr Sanders will be the star. Sanders started all 34 games a year ago and averaged 10.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals. Obviously the 6-4 senior can do a little bit of everything and possibly the most important aspect to his game is his outside shooting. Sanders was by far the most effective long range shooter on the team last year and that will be a very important piece of the offense now that super scorer Elijah Millsap is gone. The other option on the wing is Dexter Fields. Fields had a decent freshman campaign, but he is not likely ready to take over a starting role. His defense is a liability, but he could turn into a fine shooter off the bench.

Frontcourt:

The frontcourt lacks a dominating player like Sanders, but Cameron Moore and Ovie Soko are not a bad duo to work around. Moore has had some good outings during his first two years in Birmingham. Last season the 6-10, 225 pound San Antonio, Texas native averaged 3.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and led the team in blocked shots. He only started seven games and averaged under 13 minutes per game, but Moore is now an upperclassman and expected to play a much bigger role on the team. Soko does not have as much size as Moore, but he showed some promise during his freshman campaign and earned a half a dozen starts on the season. He may not put up big numbers, but Soko could find himself in the starting lineup unless Coach Davis wants to play big with Moore and Hamga.

Who to Watch:

The reason why UAB could overachieve is the presence of Aaron Johnson. The speedster point guard has been around for a long time and knows how to run this team. He dished out nearly five assists per game last year and he will get his teammates involved and find the new and old scorers. Johnson is not a bad scorer in his own right either. He can use his speed to get to the basket and he is enough of an outside shooting threat that the opposing defense has to defend him beyond the arc.

Final Projection:

With Johnson and Sanders leading the way, this could be a good UAB squad. Maybe they are not good enough to reach the NCAA Tournament, but another NIT bid could be in the cards. But the conference is getting stronger and UAB could run into some trouble if the new big guys struggle to play a larger role and that could mean the Blazers will take a small step back this season.

Projected Post-season Tournament: CBI/CIT

Projected Starting Five:

Aaron Johnson, Senior, Guard, 9.6 ppg

Jamarr Sanders, Senior, Guard, 10.4 ppg

Preston Purifoy, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season

Ovie Soko, Sophomore, Forward, 1.5 ppg

Cameron Moore, Junior, Forward, 3.1 ppg

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College Basketball Preview - 144 Teams in 144 Days - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews