UAB

Conference USA Preview: 2009-10

CHN — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:06:11 -0500

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 East Division

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 02:43:29 -0400

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: Ole Miss @ Memphis (September 6^th)

A game that’s become the traditional opener for both schools, the Tigers would land a serious blow for Conference USA should they upset a team many have in their preseason Top 10 polls. The Rebels won last season’s meeting 41-24, and Memphis hasn’t beaten the Rebels since the 2004 season opener. In order for Memphis to have any chance at beating Ole Miss, Curtis Steele will need to have an outstanding day and Arkelon Hall will need to make a few plays through the air while not turning the ball over. No one’s expecting Memphis to win, but an upset (or at the least a good showing) could move the Tigers into the Conference USA title conversation.

Other Games Considered: Rice @ UAB (9/5), Appalachian State @ East Carolina (9/5)

Week 2: East Carolina @ West Virginia (September 12^th)

ECU thoroughly outclassed the Mountaineers in Greenville last year, so expect West Virginia to be on full alert when the Pirates reach Morgantown. Jarrett Brown takes over for Pat White at quarterback, but he’s got some big game experience to his credit. And Noel Devine also returns for West Virginia, but neither he nor White mattered much in last year’s meeting. Home-field advantage could end up being the determining factor, but to expect the defending C-USA champs to simply fold once they get off the plane would be to disrespect their resume. Should be a fun matchup.

Other Games Considered: UCF @ Southern Miss (9/12), SMU @ UAB (9/12), Marshall @ Virginia Tech (9/12),

Week 3: East Carolina @ North Carolina (September 19^th)

The Pirates take center stage once again; such is life when you take on all comers in the non-conference schedule. ECU won the most recent meeting (2007) but has lost eight of the eleven all-time meetings. Butch Davis has the Tar Heel program looking ready to turn the corner and consistently contend for ACC titles, but ECU provides a serious roadblock before they reach conference play. Both teams will be coming off of tough road games the previous weekend (UNC visits Connecticut), so whether or not there will be any kind of “hangover” will be an interesting question to answer.

Other Games Considered: Virginia @ Southern Miss (9/19), Buffalo @ UCF (9/19), UAB @ Troy (9/19)

Week 4: UCF @ East Carolina (September 26^th)

Southern Miss’ trip to Lawrence is more intriguing from a national perspective, but sometimes it’s just as interesting to check out a program in need of a big win travelling to face the division favorite. Not sure if George O’Leary is on the hot seat or not (I’d say no, although the Erick Plancher situation definitely doesn’t help matters), but how big would a win in Greenville be for the Knights? UCF has lost the last three meetings, two of which were by double digits; even in the season that the Knights won C-USA (2007) they allowed the Pirates to score fifty-two points. Last year’s game featured five combined turnovers and a combined 10-34 on third downs. While both defenses will once again be solid, don’t expect either offense to be as bad as they were in last year’s meeting.

Other Games Considered: Southern Miss @ Kansas (9/26), Marshall @ Memphis (9/26)

Week 5: Memphis @ UCF (October 3^rd)

Two teams hoping to crack the top two of ECU and Southern Miss get together in Orlando in what is a big game for the visiting Tigers. Since Conference USA expanded the Tigers have not beaten the Knights, alternating between blowouts and close finishes in the four meetings. If you follow the trend Memphis is “supposed” to get blown out, but not so fast. The quarterback position didn’t play very well or the Knights in 2008, and who’s to say that things will automatically shoot up in that area? The Tigers have some solid offensive weapons; it’s now about whether or not they can get over the hump that is UCF.

Other Games Considered: Southern Miss @ UAB (10/1), East Carolina @ Marshall (10/3)

Week 6: UTEP @ Memphis (October 10^th)

These two haven’t played since the 2006 season, and both teams are hoping that they can make a little noise in 2009. Both teams have solid playmakers on offense, and the meeting in the Liberty Bowl could very well come down to who has the ball last. Memphis, however, was the far superior defensive team last season and if much doesn’t change Mike Price’s team will have a tough time improving upon their fourth-place (in the West Division) finish in 2008. Also working in the favor of these two teams is an underwhelming slate around the league, meaning that many eyes will be paying attention to this one.

Other Game Considered: Southern Miss @ Louisville (10/10)

Week 7: Memphis @ Southern Miss (October 17^th)

If Memphis wants to entertain any thoughts of finishing higher than their third place finish in 2008, they’ll need to beat the Golden Eagles in Hattiesburg for the third straight time. The Tigers, in fact, have won four of the previous five meetings, but none of those wins were by more than six points. In last season’s meeting the Tigers were phenomenal on the ground, rushing for 285 yards and possessing the football for more than thirty-five minutes in the 36-30 win. If Curtis Steele can rush for another 178 yards Southern Miss could fall again. However, Larry Fedora’s team is a far better offensively at this point than they were at the time of the last meeting so expect a wild, high-scoring affair.

Other Games Considered: Rice @ East Carolina (10/17), Marshall @ West Virginia (10/17), Miami (FL) @ UCF (10/17)

Week 8: Bye Week (October 24^th)

As lean as the schedule seemed in Week 6, at least there was the option of UTEP/Memphis. No such decisions this week, so it’s a good time to recharge the batteries for the stretch run.

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

While Southern Miss has some excellent offensive weapons they’d be hard-pressed to get into an all-out shootout with the Houston Cougars. These are two of four teams to score seventy points or more in a game last season, but for the year the Cougars were a far more potent unit, ranking second in the conference in total offense. The Golden Eagles ranked fourth, but their yardage average (433.5 yards per game) was more than one hundred yards less than the Cougars (562.8 ypg). Quarterbacks Case Keenum and Austin Davis will throw the ball to capable receivers, and backs Bryce Beall and Damion Fletcher are more than capable of stealing the headlines. Preview of the Conference USA title game? Possibly.

Other Games Considered: East Carolina @ Memphis (10/27), Marshall @ UCF (11/1)

Week 10: Virginia Tech @ East Carolina (November 5^th)

ECU overkill in regards to the non-conference games selected? Maybe, but look at who the Pirates are taking on this year and you know they won’t be accused of ducking anyone. Just like the West Virginia game this is a rematch of a game the Pirates won last season. ECU knocked off the Hokies, eventual ACC champions, in Charlotte thanks in large part to special teams. For all the talk about “Beamer Ball” it was an ECU blocked punt that was returned by T.J. Lee for the game-winning score.

The Hokies were outgained by more than one hundred yards, but to be fair this had as much to do with the bad decision (at the time, and it was corrected) to redshirt Tyrod Taylor. With Taylor on the field things could be different; at the very least he offers Virginia Tech another dimension they didn’t have in last year’s meeting.

Other Games Considered: Memphis @ Tennessee (11/7), UCF @ Texas (11/7), and Florida Atlantic @ UAB (11/7)

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

Just like the Southern Miss/Houston matchup on Halloween, these two could very well see each other the first Saturday in December as well. The Pirates beat Tulsa in last season’s conference title game 27-24, picking off David Johnson five times and forcing seven turnovers overall in the win at H.A. Chapman Stadium. With a new quarterback running things for Todd Graham and offensive coordinator Herb Hand, the Pirates will look to ratchet up the pressure in order to force some mistakes. Key number from the previous meeting: 199. As in the number of passing yards for Tulsa, who was third in C-USA in passing offense (301.9 ypg) last year. If the Golden Hurricane aren’t balanced on offense they can be slowed down.

Other Games Considered: Southern Miss @ Marshall (11/14), UAB @ Memphis (11/14)

Week 12: UAB @ East Carolina (November 21^st)

Yes, ECU again. But with the quota of three interdivisional games already reached, Southern Miss hosting Tulsa has to be watched from a distance. Two of the last three meetings in this series have gone down to the wire despite the rebuilding nature of the UAB program, including a Blazers win in 2006. The trend of the series has been a simple one: low-scoring games mean that UAB’s got a shot while the higher the scores go, so go the chances of a Blazer victory. Eleven starters return on offense for Neil Calloway’s team, so there may be enough weapons needed to steal a win in Greenville. However, it would be in the best interest of the Blazers to have their defense keep the Pirates under wraps.

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

Week 13: Southern Miss @ East Carolina (November 28^th)

The scheduling gods got this one right, matching the two favorites for the East Division crown on the final day of the regular season. However the Golden Eagles have won seven of the last eight meetings in the series, and they haven’t lost at ECU since 1994. If the division crown comes down to this meeting then the Golden Eagles have the historical advantage, and if Southern Miss stops the run again this year they’ll be well on their way to eight out of nine. The Pirates rushed for just sixty-six yards in last season’s 21-3 loss, and the game was sewn away thanks to two touchdowns within the first four minutes of the fourth quarter. A loss to Southern Miss didn’t cost ECU a trip to the title game in 2008; a loss this year due to the date on the calendar could keep them home this year.

Other Games Considered: Memphis @ Tulsa (11/27), UCF @ UAB (11/28)

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

The pick here is that Houston knocks off East Carolina thanks in large part to the arm of Case Keenum, clinching a trip to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in the process.

Conference USA Football Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:53:10 -0400

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

UAB: 2009 NIT

Joel Welser — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 04:58:09 -0400

UAB Blazers

Conference USA (22-11, 11-5)

NIT Seed: #7

RPI: 46

Big Wins: 11/18 at Arizona (72-71), 11/22 at Old Dominion (77-62), 1/21 UTEP (78-73)

Bad Losses: 12/6 at Cincinnati (80-87), 1/10 at Houston (56-75), 3/13 vs Tulsa (67-70)

Coach: Mike Davis

Probable Starters:

Paul Delaney III, Senior, Guard, 16.0 ppg, 3.5 apg, 2.1 spg

Channing Toney, Senior, Guard, 8.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg

Robert Vaden, Senior, Guard, 17.5 ppg, 2.1 apg, 5.0 rpg

Howard Crawford, Junior, Forward, 8.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg

Lawrence Kinnard, Senior, Forward, 14.2 ppg, 9.0 rpg

Key Roleplayers:

Aaron Johnson, Sophomore, Guard, 3.7 ppg, 3.6 apg

Cameron Moore, Freshman, Forward, 3.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg

Why They Can Surprise:

UAB’s success can be attributed to their experienced backcourt. And, of course, it all starts with Robert Vaden. The 6-5 wing is a prolific three-point shooter and averages 17.5 points per game. He will use his size to get to the basket and grab some rebounds and he will use his ball handling skills to find his teammates and dribble around slower defenders. Channing Toney is nowhere near as productive as Vaden, but he can put up quite a few points in a hurry.

The return of Paul Delaney III, who missed most of the 2007-2008 season with an injury, gives the Blazers another big time scoring threat. Delaney is also the point guard and dishes out 3.5 assists per game. Aaron Johnson took over the point guard duties last year when Delaney III went out and now he is a quality and experienced backup. However, Johnson has started quite a few games alongside of Delaney III this year and Coach Mike Davis has no problem putting both of his ballhandlers on the floor at the same time. That is why UAB commits just 11.4 turnovers per contest.

Why They Can Disappoint:

But if Coach Davis starts Johnson and moves Vaden to the four spot, there is virtually no backcourt depth to come in off the bench. The Blazers lost three perimeter players early in the season due to personal or academic issues. The depth up front is not much better and the Blazers have to stay out of foul trouble. Rebounding is the other big problem and outside of starting forward Lawrence Kinnard, there are not any great rebounders on the team. Vaden will do his fair share on the boards, but players like part-time starting forward Howard Crawford need to be tougher on the glass.

Who To Watch:

Kinnard does a lot more than just nab 9.0 rebounds per contest. He has developed into a great scorer who can bang in the paint or step outside and hit the three-pointer. His range does go out beyond the arc, but he only connects on 30.8 percent of his three-point attempts and he would be a more efficient shooter if he took a step or two closer to the basket. Kinnard is also a decent defender who does a great job of staying out of foul trouble. And on a team that has very little depth, it is important that UAB can keep a dynamic scoring threat like Kinnard on the floor.

By the Numbers:

Scoring Offense: 72.8 (91^st in nation, 5^th in conference)

Scoring Defense: 65.5 (111, 3)

Field-Goal Percentage: 46.1 (69, 1)

Field-Goal Defense: 42.5 (129, 5)

Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 6.7 (121, 4)

Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 33.5 (184, 6)

Free-Throw Percentage: 71.7 (79, 6)

Rebound Margin: 0.2 (178, 8)

Assists Per Game: 12.9 (173, 8)

Turnovers Per Game: 11.4 (11, 3)

Joel’s Bracket Says: Elite Eight loss to UNLV

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Conference USA Tournament: Preview & Odds

Evan Dorey — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:55:56 -0400

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%

+ NCAA Tournament

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Conference USA Tournament: Pairings/Schedule

Press Release — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 22:40:45 -0500

IRVING, Texas – Regular season champion Memphis will be the No. 1 seed at the 2009 Conference USA Men's Basketball Championship, March 11-14 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn. The Tigers, ranked No. 3 in the country, enter the conference tournament as the No.1 seed for the fourth year in a row, owning a record of 28-3 and the nation’s longest winning streak at 22 games.

As the top seed, Memphis will have a first-round bye at the tournament. Other teams receiving first-round byes include No. 2 Tulsa, No. 3 UAB and No. 4 UTEP. Wednesday's first-round match-ups feature: No. 7 Marshall vs. No. 10 Rice at Noon, No. 6 UCF vs. No. 11 Southern Miss at 2:30 p.m., No. 8 Tulane vs. No. 9 East Carolina at 6 p.m., and No. 5 Houston vs. No. 12 SMU at 8:30 p.m. CT.

In Thursday's quarterfinal round, No. 2 Tulsa will take on the winner of the Marshall-Rice game at Noon and No. 3 UAB will face the winner of the UCF-Southern Miss match-up beginning at 2:30 p.m. No. 1 seed Memphis will battle either Tulane or East Carolina at 6 p.m., while No. 4 seed UTEP will close out Thursday night against the winner of the Houston-SMU contest at 8:30 p.m.

The tournament will get underway on Wednesday when Marshall squares off with Rice at Noon. The Thundering Herd is led by senior guard Markel Humphrey, who is the only player in Marshall history to rank in the top 20 in scoring, rebounding and assists. Rice senior guard Rodney Foster is the team’s leading scorer and also ranks among the nation’s top free throw shooters. Marshall took the regular season meeting between the teams, 76-62, last Wednesday in Huntington, W. Va.

UCF and Southern Miss meet in the second game on Wednesday. The Knights are led by senior guard Jermaine Taylor, the conference’s leading scorer at 26.3 per game (third in the nation). He has established a Conference USA single-season record for points scored in league games and moved up to fourth on the league’s career scoring chart. The Golden Eagles feature guards Jeremy Wise, and Courtney Beasley, both of whom average more than 15 points per game. UCF won the only regular season meeting between the clubs, 73-61 in Orlando on Jan. 21.

Tulane and East Carolina will square off in the 8-9 game at 6 p.m. Wednesday. This will mark the third time in four years that the Green Wave will play in the 8-9 game. Junior G Kevin Sims is Tulane’s leading scorer and leading assist man for the third year in a row. ECU sophomore guard Brock Young ranks second in the nation in assists per game and is closing in on the C-USA regular season record for assists. The two squads split their regular season meetings, with each team winning on its home floor.

The final game on Wednesday is Houston against SMU at 8:30 p.m. CT. This will be a rematch of Saturday night’s contest, won by the Cougars, 89-77. Houston swept the regular season series and carries a seven-game winning streak against the Mustangs that dates back to Dec. 17, 2000. The Cougars are led by junior guard Aubrey Coleman, who ranks among the C-USA leaders in scoring. SMU is led by senior F Bamba Fall, who ranks second in the league in blocked shots and sixth in rebounding. The Mustangs will look to become the first No. 12 seed to win a C-USA tournament game since Southern Miss in 2003.

Memphis has won each of the last three tournaments and is 12-1 in its last 13 C-USA Championship games. The Tigers have won 58 consecutive games against Conference USA opponents (regular season and tournament). Tulsa is the No. 2 seed and the Golden Hurricane have won 20 or more games for the third consecutive season. UAB is the No. 3 seed and has topped the 20-win mark for the sixth time in seven seasons. UTEP earned an opening round bye for the first time in four years and needs one more victory for its first 20-win season since 2005-06.

All games will be played at FedExForum, the state-of-the-art arena in downtown Memphis, Tenn. Quarterfinal games will be shown on CSS, while CBS College Sports will televise the semifinals. CBS will broadcast the championship game, beginning at 10:35 a.m. (CDT). For ticket information, please visit ConferenceUSA.com, contact your local Conference USA school's ticket office, the FedExForum box office or Ticketmaster.

2009 C-USA Championship

FedExForum, Memphis, Tenn.

Wednesday, March 7

(7) Marshall vs. (10) Rice Noon

(6) UCF vs. (11) Southern Miss 2:30p

(8) Tulane vs. (9) East Carolina 6:00p

(5) Houston vs. (12) SMU 8:30p

Thursday, March 8

(2) Tulsa vs. Marshall/Rice (CSS) Noon

(3) UAB vs. UCF/Southern Miss (CSS) 2:30p

(1) Memphis vs. Tulane/East Carolina (CSS) 6:00p

(4) UTEP vs. Houston/SMU (CSS) 8:30p

Friday, March 9

*Semifinal # 1 (CBS College Sports) 3:00p

*Semifinal # 2 (CBS College Sports) 5:30p

Saturday, March 10

Championship (CBS) 10:35a

*highest remaining seed entering the semifinals will play at 3:00 p.m.

All Times Central

-ConferenceUSA.com-

UAB vs Memphis: GameNight

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:53:06 -0500

Start: Feb 26 2009 - 9:00pm

Editor's Early Preview

*Made on 02/06. Full preview by the GameNight staff coming soon!

Before the season, you penciled this in as a rare chance for Memphis to lose a league game. But the Tigers continue to improve, while UAB is simply a solid, but yet not great team. Memphis is the favorite.

Early Prediction: Memphis

Poll: College Basketball's Best 3-Point Shooter?

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 09:59:54 -0500

GameNight: Oklahoma vs UAB (NIT)

Evan Dorey — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:42:22 -0500

Start: Nov 26 2008 - 8:59pm

Preview & Prediction: By Evan Dorey

-- Evan Dorey's game previews & rankings are based on Elo Ratings. Elo Ratings are fairly simple, all teams are assigned an initial number of points, which is the same for all teams, eliminating preseason bias. Then, as the season progresses, when a team wins it gains points, and when it loses it drops points. The amount of points that are gained or lost depend on the level of the opponent (beating a cupcake gets you little, beating #1 will be a big increase), the scoring margin of the game (which is capped), and the game’s location. To take a look at Evan's College Basketball Elo Ratings, visit his website or blog where he discusses the rankings along with other statistical observations about big games and interesting teams.

One of the big matchups on tonight’s schedule is in the Preseason NIT, where Blake Griffin and #37 Oklahoma (4-0) meets #7 UAB (4-0).

The Blazers have put up a very strong run of road and neutral site wins, while the Sooners are making their first foray out of Norman. Each has also survived a couple of tight finishes, Oklahoma with Davidson and Gardner Webb, and UAB by edging Arizona and Santa Clara.

Despite the close games, Oklahoma looks like a very polished, solid unit already, as they have shown few large weaknesses thus far. One surprising area is defensive rebounding, where, despite Blake Griffin, they are merely average nationally. However, UAB is among the weakest offensive rebounders in the nation, so I expect this won’t cause the Sooners much of a problem. Oklahoma is also only average in forcing turnovers, not a good stat against a team with very strong ball control that coughed the ball up just 5 times against Arizona.

The Sooners also should be somewhat concerned about both their 3-point shooting and their shooting tendencies, as they are fairly poor three point shooters, and tend to take a lot of them. However, they make up for this on offense with everything else, as they dominate the paint, both in scoring and in rebounding, and get to the line enough to offset an average FT %.

UAB has some bigger holes that could cost them the game, especially in rebounding, as they lag behind in both offensive and defensive boards, and Blake Griffin will likely eat them alive. They also force few turnovers, so despite their own ball control, I’d expect a significant possession gap in favor of the Wildcats. The Blazers only chance to get the win will come from the perimeter, where their excellent three-point shooting could allow them to score over the Sooner defense, and their own strong defense behind the line could even further lower Oklahoma’s poor shooting.

There’s been a lot of talk about the inside force that is Blake Griffin, so I’ll briefly highlight his brother Taylor, who is an effective if not spectacular player in his own right. So far this season, the elder Griffin has been a very good shooter, and while we’d expect his 66.7 FG% to drop once the competition gets a little tougher, he provides a good second interior option. One of the strengths of his game so far has been getting to the free throw line, as his rate has significantly improved from prior seasons. Also, his percentage is a solid mid 70s, unlike his brother. He gets a handful of rebounds and blocks a game as well, and has a good defensive influence in general, if, again, not game-changing.

For UAB, the focus player has to be Robert Vaden. Vaden is an excellent 3-point shooter who lives and dies by the shot, typically a 40% shooter who takes half to two-thirds of his shots from behind the arc. His two-point percentage is no better than his three percentage, which is somewhat disappointing for a 6’5” player, but he has managed to come up with a solid 6 rebounds per game (more than Taylor Griffin), along with a couple of steals and assists a game. Vaden should try and get to the line more, he’s a good shooter, but has only been there 9 times through 4 games.

Oklahoma looks like they will dominate inside too much for UAB to handle, but whenever a team can shoot like the Blazers, there’s a chance.

Winner: Oklahoma Margin: 5-9

NIT Season Tip-Off Preview: OU, Davidson, Purdue, Arizona

Kevin McNeill — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:12:28 -0500

Usually, with all the hope and excitement that naturally accompanies the start of yet another great season, college basketball fans anxiously gather around their sets in November to take in all the...blowouts.

Whether you're awaiting Duke's season opener against the always dangerous Presbyterian College Blue Hose, or mighty UConn testing their mettle against the likes of Bryant and Delaware State, there doesn't seem to be much to look forward to in the very early season.

But there is. The early season tournaments are getting better and better, and this year's might be the best in a long while. So here's a preview of what's to come, and proof that November basketball might not be so bad after all.

2008 Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament (Regionals Nov 17-18, Semifinal and Final Nov 26 and 28)

Key Games (assuming no unexpected upsets in the first round):

Oklahoma vs. Davidson
Arizona vs. UAB / Santa Clara winner
Purdue vs. Georgia
Boston College vs. St. Johns / Cornell winner

Possible Semifinals:

Purdue vs. Boston College
Oklahoma vs. Arizona / UAB

Call this the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately tournament. Just about every participating team was a complete surprise last season...or a disappointment.

Arizona, ranked 17th in the preseason polls, ended up with a 19-15 record, a NCAA Tournament berth, and their very own reality show when it came to their head coach. First, Hall of Fame Coach Lute Olson took a leave of absence from the program just before the start of the season, catching the entire University by surprise. Turns out he was battling a particularly ugly divorce. He left assistant Kevin O'Neill in charge, going so far as to label him the "coach-in-waiting" for when the 74 year old legend decided to gracefully exit the stage, to try to create some semblance of stability.

Then things got interesting. After the Wildcats got off to a mediocre start, several credible reports claimed that Olson was holding private team meetings with the players, more or less to tell them that their "coach-in-waiting" couldn't coach. Olson all but confirmed his impression of O'Neill by refusing to let him have his old job back on the sideline as an assistant when he returned.

But hope was running high in Tucson. Chase Budinger decided to come back. Arizona received commitments from some of the top prospects in the nation to come to Tucson. Lute Olson said he was "excited" and energized to be coaching again (and getting married again). Then, just as practice was underway, Olson abruptly retired due to health reasons, once again throwing the program into disarray right before the start of the season.

Three of Olson's top recruits immediately de-committed. Assistant coach Mike Dunlap turned down the top job because he didn't want the "interim" label, so the school went instead with assistant coach Russ Pennell. The best part? Before joining Olson's staff, Pennell was an assistant coach for the hated, arch-rival Sun Devils for eight years, and actually provided color commentary for the Arizona State University radio network last season.

Suffice it to say, this tournament will be more than just a challenge for the Wildcats.

Davidson and Purdue were both unranked in the preseason polls, with Purdue not even picked to contend in the Big 10, yet ended the season in the Top 25 (Top 10 for Davidson). As a result, both enter the current season on everyone's radar. For Davidson, they have to manage simply unheard of expectations for them following their Elite Eight run and the surprise return of Stephen Curry. Big 10 Coach of the Year Matt Painter has a loaded team coming back, led by Robbie Hummel, and fans are looking for a breakout year from JaJuan Johnson.

Oklahoma is coming off a 20 win season, but a 30-point thrashing to Louisville in the NCAA Tournament still lingers. However, the unexpected decision by Blake Griffin to turn down NBA lottery riches to return to Oklahoma, in addition to the fanfare surrounding incoming freshman Willie Warren, has created a buzz not felt in Norman since their Final Four season seven years ago. With virtually the entire Kansas national championship team now playing in the NBA, the Sooners are the favorites to win the Big 12 regular season and tournament titles, something they haven't done in 20 years, when the conference was still called the Big 8.

Georgia won the SEC tournament, right after losing 11 out of their last 13 games, and finishing with a 4-12 conference record. To win that automatic bid, all the Bulldogs had to do was beat Ole Miss on a banked buzzer-beater in overtime, and then go on to beat Kentucky and the SEC West's #1 seed Mississippi State on the same day, thanks to a tornado ripping apart the Georgia Dome and sending the tournament to Alexander Coliseum at Georgia Tech. They then beat Arkansas in the final with what seemed to be a formality at that point. With Dave Bliss and Sundiata Gaines gone, this figures to be another long season for the Bulldogs. But hey, there's always the SEC Tournament.

UAB is coming off a disappointing loss in the second round of the NIT, after watching their bubble burst on Selection Sunday. The Blazers are looking for redemption, and a ticket back to the NCAA Tournament, but all that depends on Robert Vaden. He needs to be able to continue his school-record setting ways while staying clear of trouble off the court. Whether or not C-USA is once again a one-bid conference could depend on it.

Boston College posted a 14-17 record last season, and the last time we saw them they were nipped by Clemson in the ACC Tournament 82-48. Yet, with four sophomores returning, the arrival of freshman guard Reggie Jackson, and more importantly, all-everything senior Tyrese Rice, team expectations are focused squarely on a winning ACC record.

An Oklahoma - Purdue title game would obviously be the most anticipated matchup of the NIT, but it will be especially interesting to see whether the much-hyped Warren can hold his own against Curry and the speedy Wildcats should the Sooners face Davidson in the earlier game.