UTEP

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

Poll: Who Will Win Conference USA?

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:28:34 -0400

Wednesday-Friday Football Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:38:02 -0400

Wednesday: Tulsa (4-2, 2-0 Conference USA) @ UTEP (2-4, 1-1), 8 PM on ESPN

While the Golden Hurricane have been a consistent team for much of the season, the same can't be said for their opponents and that could make this an interesting challenge. UTEP picked up their best win in years a couple of weeks ago in their 58-41 beating of Houston, and how did they back that up? With a surprising loss to a bad Memphis team the following week. Despite the explosion of QB Trevor Vittatoe and RB Donald Buckram in the win over the Cougars this is still a mediocre offense that can't be expected to consistently bail out a defense that's among the worst in college football. Mike Price's team is also last in C-USA in penalty yards per game and 11th in number of penalties to this point in the year.

If UTEP isn't disciplined in both their infractions and assignments they'll be in serious trouble against the likes of QB G.J. Kinne and WR Damaris Johnson. Tulsa is among the best in the country offensively, and they are also atop a few of the major defensive statistical categories. That will prove to be too much for the Miners on this night; Tulsa takes care of business on the road.

Thursday: Florida State (2-4, 0-3 ACC) @ North Carolina (4-2, 0-2), 8 PM on ESPN

Opposites attract in Chapel Hill in a game that will feature a pair of assistants under siege from fans. Florida State's defense has been the issue, with a group that defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews toutesd before the season as the fastest he'd seen at the school ranking dead last in the ACC in total defense. This group is painfully young, a fact that has lent itself to missed assignments and big plays for opposing offenses.

And while the offense is ranked the best in the conference in terms of yards per game they've been inconsistent, struggling with turnovers and periods of stagnant play. If both sides of the football can become more consistent there's still a chance that they get back into the ACC Atlantic race. North Carolina has dealt with far different issues themselves and fans aren't too happy with offensive coordinator John Shoop as a result.

Noth Carolina's defense, led by LB Bruce Carter and DT Marvin Austin, leads the ACC in total defense and could have a big night pressuring Florida State's Christian Ponder. The offense, on the other hand, is dead last in total offense. People knew there would be a dropoff of some sort with receivers Hakeem Nicks, Brooks Foster and Brandon Tate all moving on.

But injuries on the offensive line as well as at tight end and running back have also played a role in this, so it may not be completely fair to place the blame on Shoop's playcalling. Look for T.J. Yates to be more consistent on Thursday night, and a good evening from backs Ryan Houston and Shaun Draughn should equal a Tar Heel victory.

Friday: Rutgers (4-2, 0-2 Big East) @ Army (3-4), 8 PM on ESPN2

Despite the appearance on paper the Scarlet Knights will be in for quite a test on Friday night when they travel to West Point. Army ranks 12th nationally in rushing offense and Rich Ellerson's double-eagle flex defensive scheme (which he helped create at Arizona) has been a success thus far. It will provide a challenge for QB Tom Savage in that very few schools use that scheme, and if successful it feeds off of heavy pressure of the quarterback.

Can the Rutgers defense neutralize Army's rushing attack? It's definitely possible, but the Rutgers defense and viewers alike will need a little time to get used to Army's primary receiver. Ali Villanueva, who last year was an offensive lineman, cuts an imposing figure on the outside at 6'10", 260 lbs. and while they're the worst team in the FBS at throwing the ball a player like Villanueva has to be accounted for. But the pick here is Rutgers and look for a big game from freshman WR Mohamed Sanu, who is rapidly developing into one of the better receiving threats in the Big East.

UTEP Basketball Preview: #80

Joel Welser — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:42:47 -0400

Overall Rank: #80

Conference Rank: #3 Conference USA

2008-09: 23-14, 10-6

2008-09 postseason: CBI

Coach: Tony Barbee (56-45 at UTEP, 56-45 overall)

On a national level Stefon Jackson never got the credit he deserved. Jackson ended the 2008-2009 campaign averaging 24.5 points per game and as Conference USA’s all-time leading scorer. Replacing him will take more than one player, but Jackson was surrounded by a relatively young team and the future looks very bright.

Key Losses: C Kareem Cooper, G Jason Jones, G Stefan Jackson, F Tavaris Watts

Key Newcomers:

The most important newcomers, and what makes this team a legitimate contender in the conference, are all transfers. Derrick Caracter is more famous for his shortcomings at Louisville than anything else, but he can be a great player if Coach Tony Barbee can get the best out of him. Christian Polk, a transfer from Arizona State, had a great freshman campaign for the Sun Devils and will provide the Miners with another quality outside shooter. Jeremy Williams, a power forward, and Myron Strong, a point guard, are both junior college transfers who have enough experience to at least be capable bench players. The lone incoming freshman is Marcus Ruppel, who will likely have to spend the year learning the ropes from the more experienced players.

Backcourt:

Replacing Jackson’s scoring will be the biggest issue for the perimeter, but Randy Culpepper is back and ready to help out. Culpepper averaged 17.5 points per game last year and is a prolific outside shooter. The 6-0 junior started getting more aggressive going to the basket last year as well and that turned him into a dynamic scoring threat. Gabriel McCulley and Jason Jones are both experienced wings who earned a handful of starts last season. It is likely that Polk will secure the starting job on the wing opposite of Culpepper, but McCulley can hit the glass effectively and Jones will do a little bit of everything.

Frontcourt:

Kareem Cooper left the program after 21 games last year and Tavaris Watts only played in 24 games, so the Miners are used to playing without those two. In their absence Arnett Moultrie emerged as the team’s go-to-guy under the basket. As a freshman he tallied 8.8 points and a team high 8.2 rebounds per contest. With a year of experience under his belt, Moultrie is ready to turn into a superstar. He is a 6-11 power forward who can step outside and hit the three-pointer and that makes him impossible to defend. He will either back down smaller opponents or shoot over them. Moultrie can only play at the four spot if Claude Britten and Wayne Portalatin can manage most of the minutes at the five. However, they only need to hold down that job until Caracter is eligible in December.

Who to Watch:

Jackson and Culpepper got all the headlines while UTEP was heading to the CBI Finals, but it is Julyan Stone who really makes this team tick. Last year he dished out 6.4 assists per game and only turned the ball over 2.2 times. At 6-6, Stone can see over most players and find open teammates that other ball handlers would not even be able to see. He is not much of a scorer, but on a team that has plenty of scoring options, he does not need to even think about scoring all that often.

Final Projection:

This team might be a year away from great things, especially considering that they do not have a senior on the roster, but this year could be better than last. They will not be on par with Memphis, but the Miners could find themselves in second place in C-USA and possibly on the bubble if the non-conference portion of their season goes well. Even if they fail to reach the NCAA Tournament, this group should take a step up from last year and go to the NIT.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NIT

Projected Starting Five:

Julyan Stone, Junior, Guard, 5.6 points per game

Randy Culpepper, Junior, Guard, 17.5 points per game

Christian Polk, Junior, Guard, DNP last season

Arnett Moultrie, Sophomore, Forward, 8.8 points per game

Claude Britten, Junior, Center, 4.3 points per game

College Basketball Preview - 144 Teams in 144 Days - Preview Interviews

The Ultimate Schedule: Conference USA West Division

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 22:43:23 -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: Buffalo @ UTEP (September 5^th)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Week 4: Bye Week (September 26^th)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Conference USA Football Preview

Raphielle Johnson — 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

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%

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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-

Mid-Major Player of the Week: Stefon Jackson

Joey Whelan — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 11:39:52 -0500

Player of the Week

Stefon Jackson – UTEP

3 Games: 28 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2 apg

Stefon Jackson has been one of the better kept secrets in college basketball to the casual fan for the last couple of years, but the senior from Philadelphia just keeps trucking along and posting big point totals night in and night out. The two-guard can get to the rim with the best of them and had an equally as dangerous mid-range game. As far as his pro chances are concerned, scouts will like to see that Jackson’s three-point and free throw shooting numbers have both taken a step up this season.

Finalists

Lester Hudson – Tennessee-Martin

2 Games: 24.5 ppg, 5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 2.5 spg

Hudson makes a second appearance on our list as a finalist after putting together probably his most efficient week of the season. The senior shot 60% from the field and connected on 7-13 shot attempts from beyond the arc. As a whole, the senior’s numbers have taken a slight dip this season as teams focus on him more defensively, but he is still going to get his points each time out.

Dionte Christmas – Temple

vs. Kansas: 21 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 50% 3P FG

He may have only played one game this week, but Christmas followed up his phenomenal performance against Tennessee with another strong showing against the reigning national champions. It’s no secret that the shooting guard likes to fire away from the outside but Christmas takes it to a new level, going 0-2 from inside the arc and 6-12 from beyond it.

Diamon Simpson – Saint Mary’s

3 Games: 12.3 ppg, 15 rpg, 1 apg

Patrick Mills may get the majority of the attention, but Simpson can play too. The undersized post man has been on a tear lately, posting a pair of games this past week of at least 15 points and 15 rebounds, including a 16 and 18 game against Oregon. In all, the senior has recorded four double-doubles and six double digit rebound games this season.

Worth Noting

Garrison Carr – American

Vs. UMBC: 34 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 10-18 FG, 8-15 3P FG

After getting off to a slow start, one of the most dangerous perimeter shooters in the country last season found his stroke this past week. Carr went off against the Retrievers, lighting it up from beyond the arc in a warm up before American takes on the Maryland Terrapins.

- All non-BCS players are eligible for CollegeHoops.net's Mid-Major Player of the Week.

Mid-Major Player of the Week: Ahmad Nivins

Joey Whelan — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:03:49 -0500

As a companion to CHN's National Player of the Week, we will be presenting a Mid-Major Player of the Week as well this season. All non-BCS players are eligible for this award. In the case that the National POY is a non-BCS player, they will be repeated here as well.

Ahmad Nivins - Saint Joseph's

3 Games: 16 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 3 bpg

Sure there are plenty of guys that had better stat lines this week, but no one did it against stiffer competition than the Hawks big man in the middle. A double-double against a potential Final Four team in Texas and a strong 16 and 8 showing against a talented Alabama team in the Maui Invitational were enough to give Nivins the honors for this week. Yes, he beat up on an outmanned Indiana squad in his second game, but you can't deny the performances in his other two games. Don't be shocked to see Nivins pop up on this list several more times this year.

Just Missed Out

Josh Akognon - Cal State Fullerton

3 Games: 24.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2 apg

The Anaheim Classic turned out to be some entertaining basketball thanks in large part to the play of the undersized Akognon. He lit up stiff competition by dropping 24 points on both Wake Forest and Saint Mary's, then finished off the weekend with 26 against Charlotte. We knew the California native could score in bunches, and while he was a little trigger happy from the perimeter this week, he proved he could do it against big name programs.

Josh Heytvelt - Gonzaga

3 Games: 15 ppg, 6 rpg, 1.7 bpg

The Bulldogs announced themselves as a legitimate Final Four contender by winning the Old Spice Classic, and Heytvelt announced his return as a strong presence inside. He started slow in the tournament opener with Oklahoma State, but rebounded nicely for two fine showings versus Maryland and Tennessee. With the balanced scoring attack the ‘Zags have it is doubtful that the senior will put up huge numbers on a regular basis, but when Heytvelt is on his game, 15 and 6 should be the norm.

Stefon Jackson - UTEP

3 Games: 20.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.3 apg, 2 spg

Highlighted by a brilliant performance against Wake Forest, Jackson may have had the best showing from anyone at the Anaheim Classic, and with the cast of characters present this weekend, that's saying something. The senior torched the Demon Deacons for 31 points, hitting 13 of his 14 attempts from the free throw line. His 17 and 10 showing against Saint Mary's shouldn't be overlooked either.

Worth Noting

A.J. Slaughter - Western Kentucky

His numbers for the week aren't anything to write home about, but any time a player scores 25 points and grabs 9 rebounds in helping his team upset a top five opponent, that is worth some ink. So with that in mind, kudos to Slaughter and the Hilltoppers for pulling the major upset over then #3 Lousiville yesterday.