Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt vs Murray St: Odds & Prediction

Shawn Siegel — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:30:13 -0400

Start: Mar 18 2010 - 2:30pm

Team Previews: #4 Vanderbilt -- #13 Murray St

Vegas Odds: Vanderbilt by 2.5 -- Bet at bodog

Why Murray St will win:

The fact this is only a 2.5 point spread for a 13-4 game, shows the respect people have for the Racers and their 30-4 record. In their lone foray into BCS basketball, the Racers lost by just 5 points at Cal way back in November. With 6 players that score between 9.5 and 11.6 ppg, this team can beat you in a lot of different ways.

Racer to Watch:

BJ Jenkins, G - 11 ppg, 3 rpg, 3 apg

While Isaiah Canaan is Murray's best 3-point shooter, Jenkins is a very streaky shooter who can either light it up or go cold. When he gets going, Murray St becomes an extremely tough out.

Why Vanderbilt will win:

Vandy earned a 4 seed by beating the likes of Saint Mary's & Missouri early and Tennessee twice in SEC play. With the likes of AJ Ogilvy, Jeffery Taylor, and John Jenkins on the roster, Vandy has legit pro prospects and ultimately talent wins out.

Commodore Watch:

Jeffery Taylor, G/F - 13 ppg, 5 rpg, 2 apg

Taylor finished the season in a bit of a slide, scoring only 7.5 ppg in their last 4 games. In comparison, he averaged 18.5 ppg in the 4 key wins I mentioned above. While Ogilvy and Beal tend to show up for every game, Taylor needs to bring his A game.

How it will go down:

In a pool that rewards bonus points for upsets, Murray St is definitely a smart pick. However, I still like Vandy here. Taylor is due for a better game, and Ogilvy is still capable of being a difference maker. MSU's big Tony Easley is a good defender, but not great on O, which should help Ogilvy stay out of foul trouble.

Betting Pick: Vanderbilt (this is a pretty fair line, so I wouldn't go crazy here.)

Real Pick: Vanderbilt

SEC in the NCAAs: UK Will Carry the Banner

Jason Brubaker — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:22:19 -0400

Last year, every team in the SEC had plenty of time to watch the Sweet 16 from their couches, as not a single team advanced past the first weekend, confirming what everyone knew all along...the SEC just flat out wasn't good last year.

But things should be different this year, with Kentucky entering the tournament as one of the favorites to win it all, and Tennessee and Vanderbilt in position to advance as well. Even with Mississippi State being left out of the field, the SEC should be able to hold their head a little higher this year. Here's a look at each of teams' tourney predictions.

Kentucky (32-2, 14-2 SEC)

#1- East (vs. East Tennessee State)

Will advance if: The freshmen keep their composure. PG John Wall has been incredibly clutch all season, and Eric Bledsoe stepped up during the SEC Tournament. If DeMarcus Cousins keeps his emotions in check, he can team with Patrick Patterson to form the best front court in the nation. No team boasts as much overall talent as the Cats, and talent wins games in March.

Will go home if: The outside shots aren't falling. The Cats have gone through cold shooting stretches this year, and against a team like Wisconsin or Temple, defensive teams who slow the pace and make you maximize your possessions, the Cats' shooting woes could haunt them. The lack of experience will also be interesting to watch. Can a team with three freshmen in the starting lineup handle the pressure?

Prediction: The Cats' thrilling ride to the SEC Tournament title may have answered some questions about how this young team would react in a one-and-done environment. The Cats have unmatched athleticism in the back court, terrific size in the front court, quality players off the bench, and a swagger that belies their youth. Everything is set up for them to make a deep run, and with at least three players likely headed to the NBA after this season, they should play with a sense of urgency. Expect some tight games along the way, but in the end, the Cats simply have too much talent to go home early, and they should cut down the nets this year.

Vanderbilt (24-8, 12-4 SEC)

#4 – West (vs. Murray State)

Will advance if: AJ Ogilvy gets involved. In the Commodores eight losses, he's averaged 9.2 points per game and 4.6 rebounds per game. In their 24 wins, he's averaged 14.8 points and 6.8 rebounds. The 'Dores have balanced scoring with Jermaine Beal, Jeffrey Taylor and John Jenkins averaging double-figures as well, but they need Ogilvy to be a scoring threat in the post if they want to win.

Will go home if: They don't score. Sounds simple right? Well, in six of their eight losses, they failed to reach 70 points, and four times, they failed to even reach 60. When Vandy's offense stalls, they tend to force the issue and abandon their system, leading to rushed shots and transition chances for the opponent. Foul trouble up front has also doomed them at times this year, and if Ogilvy goes out, they could be in trouble.

Prediction: The Commodores should knock off Murray State in the first round, setting up an intriguing match-up in the second round with either Butler or UTEP. Vandy has the talent to beat both teams, but would probably rather see Butler, who lacks the inside presence of Derrick Caracter and UTEP. If they get past this game however, they're likely to match up with top-seeded Syracuse, who probably has too much overall talent for them. Look for Vandy to make it to the Sweet 16, but it would be a surprise to see them advance further than that.

Tennessee (25-8, 11-5 SEC)

#6 – Midwest (vs. San Diego State)

Will advance if: They decide to play. This is a Vols team that has wins over Kansas and Kentucky, yet also lost by 22 to USC, by 19 to Vanderbilt, by 15 to Georgia and by 29 to Kentucky just two weeks after beating them. The Vols have a ton of talent, but don't always play with the intensity they need to. Seniors Wayne Chism, JP Prince and Bobby Maze need to step up to ensure the Vols come ready to play every night.

Will go home if: They lose their focus. Tennessee is an emotional team, and when things don't go their way, they've ended up on the wrong side of some blowouts. Against UK in the SEC Tournament, a tense game against a heated rival turned into a rout when the Vols lost their composure and began trash-talking. How will they handle adversity in the tournament, where emotions are at an all-time high for both teams?

Prediction: The Vols are a scary pick in March. They have the talent to make a run to the Sweet 16, possibly even the Elite 8, if they play to their potential. Scotty Hopson is a special talent on the wings when he is aggressive, and they have a lot of veteran players who can lead them. Unfortunately, that hasn't always happened this year. They should win their first game, but a second-round game against a hot Georgetown team could spell doom for them. The Vols certainly have the ability to knock off the Hoyas, and possibly even Ohio State in the next round, but it's hard to put a lot of stock into them, not knowing if they'll be focused and ready to play each night. Look for them to be home watching the Sweet 16.

Florida (21-12, 9-7 SEC)

#10 – West (vs. BYU)

Will advance if: Vernon Macklin is aggressive. Even at his best, Macklin won't make anyone forget Wilt Chamberlain, but the Gators are 14-4 when he scores in double figures, and just 7-8 when he doesn't. A scoring Macklin gives the Gators an inside presence to balance out the perimeter scoring of Erving Walker, Chandler Parsons and Kenny Boynton, and allows Alex Tyus to play a little further from the basket.

Will go home if: They don't defend. The Gators shoot only 31% from three-point land, and have struggled to score for long stretches this season. They're a very good defensive team, but a few lapses combined with their offensive ineptitude could send them packing early. They've ridden their defense all year, and they need to continue to do so if they want to advance.

Prediction: The Gators struggled down the stretch, losing four of their last five, and some felt they shouldn't even have received a berth. They have a number of close losses this year, and although they play hard, they probably just don't have enough talent to expect a long stay in the dance. They'll need to shut down Jimmer Fredette if they have any chance of knocking off the Cougars, and even then, they'll need to play better on the offensive end than they have for much of the season. If they were to get by BYU, they don't have the horses to run with Kansas State in the second round. Look for the Gators' stay in the Big Dance to be a short one.

Vanderbilt 2010 NCAA Tournament Preview

Joel Welser — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 11:16:55 -0400

Vanderbilt Commodores

Southeastern Conference (24-8, 12-4)

Big Wins: 11/20 at St. Mary’s (72-70), 1/27 at Tennessee (85-76), 2/9 Tennessee (90-71)

Bad Losses: 11/23 vs Cincinnati (58-67), 12/8 at Illinois (68-79), 12/11 vs Western Kentucky (69-76)

Last NCAA Appearance: 2008, First Round loss to Siena

Coach: Kevin Stallings (6-5 in 5 NCAA appearances)

Why They Can Surprise:

Vanderbilt’s success should not be as surprising as it has been. They have a great big man in A.J. Ogilvy and a couple superb shooters. That is a lethal combination. Ogilvy’s numbers have been a little disappointing during his senior campaign, but he is still a great interior scorer and a fine rebounder. At 6-11 and 250 pounds the Australian is a menace on the defensive end as well. While Ogilvy garners plenty of attention on the other end of the floor, it frees up Jermaine Beal and John Jenkins on the perimeter.

Beal hits nearly 38 percent of his attempts from long range, but the senior is about a lot more than just his shooting. The steady floor leader is a great ballhandler and does a superb job of attacking the basket and creating opportunities for himself or his teammates. Jenkins is pretty much a pure shooter, but that is fine since he knocks down an impressive 47.9 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc. The opposition has to make a choice to either stop Ogilvy or stop the shooters and usually there is no right decision.

Why They Can Disappoint:

Jenkins usually comes in off the bench and the guards next to Beal are quality players, but Brad Tinsley and Jeffery Taylor lead the team in turnovers and that has been a problem. Coach Kevin Stallings does not mind his team running up and down the floor and turnovers will come from that, but with a player like Ogilvy on the team it is never a bad thing to slow down and get your big man a touch in the half-court offense. Tinsley is a fine defender and usually a good passer and Taylor is an explosive athlete who can finish around the basket and score in bunches, but both of them are underclassmen who will make some mistakes. The other concern is rebounding. Vanderbilt should be much better on the glass with Ogilvy leading the way. Bench players like Festus Ezeli and Steve Tchiengang have to do a better job on the glass if the Commodores hope to make a nice tournament run.

Who To Watch:

It is yet another sophomore, Andre Walker, who starts beside Ogilvy. While Walker is still coming into his own as a scorer, he is the strongest rebounder on the team besides Ogilvy. Walker’s superb athleticism and versatility make him a dangerous threat to do just about anything. He is a solid defender who can block some shots and is a great passer for a 6-7 forward. Vanderbilt does not need him to score with so many other options, but he will do everything else his team needs him to do to win.

Probable Starters:

Jermaine Beal, Senior, Guard, 14.7 ppg, 3.2 apg

John Jenkins, Freshman, Guard, 10.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg

Jeffery Taylor, Sophomore, Guard, 13.4 ppg, 1.7 apg, 5.2 rpg

Andre Walker, Sophomore, Forward, 6.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg

A.J. Ogilvy, Junior, Center, 13.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.5 bpg

Key Roleplayers:

Festus Ezeli, Sophomore, Center, 3.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.4 bpg

Lance Goulbourne, Sophomore, Forward, 3.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg

Steve Tchiengang, Sophomore, Forward, 3.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg

Brad Tinsley, Sophomore, Guard, 7.0 ppg, 2.9 apg

By the Numbers:

Scoring Offense: 78.1 (25^th in nation, 3^rd in conference)

Scoring Defense: 69.3 (196, 8)

Field-Goal Percentage: 47.5 (25, 2)

Field-Goal Defense: 41.2 (75, 5)

Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 6.1 (171, 6)

Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 36.1 (88, 2)

Free-Throw Percentage: 72.7 (49, 1)

Rebound Margin: 0.3 (181, 9)

Assists Per Game: 13.2 (157, 8)

Turnovers Per Game: 13.8 (178, 10)

Follow Joel Welser's Postseason Capsules & College Basketball Previews on Twitter @Joel_Welser and on his Facebook page. Joel will be back in June for his annual Top 144 Teams in 144 Days preview on CollegeHoops.net

+ NCAA Basketball Tournament

• 2010 NCAA Tournament Coverage

• NCAA Tournament Capsules

• NIT Capsules

• NCAA Tournament Schedule

• Venue Info & Tickets

• Bracketology

Poll: Who Will Win the SEC Tournament?

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:22:19 -0500

College Hoops Saturday Recap: Commodores Hand One Over

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 02:59:10 -0500

The BracketBusters Saturday recap can be found here.

It wasn't the prettiest game and the rising emotions on the floor likely had something to do with it. But when the game between Kentucky and Vanderbilt came down to crunch time it was the younger squad that made the winning plays in a hostile environment. A John Wall free throw (he'd made two prior to give them a 57-53 lead) gave the Wildcats the 58-56 win but this was more about the Commodores missing valuable opportunities to put the game away. DeMarcus Cousins led all scorers with 19 points while Wall and Patrick Patterson (13 rebounds) added 13 points apiece in leading Kentucky to a win that likely sews up the SEC title.

Vanderbilt, who went into the game leading the SEC in free throws attempted, took 25 foul shots yet did themselves in by stubbornly firing away from behind the arc when shots weren't falling. The Commodores, who were led by Jeffrey Taylor's 17 points, made just two of twenty shots from behind the arc and also turned the ball over fifteen times. The worst transgression: Jermaine Beal passing up a drive to the basket to kick the ball out to John Jenkins, whose three-pointer was blocked by Wall to preserve a one-point lead (57-56) with three seconds left in the game. The national Player of the Year candidate made the second of two free throws to extend the lead and when A.J. Ogilvy's (3-8 FG, 9 points) floater missed the Wildcats extended their lead in the SEC East to two games with four to go.

"This is the type of win that I love," remarked John Calipari. "We were able to grind it out. Everyone knows that we like to play fast, but we don't force our will on the opponent. When it comes to tournament time, you have to be able to play different styles and we did that tonight (quote courtesy of UK Athletics)."

It was a significant test for Kentucky, one that more than a few did not expect them to pass. But in completing the week 2-0 with a couple of tough wins in hostile environments the Wildcats were able to show off some of the mettle needed to cut down the nets in April. You're not going to be dominant every night; some games you'll simply have to win by making a play or two late and Kentucky got the job done.

Three Key Happenings

1. Florida wins in Oxford, boosting their Tournament hopes while crushing those of Ole Miss. In a game that both teams needed in order to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive the Gators made the crucial plays late to win 64-61. The loss represents two missed chances at resume wins for the Rebels (lost to Vanderbilt on Thursday) and with both games being at Tad Smith Coliseum it wouldn't be a stretch to say that they're in dire straits now. Vernon Macklin led all scorers with 22 points while also grabbing seven rebounds while Terrance Henry scored seventeen off the bench to pace the Rebels.

The problem for Ole Miss, as it's been for much of the season, was shot selection. Not so much who's shooting (of course you want Chris Warren and Terrico White with the ball) but the fact that they take so many contested perimeter shots. As a result Florida essentially won the game from the foul line, outscoring the Rebels by sixteen points (25-27 to 9-11) and that's a margin that's virtually unheard of in favor of a visiting team. The win keeps Florida in the at-large conversation at a time when many teams are doing more to eliminate themselves from consideration, and that's the least you can ask for this time of the year.

2. Oklahoma State picks up an important win over Baylor. James Anderson (31 points, 12 rebounds) and Keiton Page (22 points) led the way as the Pokes may have punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament with an 82-75 win over Baylor in Stillwater. Travis Ford's Cowboys begin a four-game stretch against ranked opponents, providing ample opportunities for them to not only play themselves into the Big Dance but also improve their seeding along the way. Tweety Carter led the Bears with 25 points but he needed twenty shots to do so while LaceDarius Dunn made just five of seventeen from the field.

Anderson and Page both made five of eight from behind the arc and for the game Oklahoma State hit fourteen of twenty-five on the afternoon. Baylor wasn't too shabby themselves in making twelve of twenty-two, but when your overall field goal percentage is 38.8% you're going to have a tough time winning on the road (doing the math, Baylor shot 31.1% (14-45) from two). But this was more about Oklahoma State picking up a win they needed if they're to get back to the NCAA Tournament. Left over in the four-game stretch are road games against Texas and Texas A&M with the home contest being against...Kansas.

3. Cliff Tucker's three gives Maryland the win over Georgia Tech. How often do you see a team hit a game-winning shot yet have it nullified by a timeout...and then they come back and hit a shot to win the game? That's exactly what happened at the Comcast Center as Maryland beat Georgia Tech 76-74 to strengthen their NCAA Tournament argument. After a Derrick Favors (21 points, 18 rebounds) putback gave the Yellow Jackets a 74-73 lead with just over two seconds remaining Greivis Vasquez made the charge up the floor, banking in a three pointer. But the shot didn't count because Maryland called a timeout before the release, allowing Gary Williams the opportunity to draw up a final play. Coach Williams drew up a play that looked eerily similar to the one that Georgia Tech used in the 1992 NCAA Tournament to beat USC (James Forrest), and when Cliff Tucker's three fell the crowd went wild.

Vasquez, in leading the Terps with 18 points, became the first player in ACC history to account for at least 2,000 points, 700 assists and 600 rebounds. Yet for all that the senior from Venezuela has accomplished in his four years even he recognized how important Tucker's shot was. "Every win we got, we got it as a team. This is nothing about me; our team has done a great job, being positive. Praise Cliff. He made that big shot for us and won the game (quote courtesy of Maryland Athletics)." Maryland moves closer to locking up a first-round bye in the ACC Tournament and likely locked up an NCAA berth in the process.

Top Three Games

1. Maryland 76, Georgia Tech 74 See above.

2. Kentucky 58, Vanderbilt 56 See above.

3. New Mexico 59, Air Force 56 The Lobos survived an upset bid from the Falcons that if completed would have supplanted Penn's win over Cornell as the biggest surprise of the season. Darington Hobson's (17 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast) putback with 16.9 seconds remaining gave UNM the lead for good, keeping them in a tie for first place in the Mountain West. Grant Parker led the Falcons with 17 points.

Three Notable Performances

1. G James Anderson (Oklahoma St) 31 points, 12 rebounds and four assists in the Cowboys' 82-75 win over Baylor.

2. G Kyle Ohman (Liberty) Ohman scored 39 points and grabbed ten rebounds in the Flames' 76-67 win over High Point.

3. F Derrick Favors (Georgia Tech) Favors went for 21 points and 18 rebounds in the Yellow Jackets' 76-74 loss at Maryland.

College Hoops Saturday: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 23:33:30 -0500

Saturday BracketBusters preview can be found here

The need to add one more resume-building win isn't limited to the teams taking part in the ESPNU BracketBusters event; there are plenty of games around the country that could either punch someone's ticket to the NCAA Tournament or let them know that watching the Selection Show won't be necessary. Florida and Ole Miss meet in Oxford with the winner adding a decent win to their resume while the loser is most likely done barring a run in the SEC Tournament. The Rebels took one swing at a crucial road win on Thursday night and missed, falling to Vanderbilt. Beating the Gators won't make the same waves but a split would look better than a devastating 0-2 week. Chris Warren and Terrico White have the ability to light up the scoreboard but the same goes for Florida's Erving Walker and Chandler Parsons. The team that takes better care of the basketball and makes a few stops late will win this one.

Tulsa also has an opportunity to bulk up their credentials with first-place UTEP visiting; after looking like a solid bet to place multiple teams in the NCAA Tournament in January Conference USA needs someone to step up late if they're to get multiple bids. The matchup of Jerome Jordan and Derrick Caracter will likely attract pro scouts but the play of Ben Uzoh (both offensively and possibly guarding Randy Culpepper) may be the factor that determines the outcome. And UAB hosts a dangerous Houston squad on Saturday night. The Cougars may not care much for the defensive end of the floor but in Aubrey Coleman they've got one of the most explosive guards in the country. And in the Big Ten Purdue hosts Illinois; should Demetri McCamey and company pull off the upset in West Lafayette not only would they hang on in the league race but they'd also lock up a 5th bid for the league.

The best game on the schedule is Kentucky visiting Vanderbilt. The Wildcats controlled the flow of the game in Lexington, neutralizing A.J. Ogilvy inside on their way to a comfortable win. But with Ogilvy coming off of his best game of the season (27 points, eight rebounds in the win at Ole Miss) the Commodores should give the Wildcats a better game at Memorial Gym. And don't underestimate the advantage that Vandy could enjoy playing at home; with the benches on the baselines it's something that visiting players could need a little time to adjust to if they've never played there. Jermaine Beal and Jeffrey Taylor will also need to be productive if Vandy is to win a game that wouldn't be considered an upset. It will be vitally important that John Wall and Eric Bledsoe take care of the basketball in this one.

TV GAMES

Noon CBS Florida at Ole Miss
Noon CBS North Carolina at Boston College
Noon ESPN Seton Hall at West Virginia
Noon BEN-HD/SNY/CST/BHS St. John's at USF
2p ESPN Texas at Texas Tech
2p ESPNU Louisville at DePaul
2p CBS-College Navy at Army
3p FSN Stanford at Oregon St
3:30p MTN Air Force at New Mexico
4p ESPN Illinois at Purdue
4p CBS-College UTEP at Tulsa
6p ESPN Kentucky at Vanderbilt
6p ESPNU Kansas State at Oklahoma
6p BTN Penn State at Michigan
6p MTN BYU at Wyoming
7p FSN-SEC Arkansas at Auburn
8p BTN Indiana at Minnesota
9p ESPN UCLA at Washington
9p MTN Utah at San Diego St

OTHER GAMES

Noon Temple at St. Joseph's (at The Palestra)
1:30p Baylor at Oklahoma St
2p Xavier at Charlotte
4p Connecticut at Rutgers
5p USC at Washington St
6p Colorado St at UNLV
7p Quinnipiac at Robert Morris
8p Houston at UAB
8:05p Western Kentucky at Arkansas St
8:30p Florida Atlantic at Troy

ONE PREDICTION

Vanderbilt over Kentucky: No, this pick isn't being made because of the "idea" that the Wildcats are "due" to lose one of their two road games this week. The pick is Vanderbilt because A.J. Ogilvy will play better than he did in the first meeting and stay out of foul trouble. Also, playing at Memorial Gym can be an unusual experience for anyone regardless of how many times you've played there in your career. Commodores get baskets from Ogilvy and Jermaine Beal late to win by four.

SEC Tournament Watch: Who Will Be Dancing?

Jason Brubaker — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:19:32 -0500

Valentine’s Day for many people involves an intimate dinner, flowers, perhaps some candy, maybe even a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride through the snow. But for college basketball fans – it means that teams have one month left to earn their dance cards. One more month of proving their worth against conference opponents, trying to build momentum as they enter March.

With the conference season halfway done, the SEC is in decidedly better shape than last year, when Cupid arrived and saw a mess of bubble teams that had no shot of reaching the second weekend. This year, as many as six teams could find themselves dancing, although as always, there’s still a lot that can happen.

Here’s the breakdown right now.

Tournament Locks:

Kentucky: 23-1 (8-1 SEC)

RPI: 6

Strength of Schedule: 51

Key wins: Vanderbilt, at Florida, Mississippi

Bad losses: None

Big games remaining: Tennessee, at Mississippi State at Vanderbilt, at Tennessee

The Cats have hovered in the top five all year, and should be in contention for a top seed come March. Despite some inconsistent efforts and youthful mistakes, they’ve simply been able to overwhelm people with their talent all year. Their non-conference schedule doesn’t look great, especially with North Carolina, Louisville and UConn struggling, but if they continue to win like they have, it won’t matter. With three tough road games left, it’s not unconceivable that the Cats could stumble once more, but barring a major surprise, they should be quite pleased on Selection Sunday.

Tennessee: 18-5. (6-3 SEC)

RPI: 19

Strength of Schedule: 38

Key wins: Kansas, Mississippi

Bad losses: at USC, at Georgia

Big games remaining: at Kentucky, at Florida, Kentucky, at Mississippi State

The Vols have responded better than many thought after the dismissal of star Tyler Smith, but they still have work to do to improve their seed. Since losing Smith, the Vols have knocked off Kansas, but also have dropped a pair of games to Vandy, and struggled to win against Florida and LSU. They still have a pair of games left with Kentucky, and winning one of those would be huge for their resume. Right now, the Vols look to be around a 5-seed, but they could go a couple spots in either direction depending on how strong they finish the season.

Vanderbilt: 18-5 (7-2 SEC)

RPI: 18

Strength of Schedule: 24

Key wins: Tennessee (2), Florida, Missouri

Bad losses: Western Kentucky, at Georgia

Big games remaining: at Mississippi, Kentucky, at Florida

The Commodores are a team to keep an eye on in March. They have veteran leadership, a balanced attack, and are playing well as of late, having won nine of 11 since the calendar flipped to 2010. If they’re able to score an upset of Kentucky in a huge home game on Feb. 20, they could find themselves as high as a three-seed in the NCAA. Right now, they’re probably in 5-seed range along with Tennessee, but they’re certainly capable of climbing higher. Look for Vandy to be a tough out this year in the NCAA Tourney.

Probably Dancing:

Mississippi: 17-6 (5-4 SEC)

RPI: 39

Strength of Schedule: 52

Key wins: at Kansas State

Bad losses: None

Big games remaining: at Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Florida

The Rebels are in good position to make the tournament, but they may need to find another signature win somewhere. They don’t have any terrible losses, with four of their six losses coming to teams ranked in the top 15, and the early season win over Kansas State continues to look better. However, the Rebels need a strong finish to avoid being on bubble watch. If they’re able to get to 10 conference wins, and make a good showing in the SEC Tournament, they’ll likely find themselves in the 8-9 seed range. Knocking off Vanderbilt would be a huge boost for their resume.

On the Bubble:

Florida: 17-7 (6-4 SEC)

RPI: 50

Strength of Schedule: 70

Key wins: Michigan State, Florida State

Bad losses: South Alabama

Big games remaining: at Mississippi, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, at Kentucky

The Gators have been rolling lately, having won six of their last seven heading into a showdown with South Carolina on Wednesday. They don’t always win pretty, and have relied on some late-game heroics more than once, but regardless, they’re still sitting in a good position heading into March. They have two great non-conference wins, and even the loss to Richmond doesn’t look as awful as it did at the time. However, they’re still searching for a big SEC win to add to their resume. If they’re able to hold home court against Tennessee and Vanderbilt, as well as knock off Auburn and Georgia, 10 conference wins should get them into the tournament. They’re certainly not a sure thing, but they’re on the right track.

Mississippi State: 16-7 (4-4 SEC)

RPI: 71

Strength of Schedule: 126

Key wins: Mississippi

Bad losses: Rider, Western Kentucky

Big games remaining: Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee

The Bulldogs have plenty of work to do if they want to dance into March. The good news for them is that they’ll have plenty of chances, starting with a showdown against Ole Miss on Thursday. The Bulldogs also have homes dates with Kentucky and Tennessee, and they’ll probably need both to make their resume more tournament-worthy. Rick Stansbury’s club has some nice pieces, but they haven’t seemed to find a rhythm in conference play, having lost four of their last five. It’s not too late to make a run, but for a team that entered the season with expectations of a deep run through March, they’ve been largely disappointing so far.

On the Outside But Have a Chance:

South Carolina: 14-9 (5-4 SEC)

In all likelihood, the Gamecocks will need to win the SEC Tournament to earn a bid, but don’t count them out. Devan Downey is making a run at SEC Player of the Year, and he’s shown the ability to carry the team through long stretches. Another win over Kentucky certainly wouldn’t hurt, but overall, they still probably need to win out to even think about the bubble.

Arkansas: 13-11 (6-3 SEC)

Like South Carolina, the Hogs probably have too much work left to do to count on an at-large bid, and will need to run the SEC Tournament to get in. However, with Courtney Fortson back, the Hogs are a dangerous team, and they’re playing their best ball of the season right now. They may not win it, but look for the Hogs to at least put a scare into someone during the SEC Tournament.

There’s always next year:

Georgia 10-12 (2-7 SEC)

They may be the best 10-win team in the country, but at the end of the day, they’re still a 10-win team. The Dawgs have some good pieces, but just don’t have enough to compete this year.

Alabama 13-11 (3-7 SEC)

Like Georgia, the Tide can’t be faulted for their effort, but they just don’t simply have enough talent. On the bright side, spring football practice is only a couple months away.

Auburn: 12-12 (3-6 SEC)

The Tigers have attempted close to 600 three-pointers this year. When you’re shooting them at 32 percent, that’s not a recipe for success.

LSU 9-15 (0-10 SEC)

Nothing much to say here. The Tigers just simply aren’t a good team. Help may be on the way next year, but unfortunately, they have to finish this season first.

College Hoops Tuesday: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 02:07:03 -0500

Injuries can be the great equalizer in sports, turning a race that looks to be all but over into a contested sprint to the finish line. Michigan State can attest to that, with point guard Kalin Lucas (ankle) going down against Wisconsin and being unable to play at Illinois in a second consecutive loss on Saturday night. Tuesday's matchup is in East Lansing but none easier, especially if Lucas is unable to go. Matt Painter's Purdue Boilermakers suddenly find themselves with a chance to move to 8-3 in Big Ten play while handing the Spartans their third conference loss, which would mean that four teams (Illinois visits Wisconsin) would end the night with three losses.

Purdue's won five straight, most recently squeaking out a three-point decision at rival Indiana, and their depth's received a boost in the form of point guard Lewis Jackson returning from injury. With Jackson out (he's played just under 14 minutes per game in three games) the Boilers lacked a true point guard to initiate their offense. And as he rounds into form a team that features the versatile Robbie Hummel and big man JaJuan Johnson becomes that much better. Add a defensive star in Chris Kramer (who likely will draw Lucas should the All-American play) and youngsters gaining experience and you've got a team that still should be considered as a Final Four possibility.

Michigan State will need consistent games from Chris Allen and Durrell Summers on Tuesday if they're to take care of Purdue with out without Lucas. Keep an eye on the rebounding numbers; if Purdue can't keep Draymond Green and company off the boards while also keeping Johnson out of foul trouble it's going to be a long night for the visitors. Also of importance in the Big Ten is Illinois' trip to Madison; despite beating Michigan State Bruce Weber's team could use a big road victory (Clemson's diminishing the value of that comeback by the game) on their resume. Vanderbilt hosts Tennessee in the first of two huge games for the Volunteers (at Kentucky on Saturday) and a pair of bubble hopefuls currently on the outside looking in get together in Norman (Texas Tech and Oklahoma).

TV GAMES

7p ESPN Tennessee at Vanderbilt
7p ESPN2 Georgetown at Providence
7p ESPNU Virginia Commonwealth at George Mason
7p BTN Illinois at Wisconsin
9p ESPN Purdue at Michigan State
9p ESPNU Alabama at Kentucky
10p MTN Colorado St at Air Force

OTHER GAMES

7p Vermont at Boston University
7p Akron at Central Michigan
8p Texas Tech at Oklahoma

ONE PREDICTION

Michigan State over Purdue: Definitely a risky pick should Lucas not be able to go or be limited in his return. But it's tough to pick Tom Izzo's team to lose three straight games. This is a tough group who will be able to feed off of the Izzone's energy in holding off the Boilermakers.

College Hoops Wednesday Recap: Vanderbilt Wins in Knoxville

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:29:35 -0500

Before recapping Wedneday's happenings I just wanted to relay a very good idea from College Hoops Journal's Matt Norlander, who is also a contributor to Yahoo's "The Dagger" college basketball blog. In response to the SEC fining South Carolina $25,000 for their fans storming the floor following Tuesday's win over Kentucky, he suggested that the school donate the money to relief efforts in Haiti. I second this.

Despite going into their game at Tennessee with a nine-game win streak there were some who questioned just how good the Vanderbilt Commodores were and with good reason. Of those nine wins none were over RPI Top 50 (according to statsheet.com) teams and Florida was the highest-ranked victim (ranked 59th). And with just three of those wins coming over RPI Top 100 teams they needed a win on Wednesday night to further validate their season. And they did just that, beating the Volunteers 85-76 in Knoxville behind 25 points from point guard Jermaine Beal.

"Beal was special. Part of our success against Vanderbilt in the past was that we had got the better of him," remarked Tennessee head coach Bruce Pearl after the game. "Everybody talks about A.J. Ogilvy, and whether he's a factor, but, in my mind, Beal has always been the guy that has made the team go" (quote courtesy of VUCommodores.com).

Vanderbilt finished with five players in double figures and shot 50.9% from the field, finishing with an efficiency rating of 118.1 (Tennessee opponents before Wednesday averaged an efficiency of 89.8). J.P. Prince led the Volunteers with 22 points on 9-for-10 shooting and Bobby Maze added 12 points and seven assists but they simply couldn't string together stops down the stretch. On a night that saw A.J. Ogilvy struggle with foul trouble and Jeffrey Taylor make just three of seven shots it was Beal who led the way for the Commodores.

Overall this is a veteran team that's now 5-0 in SEC play heading into their game at Kentucky on Saturday, a trait that should mean success as the season progresses. Can Vanderbilt be a second weekend team in the NCAA Tournament? It's definitely possible, and Wednesday's game provided one more reason (their offensive efficiency) why.

Three Key Happenings

1. UConn fails to show up for the second half at Providence. For those wondering when the letdown of not having head coach Jim Calhoun on the sidelines would come, you got a rather emphatic answer at the Dunkin' Donuts Center as Providence whipped the Huskies 81-66. Despite making 46.7% of their shots and leading by as many as ten points UConn went into the locker room at the half down by one (36-35) and it was all downhill from there. Jamine "Greedy" Peterson led the Friars with 23 points and 14 rebounds while PC also received further confirmation that Vincent Council is their point guard (allowing Sharaud Curry to do more off the ball) in the form of eight points, eight assists and seven rebounds. And that's coming from a guy who head coach Keno Davis said in last week's Big East teleconference that Council "has exceeded our expectations of being ready to contribute."

As for the Huskies, they made just 31.3% of their shots in the second half and Jerome Dyson followed up his 32-point showing in the win over Texas with a virtual disappearing act after a hot start to the game. He made just three of fourteen field goal attempts and the big three of Dyson, Stanley Robinson and Kemba Walker combined to make sixteen of their forty-two field goal attempts (38.1%). And when you lack any other scorers outside of Gavin Edwards (17 points off the bench) you're going to struggle when faced with a team boasting a variety of scoring options. Marshon Brooks and Duke Mondy combined to score nineteen points off the bench for the Friars and Bilal Dixon added 11 points and 12 rebounds inside. The overwhelming theme from Providence: despite Saturday's big win all isn't right with the Huskies and it takes more than one game to figure it out.

2. New Mexico picks up their fourth win over a ranked team this season. Darington Hobson gets the bulk of the attention when teams prepare to face Steve Alford's Lobos. But there was a different hero in New Mexico's 76-72 win over #10 BYU with Dairese Gary scoring a team-high 25 points. On Gary's performance, BYU head coach Dave Rose stated that "he was a great finisher, terrific free-throw shooter, and he was obviously a huge factor for them tonight" (quote courtesy of GoLobos.com). Both teams made 38.1% of their shots from the field, with the difference being New Mexico's plus-6 (47-41) rebounding margin and their plus-5 margin from the foul line (points).

Jimmer Fredette led the Cougars with 27 points and seven assists but made just eight of twenty-one field goal attempts, and Jonathan Tavernari scored seventeen off the bench. But when starters Chris Miles, Jackson Emery and Tyler Haws combine to shoot 6-for-21 (28.6%) from the field you're going to have trouble on the road. For the Lobos, Hobson had a brutal night from the field himself, making just one of eleven but he didn't allow his shooting to seep into other areas of his game. He grabbed a game-high fourteen rebounds and handed out four assists in the win but this was Gary's night. Now just a game behind BYU in the loss column, the Lobos picked up another win over a ranked team and put themselves back into the Mountain West title conversation.

3. Charlotte adds some intrigue to the Atlantic 10 race. Derrio Green led the 49ers to the 74-64 win over #15 Temple with 26 points and five assists, moving Charlotte into a tie for first place in the Atlantic 10 (with Temple). The Owls attempted more than half of their field goals from behind the arc, and while scoring 33 points from distance (11-for-35) isn't terrible when you shoot just 38.7% (12-for-31) from inside the arc that combination can get you into trouble. Charlotte did a better job of finding decent looks, finishing the game with an offensive efficiency of 112.1 to Temple's 97.0 (courtesy of statsheet.com).

Temple grabbed seventeen offensive rebounds yet finished just a plus-2 (40-38) in rebounding margin and with Juan Fernandez hitting just one field goal on five shot attempts, Fran Dunphy's team was going to have a tough time getting out of Halton Arena with a win (they shot 25% from three in the second half as well). The 49ers were rewarded for their refusal to settle for perimeter shots, attempting thirty-one free throws to the Owls' eleven and outscoring Temple by seventeen (24-7) from the charity stripe. Almost a forgotten entity nationally in regards to at-large hopes for the likes of Dayton, Rhode Island, Temple and Xavier, the 49ers are a serious challenger in the A-10. At the least they should be considered an at-large possibility over the Flyers right now.

Top Three Games

1. New Mexico 76, BYU 72 See above.

2. Colgate 69, Holy Cross 68 A Yaw Gyawu jumper with 2.9 seconds remaining gave the Raiders the one-point win in Hamilton. Gyawu (17 points) and Kyle Roemer (18 points) led the way as Colgate ended their four-game losing streak. Mike Cavataio led the Crusaders with 12 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.

3. Memphis 75, Marshall 72 A pair of Roburt Sallie free throws with 6.2 seconds remaining sealed the Tigers' victory at Marshall. Shaquille Thomas had the chance to give the Thundering Herd the lead but missed a pair of free throws, setting up Sallie. Elliot Williams led the Tigers with 24 points while freshman Hassan Whiteside paced Marshall with 22 points, eight rebounds and seven blocks.

Three Notable Performances

1. G Tommy Mason-Griffin (Oklahoma) The freshman went off on Wednesday night, scoring 38 points and dishing out six assists in the Sooners' 89-84 win over Iowa State.

2. F Jamine "Greedy" Peterson (Providence) If you haven't seen Greedy play this season this man is a highlight waiting to happen. In the Friars' 81-66 win over Connecticut Peterson scored 23 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.

3. F Hassan Whiteside (Marshall) This freshman hasn't received the level of attention that some others have received when it comes to possible first round picks. Whiteside scored 22 points while adding eight rebounds and seven blocks in the Thundering Herd's 75-72 loss to Memphis.

College Hoops Wednesday: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:11:28 -0500

An in-state rivalry will be one of the top matchups on Wednesday night with Vanderbilt heading east to take on Tennessee in Knoxville. Thanks to South Carolina knocking off Kentucky the Commodores lead the SEC East with a 4-0 league record but they could have some company after Wednesday night. Kevin Stallings' team has won nine straight but this will be their toughest challenge by far, especially considering their tendency to struggle away from Memorial Gym in big games. Jermaine Beal and Jeffrey Taylor lead the way for Vandy, who is the SEC's most efficient offense (according to statsheet.com) by a wide margin.

Tennessee, in regards to efficiency and points per possession, is the SEC's best defensive team thanks to their full-court pressure. But they struggled against a Georgia squad on Saturday that did a good job of finding open looks (and more importantly making them) in taking care of the Volunteers in Athens. Big man Wayne Chism hurt his knee (sprained knee, may play) early in Saturday's game and wasn't the same the rest of the way, scoring just six points while the Volunteers struggled from the field. He and Scotty Hopson are the two primary scoring options for Tennessee, who will have to knock down the good looks they get in order to beat Vanderbilt especially if Chism can't go.

As for other games on the schedule, George Blaney will lead Connecticut into the Dunkin' Donuts Center to take on a Providence team that should be more than ready to go given their blowing a late lead to lose to USF in overtime. Can the Huskies avoid a letdown on the road? And Marshall has a chance to make a statement in regards to the progress of their program with Memphis visiting Huntington. The Tigers aren't as good as they've been in years past but given their history of success in Conference USA this is an enormous opportunity for Hassan Whiteside and company, who can also use a "name" win to bolster their resume. BYU visits a New Mexico squad hoping to remain a part of the Mountain West race and Duke hosts a Florida State team in need of another "resume-building" victory.

TV GAMES

6:30p BTN Illinois at Penn St
7p ESPN Notre Dame at Villanova
7p ESPNU Vanderbilt at Tennessee
7:30p ESPN2 Texas A&M at Oklahoma State
8p CBS-College Memphis at Marshall
8p MTN TCU at Colorado St
8:30p BTN Ohio St at Iowa
9p ESPN Florida State at Duke
9p ESPNU Texas Tech at Texas
10p MTN BYU at New Mexico

OTHER GAMES

7p Connecticut at Providence
7p Temple at Charlotte
7p Drexel at Northeastern
7p Georgia at Florida
7p Campbell at East Tennessee St
7:05p Illinois St at Wichita St
7:30p Boston University at Maine

ONE PREDICTION

Vanderbilt over Tennessee: Despite their struggles in recent years away from Memorial Gym this could be the year in which Vandy gets the job done in a "big game" of that variety. With Chism likely playing at less than 100% look for A.J. Ogilvy to have a solid performance in leading the Commodores to the win in Knoxville.