Northern Colorado

Jon Teitel's "Coaching Greats" Series: Northern Colorado's George Sage

Jon Teitel — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:36:17 -0700

In the latest installment in his "Coaching Greats" interview series CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with former Northern Colorado head coach Dr. George Sage. In five seasons in Greeley Dr. Sage went 95-36 and led the Bears to four conference titles. Dr. Sage also played baseball and basketball at UNC, with one of his achievements being a win in the 1955 College World Series over USC.

Jon Teitel: You played basketball and baseball at UNC (including a 6-hitter in a 2-1 win over USC in the 1955 College World Series). Which sport did you enjoy more, and which one were you better at?

Dr. George Sage: I was better at baseball but I liked them both in their separate seasons. I liked having the ability to play both and learn from some great coaches. In my four seasons on the diamond we went to the College World Series three times.

JT: Why did you decide to go into coaching, and what did it mean to you to become coach at your alma mater?

GS: I grew up in north Denver (which was considered a working-class area), and all the kids played sports. Some of my friends wanted to join the Army after high school so I decided to join them. I played baseball and basketball at Fort Jackson before getting shipped out to Korea. I just wanted to continue with basketball and figured that coaching would be a good way to do so.

JT: You won four league titles in six years as basketball coach at UNC. How were you able to have so much success in such a short period of time?

GS: I started out coaching in Chandler, AZ and then moved to UCLA to get a graduate degree. I got put in the same office as one of John Wooden's assistants. I became head coach at Pomona for four years, but after the UNC coach retired they contacted me and I moved to Greeley, CO.

JT: What are your memories of the 1964 Division II Tournament (you lost to Southeast Missouri St. by four and then gave up 116 points to Lamar)?

GS: It was the first national tourney UNC had ever played in, so it was a big deal back on campus. I just remember that there was so much excitement.

JT: What are your memories of the 1966 Division II Tournament (you lost to North Dakota)?

GS: To get there we had to fly through Minneapolis. It was snowing very hard and as soon as we got into Minneapolis they closed the airport, so we had to sleep over and then take a train the next day. Phil Jackson was an All-American for North Dakota and quite a force. What is embedded in the memory of all of our players is that our center outplayed Jackson even though we lost. Our center was an expert at the mechanics of offense and defense even though he was not as skilled as Jackson.

JT: In 1967 your team set a school scoring record in a 130-106 win over Colorado Mines. How were you able to score so many points that night, and do you think anyone will ever break that record?

GS: The main reason it was that high a score is because Colorado Mines was a good fast-break team.

JT: One of your players was future coach Don Meyer. What was he like as a player, and what do you think made him such a great coach after his playing days were over?

GS: He was a freshman during my first year, and also happened to be an All-American baseball player. He loved baseball but knew he could not make it to the major leagues. From his very 1st year he kept inquiring as to why I made certain decisions because he was intent on learning how to be a coach. He was like a coach for us out on the floor. When we would call a timeout he would come into the huddle and mention a key thing that would turn out to be exactly what we needed to do. He was very much on top of strategy, tactics, etc. He did not want to coach high school basketball, just college basketball. He asked if he could coach our freshman team while getting his masters degree, so I told him he could do that. I suggested he try something called "sponsored mobility", where you played and coached for a high-profile coach who would sponsor you to go coach elsewhere. He wanted to go to UCLA but I knew that Wooden would not take graduate assistants. I called Jack Gardner at UT to see if he would help out Meyer, and Meyer said he would get another masters degree if he could work for Gardner.

JT: You wrote a book called "Power and Ideology in American Sport". What was it about, and why are sports so important in our society?

GS: I had always been interested in social sciences. After six years at UNC I had a young family and like the school a lot. In order to give my family some security I figured that I had to either become a Division I coach or get another degree. I was co-author of another book called "Sociology of North American Sport" that is going into its ninth edition.

JT: UNC has a "Dr. George Sage Scholar Athlete Award" that is given to the graduating male senior athlete with the highest GPA. What does it mean to you to have an award named after you, and what importance do you place on academics?

GS: It is quite an honor. When I was an undergraduate we had a coach who died from cancer, and my senior year I won the award that was named after him. They later stopped giving out the award but about a decade ago our athletic director decided to re-institute the award and name it after me. It is one of the most humbling things that has ever happened to me and one of the things I am the proudest of.

JT: When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most?

GS: It is the same thing that I have told my two sons, three grandsons and one granddaughter: you know your last name is Sage, but it is just an acronym. It stands for "Set A Good Example". I just hope people think that I set a good example for my players.

Dr. Sage is also on my list of best coaches in Big Sky history.

Eastern Washington: WB "Red" Reese (1930-1942, 1945-1964) 473-298, 12 conference titles
Idaho State: Jim Killingsworth (1971-1977) 163-109, 2 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, 2-time conference COY
Montana: Blaine Taylor (1991-1998) 141-66, 2 NCAA tourneys, 2 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
Montana State: G Ott Romney (1922-1928) 144-31, 5 conference titles
Northern Arizona: Mike Adras (1999-present) 177-149, 1 NCAA tourney, 2 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
Northern Colorado: George Sage (1963-1969) 95-36, 4 conference titles
Portland State: Ken Edwards (1972-1978) 94-63
Sacramento State: Jerome Jenkins (2000-2008) 80-147
Weber State: Neil McCarthy (1974-1985) 205-105, 4 NCAA tourneys, 5 conference titles, 3-time conference COY

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

Raphielle Johnson — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 15:13:10 -0700

The final region is the West, which is where Connecticut began their run to the national title. While some of the departures in this region will steal the majority of the ink there are a number of teams who should feel good about their prospects in 2011-12. Below is a quick breakdown of each of the 16 teams.

(1) Duke: lost to Arizona in the Sweet 16
The Blue Devils were able to win 32 games in a season that saw their most talented player (Kyrie Irving) play in just 11 games, and they had senior guard Nolan Smith to thank for that. Smith took his game to another level in Irving's absence and the Blue Devils were good enough to earn a one seed without the freshman phenom. But after two wins in Charlotte they ran into a buzz saw in the second half of the Sweet 16, getting blown out by an Arizona team that many may have underestimated going into the tournament. The good news for Mike Krzyzewski and his staff is that they've got one of the best recruiting classes coming in with Quinn Cook and Austin Rivers the heir apparent in the backcourt for Irving and Smith. As for replacing Kyle Singler keep an eye on freshman small forward Mike Gbinije, the lone member of the four-player class to not be named a McDonald's All-American. 2011-12 is a big year for Mason Plumlee, arguably the one member of the frontcourt with the ability to become a lottery pick at the next level.

(2) San Diego State: lost to Connecticut in the Sweet 16
Steve Fisher's Aztecs put together the best season in school history, winning 34 games and losing to no team other than BYU before the Sweet 16 loss to UConn. But 2011-12 is setting up to be a serious rebuilding year for SDSU, with key seniors Brian Carlwell, D.J. Gay, Malcolm Thomas and Billy White all moving on. There's also the matter of what Kawhi Leonard may decide to do, and he's got quite the dilemma with a number of draft websites projecting him to be a first round pick (if not lottery). Should Leonard not return to school the keys to the Aztecs go to the likes of James Rahon and Chase Tapley not to mention Jamaal Franklin, who saw his playing time increase late in the season. Incoming recruits Deshawn Stephens and Kevin Young will likely be expected to contribute right away, but all signs point towards SDSU having a tough road back to the Big Dance in front of them.

(3) Connecticut: National Champions
Jim Calhoun's Huskies pulled off what many thought impossible, winning five games in five days to win the Big East Championship then moving on to claim the national title three weeks later. Guard Kemba Walker was the player of the month in all of college basketball, and with his number already added to the school's Ring of Honor and graduation on May 8th it's extremely difficult to expect the projected lottery pick to return. Seniors Donnell Beverly and Charles Okwandu move on as well, but there's a lot of talent remaining in Storrs for another run next season. Jeremy Lamb, Shabazz Napier, Alex Oriakhi and Roscoe Smith should all be back, and other contributors (Jamal Coombs-McDaniel, Niels Giffey and Tyler Olander being three) will have the chance to increase their production as well. Add in the electric guard Ryan Boatright and the Huskies will be pretty good in 2011-12.

(4) Texas: lost to Arizona in the third round
At one point this season Rick Barnes' team looked like a serious threat to win a national title, only to falter down the stretch and end up with a four-seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Longhorns managed to beat Oakland in the second round but late-game issues (and a quick 5-second count) did them in against Arizona. Jordan Hamilton and Tristan Thompson, two likely lottery picks, both announced that they're returning to the 40 Acres next season and the move makes Texas an early favorite in the Big 12 as well as nationally. Dogus Balbay and Gary Johnson are the major personnel losses for Texas, and the addition of one of the nation's best recruiting classes led by point guard Myck Kabongo and shooting guard Shedon McClellan should more than make up for the losses. Texas' talent won't be questioned, but that doesn't make up for late-game and strategic issues. Solve those and Texas could wind up in New Orleans.

(5) Arizona: lost to Connecticut in the Elite Eight
Year two under Sean Miller paid major dividends for Arizona, as they won 30 games, a Pac-10 regular season title and finished one shot away from the Final Four. Arizona had just one senior (Jamelle Horne) this season but how highly they're ranked next season hinges on the decision of power forward Derrick Williams. Williams was one of the best players in America all season but may have been done in by the national reputation of the Pac-10 when it came to the All-America teams. But even if the California native chooses to go pro the Wildcats will be one of the contenders in the Pac-12 (Colorado and Utah join in July), with guards Kyle Fogg and MoMo Jones in addition to wings Solomon Hill and Kevin Parrom all due back. Add in a recruiting class led by a pair of Oakland Soldiers (Nick Johnson and Josiah Turner) and it could be a very good year in Tucson. The most important newcomers, if Williams were to leave, become forwards Angelo Chol and Sidiki Johnson.

(6) Cincinnati: lost to Connecticut in the third round
After an undefeated run through their non-conference schedule and a solid beginning to Big East play Mick Cronin's Bearcats hit a rough patch heading into the month of February. But they turned things around, ultimately beating Missouri before falling to fellow Big East member and eventual national champ Connecticut in the third round. Cronin eventually received a six-year extension and while the Bearcats do have to replace six seniors (including Rashad Bishop, Larry Davis, Dion Dixon and Ibrahima Thomas) this is a team whose best play may come in 2011-12. Yancy Gates finished the season very well, and guards Sean Kilpatrick and Cashmere Wright had solid campaigns as well. The returning group in addition to a recruiting class led by Jermaine Sanders and Shaquille Thomas should mean another NCAA Tournament for Cincinnati.

(7) Temple: lost to San Diego State in the third round
Fran Dunphy's Owls finally picked up that elusive NCAA Tournament victory, beating Penn State before giving San Diego State all they wanted in the third round. And considering the injuries in the frontcourt 26 wins was a very good output for this group, but Temple will have to figure out a way to account for the graduation of Lavoy Allen next season. The perimeter could end up being the best in the Atlantic 10 next season with Juan Fernandez, Ramone Moore and Khalif Wyatt all returning and a solid freshman in Will Cummings joining the program. Up front Micheal Eric will need to build upon the progress he showed before getting hurt, and wings Rahlir Jefferson and Ramone Moore will both be called upon as well. Look for Temple to be one of the favorites in the A-10 and make a return trip to the Big Dance.

(8) Michigan: lost to Duke in the third round
John Beilein's Wolverines were a bit nervous on Selection Sunday but given their seed there wasn't much to worry about in Ann Arbor. Michigan blew out Tennessee in the second half of their matchup and if not for some issues down the stretch could have knocked off Duke for a trip to the Sweet 16. The good news for Michigan going into 2011-12: there wasn't one senior on the roster, meaning that everyone expected back will return. The hope is that Darius Morris returns as well, a possible the becomes more likely should he not hear what he wants from NBA executives. Morris, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jordan Morgan are three solid pieces to build around and with seven players playing at least 14 minutes per game the Wolverines will have a number of players with experience returning. Add in two very good perimeter recruits in Carlton Brundidge and Trey Burke, and tournament appearances may go back to being routine in Ann Arbor.

(9) Tennessee: lost on Michigan in the second round
There were questions about the direction of the Tennessee program leading up to their NCAA Tournament game, with AD Mike Hamilton being a little too forward in his comments about the future of head coach Bruce Pearl days before the contest. That all led to the Volunteers getting blown out, and while Michigan played well in the second half it didn't take a rocket science to see that the Vols did not bring it from an effort standpoint. Pearl was fired and in comes Cuonzo Martin, who led Missouri State to their first-ever MVC regular season title this season. Martin has heavy roster turnover to deal with as well, most notably the decisions of Tobias Harris (likely first round) and Scotty Hopson (projected second round) to turn pro. The most important job for Martin will be to shore up the roster, with Cameron Tatum being the returning leading scorer should Harris and Hopson remain in the draft. There's a strong possibility that the Volunteers are nowhere near the bubble come Selection Sunday in 2012.

(10) Penn State: lost to Temple in the second round
Ed DeChellis' Nittany Lions made things happen at just the right time, getting all the way to the Big Ten Tournament title game before falling to Ohio State. That earned them their first NCAA Tournament appearance in a decade, where they lost to Temple in the final seconds. Now comes a major rebuilding job with Talor Battle, Jeff Brooks, David Jackson and Andrew Jones all graduating. Guard Tim Frazier will be the leading returning scorer, and the heavy losses underline the bigger impact of the Taran Buie suspension (he likely won't be back next year). Jermaine Marshall, Billy Oliver and Cammeron Woodyard will have the opportunity to earn minutes next season, as will four incoming recruits (led by wing Ross Travis, point guard Trey Lewis and center Pat Ackerman). Look for 2011-12 to be a tough season in Happy Valley.

(11) Missouri: lost to Cincinnati in the second round
The Tigers ended up with an 11-seed due to their Big 12 road woes, and things may become even tougher next season with Colorado and Nebraska leaving the league (Missouri didn't beat either of those teams on the road either). Add in Mike Anderson moving on to take the job at Arkansas and it could be a tough season for new head coach Frank Haith. The good news for Haith, whose hiring has been panned by many, is that the majority of this year's team will be back. Marcus Denmon, Michael Dixon Jr. and Phil Pressey return while Laurence Bowers and Kim English have declared for the NBA Draft. Neither of those two have hired an agent and there's a strong likelihood they'll be back in Columbia as well. Add in forward Ricardo Ratliffe and Mizzou should be an NCAA Tournament team in 2011-12. How far they go will ultimately depend on the improvement shown in the rebounding department.

(12) Memphis: lost to Arizona in the second round
Josh Pastner's squad went through its fair share of growing pains, something that wasn't a total shock given the overall inexperience on the floor. The Tigers were able to get going at the right time and if not for the heroics of Derrick Williams Memphis could have won an NCAA Tournament game. Joe Jackson emerged as a leader at the point while Antonio Barton turned out to be a far better talent than many expected him to be. Add in an offseason for Will Barton and the rest of the freshmen to mature both physically and mentally, and Memphis should be the clear favorite to win Conference USA. The question mark: will Wesley Witherspoon step up and be the leader this group needs? If so Memphis can do an awful lot from a national aspect, with freshman Adonis Thomas bringing an awful lot to the table skill-wise. Keep an eye on the Tigers in 2011-12.

(13) Oakland: lost to Texas in the second round
Greg Kampe's experienced Golden Grizzlies won their second straight Summit League automatic bid but despite their talent could not slow down Texas in their matchup. While Oakland loses just three seniors what that trio brought to the table leaves a large hole in the roster. Keith Benson, Will Hudson and Larry Wright all move on with Benson being a likely first round draft pick, and Ledrick Eackles has decided to transfer. But there's still talent on campus with prolific guard Reggie Hamilton due back along with Travis Bader and Drew Valentine. Incoming freshman forward Dante Williams will have the opportunity to earn minutes on the wing as well shooting guard Matt Poches. Oakland may not be the favorite to win the Summit League in October, but the Golden Grizzlies will likely be a contender.

(14) Bucknell: lost to Connecticut in the second round
The Bison, winners of the Patriot League regular season and tournament titles, went into their matchup with Connecticut confident in their ability to slow down Kemba Walker and possibly pull off the upset. But they, as well as those who went far enough to pick the upset, received a heavy dose of reality in the 81-52 loss. But that shouldn't take away from what head coach Dave Paulsen and his team accomplished, as they won 25 games (13-1 league record) and had just three seniors on the roster. Replacing G.W. Boon and Darryl Shazier will be tough however, especially the leadership provided by Shazier at the point, but it can be done. Patriot League POY Mike Muscala returns as does guard Bryson Johnson, and overall five of Bucknell's top seven scores will be back. And if guards Steven Kasper and Joshea Singleton can contribute in their first year on campus Bucknell may repeat as Patriot League champ.

(15) Northern Colorado: lost to San Diego State in the second round
B.J. Hill's Bears made their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance this season, winning the Big Sky regular season and tournament titles thanks in large part to conference Player of the Year Devon Beitzel. But their top three scorers were all seniors (Neal Kingman and Chris Kaba the others), and along with starter Taylor Montgomery Northern Colorado has four starter to replace going into 2011-12. The lone returning starter is Elliott Lloyd, who averaged 7.5 points per game this season. He, Emmanuel Addo and Mike Proctor will need to step up, as will a five-player recruiting class headlined by center Brendan Keane and JUCO wing Aaron Hawk-Harris. Don't look for Northern Colorado to go 13-3 in conference play again next season, but they should at the very least take part in the six-team conference tournament.

(16) Hampton: lost to Duke in the second round
Edward Joyner Jr.'s Pirates did not win the MEAC regular season title but they were able to win the conference tournament, and they didn't exactly roll over for Duke either. Two starters move on in Charles Funches and Brandon Tunnell but they were the lone seniors on a team dominated by the junior class. Kwame Morgan II and Darrion Pellum led the team in scoring and will be back, as will Christopher Tolson whose contributions came in the sixth man role this season. Danny Agbelese is the leading returning rebounder with an average of six boards per game, and if they can get him some help in dealing with the departure of Funches the Pirates likely become the preseason favorites in the MEAC. Hampton's got just one player signed right now but given the overall depth that's OK.

San Diego St vs Northern Colorado: Preview & Prediction

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 20:31:41 -0700

(2) San Diego State vs. (15) Northern Colorado

West Region - Tucson

March 17 - 4:40 TNT

San Diego State won't have to travel far if they're to get to their first-ever Final Four, with the path being Tucson to Anaheim to Houston. But the Aztecs have never won an NCAA Tournament game in their history, carrying an 0-6 record into the matchup with Big Sky champ Northern Colorado. The Bears, making their first-ever NCAA appearance, have an outstanding guard in senior Devon Beitzel but SDSU's experience in guarding Jimmer Fredette should help them out here. Kawhi Leonard is just one of the key players Steve Fisher relies on in the frontcourt and if they need a big shot guard D.J. Gay is the guy who gets the call more times than not. Look for SDSU to run into a zone defense or two and how well they execute against it will determine how far they go.

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

San Diego St

Northern Colorado

Stars to Watch:

Kawhi Leonard F (San Diego State)

Devon Beitzel (Northern Colorado)

Vegas Odds:

San Diego St -16

Predictions:

RealTimeRPI: San Diego St 69 - No Colorado 57

KenPom: San Diego St 74 - No Colorado 59

CollegeHoops.net Betting Pick: No Colorado

Faces Winner Of: Temple vs Penn State

West Region Overview: Duke Faces Many Obstacles

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 02:47:39 -0700

Charlotte (March 18)
(1) Duke vs. Hampton
(8) Michigan vs. (9) Tennessee

Last year's run to the national title for Duke sparked complaining that they had their road to Indianapolis "paved" by the selection committee. There should be no such complaints this time around as Nolan Smith and company will face a number of challenges should they arrive in Houston. MEAC champion Hampton ended the run of Morgan State, who grabbed the last two automatic bids in the conference, but it's extremely difficult to see them challenging the Blue Devils. Round two is where Duke could run into trouble, because there may wait a team that has a great deal of talent but also possesses the maddening trait of playing to the level of its competition. That would be Tennessee, who has dealt with the Bruce Pearl recruiting violations with mixed results.

The Volunteers beat Villanova when the Wildcats were playing well in the title game of the NIT Season Tip-Off, and they also beat Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh (albeit not at The Pete) in the SEC/Big East Invitational. But the Vols also own losses to Charleston, Charlotte and Oakland, a clear indicator of their inconsistent nature. Tobias Harris and Scotty Hopson both have the talent to take over a subregional however, and if center Brian Williams is healthy they have a big who can hit the offensive boards. They get Michigan in the first round, and John Beilein's system can embarrass opponents who do not defend with focus. Darius Morris has been outstanding all season long for the Wolverines, and if their perimeter shots are falling look out.

Tulsa (March 18)
(5) Arizona vs. (12) Memphis
(4) Texas vs. (13) Oakland

One has to wonder if the selection committee is willing to have fun with some of these matchups. How else can the matchup between a Memphis team coached by Josh Pastner and his alma mater be explained? The Tigers, who have fought the inconsistency that comes with trying to mold a collection of talented youngsters into a cohesive unit, won the Conference USA Tournament with the final coming at the expense of host UTEP. Talented on the perimeter, the Tigers have to be concerned up front with All-America Derrick Williams controlling things for Arizona. The question for the Wildcats: how well will their guards, especially MoMo Jones, perform on the big stage? Wings Solomon Hill and Kevin Parrom have played well, and Parrom is arguably their most versatile player and he comes off the bench.

As for Texas, the Longhorns may have been the victim of the worst crime with regards to this bracket. For a team that at one point in the season was on its way to grabbing the top ranking nationally to get a four seed shows that a lot of weight was placed on their finish. No way can their overall profile warrant this low of a seed, not to mention the difficult matchup that comes in the form of Summit League champ Oakland. The matchup between Tristan Thompson (Texas) and Keith Benson (Oakland) will have the full attention of NBA scouts, but the Longhorns have another outstanding forward in Jordan Hamilton. The Golden Grizzlies have weapons in addition to their big man as well, especially Reggie Hamilton. Texas can get to Houston but they can also head back to Austin after one game if they aren't focused.

All-Top Half Team
G Nolan Smith (Duke)
G Scotty Hopson (Tennessee)
F Jordan Hamilton (Texas)
F Derrick Williams (Arizona)
C Keith Benson (Oakland)

Top Half All-Rookie Team
G Cory Joseph (Texas)
G Joe Jackson (Memphis)
G Will Barton (Memphis)
F Tobias Harris (Tennessee)
F Tristan Thompson (Texas)

Top Half All-Lower Seed Team
G Reggie Hamilton (Oakland)
G Hopson
G Darrion Pellum (Hampton)
F Harris
C Benson

Washington, D.C. (March 17)
(6) Cincinnati vs. (11) Missouri
(3) Connecticut vs. (14) Bucknell

Connecticut may be the most intriguing team in the West Region for the simple fact that no team had ever won five games in five days to win a conference tournament as they did last week. Will their legs and minds be fresh enough to navigate this weekend? Star guard Kemba Walker proved to be near indefatigable in New York, and youngsters such as Jeremy Lamb, Shabazz Napier and Alex Oriakhi (to name three) stepped up as well. But don't underestimate Bucknell, led by experienced point guard Darryl Shazier and Patriot League Player of the Year Mike Muscala inside. The Bison have the ability to pull off an upset if allowed to control the flow of the game.

UConn could be headed towards a rematch of the 2009 West Region final when they beat Missouri, and a few of the Tigers on this current team went through that run. Missouri likes to play fast and opponents who aren't used to such a tempo can turn the ball over at a high rate if they aren't careful. But the Tigers aren't the best rebounding team, something Yancy Gates and the Cincinnati Bearcats need to find a way to take advantage of. The Bearcats actually have a worse rebounding margin that Missouri and they don't have the elite size of a Kansas or Texas, two teams that whipped the Tigers in Austin and Lawrence respectively (Mizzou was closer to Kansas when they met in Columbia) as a result.

Tucson (March 17)
(7) Temple vs. (10) Penn State
(2) San Diego State vs. (15) Northern Colorado

The other matchup is between two teams from the Keystone State, with Temple winning their last NCAA Tournament meeting in 2001 (Lynn Greer was outstanding for the Owls in that one). Fran Dunphy doesn't have the greatest track record in the Big Dance but he does have an experienced nucleus led by Lavoy Allen, Juan Fernandez and Ramone Moore. Ed DeChellis has an experienced team as well led by guard Talor Battle, but it's been a decade since the Nittany Lions made an NCAA Tournament appearance. Penn State took care of business when they needed to last week, winning three games before falling to Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament final.

All-Bottom Half Team
G Kemba Walker (Connecticut)
G Talor Battle (Penn State)
F Kawhi Leonard (San Diego State)
F Lavoy Allen (Temple)
F Mike Muscala (Bucknell)

Bottom Half All-Rookie Team
G Phil Pressey (Missouri)
G Shabazz Napier (Connecticut)
G Sean Kilpatrick (Cincinnati)
G/F Jeremy Lamb (Connecticut)
F Roscoe Smith (Connecticut)

Bottom Half All-Lower Seed Team
G Devon Beitzel (Northern Colorado)
G Marcus Denmon (Missouri)
G Battle
F Muscala
F Jeff Brooks (Penn State)

Region Winner: Texas

"Big Dance" Interviews: Northern Colorado's Devon Beitzel & B.J. Hill

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 14:47:50 -0700

Recently CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with two important pieces to the puzzle for the Big Sky champion Northern Colorado Bears, head coach B.J. Hill and guard Devon Beitzel. Beitzel was named Big Sky Player of the Year and also was MVP of the conference tournament, with the Bears beating Montana 65-50 in the title game. Northern Colorado will make their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance this week.

JT: Your scoring went up during each of your four years at Northern Colorado. How have you been able to improve from year to year?

DB: I have just tried to bring different tools into my offensive game each year. I was a stand-still shooter as a freshman, but have worked on coming off of screens and becoming a complete player (especially attacking the rim).

JT: You made your first 27 free throws of the season. What is your secret for foul shooting?

DB: I just try to be confident. I broke my foot last year and had two months where the only thing the coaches let me do was shoot free throws while everyone else was practicing.

JT: Your biggest loss of the season was a 23-point defeat at Arizona in November, where you scored only two points on 0-6 FG. What did you learn from that loss that you think will help you when you face a tourney-caliber team next week?

DB: I learned to stay aggressive: I obviously did not shoot well that night, which deterred me from attacking more.

JT: You were named Big Sky Player of the Year earlier this month after leading the conference in scoring. What did it mean to you to win such an outstanding honor, and what is the secret to being a great scorer?

DB: I am definitely proud of the award, but never thought I would get it. I almost transferred after my first year, but it is great to see that my hard work has paid off.

JT: You missed the 2010 Big Sky Tournament after breaking your foot. How long did it take you to get healthy, and how important was it for you to get to the postseason this year?

DB: It took me a good 4 months until I could go again at full-strength: having patience was the hardest part. It was heartbreaking to not get to participate last year, so I was focused on making this the best year that I could. I did not want to have nay regrets.

JT: You were named Big Sky Tournament MVP after scoring 27 points in the title game win over Montana for your school's first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament. How were you able to play your best when it mattered the most, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterwards?

DB: My teammates really looked for down the stretch and set good screens, which helped me a lot. I am not a huge 1-on-1 player. I have never felt anything like the emotion of winning the conference tourney. It is still surreal to me!

JT: You were named First Team Academic All-American due to your 3.7 GPA in business finance. What importance do you place on academics, and how do you balance it with athletics?

DB: Academics have always been important to me because there is not much of a market for a 6' white kid to play basketball, so I figured school was my way to provide myself with the future I want (a job I like, a career I want to have, etc.). School just opens up so many opportunities, and it would be disrespectful for me to have a scholarship and let it go to waste.

JT: Your younger brother Dustin is in the Navy. How proud are you of his decision to serve our country?

DB: He did not have the same classroom discipline that I did, but boot camp has to be the hardest thing that anyone has ever gone through. Now he is out near Afghanistan supporting the troops, and I could not be prouder of him.

JT: You and Dustin moved in with Joan Louth's family after having a rough time at home with your birth parents. What kind of impact has Joan had on your life, and what did she say to you after you won the title?

DB: She has been huge for me, as she brought the stability to my life that I needed. I did not know what to expect when I asked her if I could move in, but she has been there for me the whole time. After we won she just told me how proud she was of me and how much she loved me.

JT: You already have a job lined up at Ernst & Young after graduation. What will you be doing for them, and would you consider deferring for a year if you lead your team to a couple of upsets in the tournament and the pro scouts start calling?

DB: It is a staff auditing position where I will make sure that companies are not screwing up their financial statements. I will definitely see after the season if there are any basketball opportunities out there for me. You only live once!

Head coach B.J. Hill

JT: Your father Pete was a high school coach in Iowa. How much of an influence was he on your own decision to become a coach?

DB: He was not necessarily part of my decision, but he certainly instilled his love of the game in me. I tried working at a sporting goods store after college, but it did not feel very fulfilling.

JT: You won the conference tournament title in your very first year as head coach: what makes you such a great coach, and how have you been able to be so successful so quickly?

DB: I am just lucky to have worked for a great guy who set the table (Coach Tad Boyle), a great group of players who would not quit, plus a great staff. I was just at the right place at the right time.

JT: Devon Beitzel has scored at least 23 points in each of your last seven games (all of which have been wins). Do you feel like your team is playing its best basketball of the season right now, and do you feel like you need Devon to keep scoring a lot of points for your team to have a chance to win next week?

DB: I actually do not think we are playing as well defensively as we did back in January; I would like us to tighten it up a bit. For us to have any chance in the tourney, we will need 40 minutes of a great defensive effort. Devon needs to score, but we are at our best when we have Chris Kaba and Neal Kingman in double-figures as well. If we can get a fourth guy to score 10 points, even better.

JT: I know you are not a fortune-teller, but what seed do you think you will get and what kind of team do you think you would match up well against?

DB: My staff tells me that we are rated between a 14 and 15 seed, I just hope we are not a 16 seed. I really do not care who we play at this point. We are just so happy to be a part of it.

JT: Your son Nate turned 8 on Wednesday: will you ever be able to top the gift you gave him of a trip to the NCAA Tournament?

DB: The first thing he said to me after the game is that this was the best birthday gift ever...and that he wants to do it again every year! There is no way we can top the thrill of getting to the tourney for the very first time, but we will try our best.

Northern Colorado: 2011 NCAA Tournament

Shawn Siegel — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 00:51:15 -0800

Northern Colorado: 2011 NCAA Capsule

Conference: Big Sky
Conference RPI: 24th (of 31)

RPI: #99
Record: 21-10
Conference Record: 13-3 (1st)

Key Games

Top 100 Wins: none
Best Non-Conference Win: #139 New Mexico St

Worst Loss: at #325 Lousiana-Monroe
Promising Loss: 76-86 at #47 Illinois

Players

Leading Scorer: Devon Beitzel 21.4 ppg
Leading Rebounder: Taylor Montgomery 5.7 rpg
Leading Passer: Elliot Lloyd 3.3 ppg
X-Factor: Chris Kaba

Team Stats

Tempo: Average - 100th
Offensive Efficiency: 113th
Quality Offensive Stat: Ft % - 77th

Defensive Efficiency: 139th
Quality Defensive Stat: Defensive Rebounds - 45th

Tournament History

Record: 0-0
Last: never
Last Win: never
Final Fours: 0

Links

ESPN Clubhouse
KenPom Stats & Analysis
RealTime RPI Schedule Breakdown

College Hoops Wednesday Recap: Officials Steal Spotlight at MSG

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 01:19:42 -0800

While the regular season battle between Rutgers and St. John's was a tight affair that wasn't decided until the final seconds, it paled in comparison to what happened at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday afternoon. Rutgers came out on the short end of the stick in numerous situations late in the game with regards to the officiating. From Mike Coburn not getting a foul call despite having to deal with contact on a shot attempt to Jonathan Mitchell having a player go over his back on a missed free throw the breaks all seemed to go to the Red Storm. But it was the final sequence that garnered the most attention, with St. John's breaking up a pass intended for Gil Biruta and Justin Brownlee grabbing the ball.

From there the senior committed two violations, neither of which were called by any of the three officials calling the game. First he stepped out of bounds, then traveled before tossing the ball into the air thinking that the game was over. And much to the chagrin of Rutgers head coach Mike Rice and anyone associated with the program Brownlee was correct, with St. John's winning 65-63 to advance to Thursday's quarterfinals. In a statement released shortly after the controversial finish the Big East noted not just the errors but also the fact that neither of the calls could be reviewed. That's correct because when no call is made there's nothing to fix. But much to his credit Coach Rice took it all in stride, refusing to criticize the officials publicly.

"It's something three great officials, I've had 'em all throughout the year, impeccable reputation, it's unfortunate, my heart -- believe me, there is going to be blood coming through my tongue right now but it's what it is, we're going to control how we respond," said Rice.

Regardless of what people want to happen to the officials (who probably shouldn't work the rest of the week in New York) the question that needs to be answered is what's next for St. John's and that is Syracuse. The Orange controlled the game when the two met in the regular season as their zone forced the Red Storm to settle for challenged perimeter shots. Dwight Hardy made just five of seventeen shots on the afternoon against Rutgers, and he'll have to be much better against the Orange if St. John's is to win. Steve Lavin's team is going to see more zone defenses in the NCAA Tournament given the difficulty in handling the defense throughout the season, making Thursday a good reference point for the team.

And they also need to keep the Orange off the glass, with a performance like Wednesday's (18 of Rutgers' 36 rebounds were offensive) more than likely to result in a blowout. But back to the Scarlet Knights, who saw their season end in tough fashion. Sadly Coburn, James Beatty and Jonathan Mitchell don't get another shot at the Big East, but a number of the young players who saw time this season have a chance to improve their skills in the offseason. Add in a highly touted recruiting class and there's no doubt that Coach Rice has the program headed in the right direction.

Other Notable Happenings

1. Northern Colorado earns their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth by winning the Big Sky.
Conference tournaments provide some of the memorable images for many programs, especially those that punch their ticket for the first time ever. That's the case for the Northern Colorado Bears, who won their 14th home game of the season (no losses) by the final score of 65-60 win over Montana. Big Sky MVP Devon Beitzel was also named tournament MVP due to his 27-point performance, and he's the kind of player who will give opponents fits next week. But the Bears needed others to step up, something that didn't happen in their loss at Montana earlier in the season. Neal Kingman, who was scoreless in that loss, scored 10 points on Wednesday and all eight players to see time scored. A program that became an official Division I member in 2007 is now headed to the tournament, and they've got Beitzel to thank for that.

2. Once and for all it's time to stop including Baylor and Nebraska in the bubble chatter.
Baylor's day didn't get off to a good start, with the NCAA ruling freshman forward Perry Jones III ineligible due to his mother accepting three small loans while Jones was still in high school. But unlike Auburn quarterback Cam Newton, who didn't know about his father asking for money and thus far allowed to play without missing a game, Jones had to sit. But it wasn't just his absence that did in the Bears, who did not show up ready to play against Oklahoma. The Sooners led by as many as 23 points before winning by 84-67, and despite turning the ball over just nine times Baylor watched LaceDarius Dunn shoot 3-for-14 from the field and as a team the Bears made 4 of 19 from deep.

Nebraska got off to a slow start as well, trailing by as many as 14 in the first half before fighting back to eventually take the lead in the second half. But after an Oklahoma State missed free throw the Huskers had a chance to win, only to see point guard Lance Jeter fall in the lane in the final seconds to seal a 53-52 loss. Jeter scored 17 points to lead Nebraska in their final Big 12 Tournament game but they couldn't make that one final play. And as a result Doc Sadler's team likely slips down the pecking order, with Baylor suffering the same fate. But outside of a couple solid wins neither team had done enough to warrant such attention in most seasons. The fact that Baylor and Nebraska could remain on such lists underlines just how bad the bubble is this year. But enough's enough. Neither should be on the bubble after Wednesday.

3. Long Island dethrones Robert Morris in overtime to win the NEC title.
With First Team All-NEC forward Julian Boyd on the bench due to foul trouble head coach Jim Ferry needed one of his other big men to step up. Enter Jamal Olasewere, who scored 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the Blackbirds' 85-82 overtime victory. Kenny Onyechi and Jason Brickman combined to score 28 points off the bench, and C.J. Garner scored 15 himself in the 85-82 overtime win over Robert Morris. LIU has depth in both the backcourt and front court, and they do a very good job of getting to the foul line (their percentage does need to improve), meaning that whoever draws the Blackbirds had better be careful with thought that they can coast through such a contest. It's been a long time since Charles Jones and company clinched the Blackbirds' spot in the field in 1998.

Top Three Games

1. Texas-San Antonio 97, Northwestern State 96
Jeromie Hill's dunk with two seconds left in the game proved to be the difference as the Roadrunners knocked the Demons out of the Southland Conference Tournament. Devin Gibson posted a triple-double for UTSA with 28 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists (three steals as well) and Hill added 25. Will Pratt led Northwestern State with 26 points.

2. St. John's 65, Rutgers 63

3. Long Island 85, Robert Morris 82 (OT)

Three Notable Performances

1. G Devin Gibson (Texas-San Antonio)
28 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and three steals in the Roadrunners' 97-96 win over Northwestern State.

2. G Alec Burks (Colorado) 29 points, 15 rebounds and six assists in the Buffaloes' 77-75 win over Iowa State.

3. F Jamal Olasewere (Long Island) 31 points, 11 rebounds and four steals in the Blackbirds' 85-82 overtime win over Robert Morris.

HOOPS TALK LIVE THURSDAY 6-7PM EST

College Hoops Wednesday: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 08:47:46 -0800

More conference tournaments enter the fray on Wednesday with the Big 12 and Pac-10 being two of the seven conference tournaments that open. The Big 12 will be of particular interest as two teams playing today can ill-afford a first round loss. Baylor and Colorado are both in need of more wins; how many more is unknown but a loss to either Iowa State or Oklahoma could do irreparable harm to their at-large hopes. The task is simple for the Buffaloes: Alec Burks, Cory Higgins and Levin Knutson need to be on offensively while on the defensive end they have to slow down Diante Garrett. Colorado's picked up some impressive wins but they've also dropped a few games an NCAA Tournament team should win, leaving them open to an upset today.

Baylor's resume lacks bulk, a surprising fact for a team that has some very good individual pieces. Such is life when you're without the graduated Tweety Carter at the point, and despite the amount of blame left at the feet of his replacement (A.J. Walton) there's also the matter of senior shooting guard LaceDarius Dunn's decision-making as well. Dunn is the big 12's all-time leading scorer but he averages more turnovers than assists per game, and if the shots aren't falling the Bears have problems. Oklahoma beat Baylor in Norman earlier this season, and while Cade Davis is their leading scorer at 13.8 points per game they can struggle offensively occasionally. But they're still scoring more points per possession than the Bears on the season, and another win isn't out of the realm of possibility. But with Quincy Acy and ~~Perry Jones III~~ up front the Bears enjoy an advantage (not so much anymore as Jones will sit out due to the acceptance of impermissible benefits according to a Dallas news station). Whether or not they take full advantage of it will determine whether or not they play on Thursday.

Two NCAA Tournament bids will be handed out as well with the regular season champions in the Big Sky and NEC hosting games. Northern Colorado survived Northern Arizona last night while Montana used a second half run to vanquish Weber State. The Grizzlies may be on the road but their frontcourt tandem of Derek Selvig and Brian Qvale can pose problems for any opponent. Montana is also the last team to beat the Bears, who have won nine of their last ten games and in Devon Beitzel have the MVP of the conference. He scored 22 in that 55-42 loss at Montana but no other Bear scored more than six and two starters (Neal Kingman and Elliott Lloyd) went scoreless. That can't happen tonight if Northern Colorado is to defend their home court (13-0 at home).

As for the NEC, Jim Ferry's LIU Blackbirds have been the class of the conference for much of the season behind First Team All-NEC performer Julian Boyd. Their depth up front has been a handful for opponents, as has the play of point guards Jason Brickman and C.J. Garner. But in order to be the champ you often have to dethrone the champ, which is the task that faces them in two-time defending champion Robert Morris. First-year head coach Andy Toole has navigated a tough non-conference schedule and most recently the loss of guard Karon Abraham for the remainder of the season to get the Colonials to this point. And in Russell Johnson and Velton Jones the Colonials have two players capable of moving their win streak to nine in a row. The two hottest teams in the conference will be on the same floor and keep in mind that Robert Morris won last year's title game at Quinnipiac, meaning that there will be little fear over playing in a tough environment.

Also of import today is the final game in the second round of the Big East Championship between Marquette and West Virginia. Depending on who you ask the Golden Eagles are in the field of 68 but another win never hurt anyone. Jimmy Butler and Darius Johnson-Odom both played well in their win over Providence on Tuesday, and despite tougher matchups in the form of Truck Bryant and Kevin Jones it would come as no surprise if the Golden Eagles were to win. The Pac-10 will sort out its bottom four seeds and the same goes for the 8/9 matchup in the Mountain West, while the unpredictable Conference USA begins the process of determining its NCAA Tournament representative. But their true suspense will come tomorrow when Memphis, UAB and host UTEP hit the floor.

Big 12 First Round (Kansas City)
12:30 PM Oklahoma State vs. Nebraska (ESPN3)
3:00 PM Iowa State vs. Colorado (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Oklahoma vs. Baylor (ESPN3)
9:30 PM Texas Tech vs. Missouri (ESPN3)

Big East Second Round (New York City)
12:00 PM Connecticut vs. Georgetown (ESPN)
2:00 PM Rutgers vs. St. John's (ESPN)
7:00 PM USF vs. Cincinnati (ESPN)
9:00 PM Marquette vs. West Virginia (ESPN)

Big Sky Final (Greeley, CO)
9:00 PM Montana at Northern Colorado (ESPN2)

Conference USA First Round (El Paso, TX)
1:00 PM UCF vs. East Carolina
3:30 PM Tulane vs. Southern Miss
7:30 PM Houston vs. Marshall
10:00 PM Rice vs. SMU

MEAC Quarterfinals (Raleigh, NC)
3:00 PM Howard vs. Norfolk State (first round matchup)
7:00 PM South Carolina State vs. Bethune-Cookman
9:30 PM Maryland-Eastern Shore vs. Hampton

Mountain West First Round (Las Vegas)
5:00 PM TCU vs. Wyoming (The Mtn.)

NEC Final (Brooklyn, NY)
7:00 PM Robert Morris at LIU (ESPN2)

Pac-10 First Round (Los Angeles)
9:00 PM Oregon State vs. Stanford (FSN)
11:30 PM Arizona State vs. Oregon (FSN)

Southland Quarterfinals (Katy, TX)
1:00 PM Northwestern State vs. Texas-San Antonio
3:30 PM Sam Houston State vs. Stephen F. Austin
7:00 PM McNeese State vs. Nicholls State
9:30 PM Texas State vs. Southeast Louisiana

SWAC Quarterfinals (Garland, TX)
1:30 PM Jackson State vs. Prairie View A&M
9:00 PM Texas Southern vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

WAC First Round (Las Vegas)
3:00 PM San Jose State vs. Hawaii
5:00 PM Fresno State vs. Nevada

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College Hoops Tuesday Recap: Tar Heels Race Past Spartans

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:53:13 -0800

Tuesday night's national title game rematch was billed as the headliner of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, with the experienced Spartans heading to Chapel Hill with revenge on their minds. But as Mick Jagger noted, "you can't always get what you want", and the young Tar Heels grabbed control of the game early with their offensive execution. Larry Drew II, who has played good basketball recently, ran the offense with speed and consistency in the first stanza and Dexter Strickland ended the half with a three-pointer as time expired.

The halftime score was 50-34 and despite a run from Michigan State the deficit proved to be too much as North Carolina won 89-82. Ed Davis led the Tar Heels with twenty-two points and six rebounds while Drew II added eighteen points and six assists. Michigan State, who was led in scoring by Raymar Morgan (18 points), shot just 2-for-20 from behind the arc just days removed from knocking down twelve in a beating of UMass at the Legends Classic. For the game the Spartans shot just 43% from the field while UNC was able to get just about any look they wanted on the way to a 57.9% night from the field.

The star of the night for the Tar Heels was Drew II, who did a good job of keeping the tempo at Carolina's preferred pace in the first half. He did overpenetrate on a couple of occasions but other than that he was the model point guard for Roy Williams. With Kentucky on the horizon (Saturday) this is a good win for the Tar Heels. As for Michigan State they're going to need better efforts from their big men in regards to one-on-one defending on the block.

Three Key Happenings

1. Northwestern builds on their momentum. The Wildcats were surprise winners of the Chicago Invitational this past weekend, but how would the team that's lost Kevin Coble for the season perform in a true road game? If Tuesday's win over NC State is an indicator then it's premature to count Bill Carmody's team out of the race for an NCAA Tournament bid. In their 65-53 win Michael Thompson played all forty minutes and scored a team-high 22 points but it was the Northwestern defense that earned the result. NC State shot just 33.9% from the field (2-for-18 from three) for the game and the Wildcats were a +7 in rebounding margin. It may have been early to rule Coach Carmody's team out, even though they will be a bit shorthanded this season.

2. Does the Big Sky have another contender? This could be the case for Northern Colorado, who moved to 7-0 on the season with their 70-63 win over Colorado State (their first home game of the year). Despite being outrebounded by eleven (39-28) the Bears won because of twenty CSU turnovers and eighteen points off the bench from guard Will Figures. The schedule thus far hasn't been the toughest in regards to national perception but Tad Boyle's team, who made their debut in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 this week, were scheduled to play nine of their first ten away from Greeley. This is a good start for a school that was one-and-done in the Big Sky Tournament and was picked by both the coaches and media to finish sixth.

3. UTEP will be heard from in Conference USA. That was known by many before the season even began, and Tony Barbee's Miners added another piece of evidence why in their 79-58 win at New Mexico State. The Aggies shot just 28.6% from the field and turned the ball over seventeen times while being outrebounded by twelve. And UTEP made this all happen with Arnett Moultrie shooting just 2-for-8 from the field for the game; the Miners have five players averaging in double figures but they don't rely solely upon their offense to win games. That could be the difference, a trait that separates the Miners from Houston and keeps them with Memphis and Tulsa atop the Conference USA standings.

Top Three Games

1. Evansville 91, Tennessee Tech 90 (2 OT) The Purple Aces picked up a win on the road, with Ned Cox leading them with twenty-two points off the bench. Ten combined players (6 for Tech, 4 for Evansville) reached double figures with Frank David leading the Golden Eagles with nineteen.

2. Virginia Tech 70, Iowa 64 Malcolm Delaney led four Hokies in double figures with eighteen points and added five assists in the win. Anthony Tucker led the Hawkeyes with twenty-four points but he didn't have enough help to lead Iowa to the upset.

3. Temple 76, Western Michigan 70 Thanks to four players scoring in double figures the Owls were able to hold off the Broncos, who were led by David Kool (30 points). Ryan Brooks finished the game with a double-double (17 points, 10 rebounds) for Temple.

Three Notable Performances

1. G David Kool (Western Michigan) Kool scored thirty points and added six rebounds in WMU's 76-70 loss to Temple.

2. F Luke Harangody (Notre Dame) Harangody led the Irish to a win over Idaho State with 27 points and 12 rebounds.

3. F Storm Warren (LSU) Warren was one of two Tigers to post a double-double (Tasmin Mitchell) on Tuesday night, scoring 18 points and grabbing 16 rebounds in LSU's 66-58 win over UL Lafayette.

Thoughts? Other noteworthy performances? Feel free to post them below.

Poll: Who Will Win the Big Sky?

Shawn Siegel — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:41:04 -0700