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| The Week Ahead: NCAA Conference Tournaments (Part 2: The High Majors) |
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| by: Kyle Nelson |
| March 10, 2009 |
The Week Ahead: NCAA Conference Tournaments (Part 2: The High Majors)
Kyle Nelson
It’s March and the madness is just starting to set in as the bubble is getting smaller and the automatic bids are getting more and more important. Thus, it’s the perfect time to kick off the conference tournament preview. This time we shift to the high major conferences, where there are more bids at stake and an ever-shrinking bubble. Scouts and fans alike will be tuning in to see whether or not the nation’s top teams are capable of delivering in the clutch and some of the best prospects in the country can power their respective teams to the NCAA tournament.
High Majors:
Atlantic Coast Conference
March 12th-March 15th
Championship on Sunday, March 15th: 1 p.m. on ESPN
The top of the ACC should keep their eyes peeled, as Boston College, Maryland, Miami, and Virginia Tech are bubble teams looking for either an automatic bid or a pair of marquee wins on the way to the championship game. The winner will more likely come from one of the North Carolina elites, but expect a challenge. Pay particular attention to the quarter finals, should Duke get a rematch with the same Boston College Eagles who upset them the last time the two teams played.
Big East Conference
March 10th-March 14th
Championship on Saturday, March 14th: 9 p.m. on ESPN
Just as in the ACC, the top of the Big East is truly elite, comprised of some of the nation’s best teams. And, as the lower half of the conference is getting weaker and teams under Providence probably don’t have a chance, the second round games have the potential to be thrilling as the underdogs get a shot at the conference middleweights. Then, watch the quarterfinals, as the top teams face a slate of upset bids. The conference seems to have seven tournament locks with Providence being the only team that has the chance to be on the right side of the bubble. Thus, expect the championship to be a battle.
Big Ten Conference
March 12th-March 15th
Championship on Sunday, March 15th: 3:30 p.m. on CBS
The Big Ten is one of the most volatile conferences in the NCAA with Michigan State, Illinois, and Purdue as virtual tournament locks, but no less than five teams on either side of the bubble. The match up to watch is the first round pairing of Minnesota and Northwestern. Neither team is a tournament lock at this point and the winner gets the honor of taking on top ranked Michigan State in the quarterfinals. A win there perhaps would be enough to get either bubble team into the NCAA tournament. Also, though Penn State has been inconsistentm they have played outstanding basketball at times this season. They shouldn’t have much trouble in the first round against Indiana, but if they win, they’ll have the opportunity to take on Purdue in the quarterfinals. Should they win this game, it might be enough to push the Nittany Lions onto the right side of the bubble. Regardless of what happens, however, this tournament has the potential to be a classic.
Big 12 Conference
March 11th-March 14th
Championship on Saturday, March 14th: 6 p.m. on ESPN
There isn’t a lot of suspense in the Big 12 as it seems as though Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Texas A&M, Texas, and even Oklahoma State are in to the NCAA tournament. A win for Oklahoma State would certainly seal the deal and they should have no trouble dispatching Iowa State in the first round before taking on Oklahoma in the quarterfinals. For Kansas State, the lone bubble team in the conference, it will take a quarterfinal win over either Texas or Colorado, and then a win against Kansas, Nebraska, or Baylor in the Semifinals before they can consider their ticket safely punched.
PAC-10 Conference
March 11th-March 14th
Championship on Saturday, March 14th: 6 p.m. on CBS
Washington came out of nowhere to claim the PAC-10 regular season title this year, and they’ll have a chance to prove their legitimacy by winning a tournament championship. The real drama in the PAC-10, however, rests around the Arizona Wildcats, who have overcome a lack of depth to insert themselves into the bubble conversation. At 19-12, they need to make a run in the PAC-10 tournament and get a pair of solid wins, at the very least, before they can consider themselves safe. Winning their quarterfinal match up against Arizona State on Thursday is a good place to start. If they win that, Washington is likely waiting in the semifinals. Another team to watch is UCLA, who has a favorable path to the semifinals and, after a less impressive year than usual, may be inspired to make a deep run and prove themselves. The PAC-10 tournament is always entertaining, but don’t miss any of the action this time around.
Southeastern Conference
March 12th-March 15th
Championship on Sunday, March 15th: 1 p.m. on CBS
The Southeastern Conference has consistently underperformed this year and, with only Louisiana State and Tennessee safely in according to the NCAA tournament conversation, there is sure to be a lot of intrigue in the conference tournament. Both Kentucky and Florida must win their first round match ups and, though they shouldn’t have any problems, the second round does not bode well for either team. If Kentucky wins, they face a Louisiana State team looking to avenge bad late season losses to Vanderbilt and Auburn and to solidify a high NCAA tournament seed. Florida, on the other hand, will face off against a red-hot Auburn team, who inserted themselves into the NCAA tournament conversation after winning their final four conference games. Last, but certainly not least, don’t sleep on South Carolina, who seem to be outside of the bubble right now, but could easily make a strong case by winning two games in the SEC tournament. Last year, the Southeastern Conference tournament witnessed Georgia make a surprise run to the championship and so expect nothing to be set, especially in a season this unpredictable.
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| The Week(end) Ahead: What to Watch in College Basketball 3/7-3/8 |
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| by: Kyle Nelson |
| March 6, 2009 |
This past week was a confusing one, as the bracket picture began shifting again, making many question if there is more parity this season in college basketball than in recent memory. Regardless, it’s making for quite the finish, as teams at the bottom of the bubble picture make their cases for NCAA tournament bids. It’s also conference tournament time and with an automatic bid waiting at the end of the tunnel, teams facing uncertain post-season prospects are taking things a bit more seriously this time of the year. Last but not least, scouts are hard at work, making up for lost time, trying to make sure that not a single player falls through the cracks. This weekend is one of the most important in college basketball, for coaches, players, scouts, and fans alike. We aren’t going to miss any of the action and neither should you. Here is what we’re going to watch in college basketball this week.
Marquee Matchups:
#1 Connecticut at #3 Pittsburgh (Saturday, March 7th: 12 p.m. on CBS)
After losing on the road to Providence, third ranked Pittsburgh heads into the Big East tournament with good wins over Seton Hall and Marquette, but one tremendous test left on their schedule: a duel at home against top ranked Connecticut. A win could be the difference between a top seed and a two seed. Scouts will be watching this game for a rematch of two of the nation’s hottest post prospects, Pittsburgh’s 6’7 DeJuan Blair, who is averaging 15.9 ppg and 12.6 rpg on the season, and Connecticut’s Hasheem Thabeet, who is averaging 13.6 ppg and 10.7 rpg along with 4.5 bpg. Size isn’t everything it’s made out to be, however, because the last time these two met, Blair dominated the match up to the tune of 22 points, 23 rebounds, and a block sealing victory for the Panthers. Thabeet fouled out with 5 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks—being completely embarrassed in the process.
The battle between point guards will certainly be interesting, as well, as Connecticut’s scoring guard A.J. Price does battle with the ultra efficient distributor Levance Fields, currently sporting an A/TO close to 4.00. Also, don’t forget about Pittsburgh senior combo forward Sam Young, who has regained his swagger since an off night in the loss against Providence, and will be looking to show NBA scouts his abilities for the last time in a collegiate regular season. Scouts from across the NBA will be on hand to watch this game and the terms “can’t miss” and “must see” were created for match ups such as these.
Kentucky at Florida (Saturday, March 7th: 2 p.m. on CBS)
To quote ESPN.com’s Andy Katz, this is an elimination game. Kentucky and Florida are the poster children for what might be the worst SEC season in recent memory and, as neither are NCAA tournament locks, this game will determine who is on the right side of the bubble and who is going to the NIT. More importantly, however, it might be the last time prospects like scoring sensation Jodie Meeks and power forward Patrick Patterson don Wildcat uniforms. The same could be said for Florida point guard Nick Calathes, another potential early entrant. Needless to say, this game has the potential to be a classic, featuring two underachieving, yet talented teams with their backs against the wall. Though it’s been a disappointing season in the SEC, we have a feeling the next week is going to be quite interesting and with more than a few surprises.
California at #21 Arizona State (Saturday, March 7th: 2 p.m. on CBS)
We wrote about California junior shooting guard Patrick Christopher at the beginning of the season as one of the prospects to follow in the PAC-10. While he has not done much to help his stock, he has led California to a good season, one that has placed the team firmly on the NCAA tournament bubble. Christopher has the opportunity to prove to scouts one last time that his name is worth remembering, with a marquee matchup against projected top three pick James Harden of Arizona State, who will test Christopher on both sides of the ball. California definitely needs this game more than Arizona State, but they will have to find a way to neutralize Hardin, first. Even if they do succeed in stopping Harden, watch out for Jeff Pendergraph, Arizona State’s rugged 6’9 big man, who possesses a set of skills that many NBA title contenders value and who’s draft stock could rise with some clutch post-season performances.
Oklahoma State at #4 Oklahoma (Saturday, March 7th: 3:30 p.m. on ABC)
The Bedlam series continues, only this time, it’s in Norman, home of the Oklahoma Sooners. Fresh off of a disappointing loss to Missouri, Blake Griffin, Willie Warren, and company are looking to finish the season off in style: sweeping the state’s greatest rivalry. While most of scouts’ attention is going to be focused on Griffin and Warren, both lottery prospects, pay attention to Oklahoma State’s sophomore swingman James Anderson, an athletic shooter who is quietly turning into one of the nation’s top scorers. The Cowboys are sitting on the bubble with a 20-9 record, looking for one final marquee victory before heading into the postseason. Don’t miss this last opportunity to watch some of the nation’s finest prospects, including the projected number one pick, face off in one of the most highly contested rivalries in the country.
Texas at #9 Kansas (Saturday, March 7th: 4 p.m. on CBS)
Texas, after a once promising season, has fallen squarely on the bubble and following a loss to fellow bubble team Oklahoma State should look to steal a victory from ninth ranked Kansas before heading into the postseason. The battle here in the post, between Texas combo-forward Damion James and Kansas’s bruising big man Cole Aldrich, is of particular interest to scouts, as both big men are first round prospects and with a string of big performances, either might elect to test their fortunes in the draft this summer. On the perimeter, Kansas point guard Sherron Collins and Texas shooting guards A.J. Abrams have both seen better days as prospects, but have rebounded as of late and reinserted themselves back in the draft picture. Collins, in particular, is looking to bounce back from his horrendous shooting night in a loss at Texas Tech to lead the Jayhawks to victory.
#6 Louisville at West Virginia(Saturday, March 7th: 9 p.m. on ESPN)
West Virginia seems safely in the NCAA tournament, but a win at home against sixth ranked Louisville would certainly seal the deal for the 21-9 Mountaineers. With Oklahoma losing to Missouri, Louisville might be building its resume towards making a case to be a number one seed in the NCAA tournament. The key to this game, however, lies in Louisville’s ability to stop the inside-outside combination of power forward De’Sean Butler and shooting guard Alex Ruoff, who combine for 33.7 ppg, 9.6 rpg, and 5.1 apg. West Virginia is a tough team to beat when these players are on target, but Louisville is not going to make this an easy game. Though they are still inconsistent in their backcourt, their perimeter and frontcourt depth, primarily the trio of Terrence Williams, Earl Clark, and Samardo Samuels. Scouts will be watching to see if Williams and Clark, in particular, can adjust to handle whatever defense West Virginia scheme throws at them and produce. Louisville is deeper and more talented, but never count out West Virginia, who has proven to be a tough team for the conference’s elite teams to handle.
Alabama at Tennessee (Sunday, March 8th: 12 p.m. on CBS)
Tennessee must win this game in order to solidify their spot on the right side of the bubble and for Alabama, the season ends if they cannot make a run at the SEC title. That being said, this is likely the last time to see Alabama’s senior wing Alonzo Gee, who is a fringe prospect at best, but could make some noise in workouts considering his NBA caliber size and athleticism for the wing position. He will likely be facing off against Tennessee combo forward Tyler Smith, one of the most versatile players in college basketball, who will more than likely test his fortunes in the NBA draft this summer.
#7 Duke at #2 North Carolina (Sunday, March 8th: 4 p.m. on CBS)
There are few rivalries as legendary as this, and it should not disappoint as the red hot Duke Blue Devils travel to Chapel Hill to avenge their home defeat and make a play at a top two seed in the NCAA tournament. The player to watch is Duke swingman Gerald Henderson, who has been on an absolute tear recently, improving on a day to day basis, and showing scouts that he deserves to be a mid to high lottery pick. He will face UNC swingman Danny Green, one of the ACC’s better defenders, and a draft prospect in his own right. North Carolina has the advantage in the post, where senior Tyler Hansbrough is still one of the NCAA’s top big men and looking to prove his dominance against a weaker Duke frontcourt. He will face off against Duke combo forward Kyle Singler, who has emerged as a lottery prospect, and whose unique variety of size, smarts, and skill will be difficult for the Tar Heel defense to handle. Last, but certainly not least, be sure to check out North Carolina point guard Ty Lawson, who had a promise in the first round last year before his arrest, and has improved exponentially this season in North Carolina’s fast-paced offense. This is a game not to be missed and certainly one of the biggest tickets of the season.
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kyle.robert.nelson@gmail.com |
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| The Week Ahead: What to Watch in College Basketball (2/21-2/27) |
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| by: Kyle Nelson |
| February 20, 2009 |
This past week witnessed another top seed biting this dust. This time it was Connecticut at the hands of conference-rival Pittsburgh. With conference schedules winding down and Bracket Busters lined up all Saturday afternoon and evening, this week promises to be even better. The stakes are raised as the nation's top teams are now vying for NCAA seeds in addition to conference rank, which makes these games all the more important. Scouts will be watching intently and so should you. Here is what we're watching in college basketball this week.
Marquee Matchups:
#2 Oklahoma at Texas (Saturday, February 21st: 9 p.m. on ESPN)
The Texas Longhorns have fallen upon hard times lately, dropping out of the top 25 and losing four of their last six games. Now, sitting on a 17-8 record, they're going to need to finish the season strong in order to secure a good spot in the NCAA tournament and have a chance to make a run in the post-season. Unfortunately, their road to the post-season includes a home game against the Oklahoma Sooners, who are on the verge of being the #1 ranked team in the country, have won 13 straight games since losing on the road against Arkansas, and beat the Longhorns handily last time around.
In this game, keep your eyes on the post, as two of the nation's top big men, not to mention draft prospects, face off. Texas's junior combo-forward Damion James is only 6'7, but he is a stellar rebounder and a versatile scorer. A big game against the country's best big man, Oklahoma's 6'10 sophomore Blake Griffin would do wonders for his stock, which has somewhat stagnated this season. Griffin, on the other hand, will not make it easy, turning out one of the most impressive seasons in recent memory, to the tune of 22.8 ppg, 14.2 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.3 spg, and 1.3 bpg in just 33.2 mpg.
On the perimeter, scouts will be watching Griffin's sidekick, 6'5 freshman phenom Willie Warren, capable on and off of the ball, and willing to take up the scoring reigns if, by some remote chance, Griffin has an off-night. Last, but not least, be sure to pay attention to Texas's new-look backcourt, with 5'11 senior sharpshooter A.J. Abrams, who must have a good shooting night for the Longhorns to have a chance, and 6'0 sophomore PG Dogus Balbay, who emerged from out o nowhere to become the team's top distributor, averaging 6.3 apg compared to just 1.7 TOpg over his last three games.
A win for Texas would be valuable because they're looking to get their swagger back after losing valuable momentum. For Oklahoma, however, a win in this game will almost surely result in the Sooners receiving the top ranking in the nation.
Tennessee at Kentucky (Saturday, February 21st: 1 p.m. on CBS)
Kentucky lost a must-win contest at Vanderbilt and Tennessee was embarrassed on the road at Mississippi, dropping both teams back on to the bubble and making this game look increasingly like the final straw in each respective team's post-season hopes. It will be tough to win at Kentucky, but as we have been saying all year, it is not as if Tennessee doesn't have the talent. The problem for the Volunteers, as it has been all year, is consistent defensive energy and consistent play from the point guard position.
Defensively, they'll have their hands full with the inside-outside combination of Kentucky's 6'8 big man Patrick Patterson and 6'4 scoring sensation Jodie Meeks. Combined, the pair is averaging 43.6 ppg, 12.8 rpg, and 3.6 apg, making them the clear focal points of the Kentucky offense.
If Tennessee can find a way to stop or even to slow them, they will have a very good chance of winning this game. They will also need another stellar performance from junior forward Tyler Smith and some perimeter shooting from freshman gunner Scotty Hopson. It also wouldn't hurt to have another solid performance from 6'7 combo-guard J.P. Prince, who since taking the reigns as point guard, has averaged 9.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg, and 6.5 apg (1.8 TOpg) in a stretch that has witnessed the Volunteers win four of six games.
#8 Wake Forest at #9 Duke (Sunday, February 22nd: 7:30 p.m. on FSN)
Both Wake Forest and Duke have lost their share of bad games this year and it seems as though this is each team's last chance to show the selection committee that they're deserving of a top two seed in the NCAA tournament. We've showcased this match up before and nothing really changes, except that Duke is playing at home and Wake Forest has won two games in a row since losing four of six earlier in the New Year. Thus, this game finds both teams with a lot to prove.
For Duke it'll be a chance to prove that they can be the highest echelon of ACC team and can snap an ugly two game conference losing streak. Wake, they'll need to prove that their home win over Duke wasn't a fluke and that they can win in the ACC on the road. The key match up in this game is between two of the ACC's finest combo forwards, Wake Forest's James Johnson and Duke's Kyle Singler. Both of these players have elevated their play in recent games and their draft stock has been increasing accordingly. Similarly, Duke wing Gerald Henderson has emerged as a legitimate lottery prospect after a quiet early season and will look to prove himself against Wake Forest's freshman phenomenon, Al-Farouq Aminu, another player that has boosted his draft stock as the season has continued.
Also don't miss the battle of the backcourt Duke will look to slow down Wake Forest point guard Jeff Teague, who has experienced entire defensive schemes designed to quell the explosive scoring outbursts that he displayed earlier in the season. Only now, Wake Forest has found other ways to win. There is a lot riding on this game and is a classic not to be missed by any self-respecting basketball fan.
#7 Louisville at Georgetown (Monday, February 23rd: 7 p.m. on ESPN)
This is Georgetown's last stand. With just five games left before the Big East tournament, including match ups against Marquette, Louisville, and a game at Villanova, Georgetown has to win now and improve upon its terrible 14-10 record and tenth place standing the Big East.
If Georgetown wants to a chance to beat the seventh ranked team in the country, the team will have to get the better of every match up on the floor. First and foremost, however, Georgetown will have to have huge performances from its top players. Hoya's 6'11 center Greg Monroe has found his touch again after shooting a dismal 33% from the field against Cincinnati and has responded with two straight double doubles. He'll match up against 6'8 Samardo Samuels, who has had a stretch of good play lately after seemingly hitting the freshman wall in early February.
This game also boasts a match up between two of the nation's better combo-forward prospects: Louisville's 6'8 Earl Clark and Georgetown's DaJuan Summers. Both players have been wildly inconsistent this season, but are almost always significant factors in big wins and losses. Another player to watch is Georgetown's 6'1 point guard Chris Wright who has started to assert himself more vocally on the offensive end, providing the leadership that the Hoyas have lacked all season long.
Also, do not forget about Louisville wing Terrence Williams, who will have a favorable match up on the perimeter, and needs to prove to scouts that his single digit scoring efforts are a thing of the past. This is a game between a team looking to make the jump into the nation's elite and a team trying to escape from the basement of the Big East. Don't miss it, because if Georgetown loses again, it's likely the last you'll hear of the Hoyas for the rest of the season.
#15 Kansas at #2 Oklahoma (Monday, February 23rd: 9 p.m. on ESPN)
While the perimeter scoring duel between Kansas' Sherron Collins and Oklahoma freshman Willie Warren will be enthralling, the real reason to watch this game to see a meeting of two of the nation's finest big men: Oklahoma's Blake Griffin and Kansas's Cole Aldrich. You know the story on Griffin, but Aldrich isn't half bad, either, averaging 14.9 ppg, 10.3 rpg, and 2.5 bpg while shooting 62% FG and 80% FT. The two have yet to face off this season and scouts will be tuned in to see who comes out on top. Don't miss this one.
Florida at #23 Louisiana State (Tuesday, February 24th: 9 p.m. on ESPN)
LSU finally emerged as the SEC team that would crack the top 25 after multiple weeks without a conference representative, and after a thriller at Arkansas, it looks as though they are deserving of the honor. Shooting guard Marcus Thornton and small forward Tasmin Mitchell have both elevated their play and will be especially difficult for the upset minded Florida Gators to stop. The key for the Gators, however, revolves around if point guard Nick Calathes can get to the basket and put points on the board against one of the nation's top defenders, Louisiana State's Garrett Temple. Similarly, the Gators will have to get points in the post, which could be difficult if Louisiana State big man Chris Johnson continues to be a force around the basket, averaging 3.8 bpg during the Tigers' past 10 games, nine of which have been wins. This is a chance for Louisiana State to prove itself on national television and to solidify the notion that they are the top team in the SEC.
#1 Connecticut at #10 Marquette (Wednesday, February 25th: 7 p.m. on ESPN)
Before falling at home to Pittsburgh, Connecticut had held onto their top ranking longer than any team thus far this season. The Huskies face one of their toughest challenges yet when they travel to Milwaukee to face tenth ranked Marquette. Connecticut has a tremendous advantage in the frontcourt, with more size than Marquette knows what to do with, especially now that 6'9 Stanley Robinson has rejoined the rotation alongside of 6'7 Jeff Adrien and 7'3 Hasheem Thabeet.
The Golden Eagles only have 6'6 combo-forward Lazar Hayward to throw at the Huskies tremendous front line, but have a clear advantage in the backcourt, especially now that Connecticut is missing star slasher Jerome Dyson. The Golden Eagles start perhaps the most feared and athletic perimeter trio in the Big East with Dominic James at the point, Jerel McNeal off the ball, and Wesley Matthew on the wing. While Huskies A.J. Price has stepped up his game offensively, he will have his hands full with McNeal's defense and the sheer depth of the Golden Eagles' backcourt. Marquette will look to turn the tempo up and Connecticut will likely look inside. The result could make for an incredible basketball game.
#14 Arizona State at #22 Washington (Thursday, February 26th: 11 p.m. on FSN Regional)
Washington is one of the nation's biggest surprises this year, ranked twenty second in the nation and atop the Pac-10 conference standings. Their season gets significantly harder from here on out, however, facing the two Los Angeles schools on the road before coming home to take on the Arizona State Sun Devils, ranked fourteenth alongside a 20-5 record. The last time these two teams played, Washington pulled out an eye-opening win in Tempe.
The Huskies have a fairly complete roster and while Arizona State has the tendency to smother teams that lack a balanced attack, the combination of Isaiah Thomas and Justin Dentmon in the backcourt and Jon Brockman and Quincy Pondexter in the frontcourt might be enough to throw off Coach Herb Sendeck's dreaded zone.
Arizona State isn't easy to contain, either, primarily because of James Harden, the do-it-all combo guard who has improved upon a stellar freshman season to emerge as one of the country's most lethal offensive players. Though containing Harden will occupy most of their defensive energy Huskies would do well not to forget about Sun Devil center Jeff Pendergraph, who is quietly one of the nation's most efficient and productive big men. The last time that these two met, Pendergraph had 21 points and 15 rebounds. This is a match up between the two top teams in the Pac-10 and for fans and scouts alike, certainly worth watching.
Off the Beaten Track:
#21 Butler at Davidson (Saturday, February 21st: 12 p.m. on ESPN)
Davidson and Butler are traditionally two of the best mid-majors in the country. Lately, however, you'd never know it. Davidson has lost two of their last four games, including a blowout loss at home against the Citadel, which was without star Stephen Curry, but nonetheless embarrassing. Butler has no such excuses, having dropped two straight games, which greatly endangers their top 25 ranking. Worry not, however, as both teams have the chance to right the ship when they face off on Saturday afternoon.
Davidson's sole hope is that Stephen Curry comes back from a nasty ankle injury and returns to carry the scoring load. The 6'3 combo guard is averaging 29.0 ppg (46% FG, 39% 3FG, and 87% FT), 4.1 rpg, and 5.8 apg and, as the world learned on Wednesday, is the heart and soul of the Davidson offense. Without him, this game could get ugly. Butler, on the other hand, has a more balanced offensive attack, relying heavily on a frontline of Matt Howard and standout freshman combo forward Gordon Hayward. The duo combines for 27.5 ppg and 13.3 rpg. In the loss to Milwaukee, Hayward managed just 4 points and 4 rebounds to go alongside of 5 turnovers. For the Bulldogs to win, he has to step up to the plate offensively. Similarly, freshman point guard Shelvin Mack has to regain the composure he showed earlier in the season. He is shooting a miserable 5/21 FG and 1/11 3FG in Butler's two recent losses.
Don't miss this game as two of the nation's top mid-majors battle and prospects that rarely get significant airtime once conference play begins have the opportunity to show scouts what all of the hype is about.
Virginia Military Academy at Liberty (Tuesday, February 24th: 7 p.m. on Liberty Channel)
Virginia Military Academy plays one of the most unique, high paced offenses in the country and finally has been successful, sporting a 20-6 record, which is good or second in the Big South Conference. They're trailed by one game by Liberty, led by Stephen Curry's brother Seth, who despite being a 6'1 shooting guard, is torching nets to the tune of 20.6 ppg. The fraternal theme runs rampant in this game as the Holmes brothers, Travis and Chavis, power Virginia Military's offense. Travis is the distributor, but Chavis is one of the nation's most efficient and explosive offensive players, averaging 21.9 ppg while shooting 53% FG, 45% 3FG, and 84% FT. If you by chance get the Liberty Channel, give this game a look.
#5 Memphis at UTEP (Saturday, February 21st: 4 p.m. on ESPN)
This game is all about matchups, and while Memphis seemingly has the opper hand, UTEP team is a bad team to sleep on, particularly based on their win against Saint Mary's and a solid showing against Wake Forest. Nearly every position yields an interesting match up, but pay particularly close attention to the post, where power forward Robert Dozier's improved numbers will be put to the test against UTEP's 6'11 freshman power forward Arnette Moultrie, who has the potential to develop into an NBA prospect down the road and has shown flashes of excellence, especially 13 points and 13 rebounds against Wake Forest and 19 points and 18 rebounds against Houston. Memphis's freshman point guard Tyreke Evans will have his hands full as well, bringing his shot happy offense against UTEP's 6'6 point guard and defensive stopper, Julyan Stone. Stone doesn't do much on the offensive end, but he contributes on both ends of the floor and is developing into a very good distributor.
Last but not least, don't forget about UTEP's deadly 6'5 shooting guard Stefon Jackson who is averaging 23.1 ppg, but is not scoring nearly as efficiently as he was last year. Though he has rebounded nicely since shooting 1/11 in a loss against Tulsa, he will have his hands full against Memphis's versatile wing Antonio Anderson, who will likely be guarding him. If UTEP plays to their potential, especially taking home court advantage into consideration, they could give Memphis their toughest conference match up yet. This game features some nice prospects and could be quite a thriller. Do not miss this one.
Brigham Young at UNLV (Saturday, February 21st: 11 p.m. on CBS College Sports Network)
BYU has stumbled somewhat since their outstanding start of the season, but have started winning again and head into a difficult stretch of games where they take on the best teams in the MWC and have the chance to prove that they are worthy of an at-large bid in the NCAAs. Their first challenge, however, won't be easy. UNLV rarely plays up to their potential, but when they do, they are a dangerous and versatile team. Behind the backcourt led by combo guards 6'0 Wink Adams and 6'4 Tre'Von Willis, UNLV lacks Brigham Young's size, but can match their scoring ability. Brigham Young starts 6'2 Jimmer Fredette at the point and 6'7 Lee Cummard in the backcourt, who have the size and versatility to give the UNLV guards nightmares. The key to this game, however, may be UNLV swingman and defensive stopper Rene Rougeau, who will either be assigned to Cummard or streaky gunner Jonathan Tavernari, and has shown the ability to shut down the conference's best scorers. There is a lot riding on this game for Brigham Young, who look to avenge their home loss to UNLV in January and make a strong run at an at-large bid. |
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| The Week Ahead: What to Watch in College Basketball (2/14-2/20) |
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| by: Kyle Nelson |
| February 13, 2009 |
A sense of urgency is creeping in amongst the mid-level teams in the BCS conferences. With their NCAA tournament resumes on the line, teams will be looking for their stars to step up, while NBA decision makers look on. Intriguing matchups this week include UCLA at Arizona, UNC at Miami, USC at Arizona State, and a true battle of the titans in Pitt at UConn. Bracketbuster weekend kicks off as well with a very interesting game between VCU and Nevada.
Marquee Matchups:
#11 UCLA at Arizona (Saturday, February 14th: 1 p.m. on CBS)
Despite lacking the depth of most of their PAC-10 counterparts, Arizona has bounced back from a disappointing 11-8 start to win their next five games, including a victories against Washington and Houston. Thus, this home game against UCLA is essential to the Wildcats’ post-season hopes. There is not a specific positional match up to pay attention to in this game but this is the perfect opportunity for Arizona’s stars to show that they can score against one of the top defenses in the NCAA.
Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger are obviously the keys to their chances of winning. Hill is looking to further improve upon his breakout performance this season, which has witnessed him shoot up draft boards behind averages of 18.3 ppg, 11.5 rpg, and 2.0 bpg. He had little trouble against Alfred Aboya last time around, but don’t count out Coach Ben Howland’s ability to craft an alternative defensive scheme. Chase Budinger is also much improved this season, shooting 41% from behind the arc alongside 17.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg, and 3.3 apg, but he will have to find a way to score on a defense that will be tailored to shutting him down.
UCLA dominated the last match up by holding the Wildcats not named Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger to a woeful 8/29 shooting night. Double digit scoring nights from five players didn’t hurt, either. This time around, UCLA will have to get solid scoring from star backcourt, Jrue Holiday and Darren Collison. The tandem, particularly Jrue Holiday, have underwhelmed offensively at points this year, and when they’re not scoring, the Bruins have trouble getting into an offensive rhythm.
The stakes are high for Arizona, who are playing to preserve their post-season hopes. Don’t scoff at the pressure on UCLA, though, as the stakes may be just as high, coming off a loss at Arizona State. This is as mortal as the Bruins have seemed in years and they are looking for a dominant win to quiet doubters.
#25 Florida State at #7 Wake Forest(Saturday, February 14th: 4 p.m. on Raycom Sports Network, ESPN Full Court)
Wake Forest has been one of the most frustrating teams of the season, frequently playing down to the level of their competition, losing four games, two of which were to ACC bottom-feeders North Carolina State and Georgia Tech. Thus, this game, regardless of the outcome may come to define the Deacons’ season. Will they overcome their slump and regain their winning swagger?
Not if red hot Florida State has anything to say about things. They have the frontcourt to challenge Wake Forest’s size and athleticism, with the likes of 7’1 freshman Solomon Alabi, 6’9 Uche Echefu, and 6’9 freshman combo-forward Chris Singleton.
They will have their hands full with Wake Forest’s own set of athletic giants, but they match up very well against Deacon big men, 7’0 center Chas McFarland and 6’9 combo forwards James Johnson and Al-Farouq Aminu. Whoever gets the better of this match up clearly has the upper hand, as Wake Forest’s Achilles heel has been their frontcourt’s consistency.
The other key to this game is the duel on the perimeter between two of the ACC’s top scoring guards, Wake Forest’s Jeff Teague and Florida State’s Toney Douglas. Teague was invincible until opponents realized that his role could be stymied by a good box-and-one. North Carolina State tried it on Wednesday and limited Teague to 11 points on just 3 shots! He will have another challenge on his hands in Florida State’s Toney Douglas, one of the best perimeter defenders in the ACC and a scoring nightmare, also.
Douglas is averaging 20.3 ppg, including 32 against North Carolina and 30 against Miami. He is also averaging 2.0 spg. While Wake Forest should have no trouble getting into the NCAA tournament at this stage, this game will be very telling as to how good the Demon Deacons really are. Twenty fifth-ranked Florida State isn’t half bad either and a win in Winston-Salem could be the statement necessary to firmly plant them in the NCAA tournament conversation.
#3 North Carolina at Miami (FL)(Sunday, February 15th: 3 p.m. on CBS College Sports)
The last time these two teams met, North Carolina destroyed Miami in Chapel Hill. In Miami, however, the Hurricanes have proven capable of slaying giants. Miami’s hope, as often has been the case, rests upon the shoulders of superstar senior guard Jack McClinton, who is averaging just under 20 ppg and shooting over 47% from three. If McClinton is scoring and role players such as Dwayne Collins and James Dews rise to the occasion offensively, the Hurricanes have a chance.
They’ll have to outshoot and outscore North Carolina, however, who are fresh off dismantling Duke in Cameron Indoor and look like they have recovered from their slight misstep earlier in the season. Miami will have trouble containing just about every man in the Tar Heel’s rotation, especially Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington, and Ty Lawson, who all will have favorable match ups. Miami has surprised people before, a fact that automatically makes this game worth watching, but Carolina has an unbelievable amount of momentum going into this game and should come out on top.
Southern California at #18 Arizona State(Sunday, February 15th: 3 p.m. on CBS College Sports)
Southern California desperately needs a quality win this season if they want a chance at the postseason, and a win at Arizona State wouldn’t be a bad place to start. Unfortunately, they’re overmatched, will be coming off of a game at Arizona, will face an uncompromising zone defense, and are facing off against an Arizona State team that is fresh off a season sweep of UCLA.
If Southern California has a chance, it will rest in hands of its backcourt, which has been unbelievably inconsistent, despite its immense talent. Dwight Lewis, Daniel Hackett, and freshman phenomenon DeMar DeRozan have had their moments, but have yet to live up to their potential.
They will have their hands full with the Arizona State frontcourt, primarily projected lottery pick James Harden, who can impact a game in many different ways, on and off of the ball. The key match up might be in the middle, however, where Arizona State big man Jeff Pendergraph, who is coming off of an excellent performance against UCLA and USC center Taj Gibson, who has slowed down since a dominant start to his season, but is still a threat on both sides of the ball.
Here is another chance to see a talented team, full of NBA prospects, fighting for its post-season lives.
#4 Pittsburgh at #1 Connecticut(Monday, February 16th: 7 p.m. on ESPN)
This is the match up of the week. Connecticut and Pittsburgh are the cream of the NCAA, boasting depth at every position and will both surely be contending for a national title. Connecticut just lost its second best scorer in Jerome Dyson, but freshman guard Kemba Walker has proven to be a very capable reserve and should thrive in a starting role.
Watch the middle in this game, however, as two of the nation’s finest frontcourts meet up in a battle not to be missed. Connecticut’s undersized warrior Jeff Adrien and 7’3 center Hasheem Thabeet will test their prowess against Pittsburgh tandem of combo-forward Sam Young and DeJuan Blair, who plays much bigger than his listed 6’7. Scouts will be watching to see which duo gets the upper hand.
Things don’t trail off much on the perimeter as point guards Levance Fields and A.J. Price match up. Fields is an ultra-efficient distributor, currently sporting a 3.87 A/TO and a much improved perimeter stroke. Price has come into his own lately, with eight straight games in double figures the conditioning to finish games strong. With scouts from most NBA teams on hand, and the top of the Big East standings at stake, this is not a game to be missed.
Kentucky at Vanderbilt(Tuesday, February 17th: 9 p.m. on ESPN)
While there are many reasons to watch this game, don’t miss the match up in the middle between NBA big men, Kentucky’s Patrick Patterson and Vanderbilt’s Andrew Ogilvy. Patterson is undersized, but has shown toughness and versatility this year, scoring efficiently on offense and improving his defense significantly. Ogilvy has had an up and down season season, including a stretch of three games where he shot just 2/14 from the field and grabbed just 17 rebounds, but has rebounded in his last three games to the tune of 17.0 ppg, 9 rpg, and 1.7 bpg. Scouts will be watching to see whether Patterson’s grit can trump Ogilvy’s size and vice versa.
Elsewhere on the court, Kentucky shooting guard Jodie Meeks is always worth watching, recently nailing a last second three pointer to beat Florida, and averaging 25.0 ppg on 43% shooting from beyond the arc and 90% shooting from the foul line. Vanderbilt has no answer for Meeks, but if they want a chance at victory, they have to find a way to slow him down.
Also, pay attention to Vanderbilt freshman swingman Jeff Taylor, who has excellent size for the perimeter and has come up big for the Commodores this season. At 17-7, however, the pressure is on Kentucky, as they must win this game to show that they are capable of elevating the SEC’s pitiful national profile.
LSU at Arkansas(Wednesday, February 18th: 8 p.m. on Raycom Sports Network)
LSU is one of the nation’s most underrated teams, sitting on a 20-4 record on top of the SEC, with only one bad loss on their resume. They head to Arkansas in a game that will prove how good the Tigers are and whether or not their record is for real. They travel to play an Arkansas team whose backs are against the wall and have the ability to step up their play at home, despite their 13-9 record.
Arkansas is severely overmatched in this game, especially considering the play of the LSU backcourt: point guard Garrett Temple, shooting guard Marcus Thornton, and combo forward Tasmin Mitchell. Thornton and Mitchell have proven to be lethal scorers this year, with a combined 17 games scoring 20+ ppg.
In order to snap their four game losing streak, Arkansas must find a way to contend with this duo, but most importantly, they have to find consistent offense outside of Michael Washington. Early in the season it looked like freshman point guard Courtney Fortson was going to be the answer, but he has come up cold in the clutch this season and is prone to bad decision making and shot selection.
Arkansas will have to get a gigantic game out of Michael Washington, however, if they want a shot in this game, who scored 24 points the last time these two teams met, but will have his hands full with LSU big man Chris Johnson and even, at times, Tasmin Mitchell. This is Arkansas’s last chance to pick up a marquee win before they fall out of the post-season conversation. For Louisiana State, a win away from home against a talented team would be a feather in the cap of a breakout season.
Iowa State at #16 Kansas(Wednesday, February 18th: 8 p.m. on Big 12 Network, Altitude Network, ESPN Full Court)
Iowa State is almost certainly out of post-season consideration, but the story of this game has less to do with standings and more to do with the match up that scouts across the country will be tuning in to watch. Cyclones 6’10 power forward Craig Brackins has emerged as one of the best post prospects this season and his averages of 19.4 ppg, 9.1 rpg, and 1.0 bpg, which combined with a standout performances against Blake Griffin, has led to his draft stock skyrocketing. This game, a rematch against a Kansas team he dominated to the tune of 42 points and 14 rebounds, is another forum to show his skill against one of the top big men in the Big 12 and fellow draft prospect, Kansas’s Cole Aldrich.
There aren’t many other reasons to watch this game, between the Big 12’s ceiling and the cellar, but this match up is not one to miss, especially considering how well Brackins rises to the occasion in big time match ups.
Washington at #11 UCLA(Thursday, February 19th: 11 p.m. on FSN)
Washington has been one of the surprise teams in the country, rebounding from a disappointing season last year with less talent to have a breakout season that has found the Huskies neck and neck with Arizona State and UCLA atop the Pac-10 standings. This game gets even more interesting following UCLA’s loss at Arizona State, which exposed UCLA’s lack of execution in the clutch and failed to answer questions as to who is the go-to player on the offensive end for this squad.
Washington will travel to Los Angeles looking to sweep the Bruins. To do so, they will need continued excellence from their undersized backcourt, led by freshman Isaiah Thomas and senior Justin Dentmon. The duo will face suffocating defense from the likes of Darren Collison and Jrue Holiday, but if stalwart big man Jon Brockman and underachieving combo-forward Quincy Pondexter can establish their dominance over UCLA’s lesser frontcourt, the Washington offense should not have much trouble establishing a rhythm.
Ben Howland’s defense, while deservedly extolled, will certainly be a tremendous factor, but UCLA desperately needs offense out of its stars, particularly Jrue Holiday, who against Arizona State, missed all five of his shots from the field and failed to score a point. UCLA is a formidable team when they’re hitting perimeter shots and clicking on defense, but their lack of a consistent go-to option is holding them back from being an elite team. Tune in to see if they can get their act back together and beat one of hottest teams in the Pac-10.
Off the Beaten Track:
VCU at Nevada(Friday, February 20th: 9 p.m. on ESPNU)
The story here has less to do with match ups and more to do with seeing two under the radar prospects on national television: Nevada’s freshman forward Luke Babbitt and one of the nation’s best point guard’s in VCU senior Eric Maynor. Babbitt has been one of the nation’s top freshmen, coming out on top in a head-to-head match up against Tyler Hansbrough and posting numbers of 16.5 ppg and 7.6 rpg while shooting 46% from the field and 43% from beyond the arc. He will get a challenge on the defensive end from VCU sophomore Larry Sanders, who is much improved this season and averaging 10.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg, and 2.5 bpg.
Most, however, will be tuned in to watch Eric Maynor, one of the nation’s most efficient scorers and distributors, who will almost surely be in the NBA next season. Nevada will throw everything they have at him and look for Maynor to find a way to get his teammates if things do not go well offensively. This Bracketbuster matchup is not to be missed.
Temple at Duquesne(Sunday, February 15th: 3 p.m. on CBS College Sports)
Temple and Duquesne have both been wildly inconsistent this year, toppling quality teams and losing to much weaker competition. This game finds a variety of borderline prospects on the floor together, in a clash of styles that should result in a good game. For the Dukes, be sure to watch 6’7 combo forward Damian Saunders, who has slowed down, but is still in the midst of an impressive breakout season playing out of position at center and averaging over two steals and blocks per game.
Point guard Aaron Jackson is having a breakout season of his own to the tune of 17.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 5.5 apg, and 1.7 spg while shooting 53% FG, 36% 3FG, and 82% FT. He has good size and a nice frame for the point guard position and is likely to get more serious looks as the season continues. He will be tested, however, by the Temple perimeter defense that, when it is clicking, is difficult to penetrate.
Temple has one advantage, however, in the form of shooting guard Dionte Christmas who has been streaky at times this season, but is still one of the nation’s most lethal scorers on any given night. This game, at Duquesne, could easily turn into a shoot out, which between teams as talented as Duquense and Temple, is always entertaining. |
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| The Week Ahead: What to Watch in College Basketball (2/7-2/13) |
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| by: Kyle Nelson |
| February 6, 2009 |
Predictions seem pointless after awhile in the world of college basketball. Right after Duke solidified itself as one of the top teams in the NCAA, they were blown out by Clemson, which symbolized a week in college basketball filled with surprise, excitement, and just a hint of intrigue. This week, however, the theme is redemption, as the likes of Notre Dame, Kentucky, Michigan try desperately to get their seasons back on track. Don’t miss any of the action, particularly a matchup of Big East backcourts when eighth seeded Marquette travels to seventeenth ranked Villanova. And, those “Off the Beaten Track” games aren’t half bad either. Its crunch time in the Atlantic 10 again, and it would be a shame to miss out on some of the top mid-major action in the country. Last but not least, tune in to see if the Memphis Tigers, led by blossoming freshman phenom Tyreke Evans, are for real, as they take on Gonzaga and Tulsa in one of their toughest weeks thus far this season. It’s time for another big week in college basketball and here’s what we’re going to be watching.
Marquee Matchups:
Notre Dame at #15 UCLA (Saturday, February 7th: 1 p.m. on CBS)
Since winning 12 of their first 15 games, Notre Dame has gone on to drop six straight games on their way to a 12-9 record and twelfth place in the Big East. Their schedule doesn’t get any easier, either, and on Saturday, they head to Pauley Pavilion to take on 15th ranked UCLA. Notre Dame has their backs against the wall, as they absolutely must win this game in order to keep their names relevant come March. The Irish’s inside-outside tandem of Luke Harangody and Kyle McAlarney must get involved early on, even if they have slumped badly as of late. In the past nine games, Harangody and McAlarney are shooting an alarming 43% and 35% from the field.
While UCLA’s defense has not been anywhere near as good as in years past, Coach Ben Howland will look to contain the slumping superstars. The Bruins are going to look for another big contribution from star point guard Darren Collison, who is averaging 14.6 ppg (54% FG, 40% 3FG, and 94% FT) and 5.2 apg, but has shot just 37% from the field in UCLA’s four losses this season. It will be up to backcourt mate, freshman Jrue Holiday to continue to translate his versatile talents into offensive production to go along with his consistently solid defensive contributions, however, to ease Collison’s offensive load.
For UCLA, this game could give them momentum going into a rough road stretch against the Arizona schools and boost their resume going into the postseason. Notre Dame, however, cannot afford to lose, and with eight losses already in the book and barring a strong postseason run, winning this game might be the difference between an at-large bid and a disappointing end to a once promising season.
Arkansas at Mississippi State (Saturday, February 7th: 3 p.m. on Raycom Sports Network, ESPN Full Court)
Once again, watch Mississippi State shot blocking star Jarvis Varnado take on fellow SEC star Michael Washington in a rematch of the January game that saw Varnado post 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 blocks in a victory alongside Washington’s 18 points, 15 rebounds, and 1 block. Who will come out on top this time around? From a scouting perspective, can Washington score inside against an elite shotblocker? Varnado has proven his stripes defensively this season, but can he produce offensively against a big man with NBA caliber size and athleticism? Needless to say, in what has been a disappointing season in the SEC, this is a match up not to be missed and one that scouts will be watching.
#14 Memphis at #18 Gonzaga (Saturday, February 7th: 9 p.m. on ESPN)
Memphis has now won thirteen straight games since losing at home to Syracuse, and has run the table on what was initially thought to be an improved Conference USA slate. The Tigers will get a chance to test their record on Saturday, however, in a match up at Gonzaga. At this point in the season, Memphis is looking for a consistent go-to player, which at different points throughout the season has been either freshman Tyreke Evans or senior Antonio Anderson. Scouts will want to see if the two can work together on and off the ball in an otherwise weak Memphis backcourt. Evans will need to take care of the ball and play under control if Memphis is going to have a shot at knocking off Gonzaga on their home floor.
The real question in this game for Memphis, however, seems to be who else will step up to the plate and produce. Flashes of potential have yet to coalesce into the breakout season scouts and fans desperately want from the 6’10 combo-forward Robert Dozier. He needs to continue to build on his 19 point, 10 rebound, 3 steal, and 2 block performance against Houston to get his draft stock up and moving this spring.
In the other corner, Gonzaga is also coming off of an eight game winning streak since losing on the road to Utah, and have shot back up the top 25, though their conference slate hasn’t exactly been that impressive. The Zags have four players capable of dropping 20 points on any given night in Austin Daye, Josh Heytvelt, Matt Bouldin, and Steven Gray, all of who could use a big game with the bright lights shining and scouts across the country in town. The key for Mark Few’s team, however, is consistent play from starting point guard Jeremy Pargo, who is sporting a nearly even assist/turnover ratio in the New Year, but went off for 22 points at Portland on Thursday.
Consider this game a heat check for both teams. This game matters because both teams are elite teams in weak conferences, but Gonzaga, who struggled in the latter half of their non-conference slate, losing four out of five games during a particularly rough stretch in December, could really use a resume win this time around.
#13 Michigan St at Michigan (Tuesday, February 10th: 7 p.m. on ESPN)
Both Michigan squads are coming off of blowout home wins and while Michigan State looks to have the upper hand, they would be wise not to underestimate the upset-minded Wolverines. Michigan State has looked good all season, but has run into an obstacle since star wing Raymar Morgan was diagnosed with walking pneumonia and relegated to bench duty. In his absence, the Michigan State backcourt of point guard Kalin Lucas and shooting guard Durrell Summers have willed Tom Izzo’s team to victory.
Lucas has been one of the top point guards in the country all season, as well as an underrated scorer, but the surprise has been Summers, who has stepped up to the challenge, averaging 19.3 ppg over his last four games while shooting 61% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc. They will have their hands full on the other end of the floor, however, with Michigan’s 6’5 combo-guard Manny Harris.
Harris has struggled with his shooting touch at times this year, especially from beyond the arc, but there are few players in the NCAA who can stop him once he catches fire. Another concern for Michigan State comes in the form of power forward DeShawn Sims. Sims can score inside and outside and though his production has slowed down a lot since the Wolverines entered conference play, he is always a factor when he is on the floor.
#8 Marquette at #17 Villanova (Tuesday, February 10th: 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2)
Few teams in the country are as hot as the Marquette Golden Eagles. They have won twelve straight games and sit undefeated in second place in the stacked Big East conference. Keep your eyes on the backcourt during this game, as Marquette sharp shooters Jerel McNeal (49% FG and 48% 3FG) and Wesley Matthews (53% FG and 39% 3FG) look to let loose their offensive onslaught on a Villanova team that they beat at home once this season.
They face an unpredictable, but still deadly Villanova backcourt that has multiple players capable of stepping up on any given night. The focal point, however, is Scottie Reynolds, who is averaging 15.1 ppg, but came up cold the last time these two teams met.
Another interesting matchup is in the paint as undersized warrior Lazar Hayward of Marquette matches up against Dante Cunningham, Villanova’s 6’8 senior power forward who is averaging 16.5 ppg and 7.3 rpg on the season. Scouts will be particularly interested as to whether or not Cunningham can handle the perimeter-friendly Hayward when he steps away from the basket.
This is a game not to be missed, a meeting of two Big East power houses and two of the nation’s finest backcourts.
Florida at Kentucky (Tuesday, February 10th: 9 p.m. on ESPN)
As unranked Florida has learned, life at the top of the SEC standings isn’t what it used to be. The 19-4 Gators escaped with a win against upset-minded South Carolina on Tuesday and have a chance to deliver the SEC an entry into the top 25 if they can survive what looks to be their toughest remaining test of the season: a trip to Rupp arena.
While Florida’s 6’5 sophomore PG Nick Calathes is likely the star of this show for most scouts, do not sleep on Kentucky scoring sensation Jodie Meeks, who has struggled in Kentucky’s three game losing streak, but has topped 30 points six times this season. Scouts will be interested to see if Calathes can slow Meeks down or, at the very least, counter with a spectacular offensive showing of his own. The post features an interesting matchup, as well. Kentucky big man Patrick Patterson is still in the midst of an incredibly efficient season, shooting 65% from the floor on the way to averages of 18.3 ppg and 9.2 rpg. He will square off against Florida big man Alex Tyus, a player who has quietly emerged as the Gators’ go-to option in the post and has the potential to slow down Patterson on the blocks.
This is a must win game for a Kentucky team that has slumped to a 16-7 record and a game that would solidify chances of a Florida run back up the top 25.
#20 Syracuse at #1 Connecticut (Wednesday, February 11th: 7 p.m. on ESPN)
Connecticut has performed a rare feat during the past couple of weeks. They have held onto the coveted number one spot and do not look like they are interested in giving it up without a fight. After demolishing seventh ranked Louisville on the road, the Huskies return back to Storrs for a tune up against Michigan and a match up against conference rivals Syracuse, who have cooled off a bit, but are still a formidable foe.
Despite being overmatched by the size and athleticism that Connecticut brings to the table, Syracuse has a lot of talent to offer for this match up, primarily point guard Jonny Flynn, a quick and athletic player who can score and distribute with ease and is slowly proving to be one of the best point guards in the NCAA. He will be matched up against another one of the NCAA’s finest point guards in A.J. Price, who has found his stride lately, averaging 17 ppg over his past eight games, all wins for the Huskies.
Another player to watch is Connecticut center Hasheem Thabeet, who is fresh off of his first career triple double and has continued to dominate the best big men that the Big East has to offer. He will have a chance to prove himself against the Syracuse frontcourt, primarily the ultra efficient Arinze Onuaku.
Assuming Connecticut gets through Michigan, this is the perfect opportunity for the Huskies to prove themselves against another one of the nation’s top teams and further legitimize their place atop the NCAA standings.
#3 North Carolina at #4 Duke (Wednesday, February 11th: 9 p.m. on ESPN, Raycom Sports Network)
North Carolina has assumed their old form, winning their last six games by an average of 16 points and streaking to a 20-2 record. Duke, on the other hand, suffered their worst loss of the season on the road against Clemson and has the misfortune of taking on the red hot Miami Hurricanes at home before they meet the Tar Heels.
Duke’s problem is that nobody outside of Gerald Henderson and Kyle Singler is producing consistently, especially guards Nolan Smith and Jon Scheyer. Singler and Henderson, however, are going to make life difficult for a UNC team that is not known for particularly tight perimeter defense, especially now that stopper Marcus Ginyard is done for the season.
The Tar Heels, though, have a plethora of offensive weapons, which might prove to be too much for the Blue Devils. First and foremost, the perimeter trio of point guard Ty Lawson, shooting guard Wayne Ellington, and small forward Danny Green are averaging 43.7 ppg and are developing more chemistry by the day, showing scouts why their pre-season draft hype was not a fluke.
In the middle, Duke will have to find an answer for Tyler Hansbrough, who, like him or not, is still one of the most dominant big men in the NCAA. This game is always a death match, no matter where or when it’s played. In Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke always has an advantage, but whether or not they can stop their red-hot rivals remains to be seen. Tune in and catch one of the most anticipated games of the year.
Southern California at Arizona (Thursday, February 12th: 10:30 p.m. on FSN)
Despite standing at 15-7 and 15-8 respectively, there is no reason to count Southern California or Arizona out of the post-season hunt just yet. A win here could be just what the doctor ordered for these two teams on the cusp of success, but lacking the depth to take a step to the next level. There are some intriguing match ups, including a marquee post battle between Arizona’s projected lottery pick Jordan Hill and junior Taj Gibson, who is quietly recording an improved season on both ends of the floor. If Gibson can contain Hill, especially with scouts watching, don’t be surprised if his stock finally begins to rise after languishing all fall and winter.
On the perimeter, it’s a duel between Arizona’s sharp shooting junior Chase Budinger, who is averaging 17.4 ppg while shooting 40% from beyond the arc, and freshman phenomenon DeMar DeRozan. DeRozan has improved just about every time he has stepped on the court thus far this season and, while he still cannot hit a perimeter jumpshot to save his life, expect him to step up to the challenge when facing off against one of the finest wing prospects in the collegiate ranks. All of this said, it would be unwise to miss this PAC-10 showdown.
Off the Beaten Track:
#9 Xavier at Duquesne (Saturday, February 7th: 7 p.m. on FSOhio, FSN Pittsburgh, The Atlantic 10 Conference Network)
Xavier has passed every test thrown at them since dropping two games in a row to Duke and Butler. They have won eleven games since and through a balanced perimeter attack, have run the table on an always-challenging Atlantic 10 conference schedule. Against Duquesne, however, the Musketeers must develop an offensive scheme that takes into account the Dukes’ multitude of versatile scorers. Starting with slashing 6’4 point guard Aaron Jackson, who is averaging 17.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, and 5.7 apg as well as versatile big man Damian Saunders, who at 6’7 can play and defend three positions on the floor, the Dukes can score in a variety of different ways, inside and out. All of this said, however, count on ninth ranked Xavier to have an idea of what is going on and to unleash their own onslaught of perimeter shooting and smart, efficient offensive in what could be one of the marquee match ups in the Atlantic 10.
Tulsa at #14 Memphis (Wednesday, February 11th: 8 p.m. on CBS College Sports)
As we mentioned earlier, Memphis has now won thirteen straight games since losing at home to Syracuse and has a chance to run the table on what was initially thought to be an improved Conference USA. The Tigers will get a chance to test their record in a rematch against a Tulsa team that was less than a second away from victory before Antonio Anderson beat the buzzer with a clutch layup.
Tulsa, however, won’t go quietly. Behind the efforts of rapidly improving seven-footer Jerome Jordan and combo-guard Ben Uzoh, the Golden Hurricane is a tough team to beat and are trailing Memphis by just two games in the Conference USA standings. Memphis has had problems with consistency in their frontcourt and if Jordan can get the better of his match up on the block, either against Shawn Taggart or Robert Dozier, the Golden Hurricane have a chance to topple the Tigers. Tune in to this one if you get the chance to watch the two titans of Conference USA square off in a game that could matter a lot come March. It’s also a great opportunity to get an in-depth look at Jerome Jordan, who could very well be headed for the draft this spring.
Temple at St. Joseph’s (Thursday, February 12th: 7 p.m. on ESPN2)
No Philadelphia team wants to lose against a cross-town rival. With the post-season looming around the corner, this game is no exception. After all, it is a rematch of last year’s Atlantic 10 tournament final. The question is, will Dionte Christmas light up the scoreboard despite facing one of the Atlantic 10’s most feared defenders in St. Joseph’s combo-guard Garrett Williamson? Christmas’s averages of 20.5 ppg on 44% shooting from the field and 39% shooting from beyond the arc would suggest that the answer is yes, but do not be surprised if St. Joe’s coach Phil Martelli has a few tricks up his sleeves.
For St. Joe’s to win, however, they are going to need consistency out of point guard Tasheed Carr, who has rebounded from a disappointing non-conference slate to average 15.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, and 4.9 apg all while maintaining his reputation as a good perimeter defender. At center, 6’9 Hawks big man Ahmad Nivins has established himself as the best big man that the Atlantic 10 has to offer and must prove his reputation against a big Temple frontcourt. If these two players produce and Martelli can find a way to slow down Christmas, St. Joe’s could escape with a win and the momentum to make a deep run in the Atlantic 10 tournament, just like they did last year. Regardless, this will make for an excellent game and a rare opportunity to see two programs on the rise, resume a storied rivalry.
#25 Utah State at Idaho (Thursday, February 12th: 9 p.m. on Altitude Network)
Last but not least, be sure to check out 22-1 Utah State as they take on an Idaho team that may be better than their 10-11 record indicates. Idaho has no answer for Utah State’s loaded frontcourt, particularly senior center Gary Wilkinson’s 17.3 ppg and 7.3 rpg, but they do have one of the better guards in the WAC, former Washington State starting point guard, Mac Hopson, who is quietly putting up 16.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg, and 6.9 apg while shooting 49% from beyond the arc. Hopson has a long way to go, many areas of his game to work on, and just one more year to prove himself worthy of discussion in the draft conversation. Nevertheless, he is a player to watch this season, perhaps even a fringe prospect down the road. This is a rare televised opportunity to catch a Utah State team that could make some noise in the postseason. |
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| The Week Ahead: What to Watch in College Basketball (1/31-2/6) |
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| by: Kyle Nelson |
| January 30, 2009 |
There was another heart stopper in Winston-Salem last week and another number one team fell. Only this time, it was Wake Forest providing the upset. If January was the rise of the ACC, it looks as if February may belong to the Big East, with Connecticut, Louisville, and Marquette storming up the top 25, even if Georgetown and Notre Dame have taken off a few possessions too many. Keep your eyes peeled, though, because nothing is certain, especially this early on. This week in college basketball, you’ll get to see all six players we profiled in our last “NCAA Weekly Performers” piece and take in the match ups scouts across the United States and the world will be watching. We have recommended some good ones in the past, and this week should be no exception. Here is what we’re going to be watching during this coming week in college basketball.
Marquee Matchups:
#4 Oklahoma at Iowa St (Saturday, January 31st: 1:30 p.m. on Big 12 Network, YES, ESPN Full Court)
Iowa State looks at least a year away from returning to the NCAA tournament, but that is not to say that #4 Oklahoma should sleep on the Cyclones when they meet in Ames on Saturday. The reason is because of Iowa State power forward Craig Brackins, who is averaging 19.6 ppg and 9.1 rpg on the season and will be one of the toughest match ups Oklahoma superstar Blake Griffin, who is averaging a 22.3 ppg and 140 rpg, has seen this year. Since neither player known for their defense, scouts will be looking to see if either player can stop each other. With inconsistency still a problem in each team’s respective backcourt, the game likely comes down to the aforementioned match up. That said, there are still plenty of other reasons to watch. Oklahoma’s freshman shooting guard Willie Warren is proving to be an excellent supporting cast member, shooting 41% from beyond the arc in conference play. Also, don’t forget Diante Garrett. Iowa State’s 6’4 sophomore PG has seemingly hit a wall since his solid performance against Texas, but has intriguing length and talent for a primary ball-handler.
#23 Georgetown at #8 Marquette (Saturday, January 31st: 2 p.m. on Big East Network, MSG, ESPN Full Court)
Since beating Syracuse handily on January 14, Georgetown has dropped four straight games, including one at Seton Hall and an overtime loss to Cincinnati, and now sit 12-7, good for tenth place in the loaded Big East. They have another tough game on their hands against eighth ranked Marquette, who are undefeated at home this season and have won ten games in a row.
The key to this game lies in the Georgetown zone’s ability to stop Marquette’s three guard attack, led by point guard Dominic James and flanked by combo-guard Jerel McNeal and wing Wesley Matthews, two of the nation’s deadliest scorers. The trio average 50 ppg, 13.8 rpg, and 11.3 apg and have taken apart some of the Big East’s top backcourts this season.
Georgetown clearly has more size, though depending on how often DaJuan Summers shoots from beyond the arc, you might not realize the discrepancy. Though the 6’8 combo-forward is shooting over 39% on the year from three, he has shot just 4/18 in his past three games. Scouts still want to see him utilize his size off of the dribble and in the paint ,and for Georgetown to exploit the size advantage, they’re going to need a big performance out of Summers inside as well as outside. Freshman phenomenon Greg Monroe needs to have a big game, too, which means not turning the ball over at such a high rate (3.25 TOpg in his last four games) and continuing to score efficiently in the post.
Marquette’s junior combo forward Lazar Hayward has to find a way to contain the Georgetown frontcourt while staying out of foul trouble. At just 6’6, he gives up a lot of height, especially to Monroe, but Hayward’s inside-outside game has the potential to open up the lane for the trio of slashing guards. Jerel McNeal’s outside shooting has been a revelation this season, and it will be interesting to see if he can continue to make 3-pointers in a slower, more packed in setting than he might prefer.
Marquette is on fire, but Georgetown has their backs to the wall. This is a match up for fans and scouts alike, a chance to see some of the Big East’s best teams and players in action.
Virginia Tech at Boston College (Saturday, January 31st: 8 p.m. on Raycom Sports Network, ESPN Full Court)
When Boston College visited Blacksburg, Virginia Tech, held on for the win. This time, however, the Hokies travel to Boston College with the stakes raised for both sides, a battle between two of the ACC’s on-the-cusp teams. This game will likely come down to the performance of Virginia Tech point guard Malcolm Delaney, who had a great performance on both sides of the ball in an upset win at Wake Forest, and one of the ACC’s top point guards in Boston College’s Tyrese Rice, who has shown throughout his career that he can score the ball at will against anybody on any given night.
On the perimeter, look for a slugfest between Virginia Tech A.D. Vassallo, one of the ACC’s premier gunners, and Rakim Sanders, who can step up and be a lockdown defender on the perimeter. The match ups on the perimeter are fairly even, but Virginia Tech has the advantage in the middle with 6’7 Jeff Allen, a likely first rounder if he were two inches taller, but one of the NCAA’s most underrated and versatile post players. His ability to score inside and hit the spot-up jumpshot might be too much for the Boston College frontcourt to handle. He went off for 30 points and 9 rebounds the last time the two met and could be the X-factor this time around.
Florida at Tennessee (Saturday, January 31st: 9 p.m. on ESPN)
Last season, Florida started 18-3 and ended up 21-11, out of the NCAA tournament. This time around, they are an older and deeper team, looking to make a statement in the SEC and enter the Top 25. Since losing to South Carolina, the Gators have blown away Vanderbilt and Georgia and travel to Tennessee to take on a reeling, but still incredibly talented, team. The Volunteers have lost two in a row, adding to their previous five losses, emerging 12-7 and fourth in the SEC. Beating Florida won’t be easy, even on their home court, but Tennessee needs to win this game to right the ship on what has otherwise been a disappointing season.
The key to this game is for Tennessee to stop Florida point guard Nick Calathes, who has found his stride on and off of the ball, averaging 20.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg, and 6.4 apg over his last 10 games, including a triple double against Georgia on Wednesday. He will need help from combo-forward Chandler Parsons, however, who has also started to find his legs after a somewhat disappointing season thus far, shooting 65% from the field and 50% from three in his last four games.
Strictly based on match ups, Tennessee has the advantage, particularly in terms of size and athleticism, but they’ve yet to translate their up-tempo style of play into wins on a consistent basis this season. One of the reasons is that junior point-forward and go-to player, Tyler Smith is in the middle of a significant slump. He is too valuable to be shooting 28% from the floor, as he has done in Tennessee’s last two losses.
Assuming that Smith can bounce back and freshman gunner Scotty Hopson can regain his perimeter shooting touch (31% from beyond the arc over his past 10 games), then Tennessee has a chance of winning. Scouts, in particular will be looking to see if these two players can bounce back from slumps. In addition, this game is important for both team’s respective confidence heading into the final stretch of conference play. ESPN’s Gameday crew will be in town, and Thompson Boling Arena will surely be rocking for this game.
# 2 Connecticut at #7 Louisville (Monday, February 2nd: 7 p.m. on ESPN)
This is a match up between two of the hottest teams in the country, who have proved their mettle in conference play and are tied for first in a loaded Big East. This game will be a heat-check for Connecticut, who are undefeated on the road this year, but have to travel down to Freedom Hall, arguably one of the nation’s toughest home courts, to take on the red-hot Cardinals, who have now won eight straight games since falling to UNLV.
Scouts will be out in full force for this game. They’ll be looking for big games out of multi-faceted stars Earl Clark and Terrence Williams, both of whom have elevated their play accordingly in January. An interesting match up however, will be how well Connecticut’s Stanley Robinson can stay in front of Clark inside and outside. Similarly, it is up to Hasheem Thabeet to have a big game, matched up against the undersized Samardo Samuels with scouts watching to see if he can score efficiently in the post, as well as dominate on the defensive end.
One area where Connecticut has a clear advantage, however, is in the backcourt, as Louisville still lacks consistent play at the point guard position and Connecticut point guard A.J. Price is in the midst of breakout stretch of games after slumping offensive for much of the earlier season. If Price, and backcourt mates Jerome Dyson and Kemba Walker, can spread the floor with their perimeter shooting as well as attack the basket, Connecticut could make their bid for the top ranking in both the Big East and NCAA that much stronger.
#17 Purdue at Ohio State (Tuesday, February 3rd: 7 p.m. on ESPN)
Ohio State survived a rough game against Michigan to snap their two game losing streak, and after taking on the hapless Indiana Hoosiers, will head back home to face Purdue. The Boilermakers are a team that nobody in the Big 10 should want to play, deep, versatile, and undefeated since losing at Penn State.
Their star is E’Twaun Moore, an athletic combo-guard, who has gotten back on track after struggling from the field against Northwestern and Wisconsin. Sophomore Robbie Hummel isn’t half bad either, proving again to be a solid inside and outside option with good basketball IQ. It will be interesting to see how he matches up defensively, however, and whether or not he stays on the wing against Ohio State’s star Evan Turner or if he slides over to a more favorable match up.
Turner has proven to that he can handle most Big 10 defenses and is versatile enough to make an impact elsewhere if things are not shaping up for him offensively. The biggest story on Ohio State, however, may be the emergence of big man B.J. Mullens, who is still coming off of the bench, but having a break out of sorts, with seven straight games in double figures and what looks to be growing confidence.
We’ve written about the challenges that Mullens has faced at the collegiate level thus far, so this game will be an important one for scouts to see whether or not he can handle JaJuan Johnson’s size and contribute on both ends of the floor. A win could mark a turning point in what has been an up and down season thus far for the Buckeyes and for Purdue, stealing a game in Columbus will likely look pretty solid come March.
Mississippi State @ #24 Kentucky (Tuesday, February 3rd: Raycom Sports Network, FSSouth, Sun Sports, ESPN Full Court)
Kentucky, having just lost at Mississippi, looks to leave the SEC without a contributor to the Top 25, unless, of course, they can return to their winning ways during their three game home stretch. While they have to get through South Carolina first and Florida is no walk in the park, their biggest challenge may be taking on Mississippi State. Why? Jarvis Varnado just happens to be one of the most feared interior defenders in the country. The last time these two teams met in conference play, Varnado posted a triple double of 10 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 blocks. This year, Varnado is even better.
So is Kentucky big man Patrick Patterson, who has been held below 50% shooting just three times this year and has 11 double-doubles to go along with averages of 18.0 ppg and 9.3 rpg on the season. Needless to say, scouts will be looking to see if Patterson can come out on top in this one and whether or not Varnado can deal with a strong and athletic player on the offensive end of the court.
Mississippi State’s biggest challenge, however, is to see if they can slow down Jodie Meeks, who is averaging 25.8 ppg on 48% FG, 45% 3FG, and 91% FT. Meeks is going to get his points one way or another, but if Varnado does his job in the middle and the Bulldogs study the tape of the Mississippi game, where Meeks was “held” to 21 points on 4/15 shooting from the field, this match up could live up to its potential.
#6 Wake Forest at Miami (FL) (Wednesday, February 4th: 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2)
After an ugly upset loss at home against Virginia Tech, sixth ranked Wake Forest stormed back and toppled top ranked Duke. Miami, on the other hand, has yet to get out of their funk since getting blown out against UNC, losing their last two games against Virginia Tech and Maryland. It is needless to say that a win at home against Wake Forest would bring the Hurricanes back into the national consciousness.
The key match-up scouts will be watching is between combo guards Jeff Teague of Wake Forest and Jack McClinton of Miami. McClinton has been a scoring machine lately, putting up 24 ppg in his last four games, though perhaps not always in the most efficient of ways. He will be facing his most significant challenge of the season in Jeff Teague, an equally dynamic scorer and a player who should be able to stick with him defensively on the perimeter. If Teague fails, McClinton will likely have to deal with defensive specialist LD Williams. Needless to say, if McClinton passes this test, we will will learn a lot about his potential at the next level.
Wake Forest has advantages everywhere else on the court, however, with outstanding size and athleticism in the post and a pair of versatile forwards in Al-Farouq Aminu, who has really come on strong lately, and James Johnson, who bailed the Deacons out against Duke. If these two players can improve their decision making in the clutch and maybe knock down a perimeter jumper once in awhile, Wake Forest could be even better than they already are. To get a win at Miami, though, they’ll need to be at the top of their game: Miami is a team hungry for a win to separate themselves from the rest of the ACC pack, and solidify their NCAA tournament resume, and this would not be a bad place to start.
#1 Duke at #12 Clemson (Wednesday, February 4th: 9 p.m. on ESPN)
After getting beaten by Wake Forest at home and pounded at North Carolina, Clemson turned around nicely with a win against Georgia Tech and a road win against upstart Virginia Tech. Now, Clemson must prove that they can win a big game at home.
Duke will have played a home game since losing a thriller on the road to Wake Forest and should be ready to play Clemson’s up-tempo game. Duke has more depth than Clemson, but that depth mattered little in the second half against Wake Forest. Clemson’s immediate keys are to find a way to stop Gerald Henderson, who has blossomed into a star during the past month, and Kyle Singler, a player who’s multiple dimensions might prove to be too much for the Clemson defense. These two players, in addition to almost single-handedly deconstructing Wake Forest’s defense, have won over scouts and fans alike, who will surely be tuning in to see what they can do in an up tempo offense against a scrappy defense.
For Clemson, they will need another outstanding performance out of Trevor Booker, who struggled for a three game stretch before returning for 21 points and 13 rebounds at Virginia Tech. Duke has no low post threat on defense and Booker should have a tremendous game. On the wings, Clemson will need scoring from wing K.C. Rivers and shooting guard Terrence Oglesby, who can be dynamic scorers on any given night, but are also prone to shooting slumps. Needless to say, if Clemson plays as well as they are capable of playing, this could be quite a game.
#17 USC at UCLA (Wednesday, February 4th: 10:30 p.m. on FSN Regional)
We’ve written about this matchup in its first go-around, but any time these two teams meet, it’s worth noting. UCLA won the last battle of Los Angeles, with a 64-60 win against the Trojans. This time, the Trojans travel over to UCLA to attempt to steal a game on the road and get their season back on track with a three game winning streak.
As was true last time, the stories of this game are the freshman phenoms: USC’s DeMar DeRozan and UCLA’s Jrue Holiday. DeRozan looked like he was having a break through offensively before scoring in single figures during his past two games and continuing his shooting slump from beyond the arc to a ghastly 6%. Holiday has made an impact as the starting shooting guard, but has had trouble translating his efforts into offensive productivity and has shot the ball miserably from beyond the arc recently.
This game will have scouts on their toes, watching two tantalizingly good young prospects, looking to see whether they’ll be able to bounce back from tough stretches and continue to improve.
Off the Beaten Track:
Temple at #10 Xavier (Thursday, February 5th: 7 p.m. on ESPN2)
Temple likely doesn’t have the depth this year to get past tenth ranked Xavier, especially on the road, but that doesn’t mean they won’t try. The player to watch is Temple’s 6’6 shooting guard Dionte Christmas, who is shooting 40% from beyond the arc this year and, on any given night, is one of the NCAA’s top scorers. He will be facing off against Xavier’s C.J. Anderson, one of the most feared defenders in the Atlantic 10. Another player to watch on Temple is 6’9 big man, Lavoy Allen, a versatile scorer and developing defender. For Xavier, be sure to watch combo-forward Derrick Brown, who constantly dazzles crowds with his athletic plays around the rim, and 7’0 freshman center Kenny Frease, who has had an up and down year, but has come off the bench to play significant minutes in Xavier’s last two wins.
St. Joseph’s at Dayton (Sunday, February 1st: 12 p.m. on The A-10 Conference Network, Comcast Sportsnet Philadelphia)
Dayton and St. Joseph’s are neck and neck atop of the brutal Atlantic 10 conference and finally meet, in Ohio, to settle the score. Dayton lacks the depth of St. Joe’s, but has jumped out to an 18-2 record with wins over Marquette and George Mason, in addition to being undefeated in league play. From an NBA Draft perspective, Chris Wright, the 6’8 combo forward is the only Flyer of note, but never underestimate a team that plays like a team, especially in the A-10.
St. Joseph’s sports some of the conference’s best perimeter defense from the likes of combo-guards Garrett Williamson and Tasheed Carr and a standout big man, Ahmad Nivins, covered in our NCAA Weekly Performers this week, who might be the difference maker in this game. It is tough to win at Dayton, but this St. Joseph’s squad, battle-tested in their non-conference schedule, looks ready to make some noise. If you’re looking to watch some high quality, mid-major basketball with a couple of prospects that may become relevant in the post-season, be sure to check this game out.
Houston at Central Florida (Wednesday, February 4th: 7 p.m. on CBS College Sports)
Central Florida shooting guard Jermaine Taylor is one of the nation’s most dynamic offensive players. We wrote about him last week and, if you haven’t seen him yet, this is a perfect opportunity. He will face off against Aubrey Coleman of Houston, a 6’4 wing who should provide a solid match up. Also, Houston big man Marcus Cousin has struggled at times this year, but after good games against Arizona, UTEP, and Eastern Carolina is back on the radar as a fringe prospect. |
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kyle.robert.nelson@gmail.com |
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| The Week Ahead: What to Watch in College Basketball (1/24-1/30) |
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| by: Kyle Nelson |
| January 23, 2009 |
It’s been quite the week in college basketball. Pittsburgh and Wake Forest forfeited their top ranking in games they were expected to win. Now, Duke looks to take the number one spot by a significant margin. Despite last week’s marathon of quality games, don’t even think about putting down your remote. If possible, this week looks to be even better. Whether it’s in-state rivalries or moving up in the top 25, the following match ups are not to be missed. Similarly, you’ve seen the recent changes in our 2009 mock draft. Do you want to see where we’re coming from? Tune into some of these games to see why Wake Forest point guard Jeff Teague, for instance, has shot all the way up the board to the 6th pick. Then, while you’re at it, take a look at some of the lesser-known prospects, like Eric Maynor or Kenneth Faried, playing “Off the Beaten Track.” We haven’t failed you yet, so take a look at what we’re going to be watching during this coming week in college basketball.
Marquee Matchups:
#22 Memphis vs. Tennessee (Saturday, January 24th: 3:30 p.m. on CBS)
Memphis re-entered the top 25 this week after winning five straight conference games, part of a nine game winning streak, but still have much to prove. Neither the Tigers’ Conference USA slate nor their out of conference resume are enough to ensure favorable seeding come March. The good news is that Memphis has two chances left: road games at Tennessee and Gonzaga. Tennessee comes first and might prove to be the toughest challenge Memphis has faced yet. The Volunteers, despite winning two games in a row, are still reeling from a blowout loss to Kentucky and wondering what could have been, especially in close losses to Gonzaga and Kansas.
Both teams match up well, with size, length and athleticism at almost every position on the floor. The Tyreke Evans point guard experiment will have to yield favorable results if the Tigers want to continue their winning ways, and they must hit their open shots from outside. The ball is squarely in Tennessee’s court, as they have arguably the most versatile scorer in the SEC in Tyler Smith, and a solid inside outside duo in point guard Bobby Maze and center Wayne Chism. At the end of the day, though, it will be toughness, defense and offensive execution/decision making that decides this game. This is a must-win for both teams, eager to put disappointing starts behind them and get a signature out of conference victory.
In terms of draft prospects, this is a game that NBA scouts will look at closely in terms of evaluating Tyreke Evans’ NBA-readiness, as he’ll be going up against the type of athletic defenders he’ll see on a regular basis at the next level. For Tennessee, Scotty Hopson is coming off his first back to back double digit scoring games of the season. Can he continue the strong momentum, or will he revert back to his freshman ways as the competition stiffens?
Don’t miss this game, as it is sure to develop into a track-meet.
#3 Connecticut v. #19 Notre Dame (Saturday, January 24th: 7 p.m. on ESPN)
Outside of a slip up at home against Georgetown, the third ranked UConn Huskies have continued their winning ways, winning six straight conference games. They will face their greatest challenge since that ill-fated night against Georgetown when they travel to South Bend to square off against 19th ranked Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish sport one of the top inside-outside duos in the league with Luke Haragody, a relentless warrior in the post, and combo-guard Kyle McAlarney, whose range almost extends to half court. Notre Dame is overmatched, particularly in the post, where they may struggle against Connecticut’s frontcourt trifecta of Hasheem Thabeet, Jeff Adrien, and Stanley Robinson, but expect a great game. A player to watch is Connecticut point guard, A.J. Price, who started the season slowly while recovering from a postseason ACL tear, but is averaging 20.5 ppg and 5 apg in his past four conference games.
Scouts will want to see how Luke Harangody is able to cope with the size and length of a true NBA-caliber defender in Hasheem Thabeet. On the flip-side, Thabeet will have to show that he can step outside the paint to guard Harangody and still remain effective, while hopefully at least pretending to want the ball on the offensive end. His scoring and rebounding numbers have plummeted virtually every time he goes up a team featuring a big man with a pulse.
#15 Xavier vs. Louisiana State (Saturday, January 24th: 8 p.m. on ESPN2)
LSU is an enigmatic team, much like the rest of the SEC, but should provide fifteenth ranked Xavier with a tough road contest. Shooting guard Marcus Thornton and combo-forward Tasmin Mitchell, both of whom are significant scoring threats on any given night and as well as lockdown defensive point guard Garrett Temple, lead the Tigers. Xavier matches up well with combo-forward Derrick Brown currently having a solid season and C.J. Anderson, embodying his reputation as one of the nation’s top perimeter defenders. The Musketeers have performed well against more athletic teams this year, but after getting blown out by Duke, questions still linger pertaining to their ability to defend against dynamic and athletic frontcourts. This is Xavier’s final out of conference test before they continue their stranglehold over the Atlantic 10 and it should prove to be telling for both sides. Can Xavier stop an athletic perimeter attack? Can LSU return the SEC to the top 25? Tune in to find out.
In terms of draft prospects, keep an eye out for Marcus Thornton, currently in the midst of a renaissance season under the guidance of new head coach Trent Johnson. Thornton is one of the best per-minute scorers in college basketball, and is doing so in efficient and mistake-free fashion. He’s got a tough test against one of the toughest, nastiest defensive teams he’ll see all season.
#8 Syracuse vs. #9 Louisville (Sunday, January 25th: 12 p.m. on Big East Network, SNY, ESPN Fullcourt)
Louisville is on fire, winning six games in a row, including an upset over top ranked Pittsburgh, since dropping a tough game to UNLV. In addition, they have wins over Notre Dame and Villanova under their belts. The Cardinals face arguably their toughest game yet on the road against Syracuse, who fell at Pittsburgh and will be looking to avenge the loss against a Big East rival. The key to this game is Syracuse PG Jonny Flynn, who has had trouble shooting the ball lately, but desperately needs to exploit Louisville’s weak and undersized backcourt, that somehow has yet to click this deep into the season. On the wings, Syracuse’s versatile Paul Harris will have his hands full with Terrence Williams, a 6’6 combo-guard who has is averaging 22.3 ppg, 11.3 rpg, and 4.3 apg in his past three games. Similarly, the battle in the post will be brutal as Syracuse’s frontcourt duo Arinze Onuaku and Rick Jackson, who dominated Luke Harangody and Notre Dame less than a week ago, will face a Louisville frontcourt of Earl Clark and Samardo Samuels that has proved to be one of the country’s finest. Syracuse needs this win more, as they have dropped two of their last three games, but Louisville will not go down without a fight. They will have to make shots against Syracuse’s trademark zone defense.
Draft-wise this is a real smorgasbord. Terrence Williams is gaining serious steam with his play as of late, and Earl Clark is always a big attraction. Jonny Flynn will have to show better decision making skills than he has so far this season, and keep turnovers to a minimum.
#7 Michigan St. vs. Ohio State ( Sunday, January 25th: 3:45 p.m. on CBS)
Michigan State was stunned by upset-minded Northwestern on Wednesday night and look to rebound with a win at home against an Ohio State team that has dropped four of their last eight games. There are decent match ups all over the floor, but keep your eyes on the post as improving freshman B.J. Mullins, who is averaging 14.2 ppg after cracking double figures just twice in his first 12 games, faces off against Michigan State’s Goran Suton, one of college basketball’s more fundamental post players. Another great match up will be on the perimeter between Michigan State’s Raymar Morgan and Ohio State’s Evan Turner.
Despite struggling against Illinois, Turner is in the midst of a breakout season, showing his combination of versatility, size, and ability. Morgan is also having a fine season, though he has done little to convince scouts that he has expanded his shooting range and can play on the perimeter at the next level. Ohio State needs a quality conference win to get their season back on track and this would not be a bad place to start. For Turner, Morgan, and Mullins, this is a chance to continue to prove to scouts and fans alike that they belong at the next level. This game is likely to be a slug-fest, but it should be a highly entertaining one, with two of the best coaches in the country on the sidelines.
#1 Wake Forest vs. #2 Duke (Wednesday, January 28th: 7 p.m. on ESPN)
By the time Wake Forest and Duke match up in Winston-Salem, Duke will likely be the top team in the country. Wake Forest, holding the top spot for the first time since Chris Paul wore black and gold, self-destructed against Virginia Tech’s physicality in one of the biggest upsets of the year. They play a Duke team that is currently the top defensive team in the country and was definitely watching the Deacons struggle against Virginia Tech’s matchup zone and box-and-one defense. Thus, this game will be an important test for both teams. Wake Forest ran Duke into the ground last year when the Blue Devils attempted to push up the tempo, but this season, the Blue Devils are a year older, bigger, and more athletic. There are few teams in the NCAA this well matched, which should result in an outstanding game.
There are two match ups to pay attention to in this game, both of which are can’t-miss. The first is a battle between the defensive abilities of Gerald Henderson, who has blossomed into one of the top players in the ACC this season, and the offensive prowess of Jeff Teague, who has emerged as perhaps the ACC’s most unstoppable scorer. Teague was frustrated down the stretch against Virginia Tech’s zone, but he will have a much bigger challenge on his hands against Henderson.
The second match up will be on the perimeter, in the post, and just about everywhere in between as two of the nation’s more versatile forwards: Duke’s Kyle Singler and Wake Forest’s James Johnson. Neither player is shooting the ball particularly well from the perimeter, but they almost always find a way to impact the game on both ends of the floor. Both players look on the brink of getting some serious draft attention, and this could be a great place to start.
This game has the potential to be one of the top televised match ups in the country this season and you can bet that every scout and executive in the country will be either in attendance or tuned in for this one.
#10 Clemson vs. Virginia Tech (Thursday, January 29th: 7 p.m. on ESPN)
Virginia Tech just toppled top ranked Wake Forest and Clemson has now dropped two straight games, one to Wake Forest and a blowout loss on Wednesday in Chapel Hill. Winning in Blacksburg won’t be easy, as Virginia Tech boasts a strong backcourt in scoring guard Malcolm Delaney and shooting specialist A.D. Vassallo. If these two are able to score and center Jeff Allen is able to pick apart Clemson’s frontcourt the same way he did in Winston-Salem, Virginia Tech could pull its second significant upset in a week. Clemson, reeling after getting blown out by North Carolina on Wednesday will likely look to push the tempo and get bruising big man Trevor Booker involved early, as he was held to just 7 point and 4 rebounds against the Tar Heels. His matchup with fellow undersized warrior Jeff Allen will be very entertaining to watch. Clemson is the deeper team, but if Wednesday night taught the college basketball community anything: never bet against Coach Seth Greenberg and Virginia Tech.
It will be interesting to see how Delaney is able to react to the immense pressure that will be thrown his way by Clemson’s guards. He is still in the process of making the full transition to playing the point, and although he’s fared very well on the season as a whole, there have been some bumps in the road. Virginia Tech will need him at his best in terms of decision making if they want to have any chance at keeping this one close.
#23 Gonzaga vs. St. Mary’s (Thursday, January 29th: 11 p.m. on ESPN2)
If the legendary rivalry between Gonzaga Bulldogs and Saint Mary’s Gaels was not enough, consider this game’s importance to both the WCC conference standings and in both teams’ NCAA tournament hopes. Gonzaga certainly has more depth than St. Mary’s, but the Gaels have the best player on the floor in 6’0 combo-guard Patrick Mills who has struggled this season despite having a spectacular summer playing for the Australian National Team. He has been better lately, averaging 18.5 ppg and 5.5 apg in conference play, but still has a long way to go before he can convince anybody that he is ready to man the point guard position for an NBA team.
Mills will face Jeremy Pargo, an athletic freak at 6’2, but a player facing similar question marks in terms of his draft stock. Pargo has improved his assist numbers this season, but still cannot knock down perimeter jumpers consistently and has struggled at times with balancing scoring and distributing duties.
Also, don’t miss a chance to see 6’10 wing Austin Daye, who is quietly putting together a solid sophomore season and versatile 6’11 power forward Josh Heytvelt, who has slowed down after a great out of conference campaign and will be tested in the post against St. Mary’s big man Omar Samhan, a load in the post who could give Heytvelt trouble. The winner of this game not only gets in-conference bragging rights until the two meet again on February 12 in Moraga, but also gets a chance to get a good win for their resume in a nationally game. This is bound to be a very up-tempo, high scoring affair, so if you can manage to stay up, you are in for a treat.
Off the Beaten Track:
George Mason vs. Virginia Commonwealth (Saturday, January 24th: 4 p.m. on ESPN2)
The CAA has experienced its up and downs in recent years, but it looks to be a league on the rise, certainly one of the nation’s top mid-major conferences, and one that looks to make noise in March. This is a meeting between two CAA titans, veteran Virginia Commonwealth and upstart George Mason. George Mason is going to have its hands full containing point guard Eric Maynor, who in four years has shown drastic improvement as a playmaker and a scorer during his time in Richmond and is averaging 21.8 ppg and 6.2 apg. On offense, George Mason must try to find a way to score over 6’9 shotblocking center Larry Sanders, who has improved his game on both ends of the floor and is averaging 14.2 ppg, 9.2 rpg, and 2.3 bpg. This is another chance to see two great teams and prospects and, in Maynor’s case, catch a rare televised glimpse of the future NBA player.
Southern Illinois vs. Illinois State (Saturday, January 24th: 5 p.m. on The Valley Network, FSMidwest, Comcast Sportsnet Chicago)
Illinois State has struggled at times since entering conference play undefeated, losing three games by an average of five points. They must continue to win in the MVC if they want a chance at an at large bid should they fail to win the conference tournament. That is easier said than done, however, as every game in the MVC is a battle, even a team that, on paper, has struggled as much as Southern Illinois. The Salukis offense runs through two guards: stalwart playmaker Bryan Mullins and Rivals150 freshman, Kevin Dillard. They will need to have big performances on both side of the ball, however, to slow Illinois State, who has a pair of outstanding guards of their own, the freakishly athletic shooting guard Osiris Eldridge and senior gunner Champ Oguchi, a transfer from Oregon who has been scorching the nets in Normal, Illinois. Don’t miss this opportunity to see two Red Birds who have flown under the radar so far this season.
Brigham Young vs. Utah (Tuesday, January 27th: 10 p.m. on The Mountain Sports Network)
Brigham Young has dropped two straight games, including their second home loss in three games, and are in the middle of the pack in a crowded Mountain West Conference. Therefore, this game is a must-win for the Cougars. It won’t be easy, though, to beat Utah at home, in an in-state grudge match. The heart and soul of the Utes is 7’2 center Luke Nevill, who has improved remarkably over the past four years and has emerged as a solid post scorer. He faces an incredibly weak BYU front line and needs to have a monstrous game to ensure victories for the Utes. The reason for this is the fact that BYU packs an overwhelming perimeter scoring punch in the form of point guard Jimmer Fredette (14.9 ppg and 4.3 apg), wing Lee Cummard (17.1 ppg and 5.9 rpg), and combo-forward Jonathan Tavernari (17.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg). The key for BYU, though, may come down to center Chris Miles’s ability to shut down Luke Nevill. Miles has been extremely inconsistent this year, but needs to get his act together for BYU to get out of its slump. If you have access to the Mountain Sports Network, do not miss this game.
Morehead St vs. Tennessee St. (Thursday, January 29th: 9 p.m. on ESPN)
Morehead State dropped their first six games before bouncing back to claim solid wins over Central Florida, Tennessee-Martin, and Ohio Valley Conference leader Austin Peay. Now, they have a chance to avenge their earlier loss at Tennessee State in front of a national audience in their home arena. If anything, this game is worthy to catch a rare televised glimpse of scrappy sophomore big man Kenneth Faried, one of the best rebounders in all of college basketball, currently having a terrific season averaging 12.6 ppg, 12.2 rpg, 2.0 spg, and 1.8 bpg. |
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| The Week Ahead: What to Watch in College Basketball (1/16-1/23) |
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| by: Kyle Nelson |
| January 16, 2009 |
We hope you’ve cleared your schedule on Saturday, because from noon until well after midnight, some of the top teams in the country take the court in a series of marquee matchups and hidden gems. Be sure to check out at least one of the games in our “Off the Beaten Track,” so you’ll have the inside track on some of the nations under the radar prospects and non-BCS teams that have the potential to make noise come March. Last week’s matchups did not let us down, including a down-to-the-wire thriller in Winston-Salem between Wake Forest and North Carolina. Here are the games we’re watching this week.
Marquee Matchups:
#3 Duke vs. #13 Georgetown (Saturday January 17th: 1:30 p.m. on CBS)
Third ranked Duke looks to be back to full strength this season, and faces one of their toughest challenges of the year in thirteenth ranked Georgetown, fresh off of an upset big against eighth ranked Syracuse. Both teams are loaded with versatile shooters, but the key in this game is whether or not Duke has an answer for Georgetown’s frontcourt duo of DaJuan Summers and Greg Monroe, the freshman who just keeps getting better. Duke must also get big games from sophomore combo-forward Kyle Singler and junior wing, Gerald Henderson, who has stepped up his play as of late.
#6 Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M (Saturday January 17th: 2 p.m. on ESPN)
Coming off of a big win over eleventh ranked Texas, sixth ranked Oklahoma is looking to extend its four game winning streak against a Texas A&M team that is unranked, but still very dangerous. Blake Griffin is going to face another challenge this week, this time in the form of 6’10 Chinemelu Elonu, a long and bruising emerging big man who is averaging 16.3 ppg,11.5 rpg, and 1.5 bpg in his past four games. Texas A&M must get a big performance out of their 6’7 wing Josh Carter, and find a way to contain Oklahoma freshman Willie Warren’s scoring outbursts if they want a chance to topple the Sooners.
Arkansas vs. Florida (Saturday January 17th: 2 p.m. on Raycom Sports Nework and ESPN Full Court)
Arkansas, despite knocking off Texas and Oklahoma, has been underachieving lately, dropping games to Mississippi State and Mississippi last week. They are looking for a win against 15-2 Florida, who have won two straight conference games, but not in pretty fashion. It will be interesting to see if Florida has an answer for Michael Washington, Arkansas’s 6’10 power forward, or if Arkansas can contain Florida’s 6’5 point guard Nick Calathes, who will cause the undersized Courtney Fortson trouble on the offensive end of the floor. That said, however, the team who gets the most production from its role players will likely pull out the victory.
#2 Wake Forest vs. #10 Clemson (Saturday January 17th: 3:30 p.m. on ABC)
This game should be named “The Fast and the Furious” as Wake Forest and Clemson, two of the ACCs most up-tempo and physical teams, meet in Littlejohn Coliseum. Coming off of an emotional upset of North Carolina and a statement win at Boston College, Wake Forest is having its best start in 82 years and looking to continue its undefeated streak. Clemson, who is also undefeated, lacks Wake Forest’s depth, and will face their toughest battle yet against the young Deacons. Clemson’s undersized big man Trevor Booker must attempt to do what Tyler Hansbrough could not, score effectively against Wake Forest’s loaded frontcourt, filled with no less than six players over 6’9. Also, the Tigers must find a way to stop Wake Forest’s Jeff Teague, who is averaging 21.2 ppg this season on 54% FG and 55% 3FG and will likely give Roy Williams nightmares after slicing through UNC’s defense to the tune of 34 points. An answer may be K.C. Rivers, the 6’5 wing, who can be a deadly scorer on any given night for the Tigers and is a solid finisher in transition. There will be eight legitimate NBA prospects on the floor at any given time, making this game one of this week’s can’t miss matchups.
#9 UCLA vs. #16 Arizona State (Saturday January 17th: 3:45 p.m. on CBS)
Sixteenth ranked Arizona State combo-guard, James Harden, has the ability to beat a team on his own, and stopping him will likely be UCLA’s top priority in this matchup of PAC-10 heavyweights. UCLA has a potent backcourt of its own in Darren Collison and Jrue Holiday, but has yet to get consistent offense from anywhere else on the floor, particularly in the post. Thus, this game is a fairly even match up. The X-factor might be Arizona State big man Jeff Pendergraph, who has not had the breakout season that many predicted, but has provided a solid post presence for the Sun Devils with the potential to put up big numbers on any given night. This game will be a grind, a test of pace and defense, but fans of college basketball should not miss out.
#1 Pittsburgh vs. #20 Louisville (Saturday January 17th: 6 p.m. on ESPN)
The Pittsburgh Panthers are a well-oiled machine of a basketball team, with consistency at just about every position and defensive scheme to make any team frustrated. They meet the Louisville Cardinals, who like the Panthers, are sitting undefeated atop of the Big East standings. Louisville has been inconsistent in the past, but has proven themselves by pulling out close games in conference play. The key, as it has often been for Louisville, is consistency in their backcourt. On any given night, the Cardinals could be one of the top 10 teams in the country, but they have rarely received consistent minutes from the point guard position. The other matchups in this game are very solid, including a must-watch between the top rebounder in our database, Pitt’s undersized warrior, DeJuan Blair, and Louisville’s freshman phenom Samardo Samuels. Blair has abused just about every big man he has played against this season. The matchup between Pitt’s veteran combo-forward Sam Young and the Louisville tandem of Terrence Williams and Earl Clark should be interesting as well, in seeing whether or not Young can produce well against a versatile and athletic frontcourt. An upset for Louisville would be a significant turning point in what has been an up and down season.
#25 Ohio State vs. Michigan (Saturday January 17th: 8 p.m. on Big Ten Network)
Ohio State is looking to come back from conference losses against #21 ranked Minnesota and #12 ranked Michigan State with this match up against arch nemesis Michigan. If anything, tune in to watch Ohio State’s star swingman Evan Turner take on combo-guard Manny Harris, who has taken on responsibility as Michigan’s primary scorer and facilitator this year. Also, don’t miss Ohio State’s B.J. Mullens, who has had trouble earning minutes this year, but is coming off of a three game stretch averaging 14.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, and 1.0 bpg. He will be matching up against Michigan big man DeShawn Sims, who will test the young big man’s defensive versatility with his diverse inside-outside game.
Vanderbilt vs. Mississippi State (Saturday January 17th: 8 p.m. on FS South, Sun Sports, ESPN Full Court)
Though Mississippi State has had a tough year, they have won four in a row, including a win at Arkansas. Now they host Vanderbilt, another team who has had their share of ups and downs and is looking to make a turnaround in conference play. If you have not already, this is a perfect chance to watch Mississippi State shot-blocker supreme, Jarvis Varnado, as he takes on Vanderbilt center A.J. Ogilvy in one of the premier post match ups in the SEC. Also, don’t miss Vandy’s athletic freshman Jeffrey Taylor, a prospect who is still sailing somewhat under the radar.
#1 Pittsburgh vs. #8 Syracuse (Monday, January 19th: 7 p.m. on ESPN)
We’ve preached Pitt’s defensive dominance before, and like they do against most teams, they match up very favorably against Syracuse. The Orange are coming off of a tough road loss to Georgetown, in which the Hoyas scored at will against their trademark zone defense. Now, Syracuse faces a team with just as many offensive options and even grittier on the defensive end. It will be up to sophomore Jonny Flynn to establish the pace early in the game, and for Arinze Onuaku to find a way to slow down DeJuan Blair on the boards. This is going to be a game to watch, especially to see if Syracuse has the toughness to finish strong against their remaining conference schedule, which can be described at the very least as punishing.
#4 Connecticut vs. #23 Villanova (Wednesday, January 21st: 7 p.m. on ESPN)
Connecticut has been on an absolute tear recently, having convincingly won four straight games since losing at home to Georgetown. Villanova will have their hands full with Connecticut’s depth, particularly in the frontcourt, but the Husky backcourt of A.J. Price and Jerome Dyson is not to be underestimated either. The key to this game for Villanova is whether or not power forward Dante Cunningham can hold his own against Hasheem Thabeet and Jeff Adrien. A big game from Villanova point guard Scottie Reynolds is essential as well, though if his 40 point onslaught at Seton Hall was any indication, he is more than up for the challenge. This probably will be an ugly game, but certainly one worth watching.
#10 Clemson vs. #5 North Carolina (Wednesday, January 21st: 9 p.m. on ESPN)
Five days after taking on the running and gunning Wake Forest Demon Deacons, Clemson heads to Chapel Hill for what looks to be another punishing conference showdown. North Carolina is stacked at every position, which puts Clemson’s smaller rotation at a disadvantage, but a match up that could go very favorably for the Tigers is Trevor Booker versus Tyler Hansbrough. Hansbrough struggled against Wake Forest’s plethora of big men and Booker is far more aggressive in the paint than any big man that Hansbrough has faced this year outside of Notre Dame’s Luke Harangody. A big game from K.C. Rivers would not hurt the Tigers either, but he might have a challenge on his hands, trying to score on North Carolina’s lockdown defender Marcus Ginyard. Ginyard is coming off of a foot injury, so it will likely be a game time decision whether or not he suits up. This game should be a show and one of the better match ups in the ACC, putting premier teams with similar styles against one another.
#13 Georgetown vs. West Virginia (Thursday, January 22nd: 7 p.m. on ESPN)
You probably already know how we feel about Georgetown, but the Hoyas had better not look past Bob Huggins’s West Virginia Mountaineers, who despite being a somewhat disappointing 12-4, are never an easy team to play. West Virginia is going to need a solid effort out of their frontcourt of veteran face-up big man Da’Sean Butler and standout freshman Devin Ebanks, though, if they want to have a chance against DaJuan Summers and Greg Monroe. Similarly, the Mountaineers need senior guard Alex Ruoff to break the Hoya’s zone with his deadly perimeter shooting if they want a chance in this one. This is a game that will test a Georgetown squad that has been up and down in conference play and showcase a disciplined West Virginia team that looks to be a player in March.
Off the Beaten Track:
#17 Butler vs. Illinois-Chicago (Saturday January 17th: 2 p.m. on ESPN2)
The 17th ranked Butler Bulldogs are in the midst of another fantastic year and, if you haven’t seen them yet, this is a must watch game. Led by forwards Matt Howard and Gordon Hayward, one of the nation’s top freshmen, the Bulldogs come into this game with only one loss and their eyes on March. They’ll have to win at Illinois-Chicago first. The Flames have wins at Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech on their resume, and despite the fact that they’ve dropped four straight, they have yet to lose a game this season by more than ten points. Watch out for scoring guard Josh Mayo, who is just 5’11, but dropped 30 points at Vanderbilt and is averaging 18.6 ppg on the season.
Temple vs. UMass (Saturday January 17th: 7 p.m. on ESPN2)
Dionte Christmas has been one of the nation’s top offensive threats since he was a sophomore. Now, as a senior and no longer a second option, he looks to bring Temple back to the NCAA tournament for the second straight year. In order to do so, however, they are going to have to win in a tough, albeit inconsistent Atlantic 10 conference. Fresh off of a win at LaSalle, they travel to Amherst to take on a UMass team that has wins against Kansas and Dayton, but is in the midst of a rebuilding season. The key is in the match ups. Does UMass’ undersized three-guard backcourt, particularly point guard Chris Lowe and off-guard Ricky Harris have the ability to stop Christmas? Can Tony Gaffney, who has struggled since giving Cole Aldrich fits in Kansas, return to his early season form? This game may not be pretty, but it is a great chance to see some of the top names in the Atlantic-10 do battle.
Fresno State vs. Nevada-Reno (Saturday January 17th: 10 p.m. on Comcast Sportsnet California, ESPN Full Court)
Both of these teams are in the midst of rebuilding seasons, but could emerge as a solid matchup between two of the WAC’s top freshmen: 6’7 forward Paul George of Fresno State and 6’9 Luke Babbitt. The McDonald’s All-American Babbitt proved his credentials by dropping 22 points and 7 rebounds against Tyler Hansbrough and UNC, and is the heart and soul of a young Nevada team reeling after the losses of Marcelus Kemp and JaVale McGhee. George snuck into Fresno under the radar, but has quickly established himself as the top offensive option. It will be interesting to see if the two match up directly, but this should still be a good chance to see two prospects that have flown under the radar thus far this season.
Wyoming vs. UNLV (Saturday January 17th: 10 p.m. on The Mountain Sports Network)
This match up, between two teams looking to challenge for the Mountain West Conference championship, should be telling. UNLV, who have wins against 20th ranked Louisville and Arizona on their resume, are coming off of two tough in-conference losses, and are looking to get a win before heading to bitter rivals Brigham Young on the 21st. Wyoming is coming off of a nice win against San Diego State and are looking to expand upon their unexpected 12-4 record. The match ups are certainly not elite, but watch out for the point guard dual between Wyoming’s Brandon Ewing (19.4 ppg and 5.4 rpg) and UNLV senior Wink Adams (12.9 ppg, 3.3 apg) and battle between Wyoming’s 6’7 freshman Afam Muojeke, and UNLV’s versatile senior forward Rene Rougeau. |
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| The Week in Review: What to Watch in College Basketball (1/10-1/16) |
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| by: Kyle Nelson |
| January 9, 2009 |
If you had a chance to watch any of our marquee match ups last week, you were witness to a handful of terrific games and all kinds of quality performances by some of this draft’s top prospects. Now, as conference schedules are heating up and teams position themselves to make a deep run in March, the battles will get more intense as rivalries take over and the plot thickens. As scouts, we’re especially interesting in seeing how some of the nation’s best players handle this pressure and if they can continue to assert their dominance when the stakes are raised.
While the match-ups may not be as high profile this week as they were during the last, there is still much reason to watch as some of the best teams in the NCAA face off for all to see. Here’s what we’re watching this coming week and we recommend that you come along for the ride.
Marquee Matchups:
Kansas vs. #8 Michigan State (Saturday, January 10th: 1 p.m. on CBS)
Kansas is coming off of a pair of wins against #15 Tennessee and a Siena team predicted to win the MAAC, but face their toughest test yet against the #8 ranked Michigan State Spartans. The Spartans take to the court with a deep roster, led by junior combo forward Raymar Morgan. Morgan and his frontcourt-mates Goran Suton and former five-star prospect Delvon Roe will give Kansas star Cole Aldrich all he can handle in a difficult match up on the blocks. On the perimeter, it’s ultra efficient playmaker Kalin Lucas against the Kansas tandem of Sherron Collins and Tyshawn Taylor. With a Kansas team looking for another statement win before conference play begins and a Michigan State team looking to build on its eight game winning streak, this is a game not to be missed.
Mississippi State vs. Arkansas (Saturday, January 10th: 8 p.m. on FSN-South)
Arkansas is playing as well as any team in the country right now, with upsets over top ten ranked Oklahoma and Texas on the way to a 12-1 record. Their top player, power forward, junior Michael Washington is in the midst of a breakout season and putting up elite numbers, inside and outside, against quality competition. The only man standing in his way is Mississippi State’s elite shot blocking forward Jarvis Varnado, also in the midst of a breakout year. Varnado has been somewhat inconsistent on the offensive end of the floor, but should he catch fire and put on another shot blocking exhibition, this could be one of the week’s best post match ups, and will play a role in the evaluation we are planning to offer on both players this coming week.
#2 Duke vs. Florida State (Saturday, January 10th: 2 p.m. on ESPN)
Fresh off of holding off Stephen Curry and the upstart Davidson Wildcats, #2 Duke heads into Tallahassee with a lot of momentum. They should not look past this Florida State team, though. The Seminoles are extremely hard to beat on their home court, and only have losses against top ranked Pittsburgh and Northwestern on their resume. The key for Florida State is to limit Duke combo forward Kyle Singler, who has been on a tear lately and is climbing up mock drafts in the process. The answer may lie in freshman forward Chris Singleton, who has not only been the most consistent player for the Seminoles, but has the size, athleticism, and length to hold Duke’s wings at bay. Florida State’s ability to keep Duke’s deep guard corps under check will be essential also, as sophomore Nolan Smith and junior Jon Scheyer have been proving to be tough covers on the perimeter. Last but not least, Duke is looking for a big performance out of Gerald Henderson, a once projected lottery pick, who, despite playing well, has not had the breakout season most predicted. This is a must-win game for Florida State’s tournament resume and not to be missed.
#3 North Carolina vs. #4 Wake Forest (Sunday, January 11th: 8 p.m. on FSN)
After being upset at home by a Boston College team that recently lost to Harvard, third ranked North Carolina will be looking for redemption on Sunday. It won’t be easy, though, as they a face fourth ranked Wake Forest fresh off breaking BYU’s 53 game home win streak. Scouts all over the country will be tuning into this game, as there are interesting match ups all over the floor, complete with NBA caliber talent at almost every position. North Carolina star power forward Tyler Hansbrough is the focal point of the Tar Heel offense, but he will face a stiff test against a loaded Wake Forest front line, filled to the brim with NBA caliber size and athleticism, particularly 6’9 combo forwards James Johnson and Al Farouq Aminu, who combine to average 26.5 points, 17.1 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game. On the perimeter, it’s a showdown between two of the top point guards in the country, North Carolina’s Ty Lawson and Wake Forest’s Jeff Teague. Both are blindingly quick on the perimeter and greatly improved on the offensive end of the floor. This game will also be a test for North Carolina guard Wayne Ellington, who flirted with the draft last year, as he will face L.D. Williams, one of the best perimeter defenders in the ACC. There is hardly even room to talk about swingman Danny Green and center Deon Thompson, both playing big roles in the Tar Heel machine, or the gradual return of lockdown defender Marcus Ginyard who had previously been sidelined with injury. Simply put: a must-watch game for college basketball fans and NBA scouts alike.
#3 North Carolina vs. Virginia (Thursday, January 15: 9 p.m. on ESPN)
Haven’t had enough North Carolina? Check out this match up against a Virginia team that has had its share of struggles, but should not be overlooked. The matchup between Virginia’s stellar freshman swingman Sylven Landesberg and North Carolina’s athletic perimeter defensive corps will be intriguing to watch. Landesberg did better than expected against an experienced and athletic Xavier perimeter defense last week, and if he continues to excel offensively, should pique the interest of scouts around the country.
#10 UCLA vs. USC (Sunday, January 11th: 10:30 p.m. on FSN)
The Battle of Los Angeles should be more interesting this year, as USC faces a mortal UCLA squad, led by senior point guard Darren Collison, who has established himself as one of the top point guards in the NCAA as well as a threat on both sides of the ball. The real story, however, lies in a meeting of two of the nation’s top freshman, UCLA combo-guard Jrue Holiday and USC swingman DeMar DeRozan. USC will have to overcome its lack of depth, as well as find a way to manage UCLA’s stingy defensive game, but if Coach Tim Floyd can get big games out of juniors Taj Gibson, Daniel Hackett, and Dwight Lewis as well as the aforementioned DeRozan, this battle for bragging rights will be well worth watching.
#13 Notre Dame vs. #21 Louisville (Monday, January 12th: 7 p.m. on ESPN)
Notre Dame is coming off of a big win against Georgetown, and Louisville has won two in a row since dropping a close game to UNLV. Both teams are looking for a quality conference win in the loaded Big East and should provide for a stark contrast in styles. The teams match up fairly well, but the reason to watch tonight is the big man battle between Luke Harangody, Notre Dame’s brutally productive power forward, and Louisville freshman center Samardo Samuels, who has stepped up for the Cardinals. Samuels must slow Harangody in the middle, and Louisville’s perimeter defense can somehow cool Kyle McAlarney’s red hot perimeter shooting for the Cardinals to have a chance. Louisville still needs more consistency out of do-it-all swingman Terrence Williams and another dominant performance from combo-forward Earl Clark, who ultimately are the keys to this game. When these two are on, Louisville is a hard team to beat.
#7 Texas vs. #6 Oklahoma (Monday, January 12th: 9 p.m. on ESPN)
Oklahoma and Texas are two of the Big 12’s best, and this match up should give scouts and fans alike much to talk about. Texas and Oklahoma have both had trouble finding consistent offense from their role players in recent losses to upstart Arkansas and this will certainly be a concern in this game, though the stars will certainly have their chance to shine. In the middle, Oklahoma power forward and projected top pick Blake Griffin takes on combo forward Damion James, who has yet to show that he has a position at the next level, but will present a challenge in the post. On the perimeter, it’s a battle between two of the nation’s most lethal scoring guards, Oklahoma freshman Willie Warren and Texas senior A.J. Abrams. Both teams come into this game looking to prove their supremacy in the Big 12, and this game should be both extremely entertaining and highly informative from an NBA draft perspective.
Kentucky vs. #15 Tennessee (Tuesday, January 13th: 9 p.m. on ESPN)
Both Tennessee and Kentucky are looking for wins after dropping close games in the past week, and this game is a chance for both teams to right the ship and get back on track. It will be up to Tennessee to try and find a way to stop Kentucky’s tandem of ultra-efficient power forward Patrick Patterson and volume scoring guard Jodie Meeks. That said, there is not a whole lot of fire power in-between and if Tennessee’s role players, particularly J.P. Prince and Scotty Hopson, establish themselves as scoring threats early on, the Volunteers should be able to pull out a home win behind star forward Tyler Smith.
#11 Syracuse vs. #9 Georgetown (Wednesday, January 14th: 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2)
Eleventh ranked Syracuse has quietly put together a solid out of conference resume with wins over Florida, Kansas, Memphis, and Virginia and have entered conference play thus far with two wins. After they take on Rutgers on Saturday, they face their first true test, against ninth ranked Georgetown. At this point in the season, everybody knows how dominant Georgetown freshman Greg Monroe can produce in almost any situation on either sides of the ball and it is up to Syracuse, particularly junior center Arinze Onuaku, to figure out how to stop him. Similarly, Syracuse’s guards must hit perimeter jump-shots to break Georgetown’s infamous zone defense and open up the lane for Jonny Flynn, one of the nation’s top point guards and a legitimate scoring threat. This game will be a battle and whoever can set the pace early on should be able to come out with a win.
Off the Beaten Track:
Memphis vs. Tulsa (Tuesday, January 13th: 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2)
Memphis has struggled as of late, lacking consistent play from the point guard position, and finishing its out of conference slate without a win against a top 25 team. On Tuesday, the Tigers head to Tulsa, for arguably their most difficult in-conference test. Tulsa’s 7-foot center Jerome Jordan has taken slightly smaller steps forward than most predicted, but he is still going to be a handful for the likes of Memphis big men Robert Dozier and Shawn Taggart. This game also marks a great opportunity to see one of the nation’s top mid-major big man prospects in action against quality competition. Also, don’t miss Tyreke Evans, who will be making a full time move to the point guard position and has started to justify his pre-season hype.
Tennessee-Martin vs. Tennessee Tech (Thursday, January 15: 9 p.m. on ESPNU)[/i]
Tennessee-Martin combo-guard Lester Hudson had a very productive off-season, showing his abilities to NBA scouts in Orlando and in private workouts. Hudson is one of the best scorers in the NCAA, and will have the chance to show his skill in one of his team’s few televised match ups in the country. |
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| The Week in Review: What to Watch in College Basketball (1/3-1/9) |
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| by: Kyle Nelson |
| January 2, 2009 |
Happy New Year basketball addicts! This week in college basketball promises to start 2009 off right with some of the year’s best games and intriguing matchups. With non-conference slates winding down and conference schedules in-progress or on the horizon, teams will be on their toes with March firmly in the back of their collective minds. For us at DraftExpress, these are must see-games, as some of the nation’s best players will be in the spotlight jockeying for draft position. Here are some of the games we’ll be watching intently this coming week.
Marquee Matchups:
#3 Pittsburgh vs. #8 Georgetown (Saturday, January 3rd: 12 p.m. on ESPN):
This game is a matchup made in scouting heaven, as two of the nations finest frontcourts meet in one of the most hyped games of the year. In the low post, Pitt’s undersized warrior DeJuan Blair meets freshman phenom Greg Monroe in a battle of contrasts, while veteran combo-forwards Sam Young and DaJuan Summers clash on the perimeter. Georgetown is coming off of an upset win over second ranked Connecticut and looks to dethrone another Big East heavyweight. Do not miss this game, despite the foolishly early tip-off.
#18 Tennessee vs. Kansas (Saturday, January 3rd: 2 p.m. on ESPN):
Kansas and Tennessee have suffered some disappointing losses this season, which raises the stakes in this non-conference matchup. Tennessee gets 36.6 points per game from its trio of talented wings, Tyler Smith, J.P. Prince, and Scotty Hopson, and will need consistent production from its perimeter players. Kansas has had an up and down season thus far. To win, they’re going to need another dominant performance out of Cole Aldrich who is going to have his athleticism put to the test against the Vols’ undersized frontcourt. Consistent play from the point guard position would not hurt the Jayhawks, either. Freshman Tyshawn Taylor has played well as of late, and it will be imperative for Sherron Collins to prove that he is capable of being a steadying presence for Kansas to come away with a victory.
#6 Wake Forest vs. Brigham Young (Saturday, January 3rd: 8 p.m. on Mountain Sports Network)
The high octane 6th ranked Wake Forest offense has been clicking on all cylinders as of late, with a string of blowout victories. They meet the BYU Cougars, who have only a heartbreaking loss against 14th ranked Arizona State on their resume and come into this game with 53 straight home victories. In the past, Wake Forest has spoiled the home win streaks of Wisconsin and New Mexico, but those teams featured the likes of Josh Howard and Chris Paul. Can combo-forward James Johnson, point guard Jeff Teague, and freshman phenom Al-Farouq Aminu carry the torch? Wake Forest certainly has the talent, but they must first find a way to contain BYU scorers Jonathan Tavernari and Lee Cummard. BYU’s full court press will test the young, turnover prone Deacons. The Cougars, on the other hand, will have to figure out what to do with one of the NCAA’s tallest, deepest, and most athletic frontcourts. Right now, BYU is one of the most efficient teams in the country, and it will not only take big games from Tavernari and Cummard, but also from Cougar role-players to ensure victory. Will BYU’s home winning streak stand? Tune in and find out…if you can find Mountain Sports Network on your dial.
Kentucky vs. #18 Louisville (Sunday, January 4th: 4:30 p.m. on CBS):
The Battle for the Bluegrass State is always a must see game. This year, however, with both teams eyeing success in March, the stakes are even higher. After losing games to top ranked UNC, Miami, and VMI, Kentucky has stormed back to win six straight games. Eighteenth ranked Louisville are going through a terrible slump at the moment and have yet to address their shaky point guard situation and consistency from streaky Terrence Williams or Earl Clark. The Cardinals are as athletic and versatile as you’ll find with Williams and sophomore combo-forward Clark, but the real matchup seems to be in the middle where Kentucky’s rapidly improving Patrick Patterson takes on blue chip freshman center Samardo Samuels. Whether or not the Cardinals can stop streaky shooting guard Jodie Meeks, who is currently averaging 24.1 points per game on 48% FG, 43% 3FG, and 88% FT, will also be a factor. The winner of this game not only has in-state bragging rights for the next year, but will also get a marquee non-conference win for their NCAA tournament resume. For Louisville, this is a must-win game just to stop the bleeding.
#8 Georgetown vs. #10 Notre Dame (Monday, January 5th: 7 p.m. on ESPN):
Again, this game is a chance for freshman phenom big man Greg Monroe to prove himself against one of the better big men in the Big East, Notre Dame’s Luke Harangody. Harangody lacks Monroe’s size, length, and athleticism and his productivity will be tested against Georgetown’s front line. On the perimeter, Notre Dame’s Kyle McAlarney is one of the nations top shooters, but whether or not he can score against Georgetown’s stingy perimeter defense is a question on many scouts’ minds.
Davidson vs. #5 Duke (Wednesday, January 7th: 7 p.m. on ESPN):
Duke will have NBA prospects all over the floor, but the story in this game is the matchup between 6’3 combo-guard Stephen Curry and his likely defender, Duke’s athletic 6’5 wing Gerald Henderson. Curry must continue to prove that he is capable of scoring on bigger and more athletic defenders, in this case one of the ACC’s finest. He struggled against Purdue’s perimeter defense to the tune of 5/26 shooting from the field and 2/12 shooting from beyond the arc. Davidson seemingly is sorely overmatched, but underestimating Curry is a bad idea, as just about every defender he has faced has realized. Other players to watch are Duke’s sophomore point guard Nolan Smith and combo-forward Kyle Singler, who is projected as a top-20 pick and has improved consistently throughout the past two years.
#17 Gonzaga vs. #18 Tennessee (Wednesday January 7th: 9 p.m. on ESPN):
You’ve heard about Tennessee, but they have another big test against a Gonzaga team that just suffered a tough loss against unranked Utah on New Year’s Eve. Both teams are stacked on the perimeter and in the post with size and athleticism to boot. Gonzaga point guard Jeremy Pargo entered this season with high expectations, but thus far has struggled badly with his decision-making and confidence recently, especially in late-game situations. Can he get himself and especially his team back on track after a terrible past few weeks? Similarly, Josh Heytvelt has a great deal of talent but has struggled to put it all together as of late. Going up against Wayne Chism will be a good test on both ends of the ball, as he will have a chance to show scouts his ability to guard perimeter oriented big men and continue to score efficiently inside and outside. Elsewhere, Gonzaga’s 6’10 wing Austin Daye will have a chance to prove himself on both sides of the ball against some of the most athletic wings in college basketball. This is a game not to be missed against two teams that will likely be factors in March.
Off the Beaten Track:
#22 Xavier vs. Virginia (Saturday, January 3rd: 2 p.m. on Comcast Sports-Mid-Atlantic and FSOhio):
Virginia stumbled early in the season against the likes of Liberty, Auburn, Minnesota, and Syracuse, they’re coming off of a tough win at Georgia Tech. Xavier just dropped two games to fifth ranked Duke and the upstart Butler Bulldogs, but is looking for another marquee non-conference road win. Though they will likely never match up with each other, Xavier’s 6’7 combo-forward Derrick Brown and Virginia’s 6’6 freshman swingman Sylven Landesberg are both the pillars of their team and eager to prove that they are capable of elevating their teams to the next level. Landesberg is going to have to prove himself against one of the toughest and most athletic perimeter defenses in the country. If he has trouble finding his offense against a premier defense, it could be a sign of future troubles at the next level considering his offensive repertoire and playing style. Brown came into this season with a lot of hype, but has struggled to show that he deserves it thus far.
Georgia Tech vs. Alabama (January 3rd: 3 p.m. on Sun Sports and FSSouth):
Neither of these teams looks to make much noise in march, but check out the post matchup between Georgia Tech’s projected lottery pick Gani Lawal and Alabama’s improving five-star freshman JaMychal Green. Neither player gets to match up often with players of equal size, athleticism, and length, and this game should be very telling for that reason.
Houston vs. Mississippi State (January 3rd: 4 p.m. on CSS and ESPN Full Court):
Houston is sitting on an 8-2 record on the eve of a tough Conference USA schedule and a win a win against the struggling Mississippi State Bulldogs would look very good in March. In order to do so, however, they’re going to have to find a way to score on MSU’s Jarvis Varnado, who is leading the country in blocked shots, averaging 6.0 per game. Houston’s Marcus Cousin is a late blooming senior and has a tremendous opportunity to prove himself against one of college basketball’s best defensive big men.
Rider vs. Siena (Friday, January 9th: 7 p.m. on ESPNU):
Until their close victory over St. Joseph’s, Siena had failed to pull off a marquee win during its very ambitious out of conference schedule. The Saints are a favorite to win in the MAAC this year, but it won’t be easy. Their first real conference test of the season will be against Rider, who have struggled, but have a difference maker in sweet-shooting 6’6 swingman Ryan Thompson, who is coming into his own as a first option this season. He will match up against Siena’s 6’6 combo-forward Edwin Ubiles, one of the MAAC’s better defenders and Siena’s top offensive threat. These two teams don’t make it on television often and this game kicks off a nice evening of mid major basketball on ESPNU.
Saint Mary’s vs. Santa Clara (Friday, January 9th: 11 p.m. on ESPNU):
Two of the better mid-major centers in the country, improving, but plodding SMC’s Omar Samhan and Santa Clara’s ultra prolific, and equally slow center, John Bryant, face off in one of the marquee matchups in the West Coast Conference. Not to be missed either is the Aussie point guard Patrick Mills, who had a great summer in Beijing, but has had trouble proving his true point guard ability thus far during the collegiate season. |
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