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| Final Notes on the 2010 Atlantic 10 Tournament |
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| by: Kyle Nelson - College Basketball Scout |
| March 15, 2010 |
Temple 56, St. Bonaventure 52
Temple arrived at the Atlantic 10 as the conference's top team and left with the championship, defeating Richmond on Sunday afternoon thanks to a balanced attack and clutch free throw shooting. Despite trailing early and falling behind in the second half, Richmond stuck around admirably before falling, proving that the team will be a tough out in the NCAA Tournament.
The game provided another look at Temple prospects Lavoy Allenand Juan Fernandez, though after three games in three days, both looked exhausted.
Allen, in particular, looked incredibly tired. While he normally is passive on the floor, yesterday, he had a tremendous amount of trouble making his presence known. He struggled early on trying to get position in the post and gradually stopped seeking touches as the game continued. He passed up almost every shot that came his way and, despite the fact that he was the best big man on the floor, only took just five shots.
Fatigue clearly played a role here, but Allen's lack of aggressiveness and killer instinct is concerning. He is a very skilled big man with excellent hands, solid footwork, and a varied offensive repertoire, but rarely does he assert himself. Though he is one of the best passing big men in college basketball, he absolutely must seek offense for himself more aggressively. Not only do scouts want to see him show his skill on a more consistent basis, but also Temple needs his scoring touch in the post.
Defensively, he was a step slower, but nonetheless continues to struggle when guarding his man on the perimeter. This has been an issue all season, so yesterday's performance, while certainly worse than usual, was not an outlier. In the post, he still did a solid job of battling his man for position and boxing out on the defensive boards.
Juan Fernandez struggled, as well, mostly due to fatigue, but still managed to score 18 points on 6/14 shooting on his way to claiming the tournament's Most Outstanding Player award. He uncharacteristically struggled to get opportunities inside of the arc and on more than one occasion, seemingly lacked the energy to get to the rim. He still managed to knock down two of his four attempts from the perimeter, however, showcasing his incredibly quick release. His form remains unorthodox, but consistent, and his range is solid out to the NBA three-point line. He has proven himself as one of the best three point shooters in the NCAA, despite his strange mechanics, and yesterday was no exception.
Inside of the arc, he continued to show his solid mid-range repertoire, adapting well to Richmond post defense that constantly collapsed on him as he slashed to the basket. Though his instincts are solid, he would benefit from squaring his body to the basket before shooting tremendously, as the lack of bounce in his step did not allow him to adjust his body in the air. He does not have a tremendously quick first step, but he is a very creative slasher, utilizing his body and handle to find space to score against a variety of defenses throughout this tournament. He needs to learn how to take contact, however, and earn trips to the foul line as opposed to taking off balanced attempts around the basket with a hand or two in his face.
Fernandez played long stretches of the tournament as a point guard, and at 6'4, his performance throughout was very interesting. He is a very good passer, possessing the vision and creativity to find his teammates in both transition and half-court situations. There is no doubt that he could easily transition to a more traditional pass-first point guard role at the next level. He still needs to get better at running the pick and roll, however, and with Lavoy Allen as his big man, there is much potential for success. Similarly, he does not drive-and-dish nearly enough given his passing ability and his teammate's abilities to knock down perimeter jump shots.
Defensively, he continues to use his intelligence to help compensate for his lack of length and average lateral quickness. He is not a particularly good defender at this point, but he is by no means a liability and showed good effort on this end of the court. His potential at the next level, however, does not seem to be too great and he must continue to improve on this end of the floor.
Fernandez is just a sophomore, however, and should continue to improve as he adds muscle to his frame and gains confidence. He has a serious and professional demeanor on the court and does a good job of communicating with his teammates, though there is always room for improvement in this area. His offensive play was superior, clearly deserving of the Most Outstanding Player award, and it is safe to say that, after Atlantic City, Juan Fernandez has solidified his place as a legitimate NBA prospect.
Finally, players such as Temple's 6'11 center Michael Eric will always be of interest to scouts because of their size and athleticism. In addition, he plays extremely hard when he is on the court and, despite his low skill level, fights for rebounds and position in the post. Eric is still very raw and has a long way to go before being considered for the next level, but should come back better this summer.
The Tournament In Review:
Top prospects Rodney Green and Aaric Murray of LaSalle never made the trip to Atlantic City and Dayton combo-forward Chris Wright and St. Bonaventure center Andrew Nicholsonbowed out in the first round. Regardless, the Tournament offered very good opportunities to see Xavier's Jordan Crawford and Temple's talented tandem of Lavoy Allen and Juan Fernandez.
Scouts from the Warriors, Celtics, Timberwolves, Nets, Suns, Trailblazers, Thunder, Heat, Lakers, Raptors, and Jazz were in attendance and witnessed an exciting tournament, but a mixed bag of prospects.
While prospects such as Crawford, Wright, and Allen confirmed that they are very talented and worthy of consideration and did not see much variation in their drat stock, the tournament signaled an arrival for Juan Fernandez, who is clearly a player to watch.
Keith Cothran, Andrew Nicholson, and Willie Reed did not stand out, however, underwhelming against solid competition.
Finally, players such as Dayton shooting guard Chris Johnson and Rhode Island combo-forward Lamonte Ulmer were physically impressive, with spectacular size and athleticism, but did too little on the court to convince that they are serious prospects.
As Selection Sunday came to a close, Temple, Richmond, and Xavier received bids, solidifying the Atlantic 10's reputation as a top mid-major conference. Those at the tournament knew this already and witnessed three days of thrilling basketball. From a scouting perspective, there were quite a few prospects of varying degrees of legitimacy on the floor, and the tournament's competitive atmosphere was ideal for evaluation.
Special thanks to the Atlantic 10 Conference and Boardwalk Hall's staff for hosting us and we look forward to next season. In the meantime, Happy March Madness!
Official 2010 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball All-Championship Team:
Lavoy Allen, Temple, Junior, Forward
Kevin Anderson, Richmond, Junior, Guard
Jordan Crawford, Xavier, Sophomore, Guard
Juan Fernandez, Temple, Sophomore, Guard
David Gonzalves, Richmond, Senior, Guard
Most Outstanding Player: Juan Fernandez, Temple, Sophomore Guard |
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| Notes on the 2010 Atlantic 10 Tournament Semifinals |
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| by: Kyle Nelson - College Basketball Scout |
| March 14, 2010 |
The semifinal round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament was an up and down affair, offering an excellent look at the tournament's best remaining prospects including Jordan Crawford and Lavoy Allen. At least 10 NBA team representatives were on hand alongside us to take in the action.
Temple 57, Rhode Island 44
After crushing Saint Louis, Rhode Island came into yesterday's match up hopeful that they could continue their improbable run and land on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble. Temple began the game with an 11-2 run, however, and Rhode Island was unable to recover on their way to a loss.
The game presented a great opportunity to see Temple power forward Lavoy Allen against a versatile frontcourt. On the offensive end, he was extremely passive, taking just five shots. He continues to show solid footwork and good touch around the basket with the ability to score with a variety of moves and countermoves. He also does an excellent job of finding his teammates and facilitating the offense from the post with his passing abilities.
Last night, however, he was too passive, giving the ball to less talented teammates instead of attacking the basket. Adding more strength could be a solution, but Allen must develop a more aggressive and assertive attitude on a consistent basis.
Defensively, Allen did well defending in the paint, especially in terms of boxing out and rebounding the basketball, but his physical limitations were on full display when he defended away from the basket. His lack of lateral quickness hurt him significantly as he struggled to keep up with his man on the perimeter. As a power forward at the next level, he will have to guard far better players and almost certainly will struggle.
Against Richmond, he will have the chance to guard a similar variety of big men and scouts will be watching him on both ends of the floor. Allen has slowly emerged as a legitimate prospect and expectations will be much higher going forward.
Combo-guard Juan Fernandez had another telling game, scoring and facilitating well, despite his physical limitations. Though he is 6'4, he has a slender frame without great length and had some trouble tonight against more athletic and physical defenders. He adjusted quickly, however, and alternated between his unorthodox scoring game and his exceptional passing abilities. Despite his questionable form, he knocked down three point shots and scored from mid-range on his way to 14 points on 5-8 shooting.
He also tallied 7 assists alongside of 0 turnovers, turning to his teammates when Rhode Island focused their defense on him. Fernandez is a very adept and creative passer and has run the point guard position effectively for much of the season.
He was once again a mixed bag defensively, lacking great strength and lateral quickness. He compensates somewhat through his intelligence and communication, but he likely will struggle in this area at the next level.
There is no doubt that Rhode Island shooting guard Keith Cothran is a very good defender, but even though his shot has been falling, he still is a role-player at this level and not much of an NBA prospect. If he continues to shoot well at Portsmouth and can differentiate himself, then he might re-emerge as a fringe prospect.
His teammate Lamonte Ulmer once again looked like an interesting prospect at 6'6 with excellent athleticism, but he is still far too raw. He showed flashes of a perimeter game, but his shot is flat and his mediocre ball handling abilities continued to limit him. Defensively, however, he did very well, using his size, length, and lateral quickness to cause problems inside and outside.
While the NCAA Tournament is likely out of the question for Rhode Island, you can likely watch them in the NIT.
Richmond 89, Xavier 85 (OT)
Both Richmond and Xavier fought through an evenly matched regulation period, anchored by solid defense and trips to the foul line. In overtime, however, Richmond's veteran backcourt of David Gonzalves and Kevin Anderson excelled under pressure and carried the Spiders to victory.
Xavier guard Jordan Crawford once again had an up and down performance. He attacked the basket relentlessly, as he often does, very well, utilizing his quick first step and body control to get to the rim at will. That said, he occasionally looked out of control and sometimes over-dribbled his way into trouble. Crawford rarely looks for his teammates off of the dribble, which is a shame considering the attention he garners from opposing defenses and his above average court vision.
His perimeter jump shot still was not falling, which is due largely due to his inconsistent shooting motion. Though he gets great elevation on his shot, his release point varies and he oftentimes wastes motion in his lower body. As he got tired, he started pushing the ball, shooting with his upper body and without his legs.
Defensively, he showed greater effort, but still was never much of a factor. He does have quick hands, however, and when he puts his mind to it, he can be a decent man-to-man defender. As he got tired, his defensive effort decreased significantly. His lack of size and strength are not in his favor when imagining his defense at the next level, but he can stay focused and work on his fundamentals.
Crawford struggled yet again in a supporting role, unable to play off of the ball and contribute without the ball in his hands. He must have the ball and attack the basket to be effective, which is not a good sign as he looks towards the next level. As for his draft intentions, Crawford was not available for comment after the game, though all indications are that he will strongly look at testing the draft waters, at the very least.
Sunday, March 14th:
Temple vs. Richmond (1 PM on CBS) |
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| Notes on the 2010 Atlantic 10 Tournament Quarterfinals |
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| by: Kyle Nelson - College Basketball Scout |
| March 13, 2010 |
In Atlantic City, the Quarterfinals have ended and the semifinals are upon us. St. Bonaventure, Saint Louis, Dayton, and Massachusetts did not make the cut in what was a thrilling Friday afternoon, evening, and night. Now, only Temple, Rhode Island, Xavier, and Richmond remain to continue their quest for the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament Championship.
Friday In Review:
Temple 69, St. Bonaventure 51
The day began with Temple’s emphatic 69-51 victory over St. Bonaventure. Temple center Lavoy Allen dominated what was supposed to be an entertaining and revealing match up against Andrew Nicholson. By the numbers, it would seem that it was an even match up. After all, neither prospect scored a tremendous amount of points.
 | | AP |
Lavoy Allen
The reality, however, is that Allen dominated Nicholson, grabbing 15 rebounds in addition to 14 points. In the process, Allen showed his varied offensive repertoire, from drop stops to floaters, from put backs to jump hooks. Even more interesting, however, is the ease at which Allen looks for and finds his teammates. His passing opened up the floor today, allowing him to impact the game without scoring.
The question remains, however, if Allen is too unselfish and too passive, both significant criticisms throughout his career. Similarly, can Allen overcome his lack of ideal size and athleticism to contribute at the next level? These questions will have to wait until today’s match up against Rhode Island in addition to future competition with NBA-caliber frontcourts.
One thing that was clear, however, was that Lavoy Allen significantly outplayed Andrew Nicholson. Nicholson shot a miserable 5/18 FG on his way to thirteen points and did not do a tremendous amount to convince scouts that he has what it takes to play a role at the next level. For one, he still does not rebound the basketball and though he grabbed seven yesterday, he did not box out on either end of the court, follow missed shots (including his own), and his overall effort did not stand out.
Similarly, his defense remained unimpressive, which certainly has something to do with his lack of strength, but has more to do with his lackadaisical attitude and lack of awareness on this end of the floor. St. Bonaventure does not play lockdown defense by any stretch of the imagination, but Nicholson failed to play any of Temple’s big men effectively.
On offense, Nicholson retreated to his spot-up jump shot far too often and, though he has proven that he can hit this shot in the past, yesterday he missed. Worst yet, he took his focus out of the post, where his quickness and mobility are particularly effective, for crucial stretches of the game.
When he finally went to the post, he showed improved, but still lacking, footwork and aggressiveness. If a player like Nicholson makes an NBA roster, there will not be many plays called for him, so he will be forced to do the small things if he wants an opportunity to play. Next season, he must focus on improving his overall effort and skill level so that he leaves no doubt that he belongs in the NBA. In the meantime, he has a lot to accomplish.
Elsewhere, Temple combo-guard Juan Fernandez continued to put on a shooting exhibition, showcasing his strengths and weaknesses in front of scouts. At 6’4, Fernandez has nice size, but his frame and athleticism are lacking. While he did a good job of knocking down shots and finding his teammates under the basket, he struggled against more athletic defenders and has yet to prove that he can guard his position in the NBA.
Michael Eric, Temple’s 6’11 center, also looked good, apart from his excellent size, frame, and solid athleticism. He scrapped for loose balls and got position under the basket, both ways for him to compensate for his less than stellar skill set, awareness, and basketball IQ. If he can continue to carry these improvements into next season, then he could be an intriguing prospect down the road.
Rhode Island 63, Saint Louis 47
The next game was a step in the wrong direction and what resulted was the closest the Quarterfinals got to a blowout. From a scouting perspective, there is little of note here.
Keith Cothran did little to distinguish himself in what is becoming a trend. The 6’4 shooting guard has a quick first step, but he is not particularly creative on the offensive end and made more of an impact by trash talking than by his scoring. This is a performance that Cothran will want to forget and luckily, he has another chance to prove himself. If history is any indication, however, then this is easier said than done.
Willie Reed, unfortunately, will not have another chance in the Atlantic 10 Tournament to perform better. He might have to wait until next year. The athletic 6’9 sophomore looked out of place against Rhode Island’s versatile frontcourt and lacked even the most basic footwork to make much of an impact offensively. On the defensive end, his lack of bulk hurt him in the post and his average awareness did him no favors elsewhere. Towards the end of the game, he seemed to be more comfortable, but he is still very raw offensively and defensively, looking more and more like a four-year college prospect.
The most interesting prospect, which tells you something about the level of competition, was 6’7 combo-forward Lamonte Ulmer. Ulmer has the prototypical frame and athleticism for a modern NBA wing, but has the skill set of a face-up power forward and just an average basketball IQ. He is a senior, but if he continues to work on his shooting and ball handling while maintaining his defensive intensity, he might be worth a look in the future.
Xavier 78, Dayton 73
In what was by far the best game of the day, not to mention the roughest, fastest, and most brutal, Xavier rallied from a double-digit deficit to beat the struggling Dayton Flyers.
The key to victory was Terrell Holloway and his clutch free throw shooting, but Jordan Crawford’s second-half return to form was just as important.
Interestingly enough, Jordan Crawford was a non-factor until the end of the game. Slowed by nagging pressure defense and stifling man-to-man, Crawford was instantly transformed from the primary ball handler and shot creator to a role player, a shift to which he did not respond particularly well. While he started the game forcing shots and making ill-advised drives to the hoop, he soon started looking for teammates and using his athleticism to attack the basket and draw fouls.
This is not to say that Crawford looked like he could be a role player at the next level, which is his likely fate. In fact, the contrary was true. Crawford struggled with fewer touches and his frustration was visible, at times. He was unable to get into any sort of rhythm until he took it upon himself to bring Xavier to victory by relentlessly attacking the basket.
While he is a very good slasher, and tonight was no exception, he is going to have trouble adjusting to the next level if he cannot learn how to fulfill a role in an offense without having it feature him as the primary handler and scorer.
His lack of maturity and focus were also on full display last night, as well, bringing up further questions about his transition to the NBA. Tonight, he was one of Xavier’s heroes, but he also showed the scouts in attendance that he has a long way to go on both sides of the ball before contributing at the next level.
Though Xavier’s 6’9 center Jason Love is not very athletic or quick, he is always in the right place at the right time. He boxes out for rebounds, sets good screens, moves well without the ball, and shows improved footwork. He is a tough player, but also intelligent. While his lack of athleticism likely disqualifies him from an NBA roster spot, he should have no trouble finding a job this summer.
For Dayton, it was a particularly somber scene. After 30 minutes of brilliant coaching, the Fylers squandered a 15-point lead, culminating in a technical foul, a 6 point swing and a crushing defeat at the hands of a bitter rival.
Individually, it was bittersweet to see a team full of interesting players bow out so early. Small forward Chris Johnson only played 11 minutes before fouling out, unable to showcase his superb shooting stroke and explosiveness around the rim. Though he’s just a sophomore and he will be back next year, it was a non-descript end to an otherwise much improved season.
Senior power guard Marcus Johnson also looked solid, locking down Jordan Crawford for stretches and using his freakish athleticism to attack the basket and to compensate for his developing skills. His shooting motion needs some serious work and his compact 6’3 frame does him few favors, but he is a quality player and should have a long professional career after he graduates this spring.
Most notably, however, last night marked 6’8 combo-forward Chris Wright’s exit from the tournament. Wright struggled with his shot, but used his quick first step, strength, and athleticism to attack the basket, putting points on the board despite his sub par shooting night.
His aggressiveness and assertiveness with the ball in his hands were a welcome sight, even though his shooting mechanics, ball handling, and perimeter instincts still need significant work. It seems as though he is slowly but surely on his way towards transitioning into a wing or legitimate combo-forward at the next level. He will have to prove himself defensively despite his lack of ideal length, but his above average lateral quickness, size, and quick hands should help ease the transition.
At this point, Wright’s future plans are unknown. When we asked him about his plans for this summer and for next year, he responded, “That’s not something that I’m worried about right now.” Regardless, he showed the positive and negative aspects of his game and found a way to contribute regardless of whether or not his shot was falling.
Xavier advanced, all but ending Dayton’s NCAA Tournament hopes, and will meet Richmond this afternoon in the semifinals.
Richmond 77, Massachusetts 72
This game was ugly from the onset, rescued from obscurity by an inspired run by Massachusetts shooting guard Ricky Harris, likely the last run in his college career. Along with hot shooting from backcourt-mate Anthony Gurley, the Minutemen stormed back from a double-digit deficit before bowing out to Richmond, who will test their balanced attack against Xavier. As we mentioned before, be on the lookout for Richmond combo-guard Kevin Anderson and shooting guard David Gonzalvez, two players who should match up well against the Musketeers.
Semifinals: Saturday, March 13
#1 Temple vs. #4 Rhode Island (1 p.m. on CBS College Sports)
#2 Xavier vs. #3 Richmond (3:30 p.m. on CBS College Sports) |
Feedback
for this article may be sent to
kyle.nelson@draftexpress.com |
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| 2010 Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Tournament Preview |
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| by: Kyle Nelson - College Basketball Scout |
| March 11, 2010 |
Notes on the 2010 Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Tournament
Beginning Friday, DraftExpress will be with you live from Atlantic City, NJ at the Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Tournament taking a look at some intriguing prospects. Last time we were in Atlantic City, Derrick Brown, Ahmad Nivins, and Dionte Christmas impressed in a tournament that culminated in an epic Big 5 showdown between Temple and St. Joseph’s.
The first round of the 2010 Atlantic 10 Tournament is over and the field has narrowed considerably going into the quarterfinals on Friday. Duquesne, St. Joseph’s, George Washington, and Charlotte have fallen out of contention after losses on Tuesday. Fordham and LaSalle did not even qualify for the tournament.
Therefore, talented prospects such as Duquense’s 6’7 combo-forward Damian Saunders, LaSalle’s 6’10 power forward Aaric Murray and 6’5 combo-guard Rodney Green, and Charlotte’s promising 6’9 freshman Chris Braswell will not even have the opportunity to compete.
As is the case every year, however, the Atlantic 10 Tournament is highly competitive and should be a fantastic showcase for some of the nation’s best mid-major prospects. We will provide daily updates beginning Friday afternoon, but in the meantime, here is a preview of Friday’s games and who to keep an eye on during this Atlantic 10 Tournament weekend.
Quarterfinals: Friday, March 12
#1 Temple vs. #8 St. Bonaventure (12 p.m. on CBS College Sports)
Though St. Bonaventure looks to be sufficiently overmatched by #17 Temple, this game is a great opportunity to watch a pair of legitimate prospects in Lavoy Allen and Andrew Nicholson.
Allen is a 6’9 junior power forward who has emerged as an outstanding rebounder in the Atlantic 10 with an intriguing face-up game and nimble footwork. He has a tendency to disappear on the offensive end, particularly against lesser competition. He cannot afford to shy away from Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure’s 6’9 sophomore center, on either end of the floor.
Nicholson has slid under the radar thus far, but is a talented and mobile big man with raw but developing offensive skills and an outstanding motor. He is the primary offensive option and absolutely must find a way to produce if the Bonnies stand a chance in this game.
On the perimeter, Temple combo-guard Juan Fernandez will match up against St. Bonaventure’s multipurpose wing Jonathan Hall.
Fernandez, a 6’4 sophomore combo-guard, emerged as a fringe prospect this season because of his outstanding perimeter shooting and his ability to run Temple’s offense. While he is flying under the radar at the moment, a series of standout post-season performances could thrust him into the NBA draft conversation.
Fernandez will have his hands full on both sides of the ball with St. Bonaventure wing Jonathan Hall. At 6’5, Hall has the ability to play a variety of roles for the Bonnies and can contribute in a variety of ways. Though the NBA is likely out of the picture, a good performance against one of the conference’s best guards cannot hurt his professional stock.
#4 Saint Louis vs. #5 Rhode Island (2:30 p.m. on CBS College Sports)
Outside of watching two bubble teams compete to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive, both teams have some interesting players from a scouting perspective.
This could be the last chance for NBA personnel to watch Rhode Island senior shooting guard Keith Cothran before Portsmouth. Though his numbers are not particularly interesting, Cothran has demonstrated the ability to run the point throughout his career and has the potential to transition into a combo-guard down the road. He must start hitting shots, however, and get to the line at a better rate if he wishes to get looks at the next level. A big tournament could help him build momentum going into the off-season.
Willie Reed has improved steadily since arriving at Saint Louis, but the athletic 6’9 power forward still has a lot of work to do before solidifying himself as a legitimate NBA prospect. He has rebounded the ball well this year and emerged as a solid shot blocking presence, but he must be consistency on the offensive end. Dominating against weaker frontcourts on both sides of the ball will help his stock rise to match his potential and this is a perfect starting point.
Also worth a look is Saint Louis freshman power forward Cody Ellis, who had a very productive rookie season.
#2 Xavier vs. #7 Dayton (6:30 p.m. on CBS College Sports)
Xavier is a lock for the NCAA Tournament, but Dayton has struggled down the stretch and must likely win the Atlantic 10 Tournament and claim an automatic bid to guarantee joining the field of 65.
Arguably the best player in the Atlantic 10, 6’4 shooting guard Jordan Crawford is an unstoppable force on the offensive end and is a legitimate NBA prospect.. He would be well served to use his athleticism to get to the foul line more and his shot selection needs work, but with his creativity on the offensive end and ability to knock down perimeter jump shots, he is a complete scoring guard at this level. He is reportedly interested in entering the draft this year, so he is definitely worth a look.
Another legitimate NBA prospect is Dayton combo-forward Chris Wright. Though 6’8 with outstanding athleticism, Wright has not improved as quickly as scouts hoped. That said, he is slowly developing a diverse offensive arsenal and is looking as though he could have a stellar senior season for the Flyers. In the meantime, it is essential that he make open shots while using his athleticism to attack the basket and crash the boards because he still has a lot of potential at the next level.
Also worth a look is Dayton’s 6’6 sophomore shooting guard Chris Johnson. Despite the fact that he is a very good athlete, Johnson is extremely one-dimensional and has yet to find a way to expand his game. Improving his ball handling during the off-season will certainly help, but in the meantime, he is an interesting player to watch.
#3 Richmond vs. #11 Massachusetts (8:30 p.m. on CBS College Sports)
Though there are not any legitimate prospects in this match up, this is a good opportunity to get a look at some very good college players.
Richmond’s 6’0 point guard Kevin Anderson has proved himself as a very good scorer and offensive presence, but lacks the size, athleticism, and pure point guard mentality to play in the NBA. He is, however, a good oversees prospect and is one of the conference’s best offensive players.
For Massachusetts, undersized shooting guard Ricky Harris may be the team’s leading scorer and offensive focal point, but the player to watch is freshman combo-forward Terrell Vinson. At 6’7 with solid athleticism, Vinson has a long way to go before becoming a legitimate NBA prospect, but he has shown some potential this season to suggest that he might be worth a look in the future.
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Feedback
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kyle.nelson@draftexpress.com |
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| The Week Ahead: What to Watch in College Basketball 2/8-2/14 |
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| by: Kyle Nelson - College Basketball Scout |
| February 8, 2010 |
We take a look forward at this week's TV schedule to pick out the games and NBA prospects we’ll be watching intently this coming week.
 | | Reuters |
Marquee Matchups:
#2 Villanova at #6 West Virginia (Monday, February 8th: 7 p.m. on ESPN)
After being outplayed by Georgetown, Villanova needs to have a good showing against 19-3 West Virginia in this battle of top-10 ranked Big East titans. Scouts will be watching West Virginia combo-forward Devin Ebanks, who could use a standout performance to show scouts that he belongs in lottery discussions.
The same goes for Scottie Reynolds, Villanova’s point guard, who has to find a way to score against West Virginia’s perimeter defense and show NBA teams that he’s a legit prospect.
This is also a good chance to catch West Virginia big man Deniz Kilicli, who has played just one game thus far for the Mountaineers, but might emerge as a prospect down the road, and fellow frontcourt mates Da’Sean Butler and Kevin Jones.
#1 Kansas at #10 Texas (Monday, February 8th: 9 p.m. on ESPN)
There are no shortages of storylines in this matchup between the Big 12’s best. Texas did not have a great January and after falling to Oklahoma, desperately needs to right the ship in order to catch up to Kansas at the top of the Big 12.
In terms of NBA prospects, this is by far the top match up of the week and the only chance to see these two teams face off this season, unless they meet in the Big 12 conference tournament.
In the middle is Kansas’s Cole Aldrich and Texas’s Dexter Pittman. Aldrich needs to continue to be assertive and absolutely must have a big game against Pittman, who’s draft stock has plummeted, but nonetheless remains interesting to scouts and is desperately in need of a break out performance.
Combo-forward Damion James, whose consistent play is earning him added respect in draft circles, faces off against the Morris twins, most notably Marcus Morris, who is averaging 16.6 points per game in 2010 and is a prospect in his own right.
On the perimeter, Texas’s guards will have the unenviable assignment of shutting down one of the more lethal perimeter offenses in the NCAA, the three-guard attack comprised of Sherron Collins, Tyshawn Taylor and Xavier Henry. Henry has not scored in double digits in his last five games and is 15/50 from beyond the arc in his last ten. He must prove that he is more than a one-dimensional player.
Finally, Texas’s freshman phenoms Avery Bradley and Jordan Hamilton need to show more consistency against top-flight talent, and this should be the perfect opportunity.
#14 Tennessee at #20 Vanderbilt (Tuesday, February 9th: 7 p.m. on ESPN)
This is one of the SEC’s deepest rivalries and with both Tennessee and Vanderbilt locked in a tie for second in the SEC East, this should be an excellent game.
On the perimeter, be sure to catch Vanderbilt swingman Jeff Taylor, an athletic slasher who is not having a great season but is almost surely a top prospect if he can convince scouts that he can shoot from beyond the arc. Taylor will face off against Scotty Hopson, Tennessee’s enigmatic sophomore shooting guard who has the size and shooting touch for the NBA, but lacks the consistency and killer instinct that many believe is necessary for him to succeed at the next level.
In the post, Tennessee’s sweet-shooting big man Wayne Chism, fresh off of a 30-point performance against South Carolina, is looking to improve his draft stock and prove that he can play a role at the next level on both sides of the ball. He will have his hands full with Vanderbilt’s A.J. Ogilvy, one of the SEC’s most fundamental big men and a potential draft pick in his own right in need of a big showing.
Connecticut at Syracuse (Wednesday, February 10th: 7 p.m. on ESPN)
This is always a great match up, but this year, Connecticut will be fighting Syracuse to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive.
From an NBA Draft perspective, this game features one of the best matchups of the year, between star forwards and projected lottery picks Wesley Johnson of Syracuse and Stanley Robinson of Connecticut. Both players have far exceeded expectations this season and scouts will be watching to see who comes out on top.
Elsewhere, Connecticut’s backcourt of Kemba Walker and Jerome Dyson, not to mention their Gavin Edwards and Alex Oriakhi-anchored frontcourt, are worth a look, as well.
Duke at North Carolina (Wednesday, February 10th: 9 p.m. on ESPN)
North Carolina may be playing their way out of an NCAA Tournament bid, but a win against 19-4 Duke would go a long way in changing that perception.
There are quite a few interesting prospects in this game, but North Carolina center Ed Davis and Duke combo-forward Kyle Singler are the two most immediate to evaluate. Davis has been hampered by injury, but his production and overall effectiveness have waned since the beginning of the season. Scouts want to see him play more assertively on the offensive end and find a way to contribute despite the Tar Heels’ youth and inexperience on the perimeter.
Kyle Singler had a tremendous game against Georgia Tech, the peak of an otherwise underwhelming season, to the tune of 30 points on 8/10 shooting from beyond the arc, but fell back down to earth with a 12 point, three rebound game at Boston College. He must prove that he can consistently knock down perimeter jump shots in addition to scoring efficiently within Duke’s offense before he is considered a first round lock.
In addition, Duke’s guards continue to impress as well, and Nolan Smith and Jon Scheyer have emerged as the ACC’s best backcourt. Both need to exploit North Carolina’s defensive shortcomings and have great performances in this high profile match up to remain relevant in scouts’ minds. So, too, does Deon Thompson, the North Carolina big man whose stock has fallen consistently since the beginning of the season. Mason Plumlee is a sleeper prospect to keep in mind for the future.
Oklahoma at Oklahoma State [i](Saturday, February 13th: 2 p.m. on ESPN)
The Bedlam series returns and promises yet another thriller. Though Willie Warren is struggling through an ankle injury that limited his playing time in the upset against Texas and is continuing to have a nightmare of a season, he and freshman point guard Tommy Mason-Griffin are a deadly pair who could give Oklahoma State fits on the defensive end. More interesting perhaps is James Anderson, Oklahoma State’s 6’6 sweet-shooting swingman, whose stock is gradually rising as he continues to dominate offensively. As always, however, scouts will be watching to see if he can prove wrong claims that he is one-dimensional and expand his scoring arsenal.
Georgia Tech at Wake Forest (Saturday, February 13th: 8 p.m. on ESPN Full Court)
While Georgia Tech easily defeated Wake Forest the last time these two teams met, lightning rarely strikes the same place twice: especially in the ACC. Once more, the key matchup in this game is in the post, as Georgia Tech’s lethal frontcourt duo, Derrick Favors and Gani Lawal, face off against Wake Forest combo-forward Al-Farouq Aminu, who must snap out of his recent slump and continue to show scouts better decision making alongside his versatile offensive game. Do not miss a rare second match up between projected top-five picks.
Also worth watching is the point guard duel between Wake Forest’s Ishmael Smith and Georgia Tech’s Iman Shumpert. Both players have glaring weaknesses, but are still of interest amongst scouts, Shumpert in particular.
Under The Radar:
Virginia Commonwealth at George Mason (Tuesday, February 9th: 9 p.m. on ESPNU)
VCU shot-blocking center Larry Sanders does not face many quality big men in the CAA, but George Mason features one of the league’s best frontcourts. He must continue to show scouts better instincts on the offensive end, including shot selection and awareness in the post. On defense, he must continue to block shots while proving that he can guard big men inside and outside of the post.
Morehead State at Eastern Illinois (Thursday, February 11th: 9 p.m. on ESPNU)
Kenneth Faried may be the most underrated player in the country, averaging 17.2 points, 13.7 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game. He is a scrappy, hardworking face-up power forward with the athleticism and toughness to play in the NBA. Do not miss this opportunity to catch Faried on national television as Morehead State attempts to inch closer to Murray State at the top of the Ohio Valley Conference. Making an NCAA tournament appearance will be a big key to Faried’s draft stock, so his team cannot afford to slip up on the road. Can Eastern Illinois keep him off the glass?
St. Mary's at Gonzaga (Thursday, February 11th: 11 p.m. on ESPN)
While Gonzaga point guard Matt Bouldin and power forward Elias Harris are the two best prospects in this game and hold scouts’ interest whenever they step on the floor, the WCC’s premier grudge match’s most interesting matchup may be in the post.
St. Mary’s stalwart senior center Omar Samhan has shown improvements that have distinguished him as a legitimate NBA prospect this season. Already averaging 21.7 points, 11.1 rebounds, and three blocks per game, he must have a big game against Gonzaga’s Robert Sacre, the type of long big man that has given Samhan trouble in the past. Sacre is much improved this year, and is looking to gain momentum with a dominant performance on both ends of the floor in this heated match up.
Also, do not miss the chance to see St. Mary’s freshman combo-guard Matthew Dellavedova, who has slowed down a bit recently, but is still on NBA radars thanks to his size, versatility, and skill. |
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| The Week Ahead: What to Watch in College Basketball 2/1-2/7 |
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| by: Kyle Nelson - College Basketball Scout |
| February 1, 2010 |
We take a look forward at this week's TV schedule to pick out the games and NBA prospects we’ll be watching intently this coming week.
Marquee Matchups:
Mississippi at #3 Kentucky (Tuesday, February 2nd: 7 p.m. on ESPN)
Both Kentucky and Mississippi have stumbled in conference play, and a win would be a significant statement for either team. While DeMarcus Cousins, Patrick Patterson, and Daniel Orton have the edge in the middle, Mississippi’s guards Terrico White and Chris Warren are capable of getting hot and making this a contest. Kentucky’s freshmen phenomena John Wall and Eric Bledsoe are willing and able challengers. This is not a game to miss.
South Florida at #8 Georgetown (Wednesday, February 3rd: 9 p.m. on Big East Network, MSG+)
South Florida combo-guard Dominique Jones has willed the South Florida Bulls to victory, averaging 37 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game over his past three games. Fresh off upsetting Pittsburgh, the Bulls head to Georgetown, where they will face Greg Monroe and one of the stiffer zone defenses in the country. Scouts will be watching to see whether or not Jones can make good decisions from the perimeter and if Greg Monroe can assert his dominance in the post against a smaller team.
#1 Kansas at Colorado (Wednesday, February 3rd: 9 p.m. on ESPN2)
Kansas is a legitimate powerhouse and a favorite to win the NCAA Championship, but if a loss at Tennessee and a close call at Kansas State mean anything, they will have to prove that they can shut down teams with dynamic guard play on the road. Enter Colorado, a team mired in mediocrity over the last few years, but now featuring one of the Big 12’s biggest and underrated backcourts. 6’5 junior swingman Cory Higgins and 6’6 freshmen combo-guard Alec Burks have combined to average 34.6 points per game for the Buffaloes and will have their work cut out for them as they match up against Sherron Collins, Xavier Henry, and Tyshawn Taylor.
Iowa State at #24 Baylor (Wednesday, February 3rd: 7:30 p.m. on FS Southwest)
Iowa State has not experienced the turnaround that many expected this season, but there is no doubt that they are talented. Led by improved floor general Diante Garrett and featuring the inside-outside post duo of Craig Brackins and Marquis Gilstrap, the Cyclones should, at the very least, challenge a Baylor team that just knocked off Texas at home. While big man Ekpe Udoh is the NBA’s focal point for Baylor, LaceDarius Dunn and Tweety Carter combine to form a high-octane backcourt on a team that has exceeded expectations this season.
#19 Georgia Tech at #9 Duke (Thursday, February 4th: 7 p.m. on ESPN2)
While Georgia Tech is not as formidable as pre-season hype suggested and Duke has come down to Earth since their dominant start, they are both young teams that are improving rapidly. The marquee matchup is in the middle as Georgia Tech’s Derrick Favors and Gani Lawal face Duke’s Kyle Singler and the Plumlee brothers, Miles and Mason. The guards are not any less important, however, and Georgia Tech (particularly the streaky but talented Iman Shumpert) must find a way to silence Duke’s backcourt, helmed by Nolan Smith and Jon Scheyer. This is a key ACC challenge, and certainly not one to miss.
California at UCLA (Saturday, February 6th: 4 p.m. on CBS)
The PAC-10 has been exceptionally mediocre this season and currently lacks a team in the Top 25, let alone a contender. California, at 14-7 has been one of the better teams and faces an abnormally bad UCLA in Westwood for what could still be an interesting game. For one, it’s a chance to see UCLA combo-guard Malcolm Lee, who has blossomed somewhat in his second year as a Bruin and is looking for a chance to shine on a larger stage. He will have quite a challenge attempting to slow down California’s backcourt, primarily Jerome Randle and Patrick Christopher.
#10 Texas at Oklahoma (Saturday, February 6th: 4 p.m. on ESPN)
Oklahoma continues to slump, losing on the road to Texas A&M, Nebraska, and Texas Tech, but could turn their season around with a win at home against Texas. Oklahoma should have an advantage on the perimeter, headlined by the high-scoring tandem of Willie Warren and Tommy Mason-Griffin. Ultimately, however, Texas may have too much firepower, from freshmen phenomenons Avery Bradley and Jordan Hamilton on the perimeter to Damion James and Dexter Pittman in the post. While this game could get interesting if Warren is making good decisions and knocking down shots from the perimeter, this should be a prime opportunity to watch a dominant Texas team that could make a deep run in March.
Under The Radar:
St. Bonaventure at St. Louis (Wednesday, February 3rd: 8 p.m. on the CW 11)
Though neither team is particularly of interest in an NCAA Tournament context, this game features one of this week’s more interesting post battles. St. Bonaventure sophomore Andrew Nicholson and Saint Louis sophomore Willie Reed are only on NBA scouts’ radars as borderline prospects at this stage, but could become more interesting as they continue to improve. Only time will tell, but this is one opportunity to catch two of the more interesting young big men in the Atlantic 10 on the same floor.
#13 Gonzaga at Memphis (Saturday, February 6th: 4 p.m. on ESPN2)
Memphis is looking for a marquee win and a chance to play Gonzaga at home is the perfect opportunity. This game will be won and lost in the post as Gonzaga’s tandem of Elias Harris and Robert Sacre could prove to be too much for Memphis’s thin frontcourt. On the perimeter, it should be far more interesting as Memphis sophomore Elliot Williams and Gonzaga senior Matt Bouldin are two premier guards looking for the chance to shine in front of NBA scouts on a big stage.
Tulsa at UTEP (Saturday, February 6th: 10 p.m. on ESPN2)
Conference USA has been a surprise this season and this is a chance to see two of the better teams not called Memphis duel on national television. UTEP clearly has the advantage here, boasting one of the deeper rosters in Conference USA, headlined by Derrick Caracter, Arnett Moultrie, Jeremy Williams, and Julyan Stone. Watch the middle, however, as projected first round pick and Tulsa standout Jerome Jordan must show scouts that he is capable of producing at a consistent rate against good competition.
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| The Week Ahead: What to Watch in College Basketball 1/25 - 2/2 |
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| by: Kyle Nelson - College Basketball Scout |
| January 25, 2010 |
We take a look forward at this week's TV schedule to pick out the games and NBA prospects we’ll be watching intently this coming week.
Marquee Matchups:
#12 Georgetown at #5 Syracuse (Monday, January 25th: 7 p.m. on ESPN)
Do not miss the opportunity to watch Georgetown big man Greg Monroe and Syracuse swingman Wesley Johnson take the floor in one of the Big East marquee match ups. Will Johnson be able to create offense off of the dribble against the Georgetown zone? Similarly, will Monroe be able to take advantage of his size and skill? Scouts will be watching these two future first round draft picks, a match up that could be of particular interest if the two players see minutes at the same position.
Florida State at #7 Duke (Wednesday, January 27th: 9 p.m. on ESPN)
At 15-4, Florida State has not had the most impressive season and is searching for a marquee conference victory. Duke is coming off of a disappointing loss to North Carolina State and has not yet shown the consistency of a championship contender. Be sure to watch Duke point guard Jon Scheyer and combo-forward Kyle Singler, players who are proven collegiate stand-outs, but have yet to consistently perform against teams with NBA size and athleticism. Enter Florida State, an underrated team with three legitimate NBA prospects: center Solomon Alabi, combo-forward Chris Singleton, and freshman wing Michael Snaer. All of the prospects in this game have something to prove and on national television, should have every opportunity to step up to the occasion.
Iowa State at Oklahoma (Wednesday, January 27th: 9 p.m. on ESPN Full Court)
Both Iowa State power forward Craig Brackins and Oklahoma combo guard Willie Warren were projected as lottery selections before the beginning of this season, but both have had disappointing seasons, thus far. Consider this game a gut check for both teams. With scouts watching, it would serve both Brackins and Warren, not to mention their teammates, to snap out of their losing ways and play up to their potential.
Wake Forest at #19 Georgia Tech (Thursday, January 28th: 7 p.m. on ACC Network, FS South/Florida)
While this game may be difficult to catch without extended cable packages, there is no denying the fact that this week’s marquee match-up is between two future lottery picks, Wake Forest combo-forward Al-Farouq Aminu and Georgia Tech’s freshman phenomenon Derrick Favors. Also, do not miss a chance to see Wake Forest’s potential-laden freshmen Ari Stewart and C.J. Harris, not to mention a peaking Ishmael Smith. For Georgia Tech, Gani Lawal and Iman Shumpert are well worth watching, as well. Both teams could badly use a win and, given Georgia Tech and Wake Forest’s similarities and up-tempo style, this game should not disappoint.
#7 Duke at #12 Georgetown (Saturday, January 30th: 1 p.m. on CBS)
Duke and Georgetown are two of the nation’s most storied college basketball programs and are experiencing resurgence this season. While television appearances are not lacking in the least for either team, consider this game an opportunity to see two teams with very different styles and a plethora of prospects from across the spectrum. Of course it will be interesting to see Greg Monroe take on Duke’s loaded front court, primarily Miles and Mason Plumlee, but consider this an essential test for both team’s fringe prospects. Duke’s Nolan Smith and Jon Scheyer have the perfect opportunity in match-ups against Georgetown’s talented, yet underachieving, back court, Chris Wright and Austin Freeman. Both of these teams seemed poised to make a run in March and this game should be a solid test and an opportunity for scouts to evaluate a wide-variety of prospects.
Vanderbilt at #2 Kentucky (Sunday, January 31th: 4 p.m. p.m. on ESPN)
Vanderbilt has won nine straight games and is tied with undefeated Kentucky atop of the Southeastern Conference standings. Do not miss this opportunity to see Kentucky’s John Wall, Eric Bledsoe, Patrick Patterson, and DeMarcus Cousins, one of the most interesting and talented starting lineups in the country, as well as one of the most dangerous. Vanderbilt will not lose without a fight, however, as they boast sophomore swingman Jeffrey Taylor and center A.J. Ogilvy, two of the SEC’s most consistent performers and legitimate NBA prospects in their own right. Can Vanderbilt pull out an upset on Kentucky’s home floor? Consider this game a must-see.
#1 Texas at Oklahoma State (Monday, February 1st: 9 p.m. on ESPN)
Oklahoma State swingman James Anderson has been on NBA scouts’ radars since he was a freshman, but he has yet to prove himself as more than a shooting specialist on a consistent basis. He cannot be one-dimensional if Oklahoma State expects to upset Texas, a balanced team with more than its share of NBA-caliber talent, looking to rebound from two road losses. In fact, there are few players in the rotation that aren’t considered at least marginal prospects from an NBA perspective, from Avery Bradley and Jordan Hamilton on the wings to Damion James and Dexter Pittman down low. This should be a battle, to say the least, with much at stake in the greater NCAA, not to mention NBA Draft, picture.
Baylor at #1 Texas (Saturday, January 30th: 4 p.m. on ESPN Full Court)
Texas is one of the best teams in the country, but they will be tested nonetheless when 15-3 Baylor arrives. On the perimeter, LaceDarius Dunn is finally regaining the touch that put him on scouts’ radars as a freshman and undersized point guard Tweety Carter is finally living up to the immense high school hype that accompanied him to Waco. Power forward Ekpe Udoh is exceeding all expectations, as well, to the tune of 14.3 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 4.4 blocks per game. Scouts will be watching to see how the big man plays against Texas’s talented frontcourt on both offense and defense in what might be his most significant challenge of the season.
Under The Radar:
Memphis at Marshall (Wednesday, January 27th: 7 p.m. on CBS College Sports)
12.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 5.4 blocks in 25 minutes per game. Marshall freshman Hassan Whiteside has more than exceeded expectations during his freshman season, leading the NCAA in blocks and providing scouts with an intriguing profile. There are not many chances to catch Marshall on television, and this game should be a spectacular opportunity to watch one of the nation’s best freshmen against good competition. For Memphis, combo-guard Elliot Williams must take advantage of having NBA scouts and personnel in attendance to prove that he is a more polished prospect than people are currently giving him credit for. The same goes for swingman Wesley Witherspoon, who has a tantalizing combination of size and skill, but must prove to scouts that he can be consistent.
#14 BYU at New Mexico (Wednesday, January 27th: 10 p.m. on The Mountain Network)
This battle between Mountain West Conference heavyweights is interesting from an NBA perspective because of the opportunity to see two intriguing mid-major juniors: New Mexico’s versatile combo-forward Darington Hobson and BYU point guard Jimmer Fredette. Neither player is considered to be top-shelf prospects at this point, but they can continue to keep scouts interested with positive showings in match ups such as this one.
LaSalle at #16 Temple (Saturday, January 30th: 12 p.m. on ESPN2)
There are two intriguing match ups at play in this Atlantic-10 challenge. In the post, LaSalle freshman Aaric Murray and Temple junior Lavoy Allen are versatile big men who should give each other fits with their inside-outside games. On the perimeter, it is a contest between two combo-guards. LaSalle senior Rodney Green has been a marginal NBA prospect for a couple of seasons, but he will have the opportunity to prove himself against Juan Fernandez, a sweet shooting guard from Argentina who has taken significant strides this season.
Seattle at Washington(Tuesday, February 2nd: 10 p.m. on FSN Northwest/Pacific)
Charles Garcia emerged this season as one of the most enigmatic and intriguing freshmen in the country, but has come down to Earth since his spectacular start. He will have the opportunity to play against the team that recruited him before mysteriously reneging on a scholarship offer. Considering the recent tension he’s seen with head coach Cameron Dollar and the fact that he is 21 years old, this may be one of his last chances to impress against legitimate competition in scouts’ presence. Seattle will have their hands full as they face a Washington team reeling after losing five of their last seven games. Garcia will have the opportunity to match up with Quincy Pondexter, Washington’s senior combo-forward, who is still one of the top prospects in the PAC-10 and looking to assert himself in front of scouts despite struggling somewhat in conference play.
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kyle.nelson@draftexpress.com |
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| The Week Ahead: NCAA Conference Tournaments (Part 2: The High Majors) |
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| by: Kyle Nelson - College Basketball Scout |
| 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 - College Basketball Scout |
| 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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| The Week Ahead: What to Watch in College Basketball (2/21-2/27) |
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| by: Kyle Nelson - College Basketball Scout |
| 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. |
Feedback
for this article may be sent to
kyle.nelson@draftexpress.com |
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